Page 25 of Summer with a SEAL

Jacob laughed. “Yeah, Ice told me. I should’ve let you know that I was leaving,” he said, his voice gruff. “I can’t ever tell you any details about my job, obviously, but I should’ve said I’d be gone since I’d asked you out this week. The problem is, I didn’t know when I’d be back.”

“Ryker told us you guys were leaving,” she admitted.

“Yeah. I was jealous as hell that he got to see you that morning. I know he was over here with Michelle, but hell. I would’ve loved to wake up beside you and see you first thing. Kiss you good morning.”

Jessica stiffened slightly, her heart pounding.

“Easy, angel,” he said, soothing her. “I know you don’t want to rush into anything, and I respect that. Michelle and Ryker are different than us, and that’s fine.”

“I don’t—I don’t have one-night-stands like she does,” Jessica said with a shrug. “I mean, she’s a big girl—she can do what she wants. I’m just not like that though.”

He ducked down, brushing his lips over her forehead. “I like that about you. Hell, if I was looking for the quickest way to get a woman into bed, there are bars up and down the beach filled with women looking to have a good time.”

She let her fingers trail over his chest, feeling the soft cotton of his shirt beneath her fingertips and the hard muscles beneath it. What would being with a man like Jacob be like? He was powerful, a mass of muscle and strength. He’d been nothing but gentle with her though. Protective.

He was off saving the world all the time anyway—she doubted he wanted a relationship even if she did live here.

“I like you, too,” she admitted. “And it scares me.”

“Don’t be scared, angel. I’m in no sort of rush. You’re here for the whole summer, right? We’ll take our time getting to know each other.”

“How can you know that?”

“Know that I want to spend time with you? I’m here, aren’t I?” He chuckled, pulling her closer. “I thought my interest in you was obvious.”

She nestled closer into his embrace, letting her bare leg slide over his. The springy hairs on his muscular legs tickled her skin, and it felt right being here with him. Weird since she didn’t usually get close to men she barely knew. It felt like she knew Jacob already though, strange as that seemed.

“Do you have any plans today?” he asked.

“Aside from my book and my hammock?” she asked with a laugh. “None.”

“Want to go explore Virginia Beach with me? I’ve got the day off since we just got back. We debriefed this morning, but I’m free all day. We can do all the touristy things and then go grab some dinner.”

“Right now?” she asked, feeling surprised.

“Yeah, right now. Why not? You’re here, I’m here. Neither of us as any big plans for the day. Let’s go out and enjoy.”

“Like a date,” she hedged.

“Exactly like a date.”

“But I’m not dressed up or anything—I have on shorts and a tank top.”

He glanced down, making a show of teasingly looking her over as she flushed. “So you do,” he quipped. “I like the pink tank top—it’s sexy as hell the way you look in it.”

“Jacob,” she protested lightly, squirming against him.

“I didn’t mind the bikini you had on when we first met, either, just so you know. You’d look good in anything, but if you’d rather change or something, I can hang out down here while you get ready.”

He twisted in the hammock, one large hand resting on her hip, so they were practically face to face. Her breath caught as her gaze dropped to his full lips. The stubble covering his strong jaw was sexy, and she wondered what it would feel like rubbing up against her skin.

“I know I said I’d kiss you after our first date, but….” He paused, meeting her gaze to make sure she was okay with it. She knew if she said the word he’d back off.

She wanted to kiss him though—as much as she was trying to take things extra slowly with him, she couldn’t keep away if she wanted to. She was attracted to him and aroused with the way their bodies were pressed up against each other. In this moment, nothing could have stopped her from kissing him.

Slowly, she tilted her head up, letting him know it was all right, and then he ducked lower, his full lips brushing over hers.

She nearly gasped in shock as electricity shot straight through her—with his arms holding her and his lips against hers, she was his for the taking.

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