Worth Fighting For Read online

  Kissing alongside her neck, her growled into her ear, “God damn, baby. You’re tight.”

  Abashed, Sage whispered, “It’s… it’s been awhile.”

  Conner felt a surge of possessive power. There was no way she was a virgin, but he liked the idea it had been awhile since another man had touched her.

  Circling the pad of his thumb around her clit, he slowly increased the rhythm and pressure as her breath became shallow. Reading the signs of her arousal. With each indrawn breath, he thrust his fingers in a little further, opening her up… preparing her.

  “Oh god. Oh god,” she breathed before latching painfully onto his shoulder with her small teeth. Conner didn’t mind. She could brand him all she wanted.

  Sage lurched forward so powerfully as she came, he had to tighten his grip so he wouldn’t drop her. Her whole body trembled with the aftershocks of her orgasm. Conner held her close as he walked them to the bedroom.

  Sage felt the cool softness of rumpled sheets against her heated back. Still she kept her eyes closed. Overwhelmed. She could feel the bed dip as Conner pressed down on his left forearm over her head. His right hand moved to the fastening of his uniform trousers. In the silence of the room, all that could be heard was their harsh breathing and the sound of his zipper lowering.

  Remembering back to her first glimpse of his cock against the fabric of his Calvin Klein’s, Sage momentarily panicked.

  “Wait!”

  “Baby, I can’t wait.”

  She could feel the head of his cock press against her small entrance.

  “What about protection?”

  Conner was tested regularly as part of being in the service. Despite that, he always wore a condom when with a woman, any woman. Always. There was just something about Sage that made him rebel. He needed to feel her. Needed nothing between them.

  “I’m clean. You?”

  Sage nodded her head yes. “I’m on the pill too, but maybe you should still…”

  Conner shook his head no. “I need to feel you. All of you. Spitfire, I can’t explain it.”

  Conner gripped her jaw and looked deeply into her eyes as he slowly pushed his cock past her resisting entrance.

  “Oh god. It hurts,” she cried out as her pussy contracted around his girth. Her muscles burned and trembled as they stretched to accommodate his wide shaft. “Conner, I think you’re… you’re too… too…”

  “Shhh… just hold on.”

  Conner’s back muscles ached with the strain and sweat broke out across his brow as he reined in the urge to ram deep inside her clenching, wet warmth. Using every ounce of discipline he possessed, he slowly pushed inside of her. Giving her body time to adjust with every inch. After what felt like an eternity, he had finally sheathed all nine inches inside her welcoming heat.

  Conner stroked Sage’s hair. “Baby.”

  “Mmm.”

  “Baby, I need you to open your eyes.”

  Slowly, Sage opened her eyes and stared up at him.

  “Good girl. Does it still hurt?”

  The pain had receded to a throbbing warmth. Sage felt a building energy. A clawing need. The desire to be controlled and overpowered by this man. The very thing she had been fighting this whole time came roaring to life. Conner could read the shift in her expressive eyes. Desire storming to life.

  Trapping her hands in his own, Conner stretched her arms above her head, forcing Sage down with his weight.

  “It might hurt again, but this time I won’t stop. You understand.”

  Unable to speak, Sage nodded her head.

  Conner pulled his hips back. Groaning when her tight passage gripped his cock as he pulled free before thrusting back inside. Sage’s body jolted at the impact. She gave a soft moan. Charging ahead, Conner plunged his cock in deeper with each thrust. Her slick passage opening a little further with each forced movement.

  Her body was no longer her own. Conner had taken over. The pain. The pleasure. The fulfillment. She felt cherished and used at the same time. She braced herself as he quickened his pace. The friction of his cock sending shock waves through her systems. She could feel another orgasm building. It came over her in a rush. Wave after wave.

  Savagely smashing into her hips, Conner came with a roar. His whole body tensed above her own as he spilled his seed deep within her. Branding her. No man had ever cum inside of her before thought Sage. The thought making the act even more carnal. After several tense moments, Conner placed a fierce open mouthed kiss against her lips.

