Forever in My Heart Read online

  Now he stood in cargo shorts and a black T-shirt, painting, while the girl of his fantasies lay upstairs in bed. He envisioned her naked underneath a sheer white sheet with her brown hair spread out on the pillow. His cock strained painfully against his zipper. What would she do if he went upstairs and slipped into bed beside her?

  He shook his head, trying to vanquish the memory. Not because he wanted to but because trying to focus on the task at hand was challenging with an erection.

  Sensing moving behind him, he pivoted, holding up the roller for defense.

  “Hey, it’s me,” Vicky said in a quiet but strained voice.

  He waved the roller at her. “I could have whacked you with this.”

  “Defense by a paint roller? Funny.”

  “What are you doing down here?”

  “I was restless and wanted to see what you were working on. The color is nice.”

  He couldn’t believe he was standing here with her, still aroused, talking about paint.

  “It will be great when it’s done.” He stooped and rolled more paint on the sponge.

  He continued where he left off, but felt the heat of her eyes watching him. Didn’t she know she was killing him, that it was all he could do to refrain from taking her right there in the café?

  “You should go on back to bed. I’m going to finish up this wall, and then I’ll be up.”

  “I’m not sleepy.”

  It figures. “Do you want to pick up a brush and help?”

  “Not particularly.”

  He gripped the roller tighter, not sure what he could say to make her leave—before he did something stupid like toss her over his shoulder and bring her back to the kitchen.

  “Then what is it you want, Vick?”

  When he didn’t hear a reply he turned, half expecting that she’d left. But she hadn’t. No, without him realizing it, she’d moved closer to him until she was only a few steps away.

  “I want you. Naked and in my bed.”

  He hadn’t realized he’d been holding his breath until he exhaled. Wow, he couldn’t fault her directness. She was point blank clear, and she’d knocked him for a loop. And despite how beautiful she looked in her pale pink pajama top and matching shorts, he still tried to push her away.

  “We’ve talked about this. You’re not ready.”

  “I’m tired of people telling me what to do, how to act, and how to feel. I know how I feel. The question is, do you feel the same way?”

  Did he? Ha. Couldn’t she tell by the raging hard-on he sported?

  “Vick, I—”

  “Shhh,” she interrupted with a finger to his lips. “Kiss me, Jamie.”

  When he didn’t move, she leaned forward and rose on her toes to kiss him. He stood there, roller in hand, while she pressed against him and ran her tongue along his lower lip.

  Her mouth trembled, as though she was second-guessing her decision to come downstairs. She slid her hands down the length of his body, past his stomach, to grasp him between the legs, where his cock was at full attention and completely onboard with her proposal.

  He inhaled and groaned. “Fuck, Vick. You don’t know what you’re doing.”

  She took a step back, and at first he thought she was going to turn tail and run.

  “I’m tired of being told you’re bad for me. I want you. It’s that simple.”

  Before he could reply, she swept her tank top over her head and flung it across the room. Next, she removed the pajama shorts. Sweet mother Mary, was she beautiful. Perfectly rounded breasts held high by her push-up bra. Flat, smooth stomach that led down to a scrap of material that bordered on nonexistent but was enough to cover the essentials.

  His chested heaved as he tried, unsuccessfully, to control his breathing. Was he really going to let her do this? Seduce him in her café? He dug deep for sanity but found it had checked out.

  “And I know you want me, too.” With a flick, she unhooked her bra.

  As it fell, so did the last of his control.

  ****

  The sound of the roller falling to the floor echoed in the empty café. Vicky cried out in surprise when Jamie went from statue still to crazed wild man, lunged for her, and hauled her against his rock solid chest. Thank you, sweet baby Jesus. Hands previously immobile were all over her, quickly moving across her entire body as though he was afraid she’d vanish. Oh how she loved his hands, the rough callouses arousing her beyond belief.

  After ravishing her mouth, Jamie headed south and captured a nipple between his teeth. He was far from gentle, and Vicky could tell she’d unleashed something dangerous by breaking his control. And she loved it.

  She pulled up his shirt, yanked it over his head, and tossed it over her shoulder. Skin to skin, they stared into each other’s eyes, hands still roaming, never giving up contact. Still, it wasn’t enough. She needed more and based on his conflicted expression, she was going to have to take the next step for fear of him backing away.

  Not on her dime.

  She trailed her hand down to the waistband of his cargo shorts and undid the button. He sucked in his breath when she slid the zipper down over his bulge and pushed the shorts to the ground.

  Not able to stop herself, she glanced down and now it was her turn to inhale deeply. His enormous shaft strained against black boxer briefs. Very tight and short boxer briefs.

  Oh, wow, was that sexy.

  She slipped her hands under the waistband, cupped him, and drew her hands up along the entire magnificent length of him. “My, you’ve filled out nicely.”

  He hissed out a breath and with his eyes closed, was the most beautiful sight she’d ever seen.

  “You’re killing me, Vick,” he gasped.

  “Then do something about it.” She rubbed a finger across the tip, pleased at the moisture beaded across the top.

