Free Tempted by the Soldier (A Falling for You Novel) (Entangled Brazen) by Nicolette Day

him run like a hail of bullets were at his heels.
    “A mistake,” she finished for him, moisture glinting from her eyes that had nothing to do with the shitty weather. “Just say it, Nate. I was a mistake.”
    When he didn’t respond she spun around and headed for the passenger side of the truck, where she grabbed her purse and slung it over her shoulder. Then she whirled and stalked down the road.
    Panic gripped his chest. That’s how badly she wanted to get away from him. She’d put herself in danger just to do it.
    This was what you wanted. Right, asshole?
    Hell, no .
    “Lilly, wait!” He took off after her. “Will you stop for a minute and talk to me?”
    “I don’t see the benefit for me in that,” she snapped. “I’ve made a fool of myself enough for one night. And I think you’ve made it perfectly clear what you want from me.”
    “Lil—”
    “So let me be clear.” She stopped to face him, and the hurt in her eyes made Nate’s chest twist with a sharp pain. “I don’t want anything from you either. Including this damn ride.”
    She spun and started walking again, her heels sloshing through the water running across the road.
    He rubbed a hand over his jaw and went after her. “Princess. You’re going the wrong way.”
    “If it’s away from you, it’s the right way,” she muttered. “Stop following me. And don’t call me princess.”
    “You’re acting like a child. Damn it, Lil! Can you not come back here and let me explain?”
    That stopped her. She turned, the gritty pavement scraping beneath her ridiculously high heels. Her eyes narrowed to angry green slits. “ Child? Have you ever heard the expression ‘You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar’?”
    “No,” he lied, irritated.
    She threw her hands up and started marching down the road again. “Google it!”
    “This is your last warning, Princess.” He strode forward, tension banding his chest. “You’re not going to like what happens if I have to chase you down.”
    She didn’t stop. Without turning or breaking stride, she lifted a hand and flipped him off, putting a little extra swing into her hips.
    He took off after her, his feet pounding the wet pavement. When he reached her, he caught her around the waist, swung her up, and tossed her over his shoulder.
    She screamed and beat on his back with her fists, but he just turned back toward the truck and started to whistle. Not because he was feeling especially jovial, but because he knew it would piss her off. And right now, pushing her buttons the way she pushed his felt too fucking good to resist. He was vibrating with a dangerous combination of anger and lust. If she wasn’t careful, she was going to feel the brunt of both.
    “Is this you actually trying to get away from me?” He caught her calf just before she kneed him in the chin. “It’s cute. In fact, now that I think about, the nickname Princess might not be so fitting. I should call you something more appropriate. Like Tinker Bell.”
    She gasped, and swung her purse at him. So he snatched it away from her and tossed it into the cab. Then he beeped the doors locked, shoved his keys into his pocket, and started walking.
    He was getting her off the side of this damn highway and out of the storm if he had to carry her the whole damn way to Vermont.
    “Put me down you…you…Neanderthal!” She pushed at his back and kicked her legs, but he held her firm. “You are so going to regret this. You have to sleep sometime. And when you do, you’re going to wish you’d never closed your eyes—”
    He slapped her hard on the ass, just once, silencing her. She was lucky he hadn’t bitten it instead. The way that perfect curve of delectable flesh was swaying right in front of his eyes made him want to sink his teeth into her, then kiss the sting away.
    “Did you just… spank me?” Outrage colored her voice.
    Even now his palm ached and his cock twitched, daring him to do it again. “Words weren’t