Not once in all his years as a SEAL, nor during his time with Tac-Ops had Slade ever let himself become distracted by a pretty face. And he’d damn sure never gotten physical with a woman he was charged with protecting.
But he had with Shadow. The last woman in the world he ever wanted to see get hurt.
Slade had given in to the need he felt for her without any regard for her safety or the very real threat that existed. If it had been an intruder and not just a pair of fucking raccoons, the night could have ended badly…for everyone involved.
She could have been hurt or even killed because he’d been too busy taking what he wanted instead of being the protector she deserved. Well, that shit stopped now. From this point on, his focus would be on keeping her safe and nothing more.
This was Shadow. She was his boss’s daughter and part of his team. And despite the inexplicable spell the woman had somehow cast upon him, he was strong enough to ignore it. Hehadto be.
Her life depended on it.
“Are you going to stand there all night, or…”
“I think it’s best if I go back to my own room,” he answered gruffly.
The look of disappointment on her face was nearly enough to change his mind.
“Oh. Okay.” She quickly flashed him a casual smile. “Whatever floats your boat, big guy. I’ll just be here…lying in that big bed all alone…”
Her tone was as tempting as the woman herself, but Slade shoved his desires down and forced himself to stand his ground.
“I’m sorry, Shadow. What happened earlier was?—”
“Just a taste of what could happen if you stay the night in here, instead.”
He wanted nothing more than to do just that. But rather than give in to the urge to pick up right where they’d left off, Slade made his intentions from that moment forward crystal clear.
“This can’t happen.” He shook his head. “I’m supposed to be protecting you, not…”
“Shoving your tongue down my throat?”
Jesus.“I’m serious, Shadow. You’re in danger, and I can’t allow myself to be distracted.”
“Is that what I am?” She inched closer. “A distraction?”
“I think you know you’re more than that. But it doesn’t matter. Me and relationships…they don’t work. I’m just not built like the other guys. So I think it’s best if we end whatever this is now, before shit goes sideways and someone winds up getting hurt.”
Her baby blues blinked as her gaze widened with a nod. “Okay, well, first of all, I’m glad you think of me as more than just a distraction. And second…who said anything about a relationship? Because in case you didn’t notice, I’m not exactly a long-term kinda gal, myself. So if you’re worried that I’m going to get all clingy and needy just because we spend one night together?—”
“It’s not that.” Slade shook his head.
“No? Then what is it? Because I know it’s not that you don’t want me.” Her gaze lowered to the bulge still throbbing between his thighs.
“You’re right.” There was no point in trying to lie. “I do want you. More than I’ve ever wanted another woman in my life.”
“But?”
“But I respect the hell out of you and what you do for our team.”
When he didn’t say more, her brows dipped in the center with obvious confusion. “You see, your words sound like a really nice, really sweet compliment. But your tone makes me think you’re using your respect for me as an excuse not to stay.”
“Because I am,” he admitted. He started to lift a hand, to reach for her as a lover would. But he stopped himself at the last second, pulling back to keep from falling back under her spell. “I can’t…” Slade swallowed hard, clearing his throat before moving on. “I won’t let my personal feelings toward you interfere with my ability to do my job. And if I stay?—”
“Please stay.”
He ground his back teeth together to keep from shouting out a resoundingyes. “I’m not the man for you, Shadow. Casual or otherwise.” A slow shake of his head. “I’m sorry.”
Turning his back on the one thing he wanted more than anything else in the world, Slade started to leave for the bedroom down the hall but was stopped mid-stride by the sound of her sweet voice.
