Marine of Her Heart Read online

  That had her moving up closer to him. She was grateful that her arm was feeling better because now she could touch him without too much pain. Her hands moved to his chest and then up, feeling every single muscle that he had. “Why, Tricks, if I didn’t know better, I would swear that you were hitting on me. Are you?” Her tone was hopeful. “If you are, I just want to tell you now that I’m totally open to that thought.”

  “Oh?” he asked with a quirk of an eyebrow. He pulled the helmet off her head and smoothed a light hand over her new hair. “Well then, I suppose I should tell you, I’m definitely hitting on you, Gennifer Baker,” he said softly. Lowering his head, he stared into her eyes. “When we get you home, I think we should do something about it, very seriously.”

  “Or when we stop again maybe?” she countered. Leaning in closer to him, she rubbed her cheek to his. “I think that you need to do something about this sooner rather than later if you wouldn’t mind? After we eat, we should find a nice, lovely hotel and hole up for a bit.”

  One of his hands landed on her hip and squeezed. “Genny,” he growled. He didn’t say anything more, though, just pulled her in closer, turned his head, and kissed her. Nothing slow and tentative either. It was all heat, all need, and hotter than Texas in the middle of summer.

  Genny put her hands on the back of his neck and held him tighter to her body. She kissed him back with as much need and desperation as she was feeling right then. They had just met, but they had talked for hours and hours, both of them getting to know each other a great deal. She loved it. She had never before gotten to know anyone this well. When she pulled back from him, she licked her lips and grinned. “See, you want me every damn bit as much as I want you.”

  “What I want to do will get us arrested,” he said quietly, his hot gaze on her. “Get inside the restaurant, Genny, before I give into this damn urge. Tonight, when we’re behind closed doors, though, you are mine.”

  “That sounds like a damn good promise to me. I can’t wait. We should stop and buy condoms, a lot of them, because with what I need from you, Vic, we will need to have lots and lots of sex.” Making love—God, she needed him in a way that she had never before needed another person.

  “What do you think was in the other bag I didn’t let you near?” he asked. At her sharp look, he shrugged. “I’m a guy. It’s a genetic defect we all have to ever be hopeful that the sexiest woman around will notice us, and therefore, we must be prepared.”

  “Thank God. Then we will enjoy a meal together, ride for a bit longer, and then you and I will get ourselves a hotel room and spend whatever time we can in as many positions as we can possibly come up with.” She put it right out there, pure and simple.

  “I’ve read the Kama Sutra, twice,” he said with a smirk. “You sure you want to challenge me to a sexual position contest?” He stepped in even closer to her. She could feel his hard cock pressing into her belly now. “I’m up for it, Genny, are you?”

  “Hell yeah, I am.” Genny spoke breathlessly. “I look forward to each and every moment that we will have together, but especially to being able to spend time learning the Kama Sutra with you. Feel up to teaching me?” She was teasing him, but she loved being able to do just that.

  “Absolutely, but not here, not now. Get inside and use the bathroom,” he told her. “I’ll be along in ten minutes, maybe less. Be sure you get a table in a corner with a view of the doors and the lot,” he said. With another squeeze of her hip, he stepped back from her.

  “Sounds good. I know what to look for.” It had been one of the conversations that they had—how best to stay safe in a public place, what he looked for, and how they did it. “I will see you in a moment. Hurry, big guy.”

  He gave her a nod before pulling the hose from the pump and moving to fill up his bike as she dashed into the restaurant. First order of business, the ladies room.

  Once she had finally been able to get her bladder emptied, she found a table for them. After she had their seat, she watched Vic as he walked into the restaurant and smiled. She didn’t fail to notice the women that turned to watch him as he moved through the narrow aisle and toward her. She didn’t blame them. She would have watched him too. Hell, she was watching him.

  Slipping into the chair at her side, he stilled and frowned at her. “What?” he asked. “Why are you looking at me like that? Do I have something on my face?” He wrinkled up his nose.

