Tempted by the Soldier

Chapter Nine


Lilly chewed on her bottom lip as Nate rang the bell in the lobby of the backwoods motel where the tow truck driver had dropped them. Nate’s black T-shirt stuck to his skin like paint, every muscle and dip visible as he rested his fists on the counter, refusing to look at her. Damn him for looking so good. It made him so hard to hate. And right now, she really wanted to hate him.

While his caveman routine had the potential to be white hot in the bedroom, it was going to have to stop. This was just supposed to be a ride. Plain and simple. Black and white. And everything was getting twisted. She didn’t need a damn bodyguard. Or a quick roll in the hay, she reminded herself firmly. What she really needed was something he would never be willing to give.

More.

She blinked away the last of her humiliation and exhaustion, and fought against the urge to drag someone out of the motel office to give her a room. She needed a wall between herself and this man. And a solid door. With a deadbolt. Or three. Maybe then she’d be able to keep her panties in place and her fantasies to a minimum.

She smoothed her hands over her wet, wrinkled dress as an elderly woman came out of the back and asked, “Can I help you?”

“We need two rooms, please.” Nate pulled out his wallet and tossed a card on the counter.

The woman took his credit card and the ID he slapped down beside it and typed something at a snail’s pace into the laptop sitting on the counter. “We only have one room available.” She slid her glasses up her nose and looked him up and down.

Lilly’s heart dropped into her stomach and she exchanged a wary look with Nate. No. There had to be some kind of mistake. “How is that possible?” she asked incredulously. “We’re in the middle of nowhere.”


“We’re the Happy Campers Lodge, not the Waldorf Astoria, sweetheart,” the woman said. “We only have six rooms and most of them stay booked with regular tenants.”

Nate rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. “It’s fine. We’ll take the room.”

Lilly gaped at him. “I’m not staying in a room with you, Nate. No way.”

He turned to face her so fast her head spun. “It has a bed and it’s dry. If you want to take another hike through the rain, be my guest.” He turned back to the counter.

She gritted her teeth. He was right. Damn it. Hayden always told her the universe worked in mysterious ways. Lilly didn’t agree. The universe didn’t work in mysterious ways. It worked in really f*cked-up ways. Like sticking her in a hotel room with the man she’d been deliberately teasing, torturing, and flaunting her ass to all day. She may as well have been thrown into a cage with a lion she’d been poking with a stick through the bars for hours. Except, of course, he’d already made it clear he wasn’t hungry. Not for her, anyway.

Humiliation complete.

While he retrieved the room key, she counted raindrops streaking down the window, letting the soothing rhythm of the patter calm her frayed nerves. She could do this. They would sleep in separate beds. It wasn’t as if she was some out-of-control teenager running high on hormones. She was a grown woman who was in complete charge of her actions. She would just ignore him. Go straight to bed and sleep. Yes. That was an excellent plan.

Rubbing her hands up and down her arms, she tried to chase away the chill that ran so deep her teeth chattered. She probably wouldn’t have survived another hike through that storm, anyway.

Nate came up behind her and touched her elbow. “Come on,” he said. “Apparently we’re in the Hunter’s Delight room.”

“Hunter’s Delight?” She closed her eyes and shook her head. “You know what? Never mind. Let’s get this over with.”

A muscle in his jaw ticked and she grabbed the room key out of his hand and pushed out through the doors, back into the cool night air. It was past ten, and despite the fact that it was July, the stormy late-night temperatures had dropped enough to make her wish she was wearing something dry. Ducking under a dripping gutter, she started searching for room 5. She could feel Nate behind her, his very presence making it hard to focus on what she was looking for. When she spotted their room, she fumbled with the key, shivering so badly she was unable to get it in the lock.

Nate planted his hand on the door and leaned in from behind, placing his lips at her ear, his chest to her back. A tremor rolled down her spine and butterflies took flight in her stomach.

“Let me do it.”

She sighed and released the key into his waiting hand. The lock clicked and the door swung open. She walked in first, flicking the light on, and her heart sank.

Oh, hell no.

A rustic-looking desk and chair sat on one side of the room, and big framed picture of a moose hung on the dark wood-paneled wall over the queen-size bed. A Jacuzzi tub was tucked into the corner of the room, surrounded by mirrors. Her eyes gravitated to a set of large antlers that adorned the spot above the dresser. A bearskin rug was the focal point of the room, complete with vacant eyes and a wide mouth filled with sharp teeth.

Lilly gasped in horror. Dear God. She was in a vegetarian’s nightmare. How many animals had been slaughtered in the name of decor for this awful room?

Nate closed the door behind them with a final-sounding click. His breath fanned across the back of her neck and she closed her eyes. He wasn’t even touching her, yet she could feel every inch of his heat.

