Her Lieutenant Protector

by Lara Lacombe

  “They’re perfect for each other,” she said.

  Olivia and Logan turned to face the small group, both grinning widely.

  “Congratulations,” said the judge, reaching out to shake their hands. “I’ll sign your marriage license and then this will all be official.” He stepped to the side to do just that, while Avery, Grant, Mallory and Everest surrounded the happy couple.

  Mallory engulfed Olivia in a hug. “You’re such a beautiful bride,” she said, blinking back tears. “I’m so happy for you.”

  Avery held her arms open wide. “Mrs. Murray,” she said, smiling broadly.

  Olivia laughed. “It does have a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?”

  They glanced over at the men, who were shaking hands and slapping backs.

  “It was a lovely ceremony,” Mallory said.

  “Short and sweet,” Olivia said. “Just like we wanted it.”

  The judge handed the marriage license to Logan, and the group walked into the lobby of the courthouse, where several other couples sat, awaiting their turn to be joined in marriage.

  “I must say,” Avery remarked, “this was a great way to get married.” She sounded thoughtful. “What do you think, Grant? We could duck out to the courthouse and be back at work in a matter of hours...”

  “Oh, no,” Grant said, rolling his eyes as he pulled her close. “You know I’ll marry you anytime, anywhere. But we are not going back to work afterward. We’re taking a break and going on a honeymoon.”

  “Speaking of,” Mallory said. “We should head to the restaurant so we can start lunch. We don’t want these two to miss their flight.”

  Olivia and Logan were leaving for their honeymoon later that afternoon. The couple was headed to Maine to enjoy a quiet week at a quaint B and B. Mallory had seen their itinerary, and she knew it was going to be a wonderful trip, filled with good food, quiet afternoons by the fire and amazing views of the foliage, which was just beginning to turn for the fall. It was exactly the kind of restful vacation Olivia and Logan deserved, and Mallory was thrilled for her friends.

  She glanced at Everest, and her heart swelled as a rush of feeling hit her. They’d spent the past two months getting to know each other very well, and the more she learned about him, the more she wanted to know. Unfortunately, they’d both been assigned to different cruises in the wake of the Abigail Adams voyage, and so they hadn’t been able to see each other as often as she would have liked. But they still found ways to connect with each other every day—texting, talking on the phone and videoconferencing in the evenings. They’d spent countless hours talking about anything and everything, and Everest had quickly become Mallory’s chief confidant, her cheerleader and her rock. He made her laugh, he lifted her spirits when she was having a bad day and he was a great sounding board when she needed to talk through a decision. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined feeling so emotionally close to a man, and she reveled in the comfort of their relationship.

  They sat side by side during lunch. Everest was left-handed, so their arms and hands brushed continuously throughout the meal as they both ate. Every time she felt his skin against her own, a tingle shot up her arm and her stomach fluttered. Mallory tried to pay attention to the conversation, but being so close to Everest was distracting.

  At the end of the meal the couples said their goodbyes. Malloy hugged Olivia tightly. “Have a wonderful trip,” she said. “Send us a postcard.”

  “They won’t have time for that,” Avery said, a knowing smile on her face. “I’m sure they’ll be busy.”

  Olivia laughed. “We’ll have to come up for air sometime,” she said, her eyes sparkling.

  Mallory turned to Logan, reaching out for a hug. Surprise flashed in his green eyes, and he smiled. He hugged her gently. “Take care of yourself,” he said softly in her ear.

  “I will,” she promised. She could tell by his reaction Olivia had told him about her past assault. Once upon a time, she would have been bothered to know more people were aware of her rape. But now that Everest was in her life, she no longer felt vulnerable when she thought about the incident. It was a horrible thing that had happened to her, but Everest’s support had helped her reclaim her power, so that she was no longer controlled by her memories. Their relationship seemed to have helped Everest as well—he’d told Grant and Logan about his leg, and he didn’t seem so self-conscious about his injury anymore.

  They all waved as Olivia and Logan drove away, headed back to their house so they could change clothes before their flight. Avery turned to Mallory. “We’re going to head into DC and do a little sightseeing. Want to join us?”

  Mallory shook her head. “Thanks, but Everest and I were thinking about going to Mount Vernon. Maybe we can meet up for dinner somewhere?”

  “That would be nice,” Avery said. They all exchanged hugs, and then Avery and Grant started walking in the direction of the Metro station.

  “I didn’t know you wanted to see Mount Vernon,” Everest said, a note of surprise in his voice.

  “I don’t,” Mallory replied. She raised one eyebrow, and realization dawned in his eyes.

  “Oh,” he said. His Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat as he swallowed, and Mallory got the distinct impression he was nervous.

  That makes two of us, she thought wryly.

  Their hotel was only a few blocks away. In a matter of moments, Everest shut the door behind them, leaving them alone for the first time in weeks.

  “Hi.” His voice was a low rumble that she felt as much as heard, a light brush against her skin that made her shiver.

  “Hi yourself,” she replied. She took a step toward him, needing to get closer.

  He matched her movement, his eyes never leaving hers as together they closed the distance between them.

