A SEAL's Seduction (Alpha SEALs Book 4) (3 page)

Kenley panicked as the cold water surrounded them.  She instinctively held her breath, but she frantically pushed against Mike, desperate for him to release her.  Everything was distorted under water—her sense of sound, her sight.  The pool couldn’t be that deep, but it felt like they were sinking further and further away from the surface, Mike never releasing her from his iron-like grip.

Despite her parents having a condo by the beach, she’d never learned to swim.  She loved splashing around in the shallow water of the ocean and walking along the shoreline, but that had been the extent of her fun on the water.  Her parents were never around enough growing up to bother signing her or her sister up for swimming lessons.  They’d jet off to one place or another every summer, leaving the two of them with the nanny, and she hadn’t known family life to be any different.  Every kid must have parents who traveled all the time and a nanny who raised them, right?  They’d purchased a condo down by the beach.  They’d just never been around to use it.

Her mind returned to the present as the water fully surrounded them, all sounds from the world above muffled and distant. Mike’s feet hit the bottom, and he pushed back up, kicking his legs as he propelled them back to the surface.  The rise back up took even longer, and panic swelled in her chest.  The sunlight became brighter as they surfaced, and she frantically flailed about, desperate for him to release her.  Mike finally let her go as she fought him, and Lexi shouted in the distance, “Kenley can’t swim!”

Tears streamed down her face as Mike suddenly reappeared, his arm snaring around her waist, locking her to him.  She threw her arms around his neck, her legs wrapping around his waist as he carried her toward the edge of the pool.  He was so tall he could stand here, but she was barely over five feet.

“Shhh, I got you,” he soothed, his mouth at her ear.  She shook and clung to him, despite knowing she was safe now.  Those few moments of free-falling in all that deep water had been positively terrifying.  She couldn’t swim, so she’d never once jumped into a deep pool of water like that.  She never would again, either.

Her back met the rough edge of the pool, and still Mike held her to him.  His muscular arms were locked around her, and she foolishly cried into his neck.

“I’m sorry, Kenley,” he apologized.  “Are you okay?”

Finally she lifted her head.  Concerned blue eyes met her gaze, and Mike swiped a tear running down her cheek.  Despite her fear moments ago, it felt good to be in his arms.  Too good.  He was walls of solid muscle, bigger and stronger than most other men.  He held her so closely to him, she knew nothing bad would happen whenever he was around.  Even though he was the one who’d jumped into the pool with her, he’d helped her.  Carried her back to the side.  Held her as she cried.

“You can’t swim?”

“No,” she whispered.

“I’m sorry; I never would’ve done that—”

She nodded, another tear slipping down her face.

“Please don’t cry,” he said, his voice catching.  He wiped her tears away, and they stared at each other a moment as their heat intermingled. Suddenly the cool water lapping around them felt very, very hot.  Or maybe it was the solid male that was holding her.  Mike shifted slightly, his arousal hitting her exactly where she wanted him.  He was just as turned on at their wet bodies pressed together as she was.  Being in Mike’s arms was suddenly the absolute only place she wanted to be.

Mike leaned in and kissed her, and she momentarily forgot how to breathe.  He was gentle and sweet, and he kept up his tender kisses as she tightened her hold.  Her breasts pushed against his broad chest, and her hardened nipples rubbed against him through her thin bikini top.  Pushing her back ever-so-slightly into the wall, he ground his erection into her core.  She gasped as he rubbed against her, exactly where she needed him.  He felt so damn good, she didn’t know what to make of it.  She barely knew him.  She didn’t make out with guys she’d just met.  They’d never so much as had dinner together or gone out on a date, and he was grinding against her in the pool like she was his.

Mike’s hands slid to her bottom, palming it as he pulled her tighter against him.  The tips of his fingers slid just beneath the fabric, and she gasped at his hands on her bare flesh.  It felt so good having Mike touch her, kiss her, control all of their movements.  Their bodies fit perfectly together.  His muscles and hard planes up against all her soft curves felt like pure magic.

