“Or maybe I’m just twenty-three years older.”

  I don’t know what to say, and we hike a little ways in silence, me turning these thoughts over in my mind. I don’t even notice him leading us off the designated path, until I look up and see we’re a good distance from any of the trail markers.

  He stops at the top of a ridge and looks down. “We’re here.”

  It takes me a few seconds to walk up beside him, but the closer I get, the clearer I can hear it. Once I’m beside him, I look down to see we’re standing at the top of a narrow waterfall descending to a small creek below. It’s surrounded by lush greenery and the water is so clear, I can see the multi-colored rocks at the bottom of the pool.

  “It’s beautiful.” My voice is a whisper, and I look all around. “But where does it start…”

  “It’s a natural stream.” He points to our right. “The path steers away, because the ground turns into more of a bog in that direction.”

  We stand for a minute watching the waterfall, studying how the sunlight glistens in rainbow sparkles off the water, listening to the splashing below. “Come with me.”

  He catches my hand, pulling me down the left side of the ridge after him. He’s moving fast, and it’s almost a straight drop through damp, brown leaves with trees all around. I reach out and grab the narrow trunks to keep from sliding, and the scent of damp foliage rises around us, musty and earthy. At last we’re standing on the edge of the creek below.

  He drops my hand and strips off his shirt. “Let’s swim.” My bottom jaw drops along with his jeans, and I watch as he wades into the pool completely naked, his tight butt flexing.

  When I can speak again, I stage whisper the obvious. “What if someone sees us?”

  “We’re too far off the path. Anyway, did you see anybody out hiking today?” He stops at the waterfall.

  “No, but that doesn’t mean—” I look up and around.

  “Get in.” It’s an order, and while my instinct is to argue, I kind of want to be naked with him in this glittering pool.

  I watch as he lifts his chin, opening his mouth to take a drink, and the sight of his lined throat, his dark hair hanging in damp waves around his square jaw, is so thrilling. Not to mention his broad shoulders over his muscular torso… His arms—the eagle, the lines of latitude and longitude, a band of iron, and semper fi… combined with what I know he’s hiding just under the water overrules my hesitation.

  Catching the hem of my tee, I lift it over my head. He stays under the waterfall, watching me intently.

  I’m self-conscious stripping with him looking at me that way, but I want him so much. My stomach is in delicious knots as I step out of my jeans, leaving me in only my lace thong and almost-matching bra.

  His brow lowers, and I hesitate a moment before reaching around to unfasten my bra. My nipples tighten as the thin garment falls to the pile of clothes on the ground, and my thong follows it. His scowl melts into approval, and my whole body is on fire.

  I slowly walk into the water toward him. His eyes darken, watching me until the water is at my hips, then he moves closer.

  He pulls me into his arms. “You’re so beautiful.”

  It’s a low, rich rumble, and my arms are pinned beneath his muscular ones as he looks down on my face. I’m completely at his mercy, and I couldn’t be happier.

  His wet hair falls in dark waves around his face, and he puts his hand on the back of my head as he studies my lips. I’m electric and horny as hell, my palms flat against his shoulder blades. Finally, he lowers his mouth to mine, sealing our lips together and parting mine in a devouring kiss.

  He tastes fresh, like the cool mountain stream, and as our tongues curl together, heat flows through my veins. I exhale a little moan, and he pulls me closer, stepping back, through the waterfall as he kisses me again. He nips my lips, moving my mouth with his. I’m chasing his kisses like the most intoxicating drug I’ve ever had.

  “Rocky…” he murmurs, turning me so my back is against the smooth rock wall. “I want to be inside you.”

  “I want you inside me.” I’m gasping and hot, panting and aching for him.

  He lowers me slowly. “The condom is in my jeans.”

  “Oh…” My brow furrows, and I make a sad face. “Hurry.”

  He’s gone in a flash, swimming across the short space and walking out to where our clothes lie abandoned. I hang out behind the water shamelessly watching his gloriously nude body.

