Chapter 14
SEATON
Since she'd met Sam, Seaton had started to believe in a good forever.
Before him she could only see a dreary, monotonous forever.
Years and years of... nothing.
Her view on life was different now.
Yes, there were struggles, sifting through the charred remnants of her rented house had proved just how quickly things could be taken from her. But it hadn't stayed that way. Sam and his friends, who were also her friends now, had helped her salvage what could be and replace much of the rest.
Including the quick purchase of a second-hand, but serviceable sewing machine.
And for fabric, she'd discovered something amazing.
Instead of purchasing everything from stores, Thora had introduced her to the scrap bin at a local secondhand store.
Clothes that couldn't be sold because of holes or worn bits.
They sold those for a dollar a bag. Her new walker pockets had pockets made of up-cycled fabrics from those bins.
The people who were messaging her about the craft fair were even more excited when they heard that she was using up-cycled fabric. It was all and incredible turn of events.
There was struggle, but there was also a light, a lot of light, at the end of the tunnel.
And the wedding?
That was a rush.
When Sam had told the Station Seven crowd found out that he'd asked her, the group surprised them with a whole plan for the reception.
Crazy?
Absolutely, but the best kind of crazy.
And today? After Chief Blaise gave Sam a ride home, the ladies had piled her into Thora's van and headed back to the house, too.
They didn't let her go inside immediately.
They all had something to say to her on the porch.
Words of love and friendship came from the circle of women around her.
There were also a few last-minute reminders of the gifts that she'd been given at the bridal shower. A few dainty but daring sleep-sets. Some lotion that smelled like spice and warmed the skin. And a few toys that had made Seaton blush over and over for hours.
By the time she stepped inside the house, she was buzzing like a live wire, waiting to see Sam and to spend their first night as a married couple.
CADDO
Sam felt like he was about to crawl out of his skin.
Seaton was outside on the porch, saying goodbye to the ladies.
Viviana had been the ringleader of the group and the first one to send him inside with a look and a wave of her hand, shooing him away.
Inside, he was pacing around waiting for Seaton to come in.
They'd just had a ceremony at the office of the Justice of the Peace.
When Sam had mentioned it to the others at the firehouse, he knew they were planning a reception at the Blaise house, but he wasn't expecting everyone to show up at the courthouse.
The room was packed. Every seat taken, standing room along the sides of the courtroom.
He'd seen Seaton's reaction when they stepped inside to see the gathering.
Tears gathered in her eyes and coursed down her face during the ceremony, making her murmur apologies during the ceremony.
The handkerchief that the chief had given him had been handed over to Seaton, only to be replaced with another that came out of Chief Blaise's pocket.
The reception had been a blur of activity. Good food. Good people. Good music.
And a lot of good memories.
The chief had dropped him off a few minutes before the ladies arrived.
And Sam felt a little anxious and nervous waiting inside.
The laughter out on the porch eased some of his anxiety.
He knew that the women were taking good care of Seaton. They'd done that since the moment they met her.
It was something he'd expected. The ladies connected to Station Seven were all exceptional people.
The door opened and Sam held his breath, waiting.
Seaton stepped inside and her eyes met his across the room.
As the women outside continued to talk softly and laugh, Seaton slowly closed the door and let it click closed. She set the lock before she turned her back to the door and leaned against it.
She smiled at him and his heart was somehow fuller than it had been a moment before.
"Damn..." He let out a breath. "You're so beautiful."
Her smile deepened. "You've never looked so handsome."
He grinned at her. "Yeah? Not even in my bunker gear?"
She wrinkled her nose a little at that. "You're usually dirty when you're in your bunker gear. So, no."
"You don't like the hero look?"
Seaton moved away from the door and walked toward him. "I love the hero look."
She stepped into his embrace when he opened his arms for her.
He hugged her close and when she rubbed her hands over his back.
"You know when you're the biggest hero for me?"
He frowned a little, the skin above the bridge of his nose wrinkled. "When?"
She tipped her head back, her chin against his chest, her beautiful eyes gazing up at him.
He could get lost in her beauty every minute of the day and never be bored.
