The Stealth Warrior: Navy SEAL Romance 2.0

by Checketts, Cami

  A rap came at the door, and Creed glowered at her. “Expecting someone?”

  “Actually, I was.” She raised an eyebrow and watched the emotions race across his face—anger and jealousy warring with one another. Maybe there was something left in him that cared about her.

  She pushed around him to get the door. Creed caught her arm and pulled her back against his chest. The breath rushed out of her. She molded to his body perfectly. His arms came around her waist, and Kiera couldn’t help but sigh with longing for him. The thin robe wasn’t nearly enough to protect her from the heat and possessiveness of his arms. The exquisite strength of his chest muscles pressing against her back.

  He bent close and whispered in her ear, “Who’s at the door, Kiera?”

  Kiera tilted her head to meet his dark gaze and gave him a look full of challenge. Let him think she’d invited a room full of men over for all she cared. “Something I’ve been craving all day,” she whispered.

  His eyes darkened to almost black, and his arms tightened around her. If she wasn’t so ticked off, she would’ve loved every second of being this close to Creed. The protectiveness and desire in his embrace were so familiar yet thrilling. She’d been without him, craved him, for too long, and she was in danger of falling for him all over again.

  “You’d better ask him to leave unless you want to watch me decimate the man on your doorstep,” he threatened in a low growl.

  “I don’t think you even understand who you’re competing with.” She gave him a condescending glare.

  “No one stands a chance against me.”

  Kiera thought that was probably true. The knock came again.

  “Who is it Kiera?” Creed’s eyes were narrowed and full of protective intent. Kiera wanted to tell him that he had no right to be protective of her anymore, but she worried about pushing him too far, afraid for the poor room service attendant on the other side of the door.

  She looked into Creed’s gaze and whispered back, “Room service.”

  Creed stared in disbelief. Then he started laughing. She loved the rumble of laughter in his chest pressing against her back. Kiera couldn’t help but laugh along with him.

  “I thought …” He shook his head and released her.

  Kiera’s laughter died quickly. She wasn’t sure she wanted to know what he’d thought, and she hated that him touching her again was a craving she would never be able to satiate.

  She went and opened the door. A smiling young man rolled the serving dolly in and unloaded several trays onto the table.

  “Gracias,” Kiera said.

  Creed palmed him a twenty, and the young man walked out the door grinning.

  “You’re not supposed to tip them. They were very specific about that when I checked in.”

  “None of them have complained yet,” Creed said.

  “You don’t need to act like a billionaire.”

  He didn’t even respond. He stared over the various plates of food with a furrowed brow. The anger was back in his eyes, and she wasn’t sure why. Hadn’t they just laughed together? It didn’t change anything, couldn’t fix the pain of him not wanting her, but couldn’t they somehow, someway talk this out? No. Nothing he could say would make up for the way he’d deserted her. Him dying had been horrific, but she’d never blamed him. Him being brought back to life but not coming for her? That she blamed him for aplenty. Yet what if he’d been tortured so horribly it had ruined his mind and his ability to love? Maybe that was why he didn’t want her anymore. Being around him right now, he seemed like the old Creed. Her Creed. No. She couldn’t think like that ever again.

  Creed uncovered platters, and a ghost of a smile touched his lips. “You and your sushi.” Then the smile was gone. “Who are you expecting, Kiera?”

  She stared at him. “What?”

  Creed strode away from the table and got right in her space. Kiera did back away this time. Creed kept coming until she was backed into a wall.

  “The Kiera I knew would never order this much food, knowing she could only eat a fraction of it. The Kiera I knew hated to waste. She was too worried about those who didn’t have enough food. Taught well by her philanthropist mama.”

  He didn’t know her anymore, and even though her breath was coming in fast pants from his nearness, he was ticking her off. She wished her body didn’t respond to him so readily, like muscle memory. It reminded her of dancing the merengue, so easy a drunk person could do it and so natural as soon as the music started playing you couldn’t help but dance along. Creed came near, and her body immediately flooded with heat and wanted to touch him and move in rhythm with him.