“There’s only one bed,” she said.

“And?”

“And you’re sleeping on the floor.”

“Fine.” His tone was clipped, and she flinched at the anger lacing it.

The jangle of his belt buckle and zipper going down echoed through the room.

Oh, God. Was he seriously getting naked? Now?

“What are you doing?”

“Getting out of these wet clothes,” he said. “You should probably do the same unless you want to get sick.”

Oh, man. Distraction. She needed a distraction.

She scowled fiercely. “You owe me an apology first.”

Nate stalked across the room in nothing but a pair of skin-tight boxer briefs and her mouth watered momentarily before she gave herself a mental slap upside the head. He tossed his jeans over a chair to dry, then jerked back the sheets to grab a pillow.

“For what?” he asked.

“Oh, I don’t know.” She tapped her finger to her lips. “For manhandling me on the side of the highway?”

He smirked, going to the closet and opening it. “If memory serves, you handled me right back.”

Her cheeks flushed and anger lit her up from the inside. “I meant after that. Do you not recall going all caveman and throwing me over your shoulder?”

Nate pulled out an extra blanket, turned, and shook it open, refusing to look at her. “You weren’t being cooperative. I did what needed to be done to control the situation, to get you to a safe place.”

She jerked the blanket out of his hands to get his attention. “And what about the handprint on my ass?” She stuck a hand on her hip. “Was that necessary to control the situation?”

Nate grabbed the blanket back and finally met her gaze. “No. That was just because you pissed me off.”

“You have serious issues. You know that, right?” she ground out. “Don’t you ever get tired of trying to control everything?”

“Don’t you ever get tired of talking?”

Frustration boiled under her skin, and Paige’s words whispered through her mind. Show him what he’s been missing.

Fine. If the man insisted on manhandling her and ordering her around, then she had her own brand of torture in mind. One that would leave him with a lethal set of blue balls that would hopefully keep him up all night.

“Speaking of tired…” Sending him a return smirk, she nonchalantly slid one strap of her dress down her shoulder, then the other.

Nate froze beside the bed.

The dress slid down her body to pool at her feet, leaving her in her bra and panties. Wet, nearly transparent bra and panties.

Make that completely transparent.

He hissed in a breath on a curse. “What are you doing?”

She shrugged. “Just following your orders and getting out of these wet clothes.”

She reached for the front clasp of her bra, pausing when a growl rumbled deep in his chest like a warning. “Lilly…”

The gravel in his voice and the fire igniting behind his eyes made her feel as if she’d just raked a stick across the bars of that lion’s cage. This time the lion looked hungry.

Really hungry.

She swallowed, and projected a calm mask of confidence. “I’m going to take a shower.” She hiked a brow. “Or do I need your permission to do that? Maybe you’d feel more comfortable if you gave me explicit instructions?”

She knew she was playing with fire. And she’d been burned by this particular flame before. But she didn’t stop herself. Couldn’t. She needed a reaction out of him. She desperately wanted him to regret turning her away. Because she refused to believe that she meant absolutely nothing to him, while he consumed her every thought.

His heated gaze traveled over her nipples straining against the wet, lacy bra, then dipped to the silk between her legs. His hands clenched into fists at his sides.


She turned around, giving him her back, and unsnapped the clasp of her bra between her breasts. No way did he deserve that view. The scrap of lace slipped off her arms and fell to the floor. Cool air washed over her sensitive breasts and stomach, making her shiver.

She couldn’t see his reaction, but she felt the sound that came out of his chest all the way down to her core. Damn it! Her plan was backfiring. This wasn’t supposed to affect her.

But even as she fought against it, desire licked at her insides like a flame and spread a warm flush over her skin. An undeniable ache throbbed between her legs, and she realized she was subtly rubbing her thighs together to ease it.

“F*ck.” Nate was suddenly behind her.

Her heart tripped over itself, giving her the wake-up call she needed. “Good night, Nate.”

She quickly strode into the bathroom, feeling herself crack apart inside, and slammed the door behind her.

Bracing her hands on the counter, she stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her hair hung in damp curls around her face and her cheeks were scarlet. Her green eyes held a quiet desperation that looked too familiar for comfort.

For the first time in her life she could admit it. She looked like the one person she swore she’d never become. She looked exactly like her mother.

Wasn’t this just the kind of crap she would have pulled? Hadn’t Lilly learned anything through her mother’s mistakes? Or her own? It didn’t matter if Nate wanted her. He’d still walk away once he’d gotten what he wanted.

Damn it.

Shame washed over her, extinguishing the heat completely.

“What the hell are you doing, Lilly?” she whispered in anguish. When her reflection offered no good excuse for her behavior, she twisted the knobs in the shower until the tiny room began to fill with steam, blurring the tears she refused to let fall. Tomorrow she had to get away from Nate. Even if it meant taking a damn bus the whole rest of the way to Vermont.

