Fall Fast: Navy SEAL Erotic Romance Read online

  Contents

  Title Page

  About This Book

  Book List

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  About The Author

  FALL FAST

  a SEALS UNDONE novella

  by

  Zoe York

  Website | Facebook | Mailing List

  — FALL FAST —

  Navy SEAL Nathan Meyers and recent divorcee (as of an hour ago) Emme Ryan both want a night of escape from their real lives, for very different reasons. A chance meeting and a single drink at an airport bar turns into a night of unexpected fun and pleasure when a freak snow storm keeps them on the ground. But when morning comes, will they stick to the rules they set out at the start of the night?

  The first five chapters in this story were first published in the the LOL3 Anthology. It has been expanded significantly for single title release. Join Nathan and Emme for their long-awaited HEA!

  The SEALs Undone Series

  Fall Out - Drew and Annie

  Fall Hard - Jared and Cassie

  Fall Away - Trick and Gaby

  Fall Deep - Miles and Piper

  Fall Fast - Nathan and Emme

  Fall Back - Cade and Mel

  Fall Dark - Vince and Larken

  BOOKS BY

  — ZOE YORK —

  SEALS UNDONE

  Fall Out

  Fall Hard

  Fall Away

  Fall Deep

  Fall Fast

  Fall Back

  Fall Dark

  THE WARDHAM SERIES

  Between Then and Now

  What Once Was Perfect

  Where Their Hearts Collide

  When They Weren’t Looking

  Beyond Love and Hate

  Perfect No Matter What

  No Time Like Forever

  Beneath These Bright Stars

  PINE HARBOUR SERIES

  Love in a Small Town

  Love in a Snow Storm

  Love on a Spring Morning

  Visit my website and join my mailing list to be the first to hear about new books!

  — ONE —

  January

  Nathan Meyers stood in the Terminal 2 departures hall at O’Hare Airport and groaned. He shouldn’t be surprised that his flight from Chicago to San Diego was now delayed by more than two hours—a vicious winter storm was working its way toward the city. His sister had bugged him to check the flight status before he left her house, but as much as he loved Kelly and her brood—six kids, plus her husband and Polish mother-in-law—he’d been ready for some peace and quiet after three days of non-stop Uncle Nathan Fun Times.

  He found a map of the terminal. It looked liked all the beer was on the other side of security, so he had two options. Head back out into the snow, or go through security early and find a burger or something.

  Easy choice.

  Dodging around travellers with oversized suitcases and grumpy faces, he scanned his e-ticket from his phone at the nearest available self-serve kiosk, printed his boarding pass, and headed for security.

  Most of the time he flew around the world in military transport planes. But when he took detours like he had this weekend, hopping over to Chicago for some post-Christmas family time to make up for being in a South American jungle over the actual holidays, he had a simple travel routine down pat. One carry-on bag, boots unlaced in line, Navy ID visible at the top of his wallet.

  The pretty redhead in front of him had the same idea, but where he carried a canvas rucksack and wore Doc Martens, she had a small wheeled suitcase and zippered boots. She wore dressy clothes for a stormy night, a slim black suit over a green t-shirt, but her iPhone case had a big No Doubt sticker on the back and when she turned around to be wanded, her shirt rode up a bit and he caught a glimpse of a navel piercing with a dangly skull resting against the slight swell of her belly. His gaze stuck on the curved waist of her dress pants, and he imagined an entire dirty-girl fantasy in the two seconds it took her to be cleared.

  Damn.

  When she motored ahead, her scarf slipping off her jacket and landing on the floor between them, he knew exactly how he wanted to spend the next couple of hours.

  “Hey!” He snagged the cream silk from the floor and jogged after her. “Excuse me…”

  Even in her heeled boots, she was small compared to him. Small and speedy. He gently tapped her elbow when he caught up, getting her attention. When he snagged her gaze, it was wary. With a smile, he stepped back and held out the scarf. “I think you dropped this.”

  Her eyes flared wide and her lips pulled together in a surprised O. “Thank you.”

  Holding out her hand, she grasped one end of the silk, but he wasn’t ready to let it go, not when he’d just gotten her bright blue eyes pinned on his face. He liked them there, so he blurted out the first thing that came to mind. “My flight is delayed.”

  “Pardon?”

  “I think they’re all delayed right now.”

  “Yes.” She tugged on the scarf and he let it go. “Thanks again.”

  “So I was going to get a beer and a burger, and if your flight is delayed as well, I’d be happy to buy you dinner.”

  “Ah. No thank you.”

  “No strings attached, promise. I’m flying home to San Diego tonight, and we’re under the watchful eye of the TSA. Sure I can’t keep you company? I know some good knock-knock jokes.”

  — —

  Emme knew when she was being hit on in the casual, just-for-fun kind of way. In her early days as a flight attendant, she’d indulged in this game more than once. But today wasn’t the day for fun. She couldn’t help but smile back at the tallest, broadest, sexiest man she’d ever seen and wish she’d dropped her scarf in front of him any other day but today. And maybe that he lived a hair closer than San Diego, a city she rarely flew into.

