only inches apart. “It means that we’re going to an awful lot of trouble in order to save the life of one doctor. You aren’t some scientist with the ability to cure cancer or even someone who’s saved hundreds of lives. You’re simply a doctor from a wealthy family. Or is that the case? Is your father some political leader, powerful in other ways? Do you have something hiding behind those baby blues of yours? Does your father owe someone money?”
Maybe all I could handle was something who sparred with me. I’d pushed boundaries my entire life. Where the fuck had that gotten me?
She didn’t react at first and while I couldn’t see anything but her clenched jaw in the moonlight, I could feel her anger and her sadness. “My father has nothing to do with this. I am so sorry for you, Jack. You can be such an amazing man. I know that. I’ve caught glimmers of it, but you refuse to be anything but a horrible fuck of a man. Have it your way. I won’t give a damn. Just get me the hell out of here and those rules you mentioned about never speaking your name again will be honored without question.”
When she turned away, I reached out, wanting nothing more than to apologize, but I realized I had no idea how. I managed to grab her arm, yanking her against me.
“Get off me, Jack. If all you want is for me to believe that you aren’t a good man, then you’ve done it. One day with you and I get it cold,” Lindsey hissed.
“You don’t understand the way of the world, sunshine. Sometimes the people you believe you can trust the most are the ones who will betray you without question or provocation.”
“Sounds like you know something about that, Jack. Who hurt you?” she dared. “Why don’t you tell me? Who hurt the big, bad Marine enough that he closed himself off to every concept of feelings or emotions? Or love? Let me guess, you can’t.”
Every word she said spiraled into me, grabbing at my insides like sharp claws. I was thrown by her ferocity, as well as the kind of anger that I’d reserved for everyone else but some damsel in distress. One who was so damn beautiful and sexy. A woman with a heart of gold and a caustic mouth. One who had awakened the very dead man inside of me simply by batting her pretty little eyelashes. And the one I wanted to protect and keep as my own.
I snagged her hands, jerking them behind her before she had a chance to slap me. “Listen to me, little doctor. I will do everything I can to protect you, but this isn’t about fun and games. You are in significant danger and I’m guessing you have been for quite some time. The sooner you accept the fact that your life is about to change, the better. And you’re right. I have my reasons for remaining closed off just like you have yours for wanting to help others. Let me do my job.”
“No problem, Jack,” she hissed, daring to rise onto her tiptoes, as if challenging me was going to get her anywhere but in my bad graces. The scent of her was suddenly overwhelming, the desire rearing its ugly head like a lion in heat.
I couldn’t stand the thought that he’d touched her, taken her. Tasted her.
Fucked her.
She was mine. Mine!
I fisted her hair, letting her hands go as I shifted my hips until she fully understood exactly how I felt.
She slammed her hand against me, acting as if she wanted nothing more than to get out of my clutches while she clawed at my shirt, her breath skipping. “What are you going to do if I don’t?”
Her daring whisper was too much to take. I crushed my mouth over hers, immediately thrusting my tongue inside. The taste of her was just like before, far too sweet, extremely debilitating. As the anger from the past swept into the present, I was thrown by how much I cared about her. I allowed the kiss to take over, the passion roaring between us.
Even her moans couldn’t stop me as I took full control of her, drinking in her sweet essence as I swept my tongue across hers. The way she rubbed her tummy across my cock was enough to make me lightheaded. Every synapse was alive, on fire and willing to chuck it all to protect