  “Nope,” she said with a smile. “I was just admiring you. I was watching you as you walked in and I noticed just how good you looked. I saw that you were also being watched by the women here.”

  He looked around and rolled his eyes. “They obviously need to get lives,” he muttered softly. “Or they really need to get men in this place.” Shaking his head, he grabbed the menus and handed her one.

  Genny laughed. “Oh, Vic. Honey, you have no idea just how good-looking you are, do you? I mean, you are panty-dropping, drool-worthy, achingly handsome. You are, wow. Wow as in I-can’t-believe-that-you-want-to-get-with-me wow.”

  “Panty-dropping?” he asked with a confused look. “Women are weird.” Lifting the menu, he pointedly looked it over even as he shot her little sideways glances, his expression baffled.

  “Yes, panty-dropping. As in a girl wants to drop her panties as fast as she can to give you access to fuck her silly,” she teased with a grin. She reached out and touched her hand to his and gave it a squeeze. “I think you need to look in the mirror more often, Tricks, because you are stunning.”

  His cheeks got red at her words and he shrugged. “I am who I am,” he said softly. “Good genetics is all it is, Gen. Nothing more.” He likely would have said more, but the waitress appeared at their table to take their orders. He ordered up a burger, sweet tea, and a side of fries with gravy.

  She ordered the same thing he did, only instead of gravy, she ordered ranch dressing. Giving their menus back, she smiled as she watched the waitress and how she was reacting to Vic. When they were finally alone again, she placed her hand on his again. “See what I mean?” She knew that he had seen the look on the woman’s face when she approached.

  He just shrugged and looked seriously uncomfortable. First time she’d seen him as anything but fully self-assured and in control. It was rather interesting. “She’s just looking for a big tip,” he muttered.

  “I am too,” Genny teased. “Will you give me one? Later, that is? Will you give me everything that those women could ever desire and will never get? Because I have to tell you.” Sitting side by side, she leaned in and brushed her lips to his cheek. “I don’t share. Not now and not ever.”

  “I don’t either,” he said quietly, throwing her one hell of a possessive look. He returned the kiss before nuzzling at her throat. “I’ll give you as much as you can take, then I’ll give you even more. They’ll never have any clue, but you will.”

  “Thank God,” Genny whispered. “I need that. I need you.” He was growing on her, and Genny had never before felt such a tremendous need in her whole life.

  “Gen,” he whispered as he lifted his head. “What’s wrong, honey?” Cupping her face with his hand, he rubbed his thumb over her lower lip gently. “I felt you tense, talk to me.”

  “I’ve never before felt anything as deeply as I do now. The hours that we have spent on the back of the bike have made me feel far more than I have in the past. It’s surreal, and honestly?” She paused and bit her lower lip. For several moments, she thought of what to say. “You are someone special, Victor.”

  “So are you, Genny,” he said softly. Pulling her a little closer, he brushed a soft kiss to her lips. “Never doubt that what we have between us is real. It may not be the best of circumstances. Hell, it’s not even the worst, but it is real. If it’s ever too much, if you ever need to step back and take a moment, say so. I’m never going to pressure you.”

  “Don’t worry. I will tell you if it becomes too much. However, I need to let you in on a secret.” She leaned into him so she could whis
per in his ear. “You are special to me. I’m not doubting anything at all, Vic. I’m just letting you know how it is.”

  “Good to know,” he said softly. He dropped another kiss to her lips before drawing back just in time for the waitress to return to the table with their drinks, and a pouty look on her face. She shot a look of pure jealousy toward Gennifer then left them alone.

  Genny didn’t miss the look and laughed. “I really hope that she doesn’t spit in my food. From the looks that she’s giving me, she would like nothing better than to do just that or give me food poisoning so that she would have you all to herself.”

  “She wouldn’t dare,” he told her. “Anything happens to you here and she’s the first person I take out. I don’t think she will, though. She’s still hoping that she’s got a shot.” He shook his head and rubbed a hand over his face.

  “I certainly hope so.” She watched him as he shifted slightly. “Do you know just how attractive I find that trait in you? The way that you shift to protect, the way that you tighten your hold on my arms? I like it. I’ve never had anyone touch me like that before.”

