Special Forces_Operation Alpha_Proteting Maria Read online

  Maria was worth breaking rules for.

  Chapter Nine

  Sleep was proving to be a bitch. Maria tossed the covers back and padded over to the window. She pulled back the drapes and gazed out over the city. Even in the middle of the night the city still hummed with life.

  God, how she wanted to sleep, but her brain wouldn’t switch off. If she closed her eyes she alternated seeing the distraught features of the mother of the young boy she couldn’t save. Or she re-lived the kiss with Riley over and over again.

  He’d been amazing tonight. A quiet strength she hadn’t known she’d needed in her life. He’d looked after and even though she knew he wanted to get her to talk about what had happened at work, he’d kept quiet.

  Disappointment had flowed through her when he’d retreated to his study to work after he’d cooked her a delicious meal. She yearned to feel his arms around her again. To recreate that feeling of security and protection she’d experienced while they’d been kissing. Her body had come alive under his touch.

  What would it feel like if he made love to her? If he kissed his way down her body like the way he’d kissed her tonight. What would it feel like to have that every night? To have someone care and protect her so she wouldn’t have to worry about her father or the family coming after her.

  It was a wild dream. A dream that would never come true. There was no man on earth who would want to get involved with her. Not with who her father was. Regardless of what Riley, Tex and anyone else who had an opinion, she would be better off going back to her father. Then everyone else could get on with their lives and not be tainted by her or her drama.

  God, I’m throwing my own pity party.

  She hadn’t gotten this far in life by letting a little adversary set her back. Why was she allowing it to get to her now?

  What she needed was sleep. A goodnight’s sleep and everything would seem better. She hoped.

  Turning, she screamed when she spied the dark shadow standing two feet away from her.

  Strong hands grabbed her shoulders and she’s immediately kicked the shins of her would be assailant.

  “Doc. Stop. It’s me. Riley.”

  His voice penetrated the haze of fear buzzing through her ears. “Riley?” She hit his shoulder then. “What the hell do you think you’re doing sneaking up on me? Haven’t you heard of knocking?”

  “I was coming to check on you. See if you needed anything or if you were okay. And I didn’t knock because I didn’t want to wake you in case you were sleeping. You need your rest.”

  “Well as you can see I’m not sleeping.”

  She also became aware her hand rested on his shoulder. His firm, unclothed shoulder. A quick glance down confirmed Riley was shirtless and only had on a pair of shorts that hung low on his hips. In the muted light she could see the defined outline of his six-pack. The tattoo covering part of his chest intrigued her with its almost Aztec look. Did it have a special meaning to him?

  Attraction stronger than anything she’d ever known before had her swaying toward him. Her hand reached out and ran slowly down the ridges of his chest. Gooseflesh broke out over his skin. She didn’t think it was from the air conditioning.

  “What are you doing, Doc?”

  “I need to feel like my life is worthwhile. Like I’m worthwhile to someone.”

  Warm hands covered hers, plastering them to his hot flesh. “You are worthwhile. What you do every day is worthwhile. You save lives, Maria. Don’t ever think you’re not worth something to someone. Every single family member appreciates and is thankful for what you do.”

  “That’s my job. It’s what I do. But growing up with my father, I could never have real friends. Who would want to be friends with the daughter of a mobster? Plus my father vetted pretty much all my friends. After a while I stopped trying to make friends, it was safer. So yeah, I don’t feel like I’m worthwhile.”

  Maria wanted to walk away, but as though he sensed her urge, he tightened the hold he had on her hands. She looked up at him, shocked at the intensity of his gaze. His eyes sparked fire and she wasn’t sure if it was anger or desire burning in their depths. Not wanting to hope he felt the growing attraction between them like she did, she went with believing he was angry. A thought immediately disregarded when his hands smoothed over her shoulders and he leaned down, stopping millimeters from her mouth.

  “I think you’re worthwhile,” he whispered as he closed the miniscule gap and placed his lips over hers.

  A sigh emanated from her and her arms closed around his waist, reveling in the feel of his warm, hard body beneath her fingers.

  Today wasn’t the first time she’d lost a patient. But it was the first time she had someone who she could lean on. Someone who could make her feel again. Like life meant something.

  Riley pulled her closer, deepening the kiss and his hard length pushed against her belly. An answering wetness pooled between her thighs.

  It was insane how attracted she was to a man she’d only known for a couple of weeks. Her fingers trailed from his back to his front until she reached the hard ridge of his flesh. Feeling bolder than she ever had before, her fingers gripped him through the soft cotton fabric of his shorts.

  His groan emboldened her to stroke his engorged flesh. His lips pulled away from hers and she moaned her disappointment.

  “Doc, I don’t think we should be doing this.”

  Embarrassment washed over her and she pulled her hand away and stumbled from him.

  Had she misread him? Misread the whole kiss? It had been so long since she’d been involved in any sort of relationship, but she still understood the male anatomy and from the way his flesh seemed to get harder in her hand, she knew Riley had to be attracted to her. Plus he kissed her. He’d made the first move. Now he was saying they shouldn’t be kissing?

