He started this. Why shouldn’t I finish it?

Her stare locked with his as she lifted her chin the last few millimeters into kissing range. His breath mingled with hers, light and hungry.

This is a terrible, terrible idea.

But she couldn’t think of anything she would rather do in the whole wide world than be right here, right now, surrounded by this man, crushing her breasts against his chest, about to kiss him.

Her mouth opened slightly. She ran the tip of her tongue across her suddenly dry lips. Time stopped for a long moment as she fought a losing battle against the desire raging between them.

He tilted his head down in sudden decision, his mouth capturing hers in no uncertain terms. His dynamic presence exploded around her…or maybe that was erotic attraction exploding inside her.

Their kiss was hot and wet, a carnal thing complete with tongues and sucking and groans from deep in her throat that startled the hell out of her. This was no tentative hello, no cautious introduction. This was lust and raw, raging hunger. Apparently, Griffin was as direct about his desires as he was about his opinions.

It made him even more irresistible. He saw what he wanted and went after it. No hesitation, no doubts. It was so damned alpha of him.

She crawled all over him, turned on like mad, doing her best to suck his tonsils out of his throat. His left hand slid down her spine until he gripped her behind, pulling her snug against his groin, making no secret of how turned on he was by her.

She rubbed the junction of her thighs against that promise of sweet, sweet release, relishing the zinging pleasure ripping through her. She wanted sweat and the slap of thrusting bodies, to be filled by his hot flesh, to drive him out of his mind. She actually purred a little in the back of her throat at the thought of it—

Whoa. When did she turn into a cat in heat?

Apparently, when Griffin Caldwell kissed her.

Yeah, but what a kiss.

It was sexual and frank, and frankly fantastic.

And then, just like that, he tore his mouth away from hers. Stumbled back. He jammed his hands in his pockets, and she saw through the fabric they were balled in fists. His face abruptly looked carved from stone, his eyes glacially cold.

The cool night air swirled around her, damp and misty, chilling her to the bone.

“That’s why women can’t be in the SEALs,” he rasped.

She registered shock first.

Then disappointment.

Dismay.

Rejection.

And then came outrage, flowing fast and hot through her veins.

Had that kiss been all about humiliating her? She’d been ready to leap into bed with him, damn him!