Holding Out For A Hero: SEALs, Soldiers, Spies, Cops, FBI Agents and Rangers (123 page)

Ric sucked, using his tongue to press the bud hard to the roof of his mouth. Sensation shot straight to her pussy.

She ached.

She wasn’t sure what had come over her.

Her forced seclusion had stripped her of her power, stripped of her choice, and trapped in the hotel room with a man who wouldn’t touch her and who she wasn’t supposed to touch. She had been aching and aroused and frustrated beyond belief and all those sensations tumbled into a major break in her control.

She was a grown ass woman, and she wanted Ric Santana. Bad.

She knew he wanted her too. The spectacular bulge in his shorts had been a dead giveaway that the man wanted to have sex as desperately as she did.

She sat on the boards of multiple philanthropies. She’d raised four children mostly on her own. She’d faced down haters, jealous wives and mistresses, judgmental men, the bastard of them all Jackson Stone Sr., and she’d triumphed.

Two nights ago, she’d decided to throw years of reticence out the window.

At the time, she’d thought it was just a reaction to being here for the wedding. But if she were honest, she now believed that she was only having these feelings because of this man. There was something about him. About him and her together that was magic.

“I need you.”

“Far be it for me to disappoint a lady,” his voice was husky with arousal.

“I don’t want to be a lady right now.” She was tired of being a lady. Tired of trying to be the perfect citizen, the perfectly benevolent patroness. She’d spent years being polite, demure, above reproach, never making waves, never rocking the boat. She’d been that woman since she’d gone to live in the Stone mansion years ago.

And where had that gotten her?

Forty-five years old and she’d only had a handful of sexual partners. Until two nights ago she had never had multiple orgasms in a night. She’d never been so lost in another person she’d give anything to stay lost forever. Suddenly that lack seemed like an incredible waste of her life.

“I want to do everything,” she told him enthusiastically.

“Everything?” But he didn’t seem stoked, he seemed bewildered.

“Yes.” Shelley thought about all the naughty things she’d read about or heard about when women talked in hushed voices at the country club, sometimes the same women who judged her for going to live with Jackson when Jess had been a little girl.

Bitches.

A thousand different images, sexual positions, sensual possibilities bombarded her brain. As if they’d been locked away behind her prim façade and with one simple sentence he’d released the floodgates. He wanted to make her happy.

“I want to go down on you.” That’s what would make her happy. Or at least it was a start.

Ric laughed. “I’m certainly not going to argue with you, but I’m not sure what you’re getting at here
cariña
.”

“I have years of sexual repression to make up for,” Shelley said defiantly.

“Okay.” But his actions had changed from sexual to comforting.

Forty-five and still a damn good girl. “Maybe you don’t understand, but when I got pregnant I’d barely had a single orgasm.”

Ric choked on his water.

“And then I had a baby at eighteen. My mother kicked me out.”

“
Christos
.”

“I’m not telling you this for your sympathy,” she said crossly. “I was trying to survive, not club hopping. And since I moved in with Jackson twenty years ago, I’ve had three lovers. Three boring older lovers.”

Ric swallowed. In sexual years she was just a baby. “For years I’ve been the Queen of Lonely Hearts.”

He brushed a tendril of hair from her cheek almost tenderly.

“Stop that. I don’t want tender.” She wanted hot, raunchy, dirty, nasty sex. “The other night was the most sexually explosive encounter of my life. And I don’t want it to be a one off.”

“Me either,” he replied huskily.

“Make me scream.”

Queen of Hearts: Chapter Fourteen

“Far be it for me to deny you…anything.”

She hadn’t moved. Was barely breathing. “You’ll—”

“Do whatever it takes to make you happy.”

She eyed him speculatively. “So if I said I wanted to go down on you right now….”

Ric rocked up into her. “I’d say, I’d prefer to be inside you but it’s your choice.”

Her breath caught.

“Okay, we’ll do that later.”

“So what do you want now?”

“You,” she said breathlessly. “I want you.”

She burrowed her hands beneath the waistband of his shorts, shoving the material below his balls, and trapping his thighs. But he forgot all about the awkward when she wrapped her fingers around his cock. Her grip was tight, firm, erotic as she pumped his erection. “Gonna have to let go for a minute, sweetheart.”

