Mission: Her Protection (Team 52 #1)(28)

Lachlan’s cock stirred.

She touched where his prosthetic arm met his skin. “Ty made this for you, right? I’ve never seen anything like it before.”

Lachlan nodded. “It’s experimental. It’s tied directly into my nerves and functions better than my other arm. Plus, it’s stronger, can react faster.”

Her gaze followed her fingers as she stroked the metal. The arm had some sensors, but he couldn’t really feel her touch.

“It still must have been hard to lose your arm,” she said quietly.

Screams echoed in his head. His fellow Marines and his own. The horrible pain. “Yeah.”

Her fingers stroked back up, showing no concern or disgust about his prosthetic. In fact, she looked fascinated. She caressed his chest again and now his cock went rock-hard. She kept stroking his chest, and now he definitely knew what was in her blue eyes—desire.

“Rowan—”

She stroked lower, her nails scratching over his abs. “I’ve never seen a man with a six-pack like yours before.” She looked closer. “Or rather an eight-pack.”

Lachlan curled up to sit. “Rowan.”

“I just want to forget everything, Lachlan. For a few damn minutes, I want to stop thinking.”

Before he could say anything, she leaped on him.

He caught her as she straddled him, and a second later, her lips smacked against his.

Damn. The last of his control slipped through his fingers like water. He opened his mouth and her tongue slid inside. Screw it. He kissed her back. She was so damn sexy, especially wearing only his T-shirt.

He ran his hands up her back and deepened the kiss. She moaned, her tongue sliding against his. He reversed his caress, stroking his hands down her body and cupping her ass.

“I love seeing you in my shirt.” His voice sounded like gravel.

“I love seeing you without a shirt.”

He rolled, pinning her beneath him. He pressed his hips to hers, his cock rubbing against her. That’s when he realized she wasn’t wearing any panties. Only the thin cotton of his boxer briefs separated them.

Rowan lifted her hips and let out a husky cry. “Yes.”

Lachlan bunched his hand in the shirt and started lifting it up. He was going to explore all that smooth skin.

His doorbell rang, followed by the thump of a fist on wood. Three sharp raps.

He froze and squeezed his eyes closed.

“No!” Rowan clutched at him. “Don’t stop.”

“That’s Blair. She was bringing your things over.” He glanced at the clock beside the bed and groaned. “We have a flight back to base in—” shit “—under an hour.”

Lachlan very reluctantly knifed off Rowan. She rolled off the bed, not meeting his gaze. “I’m going to shower.”

“Ro—”

“Heat of the moment.” She waved a hand at him, still not meeting his gaze. “I get it. You made it clear back at the base, and to be fair, you’re a risk I can’t afford.”

As she disappeared, Lachlan set his hands on his hips. What the hell did she mean by that? He stared at the closed door and wondered what the fuck he was doing.

He shook his head. Something had changed. Seeing her dangling off a building, her life in danger, had damn well changed everything.

He’d tried to push her away, but life had tossed them back together. She was in danger, and whatever the hell happened, he was going to keep her safe.

Lachlan heard the bell again, and quickly yanked on his jeans and a T-shirt. When he yanked open the door, his best friend looked at his face, then raised a brow. “Trouble in paradise?”

“You have fucking bad timing.” He closed the door.

“I have excellent timing. Like the thirty or so times I’ve saved your ass in a firefight.”

Lachlan snorted. “Thirty, my ass.”

Blair handed him Rowan’s bag. “So, you and Rowan—?”

“Shut it and make some coffee.”

“Sure thing, sunshine.”

He dropped Rowan’s bag on the bed. The shower was still running, and images bombarded him. Sleek, slick skin. Wet, red hair.

When he headed back to the living room, Blair was in the kitchen making coffee.

His friend handed him a mug and looked like she was trying not to laugh at him. He was sipping the coffee when Rowan emerged. She was wearing jeans, a pale-blue shirt that matched her eyes, and her hair pulled up in a messy knot on top of her head. He reached over to pour another mug.

“Hi, Blair,” Rowan murmured.

Blair lifted her chin. “You okay?”

Rowan took the coffee that Lachlan handed to her. “Not really.”

Blair studied Rowan’s face and gave a short nod. “We’ll get you there.”

“So, what’s the plan?” Rowan looked at Lachlan.

“Time to get to the airport.”

Rowan was quiet for most of the drive. He drove them through a secure gate, nodding at the guards. He parked beside a nondescript hangar on a distant runway. When they exited the vehicle, Lachlan scanned the area, making sure no one was watching them.

He led Rowan into a small office area. Inside, a gorgeous blonde sat at the single desk.

“Morning, you guys.” She shot them a dazzling smile.

Rowan went still, blinking at the woman.