Off Base(26)

“Well, then.” She nudged open the door and flipped on the overhead light. “That bodes well for tonight’s plan.”

Beck’s gaze scanned the massive room, narrowing on the in-ground hot tub Kenna was heading toward in the corner. With a sense of impending doom, Beck kicked the door shut, flipped the lock and followed, noting the lap pool to the left, adjacent to the hot tub. Off to the right was a tiled area where doctors performed therapy sessions. Oversized leather tables where he himself had been stretched after a hamstring injury during basic training, sat in a neat row, although the facility had certainly been upgraded since he’d been there.

Nice try, thinking about the new showers and sturdier tables. Anything to distract him from Kenna toeing off her boots by the edge of the water. Or the look she was sending him over her shoulder that said help me get these pesky clothes off, big guy.

“I reckon you think this is funny,” he said, voice gone gruff. There was no choice but to close the short distance between them, his body magnetized by hers. Kenna stripped her shirt off in response, but didn’t turn, so all he could see was her bare back. Although, he would go to the grave swearing a sexier back had never existed. Not on this earth. “You enjoy testing me, is that it?”

“Yes.” She hooked her fingers in the sides of her skirt and turned, giving him a mind-blowing view of her partially naked body. “I love testing you. I love it even more when you give in.”

The skirt hit the floor and Beck heaved a breath, reeling at the speed of which his body reacted. He’d seen her without clothes, but she’d been up close. From a distance, he could take her all in at once. Words hadn’t been invented yet to describe her curves, the angles of her hips and tits. In a word, she was devastation. And she’d just declared war.

“Get in,” he croaked, crossing to the control panel on the wall.

Watching him curiously, she stepped into the warm tub and sank beneath the surface. When Beck turned on the bubbles a second later, obscuring her luscious body from his view, she nodded. “Well played.”

Darlin’, you haven’t seen anything yet. Back in the bar parking lot, she’d tipped her hand and now he knew the rampant attraction wasn’t one-sided. The girl had dropped her guard and given him a weapon. He might have been shocked to realize that weapon was him, but he wouldn’t hesitate to use it. Hyperaware of her lingering attention, Beck took hold of his T-shirt and whipped it over his head, tossing it toward her pile of clothes where they lay in a heap on the tile. He unbuckled his belt, sliding it through the loops, before going to work on his zipper. Their eyes locked, and he noted hers had turned a darker shade of green, a perfect complement to the pink traveling over her cheeks.

The hot tub’s hum failed to mask her sharp intake of breath when Beck’s jeans landed at his feet, allowing his dick to bob against his stomach.

“Okay.” Kenna fell back against the submerged wall. “Not so funny now.”





Chapter Nine




Kenna whispered a heartfelt goodbye as Beck’s impressive erection disappeared beneath the water’s surface. Even though Beck had made it clear he wanted them to talk, she still couldn’t believe it when he sat on the underwater bench, which happened to be a good five feet away. She was frustrated, yes. There was no denying her libido had blasted off like the space shuttle when his pants came off, but damn was she turned on by more than his physique. A man who knew how to use the head downstairs while still thinking with the one on his shoulders? Yeah. Those were limited edition. Throw in the way he looked at her, like he couldn’t wait to see what she said next? Hey. He’d sunk Kenna’s battleship.

She’d known he was capable of it, so why had she brought him here? Agreed to spend time with him? Because he’d looked so lost at Bombs Away. As if the world had shaken under his feet and he couldn’t find balance. Remembering the expression that had rooted her in place when she should have been running for the back exit, Kenna felt selfish for attempting to seduce him. Obviously he needed someone to talk to, and she couldn’t see past her own insecurities. You suck.

“What happened back at Bombs Away?” His head came up, but he stayed silent. Kenna hugged her elbows, completely out of her comfort zone in this hot tub heart-to-heart. “Something to do with that man and your sister, maybe? You looked unhappy.”

“How did you know she was my sister?”

Kenna decided not to impart the sharp sting of jealousy she’d experienced before noticing the resemblance. “You said she worked on base, she has the same shade of dirty blond hair…and you both dip your chin when someone else is talking.”

When she demonstrated the move, his lips twitched. “You’ve been watching me almost as closely as I’ve been watching you, Kenna.” His eyebrows drew together. “The three of us came to Black Rock at the same time, but there was a fourth until two months ago. Xander Gibbons. He didn’t make it home.” He stared down into the fizzing water. “They tell me there’s nothing I could have done, but I know. I could have saved a good man. Besides Huntley, he was the best of us.”

“I’m sorry.” The steam rose around them, partially obscuring him from sight. “I won’t try and convince you it wasn’t your fault, even though it wasn’t. You’re the type to shoulder the world, no matter the cause, but I’m so sorry you lost your friend.”