  His ass flexes as he picks up his pants, digging in the pocket for the dark square. Reaching down, I stroke my clit, stoking the fire blazing inside me for him as I watch him handling his hard penis with those perfectly elegant fingers before starting back to me, condom in place.

  Patton Fletcher’s body is the stuff of dreams. His shoulders are broad, his chest is two smooth planes above a landscape of lines on his stomach. Two lines create a V leading down to his cock. His legs flex, strong and lined as he enters the water, quickly closing the space between us.

  When he gets to where I’m hiding, he pauses, taking in my posture, my hand between my thighs, moving quickly. I’ve never this bold, but something in me feels wicked. I think it’s the way his mouth drops open. My lips are parted, and heat flushes my body as my orgasm grows stronger.

  “Oh…” I gasp, getting closer to the edge.

  “Don’t stop.” His voice is strained, and he turns me to face the rock wall. I put a hand out, steadying myself, then lower my cheek against it as he towers behind me.

  Strong hands grip my thighs, moving them apart as he guides his tip to my entrance and thrusts in roughly, all the way.

  “Oh, yes…” My voice cracks, and I continue frantically circling my clit as he stretches me from behind.

  “Rocky, fuck… You’re so tight this way.”” His mouth is at my ear, and his beard scratching my skin makes me moan. It feels so good.

  My nipples tingle. He pushes me onto my tiptoes with every desperate thrust of his cock. He hits my G-spot again and again until… Oh, God, yes… The orgasm shoots through my stomach like a rocket, leaving sizzling streams of pleasure in its wake.

  I open my mouth and the noise of pleasure is so loud and low, I sound feral.

  Patton’s fist grips in the side of my hair, and he turns my face so he can cover my mouth with his. He consumes me, pushing his cock harder, deeper into my grasping core. Our tongues curl, our mouths move, and our lips nip and pull as we try to keep up with each other. My knees are liquid, but I can’t fall. He’s holding me in his strong hands.

  Three more hard thrusts, and his body stills. He holds himself deep inside me, and I feel the pulsing of his cock. His ragged groans are in my ear, and I close my eyes, loving that sound. Loving all of this from the fresh spring waters to the earthy scent of the cave around us.

  He wraps one arm around my waist and the other around the front of my shoulders, holding my back flush against his hard chest. I love the feel of his hot skin melding to mine. I reach up and hold his strong forearm, resting my head against his shoulder and closing my eyes.

  For several beats of our hearts, we stay that way—the deep feeling of union here under this cascade of water, washing over both of us. All I can think is if this is wrong, if he’s the devil, then take me to hell. I’ll go willingly.

  “I don’t know.” I take another bite of Patton’s secret hot chicken recipe and cover my mouth with a napkin. “We might have to do a taste test. This is pretty damn good.”

  He sits beside me on a stool in front of the massive, granite bar in the oversized kitchen of his family’s “little” cabin in the woods.

  Taking a piece, he bites into it, wiping his mouth with the napkin. “This batch is pretty good.”

  “You say it like they’re all different.”

  That makes him grin. “They are.”

  “So you don’t have the secret family recipe?” My eyes narrow.

  “I don’t have it written down. I just know what’s in it.” He takes another bite. “This might be as good as the original.”

  “Do you remember how you made this batch?”

  His dark eyes travel to the dry ingredients still sitting out on the counter.

  “You don’t know what you did?” I jump in before he can answer.

  An attractive grin splits his cheeks. It’s more of a smile than I’ve ever seen on him, and I love that a small dimple appears in his chin. Sliding off my stool, I put my arms around his neck and kiss him, slow and spicy-hot.

  “What was that for?” He’s looking into my eyes the way I love.

  “I don’t know. You just seem different tonight.” I feel closer to him after our days and nights here, like we’ve moved to a different place.

  I’ll find out whatever that means when we get back.

  Reaching up, he holds my chin with two fingers. “What’s that look?”

  “What do you mean?” I tilt my head and smile.

