Protecting the Prince (Wyn Security)

by Dana Volney

  He’d called a contractor in between business matters today. He’d have an estimate of the cost and time to rebuild her house by tomorrow. He closed his eyes and rested his forehead on her shoulder. If he had it his way, she’d stay with him and then they’d move into the rebuilt house together. They’d pick out the flooring, wall colors, and bedroom sizes. Together.

  But wishes and hopes didn’t always live in reality.

  He kissed her collarbone through her shirt. “I know.”

  “I should probably go see if I can get a copy of the building footage for the past forty-eight hours.”

  She didn’t move.

  “I’m surprised Eddie can’t work his magic and hack in.” He raised his head, mere inches away from her, the heat between them almost palpable. If this was the last time he’d managed to get her in a compromising position, he wasn’t going to waste it being on the other side of the bed.

  “He probably can.”

  “I see.” The disappointment was tough to keep out of his voice.

  “Come on, you know this isn’t a good idea.”

  “Why not?” They weren’t a good idea? That was news to him. He thought they were the best idea ever.

  “You’re a client.”

  “I won’t be forever,” he whispered in her ear then kissed her neck.

  “I’m supposed to be protecting you.”

  Her grin brushed his cheek and he kissed her jawline.

  “And what better way to do that by being less than an inch away from me?”

  She laughed. “You’re impossible.”

  “I’m going to kiss you. I think that’s what you meant to say.”

  “Is it now?”

  He slowly leaned in. No tongue. Just her lips and his lips. How could she say that the intimacy they shared was a bad idea? She couldn’t deny what was happening. She kissed him back, just as sweetly. He curled his fingertips over her hip and pulled her closer.

  “I’ll stop if you want me to,” he whispered into her mouth. It was a dirty pool move, and he’d be ashamed of himself later, but right now he wanted Winter to know how much she meant to him. Having her white-hot in his arms again, getting lost in her appealed to a yearning deep in his gut he had no name for. He rubbed his thumb over her hip and her shirt moved up. Suddenly, he was caressing her tender, soft skin and his groin took notice.

  “I don’t want you to stop.” Her voice was barely audible. “And that’s the problem.”

  Any lingering hesitation disappeared and he covered her mouth with his and pulled her closer. He breathed her into him as their tongues collided.

  “You’re the only one who sees it as a problem.” He ran his hand up into her hair, clenched a handful, and kissed her harder. There was no problem here, only the growing urge to never let her leave his side.

  “Eliam…”

  He wanted so badly for the hesitation in her voice to disappear. He nipped at her bottom lip to stop her protests. If she really wanted to end it, she would’ve been out of his bed already. Lord only knew no one in this room had the ability to stop her from leaving, nor would he try if that’s what she wanted. But she hadn’t moved except to put her hand on his arm. And her lips—she was offering those up to him quite readily.

  He ran his hand up her back and found her bra, unlatching it in one quick, snapping motion. “You’re fired.”

  “What?” She pulled away from him, a hand now firmly on his chest.

  “I’m no longer your client. Problem solved.”

  She rolled her eyes and the ends of her lips turned up. Determination flitted across her face while she decided her next step—the picture in front of him of her alluring eyes, pouty lips, and sexy as hell legs between his thighs turned him on quickly. But there was more…he’d have to call it contentment—and wasn’t that some heavy stuff to know there was no other place on earth he’d choose to be.

  Her fingernails pressed into his chest, arousal making a beeline south. “But you are my client.”

  “No, I’m not.” He swayed his head back and forth.

  She searched his eyes. “This isn’t funny.”

  He removed his hand from her naked back and cupped her cheek, moving his thumb over her lips. “I’m not laughing.”

  “I don’t date clients.”

  “But for me you’ll make an exception?” He waggled his eyebrows for effect—of course he was the exception.

  “Is that what we’re doing here?” she asked, serious as he’d ever seen her.