  “Well, I do like a good kids’ joke, but I’m on standby for a flight that leaves in forty-five minutes, so I’ll have to pass.”

  With a twinkle in his eye, he pointed to the display above their heads. “Not likely.”

  In the few minutes it had taken her to get through security, all flights had been grounded. Damn it.

  She knew what this meant. Not only would she not be getting a standby flight tonight, anywhere, but she’d probably get called in to work early tomorrow. And since she hadn’t fled the city fast enough, and she could use the money, she’d take the shift.

  Fudgesicles. With a sigh, she turned back toward security. “That’s my cue to head home to bed, then.”

  “Alone?”

  Even though he’d obviously meant the question as a light flirtation, the question slid under her skin painfully. She glanced back at him over her shoulder, wanting to yell at someone for her forced period of solitary over the last year. “Yes. Alone. Not that it’s any of your business.”

  “That’s a shame.” This time he said it straight up, his dark brown eyes warm with apology, but also with something she hadn’t experienced in far too long—attraction aimed her way. An invitation. Like, if he wasn’t heading to San Diego, maybe he might actually like to spend a night in her bed.

  And since she knew he probably wouldn’t be flying tonight, wouldn’t that be worth exploring?

  But she couldn’t break her almost-two-year sex drought with someone as hot as he
was. She’d need a few practice rounds before taking on a guy like… “What’s your name?”

  He grinned, slow and sweet, like she’d just given him the moon. That was a nice touch, but a little too practiced. She held her hand up between them before he could answer.

  “No, don’t tell me. Never mind.” Spinning around again, not entirely sure how he’d knocked her off her course to home, she refocused on the sensible path.

  Apparently he wasn’t a fan of abrupt goodbyes. This time he didn’t use his words to turn her around, he just reached out and slid one of his big, strong hands around her forearm. Heat radiated through her light blazer, and as soon as he had her facing him again, he let go. Persistent, but not pushy. He walked that line with care.

  He narrowed his eyes in thought, then nodded. “Okay, no names. I like that, gives a bit of mystery to the next few hours. I’ll call you Red, and you can—”

  Emme laughed despite herself. “No. Never Red.”

  “Shorty.”

  Another giggle, and an unfamiliar warmth spread across her chest. This was weirdly fun. “Ew, no.”

  “Mystery Girl?”

  Yeah, that would work. “You can call me M for Mystery.”

  “M.” God, she liked the way he said her name, thinking it was just a letter. The trick jostled something inside her, spilling a drop of liquid desire in places she’d thought of as scorched earth. “And what should you call me?”

  Sir. She could feel her cheeks flush at the thought, and from the way his eyes danced at her, he maybe could guess where her mind had gone. That was okay. They were flirting.

  Holy crap, she wanted to do a little jig. She was flirting with a cute boy. The weight of the last week—the last year—fell away, and she cocked her head to the side. “How about we grab that dinner you mentioned and figure that out together?”

  — —

  The redhead seemed to know her way around the terminal. She quickly settled them in a booth at a bar and grill, then busied herself with the menu.

  Nathan let her hide for a minute before giving in to his base desire to see her eyes again. “So what else is off-limits? Can I ask where you were flying tonight?”

  She blinked up at him, weighing the question for a minute before setting the menu aside. “Texas.”

  He laughed. “Wow, top-secret information, eh?”

  “San Antonio.”

  “For absolutely no reason?”

  “Pretty much.” She leaned back against her side of the booth. “Your turn to be totally forthcoming about something.”

  “I’m going to San Diego.”

  “That’s not new information.”

  “Because I live there.”

  “Neither is that.” She stuck her tongue out at him, an unexpectedly playful response, and he decided to give her something.

  “I’m in the navy. Originally from Chicago, hence the visit here.”

  “Cool.” She picked up her menu again, coyly this time, and slowly slid it in front of her face. He let her get it up to her eyes before tugging at the top and shifting it to the side. “Hey, I was reading that!”

  “I’m pretty sure this isn’t your first or fifth time in this bar, and you know exactly what you want.” He slowed his words down, teasing her a bit, because until his plane took off, he’d be happy to give her whatever it was she wanted, any way she’d take it.

  “Okay.” She set the menu down and crossed her hands in the middle of the table, seemingly oblivious to his double entendre. Nathan was struck with the strongest urge to touch her hands—long, slim fingers topped with neatly trimmed nails. Feminine but strong. He wanted to lace their fingers together, but he held himself back because she was so skittish. She rewarded him with a laughing grin. “I’m a flight attendant. Happy?”

  “Very. If I play my cards right, maybe you’ll call me up the next time you’re in San Diego.”

  A cloud drifted over her face, and he regretted saying too much.

  “Hey, it’s okay. Are you… Is this a problem, us having dinner?”

