CHAPTER 5
Lucky.
That’s what Flint was, and he wasn’t going to waste this chance. Not when he’d nearly lost her tonight. If she wasn’t insanely skilled — if he’d been one second slower tackling her to the ground — she would have gotten shot. And not once or twice — something her vest could have stopped. That bastard would have caught her half a dozen times, and Flint doubted she would have come away from that still breathing.
She was definitely breathing now, each whispered rasp caressing his face as he stayed poised in front of her, their lips barely touching. He hadn’t expected her to make a move. Not after all they’d been through. Sure, sex was a natural reaction to the adrenaline dump and the near-death experiences. But Emery McClane didn’t strike him as the kind of woman who took a man to bed because of a rough night on the job. In fact, everything about her suggested this was far more than the two of them blowing off steam.
More like fate. The start of the next phase of his life.
Emery must have sensed he was waiting for some kind of sign — an indication she was all-in — because she smiled, and damn. It was like fireworks going off on the Fourth of July, lighting up her face. Making her skin glow. Then she leaned in — pressed her soft lips against his mouth.
Heaven or something better. The sweet taste of her. Not as deep as if he was ravaging her mouth with his tongue but still powerful. Like when those waves were crashing against the rocks tonight. An untamed fury he knew would explode the second they released any lingering inhibitions.
He lifted his other hand and brushed his thumb along her cheek. Anything to have more of that soft skin against him. And god, the sound she made. Somewhere between a purr and a growl. It went straight to his dick — had him tugging her against him. Because he needed to be closer. Nothing between them but anticipation.
Emery obviously agreed because she had her hands on the hem of his shirt — was trying to tug it over his head. But that meant releasing her. Actually removing his fingers from her hair — the other from her jaw. And he wasn’t sure he could do it. Relinquish his hold on her when he hadn’t even gotten a true taste of her.
She must have found a way. He wasn’t sure how. Didn’t remember giving up an inch but his shirt was falling to the floor a second later — her hands running up his chest, over his shoulders and into his hair.
That did him in. Had him tilting her head back — delving inside.
Electric. That was the only way to describe the jolt of heat that rippled through him. Like lightning finally finding its mark. The only thing missing was the flash of light, though he wouldn’t be surprised if his skin had actually arced.
By the time they finally came up for air, her ass was riding the counter, her legs wrapped around his hips. He had the sense to toss his wallet down beside her before he shucked his jeans. Getting rid of any kind of barrier between them.
Emery inhaled once he’d stripped down, muttering something that sounded like, “Oh god,” before her fingers were dancing along his skin. She leaned in, mouthing whatever bit of flesh she could reach as he yanked on her shirt.
Had he ripped the seam a bit? Torn it completely off? He wasn’t sure. Didn’t really care because she was down to her bra and panties in record time. Hell, he didn’t even remember lifting up her ass in order to get her jeans off, but they were definitely on the floor beside his. A sea of blue against the pale wood.
A lift of her arms and a scoot of her butt and she was bare. Just that sexy grin on her face as he drank her in.
He tried to swallow — and failed — not that it mattered. He didn’t need to swallow. Hell, to breathe. All he needed was her, sitting in front of him. Looking like every sinful dream he’d ever imagined wrapped in silky skin.
Flint managed to slow down for a second — trail one finger up her stomach, between her breasts before sinking his hand in her hair, again. “Christ, you’re stunning.”
Her mouth quirked, like she didn’t quite believe him, which was crazy. The woman was beyond gorgeous. And it wasn’t just on the outside. He’d gotten a good look at what was beneath. Her strength. The fire in her soul. Emery McClane was the real deal.
He stepped closer, running his other hand across her ribs, when his fingers brushed over a scattering of scars. He eased away enough to gaze down. Puckered marks lined one side — the distinctive shape impossible to miss.
“I thought you said you’d been shot, as in once?” He tsked. “This is more than once, sweetheart.”
She shrugged as if it was nothing. “L.A.’s a dangerous place, and I don’t have a team like yours. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever had anyone back me up the way you did tonight.”
Her fingers landed on his chest, right over the lump from the round he’d taken to the vest. What would be an impressive bruise by morning. “You stepped in front of a bullet for me.”
“Damn straight. And I’d do it again.” He scrunched up his face up when she stared up at him, eyes wide. Mouth slightly open. “What’s with the look?”
