His Duty to Protect

by Lindsay McKenna

  Sitting down on the couch opposite him, Rachel sipped her tea. “It’s hard going from this to a war zone not more than half a mile from your house.” She appreciated his clean, brown hair, a rebellious lock fell over his brow.

  “I don’t know how Kahlid and Emma do it. They’re out there flying to border villages every day. And they’re wide open to attack. No Apache escorts for them because they’re an NGO.”

  “My cousin is like all of the Trayherns,” Rachel said, balancing the cup on her crossed legs. “We’re adaptable, flexible and from the earliest time we can remember taught that life throws curveballs at us. My parents raised all of us girls to be able to shift and make the necessary changes.”

  Ty raised his brows. “The more I hear about your parents, the more I wish I had a set of them instead.”

  Losing some of her smile, Rachel felt deeply for Ty. She could see the hurt, the old anger and confusion that his father had created within him. “Your father wasn’t a model parent,” she quietly agreed. “But he did the best he could, Ty.”

  “Not damn good enough,” he growled.

  “You’ve changed despite him,” Rachel coaxed in a soft tone, holding his murky stare. “And you need to give yourself credit for that, Ty. You are not your father.”

  “Not any longer.” He absorbed the kindness in her gaze. “Rachel, I want to make up for what I did to you. You took the brunt of my misguided anger.”

  Her mouth lifted a little. “You’re doing it right now, Ty. Don’t you see that?”

  “It’s not enough.”

  “I don’t want you doing anything out of guilt.” There was a glint in her eyes.

  “Not to worry on that point. When I first saw you at Fort Rucker, before I knew you were in pilot training, I thought I’d met an angel, died and gone to heaven.” He saw the surprise in her expression. “You were as beautiful then as you are now.”

  Blinking, Rachel said, “I don’t remember meeting you before I was assigned to your class.”

  “I saw you at the base hospital. There was a drive for blood, and you were standing in line.”

  “I had forgotten about that. Yes, I was there. Where were you?”

  “I’d just given blood and was going out the other set of doors. You didn’t see me.” His voice lowered. “But I saw you.”

  “It must have been a shock for me to show up in your class.”

  “Yes, it was. A part of me just wanted to fall all over you like a lovesick teenager. Another part kept hearing my father’s words that women were weak.”

  “Well,” she sighed, “we know which part won out.”

  “Too bad the teen didn’t.” He gave her a hopeful look. Rachel didn’t seem as upset about the past as he felt.

  “Yes, I’d much rather have dealt with your attention that way.” She grinned a little. “It’s nice to know the rest of the story, Ty. Thank you.”

  His conscience eased over the words and the sincere expression in her eyes. “I didn’t want to hate you, Rachel. I wanted to get to know you. I felt torn with you in the class. Later, I realized the truth about why I was so cruel.”

  “I was your whipping post,” she agreed.

  “Not anymore.” Ty gave her a heated look charged with meaning. “I need to hear it again. Did you mean what you said out there in the valley? That you loved me? Or was that said in fear and knowing you were going to die soon?”

  “I meant it. I wanted you to know how I really felt about you, Ty, before we died.”

  “When did you know?” he wondered.

  “What? That I loved you?” Rachel looked up at the ceiling and then back at him. There was an incredible peace in his face now, as if some huge load had dissolved from his shoulders. He’d carried his father long enough. “When I realized you weren’t going to come after me like you did at Fort Rucker. I got to see the other side of you, Ty. What I call your good side.” She smiled impishly. “I felt like I was rediscovering you all over again. And I liked what I saw. I allowed myself to open up to you, Ty. You didn’t know it, but I was watching you closely. I wanted to see if the ‘new’ Ty Hamilton was there all the time or his evil twin was going to sneak back in.”

  Laughing a little, Ty felt warm all over. The joy, the elfin quality dancing in Rachel’s golden eyes made him feel ten times the man he was minutes ago. She made him feel good, he realized. “My evil twin is no more,” he promised her in a deep voice.

