Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
PATIENCE
Dusty fit right in.
When we walked into Jett’s childhood home, she was shocked to see the number of people already at the house. However, when they just kept spilling in—men, women, and a ton of kids—she shook her head in amazement.
“We have some family and friends around, but it’s nothing like this when we see each other,” she told us. “And I’m an only child, so there weren't any other kids in the house growing up.”
Alley didn’t wait long to jump into the fray, showing the newcomer her spunky personality. Dusty’s eyes widened once more when the door opened, and Bodie, Gemma, and their clan walked in. Alley leaned toward her and said, “You’re not in Kansas anymore.”
All of us who were there started cackling—Dusty herself joining in. Everyone started to calm down, but when Dusty said, “I feel like I’m back home on the farm. Y’all sound like a bunch of hens,” we started up again.
I knew Jett had been both happy and nervous that she was coming. For the last few years he’d been telling me that he couldn’t wait for me to meet his buddies—which included Dusty. But I sensed the sorrow that sat heavy in his heart because he’d never get to introduce me to the others.
Sure, there were other men and women he had served with, but the men he’d lost, those were the ones he had been the closest to.
Honestly, I think Dusty coming was just what he needed, and it sounded like it was what she had needed as well.
There’d been no reason for him to be nervous because she seemed to be enjoying herself.
Although, I was almost sure the nerves stemmed more from worry over how he may react with her around after what happened.
It was pretty incredible how well she meshed with everyone, including the kids.
Griffin had taken right to her when we first arrived. My little man did have a way with words, and he didn’t wait to tell Dusty what was on his mind. He was a spectacular child and made me so proud.
He’d wrapped his arms around her legs, looking up at her like he tended to do a lot with the adults.
As with me, he didn’t have to strain his neck as much with Dusty because we were both short and small.
Not that it mattered with her—small or not, I had a feeling she probably could take on men twice her size and put them in their place.
Verbally, Dusty could spar with the best of them. She’d already busted Jett’s balls numerous times, which had me cracking up.
But the ballbuster herself teared up when my son said, “Thank you for helping to bring my daddy back to me. I missed him so much.” He gave her a cute smile. “My mommy is happier now too.” Then he looked at her cane before glancing back up to her with a solemn expression. “I’m sorry you got hurt.”
It was then I knew that Dusty might be tough as nails, but she had a big heart. Hurt or not, she slid down onto her knees, even as I tried to protest, so she could give Griffin a big hug. Then she pulled back and looked at him, her hands resting on his shoulders.
“Your daddy saved my life.”
Griffin’s eyes got big, and a thoughtful expression flashed across his face. It was the one I saw when he was trying to determine something.
“I might have gotten hurt, but it could have been worse. Your dad protected me and took care of me,” she told him.
Jett made a weird noise, and I could see he was struggling. Dusty turned her head to look at him. “It’s true. I wouldn’t be here today without you.”
Thankfully, before Jett could argue, deny, or before I completely lost it, Griffin seemed to figure out what he’d been contemplating.
“‘Cause he’s a hero, right?”
Dusty looked back at our son. “You got it. Your daddy is definitely a hero.”
“I’m going to go tell everyone.” As he took off running, he yelled, “See ya later.”
Jett helped Dusty up just as the door opened again.
It was good timing since it was clear my husband didn’t want to talk about what had been said.
Gyth, Summer, and their son walked in, which was perfect.
Dusty and Gyth had a lot in common both having had leg injuries that took them out of the military.
Even Dexter, Gyth’s boy—at only ten—could understand the hardships of healing and adjusting from a major injury. Maybe even more so since he’d lost a leg and had to wear a prosthesis.
Once introductions were made, the group began talking, and I walked over to Jett. Laying my hand on his back as I had earlier at the airport, I could feel the tension in his body.
Deciding on a different course of action than just caressing his back to try and calm him, I snatched his hand up in mine and dragged him toward the stairs.
“We’ll be right back,” I called out, getting a questioning look from Summer, a silly grin from Gyth, and a knowing look, along with a nod from Dusty.
No questions asked, Jett followed me, his hand gripped tightly in mine—not to the point it hurt. Reaching the room I’d had in the house for many years, I softly shut the door behind us. Dropping Jett’s hand, I turned to face him.
“You need to relax. I know it’s hard to think of yourself the way Dusty just described you, but she told the truth.”
He shook his head, and I knew he wasn’t going to listen. Today was supposed to be fun, and Jett needed that more than anyone. Except for Dusty, they both could use a carefree day.
I had to take matters into my own hands.
