SEAL's Desire (Alpha SEALs Coronado #1) - Makenna Jameison Page 0,31

down her cheeks had made his chest clench. She was afraid of being captured again. She’d trusted her guide to protect her while she did her research and had ended up tied to a pole. Kidnapped. Nearly raped.

Of course she was scared. The fact that she’d held herself together so well this long was a damn wonder. He’d made sure to ask about her broken wrist this morning but hadn’t paid much attention to her mindset.

She’d seemed okay, so they’d been chatting about mundane stuff like they weren’t stuck out here in the jungle with potentially dangerous men all around.

He’d been cautious last night. His weapon had been in his hands. He was attuned to his surroundings. When he’d briefly slept, he’d had his night-vision goggles on in case anything woke him up.

But the way she clutched tightly to his hand now?

Damn. Her trust practically slayed him.

Her breathing had slowed as they’d moved further on, and he hoped she’d relax enough so they could get where they needed to be. He’d move much more quickly if he were alone, but having her right at his side, her hand in his, felt right.

He’d never really considered himself the chivalrous sort. Sure, he’d hold open the door for his date and make sure she was thoroughly sated after they slept together. But walking around holding hands? Being attuned to a woman’s feelings?

God damn.

Maybe he should just give up his man card right now.

His SEAL buddies would probably laugh to see him traipsing through the jungle, hand-in-hand with Clarissa. Then again, they helped civilians when they rescued them. His team would think she literally needed help walking out of there.

Not that it made his own chest clench when she was afraid.

They stopped to climb over a fallen tree, and Blake reached up after he’d jumped off it, helping her down.

Hell.

Clarissa was so small and slender compared to him, he had half a mind to just haul her into his arms and not let go. He wanted to shield her from the world, keep anyone else from harming her. Now with his hands at her slender waist and her body close to his?

Something felt oddly right about it.

Not that he dated women he saved, but damn. The way her blonde hair had been sexily tousled when she woke up, the way she’d slept on his sweatshirt?

He could get used to something like that. Odd, because he didn’t really have serious girlfriends. Sure, he had in the past, but those relationships always fizzled out. The life of a SEAL was rough, and while some women enjoyed dating one, they didn’t love his deployments and habit of up and leaving without notice. Not that he had a choice in the matter.

Being out here camping overnight with Clarissa had been almost damn peaceful. They didn’t have much in the way of gear, but she hadn’t complained. Any of the women he’d been with in the past back home would be fussing over their hair or whining about their makeup.

She was completely natural, yet gorgeous.

And she’d been through a hell of a lot.

He released her waist, and they continued walking, Blake once again taking her hand. It wasn’t necessary, but the way she held it tightly, giving him her trust, was humbling. And the fact that he liked her hand in his? Well, so what if he did. It didn’t mean a fucking thing. He was just helping the woman he’d rescued.

Blake heard the sound of water up ahead, but it turned out to be just a small stream. “We can refill our water bottles here,” he said as they came to a stop.

Clarissa agreed, and he took his canteen back from her, ducking down to fill it up.

“What?” he asked, catching the expression on her face as he stood back up.

She shook her head, her blonde hair shimmering in a lone beam of sunlight. “It’s silly. I went hiking with this guy a few months ago—I mean, truth be told, I think he just agreed to the hike because he wanted to get me into his bed. It was our third date.”

Blake chuckled, filling the second bottle.

“But anyway, we went hiking one Saturday afternoon. First he was mad that his tires got dusty when he drove to the trailhead, and then he seemed upset that his shoes got a little muddy. I mean, we were hiking for God’s sake. Of course there’s a little dirt. And here you are trudging through the rainforest, crouching down by the