Page 8 of Hold On Through The Pain

She arched up, brushing her body against his. Heat filled him. He was so close to the edge, his breath almost in gasps.

“Shannon, Jesus, you are so freaking hot.”

“I want you.” She wrapped her leg over his, holding him in place as she arched up.

No question, combustion would happen if he didn’t calm down. She was exactly what he wanted and what he needed. He didn’t just need to feel better; he needed to feel anything. Too many hours had been spent in war zones, fighting for his life. The battle had left him empty. With Shannon upagainst him, his body ramped up, he had little doubt she could make him feel a heck of a lot better.

His fingers itched to touch her. He wanted to run his hands over her waist, then up to her firm breasts. The thought of licking her nipples almost made him come.

He had to stop, so he lifted up, holding himself above her with one arm. Lust buzzed, filling his brain with sexy imaginations, making him harder. He wanted to take her right then, but she still had the bruised eye and the split lip. That put a halt to his desires.

Striker pulled her to sitting and shivered as her fingers toyed with his neck. “We should go get breakfast.”

Her brows creased, and her lips turned down in a frown. “You don’t want me.”

The pain in her voice pulled deep at his heart. He cupped her cheeks and stared into her eyes. “Oh God, Shannon, I want you so much, but I don’t want to have sex and then have you walk out of my life.”

Her eyebrows pinched tight. “I won’t.”

“I need to build a connection with you. I’m only here for a few days. Actually, I wasn’t supposed to be here, but I got lost.”

“Lost?” A disbelieving look crossed her face and his heart melted.

“I took a wrong turn.”

Her laughter tickled his nerves, taking his desire to new levels. This woman’s effect on his soul was almost magical.

“You sure showed up at the right time in the right place.”

He studied her face, her hair, her shoulders, then back to her lips. God he wanted a kiss.

“I really want to spend the day touching and kissing you.” He met her gaze and shivered. Lust morphed, growing deeper. Was it too early for that? They’d known each other for hours, and yet he experienced something amazing when her beautiful green eyes fell on him.

“Then don’t stop,” she whispered.

His heart rate increased as he took in her sweet curves and sexy dips. Then he met her gaze once more. Time stood still. This woman was meant to be his, and not for just one night of hot sex.

God, he was crazy to think this way about a stranger, but something clicked, and he couldn’t shake the feeling.

He cleared his throat. “I want to slow down and enjoy getting to know you. I want more of a connection before we do this.”

Her brows were almost at her hairline, and then she lifted her hand to his forehead. “Nope, you don’t have a fever. You’re actually just being a gentleman, aren’t you?”

He snorted and rolled his eyes. “I’m trying, but you’re making it hard.”

A giggle escaped her lips. “You are very hard.”

He groaned and shook his head. “I just don’t want you to run out on me after we finish.”

Her lips spread in a smile. “No way would I run out on you.”

She was tempting him. He wanted to push her to the mattress or a wall, anywhere he could get a good angle on her and take what he wanted.

“I have to keep my promise, because what good is a man who won’t keep his word?”

Her lips pursed. “What promise?”

“I said I wouldn’t have sex with you.”

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