Page 55 of Hot SEAL, Under Pressure

“You really should stay laying down—” The second EMT, a guy, said.

“No,” was all she said in response. She was fine. She’d just gotten knocked around a bit.

There wasn’t blood or anything. Wait. Was there blood?

She reached up and gingerly felt the lump beneath her wet hair. She drew back her hand and glanced at it. Nothing red or even pink.

In light of that good news, she struggled to sit again.

“Wait. Slowly. Let me help you.” Stefan leaned low over her and slid one arm beneath her back.

He smelled of the sea—although she supposed she did as well.

She tried to help by bracing her hand on the sand but found her arms were like rubber from the long swim.

He reached down and looped her arm around his neck. “Hold on to me.”

His skin was warm even though the drops of water still beading off his hair felt cold as it fell on her.

This close she could see all the various flecks of color in his eyes. She felt the soft brush of hair on his chest against her bare arm.

Up close and personal with his two day’s growth of stubble she imagined how rough it would feel if she were to rub her cheek against it.

He cradled her in his arms as she sat between his legs. She wouldn’t have minded closing her eyes and resting for a bit. Her limbs felt like lead. Her mind too as thoughts moved slowly.

She deserved a nap after that swim.

Joanne’s voice had her drooping eyes widening.

The woman herself appeared amid the crowd gathered around her. “How are you?”

“Fine,” she answered without thinking.

“No. Not fine,” Stefan bit out.

“I am tired and sore, but I’ll be fine by tomorrow after a good night’s rest.” On the ground. In a tent.

Ugh.

But if how hard she slept after the run was any indication, she’d sleep well tonight after that swim.

“You were knocked out cold. You could have a concussion,” Stefan began.

“Do not say I can’t go to sleep because of that. I’m fine.” And tired as hell.

“You heard her. She’s fine.” Joanne turned to find the cameraman right there and took a step out of the shot. “We ready to shoot the elimination ceremony?”

Stefan let lose a string of obscenities so creative she had to smile.

Once he was done with his tirade, she said, “Help me stand?”

“You sure?” he asked.

“Yes.” They weren’t going far anyway. Just to the meeting area where she’d happily sit on a log and not move for a little while.

The camera followed every motion as Stefan helped her stand and then supported her as she walked.

“You okay?” Dani asked as they moved past where she stood looking as water soaked and exhausted as Shelly.

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