Free His By Sunrise: A Military Erotic Romance (Sexy Siesta Series Book 1) by Talina Perkins

back seat where Ema was concerned. Maybe that made him a prick, but he had no problem with the act-now-ask-questions-later, method.
    “So neither of you think to ask me if you’re welcome to just waltz right into the middle of my dance with Bougainvillea? And you can wipe that arrogant smirk off your face, primo , because I’m not in the mood for your puns and jokes, family or no. Fucking cavemen, the both of you.” Ema whipped around and out of his arms, heading toward the tables lining the dance floor.
    A slow number replaced the faster salsa beat. A whole lot of kissing and groping was already going down out on the darkened dance floor, and he burned to be right in the middle of it with Ema. Being this close felt so right, but out there he could get a hell of a lot closer.
    “Hold up there, little cuz, we ain’t laughing. Do you know what the hell you were dancing with?” Gabe stifled a laugh at Lucas’s words. He’d obviously picked up on the snake vibe, too.
    “What the hell are you doing with that guy, and why the hell is he here to begin with?”
    Two for two. The man read his mind perfectly.
    Gabriel stood, his back to the dance floor, attention fully on Ema. “He’s my plus one. Or was. Everything else is none of your damn business.” Her eyes were daggers aimed right for his heart. “Or yours, Gabriel. And really, he might have deserved it, but did you have to be such an ass?” Damn, he loved her accent—how she drew out her words with a sexy cadence.
    He shrugged. “Seems to be the theme of the night.”
    She inched closer and drove her point home with a finger to his chest. So petite to his taller stature, and so damn sexy all fired up. Temptation rode him hard. He wanted to grab her hand, then kiss his way up her arm. He’d continue along her neck, her chin, then devour her tongue before moving down until he had one of her sweet nipples in his mouth. He wouldn’t stop until she gave in to his charms, until he worked out the fear eating at his gut, and convinced himself she was safe.
    At the thought of tasting her skin again, her feminine folds, blood shot straight to his dick. He could still taste her nectar on the back of his tongue. Damn . His body flushed with heat. Any hotter and he would surely catch fire.
    Before he exploded, Lucas stepped in and brought his thoughts back on track. “Looks like you two have some issues to sort out and I have a beautiful bride waiting to dance with me.” Lucas threw a wink at Ema, which brought a small smile to her lips. “And you know it doesn’t end there.”
    Gabriel nodded his understanding. “Thanks, buddy.”
    Gabriel caught her hand to keep Ema from following Lucas’s example and walking away from him. “I’ve been known to step on a few toes. More than a few, actually. Stop dancing around the question and answer Lucas, Ema.” Gabriel’s tone came out harsher than he’d intended. Damn .
    “Get over yourself, Gabriel.” She turned away, pulling back her hand, done with their conversation. And him.
    Too bad .
    He took a step closer, placing a gentle hand on her arm then trailing his fingers down the length. He tangled their fingers together. He was good at pushing people to their limits, but he didn’t want her to feel she couldn’t open up to him, so he made an effort to rein in his possessive tendencies. He wanted to forget all about tonight and Bougainvillea, but they didn’t have that luxury. He needed to make sure Ema understood the danger she’d danced into tonight.
    “Ema, listen, I’m sorry. But I don’t think you know who you’re dealing with concerning Bougainvillea.” He softened his tone and moved closer so she could hear him above the music while preventing any of the guests walking by from eavesdropping. “We’ve heard some pretty nasty shit about Bougainvillea. Worse yet, we know he’s killed , Ema. Don’t blame us for being worried when we see you break a move with the guy.” He didn’t want to scare her with