Page 15 of Protecting Andie

Then his lips were on hers, but it wasn’t the hungry kiss from earlier, this was sweet, pure, like gentle rain on a spring day. When his lips left hers, he didn’t move away.

“I know this is impossible. It’s a thousand miles away, and I don’t have a say in where I live. I’ll be in Southern California until I retire unless they ship me off to Virginia or Hawaii, but SoCal is my home. And it’s not fair for me to ask this of you?—”

She reached up and put her fingers on his lips. “Are you pulling my leg? Is this just some tumble in the sheets with the fat girl?”

“You aren’t fat,” he said behind her fingers. “You’re fucking gorgeous. I can’t get you out of my mind. I’ve jerked off to thoughts of you way too many times to be considered healthy.”

His words shocked her. They’d only known each other for a day, and he was saying he’d jerked off more than once to thoughts of her? She had to set him straight and show him she wasn’t worth it. “I’m not skinny.” She stepped back and pulled at her shirt.

“What are you doing?”

“Showing you the reality of my fat rolls.”

He put his hand on her arm, stopping her. “Look at me.”

She stilled and met his gaze, swallowing at the seriousness in his eyes. “What?”

“I don’t give a shit what society has told you about your body and how much fat they think is acceptable on a woman. I’m very attracted to you. You are beautiful, you’re kind, you have a great sense of humor, and you are deep. I know some of this because Emily has talked about you multiple times. I wish I would have met you before now. Maybe it wouldn’t have worked because I was in a different headspace, but I want you. I’m not much, I’m just?—”

“Holy fuck, you’re not much? What the shit? That’s the dumbest thing you’ve said. You’re fucking amazing. The way you sent Tony flying when you hit him was amazing. You kept me safe, and you were able to hold a conversation with me at dinner. Also, your body is freaking amazing.”

“I’ll lose muscle when I leave the Navy. When I’m sixty, I may be fit, but I’ll not be like this.”

“It’s doubtful I’ll lose weight as my hormones change with age.”

“So we’ll both change. Whatever. That’s life. If I wanted a mannequin, I’d buy a sex doll. I want something real. Will you be real with me?”

Andie couldn’t believe they were having this conversation. Tony had told her over and over again how worthless she was, that no one would ever really love her. He’d used a combination of love bombing followed up with complaints, leaving her unsure what exactly she should think or feel.

Rider was telling her he was falling for her, and her outside package wasn’t the only thing that mattered. She reached up andran her fingers over his dark beard. He captured her hand and kissed her palm.

“So you really want me?” she asked.

“Yes, Andie. I know we won’t see each other for a while, and you’ll have to travel to me because I’m restricted on how far away from base I can be.”

“Has your sister told you their plans after the wedding?”

He nodded. “Derik told me today. I know they are moving.”

“I don’t know that I want to stay here. I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

“San Diego isn’t bad. Have you ever been there?”

She shook her head. “No, I haven’t.”

“You could come for a visit and see what you think.”

This was happening so fast. Would he want to be around her that much? Tony had said over and over again that she was incredibly annoying. She wondered how long Rider would last before he got tired of her.

“Are you sure?”

He nodded. “Yes. I have a guest room if you like, or you could stay at a hotel. I wouldn’t want you to feel trapped, so I don’t want to assume anything.”

She swallowed as his gaze ran down his body, heating every part of her. He was so good looking, so sexy, and she wanted to see every inch of him. He put his fingers under her chin and lifted her head so her gaze was locked with his. His eyes were dark, his gaze intense.

“We could do that, too, if you want. I don’t want to assume.”

Heat raced up her chest to her face. “Um, I wasn’t thinking?—”

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