“And wasn’t it lucky I was. If I hadn’t been here, who knows what danger you would be in. When are you going to concede that you’re not fine, Erin? That you’re not safe.”
Chapter Four
Still shaken up by Bryan’s appearance again on her doorstep, not to mention Carlos turning up like some knight in shining armor, all Erin wanted to do was get upstairs to her apartment and crash on her bed. A 6.00 a.m. call came around mighty quickly when it was after midnight.
Damn Carlos and all his sexy SEALness. No way was she going to admit the relief that poured through her when he burst out of the shadows. Fear had clutched her so tightly when Bryan had threatened her she wasn’t sure she could’ve said anything that would’ve turned her ex-boyfriend away.
“Don’t deny it, Erin. Don’t dney you need guarding.”
Tiredness seeped through her cells. Would it be so terrible to do what he said and admit her life was becoming a shambles? Would it be so bad to have Carlos check out her apartment?
“Will you leave if I say yes?”
“Define leave.”
“Seriously? It’s after midnight, Carlos. I told you I had a shit day. The buzz I had from hanging with my girls is gone. The last thing I want to do is get into some sort of in depth discussion about the word leave.”
His warm hand gripped her waist and he nudged her forward. Resistance was useless. The minutes he’d held her against him while he’d been protecting her from Bryan had been blissful. She’d always loved being held by him. No man had ever given her the same sense of security as Carlos gave her. Even now, after all those years they’d been apart, one touch and her body remembered.
The urge to fight seeped out of her and her shoulders dropped. “Fine. You can come upstairs. But I want you to leave when you’ve done what you want to do.”
“We’ll see.”
Reaching out to the keypad she put in the code and the door buzzed open. The welcoming atmosphere of the building’s entry hall enveloped her. The comforting scent of the rose potpourri that Mrs. Wilson, who lived in the ground floor apartment, replaced every day filled the space. The muted golden light cast from the crystal chandelier gave the open area a welcoming feel, which was one of the main reasons why she’d chosen this place to live.
Carlos whistled. “Impressive entry.”
“I know. I love it.” Once she saw it she knew she didn’t want to live anywhere else. She made her way to the elevator, conscious of Carlos following her. The times she’d glanced over her shoulder at the restaurant, she’d observed the way Carlos continually scanned the room, almost like he expected danger to pop up at any second. She supposed in his job he would have to constantly be on high alert.
The doors parted and she stepped into the small cart. Carlos followed and filled the space with his broad shoulders and six-foot plus frame. Before tonight she’d always thought the elevator was cute in its smallness. Now she wished it was triple the size.
“Cozy.”
“Mmmhmm.” His scent filled the small space, such an addictive smell. The combination of the man and his cologne, spicy and tangy and she wanted to taste his neck.
Thankfully, she was saved from her folly by the car stopping and the doors opening on her floor. Carlos laid an arm across the door to hold it open. He needn’t have bothered. She had no plans to hang around in the confined space.
Her key slid into the lock and before she turned it, his hand closed over hers. “Let me.”
She relinquished her hold on the small metal object and took a step back, right into his hard chest. For a second she allowed herself to relax into him. With his leather jacket open, heat emanated through the thin fabric of his shirt. He’d always been warm. On cold winter’s days he would pull her gloves off and rub his hands over hers. Within seconds she was warm and he’d slip her gloves back on. The heat never lasted long, but for the short time it did she savored it.
“Wait here,” he said in a low voice.
“Right.”
He turned the key and eased the door open. There was no welcoming light because she’d already left for the day when Antonia had contacted her for dinner. If she knew she had after work plans, she normally left a light on.
She made a move to walk into the apartment behind Carlos, but he held up a hand halting her. Dread began to climb through her. She’d always thought her building was safe, believed the chance of anyone breaking in to be slim. Mrs. Wilson on the ground floor was always watching the comings and goings of people entering. If Bryan had wanted to break into her place, wouldn’t he have done it last night instead of waiting outside for her to return home? Like he did again tonight.
