Ice reached for her hand, smiling despite the slight tremor that shook through him. That only happened when he touched the woman. All he’d done for Ellis the other night—IVs. Stitches—and the man had been rock steady. Yet, one stray thought about Harlequin in danger, and that cool reserve cracked ever so slightly. At least, Colt wasn’t alone in feeling off-kilter around Ellis. Midnight, Rigs, hell, even Cannon seemed inflicted with a similar issue where their partners were concerned.
Not that Ellis was Colt’s. Once upon a time, sure. But, regardless, everyone had their version of kryptonite. Just his dumb luck his was a dark-haired ball buster with more stubbornness than a platoon of soldiers.
Ice nodded. “Call me if she needs anything. She really does need to eat. And take more antibiotics and pain killers.”
“I’ll bring her out as soon as she’s done. Just… Don’t mention I said anything about…” About the bastards who’d hurt her. The men on Colt’s personal shit list. The ones he was going to hunt down and eliminate. Who were already dead but didn’t know it.
“Please. We’re professionals.”
“Right. Why was I worried?”
He dodged the balled-up napkin Ice tossed at him, then headed back, pausing outside the bathroom. He took a fewdeep breaths, listening through the door. Water splashed in the background, accompanied by a low groan. Shit, if she was trying to do more than what they’d agreed to…
He switched into soldier mode. No more coddling. Not when it was apparent she didn’t respond to sweet and easy. He’d warned her he wasn’t going to let her push herself, and he’d meant it. And if he needed to be a hardass to accomplish that, he was up to the task.
He knocked, counted to five—insanely fast, but damn it, his control was edgy, at best—then swung the door inward. And froze. Breath held, her clothes white knuckled in his fist because she was sitting there. Shower nozzle in one hand, the other spreading bubbles along her legs—long, toned legs that looked like an endless stretch of soft silky skin. Skin he remembered running his palms along, feeling wrapped around his hips. And damn if he didn’t want it all, again.
Ellis startled, groaned, then slumped forward. He moved. Dropped the clothes and made it to her side inside a second, flat. Another, and he had the towel in his hands, was lifting her to her feet. She was shaky. Barely holding on, as he wrapped her up then sat back down, cradling her in his lap, careful not to put her directly on his damn dick. The one that was still hard. Her increased breath washed across his neck, one small hand connecting with his chest.
Shit. He should have stayed—modesty and his heart be damned. She looked ever paler than when he’d left, and the dark shadows beneath her eyes had returned. As if she’d lost any benefits she’d gained from sleeping for over thirty hours straight. From the IVs and meds Ice had given her.
Ellis drew a few shaky breaths, finally relaxing in his arms. “Guess this is where you lecture me on how you were right, and that I wasn’t strong enough to bathe.”
“Well, I can’t, now. It would make me an ass. But thanks for ruining it for me.” He eased back enough to stare down at her—soak in all that blue from her eyes. At least the punch of fear—the one he’d never admit to—had killed his erection. “You did that on purpose.”
She smiled. Another genuine one that gave him a glimpse of the old Ellis. The one who’d always known what to say to make him feel less like the hardened soldier he’d become, and more like the man he’d wanted to be for her.
“Always did have to have an ace up my sleeve if I wanted to have any hope of being on equal footing with you or your team. Damn Spec Op guys are too cocky for their own good.”
“Especially when we’re always right.”
“No one likes an overachiever.”
“I’ll try to remember that.” He sighed when she shivered. “We should get you dressed.”
“You said you’d help me rinse my hair. And you Delta guys never go back on a promise.”
“That was before you broke the rules—pushed too hard and nearly passed out.”
“I believe the only rules were that I couldn’t open up my wounds. Or get any more. Neither of which happened, so…technically, I didn’t actually break any rules.”
“You came damn close. If I hadn’t come back when I did…”
“Didn’t you used to say that almost didn’t cut it? That no one cared if youalmostdied oralmostgot shot?”
“Do all women have your kind of memory or are you special?”
She tensed at the last word. Special. That’s what he’d used to say to her. That she was special.
Ellis shrugged it off. “Women never forget the important stuff. How else can we make a man suffer?”
“Trust me. You have infinite ways at your disposal. Fine, let’s get your hair rinsed off.” He spun, still holding her close, then reached for the spray.
“Wait. I’ll move over or you’ll get wet.”
“You can hardly balance on my lap with me bracing most of your weight. You’ll keel over on the edge. Besides, it’s not like I’ll melt if my pants get wet.”
She stared at him from behind a tangle of long eyelashes, clearly assessing him before sighing then leaning forward. He lifted one hand, brushing all her silky soft hair forward—exposing the long smooth line of her neck.
