Protect Her (Aussie Military Romance Book 2) Read online

  Protect Her

  an Aussie Military Romance

  series

  Book 2

  KENNA SHAW REED

  Other books by Kenna Shaw Reed

  Who can resist a man in uniform – and why would you want to? Check out my new Aussie Military Romance series

  Avenge Her : Captain Darby Greenwood will do anything to avenge the woman he loves. Even if it uses the military training she can’t accept.

  Protect Her : Mack never expected to loose the use of his legs. Xanthe never expected love to be easy. How can he be her man when he only feels less than?

  Save Her : To save his marriage, Captain Doug Whitehead must save his wife from her fears. Before she walks out of his life forever.

  When one happily ever after is not enough, Choose Your Own Romance. Read one as a stand alone, or read them all.

  The Uni Student : Ava finds not all her decisions at university are academic.

  The Intern : Jade must choose between love and power – or does she really have to choose at all?

  The Question Is : Two lovers and one choice. Her girlfriend? Ex-boyfriend? Or both! Grace had the answer until the question changed.

  The Politician’s Wife : He lied, cheated and left. Susannah deserves better, has found better but now he wants her back.

  The Unfaithful Wife : Nina was a faithful and forgiving wife until her husband’s latest affair.

  The (Un)Forgiving Wife : When Juliette discovers her husband’s decade-long affair, she must decide whether to forgive or move on.

  You don’t want to miss these Bad Boys & Good Men

  Trusting his Heart : Geoffrey was once in love. She died. If he can’t believe in a happily ever after, why should he even trust his heart to try.

  A Billion Reasons Why : Billionaire Mason hid from his name only to find Ellin, but when she discovers the truth, will she ever love him again?

  Never Second Best : When Seth’s wife left, he vowed never to be second best again. Lucy was once Seth’s second choice. How can he convince her that their love deserves a second chance?

  Who is Erebus? : He steamed up the sheets in The Intern. Now, if she found out … if she ever knew … could Felicity love the man his clients called Erebus?

  For Juanita, thank you for your service, you are worth more than you realize.

  To all the Defence partners who are the strength behind our country’s strength, thank you.

  Copyright © 2018 by Kenna Shaw-Reed

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Cover: Soxational Cover Art

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are solely the product of the author’s imagination and/or are used fictitiously.

  This book is intended for mature, adult audiences only. It contains sexually explicit and graphic scenes and language which may be considered offensive by some readers. It refers to the impact of male violence without describing the incident. This book is strictly intended for those over the age of 18. All acts of a sexual nature are completely consensual.

  Table of Contents

  Reap what you sow

  Reapers Come

  Reapers See

  Reapers Conquer

  Set her free

  The Price to Protect Her

  Undefeated

  Epilogue

  Wait, there’s more

  Sneak Peak – Avenge Her

  Sneak Peak – Who is Erebus

  Reap what you sow

  Damon (Mack)

  “Okay boys,” Damon Mackenzie entered the bar as if he owned it. His hulking body taking up the doorway, closely followed by ten other equally imposing young men. Their haircuts said “army” and their attitudes told the bar they owned the night, and anything else they damn well chose.

  “Rule one,” he shouted, as if they hadn’t heard it before.

  “Reapers come,” they all shouted in reply.

  “Rule two,” as usual, they had the full attention of the bar. All the women were checking them out and all the men wished they had the balls to take them out. Not a chance.

  “Reapers see,” the huge cry and Damon paused before the final rule.

  “Rule three!”

  “Reapers conquer.”

  “And don’t forget,” he paused for them all to join in, “We never leave a Reaper behind.”

  Damon spied a familiar female face at a table full of Rockhampton’s finest single, gorgeous girls.

  “So, Sparrow let you out for the night?” he asked the girl with the shaved head but gorgeous green eyes, before getting the barman’s attention and ordering a round for the table. Perhaps tonight was his lucky night and she wouldn’t give him the same brush off he got at her brother’s party.

  “Sparrow?” her response was polite but not inviting.

  “Your brother - have you seen how fast he downs a plate of pasta?”

  “Oh,” again the polite smile. “It’s Sadie’s birthday. What are you all celebrating?”

  “It’s Thursday and we have just on one week left before we go back to base.”

  “Life of a soldier?”

  “You got it, Maddie isn’t it?” he lowered his voice so she had to lean in to hear, “You don’t mind if us ugly mugs join you ladies tonight? We’re just a bunch of lonely soldiers …” he winked while noticing that her friends hadn’t needed an invitation to take an interest in his unit.

  The local boys didn’t stand a chance tonight. Not with his guys out on the prowl with their fit bodies and money to burn. They weren’t looking for a fight, but if one found them it would be entertaining to watch and to the winner would go the spoils. No, they were looking for a warm bed with a woman or two who wasn’t looking to get much sleep. It was always hard to adjust to civilian life for their brief weeks of leave, easier to stay plastered and loose.

