"I'm sorry, son. But thank you for your service. You're a hero to many people."

The door closed behind him.

A hero?

To f.u.c.king who?

Years of training. Dedication. Motherf.u.c.king h.e.l.l week-five days of physical f.u.c.king torture with no sleep-and it was over?

How could it be over?

How the h.e.l.l could I survive the IED, the transport, the surgery, the recovery, only to have a G.o.dd.a.m.ned headache prevent me from shipping back out?

Holy Christ, I survived spider bites, lacerations, and a parachute that incorrectly deployed. A d.a.m.ned headache knocked me out.

I ripped the gown off and pitched it across the room. It took out a gla.s.s container of tongue depressors. The gla.s.s didn't shatter, but it toppled into the sink.

It wasn't enough, but I wasn't trashing a doctor's office. It wasn't his fault he ruined my life.

It wasn't anyone's fault, but it sure as h.e.l.l felt like mine.

What the f.u.c.k was I supposed to do now?

Take money that shouldn't have belonged to me and live some worthless life beside a pool? Grab some s.h.i.tty nine-to-five to occupy my days?

All the d.a.m.n opportunity in the world, and the one thing I wanted was gone.

Now I knew how Shay felt.

Shay.

f.u.c.k.

I couldn't face her. How many men had the honor of telling their women they were weak? Unfit.

Unworthy of the SEALs. Unworthy of her.

What the f.u.c.k was I supposed to do?

Chapter Eighteen - Shay.

The front door slammed shut.

The windows shook with it, scaring the absolute bejesus out of me.

My heart just about stopped. The little library didn't have a secondary exit to escape, not unless I wanted to climb up the fireplace. I abandoned my Kindle and dove over the couch-like the fraying afgan Gran knitted for me would protect me from goblins in my closet and intruders bursting through my door.

I grabbed the remote and reared to throw.

Bags thudded against the floor. I peeked at the door.

Christ, it was just Zach.

And he was...stripping.

Zach peeled his shirt off. His shoes kicked off next.

I swallowed. Pressing hard against the seam of his jeans was just the sort of trouble I knew he'd bring back from D.C.

"You're home." I gripped the couch. Suddenly, I was very aware that I stole one of his shirts to sleep in...and conveniently forgot to wear any pants or panties while I snuggled into a steamy book. "I wasn't expecting you tonight."

"Take it off."

I smirked, picking at the shirt. "I didn't think you'd mind if I borrowed it."

"Take. It. Off."

Oh, Lord.

His tone. That voice. The twitching muscles, rugged scars, and the devilish swirls of ink coating his chest.

Zach's presence was enough to undo me. Combine that with the naughty book I read?

I wasn't looking forward to sleeping alone tonight. Now I doubted I'd get any sleep at all.

But I hadn't expected to welcome him home from D.C. on my knees. In fact, I planned on avoiding him as best I could. It wasn't that I didn't like him staring at me, studying me as I curled the shirt over my hips, across my navel, and over the swell of my b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

All I wanted was for him to stare at me. To touch me. Kiss me. Hold me.

Stay with me.

The shirt dropped to the floor. The cool air tickled over my skin, tightening my nipples beyond arousal and into a painful throb. Only his mouth could soothe them.

A single word stripped my defenses and clothes. His command was issued with SEAL authority and masculine desire.

"Come here."

How could anyone resist? I'd never deny a man so powerful and s.e.xy and charming and just...perfect. Too perfect.

My stepped padded close, slow and steady, letting the curve of my hip sway to tease his hungry gaze. I shouldn't have encouraged this. A night with him was just another mistake.

But letting him get into my heart was worse.

I ignored every reasonable expectation for myself and touched the fierce ridges of his abs. The fear of losing him faded. He cupped my breast and soothed the ache inside of me.

I wasn't following my head. h.e.l.l, I wasn't even following my heart. I acted on need. Selfish, stupid, terrible desire. I never should have wanted this man. Embracing him would end in heartache and misery.

I tried not to let him close.

Our bodies touched.

I meant to ignore my feelings for him.

He kissed me.

I wished I could hate him.

But I didn't. Couldn't.

And what I did feel scared me.

His kiss turned ferocious, and his grip on my breast fierce and possessive. He squeezed, and I fell against him.

