Blind Trust: A Military Romantic Suspense (Men of Steele Book 6) Read online

The sweater was too hot, and she squirmed in the constricting denim. How did he turn her into a quivering bundle of need with a single kiss?

  Okay, this wasn’t just a kiss, it was a mating of the mouths, a full symphony of lips and tongue that sparked lightning in her veins.

  He pulled back, breathless. “Dirty. I’m going to take a very, very fast shower.”

  She laughed.

  He stood and looked down at her, his gaze hot and hungry, making her even more breathless. “Don’t go anywhere.”

  She gave him three minutes from the time the shower curtain rings screeched against the rod, before she stood and slowly walked toward the bathroom. She knocked lightly on the door.

  “Yeah. Everything okay?”

  “Very.” She pushed open the door, stepping into the steamy room, and shut it behind her. “I was wondering if you needed anything,” she said, her voice bolder than she felt.

  He pulled aside the opaque curtain and stood naked before her. Gloriously, beautifully naked from head to toe, his pale skin in stark relief against the fancy brown subway tiles.

  She’d never seen him fully undressed. The sight made her a little dizzy.

  Without a word, he held out his hand, droplets of water falling to the floor like tears, leaving dark spots on the blue rug.

  She hastily shed her clothes and placed her hand in his, carefully stepping into the tub.

  His darkened hair appeared even darker, flopping gently over to the side, dripping water down his bruised forehead. “I just finished washing the sunscreen out of my hair, but I haven’t soaped up yet.” He stared at her, his eyes bluer than the ocean on a sunny day.

  “I couldn’t wait any longer,” she whispered.

  He held up the soap and quirked an eyebrow. Yes, please. When she held out her hand, he gave her an impish grin and dropped it into her palm.

  At her signal, he turned around, showing off the muscles in his back, buttocks, and calves. Her mouth watered as she slicked the soap over his skin, trying to memorize the feel of him against her hands, cataloging every freckle and scar, working her way over his shoulders, down his straight spine.

  She lathered the fine hairs on the back of his legs and even washed his feet, making him laugh.

  “Okay, rinse.”

  He faced her. “Now the good part.” He winked and toyed with a strand of her wet hair, following it down her neck, trailing his fingers over her taut nipple.

  She gasped and arched into his touch. He lifted his other hand and she sucked in another breath at the sight of the angry gash on his right upper arm, which he’d managed to keep hidden from her until now. Her stomach turned and her head spun. Please don’t let me pass out. “Todd. Jesus. We need to take care of that.”

  He dropped his hands. “Later.”

  “Seriously?” She laughed in disbelief. He’d been knifed and he wanted to have shower sex?

  “I’m a medic, remember? I washed it out. You can help me patch it up…after.” He lifted both of her breasts and pressed them together, lowering his head to kiss her nipples.

  She managed not to whimper, but she dropped the soap. If his wound really wasn’t bothering him, who was she to say otherwise? “You’re interfering with your cleaning,” she managed, her voice hoarse. “I need to focus.”

  With a lascivious smile, he released her, dropping both arms to his sides. She retrieved the soap and lathered the incredible contours of his chest in wide swirls, taking care with his light brown nipples before following the hair that cascaded down to where his penis stood at the ready, thick and dark and eager.

  The minute her hand slid up his shaft, Todd moaned and leaned in to capture her bottom lip between his teeth. She made a lusty noise in response and within milliseconds they were a slippery frenzy of hands and mouths and breath and hot, hot skin.

  “No fucking condoms,” he growled.

  She glanced up at him, still working him between her palms. She could get addicted to seeing his handsome face flushed with pleasure from her touch. “I’m guessing that wasn’t part of the welcome basket.”

  He rested his forehead against hers with a frustrated groan. “No, I checked.”

  She laughed. “And here I wasn’t sure you wanted to do this again.”

  “What?” He stilled, gripping her wrist and forcing her to stop. “Why would you think that?”

  Damn. Maybe she was losing her own filter around him. “Because you might worry that I’d get the wrong idea.”

  “Which is?”

  “That there’s a future for us.”

  He stiffened.

