Page 11 of Her Marine Master

She could get used to standing in the circle of his arms.To smelling his intoxicating scent, so clean and masculine.To yielding to his dominant, commanding way.She'd been too shocked at the time, but now that she replayed the scene back at her apartment, Rob's complete and utter take-chargeness made her swoon.He'd rescued her, had handled the situation with ease.A man born for crisis.It was no wonder he was having a hard time since his retirement.

It wasfunny how one event could change their whole dynamic.Rob drove Kaitlyn back to their apartment building.They sat in silence, but it wasn't an awkward silence.There was a bond between them now.Like with his brothers in the Marines, they shared the knowledge that they'd been through something awful and that awful thing was made better by the simple fact that they were in it together.

Even though his brain kept trying to throw on the brakes, to push Kaitlyn away as he'd done from the beginning, it just didn't stick.Maybe it helped that it wasn't his crisis, it was hers.Nobody was staring at his scars, asking if he was okay.She was the one with the bruised neck and whatever psychological fallout comes from an assault and attempted rape.And it was a helluva lot easier to be with her wounds than his own.

He parked the car on the street and they walked into the building.He put his hand on her lower back, offering a light touch of comfort.She seemed to like it, because she glanced up when he first touched her, a grateful look on her face.She'd been through so much.

They stopped outside her door and surveyed the splintered wood and the way the door still swung on its hinges.

"I'll fix it for you tomorrow," he promised.

She didn't move.

Yeah.It probably wasn't safe for her to spend the night in an apartment without a door.Of course he'd be right next door and he wouldn't let anything happen, but he understood if she didn't feel safe.

"You can spend the night in my apartment."

She swiveled to face him.Her face wore no expression.It had been blank pretty much since they'd left the hospital.How he longed to see those dimples, even just a flash.

"I'll sleep on the couch," he said quickly, wanting the setup to be clear.

She still didn't speak, but she turned away from her door and walked over to his, stopping to wait for him to unlock it.

He held it open and waited for her to enter, seeing the space through her eyes.It definitely had the "man-cave" thing going.The living room had nothing but a television and couch.No decorations hung on the walls.He didn't have any stuff to fill the corners yet.

"It's ah… pretty basic."

She smiled faintly, looking around."Thanks for letting me stay here."

He waved at the couch."Do you… uh… want to watch TV?"

She shook her head."No thanks."She turned back to the door."I'm going to go brush my teeth and stuff."

"Sure.Okay."

She walked out the door, but he heard her stop in the hallway.

He listened to the silence.

She was scared to go in alone.He didn't blame her.

He rose from the couch and walked out his front door.Sure enough, she stood in front of her door again, staring in exactly the same position she'd been when he'd offered to let her stay with him.

"Come on.I'll go in with you."

She looked over her shoulder at him and swallowed, wincing as if the movement of her throat pained her."Okay.Thanks."She pushed the door open gingerly, probably afraid it might fall off the hinges.Which it might.When he replaced it, he would install a solid door that couldn't be kicked in so easily.With decent locks.

He put his hand on her lower back and guided her inside."Do you want me to have a look around first?"

She shook her head."No."Her voice sounded raspy."I'm sure it's fine."

"I'll be right here."He folded his arms across his chest and adopted the look of her bodyguard.Which at this moment, he was.No one would be giving her any hassle again, if he had anything to do with it.Dimples didn't deserve it.She hadn't deserved anything that had happened to her tonight.

She scampered toward the bedroom like she didn't want to make him wait.He heard the sound of water running in the bathroom.A few minutes later, she came out, dressed in an old t-shirt and the cutest pair of boy-shorts he'd ever seen.

She wasn't trying to look sexy, which was exactly what made it rip-roaring hot.

His cock went rigid, pushing painfully against the zipper of his jeans.Damn—the way she filled that t-shirt!Her bra-less breasts stretched the thin, worn fabric taut, nipples protruding in stiff peaks.The shorts hugged her ass.She wasn't wearing panties underneath them.