Page 77 of Protecting Kelli
Kelli closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then looked at him once more and nodded.
Her trust, her belief in him, was a gift. And it was something Flash would cherish and protect with his life. He always wanted to see her looking at him as she was right now. With hope and their future in her eyes.
Turning his head without taking his hands off Kelli’s face, he told Kevlar, “I’m going to need you to talk to the commander. Take me off the next mission. I’m not leaving as long as Williams is out there.”
Kelli started to protest, but he ignored her.
“Done,” Kevlar said with a nod.
“Shhh,” Flash murmured as he pressed his lips to Kelli’s forehead. “It’ll be fine.”
“I’ll call Wolf too. Let him know what’s up. Tell him to get word out about Williams. Every former and current SEAL in the area will be on watch for this guy. We’ll catch him. I have no doubt,” Kevlar said.
“Instead of Smiley’s place, can you maybe come stay with us instead? I mean, there’s strength in numbers, right?” Remi asked.
“Maybe,” Flash hedged. She wasn’t exactly wrong, but still, putting anyone else in this asshole’s crosshairs felt wrong. Smiley was single. Staying with Remi would mean leaving two women alone while he was at work.
He ached to go to his apartment and check out the damage. Make sure Smiley hadn’t downplayed any injuries that himself or his neighbors might have incurred. But his desire to stick by Kelli’s side was stronger. He’d see Smiley soon enough.
“You ready to head home?” Flash asked Kelli.
She nodded.
“We should be going too,” Kevlar said.
“I’m sorry we ruined your night,” he told his friend, as he helped Kelli off his lap.
“You didn’t ruin anything,” Kevlar said, sounding exasperated. “Remi agreed to marry me, we’re going to have a huge party here at Aces…what’s to ruin?”
“Exactly,” Remi agreed, giving Kelli a long hug. “Trust Flash. He’ll figure this out.”
Kelli nodded and gave her friend a small smile.
Flash waved at Jessyka, and she waved back from behind the bar. They’d paid the tab earlier so nothing stopped them from heading straight for the door.
Looking around, Flash saw nothing out of the ordinary as they exited. Visiting the bar again might also be out of the question until Williams was found. The last thing he wanted was the thwarted kidnapper deciding to take his frustrations out on the place where Flash and every other SEAL liked to hang out.
The drive back to Smiley’s apartment took longer than usual, as Flash made a lot of extra turns, doing his best to try to evade Williams if he happened to be following. He wouldn’t breathe a sigh of relief until they were inside the apartment, with the door double bolted behind them.
Williams could always try to burn Smiley’s complex down, but he was fairly sure the man didn’t know where they were…yet. Which was probably why he’d taken out his irritation on Flash’s apartment. The man was a menace and had to be stopped.
But for tonight, Flash had different plans.
There was no telling what the future held. What plans Williams had up his sleeve. And Flash had no intention of letting one more day pass without showing Kelli how serious he was about wanting her in his life…forever.
Of course, anything happening would be up to her. She might be too distraught after hearing about Williams’ latest attempt to fuck with them. But tonight, when they got into bed, she’d know without a doubt that he was serious when he’d told her what he wanted.
And what he wanted was her. Under him. Over him. Any way he could get her. His mouth watered with thoughts of tasting her, of spreading her thighs and seeing her pussy soaking wet for him.
He was ninety percent sure she wanted him too. Her signs of arousal weren’t as obvious as his, but she hadn’t once shied away from his touches. And when his hand slipped under her shirt and rested on the small of her back the night before, she’d arched into him.
His timing wasn’t great, and if she really was too worried about Williams, he wouldn’t push. But with the way her gaze flicked between his legs and how often sheblushed, he had a feeling they’d both get a break from their real life tonight. By losing themselves in each other. He couldn’t wait.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Kelli was torn. She was kind of freaking out that Brant had tried to burn Flash’s apartment down. But she couldn’t help noticing that Flash seemed different since leaving Aces. More focused. More touchy-feely. She liked that last part. A hell of a lot.
She’d been with men before. She wasn’t a virgin. But none had made her feel the way Flash did. As if her skin was too tight, her body temp too high from the constant blushing. And right now, she was fidgety and she couldn’t keep her eyes off him. As he drove, she saw the muscles in his arms flexing, which made her think about how they’d do the same thing as he propped himself above her.
