“I want to help, Wyatt.”
“I can handle it. It’s not a big deal.”
She stood, crossing the few steps between them. “It is a big deal.” She took his hands and led him to the edge of the bed. He mirrored her actions as she sat.
Her fingers entwined through his. She pulled his hand to her lap. He looked at her, seeing the worry and the fear in her eyes, but something more powerful than either of those. Trust. He knew he could trust her.
He didn’t know when it happened, but eventually he closed his eyes, pulling Aly against his chest. They rolled back on to the sheets and fell asleep. Wyatt slept for the first time in months.
Chapter Seventeen
Aly
She felt something heavy against her chest. Her eyes opened. Wyatt’s arm was slung over her stomach. She watched as he took one deep breath after another. She hadn’t meant to fall asleep in his room, but after hearing his outcry and seeing the look of terror on his handsome face, she couldn’t leave. She didn’t want to let him sleep alone.
She wanted to understand the darkness in his eyes. Why he didn’t want to talk about the Army.
Before trying to force the revelations about his past, she had been desperately trying to sort through what had happened in her bed.
The way he touched her was unlike anything she had felt. The way he kissed her made her body feel alive. But he was right. She couldn’t give herself to him while Mitchell still thought she was going to marry him.
It wasn’t that simple, though. She stared at Wyatt’s face. His eyelashes twitched and she wondered if he would wake soon.
Could she just call Mitchell and tell him it was over? Could she break off the engagement and hand back the ring? She didn’t know Wyatt, but after last night she felt as if she knew him better than the man she had spent the past two years with. She had seen his soul. She had seen the man he was. His demons His anger. His passion. His tenderness.
She lifted his hand off of her, sliding out from under him until she had one foot on the floor. As she moved her opposite leg, his eyes flew open.
“Hey.”
“Hey.” She smiled. She felt silly for trying to sneak out. “How did you sleep?”
“Like a bear.” He grinned and she felt her insides melt. Why did he have to be so fucking sexy all the time? He wasn’t making anything easier. “How about you?”
His eyes traced her throat and locked on the dip between her breasts. The strap on the nightgown had slipped and he had a view of her soft pink flesh.
She reached for the strap to adjust it on her shoulder. “I slept well too.”
It was happening again. Her body was waking up in places that had been asleep for so long. His hand floated over her hip.
“I haven’t awakened to something this beautiful in a long time.” She heard that sound from his chest that sent shivers all over her body.
“Wyatt, I…” It wasn’t as if she had something to tell him. She hadn’t had enough time to figure any of this out.
He brushed her hair away from her face.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
She loved how his hand felt against her face.
He lowered his eyes. “I didn’t mean for you to see me like that. I just want to forget about it. I shouldn’t have—”
“No. No.” Don’t undo it,” she pleaded, sitting up quickly.
“Undo?”
She pressed her finger to his lips. She’d never felt so intimately connected to anyone. “I’m honored you shared your pain with me. I wouldn’t change last night for anything. Not any of it. What happened in my room or yours.”
His eyes looked bluer in the morning. “Then I won’t undo it.” He grinned, jumping off the side of the bed. Aly felt the bed shift from his weight.
“I’m going to take a shower. Unless you’re planning on joining me, I’ll see you at breakfast.”
“Breakfast?” She stood to tuck the comforter under the pillows. “Shit. I haven’t set up the breakfast.”
Not only did she have to walk through the inn in a thin, silk gown, the housekeepers would know she hadn’t gotten things ready for the only guest.
“I can get breakfast at the Skillet. Don’t worry about me.”
“I have to go.” She raced out of the room, frantically tapping the elevator button. Sara and Jenny would be starting on the first floor. She could probably sneak past them and make it to her room without them seeing her.
The doors closed behind her. She nervously watched the numbers light up, counting the floors. “Shit. Shit,” she murmured.
As soon as they retracted she bolted for the reception desk. On the other side was the office, and the housekeepers never entered without checking with her first. She scanned the lobby. Thank goodness there were no other guests. And thank God her father was out of town. She’d never be able to explain this to him.
She tipped her ear forward. There were no sounds of the maid carts. She made a dash for the desk. Her bare feet skipped over the hardwood floor and she closed the office door behind her.
She exhaled, triumphant she had made it through without seeing anyone.
She looked up when she heard her bedroom door open.
“Aly, what in the hell are you doing?”
Her mouth fell open. “Mitchell?”
“You want to tell me where you’ve been?” Her fiancé leaned into the doorframe, his arms crossed, and his forehead creased with a deep scowl. The tips of his dark red hair were sticking up. She had seen this look in his eyes before. Eyes that now seemed beady and mean.
He scrunched his nose turning his face into a sneer. His delicate features looked odd after having spent so much with Wyatt who was solid and sturdy. He moved closer to her.
“Are you going to answer me, Aly?” He was almost nose to nose with her now. His breath smelled strange. Like alcohol and cigarettes. But as far as she knew, he had never smoked a day in his life. She noticed his blue dress shirt was crumpled and his khaki pants were wrinkled.
She slowly backed away. “I think we need to talk.”
