Protecting Her Heart (Seals Security Book 3) (10 page)

Luke pushed up off the mat staring down at Evie who lay beneath him panting. He watched as her lips formed a little bow. His cock throbbed. Damn, training her wasn’t a good idea if he wanted to get her out of his head because this certainly wasn’t the way to do it. When he’d walked in to find her in light workout pants and a t-shirt that fit her properly, he’d almost decided to let Eric take back over. The hot flood of desire that had burst through him almost had him walking right back out. Only the thought of her and Eric touching had prevented it. He just wasn’t able to handle that when he was burning with desire for her.

“You’re not even trying. I thought you’d had two classes with Eric? Didn’t you learn anything from him?” Luke demanded, jumping to his feet to avoid kissing those lips which tempted him to devour then.

“I am trying!” Evie cried, pushing up to sit with her hands propped behind her to glare at him, her anger evident in her narrowed eyes and the way her lips tightened. It didn’t make them any less appealing though and it was maddening. What the hell was wrong with him? Had it really been that long since he had gotten laid that he was becoming obsessed with Evie?

“Not hard enough apparently. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve thrown you down. Eric was correct, you are helpless,” Luke growled, trying to distance himself from her.

Evie’s face turned red and she got to her feet, her eyes still narrowed as she moved towards him, her fists balled at her sides. Her lips in a tight line and her hair wild, her eyes were snapping fire as she got right in his face.

“Did you ever consider that maybe it’s because you’re a bully? That maybe that’s the reason I can’t get the moves down. You big jerk!” Evie was inches from him, her face contorted into a grim frown. She was breathing heavy and her breasts brushed against his chest as she poked him with her finger in his shoulder.

“I’m not a damned bully!” Luke growled, glowering down at her. He wanted to grab her and shake her but that would make him look like—well, a bully.

“You are too,” Evie said, shoving him with her hand this time.

Luke reached up, grabbing her hand and jerking her towards him, feeling more than a little pissed off. She was calling him a bully when he hated men who treated women that way. He spun, pressing her against the wall behind them, his hands holding her arms above her head.

“If I was a bully I would be doing this and you wouldn’t be able to get away from me because you aren’t listening to what I’m tell you to do, damn it,” Luke growled, his lips mere inches from hers. He could feel her breath on his lips, making him want to groan as fierce desire rushed down his spine and he found himself pressing into her. His cock was hard and his body felt like it was on fire. He couldn’t help moving just a little closer to her.

“You are too a damned bully—” Evie began, but he’d had enough. He pressed forward that last inch and his lips were suddenly on hers.

Evie let out a little sound of protest but when his tongue caressed her lips they opened and his tongue thrust inside with his hands still holding hers above her head. He groaned when he felt her breasts brushing against him as she arched towards him. Luke felt like he was melting inside because the liquid desires that suddenly filled him made him want to drag her to the mat beneath them and fuck her senseless.

He couldn’t contain the roaring need that flooded him as he let go of one of her wrists and moved his hand to cup her breast. His fingers closed around the heavy globe with a desperate grasp, his thumb running over the tip of the tightly beaded peak that was covered by her t-shirt and sports bra, and he let out a little growl. He wanted to feel them bare, to suck the tips, to caress her from head to toe and show her that he wasn’t a damned bully. Evie’s hands went to his shoulders, holding on with a desperate grip that pulled him to her, her fingers digging into his shirt trying to keep him close.

Evie couldn’t seem to get close enough as her brain shut down and she became nothing but feeling. She was filled with a desperate need that almost overwhelmed her with its strength. He was caressing her breast and her only thought was of getting them both naked. She began tugging at the hem of his shirt trying to remove it. She needed to feel his skin, to touch it. Her hands rubbed over tight male abs that were obviously a six pack as he continued to thrust his tongue into her mouth in a dizzying dance that had her head spinning. She was falling into a dark pool of want that threatened to drown her.

Her breast pressed into Luke’s hand as he kissed her. His other hand was now in her hair angling her head for his caresses while his thumb rubbed her pebbled nipple through her shirt.