  Quietly leaving the bedroom, he returned with a warm washcloth. After they had both cleaned up, he nestled them under the covers. Wrapping her in his strong arms, Conner settled down to sleep. Neither had uttered a syllable. As if both sensed the experience was beyond words.

  Sage felt rattled. Shaken. This man was so powerful, so strong. She could feel herself weakening. Falling for the false idea that his arms offered protection and safety. This was wrong. A modern woman like her wasn’t supposed to yearn for such a thing.

  Thinking him asleep, she hesitantly tried to creep out of bed, when she felt his arm tighten about her waist.

  “No,” he mumbled, half asleep.

  “It’s okay,” she said with false bravado. “I’ll just grab a cab. I have an early meeting tomorrow.”

  “I said, no.”

  “I can’t stay, Conner.”

  “And I won’t let you leave, Sage. Guess which one of us will win this battle?”

  With a sigh, Sage settled back against his warmth and fell asleep.

  Across town.

  Melissa nervously fluffed her hair before answering the door.

  “Hey, gorgeous,” greeted a rough, masculine voice.

  Ricardo crossed the threshold, closing and locking the door behind him.

  Chapter 3

  Sage awoke to the smell of bacon and eggs. About to get out of bed, she realized she was naked without anything to wear. That’s when she saw a t-shirt thoughtfully laid out at the end of the bed. She smiled. Pulling the t-shirt over her head, her small curves were swallowed up by large amounts of fabric. It reached just past her knees.

  She looked down to read what was on it. All Men are created Equal. Then a Few Became Marines. If last night was any indication, the shirt spoke the truth, she thought with a satisfied smile. She also threw on the equally massive white athletic socks Conner left that were more like leg warmers on her slim calves. Taking a deep breath, realizing she couldn’t hide in his bedroom forever, although an escape through the balcony door was looking pretty good. Sage headed out in search of the kitchen.

  “Morning, Spitfire!”

  Conner was standing over the stove, a pan filled with what looked like a dozen scrambled eggs. Next to him was a plate piled high with bacon. Next to that was another plate with what looked like an entire loaf of bread made into toast. Basically enough food to feed an army… or a corps she guessed.

  Looking down as she ruffled her hair, Sage shyly answered, “Good morning.”

  “Coffee?”

  “Um, tea if you have it,” said Sage as she stood awkwardly in the middle of the tiny kitchen twisting the end of the t-shirt.

  “Doubt it. Buddy’s not the tea drinking type but let me check,” responded Conner as he turned to rifle through the various cabinets. “Sorry. No tea. I can go get some.”

  “You know what? That’s okay. I really should be going anyway,” said Sage as she turned and tried to escape out of the kitchen. She didn’t make it two steps.

  Conner grabbed her from behind, hugging her close. “Not so fast. You’re not getting away that easily.”

  The moment she walked into the kitchen looking hesitant and vulnerable, still rumpled and warm from his bed, wearing his t-shirt, Conner felt a possessive surge. His only thought was MINE. The more she resisted their attraction, the more he fought to hold onto her. It wasn’t realistic. The last thing he wanted or needed was a serious relationship, but the idea of letting this woman go, of even letting
her out of his sight, seemed untenable to him.

  “Are you hungry?” he asked as he nuzzled her neck.

  Sage tilted her head back, loving the feel of his lips on the tender spot below her ear. Once again he was half naked. She seemed to see him more out of his clothes than in. He was wearing a pair of gray sweatpants that hung low on his hips. The warmth of his skin soothed her.

  “Sage… baby?”

  “Hmmm,” she murmured, more feeling his words against her skin than hearing him.

  “Are you hungry?” he repeated.

  “Not really.”

  “Good,” he said lifting her by the waist and carrying her over to the kitchen table, “because I am.”