Christopher cleared his throat in the distance, and Kenley abruptly jerked back in Mike’s arms.  Although they were mostly covered in water, their make-out session had obviously not gone unnoticed.  Of course not.  She’d flailed about like an idiot and then cried as Mike came to her rescue.  Well, he’d also been the cause of her torment in the first place.

Kenley untangled herself from Mike as he loosened his grip but still held her securely in his arms.  She wasn’t sure if he didn’t want to let her go because it meant ending their heated make-out session or because he was still concerned about her near drowning.  Well, she probably hadn’t been
that
close to drowning with Mike, Christopher, and Lexi at the pool, but it sure the hell felt that way.

“Kenley—”

“I have to go.”  She bolted for the ladder, climbing out of the pool.  Mike’s heated gaze slid over her entire body, and she shuddered.  He remained where she’d left him, no doubt in an effort to conceal that massive hard-on he was sporting.

“I’ve got to go, guys,” she said, grabbing her towel from where Christopher and Lexi sat with amused expressions on their faces.  Scratch that—Christopher looked amused, Lexi looked in disbelief.

“I better see you at the bonfire tonight,” Lexi said.  She leaned in closer.  “Because I need details!”

Kenley flushed, ignoring Christopher and grabbing Lexi firmly by the arm as she dragged her away.  “Not a word about this.  Ever.  It was a one-time thing.”

“Right,” Lexi laughed.  “I’ll see you tonight.”

***

Kenley tugged her curly brown hair back into a loose ponytail as she stepped onto the soft sand later that evening.  Anxiety churned through her, but she shook it off, telling herself she was being silly.  Why should she be worried about running into Mike?  They’d go back to the way things were—with her ignoring him—and she could spend the night drinking and talking with her best friend.  Problem solved.

She shuddered as she recalled Mike’s heated kisses in the pool today.  The way those full lips moved over hers were like they were made to kiss a woman.  Everywhere.  If Mike’s arousal had been any indication, he’d be happy to acquiesce.  Hell, if Lexi and Christopher hadn’t been there, who knows what would’ve happened.  She didn’t even know what had gotten into her.  Something about him stoked this untamable urge inside her to let him kiss and devour her.  To do whatever the hell he wanted, because it felt so damn right.

She slipped off her sandals, allowing them to dangle in one hand, as she walked around shells and padded toward the bonfire in the distance.  She took a deep breath, steeling herself.  Lexi would have questions.  Christopher would have questions.  Mike would probably show up and seek her out.  She’d just have to change the subject and move on.  The quicker she did, the quicker they would.  And then everyone could forget about the entire embarrassing incident at the pool today.

The sea air assaulted her senses, filled with salt and brine, and the breeze blowing in off the ocean made her wish she’d worn more than shorts and a thin tank top.  At least she had a cozy sweater tied around her waist for later.  And it would be warmer by the fire, she reasoned.  Maybe she could find a hunky, single SEAL to snuggle up to—
right
.  She certainly wasn’t getting up close and personal with Mike again.  Ever.  And that meant the rest of the guys were off limits, too.  Not that she’d ever really noticed anyone but him.  It was unnerving, really, how he got to her that way.

Kenley kicked the soft sand as she walked, watching it fall back down.  She’d come to the beach every weekend over the past month.  She liked it here, even if her stay was just temporary.  But nothing she needed for the future she’d mapped out could be found here on this beach—no matter how frustratingly tempting some of the men may seem.

She could just make out Lexi and Christopher, along with another couple, as they set up chairs and blankets around the bonfire. 
Damn it
.  She’d left her cozy flannel blanket in the car.  She didn’t feel like trekking back across the beach and down the block to retrieve it.  Maybe Lexi had an extra once she could use.

A cooler sat beside the fire, and as she got closer, she could see a woman pulling out hotdogs and skewers for them to roast over the roaring flames.  A massive man walked up from the other direction, hauling another cooler.  He set it down and began pulling beers out and passing them to the other guys.

“Hey, darlin’,” he said as she approached.

