Reed: Scifi Alien Invasion Romance (Hell Squad Book 4) Read Online Free PDF Page A

shirt.”
    She shot him a look, but he saw the tension in her, the way her muscles were strung tight. Damn, he remembered those feelings all too well.
    “Come here.” He slid an arm over her shoulders and yanked her close to his side.
    She made a small sound but slowly relaxed into him. After a while, he realized she was rubbing her chest, like it hurt. He wondered if her scar bothered her. She started to shake again.
    He frowned. “Natalya?”
    “Don’t know what’s wrong.” Her teeth chattered together. “Feel…strange.”
    God, maybe there was something medically wrong with her, not just old memories. He slid a hand up to the base of her neck and started massaging. He felt helpless, there was nothing he could do to help.
    But when she made a small sound and let her head drop forward, he realized his distraction was working. He shifted and put both hands on her shoulders, kneading her tense muscles.
    “Better?”
    “Don’t stop,” she said.
    He kept going, letting himself indulge in the feel of her. Smooth skin, such a slim, enticing neck. He let his fingers slide up into her short, silky hair.
    She let out a small moan.
    Jesus . The sound shot straight to his cock and he shifted to try and ease his discomfort. The last thing Natalya was ready for was his needs. He was big, more often than not a little rough, and the things he wanted to do to her…well, he doubted he’d have much control when he finally got her naked.
    She tilted her head back, her gaze drifting over his face. It settled on his lips and her own were parted.
    Dammit . That mouth gave him all kinds of hot, dirty ideas. He closed his eyes and counted to ten. Twenty. Thirty.
    When he opened them again, she was watching him.
    Then she spoke. “I want to kiss you.”
     
    ***
     
    Natalya watched a mix of emotions run over Reed’s face. Then his look turned hard and he took a deep breath.
    “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
    God . She’d thought…she pulled back. Of course, he wouldn’t want to kiss her. He no doubt had a whole group of the base’s pretty young things offering him far more than a boring kiss. Women with no scars, no dark memories, and a whole lot less baggage.
    Be an adult, Natalya . “I’m sorry. Of course, you wouldn’t want to kiss me. Look, forget I said anything, okay?”
    He made an angry noise in his throat. “For a smart woman, that’s a dumb observation.”
    “Excuse me?”
    “I didn’t say I didn’t want to kiss you.”
    What? She looked up again, trying to work out what he was saying.
    “I want to kiss you,” he bit out. “So much it’s fucking tearing me up inside.”
    Her eyes widened and her gaze dropped to his mouth again. He had a really nice-shaped mouth. “So…what’s the problem?”
    “You’ve been through a lot, I don’t want—”
    She shot to her feet. “I’m made of glass again.” She flung out a hand. “You don’t want to kiss the freak show and upset her.”
    He got to his feet now, and his tone lowered. “Do not talk about yourself like that. You’re a survivor. A courageous, brave woman who lived through hell.”
    “But I’m too fragile to be kissed.” Anger pumped through her.
    “I want to give you time.”
    Right, he didn’t see an attractive, normal woman, he saw someone he had to take care with. “You know what, I don’t want to kiss you now. So this time, really forget it.”
    He grabbed her arm. “No.”
    “You can’t have it both ways, Reed.”
    “You’re punishing me for wanting to take care of you? A long time ago, I saw a soldier, a good friend, come home after being in enemy hands.” He shook his head. “She never recovered. She rushed into things to prove she was okay…” He trailed off.
    Natalya’s anger dimmed…a little. “I’m sorry about your friend. But it’s my choice you’re taking away, Reed. And I was only asking for a kiss, not for a life commitment.”
    He reeled her in closer. “God, Natalya. I want to kiss you. I want