Her Next Breath (Uncharted SEALs Book 2) Read online

  Her gaze narrowed. “I never said that.”

  “But you wanted to.”

  She laughed. “I knew the moment the lights went on in that atrocious pink bedroom. There you were, so tall, and with black streaks on your cheeks, but your eyes were this pure silvery gray. It was lust at first sight.”

  “Not love?”

  “My instinct told me to trust you, Jackson. From that moment on, I was yours.”

  He lifted her chin and kissed her, and then settled back on the bed again. “Padre. We’re going.”

  And although he’d used his sternest voice, she laughed and lay with her leg over his hip, her hand over his heart, and her head resting on his shoulder.

  He didn’t figure they’d move until the cupboards were bare and they had to find food. He thought of the moment when she’d counted down then sagged in Guzman’s arms.

  He’d had one shot. And it had to count. The space of one breath to decide. Her next breath.

  His whole body had been shaking when she flung herself into his arms. From that moment on, he’d been a man with a single mission—to love and honor her for the rest of his days. Their future was filled with uncertainties, but one truth was rock-solid—they’d found something real, something worth fighting for.

  Suri rubbed a finger against his mouth. “What are you thinking about? You look a million miles away.”

  Jackson sought her gaze and smiled. “Baby, I’m right here.”

  If you enjoyed this Uncharted SEALs story, be sure to check out

  Watch Over Me and Through Her Eyes!

  Also from the Uncharted SEALs series

  Watch Over Me

  Deke Warrick’s unsanctioned detail is to keep tabs on a congressman’s daughter while she vacations in the Caribbean. He’s determined to keep his distance from the beautiful Nicky Martir, but finds his limits tested when Nicky sets out to seduce him.

  What seemed like a simple mission becomes deliciously complicated—and then dangerous, when she’s snatched from their hotel room.

  Through Her Eyes

  (Read the excerpt below)

  Ex-SEAL and expert sniper, Wolf Kinkaid, is taking a little downtime while he considers his options. Being wooed by two elite black ops groups, he’s enjoying Charter Group’s beach house while he considers his options. A loner by nature as well as occupation, he wonders if he’ll ever really connect to the people around him. Afraid his loner nature will sentence him to spending his life alone, he’s not sure he wants to continue looking down a scope, even if the pay’s good.

  Bounty hunter Piper Ames loves the adrenaline rush she gets from her high-stakes hunts, but now, she has time on her hands as she waits for her collar to pop up his head so she can take him down. While she’s waiting, it doesn’t hurt that a big, buff, ex-military type is staying right next door. Not the least shy about going after what she wants, she’s surprised when he’s equally as aggressive. Their chemistry is off the charts, and the sex is the hottest she’s ever had.

  While Wolf and Piper connect in the only way their independent natures allow, danger lurks. When her target comes, guns blazing, they have to pull together to make it out alive.

  And while you wait for more Uncharted SEALs, try Delilah’s Adventure Girls, Inc. stories:

  Dangerous Liaison

  A pampered travel agent, roughing it at an anti-terrorist training school, escapes through the jungle with an undercover DEA agent when a drug lord mistakes her for a rival’s daughter.

  Mutiny’s Bounty

  Expecting an adrenaline-packed adventure, a travel agent finds more excitement than she can handle when she falls into bed with an ex-SEAL, and then into deep water, swimming with sharks when the yacht they’re sailing on is taken.

  It Takes a SEAL

  A travel agent visiting friends in the Bahamas is stranded on a desert island with a sexy ex-SEAL after their private pleasure cruise is interrupted by men who mistake her lover for a reclusive billionaire.

  About Delilah Devlin

  Delilah Devlin is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of erotica and erotic romance with a rapidly expanding reputation for writing deliciously edgy stories with complex characters. She has published over a hundred forty erotic stories in multiple genres and lengths, and she is published by Atria/Strebor, Avon, Berkley, Black Lace, Cleis Press, Ellora’s Cave, Grand Central, Harlequin Spice, HarperCollins: Mischief, Kensington, Montlake Romance, Running Press, and Samhain Publishing.

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  Excerpt from Through Her Eyes

  After showering and shaving—Suri said Wolf had to spruce up because they were having a guest over—Wolf joined the guys outside to fulfill the manly task of cooking the meat.

  All three of them were needed, Jax had told Suri, hand over his heart. “Swear, honey.”

  “What? So one can hold the cook’s beer while he flips meat?”

  “Yeah.”

  Her brows wrinkled. “And what’s the third one do?”

  “Watch for incoming.” Jax took a sip of beer while he watched his fiancée’s eyes narrow.

  But Suri shook her head, and when she turned away, they all heard her soft chuckles.

  “You’re marrying a keeper,” Deke said.

  “Don’t I know it?”

  The gate on the privacy fence that ran between the two houses and down to the water, swung open, and all three men trained their gazes on the woman who stepped into the yard.