  Luckily, Sparrow, or Lieutenant Doug Whitehead to his sister, suggested they all take their leave pass to his home town where there was beach, beer and babes. The guys came for a weekend and stayed for two weeks. Now they had limited nights to indulge before they went back either to base or overseas.

  Such was the life of his combat engineer regiment – the unit you called when you wanted a job cleared, fast and sure.

  “I don’t think I have a choice, my friends would lynch me if I turned you away.”

  Was there a flicker of interest? He loved a woman with striking eyes, but after engaging in banter without her flirting in return, he figured it was time to move on.

  “Maddie, it’s been good seeing you again but, if you don’t mind introducing me to your friends, I’d like to see which one is going to find my monkey tonight!”

  Her first genuine smile as she teased, “Seriously? You go from hitting on me to wanting introductions to my friends just like that?”

  “Unless you’ve changed your mind …”

  As he knew she would, Maddie had him “my brother’s friend-zoned” and with a couple of glasses clinked together, loudly got the attention of the bar.

  “Ladies, this is my brother’s good friend, Lieutenant Damon Mackenzie, but you can call him Mack. He’d love to show you his ‘monkey’. I’d explain what that is but I’m too afraid to ask.” Maddie took a small bow from the laughing crowd.

  “I think my job here is done, do with it what you will,” as she backed away, Mack’s attention was taken by her blonde, petite friend with too much hair and not enough eyes.

  Xanthe

  Of course she noticed t
he army guys when they walked in, who wouldn’t!

  “Reckon any of them will end up being your clients?” Krystal asked, eyeing more than one for herself. “I mean, they look all healthy now, but once they get peeled off the battle field they don’t look so hot.”

  “I need to get the job first, final interview is next week.”

  “Why would you want to be an occupational therapist for Defence? I mean, yes you’ll be surrounded by hot guys, but stuck on base, where’s the life in that?”

  “I don’t need a life, I’ve had that and now it’s time to adult up and get a job with some sort of security.”

  “And a man?”

  “I’m not looking for anything serious,” she almost knocked over a drink on the table behind her with her brunette ponytail catching the full brunt from the shake of her head.

  “Neither are they, which one is your type?”

  “Right now, anyone who isn’t up for conversation sounds good to me,” Xanthe was nervous about the job interview, tired from constant partying and sick of men who had higher expectations of their own attraction than their bodies or minds warranted.

  “Was that a ‘I love you but shut up Krys’ that I heard?”

  “Actually it was a ‘my drink is empty and it’s your shout’.”

  Xanthe watched Krys flirt her way over to the bar and smiled knowing how at least one night would end. From her table in the far corner she could stand back and watch human nature unfold. From the moment the army guys walked in, she correctly guessed they’d head over the to table with the most girls. Now, she figured it would take about half an hour for the pairs to be made, and then any guys still lonely would start scouting the bar for other potential hookups.

  No, some were ready to spread their wings earlier. Krys was making her way back to their table with two of the army guys looking like they’d already scored. Damn it! She should never have trusted Krys to go to the bar alone, not when their month of abstinence had run out earlier that day.

  “Xanthe, this is Reith and Scout. They’ve promised if we come over to their table, not only will they buy the drinks, but they’ll also tell us their real names.”

  “Why would I want to know their real names, they’d only want me to remember them after tomorrow morning and I won’t make promises I can’t keep.” Xanthe didn’t even try to soften her words with a cheeky smile.

  Tonight was a mistake and she was in a bitch of a mood. One month after kicking her last ass-hole to the curb and she either wanted anonymous, uncomplicated sex or to find someone worth getting to know. Actually, in her mood it was better to go home early and alone rather than do something she knew she’d only regret in the morning.

  “How about you let me buy you that drink and you can tell me how you like your men,” oh, Reith was smooth, crowding close and trying to penetrate her with his eyes. He might be fine for some fun but tonight wasn’t going to be his lucky night, at least not with her.

  “Xanth?” Krys pulled her aside. “C’mon, let’s have some fun.”

  “Sorry, I thought I’d be okay but …” she started.

  “Xanth, it’s been a month. I want to play a little, at least come with me over to their table and chill.”

  Xanthe didn’t want to hold her friend back. After all, they had waited out their one-month self-imposed exile after coming home early from a girls night out to find their boyfriends in the same bed with two random girls. Stupid little skanks who had responded to an online hookup and didn’t expect angry girlfriends to walk in.

  Now, ex-girlfriends. Single women who sensibly decided that one month without men would stop them from doing something stupid.

  “Okay,” she turned back to the guys, “How about we give these guys an opportunity to show us what they’ve got, I mean, they’ll be off soon, putting their bodies on the line for their country. It’s only fair that we see what’s protecting us.”

