Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
ANNA
Muscles I didn’t know my body possess are tight, I ache deliciously in ways no man has ever made happen before, and I’m waking to a large, strong, warm body holding me like I’m his.
I’ve never felt more invigorated in my life.
Enough to almost forget how we ended up here.
As the fog of sleep fades, I snuggle back deeper into Luke’s arms.
A scoff of a laugh blows the hair by my ear.
“Morning, gorgeous.”
Oh. Wow.
I’ve heard Luke’s morning voice but it’s never sounded like this. The intimate tone and rasp of sleep is sexy as hell. My vagina is awake now, for the first time, not just in years, but probably ever, and she’s thirsting for Luke Davis.
I roll around in his arms, facing him.
Oh yeah. The view is even better.
I brush my finger down the bridge of his nose. “Morning,” I whisper.
His lips tilt in a grin that’s meant just for me. “God, you’re gorgeous,” he says, reverently.
Sucking my teeth, I brush my entire hand down his face, rolling my eyes.
“Luke!” I squeal as he suddenly tackles me onto my back, caging my body with his.
“Woman,” he growls playfully, nibbling on my lower lip. “Have I ever lied to you?”
Giggling, I move my face away, pretending I want to break free from his hold.
I fear I never want to. I could live in this moment here forever.
“Let me go, you caveman!” I laugh, trying to find his tickling spots.
“Never,” he laughs, biting my neck and shoulder.
Playful bites turn to slow, wet kisses down my naked body. Another first. I never sleep naked. Never thought I liked it. Until now.
I lightly scratch his scalp, brushing his hair back. Luke’s eyes fall shut, groaning between my breasts. His hand lazily rests, cupping one breast with his thumb gently circling my erect nipple.
I gasp, my hips automatically seeking him out.
Luke rests his chin on my sternum, those deep, green eyes flashing sparks of gold from the morning sun seeping in through the broken edge of the curtains.
“How are you feeling?” he asks.
I continue combing the side of his hair with my fingernails. “Never better,” I answer with a small smile.
He tucks his hand under my ass and squeezes. “Here too?”
I feel the heat of my blush as I grin. “Surprisingly…yup.”
His devilish smirk could get me to do anything. He can never know that…but with his military background, ten bucks says, he already knows.
A crackle from the radio sounds on Luke’s side of the bed. The smirk bleeds into instant alert protector mode. Luke keeps one arm around my waist while reaching over and grabbing the radio from the nightstand.
“Radio check,” Gabe’s voice comes through.
“Loud and clear,” Luke says.
“What’s your twenty?”
“Cabin. Standing by.”
“Good,” Gabe says. “Madison says to stay put. Solid plan in the works. Also, while you were settling in, I went by to set trail cams. I’m keeping watch of alerts. I’ll radio in if anything.”
“Copy. Thanks, boss. Doing a perimeter in thirty. Keeping visible signs to a minimum.”
“Copy. Stand by.”
“On it. Out,” Luke says, releasing the trigger and setting the walkie back on the table before coming back and wrapping me in his arms.
“That was kind of hot,” I smile.
His brows rise. “Was it now?”
“You’re like a mountain man buffet. Cowboy. Military man. Tattoo bad boy vibes. Protector. Great lover.”
Luke scoffs a laugh. “Don’t sell yourself short, Brown Eyes. You’re the full package. I’m fighting the urge to keep you in this bed all day.”
“I mean,” I smile, reaching up to say against his lips, “I’m not going to say no to that.”
The first morning kiss.
Deep, slow, thrilling.
Goosebumps race up my body. Warmth settles deep below as my core clenches, missing the feel of him filling me.
“Fuck, baby,” he groans into the kiss. “I promise to make it up soon.”
“Make what up?” I ask, kissing him deeper.
Luke presses one last, hard kiss before pulling away and sitting back on the bed. “Food and caffeine first. Then perimeter run. And another lesson.” At my scrunched brows, he grins. “Self-defense.”
“Ah,” I nod, remembering.
“Then, I make you come at least two more times.”
My eyes flare wide, as does my body. “Um. I’d like option three now, please?”
Laughing, Luke pulls me off the bed and slaps my bare ass toward the bathroom. “Gonna start the coffee,” he says, leaving the room.
“Tease,” I call out.
“We can play with edging later, baby.”
Oh, my God. This man’s going to evaporate my vagina if he keeps talking like this.
“Have I told you, you look good in my clothes?” Luke asks as I step out from the bathroom.
I look down at my leggings and the oversized long-sleeve Henley I stole from him, which I had to roll up my arms a hundred times.
I shrug. “Comfy.”
“Can’t wait to peel it off you later.”
“Luke,” I reprimand, almost stomping my foot.
His deep, low chuckle is not helping.
