Hot SEAL, Vegas Nights Page 8

  Once the float was stable, she poked his arm with her toe. “You did that on purpose.”

  He blinked, feigning innocence. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I was just getting in a good workout.”

  “I thought you were going to drown!”

  “Nah.” He relaxed back. She tracked his hand as it slid down his rock solid chest and came to rest atop his six-pack abs. “I’m a good swimmer.”

  “So I see. Were you on the swim team in high school or something?”

  He squinted toward the boat. “Something like that.”

  “I didn’t do anything athletic in school. I was the art nerd.”

  His gaze returned to her, to all of her. She tried not to fidget as he looked her up and down, but she couldn’t help the ache that pulsed between her legs at his slow, thorough perusal.

  “Nerd is not the word I would use to describe you.”

  “What word would you use?”

  “Beautiful. Sexy. Gorgeous. Take your pick.”

  She’d be lying if she said the fact that he thought so made her insanely happy. “I thought you were avoiding me.”

  He blew out a breath. “Yeah.” He covered her hand with his, caressing the inside of her wrist with his fingertips. “It was either that, or have my whole family see what that damn bikini does to my blood pressure.”

  She glanced down at her bathing suit. The royal blue bikini was modest, in her opinion. The top resembled a low cut sports bra. In the open space where it plunged between her breasts, it had thin ribbons of material that crisscrossed, concealing what little cleavage she had. The bottoms rested well below her belly button, but not so low as to be considered inappropriate. And they didn’t so much as expose the slightest bit of butt cheek. She could understand why he didn’t like it. It wasn’t all that flattering or skimpy, but she didn’t think it was worth getting upset enough about it to raise his blood pressure.

  “You’ve been avoiding me because you don’t like my bathing suit?”

  “Not even close, babe. I’ve been avoiding you so my family doesn’t realize how badly I want to get you out of it.”

  Oh. Well. All right, then.

  Her mind immediately conjured images of Aidan sliding her suit bottoms down and touching her like he had last night.

  Aidan groaned. “Stop.”

  “Stop what?”

  “Whatever it is you’re thinking about that made you bite your lip. It’s been a while for me, Zoe, and I’m holding on by a thread. Have a little mercy, or I’m going to have to take a few more laps around the cove.”

  She hadn’t been with anyone since Max, and she hadn’t been with him since the night before the debacle at the clubhouse. That had been several months ago. “How long is a while?”

  He shook his head, denying her an answer. “We need to change the subject before I do something that’ll embarrass us both.”

  She was curious as to what his definition of “a while” was, but agreed this was not being the time or place to have that conversation. Not with his parents roughly fifty feet away.

  “I saw the For Sale sign in front of the house this morning,” he continued. “Have you given any more thought to what you’re going to do when it sells? Being in Summerlin, I can’t imagine that’ll take too long.”

  He’d asked her that same question the other night and she’d been vague, thinking his interest was nothing more than the man making polite conversation. Now that they were … whatever they were doing … she believed his interest in her life was genuine.

  “I really want to continue my education. There wasn’t a school in Carson City with an advanced degree program in graphic design, so I was only able to get an associate’s degree.”

  “Are you thinking about applying at colleges around here?”

  “California, actually. San Diego has an excellent graphic design school. I’ve already applied. I’m just waiting to hear back.”

  “San Diego, huh?” He didn’t sound thrilled.

  “Yeah, why?” She studied him, trying to get a read on his expression. “Is that close to where you live?” She knew he lived in California, but it was a big damn state.

  “Close enough,” he said slowly. Almost carefully. “I’m in Coronado.”

  She didn’t know much about the area, so she made a mental note to check a map when she got home to see just how close they were.

  “Oh. That’s cool. It would be nice to know at least one person in the area if I end up moving there.” The words were out before she realized what she was saying.

  I’m such an idiot.

