She didn’t own sexy lingerie but she did have one little number that Liza had bought her for Christmas. Since Liza had a steady guy she’d been dating for over a year, she never failed to mention Molly’s pathetic love life and had bought her this gift in hopes of spicing it up. Molly had had no need for the provocative outfit. Until now.
As for the family, the commander took Ambien and slept straight through the night. Jessie never left her room and besides, she’d shut her lights almost as soon as she’d come home from the party. As for her father, well Molly didn’t know if he was asleep or not, but she did know he was in his room and she doubted he’d disturb Hunter in the middle of the night.
Molly was counting on it.
CHAPTER NINE
HUNTER PLACED his hands behind his head and leaned back against the propped pillows, staring at the bird who sat quietly in his cage. Edna had instructed him to cover it each night, and it was almost time for him to tuck the bird into bed. Unable to sleep or work, he’d figured avian company was better than no company. He’d hoped the bird would distract him but so far the macaw had remained uselessly quiet. And Hunter couldn’t stop thinking about Molly. His hand nearly inside her, her heat and dampness on his fingertips. He was rock hard just remembering it.
A soft knock startled him. He wasn’t wearing anything but his briefs, and had no time to dive under the sheet on the pullout bed before the object of his fantasies slipped through the door. She shut it behind her and if he wasn’t mistaken, he heard the click of the lock being pushed into the doorknob.
“Hi,” she said.
“Hi,” the bird said.
Hunter rolled his eyes. “Now he speaks.”
Molly smiled. With a gleam in her eye, she walked to the cage and draped the white covering over the bird. “Night, Ollie.”
Then she stepped toward his bed, wearing a long silk robe that covered way too much skin.
“So what are you doing here? Get lost on the way to the kitchen?” he half joked, needing to know her intentions.
She pursed her glossed lips and shook her head. “I’m hungry, but not for food.”
Her meaning couldn’t be clearer and his heart raced rapidly in his chest. “I could definitely go for some dessert,” he said, his voice rough with desire.
He couldn’t hide his erection and at the moment he didn’t want to. One step at a time, he told himself. He already knew Molly could rip his heart out and understood the importance of protecting his emotions, but right now nothing mattered but burying himself in her willing body and sating the pulse-pounding need he held on to by a thread.
Bracing his hand on the mattress, he shifted his weight to one side so she could join him. The pullout dipped beneath their joint weight. But, he noticed, the springs didn’t squeak, which gave him hope they wouldn’t get caught by anyone in her family.
She bent one knee and the bottom of her robe parted, giving him a glimpse of bare skin. Never before had he found a woman’s knee so damn sexy and he placed his palm there. “That robe is much too long and covers way too much,” he told her.
“And if anyone saw me coming down the stairs, they’d think I was getting a cup of tea.”
Molly inclined her head. The ends of her blond hair brushed her shoulders. She looked sexy and tousled, but he wanted her bare beneath him.
She reached down and opened the sash and let the robe part, revealing the sexiest outfit he’d ever seen in yellow lace that complemented her fair skin. The material covered her br**sts but pulled up around her shoulders like a halter, revealing a mouthwatering amount of cle**age and he could only tear his gaze away to take in the short, ruffled edge of her nightgown. His imagination grew ripe with images of what lay beneath the barely there lace. And as his eyes traveled lower, he was shocked to see clear stiletto sandals on her feet.
His body stiffened at the sight. “And how would you have explained those to inquiring family members?”
“I was hoping the long robe would cover them,” she explained with a wicked grin. She deliberately stretched her legs and showed him her toenails painted a hot pink.
Hunter ran a hand up one bare leg, from the strap around her ankle to the top of her thigh. Her skin was silky smooth and the lightest fragrance teased his nostrils. One he couldn’t name, but from now on he’d always associate it with Molly and this moment. “I had no idea you were so daring.”
She raised an eyebrow. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”
A definite I dare you to find out more if he’d ever heard one. He hooked one leg around hers, intending to move up and on top of her, but she stopped him by pinning his shoulders to the mattress.
“I owe you from this afternoon,” she said and shrugged off her robe, giving him a full view of her sexy body encased in the lace.
A tremor rippled through him and his hand stiffened on her leg. He refused to glance down at his erection, knowing he was rock hard and ready for whatever she had to give.
“Only an idiot would say no.” Hunter barely recognized his own voice.
Before he could blink or steel himself, Molly hooked her fingers into the waistband of his briefs. She slid them over his groin and down his legs. Then she cupped her hand around his shaft and he let out a guttural groan. He gave up trying to watch, ceded control and leaned back against the pillows so he could just enjoy.
Eyes shut, he felt her fingers curl around him, teasing him with just the right movement and he grew and swelled inside her palm. Without warning, her warm, wet mouth replaced her hand. His body bucked and his hips nearly lifted off the bed.
She pulled him deep inside her mouth while her hand slid lower to the base of his erection. The dual movement of her tongue and mouth sucking him deep and the gliding motion of her hand up and down his straining shaft sent his body into sensation overload. He gripped the sheets and groaned, feeling the wave wash over him, bringing him higher and higher still.
He knew he wouldn’t last much longer, when he was suddenly deprived of the warm wet heat, and he forced his eyelids open. Molly now held a foil packet in her hand.
“I’d be happy to continue what I was doing or we can finish this another way.” She held up the condom. “Your choice.”
What a woman, he thought, deliberately not saying the words aloud. “Condom. Definitely,” he bit out, knowing there was no way he’d regret this choice.
Her eyes blazed with heat at his reply, and between them, they managed to take care of protection. Then Molly continued to take control, straddling his thighs. “Did I mention that I’m not wearing any underwear?” she asked in a teasing voice.