by Jaime Lewis
“Did this happen on a mission?” She decided to ask.
He chuckled and rubbed the scar. “No, I got this in high school. One winter, I slipped on a patch of ice on our farm and came down face first on a barbed wire fence.” She winced, thinking how bad that had to have hurt. She reached up and ran her finger along the scar again. “Do you have scars from your job?” She felt him tense and instantly regretted asking. “I’m sorry. That isn’t any of my business.”
He squeezed her hand and gave her an assuring smile. “No, it’s okay. You are bound to see some eventually. We all have scars. Some are visible, others are not, but we don’t talk about them. It’s just part of the job.”
She nodded her head in understanding. What these men go through are both physical and mentally challenging. “I get it. I may not know everything about your job, but I know enough not to ask questions.”
He rolled her onto her back and hovered above her. His lean muscular build was snuggled between her legs. So snuggly, she could feel his hard length against her belly, causing her to suck in a breath. He grinned, then lowered his face until his lips were just inches from hers. “That is what you do to me.” She felt her cheeks warm. He was very well endowed. “All that is for you. When you’re ready, of course.” He lowered his lips the rest of the way onto hers. This time, she was prepared for the kiss, but to her surprise, he was gentle and passionate. He made love to her mouth. Almost as if he were giving her a preview of what was to come. Gentle strokes of his tongue explored every inch of her mouth. His hands came up and cupped her cheeks as she placed her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. He pulled her bottom lip between his teeth, tugging at it before letting go. Her body felt so hot right now as he trailed his nose down her cheek to her neck, where he nuzzled the skin just below her ear. Apparently, it was a very sensitive area as the sensation sent her skin broke out with goosebumps and sending eruption signals down to a place that was dormant on the way to extinction. He took a deep breath before he lifted his head.
“When I pulled out of the parking lot that first night we met and watched you in my rearview mirror as you stood there staring at the back of my car, I knew I had to see you again. I just wish it hadn’t taken as long as it did. However, life got in the way. But I can’t complain because I love Sienna like she’s my own. Plus, if it wasn’t for her, I’ll never know if I would’ve found you. You deserve so much happiness, care, protection, and love. And I want to give you those things: me, my team, their women, and my family.
She smiled and lifted her head and kissed him. He rolled off her but pulled her close against him, and she snuggled in, taking in the scent of his aftershave and his soap. She could get used to this very easily as they both lay there. She placed her hand on his chest and traced her fingers with his. This man, a warrior who fought, protecting their country, was truly a gentle giant.
◆◆◆
Bailey’s phone vibrated, alerting her that she had a text. She knew it wasn’t her parents, checking to make sure she was okay. They never showed an inkling they cared, so why would they start now? She reached up behind Irish’s head and lifted it to see the screen and was surprised to see Alex’s name.
“It’s Alex,” she told Irish as she read the message. “She wants to know how we are holding up and since the storm isn’t too bad if we want to go to their house tomorrow morning for breakfast.”
Irish snorted. “She couldn’t wait until tomorrow morning to either call or text?”
“What do you mean?”
He had a wicked grin on his face and pulled her back next to him.
“I know Alex and her tactics. She’s fishing for information. What she really wants to know is how things are between the two of us. Trust me.”
“Okay…how should I respond?”
“Give me your phone.” She handed it over. “Now, come here.” He squeezed her even closer to him, and he held up the phone. “Smile.” He took the picture, then hit a few buttons.
“Wow!” He said, staring at the phone.
“What?”
He turned the phone towards her, and when she saw the picture, her throated tightened. “Wow is right.”
It was a beautiful picture of the two of them looking comfortable in one another’s arms. He pressed a few more buttons, then handed it back to her.
“What did you do?”
He grinned and shrugged his shoulders. “Just giving her the answer she really wants to know. Oh, and letting her know the three of us will be at breakfast.”
Her phone vibrated, and they both looked at the message.
“Holy shit, girlfriend! Tenley, Autumn, and I want details! I’ll have mimosas ready for us.”
Irish laughed, then looked at Bailey. “I told you,” she giggled and then laid her head back down against his body, and for the first time in her life, she felt happy and protected. And she was thankful that fate had led her here and into the arms of this amazing man. She let out a little giggle.
“What’s so funny?”
“It only took me twenty-six years to have my first boyfriend.”
She felt his body shake with laughter. Then she felt his lips against her cheek, and then what he whispered in her ear gave her goosebumps. “Your first and your last.” With those words, she snuggled closer and found herself falling fast asleep.
Chapter Seventeen
Irish blinked his eyes open and knew it was morning because of the sunlight coming in through the window. He was trained to be a light sleeper; his body and mind always seemed to be on alert, even in a state of sleep. He glanced over at the pixie who lay curled up beside him. She was so beautiful and seemed so full of life, and damn, it made him happy that she was his woman. Yes, he would admit it to anyone, Bailey Anderson was his woman, and that brought a big smile to his face.
