Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 71348 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71348 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
Within moments, the boat is out of sight and soon out of earshot. Benji will be watching it carefully on radar, but I seriously doubt they’ll be coming back. If they had weaponry to rival ours, we’d have seen it. Besides, they have to know we have radar capabilities by how quick we were to defend our space.
Yeah… pretty sure these pirates are just shit of out luck when it comes to this tanker. I expect the added benefit to tonight’s attempted raid is that word will pass that this shipping company has put the money into security and won’t be trifled with. The pirates will move on to a weaker prey, but I’m betting more and more companies will be hiring companies like Jameson to escort them through dangerous waters.
“Hold positions,” Benji instructs over the comms, but that was unnecessary chatter. It’s protocol to do so after an aborted attack, just in case they make a quick turnaround for a foolish second run.
To my surprise, Rachel slings her rifle over her shoulder and comes walking my way. She’s technically not on duty. Had Benji needed her, Cage, and Sal, he would have called them up.
I hold my place against the railing at midship although I harness my rifle as well.
“That was exciting,” Rachel says drolly when she reaches me. She leans her hip against the rail, resting her arm on the top. The swishing sound of sea spray as the tanker cuts through the water is almost relaxing in a way, particularly now the adrenaline has waned.
“For Merrit and Kara at least,” I reply. “They got to fire the big guns.”
She doesn’t respond, but looks out over the black water. I turn my head that way as well.
“I don’t think we should go on ops together,” I tell her carefully.
Rachel shrugs. “It’s not like I have many more to go on. I’m sure Kynan will cut me out after the first trimester is up. He won’t have any problem assigning us to different teams.”
“Just the really dangerous stuff,” I clarify. Because fuck if I can concentrate on what I’m doing if I’m worried about her. I hated admitting that to her, but she sort of forced it from me.
“I understand,” she replies quietly, still looking out over the water. “But concert security isn’t so dangerous, right?”
Chuckling, I turn to look at her. The breeze is whipping the shorter locks of her hair that have fallen out of her little ponytail. “No, I wouldn’t worry about you quite the same providing concert security versus going up against pirates.”
“I’m sorry you worry about me,” Rachel says, taking a step in closer to me. “I wish you wouldn’t.”
I don’t even need special skills at reading between the lines here, because her meaning is blatantly clear.
What I’m sure she really means is, I’m sorry you worry about me because I just don’t really feel the same about you.
While Rachel has warmed up to me tremendously over the last three weeks, I still know that this will never be anything more than what it is right now. We’re sharing an experience—childbirth—and because we’re wildly attracted to each other, we’re using the baby as an excuse to continue fucking each other. I know damn well had Rachel not gotten pregnant, we would have never hooked up again. We barely spoke to each other unless it was work related in those weeks in between the first time we were together and when she found out she was pregnant.
I don’t respond to her last statement. No need to. I’m not going to stop worrying, and she’s not going to stop wanting me not to worry. Instead, I nod back toward the door that leads below deck. “You should go get some sleep. Your shift will be here before you know it.”
As if the mere suggestion of sleep hits her body in a physical way, she gives a long yawn followed by a sheepish grin. “Yeah… I could use a little more sleep. Call me if the pirates come back.”
I laugh and shake my head. “You know that I will not do. I hope you sleep through any potential attack that may come.”
Rachel then does something so uncharacteristic I almost doubt I’m seeing it. She wrinkles up her nose and sticks her tongue out at me like a petulant five-year-old. It’s fucking adorable, but before I can even laugh, she’s spins around and heads for the door.
I take a few moments to admire her ass as she walks away from me. It’s a great ass… round and toned. I wonder how her body is going to be changing over the next few weeks. It won’t be long before that flat tummy gets a little bump going, and the thought of it turns me on.
What a fucking perv I’ve turned into, but I can’t be too abashed. Everything about Rachel Hart turns me on, and it did long before I ever fucked her. I’ve always had the hots for her like every other dude at Jameson. I’m just the lucky bastard who is currently fucking her, and fucking her exclusively.