“If you want me to behave and not jump your bones, stop being sexy,” I say.
“Baby, I’ve been picturing having you for breakfast instead, all morning. Trust me. We’re both suffering here.”
“I wouldn’t have been opposed to that.”
His eyes narrow.
I raise my hands up in surrender. “I’m just saying.”
“Trouble,” he mumbles, pulling me closer in front of him.
God, he’s hot.
He’s in gray sweatpants that hang loose on his hips and a heather navy blue Henley that molds to every defined muscle on his body.
Add the tattoos peeking out of every opening…
that full but tightly trimmed beard that does nothing to hide the cut of his jawline.
I lick my lips, remembering all the ways he took my body last night.
“Behave,” he growls, turning me around so I’m standing with my back to him.
“Trying,” I sass, rubbing my ass against his groin.
“Fuck,” he coughs as he hardens on my ass. “Brown Eyes.”
I peek over my shoulder innocently. “What?”
His eyes grow hard, which just make me want to climb him more. “Eyes forward.”
“Oooh, you’ve got your serious, military man voice on.”
“Anna.”
Laughing, I put him out of his misery and face forward. I’m laughing, that is, until his lips brush the shell of my ear.
“That’s gonna cost your ass later, Brown Eyes. My palm’s itching.”
My core responds, hot and ready. No man I’ve been with has ever been experimental with sex. It’s always been basic. Ask me a year ago if I would have been into being praised, anal, or up for anything else, and I would have laughed.
With Luke? There was never a second’s hesitation.
“Remind me of the basics,” he instructs, getting to business.
“Target Vulnerable Areas: Eyes, nose, throat, and groin.”
“What moves have we practiced?” he asks, the heat of his body at my back but not touching.
“Hammer strike, heel of hand, and elbow strike. And of course, classic, groin attack whenever I have access.”
“That’s my girl,” he says matter-of-factly, but my heart races, liking the idea of being his.
His arms wrap around me. “Escaping a bear hug attack. In case an attacker comes from behind, I want you to get low and create space to free yourself.”
“Okay,” I focus, channeling everything he’s taught me this week.
Luke tightens his hold. “Bend forward from the waist.”
I do.
“This shifts your weight forward, making it more difficult for your attacker to pick you up.”
“Got it.”
“From this angle, you can throw your elbows from side to side at the attacker’s face.”
I try the move in slow-motion as we always do before exercising the technique fully.
“Good. Turn into the attacker with one of your elbows and counterattack.”
I demonstrate swinging my elbow at his face and punching down at his groin area.
“Perfect,” he says. “Turn fully after your counterattack, push him away, and run off.”
We practice it slowly a few more times until it feels natural and second nature.
The more I get into the flow, the stronger I feel, secure.
Having the ability to take care of myself in a dangerous situation significantly changes the hold fear had on me.
For once, it feels possible to fight back, get away, refuse to be a victim.
“Now, for real,” Luke says, stepping away. “I’m going to come in unexpectedly. In real time, no more slow. Attack it as you would. Don’t fear hurting me.”
“I’m not going to actually elbow your face and groin, Luke.”
“I’ll dodge them. Trust me.”
“And them? Would my attacker dodge them, too?” That would suck.
“I already know what you’re about to do, Brown Eyes. Your attacker wouldn’t.”
“Right,” I exhale. “Okay,” I nod, bouncing on my feet, energy coursing through my muscles.
I stand, waiting. And waiting.
I frown, wanting to look over my shoulder. Nerves flutter in my gut. The anticipation grows into anxiety. I shake out my hands, close my eyes, and breathe in.
You’re safe. It’s Luke. You’re in control.
A body slams into my back, pulling a gasp from my lungs as his arms tighten around me.
“No,” I groan, falling into action.
It’s not as rehearsed and clean as when we practiced. He’s holding me tighter and fighting me this time. I drop all my weight at the waist, loosening his hold. I twist and in that moment, it’s not Luke’s beautiful face I’m seeing, it’s an unknown attacker.
I swing my elbow back with a grunt.
I punch low, almost hitting him in the balls.
I twist around fully, push him off, and run to the other end of the cabin.
I spin around, panting from the exertion but also the adrenaline that’s like fire in my veins.
Luke stands, hands at his hips, smiling.
“I did it,” I state as it hits me. “I got away.”
“Come here,” he says.
“What? Why?”
“Brown Eyes…come here.”
Oh…OH.
His body language melts from proud bodyguard to the hot, tattooed cowboy who promises very bad things that I will fully enjoy every second of.
My chest heaves breaths for another reason entirely now. I slowly approach. The extra sway in my hips is instinctual. I swear, I don’t purposely do it…until I notice I am. I stand chest to chest, looking up into his heated green stare.
“Do I get a reward, Captain?”
His nose flares. “Depends…”