Page 51 of Under Control

It didn’t take long before she found those thrilling sensations running up and down her body, threatening what was about to happen. With his cock hitting the exact right spot, she came hard and fast, moaning his name in the process. Juice flowed out of her pussy as she throbbed and tightened around his cock. She arched once more, showcasing every inch of her body to him, which he met with a low growl and dropped to suck her nipples, one then the other.

As each pump of his cock blasted more and more sensation through her already-sensitive pussy, he found a harder and faster rhythm. Soon, his face grew serious and focused—and his breathing changed. His skin grew hotter, and his cock seemed on fire.

“Fuck, Dani,” he groaned slowly, pulling out and releasing hot liquid all over her abdomen.

She just watched him refocus after the pleasure of his orgasm subsided. Keeping his warm, rough hand on her, he reached into the bag on the side of the tent to grab a towel and clean them up. Within moments, he’d collapsed beside her on the mat and zipped them both, naked, into the sleeping bag.

He pulled her close to him and kissed the tip of her nose before kissing her forehead and her hair. He reached up and affectionately caressed her face, closing his eyes with obvious exhaustion. In that moment, she allowed herself to just watch him fall asleep.

A spiteful little voice inside her tried to remind her that it was all temporary.

This isn’t real.

She quashed any inner voices that she didn’t want to hear and kissed Carrick’s sleeping mouth before rolling over and falling into sleep, still held in his arms. The last thing she remembered before completely passing out was his sleepy lips grazing her shoulder and his thick arms tightening around her, bringing her into him as his little spoon, keeping her warm, keeping her safe.

Chapter Twenty

Carrick

On a bright Monday morning, Carrick sat on the golden white sand of San Onofre beach in Southern California.

He inhaled the breeze wafting off the waves before him and dug his heels into the grainy sand, which was hot on top and cool underneath. Already, the heat of the sun was mounting, and sweat slid his black sunglasses down the bridge of his nose.

There was something so peaceful about the beach in the morning, so soothing. The waves ebbed back and forth, a rhythm that was entrenched in his soul. He felt connected to the water in a way he couldn’t explain.

It might have been the rising warmth or the sun beating on his back—but Carrick could swear that his core felt warmer than it had the days, weeks and months before. Who knew what it was, but it didn’t seem to be all in his head. The feeling was palpable throughout his body.

For the first time in years, he feltalive.

He twisted in the sand, checking the tent up the beach where Danica was still sleeping. There was something about her that really pulled him in, made him want to break rules. He was doing things he shouldn’t, but she made him feel something he hadn’t in a long time. And the fact that she had given herself to him the previous night, begged him to be her first? Well, that had only made it all the better. He had no regrets. He certainly didn’t feel bad about punching out the clown who was trying to force her into marriage. He’d do it again—harder—given half a chance.

He reached down beside him into the sand, running the warm, tiny grains through his fingers. Looking out over the horizon, hearing ocean birds singing, he was brought back to days aboard naval warships—his time of deployment, his old life. Maybe one day he could tell Danica about it all—when she could understand.

He’d seen more death than he could explain…for too long. And maybe his luck was changing. She embodied a vivacity that had been breathed into his existence.

Purity. Happiness.

Satisfaction.

And as he gripped another fistful of sand, feeling it against his calloused palms, his cellphone vibrated in his hoodie pocket. He fished for it, bringing it out, and saw that it was a text message from Delta.

Ignoring me?

Carrick opened the app and saw all the unanswered texts from his partner the day before. The reality of the dumpster fire he was in flashed to the front of his mind, drawing him away from the ocean’s serenity.

I was busy. What’s up?

The last time you ignored me, I found you hungover, broken and bloodied.

I’m fine.

God, I hope so. You’ll be getting a call from her daddy shortly. Shit’s getting real, man.

I’ll handle it.

Will you? You’re not yourself. Something’s up.

Carrick read the words and exhaled sharply. His friend was damn right about that.

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