  “I like you,” she said. “A lot. If I had my way, we’d never stop doing this. But I’m not asking for more.” Was she trying to convince him or herself? “I don’t have any expectations, so you don’t have to worry.”

  She couldn’t bring herself to say it was okay. It would hurt like hell when they either went to jail or went home. But either way, she didn’t want to stop what they were doing. He was the best thing that had happened to her in a long time, and she’d take whatever she could get.

  He backed out of reach and rinsed his body, closing his eyes under the spray. The rivulets of water trailed down the grooves of his muscles, riveting. Man, put a bottle of…anything in his hand and take a picture and the product would fly off the shelves.

  “You’re not going to say anything?” She couldn’t stand the tension. Especially from a man who didn’t usually hold back his thoughts.

  He scrubbed his hair off his face and looked at her, his eyes blazing. “I want you.” He moved closer, caging her within his arms. “I like you a lot too.”

  His heat surrounded her, his bare skin millimeters away, tempting her to close the gap. Every desperate breath filled her senses with the scents of soap and desire.

  He sank slowly to his knees and looked up at her. Carefully avoiding her bruises, he skimmed his hands up to her breasts, his touch making her shiver. “I like everything about you. Including this little mole.” He dropped a warm kiss at the top of her thigh. “And I only care about right now, right here, with you.”

  Warm hands slid down her torso and around to cup her bottom as he suckled her inner thigh and encouraged her to place one foot on the edge of the tub. Her head fell back against the cool tile and her eyes fell closed on a moan when he parted her with his thumbs and hot breath caressed her core.

  “Lindsey?”

  “Hmm?” Why’d he stop? She glanced down, feeling heavy, her mind fogged like the small room.

  “Are you okay with this?” he asked, his expression sincere, as if she weren’t physically begging for his touch.

  “Yes.” He needed to just do it already.

  A satisfied grin lit his handsome face. “We may not have condoms…” He punctuated each word with an intimate kiss, running his tongue along her center and finally, finally focusing on her clit. “But, luckily, I have other ideas.”

  She jolted at the electric contact and let her knees fall wider.

  His ideas were good.

  Todd gripped the back of Lindsey’s thighs and feasted on her hidden beauty. This woman was going to be the end of him. The taste of her, the feel of her slick skin, the complete ecstasy on her face as he coaxed her higher. Would he ever get enough?

  He nearly came just from the sight of her dissolving into pleasure, cheeks pink, lips parted, golden skin bejeweled with droplets of water. God, she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.

  She slid down the tile wall and sank to her knees, her bare bottom resting on his thighs as she caught her breath. Taking his face between her palms she gave him a long, slow, luxurious kiss that reached into his heart and grabbed hold.

  “So it was good?” he asked, somehow managing an expression of pure innocence.

  A shocked laugh escaped her. “Either you’re dense, or you weren’t paying attention.”

  “Are you kidding? I couldn’t look away.”

  She blushed and broke eye contact.

  �
�Hey.” He lifted her chin until she met his gaze. “You’re beautiful, and sexy as hell.” He kissed her again and then helped her to her feet as he stood to rinse his face and turn off the water. Snagging the towel she’d used earlier off the rack, he handed it to her. “And I’m pretty sure you’re my new favorite flavor.”

  The heat crept up her neck and across her face. Completely at odds with the innocent gesture, something hot flickered in her pretty brown eyes as she pressed a palm to his chest. “Time to find out if you’re mine.”

  Her favorite flavor, or just hers?

  His dick twitched, fully on board with both options. “What’s mine is yours,” he said, attempting to keep his voice nonchalant. He wasn’t sure he’d ever wanted anything as badly as he wanted to see her on her knees with her lips wrapped around him.

  She swiped at his pecs with her towel. “Then dry off, Slick.” After toweling herself, she grabbed her clothes and opened the door, releasing the steamy air into the dimly lit living room. With a glance over her shoulder, she said, “Meet you in the bedroom.”

  He tripped over himself to get dry and follow her, sliding his arms around her waist from behind and nuzzling the spot where her neck curved into her shoulder. She spun in his arms and drew him in for a sizzling kiss that drove the breath from his lungs and the strength from his legs.

