A Major Distraction (8 page)

Brad forced himself not to hurl the cup and pound both idiots into the floor. No wonder Genevieve hadn’t wanted to go out with anyone at work if most of the guys hitting on her were like these two. And for the record, he’d seen the silk blouse she wore and thought it nothing but professional. She had breasts; it wasn’t like she should wear a tent to disguise them.

He skirted the small divider leading to the kitchenette and saw them start upon seeing him. “Gentlemen, you’re new to G2, so let me help you out. This isn’t the infantry, where there’s nothing but dick walking and talking all day. Men
and
women work here, so if you two can’t keep your pie-holes shut about shit that has no place being spoken, I can guaran-damn-tee that a counseling will be in order.

“St. James is one of a handful of our civilian contractors, and along with a few of our female Marines on staff, the females are far outnumbered by the men working here. We all know that. There aren’t many women around, but they’re
all
to be respected.”

“Yes, sir.” They both knew they’d screwed up. This wasn’t an infantry battalion where the idea that
boys will be boys
still prevailed. Hell, Brad was a guy. He liked a good non-PC joke now and then—in the right company. But sure as shit not here. The new Inspector General had made a huge deal about making
her
Marine Corps more PC, and she had no qualms serving up members of an antiquated all boys’ club to make things right. Brad wanted to find her and salute her right now.

He stepped closer to the pricks watching him with caution. “On a personal note, if I hear of either of you fucking with any of the females in my wing, I will personally rip your goddamn heads off. You get me?” he growled.

“Roger that, sir. Sorry. Won’t happen again.” Captain Batista stood at attention.

Hearst nodded like a bobble-head out of control.

“Good.” Brad turned on his heel and stormed back to his office. Then he drank down his coffee and tried to ignore the tension headache threatening to destroy the rest of his day. Pummeling the assholes down the hall would have helped, but he hoped to make lieutenant colonel in a few years, so he had to keep his nose clean. On base, at least.

With a mean grin, he turned-to on his emails and wrote a sarcastic note back to Genevieve. Someone had to take charge of their project because they continued to butt heads over certain protocols. Time to break out the big guns and remind the civilian that Major Cava knew his stuff.

Later that night, Genevieve leaned back in her tub and lifted her foot for Brad to rub. “Ah. This is the life.”

He grinned at her, decadently nude and covered in rose-scented bubbles as he lounged across from her in her humongous antique tub. She knew if she scooted closer, she could sit on that yummy erection waiting for her, but he’d insisted on taking care of her after their shared hard day at work.

“Did you notice anything funny about Batista and Hearst today?” she asked, leaning her head back against the rim of the tub and closing her eyes.

His hand clenched around her foot.

“Oh, that’s nice. Work the heel.”

He ground his thumb into her heel and released a knot of tension that had her sighing.

“Batista and Hearst? What about them?” he asked.

“They were less obnoxious today than usual. Gave me a wide berth, actually.”

He kept rubbing. “Good. Those two are assholes.”

“I know.” She chuckled. “It was only a matter of time before they got reamed for something.”

“No doubt.”

“Marcy was acting weird too. I think she and her boyfriend broke up.”

“Bummer.”

“You don’t care, do you?” She opened her eyes and lifted her head to look at him.

He moved his hand from her foot and ran it up her calf, lifting her leg out of the water. “Nope.”

She moaned on a laugh. “Were you as tired as I was today?”

“Yeah. But it was so worth it. Though the colonel did ask why I was walking funny. Told him you rode me so hard, you wore me out.”

Shocked, she slipped and slid under the water then rose, sputtering through the bubbles. “You did not.”

He laughed. “Nah, but I did worry I’d be no good to you tonight after you nearly broke me yesterday.”

“Ha. Who almost broke who? You’re insatiable.”

“And in working order, so don’t worry.” He kissed the arch of her foot. “After I make you beg tonight, I say we get an early night’s sleep.” He paused. “I can sleep at home if you want. I don’t want to invade your space. We can hook up tomorrow for our weekend at the beach.”

Time for the awkward talk she’d been hoping to avoid. Normally she liked being alone, sleeping alone. But last night had been so much better, spooning with him as she drifted off. “Well, I mean, you live so close. I don’t see a problem with you sleeping over. Unless you don’t want to.”

