Protecting Ellis (Loved by the SEAL #1)

Chapter 4

CHAPTER FOUR

Trip ate a sandwich, his mind on Ellis. What was he doing? He didn’t have time for a relationship, but he wanted to see her again. One of his key rules was to never let a woman know where he lived, and yet the woman upstairs was who he picked to date. This could go wrong on so many levels.

After his sandwich, he stretched out on the couch and drifted off. Images of Ellis filled his dreams, and he woke with a hard cock. He almost came as he sat up but somehow made it into the bathroom, where he emptied his load into the shower. After washing it down the drain, he dried off, thinking he needed to head out for a run. Exercise would wear him out. He called his buddy, Apple, who didn’t live too far away.

“Hey, what’s up?” Apple was always down for training. The guy was young and fit and would push him to go harder.

“You up for a run?”

“Right now?” Apple asked.

“Yeah.”

He heard dishes clinking and then water cut off. “Fifteen minutes, outside the elementary school.”

“Sure. I’ll start my jog over there.”

“Awesome. Thanks for calling me.”

“Sure, buddy.”

He hung up, happy he had someone to run with. After changing clothes and putting on his shoes, he headed out, glancing up at Ellis’s apartment. He wished he had another excuse to spend more time with her. He needed to pace himself. Besides, he would see her soon enough.

Apple showed up about three minutes after he arrived out front of the school. They shook hands, then pulled each other in for a back-slapping hug. Apple was on Sharp’s team, and they didn’t see each other every day, but they saw each other enough to keep up their friendship.

“Hey, what’s up?” Apple asked.

“Just needed to get some energy out.”

“I hear you.”

They took off, heading toward the beach. Though they spent hours at work on the beach, getting sand in crevices that didn’t need sand, but going out toward the ocean was a no brainer.

“I met someone.” Trip hadn’t meant to reveal his obsession with Ellis.

“Whoa, you admitting that you met someone. That’s big. What’s she like?”

Apple wasn’t involved with anyone. He said he never wanted to get involved. They’d had the same attitude about dating and bonded over it. Now, Trip was falling for someone he didn’t really know.

“She’s different but intriguing.”

“So, not someone you hooked up with?”

Trip shook his head. “No. We haven’t even kissed. I’m so screwed. She’s cute and interesting. She moved in a few weeks ago, and I’ve seen her a few times. We spent time hiking this morning.”

“Whoa, she lives in the same complex as you?”

“Yeah. I know, mistake one.”

“Dude, when you have to move because she’s stalking you, I’ll help you, but only with a huge I told you so, and you’ll owe me a debt.”

Trip rolled his eyes. “Hopefully, it won’t come to that.”

“Man, it always comes to that.”

They hit the beach and were headed back the other way when they saw Wolf and Caroline. They waved, and he and Apple slowed.

“Afternoon, Wolf, Ice.”

“Hey, guys, looking strong!” Wolf called out.

They both chuckled and waved before speeding up again. “He’s a legend,” Trip said.

“He is. And a good person, too. He’s mentoring a few guys from my BUDs class.”

Trip nodded, thinking about the guy who’d mentored him. He should call Diver soon. “That’s cool.”

“So more about this woman. What does she look like?”

Trip smiled to himself. “She’s beautiful. When I first saw her, I thought she could have been in the Lord of the Rings movies as an elf without too much makeup.”

Apple’s eyebrows shot up. “She looks like an elf?”

“Not a Keebler elf, but a sexy, willowy elf who I want to watch.”

“Whoa, stalker alert.”

Trip rolled his eyes. “Shut up. I’m not stalking her. But I will admit to watching her when she gets home after me.”

“Well, she knows where you live, so you can’t bang her to get her out of your system and walk away.”

“I wouldn’t want to do that, anyway.”

Apple shook his head. “Man, I think this is a mistake. You should stop before it starts.”

He knew Apple was right, but the last thing he wanted was to end this thing with Ellis before it even started.

