Dixie Under Siege (A Warrior's Passion Book 2)

by Natasza Waters

  “That’s me,” she said in a small voice.

  “No, it’s not. And I’m not making things any better.” He played poker once in a while, but he wasn’t great at the game. “If you want me to leave you alone, I will.”

  A pregnant pause ensued before, she answered. “Yeah, okay.”

  It would have hurt less if she’d stabbed him in the chest with a jagged knife. Until now, catching Chandler ate up every ounce of his waking hours. Now that Dixie’s stalker was gone, Josh mistakenly thought the gates would open. Why was she afraid to step forward?

  He shifted in his seat to look at her. “Yeah, okay? What’s happening here, because I’m not following? You’re safe and free of Chandler. That’s all—”

  She gazed out the windshield. “I’m safe…but not free of him. I know that sounds crazy and probably makes no sense to you.”

  He took in her lovely profile, wishing he could change the past. Ghost had warned him that what happened to Dix would never heal completely. She needed to believe if things got rocky, he wouldn’t leave. Her whole life had been spent walking on a rug that could be yanked from beneath her feet. Josh needed to be her solid ground.

  “It’s not crazy. I know he was the last man to touch you. If that’s what you’re worried about, I don’t expect—”

  Her brow crushed together. “I avoided seeing you this week to give you a chance to steer clear of me.”

  Say what?

  He couldn’t help himself and chuckled. “Sweetheart, why in the hell would I want to do that?”

  Dixie cleared her throat. “You came roaring out of the bushes, and it didn’t take long for me to fall in love with you again.” She sniffed. “You’re leaving on deployment, and I’m already scared to death of losing you. That’s not healthy. It’s not right.” She shook her head.

  Josh grinned and his heart swelled with relief. “No, sweetheart, I’m not.”

  “What?” Her eyes widened.

  “Following in Ghost’s steps doesn’t mean I have to stand in every footprint he left behind. My career is important, but not more important than you. I’m not going anywhere in August.”

  With an unexpected flurry of movement, she scrambled over the console and straddled his lap, then kissed him. Not sweetly, but with heat and hunger. Josh thread his fingers through her silky hair, feasting on her mouth, accepting every desperate kiss. Her delicate fingers dug into his shoulders as if clinging for dear life.

  Awww, sweet Dixie. To calm her down, he cupped her face in his hands, then gently placed a soft, healing kiss on her mouth. “Chandler is dead. He can’t hurt you anymore.” Josh brushed his mouth against her pillowy lips again.

  Her pretty gaze landed on him with a thousand unspoken questions. “I don’t want to stifle you.”

  Was she kidding?

  Her brow pinched together. “I don’t know what’s too much or too little in a relationship.”

  Josh swept his thumb along her cheek. “If anybody is going to stifle anyone, it’s me. I want to be the man you depend on. If it’s too much, tell me to go to hell and I’ll reluctantly give you space. When you’re ready to have all of me, all you have to do is ask, sweetheart.”

  She inhaled a shaky breath and gazed into his eyes. “I’m asking now.”

  By the time they were horizontal, she’d already loosened his belt and released his zipper. The next few seconds erupted into sensual chaos. Her jeans were gone, her t-shirt tossed on the passenger seat. Thank fucking God for cab seating.

  He palmed her gorgeous breasts. “Oh, goddamn, you feel so good.” His hands couldn’t move fast enough to touch all of her.

  The frenzy blinded him. He devoured her mouth and when her hot core slid over his erection, there was no turning back.

  She rode him hard, her firm nipples rubbing against his chest.

  Panting.

  Wild.

  Erotic.

  Dixie’s wet channel spasmed as she cried out with her release. Josh was right there with her, quaking and coming inside her heat. Her warm breath washed past his ear, and her body shuddered. It wasn’t a surprise when tears rolled down her cheeks.

  Not a couple drops, but a purging. He wrapped his arms around her silky body and grieved right along with her.

  “It’s okay, sweetheart. It’s over. It’s all over,” he whispered.

  She lifted her head, her cheeks wet. “The men you lead are incredible. They love their families. Their wives are amazing women. I’m so proud of what you accomplished. And I’m so sad I wasn’t there to share it with you.”