  “You’re so smart. What are you thinking when you look at me that way?”

  “You’re so smart,” I tease, repeating his question. “What are you thinking when you look at me that way.”

  “I asked first.”

  Pressing my lips together, I think about something that’s been on my mind since he said it. “What you said about your father… You are a leader. You were there every time Marley needed you. It’s not fair to you to say you failed. At some point men have to stand on their own.”

  He sits back, sliding his hands to my thighs. “He was… injured. Damaged on my watch. It broke him.”

  I’m a little afraid to ask, but I can tell this is so important. “Can you tell me what happened?”

  A quiet moment passes. I’m afraid he’ll say no, but he doesn’t. “We were in Mexico on a peacekeeping mission headed to Venezuela, and he was kidnapped fueling one of the trucks. It took us two weeks to find him, and when we did…” He stops and I see him wince. “He’s never been able to get over it.”

  His eyes don’t meet mine, but he doesn’t have to say what he’s thinking. “You think it’s your fault he was broken.” It’s not a question.

  “We were all given medals and after that, we all wanted out. We joined the military because we wanted to do good. We wanted to be a part of the solution. After that, well… we were all pretty changed by it.”

  I slide my hand down his arm until our fingers lace together. “I wish there was a way to show you it’s not your fault.”

  “You’d be doing something hours of therapy weren’t able to accomplish.” His grin returns, but it’s a bit darker, a little more cynical. “What I can do is give them a comfortable life, good jobs, opportunities.”

  “And when that’s not enough?”

  “I don’t know.” Our eyes meet and he shrugs. “It’s all I’ve got.”

  “I think you’ve got so much more.”

  22

  Patton

  Tomorrow, we drive back to Nashville. Taron texted me they’re letting Marley out tomorrow morning, and he wants to meet with me, discuss our next steps. I couldn’t agree more.

  Rocky emerges from the bathroom wearing one of my tees. Her sexy legs are on full display, and I lie back drinking in the view of her climbing onto the bed, the back of her pink lace panties peeking out.

  I’ve always been a black or red lace kind of guy, but Rocky in her pink and white lace, changed my mind. Rocky… I love calling her that. It’s so unexpected and so perfect.

  “We never got to use that tub.” She flops in the bed beside me.

  “I prefer waterfalls.” I reach for her waist, pulling her across my lap in a straddle.

  “It was beautiful.” Her voice is as dreamy as her smile.

  Her hands rest on my shoulders, and her words about Marley, my feelings, are in my mind. She was so sad when I told her my truth—that I’ll never stop blaming myself for his condition—like it was her problem as well. Why would she think that?

  She’s doing something to me. From the way she looks at me, to the way she believes in me. I don’t know why or how, but the block of ice in my chest that’s been passing for a heart for years is starting to thaw.

  Leaning forward, I kiss her neck. “I think I’ll start calling you Rocky.”

  Her fingers thread in my hair and she exhales a little laugh. “Join the club.”

  Straightening, I catch her pale blue eyes. “Did you only ever wrestle with your father?”

  “Yeah.” Her gaze goes distant. “Renée was never much of a fighter. She and I did not have that in common.”

  My jaw tightens. I don’t want to talk about her sister, but she keeps going, like she’s walking down some memory lane.

  “She did really well in school, like me. She was really going places, top of her class, passed the CPA exam… Then she just walked away from it all.” Her blue eyes land on mine. “Maybe you know why?”

  Clearing my throat, I shift under her, moving her to sit beside me on the mattress. “I barely know your sister.”

  She sits quietly for a moment. I’m on my stomach, my arms crossed under my head, wondering how we got on this topic.

  A cool hand touches my shoulder, tracing her finger along the line at the top of my bicep. “So you know my Rocky story… Why Patton? What’s wrong with George?”

  She climbs over my lower back, putting both hands on my shoulders and starting to massage, and I realize my muscles are sore. “That feels good.”

  “In addition to being a WWE wannabe, I’m also a pretty great masseuse.”

