Her Marine Next Door - Aliyah Burke Page 0,1

different.

“That’s a loaded question for a marine just off his latest deployment. Right now, however, I’m merely after a blender.”

Irritation at being asked to supply items to his party, but not securing an actual invite, spiked through her. After all, she supplied the parking and some of the items needed, and apparently allowed her backyard to be the trash can.

She snorted and did her best to ignore the dark ink spiraling from beneath the sleeve of his shirt twining around his muscular arm in a sensual and sexy way.

“I’ve seen the women you parade in and out of there. I’m nothing like them, so not a loaded question for me to ask, regardless of any recently finished deployment.” She locked her knees as her world shifted from the pain. Shit, not good. She needed to get her butt to the hospital. “Blender’s on the counter. Lock up when you’re done.”

She hated letting him in her private space, but she had to get to a hospital and have herself checked out.

He narrowed his gaze, yet stepped inside. She moved past his overwhelming presence, trying to keep the bulky towel around her hand hidden. Outside, she forced her legs to work as she headed for her truck.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” His intoxicating baritone carried to her all too well, not to mention to those women at his place who turned in their direction.

While she prayed he was hollering to someone at his place, she opened the door to her truck. Closing her eyes briefly, she took a deep breath and hoped she wouldn’t fall as she tried to climb up.

“You better fucking be sliding all the way over. I saw all the blood and the fucking bulky towel you tried to hide from me. You’re injured and not driving.”

She bit back a whimper. “Leave me alone.”

“Give me your fucking keys and slide over.” Behind her was his warmth, and she didn’t even know when he’d gotten so close. That rumble left his mouth and zeroed in on her clit, giving her another reason to be light-headed.

He apparently decided she wasn’t moving fast enough and gripped her around the waist, depositing her in the passenger seat like she weighed no more than a feather. Before she could wrap her head around that, his powerful forearm brushed her breasts when he plucked the keys from her hand.

They were peeling out of the drive moments later. Parker cussed about the car he nearly took out to leave her driveway.

Now he knew how she felt.

He buckled his belt as they streaked off down the road, leaving the cul-de-sac and heading for the main road.

The truck’s windows were up and she could smell his fresh and clean masculine scent. The air conditioner didn’t help dispel the scent of him.

He wove around traffic like it stood still, yet she never once thought there was danger of a wreck. He handled her truck with skill.

Wonder what else he handles with such skill?

Damn her brain for even thinking along those lines.

The moment he squealed into the ER and slammed to a halt, he pointed at her. “Don’t move.”

She reached for the handle.

“Do. Not. Move.” The command was so graveled and deep it sounded like he’d just gargled rocks. He was at her side and lifted her into his arms, then carried her into the waiting room.

She couldn’t find any energy to argue. This was what happened when there was a dry spell, and she was so hard up for man’s touch she got turned on by a guy carrying her into a hospital.

“I need a doctor!”

The room spun and a roaring in her ears swelled. She blinked away her sluggishness as he lowered her into a wheelchair.

“This is not looking good at all,” the nurse said with a kind smile, as she stepped behind her. “We’ll have your girlfriend fixed up in no time.”

“I’m not—”

“Good.” His baritone voice wove around her, and she swore he stroked her curls. “Can I come with? I’d rather not leave her alone.”

“How romantic,” the nurse whispered in her ear.

Right. He probably wanted to yell at her for holding him back from his latest conquest.

Skylar somehow managed to keep her thoughts to herself. She’d lost a lot of blood, which the doc reminded her, repeatedly, as he stitched her up. Once the pain meds had kicked in, she was beyond ready to get home.

Parker Jax hadn’t left her. At all. He remained near, not touching her, yet she swore he did.