Page 27 of Challenging Her Protector

He worked to slow his breathing and smoothed more lotion over the backs of her arms. He’d never felt this way about a woman in his life and not just the physical desire. He loved talking to her and having her close. It would be all too easy to hold onto her too tightly, but that wouldn’t do. Not when she was just learning to be free. Not when she was meant to fly.

Chapter Eleven

Viv stifled agroan as Iron’s large palms moved over her back. He’d rubbed the suntan lotion between his hands, warming it before letting it touch her skin. Waves crashed into the shore, and she breathed in the salty mist tinged with the coconut scent of the lotion, willing the fast clip of her heart to slow. Heat from Iron’s body was rolling off him. One heavily muscled leg bracketed hers, the other stopped just above the knee, covered by the hem of his swim trunks. She leaned into his touch as he kneaded her shoulders. She’d been shocked by her own suggestion to help each other with the lotion. Yes, she craved his touch and wanted the chance to touch him in return with a motive that seemed relatively safe and productive, but she’d never been so bold. The suggestion was a testament to how comfortable she was in this man’s presence. Another wave broke on the shore, and she was curious how he’d navigate the rushing water. The question was on the tip of her tongue, but she didn’t want to insult him. He was strong and knew what he was doing. If he asked her to help, would she be strong enough to assist him?

“What are you thinking?” His voice so close to her ear sent a thrill spiraling through her.

“If I say, promise you won’t be upset or annoyed with me?”

“Vee.” His palms worked over her shoulders and down her outer arms. She loved the feel of his rough hands against her skin. “I’m not going to be upset or annoyed if you share what’s on your mind.”

“Okay then. I was thinking how rough the waves look and wondering if I could help you in some way. Not that you want it or need it. Your muscles have muscles for Pete’s sake. I can imagine the logistics are still challenging, though. How will you get into the water safely? And what about getting out?”

He’d stopped applying the lotion, his hands resting gently just below her elbows. When he didn’t immediately respond, worried thoughts started to bombard her. He must’ve sensed her unease because his chuckle rumbled through the afternoon air.

“Slow down, sweetheart. It humbles me that you care about my safety. You can ask me anything. If it’s coming from you, knowing what a kind and curious heart you have? It’s not going to bother me in the least. It feels pretty good that I’m able to talk freely with you. Like I mentioned, I haven’t spent too much time in the water recently, so I don’t know how smooth my transition is going to be. I have no qualms about asking you to be my crutch if I need some help.”

“Okay. I’m happy to be of service.”

He chuckled again and tossed the lotion on the blanket and stood. She watched in fascination as he moved closer to the waves, dropping the crutch as he got closer. He hopped into the water until the waves lapped just below his hip, then jumped with his arms outstretched. Vee scrambled off the towel and ran into the surf. The refreshingly cool water rushed over her toes and ankles, and she followed his lead, leaping into a cresting wave and slipping beneath the surface. When she came up for air, another strong wave crashed over them. A breathless peal of laughter left her lips as Iron’s hands gripped her hips, so she didn’t go tumbling over. Her nipples pebbled beneath the material of her swimsuit, not because of the cold water but from having Iron’s hands on her body. The ocean was so vast, they should’ve had plenty of space to float apart, but they drifted together, treading water inches apart. There was a flutter of pain in her chest when she put her hands right above his heart. His pupils were dilated, eyes nearly black. She wasn’t the only one affected by lotioning each other on the towels. He glanced down at her chest, and she knew he was staring at the way her nipples strained against the wet fabric of her bathing suit.

“Iron.” She wasn’t sure what she wanted from him, but his name felt right moving past her lips. The tension between them thickened, and with his gaze penetrating hers, the breath whooshed out of her lungs. She wanted to find out if his lips were as soft as they looked. Taste the salt water on his skin. Earlier she’d been thinking that once she got her life straightened out and learned to do more on her own, she might be worthy of Iron. A woman who was sure of herself and confident enough to reach out and grab what she wanted. Now though, with Iron staring at her with an expression of wonder, all those insecurities seemed so far away. With Hannah coming home the day after tomorrow, her time with Iron was growing short. The Vivienne she wanted to become would recognize that life was too short. That she’d just taken a huge leap by leaving a situation that wasn’t bringing her joy. Iron though? He calmed the jitters in her stomach and the small voice that kept whispering she couldn’t make it on her own. Just being near him soothed her mind while making her midsection buzz with excitement. If her goal was to explore experiences that brought her happiness, what was she waiting for?

