She jolted in surprise at the feel of his large hand wrapping around hers. Was he…holding her hand? Just hurrying her along? Did it even matter right now? His hand was warm, with thick fingers that carefully held her own. He could crush her in an instant if he wanted but was surprisingly gentle. Careful. And she liked being linked to him, like it was the two of them against the world.
Which was crazy, because a man like him didn’t need someone to face his battles for him.
“Here we are,” Brent said, dropping her hand and gesturing to a hulking motorcycle parked beside the curb as he released her. She knew exactly nothing about motorcycles—but the shiny chrome, expensive-looking tires, and huge cylinders screamed speed and danger. Which pretty much seemed right up Brent’s ally.
And totally not hers.
“Uh….”
“You can wear the helmet,” Brent said, pulling it from some compartment on the back. “I wasn’t exactly expecting company tonight. Not that I mind,” he added, flashing her a grin. “I kind of fucking love the idea of your body pressed tight against mine.”
“Well….”
His eyes flicked up to hers. “Have you ever ridden before?”
“No,” she said, swallowing as she again gazed at the massive Harley. One wrong turn and that thing looked like it could fall over and crush them both. Or slide into a skid and give them massive road burn and a few broken bones. And that was the best case scenario.
The cab she’d suggested was sounding better and better.
“It’s safe,” he assured her. “I’ll take it nice and slow. Never been in a crash yet.”
“How comforting.”
Brent raised his eyebrows.
“The whole ‘yet’ part wasn’t too convincing.”
Brent laughed, a deep hearty sound. It was the first time she’d ever heard him laugh like that. And it sounded…good. Warmth seeped through her as the rich sound filled the air. Brent usually had a scowl on his face or a woman at his side—according to Brianna, at least. She hadn’t seen him so much as look at another lady all night. It seemed that everyone on the SEAL team talked about his reputation though. Maybe he was just taking a night off from his womanizing ways—or more likely, maybe she was just cramping his style. What would it look like for him to ditch her for an easy lay? His friends would no doubt give him shit for it. Not that he seemed to mind flirting with her all night.
“I’ve never exactly had to convince a woman to climb on.”
Holy hell.
Ella flushed at the innuendo, and she felt an unexpected pooling of moisture in her panties as her nipples tightened. Climbing on Brent was something she’d never do. Jesus. But suddenly images of Brent sprawled out beneath her on his bed filled her head. All those pounds of muscles beneath her sounded way too tempting. And the idea of him inside her? Mind blowing. All that strength and power focused on her wasn’t something she could handle. Even if he was an expert in bedroom activities. He’d probably laugh if he knew how inexperienced she was. Even if she wasn’t exactly saving herself for marriage, she would never fall into bed with a man like him. She couldn’t be just another notch on what were probably hundreds on Brent’s bedpost. He’d probably enjoy showing her a good time, but as for making her feel like something other than every other woman he’d been with? Not in a million years.
Brent’s gaze softened. “I promise you’ll be safe.”
“I can just get a cab.”
“In the middle of the night? Hell, if you do that, I’m still following you home. I told the others I’d take you. And sweetheart, I’m trained by the U.S. Navy. I can drive all sorts of hazardous things without issue. This motorcycle is nothing.”
Yes, he probably could. And she was sure he loved speedy cars, noisy guns, and fast women. What had made her think he’d drive her home in some sort of safe, reliable vehicle? He was a far cry from her last date in just about every way. Older guy? Check. Bad-ass career? Check. Been around the block, oh, a million times? Double check.
He wouldn’t try to grope her though. Or demand anything for driving her home.
Yeah, despite his protests, he was a decent guy.
“I’m staying at Kenley’s place.”
“I know. We’ve all been there before—it was the last place Lexi was seen before she was kidnapped.”
“Lexi was kidnapped?” Ella asked in horror, watching as anger briefly flashed across Brent’s face. “Is that how she and Christopher met?”
