Page 38 of Bad Girls Don't Marry Marines (Rock Canyon, Idaho 3)

JUSTIN DROPPED TRENT off at the hotel next door to theirs and ignored his hint for Val to call him anytime as he gave her his card.

And she called him slick. This guy’s like oil.

As he parked in front of her hotel room, Justin took out his key and smiled. “How you feeling, champ?”

“Like someone keeps throwing baseballs at my head.”

“Well, let’s get you into bed.” He patted her thigh, got out of the car, and came over to her side.

“Somehow, I pictured you saying that to me under different circumstances,” she mumbled, so low he strained to hear her.

Grinning, he took her hand and wrapped his arm around her waist—not because she really needed the extra support but because it was an excuse to hold her close. “Me too.”

He caught the pink of her cheeks in the overhead lights of the walkway but liked to think it was him and not the cold making her blush.

He wasn’t going to give up on her, but he would give her time. Something about her past had her spooked, and he was willing to wait, to gain her trust and help her move on.

He just hoped it was him she’d be doing the moving on with.

Slipping out of his arms, she stuck her key into the lock and turned it. Facing him in the doorway, she said, “Thanks for being there today, hero.”

“I bet you say that to all the boys,” he said, cursing himself for being jealous when she was out of her head.

“Only the cute ones,” she teased.

Before he could tell her that bunnies were cute, she stood on her tiptoes, and reached up behind his neck. “Come down here.” He obliged her and received a chaste kiss on the mouth. When she pulled back sooner than he’d have liked, it was to say “Thank you” right before closing the door on him.

He stood there for a minute, before heading to his room, whistling softly. It was the first time she’d kissed him, however briefly.

It was a good start.

VAL HAD JUST finished brushing her teeth when there was a knock on the adjoining door. She started to turn her head but winced at the pain the motion caused and just made her way over instead. She opened the door, forgetting she was wearing her Bully Bulldog pajama set.

And by the grin on his face, he’d noticed the purple button-up top and pants. “Sexy.”

Sounding a lot sassier than she felt, she said, “Damn straight. What do you want?”

He stood in front of her in a pair of plaid boxers and a gray T-shirt that hugged his muscular shoulders. With his whiskey-colored eyes and half smile, if anyone in the room could be called sexy, it would be him.

“I was just going to say, leave this door unlocked in c

ase you don’t answer and I have to come check on you.”

Her snort was less than ladylike. “How do I know you won’t sneak in and seduce me in my half-conscious state?”

And just like that, he leaned over her, his eyes like warm honey. “Because when I have my way with you, you’ll be awake, you’ll be well, and you’ll be begging me for it.”

“Begging you?” she repeated, hoping he couldn’t tell how much his words had affected her. The tone of his voice was so velvety, her nipples had hardened like he’d caressed them.

He nodded, his expression solemn. “I’m afraid so.”

“If I was at full strength, I’m pretty sure you’d be the one begging me,” she said before she could stop herself. Why had she said that? Talk about mixed messages. She opened her mouth to apologize, but before she could, he stepped closer, his big body hovering over hers.

“Fuck, I’m begging now,” he replied, his voice a low growl that sent a shiver down her spine.

Raw, sexual power shot through her. “I’m sorry; I shouldn’t have said that.”

“I didn’t mind,” he said, lifting his hand to trail his fingertips over her cheek.

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