"When you're near me. When you're holding me. When you're caring for me. Those are the most heroic things you do for me. Just being you, Sam."
She blinked away tears and he frowned.
He lifted his hands up to cradle her face. "Don't cry, baby. Please."
"Happy tears," she explained. "They're happy tears. Really happy, Sam. I love being with you."
He smiled and leaned in for a kiss.
As he hovered less than an inch away, he let out a breath and felt her exhaled breath against his skin.
"I love you like crazy, Seaton." He pressed his lips against hers and felt her lean into the kiss.
When he pulled back an inch or two from her lips, he leaned in and kissed her cheek just shy of her ear. "I'll love you forever."
He heard her soft intake of breath before she grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him in for a kiss.
SEATON
She wanted him.
She needed him.
Everything inside of her said that this was the right place for her.
He was the right person.
And this, the feelings that were curling around inside of her were new and exciting.
She kissed him again and he slipped his hands down over her lower back and over her backside.
When he drew her closer, pressing them together from their knees to hips and she felt every inch of him pressed against her stomach.
Every time they touched.
Every time Sam ran his hands, those amazing hands, over her body, she wanted it... and wanted more.
While she was with Dylan, being intimate had been nothing but a chore.
It was on his terms and that usually meant that he'd finish and walk away like he'd done her a favor.
With Sam, just lying in bed with him, cuddling or waking up sprawled over him, was all a revelation. It wasn't about his satisfaction. Sam gave just as well as he accepted from her.
It had allowed her to get used to the idea that sex would be something enjoyable for both of them.
Now, still wearing the flowing white dress that she'd been married in, she saw him bend down in front of her and lift her up off of her feet. He had his arms around her legs, his forearms just under her backside.
Her shoes fell to the floor.
As he walked, he pressed his cheek against her breasts, and she wondered if he could hear her heart beating in her chest.
She knew she could feel it pounding.
Hear the blood rushing in her ears.
And when he set her down, he slowly lowered her back to her feet and stood up in front of her.
Seaton took hold of the front of his shirt and while she didn't look him in the eyes she started to unbutton it. Her hands weren't shaking, miraculously, but she wasn't all that skilled at it.
A few buttons down, she put her hands on his chest and smoothed her palms over his skin.
He helped her with the rest of the buttons, and she moved her hands down toward this waist.
The texture of his skin over the hard muscles under it, gave her a taste of what other parts of him might feel like.
The realization made her shiver.
Sam tugged the hem of his shirt free from his slacks, and she was free to move her hands all the way down to smooth her hands over his abs, feeling the rise and fall of his muscles under her fingers.
When he hesitated to unbutton the waistband of his pants, Seaton reached out and did it for him.
She didn't raise her gaze to meet his, focusing herself on freeing the button and reaching for his zipper.
"W-wait," Sam covered her hands with his. "Sea, give me a minute."
She tipped her chin up a little to look at him.
His face was red under his normal complexion and Seaton felt her heart beat a little faster.
She reached behind herself and undid the trio of buttons that held her dress closed over her spine.
The fell open easily and she shrugged the shoulders of her dress off, slipping down her arms. The dress was held up by the slight swells of her breasts and her elbows, and her knee-length hem was now brushing against the backs of her calves.
The house was cool, the air conditioner had been running all day and the cool air that touched her skin leaving tiny bumps in its wake.
Sam moved toward her, his slacks sagging around his hips, showing her the tantalizing view of the shaft of his cock that disappeared behind the fabric of his slacks.
She let out a breath and smiled.
"Seaton?"
Her gaze lifted to meet his and she licked at her lips.
"We don't have to do this right now."
Her eyes widened a little.
"We can wait for as long as you want. We don't have-"
She stepped closer, moving her hands around his sides to his lower back.
Seaton swept her hands over his butt, enjoying the taut muscles under her hands.
"So we don't have to," she leaned in a placed a tentative kiss against his neck, "but I want to."
With her front pressed against him, she felt her nipples pebbling from the heat of his bare chest and anticipation.
He held himself stiffly against her, his body trembling slightly.
She wasn't sure why it was, but she hoped it was because he was holding himself back.
Now, she wanted him to let go.
"Sea?"