Lock and Load Read online

  The words kept echoing in his head over and over whenever he wasn’t preparing for the mission. Even on the bumpy truck ride to the city of Kabul, he kept reliving that week in Megan’s townhouse. He didn’t have too many expectations where women were concerned, but Megan had seemed different. And he couldn’t get away from that invisible connection that tugged something deep inside him. Was he misreading the whole situation?

  Enough! Do your job. Worry about her later. Pay attention to your job now.

  Using his discipline, he blocked everything else from his mind as they drove slowly through the streets to the prearranged drop for the truck. He couldn’t afford to be distracted until the mission was complete.

  Wedged between the Hindu Kush mountains along the Kabul River, the city of Kabul is the capital of the province of the same name and is located in the eastern part of Afghanistan. Kabul is over three and half thousand years old. Many empires have long fought over the valley for its strategic location along the trade routes of South and Central Asia. In the war on terror, focused on defeating the Taliban, it has been the scene of many suicide bombs and attacks on Americans. Tonight Delta Force Team Charlie was hoping to prevent yet another attack on a compound currently housing many Americans working for civilian defense contractors.

  Team Charlie had reviewed and analyzed the intel provided by a contact who assured them his information was reliable. A cell of ten terrorists was planning a mass suicide bombing of the compound that, if accomplished, would not only kill a huge percentage of the people housed there but also effectively destroy the construction work that had been accomplished so far. Without the workers, the rebuilding could not go forward and what was already in place would crumble in neglect.

  Team Charlie’s job tonight was to take out the cell, eradicating each and every man, and to do it in a way that would not create a stir on a street of crowded apartment buildings. Not any easy task at all.

  Beau had spent two hours on the range at Bagram, on the base where they were temporarily assigned that they shared with the Air Force. He took painstaking care to make sure his rifle was accurately sighted and worked with Trey focusing on a variety of targets. Slade and Marc had made the arrangements for transport for the twenty-five miles from Bagram to Kabul. Finally, at the ‘go’ signal, they had loaded up in a beat-up truck and headed to Kabul.

  Each man was hyper alert, knowing danger could pounce on them at any moment. They were dressed to blend in with the city’s population, practiced by this time at moving in the strange clothing. With their weapons and other equipment concealed beneath the voluminous robes, they made their way carefully through the city itself to their destination.

  If they missed anything it was sunglasses in the brightness of the day. Shades marked the wearer as American, or, at the very least, a suspect European. So they spent very little time in the daylight, concealing themselves in the spots marked for them until nightfall when they could move silently and more easily.

  Their info had pinpointed the location of the apartment where the cell met as well as the time and date of the meeting when they would gather to arm for their attack. Their contact had arranged to get them into an empty apartment across the street where they could wait and watch. Beau and Trey were posted at the window while Slade and Marc hovered outside in the alley between buildings. Their job was body disposal, silent and swift. The men would arrive one at a time which made their job that much easier.

  “Target one approaching.”

  Slade’s voice crackled in the receiver in Beau’s ear. He blinked and focused on sighting through the scope. Yup, there he was, walking quickly down the nearly deserted street. Trey called out coordinates as Beau inhaled deeply, let his breath out and pulled the trigger.

  Puff!

  The man crumpled into a heap and Slade and Marc immediately emerged from the alley and hauled him into that space between the buildings. The few people on the street scurried away as if afraid of seeing anything. Good.

  Beau flexed his shoulders and set himself to ready for the next target.

  Everything went like clockwork. In less than thirty minutes they’d taken out the entire cell, the bodies had been stashed behind the garbage in the alley and Team Charlie blended into the night. Moving carefully they made their way out of the city to the point of exfiltration, waiting patiently until the chopper dropped out of the sky to pick them up.

  In the cabin they bumped fists. Another mission successfully completed.

  Two more months and three missions ticked off the calendar before Team Charlie was given some time to recharge. By mutual agreement, they all headed back to Slade’s ranch, this time flying commercial. Beau followed the others as Slade again led them to the private terminal where Teo would be waiting for them with the ranch’s chopper.

  But this time there were a few changes. Kari was waiting with Teo, obviously planning to fly back to the ranch with Slade. No surprise there. What did startle him was the sight of Megan standing next to her car parked alongside the helo. Her hands were clasped in front of her and she had a tentative smile on her face. He stopped, holding his duffel, hope and fear battling inside him.

  Slade turned and jogged back to where Beau was standing.

  “My last piece of advice,” he said. “If a woman I was crazy about, who wasn’t too sure of the reception she’d get, had the guts to come meet me when I came home, I’d have the guts to grab her with both hands. Just my two cents.”

  Then he nearly ran to where Kari stood, dropping his duffel and sweeping her up in his arms. Beau watched for a moment, then moved forward as if weights were attached to his feet. Then Megan took one tentative step toward him and another before stopping. He stood rooted to the spot and might have stayed there forever except for what Megan did next. She took another hesitant step, stopped, bowed her head and clasped her hands behind her back. In front of his team and Kari and anyone else watching, she was proclaiming her sub status with him.

