Sand and Sin by Dani Jace Read Free Book Online

early flight. He didn’t want to impose while they said their goodbyes. However, he’d be here for her afterward for whatever she needed. If that meant more of his body, he would be more than happy to appease her, because he certainly missed hers last night.
    He threw the sheets back and dressed in a T-shirt and his running shorts. After pocketing his phone, he bounded down the steps for the kitchen and chugged a bottle of water.
    Using the route he’d driven Haley to her friend’s house, Jax jogged for the beach to try a run. His leg ached more than it had the night he passed out behind the Trident, but he couldn’t afford to lose any more physical conditioning. Getting back to his team after his leave was his main objective. Getting his blood pumping beyond the bedroom would do him some good.
    Heading north on the beach, he reached Rudee Inlet, not realizing how close Peri lived to it. If he wanted to jog on the boardwalk, he’d have to backtrack through the neighborhood and cross the highway bridge. He needed to visit TJ before Peri returned, so he headed for the house. Pushing on the return run, blood trickled down his leg into his sock.
    After a long, hot shower, his leg felt better. He’d often heard exertion pushed healing blood to a wound helping it recover faster. Funny, when Peri was around, he felt no pain.
    He called TJ and headed for the base at Little Creek. After arriving, he flashed his ID and entered the discreet building housing the SEAL teams.
    An attractive, young ensign with short dark hair, and piercing hazel eyes glanced from her computer screen. “Sir?”
    “CPO Taylor, here to see Specialist Templeton.”
    She dialed a few buttons and announced Jax’s presence to the person who answered. “Yes, sir, I’ll be happy to show him the way.” She smiled and tucked her hair behind her ear.
    He followed the pronounced sway of her hips in the snug skirt. Being a SEAL had its advantages. They received state-of-the-art technology and weapons as well as the most astute support staff. In the ensign’s case, brains and beauty did cohabitate the same body.
    After passing several lines of cubicles, she opened a door. Plywood walls stenciled with the logo of the teams and their call signs adorned the bare wood of their ready rooms. Here they relaxed while getting ready for a mission or training exercise.
    “Second door on the right, CPO Taylor. And should you need anything else during your visit, let me know." She batted her lashes.
    “Thank you, ensign.” God, was she even old enough to drink? Evidently, she’d already completed the other womanly rite of passage. It might be legal to have sex with an eighteen-year-old, but at thirty-three he felt old.
    “GQ!” TJ burst form the doorway. “Did she finally untie you from her bed?” He pounded him on the shoulder, ushering him inside.
    Damn, the visual made him laugh. He didn’t need any more kinky ideas. “She had an errand, so I thought I’d check out your digs.” He surveyed the room. Cubbies with his team’s gear lined one wall of the Spartan room. A large wood table graced the center.
    Two guys hovered over a large map and several satellite photos. Only people with security clearance were allowed into the SEALs’ den, so they didn’t bother to cover anything from him.
    TJ made introductions. “This is Hawk and Cipher.”
    Jax shook hands with each man. He remembered Hawk, a fellow sniper, from some training missions.
    Sounding mildly affronted, TJ said, “He’s getting out next month.”
    Hawk nodded. “I’ve been offered a training gig at a large police department. The money’s not bad and they offer great bennies.”
    “He fired too much ammo and has twins on the way.” TJ laughed. “Come on, they’re hashing some logistics. I’ll show you what’s new.”
    Jax had visited the base during a couple of joint training ventures but not recently. In fact, he hadn’t seen TJ in nearly three years and that was mainly why he took