A SEAL's Seduction (Alpha SEALs Book 4) (4 page)

“Hey, you guys made it!” Patrick called out from where he stood helping Rebecca pull food from the cooler.  He was tall and massive as well, with a snug fitting shirt that hugged all his muscles and cool, ice blue eyes.

“I hope you’re hungry,” Rebecca said.  “We brought enough food to feed an army.”

“Or a hungry SEAL team,” Patrick joked.

Kenley glanced over her shoulder to see Mike approaching along with another guy.  Her heart skittered to a stop as a chill raced down her spine, immediately followed by a flush that washed over her skin.  Her entire body was pulsing with awareness, every nerve ending tingling.  She was frozen in place, unable to move or even look away as the guys approached.  Blue eyes nailed her with a gaze.  Just perfect.  Now she’d been caught gawking.

“Are you okay?” Lexi whispered.

Kenley glanced back at her friend.  “I’m fine,” she huffed.  “Just because he’s here doesn’t mean I need to talk to him.  Or associate with him.”  She hastened a glance back.

“Or look at him,” Christopher teased.

Kenley could feel her face flaming.  “I was just trying to figure out who he was with,” she said lightly.  “You can’t expect me to remember who everyone is.”

Christopher raised his eyebrows as Lexi playfully elbowed him in the side.

“That’s just Brent,” Christopher said.  “Don’t worry about him.”

Kenley resisted the urge to shudder.  If anyone freaked her out more than Mike, it was him.  The vibe he gave off was unpleasant at best and predatory at worst.  He was like a lion stalking a lamb and made Mike seem pretty damn tame in comparison.  From the stories Lexi had told her about Brent, he was with a different woman every night of the week.  While she was up for some excitement in her life, he was way too far at the opposite end of the spectrum for her liking.

Brent mumbled a hello to them but sauntered over to the cooler to grab a beer from Matthew.  They waved at another group of people in the distance—one guy with a group of women.  Kenley watched them, puzzled.

“Evan’s girlfriend, Alison, is bringing some of her nurse friends tonight,” Mike explained as he stopped at her side, his voice deep.  She turned back to meet his searching blue gaze.  He hadn’t even bothered to say hello to her. The fact that Lexi discreetly dragged Christopher away at that exact moment didn’t escape her notice.  She’d have to kill her friend later for leaving her alone with Mike.

“Looking to meet someone?” Kenley couldn’t help but retort.  She felt her face burning.  What the hell was wrong with her?  Who cared if he met some chick and made out with her all night by the roaring fire?  It sure the hell wasn’t her concern.

“Not exactly,” Mike said, his voice gruff.  His six feet plus towered above her own petite frame, and as she took in his cropped dark hair and chiseled features, she had to admit to herself that he was handsome.  Not that she’d ever tell him that.

His bulk was contained beneath a long-sleeved tee shirt that stretched across his massive chest and broad shoulders.  His pecs stood out against the snug fabric, and she knew exactly what the washboard abs concealed beneath his clothes looked like.  Well-worn jeans clung to his muscular thighs, and work boots encased his feet.  The man looked mouth-watering from head to toe.  Not that she’d be sampling a taste.

“Boots?” she asked.

Mike shrugged.  “It’s mid-October, not July.  Are you warm enough?” he asked, suddenly seeming concerned.

“I’m fine,” she said, wishing she’d thought to wear jeans at least.  Bare feet, shorts, and a tank top didn’t seem quite appropriate for a fall beach bonfire.  Oh well.  Too late now.  She’d just leave if she got too cold as the night wore on.  She unwrapped her sweater from around her waist and tugged it over her head, suddenly feeling naked beneath Mike’s penetrating gaze.  The heat that filled her chest was from the warmth of her sweater—not her reaction to Mike.  Not at all.

Mike was watching her closely when she re-emerged.  “Can we talk for a minute?” he asked, looking uncomfortable.  He shifted from side to side.

“Kenley, over here!” Lexi called, waving a skewered hot dog in the air.  Christopher grabbed her from behind at that exact moment, and she shrieked happily.

Kenley glanced back at Mike, feeling like the few feet between them was the expanse of the entire ocean.  Aside from the pool this afternoon, she’d seen him exactly once since their encounter at the condo, and it had been just as awkward as tonight.  The fact that her heart was skittering to a stop in her chest as she gazed up at him wasn’t helping matters.  Why was her body responding to this man whose aggression and assertiveness was so completely wrong for her?  Maybe she
was
interested in dating someone different, but he was too many steps in the wrong direction. Way too far off the course she’d planned for her life.  “Uh, maybe later.  See ya.”

