SEAL’s Desire by Elle James Read Free Book Online Page B

her lips. “We’ve never danced together.”
    His heart squeezed. “Something I hope to remedy in the near future.”
    Mitchell tapped his chest. “I never knew you had a kinky streak.”
    “I could say the same.”
    She sighed. “There’s a lot we don’t know about each other.”
    “And yet, we ended up in bed together. Twice now.”
    “Under unfortunate circumstances.”
    “True, but is it wrong that I kind of liked what we did tonight?” Remy bent and scooped her up in his arms. “In fact, I might need a few pointers on the spanking part.”
    Mitchell laughed and draped an arm around his neck. “I think you have that part down. My ass is still stinging.”
    He rubbed his hand over the spot. “Really? I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
    “Only in the very best way.” She captured his face in both hands. “I wish you could have seen your face when I told you to fuck me.”
    His jaw tightened. “I hope you hadn’t planned on taking another john to that hotel. Speaking of which…how did you even know it existed?”
    “We’ve done investigations centered around it. And, for the record, I’d hoped to avoid taking anyone there, relying on my dirty dancing abilities rather than my slutty prostitute persona. But when you showed up and started to make a stink, I had to do something and fast.”
    His hands tightened on her. “Better me than some asshole.”
    “Look, Remy, this isn’t how I imagined our reunion. I’m not exactly sure what I thought it would be, but I didn’t plan on hopping right back in bed.” She brushed her lips across his. “But I’m glad it was you tonight.”
    He caught her bottom lip between his teeth and pulled gently then let go. “I still get the feeling our timing is off.” He loved holding her, his fingers brushing the side of her breast, her smooth thighs draped over his forearms as he carried her toward his bed.
    “In our lines of business is there ever a good time?” Mitchell smoothed a lock of his hair from his forehead.
    As a SEAL, he wore it longer on deployment and had yet to cut it since he’d returned. He was glad he’d taken time to shave off his beard. “Tell me, Mitch. If Derek had lived, would there have been an us?”
    Her eyelids drifted down over her eyes. “I had planned on breaking up with Derek after he’d returned from deployment.”
    “Why? Derek was a great guy.”
    “I know. I didn’t want to hurt him. That was what made it so hard, and why I waited for his return.” She rested her cheek against his shoulder. “I loved Derek, but I was beginning to think of him as a very good friend. Not a lover I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. I knew I wasn’t right for him, and that he deserved to find someone who could love him with all her heart.”
    Remy laid her on the bed, reluctant to slip his arms out from under her. “Derek died before you could tell him that. He was probably better off not knowing.” Remy shook his head. “And us?”
    “I have to admit, part of the reason I wanted to break it off with Derek was because of you.” She stretched up and kissed him again. “I found myself attracted to Derek’s best friend. And I knew my feelings were wrong. Even if I broke it off with Derek, I couldn’t date you. It wouldn’t have been fair to Derek, and that would have put a strain on your friendship, as well.”
    “You planned to walk away from both of us?” Remy slid onto the bed beside her, still fully clothed, watching the changing expressions on her face. He hated seeing her so sad.
    Mitchell turned on her side, facing him. “I couldn’t give Derek false hope when he deserved more than I could give.”
    “So the death of our friend freed you to see me.” His mouth twisted into a wry grin. “And we made love the night of his funeral. I can’t tell you how bad I felt, the guilt I carried for nearly half of this year.” He gripped her hand in his, unwilling to take it further, not with the full force of their year-old