  His heart clenched and his breath caught in his throat. It barely registered when Marc jogged back to him, took his duffel and all but pushed him toward Megan. Then he was tilting up her chin, looking into her eyes and kissing her as if he’d been away for a year. When she put her arms around him, he held her tighter, his fingers threading in her hair as he tilted her head to give him better access to her mouth. When he thrust his tongue into her mouth, she offered him hers almost shyly until he sucked it into his own mouth.

  The wolf whistles reminded him where he was. Where they were.

  He tipped her head back and was stunned to see the heat and hunger in her eyes.

  “I think we should take this someplace else,” he murmured. “What about your place?”

  “If—that’s where you want to be.”

  His laugh was raspy. “Just take me there and I’ll show you.”

  * * * *

  Megan had gone to some trouble to set things up at her place, giving a lot of thought to the signals she wanted to send. It was important that Beau understand she was accepting him completely as her master. That she would wait for however long it took until he was certain in his own mind that he wanted this forever. Wanted her forever. During the long talks with Kari, who had been a godsend, she’d come to understand Beau’s background and his total commitment to the military. His wariness where women were concerned based on everything he’d seen. She hoped that Kari and Slade’s example would open a door for them.

  She had lit an aroma lamp in the living room, filling the house with the soothing essence of eucalyptus. The refrigerator and freezer were stocked with Beau’s favorite food, although she hoped they wouldn’t get to that for a long time. In the bedroom, the blinds were closed and the curtains drawn over them, creating a false darkness broken only by the soft amber light of the bedside lamp.

  On the bed she’d placed her leather belt, her vibrator and some other items she’d bought in his absence. A box of condoms. And a silk scarf. He had blindfolded her at The Edge but never in her
townhouse. At least not yet. She had one more surprise for him, but she was saving it for the moment. She couldn’t believe how nervous she was, and had been the entire time he was gone. What if she’d misread the whole week with him? What if she was just a fling while he was between missions?

  But what if this is the real thing?

  She clung to the memory of the look in his eyes when she’d greeted him in typical submissive pose, baring it all for the world to see. She hadn’t known any other way to let him know she was offering herself to him unconditionally. The kiss he’d given her was hot enough to scorch the soles of her feet, but he’d been quiet on the drive to her townhouse. And just as silent when he followed her into the bedroom.

  He stopped when he saw the display on the bed, staring from the array of items to her and back again.

  “For us?”

  She nodded, unable to say anything just yet.

  He set his duffel down carefully next to the dresser then opened his arms to her.

  “Come here, girl.”

  Her heart tripped as she moved toward him and walked into the shelter of his body.

  “I missed you.” Her voice was muffled against his chest.

  His hand stroked her back. “I—missed you, too.” He sounded as if the words were pulled out of him by a rope, but at least he’d said them.

  “I was afraid you’d see that photo and freak.” She still hadn’t looked up at him. “I asked Kari to text you I—You didn’t leave me your cell number or your email.”

  “Yeah. My mistake.” He threaded his fingers through her hair and tilted her head back. “Look at me, girl. Right now.”

  She looked directly into his eyes and what she saw there nearly made her knees buckle. Heat. Desire. Need. And something else.

  “You’re my girl, right? Answer me.”

  “Y-Yes.”

  “I want this to work. I want you to be mine. We may stumble a little over our individual issues, but if we keep moving forward it will be worth it.” He brushed a kiss over her forehead. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you while I was deployed. You haunted my dreams and even danced in my head during the day.”

  “Me, too,” she told him.

  He glanced over at the bed and grinned. “I see you’ve planned quite a welcome home party for me.”

  She gave an unsteady laugh. “My own signals of commitment.” She smiled up at him. “But I have another surprise for you, too.”

  His eyes widened. “Yeah? How about showing it to me, because I can’t wait to get you naked, smack that ass until your pussy is soaked and fuck you blind.”

  “Okay.” She stepped back from his embrace and began to strip off her clothes. Slowly, because she wanted to tease him a little, too.”

  First her shoes, kicked to the side. Then the jeans, the rasp of the zipper sounding so loud in the room. She pushed them to the side with her shoes. With a wicked grin she shimmied slowly out of her thong and discarded that, also.

  Lust flared in Beau’s eyes. “I want the rest of it off. Now.”

  “Yes, Sir. Whatever you say.” But she took another step back in case he decided to reach for her and help things along.

  She had deliberately worn a blouse with tiny little buttons so she could draw out the strip tease, but by the time she finally got the last one undone, her hands were shaking. Discarding the blouse she turned her back to Beau while she unhooked her bra. At last, naked, she turned to him. The look in his eyes was worth it all as he zeroed in on the thin gold rings threaded through her nipples.

  “You’re pierced!” He sounded awestruck.

  “I know you wanted to be there when I got it done, but after the picture and the misunderstanding and all that… So, I did it as a welcome home gift for you. Kari went with me and held my hand.”

  He wet his lips and stared at her. “Good for Kari,” he said at last. He took a step forward and brushed the tip of a finger carefully over each nipple. “Are they still sore?”

  She shook her head. “No. I did it the week after you left. They’ve had plenty of time to heal. Would you like to—lick them?”

