Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
By the time Tanner and Faith went back inside, the service was ending.
His family sent questioning glances Faith’s way.
Kaylee pulled her into a quick hug. That was his family, giving love when someone needed it without demanding much in return.
Tanner had to keep reminding himself of that so he wouldn’t let so much time pass before his next visit.
They gave him a hard time, but it was all out of love. He was grateful to see they were showing Faith the same.
After a big Sunday lunch—his mom’s famous pulled pork sliders and cole slaw—Faith went upstairs to pack her things. Tanner wanted to follow to continue their conversation from earlier, but his dad put a hand between his shoulder blades.
“How about a drive around the property? Been a while since we’ve done that. I can show you what’s new.”
It was a small tradition of theirs whenever Tanner came to town. His dad liked chatting about everything going on around the farm. He wasn’t managing its day-to-day affairs anymore, but this land had been the man’s life. Tanner understood how much it meant to him.
They climbed into the old truck along with Scout, who wagged her tail from the backseat.
Tanner’s father was a man of few words. He’d always been affectionate and kind. He’d never made Tanner feel guilty about the choice not to return here after his discharge. But Dad also kept his feelings close to the vest. Tanner couldn’t help wondering if his dad felt the same as Brayden did.
“Kaylee and Brayden have been doing a good job with the place,” Tanner said.
“That they have. All my kids keep making me proud.”
“Even me?”
“You kidding? Especially you. I couldn’t be prouder to call you my son.”
It felt good to hear his dad say it.
“How’s the job at the security company going?”
“It’s good. I still like it.”
Tanner had never considered doing anything else. Unlike Noah, he’d never had any interest in pursuing grander ambitions. He kept waiting for the day that Noah would announce he was moving on to some bigger opportunity. Tanner had never felt the urge.
Despite his recent struggles, he still felt Bennett Security was the right place for him. But he found himself opening his mouth to say more. “There’s a captain position. One of the senior guys retired. You remember my buddy, Noah? He’s been encouraging me to apply.”
“That sounds right up your alley. People have always looked up to you. Like the other SEALs. They always used to ask for your advice, didn’t they?”
That was true, even though he hadn’t been the most experienced of the operators there. For some reason, a lot of the guys had seemed comfortable sharing things with him. “But I don’t know how much my advice is really worth. And I don’t like dealing with all the headaches of being in charge.”
“Aren’t you the guy who always says to embrace what’s uncomfortable?”
He’d walked right into that one. He’d brought this up, after all. Maybe he was giving the captain spot more serious consideration than he’d realized. “I wasn’t going to apply. But I don’t know. I might reconsider.”
“Perhaps Faith is the reason behind that?”
“Why would she be?”
His dad gave him a knowing glance. “A man wants to put his best forward when the woman he cares about is watching. Like how I bought the neighbor’s land just before I asked your mother to marry me? Wanted her to think I was going places, so to speak.”
Tanner huffed a laugh. “It’s possible.”
“Was Faith okay this morning?” his dad asked. “She seemed upset during the service.”
“She’s all right. She felt bad about leaving, though. I told her nobody minded.”
“Not in the least. I assumed she was moved by whatever spirit she believes in. But I can tell she’s got a kind heart. And it’s the kind-hearted people who sometimes end up hurting the most.” His dad patted Tanner’s shoulder. “I love you, son. No matter what. Always will.”
“I love you, too.”
Back at the house, Faith had her backpack ready by the door. They said goodbye to Tanner’s family, spreading around the hugs. His nephews jumped around, getting in a few last piggyback rides.
“I hope you’ll come see us again soon, Faith,” his mom said. “I would say the same to my son, but he’ll accuse me of being a broken record.”
“Nobody understands that reference anymore,” Brayden complained.
Their mother shrugged. “Maybe Faith’s one of those trendy people with a vinyl collection. You don’t know.”
Dad carried Faith’s bag to the car.
On the back porch, Tanner’s brother came in for a hug, smacking him on the back. “So Faith’s your girlfriend now?”
“Seems that way.”
“You’re an asshole.”
“What? Why?”
“You totally had sex in my truck,” Brayden muttered.
“Duh.”
Brayden flipped him the bird, hiding the gesture so their mom wouldn’t see it.
