Coyote Heat (SEALs On Fire) by Desiree Holt Read Free Book Online Page B

place.”
    “Really?” She hated the squeaky sound in her voice.
    “Cori.” He was so close she could feel his breath on her face, and she had to hold her mug to the side to avoid spilling. He put his hands on her shoulders, squeezing slightly. “Did you really think I was just going to put on my clothes, give you a quick thank you, and disappear?”
    She shrugged, trying to appear as nonchalant as possible. Despite what he’d said about this…connection, or whatever it was between them, she’d learned to have little or no expectations.
    He cradled her face in his warm palms. “I don’t know how long this leave will last. We could be recalled at any time. But however much time I have, I want to spend it with you. Stay here in your cottage with you. Get to know you better. See…what this is between us. Besides sex.” He winked. “Although it is outstanding sex.”
    She felt herself blush and lowered her gaze. “Okay. I’d like that, too.”
    “So. Breakfast first, okay? I’m starved.”
    She gave him an impish grin. “Me, too.”
    “I have to go to the house where we’re staying to shave and pick up more clothes.” He studied her face. “Some of my teammates might be there. They aren’t always, uh, discreet.”
    “It’s okay,” she assured him. “I’ll just ignore any rude male remarks. I’ve been around military men before.”
    She snapped her mouth shut before she let anything else out. She didn’t plan to ruin the weekend, or however long they had, by telling him her sad and painful story.
    “Let’s get dressed, then.”
    She could sense he was deliberately ignoring the reference to the military. “Okay.”
    “Breakfast first,” he went on. “Then the house, then whatever you want to do for the rest of the day.”
    Breakfast took much longer than she expected. They ate slowly, talking about themselves. Things like what music they listened to and their favorite books and movies. He told her about his team, what each man was like. She laughed when he told her about Zeus’s habit of knitting to relieve muscle tension. Little things that gave insight into the people they really were. And with each minute that passed, each detail shared, Cori found herself unavoidably falling harder for this man.
    I need therapy. I must be a real glutton for punishment.
    But as they left the restaurant, she deliberately closed off that portion of her mind.
    Her mouth dropped open when Coyote pulled into the driveway of the house where he was staying.
    “Are you kidding me? That’s Brice Benson’s house.”
    “Yeah.” He winked at her as he put the SUV in park. “He and Dagger have been friends since they were kids. Come on. I’ll give you the tour.” He opened the side door and ushered her inside. “Hello. Anyone around?”
    “In here,” a female voice called.
    Coyote steered them into the kitchen.
    “Hey, Coyote!” A woman who looked vaguely familiar to Cori slid off her stool, careful to cover her ass as she went to throw her arms around him.
    “Kim. Glad you made it, girl.” He threw one arm around her and the other around Cori, drawing them both close. “Let me introduce you all. This is Cori. Zeus Calderon. And Kim Stansfield.”
    Cori shook hands, studying the woman beside Coyote. “Wait. I think I know you. You’re that woman that those Bedouin tribesmen took in Egypt a while back, aren’t you?”
    Kim blushed. “I am.”
    Cori grinned. “Wow. You’re even better looking than on TV.”
    Kim rolled her eyes to the ceiling and pulled at the old T-shirt she was wearing. “Thanks. Credit for the wardrobe goes to my rescuer here, Mr. Calderon.”
    “I’ve heard about the infamous Zeus.” Cori’s eyes flashed with humor.
    “Oh, no,” Zeus objected. “If Coyote is spreading rumors then you need to hear a few facts from me.”
    “Yeah? Does Coyote knit, too?” Cori asked Zeus, her shoulders flexing as if she and Zeus were sharing secrets.
    “Aw, hell, man,” Zeus groaned while