Her SEAL Protector

by Jillian Burns

  “Uh, yeah.” She draped the bag with her dress over her arm. “I was just shopping while I waited for Clay.”

  James smoothed his hair off to the side with his opposite hand. “You two, that sure happened fast.”

  Guilt swamped her. “You know, I was thinking of skipping the workshops today. Maybe go eat fondue.” She didn’t have her coat, but, who cared? It was fairly mild today. “Want to come with?”

  * * *

  IN A CRAPPY MOOD, Clay stepped out of the shower and wiped the steam off the mirror. He took his razor and lathered up his jaw. Then he just stood there staring at himself. What an idiot. Real smooth, Bellamy. What was his problem? The bit about not doing cuddly mornings after? Kind of true. But who was he kidding? Last night things had been too...he didn’t know. Just too everything.

  Still, he owed Gabby an apology.

  After he finished shaving, he zipped up his jeans, and swung open the bathroom door. “Listen, I’m really sorr—” The room was empty. “Gabby?” Frowning, he strode to the French doors and threw them open, even though he could see she wasn’t out there. But she wouldn’t—no way she would’ve left the room without him.

  Grabbing his phone, he saw he had a text. From over forty-five minutes ago!

  Lobby? Spewing every curse word he knew, he finished dressing and then raced downstairs. She was in so much trouble. Wait until he got his hands on her. What part of “don’t go anywhere without me” did she not understand?

  She was nowhere in the lobby. He checked the workshop rooms, scanning every one. He spoke with the hotel manager and security team. They hadn’t seen her, but promised to notify him if they did. As soon as he made sure she was safe he was going to make her sorry.

  His phone vibrated and he snatched it from his pocket.

  At the Old Swiss House

  She’d left the hotel? Pushing down a flare of panic, he got directions from the concierge and tried to control his temper all the way across the cobbled stones of the town square to the medieval building on the corner.

  It wasn’t until he yanked open the centuries-old door and everyone in the place stopped to stare at him that he realized he needed to calm down. He uncurled his fists, flexed them and tried to relax his face as he scanned the tables.

  There. Sitting next to—that sniveling creep. She’d left the hotel to go out with that guy? She was staring at him, her expression a mixture of defiance and fear. She ought to be afraid.

  He stalked over. “What do you think you’re doing?”

  She pasted on a smile and lifted a long-handled, two-pronged fork from a pot in the middle of the table. Slowly, deliberately, she lowered the melting, cheese-covered food into her mouth.

  It might have been the most erotic thing he’d ever seen. Especially since she moaned as she chewed. The same moan she’d given him last night while something else had entered those luscious lips.

  “James and I were discussing the Large Hadron Collider,” she said after swallowing the cheese. “It’s not far outside Geneva. I looked it up and we can be there in less than two hours by train, and they let visitors tour for free. Want to join us?”

  Us? He needed to get his breathing under control. He wanted to smash something, preferably James’s face. “No.”

  She shrugged. “Okay.” Piercing another vegetable with the fork, she dipped it into the pot and swirled it around.

  “And you’re not going either.”

  Gabby shot him a menacing glare. “But, sweetheart,” she intoned the words in a singsong voice. “It’s the world’s most powerful particle collider. The largest single machine in the world. Over ten thousand scientists and engineers from over a hundred countries collaborate in a tunnel a hundred and seventy-five meters deep. I’ll never get another chance to see it.” The last part was said through gritted teeth.

  How did she spout all that information without even looking at her phone? If he needed another reason why he shouldn’t be with her, then that was it. She had a brilliant mind. She was going places. He was only good for heavy lifting. Clay looked at James. “You mind giving us a minute?”

  The guy cleared his throat and looked to Gabby, questioning. Clay wanted to haul him out of his chair and march him out the door by his collar.

  Instead, Gabby pushed her chair back and stood, putting a hand on James’s arm. “You go ahead and eat. I’ll be right back.” Her smile dropped when she shifted her gaze to Clay. “Outside?”

