Sea Haven 01 - Water Bound

where he would have been able to get past her with a shot at Blythe while she was sitting in her chair. Gritting her teeth together she slammed the door closed and locked it before stalking across the room to toe him in the ribs.
    “You are really annoying. I mean really .”
    “I told you exactly what to do and you didn’t listen,” he snapped back, his tone impatient. “I hurt like hell thanks to your inability to pay attention.”
    Her breath hissed out as anger mixed with adrenaline poured through her. “I paid attention, you cretin. I don’t take orders from you or anyone else. It didn’t occur to me that you’d be so determined to shoot someone that 71

    you’d take the chance of hurting yourself further. I swear, if you do one more thing to piss me off tonight, I’m going to put your sorry ass back in my truck, drive you to the cliffs and toss you over. Now get up.”
    He stared up at her for a long time. Her eyes were hot, his ice-cold.
    They looked at one another for an eternity, Rikki trying to sustain her anger, which was usually easy enough to do. She was either happy or sad or angry
    —there was never an in between for her. Right now she was confused. He was just such a strong man, tough as nails. Obviously hurting, sprawled out on the blanket, naked, with his gun in his hand. He hadn’t turned the weapon toward her, even though she was threatening him. And he’d thrown the blanket on the floor instead of wrapping himself in it to stay warm.
    Her heart jumped. Even in his weakened state, he’d seen her. He’d seen her need to have everything in her house a certain way. Lying naked on the floor was not okay. Well . . . maybe she could make an exception in his case.
    She studied his body. Perfectly symmetrical. Every muscle was defined.
    Chiseled. Like a sculpture. His skin flowed over the framework of his bones and muscles. Large bones, dense and strong. He looked a little like the pictures she’d seen of the early Olympians, warriors every one of them, fighters in a time when it was necessary. She watched the way his muscles moved beneath his skin as he shifted position, the art of the motion and the fluid grace fascinating her.
    “Rikki.”
    His voice startled her. She’d been so caught up in the flow of muscle beneath skin, she’d forgotten what she was doing. What had she been doing?
    She blinked at him, bringing him back in focus.
    “While I appreciate the fact that you like my body, I could use a little help getting up.”
    “What?” Even to her own ears she sounded confused.
    His voice gentled. Turned soft, almost seductive. “Come here.”
    She felt her body’s instant response to his tone, almost as if he hypnotized her. She’d actually stepped forward without thought—without consent—a wholly natural response to his summons. She frowned at him.
    “Who are you?”
    “I wish I could tell you. Whatever I am, Rikki, whoever I am, it isn’t a good thing.”
    She slipped her arm around his back and used her leg muscles, honed by fighting the currents beneath the ocean as they shoved her back and forth, to help him to his feet. “Maybe. And maybe you would have shot me just now if you’re all that bad. Give yourself a break and just get in bed and go to sleep. We can sort all this out in the morning.”
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    He seemed heavier this time, and a small bit of blood trickled down the side of his head. She bit her lip. She shouldn’t have listened to him. She should have overcome her own aversion to the hospital and just taken him.
    “The bathroom. All that water you keep shoving down me is beginning to be felt.”
    She hesitated, nearly panicking. Her bathroom was only a few steps away, while the guest bathroom was at the other end of the house. Her things. For a moment she couldn’t breathe. He was invading— everywhere.
    “Rikki, it’s okay if you want me to use the other bathroom. I can make it.”
    Again his voice stroked over her with gentleness. It made her feel small and silly to have to have everything her way. It wasn’t like she had an obsession with germs—it was that everything had to be a certain way.
    “That’s ridiculous, we’re right here.” She forced herself to help him through the door.
    Once outside of the bathroom, she leaned against the wall with her heart pounding and every muscle tight and protesting. For a moment there was chaos in her brain. What if he touched her things? Messed up her towels? Moved her soap dispenser? She could feel