  How was it not clear to her? The connection they shared was so much more than great sex—they each understood how the other worked on a deeper level. There was no way something like that was one-sided. It just wasn’t possible. So what was she hiding from or running from or whatever else scared off tough women from men they so clearly wanted?

  “I hadn’t thought of a title, but we can call it whatever you’d prefer.” He ran his thumb over her lips again, this time leaning in to graze the path with his own. “Or we can call it nothing.”

  Her gaze narrowed. “We aren’t nothing.”

  “We can emotionally decipher your landmine of a brain whenever you want. Right now I’d like to physically decipher your body. Inch by inch.”

  He leaned in to kiss her, and she pulled her head away.

  “Oh, that’s sexy.” Her eyebrows knitted together. “Definitely turns me on.” Sarcasm came way too easily to her.

  “Point made and taken.” He retreated his hand that cupped her face to her hip. Moving his hand was the easy part, but what in the hell was he supposed to say? “Client or not, I don’t want you going anywhere.” Okay, straight and to the point with the truth. His dick would hopefully thank him later, if his choice of conversation technique worked.

  He felt her body move as she drew in a breath.

  Don’t make me elaborate. Emotions had run high for the both of them in the last couple of days. He didn’t know if he had the energy to voice them, but he was willing to show her in other ways.

  “Okay.” She kissed him sweetly, and it quickly turned into a hot and heavy, mouth open, trying-to-suck-the-life-out-of-each-other type of kiss.

  “Get naked.”

  She didn’t have to tell him twice. He rolled onto his back and shed his shirt and pants and boxers until there was nothing left between them.

  He started to turn back onto his side when her palm pushed him to stay flat. Winter was not naked; in fact, she hadn’t taken off any clothing.

  “Well, this is unfair.” He exaggerated scanning her body.

  She chuckled and he started to smile. “I’ll make it up to you.” She reached down and wrapped her palm and fingers around him. His smile stopped and he sucked in a breath, releasing a small groan from the back of his throat.

  “This is much better.” He slipped his arm around her and rubbed her back, nudging her closer. Warmth flooded his entire body from his toes to his scalp, and he relaxed into her touch.

  “Than what?” She stopped midway up his cock.

  “Don’t stop. I meant better than the hotel room.”

  “And why is that?” She resumed stroking him, putting pressure in all the right spots.

  “Because I know where my condoms are.” He opened his nightstand drawer, expecting to find foil at is fingertips. He did not. “What the hell?” This night was not ending without him being inside of her.

  He slipped out of Winter’s grasp as he turned to inspect his drawer.

  Bingo. The damn things had fallen to the back. But Winter was no longer beside him; she was standing in front of him. Naked. Holy mother of God, her body, for all of it to see, sent aches to the ends of his fingertips to touch her. Her curves called his name. They shouted, in fact. He swiveled and sat up, his feet on the floor. His cock stood at attention, waiting for her.

  She straddled him, her breasts exceedingly close to his mouth, and he took the opportunity to capture a nipple and suck. Winter moaned and he drew her into his mouth harder, teasing her nipple wi
th his tongue. He was between her thighs and her hands were on his shoulders, roaming over his neck and back. Moving his lips up her chest, he cupped her ass to bring her closer to him. He could feel how wet she was, and the sensation wove a shiver up his spine. God, yes, he wanted to be inside of her. Now.

  He ripped the foil and Winter moved her hips back to allow him to sheath himself.

  She raised up and he guided himself inside her. Sweet mother of God. She was tight and slick and he groaned into her mouth. She deliberately slid up and down him slowly, all the while mercilessly teasing him with her kisses, too.

  He cupped her ass and braced her back and stood. She wrapped her legs around his waist and locked them behind his ass. He walked them to his long, three-drawer dresser that was the perfect height to set Winter down and still stay inside of her.

