Page 34 of Brawler
“There are caves throughout this area,” she continued, working at bringing her voice back to cadence, and away from despair, away from desire. “We can get lost in there, hole up until the danger passes. There’s water, game, all kinds of edible plants and fruit. You keep pushing us northeast, and it’s going to adddaysbefore we link back up with your team.”
His jaw flexed hard, a twitch that looked like it could crack stone. “What the fuck?”
The look of a man who had been completely wrong shivered through her. That was worse than fighting with him.
“There are obstacles the way we’re going,” she shot back, voice hot and certain. “Northwest first, then northeast. That’s the only way through. If you’d let me lead for once, I could show you the caves. Then you can do your recon, or your OCD perimeter check, or whatever Neanderthal ritual you need, and find us the best place to hide.”
Her chest rose and fell, breaths ragged, but beneath the exhaustion and fear was steel. She wasn’t just some terrified woman he’d duct-taped and dragged along for the ride. She had experience in spades. “I’ve spent more than six months in this area. I know it like the back of my hand. You want to slog through a swamp? Keep on course. You want to scale rockycrags, Neanderthal your way through. You want to get sliced by thorns as big as your thumb? Be my guest.”
She wasn’t going to shut up until he damn well acknowledged the fact that he wasn’t the only alpha standing here.
“Anything else, Admiral Pixie Dust?”
He had so many nicknames for her, and someone who hadn’t gotten to know him might think he was talking down to her. It was clear to see the way he handled his team. Trash talk was a man’s way of being affectionate, and these cute nicknames were just his way of interacting with her. “Yes, just one more thing.”
She grabbed his vest and hauled him down. This time she didn’t make it quick, wasn’t trying to manipulate or distract him. He was just too compelling, too infuriating, and even with his insufferable attitude, she enjoyed every second of sparring with him. She took her time, shaping his mouth with her lips in a kiss, tracing that stubborn bow with her lips, feeling every scrape of golden stubble, reveling in the shock of his frozen hesitation before he answered her with a low, surrendering growl. Then he kissed her back. Not frantic this time. Not out of control. Deliberate. Savoring her mouth as if he was memorizing it, as she was learning his.
Her hands slid up in frustration against his vest, too many straps, too much armor. She wanted skin, muscle, proof of him beneath all that steel.
When she finally broke away, he just stared at her. His eyes were liquid pewter, swirling with confusion, frustration, and want.
“What the hell was that for?”
“You were asking for it.”
She went to step away, but his hand clamped on her shoulder. “You going to do that again? Hit me out of left field?”
“Maybe.” She gave him a quick, fierce grin. “Guess you’ll just have to see.”
“Goddammit, Emily.”
She shivered. Her name in his deep, aching voice rolled through her like a promise, intimate and wholly arousing. She caught his vest again, met that flash in his eyes. “What the hell is your name? I’d like to know who I’m fighting with…and kissing senseless.”
“Christian Beckett.”
She blinked.Christian.Gorgeous, strong. Almost poetic.
He cleared his throat. “Sometimes people call me Chris.”
She shook her head immediately. “No. Never. Christian. It’s beautiful.”
He stiffened, then shut his eyes like she’d touched him someplace raw and private. For a second, he just breathed, absorbing it.
“So,” she pushed softly, “you ceding?”
“Not exactly, but…” He ground a palm over his temple, muttered a curse. Beast whined low, tail twitching as if casting his vote. Brawler threw a sharp, sweeping gesture. “Fine. Take the lead. But Beast is on your hip every step. Nonnegotiable.”
Her mouth fell open. She hadn’t expected that.Reasonable?She hadn’t put that word in the same galaxy as him until now.
She sniffed, turned, and started walking. When she threw a glance over her shoulder, she caught him flat-out staring at her backside.
“Keep your eyes up, caveman, and stop ogling my shapely ass.”
He smiled, a real, rare, wholly devastating smile. “Oh, I’m not ogling. I’m looking, and my assault-burn is flashing over.”
Her pulse stumbled.Unfair.That smile split his face like sunlight through the canopy, and for one dangerous moment, she couldn’t breathe.
“Well, I’m sure they have ointment for that,” she managed, her voice steadier than the riot in her chest.
