The Colonel's Baby Page 7

  The crowd seemed so much bigger as we were leaving than when we came in. I wasn’t one for big crowds and I gripped Trenton’s hand so we wouldn’t get separated. We managed to duck into an elevator and he pulled me back against him as we rode down to the bottom floor. It quickly got pretty crowded in the car and I wound up pressed against Trenton. Much to my delight. His arms slid around my waist and he nuzzled my neck gently.

  “Did you enjoy the show, darlin’?” he whispered in my ear.

  I nodded. “Yes. Did you?”

  “Hmm,” he breathed. His soft exhale lifted my hair, tickling my skin. “But then they could have sang nursery rhymes for all I cared,” he continued. “I just wanted to be with you.”

  A warm rush of tenderness for this man flowed through me. I wanted to turn in his arms and kiss him. But I held back though no one seemed to be paying any attention to us. I waited until we were in his car before I spoke again.

  “I wanted to be with you too,” I said softly. I looked away from him out of the window. A young couple stood next to a car. They were kissing and embracing, just enjoying being in each other’s company. I watched for a moment, jealous of what they had. It was something I wanted for myself but had yet to find.

  “Alessandra?”

  I jumped startled to hear him call me. “What?”

  He gave me a crooked smile. “I said, would you like to grab a bite to eat or shall I take you home?”

  I turned my attention from the couple and back to the handsome man sitting next to me. He’d been so sweet, never pressuring me. Always attentive to my wants. We saw each other often, and talked or video chatted every night. And yet I was still envious of the two people who were now leaving. I wanted what they had. And I wanted it with him.

  And that realization scared me. The last time I trusted someone………..

  He won’t hurt you.

  That voice whispered on the back of my mind the same words that Tracy had said to me on many occasions. But I never listened much less believed her. I’d been burned once and that was enough for me. But now, sitting here with Trenton, I wanted more. I wanted what they had. I wanted him.

  “Take me home,” I said softly.

  He nodded and started the car.

  “With you.”

  Trenton paused, one hand on the gear shift. “What?”

  “Take me home,” I repeated quickly before I lost my nerve. He didn’t answer at first and I was beginning to think I’d made a mistake in saying that to him. “Never mind. Forget it.”

  “Alessandra,” he began. But I cut him off.

  “It’s okay if you don’t want to, Trenton.”

  He turned to look at me. “Oh I want to,” he said softly. “Are you sure? There’s no pressure.”

  I nodded. “I know,” I said quietly. I drew a breath, preparing myself for his reaction, whatever it might be. “I want you.”

  His eyelids fluttered closed. “Damn,” he breathed. “I’ve been waiting for you to say that.”

  Without another word, he pulled out of the parking lot and into the flow of traffic. He cursed under his breath several times as the cars seemed to creep along. The darkness hid the smile of pure feminine satisfaction on my face. He was as hungry for me as I was for him. Oh God! What was this traffic doing?

  It seemed like forever before we pulled into the parking lot of his apartment on the base, but was really just minutes. He came around and opened my door, offering me his hand. I followed him inside. As I watched him close the door, I had a brief moment of hesitation. I closed my eyes and sent a silent prayer up that I wasn’t making a mistake like Marco and my parents seemed to think.

  “Are you alright?”

  I opened my eyes, focusing on his handsome features. I nodded.

  Understanding passed across his face. “We don’t have to do this tonight if you don’t want to. We can hang out or I can take you home. Whatever you want.”

  I swallowed. The apartment suddenly seemed much smaller. “I want you,” I whispered.

  “I need you,” he murmured. But he didn’t make any moves to touch me. He was giving me an out if I wanted it. There would be no hard feelings between us if I asked him to take me home. He’d wait.

  And if I backed out now, I would the next time. And the next. I wanted to be with him. I was falling in love with him. He said he wait until I was ready but for how long? When would he decide that he’d waited long enough and laid down an ultimatum? Put out or get out. He’d done that too.

  You have to stop comparing them. They are not the same. That voice in my head had a point. And if I was going to move on, I had to take the first step. He would either accept my advances or reject them. Here goes nothing.

