Page 43 of SEAL Summer Escape

“No problem there,” he said with a chuckle.“I run because I have to for training.It’s not exactly fun unless you’re running through the rain with a beautiful woman.”

She flushed as Mason started the engine.

“I have some dry clothes you can change into at my place,” he said, glancing over at her.“They’ll be way too big, but at least they’ll be warm.Or I can take you home to get something if you’d prefer.”

“I guess I can change into something of yours if you don’t mind,” she said shyly.Mason had to be a foot taller than her, but something about wearing clothing that was his, that had been flush against his skin, sounded appealing.

“All right.I kind of like the idea of you wearing my clothes,” he said, his voice gruff.

He pulled onto the road, his windshield wipers swishing back and forth.Another loud crash of thunder sent her jumping in her seat.The heavens completely opened then, with rain pounding down on his SUV.

“I’m glad you have a large vehicle,” she said as Mason carefully navigated the wet roads.“With some of these storms we get, I’m worried to drive alone through them in my small car.”

“You’ve probably met some of the guys on the other SEAL team in Anchors,” he said.

“Probably.It’s tough to keep track of everyone, but there’s definitely familiar faces in there every week.”

“One of the guys, Mike, has a girlfriend named Kenley.Actually, I think they’re engaged now.It’s hard to keep track of everyone on their team.But anyway, Kenley’s car ran off the road in a bad storm a year or so ago.Mike ended up finding her when no one else could.”

“Wow, that’s amazing.And horrible,” Taylor added.

“Yeah, amazingly she wasn’t hurt too badly, and her car was in one piece.She was stuck inside though and couldn’t get out.”

“You seem like you’re all really close,” she observed.She had her best friend Bailey of course but never a large circle of friends like Mason did.

“We are.But you’ll get to know all of them more, too.We all look out for one another.”

A few minutes later, Mason was pulling into the driveway of a townhouse not far from Little Creek.“Are you renting?”she asked, feeling slightly envious of all the space he must have.Her tiny apartment worked for her, but she’d love to have a bigger home someday to decorate with her photos.

“I bought it a few years ago,” he said proudly.

“Consider me impressed.”

He shrugged.“I get hazard duty a lot of the time, and there’s not much I need.I saved up and was ready for my own place.”He looked out the window at the pouring rain.“I guess we can make a run for it.I can go in and grab an umbrella if you want, but seeing as though we’re already both soaking wet....”

“Let’s run,” she agreed.

“All right.I’ll grab the food from the trunk and then come around to get you out.”

Before she could protest, he was already opening the driver side door and circling the car.The hatch to the trunk closed as soon as he grabbed his backpack, and then Mason was opening her door.He helped her step down, the rain pouring down around them, and before she could say a word, he was scooping her up into his arms.He pushed the car door shut with his side as she clung to him, and then Mason was jogging up the front steps.

He typed in a few numbers on the keypad he had instead of a keyed lock, and then they were inside his foyer, Mason gently setting her down.His hands ran down her sides as she got her balance, as if he didn’t want to let her go.

Her nipples pebbled beneath her dress, her chest rising and falling at Mason’s closeness.

“I’m getting your hardwood floors all wet,” she belatedly noticed as water dripped off her.

“It’s fine,” Mason said, his voice gruff.His wet tee shirt clung to his chest, and she could see his broad pectorals and the outline of his firm abs.He stepped out of his shoes, kicking them to the side, and then he ducked down and was kissing her.Softly at first and then more intensely.

She shivered at his touch, and his hands freely roamed her body.

Palming one breast.Wrapping around her waist.

He tasted of the ocean and something else darker and distinctly male.

His thumb grazed over one nipple through the wet cotton of her dress, and she softly moaned.

Gasped as one of his hands dropped to her thigh, teasing beneath the fabric.Clutching the fabric of her damp dress, his hands slowly dragged it up her thighs.“Let’s get these wet clothes off,” he said huskily, and then Mason was lifting her dress.

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