Reckless Heat: A Hostile Operations Team Prequel Read Free

a thousand—a million—times. I’ve watched her grow up, for fuck’s sake. There’s nothing new here.
    And yet she’s got the prettiest eyes I’ve ever seen. They’re so blue they’re almost purple, and she’s wearing a purple T-shirt that clings to her curves and dips down not quite far enough for me to see cleavage but enough to jump-start my imagination.
    Her black hair is straight, thick, and shiny. She’s shoved it behind her ears, and I have an urge to fan my hands into it and spread it over her shoulders just to see how long and full it really is.
    She’s looking at me quizzically, and I realize I’ve been silent for too long.
    “Not really,” I say. And it’s true. I’m not dating Jeanine—I’m not dating anyone—but I won’t turn down pussy when it’s offered. I have sense enough to know it’ll probably be a lot more difficult to get some action at West Point since my time will be so tightly controlled to start with.
    “She doesn’t like me.”
    I can’t help but snort a laugh. “You dumped tea on her. Of course she doesn’t like you.”
    “She’s probably planning her revenge right now for my stealing you away this afternoon.”
    I didn’t think of that but, yeah, probably right. Jeanine has always been vindictive. “I’ll fix it,” I tell her.
    She’s looking at me with a frown creasing her pretty face. “How are you going to…?”
    I don’t want to tell her that it’ll involve Jeanine naked and spread beneath me, so I don’t.
    “I just will. I’ll make her forget all about it, promise.”
    She stares at me another moment, and then she starts to turn red. Evie’s not dumb, that’s for sure.
    “Don’t do me any favors, Matt. In fact, save it, because your dick might fall off if you stick it in that skank’s coochie.”
    Oh my God, I want to fucking laugh my ass off. I don’t because I sense it’ll only piss her off. Not to mention that I’m oddly turned on by hearing Evie say the word dick. I want her to say it again.
    No you don’t, asshole.
    On second thought, maybe I don’t.
    “I’ll wear a condom,” I say and then wonder why in the hell I’m going down this road. Talking sex with Evie is not a good idea.
    Evie lowers her gaze and bites her lip. Fucking hell.
    “You’re embarrassed,” I say. “I’m sorry.”
    She lifts her head then, her eyes flashing. “I’m not embarrassed—I just think you could do much better than Jeanine.”
    “I’m not marrying her, Evie.”
    She folds her arms over her middle, lifting her breasts up. I don’t think she knows that’s the effect, but I sure am enjoying it. More than I should.
    “I certainly hope not.”
    A thought occurs to me as I take in her discomfort. Because no matter what she says, she is uncomfortable. I’ve never really thought about it before, except in passing here and there, but now the truth hits me over the head like a hammer.
    “Are you still a virgin, Evie?”
    Her eyes widen and her cheeks redden, and I know I’ve hit the jackpot. I don’t know why, but it makes me happy. It shouldn’t matter one way or the other, but it does.
    “Are you going to make fun of me if I say yes?”
    “I wouldn’t do that, Evie-girl. I think you know that.”
    She drops her gaze again. “It’s not that I haven’t had the opportunity—but no, I’ve never…”
    Her voice trails off, and I know what she can’t say. “Had sex,” I finish for her.
    She nods.
    I can’t help what I do next. I put a finger beneath her chin and tip her head up until she’s looking at me. My God, I feel so many confusing things when my eyes meet this girl’s. She’s like a little sister to me—and she’s not like a sister at all. She’s someone I want to protect, and someone I want to taste and touch and hold.
    I’ll only do one of those things though.
    “There’s nothing to be ashamed of, Evie. Don’t let anyone rush you into it, okay? Do it when it feels right to you.”

Chapter Three
    EVIE
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    I want to