  They wouldn’t be meeting for lunch or drinks after work. Aidan would go back to his life in Coronado soon, including any women he dated there. It was wrong of her, but Zoe didn’t think she could stand to see him with someone else. Knowing him wouldn’t make a bit of difference to any life she built in San Diego. Once he left at the end of the week, that was it. She wouldn’t see him again.

  An awkward silence descended between them, interrupted only by the hum of approaching jet skis.

  “Zoe, there’s something I should probably tell you.”

  “What is it?”

  “I—”

  A jet ski roared down on them.

  “Suckers!” Bailey cackled with glee as she cranked the machine at the last minute, swamping them with water and cutting off whatever Aidan was about to say. Zoe saw Bailey zoom away as the float bucked under the ensuing wave. Aidan rolled and crashed into her as the float capsized and they were dumped into the water.

  Everything happened so fast, Zoe was momentarily disoriented under the water. Her nose and chest burned with the unexpected water she’d inhaled on the way down. She kicked her feet, fighting for what she hoped was the surface. A rough hand grasped her arm and yanked her up. Before she knew it, she was draped over the float, coughing and sputtering.

  “Are you okay?” Aidan rubbed a hand over her back. He wasn’t even out of breath. The guy must be part fish.

  Zoe laughed, causing another round of coughs to hit her. “I’m fine,” she said when she could finally breathe again. “But I think a little pay back is in order, don’t you?”

  A devilish gleam entered his eyes. “I dunno.” Under the water, his hand cupped her butt and squeezed. “I might have to thank her.”

  “Why would you want to thank her for dumping us in the water?”

  His eyes dipped down. “Because her antics gave me a preview of what I’m going to have my mouth on later.”

  Zoe followed his gaze. The top of her bathing suit had shifted, exposing part of one nipple. She gasped and dipped her chest under the water, making the necessary adjustment to cover herself.

  Aidan leaned in, placing his mouth against her ear. “I can’t fucking wait.”

  Aidan took a shower in his childhood bathroom, taking care to soap and scrub every inch of his body. After a fun and active day at the lake, he didn’t want to head over to Zoe’s smelling like dead fish.

  He was tempted to rub one out under the shower spray in order to relax, but decided against it. The next time he came, it would be inside Zoe. Not on the floor of the shower. If that meant his first time with her ended up being quick, so be it. He’d make it up to her. If he was lucky, they’d have all night. If he was really lucky, the morning, too.

  After his shower, Aidan threw on a pair of cargo shorts and a clean polo shirt, then slid his bare feet into a pair of canvas shoes. He shoved a handful of condoms into his pocket and headed downstairs.

  “You’re going out?” his mom asked as he walked into the kitchen. She sat at the counter bar, a highball glass containing what he suspected was a gin and tonic and a magazine in front of her. He wasn’t the least bit surprised to see the photo of a gorilla on the page she was reading. His badass mother had a soft spot for any endangered species, and he knew she donated to several wildlife organizations.

  “Zoe invited me over.” He went to the refrigerator and pulled out a beer. He twisted off the t
op and took a healthy swig. “We’re gonna order a pizza and watch a movie.”

  His mom’s eyebrows went up. “You’re going to watch a movie?”

  He should’ve known he wouldn’t be able to fool her. She knew him better than anyone, except maybe the guys on the team. Still, he wasn’t going to admit his real plan for the evening was to get between Zoe’s thighs and stay there until neither of them could walk. “Sure, why not? I have been known to sit through the occasional action flick.”

  It wasn’t his favorite thing to do, but he had let Justus, Nitro, and Dutch drag his ass to the theater for a couple of those comic book movies. They weren’t horrible and the fight scenes were cool.

  His mom studied him long enough to make him uncomfortable. He joined her at the counter and set down his bottle with a sigh. “What?”

  “Be careful, Aidan.”

  “I’m a Navy SEAL, Mom. I think I can handle dinner and a movie.”

  “That’s not what I mean, and you know it.” She took a drink from her glass, still studying him. “Dwight loved you like you were his own. He wouldn’t appreciate you toying with his granddaughter.”