  Holy fuck. Wolf’s mouth sagged, but he caught himself and snapped his jaw closed—although not fast enough to prevent Jax’s smirk.

  The closer she drew, the less he cared that his friends were watching him watching her. She wore a figure-skimming white halter top and low-riding short-shorts. The tops of her breasts rounded in the heart-shaped opening, and he doubted any man staring at her chest didn’t imagine riding her cleavage. The view below was almost as enticing—a sleek, trim waist, golden skin, and those long, mouthwatering legs. Even her toes, the nails painted a bright red, were delectable. He’d never considered sucking toes particularly sexy. But, lord for the privilege of touching any part of the full package, he’d gladly swallow a little piggy.

  An elbow dug into his side, and he aimed a quick glare at Jax.

  “Tell her hello,” Jax said, whispering from the side of his mouth.

  Fuck, he had to talk to the woman. As the sole bachelor, he stepped forward to greet her. “You must be Piper. I’m Wolf. My friends here are Deke and Jax.”

  “So, which is which?” she asked, her eyebrows rising.

  That sparkle of laughter in her green eyes caught him by surprise, and then he thought about what she’d said. She was making fun of his clumsiness. Not that he really minded, but now, he didn’t feel quite so nervous. She’d sent the first volley. Warfare, even a sexually based one, was something he could deal with. “Jax, Deke,” he said, rudely pointing toward his friends who were grinning.

  They both offered their hands to shake.

  An act he’d forgotten to do, and now the opportunity to touch her was lost. “Can I get you a beer?” he muttered.

  “I’d love one.”

  Glad for the escape, he left and strode toward the cooler which was set under the shade of the back door eaves. As he bent to draw two bottles from the cooler, he heard the back door slide open.

  “She’s pretty, right?”

  “Yeah.” He straightened, knowing his cheeks were turning red, because Suri already knew he thought Piper was hot.

  “Ask her where she’s from…” she whispered, while she waved at Piper, “…and how long she plans on staying. Find out what she’s seen while she’s been here.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Suri, I don�
��t do small talk.”

  “Then ask her to go to bed with you.”

  His eyes widened, and his gut clenched. If only it was that easy.

  She snickered. “Yeah, you can’t start with that.”

  He got her point and took a deep, fortifying breath before turning back to Piper and his two friends, who were all chatting amiably together. He stepped beside her and passed the beer.

  “Thanks.”

  “No problem.”

  Deke looked at Jax, who looked behind Wolf, no doubt at a wildly gesturing Suri.

  “We better check on the steaks,” Jax said. “And despite what any man will tell you, only two guys are required to man a grill.”

  Piper laughed, and then turned her gaze on Wolf. “Suri warned me you’re a man of few words.”

  “I spend a lot of time alone.” He shrugged. “I don’t get much practice. Especially, with women.”

  “That’s okay. I’m not a huge talker either.”

  Her gaze held his, boldly, maybe with a hint of challenge, and more of his tension eased. He might not be a great conversationalist, but he was very, very good at reading people—although usually from eight hundred yards. But standing inches from Piper, and locking with her pretty green gaze, he knew one thing for certain. She was attracted.

  A slight blush colored her cheeks, and her gaze slid away toward the water.

  Wolf raised his bottle and clinked it gently against hers. “Nice to meet you, Piper.”

  “You found your tongue.”

  “Can you blame me for losing it?” His gaze swept her body.

  She arched one dark auburn eyebrow. “I’m wearing more than a lot of girls wear when they’re on the beach.”

  Wolf’s chest was rising and falling faster, and he wished for his scope to still the excitement racing through him. The sight of her, so close, so golden, was only slightly more alluring than her scent. “You smell amazing,” he said, drawing in a deep breath.

  She laughed, and then blushed brighter. “I don’t think a man has every said that to me before.”

  “Sorry if it was too personal, but it’s hard to think.”

  “Because I smell so good?”

  “Because I want to kiss you.”

  She shook her head, but she didn’t step away or look particularly alarmed. “Think Suri might stop staring through the window if you did?”

  The corners of his mouth kicked upward. “I didn’t scare you?”

  “You’re…kind of intense. But I’m not scared.”

  He liked the even tone of her voice. She hadn’t gone all breathy like most women. And her gaze was steady. So he took a chance. “Maybe we should just get it over with.”

  She held her hand against her chest and fluttered her eyelids. “You are a romantic man.”

  He grunted. “You know I’m not.”

  “And it seems I don’t care,” she said softly. “Let’s do it.” She set aside her beer and raised her arms to place her hands on his shoulders.

  With his heart beginning to pound, he set his drink beside hers, and then eased closer, smoothing his hands over her ass, hoping she’d allow it, daring her to protest.

  Piper’s blush was a brilliant red, but she tilted her face. Inviting him.

  Dayum. As he bent, something inside Wolf seemed to click. The girl. The moment. One shot. He’d better not miss.