“Seriously?”
“Yep, had a friend who dared me to join. Shocked us both when we both
made it through.” At my disbelieving snort, he raised an eyebrow. “What?”
“Never would have pegged you for someone who joined the most intensive
military boot camp on a dare.”
“Thought you had me figured out, huh?” he drawled. “Sorry to burst your
bubble.” A totally unrepentant grin appeared. “My mom’s a nurse. Retired now.
My dad still teaches history at the local college. Grew up pretty standard, small
suburb in Southern California. Did the whole outdoor activity circuit; surfing, biking, skating.”
“Yeah, I got that part.” I had even teased him about it at one point.
He continued, “Senior year in high school, my buddy Zach ended up in the
hospital after taking a spill on a motorbike. When he got out, he had this bug up
his ass about taking life by the horns. Somehow, we both ended up at the
recruiter’s office. Then it was off to San Diego.”
“Your parents must have loved that.”
He grimaced. “Mom took longer than Dad to accept it. I’m the first military
in my family. I think they were hoping I’d outgrow my rebellious phase.”
Hearing the love and respect as he talked about his family, reminded me of
how much family meant to him. A bittersweet emotion rose, but I pushed it back.
There was no reason to be jealous of Kayden, that was how family should be.
For a moment, I could feel Becca’s arm around my waist, Carl’s arm resting
on my shoulders as Kelsey instructed us to “Smile on three! One…two…three. ”
as we stood on cracked asphalt under the South Carolina sun after I completed
boot camp at Parris Island. Sorrow and anger rose in a rushing wave. I turned away, threw an arm over my eyes, and tried to breathe around the pressure.
“Hey.” Next to me, his weight shifted on the sofa, then a warm hand cupped
the side of my face. “You with me?” Kayden’s question was soft.
I forced myself to nod. When I dropped my arm and opened my eyes, I
couldn’t get my voice to work.
Kayden’s face filled my field of vision. Concern and something else,
something much more tempting, watched me.
I wrapped my fingers around his wrist, to hold him still or to pull him off, I
wasn’t sure. The flare of desire from earlier made a comeback, giving me something else to concentrate on. I tried to suck in some air, but he was too close. His uniquely male scent seeped under my skin, leaving trails of disturbing
heat in its wake. Nerve endings sparked, and my pulse began a heavy
anticipatory beat. Captured by the rising heat and awareness in his gaze, I couldn’t look away.
He leaned forward, and I met him halfway. Our first touch was tentative, as if
we were testing the waters. I had forgotten how warm and firm his lips were.
The brush of his goatee was a soft tease against my skin, layering my memories
with something new. My fingers on his wrist tightened, my other hand curling into his T-shirt, holding him captive.
He brushed his lips across mine. I followed his tantalizing lead. When he gently nipped my bottom lip, I opened on a gasp. As if he had been waiting for
the invite, he dove in. With devastating technique, he turned the questing kiss into a firestorm. His mouth taunted and teased, stoking my desire until it burned
