One Man's War (15 page)

“Hey, honey, what's wrong?” he asked, sitting down and gathering Tess into his arms.

As Tess felt Pete's arms go around her, pressing her against the hard warmth of his body, she wept even harder. His voice was husky as he held and rocked her.

“It's gonna be okay, Tess,” he crooned, feeling each convulsion shake her. Dammit, the stress of yesterday, of the baby dying, was still haunting Tess. Lights from the street entered the half-drawn silk drapes, sending a cascade of gauzy iridescence into the room. Maybe because he was reeling from months of tiredness due to combat—or emotional fatigue he hated to own up to—Pete coaxed Tess to lie down on the bed next to him. She came trustingly, without a fight.

“Let's just lie here,” he soothed, his hand moving in slow circles across her shoulders and back. It seemed the most normal thing in the world to have Tess in his arms. This was where she belonged, Pete realized humbly. For the first time in his life, he discovered the pleasure of being there for someone other than himself. Reaching out, giving, wasn't bad at all, he discovered as he pressed a kiss to her fragrant hair.

Tess felt the dam of terror and grief gradually dissolve beneath Pete's voice, caressing hands and lingering kisses. As Tess gradually came out of her weeping, she became hotly aware of his hard length against her own. She was lying on her back, with his arm beneath her neck, cradling her head against him. His other hand moved tenderly, stroking her arm, torso and hip in an effort to assuage her pain. But his trembling hand was eliciting other responses, and Tess moaned. It was a sound born of desperation coupled with desire, and unconsciously she tilted her chin upward to receive one of his kisses on her lips instead of her hair, temple or cheek.

Pete's response felt completely natural as Tess eased away just enough to give him access to her mouth. For an instant out of time, he froze. When she opened her tear-bathed lashes, Pete lost the last of his reason and control. Just having Tess tucked against him, her long legs, hips and breasts pressed against him, was eating him alive. Their eyes met. He saw the shadows in hers, but he also sensed her need to bury herself in the present, in something good and clean instead of hurtful and filled with pain.

“Come here,” he ordered thickly, and he bent his head. Never had he wanted a woman more in his life. Tess whispered his name, and it sent a tremor racing through him, snapping the last of his disintegrating control. She wanted him. Sweeping her into his arms, holding her tightly against him, Pete claimed her lips with a heat and force that surprised even him. He wanted to drown in Tess's goodness, her warm body, pulsing and alive. All the good things about life were in her, and God help him, he needed her.

His mouth moved strongly against her lips, stealing her breath, infusing her with his heat, his urgency. As his tongue stroked her lower lip, as he bit it gently then soothed the flesh once more, Tess surrendered to the explosive storm bursting through her. Eagerly, she returned his searching kiss, meeting, matching and drowning in his response. His breathing was ragged and moist against her and she felt his hand dig into her shoulder, gripping her, his other hand pinning her hip hard against him. A moan, a little cry, became trapped in her throat as he broke the wild, feverish kiss and trailed a series of wet, moist patterns down the length of her neck with his tongue.

Thrashing her head from side to side, Tess became mindless beneath his onslaught. As he slid his hand beneath her thin cotton top, a lush heat blossomed between her thighs, and her breath jammed. The material was pushed aside, exposing her, and Tess felt no shame beneath his burning, intense gaze.

“You're so beautiful,” he rasped, as he stroked the curve of her small breast with his hand. The nipple was puckered, begging to be tamed, and he lowered his head, his lips capturing it.

A ragged cry tore from Tess, and she tensed against Pete, her fingers opening and closing against his taut shoulders now damp with perspiration. He suckled her, drawing upon the nipple, teething it gently and sending electrifying sensations throughout her. The fire burning between her thighs seemed a liquid thing as he tasted and teased her. Each lazy stroke of his hand along her bare skin incited her demand of him. Her legs moving restlessly, Tess sobbed for breath, begging him silently to continue his lush exploration.

Pete moved his hand across the soft carpet of hair at the apex of her thighs. She was hot, trembling and just as famished as he was. All of these things instructed him to slow down, to take his time and love Tess the right way. But just her womanly form against him shattered his control. Caught up in the scent, sound and texture of her, he eased her taut thighs apart.