“It’s all clear you can come in now.”
Erin walked into her darkened apartment and flicked the hallway light on. She blinked rapidly at the brightness. “How the hell could you tell my apartment’s fine if you didn’t turn the lights on?”
He shrugged casually. “I don’t need lights.”
Realization struck. “Ahh SEAL night vision?”
“Yeah something like that.”
While she’d been aware of Carlos’s career choice, she never allowed herself to really think about what he did. The danger he faced every day and night.
“Is it always bad?” she asked.
His shoulders tensed and his face blanked of any emotion. “It’s late. I thought you were tired.”
Okay, then, no comment. She shouldn’t be surprised. The things he’d seen over the years were probably worse than she could ever imagine.
A yawn ripped through her. “Yeah, I’m exhausted. Thanks for making sure my apartment was clear and,” she paused. “For helping with Bryan.”
“He’ll be back.”
“Tell me something I don’t know.” She moved toward her front door.
“Is that why you started to text me today? Because of his visit last night?”
She paused with her hand on the door knob. “How did you know he was here last night?”
Suspicion flowed through her when he opened his mouth, closed it and then opened it again. “He said so.”
She thought over what Bryan had said out the front of her building. At his unexpected appearance, surprise had held her in its clutches and anything he’d said after Carlos sprung out of the shadows hadn’t penetrated her consciousness. “Okay, well, for tonight I’ll be fine. I’ll work out what I’m going to do tomorrow. Now, I’d like it if you left.”
“Not happening, E. I’m staying.” He crossed his arms over his impressive chest, the leather of his jacket tightening over his biceps. The man was too sexy and dangerous for his own good.
As much as she wanted to argue with him, her bed was calling and she was going to answer it. “I have a guest room, but that’s for invited guests only, which you’re not. Enjoy the couch.”
Erin knew it was petty, but she didn’t care. It was bad enough that she wouldn’t be able to travel in the elevator without remembering how well he filled the space. The last thing she wanted was for him to insinuate himself into every room of her apartment. If she confined him to the living room then she could live with that.
“I’ve slept in worse places,” he said, amusement lining every word.
Of course, he had.
“Night, Carlos.”
“Night, Erin. Sweet dreams.”
Erin walked out of the living room and down the hall to her bedroom, conscious of him watching her.
Sweet dreams? That would be hopeful. After visits from Bryan in the last two nights, and Carlos turning up as well, she had a feeling her dreams would be anything but sweet.
The buzzing of her alarm clock dissolved the dream she’d been having. Despite her expectations, she’d had dreams all right, although describing them as sweet would be wrong. More like hot and heavy, leaving her aching in a way she hadn’t ached in years. All of her dreams included the man who was sleeping on her couch.
Exhaustion and unfulfilled lust tempted her to rollover to try and recap
ture the dream, a stupid desire. She and Carlos were over. Had been the moment he’d told her was going to enlist. The memory of him telling her still had the power to paralyze her. The fear that he may not return to her made their break up even harder. She’d hidden the hurt at the specter of him leaving during those last few weeks of school, had told him she was proud of him for wanting to protect and fight for his country. But part of her wanted to beg him to stay with her. Only she was moving to Colorado for college and if he stayed in New York, well, they probably wouldn’t have lasted anyway. Better to have that clean break than a clingy one.
Over time, she’d pushed him so far down in her memories and deliberately stayed away from the people who could give her any information about him. Although she couldn’t deny that whenever she heard on the news about soldiers who’d died overseas her heart leaped into her throat, and didn’t return to the proper position until she knew for sure Carlos wasn’t one of the ones killed.
A soft tap on the door drew her out of the dark space she’d fallen into. It opened slightly and an arm holding a coffee mug appeared.
“Coffee? You still take it with half a cup of milk so that it’s more milk than java?”
