Corpsman and the Nerd (36 page)

KC happened to know Max’s ribs were
especially ticklish, an idle fact she picked up from Lainy and
learned through trial and error. She used the information to Max’s
detriment. He howled and evaded her and Ryan’s questing fingers,
managing to trap her against him, and push Ryan gently
away.

Spuds barked happily from his corner
of the bed, making lick dives whenever someone’s face came into
easy tongue access. Panting, and laughing, Max retaliated, trying
for her feet and underarms and KC yelped. He was good, since he had
so many siblings, she was sure.

Managing to wriggle away, she nearly
made her way across the acreage of bed before he grabbed her again.
One big arm around her waist and KC was effectively trapped. He
performed some maneuver and somehow she lofted because when she
landed, Max loomed over her.

“
Hey, Ryan, maybe you’d
better let Spuds out,” he suggested.

Ryan and Spuds bounded off the bed and
out the door. She heard them rattle down the stairs and across the
kitchen floor.

Max’s eyes gleamed in the morning sun
before he blocked the light with those delectable shoulders. “Hmmm,
suitable punishment for that tickle-fest? Let me think.”

KC squirmed, but not too hard. She
knew what he wanted. She could read the lazy sensuality in his
eyes, and hoped her punishment would be a kiss. When she finally
loosened her arms from his hold, she wrapped them around his neck.
Maybe she’d spur that notion she could see forming behind his sexy
eyes.

“
Yes, I think a good morning
kiss,” he mused, but before she could comment, he pressed his lips
to hers, and blew any other thoughts from her mind.

KC yanked him closer, even as his arms
tightened around her. She could barely breathe, but breathing was
overrated. And Max Morrison’s kisses were highly underrated. They
now topped her list of favorite things.

When they finally did come up for air,
by mutual consent, they both sucked in some oxygen before their
mouths fused again.

KC heard a groan, but didn’t know or
care whether it came from her throat or his. She wanted to crawl
into his skin, but as things heated up, footsteps echoed through
the house as Ryan and Spuds made their way back up the
stairs.

Spuds jumped onto the bed as they
reluctantly parted. KC didn’t care if her needs and wants and
desires showed in her eyes. Maybe they would help her broach the
subject of them spending their lives together. And the answering
look in Max’s eyes comforted and gave her hope.

When Ryan rejoined them, KC rolled out
of the bed with Max and followed her males down the stairs. Even
after her late night meal, she was hungry again. The problem was,
she couldn’t ascertain whether she was hungry for food or for more
Max Morrison. MMM. Delectable man.

“
So what are our plans
today?” KC asked around a yawn. She had been relegated to watching
as Ryan and Max prepared breakfast. She could still taste Max on
her lips and wasn’t sure she wanted to eat anything. Food would
wipe away the delicious flavor of his kiss.

Laughing at their antics, KC could see
this pair definitely had formed a family unit. And both males
seemed willing to include her. Max kept sending lazy, sexy smiles
at her. Which made her insides heat. Certain he knew this, she
narrowed her eyes at him.

That upped his smile. When Ryan turned
to set the table, Max stole another kiss. He didn’t have to work
very hard, and she was soon clinging to those wonderful shoulders.
She even managed to slide a possessive hand up one of his arms.
Yum. The man was double chocolate fudge cake with chocolate
frosting topped with decadent chocolate shavings. Delicious,
sinful, and he wouldn’t cause her a belly ache. KC figured she
could indulge with no ramifications, except maybe to her
heart.

Or his
. A quiet, unwelcome voice taunted. Hurting Max would
devastate her. But she couldn’t deny either of them those amazing
kisses. Nor did she want to go back to her bed. She loved being
with Max. They didn’t have to do anything other than
sleep.

Until they made a commitment that was
a moot point anyway. They had never discussed the subject, but KC
knew Max wouldn’t budge. His physical needs wouldn’t be assuaged
until they said some vows. Exactly as she felt. She hadn’t been in
a relationship for so long she forgot what one did,
anyhow.

Have fun
? Her quiet voice asked. KC pondered that as she watched Ryan
and Max finish up the breakfast preparations. She was having fun.
She always did with Max. Now with Ryan that mixture had only upped
the enjoyment quotient. Her boys were determined to spoil her, and
she had been gone for so long, anything they wanted, they would
receive.

But to have fun? Why not? The risk was
great they’d destroy their friendship, yet, if they gambled, they
could enter into an even stronger, deeper, longer lasting
relationship.

Was that what she
wanted?
Definitely
. Max was worth the gamble too. There was no question in her
mind now this was just a long distance problem. Because here she
was back home and anything she felt in Kuwait about Max had only
strengthened now she was back where she belonged. Add in the fact
she’d already gone too far this morning to back out now. And
truthfully, she had no desire to alter the course they had
taken.

Watching her son, secure in
a relationship of his own with Max, she had a responsibility to
settle her own bond. Max was Ryan’s dad. Why couldn’t Max also be
her husband? She’d love to be his wife and lover. Somewhere between
here and Kuwait she had made that momentous decision.
This man was worth the risk
.

Her eyes roved over him again, and she
once more reflected on how to broach the subject.

His phone rang and she leaned over the
counter and picked it up without looking at the screen. Hitting the
connect button KC placed it to her ear. “Hello?”

She heard a gasp and then
Lainy’s voice erupted over the line. “
KC,
you’re back
. When did you get
home?”

KC laughed as she settled back into
her chair. “Hi, Lainy. I got in yesterday?” She quirked an eyebrow
at Max when he shook his head.

“
What? I didn’t get in
yesterday?”

“
No, you’ve been out for
somewhere between eighteen and twenty-four hours.”