  Clay took her arm, but she subtly pulled it out of his grasp. She stalked ahead of him, out the door and didn’t stop until they were around the corner. Then she spun on him, arms crossed. “Yes?” There was that fake smile again.

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing leaving the room without me?”

  “I decided back in that jungle in Paraguay that I was going to live a more purposeful life. I was going to be brave. If I wanted to stay cooped up somewhere, I wouldn’t have come to Switzerland to begin with.”

  Clay bit the inside of his cheek “All you had to do was ask me first.”

  “I don’t need your permission! And anyway, I’m not alone, I’m with James.”

  “Yeah, right,” he mocked. “For all you know, that coward could be behind this threat.”

  She scoffed. “I told you, he was mugged that night, as well. Do you think he mugged himself?”

  “It’s possible he hired someone.”

  She blinked at that, but then shook her head. “Then why hasn’t he done something this week? Or now? Besides, I have my pepper spray in my purse.”

  “You can argue all you want, but you don’t go anywhere without me again. And I don’t know about that collision thing. I’ll look into the security situation there.”

  “I don’t need your permi—” Her lips clamped and her eyes gradually lost their defiant spark. “Fine. But I really want to go. And we’re leaving for home tomorrow.”

  He forced himself to relax. “If it’s safe, we’ll go.”

  “If we don’t catch the next train we won’t be back in time for the dinner tonight.”

  Her voice cracked and in that moment he would’ve done anything for her. “I’ll start looking into it.” He pulled out his phone. “But no James.”

  Her mouth fell open. “I can’t tell him he can’t go.”

  “I can.”

  Her mouth snapped shut and she cut him a look. “Fine. But I don’t think I can get my fondue to go and it was really good.” She stomped around him and headed into the restaurant.

  And just like that their quarrel was over. Clay stared after her, watching her butt. He was shocked to realize he’d never actually argued with a woman before. How could he be furious and turned on at the same time? This was why he would never be in a relationship. Relationships were messy and complicated, and aggravating and definitely not worth the trouble. One minute she was angry and endangering herself with a stupid move, the next she was using common sense and giving in. In combat he knew who the enemy was. He knew what the mission was, and how to execute it. But how was he supposed to deal with her when she made him want to put her over his knee and spank her and, at the same time, pull her into his arms and kiss her senseless?

  14

  “I CAN’T BELIEVE we got into the guided tour!” Gabby stood on the train platform practically jumping with exhilaration from seeing the Large Hadron Collider. “And the Microcosm exhibition? I mean, wow. I wish we had time for the Universe of Particles exhibition, too. Just think of all the scientific advances waiting to be discovered. It’s so exciting.”

  Clay stood beside her, arms folded, scanning the station like a...well, like a bodyguard. “You really get into all this stuff, don’t you?”

  She cringed. Flying your nerd flag pretty high, there, Gabby. She had been gushing about the applications in physics and technolo
gy for a while now. She’d pretty much babbled all morning to fill the silence. He hadn’t acted bored during the tour, but he hadn’t exactly acted interested either. “I told you I was a nerd.”

  He shrugged and turned his back to her. Great. Another one-sided conversation. He’d barely spoken to her at all. She supposed he was still mad about earlier, when she left the hotel without him.

  Her hungry gaze roamed over his body. The wide shoulders. His narrow waist. And now she knew what it felt like. To lie next to his strong, solid heat. To run her hands over his firm flesh with its scars and chest hair. To have him hard and pulsing inside her... She sighed, dragging in a deep breath.

  She’d wanted him all day. Even when he’d acted so rude this morning. Even when she was absorbed in watching the particle collider, she’d been aware of him standing next to her, aware of her body longing for his.

  She swallowed. “Clay?”

  He faced her, brows raised.

