The Protector

by HelenKay Dimon

  “That’s a condom.”

  The guy was not so quick in the morning. “Yes, it is.”

  “You know that’s a really bad idea, right?” But his hands went to her waist and he eased her upper body down until her face hovered just above his.

  She rested both hands on his shoulders now. She pretended it was for balance but she really just liked touching him. “Totally agree.”

  “We exchanged crappy stories last night. I’m still shaky about my dad. You’re still trying to figure out how much of a detriment my being a Sullivan really is.”

  “All good points.” Not that they mattered to her right now. This—them—was not about work or the past. It was about the heat bouncing off them and the spark that ignited during their early banter. The spark that never died out.

  “Then why?”

  She flicked her thumb over his bottom lip and smiled when he opened his mouth to give her better access. “Are you really asking that?”

  One of his hands slipped around to her back. Those fingers explored and caressed. “The hotness, yes. I see you and my eyes cross and my dick gets hard. No one is debating that.”

  She could feel him right now. Those boxer briefs would be no match against his growing bulge in a few minutes. “So romantic.”

  “I’m not a romance guy.”

  If true, he was doing a fine job of pretending. “You curled up with me to sleep last night.”

  He winced. “About that. No mentioning the cuddling thing to Trevor.”

  “I’m not promising.” If he said one thing that ticked her off she might tell everyone at Sullivan. Ruin his tough guy reputation without a thought.

  “I will never hear the end of it.”

  “You’re not helping your argument about why I should stay quiet.” She held the condom up right in front of his face. “But back to this.”

  His hand slipped lower on her back. Those fingertips dipped under the waistband of her shorts, past the top of her underwear, to massage her bare skin. “You’re still holding it.”

  “I can throw it away.” She could hardly breathe with his fingers doing that. She had no idea how she got the comment out without panting all over him. “You’re not really going to make me talk you into this, are you?”

  “The idea has possibilities. Kind of sounds like hearing you beg.”

  She waved the condom back and forth. “I don’t beg or force. If you don’t want to . . .”

  He covered her hand with his and slipped the condom out of her fingers while doing it. “Don’t you dare.”

  Smooth. “That’s a yes?”

  “Every warning I gave you before still applies.”

  She rolled her eyes because come on. Only he would issue a remember-I’m-dead-inside warning before sex. “No emotions. This means nothing. Got it.”

  He froze. “I never said it wouldn’t mean anything.”

  From the guy who claimed not to have emotions . . . right. “Now, that is kind of romantic.”

  “I’m trying to be clear.” He sighed. “And failing, apparently.”

  She leaned down until her elbows hit the pillow on either side of his head. The move put her mouth right above his. “You do have a bit of a problem with mixed messages.”

  “Let me be dead honest about one thing—I want you.” He pressed a soft kiss on her lips. “Have since I first saw you and you were trying to fire me or exchange me for Garrett.”

  “I like Garrett.”

  The second kiss lingered as he palmed her ass and started a gentle massage of the skin there. “Do you like me?”

  Her head fell a bit until her forehead rested against his nose. She blamed his fingers. The touch of skin to skin had every muscle inside her tightened. “Are you fishing for compliments?”

  “Just asking.” He pushed her shorts down, had those and the underwear over and off her butt cheeks.

  “I do.” Her fingers slipped through his hair, holding him still for a kiss that she felt the whole way to her knees. When she lifted her head again he looked as dazed as she felt. “You ground me.”

  “Is that good?” His hands started moving again. They slipped up her sides, skimming over the outer part of her breasts and dragging her T-shirt with them. With one tug, he had the shirt up and off.

  She pressed back down again, loving the feel of her chest against the soft cotton of his shirt. For now, she’d tolerate his clothes, but not for long. “Very.”

  “But—”

  “You’re dead inside. Yeah, I get it.” The next kiss started slow, a seduction of her tongue licking over his bottom lip.

  When his hand plowed through her hair to hold her steady, the mood shifted. Tension bounced around them. The good kind. The kind that revved up the energy. Need caught like wildfire and spread through her. The kiss possessed and promised and left her gasping when he pulled back again.

  He continued to nibble at the corner of her mouth. Then kissed along her cheek to that sensitive space below her ear. “I sense you’re not taking my warning seriously.”

  “Because I think you’re wrong.” She shoved at his shirt, desperate to be with him with nothing between them. “But this is just sex, so I won’t prove it now. There’s no need for us to mix up one with the other.”

  “Uh-huh.” He sat up, taking her with him. His arms lifted long enough for her to push the shirt off and throw it on the floor. “Then explain why I feel like I’m being set up.”

  “You can say no.” But she shifted her weight, sitting on his lap with nothing but a strip of her rolled-down underwear and his boxer briefs between them.

  His heated gaze wandered over her, stopping on her breasts. Her skin flushed from the attention. She was about to say something when he lowered his head. He traced his tongue around her nipple. Round and round until a shiver ran through her.

  “I only want to say yes.” He lifted his head just long enough to talk then his mouth was on her again. Sucking and licking and generally driving every clear thought from her head except the ones about him.

