“And when you wanted to be the one to go after Conti, Badger encouraged it. Knowing you would have to be killed if you got too close.”
He felt her stiffen for just a second, and he hated that someone’d had the power to hurt her like that.
“I’m not sure he thought I’d stay in it until the bitter end,” she said. “I think he expected I’d lose heart—but support for the mission grew inside the agency, and I didn’t quit. He thought he could control me, but he couldn’t.”
She tucked her hair behind her ears. It was still red, but she wasn’t wearing the green contacts anymore. He’d asked her about the hair and she’d teased him at first, saying she was planning to keep it. He’d said that was fine, because what else could he say? It was her hair.
But she’d slapped him playfully and told him she had an appointment at the salon to return it to her natural color. Now she looked at him with those whiskey eyes, and his heart thumped a bit faster.
“They let you get close.”
“They had to. If they’d sabotaged it any other way, they might have tipped their hand.”
“I’m sorry, Miranda.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“They hurt you. And I only killed one of them. If I could get the other, I’d gladly do it.”
She laughed softly. “Just knowing you want to is enough, believe me.”
He skimmed his fingers up and down her spine. He didn’t miss the way she shivered or the way her eyes dilated with need.
“I was worried you blamed me for killing Mark. I know he meant something to you.”
She sighed. “You had no choice. I know that. I don’t blame you—and I’d have done the same damn thing if he’d been threatening you.” She heaved herself up and planted a kiss on his mouth. It wasn’t meant to be a sexy kiss, he didn’t think, but of course it got out of control and ended up that way.
He rolled her to her back, their tongues gliding together as he kissed her deeply. She moaned and he pressed kisses to her jaw, her neck, as her arms twined around his back.
“I was also going to say,” she gasped out, “that whatever he meant to me was a lie.”
Cody worked his way to her breasts, sucked a beautiful nipple in his mouth, and tugged on it while her fingers curled into his shoulders.
“This isn’t a lie,” he told her, moving to the other breast. “This is real.”
“Yes,” she moaned as he took her nipple between his lips. “Yes…”
He loved her with everything he had, taking her to the peak again and again, her moans fueling him.
And then he was deep inside her again, his cock buried to the hilt, his entire body on fire with need and hope and belonging. They moved together like they were made for each other, bodies rising and falling and taking and giving.
Miranda shattered around him, his name a hoarse cry on her lips. He followed her over the edge, his body pouring itself into hers the same as he’d poured all his emotion into loving her.
“This is forever,” he told her as he gazed down into her eyes. Beautiful, whiskey eyes.
She smiled and his heart swelled. “Yes,” she whispered. “It is.”
One month later…
The crowd at Matt and Evie Girard’s place was having a good time that night. Cash sat in one of the comfortable lawn chairs situated near the pool as his teammates played a wicked game of water polo. He’d been in the pool for a while, but now he wanted to kick back, observe the others, and catch up on some reading. He picked up his phone and scrolled through the newsfeed. Predictably depressing.
He let his gaze slide over the gathering. Matt and Evie’s twin baby boys were kicking up a storm in their little bouncy chairs. Evie was busy feeding them some sort of pureed mush while she chatted with some of the other women gathered around. Cash didn’t know them all, not yet, but he knew they were wives or girlfriends of Alpha Squad.
And then there were the women with the SEALs. Ivy Erikson and Christina Marchand sat together, chatting about God knows what. Babies probably, though Cash didn’t know what made babies so interesting. They cried and crapped and threw up a lot—and they didn’t let you sleep. Not his kind of thing at all.
There were also a couple of dates present—Camel had brought a woman with fake tits and bleached-blond hair. Not that those things were bad, because Cash loved that combination himself, but the frosted pink lipstick did her no favors, nor did the perpetually turned-down frown she sported.
The other woman was with Blade. She was a brunette with long legs and a great laugh who, upon being dunked in the pool, retaliated by doling out surprise wedgies. A much better addition to the group than Miss Sour Lips.
