Special Forces: Operation Alpha: Protecting Us (Kindle Worlds Novella) by Magan Vernon

salty mixture.
    I moaned into his mouth, which caused him to grin beneath our kiss.
    Calder pulled his lips from mine, leaving me breathless as he stood up. “I have to get ready for bed, Maya. I’ll be in the bathroom for a bit but I’ll head out to the couch after. Make sure you get some sleep. You have to be satiated after that workout.”
    I smirked, propping up on my elbows. “I’m not going to let you sleep on the couch.”
    He let out a breath and stood up, pulling his pants up. I almost frowned, not getting the view of all of his tanned flesh. “It’s fine. I’d feel better sleeping out there. Easier to protect you if I’m near the front door.”
    I rolled my eyes. “You can protect me or whatever you need to do from right here. I’ll even let you sleep on the side by the door.”
    He looked from the bedroom door to the bathroom door and back again. His eyes shifting ever so slightly.
    “What? Do you have some macho guy rule about not sleeping with a woman?” I asked.
    Finally Calder sighed and looked down at the floor. “No. I’ve just never slept with a woman since the accident. I take off my legs to sleep and I don’t think you’re ready to see that yet.”
    Slowly I sat up until I was right in front of him. I didn’t look at anything else but his eyes. “You’ve seen me as a seal. I’ve seen all of you. I don’t want there to be barriers between us because we’re scared. If there’s one thing you’ve taught me in the short time we’ve known each other, it’s that we need to accept each other and ourselves as we are. So please, let me in to see all of you.”
    He nodded slowly. “Okay.”
    Without another word he went to the bathroom, shutting the door behind him.
    I pulled my panties back up but not my jeans and stayed in my tank top, removing my bra and tossing it to the side. Making my way under the covers, I waited for him.
    It felt like forever that the light shone from under the bathroom door and the water ran.
    I almost fell asleep but stirred awake when the door finally opened and he stood in the doorway wearing nothing more than a pair of gym shorts.
    His upper body was well defined with broad shoulders and a few barely there scars on his chest. A large anchor tattoo was etched above his left pec.
    The man was sex on a stick and I was lucky to be in his presence, let alone that he wanted me. Not just for my looks or to flirt with the bartender. He knew my secret and still didn’t stay away
    Slowly he walked toward the other end of the bed and sat down with his back to me. He unhooked his legs before setting them near the side of the bed. He then slid under the covers, lying down on the pillow next to me.
    I didn’t know how he would react but I had to take a chance. Slowly I slid over to his side of the bed and put my head on his chest and my legs over his. The area where his legs ended was just above the knee. Sliding my thigh against it, I could feel the soft skin with the slight edge to it where his scars were. He winced from my little touch.
    Without even thinking what I was doing, I trailed my hands down his chest and whispered. “You’re amazing.”
    He laughed. “Is that because of the multiple orgasms?”
    I shook my head and sat up, leaning over him. “That and everything else. You’ve gone through so much and yet you’re still this loyal and fierce protector. You’re one of the strongest men I’ve ever met, no matter how much I see you suffering; you still put others before yourself.”
    He tucked a fallen strand of hair behind my ear. “I could say the same thing for you.”
    “I’m not a hero,” I muttered.
    “To me you are. You saved me Maya. More than once. Not just that day in the ocean, but I’ve finally felt more alive than ever the more time I spend with you,” he whispered, sealing his words with a small kiss.
    With that I laid back on his chest and he put his arm around me, pulling me close.
    I’d never felt so safe, even after the craziness