3. Peyton

Chapter Three

PEYTON

God, she's beautiful. And obviously talented.

When I got to the bar earlier, Ethan doled out introductions. I greeted everyone with a smile and a nod, but when my eyes landed on Stacey, my pulse kicked up and my dick hardened against my zipper of my jeans.

As luck would have it, I ended up sitting right next to her, and not two words into our conversation, I immediately made an ass of myself.

I don't know what it is about her, but she's got me tongue-tied and my brain is foggy. It's like I've never spoken with a beautiful woman before. Post-deployment horny has apparently taken on a whole new level if she's got me this tied up in knots.

"So, where are you from?" I ask, taking another swig of my beer. I'm willing my erection to die down just a bit so I can focus on my conversation with Stacey.

"Born and raised in North Carolina. What about you?" she asks.

"I was born in Colorado, but we moved around a lot due to my dad being in the Army, so I never really had one place I considered home. The most memorable station was up in Alaska. I loved the four years we were up there. My dad and I would go fishing, hunting, hiking or something different outdoors almost every weekend. We lived there from around the time I turned ten until I was fourteen. I'd gladly take an assignment of my own up there anytime."

"Sounds fun. I love how your eyes light up every time you've mentioned your dad. I can tell how much he means to you."

I try to hide the blush I can feel creeping up my cheeks behind my beer as I take another drink.

"Yeah, he's my best friend. I'd be lost without him in my life," I tell her honestly.

"I love that. Shows you just might have a sensitive side underneath all that muscle," she says, squeezing my bicep.

I smile again at her words and my skin is on fire where her fingers just touched. Even through the barrier of my shirt, I feel like she's branded my arm with just one touch. I lean in closer, bringing my lips to the shell of her ear before I speak again.

"Something like that. My dad will always be one of the most important people in my life. We've been through a lot together, the hardest being when my mom walked out on us when I was just eight years old. I wouldn't be the man I am today if it wasn't for him."

I notice the shiver that runs through her body as my breath rolls over her skin. She turns more into me, bringing her side and shoulder flush with my chest. I don't know what it is about this woman, but I'm drawn to her. There's a pull between the two of us, like two ends of a magnet being drawn together.

Our intimate moment is interrupted by a loud clap of laughter from the rest of the table. We fall into conversation with everyone else for a while longer, but neither one of us makes any effort to move away from each other. So, while I talk and have a good time relaxing with Ethan, the heat radiating off of her body is soaking right into mine, making me want her even more than I did when I sat down.