  Wrapping her arms around herself, she looked up at him. The answer to the questions rattling around her mind were reflected in his eyes, desire still burned brightly.

  “This doesn’t make sense, you want me, and I want you. What’s the issue?” Blurting her thoughts out had never been her intention, but she wasn’t ashamed of it.

  When he took two steps away from her, he may as well have taken twenty. “You’re right, I do want you. But you’ve had a tough day. I don’t want you to wake up with regrets, and that’s exactly what I think you’ll do if we keep doing what we were doing.”

  “Oh my God, that’s the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have any regrets.”

  “Are you sure about that? I have no doubt any other guy would take advantage of you right now. You had an emotional day at work. You were basically in a trance for an hour after I picked you up. You’re life is in turmoil because your father tried to have you knocked down or kidnapped again a week ago. Tell me how us sleeping together would be a good thing?”

  “Because if I’m going to die I want at least to have a good memory.”

  The confession burst out of her. Saying out loud the possibility of her dying was sobering, not only to her, but to Riley as well. He moved back to her faster than a bolt of lightning was any indication.

  His warm hands curled around her upper arms. “Not on my watch. I’m not going to let anything happen to you, Doc.”

  “You can’t guarantee that.”

  “Life doesn’t come with guarantees, but I do. Trust me.”

  The assurance should’ve made her feel better. She still wasn’t convinced he could keep his word.

  “I want to believe you. I really do, but you don’t know my father.”

  “And you don’t know me. Once a SEAL always a SEAL. I may not be a member of my team anymore. Look, between them, me, and my business partner Storm, nothing is going to happen to you. We will find a way to get you away from your family.”

  Her eyes closed as his fingers traced lightly down her cheek. Her own hand reached out and landed on his bare chest again.

  She wanted this. She wanted to make
love to Riley. How could she regret it in the morning? He was here in front of her.

  Strong.

  A silent warrior who’d faced many difficult things while he’d been a SEAL. If he said he could help and keep her safe. Then she believed him.

  “I trust you, Ash.”

  If she hadn’t had her hands on his chest she never would’ve felt the slight hitch at her calling him by his nickname. The only other time she’d called him by that she’d said it sarcastically.

  “Do you think you’ll be able to sleep now?”

  Fatigue brushed its fingers over her body.

  “I guess.”

  When Riley’s warm lips landed on hers it was the last thing she’d been expecting. But she wasn’t going to complain. Wanting to prolong the contact, she slid her hand up his chest over, his shoulder and inched around his neck.

  A sigh escaped her as he pulled his lips away from hers.

  “Night, Doc.”

  She didn’t want him to leave, but everything pointed to him keeping his word and not taking advantage of her. “Night, Ash.”

  Chapter Ten

  Keep walking.

  Keep walking.

  The phrase played over and over in his mind as he walked away from Maria’s room, heading straight for his bathroom and a cold shower.

  It had been the right thing to do to stop things progressing from bad idea territory to monumentally bad idea territory.

  They’d already shared too many kisses. Never before had he gotten involved with someone he’d been assigned to protect. Never had wanted to, so what was it about Maria that made him want to throw all caution to the wind?

  With this job as a SEAL he’d never given any thought to having a serious relationship with anyone. Being deployed for months on end with the threat of losing his life around any corner didn’t make let’s-get-married a priority for him. He’d vowed once he enlisted he wouldn’t put a woman through worry of never know if he’d come home or not. Not that he’d found any woman he loved. Until maybe now.

  He forced his mind down on that thought. It was impossible to think he loved Maria. Apart from the fact he’d only known her a couple of weeks. They hadn’t spent nearly enough time together to get to know each other. Although it hadn’t been a burden to have her living in his house. Doing things couples do, like eating together, watching tv shows, and sharing a few hot kisses. All of that together didn’t equal true love, though.

  How about the fact that you’ve never shared kisses with anyone like the ones you’ve shared with Maria?

  That little voice needed to shut the hell up.

  He reached his room, the shower beckoning. Although he could think of better ways to relieve the hard-on he was still sporting. Namely, turning around and walking back the direction he’d just come from. The chance of being turned away was slim, not with the way Maria had wanted him to take the next step. His body wanted him to take the next step. His sense of honor told him not to because Maria was vulnerable. Had been through so much and he couldn’t take advantage of her.

  It wouldn’t be fair.

  “Fuck.” The word exploded out of him as he moved toward the shower, shucking his shorts, leaving them in a heap on the tiled floor.

  With a flick of his wrist the water shot out of the showerhead. He turned the dial toward the “C”, grit his teeth and got in. The sting of the cold water struck his skin like a hundred needlepoints. He was too damn old for cold showers, but it was having the desired effect and he’d gone from full mast to quarter mast. He switched the water to warm and quickly washed himself.

  As he dried himself his mind went over what he needed to do. He needed to check in with Tex and find out what he’d managed to find out about Maria’s father and the family business. Also Italy had sent him a text to say he would be meeting with someone from his past who might be able to help them in this situation.

  Those were the things he needed to concentrate on. Not on Maria. Not on the way she’d felt in his arms. Not on the way his body wanted to lose himself in her.

