Warrior (First to Fight #1)(73)

“Gonna let me in?” I ask.

She turns over to face me, pulling my neck down to meet her lips and that’s answer enough. Her fingers snag the button on my jeans and flick it open. I hiss in pleasure / pain while she unzips and then draws out my straining cock. Her slim hands work it up and down slowly and I fear we may end before we’ve even gotten started.

I possess her mouth in a deep, drugging kiss as I shuck my jeans and tangle with her heat. I spread her legs wide and ease inside. She wraps her legs around my waist and sucks me so deep I almost go off right then. With each slow, smooth thrust, she lifts her hips to meet me until we’re rocking in tandem. Each time her internal muscles grip me, fighting my backwards glide and pulling me back in.

Soon, she’s breathless beneath me, her muscles going hard and her limbs tightening around me. She calls out to God and curses me in the same breath as I bring her through her orgasm. Then, when she’s arching beneath me, caught in an endless storm of pleasure, I bring my finger back to her clit and send her over again with me right behind her.

Soon after, when we’re both exhausted and limp, she turns in my arms and says, “I don’t know what to do now.”

Fear has my throat closing up. “You don’t need to do anything. In fact, it would probably be good for my health if you could stay in this bed for a couple years at least.”

“That’s not what I mean. I just…the past year has been a whirlwind. I don’t know what to do without all of the drama.”

“So like a woman,” I mutter. “I’m sure you’ll learn to like the boring life eventually.”

I feel the vibration of her laugh against my chest. “I don’t know if that’ll ever be possible,” she says.

“I know what you can do.”

She looks up at me and I can see the love in her eyes. “What’s that?”

“You can let me take care of you. Let me love you.”

She smiles. “I can live with that.”





THERE ARE GOOD days, and there are bad days.

Today happens to be a very good day.

Though I’m still haunted by the loss and horror I experienced, I try to take each day as it comes and enjoy the hell out of the good things. My little boy taught me that.

It started when I almost lost him.

Now, we’re celebrating his second birthday and the successful recovery from his third, and hopefully final, surgery. My mom has him sequestered on our front porch watching the birds flit around the lake. His little squeals pierce the humid afternoon and remind me to look forward to many more just like this.

Cole’s future looks bright. As the surgeries to treat those with HLHS are relatively new, no one knows exactly what the life expectancy is. In fact, we’re incredibly lucky to have the technology and excellent cardiology staff on call to give Cole the best chance possible.

In the meantime, there are days for swinging at the park, watching the birds, and enjoying a good time with family.

“Sofie, Jack ‘iss!” Cole yells.

Every person in attendance turns toward Cole and follows his outstretched hand. Sofie and Jack are clutched in a passionate embrace down on the beach on the edge of the forest. Hoots and calls from the crowd cause them to break apart. Sofie pushes away from Jack and rushes by everyone and into the house, her face as red as Olivia’s hair.

Olivia turns to me with wide eyes from where she’s setting out the cake. She mouths, “Oh my God,” and does a little happy dance.

I roll my eyes. It was about damn time they made a move.

Though I’m not really one to talk. It took me nearly ten years to realize what I was missing with Olivia.

I move through the crowd of our friends and family until I reach her side. I cup her jaw in my hands and dip her backwards for a long, thorough kiss. She breaks apart, breathless, and I look into her eyes. “Have I told you today that I love you?”

She leans into me. “Only three or four times.”

“Not nearly enough.” I kiss her again. “I love you.”

“Momma, Daddy ‘iss!” Cole shouts.

Gravel crunches in the driveway and I turn to see the newest arrival.

Livvie grabs my face and turns me back to her. “Now, I don’t want you to be mad, but I did something and I’m not sure you’re going to like it.”

My brows furrow. “What did you do?”

“After you told me what happened in Afghanistan and explained who you had Logan looking for, I did a little looking myself and had Sofie help me out.” She moves in closer and touches her forehead to mine. “I wanted to give you something that I know you’d never give yourself.”

I release a breath and bring my hands up to place them on her wrists, still holding my head to hers. “Livvie,” I say more calmly. “What did you do?”

The car comes to a halt and a young guy gets out with a service dog. It’s not until he reaches the steps to the deck that I see his prosthetic leg. My face goes slack as I recall the day I nearly died saving his life.

“Scott?”

Livvie urges me toward Scott as he bounds up the stairs with a smile stretching across his face.

“No-Heart!” Scott exclaims, throwing his arms around my back. “God, it’s good to see you, man.”

My reply is choked with emotion. “You too,” is all that I can manage before I break down like a little f*cking sissy in front of everyone. “Lookin’ good, man.”