  He pulled her legs closer to him by the knee and she planted her hands at her side, never moving her intense gaze. His breath quickened and he ducked his head to kiss the tender spot behind her ear, trailing his kisses along her jawline to her lips. The demand in her eyes nearly made him come—it was more than just carnal want. There was a claim in their silence—an affirmation that their connection was real and strong and not being taken lightly by either of them. Sliding one hand down to her ass, he braced his other on the wall behind them, rocking into her. She reached around his sides and held on to his shoulders. He wanted to go slow, to prolong the pleasure, but he couldn’t. He physically couldn’t—she felt so good wrapped around him. One of her palms slid down to his ass, and she quickened the pace by pulling him closer. She nipped at his chest, biting then kissing. He held on to her, moving his hand between them to rub circles on her clit, and she moaned under him.

  Her head fell back and “I’m coming” breathlessly escaped her lips.

  She tensed and softened in his arms.

  His own release came hard as he shuddered into her, his head resting in the crook of her neck.

  After he caught his breath, he brought them back to his bed and laid her down, pecking her cheek before sliding out of her and disposing of the condom. When he returned, she was curled up under the covers. Lifting the sheets to get in, he pulled her closer so her back was nestled on his chest.

  Her pleasured sigh made him smile and squeeze her into him a little more. Winter fit perfectly in his arms and against his skin. He could go to sleep right now. His eyes closed and he breathed in her soft jasmine scent.

  “How is it that I can’t resist you?” she asked and moved her head to look over her shoulder.

  “My boyish good looks and strong, encouraging fingers, I presume.” He clenched her hip and flexed his groin into her. The need to be in her again resurfaced.

  “Yep, it’s all clear now.” She chuckled. “I wish someone wasn’t trying to kill you.”

  “But then I wouldn’t get such great, intense, mind-blowing one-on-one security, now would I?”

  She laughed and he nuzzled a kiss at her neck. “If this were part of my fee, you’d never be able to afford me.”

  “Isn’t that the truth.” He fluffed the pillow underneath his head so his neck wasn’t scrunched down any longer. “I’m going to have to find creative ways to keep you in my bed.”

  “Something to look forward to. I’d prefer you were safe when you are out of it, though.” Her tone turned somber. “We can’t hide away like this forever.”

  “We could try.”

  She reached back and rubbed her palm through his hair and down to his arm, entangling their fingers on her belly.

  “I cannot believe the crap that doesn’t faze you.” The statement he’d been pondering since her house blew up rolled off his tongue before he thought better of it.

  How could a person so young be so jaded when it came to people dying? The army. That’ll do it.

  “It’s not that it doesn’t.” Her voice was smaller. “Everything takes a toll in one way or another on a person.”

  “You have one hell of a poker face.” He closed his eyes again. Her house exploding came into view, and he clamped his teeth tightly together. All of this was his fault, and he sure as hell needed to know why. Whenever this lunatic was caught, he wanted answers.

  “I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or bad.”

  “It’s a compliment. I may have to bring you in to negotiate deals. You can be bad cop.”

  “Despite what you may think, I don’t actually have a lot of experience being the bad cop.”

  “Then you’re a natural. All the better.”

  He paused. He didn’t actually know a lot about her experience. She’d been matter-of-fact before on her military service, only relaying general details—ten years, great shot, trusted team. He wanted more.

  “I can practically hear you thinking. Want to share?” she asked and adjusted to put her arm under her head.

  “What did you do in the army?”

  “Oh, you know, general army stuff.”

  He was beginning to pick up on the different tones she had—the one she was using now was her “I’m going to answer vaguely until you drop it” voice.

  “No. No, I don’t know.” You’re going to have to do better than that.

  She sighed. “Company A, Louis’s unit, mostly had protection and scouting detail. We would escort officials and vet routes for us and convoys. We knew Kandahar like the back of our hands.”

  “How long were you in Louis’s unit?”

