Defending Hannah

eased, it was all the distraction the staff needed to jump her at once. She didn’t fail to swing the knife and biting and scratching in retaliation. Ben had seen enough. "Let her go," he growled pushing people out of his way. No one treated a hostage like that. She was scared and confused. That’s why she asked for him. Because she knew him and trusted him. As soon as he was close to her a flash of metal caught his eye before his blade came whipping towards his face. Thankful for quick reflexes Ben caught her wrist and easily disarmed her. Staff members tried to get around him but Ben refused to move becoming a wall of protection for her. At six and a half feet tall with broad shoulders it wasn’t easy to get around him.
"What’s going in here?" Ben demanded without taking his eyes off Hannah.
"We were trying to give her a shot to fight off any diseases she might have picked up while in Panama and then get her set up on fluids since she is severely dehydrated."
"Lies." Hannah spat. "They want to drug me and send me off somewhere. Well, I’m not going anywhere but home." She shouted at everyone. “You promised me, Ben.” Hannah croaked while swaying before him. She was dehydrated, starved and couldn’t stand on her own two feet anymore. If he hadn’t been holding her wrist still she might already be on the ground.
Hannah tried to pull her wrist free but Ben refused to let her go. "Leave us a moment," he told the staff without taking his eyes off her. There was a moment of hesitation but everyone piled out of the room.
Once alone Ben let go of her wrist slowly to make sure she didn’t fall over. When she looked stable he stepped back from her. Separation was good. Not only because she stunk to high heaven but because he had once dreamed about holding her in his arms and he needed the separation to keep a level head. "No one is going to sell you here or drug you. You’re on a military base. Fort Benning in Florida to be exact. I keep my promises, Hannah."
"No," Hannah said in disbelief. “Tell that to the guy who had the needle behind his back.”
Damn, she was observant. "So why not take the meds they were giving you?"
"I’ve been forced more drugs and needles than I ever want to see in my life again. I don’t care if they have a shot for immortality. I’m never allowing another needle to come near me ever again.”  She stood straighter and tried to stare him down. The high society miss was trying to rear her head but Ben wasn’t buying it. One he dwarfed her height and two she was wobbling, ready to fall over any second.
"Okay, so no needles. How about a shower maybe some hot food?" Ben tried coaxing her. She needed to rest, food and water. He would carry her if he had to.
"What do I owe you for that?" She asked warily as she stepped away from him.
"Owe me for what?” He didn’t understand why she would ask what he wanted in return for a shower and food and then it hit him and his stomach turned. “You don’t owe me anything." He said quickly.
"You don’t want something from me for a shower and food?" She asked slowly to make sure she understood him.
"No, I want nothing." Ben reiterated disgusted by what had been done to her. No wonder she was unbathed. It was probably far preferable to the alternative to get the shower.
Hannah’s shoulders dropped in what Ben could only describe was relief and she swayed on her feet again. Ben reached out and picked her up.
"No, don’t" she protested. "I’m disgusting.”
Ben just grunted. She was covered in filth and smelled ripe but he would endure it to hold her in her arms. She was slight and light as a feather. He decided to make it a personal mission to get her well. He strode into the adjourning bathroom and set her on her feet to turn on the water but kept an arm around her waist so she didn’t fall.
“I can do this myself." Hannah tried swatting his hands away but she might as well be swatting air for all the good it did her.
"Just let me help you," he growled. Lord knew it had probably been a long time since anyone had. He was just trying to be nice and she acted like he would strip her and take her right there.
"Thank you, Ben." she said softly looking down at her feet.
Once the temperature felt right Ben stepped back from her. It felt foreign to hear his real name. Since going the Army he had either been called Grant or Midas. Most days he forgot he even had a real name. It felt right to hear his real name from her lips. It made her unique and special.
Hannah’s hazel eyes snapped up to his. She licked her lips and Ben's gaze followed the movement. "Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Like what?” Ben’s raised an eyebrow in question. She was observant so he knew she saw him staring at her lips but he would play dumb, it had gotten him out of a lot of other dangerous situations.
“Like you don’t know what to make of me.”
“It’s just so strange seeing you again after all this time.” She wasn’t as observant as he thought which was good. No reason for her to know all the fantasies he was having now. The last thing she needed was to see him with a growing erection. He needed space from her. Space would be good right now.
Hannah looked away and gave half a smile. “The lake was the last time we saw each other. When we…” Hannah looked up and shut her mouth. Ben barely held back the groan as the memory flashed in his mind. He knew what she would say. When he kissed her. He couldn’t resist her that day. In only her bikini and a smile. She called to him like a siren and he had been helpless to do anything but go to her. He had almost claimed her that day.