Advance to the Rear (Strike Force Book 3) Read online

  When he lifted his mouth from hers at last, she looked at him with heavy-lidded eyes.

  “If you want any dinner tonight, you’d better save that for later.”

  “Maybe I’ll just eat you instead,” he teased.

  A delicate blush suffused her face. “Um, okay. That would work, too.”

  He loved the fact that despite the intense intimacy they now shared, he could still make her blush. The more time he spent with her, the more he wondered how he could ever have fallen for Ria. That whole chapter of his life was a nightmare from the past that Nikki had helped him deal with. What they were building together was deep and solid.

  Now he gave her a light tap on the butt.

  “Get cracking here. I’m thinking after dinner we can take a little dip in the lake. Slade says the water is great here, not freezing, and the bottom is very sandy.”

  She grinned. “I’ll get right on it.”

  He enjoyed sitting on the porch with her after they’d cleared the dishes, just rocking back in forth in the old-fashioned swing that hung from the porch ceiling. They had both decided not to drink any more than the one beer with their meal.

  “I want to enjoy everything later to its fullest,” he whispered in her ear.

  Her lips curved in a shyly seductive smile. “That works for me.”

  When he kept glancing to the right, she sat up a little straighter and try to see what he was looking at.

  “Just wondering if our neighbors ever come outside that cottage. And if not, why not.”

  “They were out on the porch yesterday,” she reminded him.

  “Yeah, but I think that was just to check us out.”

  “Didn’t Slade say they’d managed to get out of one of the countries in the middle of a war?”

  He nodded. “But still…”

  “Maybe they only feel safe inside while they’re waiting for whatever comes next.”

  He shrugged. “You could be right. I think tomorrow I might ask Slade to check them out a little further, though. Meanwhile…” He moved off the swing and tugged Nikki with him. “The moon’s just coming up. How about a little night swimming?”

  “Are you sure it’s safe in there?” She inclined her head toward the lake.

  “Yup. I checked it on Google, just to be sure.”

  She laughed. “I can hardly believe it’s even recognized by them, but okay. I trust you.”

  He wanted to tell her not to bother putting on a bathing suit, because he planned to take it off at the earliest opportunity, but damn! She sure looked good in just that little bit of nothing. Then he reminded himself how much fun it would be to strip it from her.

  They grabbed towels from the bathroom which they dropped on the narrow strip of sand bordering the lake. Marc started forward then noticed Nikki was still standing in one spot.

  He grinned. “Coming in, chicken?”

  She wrapped her arms around herself and gave him a skeptical look. “You first, you big, bad Delta Force soldier. Let’s see if you freeze to death.”

  He laughed and started into the water. “Come on, it’s warm. Here. I’ll show you.”

  Marc had expected the water in the small lake to be warm. After all, they were almost as far south as one could get in the United States. But when he waded into it from the tiny strip of beach that fronted the cabin, the shock of it hit him right away. He was lucky he didn’t freeze his balls off.

  He reached out a hand for Nikki and turned when he realized she wasn’t right beside him. She was standing at the water’s edge, clearly outlined in the moonlight, arms wrapped around herself, laughing at him.

  “Come on in, chicken. It’ll wake you up.”

  She shook her head. “It’s almost time to go to sleep. Whose idea was this, anyway?”

  He grinned. “I think it was yours. And I have things on the agenda before we hit the hay for the night.” He motioned to her. “Come on. I promise I’ll warm you up.”

  He was grateful for the fact that the cottage they were staying in was nestled in a curve of the lake, so none of the other cottages could see it, or them. He especially didn’t want the men in the next cottage over watching them. Slade’s friend might have vouched for them, but he still had an uneasy feeling, Maybe it was his overdeveloped sense of caution, but he wasn’t yet ready to give them a clean slate. He’d talk to Nikki about it in the morning and see if she was up for finding an alternate place.

  Of course, finding one as isolated and beautiful as this might not be that easy.