  “Conner, what are you… no… I…”

  Her naked ass hit the hard wooden surface as Conner grabbed her knees and pushed them up and out, exposing her already wet pussy. Locking in on her with his clear, blue eyes, he slowly lowered his head to the top of her thighs. Opening her lower lips with his fingers, he flicked her clit with the tip of his tongue.

  “Conner, we shouldn’t… I… oh god…”

  He pressed his tongue flat against her clit and moved it from side to side. The combination of pressure and rhythm sending shocks up her spine. Shifting his shoulders to push her legs open even wider, Conner moved his right hand to cup her. With gentle circles, he stroked the tight entrance to her passage with the pad of his thumb, feeling her body relax. Swiping his tongue over her clit in quick succession, he plunged two long fingers straight to the hilt deep inside her.

  Sage’s hips vaulted off the table’s surface with the contact. Conner followed her up. Keeping the frenetic pace. His tongue against her clit, his fingers thrusting deep. It didn’t take long for Sage to see stars. Her orgasm was swift and fierce, leaving her feeling drained and perhaps more than a little defenseless. It was alarming how well he knew her body. How quickly he could read her.

  Conner licked his fingers. “Just what I was in the mood for,” he said with a wink before helping her off the table. Sage almost stumbled on her unsteady legs. Excusing herself, she practically ran to the bathroom, needing a moment of solitude to recover.

  After splashing some cold water on her face, Sage stared at her reflection. What was wrong with her? Most women would be rejoicing at finding a man so great in bed! That was the problem. Sage feared she liked him too much. Men like him didn’t stick around. She would be left broken-hearted. She needed to get out of here!

  Opening the door, she listened for sounds in the kitchen before sneaking into the living room. Finding her purse on the floor, she grabbed it and made her way back into the bedroom before dialing the number for a taxi.

  “Yes, hello. Can you please send a taxi to…”

  The phone was pulled from her hand before she could finish.

  “Cancel that cab.”

  She knew it was childish, but she refused to turn around and face what she knew was a very angry male standing behind her.

  “I didn’t want to bother you for a lift home.”

  “Oh, you bother me in allot of ways, Sage,” he said suggestively. “Driving you home isn’t one of them. I’ll get my keys.”

  With that, he left the room, but not before she heard him muttering something about god saving him from independent women.

  Talk about your walk of shames! Sage sitting in his car wearing his t-shirt and her high heels from the night before. The remnants of her torn dress stuffed into her purse. She looked ridiculous! As soon as he rolled up to her building, she could not get out of the car fast enough.

  “Thanks. I’ll call you,” she tossed over her shoulder.

  Sage was surprised when he also got out of the truck. “You don’t have to walk me to the door.”

  “Yes, I do,” he said in a tone that brokered no argument as he steadily followed her.

  Not wanting to attract any more attention than she probably already was in her outfit, Sage refused to argue. Digging into her purse for her keys, she scurried up the walkway. Again she tried to shake him at her apartment door.

  He propped it open with his hand, refusing to allow her to close it. “What are you doing today?”

  “I have work,” she lied.

  “On Sunday?”

  Sage blushed.

  “I owe you a meal and a dress.”

  Sage blushed even deeper at the reminder of the fate of her dress from last night.

  “I promise I won’t bite,” he coaxed. “In fact, if memory serves, I’m not the biter.”

  “All right!” Sage agreed against her better judgment, unable to keep up her only half-hearted resistance. “Get in here,” she laughed.

  After taking pleasure in making him cool his heels for a full hour while she showered and changed, they headed out.

  “Where do you want to go?” he asked.

  “Have you ever been to Paolo’s in Georgetown? They have the best frozen peach Bellini’s.”

  “You know, just last week, I was saying to my crew in Afghanistan. I can’t wait to get back to the States and grab me a great peach Bellini,” he joked.

  “Shut the hell up and drive.”

  After ordering their drinks and entrees, Conner a beer, her a peach Bellini, they settled into an awkward silence. The question Sage most wanted to ask was the one thing she would die before asking.