  She somehow found the air to get another sentence out. “Then do it.”

  “Done.” With an arm wrapped around her waist, he flipped her over. Swung her until her back hit the bed. “This is temporary because I really liked the feel of you on top.”

  “That makes two of us.”

  In one quick move, he stepped off the bed and dropped the briefs. Then he was back, over her, his fingers tugging off her shorts and underwear. Her mind blanked out as she took in the sleek muscle running down his leg and his growing erection.

  Everything about this man was impressive.

  They spun again and he tucked his body in a pile of stacked pillows. He sat with his back against the headboard and his legs sprawled in front of him. She had no idea where the condom had gone. She sort of depended on him to keep track of it as she climbed on top of him again.

  This time their bodies met without the distraction of clothes and material. The gentle friction of skin against skin had her heartbeat hammering in her ears. Need flooded her when his hand skated between them, over her curves to her heat. A single finger slipped over her, teasing her. He brushed once then twice and her hips tipped forward with the need to get closer.

  “Damon, now.” She whispered the words right before she bit down on his shoulder. Her tongue darted out to smooth over the nip. But when his body trembled in response, she did it again.

  Her body begged for more. Her back arched, bringing her chest tight against his. She ran her fingers through his hair. Still, he waited, that finger barely skimming over her.

  Unable to take one more second, she dropped her hand until it covered his. She didn’t force. She’d hoped he would get the hint.

  “Show me.” He pressed a line of kisses down her throat. “Guide me.”

  That deep sexy voice was back. The one that scraped over her nerve endings, leaving her raw and shaken.

  She took his hand and pressed it hard against her. At first, he didn’t move
. She eased the pressure then so did he, which was not what she wanted at all.

  “Damon.” She licked her tongue around his earlobe. “I need you inside me.”

  That’s all it took. His hand slipped out of her hold and his finger slid inside her. He rubbed back and forth, plunging in and out as she said his name on a harsh gasp. His speed picked up then. Two fingers pumped inside her while another fingertip rubbed right on that spot that made her hips buck.

  The room blanked out on her as his hands worked. She was wet and ready and he had to feel it. She couldn’t ask again. She needed him to sense her need and respond to it.

  Then one of his hands left her and she heard a rip. The condom. She’d never loved that sound more. He guided her with his hands on her hips. Lifted her up, just a bit, until she fit over his tip.

  Glancing down between their bodies she saw her nipples press against his chest and his length wedged between them. He’d gotten the condom on and now she watched it disappear inside her, inch by slow inch. As his body eased into hers those tiny inner muscles ached and stretched, taking him in and clamping over him in a tight fist.

  “Fuck.” His forehead rested against hers as he looked down. “I need you to move.”

  She wanted to hold back and savor, but she welcomed the delicious sensation of him pressing inside her. But his plea echoed in her ears then through her body. She lifted up and settled back down. Let the rhythm in her head take over as her hips moved without a signal from her brain.

  His hands wandered over her back. His mouth caressed her breasts, sucking and that hot mouth so inviting. They curled around each other, touched each other, kissed each other. There wasn’t an inch of her body that didn’t feel worshipped by his tongue and fingers. Through it all, she rode him. Fast then slow, bringing them both to the brink then biting her bottom lip while she pulled them back again.

  Time blended and their soft moans filled the room. She was lost. On the edge and fighting off the end when his hand slipped between them again. Over her while his body pressed into her. The combination made the need inside her twist and tighten. She felt the start of her orgasm and tried to push it away, steal a few more minutes, but her body shook and her breath hitched. A second later she came on a rush of shifting and moaning.

  Beneath her, his body stiffened. She could feel him holding back, waiting for her. But then his legs tightened against her. His hands held her still as he lifted his hips and pressed deeper inside her. His body shook as he came. His hands clenching and unclenching against her back and waist.

  Waves of pleasure crashed into her and time drifted away. When she came up for air again, opened her eyes and floated back to reality, the tiny pulses continued inside her. She felt boneless and beautiful, powerful and free. He gave her that. They’d carved out this time to forget everything else except what they needed. No embarrassment or regret.

  “Cate.” He whispered her name as his head fell back, exposing that amazing length of kissable throat. She gave in and pressed her mouth against it.

  As time ticked by, she wanted to say something profound. She settled for snuggling against him. She let him take her weight as her face slipped into the crook between his neck and shoulder.

  She inhaled and a mix of sweat and soap played on his skin. “You smell so good.”

  “I doubt that.”

  His body vibrated against hers. Every part of her body touched his. There was no reaction he could have that wouldn’t run through her.

  She yawned. “You’re right. It’s too early to be up.”

  “Then we should rest.”

  She had no idea how much time passed. The air conditioner hadn’t clicked on and heat rose in the room. She opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling. The room fell into shadows due to the curtains but she could make out the checkered pattern above her. She concentrated on that while she tried to remember how to breathe again.

