Page 35 of SEAL's Resolve
“You would stay?”
“I’d like to be there for you, but the choice is yours.”
She hated to be a coward, but she had bad memories of talking to a counselor after the first kidnapping when she was younger. “Stay with me.”
“If you change your mind during the session, tell me and I’ll wait in the hall.”
Overwhelmed with gratitude for his kindness, she rose on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek.
Rafe’s arms tightened around her as his gaze dropped from her eyes to her mouth. “I shouldn’t do this,” he whispered, but slowly lowered his head until his mouth settled on hers. He gave her plenty of time to stop him. She didn’t.
At the touch of his mouth on hers, fire streaked along her nerve endings, bringing every inch of her body to life. When his tongue brushed against her bottom lip, asking silent permission to deepen the kiss, she didn’t hesitate to give him what they both wanted. Why should she deny him or herself when Kristi wanted this kiss more than she wanted her next breath?
Heat poured into her bloodstream as the kiss went on and on, the SEAL changing the angle of the kiss until the touch was perfect. Good grief. Rafe Torres had serious kissing skills. Those butterflies in her stomach now turned into dive bombers, flying this way and that as his kiss deepened further, ramping up her desire and his.
When he broke the kiss, Rafe looked into her eyes. “Should I apologize?”
“Don’t you dare. I’ve never been kissed like that in my life, and I enjoyed every second.”
Rafe’s gaze darkened. “Did you enjoy the kiss enough for a repeat performance later?”
She smiled. “I’m looking forward to it.”
His gaze locked with hers, Rafe raised her hand and kissed the center of her palm. “We need to go.”
Right. More kisses could wait. The Fortress counselor, however, had a schedule to keep.
Soon, Rafe led her into a small room where a dark-haired man waited for them. He stood and held out his hand to Rafe. “Good to see you again, Rafe. It’s been a while.”
“How is your wife?”
“Staying busy with the community center. She’ll want to see you if you have time to stop by.”
“I’ll try. Marcus, this is Kristi Stewart. Kristi, my friend, Marcus Lang, the pastor of Cornerstone Church and one of the Fortress counselors.”
She shook his outstretched hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Pastor Lang.”
“Marcus, please. Have a seat.” He indicated one of the chairs on the opposite side of the table. “May I call you Kristi?”
“I’d prefer that.”
“Do you want Rafe to remain in the room or wait in the hall while we talk?”
“I asked him to stay.”
Marcus sat across from Kristi. “Before we start, do you need water or a soft drink?”
She glanced at Rafe. “Do you mind getting me a drink?”
“Of course not. I’ll be back in a minute.” Rafe looked at Marcus.
The pastor chuckled. “I’ll watch over her.”
“Coffee, Marcus?”
“I’d appreciate it. I was on call overnight as chaplain at the hospital.”
When Rafe left the room, Marcus said to Kristi, “Tell me about yourself while we wait for Rafe’s return.”