The next morning, he did a hard workout to contain his excitement. By three, he was ready to climb the walls. Why was he getting all tied up in knots over this woman? She may not be super curvy, but there was something that made him want to be with her. When she’d been taking the photos, he’d spent time watching her, taking in the slope of her nose and the curve of her cheek. She wasn’t a traditional beauty, but he liked what he saw and wanted more.

Exactly three in the afternoon, he stepped outside and was headed up to her apartment when her door opened and she stepped out.

“I was coming up to get you.”

Her lips spread into a wide smile. “It’s okay. I can find my way down.”

He held out his hand when she was on the second to last step. The moment her fingers touched his, shock pulsed through him. She must have felt it, too, because she paused, almost missing a step. She recovered, flashing him an even wider smile.

“I hope you aren’t disappointed.”

He shook his head. “Trust me. There’s no way I would be disappointed.”

He swore she shivered. The shock he felt when touching her was a surprise he hadn’t expected. As they drove to her studio, he thought about what dating her would look like. He was already planning their future, and he’d only learned her name yesterday morning. She was addicting, and he wouldn’t recover if she walked away.

When they parked behind her studio, she gave him an apologetic look. “The back is a little messy.”

“It’s fine.” She seemed more reserved today, but that made sense. He felt it, too, not wanting to make a wrong move. Hopefully, everything would go well and they would make plans for later in the week. His schedule was mostly set, but also erratic as heck. He just hoped nothing from work got in the way of them getting together again.

Ellis stepped inside, wishing there was a light switch she could flip on in the back of her studio. Maybe they should start leaving a light on in this area. She reached back and took Trip’s hand, loving the jolt his touch elicited. Her hand fit perfectly in his, like they were meant to be.

She glanced over her shoulder, not seeing him because it was dark, but still feeling him. “Follow me this way.”

Trip wove their fingers together, holding her hand tighter. When they stepped into the studio, she glanced over her shoulder again, seeing heat flare in his eyes. Her foot faltered, causing her to turn toward him as she recovered.

He reached up, and his fingers slid over her cheek, sending a thrill through her. Her nipples hardened at his touch, and she leaned in closer, needing to feel more of him. His gaze dipped to her lips, and his tongue ran over his lower lip.

Did he want a kiss? She did.

She put her hand on his chest, missing by a few inches, and it ended up closer to his belly. They both sucked in a breath. It was enough to get him to lean closer. Then his lips were on hers, soft and gentle at first. When he licked at the seam of her mouth, she opened. His tongue slid against hers, and they both moaned. Pleasure spread through her, exploding as need filled her.

It was the fastest she’d gone from lust to ready to hop into the guy’s bed. Her nipples pulled so tight it was almost painful. She spun to face him, so they were chest to chest. He wrapped his arms around her, drawing her up so her feet weren’t on the floor right before he spun her so her back was against the wall. She lifted her legs and wrapped them around his waist, which meant she could feel the ridge of his hard cock right against her center. Ellis gasped from the rush of lust pumping through her.

Trip ended the kiss. It felt a little awkward. Guilt and embarrassment slid through her. She’d thrown herself at him, and now he didn’t want her.

“I’m so sorry.” Her whispered words didn’t stop the rapid beat of her heart.

He pressed his lips against hers, and she stopped speaking. “No, don’t be sorry,” he said against her lips before leaning back a few inches. “I’m the one who has to apologize.” He set her feet on the ground and stepped back, his expression strained. “We just met, and you’re being so nice. I don’t want to take advantage of you just because we’re alone.”

“You weren’t taking advantage of me. I was throwing myself at you.”

His eyes grew wider. “Um, I picked you up and pressed you against the wall so I could…well, you know what we were headed toward.”

“But I?—”

“Darling, I could easily fight you off without breaking a sweat. That was me throwing myself at you, and it’s unfair.”

She squeezed her legs together, thinking that his stopping was the thing that was unfair. If he’d just kept grinding against her, she would be in heaven now. His words finally sank in, and she cocked her head to the side.

“Wait, you find me attractive?”

His eyes narrowed. “Didn’t you pick up on that earlier?”

“I thought you were just being nice. I’m so plain.”

He moved lightning fast, and his hands were cupping her face, his lips so close if she breathed their mouths would brush together. “You are not plain, you are beautiful, intriguing, special.”