She’d heard some of the stories about how the guys on the SEAL team had met their women, but she was sure all Brianna had mentioned was that Lexi and Christopher were old college sweethearts or something. Rebecca had been stalked by a client’s ex-husband around the time she met Patrick, and Kenley had been in some sort of car accident when Mike came to help her, driving up and down the highway until he located her car off in the woods. Ella’s own life must look pretty boring in comparison.
“Nah. Lexi’s a hacker. On the Defense Department’s payroll. Some asshole was trying to make a buck, stealing Top Secret information from the Navy, and she got caught in the middle of it. She was sent down here by the Pentagon but got grabbed from the parking garage by her hotel.”
“Holy crap. That makes Brianna and Matthew’s story almost sound tame,” she mused.
“There’s nothing ‘tame’ about a man attacking a woman,” Brent said, his voice steel. “If we hadn’t been there that night, he would’ve raped her right in the back hall.”
“I know, just, Jesus…. That was the scariest thing that’s ever happened to me—and it wasn’t me, it was Brianna being attacked. Just in comparison—kidnapped….” Her voice trailed off. Had something happened to Lexi when she’d been kidnapped? Brianna had been lucky in a sense that Matthew and the guys on his team had stopped her attacker moments after he’d cornered her. But he’d pulled her into the back hallway at the cocktail lounge and pushed her up against the wall when no one else around. Slid his hands up her skirt. Intended to take whatever he wanted.
Shit. Did she really want to work there again?
“Are you okay?” Brent asked, looking concerned.
“Fine,” she said, frowning.
“I shouldn’t have mentioned the whole kidnapping thing.” His brow furrowed, and for the first time, she noticed the small crinkles around his eyes as they stood in the lamplight. She’d been with him all evening, but this was the first time they’d stood so close just talking. The first time she could really study him. They’d been focused on the game at the pool hall and busy eating pizza moments ago. Now it was just…them. No distractions.
Brent’s large size, the scruff on his jaw, and the gruffness in his voice all should have been intimidating as hell. Not to mention his less than stellar reputation. But inexplicably, she felt safer with him than anyone.
“I was just thinking about that night with Brianna.” A shudder racked through her, and he frowned. “Anyway, let’s do this. Like you said, it’s getting late. You’ve got training in the morning, and I’ve got to pack for my flight.”
He eyed her, seeming to reconsider if he did want her on the back of his bike. There were worse ways to get home, she figured. And if she had to sit close behind him, wrapping her arms around his solid strength? Well hell. She’d just have to get over her fears. She’d enjoy the ten minute ride home if it gave her an excuse to be close to Brent, and then she’d get on with her life. No sense in standing around here all night, avoiding reality when the morning would be here before either of them wanted.
She’d go back to Florida, Brent would disappear to wherever his next deployment was, and that would be that.
Life went on.
***
Brent glanced back at Ella a few minutes later. Her cheeks were slightly flushed from the cool night air, and she looked like some sort of biker’s fantasy come to life in the pink top, curve-hugging jeans, and black leather jacket. His jacket. Hell. He’d let women ride on the back of his bike before. He fucking loved the
feel of their arms wrapped tightly around his waist, their breasts pushed into his back, and their thighs snug on either side of his. So what was it about Ella that had him stiffly gripping the handles, trying not to enjoy himself so damn much? She brought out a chivalrous side he didn’t even know that he had.
Never ridden a bike before, he thought with a smirk.
She’d probably never been with a man before, either. She was just so damn innocent.
That must be her appeal, he decided. Maybe she wasn’t a virgin, but she couldn’t have been with that many men. Hell, she was only twenty-two or so. But he sure wouldn’t mind showing her how pleasurable sex could be. What would it be like to teach her, he wondered?
Get a grip, Lover Boy.
No one said she was a virgin, and even if she was, he’d never taste her sweet flesh. Never sink his cock between her creamy thighs. Not when he’d promised himself he’d fucking stay away from her.