  He’d seen a couple of group photos Louis displayed in his office—was Winter in any of them? He made a mental note to check—Winter in army fatigues would be hot. Although they’d kept in touch, Louis’s missions or commands were not clear. He’d never known what was appropriate to ask and what wasn’t, so he’d steered clear. Eliam really had no idea what went on in the various areas where the government had the troops stationed beyond what he saw on the news. He kept up-to-date on the military events that affected his business, but he didn’t know what the day-to-day boots on the ground went through.

  “Five years.”

  “I thought you were in for ten?”

  “The first five years, well, they were a little different.”

  “How so?”

  It was like pulling teeth, but he really wanted to know more about her, what made her tick, and why the hell she was such a hard-ass except when she was in his arms. The contrast was such a damn turn-on.

  “Because I killed a lot of people.” Her voice was devoid of emotion, like she was ordering food at Wendy’s.

  Icy prickles shot through his body and he stopped breathing for a moment. In the military, the chances of a solider killing enemy combatants were intuitively high, but to hear her say it was somehow shocking and sad.

  “I was young and well-trained.” She took a deep breath. “Really well-trained since I seemed to have a natural knack and good aim. I was assigned to a traveling unit that was more of the stick than the carrot type.”

  He wanted to take away the pain and guilt he heard in her softened voice.

  “I told myself it was all for the greater good,” she continued, “that we were doing what had to be done. All of that doesn’t change the memories of what I saw on the other end of my scope. Sometimes that’s all I see when I close my eyes.”

  He brushed his hand over her hair and down the length of her torso and thigh, kissing the tip of her shoulder that had caved in just a little bit.

  He wanted to thank her for her service, but that didn’t seem like enough. What soldiers went through, what they brought home with them, went far and above any sacrifice they should have to make.

  “When I was transferred to Louis’s command, I got to see a better side of the fight. I mean, it was still not great— it never is—but what we did sat better with me. I’d become quite the jaded person, which is saying something because my childhood didn’t exactly lend itself to trust.”

  “Why’d you leave then?”

  He felt her body tense beneath him. He’d hit a nerve. If what she’d alrea
dy told him hadn’t struck a chord, then what the hell was her reason for getting out? He braced himself.

  “It was time.” Her stern voice had returned, daring him to proceed. Only they weren’t at work, they were in his bed having pillow talk like the lovers they were. His choice of pillow talk would have to decidedly be lighter next time.

  “Why?” he asked.

  “Just drop it.”

  “What happened?” he whispered into her back and kissed the space between her spine and shoulder blade.

  She bristled underneath his touch, and he didn’t try to stop her moving to leave his embrace. But she stayed where she was, not taking her warmth away from him.

  “We were ambushed. It was one big mistake. All of it. We never should’ve been on that road.”

  She was silent. He glanced down at her side to see if she was breathing. Barely.

  “We were protecting a diplomat. He’d had a meeting in the city and we were coming back when he told us about another meeting. We hadn’t secured the spot and called it in to Louis, who said it was okay to proceed, that the meeting had been approved prior. I remember looking at Felix and we knew, we all knew, it was a mistake, but orders are orders so we drove. We came under fire about a mile down.” She sniffled and he wrapped his arm around her chest. “Three good men died that day. Brennan, Wesley, and Malcolm.” She kissed his forearm. “Brenn was my fiancé.”

  “Oh damn.” His shock tumbled out before he could stop himself. “I’m sorry.”

  She cleared her throat. “The army didn’t feel like home anymore. Not after it took part of my family. So, I got out. Felix, Eddie, and Louis did, too.”

  “How do you not blame Louis?”

  “Louis hadn’t known, either. He was taking orders same as us. If you start blaming your own team for the bad things other people do, where does it end?”

  “You’re amazing.” The person in his arms who was the badass protector by day and gentle woman by night was incredibly strong in more ways than he’d ever given her credit for.

  “I do what I have to do.”

  To survive were the words she’d left out. And he understood. All too well.

  Eliam opened his eyes to darkness. They’d fallen asleep with Winter still in his arms. It was perfect and sexy as hell. The way her body cradled into his sent his entire body buzzing. He could not get enough of this woman.