His Woman in Command & Operations: Forbidden. Lindsay McKenna

another reason. He hadn’t lost someone he loved to death. He had lost her because they simply could not compromise with one another.

      “Maybe you just need time,” Gavin counseled gently, removing his hand. He ached to kiss Nike. The set of her full lips, the way the corners of her mouth were drawn in, told him the pain she still carried over the death of the Peruvian captain.

      “No,” Nike said grimly, “time isn’t going to change my mind.” She stared up at him, her voice firm. “You need to know the truth. I shouldn’t have led you on. I’m sorry.”

      “I’m not sorry at all, Nike. Look, we all need someone at some time.”

      His mouth was so beautifully sculpted. Good thing he couldn’t read her mind. He had the lips of Apollo, the sun god. And wasn’t Gavin a bit of sunshine in her life? Nike didn’t want to admit that at all. But he was. All day, she’d longed to have a few quiet, uninterrupted moments with him. She was hungry to find out who he was, his depth and what mattered to him. Far more curious than she should be, Nike said, “I can’t need any man who is in the military, Gavin. Never again.”

      Looking toward the village that was barely outlined by the dying light, the windows gleaming with a golden glow, Nike sighed. “You deserve to know the truth.”

      “And I’m glad you trusted me with it.” Gavin smiled down at her upturned face. Her lips parted and almost pleaded to be touched by his mouth. “It’s a good first step, don’t you think?”

      Seeing that gleam in his eyes, Nike knew Gavin wanted to kiss her. Yet, he hadn’t made a move. The tension swirled between them and her heart screamed for his kiss. Her past resurfaced, frightening her. If she surrendered to her desire for Gavin, she would be right back where she was before—heartbroken. “There are no other steps,” she warned him.

      “I don’t believe that,” Gavin said, his voice a low growl. Reaching out, he took that step forward, his arms coming around her shoulders. Surprise flared in her golden eyes, her need of him very readable and yet, as he closed the distance, Gavin could see her fear. As he gently brought Nike against him he wondered if she would resist. If she did, he’d instantly release her, of course. Gavin didn’t want that to happen and he sensed she wanted him, too. He leaned down, searching, finding her parted lips.

      The world exploded within Nike as her arms swept across his shoulders, his mouth capturing hers. It was a powerful kiss, yet gentle and welcoming. His lips were tentative and asking her to participate fully in the joy of connection. The moisture of his ragged breath flowed across her face. The whiskers of his beard were soft. Gavin’s mouth guided her and slid wetly across her opening lips. He cajoled, passing his tongue delicately across her lower lip. Instantly, Nike inhaled sharply as the throbbing sensation dove deeply down between her thighs.

      He smelled of sweat, of wool and the sharp, clean mountain air. She reveled in his weather-hardened flesh against her cheek. His arms were cherishing and Nike surrendered as he swept her hard against his body. Their breaths mingled as they explored one another like hungry, greedy beggars. Well, wasn’t she? It had been two long years since she’d kissed a man. And how different Gavin’s kiss was! Nike tried not to compare him to Antonio. Gavin’s mouth wreaked fire from within her as his lips molded hotly with hers. One hand moved sinuously down the back of her jacket, following the curve of her back. His other hand held her close. Her nipples hardened instantly as he deepened their kiss.

      Nike was starved! Her entire body trembled just as he reluctantly withdrew his mouth from her wet lips. Nike saw the glint of a hungry predator in his eyes as surely as it was mirrored in hers. Knees like Jell-O, Nike felt weak. Inwardly, her body glowed brightly and she yearned to know his touch upon her aching breasts, and how he would feel entering her.

      All of these crazy sensations exploded through her now that they stood, watching each other in wonder. The night air was cold and their breath was like white clouds between them. Nike noted the satisfaction glittering in Gavin’s narrowed eyes. He held her gently and didn’t try to kiss her again.

      “Now,” Gavin rasped, “let’s start all over. I’m me and you are you. I’m not the man from your past. I’m the one standing with you here in the present. Judging from the kiss, I think we have something to build upon. I’m a patient man, Nike. I wasn’t looking for a woman, but you walked into my life.” His hand against the small of her back tightened. “And I’m not about to let you walk out of my life.”

      Chapter 5

      Nike hadn’t slept well and was finishing up breakfast with Jameela and her three daughters. Chapatis, a thin pita bread, had been filled with vegetables and seasoned with curry. She had trouble focusing on food when she kept remembering Gavin’s kiss. It was completely unexpected—but welcome. Groaning inwardly, Nike remembered all her nightmares of Antonio’s death. He’d been shot to death in the jungles of Peru. She’d sworn never to fall in love with a military man again. Not ever.

      So why had she kissed Gavin? Why did she still want him? Nike had seen the predatory look in his eyes. She could have easily brushed him off. Why hadn't she? First things first: stop thinking about it. Nike watched as the older daughters of the family cleared away the dishes and went to clean them in the kitchen.

      Jameela was helping six-year-old Atefa wrap her leg, which had never had any surgical intervention. The little girl’s leg was missing below the knee. Jameela had her daughter lie on the rug as she carefully wrapped the red, angry-looking stump with soft cotton fabric. Once it was tied in place, Atefa sat up and took her handmade crutches.

      “Have you sought help for your daughter’s missing leg?” Nike asked the mother.

      “When it happened, we were shocked. My husband tried to get help from our government. He pleaded and begged a regional official to bring a doctor out here to help her,” Jameela responded.

      Nike frowned. “I’m so sorry. Who planted those mines?”

      With a grimace, Jameela whispered, “The Afghan army did, to stop the Taliban.”

      Surprised, Nike blurted, “Why?”

      “They hid them along the edges of our fields where we plow. They didn’t want Talibans coming in here.”

      The whole conflict and mind-set of the Taliban didn’t make sense. As soldiers, they could only do their part and hope families would be saved. Nike had to get to work pronto. Getting up, she shrugged on her coat and put the red scarf in place around her head. It was 0700 and dawn crawled up on the horizon. A mechanic team would arrive this morning to try and assess what was wrong with her CH-47. Every minute on the ground kept the helo a target of the Taliban. She had to get out and relieve her load master so he could come to Abbas’s house and get breakfast.

      “I’ll come back later,” Nike promised the woman. “Right now, I have to check my helicopter and relieve my sergeant.”

      Jameela stood and nodded. “Of course.”

      In the freezing cold of the spring morning, Nike hurried down the muddy, rutted street. The men were already busy. A donkey hauled a wooden cart filled with wood brought from the slopes of the nearby mountains. She saw no one from Gavin’s team, which was just as well. Right now, Nike couldn’t bear to see him. She was too confused about what happened between them, that part of her wanted it to happen again…

      Andy was delighted to see her and climbed out of the CH-47. He rubbed his gloved hands to warm them up. Even though Nike had provided heavy bedding for him, she knew it was no fun to sleep in a helo in freezing weather. After motioning for him to hightail it to the awakening village for breakfast, Nike took over watch of the helicopter. He handed her the binoculars.

      Around her, the valley awakened. The brownish-red haze above the village came from the many wood fires prodded to life to feed a family in each of the mud-brick and stone dwellings. Above, the sky was a pale blue and she could see the tips of the mountains illuminated as the sun peeked above them. When the first rays slanted over the narrow valley, Nike