manly man. His wide shoulders and slim hips made the uniform sexy. She’d seen him in a T-shirt and knew the ACU hid hard pecs and powerfully muscled arms. And his face—the war and the hardship of deployment had chiseled it to a stark, tanned relief of cheekbones, firm lips and broad forehead. His dark hair was cropped short in a style she didn’t prefer, but it didn’t detract an ounce from his good looks.
He quickly scanned the crowd then a small smile curved his lips as his intense green eyes trained on her. He didn’t pause as he marched right up to her. His duffel dropped to the ground, and he swept her into his arms, one arm tight around her waist and one hand buried in her hair as he angled her for his demanding mouth.
She gasped at the first touch of his lips, her fingers clutching his jacket. His tongue took advantage and pushed inside. With a groan, she sank into him, her body going warm and soft and needy. Her arms slid up around his neck as the kiss went on and on, neither inclined to let go of the other.
His embrace tightened, and she felt the bulge of his cock. She pressed her hips into it, answering his body’s call. She needed him, too. She couldn’t tell him the truth now. Not yet.
Finally, but all too soon, he pulled his mouth from hers. It was probably for the best. They were moments from making an arrest-worthy scene in the airport terminal. Still, he kept her hugged close as his lips traveled across her cheek.
“You came,” he breathed.
“You asked me to.”
He drew back, his hands coming up to frame her face. “But I was afraid you wouldn’t. I’m really glad you’re here.” He grinned. “I’m free until Monday. Let’s get out of here before someone decides I don’t have enough to do. Can I drive?”
She laughed then nodded, pulling a clunky fistful of keys from her purse. He smiled at the conglomeration, but his entire being seemed on edge. Though the enemy was thousands of miles at his back and he was free from duty for the time being, his demeanor was still on full alert. She couldn’t deny the air of danger surrounding him. Nor could she deny how hot his tension made her as it simmered beneath the surface of his calm.
She shuddered as his fingers closed around hers to take the key-ring from her. She swallowed as they stared at each other, her teeth sinking into the corner of her mouth before she grinned ruefully. “So I guess you’re still too edgy to let someone else drive you.”
“You can say that. It’s always weird when I come back.”
They walked in silence while she mulled his words. Before long, she’d have to add to the “weird” by telling him she wasn’t her sister and she hadn’t been writing him for almost a year. Grace had given her his letters, but that didn’t change the fact Amelia wasn’t Grace.
“Grace…” he began, underlining the sinking feeling inside her. “Before we go much further…I have to tell you—”
“I’m not expecting anything,” she cut in before he could reveal he didn’t want to take this any further. Of course, he would have detected she wasn’t as exciting as her actress sister. He probably had been wondering about it for months, but hadn’t wanted to let her down. “I can take you to the base—or whatever it’s called.”
“God, no. It’s nothing like that. Grace, I want you bad—if that’s what you want.”
She nodded as they stopped beside her car. He still wanted her. Forget Grace. He wants you! Just do this!
He squeezed her fingers. “ It’s just, you need to know when a soldier comes home, sometimes…it’s intense. I’m intense. In some ways, I always am.”
“Intense how?” But she already knew. Forceful and demanding. She felt it mixed with the danger rolling off him, and arousal flooded her pussy. Her body flushed with awareness. Her nipples tightened, and her bra suddenly seemed too small.
His hand flattened just below the small of her back, and he yanked her hard against him