By Honor Bound Read online

  Angela smiled. “She loves dogs.”

  “I know. Jim said so lots of times.” Abe glanced at the present on Angela’s lap.

  She tore off the paper and opened the box.

  “Oh!” She lifted out the snow globe with a deer family standing in front of a log cabin with a pine tree nearby. “It’s beautiful. Thank you, Abe.”

  Again that faint smile flickered across his mouth as his gaze held hers with such intensity that her belly tightened. Thank goodness for the heavy sweater disguising her pebble-hard nipples. The beauty and depth of the man’s eyes turned her to liquid.

  “Are you going to open yours?” she prodded, anxious for his gaze to fix on something other than her.

  He unwrapped the gloves and tried them on. “These are great, ladies. Just what I needed.”

  “Polly, it’s time for you to get ready for bed.”

  “Can I sleep with my dog?”

  “Sure can,” Angela said. “Don’t forget to brush your teeth.”

  “Goodnight, Aunt Angela. See you tomorrow, Abe.”

  “Goodnight, darlin’.”

  Angela smiled. Though that particular darlin’ was meant for her niece, the sound of his deep, sexy drawl caressing the words made her tingle with desire.

  Sitting on her end of the couch, Angela folded her arms beneath her breasts and smiled.

  “What?” he asked.

  “You’re not what I was expecting, that’s all.”

  He tilted his head to one side and narrowed his eyes. “That a good thing?”

  “Feels that way.”

  “Me too,” he murmured and stood. “I should go, ma’am.”

  “Why?” Angela’s brow furrowed and she approached. Maybe he didn’t like her after all? Why was that thought so alarming? She couldn’t have any real feelings for him. For heaven’s sake, they’d only just met!

  “Because.” He drew a deep breath and released it slowly. Emotions gleamed behind the cool sapphire surface of his eyes. “I want to kiss you, Angela, and that would be a despicable thing right now.”

  Angela’s heart fluttered and her mouth went dry. Kiss her. That was exactly what she wanted and felt just as guilty about it as he looked.

  “I’m sorry,” he said, reaching for his cap and jacket hanging on the brass coat rack by the fireplace. “I don’t know why I said that.”

  “Maybe because it’s true.”

  “You must think I’m some kind of snake in the grass, coming here with Jim dead and—”

  “Jim was my brother, not my husband.” Angela placed a hand on his forearm. Beneath his sleeve, his arm felt so hard, so powerful. What was wrong with her? She’d met this man once and already she couldn’t imagine life without him. Was this fate or desperation for both of them? He’d just gotten home after a year in hell. He had no family, no one besides military shrinks to share his problems with. In a strange role reversal, Angela found herself concerned that she was taking advantage of him.

  “Please don’t go,” she said, vowing not to do anything either of them would regret. “It’s Christmas Eve.”

  “You heard what I just said.”

  “Yes.”

  “And you don’t care?”

  “I care. I just don’t…” She sighed, shaking her head. “I don’t want you to go.”

  For a long moment they stood, their gazes locked. Simultaneously they walked to the couch and sat, though not at opposite ends this time. One of his long, hard thighs pressed against her leg, distracting them though they talked of the coming storm and other trivial matters.

  Suddenly his hand cupped her face, his thumb gently stroking her smooth cheek as he stared deeply into her eyes. His warmth seemed to reach out and enfold her in powerful yet invisible arms that refused to let her go.

  Angela’s heart thumped against her ribs and she moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue. As Abe leaned a bit closer, his firm lips parted slightly.

  God, she thought. He really is going to kiss me.

  He gently drew her face closer to his. Angela’s eyes slid shut when his mouth touched hers. The sensation was unlike anything she’d ever experienced. Abe’s firm yet soft lips moved tenderly against hers. She’d never imagined sensing a man’s emotions through a kiss. Lust, yes, but nothing else. Not like what she felt from Abe. How could a man she just met pour so much affection into a kiss?