  “I’ve missed you so much,” he said softly. He lifted his hand and ran it gently down her hair. His touch was like a benediction, and Mallory closed her eyes, savoring the contact.

  “I’ve missed you, too,” she said.

  She reached up to link her hands at the back of his neck, drawing him closer until her body flattened against his. It was a heady sensation, feeling every inch of his powerful frame pressed against her. The visceral reminder of his strength was overwhelming, but she wasn’t afraid. Instead, she felt safe.

  After a moment, she leaned back so she could press a kiss to his mouth. He tasted of coffee from lunch, and his lips were warm and soft against her own.

  He hummed softly in his throat and ran his hand down her back, anchoring her against him. She didn’t know how long they stood there, wrapped in each other’s arms. Being so close to him was intoxicating, and her head spun as she breathed in the warm scent of his skin.

  Need rose in her chest, urging her to seek more from Everest. She took his hand and led him to the bed, where they both sat. She reached for the buttons on her shirt and began to unfasten them, but Everest placed his hand over hers.

  “Mallory,” he said softly. “Are you sure?”

  She met his eyes and saw a mix of emotions there—need, concern, hope. And love.

  “Yes.” She nodded, watched the relief flash across his face. “I’m ready. It’s time.”

  The breath gusted out of him on a sigh, and he traced the line of her cheekbone with her fingertip. “Okay. How do you want to do this?”

  “I—I’m not quite sure.” Now that the moment was here, Mallory didn’t know exactly how to proceed. What was the protocol for seducing one’s boyfriend?

  “That’s fine.” His smile was sweet and a little shy. “We’ll just figure things out for ourselves.”

  He took her hand and placed it against his chest. “You’re in charge,” he said simply.

  Mallory allowed her hand to roam across the planes of his chest and stomach, tracing the ridges of muscle through
the fabric of his shirt. It was nice, but she wanted to feel his skin against her own. She tugged at the hem of his shirt and gave him a quizzical look.

  “Can I—?”

  In lieu of a response, Everest pulled his shirt off and tossed it to the side. “Pants, too?” he asked, a smile in his voice.

  “Yes, please.” Mallory felt her cheeks heat, but any embarrassment she felt soon faded as she got her first good look at Everest’s body.

  Her hands were pale against the golden glow of his skin. Dark blond hair dusted his chest and tapered into a line that bisected his toned stomach. She traced the lines of his thigh muscles, and was rewarded with the sound of a strangled laugh.

  “Ticklish?”

  “A little.” Still, he let her continue to explore his body, offering no objections even when she bent to examine his prosthesis.

  It fit just below his knee and appeared to be a no-nonsense contraption consisting of a sleeve, a metal pole and a prosthetic foot. This was the first time she’d had occasion to examine one so closely, and she studied it curiously.

  “Do you want me to remove it?”

  Mallory glanced at Everest, trying to gauge his feeling. The last thing she wanted was to make him uncomfortable.

  “Only if you want to.” She reached for his hand and squeezed gently. “This isn’t all about me, you know.”

  He leaned forward and kissed her, hard. “I trust you,” he said. “With all of me.”

  Mallory blinked back tears as Everest unfastened his prosthesis and removed a fabric sleeve, revealing a stump that was shiny with scars. She reached out to touch his leg, but drew up short before she made contact.

  Everest took her hand and placed it on his knee. “It’s okay,” he said. “Like I said, all of me.”

  Mallory leaned forward to examine the site, her professional interest sparked. “Whoever operated on you did a nice job,” she commented. She traced one of the longer scars and nodded appreciatively. “Looks like it healed well.”

  “Um, Mallory?”

  She looked up to find Everest watching her, an amused expression on his face. “Do you think you could maybe sound a little more like my girlfriend and a little less like my doctor? You’re going to give me a complex here.”

  “Oh! Sorry,” she said, feeling sheepish.

  “It’s okay,” he said, reaching for her. He drew her up the length of his body and kissed her again. “Where were we?”

  “This feels familiar,” she murmured against his mouth. Her heart pounded hard against her rib cage, and she gathered her courage. It was her turn to bare herself to his gaze.

  She pulled back and unbuttoned her shirt, shrugging it off and dropping it to the floor. Everest sucked in a breath, and his blue eyes flashed with arousal. “Pants, too?” she asked teasingly.

  “Oh, God, please, yes,” he breathed. “If you want to, that is.”

  Mallory laughed, enjoying herself more than she’d thought was possible. She was beginning to realize that her rape had been more about violence and power than sex. Now she just had to hold on to that knowledge as she and Everest took this next step.

  She lay back on the bed, raising her arms over her head so that Everest could see her fully. His eyes roamed over her body, his expression almost reverent as he studied her.

  “Are you going to touch me?” she asked softly.

  “Can I?” His voice was a little strangled, revealing the intensity of his need.

  “Please.” She needed to feel his hands on her body, needed his touch to burn away the invisible marks of Blake’s aggression.

  His hands were big and warm on her skin, his movements in turn gentle and teasing. He angled himself over her and kissed her again, triggering a zing of sensation in her chest that shot down her torso to settle in her core.

