One to Leave (One to Hold 5)

Damn Nikki. If I weren’t so pleased by the luscious surprise of finding Mel waiting for me half-nude in my condo Friday night, I’d reprimand her for keeping tabs on me. I don’t need an office manager who doubles as my mother, or who reports my behavior back to my aunt—or my fiancée.

Melissa stayed to this morning, Monday. She’s so different than when we first met. Even back then she had that confidence, but she’s happy now. She’s also a little rounder, with our baby on the way. It’s a killer combination. I love it, and every time I’d bury my face in a new curve, she’d shriek and complain loudly. I almost couldn’t let her leave.

Smiling at my desk, I look out the window at the bare winter landscape of the courtyard, thinking of her. This morning as I watched her sleep, I couldn’t help breathing a little prayer of thanks. I don’t pray, but with that angel in my bed, how could I not? She was curled up facing me, her delicate hand under her chin and her dark hair spread behind her on the pillow.

It was like our own world, secure and full of love. She’d stirred, and meeting her beautiful blue eyes, another quiet thank you echoed through my mind, only this time my memories were on our first encounters. How incredibly sexy she was giving in to me, and how breathless I’d been waiting for her to push me away. She never did.

“How long have you been awake?” She’d touched my cheek then smoothed her fingers into my hair.

“Not long.” I’d caught her hand and brought her palm to my lips.

She touched my brow, smoothing it back. “You’re less tense than when I got here, and now I have to leave again.”

“You forget, I’m trained for periods of separation.” Even as I said it, I knew nothing would make telling her goodbye easier.

She pushed up into a sitting position and moved me onto my back. “So being a Marine means you don’t miss me?” Her elbows were bent, and one cheek rested on her palm.

I couldn’t help laughing at her eyes narrowed in disbelief. I wasn’t fooling anyone. “I miss you like the worst pain in the world. Like the desert misses rain.”

“That’s a song.” She kissed me lightly. “And something you have experience with.”

Catching her neck, I pulled her forward for a better kiss, but she arched away before I could take it further. “I want to know more about your training. What are your special skills? Besides not missing me when we’re apart, of course. Can you fly a plane?”

I shook my head with a chuckle. “Sorry, darling. No piloting for me, but I think Patrick did some flying—”

“I don’t believe it. You know things. Tell me!”

Pressing my lips together, my eyes moved down to her chin then to her slim neck where my heart dangled on a thin, gold chain. Yes, I know things.

“You keep so many secrets from me,” she sighed. “What are you thinking now?”

“The things I know aren’t things you want to hear about.” Reaching over, I slid my palm over the curve of her waist.

She caught my cheeks in her hands and drew my gaze back. “I want to know everything about you.”

For a moment I hesitated. Then my eyes were drawn to the scar, that tiny silver line that starts at the top of her forehead, just above her temple, and disappears into her hairline. “I can kill a man with my bare hands.”

Our eyes met again, and I could tell she knew where my thoughts had gone.

“Have you ever done it?”

When I answered her, my voice was quiet. “I’ve had to kill people.”

She hugged herself close against my chest. “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to bring up painful memories. We don’t have to talk about it.”

Wrapping my arms around her, I pulled her up slightly so I could kiss her neck. “Have I told you how amazing you are?”

A laugh bubbled in her throat. “You always say that. I’m not so amazing.”

Rolling us so she was on her back, I looked down into her beautiful face. “You’re smart and beautiful. You’re incredibly busy, but you make time to show up here—”

“When I know you need me.” Leaning down, I kissed her jaw as she continued. “You’d do the same for me. Besides, I can work from anywhere.”

“Then work from here.”

“You can work anywhere, too.”

Our old argument. Neither of us chased it any further—not on our last morning together. We were counting down the hours before we’d be apart again, and instead, I focused on trailing my lips down to her collarbone, past the floating heart, lower to her breasts until we were lost in our special place once more.