Fiery by Nikki Duncan Page B

be, as soon as we’re inside.”
    Ryan unlocked the door and pushed it open. Wasting no time, he swept her into his arms and carried her inside. He kicked the door closed and carried her to the bedroom. “I’m not tucking you in and leaving tonight. Or ever again.”
    “Proof that God is real.” Carmen took the cover off his head—he’d corrected her earlier on the terminology when she called it a hat—and set it upside down on the table as they passed. She wanted her hands in his hair and on his body and everything she’d learned about him said he wouldn’t be dropping his uniform like he might a T-shirt and jeans.
    In the bedroom, instead of laying her down on the bed, he stood her on it. Lowering to her knees, she unhooked his collar and eased the gold button below it free. He instantly rolled his neck and blew out a long breath.
    “So it’s as uncomfortable as it looks?”
    “It’s not so bad when the collar is loose.”
    “Which it never is when you’re wearing it, is it?” she asked as she undid the next button.
    He shook his head. He stepped out of his shoes, removed his belt and rolled it up as Carmen worked the rest of his buttons free. Pushing the heavy material off his shoulders, she’d expected to see skin, but instead found a black shirt of the material her workout clothes were made of. As tight as a second skin, it failed at pulling the sweat away from him.
    She shook her head as she hopped off the bed and went to hang his jacket on the back of her vanity chair. When she turned back, he was stepping out of his pants and folding them at the creases. If he took such great care with his uniform, she could only imagine how attentive he’d be as a lover.
    Carmen took the pants, leaving him in socks, boxers and his tight shirt, and laid them over the seat. She hopped back up onto the bed and reached for the bottom hem of his shirt. It took some effort and help from him to get the thing off, but the reward was a gloriously toned torso.
    Wide shoulders moved down to the broad biceps she’d only seen hints of since the beach party. His pecs were hard and defined and blended beautifully into his flat, ripped stomach. He’d appeared lean in his clothes, and he was, but the power beneath those barriers… Her skin tingled.
    “Damn, you’re sexy.”
    He grinned as he tugged the ribbon from her hair. “So are you.”
    “You haven’t seen me without my clothes.”
    “I saw you in your swimsuit.” He slipped a finger along the strap of her dress top. “My imagination is healthy enough to fill in the blanks of what lies beneath this dress.”
    “Fortunately imagination isn’t going to be needed much longer.”
    “Carmen.” He kissed her, lingering long enough that her panties grew damp and she leaned into him. “Imagination is always needed in the bedroom.”
    He traced the edge of her dress collar, dipped his finger beneath the plunge that showed the top of her cleavage. “What made you choose this dress today? Why white?”
    “It seemed fitting for July Fourth.” As if mentioning the holiday was enough, fireworks erupted outside in pops and booms. Flashes of red, green, blue and yellow shone through the arch window top that was uncovered by blinds.
    “It was perfect. Is.” He slipped the three buttons securing the top and revealed the strapless bra she wore. “I think it’s time you take it off, though.”
    “Okay.” She unbuckled the belt and dropped it to the floor. After opening the single fastener at her waist, the dress would fall to the floor as soon as the straps were lowered from her shoulders.
    Ryan stared into her eyes as the tip of his finger swept along the edge of her bra. “How did I stay away from you?”
    “I don’t know.” She took it upon herself to reach up and nudge the thin straps off her shoulders. The dress fell in a pile of satin and built-in petticoats to the mattress. She’d told him during one of their shared meals, probably as a result of pain