The Recruit (Book Three) Read Free Page B

“
    “Did you know I
was in the military?’ She interrupted.
    He nodded as
she sighed heavily. “I was really good at my job. You know that? I
was one of only two women in my unit, and one of the greatest days
of my life was when one of the guys in my unit told me he trusted
me to have his back more than anyone else. I was tough and I wasn’t
afraid. I knew what I had to do, what I needed to do, and I did
it.”
    She sighed
again. “With this though, I just – I can’t do it. Hannah’s a
civilian with no prior training and she’s better at killing
vampires than I am. She was a college student for God’s sake! I’m a
liability, Reid. Every time I go hunting, I put the lives of the
people who are with me at risk because I’m afraid and I don’t know
how to stop being afraid.”
    She started to
cry and he hesitated before releasing her arms and pulling her into
his embrace. She stiffened against him and then put her arms around
his waist and clung tightly to him as he rubbed her back.
    “Don’t compare
yourself to Hannah or anyone else, alright? Besides, you saved my
life, and when it counted you did what needed to be done. You were
right there beside Mannie and me in that common room killing
vampires, remember?”
    She continued
to cry and he held her a little tighter. “Don’t quit, Selena. Give
it a few weeks, alright? I know you think it has nothing to do with
what just happened but I think you’re wrong. Take some time to
really decide what it is you want. You’re a damn good vampire
killer, you just need to realize that.”
    “I hate this.”
Her voice was muffled against his shirt and he stroked her curly
dark hair.
    “We all do. But
you’ve been bitten. If you leave, the leeches will find you sooner
or later. It’s better for you to be here where you’re protected and
have friends to help keep you safe. Right?”
    “I guess.” She
sighed.
    She leaned back
and stared up at him. Her cheeks were wet and he wiped at them
gently with his thumbs. She inhaled sharply and her gaze dropped to
his mouth.
    He cleared his
throat nervously. “Selena, I think – “
    She stood on
her tiptoes and pressed her mouth against his. He jerked in
surprise and her arms tightened around his waist before she pushed
at his lips with her tongue. With a soft groan, he parted them and
she slid her tongue into his mouth and touched his delicately.
    He cupped her
face with one large hand, his fingers tangling in the softness of
her hair and kissed her back. She moaned into his mouth and the
soft sound had his cock hardening in his jeans. He kissed her
deeply before licking her bottom lip with his tongue. She moaned
again and he sucked lightly at her top lip as she pressed herself
against his erection. He cupped her small, firm breast through her
t-shirt and she arched her back and shivered against him. He
trailed a path of soft kisses down her throat before licking her
warm skin.
    “Selena.” He
whispered.
    She pushed away
from him, her face red and her mouth swollen from his kisses, and
gave him a look of shame mixed with desire. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t
have done that.”
    Before he could
reply, she yanked open the door and ran from the room.

Chapter 3
     
    Hannah slammed
the door of the truck shut and stared apprehensively at the
farmhouse. Her pulse thudding heavily, she started up the steps of
the porch. The door flung open and her mom charged out on to the
porch and threw her arms around her.
    “Oh, Hannah.”
She kissed her repeatedly on the cheek as she squeezed her tightly
and Hannah’s eyes started to water when her mom burst into
tears.
    “We were so
worried. Come in, right now.”
    She followed
her mom in and was immediately surrounded by her father and the
twins. Reuben, barking shrilly, was dancing at her feet and her
mother scooped him up and scolded him lightly as her dad hugged her
tightly.
    “Hi, baby
girl.”
    “Hi, dad.” She
smiled at him and he kissed her forehead before stepping back