Page 6 of Joel
“Just doing my job, ma’am.”
Joel’s modesty makes him all the sexier, and dampness forms between my legs. If I thought I could walk four miles back to the lodge in these damn neoprene boots without getting some epic blisters, I’d do it just to get space from this man I so badly want to climb like a fucking tree.
A man who could take one look at my hotel room, with maps, articles, and information I could not have obtained by any legal means spread across my bed, and send me right to jail.
“The world is a better, safer place thanks to brave men in uniform like Petty Officer Pierson,” I add, choosing to focus on the positive. On thesafetopic.
“Indeed it is,” says Nancy. She turns toward the camera to finish her segment solo.
Joel lets out a heavy sigh, as though relieved to be done. He looks desperate to get out of here. I tell myself I’m doing him a favor when I reach my hand to his bicep and say, “I’ll take you up on that ride.”
4
JOEL
For the firsttime in the three years since I purchased my hot tub, I finally take the cover off, give it a thorough clean, and fill it with water. I’ll have to take a picture to show the J-Squad later because there’s not a chance in hell anyone will believe me. It’s a running joke in our group that I have a hot tub I never use.
But tonight, it sounds like a nice way to relax after the insane day I’ve had.
I dropped Kylie off at the hotel hours ago. I resisted the urge to ask her to dinner or out for a drink, despite her mentioning the nice cold beer she was looking forward to enjoying. It sounded like an invitation, and I feel like a fucking idiot for not taking her up on it.
It’s better this way.
There’s something primal and possessive that has roared to life inside me when it comes to Kylie Robinson. And I strongly suspect I’m not the only one who feels this animalistic lust between us.
But the risk of running into any of the J-Squad—fellow coastguardsmen or their wives—in this small town is just too fucking high. We’d never have any privacy, and any one of themcould scare Kylie off with talks of true love and soulmates. It’s the last fucking thing I need right now.
But Ididgive her my phone number in case she needed anything.
I stare down at the screen now, at the text response she sent to confirm my number was entered correctly earlier.
Kylie: Thanks for saving me, Ocean Eyes
My dick starts to harden, because I can hear her flirty tone saying those words out loud. I’ve yet to find relief since I got home. It’d probably take three pumps, and I’d fucking come all over the tile shower. I nearly nut in my pants as that fantasy flashes in my mind again, the one with Kylie’s hair spread over my thighs and my cock in her mouth.
“Fuck it.”
Joel: You get that beer you wanted?
I settle into the hot tub, grinning like a damn fool as I see those three little dots appear instantly.
Kylie: I was just about to take an Uber to the bar, but apparently you don’t have that here.
Two thoughts pop instantly into my mind. One: she’s a city girl. Two: she was going to go to the baralone.
A surge of possessiveness rushes through me. The last thing I fucking want is for her to be atThe Icebergall alone, getting hit on by the desperate men of this remote small town. She’s gorgeous and charismatic. The bloodsuckers would be on her like leeches. My jealousy makes no sense. I don’t know Kylie. I have no claim to her. Yet, she feels likemine.
Joel: I have beer.
Joel: It’s from an Alaskan brewery.
Joel: And I have a hot tub.
Kylie: A hot tub? Prove it.
I hold the phone over my head, snapping a picture that captures most of my body and hit send.
Kylie: You always wear orange when you’re in the water?