  He studied her now as she inched her way slowly into the moonlit lake, the tiny ripples lapping softly against her body. The sight of her made his cock so hard that even the low temperature of the water and the little breeze couldn’t make it behave. He had never met a woman who made him so hard, so fast, all the time, and had the rest of the package to go with it. A woman he could spend hours talking to and never run out of things to say. A woman who let him bare his soul and offered comfort and peace. He hoped he did the same for her, as she unburdened her own soul to him.

  One thing he was sure of. This vacation had only just begun, but he knew he wanted more—a lot more—with her. His marriage had been a stupid fluke. This was what real relationships were made of, something he’d thought he would never have. He mentally crossed his fingers that he wasn’t jumping to conclusions.

  Nikki made her way through the water until she was standing next to him. Despite the fact she was still hugging herself against the chill, he could see the rounded curve of her breasts that the bikini top barely covered. Her nipples peaked in the cool, the points pushing against the thin material. He moved her arms out of the way and cupped her breasts, his thumbs brushing against the hard tips.

  She inhaled softly, then looked to either side of where they stood.

  “No one can see us,” he assured her. “We’re in our own little private world here.”

  He stepped a little farther out until he was waist-high in the water, holding Nikki firmly against him.

  “Put your legs around me,” he told her. “Come on.”

  She wrapped her legs around his waist, moonlight gleaming in her eyes.

  “I thought we were supposed to be swimming,” she teased.

  “There’s swimming and then there’s swimming. Come on, tighter. Yes. Like that.”

  He could feel the press of her sex against him, the touch of her making his cock flex. He shifted her so he was perfectly aligned with her sweet pussy. And oh, god, was it sweet. He could still taste the flavor of her in his mouth. Cupping the nicely rounded cheeks of her ass, he pressed her body to his and shit! He nearly lost it right then. He’d have thought after a couple of days of immersing himself in her, he’d have some control, but he wondered if that would ever happen. What he felt for Nikki was a potent combination of lust and some emotion he was afraid to identify.

  Holding her against him, he rocked her back and forth so the lips of her sex were rubbing against his shaft. The thin, tiny bikini panties might as well have not been there at all. He was glad of the cool temperature of the water or he’d be two steps from embarrassing himself.

  He palmed the curve of her ass, giving her firm flesh a light squeeze, and despite his best intentions rubbing her in slow movements against his body. Oh, sweet Jesus. Had anything ever felt this good in his life?

  He nibbled her jaw, traced a line along the slender column of her neck and licked the shell of her ear. His blood was racing and he wondered just when he had become this sex maniac.

  No, not sex maniac. Just a man besotted by a woman with every fiber of his being.

  “I really wanted to swim,” he murmured, “but if we don’t get into the cottage so I can be inside you in the next five minutes, I’ll really embarrass myself.”

  Nikki tightened her legs around his waist, pulling her body even more tightly against his. Then she tucked her head into the curve of his should and whispered, “I’ve…I’ve never had sex in water.”

  His heart nearl
y thumped out of his chest at the images her words had cascading through his brain.

  “I hate to kill that very erotic idea, but condoms are considerably less effective in the water.”

  With her head still tucked into his neck she said, “I have an IUD.”

  Every muscle in his body clenched as he realized what that meant. Naked skin to naked skin. Holy god!

  “Be absolutely sure,” he told her. “Because I’ll tell you, once I’m ungloved inside you, I’ll never want to go back to using a condom.”

  He felt the slight tremble in her body, a strong indication that this was a very big step for her. Her sexual experiences had been limited to a couple of short-term boyfriends and her long-time fiancé. However intimate she had been with the man she had planned to marry, he didn’t want the details. This was brand-new for both of them. He wanted them to make their own memories. He held his breath waiting for her answer.

  She lifted her head and looked directly into his eyes.

  “I’m sure. If I wasn’t, I never would have mentioned it.”

