Page 17 of SEAL's Paradise
“It was my pleasure, kitten.I should’ve asked you out long before tonight.”
“Sawyer—” she started, and he could already hear the protest on her lips.
“Let’s go for a walk,” he said, suddenly changing direction and guiding her toward the area overlooking the beach instead of to his truck like he’d originally planned.
“I’m in heels,” she protested.
“And you look damn fine in them,” Sawyer quipped.
His gaze landed on the strappy shoes, feminine and sexy and all kinds of right.They’d look good propped up as he took her the way he wanted in bed—Riley spread open for him, legs tossed atop his broad shoulders as he thrust in and out, claiming her once and for all.
She mumbled something he didn’t catch, but a slow smile spread across his face.She was letting him guide her away from the parking lot, seemingly submitting to him already.Ironic that she’d been so full of bravado this afternoon, so intent on being the one in charge of the situation.
Was she playing him tonight?
Sawyer didn’t think so.
Sure, she wasn’t the waitress he’d come to know at Coconuts, but she wasn’t all brash boldness either.Riley was somewhat hesitant.Flushed and reserved around him.And damn if he wasn’t the man to get her to come out of her shell.
He saw a purple hibiscus flower on the ground and snagged it, presenting it to Riley.
“That looks like it fell off a lei,” she commented in surprise.“It probably belongs to some tourist.They hand them out at the airport.”
“Probably.But the flower is pretty and soft like you.”
“Soft?I beg to differ.”
He chuckled, and unable to resist, nuzzled against her hair as they walked, his hand sliding to wrap possessively around her hip.“Oh, you’re plenty soft, Riley.And someday I plan to discover all those secret places.”
She turned toward him in surprise, and without hesitating, Sawyer pressed his lips to hers.She gasped as he pulled back, the kiss over before it had begun, but the flush on her cheeks told no lies.This woman wanted him as badly as he wanted her.Maybe not tonight.Maybe not tomorrow.But one of these days he’d take her to bed, and it would be damn spectacular.
“Tell me about those communications you’ve intercepted,” he said as he guided her to a private area overlooking the ocean, the waves crashing on the shore.
“Here?Now?”she asked, flustered.
“Umm-hmm,” he agreed, pressing her against the railing, his front to her back.“Unless you have a better idea of how we can spend our time.”He shifted some of her hair to the side, lightly nuzzling her neck.Riley shivered, and Sawyer took the opportunity to wrap his arms around her shapely form.
“Sawyer,” she pleaded.
He had a good view of her cleavage from his vantage point, but he tried not to stare.Not too much, at any rate.“We’re alone here,” he reminded her.“The wind is drowning out our conversation.Tell me how you got the communications.Anyone who sees us will just think we’re two lovers enjoying a romantic sunset.”
Her breath caught, and heat licked through his veins.“I could kiss you again if that’d work better for our...cover.”
Riley huffed out an exasperated sigh.“So that’s what this is about.A show.”
His lips pressed against her neck, soft and teasing.“The way I feel about you isn’t a show.”
“And how exactly do you feel?”she asked.Her voice was light, cautious even, but Sawyer didn’t miss her slight shiver.
“Attracted to you.Aroused.But also damn curious about what you know.”He kissed her again, lightly nipping at her neck, and Sawyer bit back a smile as she squirmed.“Now that I’ve got your attention, tell me what’s going on.”
“About the intercepts?”Her voice was breathy.Her breasts rose and fell, and Sawyer reminded himself to keep his hands off.They were still in public, after all, and he was attempting to remain somewhat gentlemanly toward her.His thoughts, however, were veering far off course.
“That’s right, kitten,” he prodded, moving his lips to her temple.Pressing slightly closer so she felt exactly how turned on he was.“Tell me what you know.”
She didn’t answer for a beat, and Sawyer wondered if he was pushing her too hard.This was supposed to be her show—her operation.But she’d dragged him into it, and he wanted to find out exactly what intel she had.As much as he wanted to tease and flirt with her, a traitor on base was a hella big problem.
“I learned about the intercepts from my DOD contact,” she said, swallowing.“I think it was somewhat pure luck.They monitor chatter between various terror cells.This was out of the blue.There’d been no prior communication until the deal went through.The first missiles are long gone, but fortunately, the traitor’s greed will help us catch them in the end.They’ve been talking about a second transaction.By stopping the second sale and finding the mole, intercepting the missile if they move it off base, we hope to also track down the first missing weapons.To stop whatever attack they’re planning.”
