HOT SEAL Lover (HOT SEAL Team - Book 2) Page 13

  His gaze sparked, and she knew that some of what she was thinking now must be showing on her face. Well, good. He didn’t need to see her sadness over his sister.

  She thought about breaking the eye contact, but of course she didn’t do it. Sure, she felt a blush rising to her cheeks, but she did what she always did with Remy—she faced him boldly and told him without words precisely what she wanted.

  She darted her tongue out to lick her lower lip. Who was this woman? It was such a naughty, ridiculous thing to do. She almost felt foolish, but then he stiffened slightly, his gaze narrowing to slits while his expression grew fierce.

  A second later he was on his feet, striding toward her. She would have squeaked at the look on his face, but the truth was that he mesmerized her. And excited her. Her skin tingled, her heart pounded, and her body tightened.

  He stopped beside her and held his hand out. “Need to talk to you, Miz Girard.”

  Christina’s throat was drier than the desert outside these walls. Sweat trickled down the inside of her bra, and she felt like she’d never get the sand out of her clothes. But she gave him her best debutante smile and put her hand in his.

  “Why of course,” she said, faltering at the last second and not saying his name the way she wanted. It seemed too intimate, especially in front of all these people. Too personal, as if she couldn’t say his name without letting everyone know how thoroughly he confused and aroused her.

  He helped her up and then escorted her out of the room. She knew the SEALs were probably looking at them with interest. Maybe they knew. Maybe they didn’t.

  Remy held her hand as he led her away from the common room. The building was mostly abandoned, with empty rooms and wide-open windows that let hot air sweep in. But it was surprisingly cool in some parts of the house due to the angle of windows and the strength of the wind blowing through them.

  Remy stopped in the hallway when they’d gone a distance and turned to face her. He put a palm to her cheek and then cupped her head with his big hand. When he crushed his mouth down on hers, she didn’t protest. No, she stood on tiptoe and grabbed his shirt in her fists.

  His tongue was hot against hers. His lips were heaven. Oh God, she could kiss him forever like this. Who cared if the day was sweltering and dirty?

  He pressed her against the wall and put a knee between her legs. Then he moved it, and the friction of her sex against that hard knee sent a lightning bolt of pleasure streaking through her.

  “You’re a bad girl,” he whispered in her ear. “So bad.”

  “Do you want to spank me, Remy?” she whispered back, her pulse hammering as adrenaline and desire raced through her system like fire through a parched field.

  He laughed, a broken, beautiful sound of thwarted need. “Yeah, I do. And then I want to lick you and make it all better.”

  She pulled him closer, but he resisted. Still his knee applied pressure right where she wanted it.

  “I didn’t bring you out here for this,” he said. “Swear I didn’t.”

  “I don’t care if you did.” She gasped as she pressed herself against him. She tried to pull his head down for another kiss, but he wouldn’t budge. She took a deep breath and then pushed against his chest until he took a step back.

  He gripped her head gently and made her look up at him. “What’s wrong, baby?”

  “Not without you,” she said simply. She couldn’t read everything on his face, but she knew her answer surprised him.

  “Okay,” he told her. Then he sucked in a breath. “I honestly didn’t bring you out here for a quick fuck. I wanted to kiss you, and then I wanted to talk to you without everyone listening in.”

  “Well, that’s a disappointment, Remy Marchand.” Her voice was flat and he laughed.

  “Can’t figure you out, sexy lady, that’s for sure.”

  She sighed and ran her palms up the front of his shirt. “I’m sorry about your sister, Remy. I know that can’t be easy to talk about, but I appreciate your sharing it with me.”

  He looked angry and sad at the same time. “I’d give anything to change it, but I can’t. Why didn’t I see what he was? I grew up with him, hunted and fished and hung out. And I never saw it. If I had…”

  “Oh, honey,” she said, lifting up so she could kiss him again. Just a soft, sweet kiss. He didn’t try to make it into anything more. “It’s not your fault. It’s never anyone’s fault but the asshole who’s so fucked up he does something like that. You do know that, right?”