Amazing couldn’t even begin to explain the woman Bailey was. The woman who lay sleeping and snoring was a rock star. He knew it had to have been difficult for her to share what she had with him last night. Though from everything she told him, he was pretty sure her life growing up had been a hell of a lot worse. He felt honored that she trusted him enough to share those years of agony with him. And he meant what he told her when he said he would be by her side when she woke up this morning and that nothing she told him would make him turn away from her.
To hear her speak about how her mother and father treated her ate at him. And that fucker Randy. He actually hoped the asshole came back again because that would give him the excuse to beat the shit out of him. From the sounds of it, when her grandfather died, she lost the only family who loved her. But what impressed him was how strong she was on the inside. She obviously had a good head on her shoulders to see what they were doing and escaped from their stronghold, even when money was thrown in her face. Nowadays, people are so money hungry, they would sell their souls to make a quick buck. Not Bailey, though, she went against her parents, even when they threatened to take away money. She hadn’t mentioned any other family besides an aunt, uncle, and cousin, and he wondered if she truly was alone and on her own. But that didn’t really matter because she wasn’t alone anymore. She had him now, and he would show her what family love really was. Hell, she already held his heart in her hands.
Suddenly, he got an odd feeling in his chest. Almost like the one he got the night he met her. He rubbed his hand down his face. Well, fuck me. I have her in my arms for one night, and I’m fucking in love.
He heard Sienna’s little giggle, a sound he has grown to love. He looked down, and there she sat staring at them with a huge smile on her face. Her presence must have been what woke him up. And, of course, Mr. Whiskers was right there with her with his motor running as she petted him. He swore that the cat’s purr was louder than a damn Harley.
“Hey, peanut. You sleep, okay?” She nodded her head. “No creatures got into your bedroom?”
She grinned, “No, Ms. Bailey was right. Her lantern is magic.”
At that moment, Bailey snuggled cl
oser to him, and he felt her smile against his neck. The little minx was playing opossum.
Sienna cocked her head sideways and looked between him and Bailey. “Uncle Ky…are you and Ms. Bailey going to get married?”
His head swung back to his niece. Where the fuck did that question come from?
“My friend Sara Jane said when her mommy fell asleep with her new daddy that they got married. Can I be in the wedding? I want to be a flower girl like Sara Jane was in her mommy’s wedding. Ooo… Can I wear a pretty poufy dress? Like my Wedding Day Barbie. I want to look pretty like her. Will we be a family too? That means she can move into our house. Will she share your room?”
As worried as Irish should be at what else little Sara Jane had told Sienna about mommies and daddies, he couldn’t hold back his laughter. And apparently, neither could Bailey. He could feel her body shaking, trying to hold in her laughter, but he could hear her little snickers. Shit, now he had to answer the question.
He put his mouth against Bailey’s ear so only she would be able to hear him. “I’m glad you find this so funny, sweetness. Any input would be much appreciated,” then gently bit down on her earlobe. He smiled when he heard her emit a faint gasp. God, how he wished he could nibble her entire body, but the thought of his audience had his growing erection slowly deflating.
He looked back at Sienna, who was shockingly patient, waiting for an answer.
This was not a conversation he had anticipated this morning. He cleared his throat. “Well, sometimes when mommies and daddies, whether they are new or old...” At that, Bailey laughed out loud, and he looked at her. “What? What did I say wrong?”
She sat up, brushing her hair that had fallen out of her ponytail off her face, and she looked at him. “You can’t say mommies and daddies are new and old.” Irish knew she wasn’t scolding him because her voice held some laughter to it.
She gestured to Sienna. “Come here, sweetie.” Sienna crawled over, and Bailey positioned her so she sat between Irish and her. “You see, marriage happens when two people fall in love.”
“Like the prince and princesses in my Disney movies,” Sienna asked with her nose scrunched up.
“Yes, that is a good example. Some people can fall in love over the years, and then some people fall in love the moment they meet someone.”
“Like you and Uncle Ky. Uncle Ky said he met you in a parking lot and helped you. Do you love Uncle Ky?”
“Well, there are times when people can fall in love at first sight.” Irish listened to every word Bailey said. He looked into her morning eyes as she held his gaze, and he swallowed hard. Was she insinuating that fate was real?
“Isn’t that right, Ky?” She asked, holding his stare, and all he could do was shake his head yes. He was afraid to speak for fear of the words he might spew because deep down in his heart, he knew he had fallen in love with Bailey the moment he looked in her eyes.
