Chapter 23
Aaron rolled to his side,pulling Celine with him so that her head laid against his chest, as they both tried to catch their breath. “That was amazing. Are you okay? Was I too rough?”
She hadn’t acted like he’d hurt her, but he’d gotten so lost in her sweet body that a bomb could've gone off and he would've missed it.
“Not even close.” She threaded her fingers through his, her breath fanning against the hollow of his neck. “I was thinking maybe I hurt you.”
Aaron chuckled and squeezed her tighter. “Honey, I’ll take that kind of hurt any day.”
Aaron rolled out of bed, went to the sink and quickly washed himself off. Then he returned, slipping back into the same position as before with her head lying on his chest.
Celine shifted against him, her leg sliding slowly up his thigh to nudge his already growing erection.
“Be careful, you need to rest,” Aaron said.
Celine leaned up on an elbow, her chin-length blonde hair fanning around her face, and he couldn't resist sifting his fingers through the silky links. “I'm not going to break, Aaron.”
The moonlight highlighted her delicate bone structure. She had high cheekbones and the cutest curvy little nose. Everything about her screamed dainty. He would crush herwith one hand if he wasn't careful. “You don't understand what your body's been through. You were starved and abused, your body hasn't gotten its strength back yet.”
“Seriously?” Celine went to her knees next to him, her eyes wide. “You really think I can't handle a little screwing?”
Aaron growled and shot up straight so that he was eye level with Celine. “You really think what we just did was just sex? It was more than that and you know it.”
“No, it meant more than that to me. I was teasing you. Trying to get you to see I'm not weak.”
Aaron pushed her down and pulled her onto his chest so that she draped across his body once more. “No, you're one of the strongest women I know. You know what I do, I've seen women break under less strain. You’re amazing. I just want you to be safe and healthy.”
Celine stared up at him with her big emerald eyes. “I am safe. I'm with you.”
Overwhelming protectiveness surged. “Damn right, you are. I'll protect you with my life.”
Tears sprang to her eyes. She took his wave of power and crushed it, leaving him with an aching coldness in his chest. He released her hands and cradled her face between his palms. “What's wrong, sweetheart?”
Her hands went to his, holding him to her. “It just feels good to hear you say it.”
Aaron held her gaze, leaving his eyes open so she could see his sincerity. “It's my job to protect you.”
The hope shining in her eyes faded and he did a mad scramble to try to figure out how he could heal the hurt.
She sucked in a breath, her lips trembling, and said, “I know you'd rather be with your team. I understand. Who could blame you for wanting revenge against that horrible monster.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Your job.”
Aaron waited for her to continue, but after a few seconds it became obvious she was done. “What about my job?”
She looked away and he gently tipped her chin back to face him. A fresh tear tracked out of the corner of her eye and something inside him broke. He gently wiped the drop from her temple, and waited.
“I know that I’m just a job for you. That when it's safe, this will all be over and I'll probably never see you again. And I know you'd rather be back in Afghanistan right now, tracking down the man that killed your teammate.”
Her words doused his desire. “You really think I could just leave you?”
She nodded, another tear falling. “They always do.”
Aaron slammed his eyes shut and tilted his head back to hide the expression on his face. How could she think that he could just walk away after what they'd shared?
Because he had left her.
