Silent Love(7)

A groan bubbled up from his throat. He wanted her. Under him. He wanted  to strip off that blouse and get his hands on those large breasts. He  wanted to grasp her hips while he pounded into her tiny body and make  her scream his name. Closing his eyes, he tried to will away the image.  There was no possible way he could stand up to leave anytime soon. At  least not without embarrassing himself.

When he opened his eyes, Beth had the dessert three quarters gone.  Finally she looked at him and flushed brightly. She bit that bottom full  lip, and her tongue darted out to swipe the tiny bit of chocolate at  the corner of her mouth.

"I love chocolate," she whispered.

Sean laughed. "All chocolate or just cake?"

She flushed even brighter. "All. It's my weakness."

At that admission, he was enthralled even more.





5



Like a true gentleman, Sean walked Beth to her door. She fumbled with  the keys, slightly nervous of his expectation for the end of their  evening. Dinner had been wonderful, in fact, the best first date she'd  ever been on. Though, admittedly, she didn't have that many first dates  in her past. Afterwards Sean had taken her to The Point, where they  strolled around the fountain and enjoyed the warm evening. They watched  bicycle riders, women with strollers, and boaters enjoy the three rivers  and pleasant weather. She couldn't remember when he took her hand into  his and laced their fingers together, but still felt his large, firm  grasp linked with hers.

Finally she managed to get the door unlocked and went to step inside.  Sean placed his hand on the small of her back. His heat from his body  radiated off him, warming her, when he came up behind her extremely  close. A quick glance over her shoulder, and he shook his head.

"Let me walk you inside and check to make sure everything is safe," he said.

How much did she wish she could hear his inflection? She bet his  military background came through. Strong and confident with a deep tone.

Ignoring him, she took one step inside, opened a box located on the wall  next to the door, punched in a code, and turned off the alarm system.  "My dad bought me this state of the art system when I moved in."

When she looked back at him, his brows were drawn together.

"I'm still going to do a quick check," he said.

It took him all of two seconds to check her tiny home, while she waited  by the open front door for him to return. He nodded. "All's clear."

She laughed. "Okay."

Invading her space, he took a step closer, his large frame towered hers.  His masculine scent, a mixture of musk cologne and his own natural  fragrance wrapped around her, drawing her into him.

"Can I see you again?" he asked.

Her heart fluttered. He wanted a second date. But was that because she  hadn't slept with him? Every date she'd gone on, which was less than a  handful, in the past four years ended with the guy trying to maul her at  the end of the night. Why, she had no idea? She didn't flirt, didn't  bat her eyelashes, or coo at men. Hell, she refused to make eye contact.  But it always ended the same, the men storming away angry with her.         

     



 

"I don't know," she answered. What if he turned out to be just like the  others? What if all he wanted was to get her into bed and put another  notch on his headboard? Sean and his brother had that reputation.

His mouth became a thin line, but he took another step closer, their  bodies brushing against each other, reached up and ran his thumb over  her high cheekbone. In seemingly slow motion, his left hand snaked  around her waist, and he leaned down, his eyes focused on her lips and  descended upon her mouth. His right hand slid to the nape of her neck.  Molding his mouth to hers, the taste of apple lingered, mixed with his  natural taste. His tongue tested the waters and gently swiped against  her lips. Unable to stop herself, she opened up to him. Her entire body  quaked; he had to have felt her tremors under his touch. The moan that  boiled from his throat vibrated down hers. His hot, moist tongue danced  with hers. She melted into him, her body going limp. She lost her  breath. Literally, he stole her breath. Her mind went dizzy. Grasping  his shirt into fists, she held onto him tightly. They fit well together.  Even for her tiny stature and his larger than life physique. His big  body surrounded her but didn't crowd her. If that made sense.

