Page 31 of Stranded with a SEAL

He reached into his backpack and tossed the sunscreen to her. She nabbed it from the air and then spread some over her arms, eyeing the dark clouds in the distance.

“I don’t think this fire will last very long,” he said with a frown. “If this moves as quick as the other storm, we should probably gather up our few things and head for the trees to get some shelter.”

“I don’t suppose you have a tent in your emergency supplies.”

“That’s a negative, sunshine. I’ve got a couple emergency blankets though. We can huddle under one of those. And hopefully the canopy from the trees will provide some shelter. If it starts raining sideways or something though, we might get soaked.”

She finished spreading sunscreen over her shoulders and then handed him back the bottle. Noah rounded up the few things they’d left scattered around, stuffing them quickly into his backpack as thunder rumbled in the distance.

“Come on,” he said, reaching out and taking her hand.

His thick fingers twined with hers, and she felt a jolt of electricity surge between them. Electricity that had nothing to do with the pending storm.

Noah waited, watching as she stepped over a large piece of driftwood, and then they were hurrying toward the line of palm trees. A few fat rain drops began to fall from the sky and Bailey swiped them off her face, darting behind Noah under cover.

They’d just gotten underneath when the heavens suddenly opened. She watched with disdain as the bonfire was suddenly out. Without a smoke signal or flare, they couldn’t notify anyone where they were. Of course, with the rain, she doubted anyone was out looking. Even if they had been searching, they’d have called it off.

Noah sank to the ground, leaning back against the rough bark of a palm tree. “Come sit with me,” he said. She nodded, settling on the ground between his legs, her back to his chest. It was intimate and comforting resting against him. His muscular arms wrapped around her, and his legs splayed out beside hers.

He was powerful and strong, yet always so careful around her. A perfect study in contrasts.

She jumped in his arms as lighting cracked in the sky, and his lips brushed against her hair. “We’re fine, sunshine.”

“You’re not supposed to be under trees in a thunderstorm,” she said.

“I’m not sure we have many good options here.”

“This storm is insane,” she said as they watched the rain pound down and the wind pick up, whipping leaves and debris through the air.

“I don’t know, it’s kind of romantic sitting here watching the storm together.”

She burst into laughter. “I didn’t take you for a romance kind of guy,” she said lightly.

“I’m full of surprises,” he said, his voice husky. His arms tightened ever so slightly, and she relaxed further back into his strength and warmth. She could feel his chest rise and fall at her back, and even though they were outside in the middle of the storm, she inexplicably felt safer having him there. Having Noah hold her close in his muscular embrace.

“I’ve watched some amazing storms from the bar,” she said, thinking of the view from the windows by the back deck. “Customers would run in to wait it out, or on particularly bad days, no one would be around. The other waitresses and I would hang out, just watching the ocean pound against the shore.”

“I bet you’ve seen some great storms. Right there on the beach? It’s the perfect location. I’ll admit I enjoy storms more from dry land. We’ve trained in bad weather, out on ships in the middle of the ocean, and there’s nothing fun about it.”

“What made you want to be a SEAL?” she asked.

“I always planned to join the Navy after high school. The SEALs are the best of the best—special ops. The Army has Delta Force—the Rangers and Green Berets. SEALs are considered by many to be the most elite special ops group in the entire world.”

“I can’t even imagine what kind of training you had to do to become a SEAL,” she said, watching the rain pound down on the beach around them. “I’m sure it was something awful.”

“It’s tough. You’ve probably heard of BUD/S—Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL. There’s also parachute jump school.”

Bailey shuddered. “You couldn’t pay me enough to jump out of a perfectly good airplane.”

Noah chuckled behind her. “It’s a thrill like no other. Exhilarating. The high you get, when you’re falling through the air? Fucking awesome. Maybe not better than sex, but it’s a high right up there.”

Bailey giggled, feeling herself flush. “Oh my God, Noah. Seriously? You did not just say that.”

He chuffed out a laugh. “I did, and I was being brutally honest.”

“Well let’s be real—nothing is better than sex.”

“I’m with you there, sunshine.” He took hold of one of her hands, absently caressing circles on the back of it with his thumb. “But as much as I love sex, don’t worry. You’re safe here with me. I’d never do anything to make you uncomfortable.”

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