She turned and hurriedly walked away, Mike’s spicy scent still lingering in the air.  That man smelled positively scrumptious.  How was she supposed to relax and enjoy the evening knowing he was here—and worse, knowing he thought they needed some heart-to-heart?  She wasn’t even sure what he wanted.  Was he going to apologize?  Call a truce?  Haul her off into the dunes and kiss her senseless?

She flushed as she imagined Mikes lips on her skin, the scruff of his five o’clock shadow rubbing against her sensitive flesh.  His thick arousal rubbing against her sex was still fresh in her mind, and a part of her wanted to continue exactly where they’d left off.  To see just how good Mike could make her feel.  Not that that was ever,
ever
going to happen.  This afternoon was a one-time deal, and the sooner she communicated that to Mike, the better.

So naturally, she was walking away from him and toward her best friend.  Because that would resolve everything.

Lexi was getting some food for her, so Kenley grabbed a beer from the open cooler and sank into the sand beside her.  The wall of heat that washed over her from the bonfire felt good.  She stretched her legs out in the sand, enjoying the warmth on her bare skin.  Lexi handed her a plate, and she could feel Mike’s burning gaze from behind.  No time like the present to start ignoring him.  It might be easier to ignore the sun in the sky than the way his presence lit up her world, but she was willing to try.

“What was that about?” Lexi asked, nodding in Mike’s direction.

Kenley blew out a sigh.  “Who knows.  He said he wanted to talk.”

“About the condo or the pool?”

“Don’t know.  Don’t care.”

“He is sorry, you know.  About the condo, I mean.  Christopher said he was really worried he’d scared you.”

Kenley let out a bitter laugh.  “He sure had a damn funny way of showing it.  Your fiancé had to order him to release me—and I was in my own home!”

“I know.  Those guys are used to neutralizing the threat, controlling the situation.  He reacted without thinking.  They were just worried about me, you know?”

Kenley wrapped an arm around her best friend’s shoulder.  “I know.  So was I.  That didn’t mean I appreciated him scaring me like that.”

“Ladies,” Christopher said, approaching them with two cooked hotdogs, still sizzling on the skewers.

“Such a gentleman,” Kenley teased.

“Thanks hun,” Lexi said, leaning forward to give him a kiss.

Those two were so sweet it practically hurt to look at them.  Kenley hastened a glance back in Mike’s direction and found him still watching her intently.  He nodded once and then turned his attention back to his friends.  What was his deal anyway?  He didn’t need to keep tabs on her.  They weren’t friends.  They weren’t anything.

She grabbed a fork and slid the hotdog from the skewer and onto a bun, taking a bite.  It was just the right amount of charred and tasted completely delicious, or maybe she was just starving.  Come to think of it, she never did have her snack or soda at the pool earlier.  She reached over and helped herself to a few of the side dishes spread out by the cooler, filling her plate.  Everything tasted better down by the water.  The sea air, salt, and sand just made life better in general.  It was going to be tough returning to DC in another week or so when she’d finished hiring for their new contract.  But her job, apartment, and life were there.  She had no reason to stick around here longer than necessary.

“Are either of you ready for another hotdog?” Christopher asked as he polished off his second.

“Not me, thanks,” Kenley said.  “I haven’t even finished my first one yet.”

“No thanks, hun,” Lexi said.

“No biggie, more for us men,” Christopher said with a wink.

Evan sauntered over, grabbing plates for him and Alison.  Christopher loaded him up, and Kenley noticed Evan’s plate was also piled high with food.  With the grueling workouts and deployments they went on, it was no wonder they needed to eat so much to keep up their strength.  She had a feeling they could each polish off more food in one sitting than she could eat in a week.  Not that she was complaining in the least about their muscular physiques.  Lexi and the other women were lucky indeed.

“Thanks, man,” Evan said, walking back over to where he’d left Alison and her friends.  Kenley couldn’t help but notice that all the single men on the SEAL team were congregated around the pretty nurses.  Big surprise.  Brent had a huge grin on his face, and Matthew had casually slung his arm around the shoulders of one of the women.  Mike wasn’t with anyone in particular, but he sure didn’t look too uncomfortable amidst all the female company.

“You should go talk to him,” Lexi prodded.

“Who?”

Lexi rolled her eyes.  “You’ve been looking Mike’s way every couple of minutes.”