Evie had his shirt up around the top of his chest but he didn’t seem willing to release her mouth long enough to allow her to take it off. She wanted to feel his skin so she pulled back away from him, hearing the rough growl he let out. She tugged his shirt off over his head and he allowed it but as soon as it was off his lips were on hers again taking deep sipping kisses.

She moaned, allowing him to tug at the hem of her shirt as he tried to remove it and that was when they heard a loud click of the door being opened. Luke jerked away from her and stood a foot away panting with his eyes glued to her. Evie collapsed into the wall, her head still spinning with desires. Luke turned to glare at the door and Evie finally looked to see who had entered.

She watched slightly dazed from the passion Luke had unleashed inside her as Wyatt came toward them and her cheeks heated. Wyatt raised a brow as he looked from one to the other of them while he walked closer.

She hoped her panic didn’t show on her face because internally she was freaking out. How could she have allowed him to kiss her? What was she thinking? He was her boss for cripes sake. Evie felt like her insides were going to shake apart as she watched Wyatt approach them. Luke was standing without his shirt watching Wyatt, anger evident in the way his body was tense and his lips compressed into a straight line.

“Hey boss, I need to speak with you for a moment if it’s okay,” Wyatt said, glancing between them.

“What’s up?” Luke asked, his tone revealing his irritation, and Evie wanted to sink into the floor after what had just happened. What the hell had she done? Evie stepped away from the wall, her heart pounding in her ears. Her legs felt shaky and she was nauseated.

“I think maybe we should discuss it elsewhere,” Wyatt said after a long pause. Luke frowned at him for a moment and Evie decided this was her cue to leave.

“It’s fine, I think I’ve had enough training for one day.” Evie felt herself blushing again as she started heading toward the door.

Luke made a sound of protest but she ignored it and him when he called her name. She didn’t want to discuss what had just happened between them with the feelings of heady desire still thrumming through her. She needed to get the hell out of here and never allow this to happen again.

Evie walked into the office still feeling a little embarrassed about what had happened the night before in the gym with Luke. What the heck had she been thinking? She didn’t know but it couldn’t be repeated. Today she was going to suggest that Eric take over her training again because last night couldn’t happen again. She worked for the man for cripes sake.

She sat down at her desk and let out a little sigh. She was fifteen minutes early because she’d wanted to arrive before Luke so there was no chance of an awkward walk into the building to worry about. Nervously arranging her paperwork hoping that when Luke did arrive it wasn’t as awkward as she suspected it would be, she was so distracted by her thoughts that she jumped when her phone buzzed. Looking at it, she saw it was Luke’s line and almost cursed out loud. What the hell was he doing here so early? Lifting the receiver, she said a hesitant hello into it.

“Evie, can you step into my office for a moment please,” Luke said, his voice gruff, and she wondered what was going on. Surely he wasn’t going to fire her over last night, was he? After all he’d kissed her, not the other way around.

“Of course, Mr. Stewart,” she said, feeling the formality would help her to keep her body in check because just the sound of his voice sent a little shiver of longing down her spine. Damn, how was she going to get through this without attacking the man because that kiss had lit her whole body on fire. Not having ever been so turned on in her entire life like she had been last night, she wasn’t sure she could manage it.

Standing up, she smoothed down her black pencil skirt and tucked her new lavender blouse into it before stepping toward his office. She entered with her heart pumping erratically, almost fluttering in her chest as she moved toward Luke. He sat at his desk watching her enter with a slight scowl on his face that didn’t bode well for her.

“Was there something you needed me to work on?” she asked hesitantly.

“No, have a seat please,” Luke said, and Evie had a sudden flashback to the day she was fired when Mr. Grady had said something very similar to her, making a lump form in her throat. She sat in the chair he waved to and felt like she was going to burst into tears at any moment. He was going to fire her. Damn, why was stuff like this always happening to her?

