“Counseling?”
“After a traumatic event, sometimes it helps to talk to someone. If you don’t want to now though, I can give you their information. You never know when it might come in handy.”
“No. I don’t need to talk to anyone. I don’t even remember most of what happened.”
“Your decision,” the nurse said with a nod. “I need to go check on another patient right now, but I’ll be back in a few minutes with your medication.”
“All right. Thanks.”
Ella watched the nurse leave, closing the door quietly behind her. Her eyes eagerly slid across the room.
Brent.
He was leaning back in a chair, his eyes closed, his long legs stretched out before him. Dark stubble covered his strong jaw, and his arms were crossed, the thick muscles of his arms bulging. He looked like some sort of avenging angel watching over her, but Ella knew he probably wouldn’t be amused if she ever told him that. No, a guy like Brent would only want to be thought of as a tough, badass SEAL who’d swooped in to save the day.
A sense of security flooded through her as she watched him. He’d come to find her last night after she’d been kidnapped. Come with her to the hospital. Spent the night in her room. Brent was assertive in the best sort of way—taking charge of the situation and doing whatever he damn well pleased. Which worked out well except for the whole leaving her in Kenley’s apartment incident. Why had he come down to Florida looking for her in the first place?
As if Brent knew she was watching him, his eyes opened, nailing her with a penetrating stare. “You’re awake,” he said.
“You stayed the night.”
He nodded, easing up slightly in his chair. “How are you feeling?”
“Okay, all things considered. The nurse said I can probably go home today.”
“I’ll drive you.”
“I can’t stay in my apartment,” she said softly.
“Nope,” he agreed. She watched him curiously as he stretched and rose. A moment later, he was crossing the room to her hospital bed in two long strides. “We’ll talk about that later. Your friend Brianna must’ve had Matthew text me a hundred times last night. Want to let her know you’re okay?”
“Yeah, that’s a good idea. Wait—how did she know I was missing?”
“I called in the cavalry.”
“Your SEAL team?”
Brent crossed his arms as he gazed down at her, looking calm and unaffected. Somehow looking completely pulled together in a sexy, scruffy sort of way, despite having folded his large frame into that cramped chair all night. Those guys were probably used to rolling out at a moment’s notice, surviving on little-to-no sleep. It didn’t mean he had to look so damn good doing it though. Or look so nonchalant as he stared down at her. The man had spent the night in her hospital room. Stayed with her.
“Christopher hacked into their computer systems. Tracked down the home addresses of the men who took you. He and Lexi were on it as soon as I called.”
“Wow. I appreciate what they did for me, but I hope they don’t get into some sort of trouble on my account.”
Brent chuffed out a laugh. “With those two? No one will even know they were there. And Christopher is a SEAL just like me. You don’t need to worry about us.”
Ella frowned. “You guys get sent on dangerous missions all over the world. Why wouldn’t I worry?”
Brent quirked his lips. “I’ve never had anyone worrying about me before.”
Ella flushed as he appraised her. Those cool blue eyes warmed her from the inside out, and even though she was lying in a hospital bed, probably looking like hell, she resisted the urge to shudder. Because something about the way he looked at her made liquid heat course through her body and kicked her temperature up a few notches. He looked like he was about to say something but changed his mind at the last minute. “Call Brianna. I’ll hit up the cafeteria and bring us back some food. And coffee.”
“My coffee machine broke yesterday,” she suddenly remembered.
“Pretty sure they don’t allow them in hospital rooms anyway.”
“Brent—”
“Rest up and then we’ll bust out of this joint.”
“But I still don’t understand why you came down to Florida looking for me. You left me in Kenley’s apartment—just walked right out the front door.”
Brent clenched his jaw, going absolutely still. For a moment she thought he wasn’t going to answer her, but finally he met her gaze. “I was trying to protect you.”
“Protect me from what?”
“Me. I left that night because I was trying to protect you from me. It was a mistake, because I haven’t gotten you out of my mind since the night we first met.”
