Hard: A Military Stepbrother Romance (14 page)

“They’re…gone.
Gooone for the…night.”

Of
course they were. Fuck.

“Settthhh…”

Bella’s
voice came through the coughing and gasping, and my arms curled tighter around
her.

“Almost
back, baby girl. You’ll be warm soon.”

Even
with the anger coiling inside me, my voice was soft. I could get angry with her
another day. As soon as she was okay.

“Sssseth…”

She
was slightly incoherent, and I was surprised she even knew it was me. I turned
to Kaylee instead.

“Go
on ahead and start a bath, okay?”

The
blond girl squinted at me and I refrained from sighing.

“Bella’s
room. Bath. Now.”

A
moment later she nodded and ran off in a very not-straight line that wasn’t all
that much faster than my walk. At least it got her out of my hair for a few
moments, and let me focus on the girl in my arms.

“It’s
alright, baby. You’re okay. You’re going to be fine.”

The
shivering wasn’t stopping, and it was starting to prick at me. I upped the pace
just a little and started stroking her back again. That brought back the
coughing, but as I felt the drops of moisture coming out of her lungs, I
figured it was probably a good thing. Her throat was going to be wrecked the
next morning.

Then
we were at the house and I was making my way up to her bedroom before I’d
thought through the next plan of action. Kaylee met me in the bathroom, and
then looked at me semi-suspiciously. The bath was almost full - thank god for
expensive,
working
plumbing - and her gaze was almost a challenge as the
situation dawned on both of us at the same time. I was almost impressed with
her drunk wits as I read the curiosity in her expression.

“How
drunk are you?”

It
was the same question as before, but this time the lack of wind and waves made
the deep silence much more powerful. She met my eyes and took a breath, and I
gave her points for the thought she put into it.

“I’m…alright.”

She
had to fight back a hiccup in the middle, but I wasn’t really bothered by that.
There was an alertness in her eyes, but still - I didn’t know whether to trust
Bella to her care.

“Sseriously.
I’m drunk, but…I’ve done this before. I’m not so…light-weight.”

I
weighed her for a moment and then nodded, glancing at the bath. I tested the
temperature, but the girl - Kaylee - had had the sense not to make it too hot.
Then I slowly lowered Bella into the water. She gasped at the shock of the
water - which was mirrored by Kaylee.

“What—”

“Her
clothes are already wet, it makes no difference - and I’m not having you trying
to lift her into the bath.”

I
settled her down, holding her so she didn’t slip, and tried to ignore the way
that under the harsh light, her t-shirt was practically transparent. I looked
over to the other girl instead.

“Keep
holding her up and I’ll leave. Then get in and join her. Once she’s calmed down
a bit, remove the clothes and stay in until the shivering is mostly gone. It
might not stop completely. Then let the water out and wrap her in towels. Call
out and I’ll come back in to help.”

She
nodded and I felt like she
probably
understood all the instructions. I’d
left the most important one until last.

“Talk
the whole time. To Bella, me, I don’t care - just keep talking. I’ll be waiting
outside and if you go silent for a
moment
I swear I’m bursting this door
down, modesty be damned.”

Her
eyes sparkled at that, and she gave me a slow grin.

“Dude,
you just want to see some girl-on-girl action.”

I
stared at her for a moment, disbelief spreading across my face at her attitude.

Her
friend had almost drowned, damn it!

My
glare gave away some of my barely controlled reaction, and she paused, then
reached out and caught my arm as she shook her head - which seemed to make her
dizzy.

“Sorry
- I…it’s what I do. Stupid jokes when I’m scared shitless. S-sorry.”

The
stammer was more because she had started to shiver than because she was afraid
of my reaction, but I grunted and accepted the apology anyway. I relaxed a
little as I handed Bella over to her. At least when she was with Bella, some
sort of focus seemed to appear.

I
disappeared without another word, shutting the door behind me with one last
curt order.

