I toss my wine in the grass and take the back of her neck, dragging her down to my mouth so fast I swallow her laugh. Soft yet firm, the tip of my tongue begs entry into her mouth and when she parts to allow me in, I tease. She doesn't pull back, but leans forward as her free hand finds my hair and tugs me closer. I groan but it doesn't change my tactic: sweet and light.
"All of my kisses belong to you, Piper. Take one anytime." I press my lips to hers, once, twice and then again. "Anytime."
"Okay," she whispers before breaking into a grin. "That was way better than anything my tween imagination ever conjured."
"Thank fuck." I pop up to start dinner. "I'd have to kick my adolescent self's ass if I didn't learn how to kiss a girl properly." Placing a grill tray over the fire, I use tongs I've set next to the pit to flip the potato vegetable mix I had wrapped in foil and placed in the kindling.
Piper tucks her legs under her ass while watching me. "Somehow I think you're good at everything. Building houses, diapers and kids, romantic dates, kissing-what else do you have hidden up your sleeve, Caden Lawless?"
"The secret's actually in my pants."
She busts into a laugh, bending at the waist and coming up with the back of her hand against her mouth. "Your dick is your secret weapon?"
I shake my head, giving her a minute to finish amusing herself. "No, dirty girl," I say reaching into the front pocket of my jeans. "Catch."
She's quick to snag the rough stone I throw her way. "Justin and I had a brief layover in East Asia during our first deployment and I found that lying on the ground." I study her face, waiting for any sign that mentioning Justin is going to effect this, us.
Nothing. She sips and waits even as my gut churns.
"At the time, I had no idea what it was-just thought it was neat-looking so I kept it. Later someone told me it was tiger eye." I shrug and take the steaks out of the cooler. "Anyway, the first time I got shot at was on that mission and by all accounts I should have been hit, but it went through my jacket clean. A centimeter to the left and the bullet would have exploded in my abdomen."
Studying the rock, Piper looks up. "You think you're alive because of the stone?"
"No," I say, looking into her eyes as they reflect the sunset back at me. "It was a lesson-when you find something rare and interesting, hold onto it. The stone doesn't keep me alive, but it reminds me that I am, that at any minute I could stumble across something special and I should keep my eyes open to see it, to never be afraid to hold on to it."
Kind of like Piper. I've been stuck on the fact Justin found her first and that she was his. If things were different I wouldn't be here with her now, but life is what it is. I can't change the past, but I can damn sure not ignore the opportunity to explore what's between us. Would Justin approve? I wait for his voice to come yet I'm met with silence, and it's more disturbing than hearing my dead friend's daily remarks.
My stomach twists as I watch her watch me. Smoke from the fire clouds my vision and then it's blown away by a gust of wind rustling a thousand leaves above us. The wild power of the ocean crashes to shore beyond the cliff, and yet the noise falls away along with the crackling sputter of burning wood. It's just me and Piper and this crazy intensity that's hotter than red coal.
She leans forward almost imperceptibly, her lips parting. But instead of drawing near like I hope she will, she takes a deep breath and reclines while tossing back my stone. I tamp down my disappointment and adjust the steaks until they spit and sizzle over the open flame.
"Smells amazing, by the way. I'm glad you were looking out for good T-bones."
"Actually, we're having New York Strip. Only the best for my sunshine."
She sighs and then sips her wine. "I think I might be defenseless against you, Caden Lawless."
"Let's hope so," I mumble, and then say louder, "I'm heading back to D.C. in a couple of weeks."
"Are you okay? Your leg?"
I rub at the ache absently. "It's fine. While I was at the VA in Washington, I promised a friend I'd help with a documentary she was working on. I've got to go back for filming."
"What's it about?" Two lines pull together between her eyes as she studies me. "And who is she?"
Sounds like a dash of jealousy pinches her pitch to a higher octave. I relax my smile and smug satisfaction. "Self-defense. I worked with her on protective techniques as part of my rehab and at her request. It's a topic close to the First Lady's heart."