“What? This is the first princess you’ve ever saved?” he teased.
“Well, that, sure.” She ran her fingers through his hair. “But I think you know what I’m talking about.”
Lachlan chuckled. “I do, Sunshine. First time for me as well. I don’t make it a habit of stopping in the middle of a mission to make love to an amazing woman.”
She quirked an eyebrow as her gaze penetrated him. If she ever decided to go into the CIA she’d make one hell of an interrogator.
The thought was like a bucket of cold water dousing him. What was he doing? She was destined for the alphabets and he had his career as a SEAL. The two were like cats and dogs, not to mention she outclassed him. And worse, he hadn’t given a thought to his team or the princess. Had they gotten to safety or did they not have enough time, since he and Gina had been discovered? How was the storm affecting their escape onto the ship? And how much time did he and Gina have before the storm gave out? Would they be found?
Gina’s eyes flickered and for a moment he saw intense sadness in them. Was she thinking the same thoughts, or only reading his? God, he didn’t want to hurt her. She was so young; he had no business whatsoever making love with her, even if it felt like the best thing that had ever happened to him.
Keep her.
The thought accompanied an intense pain in his chest as he simultaneously claimed her for himself and gave her up.
“We need water,” he said flatly. “It’s a million degrees in here.”
He looked away like a coward at the first sign of devastation on her face. He’d killed the light in her eyes and couldn’t bear to see it. When she lifted herself off him, he didn’t stop her. She looked around for the supplies stowed in the SUV, which included a case of water. Lach sat up.
“Behind the bench. I’ve got it.” He turned and leaned over the bench. When he lifted the case and turned around, she was already back in her bra and panties and trying to brush a ton of sand out of her clothes. He’d never felt so naked.
“Gina.”
She glanced up at him, her golden eyes now wary.
ELEVEN
Gina, age 22
Regina stared at the man who had just made love to her like no one ever had before. Who’d made her feel more alive, freer than she’d ever dreamed of feeling.
And now he’d shut her out just as quickly as he’d let her in.
When he’d first wrapped his arms around her and roughly pulled her to him, he’d read her face and didn’t hesitate to give her what she wanted. His lips crashed down on hers and tasted of adrenaline and desire and she couldn’t get enough of it. She’d kissed him back hungrily, wishing the moment would never end. They’d been successful, Sana was safe, and this was how she wanted to celebrate—in Lach’s arms. She wanted to take him inside her body, wanted him to take her apart and put her back together again. Her blood pounded in her ears and she heard herself moan the first time she felt his erection pressing against her belly. They could burn off their adrenaline together in the best, most pleasurable of ways. God, he would taste good—salty and sweaty and masculine. Fresh from the fight.
And he had. She could smell the lust on his breath, feel it in the way his body shook when he entered her. She loved the way he didn’t hesitate, the way he trusted that she wanted him. Their lovemaking was primal, a reaction to surviving she was sure. But there was more. They’d had a connection from the very beginning and it culminated the moment they came together.
Then afterward, she saw it in his eyes. The regret. Then second-guessing what they’d done. The realization of their situation. For a moment, she hoped he’d decide she was worth it, that they were worth a shot. All her life, Regina had focused on her ambitions and the will of her father which were one and the same with the needs of her country. But now, with Lachlan, she saw for the first time that there could be more in her life. There could be love with an equal partner.
She hoped he saw it too.
And then he shut her out.
“Gina,” he said, and she tried not to flinch. No one else had ever shortened her name, but it sounded right coming from him. She’d already started getting dressed, not wanting to be naked and vulnerable in his presence for one more second. She glared at him, willing him to either say he still wanted her, or to look away.
Before she could react, he’d tossed aside the case of water bottles and snapped her back up in his arms. His lips found hers and she was helpless again.
He stopped kissing her. “Fuck, I…” He studied her face as if it were a pool of cool water and he was dying of thirst.
“Don’t say it, Lachlan. Don’t say I’m too young, or that this is wrong, or we can’t do this. Don’t…”
But it was too late. The spell was broken again. Taking a deep breath through his nose, he let her go and sat on the bench where they’d just made love. He scrubbed his face, then grabbed his underwear and pants and pulled them on. Her instinct was to grab him, shake him, make him understand that this was right. They both wanted it. For the first time in her life, Gina was ready to set aside all her plans and throw caution to the wind with this infuriating man. She felt like she could conquer the world with him but that wasn’t what she wanted. She only wantedhim.
“It’s just the excitement from the mission you’re feeling, lass. It’s confusing when you’re not used to it. It's exciting, and that translates to…other things.”
Her desire and lust quickly shifted to anger. How dare he try and deny that what they felt for each other was only post-battle euphoria. Regina clenched her fists and looked down at the dusty floor of the SUV.
“No, don’t belittle this. It’s more than that.” She looked up at him. “We both know it. We both felt it. This isn’t either of us.” She gestured around them. “Neither of us is into casual fucking.” She watched him flinch. “This is something more, something special.”
