Page 24 of SEAL's Temptation

They made love slowly.Sweetly.Ryan rocked into her so carefully, she felt like she might burst.He gripped her hands again, but even that seemed gentler, his fingers weaving between her own.When she finally came, Ryan was staring into her eyes, almost like he was trying to memorize the moment.He followed with his own release shortly after, groaning out her name as he buried his face in her neck.

“I really won’t see you for a year?”he asked later, both of them washing off in his shower, the moment a mixture of bubbles and teasing touches and caresses.

“We get some personal days,” she told him, giggling as Ryan insisted on helping her wash her hair.“So bossy,” she mock-chastised.

He grinned.“You love it.”

She didn’t deny it, simply closed her eyes as he finished lathering her hair with shampoo and rinsing it from her long, blonde strands.“As for vacation days, I’ll just have to see how it goes.I’ll be the newest person down there—one of the newest.And I’ll be managing the nursing staff.I won’t up and take vacation days if it’ll leave them in a bind.”

“I know you won’t,” he assured her.“But if you find out when or if you can come to Hawaii, try to give me a head’s up so I can arrange for time off.Otherwise, you could be here, and I’ll be on the other side of the world, deployed to God knows where.”

Her face fell, and Ryan kissed her.“We’ll be okay.”

“This is harder than I thought,” she whispered as they got out of the shower, Ryan toweling her off.

His grin warmed her heart as his big hands landed on her hips.“Yeah, but the past twenty-four hours were a hundred percent worth it.”He planted a kiss on her forehead.Her nose.Her mouth.She stared into his light green eyes.“And when a year is up and you come to Oahu?I’m not sure I’ll be able to ever let you go.”

Chapter 11

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AVERY’S HEART THUDDEDin her chest as she strode across LAX several days later, her large hiking backpack strapped to her back.She’d already checked a large duffle, full of her extra belongings and medical supplies.Funny that she was nervous.She’d traveled extensively with Doctors Without Borders in various volunteer capacities over the years.She’d flown on vacations and off to conferences every couple of months as well.With her nursing schedule of days on and days off, she took time when she could to travel.

She stopped at the gate, easing her heavy backpack to the ground.Her shoulders already ached from her trek through the airport.Funny how she’d told Ryan she had no trouble hauling gear around herself.

Sinking down into a chair, she thumbed him a text.It was Saturday, so she knew it was likely he’d have his cell on him.When they were training, the men often stashed them in their lockers.

Avery:About to get on the plane.I’ll let you know when I land in Panama.

Ryan:Miss you already.

Ryan:Actually, I’ve missed you since the day you left.

Avery:I miss you, too.:( I didn’t think moving to Panama would be this hard.

Ryan:That’s not the only thing that’s hard.xoxo Just kidding, baby.

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