Her Guarded Hero

by Caitlyn O'Leary

  “I can help,” she offered after three seconds.

  “It’s handled.”

  “I could-”

  He slid the plates of food on the table, then dried off the wine glasses and set them down as he picked up the bottle of wine and uncorked it. Dalton sat down and poured them both a glass.

  “This looks amazing.”

  “Hopefully it’ll taste good too.” He’d tested the peach glaze to be on the safe side. It hadn’t been too bad, even though he hadn’t made it in years. He watched her close her eyes after taking a bite.

  “This is heavenly. I see you went against policy and used peaches, I love it.” Dalton felt a bone deep satisfaction as she savored her bite.

  She was quiet as she cut into more of the pork. When he started to talk about the boys, she waved him away. “Quiet. Eating zone.”

  He watched as she demolished two thirds of the meat, then she grinned up at him. She picked up a sprig of asparagus and swirled it in the peach glaze then licked off the sauce before biting into the vegetable. It took everything he had not to groan.

  “Do you do that on purpose?”

  “Huh?” She looked genuinely perplexed. He thought about the fact that she normally just ate with her grandfather and decided that she probably didn’t.

  “Never mind. I’m glad you liked the meal.” He topped off her wine.

  “Liked is too mild a word, adored is more appropriate. Grandpa and I usually do roast beef or chicken, this is a wonderful change.”

  “I’m glad you adored it then. I have to admit, when I get back home, I’m going to have to detox for a month.”

  “What?”

  “The food here has been pretty rich.”

  “Don’t let Granddad hear you say that.”

  Dalton took another bite of his asparagus. “Don’t you worry about him?”

  “When I introduced him to turkey bacon, you would have thought I had poisoned him, even though I swear to God it tasted the same,” she looked up at him and giggled.

  “It’s been in the last three years we introduced chicken into the mix three times a week. He can even identify a vegetable now.”

  “Corn is a carb, not a vegetable. He uses a lot of butter.” As soon as the words were out of his mouth he regretted them.

  “Don’t be snarky, it’s not attractive.” Aurora glared at him. “If you don’t think I take this seriously, you’re out of your mind. I want him to live forever. I don’t know what I would do without him. I’ve busted my ass changing his diet since Doc Barnes told me what’s what.”

  She shoved out of her chair and yanked open the refrigerator and pulled out the carton of Vitamin D milk and slammed it onto the counter. Then she bent to the freezer drawer and pulled out the tub of vanilla bean ice cream and damn near threw that onto the table so that it slid over to Dalton who had to stop it before it fell onto the floor. Then she went to the freezer again and dug through bags of frozen vegetables until she pulled up a tub of non-fat frozen vanilla ice milk.

  “Look at this. Do you see this?” She held it up triumphantly.

  Dalton nodded, knowing that was the only response to give. She whirled to the cupboard and pulled out a glass and poured a glass of milk. “Drink this,” she said as she pushed the glass into Dalton’s face. He was doing everything in his power not to grin. She was beautiful when she was this worked up.

  “I said drink it,” she said as she waved the glass at him again.

  “I don’t drink milk. I drink Soy milk.”

  “Figures,” she sighed. “Well, this is non-fat milk.”

  He took the glass from her and looked at the carton on the table. Looking at the milk in the glass he could see it wasn’t nearly thick enough to be vitamin D milk. He gave her a slow grin. “You’re faking him out.”

  “Damn right I am. First, I started changing the milk out with two percent, then I changed it out with one percent, this year it’s non-fat milk.”

  “And the ice cream?”

  “Same thing. I just keep refilling this high-fat vanilla tub of ice-cream with the non-fat vanilla. He thinks he’s getting his real treat, and he’s none the wiser. He still bitches about the chicken and the vegetables. There’s no way I can trick him on that.”

  Dalton pulled out his chair and pulled her disgruntled butt onto his lap. “You’re brilliant,” he pushed his nose into her fragrant hair.

  She giggled.