Chapter Eighteen
Wyatt
Wyatt pulled a T-shirt on over his wet chest. The fabric dried as he brushed his teeth. He ran his fingers through his dark hair. It wasn’t long enough for a comb. The stubble on his jawline was a deep shadow now. He thought he’d let it grow.
If there was a question before last night about whether he’d get on his bike and ride out of St. Claire, it had been put to rest when Aly spent the night in his arms.
He didn’t know if the nightmares would stop instantly. He didn’t know if he would stop waking up in a cold sweat, but he felt a lightness he had forgotten was possible. Sharing the horror of Bhazni with her had opened his heart in a way he didn’t know was possible.
He flipped off the bathroom light, grabbed his room key, and walked into the hall.
“Good morning.” He smiled at one of the housekeepers.
She blushed and smiled. “Good morning, sir.”
Wyatt walked toward the staircase. He felt as if he could slide down four flights on the edge of the banister, but that was crazy. He jogged down the stairs. After breakfast, he would check in with Glen, but he planned on spending the rest of the day with Aly.
He would do whatever he had to help her break things off with Mitchell. He’d drive her to him. He’d call for her. He’d write an email or send the text. He didn’t care what it was. She belonged with him, not that bastard.
He rounded the second floor, smelling the fresh pot of coffee wafting up from the kitchen. He smiled, knowing Aly had made it for him.
He jogged down the last two steps and walked toward the reception desk. The light wasn’t on and the sign greeting guests wasn’t out. Something didn’t feel right.
He barged through the office door. “Aly!”
The door to her room was closed. “Aly!” He pounded on the frame, but when she didn’t answer he kicked in the door.
The hair on the back of his neck stood upright. “Get your hands off her.”
The man turned, peering at Wyatt over his shoulder. His hands were wrapped around Aly’s neck, pinning her to the wall.
“Who the fuck are you?”
Wyatt saw the fear in her eyes. Her cheeks were stained with tears.
“I could ask you the same thing,” Wyatt growled through clenched teeth.
“I’m having a conversation with my fiancée. So if you wouldn’t mind leaving us alone.”
“You’re Mitchell?” Wyatt took a step closer, but noticed Mitchell’s grip tightened around Aly’s neck. He stopped.
Mitchell’s gaze landed on Aly again. “Is he the reason?” he hissed.
She closed her eyes, the tears streaming faster now. “Please, Mitchell.”
“Let her go,” Wyatt demanded. He had to get his hands on Mitchell.
“Why, so the big bad meathead can have his way with her?” His eyebrows rose.
The growl rumbled at the base of his throat. He was close to ripping the smug look off Mitchell’s face. “Shut up. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Mitchell suddenly let his fingers loosen. Aly took a big gasp of air. “I think I know something about it.” He cocked his head toward Wyatt.
Wyatt shoved past him and pulled Aly against his chest. “Are you ok?”
She nodded. “I’m fine. He was just surprised.”
“Surprised? I wouldn’t say I was surprised.” Mitchell’s eyes hardened. “I stop by to take my bride to breakfast and find her dressed like a common whore, sneaking into her room. And not only that. She tells me she doesn’t want to get married anymore.”
His eyes bore into Wyatt. “Then you show up. Suddenly I have a clear picture of what’s happening here. The call I got yesterday from a friend that happened to see my fiance at the bar with another man is all making sense.”
Wyatt peeled Aly from his chest and stepped in front of her, creating a barrier from Mitchell. He could feel the air around this guy was reckless. There was no telling what he would do or say.
“I think you should leave, Mitchell. You don't own her and she can leave you if she damn well pleases. ”
“Is that so?”
“You don’t deserve her.” Wyatt towered over him. He didn’t want to embarrass Aly by saying she had told him all the details of their relationship, that Mitchell had treated her like shit. Hadn’t given her any full commitment. Her story made perfect sense now that he was staring at the man who had given her the ring. He could see pure evil in this man’s eyes.
“I gave her my ring. We are getting married. Some random hobo passing through town isn’t going to change that.”
Wyatt felt the pins in his lungs, he was trying to hold himself in before he did something stupid. He didn’t want to unleash in front of Aly. But the sneer in Mitchell’s voice was sending him over the edge.
“She has a say.” Wyatt breathed.
“I told you, Mitchell. I don’t think we should get married. Just go. I haven’t seen you in two weeks and you show up like this? No. I want you to leave.” Aly’s voice sounded firm.
“You know the only reason you’re saying that is because of him.” He pointed to Wyatt.
“No it’s not. And if I had any doubts, you certainly erased them when you threw me against the wall.” She glared.
Mitchell shrugged. “You know he’s using you, right? He would have snatched up any girl that was willing, just to feed his ego. That’s what guys like him do. I know all about how he’s a Green Beret that kills for a living. Everyone in town is talking about it.” He paused, snickering. “Oh, you didn’t know? He didn’t tell you about how many innocent people he’s probably slaughtered? No? Hmm.”
Mitchell stepped to the side, watching the aftershocks of the bomb he had dropped.
