Page 28 of Desolation

I’m halfway down the hall when I hear footsteps behind. I’m not surprised in the least. I know that man wants in my pants.

I keep walking, picking up my pace a bit but it’s no use, he catches up to me quickly.

“Want to go get pizza?” he asks as he walks in stride next to me.

“No,” I say sternly.

“Aren’t you hungry? It’s dinner time. We don’t have to get pizza, we could get burgers, Chinese, tacos—”

I cut him off. “I’m not hungry, Landon.”

“What about tomorrow?”

“I’m busy.”

“Friday?”

“I probably won’t be hungry then either.” I try not to smile.

“Well then by Saturday you will be starving,” he jokes.

I glance over at him. “Maybe.”

He pulls on my arm to slow me down as we get to the parking lot. “Then how about Saturday?”

I let out a deep sigh. “Look Landon, I know you want to go out with me. But I am just not in the right mindset for that. I only came here to stay with a friend for a week or so before I head home. I am not interested in a relationship.”

“Not even sex?”

“Ay dios mío!” My eyes bug out at him and I am about to spew off a collection of curse words but his face turns from serious into a smile.

“I’m joking, Mari.”

“Don’t call me that,” I snap.

He steps closer to me and I can smell his cologne, the distinct smell of the ocean mixed with cypress and a hint of patchouli. “Why not? Georgia and Violet called you that.”

I pull away from him, shaking my head and walk to the aisle my car is in. He catches up to me. He is standing so close that I can feel the heat from his body against my back. I can feel his breath on my neck.

He pulls my hair to the side and whispers in my ear. “Don’t worry. I know you’ll agree to dinner eventually and when you do, you’ll be begging me to touch you, for my hands to devour your hot body, my mouth to follow the path of my hands, until you can’t take it anymore and you are begging for my cock.”

A chill goes down my body at his words. But I snap out of it quickly, turning around to slap him across the face.

He pulls away from me and grins, completely unaffected by my slap. “See ya around, Mari.”

“Pinche cabrón.” I turn around and watch as he jogs back to the hospital.

I take a deep breath and sit in the Jag as I clench my thighs together. I’ve never had someone talk to me like that. And there is no way I am letting him know I liked it.

I need to get out of California fast or else I will be in so much trouble.

Chapter Eleven

Landon

I flip through a bunch of grainy images hoping I recognize anyone from this small town in Syria where we are looking into a possible arms dealer from the US. I’ve only been out of the Navy for nine months but it’s like a whole new team of players have joined the terrorist game. I can’t recognize a single person.

We are still waiting for David’s tech to filter all the intel we have but it should be done soon. He said it could take up to thirty-six hours and it’s been just over twenty-four.

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