She hurried toward the door, feeling a flush shoot up her face. Although what reason did she have to be embarrassed? They’d already kissed twice. He knew she was attracted to him. She faltered as she pushed the heavy cabin door shut. But did he know that what he’d done had drawn her to him even more?
He deserved to know that. He deserved to know that while he was sitting there, obviously feeling like a failure for not taking down Danny Weston all alone, in her mind, doing it despite his injury made Colter more heroic.
“What are you thinking?” Colter asked softly, making her realize she’d been standing there too long without turning back. “If you think you’re up for it, you can head back to your hotel. I don’t mind if you take my truck.”
“That’s not...” She turned to face him, clutching her hands together. To make sure he knew she had no intention of leaving, she tossed her coat and yanked off her boots. “I know, being a Marine, you’re used to being able to take on any threat all by yourself.”
“Not really.” He cut her off, looking uncomfortable. “Marines work in units. I mean, yeah, I was an MP and a K-9 handler, which is a little different. But I still had a partner.” He glanced at Rebel, whose tail swung back and forth as she glanced between them.
“I don’t know what you’re thinking right now,” she continued, even though she was pretty sure she did know. It was in the slump of his shoulders, the downturn of his lips, the way he’d hung his head as he’d told the officers what happened. He felt like less of a man.
Well, screw that. She walked slowly toward him, forcing herself to keep eye contact even though the strength of his gaze made her too warm inside. Made it hard to concentrate on her words.
But she tried, because she owed him that much after what he’d done for her. And not just in that parking lot, but every moment since she’d met him. “Having an injury doesn’t make you less.”
He blew out a loud breath through his nose, like he disagreed, but she didn’t give him time to cut her off.
“You could have used that as an excuse. Not just today, but for everything I’ve asked you to do. But you haven’t.” She kept approaching, her tone gaining conviction with every word, because it was all true. “You acted anyway. You put yourself in harm’s way to help me and Rebel.” Her voice broke as she reached the side of his chair and took his hand. “You’re the most incredible man I’ve ever met.”
She hadn’t realized she thought it until the words came out, but they were true. No one had ever put so much on the line for her, and she barely knew him. What must he be like when it was someone he loved?
He stared back at her, the expression on his face shifting from disbelief and self-disgust to contemplation to something soft and raw that made her legs feel weak. Then his fingers were sliding through hers, his touch making nerves all over her body fire to life.
On Colter’s other side, Rebel let out a short bark, startling her and breaking the spell. But as soon as she turned her smiling gaze back to Colter, the feeling returned. Because he was still staring up at her with an intensity that said her words had penetrated. Maybe she’d even made him believe them.
She slid her palm over the scruff coming in on Colter’s cheek, then leaned in. It was an awkward angle, but when his lips grazed hers, it didn’t matter. Happiness filled her, instant and so powerful that it overwhelmed everything else. She pushed forward, pressing her mouth more tightly to his, and almost fell into his lap.
She caught herself on the recliner arm just in time. “Sorry,” she breathed.
“Come here,” he whispered back, tugging her toward him.
Carefully, she pivoted her body over the chair, so she was straddling him without putting any weight on him. Her knees were on either side of him, her butt arched awkwardly in the air, but it didn’t matter, because now her hands could slip around his neck.
He stared at her a long moment, all of that intensity directed solely at her making her squirm. Then he cupped her face with his big palm, drawing her closer until her lips settled on his again. He kissed her softly at first, the merest grazing of his lips and tongue against hers that left her whole body aching for more. When she couldn’t take another moment of the slow torture, she fisted a hand in the front of his shirt and picked up the tempo until her head started spinning.
Colter’s kisses grew deeper, more demanding, until everything else in the world ceased to exist. Slowly, she became aware of his hands slipping underneath the back of her shirt, his long fingers caressing their way up her back. She’d been content with just kissing him; knowing the way his leg was, he wasn’t up for more. But suddenly she craved the feel of his skin against hers.
Her hands shook as they felt their way down impressive pecs and a muscled torso. Then she grabbed a fistful of his T-shirt and pulled upward. He leaned forward and helped her pull it over his head.
She’d planned to peel off her own shirt next, but got distracted by the expanse of bare skin in front of her. Drinking the sight in, her gaze stalled on his left biceps. Script circled his arm and as she traced the words, the muscles there leapt under her fingertips. “Semper Fi,” she read aloud, her voice husky.
“Latin,” he told her, his beautiful blue eyes fixed on hers even as his hands returned to their trek
