Chapter 10 #2
He nods, “Country Boy, his mom never gave up on me. She got me a lawyer since the appointed one kept telling me to take the plea deal. It took some time and a lot of money on their part, but I eventually cleared my name. Since I was still underage, upon my release I lived with Country Boy. My grandpa died in the nursing home before I got released. I’m not sure if he ever understood the truth of what happened, and I have to live with that.
I couldn’t save her, Jo. But I promised myself I’d never lose someone else I care about to the hands of a man who was no man at all. ”
Reaching out, I cup his face and feel the softness of his beard under my hand. “You are a good man, Dean O’Neal.”
He shakes his head. “Not good, just a man who was taught what is right. I’m telling you this, so you know the kind of man I am. I won’t ever hurt you or Justice, but I won’t ever back down from protecting you or the people I care about.”
This is the first moment I can ever remember feeling safe since the last night I spent with Jonah at home beside me. Deployments are lonely and scary. I was afraid while he was away. Jonah gave me a security I never had before and never thought I would feel again until this very moment.
Sliding my hands around his neck, I pull him to me. His hands slide up my thighs. Our breaths mix with the night air as his forehead rests against mine.
His voice is thick and low, “You sure about this? I want you Jo, but I don’t want you to feel rushed or forced.”
I nod before pressing my lips to his. “I want you, Dean. I can’t promise easy, but I can promise to try.”
His mouth crashes to mine as desire cascades through my body. Our lips tangle, demanding, urgent. I arch up, my fingers digging into his neck as he leans into me. His head drops to my neck. Twisting, I notice a sleeping bag and pillow in the back of the truck.
“Umm,” I mutter, and his attention moves from my neck to what I’m looking at.
“Been sleepin’ in the truck to hear better if your asshole ex decided to be a fool and come back snoopin’.”
My heart beats wildly in my chest. I don’t know what to think. “You’ve been sleeping in the back of your truck to keep a better eye on things because you know the kind of trouble Brett is?”
“Yeah, Jo. Shit I went through, he ain’t getting near you like he has in the past. The days of his hands being on your body are over.”
I scoot back into the bed of the truck, tugging on Dean’s shirt giving him the cue to follow. And follow he does.
He crawls over me as I lay back onto the sleeping bag and pillow. His weight over me giving me a security and comfort as my body burns for more contact. His mouth on mine our tongues dance as my hands roam up his shirt feeling the taut muscles of his back.
Hands move both mine and his, my shirt plucked from my body, buttons forgotten as I pull his over his head. The night air is chilly against my skin but inside I burn for the man over me. He drops his head, his mouth taking my nipple. The brush of his beard against my flesh sends quivers through me.
He kisses up to my throat, his teeth scraping my sensitive skin.
My fingers tangle in his hair, tugging as he groans against my skin.
Sliding down, kissing me as he goes, I arch into him seeking more contact.
His hands reach the top of my shorts sliding them off me along with my panties.
Exposed under the night sky I don’t feel shame or insecurity. In fact, I feel empowered and desired.
As he kisses his way back over me, I reach down to the band of his sweats sliding them over his ass and down as he shifts sliding them completely off himself.
Skin to skin, I feel his hard, thick, length against my thigh.
Shifting I wrap my leg around his back putting him against my core.
With him pressed against me I feel myself aching with need as my breaths come out in pants.
His hand roams between us. I feel his fingers slide between my lips coated in my desire as he slides one digit inside me. His mouth on mine, I am lost in sensation as he works me, and I feel it all building.
“Dean,” I pant, “please,” I whine.
With a slight shift, I feel him at my entrance.
Slowly with his eyes locked to mine in the most intimate way I’ve ever experienced he enters me.
Inch by inch he slides inside. Gently, teasing, savoring, and I feel ready to burst from fullness and desire.
I arch slightly and that’s all it takes.
Patience is gone as he rocks into me and the truck bed creaks under us.
“Jo,” he whispers into the night air as his breath comes down hot on my neck.
He moans and I feel myself climbing higher and higher.
Every milometer of my body comes to life as he grips my hips pulling me closer, sliding into me closer, deeper, harder.
The stars in the night sky are a blur as I dig my fingers into his back having so many sensations overtake me.
I can only find myself gripping him and holding on for the ride as my climax comes on fast.
“Dean,” I cry out into world not caring that we are out in the open. He thrusts once more as his hot seed fills me before he collapses over me. We are tangled and breathless as I take in this feeling of euphoria.
“Never gonna sleep inside again,” he mutters rolling off me and I instantly wish he was still pulsing inside me. Pulling me to him, he drapes my body half over him as we both steady our breathing.
I feel our combined fluids trickle out of me but I’m too satiated to move to clean up.
“Never had it so good,” he whispers to no one in particular.
My heart aches knowing what he’s been through. I can only imagine what knowing me has brought up inside him.
“You’re a good man, Dean O’Neal.”
He laughs, “don’t let the orgasm cloud your view, babe. I’m not a good man, but I promise I’ll be good to you for as long as you’ll let me.”
“How can you be so confident when you don’t know me?” I ask feeling my own insecurities creep up.
“Growin’ up in that shit, I had to learn to read the room.
Reading people meant pain or peace. Jo, you have awoken a part of me I thought could never be alive.
The protector in me yes, but the lover in me, I thought he was dead.
You brought out this softness the moment I met you at Country Boy’s.
A softness my sister used to talk about me holding onto as I grew into a man.
A softness she craved and never found. I didn’t think it existed.
Thought that shit was a fairytale, until my eyes locked to yours.
Inside you I could see the man I wanted to be for you, for your son. That’s when I understood.”
“Never pegged you as romantic,” I tell him the truth as his words are a balm to my soul.
“Not one. Just been through enough shit in life, I know myself well. This right here, worth every sad moment, every loss, and every bit of pain. I’m not letting go.”
I snuggle in closer. My naked body against his. “I don’t think I want you do,” I whisper relaxing against him.
He gives me a gentle squeeze before reaching under the pillow to pull out another blanket I didn’t see before and wrapping us in it.
“Mine,” he whispers, and I embrace the claim.