“
Oh,” she said. “Wow, did
you hear that Lainy?”

“
I did. What
happened?”

“
I don’t know.” Max held his
hand out for the phone and she handed the device over.

“
She collapsed at the
airport. Yeah, exhaustion. No, she wasn’t up for a family reunion.
Let’s wait until Saturday. Mitch had some time to recover before he
came home. KC worked all hours of the day with no breaks. Remember
they had that stomach virus and then the flu?”

Max grimaced and KC wiggled her
fingers for the phone. He told Lainy he was handing the phone back
to her and then did so.

“
I’m sorry, Lainy, I had no
idea I’ve been home for two days now. I finally took a shower last
night.”

“
How are you
feeling?”

“
I’m still tired, but I’m
very happy and relieved to be home.” She looked pointedly at Max
and Ryan. Max smiled at her, a secret smile that promised many
things. Did she have the courage to collect?

“
I’m sure you
are.”

“
Yes.” Even KC could hear
the relief in her voice.

“
I suppose you’re planning
to sleep today?”

“
No. I’m finished sleeping.”
When Max’s eyebrow winged, she shook her head. “I’ll go to bed
early tonight, but I need my body to adjust to home time
again.”

“
Ah, yes. Mitch did the
same. He only allowed himself to sleep for a few hours, then stuck
to regular hours after that. You military folks are
tough!”

“
Of course we
are.”

“
Will you rejoin?” Lainy’s
voice was quiet.

“
I don’t know. I’ve time to
think about it. My reenlistment isn’t quite up yet. When my time is
up whether I rejoin will depend on the counter offer.” And her eyes
slid to Max.

“
Well, I’m fairly certain
it’ll be a good one. Remember, he’s never done this before. He
might need some prompting,” Lainy said quietly.

“
What do you mean?” KC knew
an intense desire to pin Lainy down and make her answer the
questions buzzing around her brain, but Lainy wouldn’t need to be
pinned. Max’s sister would offer up any answers she could, prompted
by one thing. Lainy wanted to see Max settled and happy, and if she
was interfering in their relationship, her reasons were for
goodwill only.

“
I imagine the both of you
are feeling the same way. You do
need
to talk. If you let these
feelings bottle up without talking about how you feel, you’re going
to get tense. Nothing will be accomplished.” Lainy’s voice held
sincerity that rang through the intensity.

“
It’s such a risk, Lainy.”
KC sighed.

“
I know. Why don’t I come
and pick up Ryan tomorrow? Melly is dropping off her kids in the
morning because she has some doctors’ appointments. Ryan will have
playmates.”

“
Thank you, Lainy.” KC was
thankful for Max’s family and their love. She and Max did need time
to talk.

“
You’re welcome. Don’t break
my brother’s heart,” she ordered.

KC didn’t laugh. This was too serious
a matter.

“
Never
.” Her answer was as emphatic as she could muster.

“
Good.”

They hung up and KC sat down to her
first family meal in eight months, a surreal, otherworldly feeling
surrounding her. She’d been eating in a mess tent for so many
months that sharing a meal with Max and Ryan was that much more
special.

Lainy arrived in a flurry of hugs the
next morning and whisked Ryan away before KC was ready. She and
Ryan had shared some alone time together yesterday as well as some
family time with Max.

Now she was alone with Max. Never had
she been so nervous and unsure of herself. She had to rub her
sweaty palms over her skirt several times. What did she do with
this man who she’d been so comfortable with, but now held a male
potency she didn’t quite know how to respond to?

Looking at him, she wanted to ask for
so much, but fear paralyzed her. What if he wouldn’t give her what
she asked for or needed? Worse yet, what if he couldn’t? What if
she couldn’t give him what he needed?

Bile rose in her throat and
she hastily swallowed, trying to regain control of her fear. Panic
wouldn’t help her, or her cause. She needed to think about what she
wanted, and tell him. This was
Max
. The one person she trusted more
than anyone else in the world.

Finally, she decided to say what was
on her heart. She blurted, “Max, I can’t live with you like
this.”

Chapter 45

The hope in his eyes died as his face
closed off, like he shut down all emotions. Then Max swallowed hard
and turned to leave the room. KC’s eyes widened when she realized
what she had unthinkingly uttered. Leaping forward she grabbed his
arm. He opened his mouth.

“
I thought you wanted to
stay?” His voice was quiet, but she still caught the underlying
hurt. Her heart shattered for what he must feel.
That wasn’t what she meant.

“
That didn’t come out the
way I intended. What I mean is this is home, but it’s not...”
Struggling for the word she needed, KC groped desperately for the
right combination.

The words eluded any attempts she made
to grasp them.

“
It’s not what you want long
term?” He finished for her.

“
No!
I mean, yes. I do want to stay with you long term, just not
like this.”

He frowned, and looked confused. She
could handle a perplexed Max. But she couldn’t bear to hurt him and
that’s why she was having such difficulty explaining herself. If he
didn’t love her like she loved him, she would hurt both of
them.

KC stumbled around trying to discover
the words she needed to make him understand.

“
KC, I thought—” he shoved a
hand through his hair and then shook his head. “I need to think
about this.” He turned but she caught the utter hurt and
bewilderment in his eyes. For the first time she could remember,
Max didn’t quite make it through the door, but his shoulder bounced
painfully off the doorframe. He didn’t appear to notice.

She just spent eight months in
temperatures most human beings couldn’t endure. Like sandstorms,
very little sleep, and barely palatable food. Yet trying to express
herself to Max was the hardest thing she had ever done. And now
that she tried, she might have botched the attempt beyond
repair.

Hanging her head, KC wondered if she
should return to Kuwait.