Page 52 of Stone
Dani lingered where she stood as if expecting me to say something else. I couldn’t. Hell, I didn’t know what to think any longer. Having her in my space even for a little while did nothing but remind me of the man I used to be.
The one that had been lost somewhere in the desert of Afghanistan.
Her deep sigh was one of resentment.
My skin tingled even as the shot of electricity faded the moment she walked away. I tipped my head over my shoulder to watch her moving like a beautiful ballerina across my tile floor until she disappeared into the shadows. I hated myself for not being able to communicate with her better.
Even just like a friend.
Yet we were so much more.
The ache in my heart continued and it was nearly choking me to death.
I remained where I was, nursing my drink and doing nothing more than studying the ocean. I had the most beautiful woman only yards away from me and I’d never felt so dead inside. Maybe that wasn’t true. I’d always been good at masking my feelings. That’s something Kage had pointed out.
She was interested. I felt it. Hell, people a mile away could easily feel the chemistry between us, but she deserved better. She deserved a man who could provide her with everything she needed.
I wasn’t that man.
I was far too broken inside.
With my drink empty, I headed inside, grabbing the whiskey bottle and bringing it to the coffee table. I thumped down on the couch, still able to hear the ocean waters. I poured another drink and sat back. Having her in my house was wrong on so many levels.
Yet her presence also felt right.
A soft laugh pushed past my lips as I brought the rim of the glass to my lips. While I might not have a single clue how to handle her being so close, I knew one thing that wouldn’t change.
I’d protect her at all costs.
If Matis dared try to touch her again, he’d need to go through me.
As I leaned my head back, I tried to relax, but since retiring from the military, the only thing that had allowed any sense of peacewas riding the waves. Too late tonight. It was impossible to keep thoughts and images of Dani from my mind. Like the way she’d looked when spooning out the fresh fruit salad she’d insisted on making.
Or the way she’d yelped when cutting her finger and immediately sucking on the tip. And she had a way of opening a bottle of wine that was mesmerizing, including the very precise way she cut the foil off the top.
My favorite thing about her was the way she separated her food. Fish never touched the rice and dared not come close to her beloved strawberries.
Watching the way she lifted the fruit, licking the juice from every side before taking a tiny bite had pushed my cock to the point of sheer agony.
Just like reliving the moments in my mind was doing once again. I lifted my pelvis, shifting my dick from one side to the other. There was no relieving the pressure, only a reminder she’d been the only woman in my life to drive me so freaking crazy.
When we’d gone out to eat, she’d taken the cheeseburger from my hand to take a bite. Every. Single. Time. How could any man not consider a woman adorable when seeing hamburger juice trickle past her succulent lips?
Licking it off had been the best part.
Christ. I was hard as a rock, my balls tight as drums. This wasn’t going to work. I’d pick up a few additional shifts taking the boat out to create some distance between us. If I didn’t, I’d fucking lose my mind.
Or I’d make good on my other promise of chaining her to my bed.
After another swallow, I closed my eyes. Maybe the memories of a different life would eventually pass.
Maybe the pain would ease.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
The bullets flew as we rushed the partially burned-out building. I crowded the exterior wall, scanning the surrounding area to ensure we hadn’t been compromised.
Flames continued to ravage a portion of the structure, filling the night sky with an orange glow.