  His hands stroked her, followed by his lips. He worked his way down her body, and she gasped as the intensity of her arousal built. She felt like she was headed toward something, her body stretching in pursuit of a goal she couldn’t quite see.

  Everest’s clever fingers seemed to know exactly where to touch her, how to move to bring her pleasure. She gripped his shoulders, holding on to him as her world spun and she lost herself to sensation.

  Dimly, she felt his weight settle over her. Panic slammed into her, hard and fast, and she fought to breathe.

  She must have made some sound, some noise of distress. In the next instant, she felt a gust of cool air on her body and realized Everest was sitting next to her.

  “I’m sorry,” he said, his eyes bright with concern.

  “It’s okay,” she said. The tight band around her chest eased, and shame flooded her. Her worst nightmare was coming true, and she didn’t know what to do about it.

  Everest placed a finger under her chin, turning her head until she faced him. “Don’t worry about it,” he said. “We knew this might happen.”

  Tears filled her eyes, and she shook her head. “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t apologize,” he said. “You never have to apologize to me.”

  “I really want to make love to you,” she said, a sense of despair settling over her. “But I don’t know how.”

  He was quiet for a moment, his expression thoughtful. “Why don’t we try something different?” he suggested. He lay flat on the bed, assuming her earlier pose. “I think you should be on top.”

  She eyed him, her appreciation for his body growing as she took in his length. “That might work,” she said, feeling the faint stirrings of hope in her chest. If she didn’t feel restrained, she might not experience that rush of fear.

  “Let’s see if we can recapture the magic,” he said, reaching for her.

  She went willingly, covering his body with her own. Gradually, her panic subsided as her sense of need returned, ushered in by Everest’s soothing murmurs and careful strokes.

  Finally, she could stand it no longer. She needed to feel Everest inside her, needed to join with him in this most basic and most profound way. She threw her leg over his hips, straddling him.

  He clearly sensed her impatience. “One second,” he said hastily.

  She paused, taken aback. But her confusion dissolved as she watched him quickly don a condom. “Ready when you are,” he said with a grin.

  Mallory took a deep breath and lowered herself onto him. She braced herself for the jolt of panic, the hit of disgust. But it never came. The ghosts of her past were quiet; it was only the two of them in bed right now.

  She nearly cried with relief, her eyes stinging with tears.

  “Mallory. Look at me.”

  She opened her eyes and found Everest staring up at her with a look of naked yearning on his face. “Stay with me,” he said, moving under her.

  “Yes,” she whispered, her heart swelling with love for this man and the life they were building together. “Only with you. Always.”

  For the first time, Mallory shared her heart along with her body. Her connection with Everest strengthened as they explored each other, touching, moving, giving each other pleasure. She’d thought they were close before, but now that she felt him move inside her, heard him gasp and tasted the salt of his sweat on his skin, she realized what they’d been missing. Everest made her feel whole again. He was her missing piece, her safe place, her true match. She clung to him, reveling in the knowledge that he was hers and she was his. With every thrust, every caress, their bond grew stronger, cementing the connection between them.

  Afterward, they lay together, limbs tangled and skin flushed and damp with sweat. Everest idly ran his finger up and down her arm in a gentle caress.

  Mallory turned and snuggled into his side. “Thank you,” she said quietly.

  He chuckled softly, his chest vibrating against her ear. “That’s my line.”

  The
y were quiet a moment, then he spoke again. “Are you okay?”

  She took a moment to consider the question. She had expected to feel all kinds of emotions in the wake of her first sexual encounter after the rape, but in truth, she felt pleasantly spent, empty of worries or concerns.

  “I’m more than okay,” she said, lifting her head to smile at him. “I feel amazing.”

  Relief flashed across his face, and she realized he had been worried about her reaction. “I’m so glad,” he said sincerely. “Does this mean you’ll sleep with me again?” He lifted one brow teasingly, and she laughed.

  “Ready for round two so soon?”

  “No, not quite,” he admitted. “But I do hope you’ll give me another opportunity to show how much I love you.”

  His words made her heart soar. She stared at him, unable to contain the grin spreading across her face. “You love me?” she said softly.

  “I do.”

  She kissed him, then leaned back and laughed, unable to contain her joy. “You love me!”

  He smiled and ran a hand down her side. “I’m glad to see that makes you happy.”

  “Of course it does!” She kissed him again. “And it just so happens, I love you, too.”

  Warmth filled his eyes, and he wrapped his arms around her. “I had my fingers crossed,” he whispered into her hair. “It’s nice to know the feeling is mutual.”

  “Most definitely,” she assured him. “You’re all mine, Everest LeBeau.”

  He grinned. “Does this mean you’re mine, Mallory Watkins?”

  She nodded, drinking in the sight of him, etching this view in her heart so she would remember it always.

  “Yes.”

  * * * * *

  If you enjoyed this thrilling romance,

  don’t miss the first two volumes of Lara Lacombe’s

  DOCTORS IN DANGER miniseries:

  ENTICED BY THE OPERATIVE

  DR. DO-OR-DIE

  Available now wherever Harlequin books are sold!