Protecting Ellis (Loved by the SEAL #1)

Chapter 11

CHAPTER ELEVEN

The week passed quickly, and on Friday afternoon when Trip came home from work, she was up and preparing dinner.

“Whoa, you’re supposed to be resting.” He glanced around, not seeing any signs of her friend. “And where is Ginger?”

“There was an emergency with Nick. She’s fine. Ginger just had to take her to the clinic for an ear infection.”

“I don’t like that you were home alone.”

She moved to him and placed a hand on his chest. “I’m fine. Nothing is wrong. Don’t be so ruffled. It’s all good.”

His nostrils flared as he blew out his frustration. She was fine. She was healing, and the dinner she’d prepared wasn’t difficult. All she had to do was dump a bag of meat and vegetables into the pressure pot. He’d prepared a few meals earlier in the week so he would be able to get food cooked quickly when he got home.

He leaned in, resting his forehead against hers. “I worry about you.”

“I know. But the police are looking into the attack. They also are still coming by to check on me. Officer Mackay called and said they have someone watching all the footage they’ve collected and hopefully will get some information about who attacked me.”

He shook his head. This was another point of contention. They didn’t know exactly who had attacked her. Bennet had an alibi, and they couldn’t find any payments from him to anyone else.

That meant the attack had been random, but nothing about it felt random to him. There was something deeper at play, and he wasn’t sure how to help her solve the mystery.

“I really feel much better and I’ve been careful. I feel good.”

He leaned back and met her gaze. Her eyes were still rimmed with bruises, but her eyes were bright and clear, showing that she felt better. “That’s a positive.”

“It is. I’m ready for my appointment with the doctor on Monday.”

“Yeah, why’s that?”

She scoffed as her gaze ran down his body then back up. “Sleeping in the same place as you but not being able to do anything is frustrating.”

He adjusted his stance, trying to relieve some of the pressure on his dick. He was having the same issue but didn’t want to think about sex with her standing right in front of him. The desire to bend her over the back of the couch and slide in or pick her up and hold her against the wall, or the kitchen counter raced through him, but he wouldn’t do that with her injured. He knew how great her hot, wet pussy felt wrapped around his dick, but he could jerk off in the bathroom if he needed to.

He shook his head and chuckled. “Jesus, you’re killing me.”

Her laughter made him even harder, and he reached down and adjusted his cock. She didn’t hide her interest. Instead, she stepped closer and put her hand on his arm.

“We could do something.”

He shook his head. “Your body still has dark bruises that haven’t faded. That means you still hurt. I wouldn’t ever forgive myself if I hurt you. And with you in my arms, I would lose control. I couldn’t go slow. You’re too sexy, and I want you too much.”

Her eyes grew wider. “You think I’m sexy even looking like this?”

He cupped her face and gently held her. “Ellis, you’re very sexy, even with the black eyes and the swelling. I want you so much, but I won’t lose control and hurt you. Your body needs to heal. Once the doctor has seen you again and released you for activity, we can go slowly.”

Tears filled her eyes, and he didn’t know what he’d said. She wrapped her arms around him. Her shoulders shook as she cried.

“I don’t want you to be so sad.”

“I’m not sad. I just can’t believe you care that much about me.”

He leaned back and met her gaze. “I care so much, and I want to show you how much, just slowly so I don’t hurt you.”

“I’m stronger than I look.”

“I know. You took a terrible beating. I know guys who would still be out of commission with the beating you took. You had to have surgery to stop internal bleeding. No question, you’re a badass. But I’m not contributing to anything that hurts you. You’re too precious. I care too much for you.”

Her eyes narrowed, and she slowly nodded as though what he said was foreign to her. He hoped she knew how important she was. He was falling hard for her, and he really wanted to show her how much he cared. Soon enough, she would be wrapped in his arms. And then, she would know for sure that she was the one for him.

Even with being engaged to Bennet, she had never felt that anyone ever cared for her. Slowly, as she’d grown more distant from her parents, she realized their love had been very conditional. Bennet had performative love that she’d accepted because she thought he was the best she would ever get.

Her mother had been too beaten down to stand up for her, and now that she was older, she fully understood that her father didn’t care about her. Her parents had used manipulation and control in dealing with her. It was a miracle that her mother had helped her grow the money she’d made doing photography. It was the one thing her father didn’t know about, and she doubted her mother had ever divulged the information to him. Why couldn’t her mother walk away from that man?

If she hadn’t gone backpacking through Europe, she may not have ever understood how much her father didn’t like her. Growing up, she’d thought his criticism of her had been normal. Before leaving home for her trip, she’d thought it normal for parents to read all her correspondence. It had started when she’d been eleven and gotten her first email address. But her parents never stopped intruding. She’d just assumed that was what parents did.