  “I know that now. For sure.” Rachel’s smile dissolved. “When we were out there in the valley and the Taliban was galloping down upon us, I knew we’d die.” She moved the cup gently around in her hands, staring at the brown tea inside it. For a long moment, she didn’t speak. Finally, Rachel lifted her head and tried to put how she felt into words. “I wanted you to know I’d forgiven you. And that somewhere along the line, I had fallen so deeply in love with you.…”

  Chapter 16

  Rachel felt like taking a dip in the hot tub. She’d just awakened from her nap after having lunch with Ty. Looking at her watch, she saw it was nearly 3:00 p.m. The sun was slanting through the floor-to-ceiling windows, brightening her suite. Emma had urged them to take advantage of the hot tub while at the villa. Rachel was still sore from the earlier helicopter crash. And she’d taken Emma’s advice and used the heat to help her tightened muscles. This was their last day here at the villa. Tomorrow morning, Nabi would drive them back to Bagram Air Base and they’d fly the new Chinook assigned to them back to Bravo. Life would once more become tense and dangerous.

  With a softened sigh, Rachel shimmied out of her clothes, walked into the bathroom, grabbed a bright yellow towel and wrapped it around herself. The hot tub was only about ten feet down the hall. Opening the door, she looked both ways. For a split second, she almost walked up the hall to Ty’s room to invite him to join her. Rachel felt scared and hesitated. They’d talked every chance they got. Their most important conversations lasted deep into each night. Starving to explore Ty, Rachel felt her love growing for this man. She knew no human being on earth was perfect, that they had all made mistakes, large and small. Her hand tightened on the top of her towel, which hid her body. Should she go ask Ty to join her?

  Nervous, Rachel decided not to do it. She was afraid of herself. Afraid that Ty might reject her, no matter how close she felt to him. He had so much to overcome. And she felt they’d come a long way in a very short amount of time. As she padded down the carpeted hall toward the spa room, she waffled. How she wanted Ty. All of him and in every way. In her nightly dreams, she made passionate love with him. Even now, the memories brought heat into her face. During their talks, she’d seen the hunger and need for her in his eyes, too. But Ty hadn’t made a move, either. Maybe they were both too scared, the past hovering threateningly over them.

  Yes, that was it, Rachel decided. They had such a past history of hurt that they were frightened to death of making a mistake that could destroy their fragile new relationship. They both wanted it so bad that they were afraid to make the first move. Mouth tightening, Rachel placed her hand on the brass doorknob and opened the door that led to the huge, round hot tub.

  “Oh!”

  Ty was sitting in the hot tub. His eyes widened considerably as Rachel entered and then froze on the spot.

  “I didn’t know,” he began lamely, trying to make her feel at ease. He was sitting on the granite bench, the water up to his torso, his dark-haired chest exposed. Seeing the redness sweep across her cheeks, Ty realized she was embarrassed to find him so obviously naked. His muscles were aching, and the hot water helped them relax.

  “I’m sorry,” Rachel stumbled, her hand still on the doorknob.

  “Wait. Don’t go,” he called. “Come on in.” Suddenly, Ty’s fear of rejection dissolved. He held his hand out to her. “I’d like you to come in with me, if you want…?”

  Moistening her lips, Rachel hesitated. Ty’s hair was wet and gleaming. His naked upper body glistened. He was so incredibly ripped. At the base camp, she’
d seen him work out at least an hour a day in the gym. “Well…I…I didn’t know you’d be in here.” The words came out whispered and halting to her. The hope burned in his face, those large, intelligent blue eyes of his narrowing like a laser—on her. Instantly, her body responded. She felt her breasts firming, her nipples tightening. It was a hungry look, of a man wanting his woman. Even her lower body responded to Ty’s heated, dangerous stare.

  Her fear vanished. It was a relief, because right now, all Rachel really wanted was to be in Ty’s arms. Turning, she shut the door—and then locked it. No way did she want the housekeeper accidentally coming in to surprise them. Kahlid and Emma were on a flight. They had the villa to themselves. Turning, she said, “I don’t need this, do I?” She allowed the yellow towel to drop to her feet.

  Ty suppressed a gasp and felt pure awe as Rachel stood naked near the door. She was statuesque, her shoulder thrown back, her chin tilted at a proud angle. “No,” he rasped, standing up. “You don’t. Come here.…” He walked across the large, round hot tub to where the stairs were located.