She jumped at a sudden knock on the bathroom door, and grabbed for a towel off the rack, hastily clutching it to her chest. He might have seen a good portion of her just moments before, but she’d be damned if he got the whole picture for free.

She pulled the door open.

He had one hand braced on the doorframe, head hanging low. Electric-blue eyes peered up at her and she swallowed.

“What do you want?”

His eyes flickered down to the towel, then he dropped his hand and pushed his way into the bathroom, forcing her backward until her bottom hit the edge of the counter. He braced his hands on either side of her hips, caging her in. Her breaths kicked up a notch—matching the frantic beating of her heart.

“You,” he growled.

That one word was the only warning he gave before his mouth crashed into hers.

He took advantage of her gasp of surprise and his tongue swept between her lips. Her moans mingled with his. Their tongues dueled for dominance. Nate grabbed the towel she had clutched to her chest and ripped it away, instantly replacing the cool air that rushed over her skin with the warmth of his bare chest. Wet heat spread between her legs, giving away just how much she wanted him.

He grabbed her by the hips and roughly sat her on the counter. The spark created by the simple act of him putting his hands on her forced the breath from her lungs. His touch burned her. Branded her. He wedged between her legs and his lips trailed down her throat as he shoved his palms up her thighs. His thumbs swept so close to her center that she almost came.

“Oh God…what are we doing?” she gasped.

“If you want me to stop, say the word, Princess.” His breath, all lemon and mint, danced over her lips, teasing, tempting.

“What do you want from me, Nate?”

“I want you, Lilly,” he said again. “I want your taste in my mouth. I want you riding my cock. Screaming my name. Begging me for release.”

“Nate—”

“Tell me, then.” His voice dissolved into a rumble of heat when he reached her breasts, stopping to stare while his thumbs teased the edge of her panties. “Tell me you don’t want me. Tell me you hate me.”

She trembled under his touch, knowing those were the exact things she needed to say to keep this train from going off the rails. But they would be lies. The way her body was vibrating with need for him was proof of that.

“I can’t,” she whispered.

His mouth descended on her aching nipple and he sucked. She arched up off the counter, moaning, and slid her fingers through his short hair. The way his hands dominated her body stole her breath. Every caress, every kiss, every touch of his tongue demanded she relinquish control and give him everything. And oh, God, did she want to give it to him. With the taste of him on her lips and his fingers bruising her hips, she couldn’t think of anything she’d ever wanted more. Her nails bit into his scalp and he growled against her breast, his teeth grazing her nipple.

“Sorry,” she said on a groan, and loosened her grip on his hair.

“Do it again.” He swirled his tongue around her other nipple. “Do it again or I’ll f*cking stop.”

Without a second thought she dug her nails into his scalp again, scraping over the white scar that carved a path through his dark hair.

“F*ck, yes.” He raised his gaze to hers.

Hungry…and possessive.

He pulled her against the hardness that only scraps of silk and cotton separated. They both moaned at the contact, and he kissed her hard enough to steal away every remaining ounce of common sense. The common sense previously screaming at her to keep her panties on. Now all she could think about was Nate ripping them from her body and burying himself in her so deep she’d feel him there for a week.

His tongue traced the seam of her lips, then his mouth trailed down to nip at the underside of her chin. Gripping her thighs, he spread her wide open for him, and her head fell back against the mirror as she moaned.

“This is your last chance to tell me to stop.” His voice rumbled against her throat while his fingers teased the edge of her panties. “Once these come off, I’m going to be in you so deep you won’t remember your own name. You’ve teased me for too long, Princess. I’m not going to be satisfied until I hear you beg.”

“I told you,” she managed breathlessly, “I’m not begging.”

His lips curled into a cocky grin. “Want me to prove you wrong?”

“Are you going to threaten me all night, or are you going to do something?”

His fingers curled past the elastic of her panties. She knew from his heated expression he must feel how wet she was. She refused to be embarrassed. He needed to see what he did to her. Needed to see what he’d been doing to her for a year.

“Up.”

She didn’t hesitate to obey, lifting her hips to allow him to slide the silk down her legs.

“Good girl.” He tossed them aside as he dropped to his knees and grabbed her legs, draping them over his shoulders. A gasp of surprise slipped past her lips, then dissolved into a moan.

He gave one hard, flat lick up her center, and then latched on to devour her. He flicked her * with his tongue, teasing her, then sucked it between his lips, growling against her flesh. The vibration the sound created only added to the overwhelming sensations pulling her under.

God, how long had it been since someone had touched her like this? If her body’s out-of-control response was any indication, way too freaking long.