  I slowly moved towards him and put my hands against his chest. Trenton held still watching me, his blue eyes smoldering. I leaned up and kissed him softly. Though he didn’t move, I felt the tremor that went through him when our lips met. Encouraged, I deepened the kiss, sliding my tongue along his. This time, he groaned against my mouth. I pulled back, resting my forehead against his.

  “I-I need you too,” I whispered.

  He lifted my chin with his fingers, forcing me to meet his gaze. “So what do you want?”

  I swallowed hard. “I want-”

  “Yes?”

  “I want you to make love to me.”

  He groaned again before cupping my cheeks and kissing me hard. I wound my arms around his neck and kissed him back with all the stored up passion I’d been saving for the right person. For him.

  I squealed as he suddenly scooped me into his arms. It was a short walk from the living room to his bedroom, and he gently laid me on the bed. I sighed as I seemed to sink into the soft comforter and mattress. I ran my fingers over the black material, a smile curved my lips.

  “What?” he asked.

  I shook my head. “I was thinking how nice and soft your bed is.”

  He grinned. “Did you think I slept on a slab of concrete?”

  I shrugged.

  He knelt next to me on the bed. “Nope. I have, but the military tries to make us comfortable sometimes.” He reached over and brushed my hair away from my forehead. “Besides, I figured to make love to you on a bed of rose petals. But I’m ill prepared tonight so this is all I can offer.”

  I was touched by his sweet words. “This is perfect.” I opened my arms to him and he moved into my embrace.

  Our lips met in another fiery kiss. I wrapped my arms around him as he deepened the kiss. Heat flowed through me, pooling in the center of my body. I’d almost forgotten what it felt like to be so turned on by another person. I kissed Trenton back, wanting to taste him, savor him until-

  He shifted, nudging my legs apart until he lay on top of me. I could feel him aroused and pressing into me. Panic suddenly rose in my chest, warring with the passion that had been building for some time. My heart began to pound as his lips traveled down my neck. My hands clenched over his shoulders and I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to pull him closer or push him away. I tried to force myself to relax. He wasn’t hurting me. And I’d agreed to be here with him like this.

  But still my mind was flooded with images of that night. Instead of Trenton’s handsome face, I saw his sneering features. His voice rang in my ears as he tried to convince me that I wanted him to do this. I squeezed my eyes closed against the memories. I didn’t want to think about them right now. I wanted to make love with the sexy Colonel Boone.

  “You’re trembling, darlin’,” he commented. “Are you afraid of me?”

  I swallowed and looked away. “No. I’m good. Keep going.”

  But he drew back, moving to lie beside me. Gently, he pulled me into his arms. “It’s okay, darlin’,” he murmured. “I told you, we can take it slow. There’s no hurry.”

  I nodded against his shoulder, feeling like the biggest loser. “But I want to,” I whispered.

  “I know. So do I. But what I don’t want is to feel you trembling in fear. I’m not going to d
o anything that you don’t agree to.”

  “I know,” I whispered again, trying to keep the tears from falling. “I know you won’t hurt me.”

  “I won’t.”

  This time, a single tear slipped from my eye. “It won’t go away,” I murmured.

  Trenton tightened his arms around me. He’d felt my tears. I waited for him to make light of this, tell me to get over it or something. But he didn’t do any of that. Instead he said quietly, “It will in time, darlin’. But it takes time. And when you’re ready, you’ll step out.”

  “And if I wait until I’m ready, I won’t ever be.”

  I felt him smile against my hair. “Italian logic?”

  I smiled in spite of myself. “I guess so.” I lifted my head. “Sorry to ruin tonight.”

  His hand cupped my cheek. “It’s not ruined, sweetheart. In fact-” He shifted to lie on his back and pulled me on top of him. “You lead. I’ll follow.”

  My heart swelled with tenderness for my blue-eyed colonel. His actions were those of a true Southern gentleman. And in that moment, I knew that I loved him. I was in love with him.

