Protecting The Colton Bride

by Elle James

  “Daniel!” Megan screamed.

  The man in the ski mask leaped over her sprawled form and ran for the stairwell at the opposite end of the hall.

  The elevator door opened and Daniel leaped out. “Megan?” He ran to her and dropped to his haunches. “Oh, baby, are you okay?” His hands skimmed her body, her arms and legs, his assessing gaze sweeping across her.

  Tears pooled in her eyes as she pushed to a sitting position. “I’m okay. He went that way.” She pointed to the stairwell.

  Daniel paused. “Did he hurt you?”

  “No. I’m fine.”

  Daniel held out his hand and helped her to her feet. “Go into the room and lock the door, chains and all. Call hotel security and wait for me to return. Don’t let anyone in but me or security.”

  Her heart racing all over again, she touched his arm. “Where are you going?”

  “After your attacker.” He ushered her to the door and bent to brush a quick kiss across her lips. “Lock it.” Then he was gone, racing down the hall to the stairwell. As he ran, he shot a glance over his shoulder. “By the way, I love the outfit.” With a wink he pushed through the door.

  Warmed by his comment, Megan watched until he disappeared. Once he was out of sight, a chill shivered across her skin. She ducked back into her room and closed and locked the door as promised. She hurried over to the phone on an end table and dialed the operator. “Hotel security.”

  “One moment while I connect you,” the operator said.

  “Security.”

  Megan sighed. “Someone just broke into my room.” She gave the details, assured them the intruder was gone and then hung up to wait for their arrival.

  All through the call, her mind was on Daniel, praying he was okay. Part of her wanted him to catch the intruder while the other part of her didn’t want him to get hurt in the process. She paced to the door and looked through the peephole into the empty hallway, wishing Daniel would come back. She turned and leaned against the door, her gaze panning the room. Why had someone broken in? They didn’t have anything worth stealing.

  She walked through the sitting area, through the bedroom and into the bathroom. Nothing appeared disturbed. In the bedroom, again, nothing seemed out of place. No drawers were opened. Her purse sat on the dresser in the same position she’d left it. In the bathroom, she slipped into the fluffy white hotel bathrobe. She grabbed her phone and held it, willing Daniel to call and let her know what was happening in the stairwell.

  A knock at the door made her jump and yelp.

  “Hotel security.”

  Megan hurried to the door and peered through the peephole. Two men wearing the uniforms she’d seen in the casino stood outside her door.

  She slid the chain off and unlocked the dead bolt. Her hand shook as she opened the door.

  “Ma’am, we understand you’ve had a break-in. We notified the police, and they are on their way. We’re here to protect you until they arrive.”

  “Thanks.” Megan stood in the robe, wishing she’d taken the time to get dressed, feeling uncomfortable in a bathrobe with nothing more than a sexy nightgown beneath it. Where was Daniel?

  * * *

  Daniel ran down the stairs, leaped over the railing and dropped to the next level. He stopped and listened. Below he heard footsteps pounding on the stairs. He leaned over the railing and caught a glimpse of someone in black three or four floors below. Fueled by the sound and the sight of his prey, Daniel continued downward.

  The metal clink sounded of a stairwell door opening and closing. Daniel leaned over the railing again but didn’t see anything. He was still several floors from ground level.

  His heart beating rapidly, he continued downward from the penthouse level until he reached the ground and burst through the door.

  Multicolored lights flashed, and the constant ringing of bells and the musical cacophony of the casino assailed his senses. He scanned the immediate vicinity for a man in black. There were a couple of older men wearing black shirts, standing at the slot machines, but no one appeared to have been running down multiple flights of stairs.

  Daniel hurried past row after row of slot and video poker machines. At one point he thought he saw a man in black duck around a group of people at a roulette table. Upon closer investigation, he discovered a woman with dark hair and a black blouse drinking a martini and laughing up at her date.