  Her comment was an insult, whether she’d meant it to be or not. “Boss knows what kind of man I am, and so should you. I’m not an asshole, Mom. I’ve never mistreated or disrespected a woman. I’m not going to start now.”

  He looked her in the eye, direct and unblinking, so she wouldn’t misunderstand.

  “I’m not toying with Zoe. We’re having some fun. Getting to know each other. I think Boss would be happy to see us together, because he would know I’ll do right by her. Take care of her. That I’ll move heaven and earth to protect her.”

  Whoa. The truth in his declaration slapped him upside the head. He would protect and care for her, if she gave him the chance. Her kinship to Boss guaranteed he would, but that wasn’t the only reason.

  They hadn’t even had sex, but Aidan didn’t need the intimacy to know Zoe was different. That what he was feeling was different from anything he’d felt in the past.

  She thinks you’re just messing around.

  They would need to have a conversation about that. Aidan wasn’t sure how she’d become so important to him in so short a time, but he wouldn’t waste time questioning it. He’d roll with it and see where it led.

  “So, you’re not planning to have sex with her?”

  Aidan drained his beer in one long swallow. He adored his mother, but he wasn’t in high school anymore. “Whatever Zoe and I do is our business. Last time I checked, we were both adults, able to make our own decisions. While I appreciate your concern for Zoe, Mom, you should have a little more faith in me.”

  He tossed the empty bottle into the recycling bin and went to her. She glanced up at him and he saw the apprehension in her eyes. “You’re leaving soon.”

  “I am aware.” Aidan pressed a kiss to her temple. “I love you, Mom, but you worry too much. I know what I’m doing.” He hoped to God that was true.

  He didn’t want to leave with the air between them heavy, so Aidan poked her ribs, making her jump with a squeal. She shoved his arm, laughing. “Stop!”

  That was more like it. He returned her bright smile and raised her a wink. Then, he dropped a kiss on her cheek.

  “Don’t wait up.”

  11

  It’s time for you to stop being a whiny bitch and come home. The girls at the club aren’t cutting it. I want my woman back.

  Zoe stared at the newest text message from Max. With sweet talk like that, how could she resist?

  At least she now had proof of her suspicion that he was banging the trash that hung around the club late at night.

  What a dick. She rolled her eyes as her phone buzzed with another incoming text.

  I’ll just forget about your embarrassing little tantrum over having a threesome, which I still think is an awesome idea, if you get your ass back here and make it up to me.

  Zoe’s jaw dropped at the row of eggplant emojis Max added to the end of the text. The nerve of the man! Also, gross. If there was any making up to do—and there wasn’t—he should be the one on his knees. Not her.

  She swiped the message, but before she could hit delete, another one came in.

  I’m not going to ask again. If I have to come get you, I swear you’ll regret it. Last chance, Zoe. What’s it gonna be?

  A shiver of dread went down her spine as her finger hovered over the delete button. He couldn’t be serious. He wouldn’t actually come for her, would he?

  Zoe shook off the thought. She was being silly. It was fine. Everything was fine. Max doesn’t know where she is. He knew she had visited her grandad in Vegas on the weekends, but he didn’t have the address and she’d never invited him to make the trip with her. Her trips without him had caused several arguments before she’d called it quits.

  Las Vegas was a big place. And sure, Max wasn’t the nice, monogamous guy she thought he was, but he wouldn’t go so far as to try to drag her back to Carson City against her will, even if he did know where she was. Kidnapping was a felony, and she didn’t think he’d risk jail time for her.

  God. Was being a horrible judge of character hereditary? If so, she should not have children.

  A loud knock at the door startled her. She had a brief moment of panic as the door opened, which was ridiculous since it couldn’t be Max. And it wasn’t. Aidan was the man who strolled into the kitchen, his expression tight with concern.

