SEAL's RESOLVE - Rebecca Deel Page 0,69
but I won’t curl up in a ball and go into a deep depression. I’ll keep myself busy and look forward to text messages or phone calls from you each day. My point is that I can and will handle your absences. When you’re home, I’ll enjoy spending every minute I can with you.”
The longer she spoke, the faster the ball of ice in his stomach melted. Kristi wasn’t going to walk away. Thank God. “So, you’re not kicking me to the curb, huh?”
“No.” Another kiss from the beautiful woman in his arms, this one longer and deeper. “I’m keeping you.”
He tightened his grip. “I don’t want to escape.”
She smiled against his mouth. “Good to know. Kiss me.”
Rafe captured her mouth for a series of long, intense, and deep kisses. He craved her touch and taste, and feared he’d never get enough of Kristi Stewart.
He broke the kiss as the realization that he was in love with this woman hit him with the force of a hurricane. Telling her the truth of how he felt wasn’t an option. Definitely too soon to share the news. He needed time to win her heart before he bared his soul and begged her to spend the rest of her life with him.
“Is something wrong?” Kristi asked.
“Everything is exactly right.” All he had to do was convince Kristi that he was worth the risk to her heart.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
An hour later, Rafe walked with Kristi inside the house and upstairs to her bedroom. He paused at the doorway, wrapping his arms around her, reluctant to let her go.
She glanced over her shoulder into the bedroom. “Are you sure you found all the cameras?”
“Positive.”
“I don’t know if I’ll ever feel comfortable sleeping in my own bedroom again.”
“Don’t let them win, Kristi.”
“I can’t sleep if the room is dark. That means someone watched me sleep.” She shuddered.
“That will never happen again.” When he found out who gave the order to place a camera in Kristi’s bedroom, Rafe’s conversation with him might involve his fists.
He longed to tell Kristi that he loved her, but this wasn’t the time or place. He also needed time to show the lady how much she meant to him. “I’ll be on watch from midnight to four. If you need me or if something spooks you, even a nightmare, come to me.”
Concern filled her eyes. “Three hours of catnapping on the couch doesn’t seem like enough.”
“I had less sleep than that each day for weeks at a time during BUDS.” He kissed her lightly. If he indulged in a deeper kiss, he might not be able to stop. Kissing Kristi was addictive.
“If something happens, come get me.”
“I will.” Rafe nudged her inside her bedroom. “Leave the door unlocked.” He stepped back.
“No good night kiss from my favorite Navy SEAL?”
Rafe tapped her nose. “Not wise, beautiful. My legendary control is like mist around you.”
Kristi smiled. “I’ll take that as a compliment. See you in the morning.” She closed the door.
Rafe headed to the kitchen to get his laptop and continue reading the files before he began his shift. He wanted to reread the FBI file as well. Hopefully, he’d be able to view the file without strong emotion blindsiding him.
He sighed. Fat chance of that happening. Studying that file without wanting to kill the men responsible for hurting Kristi wasn’t possible with his emotions tied in a knot.
Jackson was alone in the kitchen, standing watch at the back door. The medic seemed to be a million miles away. “Jackson.”
His teammate glanced over his shoulder before resuming his perusal of the yard. “How’s Kristi?”
“Exhausted.”
“Understandable.”
Rafe waited, hoping his friend would talk to him. Nothing. Should have known. “What’s up, Jackson?”
“Nothing.”
He snorted. “That’s the same answer Mom gives me when I ask what’s bugging her. Try again.”
“Are we going to be BFFs now, Torres?”
“You’ve been out of sorts for weeks. I want to help. Wolf Pack had my back when dismantling the Hunt Club renewed the pain of losing Callie. I’m returning the favor.”
“Appreciate the offer.”
“But mind my own business?”
The medic lifted one shoulder. “You said it, not me.”
Rafe rolled his eyes. Stubborn man. All of his teammates were mule stubborn. “If you want to brood, I’ll let you. For now. Kristi’s worried that our dating relationship upset you. Dial it down around her. She has enough to worry over without adding your resistance to our dating into the mix.”
Jackson spun, frowning. “This has nothing to do with Kristi. In fact, I’m happy that you’ve healed enough