SEAL’s Temptation (Alpha SEALs Hawaii #5)

Chapter 1

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N AVY SEAL RYAN “RENEGADE” Pierce grinned as he hiked along the well-worn trail through the rainforest on the perfect Hawaiian morning. It was early. Too damn early for most people. That hadn’t stopped the pretty blonde he was with from agreeing to an early morning adventure with him. The day felt damn spectacular. The clear blue sky peeked through the canopies of tall trees around them, the sunlight warm in the patches where it came through the tropical leaves. Even the air was fragrant and soft—delicate, and somehow reminding him of the woman only feet in front of him.

“This is fun,” Avery said, glancing back over her shoulder to flash him a smile. Her blonde hair swished with the movement, pulled into a ponytail and through the back of her navy-blue baseball cap. She somehow managed to look both cute-as-hell and sexy dressed in her hiking gear. It was an interesting combination, and he couldn’t stop the corner of his mouth from tugging up. Avery looked good in everything.

She’d look good in nothing, too, not that he’d be undressing her in the middle of the forest.

Or ever.

But damn how he’d love a shot with her.

“You’re adventurous,” he said, impressed. “Not every woman would want to spend their Saturday morning hiking on a dirt trail through the woods.”

“I’m not every other woman.”

“Touche,” he quipped, not missing the sparkle in her bright blue eyes. “And you even brought your hiking boots on vacation. That’s like bonus points right there,” he teased. “You’ve already catapulted above every other woman I know.”

He was laying it on thick and didn’t miss the pretty flush on her face. Or the amusement dancing in her eyes. “Of course. I can’t sit still for long. You know that, Ry.”

He smiled. Nope. Avery certainly wasn’t like most other women. She wasn’t about to spend hours getting her hair and nails done or an entire Saturday shopping and primping for a night out. Some women would absolutely love a day full of relaxation. But this woman?

Hell to the no.

She’d rather be out living her life than fussing over her appearance, and Ryan appreciated the hell out of that. They had fun whenever they were together, as infrequent as it was. He wasn’t sure what he’d do if Avery lived here. Kiss the hell out of her. Marry her.

He smirked. They’d never even been on a date given the fact that they were just friends, but damn. Avery was an absolute knock-out, and spending time with her always sent a jolt of adrenaline through his system. He couldn’t get enough of the pretty blonde, and given her reactions around him, he suspected the feeling was mutual.

She easily jumped down from a large rock, her hiking boots landing on the dirt and her blonde ponytail swinging through the air. The lavender tank top she wore showed off her narrow shoulders and toned arms, and her legs peeking out beneath her utility shorts? Yep. Those were pretty fantastic, too. Long. Shapely. He bet they were as soft and smooth as they looked, and he was itching to run his hands up them to find out if he was right.

Ryan swallowed. He could practically imagine wrapping his hands around Avery’s hips, playfully guiding her back against a big tree, and then kissing the hell out of her, finally tasting that pretty pink mouth.

They were just friends, he reminded himself. Flirtatious friends, perhaps, but friends nonetheless. Avery didn’t live here, so he wasn’t going to be getting up close and personal with her, no matter how badly he wanted to. She deserved way more than one night together, and he couldn’t exactly offer that. Not when the Navy decided his every deployment and PCS.

Ryan watched Avery’s hips sway in front of him for a moment, staring at that perfect ass, then quickly looked away. Avery didn’t need him ogling her. He could be a gentleman. Mostly.

When he’d told Avery he was going hiking this morning, he hadn’t really expected her to join him. Hoped? Of course. But had he thought she’d really be up for it after only having arrived in Honolulu a day earlier? Not a chance. Yet she’d texted him back last night and readily agreed, and he’d shot out of bed first thing this morning, looking forward to their day together more than anything in a long while.

“Your brother know you’re here?” Ryan asked after a few more minutes of hiking along the peaceful trail.

Aaron “Anchor” Nielsen wasn’t exactly thrilled about the sparks shooting between Ryan and Avery—not that Aaron’s displeasure had stopped them from seeing each other whenever Avery visited the island. Ryan figured no guy would be good enough in Aaron’s mind, and Avery did what she wanted anyway.

She flashed him a look. “Nope. And don’t tell him. He’s overprotective enough already.”

Ryan bit back a smile. “I can protect you.”

“Yep. Already knew that.”

