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  “She is. But you’re still not telling me about you.”

  No, he wasn’t. He tried avoiding talking about his past. “You heard Dean Jr. I’m a stray.”

  “Bullshit.” Her answer came instantly and with force. “Dean is a jackass who doesn’t know his ass from a hole in the ground. You are not a stray.” Her eyes burned with determined fire.

  Her defence of him struck deep and he had to gather himself to focus back on the conversation they were having. “How do you know Dean?”

  A snort of derision. “He showed up about two years ago. His mom had been some rich thing who apparently never told Master Guns she was pregnant when she left him. I guess it was some kind of confession from her. So this spoilt brat shows up with his two brothers, Chris and Tom, more assholes. I still haven’t figured out why they’re here. Not entirely sure it’s for a good reason. Laila is so desperate for family she will put up with anything, almost.”

  He would rip Dean’s arms from his body and beat him with them if he hurt Laila. “You really don’t like him.”

  “Hell no. He’s an ass and a bully. The other two with him are the same, and Laila, well, she’s Laila.”

  He nodded and reached for his tea. Mint. He felt her watching him and lifted his gaze to hers. She didn’t blush and duck away. Instead, she held his stare and allowed him to see the appreciation in her eyes.

  “Still haven’t said anything about you.”

  Roxi was right again, he’d managed to steer the conversation away from himself. “Not a lot to say. I’m sure Laila has told you all about me.”

  “Nope. She hasn’t. I asked her and she said it was something I would have to ask you when I finally met you.”

  “She said that?”

  “Yes. So I know very little about you aside of how proud Laila and Master Guns are of you.” She drank some more tea, curling her legs beneath her. “But I can see you don’t talk much, so it’s okay if you don’t want to tell me anything. I won’t pry.”

  Roxi curved her hands around the mug and closed her eyes. Sam couldn’t tear his gaze from her. He wasn’t ready to open up but he wanted to hear her talk more.

  “Tell me about you.”

  She opened her eyes and they twinkled. “All right, but it’s gonna need some food, so I’ll be right back.”

  True to her word, she soon returned with a plate of petit fours. She placed it on the cushion between them. His cock pulsed as she reached for one and bit into it with a lusty groan. A very vivid mental image of those full lips around his shaft slammed into him. His fingers tightened around the handle of the mug.

  Shit!

  “Me,” she said on a purr of pleasure, which only seemed to encase his length in steel. “Well, I have the one brother I told you about earlier, Ritchie. And my nephew, Eric. Our parents are living in Georgia, which is where we grew up. No sisters. I was in the Corps for ten years. Now I’m here in Bremerton where I work with Laila at a bank. See, not very exciting.”

  “What do you do at the bank?”

  “Security. Laila’s a teller, but I’m sure you knew that.” She shifted and sat cross-legged. “I was going to be a cop but I couldn’t. Not with Eric.”

  He ate one of the fours. Lemon this time—it went perfectly with the tea. “Why not?”

  “Ritchie’s job is dangerous. Eric needs to have at least one person as a constant in his life.”

  “What branch does your brother serve in?”

  A slight shake of her head. “None, he’s with a construction company over in the Middle East.”

  He understood. Having done a few tours over there, it wasn’t the safest area. But it was good money if you went as a civilian. He flicked his gaze around her place and couldn’t help but feel comfortable. She was waiting for him when he returned his questing look to her.

  They talked some more. It was late, he noticed after a while. The petit fours were gone, as was the tea in their mugs. For the first time in a long time, since before he’d got the news on Dean, he felt his body relaxing.

  Roxi gave him a warm smile as she rose from the couch. She swiped the mugs and plate. He closed his eyes, only to open them when he inferred her presence.

  “Come on, Marine. You look like you could get some use out of a bit of shut-eye.”

  He saw her in his arms. Limbs entwined. And a bolt of electricity rocketed through him. He rose and again noticed how well she’d fit in his arms. Against him. On him. Under him. Sam walked behind her after she’d locked up the house, down the hall to where the bedrooms were.

