Read Online The Navy SEAL's Bride by Soraya Lane - Free Book Online Page A

beside her with hands on hips. She looked angry. Not as angry as he was, but angry enough to make him to feel imaginary prickles rise along his back as he watched her reaction. It was as if they were both being possessive of Caitlin.
    “Mr. Navy SEAL,” the blonde said, shaking her head as she laughed at him. “Well, I’ll be.”
    Tom tried his hardest to keep his face impartial, not to show how much seeing Caitlin like this infuriated him. Or how much he hated being teased, goaded, by a woman he didn’t even know.
    “What do you want with the lovely Miss Rose, huh?” the blonde asked.
    Tom glared at her companion and touched Caitlin gently on the arm. “I didn’t mean to hurt you, Caitlin, it’s just…”
    “What?” she asked, all innocent and wide-eyed, as though she had no idea what she’d been doing. He could have sworn he’d seen tears pooling in her eyes, as well as an expression in them that made him fear she’d actually been scared of him.
    Tom groaned. Jeez, she really didn’t have any idea. About how gorgeous she was, how she looked, how she affected him…
    Her friend stepped closer. “I need a word with Caitlin,” Tom said, trying not to growl. “In private.”
    The friend shrugged. “Those your handsome Navy friends over there?” she asked, waggling her fingers in their direction, suddenly looking a whole lot less angry and a whole lot more interested.
    Tom looked over his shoulder, not wanting to let go of Caitlin. “Ah, yeah,” he said, shaking his head as the guys hooted with laughter, cat-calling and whistling. “I’m sure they’d love to meet you.”
    He looked at Caitlin, pleaded as best he could with his eyes. “Please, just a minute?”
    Caitlin rocked, a little unsteady on her feet before nodding at her friend. “Luce, I’m fine. Go have fun.” She hiccuped and clamped one hand over her mouth.
    Tom watched the other woman go before circling his arm around Caitlin’s waist and leading her away from the bar. She pressed into him, cuddling against his frame, turning big eyes up at him.
    He fought not to turn his head away, forced a half smile, trying to ignore how good she felt tucked against him. How soft her body was, how warm she felt, how right it seemed.
    “Mmm, you smell good,” she said, face still upturned, eyes bright.
    She’s drunk, Tom reminded himself. She has no idea what she’s saying and she sure as hell won’t remember it in the morning.
    “Caitlin, what are you doing?” he asked, pushing her gently down into a seat and sliding in beside her. He’d always hated modern booth seats, but now he wasn’t so quick to moan.
    “Um, having fun, dancing, you know,” she said, voice slightly slurred. “But my head’s starting to hurt.” She let her forehead fall into her hands, suddenly looking as weak as a wilting flower in the sun. “Tom, you’re not going to hurt me, are you?”
    She was watching his hand where he was resting it, clenched on the table, as if it were a cobra ready to bite. Tom shook his head. Was she actually scared of him? He was used to being the protector, was used to his role being so clearly defined.
    “Caitlin, I’m the good guy here.” He tried to soften his voice, tried to eliminate the anger that was like an itch beneath his skin. “You have to believe that I would never, ever , lay a hand on any woman unless she wanted me to, okay?” He’d been angry before, sure, but enough to scare her? Surely not…
    Tom watched as she slowly, nervously nodded her head.
    “See those guys I’m with over there?” Tom hooked a finger in their direction. “You’d hate to know what they were saying about you when you were dancing.”
    “Like what?” she asked, all innocent-looking again.
    Tom swallowed hard and reached for her hands. He didn’t know why, what made him do it, but his fingers closed over hers, drawing her skin close against his. Slowly, so as not to alarm her.
    He hadn’t touched a woman like that, in that way, with