  Warmth from his body spread through her. She edged closer, slipping her arms around his neck. God, she’d never been in the arms of a man this big and strong. The back and shoulders beneath her palms felt like steel. Her breasts flattened against a chest of warm granite. Her nipples swelled, aching for his touch. He smelled so good, too, so clean and male.

  Abe kissed both corners of her mouth then buried his face in the hollow of her shoulder. As he licked her neck, a shudder rippled down her spine. Heat emanated from her belly, spreading lower and settling deep in her pussy.

  In the midst of her rising passion, she felt something hard and oh-so-arousing pressing against her stomach. In all her life, she’d never felt a man’s erect cock. The sudden urge to unzip him and touch all she’d been missing was almost overwhelming.

  He stood suddenly and ran a hand through his ultra-short hair. “I’m sorry about that.”

  “Are you?” Her pulse racing, she approached and touched his arm.

  “No. Actually I’m not.” He reached for his jacket and cap. “Thank you for a lovely Christmas Eve, Angela.”

  “Thank you for coming, Abe.”

  Angela’s belly fluttered. He’d only held her once, but she missed the sensation of his embrace and his soft, moist lips against hers. Somehow she knew the rest of the night would seem empty without him.

  God, she was falling in love just like a schoolgirl.

  “I’m glad you can join us tomorrow,” she continued, walking him to the door. “I have to warn you about my parents, though. They can be a little difficult.”

  “I can take it.”

  “I don’t know. Jim used to say boot camp was nothing after Ma and Daddy.”

  A smile turned up the corners of his mouth. “I believe I recall him saying something like that, but you’re lucky to have a family.”

  “Oh, I appreciate them, as long as they’re not complaining about how I’m not married yet.”

  “To be honest, I’ve wondered about that myself.” His gaze held hers and Angela’s pulse raced. “Just tell me to mind my own business, ma’am.”

  “Actually it’s because I haven’t found a man I could imagine spending the rest of my life with.”

  Until now. The image of her and Abe married with a bunch of kids appealed to her almost too much. Another image of him disappearing overseas and never coming back shoved her out of her reverie. He was a Marine. There was always the chance that, like Jim, he might lose his life while serving his country.

  “Goodnight, Angela.” His warm, callused hand curved around her nape as he kissed her again.

  If Polly wasn’t upstairs, she might just consider asking him to stay a bit longer. If her mother only knew the thoughts running through Angela’s mind at the moment, she’d probably faint.

  “Goodnight,” she said, watching him slip on his new gloves. “Drive safely.”

  Nodding, he held her gaze as he opened the door and stepped outside. Halfway across the driveway, he glanced over his shoulder at her.

  Angela waved again, cursing the tingling warmth that enveloped her body each time he so much as looked at her.

  Chapter Three

  “I hope my coming here isn’t any trouble, ma’am.” Abe broke the heavy silence. He, Angela, and her parents sat in the living room. Polly settled on the floor next to the stuffed dog Abe had given her and played with a deck of cards.

  “Of course not.” Mrs. Franco forced a smile. “Any friend of Jim’s is welcome here, even if he did choose to leave our grandchild with a young, single girl instead of a proper two-parent family.”

  “Ma!” Angela snapped.r />
  “It’s true. I can’t say any more, though.” Mrs. Franco nodded in Polly’s direction. “Big ears on little people. I wouldn’t want to confuse the child.”

  “Damn it, Patricia,” Mr. Franco growled from where he sat on an easy chair, staring at television with the sound turned down. “Can’t we get through a single holiday without an argument? And who knows, maybe Abe here will marry Angela and we won’t have to worry.”

  “Dad!’ Angela glared, then turned her gaze to Abe. “I’m sorry about this.”

  He shrugged, amusement gleaming in his eyes.

  “Are you married, Abe?” Patricia asked.

  “No, ma’am.”

  “Have you ever been married?”

  “That’s enough, Mother!” Angela stood. “Isn’t it about time to eat? I’ll help you get the table ready.”

  Patricia touched Abe’s arm as she stood. “She’s basically a good girl, but can be a bit pushy.”

  “And too damn stubborn for her own good,” Mr. Franco grumbled.