  “Damn right.” He closed his lips around one turgid bud, sucking it into his mouth while being careful not to tug too hard on the ring. When it was hard and pebbled he moved to the other one and gave it the same treatment. Then he gave each ring a gentle tug with his tongue.

  Megan stood immobile, hands at her sides, as Beau’s eyes hungrily devoured every inch of her body.

  “You honor me,” he said at last, then grinned. “But I think that picture demands punishment. It nearly gave me a heart attack.”

  “I was afraid of that. The newspaper covered the banquet and the coach was joking around.” She bowed her head but looked up through her lashes. “I definitely deserve to be punished for permitting it to be taken.”

  “I see you have the belt ready for me.” Every trace of humor left his voice as he said, “Bend over the bed. You know the position.”

  She was so wet her thighs slid against each other as she moved to the bed and stretched out from her hips to her head across the coverlet.

  “I’m going to assume this scarf is to cover your eyes.”

  “Yes.” She wet her lips. “Please.” She turned her head and saw him lift the soft fabric and fold it into a long, wide strip.

  “Close your eyes, girl.”

  In another moment the soft fabric slid over her skin, pressing against her eyelids, and Beau knotted the ends in place. She wondered if he’d leave her hands free, but that question was answered when he pulled her arms forward and locked the cuffs around her wrists. Not behind her back?

  “I don’t want anything in my way when I attend to that sweet ass,” Beau said as if reading her mind. He checked the blindfold, testing its tightness in place. “Do not move your hands. At all. Grab the coverlet if you have to but otherwise no movement.”

  The next thing she felt was the leather of the belt trailing over her skin from her neck across her buttocks down her legs to her ankles and back again. She wiggled her hips, wanting him to get on with it. She was already so aroused she was sure one stroke and she’d explode. As if he could hear her thoughts, Beau placed one hand on the curve of her ass and pressed down on it lightly.

  “No coming until I tell you to. If you disobey me I may not let you come again the entire time I’m home.”

  Ohmigod! No!

  “I’ll be good, Sir,” she promised, her voice muffled by the bedclothes.

  “A proper response.”

  The feel of the belt disappeared but in a moment it snapped through the air and cracked across her skin, heat blooming from the site of contact. The walls of her pussy clenched with the stimulation.

  More! She wanted to shout it.

  As if he heard her silent plea, he whipped the belt over her again, and then again. Twenty times in all, pausing occasionally to glide his palm over her flaming skin. Lost in the darkness behind the blindfold, the pain was intensified. More arousing. Then nothing. Nothing at all. She heard sounds, but she wasn’t sure exactly what they were. She tried to control her breathing as she lay there but ohmigod she wanted him so badly.

  Beau nudged her legs apart with his foot and ran his hand over the lips of her cunt. She tried to push back against him, but he pinched each of her outer lips, hard.

  “None of that. I’m controlling the action here.”

  It was hard to hold still as he thrust two fingers inside her, swirling them in her soaked channel, curling them before sliding them out.

  “You’re so wet I don’t even think I’ll need that lube,” he said. “Jesus. I love it.”

  He spread the cheeks of her ass and painted the crevice with her liquid, dipping his fingers in her cunt to scoop out more, playing with her anus as he rubbed the moisture into her tissues. He pushed one finger slowly into her dark tunnel, moving it gently in and out, repeating the process as he continued to use her own juices to lubricate her. By the time he was able to press three fingers in
side her she was biting her lip so hard for control she was sure she’d make it bleed.

  “Spread your legs wider,” he ordered.

  Oh, please, yes. Fuck me now.

  She wanted to scream the words at him.

  But it wasn’t his cock she felt sliding into her pussy, rather the vibrator which he turned on as soon as it was completely inside her.

  Oh, God! Oh, help!

  How was she supposed to control herself now?

  She heard the sounds of a condom being unwrapped and visualized him sliding it onto his thick shaft. In a moment the broad head of it nudged at her anus, easing into her ass one thick inch at a time.

  “Breathe through your mouth, girl. You can take it. Come on.”

  And she could. She’d taken it before although not when one of her channels was filled with a dildo. And he moved with such agonizing slowness.

  Hurry, hurry, hurry!

  Finally he was all the way inside her. The dildo continued to hum and the swelling of his cock told her he could feel the vibrations.

  “Now,” he told her, gripping her hips. “Now we’re going on a wild ride. Come when I tell you to.”

  It was so hard to hold on as he drove into her again and again, the pulsations from her cunt spreading through her entire body. Her nipples were so hard she could actually feel the metal of the rings threaded through them. And still he rode her, harder and harder. She knew the exact moment his climax surged through him. His fingers tightened on her hips and his body stiffened. And in her darkness everything was intensified, every sensation magnified. She could smell their mingled scent, feel every inch of him touching her.

  “Now, girl,” he shouted. “Come now.”

  He thrust once more, twice, three times and when she had reached her absolute limit they exploded together. She knew nothing except for the great shuddering of their bodies, the spasms that ripped through her, the black velvet surrounding them filled with the starburst of rockets. She convulsed over and over, her pussy gripping the vibrator as the walls of her rectum clamped down on Beau’s hard cock.