  The thud of sneakers getting kicked off echoed in the room. Then she was airborne and lifted into his arms, reverse piggy-back style. She hooked her legs around his back and pulled herself tightly against him. They were moving, quickly, toward her apartment.

  Finally.

  They only made it halfway up the stairs before he pushed her against the wall and ground against her. He kissed her feverishly, and she opened wider, thrusting her tongue further in his mouth. She could taste the wildness on him, and the idea of what was to come was almost enough to drive her over the edge.

  “Hurry,” she gasped.

  “Not yet.”

  One yank and her panties were gone.

  “I’ll buy you a new pair,” he murmured as his fingers found her slick center. “You’re dripping wet.”

  How could he not be as close to coming as she was? “See what you do to me? I need you. Now.”

  He ignored her and moved lower. She was his prisoner as he held her against the wall, one cheek of her butt resting on the railing. It must have looked comical, but all thoughts of laughing vanished when his mouth touched her.

  They’d experimented with oral sex once all those years ago. Neither of them knew what they were doing and while they reached their goal, it was without finesse. Not a problem in the present day that was for damn sure. Someone developed a new skill while defending the country.

  “Oh, God, Jamie,” she gasped as he swirled and lapped and delved deep inside her. “So good. So close.”

  She thrust against his mouth and with the slightest flick across her nub, he sent her flying. He stayed with her while she convulsed, drinking up every last drop until she went slack. Then his mouth was on hers again.

  “Now we hurry.”

  Despite also breathing unevenly, he picked her up and ran up the remaining stairs. He stopped to close and lock the door before depositing her on the bed. Then, he yanked off his briefs and hovered over her, a caged animal ready to feast on his prey—her. She swallowed hard, still not having recovered from the most intense orgasm of her life and tried to catch her breath as she prepared for part two.

  He rolled forward, and she
expected him to be rough, but he wasn’t. His lips were gentle as he spread hers apart and slipped his tongue inside. The taste of herself mixed along with Jamie filled her. She reached for him and pushed him onto his back. One good turn deserved another, she thought, and straddled him.

  She ran her mouth along his firm-muscled torso. His body was perfection. Not an ounce of fat—the bastard—and cut in all the right places. When she reached his penis, she bit down hard on her lip. He was more beautiful than she remembered. He’d been impressive nine years ago, but he seemed so much larger, fuller, now.

  She lowered her head and let her hair curtain around him. He pulled it away.

  “I want to see your face.”

  She held his gaze as her tongue swept over his tip, causing a moan to escape his lips. Slowly she teased, scraping her teeth along his long shaft until she fit as much of him in as she dared. When his breathing became raspy, she knew he was close.

  “Do you want me to finish?” she asked.

  “I do, but not now.” He reached for her and pulled her alongside him. “I want to be inside you the first time I come.”

  Oh, she wanted that, too. “Condom?” she asked, but he was already rising from the bed and heading to his bag in the corner.

  His ass was even better than she remembered. All of him was.

  He had the condom on when he returned and from the determination on his face, play time was over.

  He kissed her, skimming his hands over her breasts, her stomach until he slid a finger inside her.

  “You’re all wet again, baby.”

  She nodded, and gasped when he slid another finger in.

  “Let’s see what we can do about that.”

  He was thick between her thighs and while she sensed he wanted to plunge, took his time, slowly inching his way inside her.

  “I’ve dreamed of making love to you so many times. You feel so good, I almost don’t want to move.”

  She sure as hell did and thrust her hips up. “Oh, yeah?”

  He gave her a brilliant smile. “Almost.”

  When he finally moved, the earth seemed to shift with them. She hooked her legs around his back, and he plunged deeper inside her.

  “Faster,” she murmured.

  He obliged, pumping harder and taking her breath away until she was screaming out her release, calling his name.

  “Fuck, Vick,” he ground out as he followed her over.

  He gazed at her with those beautiful blue eyes, now dark with passion. “I built up a lot of fantasies over nine years. You exceeded all of them.”

  She laughed and pulled him close until they fell into a deep and dreamless sleep.

  Chapter Fifteen

  The hint of sun peeking in through the blinds awakened him. Although he didn’t require a lot of sleep, all he wanted to do at the moment was burrow further under the covers. He rolled over and settled his eyes on his reason for wanting to stay in bed. Vicky. His wildcat, Vicky.

  He knew their lovemaking would be good, but even he hadn’t been prepared for the earth-shattering chemistry between them. After three rounds, he would have thought he’d be sated. Rather, he was fully awake and wanting her again.

  He slipped his arm possessively around her waist. Sunlight fell across her cheek, showing the smooth perfection of her skin. Curling into her, he’d started nodding off when she stirred.

  “Sunlight. I never wake to sunlight.” Now panic entered her voice. “Crap. What time is it?”

  He turned to the clock on the bedside table. “A little after six.”

  “What!” Vicky sprung up. “I’m late. I need to get downstairs.”

  He grabbed her hand, preventing her from leaving him. “You have plenty of time. The café doesn’t open until seven.”

  She pushed at him. “I know, genius, but I have to start baking at four to get things ready.”

  So much for morning sex.

  “Isn’t Lucy downstairs?”

