Operation Green Thunder
OPERATION GREEN THUNDER
CAM
I felt like an anxious teenager waiting for his date to emerge at the top of the staircase on prom night. Only this was my cousin’s wedding, my ex from hell was here with my brother, and I was trying to keep it together as I waited for one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever met to emerge from her hotel room.
A bomb went off in my chest when her door clicked, and she slipped out in a blush pink dress that hugged her curves in the most dangerous way. Her smile almost blinded me when she twirled in front of me.
“What do you think?” she asked.
“You’re stunning.” I traced my fingers over my stubble. “Kind of wish you had worn your socks, but I guess this will do.”
Her lilting laugh filled the hallway. “And you look handsome. Love a crisp white shirt on you.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, it makes your eyes pop.”
Heat filled my cheeks. “And now I’m blushing.”
“Good.”
“Ready?” I stuck my arm out and felt an instant charge when she wove hers through mine.
“Ready. Are you ready, though?”
I punched the button calling the elevator. “No, but here we are.”
Her floral perfume threatened to undo every last piece of my resolve, but thankfully, I made it downstairs to the reception without attempting to kiss her. I drew in a fortifying breath as we stood at the entrance of the reception area. The salty sea air filtered through my nose and the sound of the ocean beating against the shore brought some comfort as we stepped onto the patio. String lights hanging from above cast a warm glow on the guests, and I narrowed my eyes searching for Jill in the crowd. I didn’t have to wait long to find her.
“Cam!” she squealed, rushing toward us with open arms.
She hit me like a train, but I steadied myself and lifted her off the ground in our hug.
“How are you?” I asked, releasing her.
“Better now. You said you were coming, but I had to see it to believe it.”
Rachel smiled, waiting patiently to be introduced, but Jill beat me to it.
“And you must be Rachel!” Jill wrapped her arms around Rachel and squeezed. “Thank you so much for coming.”
“Oh, well, thank you for letting me come to celebrate your special day. Congratulations.”
Jill pushed a stray dark curl out of her face. We were cousins, but everyone always mistook her for my sister. We both have wavy hair, blue-green eyes, and freckles. In many ways, she was the sister I never had even though we now lived on opposite sides of the country. My heart lifted, seeing her – though it soon crashed into the ocean, the moment my eyes met Britt’s arctic stare from across the patio.
Ice filled my veins as she wrapped her arms around Roman, who had his back to me. Rachel’s hand grasping mine brought immediate comfort.
Jill asked how our flight was, and Rachel’s face became animated, ready to recount her panic attack. She and Jill started talking like they had known each other for years. While Jill swept Rachel through the crowd introducing her to everyone, I made for the bar, keeping one eye out for Britt’s location at all times. Once I had some liquid courage, I bobbed through the crowd shaking hands and patting backs until I lost steam.
I’ve always considered myself an introverted person. Bored by small talk, exhausted by super-large crowds, preferring to mingle in small groups like this until my energy runs out and I can find a quiet corner to recharge. Attending this event with Rachel helped me to last a little longer. Clearly an extrovert, she got a charge from every person she met. The pressure was off me to initiate conversation since she dove headfirst into every encounter. She was funny, charming, and had this grace that absolutely blew me away.
Jill invited Rachel to chat with the bridesmaids, so I found a table on the edge of the reception to sit and enjoy my third Tito’s and tonic. A text from Foster lit up my phone.
Foster
How’s it going?
I’m fucked.
Foster
That well, huh? What is causing the fuckening? Britt?
Rachel. She’s incredible. She’s drop-dead gorgeous. My family is already in love with her. She’s not making it easy to be casual platonic friends. DO NOT TELL LAURA I SAID THAT.
Foster
I won’t. I tried to warn you though. Rachel’s the best. Sending prayers.
I knew Foster would tell Laura instantly, but deep down I didn’t care. As the party crowd thinned, Britt's glances over her shoulder at me became even more obvious. My eyes didn’t linger on her for long as the breath-stealing sight of Rachel approaching my table filled my view.
“Hey,” she said, sitting down with a fresh drink for me. “How are you doing over here?”
I leaned back in my chair. “Good. Tired. Thanks for the drink.”
The glow from the candles and string lights reflected off her dewy skin. Her thin dress straps were in danger of falling down her soft shoulders. She sat down next to me, and I forgot there was anyone else in the room.
“I love Jill.” Rachel’s smile was brilliant and matched the sparkle in her eyes. “We’re soulmates, honestly.”
I smiled. “And I can tell she loves you too. Don’t think she said more than two words to Britt, and she couldn’t get enough of you.”
Rachel sipped her drink, her gaze falling from mine. “Do you miss her?”
“Jill? Of course?—”
“No.” She met my eyes again. “Britt. You’ve been staring at her all night.”
My heart sank. Missing Britt was truly the furthest thing from my mind. Rachel’s eyes doubled in size and searched mine.
“No. No,” I said, running my hand down her arm. “I … when Britt is in any space that I’m in, it’s like this churning anxiety starts rolling through my body. I keep my eye on where she is so I can maintain my distance.”
Relief swept over her face. “Oh, sure. That makes sense.”
“I miss my brother, though. We were thick as thieves growing up, we used to see each other a few times a week. But now, I haven’t spoken to him since the wedding.”
She pursed her lips and cupped my hand in hers. “I’m sorry.”