  He rubbed his hand over her arm lightly. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?” he asked, his tone actually worried. The look on his face said he wasn’t happy, likely at himself. “I’m not him, Gen. God, I hope I’m nothing like that bastard you’re running from. I’m not perfect, though, and you are rather tiny, so you have to tell me if I’m going too far with, hell, anything.”

  “No, good lord, you aren’t anything at all like him. You are amazing.” She held him closer. “I liked it. A lot. The way you touched me. I felt safe. It was great,” she whispered.

  Resting his forehead to hers, he let out a breath. “You make me crazy, Gen. I shouldn’t fucking admit that, but you do, woman. There’s something about you that….” He shook his head slightly and held her in a one-arm hug. “Hell, I have no clue what I’m saying.”

  That had her grinning. “Well, all that matters is that you are in this with me. That you are as into me as I am into you.” That made her beyond words happy that he wanted and needed her as much as she did him. “We will figure this out together, somehow and someway. The two of us will figure life out, right?”

  With a nod, he squeezed her. While they waited on their food, they sat there holding onto one another. Vic rubbed her back gently as he stared into her eyes. They might not have been speaking, but it didn’t mean they weren’t communicating. Of course, that only lasted until the waitress returned with their food and a heavy sigh to announce her arrival.

  When they pulled back from each other, Genny still had her hand in his. “I like this,” she told him with a smile. “Being able to be this close to you, being able to touch you like this. It’s very nice. I said it before and I’m saying it again, I could become very used to this.”

  Smiling, he lifted her hand enough to press a kiss to her fingers. With a hot look her way, he lightly scraped his teeth to her knuckles then let go. “Eat,” he said softly. Throwing a look around the diner, he shifted in his seat and set about devouring his burger.

  She cut her burger into fourths, knowing that there was no way in hell she would be able to eat the whole thing in one go. Taking a fry first, she dipped it into the ranch dressing and took a bite, humming as she did so. “Man, that is so good. Remind me to ask for more to go later.”

  He gave a nod as he took another big bite. He was watching her daintily eat her burger with a look of amusement on his face. Not that she blamed him. She did eat her burgers like a girl.

  Once she was finished eating, she leaned back against the wall and watched him. Passing him her fries, she reached out and touched him once more. She couldn’t seem to help herself. She needed to touch him.

  Vic didn’t seem to mind, though, even leaned into her touch now and again. He finished off his meal and the rest of hers before wiping his lips and leaning back. Catching her hand, he pressed it to the back to his chest as he held it. “What exactly are you about, sweetheart?”

  “I’m thinking that I’ve never needed to feel a physical connection to anyone as much as I do you. It’s like a driving need to touch you, to feel your skin to mine. It’s odd really, but it’s not a bad odd.”

  “Well, I, for one, am glad,” he said. He stroked his finger over her palm lightly. “I like touching your skin too. It’s very soft. Are you this soft everywhere?” he asked with a mischievous grin curling his lips.

  “I think that you are going to have to touch me all over just so you can see how soft I am. In all places.” She moved so that she could look up at him. “And I am bare and soft, all over.”

  His pupils dilated as he stared at her. Licking his lips slowly, he scraped his short nail lightly to her palm. “I’m looking forward to finding out how soft you are, everywhere. I intend to spend hours discovering every part of you.”

  “That’s a very, very good thing because I fully intend on spending hours getting to know every inch of your body as well. You are worth...” She bit her lower lip and watched him, hesitating before finishing. “Hours. So I say that we make sure we get ourselves to the next place as soon as possible. Please?”

  “Absolutely,” he told her quietly. Pressing a kiss to her lips, he sucked on her lower one and bit it gently. “Let’s pay our bill and get the hell out of here. We have a hotel to find, a bed to occupy, and hours to discover one another.”

  “That sounds damn good to me.” She was more than ready to get her butt out of there, to get to a hotel so that they would be able to finally have what they both damn well wanted. She needed it and so did he. “You have the cash, so get her paid so that we can do this, shall we?”

