Page 34 of Guarded By the SEAL
“Lift your other leg,” he demanded.
He didn’t have to ask her twice. She put her weight on the leg he held, viselike, by his side. In one movement she coiled her other limb around his hip and settled against his erection, making him moan with pleasure.
He carried her to the couch, resting her on her back and following her down. She was desperate for him, the feel of his cock grinding against her softness, driving her ever-higher despite their clothing. She was mesmerized by his mouth, the passion in his kisses and her own desperate need for fulfillment.
What would he think of her if she pleaded for him to make love to her? To take her to the bedroom and free her of these damn clothes, to settle between her legs and enter her aching warmth? She couldn’t handle it if he lost respect for her, if that look in his eyes changed to something downright degrading in the wake of their lovemaking.
She’d experienced that feeling enough for one lifetime.
The thought had her slipping out of her sensual trance, and she squeezed her eyes shut, willing herself to stay in the moment with him.No, no, no. You can do this.She took control of the kiss and shifted on top of him, a guttural moan deep in his chest telling her how much he liked it, but his excitement couldn’t stop what was happening to her.
He reached beneath her top and she sat up abruptly, clutching at the fabric. He sat up and cradled her face in his hands, kissing her chin and murmuring reverent praise. “Tess.” He kissed her nose. “God, you’re wonderful.” He took her mouth in a deep, provocative kiss, but it was too late. Her eyes remained open, her blood running cold.
He sat back and cocked his head. “What’s wrong?”
She shrugged, awkwardly extricating herself from the pretzel-like weaving of their bodies.
“Did I hurt you?” he asked. “Did something happen?”
“No.” She ran a hand through her hair and turned away from him.
“I don’t understand. what happened?”
“This isn’t going to work.” She couldn’t bring herself to look him in the eye, tears threatening. She headed for the stairs like a coward, wanting to get away from him, needing a door between them with a lock, and—
“I’m sorry,” he called after her. “It’s fine that you wanted to stop, really. You just threw me for a loop, that’s all. I thought we were on the same page.”
“It’s okay.” She put her hand on the banister, escape nearly within reach.
“Teslyn, wait. Talk to me. You’re acting spooked. Did I do something to upset you?”
She stopped and lifted her chin, still not facing him. “I don’t have to explain why I don’t want to sleep with you.”
“I just want to understand.”
At that, she turned to face him. “You don’t have to understand. I’m going to bed.”
He didn’t try to stop her this time. She made her way upstairs and checked on Ivy, who was fast asleep, then went to her own room and closed the door quietly behind her. She leaned back against it and sank to the floor, her throat tight with suppressed emotion.
Why can’t I be normal?
Why couldn’t she be attracted to an incredibly sexy man and let herself enjoy his body without it triggering this reaction? Would it always be like this, the past reaching into the present to steal things away like an overdue payment for past mistakes?
She rubbed her hands over her eyes. He’d never understand the things she’d done to survive, never forgive her or look at her the same way. She’d had sex for money, more than once. Not because she’d wanted to, but because she was desperate. She needed to eat. Every time she thought she’d made peace with that fact, it reared up to torture her once more.
Her nose ran and she swiped at it.
She didn’t know how long she sat there, tears running down her face. She was falling for him. That was the problem. She was falling for Wyatt, and he was hoping to get laid—two very different agendas with two very different outcomes.
Getting up, she moved to her suitcase to the bed and took out clean clothes, then opened her door slightly to be sure he wasn’t around before crossing to the hallway bathroom.
Turning on the shower, she stripped off her clothes and climbed in, letting the spray cascade over her head and face. A man like Wyatt could never love a woman like her. A good, strong man who treated her with respect, who made her feel safe and more beautiful than she could ever remember feeling in her life.
You could take the girl out of the trailer park, but you couldn’t take the trailer park out of the girl.
She grabbed the soap and worked up a lather with punishing strokes. For once in her life—just once—she wished she could make love without feeling dirty and unworthy of love. But that clearly wasn’t going to be tonight, which meant it wasn’t likely to be with Wyatt Sorenson, at all.
CHAPTER17