“You’re a fucking tool,” Wyatt snarled. “Get out! Get out of here before I rip you to shreds.”
“See? Trained killers have a nasty temper.” He waggled his finger in front of Wyatt’s nose.
Aly staggered backward, her legs hitting the bed. “Killer? Innocent people?”
Mitchell walked to the bedside table and snatched the ring from its case. His face was still pinched with rage. “I’ll find someone else in a heartbeat. Never had a problem before. I was doing you a favor by marrying you, Aly. Don’t come crawling back to me when he leaves you in the middle of the night to go back wherever it is he came from.” He shoved the ring in his pocket, and walked out of the door.
Wyatt had to check himself hard or he would run after Mitchell and tear his limbs from his body without a second thought. He had possibly just destroyed the best thing he had in his life.
“Aly?” He turned to her, but face was frozen with fright. He reached toward her, but she shrank.
“Don’t touch me.” She ran toward the bathroom, locking the door behind her.
Fuck.
Chapter Nineteen
Aly
Her hands trembled. “Go away,” she shouted through the door. “Get out of my room.”
“I’m not going to hurt you.” She could hear Wyatt pacing on the other side of the bathroom.
“I don’t know who to trust. Please go.”
She looked at the unfolded pile of clean clothes in the laundry basket. At least she could put on something to wear. She threw the silk nightie in her hamper and reached for a rust colored sweater and a pair of jeans.
“Wyatt?” she called, wondering if the silence meant he had left.
“Yeah?”
She sighed. He was still there. But who was he? What was he?
She had seen the look in his eyes when he barged in and found Mitchell holding her to the wall. There was a sense of utter protection and devotion emanating from his body. She had felt safe the instant she saw him. Somehow she knew Mitchell wouldn’t hurt her with Wyatt in the room.
She cracked the door. “I’m coming out.”
“Good.”
She stood in front of him, not sure what to say. When she awoke in his arms this morning she had felt as if they were tied together. She knew his secrets. Only, there were more he hadn’t shared.
“I swear I won’t hurt you.” His eyes pleaded with her.
“I didn’t think Mitchell would hurt me either, but he just tried to strangle me.” She could still feel where his fingers had pressed into her throat.
Wyatt grunted. “He’s a damn tool. I wouldn’t expect much.”
Her eyes shot to him. “What did he mean that you were a trained killer? Why did he say that? What the hell was he talking about?”
He shook his head. “I can’t believe you’ve been with that asshole two years.”
“Agreed but don’t try to change the subject.”
She sat down on the bed and he followed facing her. Ready to bare his soul to her. Ready to share his secret.
Wyatt
“I left the Army a week ago.” He gripped at her hand, drawing strength from her to keep talking. “I was in Special Forces as a Green Beret. I never thought I’d leave. I never thought I would be anything other than a soldier.”
“What happened? Why did you leave? I need to know.”
He continued with his story. “I had been in Bhazni for three years.” He closed his eyes recalling the details from his last night in the country. “We parachuted into our target. It was standard. Quieter than a chopper,” he explained. “I landed on the ground with seven men on my team.”
Aly’s eyes were wide. He could see the shades of brown glowing with growing concern.
“But I didn’t leave with all seven.”
He felt her hand clutch his. “Wyatt…”
He kept talking. “They were the men I had called brothers. The men I swore to protect. The men who protected me.”
“What happened?” Her voice was quiet and soft.
They were the memories he had fought to forget. The ones he buried under his skin and the fibers of his being. The ones that
had pushed him into the wind and down the road.
“We were used to attacks.” He shook his head. “We were trained for them. It happened all the time. But not like that one. It wasn’t like anything we had ever seen before.”
“How was it different?”
Wyatt thought about the in-processing he completed when he returned to Washington. They had put him in an office with an Army psychiatrist. He had to be cleared before they would let him leave the Army. He knew how to answer the questions. He had been trained so well he could evade mandatory counseling.
He hadn’t wanted to tell the man with the thin nose and square glasses about what he saw in Bhazni. It wasn’t any of his damn business. He didn’t care if he had to fill in a box on a checklist. So, Wyatt had told the man what he wanted to hear. Enough to get a clean bill of health and complete his discharge papers.
Being next to Aly stirred something in him. The man in him needed to tell her. He wanted to finally let go of everything he had been carrying on his shoulders.
He lifted his eyes to her. “The entire village was part of the ambush. Every building. Every car. Every street. All of it was lined with explosives.”
“Oh my God. What? Why?”
“They knew we would be there. One of our field agents was working against us. By the time my Green Beret team and a Ranger team showed up, the village had been evacuated. But we didn’t figure it out in time. They blew the whole thing up. There wasn’t anything left.”
“But you survived?”
He nodded. He knew he shouldn’t have. He should have been part of the embers like everyone else, but he had survived. His ability to heal quickly helped him escape the flames and smoke. He had the kind of strength and stamina no other man had.
“By the time I figured out what had happened, it was too late. I tried to pull some of the men out, but they were already gone.” He clutched his fingers together. “They were all dead. Every last one of them.”
Her Pleasure Warrior_A Military Romance Page 6