Read Online SEALs of Summer 2: A Military Romance Superbundle by Lynn Raye Harris, Elle Kennedy, Anne Marsh, Delilah Devlin, Sharon Hamilton, Jennifer Lowery, Cora Seton, Elle James, S.M. Butler, Zoe York, Kimberley Troutte - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Lynn Raye Harris, Elle Kennedy, Anne Marsh, Delilah Devlin, Sharon Hamilton, Jennifer Lowery, Cora Seton, Elle James, S.M. Butler, Zoe York, Kimberley Troutte
Ads: Link
trips, but the last two, we made camp for a night each time. And he struck up a conversation with me.”
Both of them had known it was against the rules. He wasn’t directly up her chain of command, but it was close enough that he was considered her superior.
Vince tensed as the silence stretched out. “When did he seduce you?”
“It wasn’t like that.”
“What was his rank?”
“He was a major.”
“Then yes, it was fucking like that. When?”
She nervously swiped her tongue across her lower lip. “While we were still in Afghanistan. My roommate thought it was romantic. So she gave us privacy. I was…I thought we were equals in the relationship.”
“What happened?”
“Nothing, at first. Our returns were staggered. He was home for almost a month when I got back, and he couldn’t make the coming home ceremony, but he brought me takeout that night and slept over. Then he pulled away, claimed it was too risky. I was—” She’d felt heartbroken, at the time, but now she knew better. “I was disappointed. And confused. I could keep a secret, and I wasn’t looking for a real relationship. We both worked too much to socialize as a couple. But then he told me he was going back to his wife.”
“He was married?” Vince’s voice had dropped to a sharp slice of sound, just above a whisper.
“Yes. That was the first I’d heard of it. And that was the end…until he emailed me a few month later to say he was leaving his wife again, this time for good.” Her voice cracked as she recounted going out on actual dates, and then the last time, where he’d introduced her to his kids.
She’d never forget how easily she fell for his lies. “Just as a friend, Larken. They’re not ready to know I’m dating yet.” He’d told her that, and she’d made them cookies and promised they could come back. He’d made her lie, too.
Larken closed her eyes as Vince shifted his hands, gripping her arms. He moved her away from his body, but he didn’t move her far. Just enough so he could touch his fingers under her jaw and lift her chin so she was looking at him. She assumed—it felt like they were face to face. Like a coward, her eyes were still shut.
“Look at me, cariño.”
Her heart leaped at the endearment. She blinked her eyes open.
His steady brown gaze was locked on her face. “You did nothing wrong.”
“That’s not what the U.S. Army decided.”
“How did they find out?”
“His wife. Turned out he wasn’t exactly separated either time.”
“Please tell me he was dishonorably discharged.”
She nodded. “Conduct unbecoming an officer.”
“And you?”
“I’m here.” Her punishment had been less severe, but her career had still been cut short. She’d run out her contract as a supply clerk and after two seasons of playing over-qualified lifeguard at a resort in Clearwater, she’d leapt at Rik’s offer.
“That’s…well, it’s fucked.”
She shook her head. “I ignored a lot of clues. I didn’t know, honest to God I didn’t, but something didn’t add up. And I didn’t ask any questions.”
Resignation and understanding dueled in his eyes. “So you don’t trust easy now.”
“I…no. I don’t.” It hurt to acknowledge how bitter and brittle David had made her.
“And here I come, full of swagger and impossible good looks…” He winked at her as she laughed despite herself. “Right? I’m irresistible even though you can’t trust me. The mysterious man from your past.”
“You’re not that mysterious. And I trust you. I do.”
“You wanna talk about the marksman competition?” He pulled her close again, kissing her jaw, then nuzzling her neck. His beard seemed to be getting longer by the minute, and now it brushed her skin.
She shivered.
He nudged her again, and she sighed.
“What is it?” he asked, his voice melting like butter on a hot plan. From serious to sizzling in no time flat.
“I don’t want to talk anymore.”
“Because of some neck
Both of them had known it was against the rules. He wasn’t directly up her chain of command, but it was close enough that he was considered her superior.
Vince tensed as the silence stretched out. “When did he seduce you?”
“It wasn’t like that.”
“What was his rank?”
“He was a major.”
“Then yes, it was fucking like that. When?”
She nervously swiped her tongue across her lower lip. “While we were still in Afghanistan. My roommate thought it was romantic. So she gave us privacy. I was…I thought we were equals in the relationship.”
“What happened?”
“Nothing, at first. Our returns were staggered. He was home for almost a month when I got back, and he couldn’t make the coming home ceremony, but he brought me takeout that night and slept over. Then he pulled away, claimed it was too risky. I was—” She’d felt heartbroken, at the time, but now she knew better. “I was disappointed. And confused. I could keep a secret, and I wasn’t looking for a real relationship. We both worked too much to socialize as a couple. But then he told me he was going back to his wife.”
“He was married?” Vince’s voice had dropped to a sharp slice of sound, just above a whisper.
“Yes. That was the first I’d heard of it. And that was the end…until he emailed me a few month later to say he was leaving his wife again, this time for good.” Her voice cracked as she recounted going out on actual dates, and then the last time, where he’d introduced her to his kids.
She’d never forget how easily she fell for his lies. “Just as a friend, Larken. They’re not ready to know I’m dating yet.” He’d told her that, and she’d made them cookies and promised they could come back. He’d made her lie, too.
Larken closed her eyes as Vince shifted his hands, gripping her arms. He moved her away from his body, but he didn’t move her far. Just enough so he could touch his fingers under her jaw and lift her chin so she was looking at him. She assumed—it felt like they were face to face. Like a coward, her eyes were still shut.
“Look at me, cariño.”
Her heart leaped at the endearment. She blinked her eyes open.
His steady brown gaze was locked on her face. “You did nothing wrong.”
“That’s not what the U.S. Army decided.”
“How did they find out?”
“His wife. Turned out he wasn’t exactly separated either time.”
“Please tell me he was dishonorably discharged.”
She nodded. “Conduct unbecoming an officer.”
“And you?”
“I’m here.” Her punishment had been less severe, but her career had still been cut short. She’d run out her contract as a supply clerk and after two seasons of playing over-qualified lifeguard at a resort in Clearwater, she’d leapt at Rik’s offer.
“That’s…well, it’s fucked.”
She shook her head. “I ignored a lot of clues. I didn’t know, honest to God I didn’t, but something didn’t add up. And I didn’t ask any questions.”
Resignation and understanding dueled in his eyes. “So you don’t trust easy now.”
“I…no. I don’t.” It hurt to acknowledge how bitter and brittle David had made her.
“And here I come, full of swagger and impossible good looks…” He winked at her as she laughed despite herself. “Right? I’m irresistible even though you can’t trust me. The mysterious man from your past.”
“You’re not that mysterious. And I trust you. I do.”
“You wanna talk about the marksman competition?” He pulled her close again, kissing her jaw, then nuzzling her neck. His beard seemed to be getting longer by the minute, and now it brushed her skin.
She shivered.
He nudged her again, and she sighed.
“What is it?” he asked, his voice melting like butter on a hot plan. From serious to sizzling in no time flat.
“I don’t want to talk anymore.”
“Because of some neck
Similar Books
