She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not (The American Soldier Collection 8)

“God knows we all have secrets, or experiences we’d like to keep hidden, but, baby, you look more scared than angry, and that just isn’t sitting right with me.”

“Hunter, it’s not your concern.”

He gave her hip a squeeze. “You are my concern, and my brothers’. If this situation you’re in is what’s keeping you from being with us, then I think it’s something you, Seno, Mace, Justice, and I need to discuss.”

She shook her head and turned further into him to face him.

“Please, Hunter, just leave it alone. It’s not a situation, yet. It may never become one. It’s just something that happened to me.” She lowered her eyes. She felt his palm caress back and forth over her thigh and then under the material.

She held his gaze, his expression serious, but also the sadness in his green eyes so apparent. It tugged at her heart.

He moved his hand from her thigh, she felt the loss of his touch, but held his gaze. He placed his hand against her cheek, and she absorbed the feel of his masculinity and the scent of his cologne, fresh soap and enticing to her senses.

“A beautiful woman like you shouldn’t be afraid.” They stared at one another and she glanced at his lips as he glanced at hers. She wondered if he would kiss her and she hoped that he would.

His lips softly touched her own and they both closed their eyes.

Ellie was lost in his hold, his kiss, and the connection she felt to Hunter. He was different right now then the other times she had been around him. He wasn’t fierce, confrontational, and angry. Instead he was calm, empathetic, sexy, and macho in every sense of the words. He used his tongue to explore her mouth and then moved his hand back against her thigh, pulling her harder against his chest.

She kissed him back, battling for control and then indulging in his taste, his commanding kiss, and the power and safety she felt in his arms.

When he moved his hand under her dress and up the back of her thigh, she felt her heart racing and her body tighten up. She was incredibly aroused as she explored his hair with her hand running her fingers through the blond, shoulder-length locks. They were moaning, or maybe it was just her as she felt embarrassed by her reaction to Hunter. She started pulling back and he pulled her tighter before gently releasing her lips and kissing along her jaw and then her neck. She was trying to catch her breath, feeling overwhelmed at her reaction to him.

Hunter didn’t move his hand from under her dress and against her thigh nearly to her ass. Just a few inches and he could caress her ass cheek and probably make her come right here on his lap. She felt her cheeks warm and he smiled.

“Damn, I could kiss you for hours, Ellie.”

She sat up and ran her fingers against her lips in an attempt to destroy any smudge marks.

“Oh God, we should probably head back to the party. They’ll wonder where we are,” she stated, preparing to move off his lap, but he held her in place.

She raised one eyebrow at him in question and he nodded toward the doorway.

There stood Mace. Crew cut blond hair, decked out in swim trunks and some T-shirt with what looked like John Wayne on it. It didn’t fit his macho, tough-guy attitude at all. She pulled her lip between her teeth as he walked closer.

“What are you two up to?” he asked as he reached out and cupped her chin. She tilted her head up toward him, holding his gaze.

“Just talking,” she replied, and he used his thumb to caress along her lips as if her lipstick were smudged.

“Just talking?” He raised one eyebrow up at her, as Hunter moved his hand up her spine, under her hair to the base of her neck. When his lips touched her bare shoulder she swallowed hard.

“Your lips look full and swollen, and your pupils slightly dilated. That could mean only one thing?”

“What’s that?” She asked as he lowered his face toward her.

“I’d have to be sure before I can state with confidence the reason for your swollen lips and arousal in your eyes.”

“Arousal?” she questioned just as Mace lowered his lips to hers and began kissing her.

* * * *

Mace was pleasantly surprised to walk in on Ellie and Hunter making out in the cabana. It was a relief and gave him hope that they had a chance to start something wonderful with her. But now, with his lips against hers, hearing her soft moans of pleasure as Hunter held her on his lap, he felt about ready to burst with desire. He felt that instant connection and desire. It felt right. Being here with Hunter and Ellie felt perfect.

He sensed her pulling back, and as to not overwhelm her he released her lips. He used his thumb to caress along them and smiled.

“You’re delicious,” he told her.

Slowly she stood up, with Hunter holding on to her hips from behind and standing along with her.