  “Grandpa, will you play cards with me?” Polly approached.

  “Sure.”

  “Abe, you want to play, too?” Polly gazed up at him.

  If Angela hadn’t been so embarrassed by her parents, she would have laughed at Abe’s expression of relief. At least if they were playing cards the stupid conversation would end.

  Dinner wasn’t much better. Though Mr. Franco was too busy eating to be much of a conversationalist, his wife talked enough for both of them. Angela had to admit Abe’s patience impressed her. By the time dessert was served, Angela had taken about all she could of her mother’s innuendos and her father’s sarcasm.

  “Looks pretty icy out there,” Angela glanced out the window over the kitchen sink as she washed the last of the dishes.

  “Thank goodness Polly is staying with us for the next few days,” Patricia said. “I hate to think of her in a car with all that ice out there. Maybe you should stay, too, Angela.”

  “No!” Angela exchanged glances with Abe. This time he couldn’t help smiling. “I’d much rather go home. I have planning to do for some students.”

  “Honey, you could do that here.”

  “No, Ma. I’m better off at home.”

  “You mean with him?” Mr. Franco jerked his head in Abe’s direction.

  Angela’s teeth ground. She was about to snap when Abe said, “You don’t have to worry, Sir. I have the utmost respect for your daughter.”

  “Uh-huh. I know what young Marines are like.”

  “I appreciate your concern, but I’m no longer a young Marine, Sir.”

  “I think we should go now.” Angela dried her hands and walked to the closet, grabbing her coat and Abe’s. “Before the rain starts and everything freezes even worse.”

  “But we haven’t had dessert yet!” Patricia said.

  “We’ll get it later.”

  Abe’s brow furrowed as Angela threw his coat over his shoulders and dragged him toward the front door.

  “Polly, you have fun and be good for Grandma and Grandpa,” Angela called.

  “Bye, Aunt Angela.” Polly rushed to the door and hugged her Aunt. She tilted her face up to Abe. “Bye, Abe.”

  “Bye, darlin’.” He ruffled her hair then turned to Mr. and Mrs. Franco. “Thank you for dinner. It was delicious, ma’am.”

  “You make sure Angela brings you by more often. You need to get fattened up a bit.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Again his eyes gleamed with repressed laughter.

  When they reached the car, he chuckled, the deep, amused sound warming Angela to her toes and soothing her frustration after visiting with her parents.

  “I told you!” she said. “Now do you understand why Jim didn’t want them to raise Polly? I’m surprised the two of us grew up without losing our minds completely.”

  “I think they mean well.”

  “They drive me crazy!”

  “Your Ma’s a good cook.”

  “Food. Is that all men care about?”

  “Not all.” He glanced at her. The look in his eye made her shiver with desire. It was exactly how he looked last night before he kissed her. She had the feeling that if he hadn’t been concentrating on maneuvering the car down the icy road, he would have done so again.

  It was dark with they reached her house. The freezing rain had stopped and moonlight bathed the front yard.

  “Thank you for inviting me for Christmas,” he said as he parked the car and turned to her.

  “Thank you for the ride.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  His eyes burned into hers. In spite of the frigid weather outside, she’d never felt warmer.

  “Would you like to come in, Abe?”

  “Would you like me to come in?”

  She swallowed, her gaze sweeping his handsome face as she recalled the softness of his lips and the hardness of his body. “Yes, very much.”

  Brushing a fingertip across her lips, he drew a deep breath. With a slight nod, he stepped out of the car. As Angela searched through her purse for the house key, he opened her door and held out his hand. She looked up, feeling almost like Cinderella stepping out of a pumpkin coach into the arms of her prince.

  She took his hand. Her high-heeled boots slipped on the ice, but he steadied her, one arm wrapped around her waist and holding her close to his tall, steely body.

  “I…I’m fine. Just clumsy.” She tilted her face up, feeling the warmth of his breath against her lips.

  His mouth covered hers, his lips soft and moist, his tongue gently caressing hers. Angela’s arms wrapped around his neck and she giggled as he literally swept her off her feet.