  Roxi faced him at the room he was in. “Good night, Marine.”

  He struggled with his need to touch her. “Good night, Roxi.” He’d tried calling her ma’am before and she’d nipped that right away, telling him Roxi was just fine.

  Another soft smile and she left him there, heading into her own room. Sam got ready for bed and when he padded across the hall for the last time, he glanced down towards where light spilled from the crack at Roxi’s room.

  He rubbed his bare chest as he entered his room and closed the door. Climbing into bed in his boxers, he sighed heavily then drifted off to sleep.

  * * * *

  He was being grabbed! Sam reacted on the instincts he’d learnt in the Corps as well as his childhood. He refused to be hurt anymore. But when he rolled on his assailant it wasn’t a man’s body he felt. No, it was one with curves.

  “Easy there, Marine. It’s okay. You’re safe. It’s me, Roxi.”

  Safe. Bremerton. The intoxicating scent of autumn. Roxi.

  He opened his eyes to find her beneath him. Light from the hall illuminated her face and the arm he had hard across her neck. There was no fear in her gaze, merely understanding.

  Fuck.

  “I’m so sorry,” he said, removing his arm so she could breathe easier. He touched his fingertips to the skin at her neck. Embarrassment stung his cheeks. Christ! He could have seriously hurt her, or hell, even killed her. “So sorry.”

  Her hands settled softly along the sides of his face. “It’s okay, Sam.”

  “No, I hurt you, Christ, I—”

  She placed two fingers over his mouth. “I’m fine. It was my fault, Sam. Not yours.” Her other hand slid around to the back of his head, fingers constantly moving, offering soothing caresses.

  “I—”

  “You were having a nightmare. I forgot I can’t just shake you awake as I would Eric. You’re Recon.”

  Not an excuse in his mind. She should be protected at all times. “I should go.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “No. You should stay. Sleep. There’s no reason to run, Sam. I’m fine. I swear.”

  She shifted, reminding him he was nearly naked and she lay beneath him. Tearing his gaze from her face and neck, he rose a bit and peered down at her.

  A buckskin, spaghetti-strap camisole barely hid her full breasts. He could imagine her heated core touching his hardening cock. Yes, he was right, she fit perfectly against him.

  “Do you want to talk about it?” she asked. The fingers covering his lips disappeared and she encircled his neck.

  His gaze drifted to her full lips, lingering there before continuing on to her eyes. Concern was foremost but there was no disguising the desire that smouldered behind it.

  “Sam?”

  Lord, it was hard to think straight when her touch appeared hell-bent on driving him to distraction.

  “No,” he murmured, closing the distance between their mouths. Part of him waited for her to tense, scream, or demand he get off and the hell out of her house. It never came. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered, brushing his lips against hers.

  They were soft as velvet and smooth as silk. She arched into him with a faint groan. Fire exploded in his blood and he wanted nothing more than to press closer and learn everything about her. But he didn’t. He rolled off her and reached for the light.

  “Let me look at your neck,” he said over his shoulder. There was no answer so he peered at her.


  She still lay where he’d rolled them. Her hair billowed around her like a black silken cloud. One strap of her camisole had slid from her shoulder. He swallowed hard. Roxi’s black shorts were moulded to her firm, toned legs.

  Fuck me. His cock went harder, if possible. Closing his eyes, he prayed for strength and reached for his jeans. Keeping his back to her, he jerked them on, hiding his erection.

  He froze at the light touch along the small of his back.

  “Sam.”

  It was nearly his undoing. The toe-curling voice she had and the simple act of her fingers upon his skin. He ground his jaw and swallowed hard.

  “Let me check your neck, Roxi.” He faced her. “Please.”

  She climbed off the bed, looking like a woodland sprite, all cute and tousled. He led her across to the bathroom and under the bright light had her sit on the counter and stood between her legs to inspect her neck. No signs of bruising—that relieved him greatly. Through it all, Roxi sat silently, allowing him to do his thing. Still her gaze never left his face.

  “I told you I was fine,” she commented when he’d finished.