  But even as I leaned down to take his lips in another kiss, I knew that I couldn’t tell him. Not yet. It was too new, too scary. And I was afraid that if I said it out loud, it would vanish poof right before my eyes. I wasn’t ready to lose him yet. Not when I still wasn’t sure of his feelings for me.

  Trenton wrapped his arms around me, pulling me closer to him. We touched from lips to feet and I pressed closer, trying to memorize every part of him. He sighed against my mouth, his hands sliding to my hips. Slowly, he began to move under me, rotating his hips into mine. It was my turn to gasp as sensation after sensation washed over me. When he moved up my back, his hands bunched the fabric of my shirt in their wake. The cool air touched my bare skin and I shivered. He paused.

  “It’s okay?” he murmured.

  I nodded. “Yes,” I whispered. “Don’t stop.”

  Encouraged, he pulled my shirt over my head and dropped it on the floor. I sat up, still straddling his hips. He watched me, his hands resting at my waist. His blue eyes smoldered with desire and he licked his lips. I stared down at him, surprised at the intensity of what I was feeling for him. I was burning up yet trembling. I reached behind my back and unfastened my black bra. The silky straps slid slowly down my arms, revealing my small breasts inch by inch to his gaze. He reached out and pulled the scrap of fabric from my arms, sending it to join my shirt on the floor.

  “You’re lovely,” he said softly.

  With his fingertips, he gently drew circles around my nipples. I gasped as they hardened instantly. Trenton met my gaze briefly before he continued to tease my skin. He was making me feel so good!

  Suddenly, he sat up and wrapped his arms around my back. I nearly screamed with pleasure when his warm mouth closed over my breast. He sucked strongly on the taut bud, sending fissures of heat through me from the point where his mouth was to the part of me that was now flush with his hardness. I felt dizzy and drunk with desire, and it scared me a little. I’d never felt this way with anyone else. I wanted to explore this before I lost the chance.

  Trenton’s mouth hovered over my skin. “You okay?” he whispered.

  I nodded, swallowing. “Yes.” I pushed at the back of his head and he obediently closed around my nipple again. My head fell back and I moaned out loud, cupping the back of his head to hold him close. His fingernails scratched at my bare back, up and down until I thought I’d die from the pleasure. I shifted my hips against him and he groaned softly.

  He scooted us to the edge of the bed and stood with me still in his arms. I wrapped my arms and legs around him, kissing him back with everything I had. He reached back and unclasped my ankles, letting me slide down his body. He broke contact between our lips long enough to tug his shirt over his head. I pulled back to look at him. Dear God, he was perfect! Broad shoulders led to a well-muscled chest. He wasn’t bulky but I could tell he’d spent time on his body. His belly was flat with a well-defined six pack. A slim waist tapered to lean hips. But that was as far as I could see as he still wore his jeans. My mouth went suddenly dry as I slowly looked him up and down. And I suddenly wanted to see all of him.

  “You can touch me too, you know,” he coaxed me softly. His lips curved into a small smile. But he wasn’t laughing at me. Only inviting me to touch him back. I wanted to.

  I settled my hands on his shoulders, slowly sliding down his arms. His skin, while soft, was a different texture from mine. The muscles jumped beneath my fingers and I grinned at him. “You’re beautiful,” I whispered. My fingers splayed over his chest and I flicked at one male nipple, pleased to see that he responded as I did to the touch. Feeling suddenly bold, I pressed my lips to his shoulder. He gasped but didn’t pull away from me. I kissed my way down his collarbone, enjoying the feel of his rougher skin against my sensitive lips. I hoped that I was doing the right things. So far he hadn’t pulled away so-

  Tentatively, I ran my tongue over his nipples the way he’d done to me. His body jerked and he moaned softly. I let my fingers trail down over his stomach. I giggled when his belly sank in as my fingernails raked over each muscle.

  “Ticklish Colonel?” I teased him.

  “A little,” he admitted. “But so you understand, I give as good as I get.”

  I shivered at the sensual meaning behind his teasing words. I wanted to learn everything he was willing to show me. I was tired of being afraid of a man’s touch. Tired of longing for something and not being able to have it.