  “You don’t know me anymore,” she whispered, getting caught up in his dark, stormy gaze.

  Creed swallowed, and his body brushed against hers. “That’s for sure.” He stepped back and glowered at her. “I’m only going to ask one more time. Who were you expecting … wearing that?” His eyes traveled over her robe.

  “I’m only going to ask once. Get out.” She pointed at the door. Unfortunately, her hand was shaking. Why was Creed acting like she was some loose woman? They’d made a pact in high school to never let the fire of their love get out of control, to save themselves for marriage. He’d tried a few times to push farther than they should, and she’d helped him stay in control. The night before he left, it was her that had tried to get him to break the pact, and he’d stayed strong. Their love was stronger than a mere physical bond. That’s what he always said when they were tempted. Creed had to know she wouldn’t be waiting for someone in her suite in nothing but a robe.

  Creed blinked at her and bent down close again. “I thought what we used to have was special to you, but obviously, you aren’t the Kiera I fell in love with.”

  Kiera slapped him across the face. The slap rang through the room, and neither of them moved. Creed finally gave her his sarcastic smile. The one he gave to people he hated. “This isn’t over, Kiera. I’ll be watching you, and I’ll protect you. Even if you don’t care about protecting yourself any longer.”

  Kiera’s stomach felt sick, and she knew all this food was going to go to waste. Her mama would be disappointed in her right now for more reasons than that. “Do I need to slap you again? Or are you leaving?”

  Creed stormed to the door and threw it open. He turned and threw verbal daggers back at her. “I despise what you’ve become, Kiera, but if you ever cared for me at all, stay away from the blond guy.”

  Kiera hurried to the door and pushed at him. He didn’t budge an inch. “Get out!” she screamed.

  Creed smiled at her. “I’ll get out, but if any other man tries to come through this door, I’ll tear him apart. Sleep tight.” He waved and stepped out onto the wide patio.

  Kiera slammed the door shut and screamed a gargled, “Argh! I hate you Creed Hawk!”

  She could hear his laughter on the other side of the door. Running to the bedroom, she threw herself down on the bed. Anger still rushed through her, but the sadness wasn’t far behind. Creed was here. He hadn’t come for her. He didn’t care about her. And now, for some reason, he thought she was a floozy. There had been those rumors of her and Milo living together, but Creed wouldn’t believe that kind of smut. At least, her Creed wouldn’t. He’d really said that he despised what she’d become. What kind of rotten thing was that to say? Why had he kissed her like that? Just to torture her and make her see all she was missing not being in his arms? Tears wet the pillow beneath her face. She had loved him for so long and so deeply, he’d been her inspiration and her every dream. Now everything they’d once shared was tainted and ugly.

  She brushed the tears off and made a promise to herself. Next time the blond English guy asked her to dinner, she was going. She could only pray Creed would go insane with jealousy. He obviously didn’t love her anymore, and she had no clue why he was treating her so horribly, but she could see the jealousy on his face, and he’d kissed her like he still wanted her. Even if all she had was the ability to make him hurt l
ike he’d hurt her. She would take it.

  Chapter Seven

  Kiera woke early to go lift weights at the gym. Even though her career had taken a nosedive in the past two months since Creed had returned from the dead and she’d given up on life instead of fighting for herself and her reputation, she still loved to move and exercise. Maybe someday she would get back to television or Broadway, but neither appealed to her anymore. Right now, she was taking one day at a time. One day at a time might be asking too much of herself with Creed appearing last night. Why was he here? He’d explained nothing last night besides warning her away from the guy with the English accent, kissing the dickens out her, and breaking her heart all over again. When a stone heart shattered, could it ever be repaired? She doubted it.

  She was doing a bent-over row in the free weight area when she sensed his presence. Straightening too quickly, she felt a little lightheaded and had to hold on to the weight rack for a second. She searched the large gym area and saw him. Creed was using the cable machine and wearing a blue tank top and gray shorts. The muscles in his back and arms rippled as he pulled the cables into his chest. Kiera sucked in a breath, feeling more lightheaded than she had when she’d stood too quickly.