  Conner read her beautiful, expressive brown eyes like a book. They were sitting out on the veranda so the sunlight played nicely over her features. They brought out the faded pink highlights in her hair and the gold flecks in her eyes. Knowing he was sitting across from a “nice girl” who probably didn’t make a habit of having one night stands with strangers, he knew exactly what she wanted to know.

  Leaning back in his chair, he said, “My full name is Benjamin Conner. I’m a Major in the Marine Corps.”

  “You’re first name isn’t Conner?” choked Sage. She didn’t know what was worse. That she didn’t know the last name of the man before she slept with him. That he guessed she desperately wanted to know his name so she didn’t feel trashy for doing so, or that the name she thought she knew was wrong!

  “It might as well be. No one calls me Benjamin.”

  “How about Benji?” she teased, trying to recover from the shock.

  “Do it and you will earn a spanking,” he teased right back, a sizzle in his eye. “In fact, please call me Benji,” he offered after the image of turning that cute little bottom of hers over his knee crossed his mind. Sage bit her lip as the same wanton image crossed her mind as well.

  Change of subject!

  “What do you do in the Marines?”

  “I’m a SuperCobra pilot.”

  “Is that like a snake charmer?” she asked playfully.

  “No,” he laughed. “I fly close air support attack helicopters. Although, after my leave is up, I’ll be heading for some new training on the Viper and Venom.”

  “More snakes? Wait. Viper and Venom… aren’t they villains from the G.I. Joe cartoon?”

  “Wrong branch. That’s the Army. The Viper and Venom are upgraded attack helicopters. We’re retiring the SuperCobra.”

  “Have you been in the Marines long?”

  “Ten years,” he offered dismissively. “Enough about me. Your turn.”

  Strange, she usually hated when the men she was with talked only about themselves, but she found herself disappointed when Conner wanted to turn the conversation to her. She liked how his dark blue eyes brightened with pride as he talked about being a Marine. With his strong jaw and angular features, he usually looked imposing and almost fearsome… still handsome, definitely, devastating, distractingly handsome… but still a bit fearsome, except that wasn’t the case now. Now he had a relaxed, teasing glint in his eye. His lips were turned up with just the hint of a smile. Dressed simply in a white t-shirt and khakis, she could see every shift and movement of his chest muscles.

  “I’m afraid I don’t have any G.I. Joe super villains or snakes in my story,” she jok
ed, stalling for time.

  Here was a man genuinely interested in learning more about her, and yet Sage felt this irrational fear. Telling Conner about herself would make it all more… real, not to mention the distraction that was simply him!

  “Sage,” he said in that dark warning tone she found hard to disobey.

  “MacGovern,” she blurted out. “My name is Sage MacGovern.”

  “And what do you do for a living, Sage MacGovern?” he prodded.

  “I work for a foundation which approves grants for art and music programs in schools.”

  “That’s really cool!” said Conner, impressed.

  “Thanks. I like to think so. It is nice thinking your work helps make a small difference in the world.”

  “That’s how I feel about my life in the Marines.”

  Their conversation ceased as their entrees arrived.

  After insisting on taking her to the Georgetown mall to purchase a dress, which was cute but way more modest than the one he tore to shreds, but she wasn’t going to bring that up, Sage figured they would part ways. Conner had other ideas.

  “I haven’t been to the war memorials yet this trip. I would like it if you joined me.”

  This was one request Sage didn’t even think about refusing. When someone from the military asks you to go help them honor their kind’s sacrifice, you put aside any misgivings you may have about them personally, and you go.

  They parked near the Lincoln memorial and walked the rest of the way.

  “Which one is your favorite?” she asked.

  “I’d have to say this one, the Korean War Memorial. The names of victims etched into stone like the Vietnam Memorial show the reality and sacrifice of war, but those figures just blindly marching on, showing the tedium, the exhaustion, that is a reality of war, too.”