“He’s got plenty of women over there to keep him company.  I don’t need to get in the middle of that.”

“I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t be in the middle.  Didn’t you say he wanted to talk?”

Kenley blew out a sigh.  “It doesn’t matter.  I’ll be leaving in a week or so, and then I won’t have to worry about him again.”

“He’ll be at the wedding you know.”

“Have you set a date?” Kenley asked.

“No, not yet,” Lexi sighed.  “There’s too much going on.  Hopefully sometime next summer.”

“Well then I don’t have anything to worry about.  I’ll be totally over him by then.”

“Over him?” Lexi asked, raising her eyebrows.

“Over being mad at him,” Kenley hastened to explain.

Lexi shook her head in disbelief and pulled Christopher’s jacket around her shoulders.  “This is a great night,” she said wistfully as the bonfire crackled in front of them.

“It is.  Thanks again for inviting me.”

“Hey, you’re practically family.  So if I’m part of Christopher’s SEAL team family now, then you are, too.”

Kenley nodded and absentmindedly took a swig of her beer, her gut churning.  Good friends.  A beach bonfire.  Food.  Alcohol.  So why was she suddenly feeling so melancholy?

Mike cursed under his breath as Kenley caught him watching her.  She looked so small and fragile in those little shorts, sandals carelessly tossed on the sand beside her.  The sweater she’d pulled on wouldn’t provide much shield against the wind—not with that skimpy little tank top she was wearing beneath.  He groaned at the way she’d looked in it—all womanly curves, with the swells of her breasts peeking above the top.  And hell—he knew exactly how soft she was.  How good those lush breasts felt pressing against his chest.  Her small body against his hard frame had felt damn near like heaven.

And hell if she didn’t look like perfection right now.  Those toned legs were stretched out in front of her as she basked in the firelight—they looked so silky smooth, he’d kill to pull her off alone for a few minutes.  They’d sneak off behind some of the dunes, he’d haul her onto his lap, grinding his hard-on against her, and he’d run his hands roughly up and down those gorgeous legs as he kissed her senseless.  Those shorts were so short he could tease and caress the tender flesh on her inner thighs, giving her a taste of what a night with him promised to be like.  Of just how good he could make her feel.

Not that any of that scenario was entirely appropriate given the circumstances.  Or likely to ever happen.

The firelight danced across Kenley’s skin, and a few wisps of that curly hair had escaped her ponytail and framed her face.  He was dying to give just one of those curls a gentle tug to see how she responded.  Then he’d tuck it gently back behind her ear, whispering all the ways he wanted to get to know her better.  Her sweet lips looked rosier than ever in the warm light, and damn if he wasn’t dying for just one more taste.

She shifted as she finished her food, wrapping her sweater-clad arms around her shapely legs.  His groin tightened as he watched her.  The possessive, protective alpha male in him wanted to go to her.  To take care of her.  The need to watch out for others was engrained in his DNA, just like it was in all the guys on his SEAL team.  Sure, he wouldn’t exactly be fighting off any terrorists or drug lords tonight on the beach, but making sure Kenley was safe and secure felt like a damn good idea.  She must be freezing out here, and the air was only going to get colder as the night wore on.  Hell if he didn’t wish he had some right to worry about her.  Some claim to her that made it his duty to protect and care for Kenley.

That was probably the last thing on Earth she wanted with the way they’d met a few weeks ago.  With the way she’d run off at the pool earlier.  He didn’t regret his actions, but hell.  Was it too much for a guy to want a damn chance?

Grumbling, he wandered over and grabbed a beer from the cooler.

“I’ve got dibs on the blonde,” Brent said, eyes flaring as he eyed the nurse friends Alison had brought along.  She was currently introducing them to the couples seated around the bonfire, but one of them kept sneaking peeks in their direction.

“I’m not looking to meet anyone tonight,” Mike muttered.

“I take it your conversation with Kenley didn’t go too well?” Brent smirked.

“Never happened.”  He took a long pull from his beer.  Damn that tasted good.  He could go for some food, too, but now that Kenley was seated beside the fire, he didn’t feel like walking over to where she was.  Hell.  What was he—in eighth grade or something?  Avoiding the pretty girls?  If they were going to be around each other he needed to smooth the waters—for her sake and his.

“And, another one bites the dust,” Matthew drawled, following Mike’s gaze over to the bonfire.

