Chapter 30

Chapter Thirty

" Y ou are Reece Foresman?"

Kira was having a hard time wrapping her brain around what she'd read on the page, but Rand's unsure smile told her it was true.

"Yes?" He cleared his throat. "I mean, yes . Yes. I am. But you can't tell anyone. Only like…only eight or ten people know, and one of them is my sister. None of them are Freya or Morgan."

Rand was New York Times bestselling author Reece Foresman. The author whose book she bought at the airport and read more than half of on her flight.

"So…last December, when you suggested the cover story before we went into Gillibrand's offices…you were telling the truth and pretending it was fake?"

"Well, I'm not mega-rich or anything, which was also part of the cover story. My second book only released last month. But yeah, I knew I could pull off the author thing if needed."

"And you keep it a secret because you're a SEAL?"

He nodded. "You might be wondering how it happened."

She laughed. "A little, yeah." Not a little. No, she was desperate to know.

"So…about four and a half years ago—a few months after the deployment when I met Morgan—I was back stateside and was injured during training. It was bad. I needed surgery. Months of rehab. My whole future was in doubt. I didn't know if I'd be able to return to the team. I was frustrated and, frankly, scared. I had no clue what I would do post-Navy, let alone post-SEAL. And I was bored and anxious. To escape, I started writing this story I'd been kicking around for years. I liked writing. It gave me something I could control. It wasn't long before I thought I had something. I knew it needed polish, but it held together. I changed it up because once I thought about publishing, I couldn't write about SEALs. I adapted the plot to the kind of work Pax and Cal had done on their deployments. Next thing I knew, I had a Green Beret thriller set in North Africa. Then I did the most foolish, clueless, newbie writer thing and emailed my favorite military thriller author. Told him I was a SEAL and liked his work, and I had a manuscript, but didn't know what came next.

"Thank god the guy was amazing and didn't see me as competition or anything like that. He told me to send him the first three chapters and he'd give me his honest opinion. A week later, he was referring me to an agent and a literary attorney. The attorney helped me set up a trust that completely separates my legal name. Even my publisher only knows I'm in the military and a special operator, not which branch or command. The Navy signed off as long as I stay away from everything SEAL and keep my fiction fictional. Nearly three years later, the first book was out. It hit New York Times , which was cool, but I couldn't exactly celebrate. My sister made me dinner and my niece ate too much dessert and tossed her cookies on me, but she would have done that whether I was a bestseller or not."

Kira laughed and was taken by surprise at the rush of emotion triggered by the realization he was trusting her with something no one else in her circle knew. And he said it shyly, even nervously. This big, badass SEAL was nervous about her reaction.

But then, she'd read half of his first book and given him her opinion of it just this morning.

She set the wet book that had been dedicated to her aside and slipped her arms around his neck. She planted a solid kiss on his lips and said, "Congratulations on hitting the Times . I understand that's a big deal."

"Would I have gotten that kiss even if I wasn't a bestseller?"

"Absolutely not."

He laughed. "How about this one?" Then he kissed her, and it wasn't sweet or gentle. It was hot and carnal as his tongue stroked hers. She melted into him, kissing him back with all the emotion that surged through her.

She was breathing heavily when the kiss ended, her belly swirling with heat. Desire tugged at her core. "Yes, that kiss was just because you are you. Now explain how—and why—you dedicated the book to me. Aren't you afraid someone will figure it out?"

"The only people who know you're a Valkyrie can be trusted if they do see the dedication, but also, I don't think they're likely to read it."

"I'm not really a Valkyrie."

"Yes, you are. You were then. You were today." He kissed her softly, then said, "My publisher had to hold the final proof for after I got back from a deployment last fall. Last December, my plan was to go skiing in Aspen, then do the final read-through. It was cutting it close with the printing schedule, but I could hardly be expected to do the final proof while on an aircraft carrier. A few days after I turned it in, I emailed you and got the reply that said your boyfriend didn't like my reaching out to you. It was a kick in the gut for about thirty seconds, but then…I figured you were struggling because of what happened. I even considered that it might not be from you. Your dad wasn't subtle in the hospital. Plus, Freya had never mentioned a boyfriend—I checked in with her often to hear how you were doing.