  She closed her eyes and shook her head. “Nope, not at all. Other than it’s the first time I’ve done anything like this in a long time.”

  “That sounds like it has a heavy story behind it.”

  With a sigh, she blinked her eyes open, a determined look newly in place. “Not one that matters tonight. And…that’s all I can handle right now—just tonight, okay?”

  “Sure.” He tapped the menu. “What’s good?”

  Two club sandwiches and a shared order of fries later, he knew his mystery woman liked tomatoes but not pickles, was addicted to hate-watching reality shows, and she was the youngest of four—something they had in common. And she was still nameless.

  “Okay, M.” He crumpled his napkin and tossed it onto his empty plate. “Time to nick-name me.”

  As she appraised him from across the booth, she pulled her lower lip between her teeth, and he found himself staring. Such a cliché, and he didn’t care. She had a damn pretty mouth.

  “West Coast,” she started, and he frowned his disapproval, much to her obvious delight. “Big Guy. Gentle Giant. Little One.”

  “No. Only in the bedroom. No. And absolutely never.”

  “Is Sailor too obvious?” She blinked up at him as she asked, and her voice had dropped in a husky wave of words that gave him half a hard-on.

  He cleared his throat, totally unnerved by how perfect the name sounded on her lips. “No, that’ll do.”

  “So, Sailor.” From the pink of her cheeks, the nickname worked just as well for her. “What do you like to do for fun?”

  — TWO —

  Emme didn’t know what had gotten into her, but she really liked the way her Navy guy kept looking at her across the table.

  “I read. I like movies. I run.” He shrugged. “Most of the time, I’m working, to be honest.”

  “Have you seen a lot of the world?”

  As soon as the question was out there, she wanted to reel it back in, but it wasn’t the first time he’d fielded it, clearly.

  “Not the same parts you have, M.”

  She made a face. “I mostly see airports and hotel rooms for six hours at a time if I’m lucky.”

  “I mostly see military bases and cots in barracks. Six hours sounds luxurious.” He winked.

  “I bet.” She swallowed hard. “Thank you, you know. For not sleeping a lot. And serving our country.”

  He just nodded, then suddenly reached across the table and covered her hand with his. “Your turn, M. Tell me something that you like.”

  I like you touching me. His callused fingers woke her up like nothing she’d ever experienced, as if his touch was actually electric.

  “Let me guess.” He dropped his voice. “You’re a dog person.”

  “Cats.”

  “Long walks on the beach.”

  With him, sure. Anyone else… “I’m more of a camping and bonfire girl.”

  “I bet you look cute as hell in plaid.”

  She took a deep breath. “You too.”

  He squeezed her fingers and started to say something else when his phone vibrated on the table. He held on to her hands with one of his while he checked his messages with the other. “My flight. Says it’s still just delayed, not canceled.”

  “Do you have to be back for work?” She could probably help him squeeze onto a Cali-bound plane if it was important. If any took off tonight.

  “In theory, but if I get snowbound, they’ll deal.”

  “I can—” She sucked in a breath as he reached across the table and pressed his index finger to her lips.

  “Shhh. If I can steal another few hours with you, I’m going to do that.”

  “Why?” she asked against hand, breathing in the faint taste of him.

  “Because you’ve got pretty eyes,” he said, his own gorgeous gaze locked on her face. “And a sexy laugh. You travel light and have a secret punk girl hiding under your suit. But mostly because I don’t want to say go
odbye yet.”

  “Secret punk girl?” Her heart thumped eagerly in her chest.

  “No Doubt sticker on your phone. Cute little skull piercing on your belly button.”

  She jerked her gaze down to her midsection. “Do you have x-ray vision?”

  “Noticed at security.” He winked. “You raised your arms.”

  “Oh.” She held his gaze for a minute, enjoying the naked appreciation there. “It’s new. Nobody else has seen it.”

  “Then I’m a lucky man.”

  She glanced over at the bar. She wanted more of this, but not here. “Come on. I’ve got an idea.”

  — —

  Her idea turned out to be beer that the bartender happily put in to-go cups—apparently a secret thing that made O’Hare immediately more fun in Nathan’s eyes—and a bench tucked around the corner from a departure gate. In front of them was a floor-to-ceiling glass window that turned the quiet hallway into their own private airplane-geek snow globe. She pointed to the bench, handed him her beer, and promised to be right back.

  While she was gone, he shot a quick email to his commanding officer, copying the clerk, advising them of his probable travel delays. If he was given an opportunity to spend another night in Chicago, he was going to take it. And maybe—hopefully—have company for breakfast.

  Five minutes later she returned a completely different woman. Gone was the black suit. In its place she wore super-faded, distressed jeans, a heavy brown leather belt, and a long-sleeve thermal Henley that fit like a glove.

  “Wow, you dress down nicely.”

  She blushed. “We need to wear business clothing when we fly standby. Since I’m not getting out of here tonight, the suit could go.”