  She let her gaze rake his taut, muscular body. The water pooled just below his hips, and she could see that he wanted her. A slight, careless smile fled across her mouth as she walked over to him. Without a word, Rachel took his proffered hand and walked down the four steps and into the warm, swirling water. Ty released her hand, his arms sweeping about her, drawing her hard against him.

  The air rushed out of her lungs as he claimed her. Rachel smiled and moved her hands upward to frame his damp face. His blue eyes burned with a hunger that intensified her own need of him. “I want you, Ty. All of you, in every way,” Rachel whispered, leaning upward, her mouth claiming his. She drank in his powerful need of her.

  Ty led her to the center of the bubbling water. Their bodies were locked tightly against one another. He could feel the swell of her breasts, the hard nubs of her nipples pressing into his chest. Her hips were rounded and soft compared to his angular hips. When her arms entwined around his thick neck, her fingers moving though the short strands of his black hair, Ty groaned. Yesterday he’d gotten rid of the sling. His left arm was sore, but useable. The water created a silken movement between them.

  As Ty broke their heated kiss, he guided his hand upward and slid his fingers through her hair. Rachel moaned and tipped her head back, eyes closed. Her hands were busy roving slickly across his back, touching him, exploring him. Her breath came in gasps just as his did. In moments, he led her down into the warm water. It was hot because of the summer heat, but it felt embracing.

  Rachel smiled up at him as he took her down into the bubbling, blue water. His return smile devastated her hungry senses. Focusing on his very male mouth, she reached out and traced his flat lower lip with her index finger. As Ty settled them on the underwater bench, she floated across his lap. Her body situated against his, she could feel his need of her. Raw desire exploded through her. Lifting her arms, she placed them around Ty’s neck, and she kissed him hard.

  Her mouth was wreaking fire from his lips down to his burning lower body. With each movement, Ty felt himself coming unraveled. Her mouth was wet and hot as she kissed his brow, his closed eyes, cheek, and finally, his mouth once more. Tunneling his fingers into her hair, he angled her such that he could plunder her mouth as never before as her hands drifted in exploration across his chest. And then she broke the kiss and moved away from him.

  Ty knew there were several dark blue pads laying next to the hot tub. They were made of thick foam rubber and comfortable. As Rachel went toward the stairs, he held her hand. She smiled teasingly at him, which sent a bolt of powerful heat through him. There was no disguising she wanted him as much as he wanted her.

  “Come here,” Ty rasped, drawing her close. “Let’s get out and lay on this.” He pointed to it.

  Rachel’s smile grew. “How handy to have them.”

  Grinning, Ty led her out of the hot tub. “It’s perfect for us.… Come on.…” He led her up the stairs and onto the soft pads.

  Without hesitation, Rachel laid down next to Ty. Her hair was damp, the ends sticking against her glistening shoulders. His face was like that of a raptor: intense and focused. The air escaped her lips as Ty turned her onto her back and slid his hand beneath her neck. His head dipped and Rachel closed her eyes in anticipation. His mouth sought her hardened nipples, one after another. As he suckled her, laved his tongue across them, her entire body convulsed with pleasure. The power of the movement sent a scalding heat into her lower body. Moaning, Rachel couldn’t stand the teasing any longer. Reaching up, she pulled Ty over her. Looking up into his narrowed eyes, she whispered, “Love me. Take me with you.…” She thrust her hips upward to meet and meld with him.

  Gritting his teeth, Ty felt her capture him. In moments, she had pulled him deep within her moist, heated confines. Her hands slid over his hips, trapping him and then moving slowly with a rhythm that shattered his mind. No longer was Ty thinking. They were reacting wildly, like the primal animals they’d suddenly shifted into and become. Leaning down, he caught and captured Rachel’s parted lips, shifting her on top of him. His hands moved to either side of her head, and he groaned as they established a violent, stormy rhythm. The world dissolved into a boiling cauldron they shared between them. The movements were swift and hard. He heard Rachel’s breath come in sobs, felt her fingers digging frantically into his bunched shoulders. Closing his eyes, Ty surrendered himself to her powerful, womanly core. For the first time, he allowed her love to completely envelop him.