  As large and confusing as the casino was, Daniel knew it was a lost cause to continue his search. The longer he was away from Megan, the more he wanted to return to her and make certain she was okay.

  He took the elevator back to the penthouse level and hurried toward their room. The door was open, and a couple of security guards stood inside.

  When he entered through the open doorway, the guards blocked his path.

  Daniel held up his hands and nodded toward Megan. “That’s my wife.” The words rolled off his lips, feeling so natural and right.

  Megan’s cheeks reddened. “You can let him in. He’s with me.”

  Daniel slipped around the security guards and pulled her into his arms. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah. More importantly, are you?” She pushed to arm’s length and stared up into his eyes. “Did you catch him?”

  He frowned and shook his head. “He must have gotten off on one of the higher floors. I went all the way down to the bottom and never saw him.” Glancing over her shoulder, he asked, “Anything missing or disturbed?”

  “Nothing. He was in the room long enough to grab my purse, but he didn’t even touch it.”

  A minute later, the police, the hotel manager and the assistant manager arrived, filling the room. The police took Megan’s statement, dusted for prints and looked around, leaving shortly afterward.

  The hotel manager and assistant manager stood in the hallway with Megan and Daniel until the police left. When they were gone, hotel maintenance staff entered and wiped away all traces of fingerprint dust and splintered wood from the door frame. “We’ll have someone fix the frame tomorrow,” said the manager. “Please accept our apologies. Your room will be comped and our security staff will be working closely with the police, going over the video footage to help them identify your intruder. We’ll have guards on the floor for the remainder of the night.”

  “Thank you.” Daniel held the door for the hotel manager and his assistant. When they’d passed through, he closed it and turned to Megan.

  Her face was pale and her eyes were rounded, with dark circles beneath.

  Daniel opened his arms. “Come here.”

  Megan fell against him, burying her face against his chest.

  He held her close, resting his cheek against her soft hair, breathing in the scent of her. After the insane race to get to her before the intruder did and then the race down the stairwell to catch the bastard, Daniel didn’t think his heart would ever slow. Who the hell would attack an innocent woman? Was it a random event or had he targeted Megan?

  “I’ve never been more scared in my life,” she muttered against his shirt, her fingers curling into the fabric.

  Daniel’s jaw hardened, his arms tightening around Megan. “I’m here now. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

  She slipped her arms around his waist, her body shaking against his. “I didn’t think you’d get here in time.”

  Daniel hadn’t, either. He’d prayed all the way up in the elevator, watching the numbers tick at the pace of molasses dripping. “Did he hurt you?”

  “He pushed me down. Other than a little rug burn on my hands and knees, I’m fine. I’m just glad you’re okay.”

  He shook his head. She’d been the one attacked, and yet she was concerned about him. His chest swelled. Megan was an amazing woman. “Come on. You must be exhausted.” Tucking her in the curve of his arm, he walked her toward the bedroom
. “You can have the bed. I’ll take the sofa.”

  Her arm clamped around his waist. “The sofa is too small.”

  “I’ll make do.”

  “You’ll be uncomfortable and won’t sleep.”

  “It won’t hurt me for one night.” He stopped beside the bed and let his arm fall from around her.

  Megan didn’t let go of his waist, nor did she move from where she stood beside him. “Stay with me,” she whispered.

  The softly spoken words went straight to Daniel’s heart. He wanted to wrap his arms around her and hold her until all the bad in the world turned good, but if he lay down beside her, he wasn’t sure he could stop at a hug. “I can’t.”

  “At least until I go to sleep.” Her head dipped. “I’ll understand if you don’t want to.”

  Daniel closed his eyes, his fists clenching. “It’s not that I don’t want to.”

  Megan turned her face up to his, her brow creased. “What do you mean?”

  He shook his head and gripped her arms. “I want to. Hell, I want you and that’s the problem.”

