Keep walking.

Keep walking.

The phrase played over and over in his mind as he walked away from Maria’s room, heading straight for his bathroom and a cold shower.

It had been the right thing to do to stop things progressing from bad idea territory to monumentally bad idea territory.

They’d already shared too many kisses. Never before had he gotten involved with someone he’d been assigned to protect. Never had wanted to, so what was it about Maria that made him want to throw all caution to the wind?

With this job as a SEAL he’d never given any thought to having a serious relationship with anyone. Being deployed for months on end with the threat of losing his life around any corner didn’t make let’s-get-married a priority for him. He’d vowed once he enlisted he wouldn’t put a woman through worry of never know if he’d come home or not. Not that he’d found any woman he loved. Until maybe now.

He forced his mind down on that thought. It was impossible to think he loved Maria. Apart from the fact he’d only known her a couple of weeks. They hadn’t spent nearly enough time together to get to know each other. Although it hadn’t been a burden to have her living in his house. Doing things couples do, like eating together, watching tv shows, and sharing a few hot kisses. All of that together didn’t equal true love, though.

How about the fact that you’ve never shared kisses with anyone like the ones you’ve shared with Maria?

That little voice needed to shut the hell up.

He reached his room, the shower beckoning. Although he could think of better ways to relieve the hard-on he was still sporting. Namely, turning around and walking back the direction he’d just come from. The chance of being turned away was slim, not with the way Maria had wanted him to take the next step. His body wanted him to take the next step. His sense of honor told him not to because Maria was vulnerable. Had been through so much and he couldn’t take advantage of her.

It wouldn’t be fair.

“Fuck.” The word exploded out of him as he moved toward the shower, shucking his shorts, leaving them in a heap on the tiled floor.

With a flick of his wrist the water shot out of the showerhead. He turned the dial toward the “C”, grit his teeth and got in. The sting of the cold water struck his skin like a hundred needlepoints. He was too damn old for cold showers, but it was having the desired effect and he’d gone from full mast to quarter mast. He switched the water to warm and quickly washed himself.

As he dried himself his mind went over what he needed to do. He needed to check in with Tex and find out what he’d managed to find out about Maria’s father and the family business. Also Italy had sent him a text to say he would be meeting with someone from his past who might be able to help them in this situation.

Those were the things he needed to concentrate on. Not on Maria. Not on the way she’d felt in his arms. Not on the way his body wanted to lose himself in her.

“Stop.” He spoke the command out loud in the vain hope it would halt his thoughts from hurtling down the road they were on at breakneck speed.

He tossed the towel to the ground and stomped into his room, coming to an abrupt halt at the sight that greeted him.

Maria.

In his bed.

Looking at him as if he was a steak dinner and she hadn’t eaten in months. In an instant he went back from quarter mast to full mast.

“What are you doing here?” He ground the words out as he turned his back on her and headed for his dresser to get something to put on.

“I couldn’t sleep. I need you, Riley.”

His hand gripped the handle of the drawer he was about to pull open. The need in her voice reached out and wound itself around the need he’d been trying so desperately to deny.

“This really isn’t a good idea, Doc.”

The rustle of his bed covers gave him a few seconds warning. Enough to brace himself for what was about to happen next.

It hadn’t been enough. Warm hands smoothed up his back, over his shoulders, stopping on his belly. The sensation of her naked body pressed against his back could only be described as subliminal.

Anything he’d been about to say flew out of his mind as her hands traveled further south and gripped his engorged flesh.

“You want this as much as I do. Don’t deny it. Your body doesn’t lie.”

Her fingers stroked from the base to the tip of his penis. Of their own volition his eyelids drifted down as she maintained a slow pace.

He could stay like this forever. Maria’s body warming his back, her hand working magic on him.

A shudder rippled through him when her lips traced across his shoulder. He could quite easily pop his load right now. But he didn’t want to. He only wanted to do that buried deep inside of her.

The war within him was over. Surrender wasn’t something he did often, but surrender to Maria and her desires was what he did right now.

Turning quicker than a bullet finding its target, he had his arms wrapped tightly around her, his cock brushing against her belly. Bending a little at the knees he scooped her up and carried her over to his bed. Not wanting to break contact, but knowing he had to if he wanted to lay her on the bed and not crush her.