  His world slowed, burned, and Ty absorbed her fierce love for him. He felt his heart opening. It was such a strange and startling sensation, but it didn’t pull him out of that cloud of euphoria. Like the starving man he was, he realized in some small, functioning part of his brain that Rachel loved him with her life. Indeed, she’d knelt at his side, firing at the charging Taliban who were intent on killing them. Rachel had shown such courage under fire. And now, she was sharing herself, her hungry body with him. Fully. No reservations. As his hands settled across her hips, he sank even more deeply into her. Ty heard her gasp with pleasure, and he plunged into a blanket of fire that roared through him. In moments, he felt himself explode within her. Simultaneously, Rachel suddenly stiffened and uttered a deep moan. His world tumbled end over end in a fire that consumed both of them. Ty felt his heart widening and love pouring through him as they collided like fiery stars into one another. Suddenly, they both froze as if paralyzed.

  Rachel felt his entire body contract, his hands grip her hips as he growled and released. They were like two animals locked with one another, hungry, starving and now being sated by one another. Eyes closed, Rachel had never felt such raw pleasure as now. Ty caressed her as she lay down across him, her head nestled against the curve of his neck. All Rachel could do was sob and feel the liquid fire of her body collapsing in on itself. His fingers moved in grazing touches across her back, following the curve of her spine and caressing her silky hair.

  Absorbing Rachel’s relaxed body against his, Ty lay there, feeling satiated as never before. He didn’t want to open his eyes yet. He simply wanted to feel the heavy warmth of Rachel upon him, the burning power of them connected with one another, her moist, ragged breath upon his shoulder. A smile pulled at his mouth as he continued to trace and memorize her shoulders, arms and back. Her hips were flared, and as his hands cupped them, he felt another powerful urge. The urge to procreate, to give her a child. Their child. In those stunning moments, Ty knew that any baby that they may have created now or in the future would be raised with love, not fear and beatings. His fingers grazed her hips, and he absorbed those powerful possibilities.

  Rachel lifted her head from the crook of his shoulder. She smiled down at Ty. He had such love mirrored in his eyes for her that she felt as if the entire world had shifted. Rachel touched his cheek. “It was incredible,” she whispered. “I’ve never felt so satisfied as right now.…”

  Those were the words
he needed to hear. Ty realized he was still emotionally fragile with Rachel. His heart loved her with an undying fierceness, and he was playing catch-up with the stunning turn of events. Lifting his hand, he guided her so that she sat up on him. Her hair was tangled and mussed, her lips soft and pouty from their shared kisses. As her hands rested on his chest, her fingernails trailed and tangled softly in his dark hair. Ty liked the gold glimmer in her half-closed eyes, a lioness satiated. Lifting his hands, he cupped her breasts and moved his thumbs across her hardening nipples. She gave him a predatory smile.

  “I’m not done with you, Ty.”

  Leaning up, Ty rocked her so that his knees were a support for her back. “I’m not, either,” he growled, leaning over and suckling one of her nipples.

  Rachel sighed and moaned, curving her arms around his broad shoulders. Everything was so right. So natural between them. The heat built in her breasts and then traveled like a line of igniting fire down through the center of her body. She felt the power of him moving suggestively within her. A sigh of pleasure whispered from her lips as he reminded her of their connection.

  Rachel leaned back against his drawn up legs and savored his masculine hardness, his unmerciful teasing. His mouth traveled from one nipple to the other, inciting them, fanning the flames once more. Surprised at how quickly her body wanted Ty all over again, she opened her eyes and then gently pushed him down on the mat.

  “My turn,” she whispered, and she began to rock her hips forward and back with intensity.

  Hands against her hips, Ty felt her power, a woman taking her man. It was something beautiful to experience, not control over one another but a sharing of that raw gift of love between them. Indeed, he saw her lips part and felt her entire body contract around him. Rachel threw her head back, exposing the beautiful curve of her neck. Her fingers dug deeply into his flesh as they once more experienced a simultaneous orgasm. The rippling heat moved against him, and he gasped with pleasure as, once more, he released into her scalding confines. For a moment, their eyes closed. Imprisoned within the heat of their passion, Ty felt his world spinning out of control.