Chapter 17 #2
“I’m sure.” Her words were strong as she looked up at me with so much trust it nearly took my breath away.
She was stronger than she realized, and I would do everything in my power to make her see it.
But that was a mission for another day. Right now, I had the girl of my dreams in my arms, and I needed my lips on hers.
Crowding her against the doorframe, I breathed her in before giving in to the siren call of her lips.
She tasted like sugar and ice cream. I deepened the kiss, teasing my tongue over her lips, demanding entry.
She opened for me as her hands pulled our bodies even closer.
Despite precariously balancing on my crutches, I didn’t want to stop.
We became so engrossed in each other that we lost all sense of time. Her taste, her lips, her scent, were a glorious, overwhelming tide that I happily let pull me under.
CLANG!
We both jumped as one of my crutches crashed to the floor. Gracie’s hands dug into my hips from fright and probably to keep me standing.
I pressed my forehead to hers. “Let’s get ready for bed.”
“Okay,” she breathed as she crouched to pick up my fallen crutch. “Here,” she said as she placed the crutch under my arm, moving in as she did to hug me. I rested my head over her shoulder and pulled her to me as best as I could with only my forearms.
She nestled against my chest, a perfect fit. As if destined for that spot. A spot that had always been hers.
We stayed like that, savoring the quiet moment meant only for us. Gracie and Malachi, Wildflower and Kai, my beginning and forever, before she pulled back to look at me. “Thank you, Malachi. I’ve missed you so much. I’m so glad our paths crossed again.”
I was, too. So thankful for everything that had led us back to each other.
For Indy, being accepted at the outpatient care facility as a physical therapist and moving to Missoula.
To him being assigned to Seb’s care after Seb was shot protecting his brother and brother’s partner from a deranged ex.
For her escaping Cain and finding Indy, to us both being in the same county, just towns apart.
That very first smile had always drawn me to her and now holding her in my arms felt like fate.
We had both endured significant hardships and carried our own wounds from the past, yet together, we possessed the capacity to forge something new, something uniquely our own.
Her touch, her kindness, her affection all softened my rough edges and filled the shadows with light.
She faced my darkness and didn’t blink. She was it for me, and I would fight like hell to keep her.
Moving back a bit, I attempted to compose myself amidst the surge of feelings that were close to engulfing me. “Would you like something to sleep in? I probably have a t-shirt that would work.”
She stared at me in a daze before shaking her head. “Yes, a t-shirt should work. Please.”
Her blushing and babbling were adorable. I headed to my dresser and found a well-worn shirt from my early training days. It was a simple black tee with faded gold lettering and would probably dwarf her slight frame, but it would have to do.
“Thanks,” she said as she took the shirt. “I’m just…gonna change…” She pointed to the bathroom before dashing off and closing the door. Her hasty exit made me chuckle.
I got to work doing my nightly exercises. Although I’d progressed considerably in the last year and especially in the last four months, it was essential to maintain my routine and care for my residual limb so I could keep doing everything I desired, on my own terms.
I was in the process of my first set of chair push-ups when Gracie came out, and I froze mid push up.
She was stunning. My shirt was so large on her it fell off one shoulder and dropped to her knees.
Her porcelain skin glowed against the dark fabric.
She’d shifted her hair into a plait that cascaded over her bare shoulder, and I had to swallow past the lump in my throat at her effortless beauty.
She hesitated in the doorway, running the hem of my shirt through her fingers as I stared at her.
My arms shook from holding my position, and I slowly lowered myself to the floor.
“D-d-do you have everything you need?” How could her wearing my old Army shirt be so sexy? I had to fight myself to look away from her as my cock took far too much notice. “There should be a new toothbrush under the sink.”
Get a grip! You’re a Delta Force operator. Get it together.
“Thanks,” she uttered before returning to the bathroom. “I won’t be long,” she called out.
As I moved my head, I tried to concentrate again on my physical exercises.
Counting my reps and moving onto the next task, I was sweating and panting, but not from my routine this time.
I was so focused on finishing my exercises that I didn’t hear her come back until I’d finished and saw her sitting up in bed fiddling with her phone.
“Sorry. Got to keep on top of my fitness.” I panted as I stretched from my modified plank position.
She glanced at me, and color flooded her cheeks. “It’s no problem. Ah, do you have a spare charger?” She waved her phone back and forth. “It’s almost dead.”
“I should. Let me grab a quick shower, and then I’ll bring it in.” I moved over to kiss her cheek, loving the sight of her in my bed.
I hurried through my shower and dried off, wrapping a towel around my waist before heading back into my room.
Gracie was fast asleep, phone on her chest and a lock of her strawberry hair over her eye.
Moving forward slowly in my wheelchair, I shifted the lock off her face and tucked it behind her ear.
Her freckles stood out, and her dark lashes looked even thicker, fanned out against her cheeks.
She looked so peaceful. My heart swelled that she was here with me and felt safe enough to fall asleep.
From the snippets she’d told me, I didn’t think she’d had that type of peace until she left Cain.
I went into the spare room, grabbed the extra charger, and locked up the house.
Snow had piled up on the windowsill, but it was still only a slight fall.
I didn’t think we’d be in any danger overnight.
Rolling back into my room, I carefully removed her phone from her hands and plugged it in.
I made sure to set it within reach on the nightstand before going to my side and pulling myself onto the bed.
As I got comfortable, I realized that this was the first time I’d spent the night with a woman, and my last thought before sleep took me was, I was glad it was her.