  He closed his eyes for a moment, opened them again. “I try to remember it, but I’m still pissed I didn’t figure it out before it was too late.”

  She stroked his jaw. “I understand.”

  “And you understand why you can’t trust your ex? Why you don’t really know what he’s capable of?”

  She didn’t think Ben was capable of that kind of violence, especially where she was concerned—but she understood Remy’s fear, and she wasn’t about to tell him different. “Yes, I understand. And I won’t let him inside my house again. I promise.”

  He dropped his gaze down her body, lingering on her breasts. She knew what he saw through the thin material of her tank. Her nipples were still aroused from his kiss, still tight and thrusting against her shirt.

  “Damn, what I wouldn’t give for an uninterrupted hour with you.” He cleared his throat and fixed his eyes on hers again. “It could be dangerous tonight, Christina. You need to know that. Things will probably happen fast once we get to Akhira. Until then, I need you to stay safe. Do what you’re told, stay down, don’t draw attention to yourself if we’re stopped.”

  His words made her shiver. “Okay… Do you think we’ll be stopped?”

  “It’s possible. But you’ll be safe, baby. I won’t let anything happen to you. None of us will.”

  She thought that maybe there were some things he really couldn’t promise, but then she thought of his regret over his sister and knew she couldn’t say anything to the contrary.

  “I know you won’t, Remy. I trust you.”

  And she did. She knew he would do everything in his power to protect her. In that, he reminded her of Matt. Her brother had spent their childhood standing between her and their father. Being the one to take Beau Girard’s scorn, his moods and temper tantrums. His drunken rages. She’d never once taken a blow from her father. She’d had to bear angry words on occasion, but that was nothing in the scheme of things. Thanks to Matt, she’d been safe. And after Matt left for West Point, Granny had taken over, bless her.

  When Christina got home—if she got home—she was telling him how much she appreciated that.

  Remy tipped her chin up with a fist and studied her. “When we get home, I’m coming to your place the first chance I get. You are letting me in. No running away, Christina. If you intend to run, then you need to tell me now and stop pretending like you want more.”

  She swallowed the knot in her throat. Part of her still wanted to run—because what did she have that would keep him interested for more than a few weeks? And what would she do when he was done with her? It would hurt, dammit.

  But she felt so alive when they were together. “I do want more.”

  “So you’ll be there when this is over, right? No ignoring my calls or flying away on business trips.”

  “I’ll be there—but my job involves travel so I might have to go. That doesn’t mean I won’t be back.”

  “Good.”

  “Is that all you wanted?”

  His gaze slipped down over her again. “No, but it’s all I’m getting right now. Except you can tell me when you and Ivy Erikson became friends.”

  Oh dear. Apparently wine and girls’ night didn’t always go together. Or they did go together, but then the wine made her say things she ordinarily wouldn’t—and her friends repeated those revelations to their lovers and husbands.

  “Dane knew about us, didn’t he?”

  He nodded. “Found that out earlier when I went to tell him myse
lf. I had to because Cash-Money caught us and my team needs to know that your presence could compromise my decisions. Turns out Viking already knew.”

  She only focused on one part of that statement. “My presence could compromise your decisions?”

  “Yes. Because I’m involved with you. Because, if it came down to it, who would I save?”

  Her heart thumped. “You’d save me.”

  “At what cost? That’s why my team needs to know.”

  “Hopefully it won’t come down to that.”

  “Hopefully. Now who else did you tell besides Ivy?”

  “Um, all of them?” Her cheeks heated as his eyebrows went up. “What? Women talk. We discuss the men in our lives. Or the ones we’ve kicked out of our lives but sometimes wish we hadn’t. Stuff like that.”

  And since she’d never really had close girlfriends growing up, she cherished the friendships she’d made with these women. Sure, Evie had been the one to bring her into the circle, but everyone was welcoming and supportive. She’d spilled the beans, and yes, she’d felt somewhat better afterward.