  She forced herself to face forward, grab lighter weights, and do a bicep curl. Her eyes kept straying to Creed though, and it was a struggle to keep good form. His gaze met hers a few times in the mirror, and he gave her his trademark grin. Her stomach would swoop predictably, and her face would get all flushed and hot. She cussed herself. She used to be a professional, world-renowned dancer. Her life was about self-control and discipline. Why couldn’t she find an ounce of self-control anytime that man came within a hundred yards of her?

  She re-shelved the fifteen-pound dumbbells and walked to the juice and water station. Maybe something cool would quench the fire for Creed that she couldn’t seem to tamp down. Glancing in his direction, she saw he was moving her way quickly. She turned to avoid him, but he was too fast. He brushed against her and wrapped his arms around her elbows as if to steady her. Her eyes narrowed. He’d done that on purpose. He had no right to touch her anymore.

  “Excuse me,” he murmured, a slight smile decorating his handsome face. “I couldn’t help but notice you.”

  “You noticed little old me?” She put a hand to her heart and gave him a fake Southern drawl. She wanted to yell and scream, but fake sugar, like the nasty aftertaste of saccharin on her tongue, would be almost as effective. Especially in a public setting.

  He leaned closer and murmured, “Always.”

  Kiera’s heart raced, but she folded her arms across her chest and scooted away from his touch and smell. What game was he playing this morning? Acting like he didn’t know her then making her want to throw herself against that beautifully-formed chest of his. She wasn’t falling into his trap. She was done with Creed Hawk. “You seem to know your way around a weight room.” She fluttered her eyelashes and then let her gaze travel over him slowly. It was torture checking him out, knowing he’d never be hers again, knowing her head would never fit in the perfect crook of his neck while his strong arms surrounded her. It was worse than being denied chocolate for life and living in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

  “Would you like some help lifting?” he asked.

  “Oh!” She placed a hand over her mouth. “What a sweetie. Are you a personal trainer or something?”

  He chuckled. “Or something.”

  “I’d love some help from a big, buff stud like you.” She ran her tongue over her lips, wondering if she was putting it on too strong, but Creed deserved every second of crap she could dish out. He was the one who’d killed her heart, and now, he was pretending he didn’t know her. She knew he’d easily read through her sugar answers to the deep-seated sarcasm. She didn’t need help from anyone, and she especially didn’t need help from him. She thought of a way to tick him off even worse. “Wait a minute. I know you!”

  His face froze. “Do you now?”

  “You’re one of those famous Hawk brothers. You all are so handsome and look just alike.”

  Creed smiled, but it wasn’t his genuine smile. It was all military and tight self-control.

  “Now which one are you?” She tapped her finger on her lips. “The studly football player?”

  “No. That’s Emmett.”

  “Oh? Yes, Emmett’s amazing. I love watching his beautiful biceps when he stretches out to catch a football.” She smiled, hoping she was ticking him off. “So, if not the football player, then you have to be … the world-acclaimed extreme athlete. The one who surfs waves no one dares surf and jumps out of planes without a chute.”

  Creed rolled his eyes. “Bridger.”

  “Yes, Bridger. He’s so brave.” She bit at her lip and almost laughed at his rigid face. “Not Bridger. I can’t remember the other ones … Oh! Yes, I do. You’re the multi-billionaire who is simply brilliant and keeps getting the Most Eligible Bachelor of the Year Award. Owns half the country or something.”

  Creed laughed, but she could tell he wasn’t amused. “That’s Callum.”

  “Huh. I really like Callum.” It was a lie. Callum was a good guy but the least friendly of the crew. “So what do you do?” She made her eyes all big and interested. Truthfully, she thought Creed’s profession was the noblest and the bravest, but at the same time, it had robbed her of the man she loved. He deserved to think she didn’t care about him one whit for making her want him so horribly last night and then ditching her all over again.

  “I’m in private security.”