Mike ignored him, finally tearing his eyes away from Kenley, and said hello to Evan and Alison as they walked up with her friends.  Brent tugged the blonde off to get her a drink.  She giggled as he complimented her, and Mike rolled his eyes.  That guy always had the women eating out of his hand.

A cute little brunette sidled up to him, and he tried to engage in some polite conversation without completely brushing her off.  She was a nurse.  She loved military men.  Got it.  From the corner of his eye, he watched Kenley rise and walk over to one of the coolers to grab a drink.  She shivered as she stepped away from the fire, and he bit back a curse.  “Excuse me,” he said to the attractive woman in front of him.  “I need to go grab something from my car.”

“Need some company?” she asked, a flirty smile on her pink lips.

“Nah, I’ll be back in ten.”

He didn’t miss the hurt expression on her face, but he didn’t care.  No sense in leading her on when the chances of him taking a woman home tonight were zilch.  Not unless Kenley had a sudden change of heart, which was doubtful.  Breaking down her walls would be like melting an iceberg—not exactly a task to be accomplished in one evening.

Mike offered a brief explanation to Evan and Matthew about grabbing something from his vehicle and then jogged off down the beach.  He kept a sweatshirt and some PT gear in the back of his SUV.  It was going to drive him crazy watching Kenley shivering all night long.  And if he couldn’t be the one to warm her up with his body heat, then at least his sweatshirt could.  Masculine pride swelled in his chest at the idea of Kenley in his clothes.  Hell, he’d prefer to see her in nothing at all.  That petite little thing was a knockout—he’d felt her curves against him and was dying to see the whole package.  Preferably sprawled out on his bed.

He made it to his vehicle in under five minutes and grabbed a clean sweatshirt from the back.  It would be huge on her, but she’d be warm.  Hell, she’d look cute wearing his oversized clothes.  Even if it did hide her curves, that fact that she’d be wearing something of his made him feel about ten feet tall.  He didn’t think any of the other single guys on his team had their eye on Kenley, but if this helped stake his claim and kept the other guys away, he wouldn’t complain.

Shutting the trunk, Mike set the alarm and then jogged back to the quiet north end of the beach where they’d set up for the evening.  He could see the silhouettes of his buddies and the women in the light of the fire.  It was dark down by the water, away from the lights dotting the boardwalk and coming from the restaurants and hotels.  As he got closer, he came to a stop and looked around, puzzled.  Lexi was snuggled next to Christopher, right where he’d last seen them.  Rebecca and Patrick had a blanket wrapped around their shoulders as they ate by the fire.  Brent and the blonde were off to the side drinking beers—as were Evan, Alison, Matthew, and the other woman.

He scanned the group again, making sure he hadn’t somehow missed her.

Kenley was gone.

***

Kenley shivered as she hurried back down the beach.  The sand was cold beneath her feet, and she wished she had on socks and sneakers.  Not to mention long pants.  The wind blowing in off the water cut right through the loose knit of her sweater, and goose bumps spread over her flesh.  Apparently she should’ve paid closer attention to the October weather before dressing for the evening.  The summer nights she’d spent on the beach were sweltering—this felt more like autumn back home.  She’d be chilled to the bone by the time she got to her car.

Blowing out a sigh, she hurried along the sand.  Lexi had been disappointed that she’d left early, but she wouldn’t exactly be lonely with Christopher keeping her warm.  With the two of them hanging out around the fire with Patrick and Rebecca, Kenley had felt like the fifth wheel anyway.  She didn’t exactly need to be there beside the happy couples.  Or to stand around with Alison’s friends chatting up the single men on the SEAL team.

Glancing back, she could make out the bonfire in the distance.  She could always drive home, grab something warmer, then come back, but that almost seemed like it was more hassle than it was worth.  She’d just—

“Ow!”

Kenley muttered under her breath as she accidentally stepped on a seashell, cursing as it cut into her foot.  She stopped for a moment, glancing down.  It hurt but hadn’t broken her skin.  At least she was almost back to the boardwalk.  She readjusted her array of curls, tucking in the strands that had broken free of the ponytail. She probably looked like a crazed woman hurrying down the beach like this—hair wildly blowing about, muttering to herself as she stepped on inanimate objects.  Freaking perfect.

She gingerly stepped onto the boardwalk, brushing the sand from her bare feet.  It was going to hurt like hell walking back to her car like this.  Maybe she’d just sit down for a few minutes until she felt better.  She balanced on one leg, tugging on a sandal.  A man jogging by with his dog nodded at her, and she politely said hello before pulling her other sandal on.

