Chapter Fifteen
A fter Sera told Corey’s team everything she possibly could that might help them, they’d thanked her, and Brandon announced they were leaving that evening after Mitch arrived. Yeah, these men certainly didn’t mess around.
Corey drove them back to his cabin and told her to pack a bag while he got organized. She threw a few things into her overnight bag and organized Loki’s food. Then she wandered back downstairs to see Corey drop a duffel bag by the front door.
He’d changed from worn jeans and a henley into a pair of black cargo pants, a fitted T-shirt and lace-up boots. He looked so capable. Like the dangerous, highly-trained Navy SEAL who must’ve completed countless life and death missions.
And it turned her on.
Although she’d encountered quite a few military men while living in the San Diego area, she’d never had a thing for them. Definitely never dated any. But this bearded silver fox hero was making her insides go all hot and gooey, like a piece of melting caramel.
Memories of their steamy kiss sent a surge of butterflies through her stomach. She’d wrapped her legs around his waist and shamelessly rubbed herself against his hard cock. How much further would she have allowed things to go if he hadn’t pulled away?
It had felt good. He’d felt good. And didn’t she deserve to feel good after the hellish nightmare she’d managed to survive? Because not everyone else had. Squeezing her eyes shut, forcing the horrible images away, she refocused on the present.
Zero regrets filled her. If anything, she wanted more. There was a calmness about him that made everything else feel less chaotic. Drawn to his energy, her eyes opened, and she took a step closer.
Corey turned and froze, his attention zeroing in on her parted lips. Holding his gaze, she licked them. He uttered a curse, and they both moved fast, crashing into each other. His big hands delved into her hair, tilting her head back as his mouth took hers hard and fast.
They devoured each other. It wasn’t like last night’s kiss, which had been an exploration.
This one was all fire and passion. Need infused her, creating a blaze within, and she moaned into his mouth as his hands skated down her back and cupped her ass.
Lifting her higher, pulling her tighter against his body, she felt the hard ridge of his arousal.
Her hands slid from his shoulders to cradle his face, and his thick beard felt so much softer than she’d imagined possible. As their tongues dueled, he started walking her backwards, never breaking the kiss or his hold.
When they reached the couch, he lowered her down and she pulled him right with her.
He nudged a knee between her thighs, holding his heavy weight off her as he continued kissing her with a desperation she felt to the depths of her soul.
They couldn’t get enough of each other, and Sera wanted more. So much more.
Yanking his T-shirt up, she slid her hands beneath the fabric and dragged her nails down his smooth back.
At the same time, she arched up, rocking her hips against his.
He answered back with a thrust, and she rounded her hands over his firm ass and squeezed.
The man might be pushing forty-seven, but he had the ass of a twenty-five-year-old.
And she wanted to sink her teeth into it.
Sensations she’d never felt before rocketed through her body, lighting every dark corner up like fireworks were exploding.
No man had ever made her feel so alive, so wanton or so desired.
An aching wetness gathered between her legs and she couldn’t remember the last time she’d gotten so wet, so fast. Maybe never.
She sucked on his lower lip and he groaned. The spark between them had turned into a full-blown conflagration, and she was ready to burn. Breathing hard, she moved restlessly beneath him.
“I need to taste you,” he growled, and she nearly screamed an eager yes as he slid off her, his knees hitting the floor.
“Ow,” he ground out.
“Are you okay?”
His mouth edged up and those ice-blue eyes of his glowed with lusty mischief. “I haven’t felt this good in twenty fucking years, sweetheart.”
“I meant your knees,” she clarified with a laugh.
“Fuck my old arthritic knees. I’d go down on them every minute of every day if it meant I could worship you.” His fingers hooked in the elastic of her leggings as he arched a questioning brow.
He was asking her permission. Permission freaking granted. She nodded frantically, and he tugged her leggings and panties off, tossing them aside. When he lowered his head and began kissing up her inner thigh, her breathing turned ragged.
Biting down on her bottom lip, anticipation filled her as he slowed down. Taking his time, he nuzzled, licked and kissed his way higher. God, who ever knew beard burn could be so good? By the time he reached her center, she was a hot, writhing mess ready to sell her soul for his wicked kiss.
The moment his mouth closed over her quivering pussy, she let out a shaky sound of satisfaction. Ohmygod. His thumbs parted her folds, and when he lapped up her slit, she almost blacked out. His tongue prodded, licking and spearing, and her lower body tightened exquisitely. She was so close.
“Corey!” He glanced up, blue eyes blazing, as she teetered on the edge.
Then he flicked his tongue against her clit, teasing a little before he sucked the sensitive bud into his mouth.
Caressing with his tongue. Grazing with his teeth.
Driving her straight into a maddening pleasure that jolted through her like a shot of electricity.
A shudder tore through her body and she arched up off the couch with a cry.
The pleasure consumed her. As she floated back down to Earth, her eyes fluttered open and she watched him press a kiss to her knee before gently closing her legs. She blushed when he swiped a hand over his glistening mouth and beard. He looked as satisfied as she felt.
