Code Name: Nina's Choice (Warrior's Challenge) Read Free Page A

waterless pool.
Guess that was her ‘go’ signal to get out. She cleared her throat and said, “I
have my things packed. I’ll be outta here soon.” She wouldn’t bother setting a second plate for dinner. Tonight she could find a
cheap motel, and then start looking for a place tomorrow. She’d already circled
a couple in the paper somehow knowing it wasn’t going to work with both of them
staying here.
    “Come here, Nina,” he said in a commanding voice. Although Mace was known as the
humanitarian of the team, he was an alpha like all the rest, and when he showed
it, her heart quickened.
    The order put her long
legs in motion, although she did it cautiously. His gaze skittered do wn her body, and back up again. The gauge burst and her
blood temperature rose by fifty degrees. Stopping with no more than six inches
between them, she concentrated on not flinging her arms around him. She wanted
him to smell her. He told her several time s, he loved
how she smelled. It was only soap; she hated wearing perfume. An hour ago,
she’d slathered herself with the brown sugar and vanilla bar in the shower.
Where was her Mace, the one full of fire and sensual brimstone? His left hand
rose and slid a round the back of her neck. A moan
crawled up her throat and she cleared it to speak. “I get it, Mace. I mean we
barely knew each other before the mission. You have to concentrate on getting
back into fighting form, just promise me you’ll call me if you ne ed anything, I—”
    “I’m sorry, Nina. I’m
sorry for what I said to you in Berlin. I’m sorry for being an ass.”
    She began to shake her
head, but he stopped her by gently squeezing her neck. “Let me say what I need
to say before those beautiful lips start talking a
mile a minute again.”
    She bit her upper lip
and nodded.
    “I’ve got a long way
to go before I can return to combat duty.” His expression flickered with doubt.
“Lying flat on my back for three weeks gave me a lot of time to think, and I
thought abou t you. True, we only had a few days
together before I left, but they were the most intense days I’ve ever had in my
life. I can’t forget them, and I can’t forget you. Being around you, I still
feel the heat, I just can’t…” He paused, and his gaze darted aw ay. “I can’t show it. I might never be able to show it.”
    “Mace—” With just his
eyes he made her stop.
    “Nina, you are the
most beautiful woman I’ve ever known. It’s like being in my own private hell
not able to walk in this door, bind your hands, and make l ove to you until you’re screaming my name. I can’t ask you
to wait.”
    She nudged her body
against his. Would she stop even if he asked her to? Her fingers walked up his
chest and wrapped around his neck. Now
or never, Nina . She kissed the edge of his mouth. His bottom lip disappeared, drawn away by the scraping of
his teeth. She chased it, and drew it from distress, desire bowling over every
stop sign in her way. He hesitated for a second. The beat of her heart ceased
until she sensed a crack in his resolve, then he
kissed her like he did the first time on the beach, and every kiss after that,
taking her pulse from full stop to engine-bursting limits. Pulling away, but
not far enough that he couldn’t kiss her again if he wanted to, she said,
“Petty Officer Ca llahan, you will return to combat
duty, and you will make me scream again. It won’t be today or even tomorrow,
but I know you won’t give up trying, and I won’t give up—period.”
    He knotted her hair in
his fingers, gently tugging her mouth to his. “I’m so so rry, baby. I’m screwed up. I’m fucking angry, and I don’t want to take it
out on you.”
    “No,” she shook her
head. “I’ll give you all the space you need. I’ll leave if you want me to.”
    Mace swallowed and his
eyes filled with regret. She had to be prepared fo r
this, and more moments like this.
    “I can’t let you
leave. It’s not safe. I’d go insane if