Page 19 of SEAL's Temptation

Chapter 8

––––––––

AN HOUR LATER, THEYwere snuggled together on his sofa.While he normally cleaned up the dishes right after dinner, it already felt like his time with Avery was slipping away.They’d left their plates and wineglasses on the table, and he’d left the grill uncovered outside.Ryan could take care of all of that after he dropped her back at her hotel.

But right now?

Nothing mattered but the woman in his arms.

“I’m amazed you got the afternoon off,” she said.“The way Aaron tells it, you guys train hard and harder.”

He nodded.“We do, especially if we’re gearing up for something.”

“You’re not getting sent out this week, are you?”she asked, her brows creasing.

“Unlikely, but never say never.And as for today?My CO couldn’t have kept me away.”Their eyes locked for a beat, and he pressed his lips to her forehead.Her soft little sigh made his chest clench.

“I wish I could’ve taken off more time this week,” he admitted.

“My fault,” she said, looking chagrined.“I planned this trip rather last minute.I didn’t give you much of a chance to plan for anything.”

“No, I’m glad you came.”

Ryan tightened his arm around Avery’s shoulders, pulling her closer, and she rested contentedly against him.The TV was on some cooking show, but the volume was turned way down.Ryan’s fingers lightly caressed the warm skin of her bare arm, and he studied her, taking in her delicate features.Long eyelashes, blue eyes, and slender nose.

Her gaze met his again.

“What do you have to do before you move to Panama?”he asked in a low voice.

“A million different things,” she admitted.“I hired packers to box everything up.I’ll get my belongings and furniture moved into storage, and then I’ll meet up with the team down in South America.”

“You won’t fly together?”he questioned.

“No, but I’ll meet someone from the staff at the Panama City airport and be escorted to the site.I believe one new doctor is coming onboard around the same time that I am, and we’ll be joining the existing staff already there.”

“What type of security is there?”Ryan asked with a frown.

“I’m not sure of the specifics,” she admitted.“I’ll be receiving detailed safety information soon, as well as further training.I do know the medical tents are in a fenced in area, but we’ll be staying in housing in the village.It’s changed over the years due to the vast number of migrants heading north.While it used to be known for fishing, new businesses have sprung up because of the number of people passing through.They’ll set up tents outside of the village for a stopping point along their trek north.”

Ryan tensed.“It sounds unstable.”

“Yes and no.The settlement has grown as the number of people coming through has.Anyway, I’m not sure about phone coverage down there, but I should at least be able to email you.”

He continued to absentmindedly caress her arm, but didn’t say anything as his mind wandered.Sure, Avery could email him—assuming she was free to do so.Robberies and sexual violence weren’t uncommon in the area.Desperate people did desperate things.While he knew the good in Avery, he wondered if she truly understood the multifaceted dangers she would face.It wasn’t just the armed drug cartels she’d need to worry about.Even the people she was helping could get violent if left to no other option.

“Hey,” she said, sensing his worry.“I’ve done security trainings.I’ll follow whatever protocols are in place.They’ll tell me a lot more when I arrive, but these people desperately need medical care, Ry.”

He huffed out a sigh.“I know.Come here,” he said, suddenly lifting her onto his lap as she giggled in surprise.Avery was now straddling him, her hands on his shoulders as she stared into his eyes.Avery fit against him perfectly.Her sundress rode up her thighs, revealing more of her creamy skin, and her chest rose and fell, briefly drawing his gaze.Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes wide with arousal, and Ryan’s hands tightened at her hips.He loved that she was small enough that he could easily move her as he wanted, and judging from the look on her face, she liked it, too.

Gently palming the back of her head, he kissed her, taking his time as she practically melted in his arms.Avery wound her arms around his neck, clinging to him like he was her entire world.Ryan’s cock thickened, and he could feel the heat of her core pressing against him.She whimpered as her sex rubbed against his rigid length, and then he was peppering tiny kisses down her neck and across her delicate collarbone.She smelled of sunshine and flowers.The ocean breeze.The salty air.

Ryan kissed his way across her cleavage, loving her tiny little gasps of enjoyment.His fingers trailed under one tiny strap of her dress, and he paused to meet her eyes.If she told him no, he’d back off.Keep things between them strictly PG for now.But she sucked in a breath and nodded, and then Ryan was sliding both straps off her shoulders and gently tugging her dress down, watching as her pretty breasts spilled free.

Ryan’s heart stuttered as he gazed at her pale nipples and creamy globes.She was perfect.Round.Full.So damn tempting.He palmed one breast in his hand, kneading it gently.Avery was blushing, and she lightly bucked against him as his thumb rubbed her nipple, clearly as aroused as Ryan already was.

---