What You See (Sons of the Survivalist #3) - Cherise Sinclair Page 0,42
a person. Bored guards were known for taking potshots at anything that moved in the surrounding forest. Frustration simmered inside him because simply destroying the place wasn’t possible—not with innocent women and children there. There might even be new recruits who hadn’t realized what they’d signed on for. Maybe. He doubted a person would remain ignorant of their purpose for long.
As if she’d heard his violent thoughts, she stiffened in her sleep, her hands twitching, her breathing speeding up. A crease between her brows and her whimpers indicated she wasn’t having a good dream.
Fuck knew, he had the bad kind all too often.
“Frankie,” he murmured. He set his hand on her leg over the blanket, letting the warmth penetrate. Slowly, he glided his palm over her thigh, up and down. “I’m here. You’re safe.”
Her breathing halted for a second, before she wakened. Her gaze focused on him—“Bull”—and desire rose in her eyes.
Tempting, tantalizing desire.
Fuck. “Yeah. You’re in my home—and safe. You had a nightmare.”
“I did, only it wasn’t all a dream.” Her voice rose with amusing indignation. “I got shot.”
“So, you did.” He kept stroking slowly. Wishing—as he shouldn’t—that the blanket didn’t cover her bare leg. “Hell of a day, hmm?”
“There’s an understatement.” She turned toward the front windows that faced the lake, and her eyes widened. “It’s dark.”
“It’s after 11:00.” Night had fallen while she’d slept. Enjoying the sunset on the lake, then the moon-shimmer on the snowy mountains, he hadn’t turned on the inside lights. Only the various kitchen electronics provided any light in the house.
When Frankie struggled to sit up, Bull pulled her to a sitting position. And enjoyed the sway of her full breasts under his T-shirt.
Her mouth curved up…because she’d noticed the direction of his gaze.
He shrugged. “I’d say I’m sorry, but it wouldn’t be true. You have beautiful breasts.”
Her laugh was low and husky. “Okay, yes. I do.”
Yeah, he really did like her.
“Thank you for insisting that I stay.” She pulled in a long breath that had him checking out those breasts again. “Knowing I could have died… Being here, somewhere safe, let me get past it.”
“That was the plan.” It’d helped him too, knowing nothing would hurt her here. Not with him around. He’d needed that assurance as much as she had.
She leaned forward, running her hand up his shoulder, behind his head, and gave him a straight-forward, heated look. “Thank you. For the rescue. For handling everything and giving me a quiet space to recuperate.”
Her lips pressed against his, warm and soft, opening to him. When he put his arm around her and pulled her close, her body went boneless, letting him have all the control.
She tasted of cinnamon-apple tea as he took the kiss deeper, exploring and teasing, before drawing back.
In the dim light, he could see her eyes were filled with desire, and damn, but he wanted more. Shaking his head, he drew away.
“What?” Her frown was delightful, dark brows together, mouth twisted in an adorable pout.
“Gratitude sex…let’s not go there.” If and when they hooked up, he wanted honest emotions.
Her eyes widened, then she grinned at him. “That kiss was your thank you. Nothing more.”
“A kiss is good. Beats getting a card in the mail.” Cards had been forwarded to him a time or two after hostage rescues.
Her tongue ran over her upper lip. “Um, more kisses would be good.”
“I only rescued you once.”
“Moving on from that…” Her skin darkened with a blush. “Maybe, as two consenting adults, we could possibly indulge in some simple sex with…um, no expectations for anything afterward. With the caveat that nothing intrudes into work.”
“Simple sex.” Nothing about this woman was simple. He studied the sultry look in her dark eyes and admitted that the attraction between them had been there since they met.
He rubbed his lips lightly over hers and murmured, “I could do with some indulging.”
Her lips tipped up with her smile. Framing her face with his hands, he kissed her. Invading. Demanding.
She had a luscious mouth.
More.
Rising, he snapped his fingers for Gryff and let the dog out into the grassy shared courtyard. “Go enjoy the evening, buddy.” Closing the door, he flipped the lock and glanced toward the sectional. With the lights off, nothing would be visible from outside.
As Bull rejoined her, Frankie laughed. “Don’t want to corrupt your baby?”
“He’s an innocent li’l pup, all hundred pounds of him.”
“I did notice he was lacking some…equipment,” Frankie said. “Perhaps I should make sure that you haven’t suffered the same fate.”