Armed & Dangerous (Book 2 Soldiers Series)

7

Desman sat on the foot of the bed watching Morgan flee his stateroom. How had things gone so wrong so fast? One minute it had been hot and heavy then the next she was running from him. The rejection stung his wounded pride. No woman had rejected him like that or ever… for any reason. It should have been discouraging, but in truth it only made him want her more. He still had four days before the end of the cruise. He wasn’t just going to let things lay.

Desman got up and left his cabin. Standing outside Morgan’s room, he knocked on her door. He knew she was inside. He waited, but she didn’t answer, so he knocked again. Still, she didn’t answer. Desman knocked once more. “Morgan, answer the door. Talk to me.” He called through the door. He waited but got no reply. He had a feeling he could knock all night, but she wasn’t going to answer. Perhaps she would be more receptive in the morning.

***

“She just ran out on you?” Cedric laughed. They were seated by the window in the restaurant on the fourth deck. They had all slept in but had made plans to have lunch together. Desman and Cedric had been halfway through their meal when Lamont dragged his sorry butt to the table looking exhausted. Something told Desman that Lamont wasn’t getting a lot of sleep on this trip.

“Who ran out on what?” Lamont asked through a wide-mouthed yawn settling into the seat next to Desman.

“Morgan ran out on their date last night leaving Desman unsatisfied.” Cedric snickered.

Lamont laughed. “Proving difficult, is she?”

“It’s not funny. I’ve never had to work this hard.”

“There are still three nights left and like three hundred single women on this ship. Cut your losses and chase some easy tail.” Lamont suggested. “Have some damn fun before the trip is over. Because when it’s over it’s back to the grind. You got to face the reality of life. Can’t run from what you are forever.”

He knew Lamont was right. He was a Soldier, and when this ship docked in Florida, he would have to face that reality once more. Back to the lies and sin that was his life. It wasn’t that he wasn’t proud to be a Soldier because he was; he just wished from time to time that it didn’t define who he was. He wished that his life wasn’t complicated and stressful.

“I’m not giving up that easily.” He said relaxing back in his seat. “I got to find a way to get her to talk to me.”

“Well, I know for a fact that the ladies are chilling on the first deck. Sunbathing at the pool.” Lamont informed him. “If you’re determined to act like a fool we could head up and stalk them.” He teased.

It wasn’t a bad idea. Cedric had made a good point their first day at sea. There was nowhere for the woman to run. She was trapped on this ship which meant she had to put up with him for at least three more nights.

“Let’s go up to the pool.” He suggested.

“You sure you want her to see you topless?” Cedric asked leadingly.

“Why not?” He was in good shape he wasn’t ashamed of his body. Cedric tapped his hand over his heart silently reminding Desman of his scarlet letter. At the age of fourteen Desman’s father had him officially inducted into the Soldiers. He was tattooed with the Soldier’s brand — a midsized circular tattoo with a capital S in the center. They all wore one, not always in the same place, but Desman wore his on his chest just over his heart.

Cedric had a point. Morgan was a smart woman; something told him she’d know what that crest meant. He didn’t think she’d readily accept what he was. So somehow, he had to get her into bed without taking off his shirt. “Maybe she won’t notice?” Lamont suggested.

No, she’d notice. He was sure of it. “Did Pat notice your’s?” He asked curiously wondering if there was a chance her friend might rat him out.

“No, I don’t think so.” He paused thoughtfully. “Well, at least I don’t think she knows what it means. To her, it was just another tat.”

He could hope the same would be said for Morgan. He had a lot of tattoos it could just blend in and go unnoticed. He could hope. However, there was a good chance that Morgan was more observant than her friend. There was no way he could let Morgan see his crest. He’d have to wear an undershirt at the pool. It would hide his Soldier’s tattoo and not look odd.

Desman looked at Lamont. He could hide his, but that left him with the problem of his friends. Lamont wore his crest proudly on his bicep and Cedric’s was on his shoulder. Both would be noticeable at the pool, and she may deduce that if they were Soldiers than so was he. He couldn’t let Morgan see them.

Cedric was right he couldn’t approach her at the pool. If he was honest, he couldn’t undress in front of her even if he could get her to talk to him. Was Morgan a lost cause? He thought and thought and couldn’t think of any way around it. Morgan was out of his league, he hated to admit it, but there was just no way around it, he couldn’t both hide what he was and still have her. Desman groaned inwardly and admitted defeat; something he didn’t often do.

“You’re right she’s hopeless.” He said acknowledging Cedric’s reasoning. “I got to put this girl out of my head.”

“I know just what to do.” Lamont grinned, happy that Desman was finally willing to have a little fun. “Let’s go clubbing. We will find you an easy target. Get you laid before we head home.”

They did just that. They went back to their rooms to dress for the night. Killed some time in the casino and then went to the Oasis. They worked the room setting their sights on a group of women in the corner of the club. They were drinking rather heavy and provided a foolproof target. The men introduced themselves and settled in at the table buying the ladies another round.

The night was going well; even Cedric looked like he was going to get some action. Desman was making progress with a blonde nurse from Iowa; it was looking promising. All was going well when out of nowhere a drink was thrown in Lamont’s face splattering on Desman’s arm. The whole table was shocked. Pat had materialized out of nowhere and was freaking out on Lamont like some crazy woman. She was ranting and yelling, and the whole club was watching as she smacked him calling him a dog and various other nasty names a lady should never utter.

Both Vivian and Morgan grabbed hold of Pat trying to pull her aside telling her Lamont wasn’t worth her outrage. Then Morgan shot Desman and the woman he was playing a death look that made him feel two feet tall. She didn’t say a word to him or the woman. She just herded her furious friend out of the club.

Lamont took a napkin and tried to clean himself up. “The girl is a nut case.” He laughed the attack off drawing a chuckle from the table and salvaging the progress he had been making. Clearly, Pat was offended he was done with her.

Desman tried to shake it off. He didn’t say much after seeing Morgan. Just smiled and nodded when spoken too. He drank heavily as the night went on and when he was ready to leave so was the woman he was with. They went back to her cabin where they made out. Heated kisses and some heavy petting led to more. In the end, he got what he wanted. Desman waited until the woman fell asleep then dressed and left in the middle of the night.

He was back in his cabin a few minutes later. Desman undressed and took a shower trying to wash the stench of shame off his body. He hadn’t even wanted her after seeing Morgan, but he slept with her anyway because he was expected to. Desman stared at himself in the mirror loathing his weakness, his need to be what others saw him as. Things were different with Morgan. She didn’t look at him the way others did. He could talk to her. She was easy to talk too. She was unique and charming in her way.

Desman turned off the light and crawled into bed. He had to accept that some things were unobtainable and Morgan was, at least where he was concerned, one of those things.

***

Morgan lay in bed staring at the ceiling. She felt miserable thinking of seeing Desman with that other woman. It was oddly hurtful. She couldn’t fault him she had told him there was no chance with her; that she wanted nothing to do with him. She just hadn’t expected to be replaced so quickly. She should have seen him for what he was. She hated herself for getting sucked into his charm. At least she had the good sense to get out before she became just another notch on his bedpost.

Morgan sighed and rolled onto her side. She resolved to put Desman out of her mind and behind her. In three days, she would never see him again. It was a big ship she could avoid him easily.