Even the little sting of pain felt good in his palm.

He released my nipple to tangle his fingers in my hair. I didn't expect him to jerk my head back. I gasped as the nip against my throat was anything but playful. He clapped his free hand against my a.s.s and dug in. Zach pressed me against him.

And growled.

"I want you. Right here. Right now."

I rocked with shivers and shudders and excited tingles. My body answered for me, but I still purred for him-something vulgar and profane that hardened the bulge pressing into my belly.

Zach pushed me to my knees, but he batted my hands when I launched for his zipper.

"On your back." His words struck deep into my core. "Spread those legs. Show me what I missed while I was away."

What the h.e.l.l came over my charmer?

And why did I love it so d.a.m.ned much?

I did as he asked, resting on my elbows and spreading my legs in a way I never, ever exposed myself to anyone...except the man who had seen, tasted, and experienced it all before.

I trembled. He saw everything. Every little quiver of the mocha petals, every shining slickness that became unbearable under his gaze.

This was so naughty. Something about Zach stirred me to do things I never did before. I loved the rush of heat even if it burned through my resolve. I wanted to let him go, to fight whatever twisted feelings I had for him.

I had to deny my attraction for my step-brother.

A step-brother who kicked away his jeans.

Sunk to the ground.

Pulled my legs apart and laid me flat as he drew my hips to his mouth.

"You have no idea how much I need this," he said.

I had a good idea. My core clenched as his breath brushed over my c.l.i.t.

"I thought I'd go crazy before I tasted you again. f.u.c.k, I need you."

Did he not see how wet he made me? His words and demands and body had me wiggling over the carpets like a hyper puppy. I needed him too.

"Happy to help," I whispered.

I reached my arms over my head and stretched out, letting his thick fingers grip my sides. His mouth fell upon my slit and sealed over my swollen nub.

It wasn't a tease. It wasn't gentle. Zach devoured me-sucking, licking, feasting on everything far too sensitive for his rush of aggression and the brush of stubble from his chin.

My heart pounded. Every little gasp encouraged him. I jerked away as he got rougher, but he liked that. Zach gripped my hips and dove in deeper. I moaned as his tongue slipped within me, lapping the cream he couldn't reach. I whimpered as he spread my thighs wider and shoved a finger into my tightness. He drew more and more honeyed slickness into his mouth.

And smiled.

My G.o.d. This man absolutely worshiped my body. I could do nothing but tremble as he completely dominated me. He took his fill and explored what he wanted.

I begged for more.

His finger worked deep inside, pumping against the little sensitive spot within me. I slickened with excitement. He eagerly lapped every bit of me and more.

"Zach..." My voice wavered. He brought me to the brink so suddenly my heart forgot to beat. Shock seized my body. I gasped for mercy, but he didn't stop. The b.a.s.t.a.r.d increased his movements, thrusting his finger deeper, harder, faster, until I cried out in a constant whimper of delirious pleasure.

"Come for me," Zach said. "I wanna watch you come, Shay. You have no idea how bad I need to make you come."

I had a d.a.m.n good idea. A second finger joined his first, and my desire coated him in a slickness that might have been embarra.s.sing if he weren't so d.a.m.ned eager for me to make more of a mess. I bucked my hips as he captured my c.l.i.t. He suckled it between his teeth.

I moaned, blending his name with everything and anything I ever felt for him.

He didn't notice.

He fixated on my slit, staring at my tightness as his pale fingers disappeared into my clenching core. I arched, and the o.r.g.a.s.m crushed me in a quick, crippling, beautiful agony. I gripped the carpet in a helpless shudder. Zach didn't stop. He pistoned inside me.

One, two, three quick bursts and I was lost.

I collapsed against the floor and gasped his name over and over until he hauled me up and silenced my mews with his mouth.

He tasted of me, and I f.u.c.king loved it. I flicked my tongue against his and clutched at him as hard as I could.

"I'm not done with you yet." His words whispered a delicious threat over me. "You're mine for the night, Shay. f.u.c.k, the whole weekend. I'm going to f.u.c.k you until you can't hold yourself up anymore."

"Then what?"

"Then I'll f.u.c.k you some more."