Chapter 5
Halle.
Hell, Halle was in his arms.
Ren’s arms clenched on her, and he fought for control. Her sweet lips moved over his, giving him the briefest taste of her. His gut clenched.
Then she pulled back, and her blue eyes met his. “Please.”
Something inside him snapped.
He yanked her closer and kissed her.
He plundered her mouth, biting her lower lip before sliding his tongue into the sweetness of her mouth. Her lips were soft, warm, and perfect.
He’d kissed a lot of women in his life, but knowing he was kissing Halle right now nearly sent him over the edge.
She let out a husky moan, then shifted, straddling his hips and wrapping her arms around his shoulders. He cupped her ass with one hand, and slid the other into her hair. He tilted her head, taking the kiss deeper. She whimpered, her curvy body rubbing against him.
“You taste like sin,” he growled. “Sweet, sweet sin.”
“Please, Ren,” she breathed against his mouth. “Keep kissing me.”
“You want this sexy mouth kissed?” He fisted her hair tighter. “God, you tempt me. And every time I see these damn freckles…” He whispered his lips over the bridge of her nose.
“I should use more sunscreen.”
“I love them.” He took her mouth again. She moaned, her tongue stroking his. Her thighs hugged his waist, and she worked herself against him. Rubbing her sweet pussy against where he was hard as steel.
Having her this close set his blood on fire.
He kept kissing her, then she sucked on his tongue. Fuck. His cock was so hard it hurt.
He slid a hand up her body, and cupped her breast. The sexy, little sound she made drove his desire higher. She pushed her breast into his palm.
Their next kiss was deeper, hotter. The kind of kiss he’d been avoiding for the last three years. One where she felt like his, tasted like his.
“Yes.” She scraped her teeth along his jaw. “I’ve wanted you for so long, Ren.”
She clung to him harder, and he kneaded the soft curves of her ass. Just a few layers separated them. What would her pretty pussy taste like? What would it feel like stretched around him?
Desire was tying him up in knots, he could barely think.
“I want you inside me,” she breathed. “I ache for you. Only you can make it better.”
“Baby.” He took her mouth again. He rubbed her nipple between his fingers until it turned into a hard little nub.
Then he heard people talking nearby, followed by the thunk of gear hitting the deck.
And cold, icy reality intruded.
He stilled, his hands clenched on her.
Halle stiffened. “Ren…no.”
He set her down on the bench, and pushed to his feet. He backed away from her and sliced a hand through his hair.
He’d come damn close to stripping her clothes off. Halle. Tom’s daughter.
“Ren.”
He looked up. Disappointment was stark on her face. He looked away, his gaze on the deck. His hands balled against his thighs. If he kept looking at her, he’d grab her, strip her clothes off, and be inside her before either of them could say anything else. His cock throbbed painfully.
“Lorenzo.”
He met her gaze.
Her chin was high, stubborn determination on her face. “You feel it.”
“Lust? Desire?” She had no idea the things he wanted to do to her. “The urge to fuck?”
She made an angry noise, and she stood. She took a step toward him, and Ren had to stop himself from taking a step back.
“Don’t try to cheapen it,” she said. “Our connection. We both care about each other. And yes, I want you to fuck my brains out.”
He groaned. “Halle.”
She took another step closer, her voice low. “No one has before.”
His head whipped up.
“I’ve been waiting for you,” she murmured. “And I’m not giving up on you.”
He clenched his hand, flexed, then clenched it again. “I’m not good enough for you. I never will be.”
She smiled. “It seems I have a thing for good men. Heroic ones who served their country. Who are strong and look out for others. Maybe I’m not good enough for you.” She shrugged the blanket off and set it on the bench. Then she turned away. “Sweet dreams, Ren.”
He watched her walk away, his gaze locked on the gentle sway of her hips as she disappeared down the deck.
He turned, and stared blindly at the dark ocean. But it didn’t offer him any answers, didn’t stop the scorching-hot need burning in his gut. He made his way back to his cabin. A few of the crew called out to him as he passed, and he managed a brief nod.
He slammed into his cabin.
It took him seconds to strip his clothes off, and he quickly shoved into the tiny bathroom. He turned on the shower, and made sure the water was cold.
His cock was still swollen and painful.
Halle was a virgin. No one had touched her.
He stepped under the icy spray, but it did little to cool him down.
No one had loved her, shown her pleasure.
He groaned, then circled his cock with one hand. He started stroking himself, rough, brutal. The water pounded over him.
Ren pictured her in his head—kissing her, her hands on him, fingers on his dick. His brain short circuited. He stroked his slick cock from root to tip. He jerked his arm hard and fast.
“Halle, shit, Halle.” He imagined her small hand on his cock. Imagined working himself into her tight pussy.
He fucked his fist, until the rush of his climax hit. His back bowed and he shouted her name. He milked his cock, watching his come splash on the tiles. Pleasure was like a damn detonation inside him.
His knees nearly gave out and he slapped a hand to the tiles. “Fuck.”
It had been a long day.
