Chapter 11 #2
“I’ve got coffee making down to an art form.
Go sit on the couch, and I’ll bring it in,” I insisted.
I’d worked hard to manage everything by myself again, and while I didn’t need to prove it to her or anyone, I wanted her to see that I was the same guy I used to be.
I just did things a little differently now.
“You sure?” She wavered, and I knew she was wondering how I’d maneuver two coffees and be able to wheel myself back into the living room.
“Trust me, I’ve got this,” I said as I reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze. “Go put your feet up.”
“Okay.” She kissed me on the cheek and headed for the sofa. My lips lifted in a smile at her trust and ready acceptance of me and my abilities.
I made the coffees and had them laid out on a tray, with cream, sugar and spoons in no time. With the tray settled on my lap, I moved into the living room and over to the couch before positioning the tray on my round coffee table.
“Would you like cream or sugar?” I asked.
“Just cream, thanks.” Doctoring it to her liking, I passed it to her. I’d never seen her drink coffee before, and I watched her take her first sip. I think coffee was a rite of passage of growing up, and even though I’d missed that part of her life, I vowed I wouldn’t miss another thing.
“Hmm, nothing like a hot cup of coffee when it’s cold outside,” she purred.
“How have you found the weather here? So much colder than Wyoming, right?”
“I wasn’t ready for how cold it would get.
I grabbed what I could and threw it in my car before I fled, but Indy had to take me clothes shopping because none of my coats were warm enough.
It surprised me that cold could feel so different.
It’s crisper here, fresher, whereas back there it’s cold but heavy, almost oppressive. You know what I mean?”
“Totally. I love it here, though. Although, adjusting to the varying temperatures on base and in the Middle East was not something I was prepared for,” I said and shivered at the memory of how uncomfortable the first few weeks of a mission would be as we surveyed the land and prepared to strike.
The heat and humidity could drain you more than the seventy pounds of equipment we had to wear and carry could.
“I’m glad you made it out.” She reached out and placed her soft hand on my leg.
“I am, too.” I placed my hand over hers and held on for dear life. Everything I’d been through had made me who I am today, and it had all led me back to this girl, my Wildflower.
“Kai,” she licked her lips as she leaned forward. “How much weight can this chair hold?” she asked, and I couldn’t help the laugh that burst out of me.
“Enough,” I growled as I pulled her onto my lap and ran my hands up her back as our mouths crashed together.
She melted for me as I pushed my tongue into her mouth and flicked it against hers.
She rocked against my groin, drawing a groan out of me as her tight ass rubbed over my growing erection.
Her hands tangled in my hair, gently tugging as the kiss intensified.
“What are you doing to me?” she moaned as she pulled back and gazed into my eyes.
Her pupils were blown with lust and a passion I’d dreamed about seeing as soon as I’d found her again.
“I want you.” She panted as she wiggled on my lap, moving to kiss down my neck, nipping at my thrumming pulse. “Touch me, Kai, take me, pleeease.”
Oh, my God! She begged so prettily.
“Fuck, darlin’, hang on.” I cursed myself at that moment for having taken my prosthesis off as I couldn’t pick her up and run into my room.
I had to maneuver us in my chair and pushed the wheels as fast as I could towards my bedroom.
As soon as we crossed the threshold, I tapped her thigh. “Up and on the bed, sweetheart.”
She giggled and dashed to the bed before shifting to lie in the middle, her hair a flaming halo around her head. Her heated gaze watched me as I moved to the bed before standing. While keeping my balance, I took her in, my dream girl, spread out on my bed, waiting for me.
“You’re so beautiful. You sure you’re ready for me?” I growled.
“Yes, Kai,” she whimpered as she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth.
“I want you. These feelings are intense and new, but I know I’m safe with you.
” She held out her arms for me, and all I could do was fall into them.
I shifted up the bed, making my way between her legs and caging her in with my arms on either side of her head.
Her legs came around my waist, and she rocked her sweet core against me, as her hands traced up my arms and over my shoulders. She pulled me down to meet her lips and nipped at my fuller bottom lip, which had me groaning.
“Fuck, sweetheart. The things you do to me. Do you have any idea how long I’ve wanted you? How often I have dreamed of being able to touch you? You hold my soul, Wildflower.” Claiming her mouth again, I rested my body over hers as I devoured her.