"I wanted to send you a message, even if it was one you'd never see. I'd dedicated my first book to my sister, and didn't really have anyone to dedicate the second one to, so there was no dedication in the final proof. I thought about the moment when you said, ‘Today, and today only, I'm a Valkyrie. ' And I knew what I wanted to say. I sent a hurried message to my agent, insisting the publisher add a dedication page. It hadn't gone to print yet, so it was no problem. I mean, I'm sure they griped, but they did it."

She kissed him again. "I've never had a book dedicated to me before."

His smile was a sexy smolder. "And I've never dedicated a book to a woman I wanted to woo before."

She laughed at his word choice. "Woo? I don't think that's something Reece Foresman would say."

"That's because my main character isn't so much interested in wooing as he is in fucking."

"Is there sex on the page? I haven't gotten that far."

He drew a line across his lips, as he'd done this morning in the bookstore. "No spoilers from me."

She laughed, then stepped back. She wanted him, but at the same time, her brain was spinning. And she was so tired. "You should shower." Then she grinned. "I think I'm going to read for a bit, then go to sleep."

She found her copy of the mass-market paperback of Reece Foresman's first novel and crawled into bed. As he'd described, the book was dedicated to his sister, using her first name only.

For Maggie. Best little sister in the world. Sorry about leaving all those Legos on the floor.

She smiled and looked at the cover again, tracing the R and F in the author name. The initials were clearly deliberate. If it didn't require getting out of bed, she'd grab her laptop and look up his website. See if there were more clues to his identity hidden in the author bio. Probably not. With the exception of naming her and using the word Valkyrie, it appeared he'd been exceedingly careful.

She held the book, but found her mind was racing too much to focus and read. She wanted Rand to read it to her. To hear his voice as he shared his art with her. Maybe someday, she'd show him her paintings. She was nothing like her mother, but she liked to dabble and had never shared her work with anyone. Not even her family.

She was staring at the book, not really thinking about anything, when Rand stepped into the room wearing nothing but a white towel around his hips. "Sorry. I left my bag in here. I just need to grab some clothes."

Water drops dappled the most perfect chest she'd ever seen. Thick shoulders. Cut pecs and delts. An abdomen to die for and that perfect V groove. She sucked in a breath as she stared. Without thinking, she was on her feet, moving toward him.

His body was a magnet, and she was helpless iron.

R and froze as Kira moved toward him, her eyes hot with desire. She met his gaze and smiled, the twist of her lips and the spark in her eyes now showing mischief.

She took a final step, bringing her directly in front of him and raised her right hand, stopping millimeters from his bare left pec. "May I? Artwork this perfect needs to be touched to be fully appreciated."

As if he'd say no. But he did have a caveat. "Anything you do to me, I get to do to you."

"I guess that's fair."

She lowered her hand, and he felt a ripple of disappointment. Maybe he should have let her play without rules. But then she bent her head and licked his nipple.

Heat shot through his body. He groaned. "I mean it. Anything you do, I do back."

She smiled. "I'm counting on it." She licked him again, the tip of her tongue teasing his nipple, then she blew on the damp peak. Finally, she placed a hand on his chest and explored his pecs, her palm pressing down while her fingers lightly touched each contour. She thumbed his nipple, then licked him again, this time tasting the light hair over his sternum.

"If only I had strawberry ice cream."

He laughed. Damn, he'd kill for a pint right now.

Her other hand joined the fun, and he groaned again as she explored his skin. He was going to do the same thing to her.

Rules were rules.

He would cup her perfect breasts and suck on her nipples, tease her in all the magnificent ways she teased him.

Her hand dipped lower, tracing his abs. She made a soft humming sound, then paused and looked up at him.

