“What are the people like?”
“Stoic. Weary. Hard-working. Proud. Most of them have never known peace in their lifetimes.”
Before he knew it, Geo was telling her about the remote villages high in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan, some of them completely cut off from the rest of the country during the winter months.
“And all we did was bring the war to their doorstep,” he said quietly. “Sometimes when I think about it, I—”
He fell silent, aware of her hand rubbing in soothing circles over his chest and stomach. Fuck, how could he explain his complicated feelings about what he’d seen and done? He wanted to, though. He wanted to tell her everything.
Forcing a smile, he reached up to tuck a lock of her hair behind her ear. “Why are you so easy to talk to?”
“Well, I’m a bartender. Listening is part of the job description.”
“Uh-uh. I don’t think it’s the job. I think it’s all you.” And I’m this close to falling for you. His throat closed. But I know you don’t want me.
How could he blame her? He himself had seen the fallout from the marriages, the relationships, that’d broken apart under the strain of so many long absences. Of course she wouldn’t want to bring her child into that.
He suppressed a wistful sigh. Her child. A part of her, a tiny human who’d hopefully inherit her beautiful eyes, her loving heart, her intelligence and wisdom...
“What’re you thinking about?” Her voice was soft.
Shoving his ridiculous feelings down deep, Geo summoned up a more genuine smile. “About what an incredible mama you’re going to be.”
Her eyes crinkled. “I actually felt the baby move the other day. It was this tiny popping and fluttering sensation, almost like gas bubbles.”
“Wow.”
“I may have cried a little, you know? It hit me like a ton of bricks—this is real.”
“Were they happy tears?”
“Mostly.” Her palm came to rest between his pecs. “I’m still scared to do this alone, but I’m in a much better place than I was the night I met you.”
Geo listened as she told him about meeting Rhys’s plane after his deployment. “We’d been broken up for about six months by then. I’d just found out I was pregnant, which sent me into a total panic. Instead of a Welcome Home sign, I made one that said Let’s Try Again and totally put him on the spot in front of his entire platoon.” She let out a groan, dropping her forehead to his chest. “And in front of the woman he’s actually in love with.”
“Ouch.” Aching for her, Geo asked, “How did he handle it?”
“With grace and forgiveness, far more than I deserved. When I realized my desperate stunt wasn’t going to work, I tried to play it off as I’m a jealous bitch who can’t stand seeing him happy with someone else.”
“I’m sure he didn’t believe that, not if he knows you at all.”
She lifted her head to gaze down at him. “He didn’t. That’s the moment I realized that if I told him about the baby right then, the idiot would try to sacrifice his newfound happiness for me. I couldn’t let him do that, not again. I convinced him to go away, climbed into the shower, bawled my eyes out, and then went to work.” She smiled ruefully. “Where I met you. That’s the unfortunate aftermath you walked into that night.”
“Mmm.” Geo pulled her close and kissed her cheek. “All I noticed was how tough you were when you sent that creep packing. I, uh, was a little afraid of you, to be honest.”
She gave him a swat. “Oh, stop. You were not.”
“Just a little.” He grinned up at her to show he was joking, and her face softened. She ran her fingertip along his jaw to trace it lightly over his lips.
“One of the first things I noticed about you is this gorgeous smile. It lit up the room.”
His heart turned over. “Really?” he croaked, then smirked. “Not my hot Navy SEAL bod?”
She rolled her eyes. “This is San Diego. I can go to the beach and see a million hot bods.”
He couldn’t help but snicker. “True.”
“That night I was sick, and hurting, and your kindness toward a complete stranger, your smile, is what stood out to me the most. What I needed the most.” Bending her head, she kissed him gently, the tip of her tongue tracing his lower lip. “I’m so glad I met you.”
Geo wrapped his arms around her as she settled in to taste him leisurely, her little murmurs of pleasure arrowing straight to his cock. He shifted restlessly on the bed, gasping when she broke the kiss only to mouth her way down the length of his neck.
With a wicked smile, she licked each of his nipples in turn, the sensitive buds drawing up into tight points. “Okay, I have to admit,” she murmured, the light flicks of her tongue making him grit his teeth, “your body is pretty hot.”
“Ha, I knew it.” He put one arm up behind his head and flexed, making his six-pack pop.
“Oh, yeah.” Rolling on top of him, she kissed her way down his chest to his belly, where she nuzzled her nose into his navel. “So damn hot.”
Geo wallowed in a haze of enjoyment, his fist twisting in the pillow, as she mouthed along his abs, at last twitching the sheet away from his hips. His cock, the broad purple head glistening with renewed arousal, bobbed up between them.
Lani licked her lips. “Mmm, nice.” Wrapping her fingers around him, she gave him a few long, slow strokes, thumb circling the crown. “Very nice.”
Lifting a trembling hand, he cupped her flushed cheek. “Sweetheart, whatever you want,” he gasped. “I’m all yours.”
She turned her head and kissed his palm, her voice whisper soft. “Then make love to me.”
Falling to her back, she pulled him over on top of her. His heart thudding painfully in his ears, Geo settled between her widespread legs. It was her turn to gasp as he dragged the base of his shaft against her clit, her slickness easing the way.
“So beautiful,” he murmured, shaping her breasts in his hands, plumping them gently. He bent to kiss her, his tongue rubbing along hers, hot and wet. She dug her nails into his shoulders, tiny moans welling up in her throat.
Eager to taste her, Geo worked his way down her body with nibbles and soft licks. At the gentle curve of her belly, he paused for the briefest of moments, then brushed his lips against it, too. He glanced up at her to see her watching him, her eyes warm. She combed her fingers lightly through his hair.
“No six-pack here. Sorry.”
He chuckled. “Nope, just one sexy mama.”