I hadn’t been intimate with anyone since my amputation, and it had been a while before then anyway, but the way Gracie touched me had long-suppressed desire igniting inside me.
“Let me taste you,” I said as I broke our kiss and gazed into her stunning green eyes.
Her cheeks colored as she glanced away. “I’ve never done that before.”
I concentrated on Gracie, present and in this moment, trying to avoid thoughts of Cain touching her. “I’ll make it so good for you. Can I?” I asked. Consent had always been of the utmost importance to me, no matter who I was with.
“You really want to?” she asked, running her hand over the scruff on my jaw.
“Oh, I can’t wait to devour your sweet pussy.”
She covered her face with an arm. “You can’t say things like that,” she stammered, color growing on her already flushed cheeks.
“Your blushes are adorable.” I chuckled as I pulled her arm away from her face to kiss her.
“You dolt.” She shoved my shoulder. “I’m barely used to everyone’s cursing, and your filthy words are next level. I can’t help it that you make me blush.” Her lips shifted into a little pout, and I nipped at her bottom lip playfully, causing her to laugh.
“Do you not like my words?” Her body told me a different story, but if it made her uncomfortable, I’d stop.
Her flush bloomed across her cheeks, and she glanced away. “Kai.”
“Come on, sweetheart, tell me if you want me to stop.” With her head tilted back and a finger under her chin, I compelled her to meet my gaze.
Even through her embarrassment, she gazed at me and shook her head. “No, I don’t want you to stop. It’s surprisingly hot and does things to me I’ve never experienced before. But it’s also bold and scandalous and goes against the way we were raised. And I kinda like that the most.”
“You know how we were brought up was a load of crap, right?” She had to know that. With how her father was, she couldn’t think any of our upbringing was okay.
“Yeah, I know, but cursing seems to be the one thing I can’t shake my embarrassment of or my reaction too.” She paused for a beat as she broke eye contact. “Well, that and sex.”
My body heated at the thought of sex with my Gracie. The way she stumbled over the word reminded me of her innocent naivety.
“What do you mean, that and sex?” I was genuinely curious.
Did she have an issue with sex? Did it embarrass her or make her uncomfortable?
I doubted her experiences with sex were all that great, and I needed to know if this was something she could get past and wanted to explore with me or was this something we’d need time and perhaps therapy to work through together.
I’d do anything I could to take care of her and ensure she was okay with anything we did. We didn’t need to rush.
“Kai.” Her voice was flustered as she whined my name.
“Tell me, sweetheart.” I kissed her lips again, needing to taste her.
“I can’t talk about it. I don’t know how.” Exasperation laced her voice as she avoided eye contact.
I bit my lip to suppress my laughter at her adorableness. With all we’d already done and her surprising boldness that first time behind the bar, I hadn’t known she’d had a problem talking about sex. Maybe in the heat of the moment it was easier.
“I think it’s important to talk about it.
It will get easier with time. Like exposure therapy, you eventually become desensitized to the words, and the shock value will fade.
” I turned her face and made sure she was looking at me.
“You know there’s nothing to be ashamed of, right?
Sex is a beautiful thing two adults can experience.
And there’s no shame in us wanting each other the way we do. ”
Her pretty green eyes, flecked with gold, shone as a single tear slipped free of her lashes.
“I know that, and I remind myself every day that I’m a young woman with needs that I’ve never been able to fulfill before I escaped, and I don’t need to be ashamed.
But sometimes I wonder if part of me is broken.
My mother’s voice is still a whisper in my head, telling me all the things I’m doing wrong and…
” she licked her lips, “and my experiences with Cain were less than pleasant, most of the time. He made me feel a different type of shame than my mother did.”
The idea of Cain’s mistreatment of her ignited a fierce anger within me, but now was not the moment to unleash my fury.
“You’re right; you have nothing to be ashamed of as a young woman interested in sex.
It sounds like you haven’t had the chance to explore your sexuality or discover what you like.
I’d love to show you. We can explore it all together. ”
My rage turned to excitement about all the ways we could touch and explore each other. All the ways I could pleasure her and help her embrace her sensuality. My cock was a solid bar as I rocked against her hip, letting her know, without words, how this conversation was affecting me.
“So, are you ready for our first exploration?”