Page 119 of Hidden Agendas (Tempting SEALs 4)

“Sir. Understood.” His voice was weak as he moved. One foot in front of the other. A harsh frown creasing his brow.

The captain’s eyes gleamed with dampness as his nephew neared him.

“Sir.” Nathan paused beside him.

“Yes, Lieutenant.” The captain firmed his shaking lips.

“Sir. I could use a crutch.” His knees gave way, but the captain was there, his arms going around the taller man’s bony body, holding him to him as he shook with silent sobs.

“I have you, son,” he whispered. “I’ll be your crutch.”

Kell watched as they moved through the doorway, nephew and uncle.

His arms tightened around Emily as his gaze was drawn once again to Jansen’s dead body.

“Those gun lessons came in handy,” he murmured.

“Yeah, they did.” Her voice was shaky now, but hell, he was shaky, Kell thought. “And I won’t lose a moment’s sleep over it.”

He met her eyes and saw an understanding there he hadn’t expected. One he wouldn’t have asked for, because the warrior inside him wouldn’t be denied. But she understood. For the first time, he thought, she understood why he and her father had gone off to war, why they had risked their lives and the happiness of those they left behind.

To give innocence a chance.

“You two ready to go home?” the senator asked from the doorway. “We’re going to be doing a lot of explaining.”

“Home sounds damned good.” Emily sighed. “Real damned good.”

“Have they picked up Elaine?” Kell asked the senator.

“They took her into custody a while ago.” Richard grimaced. “We sent agents to the hospital Risa was admitted to and had her forcibly removed and taken to Bethesda. She was in bad shape.”

Kell felt the shaky breath Emily drew in.

“Jansen let the guards rape her on the plane the first time we were kidnapped,” she whispered, tears choking her voice. “She’ll need help.”

Richard nodded. “And she’ll get it. Come on, children, let’s load up. I’m just getting too damned old for this shit.”

He wasn’t the only one. Kell swung Emily into his arms, holding her close to his chest as she buried her face against him and let her tears fall free.

She had been strong. So damned strong. She hadn’t even hesitated to take Clay out. The single shot had pierced the other man’s heart and exploded from his back. At close range, cold as ice and madder than hell, his kitten had taken her vengeance despite his wishes to the contrary.

“Okay?” He cradled her in his arms as the helicopter lifted from Clay’s seaside home.

She nodded. “Tired though. Very tired.”

“Sleep, baby.” He kissed her forehead. “Just sleep and I’ll take care of everything else. I promise. I’ll take care of it all.”

Twenty-nine

SHE DIDN’T HAVE NIGHTMARES. IT was twelve hours before she collapsed into a bed only barely aware of Kell moving onto the mattress beside her and pulling her into his arms. There were no nightmares. She slept deep and undisturbed until a kiss feathered across her lips.

Emily felt the blankets easing slowly from her body as Kell kissed her with an aching hunger she had never known from him. Gentle kisses, soft nips at her lips, the lick of his tongue over the rounded curves as he pulled her closer to him.

“Emily.” He breathed her name into the kiss. “Wake up for me, baby.”

His hands moved over her body, sliding over her skin and setting off flares of pleasure that overwhelmed her awakening mind.

She had to touch him. To lean into his kiss, to soak up the heat and power that was so much a part of him. She needed him. Here and now, before he had time to remember the world outside and to walk away from her.

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