Encounter with a Commanding Officer

Smooth and polite, she was impressed. Her own brain was barely functioning it was so overcome with lust. As the couple enthused about the carnival, Fliss fought to regain some semblance of self-control. It was only when the lift reached their floor and the couple stepped out at a snail’s pace that the giggle bubbled up again.

Her shoulders shook with smothered laughter as she and Ash kept back. Even his unruffled air didn’t help her. How could he be so unconcerned when she felt so on edge? It didn’t help that she didn’t know what they were supposed to do now. Go to his room? Go to hers? Each go to their own?

It was only when the elderly pair stopped next to her room, fumbling with the keycard with only a fraction less dexterity than Fliss herself had displayed earlier, that Ash broke contact with her to go to their aid, unlocking their door with ease and shrugging off their gushing thanks as he held the door open whilst they shuffled inside.

Uncertain of herself, Fliss lurched to her own bedroom door and tried to retrieve her card from her purse, her fumbling hands hampering her efforts.

‘My room,’ Ash muttered, startling her as he grabbed her hand and tugged her past the linen cupboard and to his own door, deftly opening it and hauling her inside. ‘Your headboard backs right onto their wall.’

As the door closed behind them, Fliss finally let go of the mildly hysterical laugh she’d been suppressing. It took her a few moments before she realised, to her surprise, that Ash was laughing too. Their eyes locked for a moment, only making them laugh all the more. As he sank onto the edge of the bed, Fliss leaned on the wall, letting the moment of humour release some pent-up tension.

‘We couldn’t have timed that any worse,’ Ash joked, eventually sobering up.

‘I know.’ She shook her head. ‘But I didn’t think you were bothered.’

‘Are you kidding? I felt like a frustrated teenager all over again.’

She bit her lip in disbelief. ‘I thought it was just me.’

He shot her an arch look.

‘It definitely wasn’t just you. I’m just glad I have more self-control than I had as a teenager.’

‘Well, you certainly have that.’

‘Barely, where you’re concerned.’ His husky voice fired her body up in a flash. The earlier heat couldn’t course through her veins fast enough, and then he reached out a hand to her.

‘Come here.’

She was only too happy to comply as he hooked his fingers into her waistband and pulled her to him. His fingers skimmed up her body and, before she realised what was happening, he had undone the tie at the back of her neck and the halter-neck had dropped down to reveal her bare breasts.

‘Perfect,’ he breathed reverently, cupping them with his hands. ‘Just as I imagined.’

She gasped as he leaned forward to draw one taut peak into his mouth. Exquisite torture. Her entire body felt as if it were on fire for him. But there was something else too. The moment of levity had created another thread between them, and they both knew it.

Just sex, remember? Fliss berated herself as she wound her fingers through his hair, instinctively letting her head fall back as she pushed her aching nipple against his skilful tongue.

Her heart gave another kick as he settled her on his lap, one leg either side, her knees resting on the bed. He was nestled perfectly between her legs, his erection straining against the fabric towards her, making her feel sexy and powerful. Suddenly, she was gripped by the impulse to take charge. To pleasure him. To make Ash spin out of control for her, the same way she had for him back on the hillside.

‘You’ve had your fun,’ she croaked. ‘Now I’m having some.’

Catching him off guard, she pushed him back on the bed and concentrated on divesting Ash of his shirt.

‘You’re telling me you weren’t already?’ he challenged smugly.

Her heart raced. Feeling all fingers and thumbs, she grappled awkwardly with the buttons. She needed to distract him before he noticed.

‘A different kind of fun.’ She used her best seductive tone before leaning down to brush her lips against his, deliberately grazing his shirt-clad chest with her nipples.

Ash’s eyes dilated with desire and she felt another kick of adrenalin. She doubted he let many women take charge over him.

Finally, to her relief, the last fastening slid from its soft anchorage and she pushed the garment off his broad shoulders, which she’d hungered to touch like this ever since that day in the supply room. Fliss lowered her body again to taste his mouth with hers, revelling in the sensation of her nipples grazing over the smattering of hair on his bare chest. His erection twitched against her again, almost making her forget her plan.

Almost.

She rained tiny kisses down on his lips, his neck, his chest, following the trail her fingers blazed, his sharp intake of breath like a silent cheer to carry on. But she couldn’t shake the feeling that Ash wasn’t completely relaxed; he was only letting her take the lead for so long. She forced herself to take her time, inhaling the woodsy, leathery scent, gradually moving lower. Lower. Sliding down his body an inch at a time, over abs, his belly button, the muscular definition of his lower abdomen before it dipped below the waistband of his trousers. And all the while she traced the grenade scar with her fingers and her tongue, revelling in the fact that he didn’t stop her.

She was relieved when her fingers unbuckled his belt and lowered his zip with far more ease than she’d managed his shirt. His erection strained against the soft fabric of his boxers. Hooking her fingers over the waistband, she pulled the material down and lowered her lips to kiss the silky tip, then to the side where the grenade wound had stopped mercifully short.