He shrugged. “I’m fine. You’re the best hug pillow I’ve ever had.”

“Funny. Is that your way of saying I’m plump?”

His stare slipped to her breasts and lingered. “Only in the right places. Have I told you how much I love your tits?”

The frank language made her blush. Silly considering they were bathing together. “Brad.”

“I do. Now I’m done with your feet. How about my rub?” He yanked her closer and settled her astride him. Staring in her eyes, he lowered her over his long, thick cock. “Oh yeah.” He moaned when she sank all the way down on him. “So good.”

She put her arms around his neck and watched him watching her. “You’re sexy.”’

“Not nearly as much as you.” He rocked her up and down, the gentle waves of the bathwater rolling in time to their loving. “There is nothing better than being inside you.”

She nipped his lip. “Except coming in me, maybe.”

“There is that.” He kissed her and cupped her ass to make her move faster. His tongue penetrated in time with his cock, and he took one of her hands from his neck and moved it between them. “Get yourself off. I want you to come with me.”

She touched herself while he watched her, and she neared her end quicker than she’d have thought. “So good. I’m close.”

“Yeah, with me.”

Water sloshed over the floor. She didn’t care. She kissed him again, and the desperation in her kiss had him groaning into her mouth.

She found her climax and sucked hard on his tongue while clamping around him. He broke the kiss, swore, and ground her over him.

“Oh yeah. All in you,” he said on a moan. “Fuck. I love this.”

She trembled, lightheaded in lust, and scared because, for a minute, she’d thought he was going to say, “I love you.”

And she wanted to say it back. Crazy, right?

The day on the beach passed by in a blaze of sun and sand. Brad hadn’t thought she could get any sexier, but wearing a bikini that showed off her tan, and her curves, Genevieve had drawn his gaze all day. They held hands as they wandered the beach, and they swam as well.

Unlike a lot of the women on the beach soaking up rays, Genevieve wanted to play. She liked swimming and teasing him and laughing as much as she liked napping in the sun.

Wanting to please her, Brad let her call the shots and was pleasantly surprised when she did what he would have chosen anyway. Together on a beach blanket, he rolled her onto her back, lying over her so he could look into her eyes.

“You like the beach or the mountains better?”

She bit her lower lip in thought, so he leaned closer to kiss the sting away. “Oh.” She kissed him back then smiled at him. “Beach, I think.”

“Me too. But then, I’m biased. I grew up here.”

“I grew up outside the city, but we’d spend summers near the seashore.” She rubbed his chest and sighed. “Being here makes me miss my family. But I still don’t feel homesick.” She kissed him. “Thanks.”

“Hey, anything I can do to keep your mind occupied, I’m your guy.”

She laughed at him. “So where should I take everyone to dinner tonight? The bistro?”

“You don’t have to take anyone out. We can meet for drinks. How’s that?”

“No. Everyone helped me fix up my furniture and settle in. I owe them—you.”

“I know how you can make it up to me.” He smiled. “We haven’t used those pearls yet.”

She blushed. “Brad.” She wriggled under him and smirked. “Happy to see me?”

“Honey, I’m ‘happy’ around you all the time.” Though they’d played around with him rimming her, he had yet to take her ass. Ever since she’d mentioned her pearls, he couldn’t stop thinking about it. “Well?”

She tugged his nipple.

“Ow.”

“Tell you what. We’ll have a nice dinner together with my new friends.”

“And my family.”

“Yeah. Then we’ll go back to your place and play. That’s if you don’t get arrested for indecent exposure on the beach.”

“Wait. What?”

She darted out from under him and ran laughing into the water, leaving him with another hard-on to deal with. After composing himself enough that he could run into the water with her, they swam and rode the waves together. Then they left the beach and walked back to his parents’ house, where he’d parked.

His mother and father waved at them from the back porch.
Hell.
He’d thought they’d gone boating with friends this weekend.

“Brad, honey. Hi!” His mother smiled, looking from him to Genevieve with interest.

Debating how to introduce her, he must have taken too long because Genevieve elbowed him in the side before walking forward to introduce herself.