She smiled back, trying to remember the guy’s name.  There were six men on the SEAL team, and to make matters even more complicated, each of them had a nickname as well.  They usually addressed each other by their given name in crowds like this, but it was no wonder she couldn’t keep half of them straight.  Aside from Christopher and Mike, the other guys kind of blurred together.

“Kenley!” Lexi called out, rushing over to give her a hug.  Her dark hair swung as she swooped in, and the smile on her face could’ve lit up the entire beach.  “I thought for sure you wouldn’t show!”

“I almost didn’t.”

“Oh come on, no one cares about you and Mike.”

Kenley pointedly raised her eyebrows.

“What?”

“It took you exactly two point five seconds to mention him.”

Lexi shrugged.  “Okay, so maybe I care.  And want details of what exactly went down.  But these other guys?  Trust me when I say they couldn’t care less.”

“I guess,” Kenley said.  Although she felt like all eyes were on her, absolutely no one was looking at her.  Not even Christopher, who seemed more concerned with stoking the fire.  Maybe tonight would be okay after all.

“Anyway, I’m glad you decided to come.  We’ll do stuff with the guys tonight and then have our girls only day tomorrow.”

“I heard that,” Christopher joked as he walked over.

Kenley smiled at her friend’s handsome fiancé.  Why couldn’t the other guys all be sweet like Christopher?  “I’m sure you can spare her for a little while, right?” she asked him with a wink.

“Maybe,” he said, giving Lexi a chaste kiss on the cheek.

Kenley raised her eyebrows.

“Let me introduce you to everyone else,” Lexi said.  “I know you met some of them before—”

“Trust me, I can’t keep half of the guys straight.”

“That’s Matthew, Patrick, and Rebecca,” Lexi said, pointing out the others.  “And you already know Christopher,” she joked, snuggling against him as a breeze blew off the water.

Christopher’s gaze quickly scanned over Kenley as he wrapped an arm around Lexi’s shoulders.  “You might be cold in that.”

Kenley had noticed when she walked up that everyone else had on jeans or long pants, plus long-sleeved shirts and jackets or sweatshirts.  It was a little late to do anything about her outfit choice now though.  “I figured we’re at the beach,” she said with a shrug.

“We always come down here in the summer,” Lexi explained.  “She’ll be fine—we have a bonfire.  So how’s work going anyway?” she asked, turning her attention back to Kenley.  “Will you be in town much longer?”

“I think we’ve nailed down the specifics for the new contract in Norfolk,” Kenley said, referring to the town neighboring Virginia Beach.  Norfolk housed the largest naval base in the world, and there were always multiple defense contractors bidding on lucrative contracts with the Navy.  Her own company included.  “I’ve been interviewing candidates all week to fill the extra positions.  Another week or so and I’ll probably be heading back up to Arlington.”

“Awww, that soon?  I’ll miss you!”

Kenley laughed as her gaze swept to Christopher.  “Isn’t this guy enough company?”

“Damn straight,” Christopher joked, pulling his fiancée closer.  She looked more than happy to melt into his embrace, and Kenley sighed.  When was the last time a man had made her feel that way?

“Just so you know, Mike’s coming tonight,” Christopher suddenly said.

“Perfect,” Kenley groaned, rolling her eyes.  She knew the entire team had been invited, but a part of her had been secretly hoping that Mike would be a no-show.  Especially after this afternoon.  She’d bolted from the pool without so much as a goodbye, and knowing him, he wouldn’t leave it at that.  Besides, he was way too attractive and unnerving for his own good.  She didn’t like the way her brain always short-circuited around him, making her feel like a school girl with a crush on the captain of the football team.  Why couldn’t he just fade into the background when he was around like all the other men on the SEAL team?  Instead, it was like he was a magnet, drawing her to him, and no matter how hard she tried to pull away, resistance was futile.

Lexi laughed.  “Sweetie, come on.  It sure seemed like you guys kissed and made up earlier.  Can’t you move on?  Maybe play nice for the night?”