Page 39 of Seal of Honor
Yes. This. It was exactly what she needed. A distraction. A tender, loving reminder that she was still alive. How had Gabe known she needed this when she herself hadn’t realized it until now?
The conversation from the fire became non-existent as Audrey lost herself in the sensation of Gabe’s lips on hers. She clung to him, her lifeline in this chaos. His kisses were hard, almost punishing at times, but they were also laced with a tenderness that made her heart flutter wildly in her chest.
He tried to keep his lower body off her, but his erection still prodded her belly, especially when she sucked on his tongue and his hips surged involuntarily.
He was a big man. She figured he’d be fairly well-endowed since he towered well over six feet of solid muscle. But she never expected the iron-hard length that pressed against her, promising a pleasure she hadn’t experienced in far too long…
The sound of the guerillas’ laughter echoed and faded in her consciousness as Gabe’s demanding mouth became the only thing grounding her. He teased and cajoled responses from her, coaxing sighs and moans and making her body heat to a fever pitch. He was destroying her, she thought dazedly, even as he rebuilt her from the inside out.
Then gunfire erupted, followed by a round of cheers, and they parted with a gasp. The warm cocoon they had created ruptured, sending cold air rushing in between them.
“Fuck,” Gabe muttered under his breath, rolling off her and onto his back. He scrubbed a hand over his face and let out a deep, controlled breath.
Audrey sat up and ran shaky fingers through her hair, pushing the loose strands away from her flushed face. Her heart was still pounding in her chest, the adrenaline rush from their kiss colliding with the fear.
Now was not the time, nor was this the place.
Her brother was in danger.
They were in danger.
God, what was she doing?
“I’m sorry,” Gabe said abruptly. “I crossed a line.”
“Yes, you did,” Audrey agreed, her voice trembling. She drew her knees to her chest, hugging them in an effort to steady herself. “But I crossed it with you.”
He turned his head to look at her. The shadows of the night made his features hard to read, but she could see the regret in those yellow tiger eyes of his. And suddenly, it hit her that he wasn’t apologizing for kissing her but for letting her forget, even for a moment, their dire situation. Gabe Bristow was not a man who took comfort lightly or allowed distractions when lives were on the line—his own, hers, her brother’s. Yet tonight, he had momentarily let go of that rigidity and allowed her to see a concealed part of him that he rarely let surface.
“Don’t apologize,” she told him softly.
His brow furrowed slightly, and she leaned closer to whisper, “Because I’m not sorry. We needed that, Gabe.” He opened his mouth, no doubt to protest, and she pressed a finger to his lips. “I needed that assurance, that touch, that reminder I’m alive. I feel steadier now than I have since this all started. Thank you.”
He stared at her for a long moment, his throat working like he was trying to swallow something difficult, then he nodded and sat up beside her.
“We can’t let it happen again,” he said, his voice gruffer than usual.
She knew he was right, but a part of her ached for the comfort and reassurance that Gabe’s touch had given her. She yearned for the oblivion that his kisses had offered—an oblivion away from the threat of guerrillas, the uncertainty about Bryson, and the despair of their predicament.
“At least,” he added after a moment of silence. “Not here, not now. But we will get out of here.” His features hardened, showing a glimpse of the Navy SEAL’s grit and determination, and his broad hand found hers, fingers lacing together with a familiarity that belied their short acquaintance. “And when we do, we’ll have time for all the distractions we want.”
Despite everything, a smile tugged at her lips. This man, this stoic, stubborn sailor, was doing more than just keeping her alive—he was giving her something to live for. “Promise?”
He looked at her then, his gaze steady and unblinking. “I promise,” he vowed solemnly. “Now try to get some rest, Audrey. You need it.”
He was right about that, too. She was so very tired all of a sudden, the sexual buzz having tapped out her last energy reserve.
Seemed he was always right.
That could get annoying.
“Can you… hold me for a while?” She felt silly asking, like a child afraid of the dark. But the dark had never been so frightening before, and she needed the human contact.
Gabe pushed her hair back from her face and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. “I planned on it.”
She tried for a smile.
“Let me know if I hurt your leg.”