“Hello. I’m Genevieve St. James. Brad and I work together at the G2, and we’re currently dating.” She turned to him with a grin and raised a brow. A dare?

He joined her and hugged her to him. “Yeah. Mom, Dad, this is my new
girlfriend
.”
Ha. Take that.
Except thinking of her in more serious terms pleased him a little too much. “Genevieve, meet Elizabeth and Colonel Michael Cava.”

“Retired,” his father said, a twinkle in his eye as he stood to take Genevieve’s handshake. “A pleasure to meet you.”

“You too, sir.” She smiled.

“Call me Mike.” He smiled back, another victim of Genevieve’s charm. “Come on and sit down.”

“We don’t want to impose,” she started, but his mother waved away her apology.

“No, dear. Please, sit with us. It’s not often Brad comes to visit.”

“Brad.” Genevieve shook her head. “Why are you avoiding your parents?”

“A good question.” His mother watched him.

The blasted woman knew why he’d been avoiding her. She kept bugging him about being single, trying to set him up with her friends’ desperate daughters.

“Well, I’m here now.” He glared at his father, who didn’t hide his laughter all that well.

Before Brad could make up some excuse to leave pretty soon, his parents engaged Genevieve in conversation. Then his mother, a skilled interrogator in her own right, had Genevieve’s personal details spelled out. The woman was thirty years old, had a younger sister, parents in Maryland, was on track for a big promotion, and loved working for Colonel Drey.

“Julian’s a good man,” his father agreed. “Taught Brad a ton about the intel business.”

“He’s teaching me too.” Genevieve had no problem talking with his parents. She seemed so natural by his side. Not intimidated by his high-ranking father and his connections, and not trying to suck up to him either.

Brad sidled closer to her and put an arm around her shoulders.

She gave him a startled look then smiled and turned back to his mother.

His girlfriend. Hmm. He could handle that.

When his father motioned for him to leave the table, Brad followed him inside.

“What’s wrong?”

His dad clapped him on the back. “I like this one. Don’t fuck it up.”

“Dad.”

“She’s not like the others you’ve dated. And she sure the hell isn’t like Dana. You know I never liked her.”

Which had been a major point of contention between him and his father when he’d married Dana over his father’s objections. “Dad, Genevieve and I aren’t serious.”
Yet.

The word popped into his head and wouldn’t leave.

“Well, get serious. A girl like that, with her brains, looks, and savvy, is just waiting to get snapped up by the right Marine.”

Brad sighed. “Great pep talk, Dad.”

His father snorted. “You’re not as smart as you think you are. You screwed up with Dana, and you’ve been paying the price since. But hell, boy, if Mike and Olivia can find love, you sure the hell can. You’ve got my appeal after all.”

Brad grinned, ignoring the pressure not to repeat the past. It wasn’t as if he’d
tried
to get bamboozled by Dana. “Yes, sir.”

“Smartass. Make sure you invite Genevieve next week. Your mother and I have a thing to go to tomorrow night, but next Sunday we’re on for family dinner. I want to see Genevieve with you.”

“Dad…”

“Do Mike and Olivia like her?”

“Yeah, but—”

“Good.” His father slapped him on the back hard enough to fell a tree then walked away.

Finally making their escape after consuming nearly a pitcher of tea, Brad took Genevieve home, where they cleaned up and dressed for their group dinner. She in her place, he in his.

For the life of him, he couldn’t figure out why it bothered him so much that she’d gone back to her house. She only lived next door, yet Brad wanted her with him. In his home, his bed, his shower.

She wore shorts, a cute T-shirt, and sandals, her hair clean and dry and setting off her gorgeous tan as it flowed over her shoulders unbound.

He pulled her close. “Think we can be late for a quickie?” He ground against her and kissed her with a lot of tongue.

She pushed him away, breathing hard. “It won’t be quick because I’ll drag you under me until we both get all dirty and sweaty.” She nipped his lip. “But after…you’re all mine.”

He sighed. “Please let this dinner go fast.”

She laughed and dragged him to the restaurant she’d arranged for the six of them. Dinner with the others was a blast, and they all planned on more social outings after next week’s meeting at his parents’. He hadn’t meant to ask her in front of everyone, but Maria and her big mouth had issued the invitation before he could.