  “Hey. Everything okay? I knocked a few times.” He looked uncertain. “I saw you through the window. You were so focused on your phone, I guess you didn’t hear me.”

  Zoe hit the delete button and tossed her phone onto the counter. She was done with Max and his empty threats. And she would not be like her mom and involve Aidan in her drama.

  Breaking the cycle.

  “Everything is good.” Or would be, now that Aidan was there. Not because she was beginning to care about him—that would be too dangerous to her damaged heart. His arrival meant she was one minute closer to feeling his hands on her again. She already knew some of what those talented hands could do, and lord, she wanted to know the rest.

  Now that they’d agreed to keep things casual, Zoe was more than ready to take the next step. She didn’t want him to think she was a desperate hussy, though, so she resisted jumping him right there in the kitchen.

  Dinner first.

  And then they could move on to dessert.

  Lust fired his blood from the moment Aidan laid eyes on Zoe through the window. Her hair was down and mussed as if she’d been running her fingers through it. She’d traded that sexy-as-fuck bikini for an equally sexy pair of jean shorts that showed off her legs from the tops of her thighs down to her bare feet. She wore a simple V-neck tee, but it hugged her curves like a dream.

  Her skin had a darker glow after their day at the lake, and the thought of discovering her tan lines made his hands twitchy to get busy.

  His desire was tempered, though, by concern for her. Zoe had been distracted enough not to hear his knocks. He didn’t like the way her eyebrows pushed together while she stared at her phone. Whatever it was upset her, and he wanted to know why.

  “What were you looking at?”

  Her eyes darted to the phone. She waved him off. “Nothing. It’s not important.”

  He begged to differ. If something upset her, he considered that extremely important. She’d figure that out soon enough.

  He stalked toward her.

  She took a few steps back. The kitchen was a large space, but it didn’t take long for her lower back to make contact with the island.

  “D-do you want something to drink? The pizza arrived a few minutes ago.”

  He leaned into her, bracing his hands on the counter, caging her in. She smelled like peaches. Sweet and ripe and oh, so tempting. His mouth watered to take a bite.

  “We’ll get to that.” The pizza and drinks. The biting. “First, I want you to tell me what upset you.” So he coul
d make it go away.

  “Nothing. I’m fine.”

  Aidan arched a brow. He wasn’t buying that shit for a second. The tension around her when he walked in was unmistakable.

  “I’d stay away from the poker tables, sweet cheeks. Bluffing is not your strong suit.”

  She huffed a cute little breath. “You’re so annoying.”

  He might’ve taken offense if there had been any heat behind her words. As it was, her voice came out soft and breathy. Like she might be as ready to delay dinner as he was.

  He laughed under his breath. “I think the word you’re looking for is persistent.”

  Zoe’s hands came up and rested against his chest. She lifted a mutinous chin. “If I tell you, you have to promise not to make a big deal about it. It’s my business. It doesn’t have anything to do with you.”

  There was the fire he’d been waiting for. It made her eyes sparkle and put color in her cheeks.

  “I don’t make promises I can’t keep.” He went with his gut and said, “Lemme guess. You heard from Max?”

  If he hadn’t been stupid enough to give his word that he wouldn’t track the guy down, he’d be on the way to Carson City in the morning. Good thing he hadn’t promised not to delegate the task to someone else. He knew just who to call. His buddy Asher Dillon was a SEAL with Team One, also out of Coronado. Asher had connections Aidan didn’t have. Mainly a US Naval Commander for a step-father. If anyone could get Aidan more intel on a guy named Max (no last name), from Carson City (no address), who belonged to a biker club (no fucking clue which one), it would be Asher.

  Zoe’s shoulders sagged and Aidan knew he’d nailed it. His gut was rarely wrong. Trusting his instincts had saved his life, and the lives of his teammates, more than once.

  “All right. Yes. He sent a couple of texts right before you got here. Happy now?”

  “Not particularly, no. What did he say?”

  She tilted her head back and met his gaze. “Nothing I want to talk about.”