“Talk.”

She
jumped, but then started up a constant chatter I imagined wasn’t too different
from how she was day-to-day.

What
a way to meet one of Bella’s friends…

Then
I shook my head - why did I care about meeting Bella’s friends? The stress and
adrenaline must be starting to make themselves felt now, with most of the
danger over. I leaned back against the closed door and my eyes slipped shut.
Flashes of sea and boat, Bella’s pale flesh underwater, flickered through my
mind, but I was used to the post-action images and let them wash over me,
breathing deeply. I still had half my attention on Kaylee’s reassuring voice,
but at least part of me could try and process some of the intensity.

My
own body was cold itself, and I was dripping saltwater onto the thick carpet,
but I ignored that for now. I’d warm up later. When I knew she was alright.

I
didn’t touch the coiled ball of anger and fear waiting just under the surface,
keeping my cool control wrapped tightly around me as I waited the interminable
amount of time it took the drunk Kaylee to get Bella warm, undressed and
wrapped in towels.

“Ooookkaaayyy!”

Kaylee
seemed to think I’d disappeared to the other side of the manor from the sound
of it, and I winced before I opened the door.

They
were both sat on the edge of the bath - or rather, Kaylee was sat, and Bella
was leaning almost entirely across her, the other girl struggling a little to
balance them. At least they were both covered up.

Some
part of me twisted into a smile at the thought I’d be glad about
that
but I ignored it. Sex had no place on a mission.

Unfortunately,
Bella didn’t seem to realize that.

When
I reached down to help support her up, her head lolled and she looked up at me
with wide, unblinking eyes.

“Seeeeth…you’re…naked.”

Her
hand slapped into my bare chest and I just grunted at her. I wasn’t naked, not
exactly - but my boxer shorts obviously didn’t mean much to Bella.

“Uh-huh
- let’s get you—”

“That’s…new.”

She
was trying to focus on my chest - the elegant black lines there confusing her.
The interwoven eagles holding an anchor and trident were something I’d had done
after passing BUD/S - a piece of work I was particularly proud of. But it was
completely
not
the time for Bella to notice - or to point out she
remembered it bare. A sidelong glance revealed the sudden sharpening of
Kaylee’s interest too - girl was far too alert for a damned drunk.

I
ignored the irony of my irritation at her alertness and lifted Bella up before
she could say anything else. In truth, I was just glad she was aware and
coherent enough to make unhelpful comments.

“Wheee—”

Her
laughing voice had me shaking my head as I tucked her back in my arms and her
hands came around my shoulders without thought. She was still shivering
slightly, but the big, jerky movements had stopped and she had a bit more
color. I pushed the rush of relief away until I was done here, but something
eased inside me anyway. Kaylee followed us into the bedroom and busied herself
fetching painkillers and water from a bag off in the corner as I laid Bella
down under the thick covers.

The
urge to get in with her - to take her in my arms and hold her until she was
warm and relaxed again, letting my body heat her - almost took my breath with
its strength. But while I would have done it without a second thought had
Kaylee not been here, right now it would cause more problems than it would
solve. Instead, I turned to the other girl, who was pressing a couple of pills
into Bella’s hands and guiding her hands around the water. She glanced at me
before continuing, but I nodded that it was fine.

“Take
these, babe. C’mon.”

Bella
managed them with a few harsh coughs and I winced in sympathy for her broken
throat, thinking it was a good thing she had a towel around her as more of the
water went on that than in her. When they were done, I took Kaylee’s shoulder
again, meeting her gaze.

“Get
in with her and warm up together. Stay with her tonight, make sure she’s okay.
If you need anything, I’m down the corridor, left, then the second door,
alright?”

She
nodded, more aware now, and I figured the alcohol must have passed its peak.

“Come
get me if anything happens.”

She
nodded again, and then I could find no reason to stay any longer.

Reluctantly,
I turned and left, hovering a few moments outside the door.