A beat passed, and she stared at him incredulously.
“I’ll be back in a few minutes. Don’t go anywhere.”
Brent let his words sink in, then turned and strode out of the hospital room. She stared after him, watching his broad shoulders edge through the doorway. He was bossy and brash, but he’d found her. Slept at her side to make sure she was safe. And those gunshots last night? What had he done to the men who’d come after her?
The door slipped shut silently behind Brent, and she had the feeling that he’d taken a little piece of her heart with him.
***
Brent held her hand as they walked down the breezeway to her apartment that afternoon. After she’d checked out of the hospital, he’d insisted on driving her home. Walking her inside. And after what happened? There was no way she could go back there alone. The past twenty-four hours felt like she’d been living in some kind of a dream. Turned nightmare. Rushing around looking for a job yesterday. Brent showing up out of the blue at her apartment complex. The scary men who’d burst through her front door. Waking up in a strange room. In a strange bed. Running through the dark as she’d escaped.
And at the moment? The sun was shining. The birds were chirping. She was clutching Brent’s hand so tightly she was probably cutting off his circulation. But she was almost home. And Ella knew she couldn’t live here ever again.
“You don’t need to come inside,” Brent said. “I’ll take care of whatever you need to do.”
“No, I want to get some of my things—clothes, my laptop.”
“I’ll grab your things.”
“I just want to take a long, hot shower. And then I’m going to check into a hotel and sleep forever. Maybe in a few days I’ll worry about the rest of my life.”
“I’ve got a hotel room,” Brent said, his voice gruff. “Stay with me.”
Ella blew out a sigh. “For what, a day? I know you’re going back to Virginia soon. I need to figure out what I’m going to do. Permanently. Let’s not act like this is something it isn’t.”
“Stay. With. Me.”
“I just—I can’t live in my apartment anymore. Not after what happened.” Her voice hitched, and suddenly Brent was pulling her into his arms. Her head fell against his broad chest. His rough hands rubbed up and down her arms. Then they wrapped tightly around her, holding her. Keeping her safe.
She was tired, dirty, and overwhelmed. Exhausted. But something about Brent holding her close soothed her. Made the nightmare of the past day fade away.
“I shouldn’t have left that night,” Brent said, his voice gravel.
“Last night?”
“Then, too. But I shouldn’t have left you back in Virginia. I shouldn’t have walked out the door.”
“Of course you should have. I can’t be one of your one-night-stands.”
“You’re not a fucking one-night-stand to me, Ella,” he ground out. “You’d never be that.”
“Well that’s romantic,” Ella said sarcastically. But she buried herself further into him. Inhaled his scent. Breathed in his strength.
“Shit, I flew down here to find you. For you, Ella.”
She looked up at him in disbelief. “You barely even know me! Yeah, I gave you a ride home one night a month ago. And you bough
t me dinner in Virginia Beach and taught me how to play pool,” she said, tears smarting her eyes. “Drove me home. But that doesn’t mean anything. We aren’t anything.”
“You’re mine, Ella. You have been since the first night I saw you.”
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
“Don’t cry,” he said, his voice husky. “I’m going to protect you. Hold you. Kiss you and make you cry out my name over and over again as I pleasure you. I’ll take care of you. Always. But don’t cry.”
“Brent,” she whispered.
His lips parted, and his eyes blazed down at her. “Get your things; get whatever you want. I’ll arrange for the rest to be moved wherever you want to go. Your decision. But know that I want you with me.”
“It’s just all too soon. Too fast. We hardly even know each other.”
Brent leveled her with a gaze. “We’ll get to know each other.”
“You’re not that guy, Brent. The relationship type. You’re the man with a million different women trailing after him.”
“A million?” he asked, lips quirking in a smile.
“A lot,” she conceded. “But I can’t let myself fall for you and get my heart broken.”
