Page 23 of SEAL's Tempest
“We may not have time to wait. If a blast triggers the failsafe it’ll just blow.” Tempest’s voice shook. “We’re going to die here, if we open that door the whole building could implode.”
“Hey. None of that. We both knew things could go tits up. But so far so good. Let’s give the guys a chance to get here and see what’s what. Okay?” Josh asked. “Besides, this building is supposed to be secure and blast proof. It’s why they had to prewire the self-destruct protocol, right?”
“Yes, that’s what it said in the mission package.”
“Then we wait for the team to get here and don’t open the door until they can assess the situation from the other side.”
Tempest’s gaze darted between Josh and the video monitor. He reached up and turned it off. There was no point in continuing to look at the destruction. It wouldn’t do anything but amp up their stress levels.
“Oh my God, Josh, I’m so sorry,” Tempest said as she ran her hands through her hair. “You shouldn’t even be here. You’re risking your life because of me.”
“Tempest, look at me,” Josh said gently. The woman was made of steel, but everyone has a breaking point. It looked like she’d hit hers. “It’ll be okay no matter what happens. We both knew the risks going in. There is absolutely no reason for you to apologize.”
Tempest nodded, but all the color had drained from her cheeks. The dark circles under her eyes stood out against her pale skin. Seeing her like this pulled on his heartstrings.
Before his brain could tell him it was a terrible idea, he reached over and cupped her cheek with his palm. Her skin was smooth as silk, and he stifled a groan as he wondered how the rest of her would feel.
Her ice-blue eyes went wide at his touch, and her pupils dilated as she focused on him. He waited for her to pull away or yell at him for touching her. Neither happened. Instead, she leaned into his touch.
“It’ll be okay, I swear,” Josh whispered as he lowered his mouth toward hers.
It was supposed to be a chaste kiss, to offer comfort. Until their lips met, and a flare of desire sparked along his nerve endings and blasted straight to his cock. A groan escaped as his tongue slipped over her lower lip, seeking entrance into her mouth, silently asking her to open for him.
Tempest’s exhale opened her mouth for him. She trembled in his arms, whether from surprise or desire, he didn’t know. But he didn’t want to stop. His need to taste her, to learn her flavor, overwhelmed him. This woman had driven him crazy for months. But this, her melting in his arms, inhaling her citrusy scent, tasting her sweet flavor as his tongue rubbed against hers, this took his breath away.
ChapterTen
Prakeiktas,the man could kiss.
Tempest’s wrapped her arms around Josh’s neck and slid her fingers into his soft chestnut hair. Losing herself in his kiss was easy—too easy.
But his low groan as he pulled her closer brought her back to their reality, and she pulled out of his arms. Her lips tingled and felt swollen, and desire flared low in her tummy. It was so good, and as much as she wanted more, her brain slammed on the brakes.
Josh closed his eyes as his hands dropped to his side. She watched as he drew in a deep breath.
Šventoji Dievo motina—holy mother of God. After her sheer stupidity with her ex, she’d avoided dating. For the last two years, she’d focused on her career. But even though it had been a while, she’d never been kissed like that and had her toes curl. It was like suddenly all her romance novels made sense, and it had only taken one kiss to figure it out. But now she wanted so much more even if it was totally inappropriate.
It had to be the stress, right? Two days ago, they weren’t even talking. Tempest stifled a nervous giggle. Maybe she should hate on more men if she could get more panty melting kisses. Her cheeks heated at the thought, and she walked over to the coffee table where she’d left her water bottle. As she took a drink, she felt more than heard Josh approach, but he didn’t touch her. She should be happy, but she wasn’t. Not really.
“I’m sorry, Tempest. That was way out of line. If you need to report this when we get back, I won’t deny it.” Josh’s voice was rough. Was he upset, or was it desire? She didn’t know him well enough to know for sure.
“I’m not going to report you,” Tempest said. She’d already caused him enough trouble, trouble he hadn’t deserved.
“You’re not? Even after what happened with…” His surprise easy to see.
Shame over her previous actions doused her desire faster than a bucket of ice water. “I could have stopped you, but I didn’t. Maybe it’s our current situation, I don’t know. But you didn’t force me into anything. And I…I enjoyed it.”
This time, she did laugh at the shocked expression on Josh’s face. She couldn’t help it. “I’ve been that bad, huh? I’ll probably be making it up to you for years.”
“Nah, a few more kisses like that should take care of it.” Josh winked, and it sent a surge of desire to her core.
She didn’t know how to respond, so she focused on drinking her water to avoid having to answer. Being teased by Josh was a whole new experience. She’d been hit on plenty of times over the years, and she took care of that without a second thought. But his sexy innuendos? How was she supposed to react to that?
“I can’t reach Quinn. I get nothing but static, but they’re probably out of range at the EXFIL,” Josh said a moment later.
She’d been so tied in knots over his kiss, she hadn’t heard him try to reach his team. But she needed to focus on their predicament. “Maybe, hopefully? It hasn’t been that long since the last message, right?”
“About fifteen mikes, give or take. I’m not sure what his position was then, either.”