“I hate that Britt took my brother away from me and that he willingly left. She’s staring at us thinking she’s making me jealous. The only thing I’m jealous of is that she gets all of Roman’s time and attention, and I’m left with only memories.”
Rachel glanced at Britt and then back at me. Britt waved and then kissed Roman on the cheek.
Rachel straightened in her seat and took a long pull of her drink. “I have an idea and it’s not me using a mulligan.”
“Okay?”
“But I’m afraid it involves me kissing you.”
My stomach flipped at the very thought. “That is troubling. How is this not using a mulligan?”
“Kissing you is part of the strategery of .”
I laughed out loud. “Operation what?”
“Green Thunder,” she said, tucking a stray hair back into the bun at the nape of her neck. “This is serious.”
“And did you say ‘strategery’?”
“Yes, it’s a real word.”
“I’m not sure it is.”
She swatted my arm. “Would you please?”
“Okay, okay. Lay it on me,” I laughed. “What does entail?”
“It entails making Britt insanely jealous.”
I brought my drink to my mouth, but before I could take a sip, Rachel took the glass out of my hand. I was helpless at her touch. Fluttering nerves overtook me as she hiked her dress up to her thighs, straddled me, and propped herself on my lap.
“Kicklighter,” I said, my voice cracking, barely above a whisper. “You do this, and I’m not responsible for any feelings that may arise.”
She giggled against my neck and I almost flatlined right there.
“Hey, you helped me make Andrew jealous, now I’m going to help you.”
She tangled one hand in my hair and wrapped the other around my neck. Tiny tingles erupted on my skin as the space between us became almost nonexistent. My lips parted and I breathed her in. “Ummm …”
“Relax. Keep your eyes on Britt.”
“Impossible. What is your strategery here?”
“I was thinking of maybe nibbling on your ear to start.”
Her full lips grazed my neck on the way up to my ear. She bit down gently, tickling me with her breath, and then traced her lips along my jawline, leaving a sizzling trail in their wake.
And now I was rock hard.
Terrific.
“That’s a bold way to open,” I breathed. “What else were you thinking?”
“Well, what if I run my fingers through your hair like this.” Her hands glided through my hair, sending rockets through my body.
“Interesting approach. is proving to be exhilarating. What’s next on the list?”
“Is she watching?”
“Yep,” I lied. My eyes were glued to Rachel’s body. As she shifted on my lap, she pushed her hips into mine. My erection pressed painfully against my pants, but that didn’t seem to faze her.
“Next, I tease your lips.” She tilted her head and grazed her wet lips against mine. “What do you think?”
The shockwave of desire overtook me. “I think you should stop teasing.”
I took her mouth in mine, greedily devouring her lips. My hands roamed her body, finding their way under her dress. I hungrily gripped her ass. Each kiss activated something primal in me, and I felt wild, unbound. In that moment, time and space ceased to exist as Rachel and I became one, fused together in an inferno of passion. Her every whimper adding fuel to the fire, pushing me closer to the edge. Thankfully, she pulled away, her eyes wide and glassy. She was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. We touched foreheads, desperately trying to catch our breath.
“So yeah, goes something like that. Did it work? Did we get her attention?”
My chest heaved. My head was still spinning. I had never felt that much intensity from a kiss in my entire life. “I have no idea. But, uh, you certainly got my attention.”
“Oh, yes. That is an unfortunate side effect of the operation.”
“Worth it.”
She locked eyes with mine and panted, her breasts pushing against the bodice of her dress. “Sorry, I … I guess I got a little carried away.”
“I appreciate your dedication to the op.” I cleared my throat. “Could you do me a favor?”
“Anything,” she said, her fingers still stroking the nape of my neck.
“Could you find a bucket of ice and dump it in my lap?”
She laughed, pressing her head into my chest. “What do you say we get out of here instead?”
“That would probably be best, but I’m going to need a minute or an hour. Maybe some time alone in the ocean.”
I glanced up at the sky to avoid seeing her toned thighs release me. She straightened her dress and returned to her seat. I raked my hands through my hair, blew out a long breath and scooted my chair as close to the table as I could so the tablecloth covered me. Jill and Trent floated by us as the party, which officially dwindled into nothing. I hadn’t even noticed Britt and Roman leave. The only thing in my solar system was Rachel and that fact shook me to my core.
I felt drunk walking her back to our rooms, and it wasn’t from the vodka. I shoved my hands in my pockets when we stopped at her doorway. “Uh, I’m sorry I got so handsy back there.”
Rachel rummaged for her key in her purse. “Oh, don’t. Don’t apologize, I liked it.”
She waved her key card at her door handle. “I mean, you playing along really sold it.”
“Yeah, that’s what I was doing, for sure.”
A vapor of silence passed between us. Our eyes locked, and we stood as if stuck in cement.
We both started to speak, but I stopped and let her go first.
“So, thank you. I had a great day,” she offered.
I reached out for her but didn’t make contact. “Me too. Meet here at nine to head down for breakfast?”
“Yep, sure. Sounds great.”
When I got to my room, I let out the longest sigh of my life. Being alone in this quiet space made me acutely aware of the deafening sound of my own heartbeat. What startled me was how much I missed Rachel even though we had only been apart for three minutes.
It really was for the best that we had separate rooms. With the intensity of the dreams that were sure to follow tonight, being in such close proximity to her would only make things more complicated.
And that was the last thing I needed.