I
wanted nothing more than to go for another run - hit the gym - hell, work my
way through a few drills. Anything to take the edge off and survive the raging
emotions about to explode through me. But I had to be here in case something
went wrong - with my words to Kaylee, I’d effectively confined myself to one
room all night.

Cursing,
I spun and headed for my room, resigning myself to dealing with the fear and
rage the hard way.

At
least until morning.

Chapter Thirteen

Bella

Squinting
up at the sky, I walked down the long garden with my stomach twisting
uncomfortably. I was surprised I could bear to be outside, actually - but it
had
taken until mid-afternoon to recover, and the overcast clouds helped. It
was the first day this summer that hadn’t been intense sun and heat. Fortunate
timing that I didn’t quite feel I deserved.

It
had been bad enough waking up with my body aching all over, Seth’s name on my
lips and confused flashes of the night before - but when Kaylee filled in the
blanks, I thought I’d die of mortification.

I
could scarcely believe what he’d done for me - or just how damned lucky I was
that he was in the right place at the right time. Kaylee was in a similar state
of disbelief too, if the way she’d gushed over just how sexy his heroics and
commanding attitude had been any indication. It had been enough to make me
almost jealous that I couldn’t remember more of it, however nonsensical that
was. Her words still brought heat to my cheeks.

“God,
Bella, he was soo impressive. I was kind of out of my mind with terror, but he
just completely took over. Saved us both. Not at all the jerk you said, either
- if anything, I was kind of a jerk. In a good way, though. That fun, drunk way
I have, right? Man, if he was my brother I’d be…hah, pissed off actually -
wouldn’t get to bone him that way. That guy is sexy as hell.”

It
was just Kaylee’s typical way of running her mouth, speaking the first thing
that went through her mind without any filters, but it was scarily close enough
to the mark that I’d struggled with a response. I’d snapped back something
about him
being completely off limits for any boning and she’d just
laughed, nodding and agreeing easily - with another insistence that she get
first dibs on any Navy SEAL friends.

I’d
considered burrowing under the blankets and never coming out, but this time it
was different - I knew I had to find him. To apologize, thank him…god, who in
hell knew. It was just that - as mortifying and uncomfortable as it was to
picture last night - I couldn’t ignore what he’d done. Take it for granted and
just go back to the
never want to see him again
attitude of only a day
before.

When
I’d asked Kaylee if she knew where he was, she’d pointed me in this direction.
Said she’d seen glimpses of him all day through the window I’d resolutely
avoided, working out or something. The idea of working out all day sounded a
bit crazy to me - but I guessed that was what Navy SEALs did. That, or he had
some serious aggression to work out.

I
hoped it wasn’t the latter.

When
I finally made it down to the end of the landscaped garden and started walking
through the light patch of trees and undergrowth that we’d always kept slightly
wilder, I caught sight of him hanging from the branch of one of the taller
trees - pulling himself up and down with an intense ferocity that had me
standing and admiring for a few moments. He was only wearing a pair of
lightweight shorts, and his ripped chest gleamed with the evidence of the
exertion, hard muscles flexing under tan skin and giving me all sorts of
inappropriate thoughts.

Sexy
sweaty Navy SEAL…I could just imagine what Kaylee would say.

He
noticed me almost immediately, dropping down lightly and stepping towards me.
For a moment I thought I saw a flash of light in his gaze, but then his
expression turned unreadable as he gave me a long look up and down. Usually I
felt the heat in that gaze, but this time there was no spark of lust to it - in
him. Simply seeing him like this and watching him look at me seemed enough to
have my body doing cartwheels.

When
his eyes finally settled on mine, I took a deep breath, whatever I’d been
planning on saying suddenly deserting me. It didn’t matter as he filled the
gap.

“Fucking.
Stupid. Girl.”

