Special Forces Rendezvous by Elle Kennedy

a—for lack of a better word— massacre, only to meet her maker while leaping off a barnacle-covered fishing boat into shallow water.
    “Any day now,” came Sebastian’s sarcastic voice.
    Julia stared at the calm blue-green water for a few more seconds, then took a deep breath, closed her eyes and jumped.
    The water was warmer than she’d anticipated. It completely engulfed her, soaking her clothes, her hair, her tired, grief-stricken bones. She kicked her feet, propelling herself to the surface, and squeaked in surprise when she noticed Sebastian’s wet head right beside hers.
    “You all right, Doc?”
    She spat water from her mouth. “I’m good.”
    “Let’s head in.”
    They swam side by side, Sebastian’s duffel floating beside him as they made their way to shore. Julia felt like a drowned rat by the time she heaved herself onto the muddy, pebble-strewn bank. She wrung out her braid, then the tails of her plaid shirt.
    “Ugh. There’s nothing worse than wet denim,” she griped, wiping her hands on the front of her damp jeans.
    “Don’t worry, you won’t be wearing it for long. Eva will lend you a change of clothes when we reach the safe house.”
    “And how exactly are we getting to this safe house of yours?” Her suspicious gaze drifted to the trees. “Please don’t tell me we’re hiking again. In wet clothes.”
    “Our pickup is only a mile away,” he assured her. “We’ll get there in no time.”
    Her next complaint died on her lips when Sebastian peeled off his wet long-sleeve shirt. He wore a tight black wifebeater underneath, and the fabric was molded to a chest so ripped, so perfectly sculpted, that Julia’s entire body began to tingle with awareness. And his arms...roped with muscle, dusted with light blond hair, rippling with strength. Wow. Just...wow.
    A knowing gleam lit those sexy gray eyes. “Are you okay?”
    “I’m fine,” she muttered, wrenching her gaze away. “Let’s just get this hike over with.”
    Sebastian’s soft chuckle confirmed that her appreciation over his delectable form was still written all over her face.
    As the heat of embarrassment stained her cheeks, she followed him into the thick vegetation, cursing under her breath the entire time. Water oozed out of her sneakers at her every step, and her jeans were plastered to her legs, making it difficult to walk. They’d been marching through the forest for only five minutes when she had to call out for a break.
    Gritting her teeth, she unbuttoned her plaid shirt and shrugged out of the wet sleeves. Her white tank top was soaked, too, but at least the material wasn’t as heavy and stifling as the plaid. She quickly tied the shirt around her waist and said, “Okay, I’m ready.”
    Sebastian cleared his throat. “Um. For the sake of full disclosure here, you should know that I can see...well, everything. ”
    Julia hastily looked down at her chest, and her cheeks grew even hotter. Crap. She’d forgotten that she was wearing a thin, white bra beneath that thin, white tank. Sure enough, she could make out the dusky outline of her areolae, and there was no mistaking the hard points of her nipples poking through both sets of fabric.
    When her gaze collided with Sebastian’s, another rush of awareness flooded her belly. Those magnetic gray eyes smoldered with unmistakable desire. He wanted her. This gorgeous, powerful warrior actually wanted her.
    Of course he does. You’re standing practically topless in front of him.
    Swallowing, Julia broke the eye contact. “Thanks for letting me know,” she said awkwardly. “But how about we both pretend you can’t see through my shirt so that way I can maintain some illusion of modesty?”
    His lips quirked. “Sure.”
    As they set out again, she had to wonder how Sebastian always seemed to know exactly where they were. Either the man was a walking GPS, or else he was very familiar with this particular “pickup” point.
    “It’s right through these trees,” he