Protecting Her Read online

  What is it about Gabe that had me lying in bed for hours last night going over every detail of our meeting? It hadn’t ended once sleep took me either. I’d gone on to have a sex dream about him too. I lick my lips. Well we hadn’t gotten to the actual sex part yet. I’d woken up before then because of the orgasm he’d given me with his head between my thighs. Remembering how he’d commanded me to come on his tongue is not helping me right now.

  My whole body starts to warm, and I make myself get up and go to the bathroom and wash my face. Somehow I forget I’m not alone, and opening the door to my room, I run right into a hard chest. I don’t have to see him to know who it is. I can smell him. He smells like the sun, and I like that way too much. It makes me think of warmth and wide open spaces outside. Home.

  He grunts as if me running into his solid form hurt him. My eyes travel up his broad chest to meet his. I feel his hand flex on my hip making me realize I’ve got a hold of his shirt, my fingers digging in. My traitor body is trying to get close to him of its own accord.

  “Sorry,” I rush to say when I see the look on his face. Why do I have sex dreams about a man who looks as though he wants to throttle me half the time?

  “Be careful.”

  I give a nod. My mind blanks for once when I should have a snippy comeback. He really does set me off-kilter. It should annoy me, but oddly it’s refreshing. I let my hold on his shirt go, trying to step back, but his grip on my hip tightens for a moment.

  My stomach tightens when I feel something hard pressed against me. He suddenly jerks back, letting his hold on me go and stepping out of the way. I dart into the bathroom without another word. The throb between my legs returns with the thought of how hard he was for me. I turn the faucet on, splashing some cold water on my now warm cheeks.

  He was turned on. I grab a towel, wiping my face. It’s silly that I’m acting like this. Of course he was turned on. He’s a man and I was pressed up against him. It was only natural. I spend a couple of minutes in the bathroom repeating this to myself as I brush my hair and make myself somewhat presentable before I finally pull the bathroom door back open.

  I follow the sound of the noise to find Gabe in the kitchen. He had prepared dinner for us last night. Laura was right; the man could cook. He barely said a few words and mostly ignored me through the entire meal. It was me that couldn't stop staring at him trying to figure him out.

  “I made you coffee.” He turns from the kitchen sink, nodding toward the coffee cup on the table.

  “Thanks.” I grab the warm cup and take a drink. It’s made the exact way I like it. There’s something about him knowing how I prefer my coffee that has butterflies forming in my stomach. But then I remember him knowing every detail about me is part of his job.

  “You always up this early?” Is he making small talk or is this something he needs for his security detail notes? If he knows how I take my coffee I’m going to guess it’s for security reasons. The man is into all the details obviously. I like that.

  “It’s hard for me to find sleep. If I wake up I’m likely not going to be able to go back. My mind starts going, and it doesn't want to stop.”

  “There are things you can do for that.” His jaw flexes after he speaks. Is it that hard to make small talk with me? Am I irritating him?

  “Yeah, some people have told me yoga and running would help. I’ll pass on the running, and yoga never seems to work for me.”

  “Wasn't talking about yoga or running.” I place my mug back down on the counter.

  “I’m all ears. I’m up for any suggestions or tips that you may have. I’d be willing to try just about anything.”

  “Yeah, Gabe, what else can knock a girl out for a few hours? What would leave her so tired that she doesn’t even have the energy to think?” Laura comes strolling into the room. They both are fully dressed, and it reminds me that this is a job for them. They’ve been up all night and are likely ready to go home. “Damn, did he make you coffee? He never makes me coffee.”

  Gabe is now glaring at Laura. She smirks back. Wait, are they flirting? My eyes bounce between them, and I try to think back on their comments to each other. They could be together and hiding it to be professional. Laura openly smiles at him, and it irritates me. I know it shouldn’t, but I can’t seem to help it.

  “Thank you for the coffee,” I say before rushing off back to my room to hide before I make a fool of myself. It isn't until I’m in my room do I remember I left my coffee on the counter. I drop my head back on the closed door. There goes my plan on not making myself look like a fool.