The gleam in her eyes made him chuckle. Too bad Avery didn’t live in Oahu. She was adventurous, fun, smart-as-hell, and oh yeah—fucking gorgeous. From the moment they’d met months ago, they’d clicked. She was almost as tall as him, and he loved that he could practically look her right in the eyes. She was still smaller than him though—toned and fit, but nothing compared to his strength and bulk. He loved that, too. Ryan had spent many a night imagining her smaller body beneath his, his hands running over that smooth skin, his lips exploring everywhere.

Would she be shy in bed? Teasing as she tried to take control?

His lips quirked at the idea. He must’ve had eighty pounds on her. More. The only way Avery would overpower him was if he let her. Although he might have fun watching her try.

He already knew they’d be good together. In bed. In the shower. Up against the wall. They had that elusive chemistry people yearned for, and didn’t it just suck that she’d never be his. Ryan was stationed here in Honolulu, and while Avery could find a pediatric nursing job most anywhere, she’d been looking into paid positions with Doctors Without Borders, which meant she’d be jetting off somewhere else in the world.

Somewhere even farther away from him.

His fists clenched. Her brother didn’t like that she took dangerous volunteer assignments, and Ryan could understand the concern. The more he got to know Avery, the more he wanted to keep her safe. Wrap her up in his arms and shield her from the world. She might not be his, but that didn’t stop the protective feelings coursing through him.

“Well, I’m sure you’re already aware, but Aaron wasn’t too thrilled we’ve kept in touch,” Ryan gently reminded her.

Avery shrugged. “He wouldn’t be thrilled with any guy I dated—not that we’re dating,” she quickly added, a cute-as-hell flush coming over her cheeks as she sheepishly glanced back at him. Avery was only a couple of years younger than Ryan—old enough to make up her mind without her brother butting in.

They’d come to a fork in the trail, Avery pausing in front of him. Ryan’s hand landed on her shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. “If you lived here in Oahu, we’d absolutely be dating.”

A beat passed, and he wondered if he’d shared too much, but as she looked over at him, her eyes were dancing with amusement. “Definitely,” she sassed. “After all, it’s hard to resist me.”

Her cheeks were still pink, and he felt something in his chest clench. How she could be bold yet bashful at times made his curiosity pique. Maybe that’s what had drawn him to her in the first place. She’d been confident, showing up at a group gathering not knowing anyone but her brother, yet had flushed at Ryan’s attention. Plus, she’d looked damn pretty in a sundress that showed off all her feminine curves.

He’d met her and immediately wanted to know more.

“Yep. That’s what I told your brother,” he joked. “Avery is irresistible, so don’t even try to keep me away.”

“You did not.”

He pressed his lips together, trying not to smile. “I could.” His voice was husky. Low. He could smell Avery’s light floral scent, his libido rising at her closeness. His hand was still on her bare shoulder, and it would take nothing to turn her toward him and taste those lush lips. Instead, he nodded toward the left, trying to ignore the electricity sparking between them. The draw that made it impossible for him to stay away. “Let’s head in that direction,” he said, his voice gruff. “There’s a pretty waterfall up ahead.”

“Do you take all the girls here?” she asked as they began walking again.

“What girls?” he asked with a chuckle. “I go on occasional dates, sure, but they go exactly nowhere. I’m as single as they come, Av.”

“Aaron said you guys used to all hang out at Coconuts a lot.”

He shrugged. “Sure. That doesn’t mean I was bringing home a new woman every night. Lately, I’ve only been talking to one woman anyway,” he said, not missing the flush on her cheeks as she glanced over at him. “I’m busy. We train hard, we deploy. I’ve never really had time for seriously dating someone. And to be honest, some of the silly women hanging around bars looking for a Navy guy aren’t my type anyway. I’m too old for that.”

“Yeah, I get it,” she said, falling in step beside him where the trail widened. “Casual dating is out once you reach a certain age, but if you’re busy with your career, then work seems to come first. It’s hard to pursue a relationship. I pretty much never date with the long hours I put in at the hospital.” She shifted her backpack slightly, adjusting the weight, and Ryan’s gaze ran over her slight frame.

“I’ll carry your backpack.” He’d offered before, feeling chivalrous as he’d gotten their things out of his SUV. Although she’d declined at the time, he realized she might be tired now after hiking for an hour.

“Don’t be silly,” she said. “When I volunteer with Doctors Without Borders, I haul all kinds of gear and equipment around.”

“That’s only because you don’t have me there,” he joked.