  “I don’t know about brilliant, but I am concerned.”

  “You’re an evil genius.” Dalton was having trouble paying attention to his words, she felt so good in his arms.

  She turned around, so they were eye to eye. “Thank you, that means a lot.”

  Her lips were so close, a whisper away from his. When he’d gone shopping for dinner he’d bought condoms. He wanted this, he needed this. Did she?

  “You’re over thinking this, Handsome.” Aurora pressed a kiss against his temple. Then she kissed her way down his jaw until her lips hovered over his. “Ah Dalton, I want this. Don’t you?”

  Dalton looked into her eyes and felt his heart expand. How could he hurt and feel so good at the same time? He shoved the question away, not wanting to face what it might mean. Instead he focused on the beautiful woman in his arms. She was the embodiment of joy, generosity and heat. For the first time in years he felt alive. This was real. She meant something.

  His muscles tensed. Was he doing the right thing?

  “Dalton? No second thoughts allowed, you seduced me with food. I’m a sure thing.”

  He laughed. Dalton cupped her cheek, sighing in relief when she molded her mouth to his.

  Sparks blazed behind his eyelids. He tangled his fingers into her wealth of blonde hair, luxuriating in the silky texture. The softness of her lips, combined with the flavor that was all her, was a heady magic that spoke to his soul. Deeper and deeper he fell under Aurora’s spell. He swept his hand down the elegant length of her spine and felt her tremble. Gently, Dalton broke their kiss.

  “Are you all right?” he asked softly. He continued stroking her back.

  “No. If I don’t have all of you soon, I’m going to be one of those people who spontaneously combust,” she said huskily.

  “That’s just a legend, like bigfoot.”

  She bit his lower lip.

  Hard.

  He liked it. Still… “That hurt,” he couldn’t help but tease.

  “You big baby.”

  Aurora’s eyes gleamed. She bent backwards and snagged the container of ice cream and popped the lid. She came away with a dollop of cream on her finger and ran the cold treat along his wounded lip. Then she swept in for an even deeper kiss. Now he was going to be the one who was going to go up in flames. The woman was dangerous.

  He stood up with her in his arms.

  “What?!” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “You’re not supposed to be able to pick me up like that. That’s too difficult.”

  Dalton grinned and headed toward the hallway.

  “Wait!”

  “What now?” He looked down at Aurora.

  “The ice cream will melt all over everything.”

  He sighed. She was right. He let her slide down his body, it was pure torture. Her breasts felt so good against him. She moaned. Then the imp had the gall to wiggle against his erection, and he groaned.

  “Be good,” he admonished.

  “I’ll try,” she said as she ducked her head and went to the table. She had things put away in under a minute. It took a moment for Dalton to realize that she had been less than confident. That surprised him. Everything about her was sexy as hell, and she caught fire in his arms, how could she doubt herself?

  “Aurora?”

  She turned to him, a bright smile on her face. Too bright. He stepped forward and tucked her hair behind her ear.

  “You do realize I’ve been fantasizing about you since I the first day in the woods, don’t you?”

  “Same goes,” she grinned up at him.

/>   The smile still hit him as false. He laced his fingers with hers and tugged her down the hall toward his bedroom.

  “My room,” she whispered.

  “Depends,” he whispered back.

  She stopped in front of the door to his room. “What does it depend on?”

  “Are your walls pink? Or do you have horse themed wall paper?”

  She let out a laugh. Good, she sounded more relaxed. “I just have to clear the stuffed animals off my bed.”

  That deserved a kiss, and Dalton gave her one. By the time they were done she was holding onto his neck and he wasn’t sure that he was going to be able to keep them both standing. “Tell you what, you go clear your bed, and I’ll go grab the protection.” He opened the door to his room. He’d done a lot of shopping while he’d been in town. He wasn’t absolutely sure where tonight would lead, but he’d had hopes.