  Chapter 6

  Gabe

  “I thought you were going to keep your dick in check,” Laura murmurs over a freshly poured cup of coffee that I made so that she can’t use that complaint against me.

  My nostrils flare, and I turn back to washing the cup that Catriona left behind instead of telling my partner to keep her nose out of my business. So my cock is hard. I didn’t do anything about it, even though I wanted to. Yeah, I know the suggestion to work off her excess energy and help her sleep wasn’t right, but it popped out, much like my erection.

  “If you don’t think you can handle yourself—”

  “I’m fine,” I bite out. No one is working this case but me. It’s shitty enough that I’ve got to share Catriona with Fred and Hydro. The only way I’m going to be able to make it through the day is knowing that I’ll be back before the sun sets.

  “Oh crap,” Laura says.

  I immediately go for my gun. “What is it?”

  She holds her phone up. “Hydro is sick. Says he must’ve caught the flu from his daughter because he’s been puking all night. He hoped it would be a twenty-four-hour thing but he’s still got a high fever this morning.”

  I tuck my gun away and pretend relief isn’t pouring through every inch of my six foot five inch frame. “No way he can come. I’ll give the office a call,” I volunteer, but I know there’s no replacement. Cord took a big team with him to protect the singer, drilling the squad down to almost nothing. “And tell Hydro to go see a doctor. We can’t be short-handed.”

  But it doesn’t matter if we are. I’ve stayed up for days at a time in the desert waiting for a shot, waiting for orders, just waiting in general. Here, at least, I have a nice bed, access to food, and a shower. Laura, Fred, and I can handle it, but I need to at least make a show of getting another body here.

  “Sure thing, boss.”

  Laura makes her call to Hydro while I call in to headquarters where I’m predictably told that there’s no one available but we could pull someone from the local police, if necessary. “No thanks.”

  Local police are nothing more than a deterrent. They’re badly trained and often haven’t shot their gun since the police academy. Despite all their military hand-me-downs, the only thing they’re good for is writing traffic tickets.

  “Hydro’s going in for some IV fluids along with vitamin D and C shots. He should be good to go in a couple of days. Have any luck with headquarters?” Laura asks.

  “Everyone with enough training for this job is off with Cord. There are a few new recruits, but I don’t want them here.”

  Laura nods. She knows I’m right. “How do you want to handle this?”

  “I’ll move in and do a twenty-four-hour shift while you and Fred spell me for a few hours of shut-eye.”

  Laura’s lips tighten, but she knows this is our best solution. “You’re the boss,” she says.

  “You best be off then and get some sleep so you’re alert enough for both of us tonight.”

  She dumps her coffee out and picks up her jacket. “Do you want me to tell Catriona?”

  “No. I got it.”

  After Laura goes out to meet Fred and give him the rundown, I pour a new cup of coffee and cross the cabin to Catriona’s bedroom. I give it a knock of warning and then walk in. Catriona gives a small shriek and then slaps her hand against her chest, a hairbrush clenched in one fist. “Don’t scare me like that.�
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  “I knocked.”

  “I didn’t hear it.” She tosses the brush onto the dresser. “I suppose you’re off.” Her tone’s odd--almost angry, like I’m abandoning her.

  “Laura is.” I hold out the coffee. “You left this out there. I poured you a new cup.”

  “What do you mean, Laura is?”

  I explain the Hydro situation and then end with, “I’m staying with you twenty-four seven with Laura and Fred watching out for you while I’m sleeping. The only issue is that you’ll have to be physically with me while I sleep. You can be in the lab or in this room, but either way, your body needs to be next to mine.”

  Catriona’s mouth falls open. “What?”

  “It’s too much of a strain on the manpower if you’re out running errands or in a public place because we can’t have eyes on you and our surroundings, so while I sleep, you need to stick with me while Fred or Laura watches for threats. You going to the lab or you staying here today?”