  “I needed to check.”

  “I know.”

  He stepped back and she slid off the counter, eyes transfixed on him. Before he knew what had happened she’d pressed a kiss to his cheek then was walking out. “Get some sleep, Sam.”

  Back in his bed, he burrowed his face to where Roxi had lain—although not for long—the sheets smelt slightly like her. Autumn. That was the only way he could explain it. Subtle, soft, warm and with a slight hint of spice. The scent wrapped around him like a comforting cloak and accompanied him to sleep.

  * * * *

  Roxi stood in her kitchen and stared out of the sliding glass door, which led to the backyard. Unconsciously she rubbed her throat. Damn it! How could she have been so stupid? The sound had woken her and as she would have with her nephew, she’d gone in to wake him. One problem, she’d tried to shake awake a Recon Marine in the same way she would her ten-year-old nephew.

  Sam’s reaction had been swift and precise. She’d been lucky to get out her words at all. Despite that, she wasn’t scared of him. Quite the opposite.

  Then add how it felt to be captured beneath his muscled body. His cock pressing against the apex of her thighs. Admittedly, she’d only exhibited hot desire for him then. And that brush of his lips along hers. No other had affected her so and it had hardly been a kiss at all.

  Sigh. Okay, so Laila wasn’t the only one who had it bad. Some of his stories were legendary and she’d fallen for him through myth. Sure, she knew Laila thought of him as a brother but to hear her talk about him, he could do no wrong. So they both had strong feelings for the man, Roxi’s just weren’t along the brotherly vein.

  Only, he’s not a myth anymore.

  A heated flush skated along her skin and she knew he’d entered the kitchen. Readjusting her gaze so she no longer stared out past the glass, she watched him.

  Grace. Power. And sexuality off-the-charts.

  Wanting to see him without using a reflection, she turned. He stood by the table.

  Staring at him was something akin to suddenly being starving and knowing no matter how long you ate or drank it would never, could never be enough. It was still early—the first rays of morning had just begun to splinter through the dark.

  He peered at her with those incredible blue eyes and her heart’s cadence kicked up a few notches. She smiled and couldn’t begin to say how relieved she was to see some of his uncertainty fade away.

  “Morning,” she said.

  “Morning,” he replied.

  His deep voice dragged along her skin much like thick velvet. He kept dropping his gaze to her neck. She stared at him in his jeans and another snug shirt, grey this time.

  “I’m fine, Sam.”

  “I could have—”

  “You didn’t.” She cut him off as she closed the distance between them.

  Lord, he was big. All over. And hot. Her nipples beaded as she imagined his hands on her breasts. Cupping, kneading, tugging. A flash of heat poured over her and she took a deep breath to get herself under some semblance of control.

  Toe-to-toe, she stopped. She had to tip her head back in order to maintain eye contact. He swallowed and she felt this incredible urge to lick him. Over each hard, muscled inch.

  Okay, I’m losing it. He’s a guest. Not my play-toy. Oh, but what a play-toy he’d be.

  “I’ll have some breakfast ready in just a few. You can move your truck into the drive, on the left side. Never mind. You can park in the garage too, I’ll open the door.”

  She hurried off to do that before she forgot herself and did something insane like jump at him, wrap her legs around him and see where that led. Couch. Bed. Wall. Hell, she wasn’t picky.

  I really need to go out and get some.

  She opened the garage then turned, only to smack into his rock-hard chest. Crap. She’d been so into her fantasy of where to do him that she hadn’t realised he’d followed her.

  His arms snaked out and he caught her by the upper arms as she wobbled.

  “Thanks.” Her word was breathy and she gave herself a mental reprimand for it.

  His response wasn’t verbal, just a nod of his head. She missed his touch when he removed it but she kept her mouth shut as well. He passed by her and she inhaled deeply, allowing his scent to infuse into her skin. Then she watched him walk away, admiring the view before she went back in the house.

  She worked on breakfast and when the garage door closed a tingle rippled through her. Not much later, he reappeared in the kitchen.