I
winced at the careful, neutral enunciation of each word. Accurate, but still
painful. I nodded, my hands knotting in front of me like I was some nervous
schoolgirl. Maybe in this, I was.

“Yeah.
I know. Does it help to know it took me this long to recover from the world’s
worst hangover?”

He
grunted, but at least a little of the light entered his eyes again.

“You
look alright to me.”

It
wasn’t quite a question, but I could tell he wanted the confirmation anyway. I
gave a weak smile.

“Kaylee
was generous with the meds - she’s pretty well practiced in hangovers. And with
a deadly Navy SEAL looking out for me, I was never in much danger - I hear they
never fail.”

“Damn
straight.”

His
mouth quirked up at the side, and part of me eased inside as I saw it. I
stepped closer, reaching out for his arm. The muscle there was tight under my
hand, still bulging from the hard use, and without thinking, my touch became a
caress.

“I’m
sorry, Seth - really, I am. It was an insanely idiotic thing to do. I…”

I
shrugged a little helplessly.

“You
saved my life.”

“Twice.”

The
spark was back in his eyes, and at least I sensed a
little
amusement
under that still surface.

“Yes.
Twice. How can I ever find a way to repay that?”

My
feeling of inadequacy was overridden by his rough chuckle, the way heat came
back into his eyes again at that comment. He folded his arms and raised a brow,
looking me up and down obviously again.

“Weellll,
I can think of a few things.”

I
laughed, slightly relieved for the return of our usual rhythm. He shook his
head though, the shadows coming back into his eyes as he frowned.

“You
might have been completely wrecked, but I can’t believe your friend didn’t
think better of that.”

I
could tell from his emphasis that he was giving most of the blame to Kaylee
there, and I shrugged. I couldn’t really explain how we’d both been so stupid -
looking back on it, I still didn’t know how it had happened.

“Kaylee…she’s
used to me vetoing her insane plans. This time - she just didn’t realize I
wasn’t in any state to do so.”

He
sighed and ran a hand through his short hair, making me picture doing exactly
the same thing. Without thinking, I stepped forward, my eyes lingering again on
those hard pecs. My hand reached out to the black ink twisting there, the
elegant eagles poised in flight - defiant and fierce with the Navy anchor
behind them.

“This
is a gorgeous tattoo, Seth.”

His
voice was a deep rumble when he answered, his hand closing over mine as it
traced the lines.

“You
really shouldn’t have mentioned it last night.”

I
flushed - that was one of the few flashes I’d remembered without Kaylee’s
prompt. Not that she missed the opportunity to describe it in
great detail
anyway.
My response was a murmur as I let myself get lost in his chest.

“I
wasn’t exactly thinking at the time. I don’t think Kaylee noticed anything
though - she was pretty drunk too.”

He
looked dubious, and if I was honest, I was too.

“Besides,
she was too busy thinking about jumping your bones.”

“Was
she now?”

The
considering tone made me slap my hand against his chest. I think the solid
muscle fared better than my wrist - which he grabbed a moment later, catching
it and then my eyes.

I
took another step closer, breath coming harder as I crossed over the limits of
polite distance.

“Ughh…don’t
tell me you’re interested in her now? What is it about guys that makes them
fall for that long-legged, blonde-haired beauty type all the god-damned time?

“I
wouldn’t know…it’s not her I’m interested in.”

His
eyes turned dangerous and my heart skipped a beat as I was suddenly there,
pressed up against him. When his head tilted down to look at me, I couldn’t
resist it any longer.

I
kissed him.

Rough,
passionate, intense. And so unbelievably belated.

Our
arms came around each other at the same moment as our mouths capturing one
another in an explosion of passion that had me moaning aloud.

Ohh
god…

It
was heavenly, overwhelming, powerful in a way I didn’t even have time to
process. All I knew was that he felt perfect like that, his tongue strong in my
mouth as he took it, claimed me in the way his eyes had promised so many times.

