Latched (Coronado Series Book 1) (5 page)

 
“Mark I’m so tired - can I take a rain check?”

 
“You danced with everyone except me. One dance and then I’ll take you home.”
 

“All right, if you insist.”

 
Nothing like a little enthusiasm to make a guy feel good
. Mark went over to request some music, walked back to Birdie and held out his hand. She looked up, smiled and slipped her hand into his and he pulled her in close. They started to move to the music and she recognized the song…. it was the acoustic version of ‘Latch’ with Sam Smith singing. Mark tucked Birdie in and pressed her against his wide chest and she felt herself sigh. She rested her head against him and felt him lay his head on hers and drop a kiss on her hair. Dancing with this man was overwhelming and she could feel herself melt into his arms.
If I feel this way just dancing with this man, what’s going to happen if I go through with my crazy plan?
The butterflies were dancing in her tummy……
him, I want him.
She’d never been this attracted to a man before, which was slightly disturbing since she’d been engaged. She couldn’t even remember what she had felt for Justin, but it sure wasn’t this.
I like how my hand feels in his…. I wonder what he kisses like.
 

He looked down and stared into her eyes, she looked back and all of the sudden it was just the two of them in a little bubble. The world had fallen away.

The photographer was almost done and was ready to pack up her equipment when she caught sight of Mark and Birdie dancing. Lifting her camera she thought,
This is what it looks like, in the beginning, when two people are falling for each other
. She took a series of pictures and hoped they would ask her to take pictures at their wedding.
 

They kept dancing as the music changed. Mark had Birdie wrapped up in his arms and her soft curves met his hard angles.
Perfect fit, under me, on top of me and next to me
. He lowered his mouth slowly to hers in case she wanted to protest and not getting any go away signals, he dropped his mouth to hers. His lips, firm and warm, touched hers. He could feel the electricity running down his spine as their mouths touched for the first time. He opened his mouth, ran his tongue along the seam of her lips until she opened up and he tasted her. She tasted like cake and champagne. A flood of want and need surged through his veins like liquid heat.
Mine, she is mine.

Birdie pulled back and let out a breathy moan of pleasure that made his skin so tight it ached. He felt like his body was being drowned in deep dark desire. He returned his mouth to hers and pulled her flush against his body. He could feel her hand move up to his face and his mouth opened and closed with hers as he gave and received long, feeding kisses. She pressed into him and her arms wrapped around him. She was kissing him back and the kiss just kept going on and on.
 

His hands tunneled in her hair and he could feel himself start to lose control. He pulled back and was breathing as if he just ran a marathon. He dropped his mouth again and gave her one more kiss,
Was it ever going to be enough with her?

 
He rested his forehead against hers and could hear her breathing fast. He dropped his hands and wrapped her in his arms and kept moving with her to the music. He was hoping to calm down before the song ended but wasn’t sure if it was possible.
 

 
A smile twisted the corner of Birdie’s mouth. He wanted her, she could feel it from the kiss and also against her thigh. She’d never felt that desired before and it was powerful. She was beginning to understand he was a man with a strong will and she could feel it focused on her. The music ended and they slowly walked off the dance floor, “Wow, you sure know how to dance Mark. Don’t let anyone ever tell you different.” His mind was so blasted by lust that he was only able to let out a little growl. He kissed her on the head and took her hand.

Birdie gathered her things, said her goodbyes and headed outside to Mark’s truck. He helped her in and made sure she was buckled up. Pulling her down, he gave her a sweet kiss, “Thanks for the dance Birdie.”

She was feeling the effects of the evening and mumbled her thanks to Mark. She gave him her address as they headed out. Leaning her head against the seat she fell asleep instantly. He looked over at Birdie as she was sleeping and could feel his whole body respond to her, “Birdie girl, I am coming after you. I hope you’re ready.”
 

He parked in front of her house and was surprised how nice it was. She lived in a two story California craftsman on what must be a double lot. It looked like a house a family would live in, not a single woman. Leaning over, he called her name to wake her up. She opened her eyes and looked confused. “We’re home baby, wake up.”
 

She stared and then started to smile, “Oh it’s you.”
 

“Yes it’s me. Do you want me to carry you to your door?”

“No, no, I got it.” Mark came around and opened her door. He took her hand and started walking with her up the pathway. She stopped him with a hand on his chest, “I have it from here.”
I can’t take the chance of kissing him anymore, I might drag him in the house even if it is not a good idea.

“Don’t give me a naughty kiss, just a sweet one. I think that’s all I can handle right now.”

She obliged, leaned up and gently pressed her lips to his. “Thank you, I enjoyed the dance too.” He let her go, she walked up her steps and slipped inside. He stood there a moment with a shit eating grin on his face.
Me too baby…..me too.

CHAPTER THREE

SUNDAY

Birdie stood on the front lawn watering her flower beds while listening to Adele sing on her iPod. She sang along thinking about how much she had gotten done that day despite her hangover. She thought about Mark and tried to figure out what happened last night. She remembered most of the night, but the dance with him seemed like a dream. She wondered if it really happened.
 

Mark pulled up in front of Birdie’s house and watched her water the flowers and shake her hips. She had on a T - shirt and jean shorts and looked amazing. He noticed her ear buds and figured she was listening to music. He wanted her as much today as he did last night at the wedding, maybe more. He jumped out of his truck, walked through her gate and tapped her on the shoulder to get her attention. She must not have noticed him because she turned around and soaked them both. Her eyes were huge as she looked at him and when it finally registered she knew him, she dropped the hose. “You scared me to death!”
 

He stared back and held out her wrap, “I was returning this - you forgot it in the truck.” He slipped off his sunglasses and started to wipe them on his shorts.

