Page 35 of Skull

Her presence was a gentle balm to his raw, exposed emotions. As she tightened her arms around him, drawing him into a tender embrace, his eyes, red from unshed tears, met hers. Her gaze was warm and reassuring, an anchor amid the storm of his guilt and despair.

“Cooper,” she murmured, pressing her forehead against his, “I can’t imagine what this is doing to you. Torn between serving your country and holding on to the love you have for your family. It must be devastating.”

He swallowed hard, his voice barely above a whisper. “I… almost left. I was terrified of what would happen if I didn’t go. But leaving would’ve meant abandoning everything I stand for, and everything I love. I might never get to tell my dad how much he meant to me…how he shaped who I am.”

Her hand gently stroked his cheek as she replied, “Your father would understand, Cooper. You honor him by living every moment fully, even when it hurts.”

As her words seeped into him, Skull felt a flood of emotions, guilt, sorrow, and a fierce tenderness that he could no longer hold at bay. Their eyes locked, and in that suspended moment, the pain and passion mingled. Walker leaned in, her hand came up to his face, the warmth seeping into him as her thumb swiped at the moisture on his cheekbone, and in the past where he would feel humiliation for showing so much of himself, he now felt nothing but tenderness at her attempt to not only soothe his pain, but show him that something had also shifted in her.

“What happened with Blade,” he asked, his sense of duty warring with the passion that was rising between them.

She pulled a face. “He’s willing to talk, but on the condition that his family is brought here, so that he can see they’re safe. We have to go back to Lealtad and get them out. I volunteered you and Bones. We make a great team,” she whispered, her hand slipping into his hair, her eyes went over his face as if she couldn’t get enough of his features, the light of desire warming those beautiful blue depths, all amusement gone. Her lips grazed the skin just below his ear as she inhaled deeply, taking in his scent with a soft growl.

The feel of her hot breath sending a sizzling tingle all throughout his body. His dick twitched, thickening, hardening.

Her eyes narrowed and her jaw clenched as her thumb slipped to his other cheekbone, gently rubbing at his damp skin, kissing him there. “Before I came up here to clean up, Iceman was still waiting for the brass to approve this op. Word is Justice is still dragging their feet on releasing Alzate. We’re their only hope, and I’m not stopping until we have them safe and sound. I intend to dance at their wedding.”

Skull swallowed hard. “How much time do we have?”

“Thirty minutes. It’s not much, but I don’t want to go back there and run the risk of not having you the way I want you. I think thirty minutes would last me a lifetime if something were to happen?—”

“Fuck that,” he said. “When we get back here, I’m going to fuck you all fucking night.”

Her breath went shallow, her breath hitching, and she groaned softly as he leaned in and nuzzled her neck. “Then this will be just a taste, a preliminary fuck then?”

“Yeah, even though this has to be quick, nothing says I can’t go as deep as I want.”

“Ooh, promises,” she whispered with a soft smile. “I’ll have to wait, then, to get my mouth on you again.”

It was his turn to groan. “Damn, woman,” he muttered. “Don’t kill me before we even get started.”

“We’ve been dancing around this way too long, Cooper. You are doing something to me, and I feel helpless to fight it.”

“Then it’s not just me. It’s happening to you too.” There was a flash of something in her eyes that resembled anguish, and it aroused such fierce protectiveness in him he had to fight to keep from reacting to give her some space to understand how she was feeling about him.

There was a quiet, almost desperate seriousness about her as she slowly stroked his lips with her thumb.

“Yes, it’s happening to me, too.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Maybe,” she murmured. “This is new ground for me, but you do something to me that I can’t fight. I—I—don’t want to make any promises, but I also can’t seem to help myself from wanting…more, even though it scares me.”

He closed his eyes and nodded. “I—I—know that feeling, babe.” Her features evened out, and she sighed softly. “Walker…I,” he started, then gave up and simply lowered his mouth to hers. There was nothing to say, not right now, not when all he wanted, all he needed was to touch her, to slide his tongue in her mouth and taste her, to fill himself up with her.

Their lips met in a kiss that was both desperate and soothing, a silent vow that no matter the sacrifices demanded by duty, his heart would not remain guarded. There was no way he could resist anymore. Hers parted, and a hundred emotions flooded through him. He’d expected pleasure, electrifying pleasure, but he also got relief, bone deep. This was where he wanted to be with Walker, their bodies touching.

He pulled her top over her head, breaking the kiss just long enough to free her. His hands went behind her, undid her bra, a sheer black nothing that felt like lacy air in his hands.

Before he could do anything, she stood and got rid of her jeans and underwear, then knelt, making quick work of his boots and socks. Her hands went to his vest.

After a moment, frustrated, she growled, “Help me, Skully, baby,” so softly, his whole body quickened. He found the tabs, loosened the vest. She went to tug it off, then said, “What the hell? That weighs a freaking ton.” He chuckled, then moaned when her hands went to his waistband, moving aside as he lifted himself so she could remove his pants and underwear. Before he could catch his breath, her hand ran over his erection, his hips thrusting upward, pleasure exploding along his shaft.

Her hands traveled up to his torso, spending a few seconds sliding over his abs, then with one clean move, she shoved his T-shirt over his head, then she straddled him, the sweet hot, wet center of her gripping his dick. Her mouth latched onto his, hot and demanding, her hands going to his shoulder, and he slid his palm down her silky back.

In their kiss, Skull realized that the strength he’d built all his life wasn’t in his ability to be unbreakable. It was in his willingness to be tender, to share everything, including soft emotions as well as painful ones. His role as a SEAL, the sacrifices he made for his country, and the guilt of possibly losing his father were part of a larger tapestry of duty and love. And as Walker’s warmth enveloped him, he understood that vulnerability might just be the truest form of strength, one that could, perhaps, honor both his past and the uncertain future that lay ahead.

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