She flashed him a look, and unable to resist, he reached over and grabbed her hand. It felt delicate and small in his own, and her skin was so damn soft, he wanted to know if it felt like that everywhere. Avery looked surprised for a beat but then smiled at him, that hint of pink appearing on her cheeks again, and Ryan’s heart thudded in his chest. She was leaving in a matter of days. Flying back home and then off somewhere on assignment. He hadn’t even found out where yet.

He couldn’t deny, however, that this moment felt fucking right.

He guided her along the rocky part of the trail, which would eventually come to the waterfall. Briefly, his gaze scanned over the area, assessing. His team leader Wyatt “Wildcard” Miller had brought his girlfriend—now fiancée—here a while back. When Callie had returned alone, she’d been met by armed terrorists. It was a hell of a story, with Wyatt and the team coming to her rescue just in time. Yet despite the serene, scenic place, Ryan couldn’t help but take note of his surroundings right now.

“I don’t think Panama will be this peaceful,” Avery said.

His eyebrows shot up. “Panama? Is that your next volunteer assignment?” Aaron had told him more than once that Avery took on dangerous jobs, and Ryan was beginning to understand the problem. She wasn’t a trained military servicemember. She was a nurse. He loved that she wanted to help others, especially those that otherwise had no access to medical care, but he also hated that she was putting herself in jeopardy by doing so.

She cast him a hesitant look. “Sort of. I’ll be flying in to Panama City, but I’m not volunteering there, Ry. I’m taking the job. I’ll be providing much-needed medical care for migrants crossing the Darien Gap.”

He stopped so suddenly, she almost crashed into him. “Shit,” he muttered, his grip on her hand tightening as he caught her before she fell. “Are you okay?”

“Fine,” she said, but he didn’t miss the way she briefly clung to him for support as she steadied herself. Avery’s hands on him made his pulse pound, but he was more overwhelmed by the worry now coursing through him.

“That’s dangerous as hell, Av. The Darien Gap? Damn.”

Ryan was practically vibrating with tension, but he was trying to rein in his worry so he didn’t frighten her. Imagining Avery in such a hostile environment was nearly impossible. She was innocent and good. Beautiful. A woman like her didn’t need to see the dangers of the world—not like that. She could be raped. Killed. Used as some cartel member’s plaything before being sold off into sexual slavery. He hated to even imagine the horrors she’d endure if she was captured while down in South America.

“I’m aware. If I wanted a lecture, I’d have gone to my brother.” Her voice was cool, and he didn’t blame her for being annoyed. Ryan had no say in her life whatsoever. She was a grown woman, and as he’d already noted—she wasn’t his. That didn’t stop the protective instincts that were now surging through him.

Ryan blew out a breath, shaking his head. He lifted one hand, brushing back a stray piece of her hair. Avery’s expression softened, and he wondered if he could actually talk her out of this. “I know you’d mentioned a position with Doctors Without Borders, but I didn’t realize that’s where you’d be headed. There’re other places in the world that provide medical care for impoverished populations.”

“There are.”

His hand lingered near her face for a moment as their eyes locked. He swallowed. She was so damn small and fragile compared to him. How could she even be considering something like this?

“I’d worry about you working down in Panama. Maybe I have no right to say that given my own risky career, but damn, Av. I’m a Navy SEAL. You’re an amazing nurse and an incredibly compassionate person but simply don’t have the same training I do.”

“I know. I know none of us have any military training, especially compared to you and my brother, but I’ve already accepted the job, Ry. I’ve volunteered in third-world countries before. I know to be cautious and aware of my surroundings. This is a career goal for me. I’ll be overseeing other medical staff and working directly with both patients and doctors. It’s a great opportunity, both for my nursing career and to help people that so desperately need it. You understand that, don’t you?”

He studied her a moment. “Why the Darien Gap? Why not seek out a similar position elsewhere? They’ve got to have operations all over the place.”

“It’s one of the biggest migration routes in the world, and access to medical care has been cut off. They’re trying to make a better life for themselves, and if I can help by using my training and skills, I don’t see what’s wrong with that.”

“What’s wrong with it is you’d be risking your own life. The Darien Gap is one of the most inhospitable regions in the world,” he countered. “One of the most dangerous.”

“It is,” she agreed.

“And after that?” he questioned.

“What do you mean?”

They’d paused on the trail, Avery still standing in front of him. She was so damn pretty it practically hurt. He wasn’t sure what it was about this girl that got to him. Every time she flew in to Oahu, be it for a conference or simply to visit, it was like he couldn’t stay away. And the idea of any harm coming to her nearly slayed him.