  Like before, when she’d driven him wild in the shower, her hands glided over his bare skin, caressing, arousing. He returned the favor, weighing her soft breasts in his palms, flicking his thumbs over her nipples just to elicit the tiny moans and that little catch in her breath that made him feel like a god.

  As they kissed, she gently steered him around until the back of his legs hit the bed. He would’ve killed for a condom, for the chance to lay her on the sheets and bury himself deep inside her over and over again.

  Not that he could complain. Her mouth brushed over his chin, moving slowly lower in concert with her hands, as she licked and caressed every sensitive spot on his body. Hell, they were all sensitive, and growing more so as she moved lower.

  “Sit,” she commanded, gripping his hips and tugging him down.

  Like he was going to say no. The second his bottom hit the bed, she moved between his knees and took him deep into her hot, wet mouth.

  Heaven. He groaned embarrassingly loud and flopped back onto the mattress, closing his eyes so his world was reduced to only her mouth—and holy fuck, her hands—as she sucked and licked and even scraped gently with her teeth. How the hell was he supposed to breathe?

  His fingers twisted in her damp hair as she caressed his balls and pumped his lower shaft and did wicked things with her lips and—

  Oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck.

  The orgasm hit him like an armored truck. Just straight up annihilated him.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  TODD SAT ON the couch ten minutes later, still reeling from pleasure as he finished bandaging his wound. It probably needed stitches, but he’d live. Chicks dug scars, right?

  The only chick he wanted emerged from the bathroom with damp hair curling around her shoulders, her face shiny and beautiful. “I wish I had my glasses,” she said, plopping down next to him on the couch. “These contacts are about at the end of their useful life.”

  He tilted his head. Her eyes were such a fascinating blend of rich brown with a starburst of gold and those dark speckles. “I’ll bet you look sexy in glasses.”

  Her light laughter filled his chest, and her cheeks flushed. “Sexy is not the word I’d use, but they’re fine. I like being able to see, so…” She lifted her hand, palm up. “Contacts are easier, especially since I can use extended-wear, but sometimes I just need a break.”

  “I don’t need reading glasses all the time, but at night my eyes get too tired to focus.”

  “Ooh.” The way she eyeballed him ignited his blood all over again. “Reading glasses on a hot guy are about the sexiest thing ever.”

  “Really?” He grinned and waggled his eyebrows. “What’s the sexiest thing ever?”

  “A hot, naked guy, reading. Glasses optional.”

  “That could be arranged.”

  “Oh yeah? You have a friend who’d be willing?”

  He pinned her to the couch. “So you’re just passing the time with me until someone better comes along, eh?” His belly tightened. Wasn’t that exactly what they were doing? Passing time until reality ripped them apart?

  Her pupils widened and her smile faded as she reached up to twirl a lock of hair that had fallen over his brow. “I don’t think that’s possible.”

  Everything in him ached at her soft words. Suddenly the idea of a future without her seemed unbearable. Which made him every kind of fool.

  She kissed him, gently, sweetly, tugging at his heart—and lower. He pulled back before he lost his will and pushed up to sitting. “You want something to drink?”

  Her brow scrunched and she nodded. “A glass of water would be great.”

  In the kitchen, he busied himself making a cup of hot tea for himself, more to have something to do while his body calmed down than anything.

  By the time he returned to the couch, he had things under control again. He handed her the glass and sat with his back to the armrest, one bent leg resting on the cushion between them, one foot on the floor.

  Hopefully the position appeared casual, and not like the shield it was meant to be.

  “So, what’s your favorite color?” she asked, tucking both feet under her to face him sideways.

  “You sure you don’t want to know my sign first?” he teased. At her head shake, he said, “Red.”

  “Truly?”

  “Yeah, it’s not a joke on my hair, I just like how much energy red has, how vibrant it is. It’s powerful.”

  “A lot like you.”

  He stared at her, something warm and inconvenient flowing through him. She was like a sledgehammer, knocking down all the walls he’d built for his protection. “Is that how you see me?”

