Page 47 of Twister

His career with the Navy was already in jeopardy. She was floored that he had given up all that work, training, and striving for master diver. It was incomprehensible to her that he desired her when he’d been nothing but nasty and undermining. Dodging a group of gaping tourists standing on the curb, she saw that shirt dart into an alley. She flew down the sidewalk, careless of obstacles in her way, disregarding the danger she may be courting. If David got away before she could catch him, she would never know what the hell was going on with him. And she didn’t want to be looking over her shoulder for the rest of her life.

The light was obscured in the dank space between two towering buildings, but she wasn’t going to be deterred. She could hear the sirens in the distance, and at the scuff of a foot,she turned, but it was too late. An arm came around her neck from behind.

“Come away with me, Sadie. We’ll make a new li?—”

She elbowed him in the gut as hard as she could, but before she could turn around and confront him, he pushed her hard, and she fell to her knees against the grimy pavement.

“We’ll do this the hard way,” he growled, his voice almost indecipherable. Something hard hit her in the back of the head, stunning her.

Then she heard Twister roar her name, and David swore savagely, then she heard his running footfalls until they faded in the distance. Strong hands and Twister’s fierce face came into view.

She inhaled and breathed deeply, then shifted. “Ow,” she said, lifting her hand to the back of her head. “I guess the freaking honeymoon is over,” she muttered.

“Slow down there, daredevil,” he said, pulling her closer and examining the back of her head. His jaw bunched and his eyes went even steelier, if that was possible. “Fucker,” he whispered, probing her gently. She didn’t like David’s odds if Twister got his hands on him.

“Ow,” she said again.

“You’ll live. No stitches needed,” he said wryly. “What the hell was going on up there? Chasing after David is my job. I’m supposed to be protecting you.”

“He threw that rock,” she snapped, then softened. “I saw it, and I just got so angry that he would threaten you. I reacted, and I’m not sorry for it.” A sick feeling remained in her gut. He was out of control and thought she would actually run away with him. He was delusional.

He blinked, his burnished eyes softening with concern. “Okay,” he chuckled. “Noted. I was worried about you. Is that allowed, ballbuster?”

Her temper deflated a bit, and with humor in her voice, she said, “Sorry. I’m pissed.” She took a hard breath. “How is that man?”

“He’s okay, just glanced off his temple and stunned him for a moment, but they’re taking him to the hospital to make sure.”

He helped her to stand, her balance wavering for a moment, but Twister supported her, always strong and solid. They walked back out to the street. The crowd had thinned considerably, and Twister flagged down a cab. Sadie didn’t protest.

Once they reached the compound, Twister wasted no time in heading toward the NCIS agents. He related everything that had happened, and they were both grim-faced. The afternoon was filled with questions about her, so many questions.

“Most of the time, men just seem to disappear on me. I’ve dated several at MDSU-1, but they didn’t go anywhere. Neither David or Dylan contacted me while I was stationed in Hawaii. Just Neil. He was always interested in what I was doing.” She smiled. “He was a good friend all through training and afterwards.”

Griffin’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean the men you dated disappeared?”

“After a couple of dates, they ghosted me. Maybe getting involved with a Navy diver was too impermanent.” She shrugged.

“Maybe,” Griffin said.

Finally, they let them go and Sadie unpacked and did some laundry. Twister was with his team by then, and as it got late, she headed up to bed. When he didn’t show up immediately, she once again tried to focus on her homework.

There was a knock, and she rose to open the door. Twister was on the other side, but when she went to open the door, he didn’t come inside. His serious expression gave nothing away, but there was something in his eyes that made her pulse jumpinto overdrive. The hint of regret instantly faded, replaced by a glint that was more heated, far more potent, far more intent. Far more male.

“Aren’t you coming inside?” she asked, her question breathless. The man made her crave.

“No, babe. I’ve been thinking about what you said last night, and I think that crowding you isn’t the best situation for you to work things out. What do you think?”

The man simply overwhelmed her, all the time, and as much as she wanted him beside her, she realized that he was right, and she couldn’t stop the flutter of emotions that cascaded through her. His thoughtfulness being at the top of the list.

“That sounds like a terrible time for both of us, but I see the wisdom in the suggestion. Okay, with protests.”

He drew her firmly against him and smoothed back her hair, his touch not quite steady when he kissed her mouth. “This is for you, Sadie. Sort things out and take your time. I want you so badly, but not to the detriment of your peace of mind in knowing who you are and where you want this to go. That has to take precedence,” he whispered roughly.

Tightening her arms around him, Sadie pressed herself deeper into his embrace. Her voice catching on raw emotion, she struggled to get out the words. “Thank you for being stronger than I am.”

He went still, then released an unsteady sigh and slid his hand under her hair and up the back of her neck, spanning the base of her head, then squeezed gently. Stepping back, looking like that move took every ounce of strength he had, he released a long sigh. Then he turned and walked away from her.

That left her stripped and hurting, but it was for her benefit even though it didn’t feel like it. With all that energy, the man filled up a space full to bursting, taking her attention and leaving her wrung out.

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