Page 33 of Shadow Strike
After a while, Regan stood.“Goodnight, CB.”
He caught her wrist.Gently, just enough to stop her.She turned back, and he rose.
“For the record.”He kept his voice even.“Whatever this is—I’m not approaching it like a job anymore.”
Her eyes held his.In the dark, they were unreadable.“What are you approaching it like then?”
“You mean something to me now, Regan.You and your mother.The Army taught me that every soldier looks different, but beneath the surface, we’re all committed to community.To taking care of our family, our friends, our neighbors.Rangers never quit, and no matter what happens between you and me, I will be here for you.”
Her hand came up to rest flat against his chest.“I know you will.”
She rose on her toes and kissed him.Her eyes didn’t close, didn’t leave his.The gravity in them pulled him in.The rawness in her expression nearly did him in.
Regan—the woman holding onto her father’s bar, taking care of her mother, and still working hard on her journalism career.Trying to control everything.She was vulnerable underneath it all, and he doubted she ever opened up to anyone the way she had to him.
He kissed her back.A part of him wanted to tell her he admired her.That he thought she was strong, beautiful, and brave.
An equally loud part wanted to strip her down and show her just how much he wanted to care for her.
She’d showered and washed away the smell of the bar.Raspberries engulfed him.He breathed it in, running his hands down her arms, her sides.The bed was right there, and he desperately wanted to lay her down on it.To take away her worries for the rest of the night.To bring her some joy.
Because, damn it, she deserved it.
Discipline.Do not screw this up.Literally.
Her mouth opened, granting him access.Hands on her hips, he pulled her closer, her thighs brushing his.Her chest rose on an inhale, her breasts pressing into his ribs.He felt her hardened nipples through his shirt.
She ran her fingers through his hair as he arched her slightly backward, his hands holding her steady.He cupped the back of her head and teased her mouth with his tongue.She gave the teasing back, nipping his bottom lip.
A growl sounded from his throat, and he felt her smile against his mouth.One of her hands slipped low to cup the hard length of him through his sweatpants.He nearly embarrassed himself right there.He closed his eyes and leaned into it.
Her other hand guided one of his to her full breast.He opened his eyes and saw hers were half-lidded.
He walked her backward and pinned her against the wall.She wrapped her legs around his waist, and the kiss went electric.
He slipped a hand under her shirt and tweaked her nipple.She moaned.Her legs tightened around him, drawing his erection against her.
She felt like something he’d been missing his whole life.He was nearly dizzy from the sensations roaring through his body.
And then his damn phone blared.The sound cut through the quiet of the night, their heavy breathing.
Not with a phone call or text.
An alarm.
The security app was alerting him.
He gripped her by the hips and stepped back, her feet falling to the floor.Her eyes went from half-lidded with desire to scared as she realized what the sound meant.
Breathing hard, he made sure she was steady before he scrambled for the phone.He opened the app and watched the video of the outside of the house.A man swung his leg off a motorcycle parked at the curb.
“We’ve got company,” CB said softly.
Her eyes went wide.“There’s a shotgun in the foyer closet.”
“Stay here,” he told her.
“The hell I will.”She crept out behind him as he headed for the front door.