  He smiled, fingering a wisp of brown hair from her face. “You were there, sweetheart. I didn’t leave Utah without taking a piece of you with me. I told you when I was active in the theater, something always brought me home. That something was the memory of the girl next door, who I never forgot.”

  A car drove into the parking area and they ducked, then broke out laughing as they quickly dressed. Luckily, it was a couple taking their dog for a walk, not a cop on patrol. The last time they were caught in the act, her mother had asked if they’d been safe. They had, but they weren’t teenagers anymore and passion had tossed safety overboard.

  Once she settled in the passenger seat and he’d straightened so he could drive, Josh started the engine. From the moment Dixie reappeared on his radar, he hadn’t hooked up with any woman. A few minutes ago, they didn’t stop to consider much but feeding the flames. If she wasn’t on birth control, and he doubted she was, how the hell were they going to explain to the oldest that he or she was conceived in the front of a Dodge pickup?

  “You hungry?” he asked.

  “Not really.” Dixie blushed. “But I do have a home and a very comfortable bed.”

  “My place,” he said, and shifted into reverse.

  They didn’t stop to eat. They didn’t bother to have a drink. When they reached his townhouse, she gripped the hem of his shirt and tore it over his head the second he closed the front door. Eager as a teenager, he pinned her to the door and stripped her clothes, then carried her upstairs to his bedroom.

  Together, he and Dix made ecstasy blush. They spent hours pleasing, touching, and taking each other to bliss and back.

  With their passion sated, they held each other, talking about home, remembering the crazy things they’d done as kids, and reminisced about old friends.

  Near midnight, still in bed and on their sides facing each other, he forked his fingers through hers. He didn’t have to ponder.

  “Dix, do you want to go to Mexico for our honeymoon?”

  She blinked with surprise and pushed to a sitting position. “Umm, say what?”

  Laying on his back, he tucked his hands behind his head and smiled up at her. “Bahamas would work too. Europe, if you want.”

  “But I thought you didn’t want to marry—”

  He pressed a finger to her lips and shook his head. “You’re my best friend. I want to spend the rest of my life with you…” He paused and cleared his throat. “…and the mother of our children.”

  Dixie straddled his hips. God, he loved looking up at her beautiful body, her thick brunette hair cascading over her shoulder in waves.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Am I sure that you’re pregnant? Oh, yeah.” He chuckled. “I’m so sure, that if I’m wrong, I’ll redo Hell Week with the next class.”

  She burst out laughing. “Should I let your men know about that little wager?”

  He grinned. “Go ahead. It’s our turn, Dix. I’m ready to be a father.” He gently traced circles around her firm nipple with his thumb. “I was sure fifteen years ago, and I still am.”

  She, in turn, trailed her finger across his bicep. “Then I’ll meet you at the church.”

  As if the world turned from complete shadow to a blistering sunrise, a future he thought would stay in their senior yearbook, finally came true. Nothing could stop him from putting a ring on Miss Hammond’s finger this time.

  “Are we playing hooky tomorr
ow?” She stretched over him, breasts brushing against his pecs.

  He palmed Dixie’s ass and rolled them over, then eased his erection into her hot channel. “You’re under siege, sweetheart, and the interrogation has just begun.”

  Her hips lifted, meeting every erotic stroke, and her eyes smoldered. “Make me surrender.”

  “Oh, believe me. I will.” Josh’s heart swelled to the point of bursting before losing himself in the woman he loved.

  Epilogue

  Josh stepped around the packed moving boxes and turned on the coffeemaker when he heard Dix descend the staircase. They had a busy July Fourth weekend ahead. Earlier, he’d quietly gotten out of bed, careful not to disturb her sleep. Usually, he woke her with gentle kisses each morning, but she needed to rest.

  His sexy fiancé strode into the kitchen wearing a t-shirt with SEAL Groupie applied across the left breast that the other wives had given her as a joke.

  Josh grinned and wrapped his arms around Dixie’s slender waist.

  “Morning, Commander,” she said, smiling at him.

