Page 40 of Tempted by a SEAL

Hunter’s gut clenched as he pulled her to him, watching as a stray tear rolled down her cheek. His chest tightened, and he didn’t want to examine that reaction too closely. He reached out and cupped her face gently, brushing her hair back with one hand and then wiping away the tear with his thumb. Hell. He didn’t stand around wiping away women’s tears. He wasn’t usually around long enough to see any.

Wham, bam, thank you ma’am always had suited him just fine.

But Emma?

They hadn’t even slept together. Had barely even touched. And his gut churned at the idea of any harm coming to her.

“They’re fine,” he said. “The men who broke in got spooked by an alarm system. I’m sure your parents were frightened, but it seems that the police got there almost immediately.”

“I should call them, see how they are. Let them know that I’m okay.”

“They’ll be time for that later,” he assured her. “We can’t risk it now. You could use my phone, but there’s no telling if anyone is listening in on theirs. The line could be tapped.”

“Right. I understand,” she said, nodding as more tears rolled down her cheeks.

He cupped her chin, tilting her face up toward him. “I’m not leaving you here.”

She nodded, and the look in her eyes nearly slayed him. He pulled her into his arms, holding the back of her head as she quietly cried against his chest. Let his arms tighten around her. He felt her breasts pressing against him, her small body trembling against his, and could smell the rose-scented shampoo in her hair. But this very second, all that mattered was her safety.

“Are you okay?” he asked a moment later as she looked up at him.

“I’ll come with you,” she said, wiping away a stray tear.

“Yeah?”

“Not just for me, but for my family and friends, too. If these guys are willing to go to these lengths to find me, then it’s best I just leave for a while. Stay out of sight. If I’m not in London, then they can’t very well find me, can they?”

“I’ll have Mason get word to your family that you’re all right. The police have been in contact with him anyway after the incidents at the pub and hotel. Hell, they’d be all over me right now too wanting a statement if they didn’t know I was here protecting you.”

“Right. Your job is to protect me.”

“It’s not a job—I was collecting info on those men. That was my job—not typically what a Navy SEAL would do, granted, but I happened to be in the right place at the right time. You quite literally walked right into my life—bumped right into me. But I care about you. I’m not leaving you here alone and scared while I just go back to my everyday life. Pretend this is over because I’m back on the other side of the ocean. That’s why I want you to come back with me, not because it’s some job or my duty.”

“Oh.”

He searched her gaze, then ducked to softly brush his lips against hers.

Her lips were soft, full. She tasted sweet, like strawberries or the ripest fruit. He felt her intake of breath as his hand slid to her waist, and then she was kissing him back. Yielding to him. Pulling him closer. Clinging to him like she needed him more than her next breath.

***

Emma whimpered as Hunter moved his mouth over hers. He tasted delicious—all man and spice and the hint of the coffee he’d had earlier. His body towered above hers, dominating the room, shielding her from anything but his overwhelming presence.

She didn’t—couldn’t—make herself want him to stop. Not when she’d been scared and frightened and he’d protected her. Not when there had been chemistry sparking between them since the moment they’d bumped into one another at the pub last night. It was fast—it was quick.

But she was powerless to stop her feelings.

To stop him.

His hands slid to her waist, gripping her tightly, anchoring her to him. Her nails dug into the back of his shortly cropped hair as she pulled him closer still, and then he was lifting her. Holding her in his muscular arms as if she weighed nothing. Her legs wrapped around his waist, and she felt his thick erection beneath his cargo pants.

Felt him rubbing against her aching core.

“Bed,” he murmured. “I’m taking you to bed.”

In the next instant, he was lying her down. Following as his body hovered above hers. Pulling up her cashmere sweater as she frantically clawed at his tee-shirt, trying to strip him bare as well. She gave in and let him undress her first, lifting her arms as he pulled her sweater up and off. Tossed it back behind him.

His gaze fell to her lace-covered breasts, and he made a sound akin only to a growl.

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