He revved the engine and felt Ella squeeze her arms tighter around his waist, nestling closer to him.
Fucking hell. He was going to be hard as steel by the time they made it home.
“Ready to go?” he shouted above the roar of the engine.
“Yes!”
His groin tightened. She was answering his damn question, not screaming in pleasure. But the idea of her writhing beneath him, shouting his name, screaming her release was a damn spectacular image. Hell, just the fantasy of it might be enough to get him through tonight. He sure the hell wouldn’t be chasing after his nightmares when he had a wet dream come to life behind him. Even if he was simply dropping her off, his imagination would take care of the rest.
Glancing to his left, he pulled onto the nearly empty street. He was dying to speed off into the night again, but he knew Ella was scared. He’d take it slow and steady on the drive home. For her sake. He wasn’t exactly used to putting someone else’s needs before his, but something about Ella made him want to do right by her. Always. And hell. When was the last time he’d driven a woman home only to leave her at her front door? It was almost like having a female friend. Not that he was having purely friendly thoughts toward her.
He wound his way through the sparse traffic on Atlantic Avenue, the main drag along Virginia Beach. Hotels lined the road, with people coming and going from them even at this late hour. When he paused at a light, he could hear the waves crashing in the distance. What would it be like to drive up to the secluded north end of the beach with Ella? They could see every star in the sky from out there and watch the jets screaming across the night sky from Naval Air Station Oceana as they conducted training exercises. He could lay Ella down in the sand and take her under the stars. Bring her to pleasure again and again. Taste that sweetness between her thighs. Feel her tight heat pulsing around him.
Yeah, right.
Maybe in another lifetime, he thought with a smirk.
Traffic cleared the intersection, and before the light changed to green, he glanced back at Ella again. “You doing okay?”
“I’m good.”
He revved the engine as the light changed to green and felt her arms tighten around him once more. Her soft breasts pushed against his back, and he muttered a curse under his breath. Heading off toward the condo development where Ella was currently staying, the salty air blew in from the beach. It felt spectacular at the moment, but the team had drills on the water at oh-dark-thirty tomorrow. At the rate he was going, he’d be downing a whole damn pot of coffee just to stay awake. Then again, he’d felt calm all evening around Ella, the usual seething anger and regret strangely absent since he’d spotted her at Anchors. Maybe he’d fucking sleep like a baby for a change.
Ten minutes later he pulled into the parking lot, not liking the fact that some of the lights were out. It wasn’t safe for a woman to be walking around alone here at night, and his gut churned at the knowledge that Ella had been staying here all week. Had she gotten home late any nights? Was someone lurking in the shadows? He had half a mind to call the management office now and give them shit for it. If she didn’t have a close parking spot, she’d be out here all alone. Then again—had she even rented a car? Maybe Matthew and Brianna had been chauffeuring her around the entire time.
He shut off the engine and steadied the bike as Ella climbed off. Her small hands on his shoulders as she steadied herself felt so fucking innocent. The night air felt cool without her soft little body snuggled up against his, and he ground his jaw. Since when the hell did he enjoy snuggling with a woman? What was next—he’d take her inside and spoon her all night?
He swung his leg over his Harley and stood at his full height beside her. She fumbled with the helmet, and he reached to assist her, his fingers brushing against her soft skin. He’d been with a hundred women, but standing here in the parking lot face to face with Ella felt strangely intimate.
He was gentle as he undid the buckles, careful not to scrape her skin. Her silky hair tumbled free as he plucked it off her head, and he resisted the urge to run his fingers through it. To tug her head back and kiss those soft lips. To take control, push her back against his Harley, and take whatever the hell he wanted.
He rested the helmet on the empty seat and grabbed her purse from where he’d tucked it aside.
“I’ll walk you to the door,” he said, putting his hand at the small of her back to guide her.
