Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24538 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24538 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
“Yeah. Do you know of a place?” I asked, getting the conversation back on track. “I need you to round up a few of your teammates and meet me there. I’ll explain everything then.”
“Huntley knows someone who could be very helpful with this,” Kade mused—referring to our friend and the Officer in Charge on his team. “I’ll talk to the boys and text you ASAP.”
“Hooyah,” I mumbled before hanging up.
3
SAGE
After what had just happened to me, the last thing I should have done was trust a stranger. Especially a tall, muscular man who could easily overpower me if I tried to get away. But Arrow had stopped for a stranded car on the side of the road. And he served his country—even if he was in the Navy instead of a Marine. Plus, I felt a magnetic pull toward him unlike anything I had ever experienced before.
He was undeniably attractive with his closely cropped dark hair, scruffy cheeks, steel-blue eyes, and strong jawline. Hot enough to lower the defenses of most women. But it was his steady gaze and the concern in his deep voice that convinced me to go with my gut and trust him.
As I sat in the safety of his SUV, my nerves started to settle…at least until he finished checking my tire and hung up with whoever he’d called. When his gaze connected with mine through the windshield, the shiver that went up my spine had nothing to do with apprehension. My reaction was entirely due to the attraction I was feeling.
I took a slow, deep breath as he rounded the vehicle and grabbed something from the back. When he yanked open the passenger door, I realized it was a first-aid kit. “I want to get this cut cleaned up sooner rather than later.”
Thinking about how awful I must look between the punch I had taken and all of the crying I’d done, I ducked my head and mumbled, “Yeah, that’s probably a good idea.”
Tilting my head back with a finger firmly pressed against my chin, Arrow’s eyes narrowed as he examined my cheek. “I’m so fucking sorry you got hurt, baby.”
Butterflies swirled in my belly at the huskiness of his deep voice when he called me “baby.” I’d never had a man use a pet name for me before, but I really liked it coming from Arrow.
“It’s not your fault, all you’ve done is try to help me since you found me.”
“Doesn’t matter, I still fucking hate seeing this cut on your pretty face.” He stroked his thumb against my jaw. “He hit you hard enough you’re gonna have a bruise soon.”
Based on how my cheek felt, I didn’t doubt he was right even though I had no idea what to expect since I’d never been punched before. “They’ll probably give me an ice pack when we get to urgent care. Maybe it’ll help keep the bruising to a minimum.”
Rifling through the first-aid kit, he pulled out an instant ice pack and squeezed the center to make it cold. Then he gently pressed it against my cheek and murmured, “Hold this in place for me while I get the stuff ready to take care of your cut.”
I felt a tingle of awareness when my fingers brushed against his as I took the ice pack, and the heat of my blush dimmed the coldness as I pressed it against my cheek. Then he dug through the bag for a packet of ibuprofen and handed them to me. “You should take these.”
“Definitely,” I agreed as he leaned past me to grab a bottle of water from the cup holder.
After twisting off the lid, he held the bottle to my lips so I could take a sip. While I swallowed down the pills, he set the water on the floorboard to pull some supplies out of the kit. Then he tugged me so that I was sideways in the passenger seat again. Then he moved so he was crouched between my legs. He was at the perfect level to work on my cheek, but I couldn’t help but picture a different scenario where he was in a similar position…only a little lower.
I mentally chided myself for the naughty fantasy playing through my brain while I hoped like heck Arrow had no idea what I was thinking about. I’d never had a good poker face, so I wasn’t surprised when he asked, “You don’t need to be nervous, Sage. I’m never gonna do anything you don’t want. You’ll always be completely safe with me.”
“Safe,” I echoed softly.
“Yeah, baby…safe.” His steely blue eyes hardened. “And not just when you’re with me, if I have anything to say about it.”
Although my dad would give him heck for choosing the Navy over the Marines, I had a feeling that it wouldn’t take long for Arrow to earn his respect. He would lose his mind when he found out what happened, but knowing a Command Master Chief had helped me in my time of need would soothe his fury at least a little. My safety was a whole lot more important to him than any beef between the two military branches. Besides, it was mostly in good fun.