The SEAL's Secret Heirs

“Just to make sure, let me help you shut up.”

He hauled her up and kissed her. His mouth took hers at a hard, desperate angle that she instantly responded to. Maybe she didn’t have to resist if he wasn’t going to leave again. Maybe she didn’t have to pretend she didn’t want more. Because he was right here, giving it to her. All she had to do was take it.

His hands were still on her elbows, raising her up on her tiptoes as he devoured her with his unique whole-body kiss. Need unfolded inside, seeking relief, seeking Kyle.

Yes. The darkness she sometimes sensed in him lifted as he dropped her elbows to encompass her in his arms, holding her tight. He backed her up against the counter to press his hard body to hers, thrusting his hips to increase the contact.

A moan bloomed in her chest, and her tongue vibrated against his as he took the kiss deeper, sliding a hand down her back, to her waist, to her bottom, molding it to fit in his palm. His touch thrilled her even as she pressed into it, willing him to spread the wealth. And then he did.

His hand went lower, gripping the back of her thigh, lifting it so that her knee came up flush with his thigh, which hiked her dress up, and oh, my. She was open to him under her skirt, flimsy panties the only barrier between her damp center and his very hard body.

He thrust his hips again, igniting her instantly as the rough fabric of his jeans pleasured her through the scrap of fabric at her core. Strung tight, she let the dense heat wash through her, mindless with it as she sought more. His mouth lifted from hers for a moment and she nearly wept, following him involuntarily with her lips in hopes of reclaiming the drugging kiss.

“Grace,” he murmured, and dragged his lips across her throat to the hollow near her ear, which was so nice, she forgot about kissing and let her head tip back to give him better access.

He spent a long moment exploring the area, and finally nipped her ear lightly, whispering, “You know, when I said I wanted to live my life in Royal, I didn’t picture myself alone.”

“I hope not,” she murmured. “You have two daughters.”

He laughed softly, as she’d intended, and hefted her a little deeper into his arms as he lifted his head to meet her gaze. “You know that’s not what I meant.”

Of course she did. But was it so difficult to spell out what was going on his head? So difficult to say how he felt about her? She wanted to hear the words. This time, she wasn’t settling for less than everything. “Tell me what you’re picturing, Kyle.”

“Me. You.” He slid light fingertips down the sweetheart neckline of her dress until he reached the spot right between her breasts and hooked the fabric. “This dress on the floor.”

Shuddering in spite of herself at the heated desire in his expression, she smiled. “Let’s pretend for argument’s sake I’m in favor of this dress on the floor. What would you say to me while you’re peeling it off?”

The glint in his eye set off another shower of sparks in her midsection. “Well, my darling. Why don’t we just find out?”

Slowly, he pulled down the shoulders of the dress, baring her bra straps, which he promptly gathered up, as well. She heartily blessed the impulse that had caused her to pick this semibackless dress that didn’t require unzipping to get out of. Which might not have been an accident.

“Beautiful.” He kissed a shoulder, suckling on it lightly, then following her neckline with the little nibbling kisses until she thought she’d come apart from the torture.

When she’d asked him to talk about what was on his mind, she’d been expecting a declaration of his feelings. This was so much better. For now.

All at once, the dress and bra popped down to her waist in a big bunch of fabric, baring her breasts to his hot-eyed viewing pleasure. And look he did, shamelessly, as if he’d uncovered a diamond he couldn’t quite believe was real.

“Grace,” he rasped. “Exactly like I remembered in my dreams. But so much more.”

That pleased her enormously for some reason. It was much more romantic than what she recalled him saying when they were together ten years ago. He’d seen her naked before, but always in semidarkness, and usually in his truck. Bench seats were not the height of romance.

With a reverent curse, he brushed one nipple with his thumb, and her breath whooshed from her lungs as everything went tight inside. And outside.

“Kyle,” she said, and nearly strangled on the word as he lifted her up onto the counter, spreading her legs and stepping between them. Then his mouth closed over a breast and she forgot how to speak as he sucked, flicking her nipple with his tongue simultaneously.