Page 15 of Flint's Battle

“Another challenge. And you can just kiss me. No stealth maneuvers required, sailor.”

If she thought he’d looked dangerous before, this was nothing short of lethal. The way his eyes darkened, burning all that blue and green into deeper shades as the corners of his mouth kicked up, accentuating the fine lines around the edges.

He gave her a ghosted brush of his lips, pausing a breath away. “Good to know. Because after the firefight and the chase — nearly letting you get shot — I’ve got energy to spare. So, take a deep breath. This could take the rest of the night.”

CHAPTER 5

Lucky.

That’s what Flint was, and he wasn’t going to waste this chance. Not when he’d nearly lost her tonight. If she wasn’t insanely skilled — if he’d been one second slower tackling her to the ground — she would have gotten shot. And not once or twice — something her vest could have stopped. That bastard would have caught her half a dozen times, and Flint doubted she would have come away from that still breathing.

She was definitely breathing now, each whispered rasp caressing his face as he stayed poised in front of her, their lips barely touching. He hadn’t expected her to make a move. Not after all they’d been through. Sure, sex was a natural reaction to the adrenaline dump and the near-death experiences. But Emery McClane didn’t strike him as the kind of woman who took a man to bed because of a rough night on the job. In fact, everything about her suggested this was far more than the two of them blowing off steam.

More like fate. The start of the next phase of his life.

Emery must have sensed he was waiting for some kind of sign — an indication she was all-in — because she smiled, and damn. It was like fireworks going off on the Fourth of July,lighting up her face. Making her skin glow. Then she leaned in — pressed her soft lips against his mouth.

Heaven or something better. The sweet taste of her. Not as deep as if he was ravaging her mouth with his tongue but still powerful. Like when those waves were crashing against the rocks tonight. An untamed fury he knew would explode the second they released any lingering inhibitions.

He lifted his other hand and brushed his thumb along her cheek. Anything to have more of that soft skin against him. And god, the sound she made. Somewhere between a purr and a growl. It went straight to his dick — had him tugging her against him. Because he needed to be closer. Nothing between them but anticipation.

Emery obviously agreed because she had her hands on the hem of his shirt — was trying to tug it over his head. But that meant releasing her. Actually removing his fingers from her hair — the other from her jaw. And he wasn’t sure he could do it. Relinquish his hold on her when he hadn’t even gotten a true taste of her.

She must have found a way. He wasn’t sure how. Didn’t remember giving up an inch but his shirt was falling to the floor a second later — her hands running up his chest, over his shoulders and into his hair.

That did him in. Had him tilting her head back — delving inside.

Electric. That was the only way to describe the jolt of heat that rippled through him. Like lightning finally finding its mark. The only thing missing was the flash of light, though he wouldn’t be surprised if his skin had actually arced.

By the time they finally came up for air, her ass was riding the counter, her legs wrapped around his hips. He had the sense to toss his wallet down beside her before he shucked his jeans. Getting rid of any kind of barrier between them.

Emery inhaled once he’d stripped down, muttering something that sounded like, “Oh god,” before her fingers were dancing along his skin. She leaned in, mouthing whatever bit of flesh she could reach as he yanked on her shirt.

Had he ripped the seam a bit? Torn it completely off? He wasn’t sure. Didn’t really care because she was down to her bra and panties in record time. Hell, he didn’t even remember lifting up her ass in order to get her jeans off, but they were definitely on the floor beside his. A sea of blue against the pale wood.

A lift of her arms and a scoot of her butt and she was bare. Just that sexy grin on her face as he drank her in.

He tried to swallow — and failed — not that it mattered. He didn’t need to swallow. Hell, to breathe. All he needed was her, sitting in front of him. Looking like every sinful dream he’d ever imagined wrapped in silky skin.

Flint managed to slow down for a second — trail one finger up her stomach, between her breasts before sinking his hand in her hair, again. “Christ, you’re stunning.”

Her mouth quirked, like she didn’t quite believe him, which was crazy. The woman was beyond gorgeous. And it wasn’t just on the outside. He’d gotten a good look at what was beneath. Her strength. The fire in her soul. Emery McClane was the real deal.

He stepped closer, running his other hand across her ribs, when his fingers brushed over a scattering of scars. He eased away enough to gaze down. Puckered marks lined one side — the distinctive shape impossible to miss.

“I thought you said you’d been shot, as in once?” He tsked. “This is more than once, sweetheart.”

She shrugged as if it was nothing. “L.A.’s a dangerous place, and I don’t have a team like yours. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever had anyone back me up the way you did tonight.”

Her fingers landed on his chest, right over the lump from the round he’d taken to the vest. What would be an impressive bruise by morning. “You stepped in front of a bullet for me.”

“Damn straight. And I’d do it again.” He scrunched up his face up when she stared up at him, eyes wide. Mouth slightly open. “What’s with the look?”

She blinked, wetting her lips before closing her mouth. Pursing it into a line. “I guess I’m just unsure what I did to deserve that kind of devotion.”

“Simple. You trusted me with your life. You could have insisted I stayed in the damn Jeep, like you told your boss. But you didn’t. You put your faith in me, fully aware it wasn’t just my career that could have ended tonight.”

He thumbed her jaw, again, loving how she pressed into his touch. “I realize I’ve wasted the past month agonizing over the fact I wanted to make a move even though I didn’t think you’d be on board. But that doesn’t mean I haven’t been slowly falling under your spell. Haven’t pictured having you like this a thousand times. No way I was letting you down the first chance I got to have your back. I know what it took for you to allow that. And it’s not something I’ll ever forget.”

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