Kidnapped by a SEAL - Makenna Jameison Page 0,31

as he flipped on the light switch and saw Emily alone in her bed. She was sitting up, twisted in her sheets, covered in a fine sheen of sweat and shaking.

“Emily, sweetheart,” he said, quickly crossing the room to her. She was gasping for breath as she trembled, and he knelt down beside her, hesitant to even touch her. “It was just a bad dream. A nightmare. I’m right here,” he assured her.

“Ryker?” she whispered.

“Yeah, it’s me, baby,” he said, leaning over and brushing a strand of hair back from her face. Frightened brown eyes met his. He wanted to comfort her more, to pull her into his arms, but that didn’t seem appropriate yet. Watching her tremble right in front of him made his gut clench.

He settled for reaching over and taking her hand, feeling her delicate fingers in his own. She seemed so fragile in this moment compared to his own mass and strength. His thumb brushed over her skin in a light caress, and she suddenly burst into tears.

“I dreamt I was back there, alone in that dark room. They’d lock me in all night, and even though they didn’t hurt me, it was unnerving. I swore I was still stuck in there—it just all felt so real.”

“Shhh,” he murmured, unable to stop himself as he collected her in his arms. “You’re here at home and safe.”

“Thank God,” she whispered, letting herself relax against him. It killed him that he had to take her away from the security and comfort of her own home, from her own bed. They were short on options though. Sure, he could take down someone if they burst in here, but hell. He didn’t want to risk her getting hurt in the crossfire.

Ryker needed her somewhere safe for the time being. She deserved to rest and recover without looking over her shoulder every moment.

He let his large hand trail over her back for a moment, comforting her, but then he pulled back.

“We have to leave,” he said urgently.

“Leave? Why? You just said it was safe.”

“You are safe, and I intend to keep it that way. You can’t stay here tonight though. I’ll explain everything in the car, but I need you to pack a bag so we can go.”

“What? No! I just got back here. This is my first night home. I’m not letting some assholes on the other side of the world scare me from living my own life. It was just a dream! I’m safe in my own home.”

“They’re not on the other side of the world—they’re here, right in DC. Hunter just got word that two of Izallah’s men flew into Dulles the other day. They could be watching your condo, somewhere right here in the building. It’s been on the news that you were released from the hospital today. We have to get out of here.”

“Ryker, I can’t leave. I won’t,” she insisted, glaring at him.

She looked so goddamn vulnerable and beautiful in the moment, it slayed him. Her dark hair fell around her slender shoulders. Supple breasts pushed against her tee shirt. Even without trying, she was sexy as hell. For a split second, Ryker had a crazy image of her exactly like this in his bed—rumpled from a night of making love, hair tousled, lips full and swollen from his kisses.

It was so real it was unnerving. Like he’d just seen an image from his future with this woman he’d known for mere days.

Shaking his head as he tried to clear his thoughts, he met her gaze. “We’re going,” he insisted. “We’re leaving right now even if I have to kidnap you myself.”

“Kidnap—what? You can’t kidnap me. Don’t be ridiculous.”

Ryker’s lips quirked. “Why the hell not? I’m bigger than you. I’m armed. You’re coming with me.”

“I can’t—I’m supposed to be safe here.”

Ryker interrupted her. “Unfortunately, you’re not. Not anymore. I don’t give a shit what they said the other day—we have new intel now. My job was to rescue you. To keep you out of harm’s way. If you don’t want to come with me willingly, then I’ll haul you over my shoulder and carry you out of here caveman style.”

She bristled beside him.

“I already rescued you from a damn terrorist compound. If I have to carry you out of here for your own safety, I’ll do it.”

“Ryker, don’t be so crazy,” she admonished.

He nailed her with a gaze, daring her to argue with him further. Her strong personality was a turn-on, but this was a