  “It’s a lot of work for two people, let alone one.”

  Pushing aside the covers, she started to rise from the bed.

  “Not so fast.” He pinned her underneath him. “Don’t I at least get a good morning kiss?”

  She rolled her eyes before obliging him with a chaste kiss on his lips.

  “Now let me up,” she demanded but laughed when he rolled his hips against her. “You can’t want it again.”

  He did, the need for her growing like the size of what was pressed against her. “That wasn’t a kiss.”

  Before she could argue about needing to brush her teeth, he kissed her. Planted a deep tongue filled kiss on her and was pleased by her raspy breathing.

  “That should hold me for a while,” he said before rolling off her.

  “Tease. Now you’ve got me all revved up, too.”

  He kissed the tip of her nose. “Then I guess you’d better hurry back.”

  “I’ll bring up coffee and breakfast as soon as I can slip away.”

  Another kiss and she was gone. Jamie lay back on the pillows, still feeling the warmth of her body on the sheets next to him. Slowly and with thoughts of her, he drifted off to sleep.

  The next thing he remembered was the scent of coffee, donuts, and the sound of her soft voice. He forced his eyes open and found her kneeling on the bed, two take-out coffees in her hands and a pastry bag in her lap. Less than thirty minutes passed.

  “That was fast.”

  “They kicked me out.”

  “They?”

  “Lucy and Maggie. When Lucy arrived this morning and saw the state of the place—lights on, paint open, clothes strewn over the floor—she called Maggie to come in. Told me not to come back down unless it was for sustenance.”

  He reached for the coffee she held out to him and sipped. Heaven. “So you have the day off?”

  “Apparently.”

  “Why don’t you look happy about it, then?”

  “I feel guilty for having Maggie come in. Especially since she’s probably figured out why by now. She usually goes to mass Sunday morning.”

  Unable to refrain any longer, Jamie opened the pastry bag and removed a cider donut. Next to cannolis, these were his favorite. He held it out to her, and Vicky took a bite. He followed it with a larger bite. The soft dough—still warm—melted in his mouth.

  “You deserve a day off now and again.”

  “I take them, but usually it’s during the week.”

  “All work and no play makes Vicky a grumpy and sexually frustrated woman.” He bit off another chunk of donut and fed her the rest. “I say we show our appreciation for your rare Sunday off and spend the morning in bed.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “Oh, you do, huh?”

  He moved the coffees and bag to the end table.

  “It would be rude not to.” He reached for the bottom of her T-shirt. “The first step is to dispose of your clothes. There’s a no-clothes rule today.”

  He pulled it over her head and flipped open the clasp of her bra.

  She laughed. “The entire day?”

  “The part of the day we’re up here.”

  “Works for me.” She pulled off her shorts and panties until finally, she was gloriously naked before him.

  She took his breath away. Last night they’d made love with a tiny stream of moonlight through the blinds. He thought her beautiful then. It was nothing compared to seeing her in the soft, early morning light.

  Her average-sized breasts were full and high. He cupped them and ran his thumbs across her nipples, eliciting a moan from her mouth. She wasn’t exceptionally curvy, but enough for him with a slim waist and gently rounded hips. She waxed, he noted, when he found the well-groomed mound between her legs. He could stare at her all day, if it wasn’t for the growing throb of his groin.

  “My turn.” She pushed aside the sheet that had been covering him.

  Her expression reminded him of how she’d looked all those years ago. While they’d messed around, they’d never been fully naked until
the night of the graduation party. Although he hadn’t been one, Vicky had been a virgin. He hadn’t pushed her into sex, but he’d certainly hinted enough at wanting her.

  When she suggested they make love the night before he left for boot camp, he put up a half-hearted argument before giving into his desire. They found the shed and stripped by moonlight. Back then she’d been smaller and not fully developed. He found her as gorgeous back then as he did now.

  “I can’t believe how much you’ve changed. You were thin with a little muscle in your arms. But this…” She ran her hands down the ripples of his stomach.

  He appreciated her gaze. He’d worked hard to develop and maintain his physique. It was no easy feat, and he worked his ass off to build up the tolerance he now had.

  “When I left and wasn’t able to say goodbye to you, I was furious.” He caught her hand in his. “I focused my anger on making my body strong. At first it was so I’d never be in a situation like we had been the night of the party. Then I needed to in order to face what I needed to face.”

  Curiosity crossed her face. “What was it like? Out there, fighting.”

  How could he possibly explain all he had seen? When he thought about it, really allowed himself to think about all the lives taken too early, it made him sick.

  “The mechanics of fighting is instinctual. If you have to choose between you dying or the other guy, you’ll choose yourself.”

  “Kill or be killed.”

  “Right. It was when the fighting stopped and we allowed ourselves to feel that the reality of what we were doing sank in.” And the nightmares began.

  “Why did you stay so long?”

  “I wanted to make a difference.”

  “And did you?”

  “Some, I suppose. After nine years, though, things were not much better than when I started. There was always another battle. An incident happened in the second year of my third tour, and my platoon lost a lot of men. I could have easily been killed. When my tour was up, I decided I’d had enough.”