Stepping toward him, I went up on my tiptoes and wrapped both my hands around the back of Jett’s neck, yanking him so close that no space existed between us. I attacked his mouth hungrily. At his sharp inhale, I took advantage and slid my tongue inside.
In an instant, his hands slid around me, and his palms covered my jean-clad bottom. We both threw ourselves into the kiss with gusto, a moan vibrating in my throat when his hands squeezed my ass. It was the kiss I’d been wanting in the hall earlier, but the privacy of the moment was working for us.
Maybe too well.
Feeling wild and out of control, I did a little hop and wrapped my legs around my husband’s waist. He turned us, and in a nanosecond, I found my back slammed against the wooden door.
Our cores were pressed tightly against one another, and I squirmed to find more purchase, desperate to feel him between my legs.
Pressing against me harder, we ground against one another, and my fingers thrust into his hair, grasping at the strands as a tingling sensation began between my thighs. Heat, friction, and his huge bulge fueled me on, and I moaned into his mouth, caught up in the ecstasy of it all.
I pulled my mouth from his and demanded, “Almost there. Don’t you dare stop!”
Jett’s mouth latched onto the sensitive skin on my neck just below my ear, and that was all it took. I exploded, crying out as my orgasm possessed my body. A deep groan faintly fluttered to my ears over our pounding hearts and heavy breaths, panting in sync with one another.
Our breathing slowed, bodies relaxed, and then our eyes met. His electric blue eyes were still heavy with lust.
“Did you take a special course in distraction technique?”
He released me, letting my legs fall, and my feet hit the floor. Then he looked down between us, and my eyes widened as he said, “Well, that’s embarrassing.”
Giggling, I preened, feeling ten feet tall that my ploy to get him to relax had worked. I felt a bit smug that he’d lost it like I had.
“You find it funny that I just went off in my pants like a teenager?”
That just made me laugh harder.
He stared at me until I’d gotten control of myself. “It wasn’t supposed to happen that way,” he said softly.
“Please don’t say it was a mistake,” I pleaded.
I couldn’t handle feeling like he thought it was a mistake. Or what if he decided at that moment he wasn’t attracted to me that way and wanted to go back to only being friends?
“Or that you didn’t like it,” I rushed to add.
Jett made a scoffing sound. “I just went off like a rocket in my pants, unable to control myself. I think it’s safe to say I loved every fucking second of that.”
Grabbing my hips, he pulled me into him again. “I’ve been waiting years to do every dirty thing imaginable with you and make love to you too. But I told you weeks ago, you deserve better than some rushed orgasm while everyone we know is downstairs.”
A sharp breath whooshed out of me. Crap, I forgot about all the people in the house.
His eyes lit with laughter. “I’m guessing like me, you didn’t remember a single one of them when we got caught up in the moment.”
Shaking my head, I admitted, “Sure didn’t. But Jett…”
Staring into my eyes, he softly asked, “Yeah?” when I stalled too long to finish my sentence.
“I deserve anything and everything when it comes to you. Whatever happens, however it happens, as long as it’s with you, I’m all in.”
Jett leaned his forehead against mine, a move he did a lot with me—always had, since we’d met. He tended to do it when he wanted me to feel his emotions.
“I want to be all in too, sweetheart.” He sighed. “I’m trying to get there because there is nobody else that I ever want it all with.”
Tears pricked my eyes. “I know, honey. I’m not going anywhere.”
He closed his eyes, emotions clearly grabbing hold. I’d brought him up here to relax so he could enjoy the party, and things were getting heavy. We needed it; I couldn’t deny that, but I also wanted to see him laughing with everyone waiting downstairs.
Trying to lighten the mood, and also knowing we had to get back before they all realized we were gone, I said, “You know the only issue we have right now to worry about is the mess we both have going on in our pants.” I glanced down at his crotch, then back up.
“Your mess may be a lot bigger than mine.”
Jett’s eyes popped open, and he threw his head back, laughing. It was just the sound I’d been seeking.
Releasing me, he said, “Good thing we both still have clothes here.”
Since we were in my room, I didn’t have to go anywhere to clean up, but Jett had to sneak down the hall to his room to do that.
“Be back in a second,” he told me before rushing out and shutting the door.
Should this be weird between us? We’d been best friends for so long. The answer fluttering around in my heart was no—my body, particularly my lady parts were totally on board. Sometimes I wished we hadn’t wasted time, and this should have happened years ago, but life had a plan for us.
I believed our time had come.
When he came back in, I was all changed and ready to go.
Jett slid his hand into mine as we made our way downstairs. We had spent so much time together in soft, intimate moments as friends, but this was so much different.
It felt right.
And the orgasm felt spectacular.
Let’s just hope nobody noticed what we’d been doing.