His words were said quietly but had a huge impact. She jerked back, bumping her head against the wall.

Trip stood tall. “You okay?”

She nodded. “Yeah. But I’m not beautiful.”

“Yes, you are. The first time I saw you, I almost fell flat on my face because I couldn’t keep my eyes off you.”

“I’m average at best.”

“Trust me, you are way beyond average. You have me so turned on that it would be indecent for me to go out in public right now.” He stepped back, putting distance between them again. “I want to get to know you because I don’t want this date to be the end of our relationship.”

Ellis couldn’t believe any man would want her as much as Trip said he wanted her. Her gaze slid down his body, and sure enough, the bulge at the front of his pants was big. She swallowed, and he cleared his throat. Her gaze shot up to his face, and she saw the smile tilting up the corners of his lips.

“We should look at the photos, or we’re going to both be naked and on the floor.”

She rolled her eyes. “Like I’d have a problem with that.” She moved to the door that led to the front area where her best photos were displayed.

When she opened the door, she could finally see the front window. Shock hit first as she spied the spray paint splashed across the windows. Then the splashes and squiggly lines started to make sense. The jerk had written Slut across the front of her store.

Trip had his phone out and was dialing before she could even think to call the cops. He made the report, and she heard the operator tell him someone would be out eventually. She gave him the case number for her earlier report from when Bennet had been there and he relayed that to the operator.

Anger and sadness mixed. She couldn’t believe that someone would do this. It had to be someone who knew her. Her shop wasn’t a place random people came in. This had to be Bennet.

“Well, this sucks.”

Trip shrugged. “Maybe it will push the police to do something. Do you have access to the security video for the building?”

“No, but I can send an email to the building manager and see if they can get that to me.” She pulled out her phone and typed in a quick message as Trip walked around. After she finished, she glanced up and saw him staring at a photo she’d taken in Africa. It was one that wasn’t owned by the nature magazine, so she’d transferred the photo to wood.

He turned his head and met her gaze. “This is amazing. I’ve never seen anything like it. How did you get the photo on the wood?”

She chuckled. “It’s not a simple process but I’ve done enough that it’s not too difficult now. It just takes time and skill.”

“I like it.”

“Thank you. I’m lucky to be able to work in a creative field I love.”

Trip nodded. “I feel the same way. That I’m lucky to have a job I love. I know the military isn’t for everyone, but It’s something I can be proud of.” He stepped over to a photo she’d taken in Europe of a train bridge in a forest area. “This one is…inspiring. I don’t know what it is that makes me feel something like hope when I look at it.”

She moved to stand next to him, her shoulder only measuring up to about his mid-biceps. His arms were huge compared to hers, but she felt totally safe with him. “It’s the colors and the subject.”

He shot her a look, his eyebrows raised. “Tell me more.”

“It’s a bridge. Bridges mean going forward or going home, both of which people feel hope about. There are flowers in the foreground and the background. The green is vibrant, and the blue in the strip of sky at the top is bright with few clouds. It’s a sunny day with flowers on full display.”

He nodded. “Did you know there would be flowers around the bridge?”

She shrugged. “Maybe. I knew flowers were starting to bloom in the small town where I’d found a room to rent. I took a chance and went looking for good subjects. I’d heard that this bridge was beautiful, and I decided to look for it. I brought beer and bread as a peace offering to the farmer who owned the field. His wife liked me. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have led me out to take the photo.”

“Wow, that’s cool.”

“I went back to their place a few months later with a different photo framed for them. They insisted I stay at their place that night. They made me a beautiful dinner, and we drank the wine and beer I brought with me. We spent the evening chatting. It was nice. I’ll never forget their kindness.”

He moved to another photo, one she’d taken of a farmer in Ireland. He’d not been as nice as the couple in Germany, but still kind. “He was a sixth-generation farmer and wasn’t sure if his kids would keep the farm. We talked about how traditions were changing. He didn’t like that his kids didn’t want tradition. I was a young woman traveling the world doing my own thing and he took offense to that. Not in a terrible way, but he thought kids should have to stay at home and take over their parents’ business and he thought I should be home, not out taking photos. It was weird.”

