Chapter 12
Delaney ‘Laney’
Something is up. His touch is too intense. Too desperate. I love it, but something is wrong. Spearing my fingers through the sides of his hair I guide him down for my kiss as he cups my ass and lifts me so he can bury his hard cock deep inside me with my back against the wall.
He isn’t wearing a condom. I could say something. Should say something. But having his baby would be a dream come true. I know that isn’t my decision to make. Still...
“Hawke, talk to me. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Nothing, I just need you. You are my everything and I could have lost you. Twice.”
“Hawke, you aren’t wearing a condom.”
“Fuck. Shit. I’m sorr—”
“Shush.” I gently hold his face, making him meet my gaze. “I want your baby. But that’s not what this is about. Something’s happened to put you off your game. Talk to me.”
“I love you so much, Laney. Now that I know you want me too, I need you more than I can even tell you. I can’t lose you.”
“Then tell me.”
“I need to keep you safe if they find us. I know you don’t want to go to the panic room. But if they’ve figured out our location already and are on the way...
“Vance is escalating backup, but it may be too late. We don’t know how long they’ve known. Vance wants to set a trap. I don’t want you in danger. I want you secure until I’ve handled the situation.”
“And I don’t want you risking yourself for me. I’ll always be in danger until Allen is behind bars.”
“I prefer that he’s six feet under.”
I cradle his cheek in my palm as the water sluices down on us. “It’s going to be okay. We’re locked down. I need you to hold me. Love me right now, then we’ll prepare for what comes later.”
He captures my lips like it’s the last time he’ll ever kiss me. His hand slides up between us fondling my breast and teasing my nipple. My ass rests on his other forearm. “A child... I never... I’ve always wrapped and been careful.”
“Do you want kids?”
He blushes. “Sometimes I’d fantasize about you and me married, making a home and a baby. The whole house and picket fence thing. I—I never expected any of it to come true. Making love with you is already more than I ever thought could happen.
“I’d probably suck as a dad.”
“Oh, Hawke, you will be the best dad. The way you watch out for everyone, care for everyone. My god, you’ll hover and probably drive the kids crazy.”
“Kids? As in plural? We need to talk to a doctor first to find out if we even should have one. I won’t risk you.”
“We have time for all that. Just love me now, Hawke. Just love me.”
“Laney, you are and have been my whole world since I first met you. Never doubt that.”
“And you are all I’ve ever wanted, Hawke.”
My back braced against the shower wall; he brushes wet strands of my hair from my cheek then covers my face and neck with gentle kisses and soft reverent touches.
I trace the scar on his forearm. ‘How did you get this one?”
“We were under heavy fire. I snuck around to take out one of the snipers. Something alerted him as I was reaching for him. Burn from the barrel of his rifle.”
The razor thin marks on his chest I’m sure are from a knife in hand-to-hand combat. I’ve also noticed what looks like a bullet graze on his left thigh.
He has more but the need to hold and comfort him takes over. “Now Hawke, take me now.”
I relish how he stretches me as he drives into me, filling me.
His thrusts escalate. I love the feel of his flesh on mine, no barrier between us.
The pleasure he gives me as we make love together.
His gentleness, his care, is like finally coming home.
Everything I dreamed and even more than I hoped it would be.
I pray I’m enough to heal his wounds. From the ones to the unwanted little boy with a neglectful mother to those from the horrors of the battlefield.
“I love you, Elias Hawke. Only you, forever.”
“Only you, Delaney Carter. You are my everything.”
“Take me deeper. Oh yes, that’s it. More. Harder.”
“Fuck, you’re made for me.” Sliding a hand between us he rubs his thumb over my clit sending me over the edge to release. He cries out as he follows.
As he holds me under the warm spray of water something blossoms between us and I swear our hearts just bonded and now beat as one. He stares down at me as if he felt it, too.
“Mine,” he whispers.
All I can do is smile. Smoothing my palm down his cheek and over his heart, I echo. “Mine.”
He washes my hair then my body like I am the most precious thing in the world. Hair dried and both of us dressed, he insists on carrying me to the kitchen and sitting me on the stool. While I make the salads from my seat, he prepares the mac and cheese and heats crispy pork strips.
“Didn’t know you could cook.”
He laughs. “Even I can do mac-n-cheese and follow the directions for the strips. I am pretty good with burgers on a grill, but the outside scent leaves a trail to follow. We can’t take any chances.”
“You could have probably given it to me raw tonight and it wouldn’t have mattered.”
He smirks. “I did give it to you raw a couple times.”
Laughing, I throw a spoon at him.
He insists I do a few more stretches and exercises after dinner while he does the dishes. Then he finds a checkerboard and proceeds to beat me six in a row.
“What is it with you? I’m considered pretty good at this.”
“I spent twenty years as an Army Ranger. Chess and checkers both are battlefield games. I understand war.”
His eyes tell me he knew all about battles and survival before he ever joined the military. When this is over, I’m going to give him what he’s never had. Peace and a home.