  “Isn’t that … exciting?” She gave him a fake smile and used body language to show a sharp drop in her interest in him. She’d practiced the drop of her shoulder and twist of her knee a hundred times for a routine in the semi-finals of Just Dance. “Hmm. Must be tough being surrounded by all those famous brothers.” One thing that had always impressed her about Creed was, even though he was fiercely competitive, he always supported and cheered for his brothers. He’d known his path would be military, and he’d taken it and excelled, but she wasn’t about to admit how impressive he was to her.

  “It has its moments.”

  “I bet.” She elevated her eyebrows and completed the lost interest motion—head dipped away, spin on her far heel. “You know, I think I’ll just lift on my own today, but thanks so much for the offer.”

  “That’s too bad.” Creed’s gaze traveled over her slowly. “I guess you lost your chance.”

  Kiera’s body chilled, and it was all she could to not slap him like she’d done last night. She turned and rushed away without looking back at him. She’d definitely lost her chance—for happiness with Creed, for success in life. Truly, she’d lost everything when he deserted her. And she knew she’d never get Creed back, which made everything else in her life lose its luster.

  Chapter Eight

  Creed made it through his workout, but his eyes kept straying to Kiera. He hadn’t been able to resist studying her and had finally let himself approach her. It had been almost like old times to pretend he didn’t know her and flirt, even though he knew the sugar-sweet responses were verbal daggers. Those daggers turned to bullets when she listed his brothers’ accomplishments. He was proud of his brothers and their paths, and even though they competed and wrestled, he always cheered louder than anyone else for each of their successes. Yet he wanted Kiera to think he was the best of all of them. His Kiera had always been super proud of his calling in life, his desire to protect and serve. He wasn’t sure he even knew this Kiera who was making him second guess everything he’d known about her and even though he was confused and hurt he wanted to just throw her over his shoulder and paddle her rear and then maybe run for a preacher or a Vegas wedding chapel. Knowing she’d been with another man, probably multiple men, helped him cool his desires and keep his dreams of being with her at bay.

  When she left the gym, he followed, making sure she got back to her room safely. An hour later, she headed out again, wearing a white lace
cover-up over a pink swimsuit. He swallowed down his desire for her and waited a few minutes to make sure she didn’t return to her room, then broke in and installed a miniscule security camera and sensors focused on the main area and the exterior door. He’d be alerted whenever she opened the door and would be able to watch what was going on. He’d found out the duke’s room number last night and had been able to install similar devices this morning while the loser was showering. Checking his watch screen, he confirmed the duke was still eating his breakfast at his suite table.

  Creed headed down to the pool areas, hoping Kiera would be staying at the resort rather than going on a day trip. It would help his blood pressure a lot. This area was a hotbed for traffickers and crime against Americans, and no matter that he and Kiera weren’t together anymore, he could not handle the thought of anything happening to her. That gave him an unfamiliar rush of guilt. Kiera had suffered through him supposedly dying. He’d tried when he was imprisoned not to think too much about how his family or Kiera was dealing with it. A man could go insane stewing over something like that. Maybe that was why Kiera had given herself to another man. Maybe it had been too much for her. He shook his head. She’d moved on quickly enough. She obviously didn’t feel the level of love he’d felt for her.

  He sauntered through the pool areas but didn’t see her anywhere. An alert on his phone sounded. He paused and glanced at it. The duke was leaving his room, dressed in a floral swimsuit. He didn’t look like he had anything but his swimsuit and flip flops. Good. The duke would stay close by, which would make Creed’s day easier. Just as long as Gunthry stayed away from Kiera.

  Creed approached the last section of pools. They were infinity pools and hot tubs that overlooked the beach and ocean beyond. Kiera was floating on her back in the pool to the south. Creed sucked in a breath. Her dark hair streamed out away from her beautiful face. Her eyes were closed, and she looked so peaceful and innocent. Like the Kiera he’d planned his life around. Her deep brown skin was smooth and firm, and the pale pink suit showed off her shape to perfection.