  Standing in the water, facing her, he managed to pull his bathing trunks down far enough to free his cock. Nikki undid all the ties on her bikini bathing suit and giggled while Marc tied them to one wrist. Then he just stood there, studying her in the moonlight, a naked goddess so tempting he almost came just from looking at her. Thank god for the cool feel of the water.

  Sliding his hands up, he cupped her breasts, squeezing their fullness and rasping his thumbs over her nipples as they peaked to hardness. He pinched them lightly, then a little harder. She sucked in her breath and arched into his touch.

  Marc bent his head and took one beaded tip into his mouth, even as one hand coasted down the curve of her body and over to her pussy. With the edge of one finger, he lightly stroked between the lips, brushing the swollen bud of her clit. Back and forth, pinching a little now and then and tugging on the swollen flesh. Nikki moaned and threw her head back, bowing backward to push herself harder into his touch.

  When he eased two fingers inside her, testing how ready she was, the moan became louder and her breathing accelerated. She had been gripping his arms to hold herself steady but now she dipped a hand below the surface to find his cock and wrap her fingers around it.

  Oh, sweet Jesus.

  He pressed himself against her, easing his fingers from her hot pussy and cupping her cheeks to take her mouth in a hot, hungry kiss. He licked the soft tissue inside and glided his tongue over her smaller, more delicate one.

  She squeezed his shaft in a steady rhythm, driving him close to the point of no return.

  “Slide your legs around me like you did before.” He could hear how ragged his breath was.

  “Okay.”

  As soon as she did, he guided his cock to her opening and eased it slowly inside, gasping at the hot feel of her naked flesh. He had to grit his teeth to take it slowly. When she squeezed him with her inner muscles, it was all he could do to control himself. With her legs wrapped around him and his arms bracing her, he set up a steady movement of thrust and retreat. The drag of her inner muscles against his swollen shaft, the hot, intense feel of her despite the cool water, were driving him crazy.

  Taking her mouth in a hard, demanding kiss, he increased the rhythm, the light slap of the water against their skin like some kind of erotic music. Nikki moaned into his mouth and he drove harder and faster. Mouth still fused to hers, he rocked them both in the water, hard, faster. He made it last as long as he could, but when he felt that first tiny quiver in her inner walls, he increased his pace, before giving one hard, final thrust and taking them both over the edge together.

  Her muscles squeezed him in a steady rhythm as his cock pulsed and throbbed, spurting into her, the sensation so intense he thought he might lose his mind. Nikki clung to him for dear life, her naked breasts pressed hard against his chest, the nipples like tiny points of flame.

  When he couldn’t stand there with her any longer, he eased himself out of her tight clasp, lowered her legs and held her against him for a long moment until he felt steady enough to move. Then he pulled up his trunks, lifted her and carried her naked out of the water. He set her on her feet and wrapped one of the towels around her then stripped off his trunks and knotted a towel at his waist.

  He took a moment to scan the area to make sure no one had been watching before he picked her up to carry her inside.

  Nikki was cuddled against him, arms around his neck, head resting on his shoulder. He was sure he could hold her like this forever. It was for damn sure the image he’d keep in his mind when he was huddled down with the other members of his team stalking an enemy.

  He couldn’t believe that his cock was already stirring with desire, but he wanted her to know this was about more than sex. Been there, done that, worn the scars. This was about an emotional connection and building a foundation, something he’d been sure would never happen in his lifetime.

  When he was sure they were both completely dry, he carried her into the bedroom.

  “I can walk, you know.” Her voice was tinged with laughter.

  “Maybe I just like carrying you,” he teased. “Okay, bedtime.”

  He placed her on the bed and slid in beside her, adjusting her so he spooned around her body. He loved the feel of her softness against his hard muscles, her silky hair brushing against him. The way her breast fit perfectly in his hand when he cupped it.

  He made a quick mental note to remind himself to call Slade in the morning. Then he pressed her body more tightly to his, so his now thoroughly aroused cocked nestled in the crevasse of her buttocks. God. She made him insatiable.