  Being with him was as good as she thought it would be. Better because he was more attuned to her, giving and not selfish. He may not think he possessed emotions but he had to know he had skills. And when the heat cooled the sweetness set in. Even now he lay beside her, shoulders touching, and held her hand. The gesture was so touching that she couldn’t stop smiling.

  “Remind me to thank Trevor,” he said without opening his eyes.

  For whatever reason that struck her as hilarious. She laughed as she turned her head to look at him. At that strong side view with that firm chin. “Why, did he teach you how to do that?”

  Damon snorted but his eyes stayed closed. “For the condoms.”

  “I would but I think his ego would be unbearable.”

  “Good point.” He slowly turned his eyes and his gaze met hers. “We could stay in bed all day.”

  For the hundredth time, she was struck by the bright green of his eyes. How clear they were now. The guilt and worry clouding them yesterday had eased. But all that prettiness was not going to get him out of what came next. “We can stay here until noon, checkout time. I called the manager and asked.”

  He groaned. “Clever.”

  “You might want to remember that.”

  “As if I could forget.” He curled onto his side and watched her. His fingers swept her hair off her face.

  That’s all it took. The intense look, the slip of his leg over hers. The memories of the last hour flooded back and she wanted it again. “But we do have hours to kill.”

  His eyebrow lifted. “Are you familiar with the concept of recovery time?”

  She was willing to bet he could go from zero to a hundred pretty quickly. “You have hands and a mouth, don’t you?”

  There was no mistaking his grin now. He shifted, moving his body over hers. He stared down at her. “Cate Pendleton, I like your style.”

  This man made her heart flip inside out. No one had ever captured her attention like this. To be fair, she never let it happen before. She enjoyed dates but stayed focused on the bigger goal. Put her private life off until later. With him, her defenses dropped. She heard about his past and it only made her want to know more, to show him how the man he was differed from the kid he used to be.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down, just inches from kissing him. “Show me.”

  Chapter 14

  Damon had no idea how he let Cate talk him into taking a tour of the place where he grew up. Well, he had some idea. The sex had been pretty fucking great, but still. Following Liza around as she half spoke and half lectured made him want to heckle her.

  She talked with the certainty that only a young twenty-something completely entrenched in the idea they understood everything could possess. She also clearly hated him. Liza looked at Cate and smiled. Liza glanced in his direction and her jaw tightened.

  “We’re thrilled you decided to stay here.” Liza topped off her tour of the new flower beds by handing Cate a brochure about the fruit and plants they sold at markets.

  “Are you?” he asked then swallowed a groan when Cate elbowed him.

  But Liza’s sunny smile didn’t slip that time. She kept right on talking, winding them along the path by the greenhouses toward the plant nursery where they’d started this bit of exercise. “Of course.”

  Cate cut off Damon’s smart-ass reply with a glare before she turned back to Liza. “How long have you lived here, Liza? Did you grow up here or—”

  “Three years.”

  “How old are you?” Because the fact she looked about eighteen was starting to make him feel old.

  Cate cleared her throat. “Damon.”

  If Liza noticed the byplay, she didn’t let on. She was too busy waving to a group of people walking into the greenhouse. “Twenty-three.”

  “May I ask you another question?”

  Liza stopped and looked at Cate. Liza’s fingers curled around the edge of her notebook as she nodded. “Steven told us to be welcoming.”

  A completely logical answer. Damon didn’t even try to come up with a response. Instea
d, he let his head drop back and the sun hit his face. Maybe if he ignored the tour it would end faster.

  “I’ll take that as a yes,” Cate said. “What made you come here?”

  “Probably the same thing that motivated your sister.”

  Damon slowly lowered his head again. The admission opened up a whole new line of questions. Liza didn’t pretend not to know about the past and why Cate might be here. Being that open surprised Damon. So much of what was happening at Sullivan and with the people they talked to did.

  Cate studied Liza for a few extra beats before sighing. “You know about her?”

  “Of course.” Liza brought her notebook tight against her body, wrapping her arms around it like it was the most precious thing in the world. “The accident is part of the school’s history and we take it seriously. There’s a plaque for her and a cabin dedicated to her memory.”

  Cate’s mouth dropped open twice before she got a word out. “A plaque.”

  “But to answer your question, look around you and you’ll get it.” Liza opened her arms and gestured toward a tomato plant.

  Cate didn’t break eye contact with Liza. “Grass, trees. Yeah.”

  “Freedom.”

  Yeah, she actually said it. Freedom. Damon decided Liza didn’t need a brochure because she was the human equivalent of one. “Maybe be more specific?”

  “I’m not stupid. I know what happened here, how off-track Steven’s brother took the school. But now, with him gone, it can be something else. Bigger and better than it ever was.”

  Off-track? Damon had heard a lot of shit in his time, but that was big. She had to know people were killed here. That others ran away in horror. And through it all, his father sat there, pretending not to know anything about any of it.

  His refusal to own up to the chaos that exploded all around him was one of the failures that hit Damon the hardest. He’d been in mourning for his wife, yes. He’d also been in charge and he never took responsibility for one piece of the destruction that he let happen in his drive to obtain his dream.