Page 11 of Not a Perfect Save

Fuck my life.

Somehow, I manage to keep my expression bland. “Of course.” I drop to my haunches and hook my thumbs in the belt loops of her jeans. She shivers at the contact of my fingers against her calves, her full lips parting as she lets out a slow breath. Meanwhile, my dick is going into overdrive. I let out a soft grunt.

Suspicious green eyes lock on mine as she props her hands on my shoulders for additional stability. “Don’t get any ideas, Boy Scout.”

“Who, me? No way.” I follow my statement with a quick salute, then return to my task. When she gives a little giggle. My chest loosens and some of the earlier tension dissipates.

I drag the denim down, savoring each soft inch. Her hands clench on my shoulders and her breath hitches.

She’s hurting, you pervert.

I get one foot free and then inch the rough denim over off the other.

Still crouched between her splayed legs, I try not to notice the hint of pink lace in the shadow between her thighs. But my attention must rest there just a second too long because she huffs. I plant my fists on the mattress by her hips, and force my gaze up, prepared for her ire. But when I lock on her face, she’s biting her lip, and her eyes are bright with arousal. “Connor...”

I growl. “Ella...”

My hand comes up to cup her face and my thumb traces along her bottom lip. She releases it but then her tongue sneaks out and gives it a quick lick. A sharp breath escapes me as my cock stirs again. This is madness.

Hazy, feverish eyes are bright with arousal and pain. I come to my senses and clear my throat. “Get some sleep. I’ll be right over there, okay?” I’ve suffered concussions and know how brutal they can be. Heaving myself up, I say, “Poke me with the stick anytime you want.”

Ella gives me a small, tired grin as she stretches out, pulling the blanket over herself.

She’s asleep before I switch off the lights.

I sit down on my bed and rest my head in my hands, taking deep breaths and calling myself all kinds of a pervert.

Chapter Seven

CONNOR

I stirbefore the alarm goes off. My watch shows that it’s 4 a.m. and time to check on my guest. It took me a while to fall asleep—the dark ceiling of my den was the recipient of my stare for a long time after I lay down. I’ve only been out for an hour or so. Strange, because in the military, you learn to fall asleep in any situation—while always keeping some part of yourself alert.

I heave myself up and test my ankle. A little stiff, but no pain. I knew the doctors and Dan were being cautious, but it’s damned irritating to be coddled like this. Valuable enough to be paid millions of dollars a year, they certainly don’t want to be damaging their ‘soldier’. I snort. It’s annoying as shit that that’s how Dan has branded me, but it’s stuck.

Shadows fill the room. I left one light on so that Ella wouldn’t be in the pitch black in case she woke up during the night.

I turn to face her. Ella is on her side and has managed to kick off her blanket. The T-shirt has ridden up, exposing the soft skin of her stomach and the tiny pink panties I’d caught sight of earlier. Fuck me—it’s a thong. Her ass is round and ripe, and her legs, soft and smooth. I allow myself a minute to look before averting my eyes. For a second, I’m tempted to poke her with my crutch, like she said earlier. I have to hold back a smile as I get up and drag the blanket up back across her chest.

“Connor?”She blinks a few times.

Bracing my hand by her head, I lean over. “How are you feeling?”

“Fine.”

Ella sounds a little dazed, and I recall my instructions. “Do you know what date it is?”

She answers correctly. I ask her a few more questions—her address, a couple of state capitals, and last year’s Super Bowl winner. I’m stupidly pleased when she correctly answers ‘The New York Titans’.

She wrinkles her nose. “Ask me something harder, this is boring.”

My lips twitch. Even half-awake, she’s Miss Persnickety. “Favorite holiday?”

“Groundhog Day.”

That one’s new. “Your favorite color?”

She takes a minute and studies me. “Blue.” A soft thumb finds the lines beside one of my eyes.

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