  “I’m really sorry I left the room without you. It was colossally stupid. You came all this way just to protect me, and then I make things even more difficult for you by—”

  “Forget it.” He shook his head.

  “It’s no excuse, I know, but ever since the kidnapping I’ve been making some bad decisions.”

  His gaze riveted to her. “Was last night one of them?”

  She frowned, wishing she knew what was going on in that mind of his. But she made sure she deliberately held his gaze. “I will never regret last night.”

  His eyes darkened and she could’ve sworn he was remembering all the things they’d done to, and with, each other in that hotel bed. Her throat was dry and she licked her lips. His gaze lowered to her mouth.

  “Shouldn’t the train be here any minute now?” She peered down the empty track, willing it to arrive. The sooner they got to the hotel, the sooner she might be able to talk him into a little nap, if that smoldering look on his face was any indication of how he was feeling.

  With a roar that echoed the turmoil inside her, the train finally appeared and screeched to a stop, doors swishing open. It was going to be a long two hours back to the hotel.

  Barely glancing at her, Clay ushered her ahead of him and into one of the train cars. She found a seat, plopping down across from an elderly man. She smiled at him, and he smiled wistfully back.

  When she reached that gentleman’s age, she hoped she’d done most of the things she’d wanted to do. No more hiding from the world, regretting what she hadn’t tried. She was so glad she hadn’t let that threat stop her from coming here.

  The train gasped as the doors shut and it jerked to a start. Wait. Clay hadn’t taken his seat.

  She twisted in her chair to search behind her and spied him talking to the conductor. He was exchanging cash for tickets. Had she neglected to buy round-trip this morning? He glanced over his shoulder and caught her watching him and—oh my, the look in his eyes. She felt his desire all the way from the end of the train car.

  After nodding to the conductor, he strode down the aisle toward her and offered his hand. “Come on.”

  Gabby jumped up, grabbed her purse and the packages she’d bought at the souvenir shop, and took his hand. “Where are we going?”

  A muscle in his jaw ticked and then his brows rose. “Did you know that these international trains have sleeper cars?” His hand closed tightly around hers as he led her away.

  Relishing the feel of her hand in his strong, callused one, she followed him willingly, happily, through two train cars until he stopped before a private compartment and ushered her inside.

  She already had one boot unzipped and tugged off as he stepped in and locked the door behind him. Even as he shrugged out of his jacket, he cupped her face in his palm and kissed her, deep and hungrily.

  Her mouth devoured his, desperate for his heat, his taste. Last night hadn’t been nearly enough. Maybe she would never get enough of him. Her hands trembled as she tried to unbutton his flannel shirt and she moaned in frustration. She might’ve even popped a couple of his buttons in her hurry to get his clothes off.

  He didn’t even bother with her buttons. He untucked her blouse, lifted it over her head and reached behind her to unhook her bra. He kissed her madly as he shucked his jeans and only managed to get one leg of her slacks and panties off before she fell backward onto the small bunk.

  Emitting a low sound from the back of his throat, he dropped to his knees, put his hands at her hips and pressed kisses to her stomach. Part of her watched as if from a distance, incredulous that this stunning man wanted her, nerdy Gabby, as much as she wanted him. How could that even be possible? But why question her luck?

  Cradling his head in her hands, she lifted a foot to the edge of the mattress as he spread her thighs.

  His mouth consumed her, played with her. His tongue licked and teased. She gave a brief thought to how soundproof the sleeper car might or might not be, but didn’t care. She moaned and whimpered, encouraging him, digging her heels into the mattress.

  Opening her eyes, she couldn’t help but stare as he used his mouth and fingers to pleasure her. The sight of him loving her overwhelmed her emotions and took her over the edge. She stiffened and cried out his name. She was still in the throes of incredible pleasure when he rolled on protection, then rose up over her and slid inside her.

  He settled his elbows on either side of her head and kissed her jaw and behind her ear. His breathing was labored and she felt puffs of warm air on her shoulder as he moved his hips in a strong rhythm designed to build tension in her again.