  Although Dix loved to tease and call him her Hung Hero, she also admitted how often her heart swelled with pride for what he’d accomplished in his life. He felt the same way about the amazing woman in his arms. She’d always been independent, and Dixie’s inner strength carried her through tough times. Now, he’d be there for the rest of their journey.

  “Mornin’, sweetheart. You get enough sleep?”

  “Missed my morning wake-up kisses.” She tilted her head back and smiled. “Is that grin on your face ever going away?”

  He chuckled. Hell, no. Their mind-blowing intimacy and long overdue reunion had resulted in a miracle. When she’d shown him the pregnancy test, confirming they were having a baby, Dixie’s expression had swayed between happy and uncertain. For a few heartbeats he’d been speechless. Then a feeling of complete and utter joy swarmed through him like he’d never experienced before. Josh had crushed the poor woman in his arms and kissed her breathless.

  His heart ticked wildly as her soft hands slid around his neck. “Won’t deny I feel like beating my chest most days. How’s the morning sickness?”

  “Not bad today.” She peeked over his shoulder. “God, that coffee smells good. Movers said they’d be here by nine. You don’t have to take the day off. I can handle it.” She winked at him. “Moving’s my speciality.”

  Josh nibbled his way down her neck, because—well, he needed to make up for fifteen lost years. “Not a chance,” he said next to her ear, then planted a delicious, deep kiss on her mouth. “I’m sticking around to make sure you take it easy. I’ll do the heavy lifting.”

  “Yes, sir.” Dix saluted him, then strolled over to the counter and drew two mugs from the cabinet.

  They’d packed the kitchen last night and only left a few things out for this morning.

  Once Dix had agreed to marry him, they didn’t waste a second. In June, Dix moved into his place and they put his townhouse on the market. They didn’t expect it to sell so fast, but three days later, they had a buyer. The deal on their new four-bedroom rambler in Elijah and Rayne’s neighborhood closed a couple weeks later. Because the housewarming party on Memorial Day weekend had been a bust thanks to Kallis, Rayne and Eli were hosting a Fourth of July party tomorrow night.

  But most importantly, before Alpha Squad deployed next month, he and Dix were tying the knot in a low-key ceremony with friends and his family. They’d sent an invitation to her mother and siblings. All of them but Sasha politely declined.

  Dix hadn’t expected any different. His beautiful spitfire read the letter from her mom and brothers, which came in one envelope, and excused herself to deal with her sadness in private, but he wasn’t going to let her cry without his shoulder. Josh held her until she’d purged the hurt. Then reminded her that they couldn’t change the past, but soon they’d be parents and wouldn’t make the same mistakes.

  Josh watched as Dixie added a little milk to her favorite mug with the Erotic Bean logo on the side and waited for the coffee maker to beep.

  “Dix, I love you. That’s the only reason I might come across as overbearing at times.”

  The truth was a little more complex. The thought of losing Dixie or the baby had him in fucking knots. Finding Dix had been a blessing. Loving her as much as he did brought a wave of protectiveness that gained strength each day.

  Dixie rested her palm over her stomach. “I know.” She smiled. “Our little HVT is all that matters.”

  “Hankering for spicy enchiladas again?” he teased. Dix had a cute way of changing the numerous acronyms Frogs used. She’d learned plenty from the SEAL wives. HVT meant High Value Target in their profession. She redefined the term as Hunter’s Voracious Tot. Dixie’s cravings had tasked him on several late night missions to the grocery store.

  “Nope, I should lay off the spicy stuff. But it’s early, I might change my mind.”

  When her cell rang, she drew the phone from her back pocket and placed it on the counter, selecting speaker.

  “Morning, Rayne.”

  “Hey! Morning. Eli and I are on our way.”

  Prior to deployment, Alpha Squad enjoyed a period of leave to spend time with family. Lately, Josh couldn’t help but overhear some of Dixie’s conversations with Rayne. Elijah, being Alpha Squad’s lieutenant, would leave in August with the men. This would be Rayne’s first lengthy separation. And more to come, depending on how long Eli decided to stay active.

  Dix shook her head and smiled. “Told you, we don’t need the help. We hired movers. Enjoy your time off with Elijah.”