  She flashed her best smile, knowing Krys had already made up her mind, would leave her in a couple of hours and she’d be on her own. With all the other crap going on in her life, tonight wasn’t the night to do something out of revenge or on a rebound. These guys had one small chance to impress or she’d find another bar in town for a quiet drink and no distractions.

  She knew Krys so well, “Off to get some coffee and cake. Don’t wait up.”

  “You want your cake and to eat it too?” she hugged her friend.

  “He says he’s hungry, and I’m in the mood to be fed. Are you okay if I go?”

  “Yeah, I won’t be far behind you.” Xanthe was sick of fending off horny guys with nothing to offer and the one guy who had caught her eye had flirted with every other woman in the bar. The last thing she needed was another player.

  “Don’t bug out so quickly, the guys are organizing a party at someone’s house. I mean it Xanth, if you get this job it’s gonna be intense so kick back tonight, chill and have some fun.” Krys tried to downplay what she really meant.

  “Ahh, you want the house to yourself so you two can make some noise!” Xanthe understood all too well. When Krys was happy, she wanted the world to know. “Okay, unless the party is lame, you’ll be asleep or exhausted by the time I get home.”

  “Love you, babe,” Krys finished as she was being pulled away by Scout.

  “Right back at you.” Xanthe turned back towards the large table. She wasn’t in the mood to hook up with anyone tonight, it just seemed too sad and pointless.

  Her phone buzzed yet again, probably with another message from her ex who was still trying to get her to forgive him over “one stupid mistake of thinking with my dick instead of thinking about us.” She didn’t need to complicate her life any further, not when this one job interview next week could make the difference.

  No, Krys was right and tonight needed to be about hanging out and having fun. Yes, some of the group had thinned with couples leaving but most were here to drink, laugh and party.

  “Who’s getting takeaways and who’s coming to keep this party going?” The army guys took the lead on organizing the after party when last drinks were called.

  Xanthe was in half a mind whether to join the party or call it a night when another message appeared on her phone. “Look at what you’re missing.” Of course, her ex sent her a short video of whatever he was doing with whatever random he had picked up.

  Classy! Not.

  Insensitive jerk.

  Cruel bastard. Xanthe blinked away the angry tear, refusing to give him the power to hurt her again. After all, they were both single and he could bloody well do whatever he wanted.

  Ass-hole.

  “A friend of yours?” the hulking Adonis she kept avoiding, looked over her shoulder and saw the message. “I mean, he’s got some form, but he’s gotta learn how to use his hands.”

  “And you do?”

  “I could teach him some moves or two, if you want,” he moved closer. “Or I could just show you, and you can pass them on.” His ice blue eyes melted hers.

  “I don’t want you to waste your time with him, I’m not going to.” All the reasons she had been dodging the Adonis was to avoid this unwanted physical reaction.

  From the moment he walked in, she felt an energy, some sort of stupid connection where ever he was. He didn’t even have to touch her, and she wanted him to fill her the way his presence filled the room. Silly, crazy thoughts that she could only blame on her break up or nerves for her interview. She’d never had a thing for men in uniform before, why on earth had she started tonight?

  Then again, her wicked voice whispered, she didn’t want to see him in his uniform!

  Xanthe put her phone away and tried to walk between the Adonis and the table to leave before she did something crazy.

  “So, he’s an ex. How did you break up?” So gently, he blocked her path. Not completely, but just enough to let her know he wanted her to stay. His eyes never left hers and all her sensible resolve started fading away. She could leave, should run a mile. But what if she sta
yed? Her bare arms covered in goosebumps as she shivered at the thought of what could happen if she gave him half a chance.

  “A month ago today, my girlfriend who was here earlier, and I came home early. Let’s just say that there were four in the bed and two of them were our boyfriends.”

  “Tough call,” she didn’t flinch when he draped his leather jacket around her shoulders. “Tell me, was there a cat fight? I mean, two angry, sexy girls fighting with two naked ones, that could have been hot. Don’t spare me the details.”

  “Sorry to disappoint you, I left and Krys’ brother and a couple of mates dropped by and packed up my stuff the next day.”

  “Baby, you could never disappoint me,” Xanthe held her breath when he raised her chin with one finger until she felt his breath against her lips. If he kissed her now, she could die happy and to hell with the consequences.

  “How about we show him how fast you’ve moved on?” Still he held her chin.

  “How do we do that?” Thoughts crashed through her mind, but they were all for her pleasure and none involved her ex.

  “Do you trust me?”

  “I don’t even know you.”

  “Lieutenant Damon Mackenzie, at your service, but please call me Mack.”

  “Mack as in short for Mackenzie?”

  “Mack as in women say I’m built like a Mack truck.”

  Xanthe clung to his arms for support as her knees almost gave way, believing that if he was proportionate to the rest of his body, yes, a Mack truck would be a fair description.

  Oh, he was built. A perfectly created body that was designed and primed for a woman to take whatever pleasure she pleased.