A cheer went up from the crowd just then, and Cash slewed his gaze toward the patio doors. Cowboy stood there with his hand entwined with his sexy CIA agent’s. Miranda Lockwood was a gorgeous woman, that was for sure. He’d thought she was beautiful as a redhead—but with blond hair and golden eyes, she was a stunner.
Lucky fucking Cowboy. He’d come back to work a few weeks ago and announced that he was in love with Miranda and they were in a relationship. Could have blown Cash over with a puff of air. He’d known that Cowboy was hung up on her when they’d gone on the mission to grab Conti, but he hadn’t known it was that serious.
Jesus. Love. How did a guy even know when that’s what it was? Cowboy had only been fucking Miranda for a few days when he’d decided she was the one for him. How the hell did that happen?
Cash shook his head. No way that was happening to him. He loved women—and pussy—too much to ever limit himself to one for life. The world was a buffet, and he was happy sampling from it.
Cowboy stood there with his woman until she stood on tiptoe to kiss him and then went over to sit with Ivy and Christina. Cash watched his teammate watching her and shook his head.
Dude’s fucking balls were in her purse. He didn’t move until she looked up and gave him a little wave. Then he strolled over to where Cash was and flopped back in a lounger.
“You look smug,” Cash said, and Cowboy snorted before turning his gaze on him.
“Not smug. Happy. Content.”
Cash snorted and took a sip of the Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel he’d poured for himself. “Pussy whipped.”
Cowboy merely grinned at him. “You can’t piss me off, Money. I’ve got the woman of my dreams and life is good. Tease me all you want, but tonight when this shindig is over, I’m leaving here with the most gorgeous woman you’ve ever seen in your life. And she’s mine, man. All mine.”
Cash lifted his glass, feeling a little jealous even while he told himself that no way in fucking hell did he want to be as whipped as Cowboy.
“To you then.”
Cowboy picked up the can of soda he’d carried over. “And to you. May you find the woman of your dreams and be as happy as I am.”
“Not happening, dude. The woman of my dreams is all of them. How can I eat prime rib for the rest of my life when there’s a delicious lobster waiting? Or a juicy hamburger?” He shook his head. “Nope, not me.”
Cowboy laughed. “I’m going to remind you of this conversation someday. And I’m going to laugh my ass off when I do.”
Cash shrugged. “It’s a losing proposition, but whatever makes you happy.”
Cowboy turned his head to gaze over at Miranda. She sent him a private smile, and Cash looked away, feeling like he was intruding on something.
“Miranda does,” Cowboy said softly.
For the first time he could ever remember, Cash felt something very like jealousy blossom deep inside his soul. He took a sip of his drink, then lay back and closed his eyes. The feeling would pass, certainly. But for now, it made him feel hollow inside.
And that was a feeling he didn’t like at all.
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Also by Lynn Raye Harris
The HOT SEAL Team Books
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HOT SEAL - Dane & Ivy
HOT SEAL Lover - Remy & Christina
HOT SEAL Rescue - Cody & Miranda
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The Hostile Operations Team Books
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HOT PURSUIT - Matt & Evie
HOT MESS - Sam & Georgie
HOT PACKAGE - Billy & Olivia
DANGEROUSLY HOT - Kev & Lucky
HOT SHOT - Jack & Gina
HOT REBEL - Nick & Victoria
HOT ICE - Garrett & Grace
HOT & BOTHERED - Ryan & Emily
HOT PROTECTOR - Chase & Sophie
RECKLESS HEAT
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About the Author
Lynn Raye Harris is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the HOSTILE OPERATIONS TEAM SERIES of military romances as well as 20 books for Harlequin Presents. A former finalist for the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart Award and the National Readers Choice Award, Lynn lives in Alabama with her handsome former-military husband, two crazy cats, and one spoiled American Saddlebred horse. Lynn’s books have been called “exceptional and emotional,” “intense,” and “sizzling.” Lynn’s books have sold over 3 million copies worldwide.
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All Rights Reserved. This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
HOT SEAL Rescue
Copyright © 2016 by Lynn Raye Harris
Cover Design Copyright © 2016 Croco Designs
ISBN: 978-1-941002-22-3
HOT SEAL Rescue (HOT SEAL Team - Book 3) Page 21