  Eli’s strong timbre erupted over the phone’s speaker. “Don’t want the soon-to-be Mrs. Hunter putting any strain on that bundle of joy. Frogs are all on their way, Dix. With all of us, you’ll be out of there in no time.”

  She swung her gaze to Josh and shrugged. “Guess I’m buying beer and pizza. See ya soon.” Dix hung up, then nipped at her top lip. “Rayne’s scared to death.”

  He nodded. “I know. But she has her parents and the team wives. She’s not alone.”

  The coffeemaker beeped and Dix filled both cups, offering him one. “My life used to remind me of a broken puzzle in a box. The pieces kept shifting around, never connecting into anything meaningful. Until I moved here. There’s something to be said about routine. Living with the unknown is incredibly stressful and I think that’s what’s bothering Rayne.”

  Last night when they’d gone out for dinner, Dix seemed distracted after a heart to heart call she’d had with Rayne. “I hope you don’t feel guilty.”

  She sighed. “Of course, I do. All the wives struggled through so many sleepless nights. Raised the kids as a single parent while their husbands were God knows where, fighting God knows who. I haven’t earned my stripes in that regard.”

  Sipping the hot brew from his cup, he mulled over her concerns. “Want me to go?”

  She sputtered. “No!” Her brows arched and she set down the cup. “I’ll live with the guilt.” Dix paused. “Unless—you want to go.”

  Josh placed his mug on the counter and collected his beautiful partner in his arms. “Here’s the thing—” He chuckled because she’d inhaled a deep breath and hadn’t let go yet. “You and I were on a fifteen year deployment. You were alone for all that time. I continue to serve and probably will until I retire, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to be anywhere but by your side when our baby comes into this world.”

  Dixie let out her breath with an audible woosh. She cupped his jaw and smiled. “You’re sure? I mean, really sure.”

  Clasping her waist, he lifted Dix and set her on the island counter, positioning himself between her legs. “Yeah, babe. I’m very sure. I don’t want to miss changing diapers or their first steps. That’s the sacrifice those who serve often make. All those years ago, you and I both had something to prove. The mistake was not realizing we could have done that together and still chased our dreams.”

  She scooted closer and
pressed a sweet kiss on his lips. “Some mornings I wake up and I’m afraid to open my eyes in case this is all a dream.”

  He lifted his arm and glanced at his watch. “I know a way to convince you. It’s only seven-thirty. Think I should put you back to bed.”

  She chuckled, knowing he didn’t intend on letting her sleep. A second later, the back door flew open and Eli and Rayne walked in.

  “Coffee’s on. Excellent,” his best friend said, traipsing through the kitchen. Eli stopped up. “Oh, did we interrupt something?” He chuckled. “Can’t get her pregnant twice, man.”

  Josh snorted. “Yeah, look who’s talking, asshole.” It was out of his mouth before he could stop it. Both women glared at him.

  Eli blinked. “What?”

  “Um.” He shrugged. “Nothin’. Help yourself to a cup.”

  Eli pivoted on his heel to look at Rayne who stood stock-still, her cheeks flushed red. His best friend’s brow creased. “Want a coffee, sweetie?” he asked.

  Rayne clasped her hands. “No, thanks.”

  The air in the room stilled. Josh and Dixie shared a tentative look, but he didn’t hold much hope that Eli missed his slip up.

  Elijah side-stepped his way back toward Rayne. “Come to think of it, I haven’t seen you drinking any coffee for a while. Why is that?”

  Her eyes rounded with innocence. “No reason. Just—you know, too much caffeine isn’t good for the…nerves.”

  Alpha Squad’s lieutenant reached the love of his life and looked her square in the eyes. “Rayne?”

  She cleared her throat. “Yes, honey?”

  Eli shot a look over his shoulder toward Josh, then back to his fiancée. “What’s going on here?”

  Although Josh was Rayne’s commanding officer, the glare she shot across the room could torch gyprock. “Commander, you’re, you’re…a blabbermouth.”

  She straightened her shoulders and blinked her long, dark lashes at Eli. “It’s a surprise.”

  Eli took an unsteady step backward. Then another. And another, until his ass struck the island. “Surprise?” he asked warily.