He remembered how I like my coffee?
With her body still thrumming from repressed lust, a bare chest, sporting an impressive tattoo and six-pack, Carlos walking in with her coffee conjured up images of him putting the mug on her bedside table, before climbing on the bed and ravishing her.
Her breathing quickened and she gripped the sheets to stop herself from running her fingers over his chest, before settling at the waistband of his jeans, slipping the button through the hole, sliding the zipper down. Did he still wear boxer briefs or did he go commando now?
Mmmm commando.
“Erin? Are you okay?”
She waded through her lust to recall what he’d asked. “Oh yeah, coffee. Yes, I still have it milky and I’m fine. Just need my coffee to wake up.”
“Honey, this,” he held up the cup. “Is more warm milk than coffee. A cup of this isn’t going to wake you up. It’s going to put you to sleep.”
Well she wouldn’t argue with the chance to have more sleep, especially if it was induced after a session of hot, sweaty, Carlos sex.
Whoa, girl. So not going to happen. He’s not staying remember? He’s going to leave you again at the drop of hat. Remember that.
Yes, the sensible voice was correct. She was going to ignore the fact the voice sounded like Antonia. Her best friend didn’t belong in her bedroom—at all.
She sat up, the sheet falling away. She’d have to have been deaf not hear the sharp intake of Carlos’s breath. She was wearing an old t-shirt, hardly a sexy lace negligée.
“Thanks for the coffee. You can leave now.”
Please leave, otherwise I’m going to grab your arm and drag you to this bed and lick you all over.
“Uh-huh.”
She glanced up at him and found his gaze wasn’t on her face but on her chest. She wasn’t huge, but she was pretty happy with her B cups. Her nipples tightened against the soft material and she was pretty sure a muffled groan came from Carlos’s direction.
Her alarm buzzed again, breaking the sexual haze that threatened to pull them under.
“I have to get up,” she said. “You know, work and all.”
He hadn’t moved from where he stood by the bed, but the moment he lifted his head and his gaze locked with hers, she wished she was looking somewhere else.
Desire licked out from his eyes, tempting her to do what she’d been thinking about the minute he walked into her room.
Her breath caught as he took a step closer. All he had to do was lean a knee on her mattress and she’d be dragging him down beside her.
“Erin,” he whispered and then, as if working out where they were headed, he shook his head and took a step back. His clear rejection of following through on what had swirled around them should’ve annoyed her. Instead, she had to admit she was glad. Getting involved with him again was a bad idea.
A very bad idea.
Carlos strode out of Erin’s room, his cock pressing hard against his zipper, demanding release. It would be a bad idea to get involved with Erin. But seeing her in her bed, the soft t-shirt hugging her in all the right places, memories of their past pummeled his brain.
They were each other’s firsts. They’d fumbled their first time together. After that he’d made sure he learned what gave her pleasure. He was a randy teenager, so anything got him off. But he wanted to make sure Erin had a good time, too.
As he entered her small kitchen, he grabbed another mug from the cupboard and poured his own coffee. He took a big gulp, enjoying the burn of the scalding liquid down his throat. What he needed to remember was that he wasn’t here forever. He had one week to make sure she was safe before he had to report back to base in Virginia.
One week to ensure Bryan Tosconi was out of Erin’s life for good.
For one week he could control his lust for Erin. But, fuck, it was going to be hard.
“Do you want anything to eat?”
He swiveled around to find Erin standing by the refrigerator, in nothing but the t-shirt she’d slept in.
Was she trying to kill him?
Oh yeah, he could think of something he’d like to eat, but it certainly wasn’t food.
“What time do you need to leave?” he asked, even he could hear his voice was raspier than normal.
“Uh, I have to be out of here by 6:45.”
He glanced at the green digital numbers on the microwave. “You going to be ready in half an hour? I don’t believe it.”