  “I…” She rubs a hand over her forehead. “I was planning on reading my results for the last six months to see if they are as consistent as I think they are so that we can move into Phase Three of the human trials.”

  “Great.” I toe off my boots, pull off my shoulder harness, and lie down on the bed. I give her a chin nod and pat the side of the mattress. “Come on over and start reading.”

  “On the bed?”

  “I told you I was with you twenty-four seven. This bed is nice. Smells good, too. What do you use?”

  “Strawberry shampoo?”

  “I like it.” I close my eyes. I don’t have to wait too long. Catriona’s muttering under her breath about how unusual this is and how she doesn’t know if she can feel very scientific lying in her bed, but she also wants to finish her research, so she might as well give it a try. The mattress dips as she climbs on. I feel the warmth of her body as her legs stretch out beside my head. If I turn just a little, I could be pressing my lips against the side of her thigh. The idea makes me hard again. There’s little I can do about my erection, but she’s just going to have to get used to my hard-ons. She turns me on and I’m not about to hide it.

  I can’t do anything about it now, but once this is all over, my cock will be inside of her body so fast she won’t be able to say DNA.

  Chapter 7

  Catriona

  How am I supposed to work like this? I glance down at Gabe, I think he passed out a few minutes ago. I take advantage of the opportunity to stare at every detail of his handsome face, wondering what it is about him that’s so different to me than every other man I’ve ever met.

  There has to be something that has drawn me to him. I’ve never had an attraction like this before, and it’s starting to drive me insane. I’ve never had a problem concentrating on my work, but with him around it seems almost impossible to think straight.

  I glance up from his face when the door to my bedroom pushes open. Gabe is up with his body in front of mine, blocking my view before I can even see who it is. The man may be big, but he’s quick. I make a mental note of that detail, adding it to the list of other things that I’ve learned about him.

  “Letting you know I’m heading out.” I peek over Gabe’s shoulder to see Laura standing there giving him a glare. I swallow wondering what that’s about. Is she upset because they have a thing going on, and he’s in bed with me?

  “I’ll see you tonight,” he tells her. She gives him a stiff nod before her eyes come to me. She shakes her head before turning to leave. I lean back, resting against the headboard as Gabe lays down again, closing his eyes.

  “Ahh. Are you two okay?” I finally ask. I should really mind my own business, but I can’t help myself. He opens his eyes to look at me.

  “Fine,” he grunts. I roll my eyes.

  “Whatever,” I mumble. I go back to reading my reports.

  “You’re cute when you pout.” I look over at him out of the corner of my eye. I swear the man has a smirk on his face. One that could melt the panties off any woman.

  “I’m not pouting.” I suck my bottom lip in. Was I pouting? Wait. Did he call me cute? I’m not sure how I feel about that. Cute isn't bad. It’s often what I’m called, but for once I want to be sexy. I’m not sure that’s even a category I could fall into, but I think a man like Gabe only dates sexy. It goes with that sexy rough thing he’s got going on.

  “Looks like it to me.” I keep my eyes trained on the computer and continue to act as though I’m working, even though I have no clue what the hell is even on the screen at this point. My only thoughts are of how sexy he looked with that smile on his face.

  “Well, I’m not. If you must know, this is how I look when I’m concentrating on groundbreaking research.” There. I told him. I smile to myself. The bed starts to shake. I look down at him to see that he’s silently laughing. I sNathan his chest. He grabs my wrist, his laughter stopping. My heart rate picks up at his touch.

  “Don’t hurt yourself.” My hand does kind of sting. I should have known his chest would be extra hard, like the rest of him. I’m not sure what came over me to even hit him. His thumb rubs along my pulse, and I know he can feel my heart pounding.

  He gives my wrist a pull. My laptop slides off my lap onto the bed as he pulls me down closer to him. My eyes drop to his mouth. What is happening? He’s a jerk that grunts a lot and bosses me around. Plus he could already have something going on with Laura. At least that’s what my brain is screaming. My body is screaming something else altogether. It’s drawn to him and begs to be closer to him. Traitor.