There were other things like her parents going through her room every month to check in on her. She had no idea what they’d been looking for because she trusted them. Now, she understood they were just trying to manipulate her. She’d been way too compliant as a child. Any time she’d ever pushed back the punishment had been harsh, so she learned never to push. Her staying in Europe had been so off brand for her. She’d grown so much, but not enough to recognize her father’s manipulation by introducing her to Bennet.

With all she knew now, there was no way she would move back in with her parents. They wouldn’t care for her if she lived with them. Besides, she valued her privacy now. They would never honor her boundaries. No way would she go back.

After dinner, exhaustion hit hard. On Saturday morning, she was glad to have Trip all to herself. They hung out, and he read while she looked at what some other photographers were doing.

“Oh, is that yours?” Trip asked as he stepped in from the bedroom.

“No. It’s another photographer who does awesome work. I like how they framed this.”

He came around the couch and sat next to her. “It is good. Do you know them?”

She shook her head. “No. I’ve never had the opportunity to meet him.”

“Do photographers work together much?”

She shrugged. “Not in my line. Paps might know each other, and there are some in fashion who have worked together, but my line of work is fairly solitary. I don’t really want other people there to talk or make noise.”

“Makes sense.”

“I’ve done a few events where fifty nature photographers came together at a national park and took photos. It wasn’t great. Too many people were traipsing through the brush and making too much noise. I guess I’m just different.”

“How so?”

“I’ll sit for hours for a shot. I don’t need entertainment or chatting. That just scares away wildlife. I like being alone or with one other person who understands that being silent is preferred.”

“Maybe we can go out hiking again sometime soon.”

She nodded. “I’d like that. The last time we went out was a fluke. Normally, I don’t get such great shots in such a short period of time.”

“I’m willing to sit for hours with you.”

“Have you ever sat like that, still and quiet for hours?”

Laughter spilled out. “As a SEAL, I’m a trained sniper. I may not be as good of a shot as Q, but I can do it. One mission we stayed in place for thirty-six hours.”

“Oh my, I don’t think I would sit in the same place for that long.”

“It wasn’t fun. I’m going to put seasoning on the steaks. Are you good with eating close to six thirty?”

“Yes. At least I’m able to eat now.”

“It’s a good sign. I hope the doctor is satisfied with your progress.”

Laughter bubbled up, and this time, it didn’t hurt as much to laugh as it had even on Thursday. “I hope so, too, because I want to jump your bones.”

“It will happen soon. Do you want to lie down before dinner?”

She let go a heavy sigh. “I should. I don’t want to, but I don’t think I’ll be able to stay up until ten if I don’t take a nap now.”

Trip kissed her before she headed into the bedroom to nap. She was happy she’d met him. If anyone else had been her neighbor, she wasn’t sure what she would do. Ginger was busy with her family, and she hated the idea of taking her away from her child and husband, Kent. Relying on her parents was out of the question.

She worried about her father. He’d been acting strange, much more controlling than normal since she’d broken up with Bennet. Maybe she’d missed something about her father and Bennet’s relationship, but she couldn’t imagine what that could be.

Trip’s phone buzzed close to five. He saw the message was from Wolf and clicked it open, seeing that Wolf asked him to call. Maybe there was progress in finding information about who had hurt Ellis. He called Wolf, who picked up on the first ring.

“Hey, how is Ellis doing?”

He appreciated Wolf asking about his woman. The man was a class act. “She’s recovering well. Thank you for asking.”

“I didn’t find any connection between the attack and her ex, Bennet. I was sure we would find something, but there’s nothing there. No change in his bank account, no communications tying him to anyone who could have done the attack. I’m sorry, but I don’t think it was him.”

“Who else could have arranged it?”

“I don’t know. The police need to find the guy who did it. So far, there aren’t enough recordings of the area to piece together a convincing trail that points to one person. And no one is talking.”

“Shit. This is making me crazy. I don’t know how to keep her safe if I go out for another mission.”

“You have support here. The network of retired guys can help. There are more than a few guys I trust. Not everyone is good news, but there are hundreds of guys in the area who are good people.”

Trip knew that to be true, but he also knew those people had lives. “I understand. I just feel responsible and don’t want her getting hurt again.”

“I get that. Sometimes, you have to ask for help, though. I know it’s not easy to ask, but we need other people, just like on teams.”

Trip nodded, glad he had other SEALs, retired and active, he could trust and lean on. “Thank you for looking into it.”

“We’re still looking. I don’t know what we’ll find, but we’re going to keep looking.”

“You’re the best. Thank you. I don’t even know what to think about this. I’m used to seeing guys getting hurt. Seeing Ellis injured freaking tore me up.”

“I understand completely. And I have your back.”

“Thank you.”

The call ended, and he wasn’t sure he felt better, but he absolutely knew he had to keep it together if he wanted to help Ellis. Maybe it had been just some random person, and she wasn’t being targeted, but he didn’t want to change it. If someone she knew was behind this, they would find him and make him pay.