He tugged her T-shirt out of her pants and slipped his hand underneath the soft fabric to touch the even softer flesh beneath. Her back was slender but ridged in muscle, her skin like velvet beneath his hard, callused palms. He pushed the fabric up, out of the way, desperate to get naked with her. To hold the wonder of her. To lose himself in her glorious body.

She arched into his arms, groaning in the back of her throat. She did want him as bad as he wanted her. He was pretty sure he’d never experienced a sexier kiss than this. He swirled his tongue even deeper into her mouth, and she returned the favor eagerly. Passionately. Openly.

For a woman who was wary of men in general, she kissed like she couldn’t get enough of him. Which made it all the hotter. Knowing that she reserved this reaction for him…

Violent possessiveness flared low in his gut, rocking him to his core. He didn’t get possessive of women. He enjoyed a little time in their bed. Had a little fun. Hell, a lot of fun. And in the morning, he was gone.

But this woman was a fiery addiction in his blood. All he could think of was getting more, and yet more, of her. He felt himself falling into an unfamiliar pit of need and longing. This might just be the one who did in Griffin Caldwell, bachelor extraordinaire—

“Grif! Tate!”

God damn it. Kettering had come back looking for them.

Griffin jerked back, panting, and Sherri brushed a frantic hand across her mouth. Urgently, she stuffed her T-shirt back into her pants.

“Yo! We’re over here. In your two o’clock!” Griffin called back, yanking the NODs back over his eyes quickly. Sherri did the same.

“You two okay?”

“Yep. Just having a little conversation. Clearing the air.”

Kettering jogged up to them and looked back and forth between them. Thank goodness the NODs covered their eyes, and the boss man couldn’t see the lust that still had to be flaring in both of their stares. “Glad to hear you’re working things out. You two have been out of sync. I need you to get it together and work as a team.”

“Yes, sir,” Sherri said contritely. “That’s what we’re trying to do.”

“Fall in behind me, Tate. You can bring up the rear, Grif. Let’s see how quietly you can make your way back to base camp.”