Page 16 of Flint's Battle

Emery stared up at him, eyes slightly glassy. Lips trembling a bit before she closed her eyes. Leaned forward enough to rest her forehead on his chest. “I’m such a goner.”

“Hell yeah, you are. And I’m right there with you. Now, let’s see if I can exceed expectations, again. Something tells me I have a high bar to meet.”

She eased back, giving his body a long, slow sweep. “Consider them exceeded. But let’s see how high you can raise that bar.”

“Challenge accepted. Take another breath because you’re going to be screaming my name for the foreseeable future.”

He moved, claiming her mouth as he stepped fully against her. Every damn inch touching. Her legs wrapped around hiships. All he needed to do was punch them forward and he would have been inside her. But he wasn’t ready for that just yet. He needed her to want it more. To be so wrecked with desire she wasn’t sure if it was pleasure or pain.

“God, Flint, consider me impressed, already.”

“Oh, no. Not yet.”

He eased back, chuckling at her huff of frustration. She looked more than pissed, and he couldn’t resist tasting her mouth one more time before slowly kissing his way down her body. Licking each perfectly hard nipple until her fingers speared through his hair, her nails scratching at his scalp.

His signal to move lower.

Her stomach tensed as he licked a path across her hips, her muscles creating small pockets of shadows against her skin. The woman was strong and fit — a perfect combination of beauty and grace. The way she’d chased down those assholes had more than impressed him. And if he hadn’t spent the past twenty years pushing his body beyond its limits, he wouldn’t have caught up to her.

He shoved those thoughts away. Now wasn’t the time to dwell on the fact she could have died. That she’d likely be putting herself in danger, again, in her efforts to hunt down the gunrunners. He could worry about that in the morning. Maybe figure out a way to have her back again — that offer her boss had tossed Flint’s way. Even if it meant breaking ranks and staying on the island if the rest of his team decided to leave, because Emery McClane was definitely his future.

Having her squirm as he spread her thighs farther apart, leveling his head with her groin had him fully focused on her. Those worries a distant memory because she was beyond stunning. Sitting there, practically vibrating with anticipation. And her scent… It was like a summer storm moving through the desert. Warm. Earthy.

He leaned forward, drew his tongue across her flesh and fuck… he was hooked. Had her body crushed beneath him as he ate at her, swirling all that slippery fluid around her skin then dipping inside.

She arched, nearly falling off the counter in an effort to increase the pressure. He managed to wrap one arm around her waist — hold her steady, as he continued his torture, smiling against her flesh when she yanked on his hair.

“Flint… I can’t…”

He gazed up at her, loving the pink flush of her skin and how her muscles tensed as she fought not to finish. “Can’t what? Hold on? Because that’s the idea.”

She moaned a version of his name as he slipped two fingers inside her, clenching his jaw when she pulsed around him. Her thighs tightened around his shoulders, her breath stalling on a gasp.

He straightened, still pumping one hand as he palmed the back of her head — devoured her mouth. She wrapped her arms around his back, crying against his lips as she froze, then broke, riding her release until her body went lax in his arms. Her head falling to his shoulder as he finally eased back.

He gathered her close, her heart pounding against his chest as she slowly regained a modicum of composure. Had the strength to lift her head.

And the way she looked at him… As if he’d quieted her inner demons. Made her see stars.

He wouldn’t pound his chest like some Neanderthal. He had more control than that. But damn, he wanted to. Wanted to strut around the room with her in his arms — shout to the world that she was his.

He really hoped she was his.

Not that he’d phrase it like that. Like some possessive asshole. But he couldn’t deny a part of him loved the thought. That they were bound.

Emery snorted, giving him a satisfied smile. “You’re pretty proud of yourself, aren’t you?”

She shook her head when he arched a brow. “Don’t even bother denying it. And I have to admit… that…”

“Dare I say you enjoyed yourself?”

“Wise ass. You know exactly how far you pushed me. And we haven’t even gotten to the main event. Think you can top that?”

“Oh, sweetheart. How you’ll eat those words because I thought we’d start with a quickie, here, then move into your room for the all-nighter. Ready?”

“Quickie?”

That’s all she managed before he had his mouth crushed against hers, her body tight in his arms. The SEAL part of his brain was firing just enough to open his wallet — grab a condom. A tear and a quick shift of his hips, and he had the damn thing on. Was reminding himself of all the reasons he needed to use it instead of simply sliding inside her. What he hoped would happen once he’d proven he was in this for more than a one-off. A twist and a thrust, and she was wrapped around him, his dick fully seated.

---