He smiled. "Is it my turn now?"

She shook her head. "Not yet." She looked into his eyes and bit her bottom lip as she traced the top of the towel where it was held in place by tension and a tucked down corner. With a flick of her fingers, the towel fell, revealing his heavy erection that surged up as she lightly traced him from tip to base with her index finger.

His groan had turned into a harsh sound as he held himself in check. He would not thrust into her exploring hand, no matter how much he wanted to. "We should probably stop here."

"You want me to stop?"

"No."

"What if I do this?" Her hand slid down the shaft and wrapped around the base of his hard prick. Her warm palm was tight and smooth as she stroked his heavy length. He couldn't help it and rocked his hips in a motion as old as time. His breathing had gone rapid and shallow. "Kira." Her name was a warning. She might break his control.

"Do you want to put this inside me, Rand?" She stroked him as she said the words.

"Desperately."

Her smile widened and she licked her lips and then she dropped to her knees. She took him into her mouth. His entire body coiled at the pleasure of her tongue running along his length as she sucked. " Everything you do to me, I get to do to you."

Her response was to suck harder and take him deep into the back of her throat.

He threaded his fingers through her hair as he rocked his hips and planned how he would take her pussy with his mouth and suck and lick and make her moan.

He watched his cock slide into and out of her mouth, feasting on the sight of her feasting on him.

He'd had this fantasy so many times since December. But it was only the start, and he wanted everything. He pulled back, extracting himself from her mouth. He pulled her to her feet, kissed her mouth, his tongue going deep before he pulled back and said, "My turn now."

As she'd done, he started with her breasts. But first he licked her through the satin camisole. The wet fabric clung to her as her nipples hardened. He blew on the peaks, then licked her again.

He found the hem of the light top and pulled it over her head, then tossed it to the floor. Kira's breasts were round and perfect. He cupped one in each hand and licked and sucked as she made soft sounds of pleasure.

He scooped her up and set her on the center of the bed. She was gorgeous as she lay there, topless. But while her satin pants were sexy, they were also in the way. He pulled them off. She wore nothing underneath. She was as naked as he was.

He crawled up her body, sliding between her legs until his face was even with her breasts. Then he explored with fingers and mouth, moving ever lower. He licked her navel and nipped at her hips and rounded belly. His tongue traced her hipbones and moved ever closer to the juncture of her thighs. He spread her legs with one hand then tasted her as his fingers explored.

She bucked against him when his tongue stroked her clit. She made a sound that would fuel his fantasies for years. He sucked on her and slid a finger inside. She spread her knees wider, giving herself over to his mouth and touch.

He started with one, but now had two fingers inside her, thrusting in time with the stroke of his tongue on her clitoris.

She panted and mewed and made the sexiest sounds as he brought her closer and closer to the brink. She'd fully surrendered to the moment, her body coiling tight as he increased the pressure with his tongue and fingers, bearing down on her pubis inside and out.

Her fingers gripped his hair, and she pulled, just enough to trigger a sensation that tightened his balls and made his cock impossibly hard. And then she broke, shrieking and locking her hips as she came, her body pulling back from his abrasive tongue and thrusting fingers.

He raised his head and gazed down at her, splayed beneath him. She was beautiful and spent, and he could stop here knowing he'd given her the ultimate pleasure.

"You are so fucking beautiful. All the time. But especially right now."

She panted and laughed. "I don't think I've ever felt as beautiful as I do right now, with you looking at me like that."

He lowered himself to kiss her, without putting his weight on her body. His cock was thick and hard between them, pressing against her pelvis while his balls settled in the V of her thighs. He gently rocked his hips as he kissed her, then raised his head. "I have condoms. But we can stop here if you want."

One hand cupped his cheek, while the other hand slid down his chest and abs, eventually finding his hard cock. She wrapped her fingers around him and stroked him from base to tip. "I need to feel you inside me."

Oh thank god.