She started laughing and went to turn the water off, “You should see the look on your face. Sorry about soaking you.”

“Funny, you don’t look very sorry. I also came over to see if you would like to go out to dinner?”

She stood up, turned towards him and felt herself staring at his wet shirt.
He has the most perfect chest and arms…. I feel like licking him. You can’t lick a Naval Commander on your front lawn right? He’s better than the guys I was looking at the other day, he is sex on a stick. Holy moly macaroni.
Shaking her head, she tried to focus, “Well come on in. I’ll get you a towel so you can dry off.”

“That’s ok. I have my go bag in the truck - I can just get a new one.” He took his shirt off and wiped his face. She stared with her mouth hanging open and felt her breath hitch. She could feel herself leaning towards him.
Him, I want him. I have never seen someone with a body like his in person.
Mark displayed an impressive set of hard cut abs and a massive, well developed chest.
I just want to run my hand up one side and down the other.
She lifted her hand and was about to touch his chest before she realized what she was doing and quickly dropped it. He had a tattoo on one of his biceps that wrapped over his shoulder; she wanted to read it in braille, running her fingers over every single inch.

“Have you ever been on a calendar?” She slapped her hand over her mouth, “Did I just say that aloud?”

“Yes, you said that aloud and no, I’ve never been on a calendar. Why would I?”

She continued to stare and worried she might be starting to drool. “Because you are the most physically perfect man I have ever seen. I thought maybe you were in one of those “Hot Men of the Navy” calendars.” She nervously wiped the water off her arms. “I’m sorry, that’s inappropriate of me to say. I’m objectifying you and I know that’s wrong.” Her face felt hot, but she couldn’t pull her eyes away.
Can I have him please, just for a little while? I promise to give him back soon.

He took a step closer and wrapped his arms around her waist, “Please feel free to objectify me anytime you want.” He took possession of her mouth like she was the last woman on earth. For the first time in his life he felt powerless. He was defenseless against this woman and for some reason he didn’t mind.

The most perfect man was kissing her - god he smelled good.
She smiled against his mouth and wrapped her arms around him. “It feels good - you can really kiss.”
 

“Well that’s why I do it.” Kissing her again, he ran his hands up and down her back. “I like your wet shirt. Can I objectify you now?”
 

She looked down, “Well at least I wore a pretty bra today.” She grabbed his shirt and held it in front of herself, turned and walked into the house.
 

He started laughing and went to his truck to get a new T- shirt.
Do they even have a, “Hot Men of the Navy” calendar or did she just make that up? I like that girl’s underwear…. pink lace bra… very good taste.

He walked up the steps into her house and slipped his sandals off by the door. Birdie called from upstairs, “Make yourself comfortable, I’ll be right down.” He closed the door and noticed he would need to put in new locks and an alarm system for her. Better wait to tell her that though, she might not take it the right way. The first floor was one big room, with a separate office and guest room off the kitchen. It looked like she’d done a lot of work on the house and it felt like a home. The floors were dark wood, the walls were painted white, and she had big photographs on the walls. The kitchen was large and open with a farm table set against the French doors that lead out into the back yard. Mark walked over to the book case that took up the long wall and noticed she liked to read. It looked like she read all types of books.
 

 
He watched her walk down the stairs and felt his heart thump in his chest. She had changed into jeans and a sweater and put lip gloss on.
She did that for me so she must like me and want to kiss me.
Birdie walked towards him as if nothing had happened on the front lawn. Well, he could act polite too.
 

“What can I get you to drink, Mark? I have beer, wine, a full bar?”
 

“A beer would be great. You have a great house - how long have you been here?”

“I’ve been here for about a year. My Grandmother left it to me, along with the flower shop and the building that it’s located in. The house, as you can see is a work in progress, I’m about half - way done. I decided I’m staying in San Diego, so I’m going to finish all of the renovations.” She walked into her kitchen, “Please have a seat. I will get you some snacks to go with your beer, while I make dinner.”

“I asked you out to dinner - you don’t have to make me dinner.”
 

“I made my pasta sauce today because all of my tomatoes decided to ripen in the same week. I also have homemade meatballs and some rosemary rolls too. You said no one ever cooks for you, let me. I want to thank you for bringing me home last night.”

“Thank you, but tell me first when I can take you out.”
 

Tilting her head, she studied him, “Let’s just see how tonight goes. Then we can decide.”
 

He sat down on the comfortable stool and felt a little uneasy.
Why won’t she just go out with me? She kissed me back and enjoyed objectifying me.

Birdie got him a cold beer and a plate of cheese and almonds and started moving around the kitchen getting the dinner ready. He sat back, and enjoyed the view of her working in the kitchen. She poured herself a glass of wine, flipped on her iHome and started getting the meatballs ready to put in the oven. “So Mark, how long have you been in San Diego?” This was something that he’d never experienced before. Only his Mom cooked for him - never a sexy beautiful woman. He felt damn lucky to be sitting in this seat, talking to Birdie and watching her cook.
 

“I’ve been here for eleven years. I grew up in San Luis Obispo, went to Cal Poly and then came down and joined the Navy. I went through BUD/S here and I’ve been assigned to a team here since graduating. He took a drag of his beer and ate some of the cheese she put out for him. “I’ve been on loan to the teams on the East Coast a couple of times, but it was never a permanent assignment. What about you?”
 

“I went to USD for my undergraduate and lived with my Grandmother during college. Then I moved back to Los Angeles to get my graduate degree at UCLA. I worked for a firm up there until I moved down here last year.” She handed him dishes and cutlery, “Can you set the table for me?” He got up and set the dishes on the big farm table that looked out over her garden.
This woman has a real life and I want to be part of it…. the whole thing.