Page 51 of Keeping Guard
The inside of the building was bright, and dog toys were scattered over the floor. Right in the middle of that floor was Peyton on her back, a wiggling mass of puppies crawling all over her while she hysterically laughed. Her black hair was spread around her head, and sweet Jesus, her T-shirt was pushed up to just below her breasts, exposing the creamy white skin of her stomach. He wanted to put his tongue on that skin, wanted to know how soft she would feel under his fingers.
Something inside his chest expanded, making it hard to breathe. She was beautiful. Of course, he already knew that, but he hadn’tknown itknown it. Not like this, where he was struck with a longing he’d never experienced before. Not even with the woman he was once supposed to marry.
He was in dangerous territory. She deserved so much more than he knew how to give at this time in his life. It was better to leave her mad at him. He’d hang around for a few days, make sure her ex left her alone, and then he’d get out of her life. With that decision made, he turned to leave.
“Noah?”
So much for sneaking out. “Yeah?”
“I was coming to talk to you.” She pushed the puppies away, and then came to stand in front of him. “You’re right. I shouldn’t have made plans without talking to you first, and I’m sorry.”
“‘Sometimes sorry just ain’t good enough.’” At the hurt in her eyes, he wanted to punch himself in the face.
“Blake Shelton’s ‘I’m Sorry,’ but you’re a jerk, Noah.”
He caught her hand when she tried to walk away. “You’re right, I am. That slipped out. I have...used to have a song thing. A kind of parlor trick, I guess. I can...could come up with a song for every situation. Ask Jack if you don’t believe me. When you said you were sorry, I guess out of habit that song popped into my head and I spoke without thinking.” And that was entirely too much talking.
“Oh, okay, but why are you saying you used to? Seems like you can still do it.”
“Not anymore.” He realized he was still holding her hand, and he reluctantly let go. “I came in here to apologize to you for the way I talked to you in the car. I’ll go with you to dinner tonight.”
She studied him for a moment, then said, “But you really don’t want to.”
“You got me there.” He brushed a lock of hair away from her cheek before he realized what he was doing. “Still, I’ll come with you.” A calculating gleam appeared in her eyes, making him nervous.
“I’ll make you a trade. You don’t have to come if you’ll kiss me whenever I want you to.”
Huh? What the devil was she up to? Not that he minded kissing her...not at all. “What do you want from me, Peyton?”
“I don’t expect anything from you except for tingles.”
“Tingles?”
“Yeah, I’ve never had them before you kissed me. I want more.” She trailed a finger over his bottom lip. “Lots more. From you.”
“Never?” No man had ever made this incredible woman tingle? But he had? Something that felt a lot like satisfaction filled him.
“Until you, no. The first time you kissed me, it was like I finally got it, what the big deal was. So, I want more. And I mean more than just kisses. I think you could do a lot more for me than my vibrator. I don’t expect romance and roses. You won’t tell me why you’re on leave from the navy, but I know you’ll have to go back. I’m not going to fall in love with you or hope for a commitment. Seems like that would be a good arrangement for both of us. You have access to my body in exchange for tingles...and, Noah, I want tingles that make me see stars. I want to know—”
There was nothing to do but kiss her. Any more words out of her mouth and he’d be lowering her to the floor and giving her those tingles she wanted while a dozen puppies tried to participate in the fun.
She nestled into him as if she belonged there. He slid his hands down to her hips, pressed his fingers into her skin, and rolled his hips against her, letting her know what she was doing to him.
“Noah.”
That whisper of his name against his lips was almost his undoing. He almost didn’t care if they gave the puppies a show, but grasping the thin thread of control he still possessed, he broke the kiss. Before anything more could happen between them, he needed to be sure she meant what she’d said. He could give her those tingles she wanted, could make her body sing, but that was it.
He cupped her cheek and traced her bottom lip—damp from his kiss—with his thumb. “We’ll talk about this later, princess. Right now, I have to get back to Jack before he comes looking for me.” He brushed his mouth over hers, then forced his feet to take him away from her.
If he was smart, he wouldn’t even consider agreeing to what she wanted, but he didn’t want to be smart. Not with her, not when she looked at him with those sky-blue eyes shimmering with desire.
For the next few hours, he’d get his mind on his lessons with Lucky. As soon as Jack said they were done, all bets were off. He had a few lessons of his own for Peyton, but first they’d talk. As long as she could assure him she had no expectations beyond the pleasure they could give each other, he’d show her how it could be between a man and a woman.
“You’ve taken to wearing lipstick now?” Jack said, smirking.
“Shut it.” He swiped a hand over his mouth, and when Jack laughed, he hooked his leg behind Jack’s, putting his friend’s ass on the ground. That resulted in a round of wrestling. Thinking it was a new game, Lucky joined the fray. He managed to pin Jack, laughing when Lucky covered Jack’s face with slobbery licks.
“Is this a new type of training?”