A bolt of heat swept through Tess as his fingers glided into her. Never had Tess felt like this, so hungry, so wildly in need. She heard Pete groan as he began to explore her depths, and she arched shamelessly against him, wanting him, wanting more of the rapture he was wreaking in her.

“Easy, easy, my beautiful woman,” he whispered. Humbled by her wild abandon, Pete took off her cotton briefs. The pearl quality of her belly, the slenderness of her hips and long, curved thighs made him shaky with need. He removed his drawstring pajamas and they fell in a heap beside the bed on the floor. As he covered her, his knee coaxing her thighs apart, he saw the pleading urgency in Tess's large eyes. Before this, he'd always taken what a woman offered and run, but that was the last thing he wanted to do with Tess. No, he thought, as he settled his hand beneath her hips and moved forward, he wanted to share himself, not just take from her.

The instant his flesh met her heat and moistness, Pete groaned, his lips pulling back from his clenched teeth. Perspiration stood out on his taut face as he slid into her. Her cry wasn't of pain, but of utter pleasure. Pete couldn't stop his thrust forward, her hips meeting, melding and drawing him deeply into her confines. There was such hunger between them, a starvation so long unfulfilled, that he lost all thought of entering her slowly. Placing his full weight down upon her, he captured her, taking her, falling into a frantic, savage rhythm.

He tasted the saltiness of her perspiration, the living sweetness of her mouth as he captured it beneath his own. Their ragged breathing increased, moist flames against each other's faces. His fingers tangled in the thick, red strands of her hair as he held her captive and thrust again and again into her, taking and giving as she matched his starving immediacy.

Tess's world narrowed to breathing and the trembling power of Pete's body against her own. Their needs combined in an inferno raging out of control. She capitulated to her own animal instincts as a woman, and to him as a strong, potent male. All she was aware of was them, coupled, straining and reaching for the dizzying heights of pleasure together. The building storm broke within her, and she arched, tense in his arms. He held her tightly, giving her all the beauty and pleasure she'd ever experienced. Wave after wave tremored through her, and she surrendered to it and to him.

Moments later, Tess felt Pete tense against her. His growl was low, like an animal, and she met each of his strokes with equal fervor. Night and day melded together as they fell into each other's arms, damp and spent in the aftermath. Tess closed her eyes, loving Pete's weight against her, a sense of security blanketing her. Savoring each second, she absorbed the feel of Pete's fingers as they gently tried to untangle wet strands against her temple.

Easing to one side, Pete gazed down on Tess's flushed features. As she opened her eyes, he saw the sparkle and luster in them, and he felt humbled as never before. He knew he'd given Tess enjoyment, and it made him feel damn good. For once, he'd shared the act of love, not run like a thief, stealing for his own selfish gratification. He smiled tenderly as he picked up a thick strand of her hair.

“You're as hot as your hair,” he told her thickly, and leaned down to capture once more her sinner mouth beneath his own. Pete wasn't disappointed. Her returning kiss was as responsive and hungry as his own. Gradually, he eased from her wet lips and smiled into her eyes.

“You're moonlight, you know that?”

Tess felt weak but good. She languished in his arms, content as never before. “Moonlight?” She laughed softly.

“Mmm, moonlight.” Pete held up the lock of hair and studied it. “Red rubies for hair, and pearls of moonlight dancing off the strands.”

She stared up at his relaxed features in awe. “There's a poet inside of you.”

Flushing, Pete laid the strand on her white shoulder, glistening damply in the room's low light. “Sometimes. You inspire me, Tess.” And she did. “Your eyes,” he whispered, kissing them in turn, “are like dark pools of wonder. I can see rainbows in them.” Sparkles of joy interspersed with satisfaction. He liked what he'd given to Tess. It made him feel strong and potent and protective of her.

“I'm happy,” she whispered, and slid her hand up across his arm and broad, powerful shoulder. “
You
made me happy.”

“We're good at this,” Pete teased. He'd never in his life felt as good as he did now. When Tess's mouth pulled into a tender smile, he felt himself go hard with longing all over again. There was such simplicity to Tess, no games or coyness about her. And then, Pete sobered.

“I heard you scream, honey. It scared the hell out of me. I must have risen two feet off my bed.”