  Soft hair touches my back, and she sprinkles warm kisses between soothing touches. Every velvet touch of her warm lips registers below my belt, hardening my dick. I’m completely distracted and ready to pull her under me when she speaks.

  “So tell me.”

  “I’m sorry… Tell you what?”

  She exhales a soft laugh. “Patton. Not George.”

  Oh, right. “Have you ever found the name George attractive?”

  “I never really thought about it.” Her hot little core is perched right on my ass, and she slides her hands down the length of my torso, stopping to make circles in my lower back. “To me the person makes the name attractive or not. Like I knew a guy named Thomas once, and he was such a dick. Now I hate that name. But I bet there are lots of nice men named Thomas…”

  “When we first joined the military, I was put in charge of our squad. Somebody called me Patton, after the general, it caught on, and I liked it.”

  The soft flutter of my tee hitting the floor catches my eye, and she leans forward, her taut nipples against my back, her soft lips grazing the shell of my ear as she whispers. “You’ve been bossing people around ever since?”

  That does it. Lifting onto an elbow, I reach back and catch her upper arm, pulling her down onto the mattress. She lets out a shriek of laughter, and I slide my torso over hers, caging her in my arms.

  “Yes.” Dipping my head, I pull a nipple between my lips and flicker my tongue over it.

  She wiggles her hands free and threads her fingers in my hair. “Always so bossy.” Her voice is breathless as I move to the opposite breast. “What happens when people don’t do what you say?”

  Lifting my chin, I look straight in her blue eyes. “I show them the door.”

  Her eyebrows quirk up, and she smiles. “Does that include me?”

  Sliding higher, I cover her mouth with mine, pushing her lips apart and curling our tongues together. I don’t know if it includes her. My stomach is tight and my desire is white hot. It’s our last night, and I only want to be deep between her thighs, sharing the bliss I’ve been addicted to all weekend.

  Her mouth chases mine, kissing me back with matching fervor. I reach for the bedside drawer, and the topic is forgotten for tonight…

  “Will it look suspicious if we walk into the office together?” I glance over at her, holding my hand from the passenger seat of my car.

  “No.” Taking my hand away, I use it to steer us into the parking garage.

  The closer we’ve gotten to Nashville, the more conflicted I feel. Being with her this weekend was incredible. We talked about so many things, and coming back, I feel less angry than I have in years.

  “I think it’s going to be suspicious because you never smile.” In my peripheral vision, I see her watching me, a grin curling her lips. “Just like that.”

  When she points, I feel it. I am smiling. “I’m glad Marley’s coming home today.”

  “You wouldn’t be smiling about that. I think you’d be more worried. Is he ready to be home? Who’s going to keep tabs on him?”

  “You have a point.” Heaviness tightens my chest, but I still feel the relaxation in my face. Fuck. I’m still smiling.

  We’re out of the car, waiting for the garage elevator, and she tilts her head to the side, studying my face. “You’re handsome when you frown, but you’re even hotter when you smile.”

  “That’s the kind of thing that will make people suspicious.”

  The door opens, and we step inside, hitting the button for the twentieth floor. “Why don’t you?”

  Leaning against the wall, I think about her question. “Never have much to smile about, I guess.”

  “And now you do?” She’s grinning like she won the lottery.

  “I haven’t decided yet.”

  Stepping across the small space, she puts her arms around my waist. Her chin lifts, and she kisses the side of my jaw before whispering in my ear. “I think you have.”

  She kisses my neck, and it’s a mini lightning strike. My hand slides in my pocket to make an adjustment, and the elevator dings. We separate at once. She moves to one side of the metal box, and I step to the other, inspecting my leather loafers as she exits ahead of me.

  Taron asked to meet in my office first thing to discuss our next steps, but all I can think about are my next steps with Rocky. She brought up her sister last night, and like a fucking coward, I wasn’t ready to have that conversation.

  We’ve got to have that conversation and soon. Especially now that my feelings are involved. How did this happen?