He kissed her again, then reluctantly pulled back from her hand. Condom. Must get a condom. He rose from the bed, went to the bathroom, and grabbed the pack of condoms from his Dopp kit.

When he returned to the bedroom, Kira was sitting up against the headboard. Her legs were only slightly spread. Her hair, which had dried since her earlier shower, was mussed and sexy as hell. Her gaze swept him from head to toe as he crawled across the mattress to join her. Her voice was husky and her eyes hot. "You have no idea how many times I've imagined this."

"If it's anywhere near as often as I have, it's a lot ."

She ran a hand over his chest. He loved the way she couldn't seem to stop touching him. "You're even more perfect than I imagined."

And then there was the way she looked at him. It made his heart pound. "So what brought this on? Was it the dedication, or the fact that I was only wearing a towel when I entered the room?"

"The towel. Holy crap, your body is perfect."

"So all this time, all I had to do to seduce you was take off my shirt?"

"Apparently. Well, and follow me to Malta."

"Kira, I'm pretty sure I'll follow you anywhere."

She smiled then, and for Rand, it felt like he'd just received the perfect gift he hadn't even known he needed. But he had known he needed Kira. He just hadn't known how much.

"I want to make love to you. To be as close to you as possible. To feel your tight heat around me and get lost in you."

She took the strip of condoms from his hand and ripped one from the end, then split open the package. She stroked him with her hand, bringing him back to fully hard, then rolled it down his shaft, causing ripples of pleasure and making him even harder still.

She scooted down on the bed and spread her legs. He settled between her thighs, his hard, wrapped cock teasing her clit. He played for a moment, then slid down and in, taking her with one hard, smooth thrust.

She was tight and hot, and the feel of her practically made him dizzy as pleasure rocked him. He thrust slow and deep, staring into her eyes until they fluttered closed. He dipped his head down and kissed her then, keeping his weight on his elbows as his cock and tongue thrust into her.

Her legs wrapped around his hips, and it wasn't long before she groaned and made sounds that let him know she could come again if he didn't blow it.

His pleasure built, but he needed her to come first. He checked his speed, but she gripped his ass and urged him faster. He returned to the breakneck pace that put him on edge, then thrust even harder.

They came together, her shrieking, him groaning as he pumped into her and wave after wave of pleasure blocked everything else from his mind.

Spent, he collapsed, but then rolled to take his weight off her. She lay on his chest, panting, satiated and perfect. He ran his fingers through her hair, which was damp again, but now with sweat. "We both might need another shower."

She gave him a lazy smile. "I like the smell of you on my skin."

He kissed her neck. "I like the smell of me on your skin too. It's primal. Like I've marked you as mine."

"That makes you mine too. I think I'd like that."

His heart rate, just settling after a powerful orgasm, now beat heavy, a hard thrum in his chest. "This isn't a fling, Kira. When we get back to the States, I want you to meet my sister and her family. Do all the things couples do."

Her lips traced a trail on his upper chest as her fingers drew circles. She didn't meet his gaze. "How many times have you brought women to meet your sister?"

"None since my niece was born."

"How old is she?"

"Three and a half. I never wanted to confuse her or send the wrong message to anyone I was dating. I've gone out with more than a few women who liked the idea of me being a SEAL more than they liked me . But it takes a few dates to figure that out, and I wasn't about to bring my niece's affections into play."

"I'd like to meet her. And your sister. Is she married?"

"Yeah. Her husband is a great guy. You'll like him too."

She still wouldn't meet his gaze, and he wondered what was wrong. He'd wanted to be clear about what this— she —meant to him, but maybe he needed to pull back. He touched her hair. "If you want to take it slow, we can do that. I know you've had a rough year, and family is…touchy."

At last, she looked at him. Her hazel eyes were clear and beautiful. "I'm just scared. What if she hates me? Your sister, I mean. And your niece…I've never been around kids much. I was an only child of only children. I'm not great with meeting new people."

He smiled, relief spreading through him. "Just be you. Because you are fucking amazing."