Page 15 of Saved By the Marines (Soldiers Of Misfortune)

After the meal came dancing. The other guys groaned and managed to get out of the way when Bailey came up. There was laughter in her eyes as she looked up at me. “Care to dance, Kip?”

I had no idea what to do, but I studied the others on the floor and figured it wasn’t much more than swaying to the music. Every kid at an eighth-grade dance could do that. “Sure.”

Leading her out to the floor, I grasped her hand and put my other on her lower back. Most of the men had theirs on their partners’ shoulders, but Bailey’s dress dipped down to just above her ass. This gave me a chance to run my fingers over her silky smooth skin.

We were standing close enough that I felt, more than heard, her breath catch when my fingers dipped down below the edge of her dress to brush the swell of her ass. Her wide eyes met mine and I smirked down at her.

She didn’t berate me though, she just followed along as I led her through the song. She felt so damn good in my arms and I was sure my pants weren’t doing a very good job of hiding the erection I was sporting.

Gathering her closer, I eliminated any space between us and I knew the minute she felt my hard-on pressing against her stomach. It didn’t bother me in the slightest if she knew I was attracted to her. The blush rushing up over her neck and cheeks made me wonder how much experience she had with men.

“Do you have a boyfriend?” I asked her, my voice rough. She wasn’t even doing anything and she had me turned on. If this was going to be the norm then my dick would be constantly sore, to say the least.

“Not anymore,” she told me, meeting my eyes.

“Good.”

She looked like she was about to ask me what I meant when a shot rang out.

“Death to corporatists!”

The shout and the sound of gunfire had every muscle in my body tensing before I dragged her down to the ground, covering her, shielding her with my mass.Damn, damn, damn.I was so wrapped up in her that I’d shirked my duties. The adrenaline dump had me focused on the threat now.

My eyes sought out my teammates and I saw them rushing toward the entrance of the building. It had only been two shots, but that didn’t mean there wouldn’t be more. I stood and pulled Bailey to her feet, dragging her toward the safety of the back of the room.

I found Senator Michaels along the way. “This way, Sir,” I barked at him. He followed behind me and I shoved them down into a corner where the back and side wall met. With them covered on two sides, I could focus on the attackers if they came this way.

A quick look back at them showed them sitting together on the floor. People were panicking, screaming and running around, but I kept a close eye out for anyone who didn’t belong as I waited for Wolfe and Jas.

My heart pounded out a steady rhythm as I waited. I wanted to turn and comfort Bailey, but I couldn't afford to be distracted. A quick peek every now and then showed that she was holding up. Her skin was pale, but there was a determined look on her face. It made me proud that she was able to remain so calm while their peers were running around like cowards.

It didn’t take long before Wolfe and Jas were back. “The cars are out back,” Wolfe told me, his eyes straying toward Bailey, checking on her. “One of the staff told us we can get out through the kitchen.”

“Shouldn’t we wait for the authorities?” Jas muttered, looking around.

“No,” Wolfe said with a shake of his head. “We need to get them out of here before whoever that was comes back.”

“You didn’t see them?” I asked.

“They moved too quickly. They were already running by the time the second shot went off. Was anyone hit?” Wolfe asked.

“Not that I can tell,” I told him. Turning, I held my hand out to Bailey. “Time to get out of here, Beauty.”

Senator Michaels gave me a sharp look, but I ignored him. He might be a Marine and a senator, but he wasn’t my boss. He was one of the people we were here to protect. That meant that in an emergency, our authority circumvented his own.

We hurried them out through the kitchen and I didn’t relax until we drove into the walled compound that made up the U.S. Embassy.

CHAPTER7

Bailey

My heart thundered in my chest for most of the ride back, but I felt safer once we were at the embassy. Wolfe grabbed my hand and helped me out of the SUV. His rough fingers closed over mine and it was as though the fear couldn’t penetrate the shield he erected around me.

They were trying to hurry us across the gravel lot and into the building, but I couldn’t move that quickly because of my dress and heels. My breath caught in my throat as Wolfe swung me up into his arms, carrying me bride-style toward the building.

“Don’t worry, I won’t drop you.” His deep voice had my pulse fluttering. I had no concern about him dropping me. In fact, I was more troubled that he would have to put me down at all. I could have stayed nestled in his arms all night.

I didn’t worry when he was around. If anyone made me feel safe, it was him. Being wrapped up in his strong arms was playing havoc with my already strung out emotions.

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