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Risen To The Top CHAPTER 126
He could recognize certain signs of battle stress, what it does to a man. This guy who left the letters and killed Tori’s cat, whoever the hell he was, had made close friends with Dr. Death. Almost like the cretin didn’t have anything left to lose.Driving up and over the New York Bridge, he remembered back to the day he got his first tattoo. The artist at Monique’s shop gleefully palmed his flesh, like Sean was a virgin canvas. Well, he had been. The owner sent Monique over to shave Sean’s leg before the old fart could begin. And that was a real nice treat. Sean knew next time he’d ask for her. She had the softest hands and biggest tits…He glanced over at Tori and she smiled back at him. He felt like a heel. But he could see in her eyes she trusted him. Thing was, did he trust himself? Was he taking her home to protect her or for the fantastic sex?The crusty old guy with rough hands had talked to Sean that day while drawing the
Risen To The Top CHAPTER 127
Tori woke up in Sean’s motor home hearing the gentle roll of the waves in the distance. She could feel the soldier was in a deep sleep. She remained nestled in his warm embrace; her body spooned in front of him, her back resting against his chest. Air whistled through his teeth. She turned to look at him over her shoulder. His deep rose-colored lips were smooth and just waiting to be kissed. She squirmed to roll over and face him and his arms tightened around her waist at first, then his hands lowered to the cheeks of her ass as he allowed her to turn in the bed. The sheets were musty, pulling up from Sean’s corner, exposing the mattress underneath.He pressed her to him, his large hands on the back side of her waist, pulling her toward him. She felt his hardness as she played with the hair around his ears and kissed him. Several kisses later, he adroitly encased himself in a condom, moved on top of her, on his hands and knees, making entry into her swollen s
Risen To The Top CHAPTER 128
* * *This was the part of relationships Sean couldn’t handle. He’d gotten involved sexually, and was now looking at the woman he was going to have to hurt, and he hated himself. Part of him looked for a way out, any way to allow him to spend more time in her company. But, as much as he wanted it, signals were coming to him loud and clear like those damned red extraction flares. Part of him wanted to be rescued. The other part wanted to fall down a hole and take Tori with him.That was no way to live. No way to treat an innocent. And he knew better, had told himself to watch out for this very thing.You dumb son-of-a-bitch.He needed to think. While Tori was anywhere close to him, when he could see her hot with arousal, hear her moaning—even the sound of her breath as she lay sleeping or the taste of a quick kiss—he was distracted. That part of him, the part that always figured everything out, was grossly disabled.
Risen To The Top CHAPTER 129
* * *Sean was grateful at first that Tori didn’t want to talk as he drove her car back to her parents’ house. But soon the thickness of the dark space between them pressed against him and raised his hackles. It was always like this when he was ready to walk into harm’s way. He’d learned to pick up the hotheads—people with strong emotions and the weird energy emanating from the insanity of life under extreme pressure. His training gave him the instincts to recognize when those around him were overwhelmed and would do things they normally wouldn’t do.He’d asked her if she wanted to go somewhere for breakfast, but she politely declined. Part of him was grateful for that.As the blocks leading up to the Hoades family home passed, he began to relax. He was getting more and more confident a major scene had been averted. She was a strong girl. God, how he loved that about her. She bore her pain silently, didn’t go bringing down the whol
Risen To The Top CHAPTER 130
* * *A half hour later, Sean was devouring a large crab omelet at the Scupper. He saw the familiar stubby shadow of Duke at the doorway, walking into the ever-dark restaurant bar. Duke sniffed the air right in front of his table.“I don’t smell dog,” he said.“Fuck you, Duke. phoenix’s at home. He figured he wasn’t exactly welcome here.”“Oh, he’s okay. It’s his dog hair and salt water-smelling pelt that isn’t,” Duke said with a wince. He hailed the waitress for some coffee, and sat down across from Sean.“So, you want to hit Bunny’s after breakfast, or you get enough exercise this morning?” Duke looked up at Sean under his bushy eyebrows. Creases on his forehead made him resemble a Shar Pei.Sean knew he deserved the ribbing. He’d neglected his best friend and constant companion. They commonly introduced themselves as twins. It never ceased to draw laughter from the fairer sex since there
Risen To The Top CHAPTER 131
Sean, Alex, Lucas, Duke and Bunny rode over to Tori’s house in Duke’s four-door salvage beater. Sean discovered he’d been rocking back and forth as he stared out the passenger side window.Looking for what?He wondered about so many things. The Team gave him a silent, wide berth as he thought about Tori and what they were going to face.No. He just couldn’t bring himself to think anything serious or permanent had happened to her. What if she’s—?”When they arrived, he noticed Alex giving him the long look. Sean had jumped out the door before their truck stopped rolling. Alex, right behind him, slammed the rattling door of the old beater. Duke and everyone else exited the other side.Sean was on his way to mounting the front steps two at a time to meet the yellow crime scene tape when Alex grabbed his arm. “We wait for the Team, Sean,” Alex reminded him.Of course. This isn’t a single soldie
Risen To The Top CHAPTER 132
The guys sauntered through the entryway to the foyer, doing a double-take at the tall ceilings and intricate metal staircase leading to the second floor, as Sean pushed by them on his way toward the kitchen and rear yard. He heard the squawk of police and fire radios.Duke ran to catch up to him. He didn’t need a nursemaid or a witness to whatever he was going to say to her, but a part of him was grateful Duke had his back. As they passed by Dr. Hoades’s office, three large yellow-clad firemen had their arms filled with boxes of smoldering papers, which they dropped on cue and began spreading out on the floor. A dark black streak went up the side of one wall of the study, originating from the opened window to the backyard. Dr. Hoades was absent-mindedly wandering around the room, looking at various piles of manila folders and paperwork, generally making himself a nuisance to the firemen.Detective Dole appeared out of nowhere, his little noteboo
Risen To The Top CHAPTER 133
Tori wanted to run to Sean, to collapse in his arms, but that was just substituting one problem with another. She was so scared of the escalating situation that she was about to do something she promised herself she wouldn’t do. She was certain her fear was what was driving her to his arms. Well, that and the great sex, of course. No denying that chemistry they shared.But the sex wasn’t a relationship, and wouldn’t be the reason for their relationship. She’d studied this in college, couples who got together at a particularly low point in their lives, and later, when they healed, when they grew up, they couldn’t keep it together. They grew apart.No. She wanted a relationship with someone when she was healed. When she was whole. Besides, she needed to get her life back on track. This delicious detour was just that, a detour. Although his kisses were scorchingly hot, his moves made her bones turn to rubber, she knew better than to think a relatio