He did exactly that, lay her down as though she was made of spun gold. A very precious metal that should be cherished.

Sprawled on the bed in front of him, he let himself look at her for the first time. Her dark hair spread out against his grey sheets. Her mouth slightly plump from his kisses. He climbed on the bed next to her, lying on his side so he could look his fill. She was beautiful. Her breasts full and enticing him to touch and taste them. Her belly, slightly rounded, leading to the place he couldn’t wait to sample. Her neatly trimmed dark curls hid the most precious part of her.

“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered reverently as his hand followed the path his eyes had just taken. He cupped one breast, catching her nipple between his thumb and forefinger. Lowering his head, he traced his tongue around her areola, before taking her hardened peak into his mouth. Her body arched up at the contact.

Oh how he wanted to go slow. Savor every touch and taste every inch of her. It was impossible though. This one sweet taste of her flesh only drove the need in him to join their bodies.

He moved over her so that he lay on top of her, his cock resting between her legs. They were made for each other.

The thought floated through his mind and took purchase. He liked the idea a lot. He liked the idea of protecting Maria for the rest of his life. Picking her up after her day at work. Consoling her if she lost a patient, celebrating the victories as well.

Now he knew why Storm had thrown caution to the wind when he’d gotten involved with Lily. When the right woman came along, and no matter how quickly it happened, you would do everything in your power to be with them.

He rested his weight on his elbows so he could frame her face with his hands. Looking deeply into her eyes, he made a silent vow that he would do whatever it took to free Maria from her family.

While he’d been in Afghanistan he’d faced men holding grenades out toward him and survived. He could survive the steps necessary to give the woman looking up at him with desire burning brightly in her eyes, the one thing she craved the most. Her freedom and the will to do with her life whatever she wanted.

He closed the distance between them and kissed her, putting every one of his emotions into this one touch. A sigh left her and her arms tightened around his neck. His erection nudged her entrance, sliding into her would be easy to do. One pump of his hips and he’d be inside her.

Protection.

At least one part of his brain was still aware of what was happening and not lost in the haze of cravings.

Riley broke the kiss and rolled off her to the opposite side of the bed.

“Where are you going?” A finger poked him in the back.

“Protection.” He replied as he opened the drawer and pulled a box of condoms out and emptied the contents onto the table.

“Oh.”

Riley grabbed a foil packet and ripped it open with his teeth. “Did you think I was going to walk away?” he asked as he rolled the rubber on.

“You did once before.”

That was true, he had walked away from her. Gathering her close, he rotated them so that she lay on top of him. “I’m not going anywhere.” He lifted his hips, reinforcing her words. There was no way in hell he could or would walk away from her now.

A wicked gleam entered her eyes and she leaned forward and nipped his bottom lip. Sensation arrowed straight down to his already engorged flesh. With their changed positions, he’d been happy to let her take the lead. Now, not so much. Threading his fingers through her hair he cupped her skull and sought out her lips once again. He turned them again so that he was back on top. With his mouth occupied he reached down between her legs and stroked her slick folds, her body arched into his. Holding back was impossible. The need to own her couldn’t be denied.

Pulling his lips from hers he gazed into her smoky eyes. Her cheeks glowed with a tinge of pink. She was gorgeous and she was his.

Possessiveness he’d never felt before burned through him as he entered her with one swift stroke. Her breath hissed out against his cheek and he stilled, enjoying the sensation of her warm inner muscles clutching at him. He could stay like this forever.

“Is everything okay?” she whispered.

Riley pressed his lips close to her ear. “Every thing is perfect.”

He started to move in earnest then, long strokes in and out. Maria raised her hips, chasing him every time he pulled out. The nerves in his feet began to tingle. The sensation rising up his legs and he knew his release was imminent.

Fingernails dug into his back, and his control almost shattered. He lowered his head and captured one of her nipples in his mouth, sucking deeply. It was enough to send Maria over the edge and her orgasm rocketed through her. The sweet bite of her muscles, clenching and releasing him as he continued to move within her, set his own release in motion. He peppered kisses down her jaw as his body pulsed inside of her.

Nothing could be better than this.