“I won’t hurt you.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I won’t hurt you,” he repeated, voice solemn. “I’ll hold you close. Keep you safe. I’ll protect you with all my heart.”
“God, Brent.”
His lips brushed against hers. Soft. Gentle. “Tell me what you need. We’ll pack your stuff. Get you settled into my hotel room. And then, sweetheart? We’ll figure something out. You have to finish school down here in Florida. I have to get back to Little Creek. But hell, I’m not letting you out of my life.”
Chapter 16
Brent’s eyes followed Ella as she moved around her studio apartment. He crossed his arms, leaning against the wall, as he watched her work. Hell, he wanted a long, hot shower, too. With her. He wanted to rub the tension out of her shoulders. Trail his fingers across her skin. Run his hands over her body, touching her, making sure she was okay. And for once he wasn’t thinking with his dick—he just needed to comfort her. Make her feel safe. Assure himself she was really all right.
Ella tossed some clothes on top of her dresser and then slowly spun in a circle as if looking for something. She crossed the room and froze as she reached the foot of her bed.
“What do you need?” he asked, growing concerned at the fear etched across her face.
“My overnight bag is under the bed.”
Brent crossed the room toward her. “I’ll grab it.”
“Okay,” she whispered, unmoving.
His arm snaked around her waist from behind. His other arm wrapped around her shoulders, pulling her close, and she clung to his forearm. “Tell me what’s wrong so I can fix it.”
“Just bad memories.”
“Of last night?”
She nodded.
“I’m right here, and I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
She nodded, sniffing. “Come on. Let’s see about that hot shower.” He guided her to her bathroom, making a mental note to grab her overnight bag for her and toss in a few things. Get her out of here as soon as possible. He turned on the water, letting it warm as he stripped her bare. He tugged her tank top up over her head, dragging his fingers across her soft skin. Kissed her temple. Brushed his lips over hers. Unbuttoning her shorts, he let them fall from her hips. She looked up at him, those blue eyes so open and trusting, and suddenly he was kissing her deeply. Unfastening her bra. Tugging down her panties.
He shucked his own shirt and pants, and seconds later, was taking her hand and pulling her into the shower stall. Warm water rained down around them, and Brent thumbed away a few of her tears. Kissed her.
“Thank you,” she said.
Brent cocked an eyebrow. “For what?”
“Taking care of me. Finding me.”
“I meant what I said, Ella. I left because I didn’t want to hurt you. But it hurt more not being around you. Because I’ve needed you since the first night we met.”
“You needed me?”
“I’ve never thought about another woman so much. Ever. I didn’t care if you didn’t want to see me—I just needed to make sure you were safe. That you’d quit that shitty job.”
“It was stupid to go back there.”
“It’s in the past. And I’d much rather focus on the present. You. Me. Tell me what you need.”
“You. I just need you.”
He kissed her again and pulled her closer, felt her soft curves against him. Her breasts pillowed against his chest. His aching cock rubbed against her flat stomach. She gasped as she felt his thick erection, and male pride surged through him. She was so soft and warm. So fucking sweet. And at the moment, he simply wanted to devour her. Kiss every square inch of that soft skin. Let his tongue slide all over her wet body. Run his hands over all those tempting curves. Then bring her to orgasm again and again, making her fall apart in his arms.
Only after his woman had been thoroughly sated would he sink into heaven, feeling her pussy spasm around his cock, claiming Ella as his once and for all.
***
Ella gazed up at Brent as the water rained down around them. His blue eyes blazed down at her, stubble coating his strong jaw. Droplets of water ran down his muscles—his thick biceps, broad pectorals, and six—no, make that an eight-pack. She longed to feel all those pounds of muscle moving against her. Holding her close. Keeping her safe. His thick length jutted out, pressing temptingly against her belly. He was long and hard, with bulging veins and a swollen head. She needed to have his engorged shaft moving within her, easing the emptiness inside. She wanted to have Brent take control and possess her, making her forget everything but this moment with him.
