Page 44 of Line of Resistance

Eloise managed a nod, stretching to her full height and forcing her shoulders back in a way she hoped made her look more confident and in control than she felt. “Really.”

“Did you know I’m a Marine?” His eyes drifted back down her body, snagging on the lace of her bra. “I can hold my breath for over three and a half minutes.” His gaze drifted lower, sliding over the slope of her belly before fixing on the apex of her thighs. “I’m trained to find my target and not to leave until the job is done.”

It wasn’t surprising to find out Nate had been in the military. Every inch of him was solid muscle. He’d managed to haul her through the woods without even breaking a sweat and walked straight toward gunfire without hesitation.

But none of that meant he knew where to find the clit. “Now is when I should thank you for your service, right?”

Nate’s eyes fixed on her face. “You can thank me by coming over here.”

A slow throb was building between her legs, tempting her to take him up on his offer. What could it hurt? It certainly wouldn’t make things worse between them. He’d led her on and she pulled a gun on him and puked on his shoes. That seemed like peak dysfunction.

Eloise wiggled her bare toes against the cold wood floor. “We’re not having sex.” It was her hard line. One she would absolutely not cross.

Nate continued watching her, his body completely still. Like an animal just waiting to pounce. “That’s correct. We will not be having sex.”

It didn’t sound so much like he was agreeing with her. More like he was confirming a hard line of his own.

And it chapped her ass a little.

“Are you really going to sit there and pretend like you don’t want to have sex with me?” She pointed at the long length of his fully hard dick. “Because it sure as heck seems like you do.”

“Oh, I absolutely want to fuck you, Eloise.” He tipped his head toward the bag at the door. “But while you are clearly prepared for a hell of a lot, I’m not sure you came prepared for that.”

Eloise swallowed hard, nearly choking on her spit at the discrepancy between their word choices.

She saidhave sex. He saidfuck. Those were two completely different things. What made them different, she couldn’t quite put her finger on in this moment, but it was pretty clear her version of coitus and Nate’s might not be too similar.

Especially considering he got hard when she pointed a gun at him.

“I’m talking about condoms.” Her prolonged silence must have made Nate think she didn’t understand what he was saying. “Protection.”

“Yeah. I got it.” Her eyes went back to the front of his underwear. “I’m also not getting you off.”

Nate’s lips barely twitched. “I don’t remember asking you to.”

His offer was getting harder and harder to turn down—pun totally intended.

She already hated him, so that couldn’t get worse. She knew nothing would come of this, so her expectations were exactly where they should be when Nate was involved. And maybe this would finally bring an end to her interest in him. Then she could go back to her normal, Nate-free life.

As long as someone eventually came and rescued them.

“Fine.” She started moving before she lost her nerve, swinging one knee onto the chair before straddling his lap and leaning close. “Do your worst.”

Nate didn’t move. Only his eyes shifted, dragging down to rest on her breasts where they sat a few inches from his face. “You’re awfully close for me to be able to do my worst.”

“You’re a Marine.” She gripped the back of the chair, looking for a little stability as uncertainty started to sink in. “You’ll figure it out.”

Seconds ticked by and neither of them moved a muscle. She’d been strategic when crawling into the chair, its wide seat making it possible for her to situate herself so none of her skin touched any of his. The only point of contact was where the warmth of his breath fanned across the skin of her cleavage.

Nate’s eyes slowly lifted to hers. “What’s your favorite way to get off?”

Was he already in need of assistance? That wasn’t a good sign. “Successfully.”

One brow cocked. “That’s it?”

“If you’re already having second thoughts—” Eloise tried to move away, but a heavy palm clamped down on her thigh, keeping her in place.

“No second thoughts. Just a simple question.” Nate’s hand stayed on her skin, sliding back to tease along the edge of her panties. “Am I not allowed to ask questions?”

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