Page 1 of SEAL's Temptation

Chapter 1

––––––––

NAVY SEAL RYAN “RENEGADE”Pierce grinned as he hiked along the well-worn trail through the rainforest on the perfect Hawaiian morning.It was early.Too damn early for most people.That hadn’t stopped the pretty blonde he was with from agreeing to an early morning adventure with him.The day felt damn spectacular.The clear blue sky peeked through the canopies of tall trees around them, the sunlight warm in the patches where it came through the tropical leaves.Even the air was fragrant and soft—delicate, and somehow reminding him of the woman only feet in front of him.

“This is fun,” Avery said, glancing back over her shoulder to flash him a smile.Her blonde hair swished with the movement, pulled into a ponytail and through the back of her navy-blue baseball cap.She somehow managed to look both cute-as-hell and sexy dressed in her hiking gear.It was an interesting combination, and he couldn’t stop the corner of his mouth from tugging up.Avery looked good in everything.

She’d look good in nothing, too, not that he’d be undressing her in the middle of the forest.

Or ever.

But damn how he’d love a shot with her.

“You’re adventurous,” he said, impressed.“Not every woman would want to spend their Saturday morning hiking on a dirt trail through the woods.”

“I’m not every other woman.”

“Touche,” he quipped, not missing the sparkle in her bright blue eyes.“And you even brought your hiking boots on vacation.That’s like bonus points right there,” he teased.“You’ve already catapulted above every other woman I know.”

He was laying it on thick and didn’t miss the pretty flush on her face.Or the amusement dancing in her eyes.“Of course.I can’t sit still for long.You know that, Ry.”

He smiled.Nope.Avery certainly wasn’t like most other women.She wasn’t about to spend hours getting her hair and nails done or an entire Saturday shopping and primping for a night out.Some women would absolutely love a day full of relaxation.But this woman?

Hell to the no.

She’d rather be out living her life than fussing over her appearance, and Ryan appreciated the hell out of that.They had fun whenever they were together, as infrequent as it was.He wasn’t sure what he’d do if Avery lived here.Kiss the hell out of her.Marry her.

He smirked.They’d never even been on a date given the fact that they were just friends, but damn.Avery was an absolute knock-out, and spending time with her always sent a jolt of adrenaline through his system.He couldn’t get enough of the pretty blonde, and given her reactions around him, he suspected the feeling was mutual.

She easily jumped down from a large rock, her hiking boots landing on the dirt and her blonde ponytail swinging through the air.The lavender tank top she wore showed off her narrow shoulders and toned arms, and her legs peeking out beneath her utility shorts?Yep.Those were pretty fantastic, too.Long.Shapely.He bet they were as soft and smooth as they looked, and he was itching to run his hands up them to find out if he was right.

Ryan swallowed.He could practically imagine wrapping his hands around Avery’s hips, playfully guiding her back against a big tree, and then kissing the hell out of her, finally tasting that pretty pink mouth.

They were just friends, he reminded himself.Flirtatious friends, perhaps, but friends nonetheless.Avery didn’t live here, so he wasn’t going to be getting up close and personal with her, no matter how badly he wanted to.She deserved way more than one night together, and he couldn’t exactly offer that.Not when the Navy decided his every deployment and PCS.

Ryan watched Avery’s hips sway in front of him for a moment, staring at that perfect ass, then quickly looked away.Avery didn’t need him ogling her.He could be a gentleman.Mostly.

When he’d told Avery he was going hiking this morning, he hadn’t really expected her to join him.Hoped?Of course.But had he thought she’d really be up for it after only having arrived in Honolulu a day earlier?Not a chance.Yet she’d texted him back last night and readily agreed, and he’d shot out of bed first thing this morning, looking forward to their day together more than anything in a long while.

“Your brother know you’re here?”Ryan asked after a few more minutes of hiking along the peaceful trail.

Aaron “Anchor” Nielsen wasn’t exactly thrilled about the sparks shooting between Ryan and Avery—not that Aaron’s displeasure had stopped them from seeing each other whenever Avery visited the island.Ryan figured no guy would be good enough in Aaron’s mind, and Avery did what she wanted anyway.

She flashed him a look.“Nope.And don’t tell him.He’s overprotective enough already.”

Ryan bit back a smile.“I can protect you.”

“Yep.Already knew that.”

The gleam in her eyes made him chuckle.Too bad Avery didn’t live in Oahu.She was adventurous, fun, smart-as-hell, and oh yeah—fucking gorgeous.From the moment they’d met months ago, they’d clicked.She was almost as tall as him, and he loved that he could practically look her right in the eyes.She was still smaller than him though—toned and fit, but nothing compared to his strength and bulk.He loved that, too.Ryan had spent many a night imagining her smaller body beneath his, his hands running over that smooth skin, his lips exploring everywhere.

Would she be shy in bed?Teasing as she tried to take control?

His lips quirked at the idea.He must’ve had eighty pounds on her.More.The only way Avery would overpower him was if he let her.Although he might have fun watching her try.

He already knew they’d be good together.In bed.In the shower.Up against the wall.They had that elusive chemistry people yearned for, and didn’t it just suck that she’d never be his.Ryan was stationed here in Honolulu, and while Avery could find a pediatric nursing job most anywhere, she’d been looking into paid positions with Doctors Without Borders, which meant she’d be jetting off somewhere else in the world.

Somewhere even farther away from him.

---