  “Are you and Laura together?” I blurt out. I was never good at holding my tongue. Even when I was in school and the teacher would ask a question. Everyone else would raise their hand but I would shout the answer out before being called on. It was a bad habit of mine. Worse when I was rushing to correct the teacher.

  “No.” His eyebrows pull together in confusion. “Why would you—” I kiss him, cutting off whatever he was about to say. I guess my body is running the show. When Gabe’s hand digs into my hair, his tongue slipping out of his mouth to lick the seam of mine, my mind blanks. I can honestly say that this has never happened to me before. Usually I can’t stop my mind from racing, but as soon as this man puts his lips on mine, I forget everything.

  “Open your mouth, Catriona,” he orders, his hand in my hair tightening. I part my lips for him. My body follows his command. His tongue slips into my mouth as he takes control of the kiss. I expect the kiss to be hard and rough to match him, but it’s not. It is slow and almost lazy. He’s taking his time and savoring it. Memorizing the feel of my lips against his. Or maybe it’s me that’s doing that.

  I hear something in the background, but I ignore it as I start to kiss him back. A groan comes from him that slips through my body, waking every part of me up. My nipples tighten as the need to be closer to him throbs inside of me.

  “Catriona.” He pulls his mouth from mine, but I don’t stop. I kiss along his jaw, and he makes those same groaning sounds again. “Catriona.” He says my name again. I lean up to look down at him, realizing I’m straddling him. When did that happen? How did any of this happen? I lick my lips, making his eyes drop there, and I want to kiss him again. I shift, rocking against him. He closes his eyes as if he’s pained.

  “Fuck the phone.” He grabs me, flipping me over onto my back.

  “The phone?” I ask. Then I hear it. The ring is my boss’s. “Nathan!” Gabe’s nose flares.

  I push at his chest, but he doesn’t budge.

  “Didn’t say I was done.” He grins before his mouth is back on mine again.

  Chapter 8

  Gabe

  There’s a voice in the back of my head screaming at me that I’m violating a hundred different codes and rules, but her warm body is lying under mine, her hands are curled around my shoulders, and her tongue is tangling with mine. Her tits are smashed against my chest. I reach between us and palm one. She moans, and the sound travels directly to
my dick. I grind my cock into her pussy. Her hips rise and her legs part, giving me better access. I want more—more of her body, more of her kiss, more of her touch. I don’t fucking care about ethics and dumb shit like that. It would take a bomb to get me off of her--or Fred.

  He bursts through the door, his gun out and the safety off. Immediately, I roll Catriona off the bed and cover her with my body. She screams loud enough to raise the dead.

  “Fuck, man, sorry,” Fred sighs. “The phone kept ringing and I thought you were both incapacitated.”

  I hear the snick of the safety as it slides back in place, count to three, and lever myself off a shocked Catriona. Rising to my feet, I face an unhappy Fred.

  “I was about to shoot you, man. You know how that would look on my evaluation form? Not great.” He angrily jabs the gun back into his holster.

  “You’re right. I should’ve gotten the phone.”

  “That’s not all you should’ve done,” he grumbles, sending me a frown. My erection is hard to miss. I rake a hand through my hair. Fred’s got every right to be pissed. I’ve messed up big time. We’re partners in this protection gig, and if I screw up, I could get both our client and him dead. I owe them both an apology. First I need to make it up to Catriona and then to Fred. I silently let him know that I’ll meet him outside.

  He grunts and steps out of the room, shutting the door behind him.

  I turn to face the bed, but Catriona is still cowering.

  “You can come out now. There’s no danger.”

  “Oh, I’m not hiding because I fear for my life but because I’m mortified, and if I stay down here with my head covered, I can pretend that man didn’t walk in on me doing the horizontal mamba with my bodyguard.”

  “Horizontal mamba?”

  “The table tango?”