Subject: Navy SEAL Clay “HoundDog” Bellamy
Mission: Rescue the lush, curvy civilian. And definitely don’t give in to temptation!
Even in her worst nightmare, Gabby Diaz never imagined a banking conference in Paraguay would end with her being kidnapped and ransomed—before being rescued by a hard-muscled Navy SEAL. Now, despite lingering worries, she’s home and safe again...isn’t she?
Someone has Gabby in their deadly sights, and she needs her hotter-than-hot SEAL’s help. But despite Clay Bellamy’s guarded Navy demeanor, his hunger for Gabby is hard to control. He tells himself it’s just the “hero” thing, that they’re worlds apart—until a sizzling kiss flips both their worlds upside down. Now Clay’s mission has been compromised in the wickedest way imaginable...
“First, raise your knees and plant your feet wide...”
Obeying Clay’s instructions, Gabby’s thighs touched his butt.
“Now move your left wrist away from your head.” He demonstrated the self-defense move slowly. “See? That throws me off balance because my hand goes out from under me.”
“Oh, cool. Let me try that again.”
Now she was on her back and he was above her. Chest to chest. With only the thin cotton of their shirts between them. His hardness pressed to her softness. Everywhere.
She took a deep breath and licked her lips. His eyes were a whiskey brown. His mouth... She wanted to lift her head and catch it with her own. Just to see if it was as supple as it looked.
She wasn’t expecting till death did them part. But before she returned to reality, at the very least, she wanted a kiss. Mostly to see if kissing him was as amazing as she remembered.
She claimed his lips then. And after a stunned second, he returned her kiss, his mouth moving over hers, nipping, tasting.
Needing him, she clasped his jaw, tangled her fingers in his hair. She was drowning in the feel of his mouth on hers, taking and giving, plundering. She started untucking his shirt and inching it up his back, running her palms over the hot, bare skin...
She refused to lose this moment. She would have him once and for all.
When Harlequin asked me for more Uniformly Hot! romances, I knew I wanted to write about Navy SEALs and immediately began researching everything about them. There are a lot of great books about Special Ops and the Navy SEALs in particular. Information concerning actual missions, weapons and tactics, as well as the grueling training. Learning about their everyday lives and challenges was fascinating and definitely inspired my fictional hero, Clay Bellamy.
Unlike many true SEALs, however, Clay is not a family man. His childhood made him a cynic when it comes to love. He’s certainly never known a woman as innocent and kindhearted as Gabriella Diaz. She desperately needs his help and I hope you enjoy their wild, sexy journey to love.
Researching SEALs also led me to the Navy SEAL Foundation, navysealfoundation.org. I’ve made a contribution already and will be making more with each royalty check from this book. Consider donating if you can and please visit my website, jillianburns.com, for information on my next book.
Sincerely,
Jillian
Her SEAL Protector
Jillian Burns
JILLIAN BURNS fell in love while reading such classics as Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice in her teens and has been reading romance novels ever since. She lives in Texas with her husband of twenty-five years and their three half-grown kids. She likes to think her emotional nature—sometimes referred to as moodiness by those closest to her—has found the perfect outlet in writing stories filled with passion and romance. She believes romance novels have the power to change lives with their message of eternal love and hope.
To Michael Monsoor, hero Navy SEAL who gave his life for his fellow SEALs, and for all US soldiers who put themselves in harm’s way for their country. You are the true heroes.
If you would like to help veterans overcome their challenges, or “Charlie Mike,” please visit missioncontinues.org.
Thanks to Scott and Brian for generously letting me use your apartment as the inspiration for Gabby’s. And a special thank-you to my sister from another mother, Debrah Huston Coward, for loaning me all your wonderful books about Navy SEALs. I’ll get them back to you soon, I promise!
Once again I couldn’t have produced this without the usual suspects: Pam, Linda, Von and Barb. And thank you to the best editor anyone could wish for.
Contents
Dear Reader
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
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