Ricochet (Locked & Loaded #1) by Heather C. Leigh Read Free Book Online Page A

watched as each well-defined muscle in his back rippled, stretched, and flexed with every kick. Sweat beaded, then dripped off of his tan skin, giving her the overwhelming urge to catch each rivulet with her tongue, one by one. When he stopped to hike up his shorts, Quinn noticed a stippled scar high up on the back of one of his legs. It didn’t detract from his beauty. In fact, it only added to his rugged appeal.
    Quinn was lost in her little fantasy when she realized the kicks had stopped and the room was deathly silent. Her eyes flicked up from the man’s gorgeous body to land on his face.
    Uh-oh.
    She found herself staring directly into the deep turquoise eyes of Rick Brennan.
     
     
     
     
    AFTER NINE YEARS in the Marine Corps, seven in Special Forces, Rick had a very well developed sixth sense. He knew when there were eyes on him. It was ingrained in his training and necessary to survival in the field. Right now, the prickly feeling was sliding down his spine as he repeatedly kicked the heavy bag. He finished his reps before stopping to see who was behind him.
    Turning slowly, Rick stared across the gym.
    Quinn.
    Even from far away he could tell she was checking him out. He’d seen that look on dozens of women’s faces before. Rick didn’t speak, deciding to let her get her fill, taking pleasure in the way her eyes raked over his chest, which was still heaving from exertion. Quinn’s gaze finally met his and he swore he felt a crackle of electricity jump between them. It took all of Rick’s effort to stop the way his dick was responding to that heated stare. Suddenly, he was infinitely thankful for the athletic cup he was wearing. At least that would spare him the embarrassment of tenting his shorts as Quinn shot lustful glances his way.
    The corner of Rick’s mouth curved up when he saw Quinn’s cheeks turn pink with an adorable blush at being caught gawking. He padded towards her, his movements nearly silent as his bare feet glided over the mats that lined the room.
    Quinn’s amber eyes widened as he approached, discomfort clearly written all over her beautiful features. Rick desperately wanted to press those soft curves up against the wall and taste those red lips, especially after seeing the raw hunger in her eyes as she checked out his body. But after getting the skittish girl to somewhat trust him on Saturday, he didn’t want to ruin his progress by pawing all over her.
    “Hello, doll.”
    “Rick,” she breathed, then cleared her throat and looked at the floor.
    After her bizarre reaction last Saturday, Rick made sure to leave a few feet of space between Quinn and himself when he stopped in front of her. She visibly unwound at his non-threatening approach, the tiny lines on her forehead smoothed out and her downturned mouth curved into a small smile.
    That smile combined with Quinn’s bright amber eyes when they flicked back up his body, sent a jolt of desire straight to Rick’s cock. He had been unable to stop thinking about her all weekend, and now with all of that blatant desire being aimed directly at him, it was becoming uncomfortably tight in his jock. Better the cup than poking her eye out, he supposed. Rick decided light conversation was the way to go to divert his pressing need and to make her stop her leering. A man could only hold back just so long when a woman eye-fucked him like that.
    “You like watching MMA?”
    He watched, stunned as she completely closed down right before his eyes. Quinn stiffened up, her body becoming rigid and tense. Her sparkling caramel irises went flat. “No. I don’t like fighting. I-I have to get to my desk.” She spun on her heel and was gone before Rick could blink.
    What in the fuck just happened?
    Pissed that he somehow unraveled the progress he made with the nervous Quinn, Rick stormed off to the showers. Still half-hard from her blatant appreciation of his body, he stripped off his shorts and jock, climbing under the spray before the water even