  “Stop.” He spoke the command out loud in the vain hope it would halt his thoughts from hurtling down the road they were on at breakneck speed.

  He tossed the towel to the ground and stomped into his room, coming to an abrupt halt at the sight that greeted him.

  Maria.

  In his bed.

  Looking at him as if he was a steak dinner and she hadn’t eaten in months. In an instant he went back from quarter mast to full mast.

  “What are you doing here?” He ground the words out as he turned his back on her and headed for his dresser to get something to put on.

  “I couldn’t sleep. I need you, Riley.”

  His hand gripped the handle of the drawer he was about to pull open. The need in her voice reached out and wound itself around the need he’d been trying so desperately to deny.

  “This really isn’t a good idea, Doc.”

  The rustle of his bed covers gave him a few seconds warning. Enough to brace himself for what was about to happen next.

  It hadn’t been enough. Warm hands smoothed up his back, over his shoulders, stopping on his belly. The sensation of her naked body pressed against his back could only be described as subliminal.

  Anything he’d been about to say flew out of his mind as her hands traveled further south and gripped his engorged flesh.

  “You want this as much as I do. Don’t deny it. Your body doesn’t lie.”

  Her fingers stroked from the base to the tip of his penis. Of their own volition his eyelids drifted down as she maintained a slow pace.

  He could stay like this forever. Maria’s body warming his back, her hand working magic on him.

  A shudder rippled through him when her lips traced across his shoulder. He could quite easily pop his load right now. But he didn’t want to. He only wanted to do that buried deep inside of her.

  The war within him was over. Surrender wasn’t something he did often, but surrender to Maria and her desires was what he did right now.

  Turning quicker than a bullet finding its target, he had his arms wrapped tightly around her, his cock brushing against her belly. Bending a little at the knees he scooped her up and carried her over to his bed. Not wanting to break contact, but knowing he had to if he wanted to lay her on the bed and not crush her.

  He did exactly that, lay her down as though she was made of spun gold. A very precious metal that should be cherished.

  Sprawled on the bed in front of him, he let himself look at her for the first time. Her dark hair spread out against his grey sheets. Her mouth slightly plump from his kisses. He climbed on the bed next to her, lying on his side so he could look his fill. She was beautiful. Her breasts full and enticing him to touch and taste them. Her belly, slightly rounded, leading to the place he couldn’t wait to sample. Her neatly trimmed dark curls hid the most precious part of her.

  “You’re so beautiful,” he whispered reverently as his hand followed the path his eyes had just taken. He cupped one breast, catching her nipple between his thumb and forefinger. Lowering his head, he traced his tongue around her areola, before taking her hardened peak into his mouth. Her body arched up at the contact.

  Oh how he wanted to go slow. Savor every touch and taste every inch of her. It was impossible though. This one sweet taste of her flesh only drove the need in him to join their bodies.

  He moved over her so that he lay on top of her, his cock resting between her legs. They were made for each other.

  The thought floated through his mind and took purchase. He liked the idea a lot. He liked the idea of protecting Maria for the rest of his life. Picking her up after her day at work. Consoling her if she lost a patient, celebrating the victories as well.

  Now he knew why Storm had thrown caution to the wind when he’d gotten involved with Lily. When the right woman came along, and no matter how quickly it happened, you would do everything in your power to be with them.

  He rested his weight on his
elbows so he could frame her face with his hands. Looking deeply into her eyes, he made a silent vow that he would do whatever it took to free Maria from her family.

  While he’d been in Afghanistan he’d faced men holding grenades out toward him and survived. He could survive the steps necessary to give the woman looking up at him with desire burning brightly in her eyes, the one thing she craved the most. Her freedom and the will to do with her life whatever she wanted.

  He closed the distance between them and kissed her, putting every one of his emotions into this one touch. A sigh left her and her arms tightened around his neck. His erection nudged her entrance, sliding into her would be easy to do. One pump of his hips and he’d be inside her.

  Protection.

  At least one part of his brain was still aware of what was happening and not lost in the haze of cravings.

  Riley broke the kiss and rolled off her to the opposite side of the bed.

  “Where are you going?” A finger poked him in the back.

  “Protection.” He replied as he opened the drawer and pulled a box of condoms out and emptied the contents onto the table.

  “Oh.”

  Riley grabbed a foil packet and ripped it open with his teeth. “Did you think I was going to walk away?” he asked as he rolled the rubber on.

  “You did once before.”

  That was true, he had walked away from her. Gathering her close, he rotated them so that she lay on top of him. “I’m not going anywhere.” He lifted his hips, reinforcing her words. There was no way in hell he could or would walk away from her now.

  A wicked gleam entered her eyes and she leaned forward and nipped his bottom lip. Sensation arrowed straight down to his already engorged flesh. With their changed positions, he’d been happy to let her take the lead. Now, not so much. Threading his fingers through her hair he cupped her skull and sought out her lips once again. He turned them again so that he was back on top. With his mouth occupied he reached down between her legs and stroked her slick folds, her body arched into his. Holding back was impossible. The need to own her couldn’t be denied.