RULES OF LOVE (A Navy SEALs Romance) by Bella Grant Page A

to his abs, perfectly outlined. His body stiffened as her touch moved lower, and she smirked. His body was a near-perfect v, and a trail of soft brown hair disappeared into his pants. Eddie circled him languidly as her hand moved to his arms and shoulders. Her other hand soon followed, and she stared at his back, ripped as much as his chest with dimples near his waist. There were a few scars here and there, the pale flesh standing out against his tanned skin. She recognized them as knife wounds. Several of her own scars matched.
    When she came back around to his front and glanced down, she saw the bulge in his pants and stepped back immediately. He caught her hands and held them to his chest.
    “I… uh, I think I may have caused that.”
    “You’ve been causing that since the day I met you,” he said roughly.
    “We can stop. I don’t want to leave you like this if I can’t… if it doesn’t work out…”
    Beau leaned down so he was eye level, still holding her hands to his chest so she could feel his pulse hammering. “Do you want to stop?”
    “No.” Her voice was hoarse as she stepped closer. Their bodies were nearly touching, but Beau did not move, as promised. Eddie closed her eyes, and her lips found his.
    Just as before, the kiss was tender, and Eddie kissed him again, not wanting her lips to leave the warmth of his. She adjusted her hands so she held his and very carefully placed one and then the other at her hips.
    “Are you sure?”
    She left her hands over his for a moment and felt the familiar flutter of panic in her chest, but she stared into his eyes until it was nothing more than a nagging voice in the depth of her mind.
    “I’m sure. Kiss me again.”
    His hands massaged her hips as he bent down and slanted his mouth across hers. For the first time in years, Eddie didn’t feel the need to run away and hide. Longing flooded her body as heat kindled between her legs, so hot she feared it would burn her up from the inside out if not quenched. Beau’s tongue moved hesitantly against her lips, seeking entrance. Eddie obliged with a sigh and leaned into him as the kiss deepened. Her hands slid up to hold his shoulders, and when his moved to her back, the urge to pull back diminished further. Being in Beau’s arms was different. Here, she was safe, and she knew it. Her whole body knew it. Here, she didn’t have to fear what would happen next.
    Beau’s touch was tender and strong at the same time, holding her up when she was sure her legs would give out from the onslaught of intense desire. Not letting his lips leave hers, Beau moved them so they were near the bed. He sat down and stared up at her.
    “How are you feeling?” he asked, his lips swollen from her kisses and his eyes dilated with his own need. His pants bulged in the front, and Eddie wondered how long this man could last without getting what he was after. She second-guessed what they were doing and pulled back, but Beau caught her hand. “Stop thinking whatever you’re thinking.”
    “How do you know what I’m thinking?”
    “I can see it in your eyes, and I can tell you right now, you’re wrong about whatever it is.” He brought her hand to his lips and kissed each knuckle. “I’m not him, Naomi. You can trust me to take care of you.”
    “How can I do that?”
    “What do you feel when you’re with me?” He placed her hand on his bare chest near his heart. “What do you want from me?”
    “That’s not how this works.”
    “With me, it is,” he promised huskily. “Naomi, what do you want?”
    What did she want? The sudden need to experience a moment of insane pleasure shot through her body, but she couldn’t ask him to give her pleasure, could she? It sounded insane, and no man would do that without trying to get something for himself. She tried to pull away again as her cheeks burned, but he didn’t let her.
    “Naomi, look at me. You can trust me.”
    “It’s fine, really.”
    “No. Talk to me. I’m not going