Mumbled words came from her covered mouth while her eyes blazed danger signs only a fool or a Navy SEAL would ignore. Fortunately, he'd been taught to ignore danger signs and his job involved running into places angels and devils feared to tread.
"You ready to behave, Matok ?"
The Hebrew word for sweet one or sweetheart slipped out of his lips without thought. It disturbed something in him because never before had he spoken in the language of his grandparents with a woman. Especially considering the popular opinion dealing with anyone of desert decent. Keeping his mouth shut and his heritage to himself kept Jagger out of more bar fights than he or his teammates could remember. Also he didn't want to be the poster child for religious tolerance or the chance for politically correct assholes to show how open-minded they were having him as a friend.
Alexa brought him back to the present with the hard bite of her sharp teeth on his hand. Gritting through the pain, Jagger kept his palm exactly where it was. "Last I heard the sight of blood made you faint. What do you think the taste of it will do to you?"
Was it evil of him to tease this woman and enjoy it so much? Probably, but the little minx had been two steps ahead him since before they met again. Payback felt as sweet and fulfilling as he remembered.
She released his skin with an unladylike snort. “What’s with the formality anyway? You sound like one of the moms with the whole Alexa thing.” She narrowed eyes. “You never called me anything but Lexa before.”
Because she didn’t look like the little Lexa in his mind anymore. This was a woman in his arms, and he needed to get his shit together before she walked away.
“Just getting used to the grown-up version of the brat I once knew, Lexa.” And yeah, there it was. The familiar spark he remembered glowing hotly in her pretty eyes.
Chapter Three
Damn Tyler and his elephant-like memory. Who else would remember the field trip from her sophomore year and her embarrassing floor dive in the city morgue? Hundreds of bags of blood hanging from hooks, the smell of formaldehyde combined with the frigid temperature of the windowless room sent black spots swarming across Lexa's eyes until they encompassed her world.
The incident made her the laughing stock of her class even as it ruined any future career plans in the medial field. She hated being reminded of her weakness, hated knowing the man—the boy—she'd had such a crush on knew her secret shame.
Thanks to Tyler's hand, she couldn't curse him. The most she could do was sink her teeth into the callused leather he called a hand. Even pain didn't make him flinch as she refused to let go even as he shook his hand in an attempt to lose her grip.
"Alexa, is this the behavior of a proper Southern lady? Really," he tsked at her, "what would your grandmother say?"
As she couldn't respond with her mouth covered, Lexa settled for glaring at him with the full force of her anger.
"You'll surely be kicked out of the Daughters of the Soldiers of Northern Aggression?"
"Jagger, you gonna let the nice lady go or will we have to bail you out of airport jail?" Trip stood behind his friend, arms crossed, legs spread, a frown pulling his full lips down while amusement shone brightly in his blue eyes. "Cause I gotta tell ya, Ice wasn't too happy with us after the last time."
"Last time was your fault, Trip." Tyler’s burning gaze never left Lexa's face as he replied to his friend. "Now be a good friend and grab a cab back to house."
Frown lines appeared between Trip's brows as he took in his friend's serious expression. "I'm out of here, asshole." He turned to Lexa shot her a charming smile that, if her heart hadn't already been lost to Tyler, would have her creaming all over her sexy girl undies. "'Scuse the language, ma'am."
"Of course," she replied, shoving Tyler’s hand from her mouth. Manners ingrained in her from the moment of birth gave her an automatic response. "It was a pleasure meeting you, sir."
Walking backwards with utter confidence, Trip grinned. "I work for a living, ma'am. Call me Trip."
Before she could open her mouth to respond to the cryptic remark, Tyler tugged her arm, swinging her around until she faced the opposite direction from where his handsome friend walked away.
Giving a useless yank on her arm, Alexa glared at him. "When did I agree to be your prisoner?"
"Since your mama called mine and told me to pick you up." Jagger never stopped moving as he walked back to her gate where her luggage would have been deposited. Sure enough, two pieces of neon green rolling bags waited with a less than happy porter holding a card with Lexie’s name written out in block letters.