Fucking Rome. Currently the bane of Ben’s existence.
He got it, really. Rome’s protective streak, especially when it came to Willow. The agent no doubt felt like shit because Willow got hurt on his watch. Added to that was Willow’s sweet nature and innocence. Anyone and everyone who met her loved her.
But Willow was his mate, not Rome’s, and the asshole was about a minute away from receiving an ass-kicking.
The sounds and the voices grew louder. It appeared Scott and Joe were with Rome, arguing and instigating delaying tactics loud enough to wake the dead.
“Shit,” Ben growled, the tips of his fingers burning as his claws tried to escape his control. His gums fared no better, already swollen and aching from fangs descending to bite and claim his mate. “I’ll kill him for sure this time.”
Willow sat up. “Ben? I think I hear someone.”
It appeared playtime was definitely over.
Lingering for just a moment longer, he pressed a kiss to her thigh before edging back to look up into her wide-eyed face.
Damn, but she took his breath away. Somebody had better be dead for this interruption. “Yeah. Sounds like your jailer and two bodyguards.”
Her mouth dropped. “Oh God. Rome?”
Not appreciating her using the same exclamation as when he’d had his mouth on her for Rome’s impending arrival, he narrowed his eyes. “Relax...”
“Relax? Relax!” In a blur of bare flesh, she lifted her legs from his lax grip and swung them around, standing and wrapping herself in the towel she’d just been splayed out on in a graceful move. “How can you say relax? Crap. My bottoms.”
She peered down at him. “Give me my bottoms.”
If she wasn’t so upset and he wasn’t so irritated, Ben might have grinned at the look on her face. Obliging, he caught the wayward material with his foot, lifting it out to Willow’s stretched hand. “Sweetheart, listen.”
“No, you listen here, Ben Anderson. I see that grin in your eyes. You think this is funny.” She wiggled and hopped, maneuvering the lower half of her swimsuit up her legs and over her hips. Reaching under the towel, she adjusted her top, sliding it over her breasts. “Maybe you’re used to getting caught in these kinds of situations, but I’m not.”
“What? Getting caught at the pool with a woman who’s not only dressed in her own swimsuit, but has a towel wrapped around her like a shield?”
“I...” Willow looked down at herself, then at Ben, who pushed away from the wall to stand in the middle of the pool. “Well. I still don’t think it’s funny.”
He grinned, despite his raging erection. How could he not? Willow looked so indignant and if she’d only listened instead of panicking, he would have told her they had a few minutes. Plenty of time to get respectable.
“You’ll find the funny when you tell the story.”
She put her hands on her hips. “I won’t be telling this to anyone.”
He frowned. “Why not?” He knew damn well women talked to each other about sex. Especially great sex. And hadn’t he just given her a mind-blowing orgasm? Or was that his arrogance talking? “You not ashamed to be with me, are you?” ‘Cause he might just lose his mind if she were.
“What?” Astonishment crossed her face, easing the tight knot of trepidation in his gut. A soft blush kissed her cheeks. “No. It’s just. It isn’t anyone’s business.”
He swam back towards her, gave her a saucy wink. “I don’t mind if you want to brag to your friends.”
Her laugh delighted him. “You idiot. Like you need anybody to inflate your sex ego.”
Folding his arms at the edge of the pool, he flashed her a cocky grin. “A man always needs to be...pumped up in that department.”
Willow only shook her head and took a step back, out of arm’s reach. Smart girl. “Not you.”
“Why not me?” He was a guy, wasn’t he?
Her slay-me-dead baby blues lit with jest. “Please. I know you’ve seen yourself in a mirror.”
He paused, not liking where this might take them. “Yes. And that means what, exactly?”
Her slim shoulders shrugged and she glanced over at the door on the far side of the room as the voices grew louder. “You’re very attractive.”
Yeah, he’d been blessed in that area of his life. “And?”
She shifted her stance, placing one foot on top of the other but still refusing to meet his gaze. “And sexy.”
He barely made out the whispered words and bit back a grin. “Though I’m pleased you think so, I meant ‘and’ as in, what does my outward appearance have to do with anything?”