  She nodded. “Strong, energetic, caring, honorable…”

  He took a sip of his hot drink, hiding from her. He suddenly felt raw and naked—not in a good way—unsure what to do with all of these foreign feelings swirling inside him. He couldn’t let her see how much she affected him.

  Without meaning to he’d let her become the greatest distraction, welcoming the respite from the mess of their lives, but deep down knowing that it cost him. “Do you want to watch TV?”

  She shook her head, a small frown pulling her lips down at the corners, twisting his heart into knots. “I’m exhausted. I think I’m ready for bed.” Her voice wasn’t coy, just matter-of-fact and rife with fatigue.

  His own weariness hit him then. They’d been operating on adrenaline and extreme emotion for days now and the sudden sense of security—whether warranted or not—had his body shutting down, begging for rest. “Okay. Sleep would be a good idea.” The calm before the storm. “Tomorrow’s going to be busy.”

  Two hours later, Todd lay beside her in the double bed, his eyes still wide open. He was tired, but all the contingencies, all the what-ifs, were circling through his mind on repeat.

  Lindsey rolled to face him, nothing more than an outline and a ghost of her face. “Can’t sleep?”

  “Not sure why. I can usually crash anywhere.”

  “I’m the opposite. Normally, everything has to be perfect. I even use a white noise machine to block out traffic sounds.” She ducked her head as if embarrassed. “For some reason I’ve slept better the last two nights with you, despite everything. I feel safe with you.”

  Her words made him want to pull her close and never let go. Instead, if she felt for him even half of what he felt for her, he was going to break her heart tomorrow. “And yet now that we’re in a safe place”—probably—“you can’t sleep.”

  She sighed. “I can’t stop thinking about tomorrow. There are too many unanswered questions, so many scenarios that could play out. My brain is a nightmare in these kinds of cir
cumstances. I can’t turn it off.” She made a self-deprecating sound. “I waste a lot of time spinning on things that I shouldn’t have bothered to worry about. The voice in my head never shuts up.”

  He stroked her shoulder, unable to keep his hands off. “If you weren’t doing that right now, I’d worry that you were a psychopath or something.”

  She laughed, easing a bit of the knot the base of his neck. The silence stretched between them until she whispered, “If by some chance we don’t go to prison, do you think we’ll see each other again? After tomorrow, I mean.”

  Todd rose onto one elbow and looked down at her. He managed to muzzle the discouraging reply on the tip of his tongue. A hard-won feat. He wanted so badly to reassure her, to lie to her and say that he would do whatever it took for them to explore this thing between them. But he hesitated too long, unable to conjure the words that she seemed to want.

  She rolled to her back, eyes glistening as she stared up at the ceiling. “Wow, okay. I know we didn’t make any promises, but I thought maybe…” Her hand flapped in the air. “Guess I’d better start getting used to that idea now.”

  He reached for her. “Lindsey—”

  “No.” The sharp response made him drop his hand. “I’ve already told you, your honesty is one of the things I like most about you. I wouldn’t trade that for some false words of comfort.”

  His chest tightened as he lay down on his side facing her. “I want to be able to say yes, but I can’t.” He wanted to say yes more than he’d wanted anything his entire life.

  “Can you tell me why, though? You can be brutally honest. If this was simply a fling because we were together, something you could never see doing in your real life… If I’m not really your type…”

  He cleared his throat, trying to ease the vise clamped around his vocal cords. “I think you’re more my type than any woman I’ve ever known.” He pushed on, ignoring her soft gasp. “But there’s a very real possibility that at least one of us is going to prison.”

  She inhaled, but he continued on before she could speak. “And even if we both skate out of this, I’ve put down roots in Virginia. That’s something I haven’t had since I joined the Air Force. The people at Steele are more than coworkers, they’re like family. I’ve bought a house, I’m taking on new responsibilities at work, and I have a lot to make up for with Jason.” If his friend would let him. “I already abandoned him to chase down Pete. I can’t do it again.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. Why was it so hard to explain? “Maybe that doesn’t sound like much, but to me, it’s everything.”