  Her chuckle made his groin tighten, the sound soft and sexy, stirring his blood. “Daniel, we’re married.”

  “Only in name.” He let go of her and shoved a hand through his hair to keep from dragging her into his arms and kissing her like there might not be a tomorrow.

  She touched his chest, sending warning signals throughout his body. “It doesn’t have to be in name only.”

  “This is supposed to be temporary. You have your life. I have mine.” He forced himself to take a step backward. “I don’t belong in yours.”

  Her frown deepened. “My life is at the Lucky C Ranch and so is yours. How different are our lives?”

  He shook his head. “You are the daughter of a very wealthy man. I’m a bastard son of a Colton. We’re worlds apart.”

  Megan planted her fists on her hips. The image of her in her fluffy terry-cloth bathrobe, her trim legs peeking out from the hem, and her pretty little feet bare against the carpeted floor almost undid Daniel. She tossed her ponytail back over her shoulder. “You make it sound like I’m stuck up, when in actuality, you’re the one who’s stuck up.”

  “I’m not stuck up.”

  “Look, Daniel, I don’t judge you based on your family or where you came from. I take you for the man you are now. The least you could do is give me the same benefit of the doubt.”

  “It’s different.”

  “The hell it is.” Megan pointed to the door. “Go. Sleep on the sofa. I’ll be just fine on my own.” She reached for the sash around her waist and untied it, letting the robe drop to the ground around her ankles. Then she tipped up her chin and pushed her shoulders back, making her breasts rise in the sexiest sheer nightgown Daniel had ever seen in his life. The garment revealed more than it covered and sent his pulse rampaging through his veins. “Too bad you won’t be along on this honeymoon.”

  When she started to turn away, Daniel grasped her elbow and yanked her back and into his arms. “What are you trying to do, damn it?”

  “Nothing,” she said. “Absolutely nothing.”

  He swept his hand along the side of her face and up to pull out the elastic band around her hair, letting it fall down around her shoulders. “Well, you’re doing a whole lotta something to me, and I can only take so much.”

  She stared up into his face, the anger melting from her eyes, her tongue coming out to wet her lips. “That’s your problem,” she said, her voice soft and breathy.

  “No, it’s our problem.” He cupped the back of her head with one hand and bent until his lips were a hairbreadth from hers. “This is so damned wrong.” He fought to keep from taking it a step further, knowing he was losing this battle and fast.

  “Then why do it?” she asked, her words warm against his lips.

  “Because it feels so right.” He lowered his mouth to hers, intending only a light brush, telling himself he’d just get a little taste of her and go away. Control flew out the window when their lips touched. He could no sooner back away than stop breathing.

  Daniel crushed her body against his, the soft curve of her breasts pressing against his hard chest, her thighs straddling one of his, her arms circling his neck to bring him closer. This was where he wanted to be. Not in the other room, lying cramped on the impossibly small sofa.

  She opened her mouth on a sigh, and he swept in to claim her tongue in a long, hot, wet caress.

  He slid his hand down her back to cup her bottom, pulling her closer until his straining member rubbed against her belly. The kiss went on, the heat building between them, the need to feel her skin against his becoming a physical ache.

  Megan broke the kiss and stepped away.

  Daniel groaned, reaching out to bring her back within his embrace.

  She shook her head and reached for the buttons of his shirt, flicking them free one at a time all the way down to where they disappeared into the waistband of his trousers. Gripping the fabric, she pulled it loose and freed the remaining buttons with quick, deft strokes of her dexterous fingers.

  Impatience sent Daniel over the edge. He shoved her hands aside, unbuckled his belt and jerked it out of the loops, slinging it across the floor. Then he grabbed the hem of her gown and yanked it over her head, tossing it aside. He swept her with his gaze, lingering on her perky breasts, the nipples puckered and beaded into tight little buds.

