says.
“But why? Why me instead of you?”
“Because I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I didn’t do everything possible to keep you safe.”
Ronnie pulls out of Ryker’s gentle embrace. “I don’t understand,” she says, sniffing and wiping her eyes.
Ryker isn’t sure he understands either. “I just couldn’t stand by and let you be killed. Not if there was any way to prevent it.”
“But…if the car hadn’t shown up when it did, how would your being killed have helped me? What would have prevented the guy from shooting you then coming down there and shooting me?”
“Either way, I would be dead,” Ryker says. “But at least that way, it would have bought you some more time. More time for the car to get there. Besides, I’m not that easy to kill.”
Maybe that is what a search and rescue guy does. She doesn’t know. But his willingness to protect her, to die for her if necessary, affects her deeply. Kenneth bitches if she makes him go to a Chinese restaurant, yet Ryker was willing to lay down his life for her.
“Stay with me tonight.”
“Ronnie… are you sure that is what you want? You have been through a lot today.”
“Yes. I don’t want to be alone tonight. I will sleep better knowing you are there. Please.”
Ryker pauses. This is so not a good idea… but Ronnie isn’t his charge , and he does want to spend the night with her. He wants to hold her and make her feel safe. “I’ll sleep in the chair,” he offers.
“No. I want you to hold me. Just hold me.”
He gently pulls her back into his embrace as he smiles. “United States Navy… at your service.”
It is just before midnight when Ronnie opens the door using the tips of her fingers, the palms of her hands having become very sore from falling, or being thrown, to ground several times today. But worse than her hands are her knees, and she winces as she steps back, silently inviting Ryker to enter.
Even though he took three Advil, Ryker is becoming so sore even walking hurts… and Ronnie doesn’t seem to be in much better shape, moving gingerly about her room. “We’re quite the pair, aren’t we?” he teases.
She smiles slightly. “Yeah. I’m sore and my hands and knees are killing me. But considering the alternative…”
“Yeah. I’m not all scraped up like you are, but every muscle and bone in my body hurts.”
Ronnie eases into the bed with a groan.
“Ronnie… are you sure about this?” Ryker frets. He is worrying that this is some kind of test, a test he doesn’t want to fail.
“Yes. I just want to feel safe. Even though I am in this building surrounded by Marines, I only feel really safe when you are around.” She looks at him and she can see the doubt on his face. “If you are uncomfortable with this, you don’t have to stay.”
He desperately wants to stay but he doesn’t want to take advantage of her. He’s afraid that if he stays now he will ruin any chance of winning her in the future. Afraid she will feel like he has taken advantage of her. But if he refuses to stay…
“Ryker,” Ronnie says gently. “I know what you are thinking. I know what I’m doing. Please. Just stay with me.”
He lowers himself gingerly into the bed. He’s too beat-up to do anything right now, so he isn’t worried anything will happen. The bed isn’t large, just a full-size, but as he moves to the middle she snuggles in tight, putting them in the spooning position with her back in his chest. He gently slides a hand under her head and pillow, taking her into a loose embrace.
The minute Ryker’s arms close around her, Ronnie can feel her tears start again, silently running down her cheeks. What she said is true. The only time she feels completely safe is when he is near. She sniffs once, then gasps. “I’m sorry,” she says softly.
“Shhhh…” he says softly. “It’s okay. I’m right
“But why? Why me instead of you?”
“Because I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I didn’t do everything possible to keep you safe.”
Ronnie pulls out of Ryker’s gentle embrace. “I don’t understand,” she says, sniffing and wiping her eyes.
Ryker isn’t sure he understands either. “I just couldn’t stand by and let you be killed. Not if there was any way to prevent it.”
“But…if the car hadn’t shown up when it did, how would your being killed have helped me? What would have prevented the guy from shooting you then coming down there and shooting me?”
“Either way, I would be dead,” Ryker says. “But at least that way, it would have bought you some more time. More time for the car to get there. Besides, I’m not that easy to kill.”
Maybe that is what a search and rescue guy does. She doesn’t know. But his willingness to protect her, to die for her if necessary, affects her deeply. Kenneth bitches if she makes him go to a Chinese restaurant, yet Ryker was willing to lay down his life for her.
“Stay with me tonight.”
“Ronnie… are you sure that is what you want? You have been through a lot today.”
“Yes. I don’t want to be alone tonight. I will sleep better knowing you are there. Please.”
Ryker pauses. This is so not a good idea… but Ronnie isn’t his charge , and he does want to spend the night with her. He wants to hold her and make her feel safe. “I’ll sleep in the chair,” he offers.
“No. I want you to hold me. Just hold me.”
He gently pulls her back into his embrace as he smiles. “United States Navy… at your service.”
It is just before midnight when Ronnie opens the door using the tips of her fingers, the palms of her hands having become very sore from falling, or being thrown, to ground several times today. But worse than her hands are her knees, and she winces as she steps back, silently inviting Ryker to enter.
Even though he took three Advil, Ryker is becoming so sore even walking hurts… and Ronnie doesn’t seem to be in much better shape, moving gingerly about her room. “We’re quite the pair, aren’t we?” he teases.
She smiles slightly. “Yeah. I’m sore and my hands and knees are killing me. But considering the alternative…”
“Yeah. I’m not all scraped up like you are, but every muscle and bone in my body hurts.”
Ronnie eases into the bed with a groan.
“Ronnie… are you sure about this?” Ryker frets. He is worrying that this is some kind of test, a test he doesn’t want to fail.
“Yes. I just want to feel safe. Even though I am in this building surrounded by Marines, I only feel really safe when you are around.” She looks at him and she can see the doubt on his face. “If you are uncomfortable with this, you don’t have to stay.”
He desperately wants to stay but he doesn’t want to take advantage of her. He’s afraid that if he stays now he will ruin any chance of winning her in the future. Afraid she will feel like he has taken advantage of her. But if he refuses to stay…
“Ryker,” Ronnie says gently. “I know what you are thinking. I know what I’m doing. Please. Just stay with me.”
He lowers himself gingerly into the bed. He’s too beat-up to do anything right now, so he isn’t worried anything will happen. The bed isn’t large, just a full-size, but as he moves to the middle she snuggles in tight, putting them in the spooning position with her back in his chest. He gently slides a hand under her head and pillow, taking her into a loose embrace.
The minute Ryker’s arms close around her, Ronnie can feel her tears start again, silently running down her cheeks. What she said is true. The only time she feels completely safe is when he is near. She sniffs once, then gasps. “I’m sorry,” she says softly.
“Shhhh…” he says softly. “It’s okay. I’m right
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