Page 19 of A Very Grumpy Green Beret

I lunge for the man, wrestling the gun free from his hands. Lifting it, I bring the butt down on his head. Blood sprays, covering my face. I bare my teeth, hitting the man again when he continues to fight me, until his limp body sags onto the porch.

Pushing to my feet, I drop into a fighting stance, chest heaving, ensuring all three men stay down. I want to put a bullet in each of them and end this right here and now, but that would mean dealing with the authorities.

I tense as someone slams into my back, whirling around. I relax when I see it’s Perry. She’s crying, her nose red as she wraps her arms around my waist.

“Are you okay?” I ask, scanning her for any sign of an injury.

“Yes,” she sobs. “You’re not.”

“I’m fine,” I promise.

I’m better than fine. My pumpkin is holding me. She’s letting me hold her.

“You were shot!”

“I can stitch it up. It’s not bad,” I assure her.

“What are we going to do about them?” Perry asks, looking at the three men warily.

“I’m going to call the police. They’ll be arrested. They won’t be able to walk away from this.”

She still looks nervous. “I have to go,” she whispers.

I stiffen. “No,” I growl.

“I have to!” she cries. “I can’t bring this trouble to you. I should’ve left days ago. I’m so sorry, Luca.”

“I’m not. I want all of your trouble.”

She gives me a watery laugh as she stares up at me. “You don’t mean that.”

I cup her face, holding her gaze. “I do. I promise you. I want you, Perry. All of you. The good and the bad.”

She blinks up at me, and I can see her trying to decide something as we stare at each other. I figure she’s going to argue some more, maybe even try to leave, and I’m about to sweep her into my arms when she lunges at me.

Her arms wrap around my neck, her soft curves pressing against my body. She leans up on her tiptoes, and then her lips are on mine.

I freeze, my brain trying to figure out if I’m dreaming or if my pumpkin is really kissing me.

She starts to pull back, and I move, wrapping my arm around her waist and holding her to me as I kiss her back.

My lips mold to hers, and I pour all my need, obsession, and love into the embrace. I try to tell her that I want her, that she’s my whole damn world with every stroke of my tongue against hers, every caress of my fingers over her back.

She tastes like tears and something sweet, and I’m instantly addicted.

Perry makes a soft sound against my mouth, and every possessive instinct inside me roars to life. I tighten my hold on her, needing her closer even though there isn’t an inch of space left between us. Her fingers slide into my hair, gripping the strands as she kisses me harder.

Fuck.

I’ve imagined this more times than I can count. I’ve dreamed about her lips, wondered how she would taste and what little sounds she would make for me. None of those fantasies come close to the real thing.

I cup the back of her neck, holding her gently even as my mouth moves hungrily over hers. I force myself to slow down. To savor her. She’s finally in my arms, kissing me because she wants to, and I refuse to rush through a single second of it.

I trace the seam of her lips with my tongue, and she opens for me with a quiet gasp. The first stroke of her tongue against mine nearly brings me to my knees.

Heat burns through me, hotter than the pain tearing through my shoulder. I forget about the bullet wound. I forget about the men lying at our feet. The entire world disappears until there’s nothing but Perry. Her soft body pressed against mine, her trembling hands in my hair, and the desperate way she kisses me like I’m the only thing keeping her together.

Maybe I am.