  “I thought you were sleepy?” There was a hint of laughter in her voice.

  “Apparently not that sleepy.” He kissed the shell of her ear. “But if you are, you can just relax and I’ll do all the work.”

  Then he forgot about anyone and anything except the woman in his arms.

  Chapter Six

  “Are you sure you understand what I told you?” Jamal looked at Kasim and Farid, assessing them. “It’s very important that you do this right.”

  “Do you think we are stupid?” Farid growled. “You treat us as if we are twelve. This is for my brother. Do you think I would be careless?”

  Jamal drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. It would do no good to antagonize these men. He needed them to be at the top of their game, wherever that was. To execute this without a hitch or they would all be in big trouble.

  “I apologize. We just do not have any room for error.”

  “The error has already happened,” Kasim spat at him. “From the moment Malik was shot, this has been a disaster. Why did you not force the driver to take us to whoever we are reporting to in the city? The person who put this together? You are supposed to be the team leader.”

  Allah, please give me strength.

  “Malik getting shot was unforeseen,” he reminded them. “And I do have a plan, since the person we were supposed to rendezvous with seems to be ignoring us.”

  “Good.” Farid nearly spat the word. “Because things are very bad right now. If we do not get Malik help soon his entire body could become infected—then what would we do?”

  “And we need a car,” Kasim reminded him. “We cannot stay here indefinitely. Do you know where we were supposed to be taken before Kasim got shot?”

  “In San Antonio. I need the address so we can put the equipment together. The man in charge there is supposed to have it for us.”

  “But we can’t do anything unless we know where that is,” Farid raged. “You must remind the idiot you call of that.”

  “Enough!” Jamal held up his hands. “I have a plan. It involves getting Malik attended to and procuring transportation for us. Then we will force the issue.”

  “Then let us hear it.” Kasim glared at hm. “I am tired of being cooped up in this godforsaken place, shut off from the outside world for all intents and purposes.”

  “So
sit and I will tell you.” He glanced in the bedroom. “But first we must change Malik’s dressing and give him some aspirin. Then you must pay very careful attention because absolutely everything has to be done just right.”

  * * * *

  Nikki stood on the porch drinking her morning coffee, looking out at the lake. The picture was so peaceful, the sun just rising and reflected in the waters that showed barely a ripple. A few ducks bobbed and dipped out in the middle, two of them fluttering their wings and disturbing the otherwise mostly tranquil surface.

  She felt blissful, her body sated and relaxed in only the way stupendous sex could do. She would not have expected Marc to be a gentle lover as well as an intense one, but it seemed he ran the gamut. She couldn’t ever remember feeling so completely satisfied and that said a lot, because Jon also had been an accomplished lover.

  But there was something about the connection she and Marc had developed, the way they’d come to know each other’s bodies so intimately in such a short time. She had to keep pinching herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming.

  “That looks like some serious thinking going on.”

  His voice still had that sexy, husky, early morning growl to it, a sound that reverberated through all her important parts. How could it be that after enjoying almost nonstop sex, she still wanted him with a fierce desire?

  If this is a dream, please don’t let it end any time soon.

  She turned to look at him, deliciously sleep-rumpled, the scruff of beard only adding to the erotic image. His lips curved in one of his slow smiles that pressed every one of her hot buttons.

  “Up early, aren’t you?” He grinned. “I guess I didn’t wear you out as much as I thought. I’ll have to work on that.”

  Heat flashed over her body in a wave of warmth and the pulse in her sex throbbed with low, insistent need.

  I’m becoming an addict. As much as I loved Jon, it was never like this with him.

  For one second she was hit with a feeling of disloyalty and thought about telling Marc they should leave. Then she gave herself a mental kick. She had loved Jon with every fiber of her being. Done everything she could for him. Shut herself away in a closet filled with recriminations after his death, convinced she deserved the punishment of isolation. Until, that is, Marc had come along with his own demons and they’d managed to help each other to begin the healing process.