Page 49 of Walking the Bird

“Don’t tell me you’re still hung up on me getting onto group six and you didn’t?”

Leaning back in his seat, “I’m not pissed you made it, just the way you went about it.” During training, Ghost had found a huge flaw with the program. While he knew the government wouldn't do anything about it, he made plans to create a similar program minus the flaw.

“Are you fucking kidding? I showed them how to fix the flaw.”

“After I fucking showed you how! Hell, I had to point out the problem to you in the first place.”

Having his fill of the old-school bullshit, “Gentlemen, shut the fuck up!” Viper’s commanding voice closed the mouth of every man in the room. “I don’t give two shits about who did what or where they ended up. We have an innocent woman trapped by a rogue SEAL. The only thing I want to hear is how the fuck we get her back.”

Bash shifted his gaze back to Viper. “I found a way into the sub. It won't be easy and I can't be sure it’s clear.”

“Show me,” Viper pointed to the schematic on Reaper’s computer.

* * *

“I wishthere was something I could do besides sitting here.” Rubbing her arms, Melinda stood on the deck of Cade’s room, staring out over the calm ocean.

“You’re safe, which will allow my brother and his team to do what they do best and find Eleni.” Coming to stand behind her, Cade wrapped his arms around Melinda.

“I know,” she let out a long breath. “It’s just…”

Spinning her around, “Just what?” Cade pleaded, feeling the unease coming off Melinda.

“I need something to distract me.”

“Okay,” Cade began to make a mental list. “Do you have any work you need to do?”

“Not what I had in mind.” Melinda pulled out of Cade’s embrace, dragging her fingers along the polished wood of the railing, shooting a sexy grin over her shoulder before disappearing into the room.

Cade stood with his mouth open, waiting for Melinda to peak around the corner and yell, just kidding. After several tense moments and no sign of the beautiful blonde, Cade jogged into the room. He came to an abrupt halt as he caught the gorgeous skin of Melinda’s naked back as she slipped her dress down her body.

Swallowing thickly, Cade took several cautious steps toward Melinda, keeping his focus on her fingers as she caressed her skin.

“Holy fuck, you’re gorgeous.” The words were out of his mouth before he could contain them, his gaze flashing to Melinda’s, pleasantly surprised to see a blush coloring her cheeks.

“How can you tell? You’re so far away.” Reaching behind her back, Melinda unclasped her bra, allowing the material to float to the ground. “Come closer, Cade.”

His body moved of its own accord, his fingers trailing down her sun kissed skin from her collar bone to the hardened peaks of her rosy nipples.

“Your touch feels so good,” tilting her head to the side. “Please don't stop.”

Cade warred with himself. He could pick her up, clear the fifteen or so steps to his bedroom where he could dive between her knees and fuck her with his tongue until she cried out his name. Or he could man up and ask her how damaged she was sexually.

Moving his hand to her face, Cade pulled her attention to him. “Melinda, I have to ask you something before we go any further.”

“It’s okay, I have birth control covered.”

“I don’t give a shit about that.”

“You don’t?”

“I need to know how much your captors hurt you?”

Melinda’s eyes grew wide, her fingers pressed to her lips.

“I have zero issues loving you into tomorrow, but I have to know what those bastards did to you.”

Turning to her left, “I got this scar when I didn't move fast enough.” Raising her left leg, “This was a scorpion bite, thought I was going to die from that one.” Lifting her left arm, “And this was the spot where I pinched myself so hard it left a scar after I was rescued.”

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