  A slow flush rose up her neck and into her cheeks. With exaggerated care, Megan loosened the top button of his trousers and slid the zipper down, unleashing his straining member into the palm of her hand. Her lips curled upward and her brows cocked. “Commando?”

  “Always.” He toed off his cowboy boots and his trousers slid down his legs.

  Once he stood naked in front of her, he sucked in a deep breath and let it out in an attempt to rein in his galloping pulse. “If you want, you can back out now.”

  “You’re wrong,” she said, gently squeezing his hard staff. “I couldn’t back out even if I wanted to. I need you. Now. Inside me.” Tugging gently, she backed toward the bed. “Don’t fight it.”

  “I’m past fighting. I concede this round to you and your gorgeous body.”

  Chapter 9

  A thrill shivered across Megan’s body. “Victory at last,” she murmured, aroused beyond reason, barely able to form a coherent thought.

  Daniel scooped her legs up and laid her on the bed. He hooked his finger in the elastic band of her panties and dragged them down her legs.

  Now we’re getting somewhere. She ran her hand up her torso and plumped one of her breasts, hoping to entice him into moving this along a little faster. Her core on fire, she needed him to quench the blaze.

  He crawled onto the bed, leaning over her, his arms bulging, his member nestling in the mound of curls over her sex. “I didn’t go into this deal with sex in mind.”

  “Consider it a bonus.” Megan wrapped her legs around his waist and urged him closer.

  “Uh-uh. Not yet.” With one hand he reached back and disengaged her legs. “I want this to be as good for you as it will be for me.”

  Was he kidding? Any more excited and she’d burst into flames. “Oh, I have no doubt it’ll be good,” she said, her voice low and husky.

  “Shh. Anyone ever tell you that you talk too much?”

  “Sometimes—” He cut off her words with a kiss, darting his tongue into her mouth. He tasted of mint and coffee and smelled of the outdoors and aftershave. She opened to him, offering him everything in exchange for one night of passion.

  After ravaging her lips and mouth, he trailed hot kisses along her jaw and down her neck.

  Megan tilted her head back to allow him better access to all those sensitive places in his path. When he reached her breast, her back arched automatically, her body
taking over, reacting to his every touch.

  Daniel tongued her nipple, flicking the tip and rolling it around between his teeth.

  She cupped the back of his head, running her hands through his thick, dark hair, urging him to take more. When he switched to the other nipple, the cool air across the first one only made her more aware of her nakedness.

  Though she wasn’t a virgin, she had never been so very aroused and aware of a man’s body as she was with Daniel. His huge frame, thick muscles and hard staff made her want to get even closer. She wanted him inside her.

  Daniel abandoned her breasts and seared a path with his tongue and lips down her torso, dipping briefly into her belly button but not stopping for long. He finally reached the apex of her thighs and parted her folds with his thumbs.

  Megan stiffened, waiting for his next move, her breath hitched in her throat, her fingers knotting the sheets at her sides.

  His head lowered, and he tapped his tongue to that strip of flesh alive with nerves. The touch sent sparks of electricity shooting through her body. A tingling sensation built at her center, radiating outward. “Do you know what you’re doing to me?”

  His chuckle blew warm over her wet entrance. “I hope I do.”

  “Don’t stop,” she cried.

  “Yes, ma’am.” He tapped her center again.

  Megan moaned and reached for his head, digging her fingers into his hair, pulling him to her.

  His wet tongue stroked her again and again, then moved down to her damp entrance, swirling around in her juices before returning to her aching, needy flesh. While he tongued her, he slipped a finger into her channel, her wetness coating him, making it easy for him to slide another inside, and another.

  She writhed, her body moving to the rhythm of his tongue and fingers, the heat building, her insides tensing, rising to that peak she reached for with all her might.

  One final flick sent her rocketing for the heavens like Fourth of July fireworks in sudden, glorious bursts, shooting out in all directions.

  Megan rode the rocket to the moon and back, her hips moving to the pulsing beat of blood hammering in her veins.