Halle headed across the deck, rubbing her temple. She hadn’t slept well last night…again. The lack of sleep and hours in the sun were catching up with her.
Today, they’d been running more tests, and Ren had been conspicuously absent.
She lifted a hand and touched her lips. That kiss last night…
With a sigh, she turned to lean on the railing. She tried to take in the beautiful sunset, but she wasn’t feeling it. She rubbed her eyes. It wasn’t just because she was tired. It was because she was turned on, and wanting Ren.
He’d given her a taste of how it could be, and her body wanted more.
“Hey, Halle. You asleep standing up?”
Sammy’s raspy voice made her jolt. She and Ryan appeared, flanking her.
“Almost. I didn’t sleep well.”
“Sleeping on a ship takes a bit of getting used to,” Ryan said.
No, that wasn’t her problem. Her problem was her body feeling hot and itchy. She’d tossed and turned, and thought of Ren.
Today, she’d worked extra hard to try and keep her mind busy on her work.
“How were the fuel cell tests today?” she asked.
“Excellent,” Ryan said excitedly. “The professor is happy. You coming to dinner?”
Sammy nodded. “We’re on our way to the mess now.”
Halle shook her head. “I’ll grab something later. I need to shower first.” She waved to them, and headed to her cabin.
As she made her way down the narrow corridor, she glanced at the door to Ren’s stateroom. She nibbled her lip and wondered if he was in there.
I’m not good enough for you.
His words had knocked around in her head all day. Did he really think that? He was a good man. She didn’t pretend to understand things he’d done in the military, and the terrible things he’d no doubt seen. She’d seen her dad cope with his own issues when he’d come home from his deployments.
Serving his country just made her admire Ren more.
Back in her own cabin, she pulled her T-shirt off and kicked off her shorts. Her bra and panties followed. She needed a shower. Her mom always said things seemed better after a nice, warm shower.
Something niggled at Halle, and she paused. She turned and frowned. Why did her quarters suddenly feel weird? When she stepped into the bathroom, she noted that the cabinet above the sink was ajar.
She paused. She hadn’t left it like that. It had been firmly shut when she’d left this morning. She snatched a towel off the rack, and wrapped it around herself.
She slowly opened the cabinet. Her toiletries had been moved. Her packet of painkillers and her asthma inhaler were turned around. Things hadn’t been moved much, but enough for her to notice.
As though someone had been trying to put them back the way they’d found them.
She stepped back into her cabin, and looked around with a fresh gaze. Things on her desk were out of place. Her heart began to thump in her chest. The book on her bed was shifted. She yanked open the door to her narrow closet. A few shirts hung crookedly on their hangers.
Her breath hitched. Someone had been in her cabin.
Why?
She hadn’t brought any valuables. Her pulse picked up speed. Could it be someone on the crew was a thief? Suddenly, Halle felt a little freaked out.
Someone had touched her things. Her clothes. Maybe her underwear.
She quickly opened the door and hurried down the hall. When she reached Ren’s door, she lifted her hand and knocked.
It opened a second later. He frowned through the gap. “Halle?” When he saw her towel, his frown deepened.
“Ren. Someone’s been in my cabin. It was locked when I left this morning. Things have been moved.”
A hard, scary look crossed his face. He pushed past her and down the corridor.
Chest tight, she followed.
“Go back and wait in my cabin,” he said.
“No. Whoever was there is gone now.”
Ren stepped into her cabin, scanning around. He checked everything over. “You’re sure things have been moved?”
She nodded, her skin feeling chilled. “Definitely. Someone tried to put it all back, but I have everything how I like it.”
His lips quirked for just a split second. “You always liked things in the right place.”
“Yes.” What she wanted most was him with her. How could she get that through that thick shell of his? The look on his face made her shiver. “Ren? What are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking that someone on this ship searched your room, looking for something.”
A chill skated over her skin. “Why? Looking for valuables? I didn’t bring any money or jewelry.”
He shook his head. “No. You’re here working on a classified project. This has to be about the fuel cell. Add in someone trying to grab you before we left port…”
Halle felt sick. “But I told you, I’m not part of the main project.”
Ren frowned. “You can access the data the others are collating, right? You can get the data on the fuel cell if someone demanded it?”
“Yes.” She wrapped her arms around herself.
“I’ll change the lock to the door and add an extra deadbolt.” He took a step closer. “I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
“I know.” She looked up at him. The room seemed to shrink. He was so big and took up so much space. She licked her lips.
“Fuck.” His head lowered a few inches. “I’m not touching you again.”
“Are you telling me or yourself that?”
He growled. “Halle…”
“You won’t touch me, even if I want you to?”
A muscle ticked in his jaw. “You know the reasons.”
“Ren—”
He gripped her chin. “Find a boy your own age.”
Anger shot through her. “A boy? I’m not a child. Is that what you really want? Me kissing someone else? Letting them touch me?”
A low growl escaped him.
Triumph filled her. “I didn’t think so.”
Then he spun. “Lock the door.” He slammed it closed behind him.