Jesus. If the other guys on his SEAL team could see him now, they’d think he’d lost his fucking mind. The type of women he usually walked to the door had their hands all over him. And he’d be too busy grabbing their ass and kissing them senseless to notice. Hell, just last week he’d practically fucked a woman right on the back of his goddamn bike. She’d been unzipping his pants, trying to free his aching cock, and he’d had to haul her inside before they got arrested for indecent exposure. They’d had sex on her living room floor, and he’d been out the door again in less than an hour. This felt like some kind of junior high school, G-rated date or something. Not that he dated. Or did anything that earned an innocent “G” rating.
“Home sweet home,” he said as she slipped off his jacket at the front door.
“Thanks for the ride. For tonight,” she added, almost as an afterthought.
He nodded, feeling a strange need to swallow. He’d left her before, down in Pensacola. Hopped out of her car and barely even glanced back. Why did tonight feel so different?
“My pleasure,” he said coolly. “Be safe down in Florida.” Their fingers brushed as she handed him back his jacket. Her skin was so fucking soft, and she still smelled like those damn Easter lilies. And she was close. So close. Maybe if he could taste her, just once, he could get her out of his head. Get on with his life. Forget the way he’d stood up for her down in Florida, like she hadn’t been on his mind every day since.
Those brilliant blue eyes met his, and before he could change his mind, he ducked down and brushed a kiss across her soft lips. She tasted of something sweet, like peaches. Sunshine. Summertime.
Hell.
Since when did he get all poetic over a woman?
But it was a taste he needed more of, desperately. His hand slid to the back of her head. Tangled in her hair. And she yielded to him, making a soft little sound that was a cross between a whimper and moan, letting his mouth move over her, stealing each gasp of her breath. Her mouth parted at his urging, and suddenly he was pressing her against her front door as she clung to him, fisting her fingers in his shirt. And he kissing Ella like a man addicted. Like he needed her more than his next breath.
***
Ella gasped as Brent backed her against the door, his mouth wickedly working against hers like he wanted to devour her. Like he was made to kiss her and her alone. His full lips consumed her, stealing her air. Swallowing her little gasps and whimpers. And the way his large frame bent over her smaller one? It was powerful and possessive and protective. It was like his body shielded hers from the entire world.
And she freaking loved it.
He tasted
sinfully good, like dark chocolate and musk and man. The dark scruff of his five o’clock shadow chafed against her skin. His strength and scent surrounded her, marking her as his. And at the moment? It felt like they were in their own little world. Clinging to him as she’d ridden on the back of his Harley had been exhilarating—something out of a dream. She never thought she’d like motorcycles, but something about the open air and man in front of her had been freeing. She didn’t have time to worry about her life or her future, she just existed.
In the moment.
With Brent.
She’d felt his heartbeat as she’d initially clung to him in fear, but after a few moments, she’d simply relaxed against his broad frame. Their bodies moved as one as they rumbled off into the night. Her head rested against his strong back. Her thighs sat flush against his muscular ones. The feeling of being so close to a man who made her feel safe was something she’d never had before. And wrapping herself around his powerful body had made her want to do all sorts of things with him—preferably tangled up in each other’s arms. In between the sheets.
Brent was experienced though. More than experienced. He wouldn’t even know what to do with someone like her. She nearly blushed at the thought of telling him she’d only been with one other man. He’d probably run off faster than a sailor on leave.
Away from her.
“Are you okay?” Brent asked between kisses, his voice gruff. Thick with need.
“Perfect,” she whispered.
He let out a growl and kissed along her jawline as she arched her head back, giving him more room. He placed a gentle kiss just behind her ear, and she practically mewled in approval. A muffled sound came from beside her, and she realized he’d dropped his jacket to the ground. Then he was kissing her again, teasing her lips with the tip of his tongue, encouraging her to open to him. She clung to him as his tongue darted into her mouth and every sensation overwhelmed her.
Protected by a SEAL (Alpha SEALs, Book 6) Page 7