  “What are you doing? Put me down.”

  “I don’t want to let you go.”

  She swallowed hard, her heart racing. God, she didn’t want him to let her go! Never in her life had she experienced such a reaction to a man. It was as if their souls were intertwined. Though she couldn’t explain how, she felt she knew Abe, that somehow they belonged together.

  You’re being a fool, Angela. He’s trying to get you to bed. That’s all. In truth, she wanted to get him in bed as well. All through her teens and her adult life, she’d never slept with a man. She’d always told herself when the right man came along, she’d know it and there would be no hesitation. Now here he was and she knew without doubt it was right.

  When they reached the door, he placed her on her feet so she could open it.

  “It’s cold in here,” Angela said as she stepped inside. “Would you like coffee or tea?”

  “Whatever you’re having is fine.”

  Angela rubbed her hands together to warm them. “I think I’ll build a fire.”

  “I’ll do it.” He headed for the living room. “Might as well make myself useful.”

  Oh, he was going to be useful all right, Angela smiled.

  Her head spun as she stepped into the kitchen to prepare tea. Just when she thought her life would settle down, something completely unexpected had to happen. Her attraction to Abe was so powerful that she couldn’t help feeling the elation of new love, yet part of her feared the future. What if she did fall madly in love with him and, like Jim, he left her far too soon? Yet, that was the risk everyone took. Life had no guarantees. She knew that well enough.

  She jumped as arms encircled her from behind and Abe’s stubbled face and warm lips nuzzled her neck. He moved so quietly for such a large man.

  “Don’t think this is a common thing for me,” she said, trying to keep coherent thoughts as he kissed her neck and hugged her close to his powerful frame. Her eyes half-closed, she reached up and stroked his face. “I don’t usually act like this with men I just met.”

  “I know.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Just a feeling. Sometimes that’s all you have to go with.”

  She turned, gazing up at him. His sapphire eyes stared intently into hers. Her hands slid up his arms and across his impossibly broad shoulders.
What did he feel like under all those clothes? Was his chest smooth or hairy? Did he have scars? He must. What did his cock look like? Was it big and veined like the ones in dirty magazines her girlfriends had gotten hold of in high school? Was it ruddy or pale? What would it feel like? She couldn’t imagine.

  “I won’t lie, Angela,” he said in a hushed voice. “I want to take you to bed.”

  “I know.”

  “I should go.”

  Clasping the back of his neck, she tugged his face closer as she stood on tiptoe and whispered against his lips, “No you shouldn’t.”

  “The fire’s going.”

  Taking his hand, she walked to the living room and knelt on the rug in front of the fire. Abe unfastened the top buttons of his shirt and stretched out on his side. He tugged her alongside him and stroked wisps of hair from her face. He kissed her forehead and each eyelid.

  “Abe?” She slid her hands up his torso and began undoing the rest of the buttons on his shirt.

  “Yes, darlin’.”

  There it was. That endearment spoken in his deep, sultry drawl just for her.

  “What’s going to happen tomorrow?”

  His brow furrowed.

  “I mean, what’s going to happen to us tomorrow?”

  “You’re not getting rid of me fast, if that’s what you think.”

  She smiled. “No, that’s not what I thought.”

  “Yes, you did.” His eyes glistened with amusement. “Like your Daddy said, you think I’m some wild Marine with bad intentions.”

  “What if I’m the one with bad intentions?”

  He smiled slightly and kissed her, pushing her gently onto her back and stroking the column of her throat. Covering her mouth with his, he parted her lips with his tongue. Hers met it, so warm and tender, as they caressed one another with long, slow strokes. His deft fingers unbuttoned the front of her dress. The tops of her plump breasts were exposed above the neckline of the cream-colored slip she wore beneath. He kissed the soft, pink-tinged flesh while stroking the slight swell of her belly and the curve of her hip.

  Angela kicked off her shoes and slid her foot up his calf.

  “You’re a beautiful woman, Angela,” he said.

  “Thank you.” She caressed his smooth nape. “You’re not so bad yourself.”