Trip glanced over at her. “In rural areas, I’ve run into young adults who have to stay because their families force them. I get it. Having kids do the chores makes it easier on the older farmers, but those kids aren’t always happy to stay. The males get angry and leave after causing problems. They usually end up in a cult or a terrorist cell.”

“That’s sad. I’ve never gone into a dangerous zone on purpose. I was caught in France during a protest that turned into a riot. I didn’t go out, though. I stayed in my safe hotel away from the mess.”

“That was wise.”

“I try. The worst situation was?—”

Her words were cut off when an officer arrived. She rushed over and stepped outside, apologizing for having the door locked. The officer was an older man and seemed annoyed to have been called out.

She rushed, telling the officer the basics of what had happened, but he cut her off.

“Are you sure it was someone else, and you didn’t do it?”

“Excuse me?”

Right then, Trip stepped out. “Everything okay?”

She saw the officer straighten. Anger whipped through her, but she held it in. Suddenly, the guy was willing to listen, at least to Trip. When the officer turned to face Trip instead of her, she rolled her eyes.

Trip’s lips thinned. “Since Ellis owns this business, maybe you should listen to her.”

The officer was being a jerk, but at least Trip was there to help her make this officer take her information. When the officer was almost finished, another police car pulled into the lot. The male officer seemed annoyed when the female officer who’d helped Ellis on Friday evening stepped from her car.

“I’m sorry to be back here. Do you think it was him?” The officer nodded at Trip but kept her focus on Ellis.

“I don’t know. I’ve sent an email to the building manager. They should have the video by tomorrow at the latest.”

“Let me take a few photos.” The woman turned to the other officer. “Fred, have you started a file in the system?”

Fred cleared his throat. “Not yet.”

“I’ll start it and attach it to the other report.”

It was obvious to Ellis that if this officer hadn’t shown up, she wouldn’t have a report to file with insurance if that was even needed. She checked her email, not seeing a reply from the building manager.

Ellis smiled when the officer came over to talk to her. “I’m sorry I didn’t get your name the other day.”

“It’s Mackay.”

“Thank you, Officer Mackay.”

She nodded. “Sure. I hate that I’m out here again. Your ex doesn’t seem like a good guy.”

Ellis shrugged. “It may be someone else, but based on the word they sprayed on the window, I don’t think so. Oh, and someone sliced my tires. He also put a tracking device on my car. Well, someone did. It may not have been him, but the police in Riverton have the thing.”

Mackay met her gaze. “Do you know the officer’s name who is working the case?”

Trip cleared his throat. “It’s Driver and Thompson.”

Officer Mackay turned and nodded. “Thank you. That will help. I know Thompson. I’ll call him later, and we can chat. I mean, it may not have been the ex who sliced your tires or did this paint job, but we’ll find out.”

“I appreciate your help. It means so much that you take me seriously.”

Mackay’s lips twitched as her gaze flicked to the other police officer who had already moved to his car. Maybe she shouldn’t have said anything, but she really did appreciate Mackay’s help.

“I’ll be in touch with you later in the week. And stay safe.” The officer turned to Trip. “I’m assuming you’re friends with Ellis. Do you live close to her?”

“I’m her neighbor.”

“Good. Stay safe, Ellis.”

“Thank you. Oh, Officer Mackay, when can I clean this up?”

Mackay’s lips turned down. “I’ve got photos. Maybe take a few photos for insurance if you need that, then it can be cleaned.”

“Thank you.”

Trip led her inside and locked the door behind her. “Do you have cleaning supplies?”

She nodded. “I do.”

“I’ll go out there and start cleaning.”

“I’m not letting you do that alone.”

Trip’s lips tilted up quickly. “Let’s get it done together. Then we can go out and grab some food.”

“So you want to spend more time with me?”

“Of course. I want to get to know you.”

Though Bennet was being a jerk and her place had been vandalized with an awful word that made her pissed and embarrassed, she was happy to be spending time with Trip. The man had a way of making her feel good about herself. She needed someone like Trip in her life. She was sure he would never treat her the way Bennet had treated her.