  Quickly, she locked her ankles around his narrow waist, ran her hands over his shoulders and clung to him, savoring the way he felt inside her, cherishing these moments with him. They still had tonight, after the dinner. And if she was really lucky, maybe even after the conference was over they could meet at his place on the weekends for a while...

  Clay gave a final thrust that pressed deep and he stilled, straining until he relaxed against her, leaving kisses on her cheek and under her jaw.

  She wasn’t sure how long they lay there together, sideways on the tiny bunk, nuzzling and dozing. But the train ride, she reminded herself, would take two hours. She grinned and tightened her arms around him. That should give them plenty of opportunity for a second round.

  * * *

  HE’D REALLY SCREWED up this time.

  Clay opened drowsy eyes and watched the mountainous countryside pass by outside the train window. His head was pillowed on Gabby’s soft breast and he nuzzled it even as he knew he should get up and get dressed.

  He and Gabby had ended up snuggled together on one of the single bunks. She still had one pant leg shoved around her ankles. What was wrong with him? He’d never had to have a woman so desperately that he couldn’t wait until she had all her clothes off. Never had sex felt so wild, or had he fallen into such a lethargic sleep afterward.

  Hadn’t he decided this morning that making lo—having sex—with Gabby last night had been a mistake? He’d woken up in the middle of the night and watched her as she mumbled and burrowed even closer to him. Before he realized what he was doing, he’d picked up a strand of her long hair and wound it around his finger. He’d thought how soft it was and even brought it to his nose to inhale her unique fragrance.

  As soon as he’d realized what a sap he was being, he’d moved back to the couch. No way he could’ve stayed there snuggling with her the rest of the night. He wasn’t that kind of guy. Why’d he have to keep reminding himself of this?

  But she got under his skin like nobody else. From the minute she’d disappeared this morning, through the fight that ended as abruptly as it had begun and her contagious enthusiasm for that particle accelerator machine, she rattled him. She threw him off balance.

  She moaned and stirred beneath him, so he tried to rise, but she held on. �
��You don’t have to get up.”

  They still had an hour or so before they arrived in Lucerne. So, no, he guessed he didn’t have to leave her arms just yet.

  * * *

  CLAY TUGGED AT his bow tie. This rented penguin suit restricted his movement. He checked his shoulder holster again for the Sig Sauer, feeling vulnerable without the backup piece he usually kept in his boot. Another reason why he hated penguin suits. The pinching, shiny dress shoes.

  “Okay, I’m ready.”

  At the sound of fabric swishing, Clay spun. “About ti—” Someone hit the pause button on his brain.

  “Clay?”

  He closed his mouth and swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. Was this extraordinary beauty really Gabby? She wore makeup that made her eyes look smoky and sultry. Her long hair was pulled up in a smooth twist with a couple of curling tendrils framing her face. The style looked both elegant and sexy. He wanted to press his lips to the vulnerable spot at the nape of her neck.

  Sparkly earrings dangled from her ears, but her throat was bare. Until this moment he’d never in his life had the urge to buy a woman jewelry.

  Her deep blue gown sparkled like she was wearing the night sky with twinkling stars. It plunged in a V between her breasts, showing just a hint of soft, plump cleavage. The lower part fit close to her curvy hips and then pooled on the floor.

  He knew that body now. Knew the suppleness of her skin, the fragrance of her excitement, the sounds she made in the throes of passion. He pictured her the way she’d been in his arms this afternoon, his mouth on that golden skin, all the things he’d done to her. All the things she’d done to him. He closed his eyes, remembering.

  “Clay?”

  He opened them as she smoothed her hands down those curvy hips. “Do I look all right?”

  All right? She was the most sensuously beautiful woman he’d ever known. And the connection between them was undeniable. His body still shuddered from the intensity of their short time in that narrow train bunk.