“Am I growing on you, Blair?”
The woman’s lips twitched. “Yeah, like a fungus.”
Rowan snorted out a laugh. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to worry anyone. I am fine.”
Callie appeared with her backpack, eyeing Rowan’s head wound. “All right, time for me to work my magic.”
“Okay, but then you fix up Lachlan.”
Callie tilted her head. “He won’t let me near his arm until he’s sure you’re okay.”
Rowan blew out a breath. “Fine.”
*
Lachlan sat on one of his stools, his shirt off, while Callie patched up his arm.
“You’ll have a scar,” Callie said.
“I’ll add it to the collection.”
His gaze fell on Rowan. She was on the couch, sipping a hot chocolate, her legs tucked under her. She’d have a scar too. Lachlan was still angry. He’d come within an inch of losing her.
“You like her a lot,” Callie said.
Lachlan looked at his friend. “Yeah.”
“There’s a lot to like, Lachlan. Gorgeous, smart, nerves of steel. None of this has made her fall apart. Sounds like a woman who can handle our lifestyle.”
Lachlan kept looking at Rowan. The sweet slope of her nose, the stubborn jut of her jaw. “I suck at relationships. Always have.”
Callie made a sound in her throat and pressed a bandage over Lachlan’s bicep. “We all do until we find the right one.”
Lachlan raised a brow. “You a romantic, Kimura?”
“Nope. But if a gorgeous, smart, good man burst into my world and looked at me the way Rowan looks at you, I wouldn’t screw it up.” Callie pulled back and started packing up her kit. Her gray eyes turned sad. “It is so easy to lose people. You should hold on when you can.”
“Smith lost Kowalski’s trail,” Blair called out, frustration in her voice.
Fuck. Lachlan stood and shrugged his shirt on. “Okay. We keep monitoring for any sign of her. I need everyone on standby. If Brooks gets word on a sighting, we move out.”
“It’s likely the tranquilizer slowed her down,” Callie said. “My guess is that she’s holed up somewhere, sleeping it off.”
Damn, so it could be a while before she surfaced. He looked at Blair and Seth. They were hunched over a laptop at his coffee table.
“Blair, you keep in touch with MacKade, and see if he gets anything out of the soldiers.”
She pulled a face but nodded. “They weren’t the Red Wolves, Lachlan.”
No, they were far better organized. He nodded. “Keep me posted. Rest up while you can.”
His team finally shuffled out, leaving him and Rowan alone.
“You still mad?”
Rowan’s soft voice made him turn. She was standing right behind him.
His gaze went to the white bandage on her temple and anger flared again. “Yeah. But I’m not mad at you, I’m just mad in general.”
She leaned into him. “Any way I can distract you?” She slid a hand under his shirt.
Desire kindled. It appeared all Rowan Schafer had to do was breathe, and it turned him on. “Maybe.”
She went up on her toes and touched her mouth to his. He drank her in, kissing her deep. He cradled her face and moved his mouth to press a kiss to the bandage.
She sucked in a breath. “No one’s ever kissed my boo-boos.”
Fuck her parents. He took his time, pressing more kisses to her skin. Then he gripped the hem of her shirt and pulled it gently over her head. He backed her up until she hit the wall.
He lowered his hands, opening her trousers and yanking them down, taking her panties with them.
“Lachlan—” Her voice was husky.
“Shh. I’m going to make love to you and make us both feel better.” He yanked his own shirt off.
“God,” she breathed.
Her hands clenched on his shoulders as he lifted her up. He cupped her sweet ass, and she wrapped her legs around his waist.
“You on the Pill?” he asked.
“I get a contraceptive shot.”
“We have regular physicals at base. I haven’t been with anyone since my last clean bill of health.”
She licked her lips, her gaze glittering “I had a checkup before the Ellesmere trip. I’m healthy.”
He reached between them and flicked open his trousers. His cock was throbbing at the thought of sliding inside her with no barrier between them.
“You okay with this?” he asked. “Me ungloved?”
“Yes. Hurry.” She undulated against him.
Lachlan thrust inside her. It was like coming home.
“Yes.” She threw her head back.
He slid one palm behind her head before it could hit the wall, and cupped her ass with the other. Then he started pounding inside her.
“So wet, so tight,” he said between gritted teeth.
“Faster, Lachlan.”
He changed the angle of his thrusts so he was rubbing against her clit. He held on tight, feeling the sensations slamming into him. She felt so damn good, and he’d never get enough of her.
She was alive. She was everything he’d ever dreamed about and more.
A few more thrusts and she came with a cry, her body convulsing. He kept working her up and down on his cock.
Her body was clamping down on him, and a moment later, Lachlan came with a shout, spilling inside her hot body.
Shit. He was wrecked. She undid him.
He gripped her more securely, his cock sliding out of her. He carried her to his bedroom and collapsed on the bed. As they lay there, he stroked her hair.
“I was afraid today,” he murmured. “Been a long time since I felt like that.”
She burrowed into him. “I’m sorry.”
He pulled her closer. “I couldn’t help my dad. He came home a changed man, an angry man. I couldn’t help him, or my mom, when he’d get in a rage and hit her. I hate being helpless.”
Rowan’s arms tightened around him. “You can’t save everyone, Lachlan.”
He stayed silent. He’d joined the Marines believing he could make a difference, maybe believing he could save everyone who needed help.
“But you try anyway,” she said quietly. “That’s what a hero does.”
Hero? Hardly. “I just do my job.”
“I’m afraid every time I look at you,” she murmured.
“What?” He looked down. His heart clenched at the idea that she was afraid of him.
“You know my parents…” She pulled in a shuddering breath. “No one’s ever cared for me enough to stay around very long. No one’s ever risked their life for me.”
Lachlan rolled her over. Damn, her parents. “That’s their failing, not yours, Rowan. You’re gorgeous, smart, and you care.” He leaned down and kissed her, nipping at her bottom lip. “I’m going to find your parents and—”
“Hey.” She reached up and cupped his cheek. But Lachlan could see her blue eyes were still sad.
He leaned down and kissed her nose. Then her jaw. Then he moved his lips lower and kissed along her collarbone.
“What are you doing?” she asked breathlessly.
“I’m going to worship every part of you, Rowan. I’m going to kiss and caress every inch of you until you understand how amazing you are.”
Her chest hitched and he saw something in her eyes. “Lachlan.”
He lowered his head and set to work.
Chapter Fifteen
Rowan woke to a featherlight touch on her bare shoulder. She was lying facedown, buried in the covers on Lachlan’s bed.
She opened one eye and saw Lachlan sitting beside her. She noted he was dressed.
“Hey,” he murmured.
“Hi.” She pushed at her tangled hair. “What’s up?”
He was staring at the pillow.
“Lachlan?”
“Sorry.” His gaze met hers. “Got sidetracked by all that hair of yours spread out on my pillow.” His lips quirked. “I like seeing it there.”
Her heart went pitty-pat.
Then his face turned serious. “I don’t like the bruises and bandage on your face though.”
She moved up on one elbow and purposely let the sheet fall, baring her breasts. “I think we discovered last night that I am perfectly fine. The bruises will fade.”
As planned, he was looking at her breasts. “I have to head out.” He dragged his gaze up. “Even though I’d sell my soul to climb back in bed with you. We have a few possible leads on the bad guys and Airman Kowalski.”
“Okay.”