Her gaze was fixed on his cock, the head peeking between the gap in her fist.

Shit, if she kept this up it was going to be over before it started. “Stand up,” he commanded.

Ric made sure his weapon was within reach and he still had a view of the only entrance to the room.

Shelley complied but she made sure to drag her breasts along his chest as she stood slowly. “You are so beautiful.” He traced kisses up her abdomen and along the underside of her breasts.

Shelley curled her arms around his shoulder while his mouth played with her nipples.

Ric shoved her shorts to her ankles, trailing his palms along the back of her legs and down her calves. She shivered and he couldn’t fucking wait to be inside her.

“Shit. Condom.” Ric mentally reined himself in.

“It’s okay.” She breathed in his ear.

“I won’t put you at risk.” No way would he be responsible for another unplanned pregnancy.

Shelley stepped out of her shorts, grabbed the bright material, and withdrew a single package from the pocket. She ripped it open with trembling fingers.

The leather bench seat was cool beneath his bare ass. But he was burning up. He rubbed his fingers along her dripping wet sex while she tentatively rolled the condom down his erection.

“Still pretty amazing,” she whispered.

“Yes, you are.” He paused. Absolutely amazing.

“I was talking about how that fits inside me.”

Ric wanted to shout with laughter but the awe in her gaze humbled him.

“You can take it.”

“Maybe.”

“Let’s watch.”

They bent their heads. Ric had never seen a more beautiful sight than his cock sliding into her sex. Slow. Even. Every inch inside her and he seemed to swell harder, until he was buried balls deep. Her slick channel throbbed around him snug and sweet. The buzz in his body built as they sat still, neither moving.

Then she moaned. The sound was soft, erotic. “That feels so good.” She nuzzled the skin behind his ear.

He took in the moment. The soft dim lights of the gym. The weight of her on his thighs. The snug clench of her sex around his cock. Her breasts pillowed his chest and her face nuzzled his neck. Her warm breath in his ear. The little sounds of her pleasure as she waited for him to satisfy her.

He felt like a god.

She’d blown his fucking mind.

How was that possible? He’d been around the world. Survived several tours with the SEALS, including some nasty places. And none of that had prepared him for the sweet, bombshell that was Shelley Stone.

Ric began to move, pressing his feet to the floor he pushed up into her, then rocked back. The head of his cock rubbed her g-spot, pushing her higher.

He swelled almost painfully tight. Desire built in the base of his spine.

They crashed into each other, her body strung taut. “Let go,” he demanded. She bounced on top of him reaching for her pleasure.

Rick tilted her head and stared fiercely into her aroused, haze green eyes. “Let go,” he demanded again.

With a noisy cry, she began to convulse. Her gaze went unfocused, and her lids drooped as her orgasm flowed over her entire body.

That was all it took for Ric to let go. His fingers bit into her hips as he held her still. The buzz at the base of his spine exploded outward and he began to come in long punishing pulses. Her pussy squeezed his cock, and his brain simply shut down.

Shelley’s chest heaved and her breath soughed over him. She was slumped over his shoulder, barely moving. Little aftershocks sizzled beneath his skin. His cock was still semi-hard inside her, as they reveled in the mind-altering orgasm.

“Fuck me,” he finally breathed out.

“Been there. Done that.” She lifted her head, her eyes bright and her smile radiant. “Ready for round two.”

He groaned. “Not here.” They were out of condoms. And he wanted hours in a bed, taking his time to give her all those experiences she hungered for.

Ric’s semi-hard cock slipped from her body. “We can clean up down here first.” One of the pool rooms had a misting shower. “Then head back to the room.”

“Okay.”

They grabbed their clothes. Ric held her hand gently in his left. In his right, he carried his weapon.

“You really think you need that?” she asked.

“I won’t leave you unprotected.” Didn’t matter if he thought he needed it. He didn’t think Kandi was bright enough to evade the police for long but she’d proven to be pretty resourceful up to this point.

“I’ll be quick,” she said and headed for the shower.

“Go ahead. I’ll be right back.” He needed to dispose of the condom. Fortunately there were private bathrooms connected to the pool room. He would only be gone for a second.