See, that guy didn’t even
know
her but had said hi.  Apparently that was too much for what’s-his-name, who just started talking to her like they were buddies or something.  Honestly, what was his problem?  Mike had barely spoken to her this evening before abruptly leaving.  So much for the big talk he needed to have with her.  The minute she’d finished eating and stood up to grab another beer from the cooler, he’d literally turned and run off down the beach.  Not that she’d expected them to become best buds or something, but damn.  Turning and running the other way didn’t bode well.

Kenley blew out a sigh.  She couldn’t be friends with anyone that hot anyway.  She’d be drooling over him while he had some new gorgeous woman on his arm.  Not that she cared if he dated anyone.  He could date every damn woman in Virginia Beach if he wanted.  Their kiss earlier today had been nothing but a big, fat mistake.  So there was that, too.

At least he didn’t take one of those women with him when he left.  Alison seemed nice enough, so she assumed her friends were.  But the thought that she’d brought them along to meet the single guys on Mike’s SEAL team—Mike included—didn’t sit well with her.  And wasn’t that a surprise.  She was sure wasting a lot of time thinking about a man she couldn’t stand.  Hmmph.

She gingerly walked over to the bench and sank down, wondering if her foot would stop bothering her in a few more minutes.  In the meantime she’d just have to sit here and freeze a little longer.  She shivered again and wrapped her arms around herself, trying to stay warm.

“Kenley!”

She started and looked up to see Mike himself walking her direction.  Had he chased after her down the beach?  It was amazing that he’d restrained himself and not tackled her in the sand or something.  Wasn’t that his MO?  Shoot first, ask questions later?

Crap.  What if something was wrong with Lexi?  Here she was thinking about what an ass he was, and he’d come running after her.  But wait—hadn’t he left already?

Mike stepped onto the boardwalk and was at the bench in two long strides, looking tall and dangerous as he towered above her.  He gripped a sweatshirt tightly in his hand, and his gaze slid to where she absentmindedly rubbed her injured foot.

“Are you okay?” he asked, voice gruff.

“Fine,” she said, getting to her feet.  She winced as she put pressure on the injured one.

Mike stepped closer, and she waved him off.  “I just stepped on a shell in the dark.  I’m fine.”

“Why’d you leave?”

“I was cold.  Why’d you leave?” she asked, putting her hands on her hips as she glared up at him.  Seriously, what was his problem?  He chased her all the way here to ask why she’d left?

“I went to get you a sweatshirt.”

“You—wait, what?”

“I had an extra one in my car, and you looked cold.”

Right on cue, she shivered in the night air.  “Here, take it,” he commanded.  Warily, she met his gaze.  His jaw clenched as he watched her, his chiseled, masculine features almost too much to bear.  How could someone who was so handsome also act like such a jerk half the time?  It just wasn’t fair.  She hesitated, unsure of what to do.  Why did it feel like taking his sweatshirt meant more than borrowing a damn piece of clothing?

His blue eyes softened as he watched her.  “Go on, you’re cold,” he said, his voice deep.  Maybe it was some sort of peace offering.  What did she care?  Reluctantly, she reached out to take the proffered sweatshirt.  She
was
freezing.  And even if Mike was kind of a jerk, it was still sort of sweet that he’d run back to grab it from his car and then chased after her.  All the way back to the boardwalk.

She slipped into the oversized, soft cotton, and holy hell.  It even smelled like him.  Like man and spice and everything oh so nice.  She resisted the urge to inhale deeply and wrap her arms around herself.  That would feel too much like being in Mike’s arms.  Not that she wanted that to happen again.

He jerked his head back toward the beach.  “Are you coming back?”

“Yeah, I guess.  Lexi was bummed that I left early.”

Mike nailed her with a gaze.  “She wasn’t the only one.”

Kenley’s heart beat faster in her chest, and she raised her eyebrows, trying to play it cool.

“I wanted to talk to you, remember?  I didn’t think I’d have to run after you down the beach to do so.”

“Sorry, I just….”  Why was she apologizing to him?  She didn’t owe him an explanation.  She didn’t owe him anything.

“I’m the one who’s sorry.  I know we didn’t get off to the best start when I frightened you at your condo, and I never would’ve done that if we hadn’t been searching for Lexi and her kidnappers.  My SEAL team is trained to be alert and subdue any threats.  Christopher and I were both on edge with Lexi missing, and you’d left the door open.  I wouldn’t just barge into a woman’s place and grab her like that otherwise.  I know you were terrified.”