She was not wrong. An odd need for human contact swept over him. He opened his arms in an invitation to share body heat—and comfort. She came willingly, snuggling against him and laying her head on his shoulder. Her arms crept around his waist, and she hugged him back.

It was nice. Too nice. Hell, it would’ve been damned near perfect if the boys weren’t on their way downrange without him. He had no business sitting here enjoying a fire on a rainy night with a beautiful woman while his teammates were winging their way toward danger.

He argued with himself that the decision was out of his hands and there wasn’t anything he could do about it. But being left behind still rankled.

They sat twined together staring into the fire, lost in their own thoughts for a long time while his frustration rolled through him. Sherri’s slender arms were strong around him. Comforting. She understood his pain. She got it. She got him. How many women could he say that of in his life? That would be…zero.

But this woman—she shared a part of his life no woman had ever seen before. She had an inkling of just how tightly bonded he and his SEAL brothers were.

He turned his head and buried his face against her satin hair. Cripes, she smelled good. Like soft, pretty things with just a hint of spice. The fragrance fit her perfectly.

He couldn’t help himself. He kissed the warm spot just below her earlobe.

And damned if she didn’t tilt her head to give him better access. He kissed the spot again. And this time, he laved it gently with his tongue. She groaned a little and moved restlessly in his arms.

Lust exploded behind his eyes and behind his zipper simultaneously. Man, he needed this distraction.

Sherri threw her leg across his hips, straddling his lap, and kissed him. Passionately. As if she’d held all this pent-up need inside her for way too long. He completely knew the feeling.

She might as well have been a waterfall, unleashing a torrent of desire in him, and nothing he did could stem the flow. Helpless in its grip, he could only kiss her back. He let his hands wander over her, untucking, unbuckling, and unzipping any obstacle in his path.

She was every bit as eager as he to get rid of their clothes, and he stood up, setting her on her feet long enough to finish stripping off the last of her clothes and his. And then she stood before him naked and so beautiful it hurt to look at her. She stepped forward, looping her arms around his neck.

“I’ve wanted you ever since I first met you in that stupid blue tuxedo,” she muttered against his mouth.

“And I’ve wanted you ever since you laughed at me, stumbling off that jet.”