  When he got to Aurora’s room Dalton was enveloped in a universe of soft greens and blues. She was standing at the foot of the bed, her golden hair and white chambray shirt a beautiful contrast. Dalton hated to see that slight look of insecurity. How was that even possible considering there had to be a scorched spot in the hallway from where they had just been kissing?

  Enough. His lady was not going to feel this way. Not on his watch.

  “You’re beautiful, you know that don’t you?” He queried gently.

  “Sometimes. Sometimes I do.”

  He prowled toward her. “Tonight, we’re going to change that.” He slid his palms against hers, he felt the callouses, and even those were sexy. Seeing her ride, a horse was a thing of beauty, and those slight ridges were a testament to her abilities. He entwined their fingers, and pulled her arms wide, taking note of the thrust of her breasts.

  “Gorgeous.”

  “Crystal ogled you,” she blurted out.

  It took a half second for him to process her words, then he responded. “The only one I care about is you. Have you ogled me?”

  “Oh yeah. A lot,” her breath came out in a puff of air.

  Dalton saw the rapid pulse at her neck and pressed a kiss to the hot flesh.

  “What are you doing?” she asked, her voice quivering.

  It was different than in the hallway. She still seemed nervous. Instead of the conflagration he had been expecting, Dalton realized he needed to seduce. He turned them around so that he was sitting on her bed and she was standing between his legs. “I don’t know if I can take this slow. At least not the first time,” he admitted.

  Dark brown eyes stared down at him. “You really want me that much?” she asked wonderingly.

  He wrapped his arms around her waist and tugged her close. “Oh yeah,” he breathed. “Sweetheart, you’re exquisite. Everything about you calls to me, your beauty, your grace, your passion and joy, they’re like a siren song. But more than anything it’s your heart that seduces me.”

  He watched as her eyes widened with delight and wonder. “I…I…you…” She cupped his cheek and her thumb softly brushed over his bottom lip. “You’ll never know Dalton. You can never know how much your words mean to me,” she whispered.

  Aurora’s hair fell around them both as she bent down and took his mouth in a slow, passionate kiss. Dalton felt like he was ensconced in a golden dream. He gloried in her heated seduction, until he couldn’t wait another minute. He rolled them over so that she was beneath him on the bed, then he slowly divested her of her shirt and found himself staring at a plain white cotton bra that left him breathless. How could such a serviceable piece of underwear turn him on?

  He propped himself up on his elbow and traced the upper swell of her breasts. Aurora’s breathing became more rapid. He unclipped the front clasp and they both gave a sigh of satisfaction.

  “You’re perfect,” he whispered. He loved seeing how her nipples swelled under his gaze. He needed more though. So much more. Dalton had taken the time to shave just for this moment. He smoothed his cheek against the delicate flesh of her breast a moment before he lashed her nipple with his tongue. She gasped his name as she jerked upwards.

  Dalton slid his hands along her arms and clasped her hands above her head, then continued discovering the exquisite texture of her skin, of her responses, of her desire.

  “Dalton?” she mewed.

  He licked.

  She sighed.

  He suckled.

  She moaned.

  He nipped.

  She begged.

  Sweat popped out on his forehead. He’d never had a woman more passionate in his arms before. He didn’t know if he was going to survive.

  Aurora bucked against him. “Clothes! Off!”

  He grinned. Apparently, Miss Shy was gone. He liked it. Oh, who the hell was he kidding? He liked any flavor of Aurora that she was willing to give him. He just adored Aurora Chance. He knelt up on the bed and she scrambled backwards and undid her jeans.

  She scowled at him. “What did I say? Why aren’t you undressing?”

  “Sorry.” Dalton’s lips twitched as he stood up and undressed. He pulled condoms out of his jeans pockets and put them on the nightstand, then he looked over at a naked Aurora, she was the stuff of dreams.

  Her hand headed straight for his cock, but before she could touch him, he stopped her.

  “Nuh-uh. Me first.”

  “You already tortured me,” she pouted. “It’s my turn.”

  Using his superior strength, he pressed her down onto the bed again.

  “No fair,” she whispered.

