Page 47 of Emi's Hero

He bent and scooped water up in his hands, flinging it toward her.

She laughed and kicked more at him.

George charged toward her, scooped her up in his arms, laughing along with her.

He hadn’t felt this joyous since he’d passed BUD/S training. Drenched, and with water dripping off his face, he stared down at the woman he held effortlessly in his arms and realized he would love to laugh and play with her for more than just one afternoon.

Her face was wet, and her hat had fallen off when he’d lifted her. Auburn hair fell around her shoulders and framed her pale face, reddened by sunburn. Green eyes danced. “No fair,” she whispered. “I can’t sweep you off your feet.”

“You’re wrong,” he said, mesmerized by those green eyes. “I’m completely swept off my feet by a beautiful redhead who has a big drop of water balancing on the tip of her nose.” He bent to kiss the offending drop.

Her eyes widened, and her breath caught on a soft gasp. “Auburn,” she whispered. “It’s auburn.”

George barely heard her, his gaze locked on her chapped lips as they moved to form words. Even chapped, they were full and beautiful like her, begging to be kissed.

At least in his mind.

He had to remind himself that she needed time to recover from the trauma she’d endured over the past eight years. Kissing her now after knowing her for only a couple of days would be purely selfish.

God, but he wanted to.

Her brow furrowed.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“I’ve only known you for such a short time.”

He tipped his head. “Is that a bad thing?”

“Maybe.” She pulled her lower lip between her teeth. “It’s just... I want...” Her gaze locked with his, her stare intense.

With her damp body still pressed close to his, George’s groin tightened. “What do you want, Emi?” he asked, knowing exactly whathewanted and was fighting like hell to maintain control over his desire.

“I want...” Emi drew in a deep breath, let it out and then curled her hand behind his neck and pulled his head down until her lips were a breath away from his. “This.”

Emi kissed him, her lips pressing into his, her fingers at the back of his neck urging him to come closer.

She was kissing him. George struggled to maintain control when it was held there by a very thin thread.

Emi leaned her head back, her eyes wide, her brow twisting. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. I got carried away. You obviously don’t feel the same... Don’t want the same...”

“Are you kidding me?” George lowered her legs until she stood in the water. Then he gathered her close, cupped the back of her head and bent to brush his lips against her temple. “Do you know how hard it is to keep from kissing you right now?” He pressed a kiss to her eyelid and then to the other. “It’s taking every ounce of control to keep from crushing you in my arms and kissing you until neither one of us can breathe.”

Her frown deepened. “But I just kissed you, and you didn’t...respond.”

“I can’t,” he said, pressing his lips to her forehead. “You see, if I start kissing you, I’m not sure I could stop. You’ve been through so much. I don’t want to be insensitive and take advantage of you at your most vulnerable.”

He'd kissed every inch of her face but her mouth. Now, he stared down into Emi’s eyes to keep from fixating on her lips, andhis hands slid down to the small of her back. “You deserve time to recover. Youneedit.”

“What if I don’t want to wait? Can’t I choose when I’m ready for you to kiss me? Or is it thatyou’renot ready, and you’re using my circumstances as a shield?” She cupped his cheek. “What if Ineedto be kissed?”

The thread snapped.

George cradled the back of her neck and bent to crush her lips with his. He couldn’t hold back. Wouldn’t.

Emi’s hands circled the back of his head, her fingers weaving into his hair. She pressed her breasts against his chest and moaned into his mouth.

When her teeth parted, his tongue slipped between and caressed hers in a long, languid glide, exploring, tasting and tempting.

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