“Evie, last night—” Luke began but paused, staring at her for a long moment. A ringing started in her ears and when he finally continued she was expecting to hear that she was fired, which was why what he said shocked her so much.

“Last night I was way out of line. I would like to apologize to you for my behavior. I can promise you that will never happen again and in no way will it affect your employment here.” Luke stared at her, his blue-green eyes dark.

“Oh, um. I–I agree it wasn’t appropriate,” Evie finally said, her brain unable to process that he was apologizing. Not that she’d thought it was in any way her fault but was he really apologizing for kissing her?

“I just wanted you to know that I will not be allowing something like that to happen in our future training sessions. I would also never hold it against you when it was entirely my fault. Now that we’ve gotten that bit of business out of the way, could you print out the Davidson briefing for my meeting in an hour and bring it in here please,” Luke asked, his eyes already on the paperwork he’d lifted from his desk.

It was obvious that he thought the conversation was over and she was dismissed.
What the hell?
Evie stood on trembling legs and headed toward the door. When she reached it she glanced back at him, still wondering how he thought a two minute conversation was enough to explain away the hottest kiss she had ever experienced. He was seemingly engrossed in his paperwork and didn’t look up at her as she continued out the door to sit down at her desk. Her heart was thumping in her chest like a drum and she was angry all of the sudden. Not over the kiss but because he’d so easily dismissed it like it wasn’t a big deal. Maybe to him it wasn’t but to her it had been earth shattering.

Evie’s hands shook as she reached for the on button on her computer. She couldn’t seem to figure out how to handle his brief dismissal of their kiss last night. Despite her hopes that she could ignore what happened last night when she arrived, she wasn’t too pleased by his flippant attitude.

Evie tapped in her password with a bit more vigor than necessary. She pulled up the files, her mind circling around the idea that he’d been unaffected by their kiss. Not that she was surprised; he’d dated a model a month ago after all and likely had an actress or some other beautiful woman since then. She was probably just an aberration in a long line of women for him.

Luke rubbed the back of his neck after Evie left his office. Fuck, that hadn’t gone well. Last night he’d thought a lot about what he would do after Evie left him and Wyatt in the gym. Wyatt had updated him on the investigation into the car bombing that had nearly killed both him and Monica last year and then he had worked out for over two hours. Finally realizing that no matter how long he stayed at the gym he would not be able to get Evie and that kiss out of his system easily, he’d come up with the brilliant plan to apologize today.

Evie didn’t need him trying to make moves on her. Hell, if she wanted to she could easily file a sexual harassment suit against him. He wouldn’t fight it if she did because he’d fucked up kissing her last night. He never should have allowed his desires for her to get so out of hand, not that she seemed to mind when his mouth was devouring hers last night. Although leaving without talking to him after Wyatt had shown up and then this morning using such a clinical word like inappropriate let him know that she was appalled by his behavior.

He wanted to say it was just that he was horny but he wasn’t so sure that was what it was. He did know that starting any relationship with her was likely to end badly. He wasn’t ready to actually become involved with a woman. Melissa had done a number on him, both last year when she’d arrived here to ask for help and twelve years ago when he was young and apparently gullible.

Luke couldn’t believe he hadn’t realized she was screwing his friend behind his back. After all, the signs had all been there. Melissa had seemed secretive at times, had called to cancel at the last minute on several occasions, and when Robby and her were together they were thick as thieves. It should have been obvious to him, like it was to several other people who he’d later discovered thought that he’d broken it off with her while he was in the Navy. It was his sister who told him about the two of them and he would be eternally grateful to her for not lying to him when she did find out. If she hadn’t revealed the betrayal to him he might even now be married to a woman who cuckolded him every chance she got.

Running a hand over the sore muscles in his neck, he leaned forward, glancing at the door where Evie had exited and wondering what she felt about last night. He wasn’t looking for a relationship but kissing her had lit him on fire and he couldn’t seem to get the taste of her off his lips.

