Her Secretive Protector (Her Protector Alpha Male Military Romance Book 4) Read Free Page A

We don't know what your boyfriend and his buddies might have planned for you."
    "My ex-boyfriend. I don't care about him. I just want my life back. I am going back to my apartment, back to spinsterhood. I'll get in touch with the captain. But this back and forth, hot and cold thing we're doing? That I can't take. Thanks for all of your help, but we're done."
    "No. Look, if you don't want to be around me that's fine, but you need to stay here. No one can find you here," he said.
    "No, bite me. It's no longer cute for you tell me what to do. I no longer find it hot. Please stop it."
    Finally, Rory smiled. "You thought it was hot that I told you what to do?"
    Dana just ignored him. She went into the guest room to get her purse. He was already in the hall way, blocking her. "I don't want to do any drama," she said plainly. "I realize we have - had - a lot of chemistry and drama was part of it. But it's time to go our separate ways."
    "It is, is it?" He folded his arms across his chest and looked down at her. There was that mix of slight smile and pain. "If I promise to have some booze with you will you stay?"
    She shook her head. "I don't like this anymore."
    "Got it. But I know and you know that you can't go. So I will shelve the attitude and we'll make nice. I just…" he paused and looked away from her. "I can't have sex with you anymore."
    "I kinda figured that one out. But that goes both ways. I am so glad you decided to go for a final round this morning so you got it out of your system. One last one to hold you over for the rest of your life, I guess."
    "It wasn't like that."
    "The hell it wasn't. Now get out of my way before I make this really ugly."
    "Ok you are freakin' adorable. And you aren't going anywhere with those clothes on."
    "You gave them to me to wear!"
    "I know but…"
    "But what!"
    "They're my wife's," he said reluctantly.
    Dana was livid. Her head felt like it was going to explode. "What are your wife's clothes doing in your house still?"
    "She didn't really have any choice."
    "Oh, do you boss her around too?"
    "No, I can't."
    "That makes two of us."
    Rory took hold of Dana and looked her straight in the eye. "No, I can't boss her around Dana because she's dead." Dana was stunned. "And that's why I've been weird this morning. It just kinda knocked the wind of my sails to see them on you. I haven't touched her stuff really since she died. And then you needed clothes. I thought it would be okay but I guess I wasn't ready."
    Dana moved towards the couch so Rory released her from his grip. She poured straight bourbon in her empty cup.
    "Pour me one too," he said. Rory slid his cup over. He couldn't help it. He put his hands in head for a second. Dana heard him sniff. She took a swig of bourbon and rushed him.
    "Come here."
    "Dana…"
    She cut him off with a kiss before he could finish. His tongue was hot, laced with alcohol which she could taste even having had her own. She kissed him for minutes before coming up for air. "Talk, Marine."
    Rory buried her face in the crook of her neck and sobbed. Without lifting his head he swung her up across his lap so she was straddling him and clung to her with everything he had. She let him until she thought she couldn't breathe.
    "Okay sweet. You gotta let me up."
    Rory released her and quickly wiped his face. He laughed. "Sorry, beautiful." He took a quick drink from his coffee. "This was actually a very good idea."
    Dana was filling her mug again. "I know." Her speech was slurring.
    "Okay, sailor," he grinned. He took her mug and his. "Let me fix these. You shift as bartender is over."
    "What?" she asked innocently.
    " What ?" he mocked her, slurring his speech. Dana heard him fill the cups with coffee and watched. He dotted them with ice cream. He sat next to her on the couch, picked up her feet as she stretched out. "Are you a light weight or have you been guzzling this stuff?"
    "Both."
    "Come here before you pass out." He picked her up like a she was a rag doll. "I am