Her Secretive Protector (Her Protector Alpha Male Military Romance Book 4) by Michaela Strong

Her Secretive Protector
    Walking into Rory's house, it was as spectacular as Dana imagined it to be but still it was a marvel. She took pleasure walking around it and let the newness of it unfold with surprise. It was well appointed with wooden beams, picture windows and a stone hearth and fireplace. The planked floors were stained with an ashy sienna color and his furniture was plush and elegant. It spoke volumes about him. But, Dana thought, everything about Rory screamed Rory.
    "It's late," he said bluntly to her. "The bath is here," he pressed opened a door. "And your bed is here," he indicated.
    He was giving her the guest room. It was what she asked for really. Still it hurt.
    The bath and room were more luxurious than Dana's stint at the Mandarin. Her feet disappeared as she sank into the plush mat covering the stone tiles of the bathroom floor. Dana was definitely a bath-taker not a shower-taker but in light of the circumstances, those particularly being Rory's mood, she made it quick. She draped herself with the sheet towel of thick Egyptian terry and scurried to her room. The last batch of her clean clothes had been wrecked with massage oil since he urged her to dress without bathing post massage, so Dana slide under the bed covers naked. The feel of the flannel sheets against her clean, smooth skin was intense and Dana was still, enjoying it. Big Dog knew how to do comfort.
    Dana was rushed with the urge to dive bomb Rory's bed without a stitch on now that all was quiet. It made her sad that that would not be the right thing to do. She accepted that she had been too much back and forth. The come closer/go away routine had run its course and the separate bedroom thing spoke loud and clear. Still, she wanted her Rory. She wanted his big, giant body, sweet mouth; his bear paw hands, his powerful thighs grazing hers as he spread them to get inside her.
    Dana coursed her palm over her flat stomach, feeling the silken warmth of her freshly washed skin. Such a waste she thought. I should be sharing this. But such thoughts gave way to sleep and before she knew it she was wakened with a question.
    "What the hell are you doing?"
    Dana blinked off her slumber gladly focusing on the handsome figure in her room with coffee for her. He set her cup on the night stand. She didn't understand his alarm. "What?" she asked.
    "What is the idea sleeping like that?"
    Dana looked down. "I didn't have anything to wear."
    "You coulda asked."
    Dana smiled, securing her modesty under the comfort. "I don't think we wear the same size, Big Dog."
    Rory stomped off and returned. "Here." He tossed a T shirt at her. "For now."
    "Okay," she complied.
    "Breakfast in five," he said as he gave her her privacy.
    "Yes, Marine."
    Rory's shirt fit her like a short dress. She waded up to the table he set with small plates of fruit, cheese, cream fraiche, meat and bread. "It's lovely," she said. "You're very thoughtful."
    "Dammit Dana. That's not any better," He said painfully.
    "Am I bothering you Rory? I don't mean to. Honestly I've never had this effect on a man before."
    "Sit down and eat," he snipped. She wanted to giggle but didn't.
    Dana scooped a medley of plain berries onto her plate, freshened her coffee from the urn he set out. She seemed to bother him more. He reached across, placed a couple of slices of fresh baguette loaded with soft cheese and a serving of smoky scented meat.
    "What is this?" she asked.
    "Food."
    "Oh thank you for clearing that up. What is the meat? Looks like turkey?"
    "Duck. Smoked duck. You a vegetarian?"
    Dana smirked and chided him. "You know that I am not." It took a moment for Dana's dirty joke to settle on him. She saw his face change. Yes, she bothered him. "Thank you I am sure it is delicious." She refrained from making every bite a still for a porno movie but she was tempted. The tension between them was starting to grate.
    She took a bite of the duck just to appease him and it backfired. It was perhaps the most