Page 41 of Unintended Love

“I’m a born-and-raised Florida girl who survived winter conditions in the Alaskan wilderness.” Piper crossed her arms and nodded once as though to put an exclamation point on her achievement.

Kenner, whose arm was already on the back of Piper’s chair, pulled her in and kissed her temple. “You did great, babe.”

“So does that mean you’re moving back to Alaska after you quit this game?” Clint inquired.

“Hell, no,” Piper said as she shook her head side to side.

“Fuck, no,” Kenner said at the same time.

All four laughed.

“I grew up in North Pole, Alaska, and hated every fucking minute of it. I loved San Diego, though. That wouldn’t be a bad place to live. Florida might be better since the water is a hell of a lot warmer and better diving. What about you two?” Kenner asked.

Clint looked over his shoulder, where his arm was casually lying on the back of Ashlin’s chair.

She must’ve taken that as the ball was in her court. “We’ve spent so little time together we’re still trying to figure out how to be a couple, unlike you two, who have been together practically nonstop since you met.”

Ashlin turned her gaze to meet Clint’s eyes and explained, “After that mission, Kenner moved to the Holt Company’s D.C. office. They have an apartment not that far away from our team’s condo.”

“A very small apartment,” Piper added. She looked at Kenner and smiled lovingly. “We’re looking for a house.”

Kenner smiled back with love in his eyes. “We’ll need a bigger place for all the kids we plan on having after we get married.”

Clint felt as though a cartoon exclamation point appeared above his head. “We’ll talk more about your dual offices.” He wondered how his father would feel about him opening an office in Washington. Most of their contracts came through the US government, so it made sense. With a third team standing up soon, could he run his team out of the USA? And open an office in the city to be with Ashlin?

“You’re getting married?” Mia all but screamed from across the room. All eyes turned to the end of the table.

Piper’s smile expanded. “Yes. Someday.”

Clint gazed at Ashlin. “Would you recommend marriage?”

“Hell, yes.” She leaned in close so only he could hear. “If it continues to involve the kind of sex we had last night, I’d highly recommend it.” She moved closer and kissed him, long and deep, with everyone in the room staring at them.

“Get a room,” several jeered.

Ashlin leaned back, smiling at all of them. “That sounds like an excellent idea.” She stood and grabbed his hand. “We have months of married life to catch up on.”

Chapter 16

As soon as they entered Clint’s suite, Ashlin stretched behind him and pulled his polo shirt out of the back of his jeans and over his head. He reached back and removed his holstered gun and set it on the lamp table next to the couch, then started to unbutton her blouse. He walked forward toward the bedroom, so Ashlin did the only thing she could do as she undressed him…walk backward. It was a dance of seduction, but neither of them needed to be seduced. They were both naked by the time the back of her knees hit the bed.

Clint pressed his whole body against hers as he threw off the covers. He picked her up bridal style and gently laid her on the bed, following her over. His hand swept over one breast, tweaking the nipple, as he deftly made his way down her body and into her wet folds. His knees spread hers further apart just before he slid into her.

“Tell me this is what you wanted when you teased me endlessly in the car service.”

“This is exactly what I wanted and hoped for,” she confessed. “Like I told you at the restaurant, if sex is like this for the rest of our lives, I can highly recommend marriage.”

“Is that the only reason you can recommend it?” Clint asked as he pumped slowly into her.

She ran her hands through his long, soft hair and grinned. “So far, I like you.”

“I should smack your ass for that.”

She could tell he felt her involuntary internal clench as he withdrew when his eyes all but rolled into his head.

When he gazed down at her, his grin was a breath away from evil. “You like the thought of that.”

She looked away before returning to his eyes. “Maybe. Kinda. Nobody has ever dared try that with me.”