Halle sagged against the wall. She was way out of her league when it came to Ren Santoro, and she had no idea what to do about it.
Ren tightened the screw,then stepped back.
The new deadbolt on Halle’s cabin door gleamed in the light. She was currently up in the mess having dinner, and he wanted this new lock installed before she got back. He tested it and frowned.
It still wasn’t enough.
If someone wanted to get to her badly enough, they could. His jaw tightened. He thought again about someone searching Halle’s cabin. Touching her things.
And the men who’d tried to snatch her at the bar before they’d left port.
Were the two things connected? His instincts told him yes.
And whoever had searched her cabin was aboard this ship. One of the crew or one of the research team couldn’t be trusted.
It had to be related to the UUV and the fuel cell.
But if there was a link, he couldn’t see it. Halle was a marine biologist, not an engineer.
A muscle ticked in his jaw. What he hated most was that whoever had searched her cabin was still on the ship.
Whoever the hell it was, Ren wasn’t letting them get to Halle. They’d have to go through him first.
Heading up to the next deck, he stopped at the security office. It was a cramped space with a small weapons locker and two computers. Jack was sipping a mug of coffee and another of Ren’s security team, Damien, was sitting in one of the chairs.
“Hey, Ren.” Damien lifted his chin. He had dark skin, a bald head, and a big, muscular body. He’d played pro football for a year before a knee injury had ended his career. He’d joined the Army after that.
“We have an issue,” Ren said.
Both men straightened, faces turning serious. Ren expected nothing less. He’d handpicked both of them for his team.
“Someone searched Halle’s cabin. Jack, I need you to check the camera footage.” They had a few security cameras in the common areas of the ship.
“On it.” Jack spun and started tapping on the keyboard.
“Add this to someone trying to snatch her the night before we left port…” Ren shook his head. “I don’t like it.”
“You think it has something to do with this fuel cell?” Damien asked.
“I do.”
Jack cursed. “Someone tampered with the video feed.” He spun his chair around, looking pissed.
Ren crossed his arms over his chest. “So we have someone aboard this ship who can’t be trusted. Someone with the skills to mess with our cameras.” And they appeared to be targeting Halle.
“You’re both on duty tonight. Keep a tight eye on that UUV. Be extra vigilant.”
Both men stood and nodded.
“Whatever you need, Ren,” Jack said.
After they’d left, Ren sank into one of the chairs and sent a message on the computer. A few minutes later, it pinged with a reply. He tapped and a video call opened.
Even across the computer screen, the man radiated a dangerous intensity. Ren was well aware that Vander Norcross, his former Ghost Ops commander, was even more intense in real life.
He had Italian-American good looks with ink-black hair, dark stubble, and dark blue eyes. He ran Norcross Security in San Francisco, and despite falling in love and getting married, it sure hadn’t softened his edge.
“Ren,” Vander said. “Everything all right?”
“Thanks for taking my call, Vander.”
“You know I’ll always take your call. You’re out at sea?”
“Yes.” Ren blew out a breath. “Top secret project for the Navy.”
Vander nodded. “UUV with some fancy fuel cell.”
Ren laughed. “Is there anything you don’t know?”
“Always like to keep my finger on the pulse. Problem with the testing?”
“No, the tests are going fine. Before we left port, masked men tried to grab one of the scientists on the research team. I stopped them, but I have no idea who was behind it. Then, today, someone searched her cabin.”
A frown crossed Vander’s face. “So someone on the ship is up to something.”
Ren nodded. “I have to suspect they’re after the fuel cell, and targeting Halle for some reason.” He paused. “Vander, the marine biologist on the team is Halle. Halle Bradshaw.”
“Your best friend, Tom’s daughter. God, last I heard, she was in high school.”
Ren cleared his throat. “She’s working on this project as part of her post-graduate studies. She’s twenty-three now.”
“She’s okay?”
“Shaken. But I’m not going to let anything happen to her.”
Vander’s gaze narrowed and Ren tried not to fidget. Vander was notorious for seeing things you didn’t want him to see.
“What do you need, Ren?”
Relief hit him. He knew he could always depend on Vander, or any other members of his Ghost Ops team. “Can you get your guys to run background checks on all the members of the research team…” he drew in a breath “—and the Atalanta crew? Look for anyone who’s gotten large payments or is in any trouble that could be exploited.”
“You think it could be one of your crew?”
“I want to say no, but at this stage, I’m not ruling anyone out. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep Halle safe.” Ren cleared his throat. “And keep the UUV fuel cell secure.”
“All right, leave it with me. If I find any red flags, I’ll get back to you.”
“Thanks, Vander. I appreciate it.”
Vander lifted his chin. “You watch your back, and if you need anything else, call me.” Vander’s dark gaze met his. “Take care of your girl.”
The screen went blank.
Ren sat back in his chair and checked his watch. On the security screen, he saw Halle heading back into her cabin. He saw her pause when she saw the new lock, then she disappeared inside.
He needed to grab some more coffee from the mess. Because he planned to spend the night in the hall outside Halle’s cabin, making sure she was safe.