“I’ll buy you a gift card for a detail,” Tanner said.
“You’d better. Take care of yourself, jerk.”
“Love you too, dumbass.”
Tanner felt peaceful as they headed out on the highway. It was hard to wrap his head around how much had changed in his heart in just a few days.
Now, they were heading back into their everyday lives. Reality.
He wanted to believe he could keep his fresh mindset going. That he could keep his promise to himself not to let Faith down.
Yet he also couldn’t deny the fact that Faith had been more open with him than he’d been with her. He hadn’t been exaggerating when he’d said she was the braver of the two of them. She’d pretty much bared her soul. Tanner was still holding the toughest memories back.
He’d told the kids at the rec center that so-called “heroes” were just humans. Real heroes got sick. They cried. But when was the last time Tanner had let anyone see him like that on purpose?
With Faith, he wanted to get there eventually. But right now, she needed him to be strong. She had enough to deal with. He couldn’t lay more burdens at her feet, no matter how much she claimed she could handle it.
Maybe she could, but that didn’t mean it was right for him to do it.
“Thank you for taking me with you this weekend,” she said. “It meant a lot.
“Thanks for coming with me.”
“In more ways than one?”
He snickered. He couldn’t get enough of this girl and her dirty mind. How she could find a way to laugh no matter how much she was hurting.
As they made their way back toward the coast, Tanner asked, “Did you want me to take you to the townhouse? Or…back to my place?” He wouldn’t blame her at all for wanting to go home. They’d spent almost forty-eight hours together, minus sleeping apart last night.
But he was relieved when Faith gave him a wicked smile. “Your place.” She reached over to massage his leg. Tanner shifted in his seat as his dick responded, pressing into the seam of his shorts.
“You could spend the night again. If you want.”
She didn’t even hesitate. “Could you swing by my house on the way so I can get what I need for work tomorrow?”
“You got it.” He drove a little faster.
The moment they got inside his house, Faith pounced on him. “Upstairs,” she said between kisses.
“You don’t want to talk more about earlier? What you told me during church…” He’d waited to bring up the subject again, worried about pressing her too much. He couldn’t hold her while he was driving. But now that they were home, he wanted her to know he was more than willing to listen.
She made an adorable grumbling noise. “Talking can wait. I want you in your bed.”
He wasn’t going to argue with that.
Tanner grabbed her around the waist and picked her up. Faith squeaked, holding onto his shoulders. Her legs wrapped around him, and his fingers gripped her thighs. The climb up the narrow staircase was slightly awkward. They both laughed when he knocked his head on the low rafter.
Tanner dumped her onto the mattress and sprawled on top of her, kissing her fiercely. Letting himself take what he wanted from her mouth. Faith had told him not to hold back, and he didn’t intend to.
Last night had been just about perfect, but that experience had only whetted his appetite. Now they were back home in his bedroom. Twice before, she’d slept here beside him, but neither time had he gotten what he’d wanted.
Tanner wasn’t anywhere near done claiming her.
Faith scratched her nails along his back beneath his shirt. His cock felt ready to burst through his zipper. With a growl, Tanner pushed onto his hands and knees.
“We both should be naked.”
Faith nodded her head against the mattress. “Yes. That.”
He backed up until he reached the edge of the bed, then stood. He fisted his T-shirt and yanked it over his head. His shorts and boxers were next, shucked off to the floor and kicked into a corner.
His cock pointed forward at her. Tanner gave himself a long, slow stroke.
Faith hadn’t removed a single item of clothing. Instead, she crawled toward him on the mattress, a naughty gleam in her eye.
When she got close enough, she licked his slit. Groaning, Tanner rested one knee on the mattress. Faith took the head of his cock into her mouth, closing her eyes and moaning like it was the best thing she’d ever tasted.
He felt conflicted. He really loved what she was doing—on her hands and knees, sucking and tonguing his dick like a lollipop—but he also needed her naked right now. It was a conundrum.
Then he remembered what an intensely emotional day she’d had. Revealing so much about her past, opening up about her heartache.
Tanner planned to take good care of her, so she knew just how incredible she was.
He gently touched her hair, hips pulling back. His tip popped out of her mouth. “You’re not naked yet. Let’s fix that.”