Her hands landed on her hips, cinching the t-shirt against her, pulling it higher up her legs. His body reacted and his dick hardened even more. He took a deep breath and tried to imagine anything but what Erin may or may not be wearing under that shirt. Did she sleep commando or did she have on some sexy, barely there, lace panties.
“You wanna bet?” she asked.
“Oh, honey, you don’t wanna make a bet with me, you may not like my terms.”
Flirting with Erin when she was wearing next to nothing was dangerous. But he liked to live dangerously. Hell he’d been living on danger’s knife edge since he did the first job for the Forlani family.
“How about you listen to my terms?” she countered.
Carlos had a feeling he knew exactly where she was heading with her terms. “I’m listening.”
“If I can get ready in thirty minutes, you’ll stop guarding me.”
Yep, exactly what he thought she’d say.
“Seeing as you’re now down to twenty-five minutes the challenge is on. As for the other part of your terms, that’s not negotiable. Last night should’ve shown you that you’re not safe.”
“Ugh, I knew you were going to say that. And Bryan is all bluster.” A tell-tale blush crept up her neck. She never was very good at lying.
“Oh really, he’s all bluster is he?”
“Yes.” The blush deepened.
“Right. I suppose the week you took off last year where you didn’t go anywhere or touch your bank accounts was because you wanted to take a week off work and chill and not see anyone.”
Color leached out of her face. “What? How do you know that?”
“You’re not denying it?”
“I uh.” She ran her hand through her hair, her agitation and embarrassment reached out to him. He couldn’t put her through this.
“Look, E, go get dressed. You don’t want to be late for work.”
Indecision flitted across her face. She looked like she wanted to argue further. Instead, she whirled around and walked out of the kitchen.
A breath whooshed out of Carlos. That wasn’t how he wanted to let Erin know he knew about her situation. He should’ve kept it to himself. He wanted Erin to trust him. The chance of her trusting him now was pretty slim.
He had a lot of ground to make up. He only hoped she’d give him a chance to explain.
Chapter Five
The subway ride to work was not as unpleasant as she thought it was going to be with Carlos shadowing her. If someone got too close to her, either on the sidewalk or the train, he’d glare and they’d move away as if they’d been struck with an electric charge. She had to admit, it was nice to have a little breathing space on the packed commuter train.
A hand entered her vision and she looked up. Memories assailed her of the night she and Carlos had become an item. It had been at the homecoming dance of their junior year. She’d admired him for a year, ever since English class when he picked up her textbook and handed it to her. His brown eyes sparkled with mischief. She’d been lost and crushed on him so hard she was surprised the whole school hadn’t teased her about it.
Even now her body shimmered with excitement at the sensation of when she put her hand in his. From that night until their Graduation Day, they’d been inseparable.
“It’s our stop,” he said as he leaned close to her so she could hear him.
“Okay.” And just like she did all those years ago, she placed her hand in his and he pulled her up until her body was aligned with his. The train jerked to a halt, pitching their bodies forward. He tightened his arm around her to prevent her from falling. Her breath caught in her throat and it took everything in her not to lean up and bury her nose into his neck.
The doors opened and people clamored to get off. With his arm still anchoring her to his side, Carlos guided them out to the platform.
Knowing she needed to get herself back under control, and her mind on the present and not the past, Erin extracted herself from his grip once they were out of the station. “I’ll be okay now. The hotel is a couple of blocks away.”
“Fine. Lead on.”
“Seriously, Carlos, you don’t need to babysit me. I’ve survived in this big bad city by myself for the last ten years.”
“That was before you met Bryan.”
Exasperation filled her and she slapped his hand away when he went to cup her elbow. “Look, you can take your arrogant Navy SEALness and go take a hike. Isn’t that what you guys do? Push your body until you’re all hot and sweaty and feeling like you conquered the world?”
Special Forces: Operation Alpha: Guarding Erin (Kindle Worlds Novella) Page 4