  “You mean your sister-in-law knows? Holy shit.”

  “Don’t worry, she won’t tell Matt. Oh, she’d tell him if you’d been the one to dump me and I was hurt—but she wasn’t about to tell him all the things I told her. You’re safe.”

  He growled. “Safe? Do you think I couldn’t kick your brother’s ass if I had to?”

  She almost giggled at the macho posturing. “I’m sure you could. Or maybe it’d be like that silly thing where two superheroes fight—didn’t they make a movie? Bat Dude versus Super Guy or something?”

  “You’re being funny, aren’t you?”

  She grinned. “Trying. Is it working?”

  “Jesus, you’re cute. Yeah, it’s working. At least until we get back home and your brother comes at me with a roundhouse kick.”

  She patted him. “He won’t. I swear.”

  Though, to be perfectly honest, she didn’t really know that. Maybe she needed to talk to Evie first thing and make sure Matt still didn’t know. And then maybe she was going to have to tell him herself. Eventually. If it worked out.

  “Cage,” a voice called, and she whipped her head around to see Viking standing at the other end of the passage, looking all big and bad and ready to kill something. He made her shiver, but not in the way Remy did. Still, he was married to Ivy, and Ivy was one cool—and badass—chick.

  “Yeah, boss man?”

  “Got some intel to discuss. When you get a chance.”

  Remy hadn’t pushed her away like she was a guilty secret. That warmed her.

  “Be right there.” Then he leaned down and kissed her, a quick peck on the lips. “You’re mine, baby girl. Mine.”

  21

  “Tonight. Two a.m.,” Viking said.

  Remy stood in a room with his team leader and Ian Black while Viking delivered the news of their departure. He shot a look at Black. The dude simply arched an eyebrow.

  “It is what it is, fellas,” he said with a shrug. “I can’t get you through in broad daylight. That’s more money than I’m willing to part with—not to mention the probability the bastards would take the money and shoot you anyway. Tonight there will be less likelihood of getting caught. I’ll travel with you as far as Zamor, but then I’ve got to peel off and head south. Best I can do.”

  Remy sucked in a breath and blew it out again. “Then I guess that’s what we have to do.”

  Viking nodded. “Pretty much my thoughts as well. I’ll inform Mendez.”

  “Give the colonel my love,” Black said as he walked away.

  Viking shook his head. “Don’t know what the deal is with those two, but I’d love to be a fly on the wall for a few hours.”

  Remy felt considerably less amused by the whole thing. “Maybe they’ve had a lovers’ spat.”

  Viking snorted. “Maybe Black swings that way, but I’ve seen the way Mendez looks at women. Dude’s not gay. You ever in the room when that Samantha Spencer from the CIA comes around? They pretty much undress each other with their eyes the whole time.”

  “Nope, haven’t seen that. But Miz Spencer is hotter than fuck, that’s for sure.”

  “She’s probably twenty years older than you, bro.”

  “And?” Because if he weren’t so tangled up with Christina, he’d be interested in a woman like Samantha Spencer if she gave him a chance.

  Viking laughed. “Yeah, and what, right? No kidding, I’d tap that too if I were single.” He lifted an eyebrow. “Speaking of single, what’s happening with you and Christina? Looked pretty intense.”

  Remy shrugged. “Just taking your advice, man. Grabbing on with both hands.” And wondering if she was going to slip through his fingers again.

  “Yeah, well take some more advice. It’ll probably get worse before it gets better, so don’t be too quick to let go.”

  Christina slept badly. Every little noise in the building seemed to wake her. She lay there, straining to hear movement, hoping Remy would come to her. Penny had retired with Robert, same as last night. The other three guys bedded down in a different room, and Christina was on her own. Once more huddled in her sleeping bag, staring at the moon out the window when she woke, and wondering where Remy was.

  She didn’t know what time it was. Her phone was dead, and she didn’t wear a watch. After waking for what had to be the twentieth time that night, she decided to get up and look out the window. As she pushed herself upright, she heard soft footfalls in the corridor. She sank back down, held her breath, and waited.

