SEALs

Chapter Five

Last night had been difficult…for both of us. It was harder than the night before. The night before had been all about me and how I felt but now, it was all about Ali.

I stayed with her, there in the shower for a while. I wasn't really counting time or noticing the cold water that was chilling my skin. All of my focus was on the shaking Ali who clung to my side like the water around us would turn into a raging river and she'd be dragged away by it's current. She just seemed so scared, so fragile and so damn innocent at that moment.

I soon realized I couldn't just keep her here where she could potentially freeze. She needed a change of clothes, a warm bed and a good night's rest. So, how was I going to accomplish all of that when I craved the woman in every way? Not only that but (call me a hypocrite) it seemed un-gentlemanly to take her clothes off when she wasn't exactly all there. So I had to make a decision. Either let her freeze or embarrass her beyond all reason. I thought it over as I held her gently in my arms and felt her cold skin shaking against mine. It made up my mind for me.

Slowly, I lifted myself away from her chilled body to get to my feet. She whimpered, sliding down the wall farther until I caught her arms and pulled her up. She collapsed against me, her body shaking not only from the cold but from the exertion of standing. I murmured encouragement to her before gently dragging her out of the shower stall and out onto the bathroom floor. Her feet slid easily across the tile and I felt like I was holding a rag doll instead of a full grown woman. She said nothing the whole time, only a few whimpers and groans leaving her lips as I rested her back against the sink. She didn't fall when I let her go, my hands still outstretched to catch her, but her whole body drooped forwards as if she couldn't hold herself upright.

I sighed before taking her face in my hands and staring into her brown eyes. She looked back sadly and I felt my chest ache for her. The horrors she had seen that day were like nothing she had ever experienced. She'd probably never seen a gun fired let alone a bomb go off. She didn't belong here, at all. She needed to go home and live the suburban life she was destined for. Find a man who could support her and be there when she needed him. Well, knowing Ali, she'd probably make most of the money herself.

Knowing Ali? I'd known her for only a few days! I was acting like I'd known her forever which was ridiculous. Ali was too complicated and introverted for me to know anything about her. What kind of secrets would she tell me? After all, I was only the guy here to protect her. She'd find someone worth while, someone who wouldn't be on call everyday for years before taking off to foreign countries for months on end. Yeah, that's who she needed.

I shook my head, dispelling it of these thoughts. God. I was acting like I was fucking in love with her or something. Wait…what?

Ali's groan made my thoughts disappear and my attention settle on her. She hissed through her teeth as she pulled herself further up on to the sink. I helped her, letting my hands rest on her sides as she got more comfortable. Her shirt was soaking wet and cold to the touch. It reminded me of the task I had at hand. Get Ali undressed and warm.

Her eyes opened and looked at me as I smiled half-heartedly. Her lips turned up slightly in response.

"Ali," I whispered and her eyes flickered in recognition of her name. "I need to get you out of these clothes but I don't think…I don't think it would be a good idea if I did it."

She pressed her lips together and looked deep in thought for a moment with that furrowed brow. Suddenly, her hands went to the hem of her tee shirt and she started to pull it upwards. I spun around as fast as I could, catching the smallest glimpse of her stomach before my eyes went to the adjacent wall. Don't turn around, I chanted to myself over and over again. She deserved some kind of decency from me. I was not some savage animal. I didn't think with my dick (sometimes). And I was not going to treat her like a piece of meat.