“Fuck,
Seth…”

My
voice was rough when I finally came up for air, still nibbling and kissing at
his lips as his arms wrapped tighter around me, my body melting against his as
I felt the full weight of his solid, hard form. Every muscle was outlined under
my chest and my heart was running at double the rate as I looked up at him and
all the objections that I’d clung to desperately died. There was simply no room
for them anymore. Not against the insidious, unrelenting lust that every word,
gesture and look he gave me created.

He
chuckled, but it was a dangerous sound, tinged with the same need pounding in
my veins.

“I’m
nasty, babe. I thought women hated sweat and stuff.”

“You’ve
been hanging out with the wrong women - I’ve heard the right ones are addicted
to those pheromones…”

I
leaned against him to prove my point, and I meant every word - his powerful
male scent overwhelming me in the best way, stirring my blood as it reacted to
the powerful, alpha guy right in front of me.

“But
if you’re complaining?”

My
voice was light, but I couldn’t keep it up for long as he growled and came down
over me again, taking my mouth in his and leaving me breathless with passion
and need. His hot tongue had my pussy clenching with need, picturing another
kind of penetration entirely.

His
arms swept around and lifted me as if I was nothing, my legs fitting around his
firm waist and putting me right on top of the hardness I could already feel
waiting for me there. I moaned again, running my hands across his light, short
hair as I brought his head back to kiss and touch and taste.

It
was too much. No way I could resist. I’d put up a valiant fight for a good
couple of weeks, but fuck me, he was impossible.

He’d
saved my life. Twice.

Once,
I could deal with. But twice? How could any girl be expected to resist that?

And
I didn’t. My body did nothing but bend to his will as he ravaged me with both
mouth and hands, touching me everywhere that had been so desperate to feel him.
My breasts were burning as he played and squeezed and caressed while his tongue
still played with mine. Wetness soaked me as he kept me there, pressed against
him and feeling hard muscle beneath every part of my body. The guy was a
machine - I’d been impressed three years ago, but it had nothing on now. The
powerful way he held me, moved us, his body supporting whatever he wanted to do
without the slightest indication of strain. The washboard abs and tight,
delicious pecs I’d feasted my eyes on earlier fueling even more of my senses
now.

I
was moaning helplessly, my pussy on fire with need, when he finally shifted me
a little, reaching for his belt.

That
did
bring back some form of awareness and I looked up with a brief expression of
alarm, glancing around at the dotted trees and the gardens I could just about
make out behind them.

“There’s
no one around, babe - I’d know. SEAL instincts are never wrong.”

The
deep tone rumbled through me. I didn’t know whether to believe him or not, but
after last night I figured it would be a while before I tried to question just
what SEALs could or couldn’t do.

And
besides that, I trusted him. Implicitly and to a level that scared me. He
wouldn’t let anyone see us like this.

That
thought was enough for me to nod, and with that I gave up any choice in the
matter, the powerful need sparking through his eyes giving me all the assurance
I could ask for about what was about to happen.

My
skirt was hitched up around his waist, covering us a little, and as he pushed
his shorts down he shifted us so that I felt the head of his thick cock
pressing up against my wet panties. That was enough to have me taking his mouth
again, insistent with my own need as his hands at my waist slowly started
lifting me up and down, his hips thrusting so that his cock rubbed up against
me, again and again. It drove constant sparks of desire through me, winding us
both up to a level where I was sure we’d both explode if we didn’t get
more
right
that instant.

He
answered the need almost the moment I thought it, reaching down and ripping my
panties from me with one sharp movement. I stared at him in shock at that, but
then the power of it washed through me and I found myself even more desperate.
He pushed me back against a tree, arms behind me protecting my back from the
rough bark, but using that leverage to hold me right above the beautiful, steel
promise of his aching cock. I felt it against my waiting entrance and whimpered
with lust, nuzzling at his head as my hands clung to him, nails gripping hard
into those powerful shoulders.