Page 39 of SEAL's Angel
“Yes, now kiss me already.” Dawn’s fingers slid through the dark wavy hair against his neck, and she pulled his head toward her until their lips met.
Jake took control of the kiss, sliding his tongue into her mouth to rub against hers. Dawn dropped her hands to his shoulders and angled closer to him until her hard nipples rubbed against his chest, sending sparks of need straight to her core.
They were both panting by the time Jake ended the kiss.
“You’re sure you’re ready for this, angel?” Jake lifted his pack onto the tree trunk and unzipped it, then waited for her answer.
Desire short-circuited her brain, and it took her a moment to realize what he’d asked. “Yes, I’m one hundred percent sure. It’s been a while for me, and I might suck at it.”
His sexy grin curled her toes. “I’m not worried. Just give into the moment, and everything else will disappear but us.”
Dawn nodded. He was right. Overthinking everything was her biggest pitfall to happiness. She needed to let it all go so she could live again and not just exist.
Jake kept one arm around her waist and then rummaged through his pack until he came up with a condom he tucked into the pocket of his jeans.
“Is there anything you’re not prepared for?” Dawn asked. Not that she needed to. He’d be ready for anything. Sexy. Badass. SEAL.
“You. If I could carry you around, I’d have everything I want.” His gaze searched her face.
Tears welled in her eyes as emotions overwhelmed her. Rather than stuttering a response, she leaned against his chest, the beat of his heart matching her own.
Those three little words, ones she’d never expected to say to another man, threatened to bubble up and pour out of her. But she swallowed them back down, still not sure if this was love or just desire. The butterflies doing somersaults in her stomach sure made it seem like love.
Jake’s fingers tilted her chin up to look up at him. His gaze was full of longing, and he gave her a gentle smile. “Don’t you know how much you mean to me?”
“Yes, you’ve told me. But I wondered if it was just talk. Saying it now is different, more intense. I mean, I’m sitting on your lap with your erection pushed against me and it’s just…so much more,” Dawn said, as the muscles of her core clenched in need.
“Angel, when I look into your eyes, I see hope for the first time in forever. But there’s no rush, you’ve already given me so much more than I ever expected.”
Dawn wiped the tear that escaped down her cheek. Where was the war-hardened SEAL her brother always told her about? This Jake was romantic, and his sweet words pulled on her heartstrings.
Before she could answer, Jake lifted her off his lap and stood her beside him. Then he grabbed his pack and swung it over his shoulder.
“Why are we getting up?” Dawn wondered if he’d changed his mind.
“I want to get us off the main trail, and I thought I heard water.” Jake’s smile reassured her.
“You’re right. If we go through the pines to the left, there’s a river and hot springs. I can’t believe I forgot about them.” Dawn sighed.
“That sounds perfect. If we’re lucky, no one else will be there.” Jake twined his fingers with hers and headed in the direction she’d pointed out.
It didn’t take them long to reach the river that curved through the state park. Large pine trees hugged the bank, and pockets of boulder surrounded areas formed the hot springs.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Dawn asked.
“Very, but not as beautiful as you, angel. I think this will be perfect, and we have it all to ourselves.”
Dawn shivered in anticipation as heat traveled up her neck and into her cheeks. “Do you want to go into the springs?”
“Oh, yeah. We both are.” Jake dropped his pack and slid out of his hooded sweatshirt, then took off his boots and T-shirt.
Dawn’s gaze slid over his sculpted chest. She’d never noticed the tattoo on his bicep, the scars along his right side and shoulder.
“C’mon, angel, let’s get in the water before we both freeze,” Jake prodded gently. Then he grabbed her sweater and pulled it over her head, taking her T-shirt with it. “I’ll race you.”
He always knew the right thing to say to ease her nervousness. Getting naked while he watched definitely made her nervous. She wasn’t thin or perfect like the women she’d seen him with over the years. After giving birth to two children, her breasts weren’t perky. She had stretch marks across her stomach, and the remains of the baby belly that she’d never been able to get rid of. But until today, she hadn’t thought about how he’d react to her.
“Whatever you’re thinking, stop,” he said, “You’re gorgeous. You may not see it, but I do. Always have. Now, either strip and race me into the spring or I’ll be more than happy to pick you up and toss you in dressed. How will you explain that when we get back to camp?” Jake waggled his eyebrows and grinned.