Sitting up, she pulled her shirt down to cover her nakedness. He reached out and clasped her hand in his, their gazes locking. Neither of them said a word, but the look they shared spoke volumes.
“When I get back,” he said in a husky voice, “there’s so much I’m going to do to you.”
Her heart stuttered. It was a sexy, beautiful pledge that sent a fresh shot of lust through her system.
“So many ways I’m going to give you pleasure.”
“Promise?” she asked breathlessly.
He smirked then pressed his lips to hers, kissing her deeply as his hand trailed beneath the hem of her shirt. After giving her thigh a squeeze, his fingers brushed over her mound in a final, gentle caress before pulling away. He released a harsh breath.
“You taste sweeter than any dessert I’ve ever made.”
She sent him a sultry, slow blink, her attention dropping to the very obvious bulge tenting his cargo pants. “Maybe I should help you with that?”
A fire flared in his eyes before he forced himself up. “No time. Unfortunately.”
“We have to leave already?” Her shoulders slumped. Just when things had gotten good.
“Yes. But promise me you won’t forget where we left off.”
“Oh, I won’t forget. I’m going to be thinking about it until the moment you return. Obsessively.”
“Good. Now c’mere and give me one last kiss before we leave.”
“With pleasure.” Pushing up, she launched herself off the couch and straight into his arms. He caught her, holding her tightly, and kissed her as though it was the last kiss they’d ever share.
She prayed that wasn’t true. Because kissing Corydon Emerson? It just became her new favorite thing.
◆◆◆
Back at Old Glory, Corey greeted Mitch. Right before the team left, he exchanged a heated look with Sera but refrained from kissing her goodbye in front of everyone, despite wanting to feel her lips against his again. Badly. He couldn’t seem to wipe the silly grin off his face, though.
His beard could only hide his expressions so much, and his very observant team noticed. The second they boarded Lex’s plane—and he used the term lightly because the old Soviet An-26 was a bucket of rusty bolts—they began giving him shit.
Of course, Lex and Chaz kicked off the relentless teasing.
“So, Cor… I didn’t have my glasses on, so I couldn’t be sure,” Chaz drawled, “but was your house guest sporting a hickey?”
“I’m pretty sure you saw right, Madden,” Lex piped in. “And our boy here hasn’t stopped smiling, so I’m wondering if his self-imposed celibacy has finally come to an end?”
“I don’t kiss and tell,” Corey responded vaguely, but his lips twitched. God, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt this happy…this weightless in his soul. It’s like Sera had flipped a switch, lighting up the cold, dark recesses within him.
“You definitely have a pep in your step, Cor,” Wes said, sitting down beside him and buckling up.
Five seats sat along one wall of the plane, another five seats facing them across the aisle.
It didn’t boast much when it came to aesthetics—and looked more like a freight plane than a passenger jet—but as long as it got them safely from point A to point B and back again, Corey didn’t need reclining seats or snacks served by a flight attendant.
The smell of jet fuel filled his nose, but Corey could still smell Sera’s lingering scent. Roses and rainwater. Floral and fresh. He gritted his teeth against the hard-on pressing against his zipper. Down, boy. First things first. Then, if we’re lucky, you can come out of retirement.
“Aww, c’mon. Spill it, Emerson,” Jayson coaxed. “Be a pal and let me live vicariously through you. Because this fella hasn’t seen much action lately.”
“What about your new neighbor?” Brand asked cagily, clearly stirring the pot because Jayson shot him a look that could only be described as “shut the hell up.”
“New neighbor?” Chaz echoed. “What new neighbor?”
Corey relaxed in his seat, glad the heat had shifted to Jayson.
He wasn’t ready to share anything about what was happening between him and Sera yet.
Hell, he didn’t even know what was happening between them yet.
All he knew—felt on a deep level—was she was different.
Different in a way that quite possibly could help heal him.
Maybe, if they were lucky, they could heal each other. He remembered the look in her eyes after that nightmare, and he knew it all too well. Seen it countless times in his own reflection.
“We’re gonna need some more intel, Knight,” Wes pushed.
“We haven’t exactly met yet.” Jayson let out an annoyed sigh. “I guess her name is Sabrina, but that’s all I know. Happy?”
“What does she look like?” Lex called from the open cockpit.
“None of your goddamn business!” Jayson called back in a too cheery voice, and everyone laughed. Lex’s playboy reputation preceded him and nobody wanted him poaching on their potential woman.
Corey glanced over at Xander, who hadn’t said a word since they’d left the bar.
The former CIA agent rolled his eyes then promptly shut them.
Corey might have a lot of emotional baggage and triggers, but Hawke was a cold sonofabitch.
Not for the first time, Corey was glad they were on the same side.
Especially after hearing how Hawke had beaten Fernando Lazaro to death with his bare hands.
Yeah, he might have issues, but Hawke? He was on a whole other level—one that bordered on potential psycho. If Corey was a betting man, he’d wager Hawke still had Lazaro’s finger, probably stashed in a freezer somewhere.