Her brow wrinkled. “Oh, the nightmare...”

“Yeah. Do you get them often?” Pete stroked her brow until it smoothed again. He saw the terror banked in her eyes now and mentally chastised himself for bringing up the topic. He wanted to see the joy and fulfillment back in her lovely eyes.

“Sometimes,” Tess hedged softly. She felt she never wanted to leave Pete's arms. She saw the undisguised caring in his gaze, felt it in the stroke of his hand along her arm. There was a wonderful sense of protection in his embrace, something she'd never experienced before.

“Sometimes,” Pete mimicked, then grinned. He captured her lips, stroked her lower lip and then the corners with his tongue. “Sometimes,” he whispered against her lush mouth that blossomed beneath his. “Woman of mine, it don't pay to hedge your bet with me. Now tell me the truth.”

Giggling, Tess threw her arms around his neck. “I like you so much. You're so different when you come out from behind those walls.”

He growled and pinned her gently beneath him. “Don't try and evade my question by giving me a string of compliments, either.”

Breathy laughter escaped Tess as she closed her eyes and absorbed his weight, the power of him against her. “Umm, you feel so good....”

She was right, just the act of pressing their bodies together created another fire from the coals of their desire. Pete fought the need to love Tess once more. He eased off her and brought her into his arms. Her hair fell across his shoulder and chest like living fire.

“I want the truth, Tess,” he told her, serious now.

Lost in the intensity of his narrowed gaze, feeling safe at last, Tess admitted in a low voice, “I've been getting them more and more the last couple of months.”

“Because things are heating up out there.”

She nodded and ran her fingers across his furrowed brow. “Now you're scowling.”

“That's because,” Pete whispered, framing her face, “I care about you, honey. I worry about you out there alone in those villages at night.”

With a shrug, Tess closed her eyes, feeling satiated and suddenly very tired. Resting her head against his shoulder, her hand on his darkly haired chest, she murmured, “I feel safe now. Here. With you...”

Pete knew he should leave, but he didn't have the strength to do it. Overwhelmed by his sensitivity to Tess and what she needed, he maneuvered her around on the bed and brought the covers up around them.

“You are safe with me.”

She laughed softly. “Sure, the fox is in the henhouse.”

A grin edged his mouth as he lay down, Tess's weight feeling like utter heaven to him. He closed his eyes, happy beyond belief. “I'm the hen and you're the fox.”

Tess sighed, contentment flowing through her. She closed her eyes, her arm across his flat, hard belly. “I'm too tired to argue with you, Pete....”

“Go to sleep, honey,” he coaxed thickly. “You've got a year's worth of tiredness to sleep off.” And before the last of the words were out of his mouth, Pete dropped off to sleep, too—the woman he had wanted forever peacefully in his arms.

* * *

Pete jerked awake. Sunlight was spilling like a golden waterfall into Tess's room. His awakening senses shifted quickly to her. She was sleeping deeply in his arms, her head nestled beneath his jaw, her arm across his torso and her legs tangled between his. Releasing a sigh, he dropped his head back on the pillow. He hadn't been dreaming after all....

Savoring the moment, Pete felt her firm skin against him, and heat began to throb through his lower body. The silky strands of her hair were a pillow against his chest, and lazily he stroked her head, utterly contented. This was heaven. Pure, unadulterated heaven. How could he be so damned lucky? What had he done to deserve a woman like Tess?

Pete didn't want to look at any possible answers to that question too closely. He knew he
didn't
deserve Tess. With other women, he'd wake early, climb into his wrinkled clothes and steal out of the room, leaving without so much as a goodbye. But the last thing he wanted to do this morning was get out of bed, much less leave Tess here alone in the room. As he gently ran his fingers idly up and down her smooth arm, Pete closed his eyes. He wasn't tired anymore—he just wanted to absorb the moment, the fragrance of Tess, the sound of her soft, shallow breathing—to luxuriate with her against him.

Worry intruded on his bliss. He'd made love to Tess, and he realized with a sinking feeling that she might take his coming into her room last night the wrong way. Would she accuse him of just waiting for the right opportunity to steal in and take her? Or would she see the honesty in his actions? He'd come into her room out of care and concern, not with any design to make love to her.