  The shape in her doorway was big, male. And she knew instinctively it was Remy.

  “Hi,” she said softly.

  “Why are you awake?”

  She laughed. “Didn’t you ask me that a few hours ago while standing in that very same spot?”

  He made a sound that might have been a snort. Or maybe it was a chuckle. “Yeah, I did.”

  She sat up and put her arms around her knees. “I can’t sleep,” she said. “I tried.”

  He came into the room and stood above her with hands on hips. “It’s midnight. Still a couple of hours before we need to be up. Will you sleep better if I’m here?”

  She wouldn’t sleep at all, but she wasn’t going to tell him that. “Maybe.”

  He let out a breath and then settled beside her, sitting back against the wall. She wasted no time in snuggling into him, her nose against his chest, his hand on her head, holding her lightly against him.

  “I was hoping you’d come sooner,” she admitted.

  “Too many things to do, cher. I came as soon as I could manage it.”

  “Did you sleep?”

  “I sleep every chance I get. We all do. It’s in fits and starts, but that’s how it goes out here.”

  “What made you want to do this for a living?”

  And now that she knew what it was he did, she was wondering about her brother. Except that she figured she knew what had made Matt choose this life. He’d always had so much energy. Unless he was challenged in some way, he’d implode. He’d been on the way as a teenager, but then he’d gone to West Point and everything changed.

  “My parents aren’t wealthy, Christina. College wasn’t an option—unless I went to one of the academies. So I got into Annapolis.”

  “But why become a SEAL? You could have gone to sea as a ship’s officer.”

  She felt him shrug. “Didn’t seem right. This did. I needed the challenge, especially after Roxie’s death.”

  Or he’d wanted to suffer. She knew how hard SEAL training was. Hell, they’d made movies about it. Had he entered that training as a way of punishing himself for not saving his sister?

  She didn’t know him well enough to make that judgment with one hundred percent accuracy, but she suspected she might be onto something.

  “And now? Do you wish you’d chosen a different path?”

  “No.” He said it without hesitation. “No, this is the right one. I won’t a
lways be an operator, not as an officer. I’m here to learn how to command SEALs.”

  She thought of Matt, and again, she wasn’t sure Remy wasn’t lying to himself. Matt was an officer. Matt still went into the field. Often. But he was Army, not Navy, so maybe it was different.

  “I’m going to admit I don’t understand anything about the military. For instance, why do we have SEALs, Green Berets, Delta Force, and all that other stuff? Why not just one group of badasses who do top secret stuff?”

  He laughed. “Each branch of service has its own Special Operators. You have to do it that way. SEALs are meant to work in maritime operations, but we do more than that these days.”

  “Such as this. There’s no ocean under our feet right now.”

  “You never know, cher. It’s a big ocean, and it’s not that far away.”

  “I take it you’re at home in the water?”

  “I’d have to be, or I wouldn’t be a SEAL. I’ve spent months—maybe years if I added it all up—of my life in the water.”

  “Well, right this minute I’m pretty glad you’re a SEAL. I’d hate to be here alone.”

  “You wouldn’t be here alone. You’d have SEALs to help you. Just not me.”

  She tilted her face up and met his gaze. “No, I’d still be alone. I like being alone… usually. You kind of ruin that for me when you’re around.”

  His eyes sparked in the moonlight shafting into the room. “You say the damnedest things, Christina.”

  “Not typically,” she said. And that was the problem. She just couldn’t stop herself with him. “I’m usually quiet and reserved. You bring out a side of me that I find both alarming and refreshing.”

  He snorted. “Baby, you’ve always been you. For some reason, you’ve never minded being you with me. I think because you didn’t care what I thought from the very beginning.”

  He might be right. When she’d first met him, she’d been reeling from Ben’s betrayal and unwilling to even consider having a relationship with another man. But she’d been powerfully attracted to Remy, and she’d wanted him like she’d want a steak or a chocolate bar.