  “Who said anything about playing fair?” God it felt good to lay naked on top of her. She might be long and lean, but she was soft in all the right places. Dalton shifted downwards before she could make anymore protests and spread her thighs, once again delighting in the feel of his cheek brushing against the softest skin imaginable.

  “Dalton, please don’t do that,” she said quietly. He looked up, her eyes were filled with unease. He needed to respect her wishes, so he kissed his way up her taut stomach and enjoyed her sighs of pleasure. As he once again worshipped her breasts with his tongue and lips, he eased his hand between her legs and found her wet folds.

  His name came out in a long sigh. This she approved of. Ever so slowly, she parted her legs more, granting him more and more access to explore. Dalton shoved his hand under the nape of her neck and ground his mouth to hers as he gently thrust a finger into her tight sheath. He needed to taste this woman any way he could. Their tongues tangled, the kiss fierce as she arched against his hand.

  He didn’t even realize she had grabbed his head until he felt the sharp sting of his hair being pulled. Dalton could feel the pulsing of her core, the need rising up in her body. He pushed a second finger in with the first and Aurora shuddered.

  She yanked her mouth away from his and whined, “Please.”

  He knew what she needed.

  Dalton smoothed the silky essence of pleasure up and over her swollen clit.

  “More.”

  He loved the breathy shriek. He circled and teased, wanting to hear that sultry tone again.

  Aurora’s eyelids fluttered. He saw the cords in her neck strain as her head arched back, and she shouted his name. Then she slumped back against the pillow. Finally, she opened her eyes, and they shimmered like black diamonds as they stared into his. He was lost.

  Aurora couldn’t catch her breath as she stared into eyes that were as deep and mysterious as her beloved mountain lake. This man made her believe in herself, and now she needed more. So much more. She wriggled.

  “Where are you going?” Dalton’s arms tightened around her.

  Her arm stretched out to grab a condom and she giggled when most of the others fell to the floor. “How many did you bring?”

  “Not enough,” he said as he kissed behind her ear. That felt so good.

  “You’re probably right.” She pressed the packet into his hand, then as soon as he started to put the condom on she immediately batted his hands away.

  “What the hell
?”

  “You’ve got more of them. I haven’t played yet.” She had no idea what she was going to do but watching him touch himself had made her mouth water. She needed to feel him. He watched her through hooded eyes as she gently grasped his shaft in her hand. Dalton shuddered, and she smiled, it was wonderful knowing that she could evoke such a response out of man like him. It was as if she had never been intimate with a man before, and when she truly thought about it, had she? This moment in time transcended any experience she’d ever had before.

  “Harder.” His voice was rough.

  She gave him a wicked smile and delighted in the feel of the velvet strength of his cock, her core ached at the thought of him filling her.

  He tipped her chin so that he could look at her. “Enough playing. I see your need.”

  Her breathing roughened. He was right, but she didn’t want to stop. Remembering the pleasure, he gave her, she smoothed her cheek against his hard flesh, and lashed her tongue against him.

  She didn’t know what happened next. One moment she was savoring his taste, then suddenly she was on her back again with Dalton was pressing against her entrance. She twined her legs around his thighs, trying desperately to bring him closer, needing him deeper. He pushed in further and they groaned their pleasure in unison.

  He pulled out then pushed back in and it was rapturous. Then he stopped, his body vibrating. She could see the tension coiling in him. He was so close.

  “Fuck!”

  He pulled out of her.

  She stared at him, not understanding. He lurched toward the nightstand and grabbed a condom and quickly sheathed himself. “Sunshine, you make me lose my mind.”

  “Hurry. Please, just hurry.” She’d never felt this level of need before. Her hands stroked along his wide shoulders, her legs wound around his lean waist, she would do anything to pull him into her, to make them one.

  Their eyes meshed as he thrust slowly inward. Would this man ever be anything but a caretaker? She was determined he go back to moments ago. She dug her nails into his skin, but it didn’t make a difference, he continued his careful penetration.