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The annoying thing was that he was right. “Well, I do need to make sure your MH-60 is properly secured for her trip across the ocean to the destroyer.”

His smile died. “Stay on your toes. With Barb the bitch out there having been thwarted by you, and Osman…you need to stay alert for anything out of the ordinary.”

“I will.”

Tate stared at her for a long beat before turning and heading down the hallway toward her bedroom. Laryn noticed for the first time that his feet were bare. There was something so intimate about seeing him without the boots he always wore.

When he returned, she hadn’t moved, and he looked more like the cocky Night Stalker that he was.

But there was a look in his eyes now that hadn’t been there before.

They’d been through something intense together, even if he didn’t remember it.

He was smart enough to realize the ramifications of what would’ve happened if she’d let him go with Barb.

If she’d let her insecurities when it came to the other woman get the best of her.

Or if her dad hadn’t educated her on the dangers of drugs being put into drinks to incapacitate the recipient.

So many things could’ve gone a different way last night, and Laryn was thankful she was able to prevent Tate from falling victim to a predator.

Instead of walking past her toward the door, Tate came straight at her.

Laryn stared up at him as he approached and didn’t flinch as he got into her personal space.

He wrapped one hand around the back of her neck and the other around her waist as he pulled her close.

Laryn melted against him and swallowed hard.

The feeling of his calloused fingers around the sensitive skin of her nape made those stupid goose bumps return with a vengeance.

She liked everything about this man. His work ethic, his confidence, and yes, even his cockiness. When he wanted something, he went for it with no holds barred. And the fact that apparently he wanted her was still something she was trying to wrap her mind around .

“I’d like to kiss you again,” he said, his lips hovering close but not touching.

Laryn licked her lips in anticipation but couldn’t seem to get her vocal cords to work.

“Laryn? I need consent. You can say no. I know this is fast. But what happened between us last night—you having my back with no expectation that I’d understand or wouldn’t for some inexplicable reason blame you, or accuse you of drugging me—made me throw my plan to woo you slow and steady out the window. ”

“You were going to… woo me?” Laryn asked in surprise.

“Yeah. I finally got my head out of my ass and realized there was a woman I liked, respected, and desired right in front of me, and I’d been a stupid jerk and missed it for three years.”

Laryn wanted to cry. But she also tempered her excitement. She didn’t want to get ahead of herself.

“So…may I?” he asked again, nodding a little toward her lips.

“Yes. Please,” Laryn said on a sigh.

His head immediately lowered, and the second his lips touched hers, Laryn knew she’d never be the same again.

This kiss was different than the chaste “thank you” kiss he’d given her earlier. It started out sweet and gentle, but quickly flared out of control.

The hold on the back of her neck tightened as he growled deep in his throat.

He licked her bottom lip, and Laryn opened for him.

His tongue swept inside her mouth and took control, as she supposed he did with everything in his life.

But Laryn was more than content to let him take the lead.

It was all she could do to stay upright.

Their tongues swirled together as each learned what the other liked.

And when Tate nipped her lip, her belly swirled and those pesky goose bumps returned.

“Damn, woman,” he breathed as he moved his lips to a sensitive spot under her ear.

Laryn could feel how much he apparently enjoyed their kiss, his erection pressing against her belly as he held her against him. He lifted his head but didn’t pull away or remove his arms from around her.

“When?” he demanded.

“When what?” Laryn asked, secretly liked his Neanderthal grunts when he was feeling extreme emotions. He was so different than the vulnerable man she’d cradled to her bosom earlier in the bathroom. But she liked both sides of him.

“When are you letting me take you out?”

“Um…I’m not sure. I think we both have a lot to do to get ready for deployment.”

“I’m not waiting until after we get back. Once onboard ship, we aren’t going to have any privacy, and I’m not going to expose you to any rumors or innuendos from people who don’t know us or who think we’re doing something we shouldn’t. You aren’t in the Army, and it’s not forbidden for us to date.”

“I’m not saying no or disagreeing, I just don’t know when we’ll have time,” she told him, thrilled behind belief that he seemed to be desperate to take her on a date.

“We’ll make time. Play it by ear. I’m still not comfortable leaving you alone at night, not with Osman being out there.

Last night was bad enough because I was so out of it, I couldn’t have protected you if someone broke in.

But I’ll also understand, considering how things between us have changed, if you aren’t comfortable having me stay the night…

even out here on your couch like I did before.

I can rotate one of the guys to stay here if that would make you more comfortable. ”

Her heart fluttered in her chest. The concern this man had for her…and they weren’t even dating yet…it was unexpected and wasn’t something she was used to. “My dad would’ve loved you,” she blurted. Tate was just like him, protective and alpha to the core.

“I wish I could’ve met him. He raised one hell of a daughter. We’ll talk later. I’ll let you know what Tex thinks about this Osman situation.”

“And what the manager of Anchor Point says? I planned on calling today myself,” Laryn told him.

If anyone had asked her before right this second, she would’ve said having a conversation with someone you loved while plastered against him, feeling his erection against your belly, after just being kissed as if the world was ending, would be awkward.

But it felt like the most natural thing ever. And surreal to boot.

“Of course.” Then Tate leaned down and kissed her again. But it wasn’t quite as intense as before. His fingers tightened on her nape for a split second before he let go of her and took a step back.

“Thank you again, Laryn,” he said quietly. Then he strode toward her door with the confidence she’d gotten used to seeing in the hotshot pilot.

“Lock this behind me,” he ordered.

Laryn rolled her eyes. “I’m not an idiot,” she told him a little huffily.

“No, you’re not. Later.”

And with that, he was gone.

Laryn hurried to the door and locked the bolt and put the safety chain on. Then she turned her back to the door and wrapped her arms around her belly. A smile formed on her face as she licked her lips and still tasted Tate there.

Everything was happening so fast, but she couldn’t say she was upset about it.

She’d loved Tate Davis for what seemed like forever, and it was surreal that he’d been in her apartment, kissing her as if his life depended on it.

She had no idea how this might change their relationship at work.

She worried about that, but something had to change.

She’d been in a rut and wasn’t happy, hence asking around about other jobs.

She regretted that now, especially if Altan Osman’s threats turned out to be serious.

But she’d cross that bridge if and when she came to it.

She was nothing if not practical. Right now she needed to shower and get to work.

She had a chopper to help get loaded and she’d be pissed if anything happened to her baby en route to the naval destroyer.

Tate’s—and Pyro’s—lives depended on nothing happening to the helicopter in transit.

She needed to be sure she did everything in her power to mitigate that possibility.

Laryn was still smiling as she walked into her bathroom and saw Tate had hung up the towel he’d used, and it was right beside hers on the rack.

A shiver ran through her as a glimpse into a possible future with Tate flashed through her head.

Things might not work out between them, she was well aware of that… but what if they did?

Taking a deep breath, she did her best to tamp down her excitement. For now, she’d play the future by ear. Whatever happened, happened. She’d try to enjoy the ride and not get bogged down in the details.

But thinking about that kiss, and how amazing it was, made that almost impossible. Sleeping next to him and kissing him had rocked her world. If they ever got to a point of being more intimate…she might self-combust.

Laryn stripped and stepped into the shower and tried to figure out how she was going to remove the ridiculous smile from her face before she got to work.