She blinked, wetting her lips before closing her mouth. Pursing it into a line. “I guess I’m just unsure what I did to deserve that kind of devotion.”
“Simple. You trusted me with your life. You could have insisted I stayed in the damn Jeep, like you told your boss. But you didn’t. You put your faith in me, fully aware it wasn’t just my career that could have ended tonight.”
He thumbed her jaw, again, loving how she pressed into his touch. “I realize I’ve wasted the past month agonizing over the fact I wanted to make a move even though I didn’t think you’d be on board. But that doesn’t mean I haven’t been slowly falling under your spell. Haven’t pictured having you like this a thousand times. No way I was letting you down the first chance I got to have your back. I know what it took for you to allow that. And it’s not something I’ll ever forget.”
Emery stared up at him, eyes slightly glassy. Lips trembling a bit before she closed her eyes. Leaned forward enough to rest her forehead on his chest. “I’m such a goner.”
“Hell yeah, you are. And I’m right there with you. Now, let’s see if I can exceed expectations, again. Something tells me I have a high bar to meet.”
She eased back, giving his body a long, slow sweep. “Consider them exceeded. But let’s see how high you can raise that bar.”
“Challenge accepted. Take another breath because you’re going to be screaming my name for the foreseeable future.”
He moved, claiming her mouth as he stepped fully against her. Every damn inch touching. Her legs wrapped around his hips. All he needed to do was punch them forward and he would have been inside her. But he wasn’t ready for that just yet. He needed her to want it more. To be so wrecked with desire she wasn’t sure if it was pleasure or pain.
“God, Flint, consider me impressed, already.”
“Oh, no. Not yet.”
He eased back, chuckling at her huff of frustration. She looked more than pissed, and he couldn’t resist tasting her mouth one more time before slowly kissing his way down her body. Licking each perfectly hard nipple until her fingers speared through his hair, her nails scratching at his scalp.
His signal to move lower.
Her stomach tensed as he licked a path across her hips, her muscles creating small pockets of shadows against her skin. The woman was strong and fit — a perfect combination of beauty and grace. The way she’d chased down those assholes had more than impressed him. And if he hadn’t spent the past twenty years pushing his body beyond its limits, he wouldn’t have caught up to her.
He shoved those thoughts away. Now wasn’t the time to dwell on the fact she could have died. That she’d likely be putting herself in danger, again, in her efforts to hunt down the gunrunners. He could worry about that in the morning. Maybe figure out a way to have her back again — that offer her boss had tossed Flint’s way. Even if it meant breaking ranks and staying on the island if the rest of his team decided to leave, because Emery McClane was definitely his future.
Having her squirm as he spread her thighs farther apart, leveling his head with her groin had him fully focused on her. Those worries a distant memory because she was beyond stunning. Sitting there, practically vibrating with anticipation. And her scent… It was like a summer storm moving through the desert. Warm. Earthy.
He leaned forward, drew his tongue across her flesh and fuck… he was hooked. Had her body crushed beneath him as he ate at her, swirling all that slippery fluid around her skin then dipping inside.
She arched, nearly falling off the counter in an effort to increase the pressure. He managed to wrap one arm around her waist — hold her steady, as he continued his torture, smiling against her flesh when she yanked on his hair.
“Flint… I can’t…”
He gazed up at her, loving the pink flush of her skin and how her muscles tensed as she fought not to finish. “Can’t what? Hold on? Because that’s the idea.”
She moaned a version of his name as he slipped two fingers inside her, clenching his jaw when she pulsed around him. Her thighs tightened around his shoulders, her breath stalling on a gasp.
He straightened, still pumping one hand as he palmed the back of her head — devoured her mouth. She wrapped her arms around his back, crying against his lips as she froze, then broke, riding her release until her body went lax in his arms. Her head falling to his shoulder as he finally eased back.
He gathered her close, her heart pounding against his chest as she slowly regained a modicum of composure. Had the strength to lift her head.
And the way she looked at him… As if he’d quieted her inner demons. Made her see stars.
He wouldn’t pound his chest like some Neanderthal. He had more control than that. But damn, he wanted to. Wanted to strut around the room with her in his arms — shout to the world that she was his.
He really hoped she was his.
