“I don’t need a hotel,” I blurt. Instantly, I blush, and I turn to see West smiling at me curiously. “I mean—”
“Yes,” he growls. His arms tighten around me, and his eyes blaze into mine. “Yes, you’re staying here.”
The grin spreads over my face, and I just want to melt into this man right here and now.
Bear clears his throat. “All due respect, a hotel might be—”
“I’m safest here,” I whisper, looking West in the eye as I say it. I turn and see Bear and Gerard glancing at each other and then turning to grin at us both.
“Well, alright then,” Bear grunts with a raise of his brow to West. “You sure?”
“This stubborn bastard?” Gerard chuckles. “Yeah, he’s sure.”
“I’m sure,” West growls fiercely. His grip on me tightens, and I shiver heatedly.
“Just the same, we’re going to be posting someone up at the top of your drive, by the road.” Bear nods at Johnny as they push him into the back of a squad car. “Pretty sure you and I dropped whatever muscle that douchebag had on the payroll. But, just in case, you know?”
“I appreciate it,” West nods. He sticks his hand out and shakes Bear’s good hand. “And thanks for the backup today. I mean it.”
“Anytime, man,” Bear growls thickly. “And nice shooting.” He turns and gives me a smile and a nod, then he finally lets the EMT guys who’ve been looking concerned nearby bring him into the ambulance.
Gerard clears his throat. “You want me to stick around?”
“Not a chance,” West chuckles, giving me a squeeze.
His friend laughs. “Alright, well, behave, you two.”
I blush fiercely and grin widely.
“I’ll keep my ear to the ground and let you know if I hear any further ripples with this Johnny bullshit, alright?”
“Thanks, brother,” West grunts, shaking his hand.
We watch, his arm still around me, as Bear, Gerard, and the rest of the cops and emergency responders pack it up and head out. My eyes drop to the dark spots on the sand where Johnny’s guys were before the coroner took them away. West frowns and turns me gently to look into my eyes.
“You okay?”
“Yeah,” I smile, hugging him tight. “Yeah, I am.”
“It’s okay if you’re not. That was…” he frowns fiercely. “That was a hell of a day.”
“More than a few firsts,” I giggle. And when he blushes, I laugh even more and stand on my tiptoes to kiss him.
“So wait, when were you going to tell me you were in the Marines?”
He grins. “Guess I’m full of secrets you’re gonna have to discover.”
“Well, speak for yourself,” I say with dramatic wave of my hair. “I am full of secrets, mister.”
“Guess I’m going to have to drag them out of you,” he purrs lowly, pulling me into him. I gasp as his lips trace over my earlobe. “Might be I have to use my tongue to do it.” His words make my core clench with anticipation.
My lips find his, and I moan as he thoroughly kisses me. My hands are all over him, and his slide down to cup my ass through my shorts. But suddenly, he pauses and pulls back with a knitted brow.
“What is it?”
West sucks his teeth. “I know this was…” he grins. “I know before was your first time, baby girl.”
I feel my cheeks redden and my panties grow hotter as I nod.