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When they got to the house, everyone milled around them, but he couldn’t let her go. The sisters, especially Sofia, wanted to check her over, but when he got to her room, only Sofia was allowed inside with them.
She clutched Buck when he went to set her on the bed, whispering. “Don’t leave.”
He nodded and backed up so Sofia could give her a thorough examination. When her sister was finished, she said, “Your medic was right. No broken bones. Just some minor scrapes and bruises.” She closed her eyes, composing herself. Then she reached out and said, “Thank you so much for being there for her.” She bent down and hugged her sister, then said fiercely, “Get some rest.” She gave Buck another grateful look, then left, managing the mob outside. No one bothered them, not even Carmen. Apparently when Sofia spoke, that was the final word.
“I’m going to run you a bath so you can soak a bit,” he said. She nodded. He went into the bathroom, stopping at the doorway. The place was enormous. There was a large soaking tub. He looked through her cupboards and found something called an apocalypse therapy bomb. It smelled like rosemary, mint, and the dark forest, the description saying it would ease muscles and stiff joints.
He ran the water, dropped in the bomb, then went back out to the bedroom. She was still on the bed. He went to lift her, but she said, “I can walk.”
He trailed beside her as she made her way into the bathroom. When she got to the tub, she went to reach back to undo the zipper on her cheery yellow, soiled sundress. She fumbled a bit, and he gently pushed her hand aside and pulled the tab. As the dress loosened around her, she stepped out of it. He unhooked her bra, her silky panties following right after.
He worked at remaining detached and focused on helping her into the tub. But he was a man, and he was attracted to her, so his body had a mind of its own.
He ignored the tightening ache in his groin as she groaned softly when she settled into the hot water. She closed her eyes and he let her soak for a solid ten minutes. She stopped shivering, and he sent his eyes over her sweet body, noting more bruises on her torso, hips, and legs. She was exquisitely beautiful.
To distract himself, he said, “Sit up, darlin’ and drop your head back.”
She complied and he grabbed the handheld spray nozzle from its fixture on the back of the tub near the faucets, turned it on so that the spray soaked her hair. With a low appreciative moan, she closed her eyes as the water cascaded down her slender throat, and across the generous rise of her breasts.
She looked so incredibly sensual, like a water nymph with her sleek, wet skin and the heat rising from the water. His gaze took in her slightly parted lips, then slid down the arch of her throat—and came to a stop on the stitches in her upper arm.
He couldn’t stem the surge of anger that gripped him all over again for whoever had committed violence on her property, and whatever other threat may be hidden from him and the team. He regretted the puma attack that had precipitated her fall when he’d sworn to keep her safe and protected.
He gently washed her hair, rinsed it, then when she leaned back with a weary sigh, he picked up a sponge. He tenderly sponged her clean, and when he was done, he helped her out of the bath, then dried off her body.
“What did you want to wear?” he asked as she started to comb out her hair.
“Something in the second drawer of my dresser,” she responded, caressing his forearm as he passed. He gritted his teeth and ignored the need in him, the craving for her. As he pulled the drawer open, he heard the blow dryer turn on.
Inside was yards and yards of satin, lace, pretty frilly things that seemed way too delicate for his big, calloused hands. His dick got harder standing there, while he looked at all her sweet garments to cover an even sweeter body.
Swearing softly under his breath, he grabbed whatever was on top. Something short, lacy, and a blush pink color, grabbing the dressing gown that was on a chair as he passed. He walked into the bathroom. The blow dryer had stopped while he was ogling all her unmentionables.
She smiled when he helped her into the clinging lacy concoction, then slipped the robe up her arms, tying the belt.
There was a discrete knock on the door, and he went to open it. Sofia was there with her sister Anna, who was absolutely glowing with approval. They were carrying two trays of food, and he accepted one, setting it on her bed, then the other.
“Make sure she gets some rest,” Sofia said with a knowing look mixed in with her doctor stare.
He nodded. “Thank you, ladies. I’ll take good care of her.”
He closed the door as Mari came out of the bathroom. She went to the tray and settled on the bed, digging in. He settled on the other side and enjoyed his own dinner while he watched her eat. God, her mom could cook some delicious food.
Afterward, he left the trays outside the door. Back inside, he pulled down the bed covers, unbelted her robe, and she slipped under the layers. When he covered her up and bent down to kiss her softly on the temple, she said, “Stay with me.”
He smoothed back her silky hair, unable to say no to her. “Let me take a shower,” he said. He made it quick and by the time he got back to the room, she was asleep. He walked around to the other side of the bed and slipped inside. As soon as he settled, she made a soft sound and turned toward him. He gathered her against his naked body, holding her loosely as she snuggled against him.
He wasn’t sure he was going to be able to rest, but before he knew it, trailers of a nightmare faded in his mind as he surfaced from sleep, one from his childhood filled with mad horses, and rampaging cows.
The room was still dark, and Mari was sound asleep, her body half thrown across his. But he knew from his internal clock that it was early morning. Scrubbing his face to rid himself of the last vestiges of sleep, he tucked his head and brushed a soft, lingering kiss against her forehead, smiling a little when she made a soft sound and turned her face toward him.
He stared into the darkness, the urge to share more with her bringing on all those soft and tender emotions again. Being with her, getting more involved with her, made him really think about how he’d conducted his life up to now.
He’d always taken for granted the trust people placed in him. Mention a SEAL, and it was instant respect, instant trust. Their reputation was built on years and years of service, and Buck was proud of that reputation. The same thing went for his cowboy legacy. When people saw the hat, boots, jeans, and spurs, he was placed in a category that screamed independence, honor, integrity, and a trust that spanned decades.
But at this moment, he didn’t care about any of that. He cared about Maritza and the trust she had put in him. It was a silent thing, an important thing, but when it was breached, when it was broken, it was a loud and painful thing.
He thought about his fears, his weaknesses that in the past he had worked hard to hide and to overcome. Weaknesses he felt were not for men like him, men who had two strong and exacting legacies to maintain. Now he wondered if his misconception to see weakness as only a flaw was in and of itself…flawed. That it limited intention, limited a full scope of emotions and awareness. Of living. Of simply being alive and owning who he was.