“Say you come off this year-long assignment in one piece,” he rationalized. “What’s next? Will you be chasing after the next dangerous job to prove a point? To show us that you can?”

She shook her head. “No, but I have to do this. I’d regret it forever if I gave up this opportunity.”

He bristled, not liking the idea of her in potential danger. Avery lifted her hand to his face, her fingers briefly caressing his cheek as she tried to soothe him. He hadn’t shaved this morning, and her fingertips lightly ran over his stubble. It was an intimate gesture, certainly more than something a mere friend would do. He saw the moment she realized exactly that as she tried to back away, but he stopped her, catching her in his arms. “What would you do after that?” he asked again, his voice husky.

His hands ran down her bare arms, and her skin was so damn soft and warm, he didn’t want to let her go. Avery stilled, searching his gaze. He could see her chest rising and falling and knew she was just as affected as him by their closeness.

They’d flirted at barbeques. Sat beside one another around bonfires, separated from the rest of the group. She meant something to him. Maybe he hadn’t kissed her yet or taken her to bed, maybe they hadn’t gotten to know each other through conventional dates, but he’d be lying if he claimed they were just friends.

“I don’t know,” she admitted, suddenly looking vulnerable. “I’m not sure I’d want to move back home. I hear Hawaii’s nice,” she said lightly, but he could see the question in her eyes.

His heart was thundering in his chest. “You’d move to Hawaii.”

She hesitated for a beat, searching his gaze. “If I had reason to.”

Her words hung in the air, and in that moment, it felt like something changed between them. It wasn’t a promise so much as a possibility, but damn if he wouldn’t always regret not finding out what exactly was brewing between them. He could see himself dating her. Falling for her. They’d been dancing around their attraction to each other for months, and given the opportunity? It felt like this girl could be everything.

Playfully, he tipped her baseball cap, looking into her pretty blue eyes. Avery smelled of coconut sunscreen and something else delicate and floral. Feminine. Hell if he didn’t want to breathe in her intoxicating scent and then taste her everywhere, kissing her soft lips before thoroughly exploring her body with his mouth and tongue. His cock swelled in his boxers, and he nearly pulled her closer to let her feel exactly how badly he wanted her.

“And if I say to come? To move to Honolulu?” he asked, his voice rough. His heart thundered in his chest, and he knew what he wanted her answer to be.

“I’d do it,” she replied.

Warmth filled his body, adrenaline spiking in his bloodstream. Of course he was attracted to Avery, but it was more. It was her. It had been almost too much to hope that he’d actually get a shot with this woman. Living hours apart, with him on a damn island, made dating practically impossible.

But if they were here in the same place next year?

That changed everything.

“I want to kiss you,” he murmured. His voice was husky and low. Quiet in the middle of the rainforest. Avery’s lips parted, and he heard her little gasp. Her hair blew in the gentle breeze, and her baseball cap framed her face, somehow making her look sweetly sexy. She gave off girl-next-door vibes yet was beautiful in a way that always made his breath catch.

Ryan wanted to give her a reason to come back to Hawaii after she’d fulfilled her wanderlust and career goals. A few days’ worth of memories to keep her warm at night until she was back at his side—back in his arms.

She still had her backpack on, and the moment on the hiking trail should’ve been far from romantic. He didn’t care. She looked like the prettiest damn thing he’d ever seen. Ryan reached out to lift the backpack off her, shouldering the heavy load himself. She looked surprised for a beat but flushed as he moved closer once more.

“Tell me to stop,” he said, his voice thick.

“I don’t want you to stop,” she replied. Her hands came up, running over his cotton tee shirt. He sucked in a breath, savoring her soft touch on his pecs. His abs. Ryan was in good shape, and he loved her hands on his body. She lightly gripped his tee shirt as if hanging on to him for support, and Ryan drifted even closer, their mouths mere inches apart.

He could feel the warm exhale of her breath, see those perfect pink lips—

The sudden cracking of a twig had them both jolting in surprise, and Ryan cursed as he swung Avery behind him. He’d been so lost in her, he hadn’t been paying attention to their surroundings, which was unlike him. He was a goddamn Navy SEAL, and he hadn’t even heard other people approaching.

A family came bounding down the trail at that moment, kids in tow, and Avery shot him a shy look, her eyes bright and face flushed. He hadn’t even kissed her yet, but she was practically glowing. He could only imagine how she’d look when he was inside her, Avery coming on his cock, crying out in pure pleasure.

“Later,” she told him.

“What?” he asked in surprise, slanting a gaze her way.

“You can absolutely kiss me later on.”