40. Strike
Strike
Strike sat on the decking under another beautiful blue sky.
He shook his head as he recalled his conversation with Millie in the early hours.
He’d shared his dark side, and she’d lapped it up. Her arousal as she cuddled him kept him hard and awake for hours.
But it also gave him planning time.
He’d meant everything he said. He didn’t care if he never got her sexual side.
He just wanted her.
But the way she’d responded to him, how she hissed and her pupils dilated when he signed his name against her nipple, left him quaking. It took everything not to tug down her pyjama shorts and sign his name with his tongue against her pussy.
There was hope for more.
But he still needed to protect her.
If Randolph was employing an unethical organisation to find Millie, time was running out. He clenched his hands at the image of anyone touching her. She was his and no one else’s.
He fought against his anger. The closer he got to her, emotionally and physically, the more his darkness wanted release. The greater she was at risk, the more feral he was for her.
Desire demanded dominance.
His pulse climbed, and he yanked a fidget tool from his pocket, twisting it between his fingers.
Millie wrapped her arms around him from behind.
“It’s easier to surprise you than I realised, soldier. Are you sure you were in the elite forces?”
He took a breath, and his pulse slowed. In one move, he twisted his body, flipping her so she landed in his lap. Her glasses were askew, and her pyjama top slipped.
He growled at her flushed nipples and parted lips.
“Morning,” he replied, dragging his gaze down her body. He took his time rearranging her clothes, covering her up by sliding his fingers inside her top and pulling it slightly.
“Fuck,” she breathed. “I’m more than okay with your touch. How can I get you to flip me like that again?”
He kissed her forehead. His chuckle was throaty and saturated with need. “You want me to throw you around?”
“I want to ride your thigh until you’re slamming me into a wall and fucking me.”
He choked.
“Too much?”
“Never. Just a shock. We’ve been through so much emotionally and mentally over the last week that it will take time to get used to this.”
She kissed him. He wanted more. Needed it. “We will. Each thing I say, each touch is a test for me. I can’t promise I’ll do any of it.”
“Let’s pick a safe word so we both know when to stop.”
“What about ‘caged’ because—"
“It’s the name of one of your favourite books.”
She tilted her head, and her forehead creased. “How did you know that?”
He winced and closed his eyes. “I have a confession.”
“You’re full of them.”
He opened one eye and smirked. “You’re teasing me.”
She giggled. “Maybe. But you need to tell me this one quickly before I lose my horny buzz.”
“I know about your book lover social media account.”
Her brows knotted. “How long have you known?”
“Three years. Your mum mentioned to mine that you spent all your money on books. I remembered when we were younger, you’d make everyone listen to your book recommendations on Facebook.”
“You were my only friend on there.”
He laughed because it was true. “I trawled the internet and found you. Luke used weird hacker shit I don’t understand to confirm it was you.”
“You stalked me.”
He winced again and looked down.
“That’s such a turn-on,” she rasped. “Are you BaseballManUK?”
Strike nodded and bit his upper lip.
“You like all my posts.”
“And read all the books you recommend, which also fuelled my darkest fantasies.”
“You sneaky fucker. I wondered who it was. I presumed it was someone who really liked baseball romances, but you picked baseball because your name is Strike.”
He smirked.
“Shit,” she said, leaning back. She nibbled her thumb, and he drank in the sight of her lips wrapped around it. “That means you know my other favourite book.”
Strike nodded. “And your favourite tropes. You announced them in April last year.” He grinned.
“Your favourite book is The Soldier’s Temptation, which has a blond soldier as the love interest, and your favourite tropes are second-chance romance, friends to lovers, and men in uniform, like you said before, although in your post you specified soldiers. ”
“You knew that book was about you.”
He cupped her face. “I hoped, dreamed, it might be about me.”
She sucked her lower lip. “You smug fucker. It was a coincidence.”
But his smile wouldn’t abate. “Are you annoyed?”
“No. I love that you’ve always been in the background of my life. Maybe not everyone would be into this brand of obsessive stalker, but it makes me want you more.” Her palm grazed his cock as she kissed him. It juddered against her, and she hummed at his groans.
“But how’s this relevant other than it’s turning you on while proving you’re perfect for me?”
“I’ve got a copy of The Soldier’s Temptation with me.”
“Okay,” she said, drawing out the word.
“And you know I like to take charge and I’m solution-focused.” His voice was stronger now, more authoritative. He gripped her thigh and slid his hand higher, waiting for a safe word. She opened her legs wider.
“I have a plan. I reckon it’s worth a try if you’re game.” He licked his lips as he fixed her gaze. “But if you’re not, I’m cool with that.”
Lines appeared on her forehead. She wasn’t rejecting him or telling him to stop, but she held her hand against his, stopping him from moving higher. She took a deep breath, and he kissed her forehead.
“It’s okay to be scared. I’m scared, too.”
She shivered. “What if we try this and it doesn’t work and makes it worse?”
“What if it doesn’t?” She thumbed her forehead. “I won’t do anything you don’t want me to, but if you let me, I’ll take control.”
He held his breath and waited.
She dropped her head before lifting it and meeting his gaze. “I want you to make me come,” she stuttered.
His eyes darkened, and he growled. “That’s exactly what I’m going to do, but we’re doing this together and in a way that makes you fucking needy.” His fear fed him like it had in the past. “While I prepare—”
“Prepare?” she squeaked.
“Making you come is a military operation I’ve been planning since we discussed your app. And something I’ve imagined since I licked your pussy as you ground it against my mouth ten years ago.”
Strike smirked as a tortured moan escaped her mouth. “That was a little test. From following your account to reading your books to learning about the app, it’s clear words are important to you, and I’ll make them work for you so we can destroy your walls—if you want to.”
“I get myself off to audiobooks sometimes.”
“Fuck that’s hot.” She blushed, and he got impossibly harder. “Go and lie on your bed with my copy of The Soldier’s Temptation. You can read it while I prepare.”
“And if that’s not enough?”
“It’s worth a try. It’s about having fun, turning you on, and seeing what happens next. No pressure. Read the steamiest scenes, especially the bath one. I want you wet for me.”