  Sliding out of his seat, he took her hand and led her up to the register. The waitress gave him the bill and he paid it, even gave her a pretty good tip from what Genny was able to determine. A quick thank you and they were out of there.

  It was truly amazing how quickly a man on a mission could get a helmet on, hers included. Vic practically jumped onto the bike and very nearly threw her over the back end. He was obviously getting close to the end of his patience. So was she, but that was fine. Soon, very soon, they could take the edge off the need pulsing between them. Not soon enough, though. She knew they needed to put some distance between them and the truck stop restaurant first.

  When they finally stopped, Genny was more than happy to get off of the motorcycle. After he had the hotel for them, she slipped her hand into his and gave it a squeeze. She was as excited and needy as she hoped he was.

  Chapter Six

  Shutting, locking, and barring the door behind them, Victor dropped their bags onto the second bed in the room. Turning, he looked to her across the couple of feet separating them. He looked like he wanted to devour her, something she was all for, something she was more than ready to be on the receiving end of. Suddenly, he moved, cupping her face, and was kissing her in desperation as his hands slid down her body to pull her tight to him.

  Genny's hands wrapped around his waist and neck, one around each, and pulled him as close and tight as she could. When they parted, she was panting and looked up at him with hungry eyes. “I want and I need you, Victor, but I want a shower. Join me?”

  “Probably not the best idea. Especially without not seeing the size of the shower yet. I don’t usually fit well into these hotel showers,” he said, making a face. “Go and shower. I’ll grab one after you do, then you’re mine.”

  “Good point. Okay, I will go shower and then when you are showering, I will put lotion on my skin after getting nice and dried off. I will be waiting in the middle of the bed for you, big boy.” She didn’t mind this man telling her that she was his. It made her feel warm inside and she liked it, a lot.

  “Git,” he ordered her as he moved to his bag. He pulled it open and she watched him toss a box of condoms on the bedside table. “Why are you still standing there, Genny? Get moving or I’m not going to let you shower for a good number of hours.”

  Genny
had to laugh. It felt good to be able to laugh, to be able to simply live and relax. Seeing the big box of condoms made her stomach all kinds of happy. It was that happiness that propelled her into the shower to wash the day’s ride off of her body. Otherwise, she would be right there on the bed begging him to show her just how good things could be between them.

  When she opened the door, releasing the steam from her shower, he was right there filling the doorway. He’d gotten rid of all his clothes except for his jeans, which were riding low on his hips. He raked a hot look down her body then back up to meet her eyes. “Five minutes then you are mine,” he warned, moving enough for her slip out of the bathroom.

  She waited until he was in the bathroom then fanned herself. Damn. Never before had she wanted to belong to someone, but with this man—well, with this man, she did. She wanted to be his. She wanted to have him as hers. And damn her heart if she didn’t want him forever. Genny had never been a forever kind of girl, but after getting to know Victor, she wanted that. She wanted everything that might come with being a forever kind of girl.

  Five minutes on the nose, the bathroom door opened. Victor came out with one of the little, so very little, towels around his hips and his jeans in hand. After tossing the jeans aside, he came toward her, stalking her would be the best description, his expression full of intent. Stopping at the foot of the bed, he watched her for a moment before letting the towel fall to the floor.

  Genny watched with rapt attention. She then turned her eyes back to his beautiful cock. God help her, but he was hard and stunning all over. Licking her lips, she didn’t look up, just kept her eyes on his cock and grinned. “So are you going to join me on the bed?” She did finally look up and into his eyes. “I have lotion on. Now you can touch me all over and see if I am just as smooth all over as you might think I am.”

  His eyebrows went up at her words. Bending, he put his hands on the bed, not to come to her, but to yank all of the covers off. Bared to his gaze, she watched as he crawled up on the bed and slowly moved up toward her. “Beautiful,” he said in his deep voice. Straddling her body, he leaned in to kiss her, slowly, gently, the urgency apparently banked for the moment.