Kidnapped by a SEAL - Makenna Jameison Page 0,36

his groin at the delicious sight of her ass. Hell, she was beautiful.

And she’d never be his.

She pulled up the covers, and Ryker climbed in bed beside her, glancing at the clock on the nightstand. It read 3:40 a.m. Hell. No wonder he was exhausted beyond all measure.

He pulled the covers up over himself, his body acutely aware that she was only inches away.

It felt intimate lying in the same bed as her. And Jesus. Had he ever slept—actually just slept—beside a woman before? He couldn’t remember a single time. Usually he’d be up all night pleasuring the woman he was with—and enjoying her attention as well.

He felt his cock automatically begin to harden, and he willed his body to relax. Emily was beautiful but vulnerable. Recovering. He was here to protect her, not fuck her brains out. And he wanted that sense of security for her.

“Get some sleep,” he said in a low voice. “I’ll be right here if you have any more nightmares.”

“Okay,” she said quietly. “Ryker?”

“Yeah?” he asked.

“Thanks.”

***

Ryker awoke, instantly alert, as Emily cried out beside him. He jumped up from the bed, grabbing his gun, and rushed out into the hallway. A quick sweep of both the living room and kitchen told him no one was there in the cabin; it was just another one of her nightmares.

Jogging back down the hallway, he hurried to her side as she sobbed.

“Shhh, baby,” he said, pulling her into his arms. “It was just another dream.”

All hesitancy toward touching her had gone out the window now that he’d been sleeping in the same bed as her. She needed him, and hell if he wouldn’t do everything in his power to comfort her.

His large hand slid over her silky hair, and he cradled her trembling body against his chest.

She was so small compared to him and fit against him so perfectly, it was a damn wonder he’d met her only by chance. Emily nestled in his arms like she belonged there, like she was his—and hell if he’d never thought that about a woman before.

Sure, he’d be happy to have a woman in his bed, to hear her cry out his name and then to come in her tight heat. But this?

He didn’t expect it to feel so natural. He didn’t expect to feel much of anything at all when he held a woman in his arms. Maybe it was just his protective instincts roaring to life. He’d literally carried her injured body out of harm’s way. He’d fought dangerous men for her. It was natural for Emily to still turn to him for comfort after all of that, wasn’t it?

“I dreamt I was back there again,” she whimpered. “God, this is so crazy. I can’t keep having these nightmares.”

“Em,” he said gently. “You haven’t even been back in your own place for one single night. It’s normal to be frightened and confused by your surroundings.”

She smiled against his chest, despite her tears.

“What is it?” he asked quietly, running his hand over her hair again. Despite the fact that she was literally in his arms, he couldn’t seem to stop touching her. It was like even with her right there, he wasn’t close enough.

“My mom calls me Em,” she admitted.

“Just what every man wants—to be reminded of a woman’s mother,” Ryker quipped. But his lips quirked as she laughed quietly against him.

“Let’s go back to sleep, all right?” she asked, swiping the tears from her face.

“Sure thing,” he said, pulling her into his arms as they laid back on the bed. He didn’t even think about letting go of her in that moment—it felt too right to have her nestled up against him. And she didn’t pull away—she clung to him like she needed him. Like she was his.

His chest swelled with male pride as she nestled even closer.

It was an odd feeling—normally he’d be proud of having made a woman come apart in his arms. Usually pride came from hearing her cry out his name or beg for more. Things weren’t exactly sexual between him and Emily though. Yes, she was beautiful, and they were clearly attracted to one another, but there was something more to it.

Ryker’s holding her was about seeing to her comfort and security. He wasn’t worried about turning her on or getting himself off—he was just plain concerned. About her.

He didn’t expect to enjoy the feeling of having a woman nestled in his arms with sex completely off the table, but there it was. The