  My hands lingered at his belt buckle. Trenton waited for me to continue, but I held back. I wasn’t sure if he wanted me to go further or not. Unbidden came the memory of Mama’s ‘talk’ when I was about 15. A good girl won’t be too anxious. She’ll follow his lead and not try to take over. Don’t do anything to bold. You don’t want him to think you’re an impute girl. He won’t want you for a wife that way.

  But I had no intentions of marrying Trenton. I hadn’t even thought past this moment. But Mama always seemed to know what was up. So instead of taking the opportunity to explore his body, I slid my hands back up to his shoulders.

  Trenton frowned. “Why did you stop?”

  I swallowed again, embarrassed, knowing that he was moments away from finding out another secret about me. “I didn’t think- I didn’t know if it was-”

  He grinned. “It’s ok,” he assured me. “I want you to touch me. If we’re going to be together, there doesn’t need to be any shyness or secrets between us. Capisce?”

  I couldn’t help but smile at the use of one of the few Italian words that most people knew. I nodded. “Yeah. I got it.”

  “So?”

  “So?”

  Trenton caught my hand and placed it over the bulge in the front of his jeans. “Touch me, love,” he coaxed me. “I want to touch you as well. Will you let me? I won’t do anything you don’t like. I swear it.”

  It was what I wanted. To touch and be touched without fear of being hurt or rejected. And so right then, I’d take what he was offering.

  “Yes,” I whispered.

  His blue eyes bored into mine. “You trust me?”

  “Yes.”

  He pulled me close, kissing me hard. But it didn’t scare me. Instead, it fanned my desire for him. I wrapped my arms around him, savoring the feel of our bare chests pressed together. My breasts became super sensitized from the friction of our skin rubbing as we kissed over and over. I slowly let my hands slide down his body to cup him through his jeans. His moan brushed my lips and made me bolder. Without breaking contact between our lips, I unbuckled his belt and unfastened his jeans. Trenton watched me undress him, the breath hissing between his teeth. I kept my gaze on what I was doing lest he see the hesitation in my eyes. I wanted to see what he looked like. He felt huge but Tracy had once told me that she’d been fooled by padding. I was pretty sure that Trenton didn’t need any extra padding to make himself appear larger. He wa
sn’t vain that way.

  Grasping the waist of his jeans, I pushed them and his underwear down over his hips. He bent down, kicking his shoes and pants off before straightening. He faced me in all his naked glory and I could only stare at him.

  Though I was inexperienced in some ways, I’d seen naked men before. Mama didn’t know about the magazines that were hidden deep in my drawer. Tracy had thought they’d be a hilarious gag gift. But looking at Trenton in the flesh, I knew those models had nothing on him. His body was absolutely perfect. He was smooth as a newborn except for the patch of dark hair that traveled from just below his navel downward. I admired his legs. Any real runner would kill to have legs that looked like that. Long and sturdy with well-defined thighs and calves. I suddenly wanted to run my hands along his legs just to trace the muscle there.

  But the part of him that caught my attention rose high and proud against his lower abs, long and thick. Damn but the pictures I’d seen didn’t do him justice. Those men were average. And while I’d been turned on by the sight of their bodies, I’d never felt like this. I’d look at them and admire their physiques and then turn the page to see the next one. Now I wanted to not only look at the man in front of me, but I wanted to touch and taste every part of him.

  “You are magnificent,” I whispered, looking him up and down.

  Trenton’s cheeks turned a becoming shade of pink. He looked away for a second then met my gaze. “You’re going to make me embarrass myself if you keep looking at me like that.”

  “Then let me touch you,” I murmured, slowly reaching out to run my hand along his chest.

  “Whatever you want, love. But it’s a bit unfair that I’ve lost all my clothes and you’re still wearing yours.” He shook his head, clicking his tongue. “We must remedy this right now.”

  I watched as he unfastened my jeans making quick work of them. I stood for the first time in my life completely naked in front of a man. I always thought I’d be shy, but I wasn’t. I felt like I was on fire from the intensity of his gaze. I felt it as if he were touching me and I wanted more.