  “Almost ready,” she said, pulling a piping-hot waffle off the iron and placing it on a plate. Once she’d added some sausage, she paused. “Do you like eggs and sausage?”

  “Yes.”

  The response was directly behind her and rocked her with her another wave of lust. “I’ll let you dish up what you want, then. Take as much as you like.”

  Their fingertips brushed as the plate exchanged hands. Licking her lips, she went back to the waffle iron and poured batter for her own.

  “Hey.” Laila spoke, breaking in to the small world they’d created.

  “Hey, yourself. Come on in and grab a plate,” she called back.

  “Morning, Sam,” Laila said, stepping into the kitchen.

  “Good morning, Laila.”

  Roxi watched them embrace and ignored the reappearance of the green-eyed monster. She placed the next waffle on a plate and Laila took it from her. After grabbing another plate, Roxi made one for herself.

  She normally didn’t mind Laila coming by. It wasn’t uncommon for her to pop over for a meal, but for some reason this morning, all Roxi wanted to do was snarl, “Mine!” and kick Laila out.

  She could hear them talking behind her. Laila apologising for yesterday and Sam forgiving her. Roxi sat down with her waffle, eggs and the sole remaining sausage link. I forgot how much Laila loves them. She sat on the other side of Laila, leaving a seat between her and Sam, and began to eat.

  Throughout the meal, Sam glanced at her several times, only to be dragged back into a discussion with Laila. Did she mind? No. Not at all. As long as she could continue to ignore the minor desire to snarl and lunge for her, there was no problem at all.

  Maybe I need professional help.

  “I have to get to work,” Laila announced. “I’ll see you this afternoon.” She hurried and gave Roxi a hug. “Thank you again.”

  Past Laila’s shoulder, she saw Sam watching her. Eyes intense. “Not a problem. Sam’s a great guest. Go on.”

  Laila did, leaving after one final kiss to Sam’s cheek, which had Roxi envisioning slashing Laila across the face with her nails. Oh yeah, not a problem in the least. Definitely need some professional help here. Get a grip! she admonished herself.

  Sam left with Laila and she cleaned up from breakfast. She did her best not to go to the living room and peer out any of the windows to see what, if
anything, they were doing.

  Have I mentioned how much I need to get a grip?

  She had and she did.

  Okay, it’s official. I am seriously pathetic. Mooning over this man.

  After the kitchen was straightened, she turned and headed for her bedroom. She stopped on the way at Eric’s room. She flipped on the light and propped herself against the doorjamb.

  She loved her nephew more than anything. Her gaze travelled around the room, taking in the few posters. He had some pictures of the Marines, Transformers, and a few cars. His toys weren’t numerous but the ones he had were nicely put away.

  There was an ache in her heart and she sighed heavily only to stiffen when Sam’s masculine scent converged around her.

  “Very squared-away room.” He spoke from behind her.

  “Yes.”

  “When is he coming?”

  Shoving her hands in her pockets, she paused. “Next Monday.” She smiled at the revelation, imagining him back with her.

  “I would have liked to have met him.”

  “You will.” As soon as the words fell from her mouth she realised how presumptuous her words had sounded. She felt his gaze on her but continued to focus on Eric’s bedroom.

  “I’d like that.”

  The tension between them shot up. Her skin tingled with the insane urge to both touch and be touched by him. Licking her lips, she reached for the handle and slowly pivoted towards him while drawing it shut.

  His large physique blocked her in and when he placed a hand on the door, halting her, she arched a brow in the process. Her belly did flips the closer he leaned. His scent washed over her, making her light-headed.

  “Forgot the light.” He leaned past her and flicked it off.

  So close. He was so damn close.

  “Thanks.” Her single word fell on a whisper.

  Seconds drifted by, their eyes locked on one another, until he finally stepped back. Grateful as well as disappointed, Roxi drew the door until it clicked. She ran her tongue over her teeth, all the while wanting to kiss him.

  “I’m home all day,” she said, moving by him. “So feel free to come and go as you please. I’ll just go by the hospital later in the afternoon.”