And as his eyes met hers? She was about to melt into a puddle on the shower floor just from his smoldering look alone.
“I’m going to touch you—make you come all over my fingers. Make your walls pulse around me. I’m going to lick you—taste all of your sweet folds, make your pussy spasm all over my tongue. And then I’m going to bury my cock deep inside you—exactly where I fucking belong.”
“Brent, my God.” She flushed at his bluntness. “The things you say….”
“Say it, Ella. Say you’ll be mine.”
“Yes. I need you,” she replied. “I need all of you.”
Brent’s lips moved over her as he backed her against the cool tile wall. She shuddered at the feel of cold, hard tiles against her skin, and then Brent was pressing closer, his body practically covering her own. His stubble scraped against her cheeks as his mouth claimed hers. As their lips melded together, touching, caressing. He kissed like she’d never been kissed before, and then his tongue was seeking entrance, lightly thrusting in and out of her mouth. She sucked in gasps of air as he moved lower, trailing a line of kisses and nips down her neck and chest until his lips found one nipple. He sucked the taut bud into his mouth as shockwaves of pleasure quaked through her.
His wicked tongue flicked back and forth with feather light touches, and she arched closer to him, every nerve ending in her body tingling with desire. He didn’t make any pretenses, just slid his hand right to her core. Exactly where she needed him. His fingers parted her lips, and suddenly he was caressing her intimately, touching her arousal-dampened folds. His fingers stroked against her as heat filled her belly and coiled lower. Unwittingly, she thrust against his hand, shamelessly seeking more. One finger circled her opening and then slowly pushed inside, eased by her slickened walls. Her walls instantly clamped down around him, needy for his touch.
“God, Brent….”
“I’m right here, baby. I’ll get you there.”
He pulled his hand away and then two thick fingers penetrated her, slowly moving in and out, stretching her swollen walls. The exquisite pressure was nearly too much to bear, and her sex fluttered against his hand as an orgasm began to build within. His
lips found her nipple again, and his mouth pulled on the taut bud, sucking hard. He built her up higher, his fingers thrusting in and out, and just when she thought she might die of pure pleasure, he slid his thumb over her throbbing clit.
She screamed as her orgasm slammed into her from out of nowhere, bucking against him as she rode his hand. Brent didn’t let up, letting her climax against him as wave after wave of pleasure washed over her. She gasped for breath as the intensity became too much, nearly falling forward save for Brent’s strong arms holding her up. And then a moment later he was kneeling before her, lifting her leg up over one of his broad shoulders as she leaned back against the slick wall.
Brent’s gaze heated as he eyed her bare sex, and suddenly his mouth was upon her. Ella moaned and writhed against the wall as Brent ate her, holding her leg wide open for him to simply devour her. He licked all of her folds, his mouth working over her as if he couldn’t ever get enough. She trembled against his lips, crying out, and then Brent’s tongue penetrated her core. He pulsed in and out, leaving her bucking against him. She grabbed hold of his head as he knelt between her legs, and the intensity began to build again. She closed her eyes, seeing stars, and as his thumb swept over her clit, suddenly she was screaming a second time, coming again on his tongue.
“Oh my God,” she gasped, nearly falling into him as he stood to his full height. Muscular hands held her up, cupping her ass, kneading her breast as her head fell forward onto his shoulder.
“Fucking hell,” he said, his voice gravel. “I could go down on you all night, and I’d never get enough of your sweet taste. Never.”
He ducked lower and kissed her, his full mouth moving over hers, and she could taste herself on his lips. She reached between them, wrapping her hand around his throbbing cock. Brent hissed in approval, and she pumped his shaft, watching as he closed his eyes and inhaled a sharp breath. It felt heady having some sort of power over him. Making this powerful man stop in his tracks because of her. Her thumb ran across the crown, and a drop of pre-come released.
Protected by a SEAL (Alpha SEALs, Book 6) Page 15