Shelley finished rinsing off. She thought about waiting for Ric and standing under the water with him. But now that he wasn’t right with her, doubts and insecurities came rushing back in. No need to highlight her body.

Besides, she was hoping she could convince him that they’d be safe in their hotel room if he stopped this overprotective need to guard her every second.

The cops should pick up Kandi soon. Right?

She pulled her running gear back on, then turned as she heard the door open, ready to greet him with a wide smile. She was going to have fun convincing Ric to do that again.

“Well, isn’t this special?”

Shelley’s heart thudded in her throat.

Shit. Kandi stood in the doorway. The gun in her hand was huge. Kandi didn’t look so good. Her hair was disheveled and her tight jeans looked like they could use a washing. She still had on the heavy makeup from last night including the false eyelashes but her mouth was bare of lipstick and her eyes were wild.

Shelley could only be thankful that Ric was in the bathroom. Her heart beat erratically. She knew she needed to keep Kandi distracted. She didn’t want Kandi suspicious of the fact that Shelley was in the spa by herself. She knew if she stalled long enough that she and Ric could overpower Kandi. Ric wouldn’t let her down.

“What are you doing here, Kandi?”

That was the million dollar question. What did Kandi want? Because no matter how Shelley sliced it, she couldn’t figure it out. She didn’t really believe that Kandi wanted a relationship with Connor. She definitely wanted Shelley gone. But why?

“I want what I deserve.” Kandi spat, “I’ve spent the last twenty-seven years slaving away, working my ass off, while you reaped the benefits of the Stone life of luxury.”

“By life of luxury, you mean, wading through vomit when all four kids had the stomach flu? By going to parent teacher conferences alone and trying to figure out how to help the kids with their homework, making lunches, refereeing arguments? By living through their first broken hearts? The first time they came home drunk? The endless nights of worry of through their deployments?”

“Whatever.” Kandi waved her hand, blithely dismissing Shelley’s years of parenting. “I don’t care about all that stuff.”

Shelley was channeling ‘be alert’ vibes hard, hoping that Ric figured out something bad was going on.

The door to the bathroom opened. The squeak was barely, noticeable but Ric stopped cold when he saw Kandi and her gun. Kandi had her back to the bathroom door so hopefully she hadn’t noticed him.

Shelley relaxed. Ric was here. After years of taking care of herself, she knew Ric wouldn’t let anything happen to her. Shelley’s job now was to keep Kandi distracted.

“I have a question. Why didn’t you get an abortion?” She really wanted to know. “Don’t get me wrong, Connor is a wonderful man and I’m really proud of him and I’m thrilled you didn’t make that choice. But I’m guessing Jackson Sr. gave you money just like he did me.”

“It’s a sin.” For an infinitesimal moment, Kandi looked lost. “I couldn’t do that.”

Huh, hadn’t seen that one coming.

“But I couldn’t raise a baby.” Kandi stomped her foot. “Don’t you see?”

“I see a selfish woman, who never thought beyond her own needs,” Shelley sneered. Ric was almost at Kandi’s back.

“Fuck you! You stole my life!” Kandi shouted. “I should be living in that house. And flying around in that private jet.”

Ric hadn’t taken his gaze off Kandi as he carefully eased closer. But he lifted his brow so Shelley answered, “It’s not really mine. But yes, the family has a private jet.”

She just needed to distract Kandi for another minute and Ric would be close enough to disarm her.

Shelley said fiercely, “I will do anything for my kids.”

“Connor isn’t yours, he’s mine.” Like a kid playing tug of war with a toy, Kandi seemed stuck on claiming Connor.

“So what is it that you want Kandi?” Shelley asked softly.

“All you had to do was leave,” Kandi said. “Why wouldn’t you just go? I could have taken your place and everything would be perfect.”

The woman had clearly lost her freaking mind. “What’s the plan now?”

“I have to kill you,” Kandi replied calmly.

“That doesn’t really work for me,” Shelley said in her most haughty Queen of the Manor voice.

“Whatever.”

Shelley let her gaze slip to Ric. That was a mistake. Kandi stepped back and whirled, weapon up and steady in her hands.

Shit. Ric was close enough that he could lunge and overpower this crazy woman, but based on the confidence with which she held the weapon, she’d be able to get several shots off. At this range the damage would be considerable.