Not that he’d phrase it like that. Like some possessive asshole. But he couldn’t deny a part of him loved the thought. That they were bound.
Emery snorted, giving him a satisfied smile. “You’re pretty proud of yourself, aren’t you?”
She shook her head when he arched a brow. “Don’t even bother denying it. And I have to admit… that…”
“Dare I say you enjoyed yourself?”
“Wise ass. You know exactly how far you pushed me. And we haven’t even gotten to the main event. Think you can top that?”
“Oh, sweetheart. How you’ll eat those words because I thought we’d start with a quickie, here, then move into your room for the all-nighter. Ready?”
“Quickie?”
That’s all she managed before he had his mouth crushed against hers, her body tight in his arms. The SEAL part of his brain was firing just enough to open his wallet — grab a condom. A tear and a quick shift of his hips, and he had the damn thing on. Was reminding himself of all the reasons he needed to use it instead of simply sliding inside her. What he hoped would happen once he’d proven he was in this for more than a one-off. A twist and a thrust, and she was wrapped around him, his dick fully seated.
He groaned against her ear, trying not to simply thrust into her until he came. “Jesus, Emery.”
Was she breathing? Had she just cursed under her breath? Had he been too rough? Entered too quickly? He wasn’t exactly small, and fuck, she was tight. Like a vise clamped around him, making his vision dim at the edges.
He tried to rein in all that heat— check-in — when she bit his shoulder muscle.
“Flint, move.”
Hell yeah, he’d move.
A scoot of her ass farther off the counter and she was tilted back — perfectly aligned for what he had a mind. A tentative slide out then a thrust back in to assure she really was ready, then he was moving. Pounding into her with all the pent-up energy from the takedown and watching her unravel in his arms.
Emery threw back her head, opening up the long line of her neck. He took advantage, nipping at her skin, then sucking the pulse point. Leaving a small blemish on her flesh like some randy teenager. But he needed a visual reminder of this moment. The claim he couldn’t voice out loud.
The love bite only set her off more. Had her screaming his name or maybe it was the word, “Yes”. Either way, she tried to drag him closer, pressing her fingers into his back. Probably leaving little crescent-shaped marks on his skin from her nails.
Which only spurred him faster. Thinking she wanted to claim him, too. That she was so far gone, only the primitive side of her brain was still working. She managed to get her heels notched in the small of his back — meet each thrust with a roll of her hips.
That pushed him over. The increased pressure. Knowing she was right there with him. Reveling in his loss of control as much as he was.
He cupped her ass in one hand, tangling the other in her hair. Gripping her head so he could ravage her mouth. Have every inch of them touching as he increased his pace until the fire burning down his spine took him over — had him emptying into that damn condom.
He wasn’t sure how long it lasted, everything blurring into a numbing haze. He came back to himself with her body crushed against his, only half her ass still on the counter. He had his mouth on her shoulder, his breath fluttering her hair as he tried to pull in enough oxygen to clear the dots — stop the room from spinning.
Emery clung to him, her chest still heaving. Her rasping pants echoing through the room. She didn’t try to pull away, shaking her head when he twitched. “Not yet. I…”
He chuckled, finding the strength to twist his head enough he could look down at her. Sweat beaded her forehead, her eyes squeezed shut. A deep pink hue colored her skin, her mouth curled into the beginnings of a smile.
He dropped a gentle kiss on her nose, smiling when she blinked several times before staring up at him through heavy-lidded eyes. Barely any of the green visible.
“You okay?”
She snorted, still holding him tight against her. “Not sure. Ask me again when I can feel my toes.”
She levered up — kissed him. Not soft and gentle the way he thought she would. This was desperate. Raw. As if he’d only scratched the surface.
He took his cue from her, kissing and biting until he was dying to have her again. Not in an hour or the morning. Now. Because once hadn’t been nearly enough.
Emery finally pulled back, sucking in air as she met his gaze. And if he’d thought she was gorgeous before, she was devastating, now. All that tawny-colored hair wild about her face. Her lips kiss-swollen. She nipped at his chin, laving the small hurt before getting impossibly closer. “That was…”
Her eyelids fluttered as she took a few more gasping breaths. “Do you still think you have enough strength for another round, because I’m thoroughly wrecked.”
Flint chuckled. “I could use a shower, but I assure you, the night’s just started. So, hold on… the ride’s about to get bumpy.”