All too soon, Sean broke the kiss with a brush of his lips then slightly  pulled back. They both fought to get air into their lungs. His forehead  rested against hers while her eyes remained closed. He said something  to her, she felt his lips move against her nose. That's when she felt  his entire body stiffen, his reaction to forgetting she couldn't hear  what he said. Her heart sunk. For the first time in years she had felt  like her old self. On cloud nine in the strong arms of a man. Her  hearing brutally stripped from her hadn't mattered in those few moments  with him. Then reality. No man would ever be able to hold her then  whisper to her in the dark while they lay in bed together. If her back  was turned, no guy would be able to walk into a room without the fear of  frightening her.

Taking a step away from him, she tried to keep her disappointment from showing. Sean blinked.

"Beth," he said.

"I had a good time, Sean. Thank you for dinner," she said. Time to end this before it became a second date.

He shook his head, reached out and grasped her hands, then yanked her  into his rock solid body. "Don't. Please," he said. "Don't push me away.  It's easier for you to do that, isn't it? You have to give me a chance  to learn, Beth."

"You don't understand‒"

"You're right, I don't. But give me enough credit to be willing to try  and understand," he said. She watched his jaw clench and flex.

"Sean," she tried to argue but didn't feel the urge behind it. Tired of  being alone in her silent world, her days ran together. She may have  been leading a life, but she wasn't actually living. Sean was obviously a  force a nature. Undoubtedly any woman he chose to love he'd bring into  that world, and she'd have to keep up. Until now she hadn't realized how  much she desired that attribute in a partner.

Without warning, he kissed her hard on the forehead. "I'll see you tomorrow at the hospital."

Before she had a chance to argue, he waltzed out the door. Damn it.  Instead of going after him to tell him forget it, she stood, cemented in  place, resigned that Sean wouldn't be easy to brush off.







Sean stepped through his home and was immediately assaulted by the  sounds of his brother grunting and a woman screaming his name.

Fuuuuck.

He'd already been jacked up earlier watching Beth devour chocolate cake,  how the hell was he going to get through a live porn show? And what the  hell was his brother doing home? He was supposed to be working. Good  lord, if their cousin found out they were home, she'd have both their  balls in a sling.

Quietly he closed the door behind him. Using his superb SEAL techniques,  he made it up to his bedroom, unnoticed by his brother, who had the  blonde nurse from last night against the hallway wall, with his pants  around his thighs.

When he slipped into his bedroom, he glanced at the clock. Nine-thirty.  He didn't have to be at work until noon tomorrow. Standing in the center  of the room, he couldn't spend the next few hours waiting to fall  asleep. He wasn't even close to feeling exhausted, and his mind raced  with concern over his last moments with Beth. Her willingness to  automatically push him away bothered him. What she didn't comprehend was  even though she couldn't hear a thing, she wore her emotions and  thoughts plainly on her gorgeous face. It wouldn't take a genius to  figure out what she planned. How often did she dump those who tried to  get close to her?

Sighing, he ran a hand down his face. There was only one person he could  talk to about this, but first he was going to have to tolerate her  rant.         

     



 







"Well, nice of you to make an appearance," Courtney spat. "What do I owe the honor?"

"Cute," Sean replied.

"No, seriously, what do I owe the honor, Sean? You and Ryan have made  yourselves perfectly unavailable. You don't stop by, you cancel plans,  you don't show up when I'm supposed to visit? Is it Derrick?" Her voice  wavered.

"Court," he said pacifying her. "We've been busy working long hours.  Ryan got called into work today when he was supposed to be off. It has  nothing to do with you or Derrick."

They stood in the kitchen, the air between them tight. Derrick stood off  to the side, refusing to interfere. Sean noticed when it came to him  and Ryan, Courtney's husband tended to take a step back and allow them  to work out any issues. Derrick's other henchmen stood quietly in the  background sipping on coffee. The two nannies, Jarrett and Russ, sat at  the dining room table, silently eating their late dinner, while Mary  bustled about as if nothing was happening around her.