Letting out a long drawn-out sigh, he twisted in his chair to look out the window behind him at the cloudy sky. The dark and dreary weather outside was much like his mood at the moment. He wanted to push thoughts of Evie and the kiss they’d shared from his mind but for some reason he couldn’t seem to forget it or her.

Luke didn’t know what to do about this strange turn of events any better than he had last night when it happened. He grabbed his phone as he stood, deciding that Evie should have that report ready by now and he would start over to his meeting early. He was willing to do anything to get his mind off its current track. 

Luke lifted the box of kung pao chicken, scooping a little more onto his plate. Evie was twisting noodles around her fork and laughing. They were working late in his office and he was glad they’d gotten beyond the awkwardness that had lingered the week they kissed.

“He was so serious though and I was lost for words but finally managed to say
umm, you can’t bring that in here
. I could just see his chicken getting loose from its leash and running around the office pecking at our feet or pooping on your desk. Why would he even bring his pet chicken with him?” Evie asked, still laughing.

Luke smiled at her, his plate now full, but he was watching Evie as she sat near him on the other couch. Evie’s red hair flowed over her shoulders and he noticed that it was starting to fade. He hadn’t realized she dyed it. It was a waterfall of reds and golds that made him imagine the thick locks spread across his pillows at night.

He needed to pull his mind off that quickly because his attraction to her hadn’t lessened despite his attempts to ignore it. He’d even gone on a date with a woman last week but he’d gotten called away before they had sex, which was frustrating but then again he wasn’t sure he would have been into it anyway. She’d had red hair and it had reminded him of Evie, who had stayed on his mind throughout the date. This desire he had for her was really getting out of hand.

Luke shifted slightly, grinning over the story she was telling him. A rather eccentric client had arrived today with his pet and insisted that the chicken be involved with the interview for services because he was the possible victim.

“Yeah, I couldn’t believe it when you buzzed me to tell me my client was waiting in the conference room with his chicken. At first I thought it was a joke that Craig or Eric was playing on me but when the man continued on through the entire meeting, even asking to meet the team I would be sending to him so that Clucker, his chicken, could get to know them, I realized he was serious.” Luke shook his head, his eyes still watching her giggling.

Her eyes were brightly lit and her cheeks were slightly flushed. He could just see that blush extend down her chest from the open top buttons on her shirt. He shifted again to relieve the pressure on his hardened cock, trying to think of anything except how sexy she was.

“I knew you would think that with the way you guys are always playing jokes on each other. I’m surprised you didn’t just ask him who put him up to it.” Evie took another big bite of noodles and Luke watched her lips. He wanted to lean forward and kiss those sweet lips to see how they tasted.
Was she as sweet as he remembered or had it been a fluke?

“I almost did but then I saw him petting the thing and talking to it when I was walking into the room. It made me realize he could be serious and Laney would have killed me for offending a client,” Luke said, finishing his chicken and setting his plate aside. He watched her lean forward to grab her soda off the table and almost groaned. Her shirt gaped open revealing the top curves of her firm breasts. “I could already hear the news anchor later that night: Luke Stewart offends client and his chicken. More on that story at eleven, now back to you Todd.” 

Evie let out a deep-bellied laugh and he watched her animated features as she bent forward, displaying her cleavage more than she realized he’d bet. She finally stopped laughing and put her plate down on the table. She leaned back on the couch, a slight smile on her face, looking relaxed and so sexy that his cock throbbed. Damn, why couldn’t he get his mind off her and her delectable body. He wanted to touch her so badly he could almost taste it. She let out a little huffy sigh and sat up, looking at the table before them that was littered with Chinese food cartons and paperwork.

“I guess we need to start cleaning this mess up so we can go home since we finally finished,” Evie said, shrugging her shoulders.

“Yeah, we probably should,” Luke agreed. He needed to get out of here anyway because seeing her like this was too tempting. She stood up and after a little stretch and began cleaning up. Reaching out for a carton at the same time she did, his hand brushed against hers and their eyes met. Suddenly he was moving but it wasn’t away from her, it was towards her and his hands were cupping her hips.