“Do you like that, baby?” He blew against her wet center and she bucked up off the counter, desperate for the friction his mouth offered.

“You know I do,” she moaned.

“So do I.”

His teeth grazed over her most sensitive part as he slipped two fingers inside her, adding to the maddening pressure. He was keeping her right on the edge. Drawing out the torture when all she wanted was for him to finish her. “Oh, God, Nate…”

“You taste so good. So f*cking sweet. I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you.”

“I’m so close. I need— I need—”

He paused, his breath heaving against her sex. “You know what I want to hear, Princess. Say it and I’ll give you everything you need and more.”

His fingers continued to pump in and out of her, but it wasn’t enough. Not nearly enough. He had her so crazed she couldn’t identify the emotions running wild inside her. Love, hate, pleasure, pain. They all felt like one big, living, throbbing knot of desire taking over her body. In that moment, nothing was more important than finding the orgasm that hovered just outside of her grasp. He reached up and cupped one of her breasts, rubbing a rough thumb over the peak of her nipple. “Say it,” he whispered.

The words exploded out of her. “Please,” she begged. “Please make me come, Nate. Please—”

He stood and his mouth slammed into hers. He shoved down his briefs and fisted his cock, placing the tip at her entrance. Dragging his length through her wetness, he groaned, and pulled her bottom lip between his teeth.

“F*ck, f*ck, f*ck.” He stayed poised at her entrance but didn’t go any further.

She pulled away to take in his pained expression. “If you tell me you can’t do this now, I swear to God, I’ll drown you in this sink.”

He peered down at her, shaking with misery and restraint. “Not a f*cking chance. I just don’t have any condoms.”

She gaped at him. “You didn’t bring condoms to a wedding?”

“I wasn’t planning to get laid.”

“I’m on the pill. Can…I trust you?”

“Yes.” He closed his hand over hers. “In this, you can trust me. But, Lil…I can’t promise anything more.”

She blinked back the moisture in her eyes. She could trust him with her body, but not her heart. Whatever. Fine. She didn’t want to hear it. She just wanted him. Now. Even if it meant losing him afterward. She’d deal with the shame of humiliation later. Right now, she didn’t want to feel that. She wanted to drown all the future bad with everything good he was offering her now.

“Nate. Stop talking and just f*ck me.”

Heat flashed in his gaze and he plunged inside with one hard thrust. He pulled out and slammed home again. Then buried his face in her neck and groaned as he kissed her there and grazed her shoulder with his teeth. Out and home. Out and home.

In this position, she still couldn’t get the friction she wanted. Needed. Every time he thrust into her she inched farther away from him on the slick countertop. She whimpered, scooted forward, and ground against the base of his erection.

“Hold on to me,” he ordered, sensing her frustration, and slipped his hands under her bottom to pull her off the counter.

She locked her legs behind his hips and he spun them around. Her back slammed against the closed door. She moaned at the way he filled and stretched her from this angle. Perfect. The door rattled under the force of his unrelenting thrusts. The sounds of skin slapping against skin and their mingled grunts and moans filled the tiny space, driving her even higher and hotter than she thought possible.

She caught their reflection in the bathroom mirror and her stomach tightened at the erotic image—Nate pinning her against the door, his muscles flexing, straining, powering her toward release. The intense pressure built between her legs with every sensual thrust of his hips, until it came crashing over her in an instant. Her breath caught in her throat and stars winked across her vision. She opened her mouth on a silent cry as her thighs trembled around him. He pressed his forehead against hers and his pace increased until she was bouncing on his cock.

“That’s it, baby. You’re going to come for me. You’re going to come for me so hard that every time you close your eyes you’re going to see this. See me giving you the f*cking ride of your life.”

“Oh, God. Nate!”

He crushed his mouth against hers, smothering her scream as he pounded, drawing out the aftershocks of her orgasm as he sped toward his own. He groaned, and a second later she felt his muscles tense under her fingertips. Then the force of his release exploded and throbbed inside her.

When she finally caught her breath and opened her eyes, he was still holding her up against the door. Breathing hard, he reached up and swept the damp hair away from her face, then rubbed his thumb over her bottom lip. The tenderness in his eyes killed her. He shouldn’t be looking at her like that. That’s not how a man looked at a woman he was just using for sex.

She blinked and looked away. “I probably need that shower now,” she murmured. “You don’t have to stay.”

He watched her for a few seconds in tense silence, then turned and carried her over to the shower. Without a word, he set her on her feet under the spray, then stepped in to join her.

“Nate…what are you doing?”

“Right now?”

“Yes?”

He kissed her once, slowly worshiping her mouth with his lips and tongue, then dropped to his knees. He kissed the spot just below her belly button, and gripped her calves. He peered up at her with renewed desire in his eyes. “I’m tasting every f*cking inch of you.”