Tactical Strike by Kaylea Cross Read Free Book Online Page A

than his bruised
ego.
    After a few more steps she finally stopped and faced him, her
eyes warning him to keep his distance. “Leave me alone, Sergeant. I’ve asked you
nicely. Now stop pushing me before you make me say or do something I can’t take
back.”
    He ignored the rebuke and loped right up to her, stopping a
foot from her. They were alone in the alleyway for the moment, but probably not
for long. He had to make this fast. She had her arms wrapped around her waist as
she faced him, her expression guarded. He regretted having upset her. He hadn’t
meant to. “I just—”
    “Wanted to argue with me some more? You’re hoping one of my
superiors sees us? What?”
    “No, I—” Damn, he’d never meant to do that to her. He freaking
hated that she seemed determined to think the worst of him.
    “Well? You’ve managed to demand my attention once again. What
do you want?”
    The unexpected hurt in the depths of her dark eyes hit him
square in the gut. He had to ball his hand into a fist to keep from reaching for
her, drawing her close until she accepted his apology. “I’m sorry. I never meant
to offend you.”
    She continued to stare at him as if she didn’t believe a word
he’d said. “Then why do you keep doing this? You know it can’t go anywhere.”
    He was at a loss for words. How the hell could he answer that?
He didn’t understand his own instinctive reaction to her. For most of his life
and especially since he’d entered the service, women had always fallen into his
lap without much effort. But not her. So many things about her fascinated
him.
    He liked the way she conducted herself, even while her rigidity
made him itch to shake up her controlled world. He liked the way she moved, with
such confidence and a sense of purpose. He wanted to get to know her better. The
real her, not the reserved professional she showed the rest of the world.
Beneath that cool facade lay a soft vulnerability that lit up every protective
instinct he possessed. And she was worried about more than being seen with him,
whether she wanted to admit it or not. Something that was keeping her from
sleeping. The most primal part of him demanded he hold her, make her feel safe
and cherished.
    Most of all, he wanted her to know he cared.
    Ryan opened his mouth, struggling for something to say to erase
the damage he’d done and start fresh. Trouble was, he didn’t know what to say,
since his instincts had been dead wrong with her so far.
    As the silence lengthened, her left eyebrow rose in censure.
“So what is it? I’m just too much of a challenge for a guy like you to resist? I
bet you’ve never been turned down before, right? Well, I can assure you, I’m not
playing hard to get. I’m not here to be anyone’s entertainment, and I’m not here
to flirt. I have a job to do—a job that I take very seriously, and I’ve worked
my ass off to get where I am. You think it was easy for me to get into AFSOC?
For once and for all, you need to understand that I will not allow anyone to
jeopardize my career or my reputation, let alone a man who likes to live on the
edge and gets led around by what’s between his legs.”
    Her impassioned speech stunned him, but the remark about him
being led by his cock stung. “That’s pretty damn harsh, don’t you think? Not to
mention sexist.”
    She shrugged. “It’s not sexist if it’s the truth. Oh, come on,
are you really going to stand there and deny it?”
    “Yeah. Because you’re wrong.”
    “You don’t like being judged, huh? Well, neither do I. And
that’s what happens to me on a daily basis out here because I’m a female officer
on a gunship crew. You know it’s true. I can’t afford any gossip that could ruin
everything I’ve worked for. It’s different for me than it is for you.”
    A fierce pride radiated from her, but the glimmer of self-doubt
and uncertainty he’d seen in her eyes tugged at his heart. “I know. I...” Unable
to stay the impulse, he reached out