“Yeah, Vee?” His voice was as rough as the ocean waves and a warm, liquid pull flowed through her stomach and settled between her hips.

She was still staring at his broad chest when she asked the question on her mind. “May I kiss you?” Her voice wobbled as heat rushed up her cheeks. She glanced up at him quickly, embarrassment flooding her. What had she been thinking? Self-doubt warred with her lustful request until the heat searing in his expression registered.

He raised his hands to frame her face, the pads of his fingers against her cheeks leaving her breathless. He leaned down, brushing his mouth against hers once, then twice. A strangled sound caught in the back of her throat, and she gripped his wide shoulders. His pulse pounded against her fingers and there was a slight tremor in his hands where he touched her cheeks. He hesitated for a brief moment, then teased apart her lips with a gentle stroke of his tongue.

She pushed her toes into the wet sand and wrapped her arms around the back of his neck to draw him closer. Her teeth scraped playfully over his lower lip, and a shiver tingled through her when he groaned in pleasure. She swallowed the rough sound, the vibration of it going directly to her strained nipples. A wave rocked them closer together, and every touch was electrified. Iron’s palms moved up her cheeks and his fingers speared into her wet hair. She loved how the muscles of his chest rippled under her hands, the defined planes of his stomach and the indents of his hips. She whimpered when he pulled back and stared at the dazed look in his eyes. They were both panting, but she wanted to jump back into the wild kiss.

“Guess we should come up for air.” He rubbed his thumb over her swollen bottom lip.

“Who needs air? Not me.” She smiled and reached for him, but instead of kissing her like she wanted, he pulled her into his chest. She wrapped her arms around his waist and clung tight as they swayed with the waves.

“Thank you, sweetheart,” he murmured with his lips against her forehead. “Hands down the best kiss of my life. I won’t ever forget it.”

An emotion she couldn’t quite name took up space in her chest. She must’ve taken too long to respond, because he held her back slightly and searched her face. “Are you okay?”

“No.” She shook her head, not completely able to catch her breath. “Moved. Speechless. Ruined. Those are the things I’m feeling right now. But okay? I’ve left okay behind. Whateverthatwas? It was extraordinary. I’m feeling greedy, Iron.” His eyes held so much heat, it nearly knocked her back. “I want more.” The words coming off her lips sounded nothing like her own, but they were the truth.

A ragged breath left his lips as he continued to hold her tightly. “And I’m feeling weak. One kiss and I’m having a hard time hanging onto control. I’m not a man who deserves you, Vee. Not the kind of man who can drown in everything that’s you and still be sharp to his surroundings and protect you.”

“The security cameras at the houses nearby didn’t pick up on anything near Hannah’s house. Maybe I’m not in danger at all. And if push comes to shove, I know you’ll do your best to protect me, but sometimes things happen that are unavoidable.”

“Maybe it’s because I recognize how precious you are and I’m being paranoid, but I don’t want to write off the break-in at Hannah’s house as simply an unlocked door.”

Movement on the shore caught her eye and his gaze followed hers. His body tensed and he froze in place.

Recognition struck her. “Iron, are those your parents?”

The breath whooshed out of his lungs. “Yeah.” His voice, so filled with emotion a moment ago, was now remote. She had no clue how Iron was feeling about his parents dropping in or what they potentially just witnessed. Vivienne stared at the couple standing on the shore. As surprised as she and Iron seemed to be, they appeared even more shocked. She inwardly cringed wondering how long they’d been standing there and how much they saw of the kiss that turned her world upside down. The man who was in the picture was still tall and broad, but his shoulders were more slumped, like life was weighing down on him. His mother was looking from Iron to her and back again.

By his own admission, Iron’s relationship with his parents was strained, and as kind as she knew Iron to be, he said he cut them off brutally, thinking they’d be better off without him in their lives. Iron’s sense of honor and the standards he held himself to were detrimental to his well-being. She had no doubt if one of the SEAL teammates had been the one standing beside Scooter when he made his final decision, Iron would give them grace. There was no way he’d give that forgiveness to himself though. His mother took a step back and looked like she was going to turn away. Vivienne looked up at Iron who was making no moves to get out of the water.

“We have to get out and greet them.” They were still hanging onto each other as the waves rolled around them.

“I don’t know what to say to them, Vee.” He clutched her more tightly, like a drowning man might cling to a life preserver.

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