Free The Covert Wolf by Bonnie Vanak Page B

her back to the hotel room and lock her inside, making sure she was safe.
    Out in the open, he kept his guard up, watching for anything suspicious.
    The distance yawned between them deep as a canyon. Matt stuffed his hands into his jeans pockets, pulled up the collar of his faded denim jacket and tipped the cowboy hat farther down. The hat provided cover, hid his face. He missed his leather, missed his comfortable clothing, missed his buddies and their tight camaraderie.
    Here, with this Fae who seemed as far away as Europe, he felt out of place. Cold ice settled over him. But he couldn’t stop thinking about that kiss.
    It had rocked his world, sent him hurling back on his heels. Judging from the sweetness of her response, the way her tongue swept over his, how she’d leaned into him willingly…
    Matt scuffed a boot heel into the sidewalk, viciously wishing this mission were over. Sienna McClare was ripe for the taking. Women fell into his bed. He could find one now, relieve his sexual frustration, if not for his promise to never leave Sienna alone.
    Matt didn’t want to leave her alone. Not for reasons he’d given her, either.
    Since meeting her, his libido had gone curiously cold, except in her presence. He felt aware, awake. Alive, for the first time since Adam’s death.
    She twisted his guts into a knot. Matt watched her press her nose against the cold glass, a longing expression on her face. She looked like a child left out in the cold and it kicked him hard. Knew what that was like, when everyone around you seemed like a stranger and no one understood.
    He’d experienced that after Adam’s death, when his parents came to visit at the base. Instead of comforting him, they’d made him feel even more alone.
    “What’s got your attention, starshine?”
    She glanced at him. “Starshine? Why’d you call me that?”
    Her voice, aah, it was soft and sultry, rubbing against his taut body like a stroke of silk. Matt wanted to play it cool and fast. He found himself staring in rapt fascination at her wet, pink mouth. The truth nearly tumbled from his lips.
    Because you’re like starshine, distant and glittering and lovely, but unreachable. Yet I see you and I feel at home. As if no matter where I go, all I have to do is look into the sky and know I’m not alone.
    What a wuss-ass thing to say. Gods, am I turning into an emotional wreck? I sound like a lovestruck pup. He cleared his throat.
    “Beats me. I should call you Tink for Tinker Bell. Flying away to Neverland?”
    The eager, hopeful expression faded. Hurt stamped her face. He felt like kicking himself.
    Sienna rubbed at the glass. “I’m not military, certainly not one of your teammates, Lieutenant. But I’m not vacuous or whatever image you have of fictional fairies. No matter what you think of my people, that’s not me. So cut it out with the insulting nicknames.”
    This was all going cockeyed. “I will if you stop calling me Lieutenant and call me Matt.”
    “Yet you pulled rank on me.”
    He rubbed the back of his neck. “Just to get you in line. I was exhausted and needed rest and not an argument. Rank means little to a SEAL. We’re not like regular military. We respect our leaders because of their experience and abilities, not the bars and stars they wear.”
    Sienna blew a breath on the glass, drew a star. “I like that. The Fae lifestyle has a strict structure, and the leader has absolute authority. At times I question why, and wonder what it would be like to live outside those confines.”
    He cocked his head. “Seems like you were so busy trying to cheerlead the Fae, and brand yourself as one, and now you’ve changed your mind?”
    Expecting a protest, a hot defense, he was surprised to hear her tiny, regretful sigh. “I don’t know… It’s something I thought about for a while after they forced me to leave. But they’re the only family I’ve ever had. There are so many confusing things lately. Can we walk?”
    He did not move.