◆◆◆
Bailey sat back in the chair, looking at her new friends. Autumn, Alex, and Tenley had been trying to get her alone since she, Irish, and Sienna arrived for breakfast about an hour ago. The guys were all inside doing their thing before they had to leave to report to base. She took a sip of her mimosa, then set it down on the table. She was still giddy from waking up this morning next to Irish. She was also still a little embarrassed about everything she had shared with him last night. But he assured her with a scorching kiss that everything he told her last night hadn’t changed. She was Ky Daniels’ woman.
“I don’t know what you want me to spill?” She said, looking at the overzealous women. Alex had cooked up a breakfast buffet for everyone. Tenley was the lone person still eating. But she had an excuse. She was eating for three people: herself and the two little babies inside her tummy.
“Oh, come on. Alex showed us the picture of you and Irish. You two were all cuddled together. Irish doesn’t cuddle.”
Tenley scrunched her nose up. “Where were you anyway? It looked like you were in a tent. Oh, please tell me he didn’t make you guys sleep outside in the storm, so you could get a full experience of what the team has to endure on missions.”
Alex started laughing and pointed at Tenley. “Remember when you and Potter went on that camping trip a couple of months ago, and you thought he was taking you to Stitch’s cabin for a romantic weekend.”
Tenley rolled her eyes. “Ugh! I still give him shit about that trip.”
“What happened? A trip to a cabin in the mountains sounds very romantic,” Bailey asked, happy that her night with Irish wasn’t the center of attention anymore. Not that she was ashamed or anything.
Autumn laughed as she chimed in. “Oh, they went to the mountains, but Potter ‘accidentally’ forgot to tell her about their accommodations.”
“Lack of is a more suitable term,” Tenley huffed out as she rubbed her pregnant belly. “Oh, and I came home with a souvenir too.”
“From the woods?”
“Yeah, poison ivy on my ass. Apparently, my husband didn’t do a good enough recon, or he would’ve seen the patch of poison ivy I had been peeing in all weekend. Anyway, we weren’t talking about me. Let’s get back to your night.”
“I don’t know what you guys want me to tell you. Mostly, we just talked. Well, I guess it was just me that did most of the talking. I kind of spewed everything. Honestly, I thought I was going to scare him off.”
“What exactly did you tell him?” Alex asked.
“I told him about my childhood and how awful my parents were and still are. Then he told me I could ask him any question I wanted, and I made the mistake of asking him how many women he’s slept with.”
“Oh boy…and how did that go over.”
“He pleaded the fifth. But it wasn’t like you guys didn’t warn me. I knew about his past going into this. I understand he had a life before me.”
“That’s a good outlook to have, so what happened next?”
“Well, as the conversation moved along, we got on the subject of my sexual experiences.”
“So, you told him you were a virgin?”
“I did.”
“And? You can’t leave us hanging,” Tenley exclaimed around a mouth full of cinnamon bun that she had just shoved into her mouth.
“At first, he didn’t believe me.”
“Why the hell not?”
“I believe his exact words were, there was no way in hell that any man I dated would be able to keep his hands off me. Anyways, I explained a little more in-depth about my mother’s expectations of me to save myself for Randy. You know, the guy who showed up the other night. And how I got drunk one night and decided to take my own virginity, so to speak.”
She hadn’t explained that part to the girls, so she proceeded to tell them about the night she took her virginity and the part about her mother dragging her to the doctors to confirm it.
“Holy shit, Bailey. Your mother is a bitch,” Autumn, the quieter one of the three women, stated.
“Yeah, she is, and unfortunately, my father isn’t any better. Actually, he’s much worse.”
“So how was Irish after you told him all of that?” Alex asked.
“Surprisingly, he was very understanding. He hates my parents, and God help them if their paths ever cross.”
Alex reached out and covered her hand. “He’s a good guy, Bailey, and he will treat you well.”
“So, did anything happen between you two last night? Because that picture of you two cuddling doesn’t explain a whole lot,” Tenley asked.
“We kissed a little, but that was the extent of it. He knows my past and reservations, but he promised we’d take things at my pace.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that.”
Bailey gave her shoulder a shrug. “I don’t know. I guess it’s my inexperience wreaking havoc on my mind. I just don’t know how I’ll know I’m ready. I mean, the women who I’ve seen at Bayside and have obviously slept with him are beautiful and experienced. In the back of my mind, I keep aski
ng why he would choose me over them.”
“Oh, you’ll know, sweetie. And as far as why he chose you over the others is simple. You stand out from the others. Trust me, it just happens. Ask Alex and Autumn. It happened to them, and it happened to me. You meet that one person, and you know instantly you are meant to be with them. Plus, as soon as you and Irish bump uglies, you’ll be thanking the heavens from above for his experience. And you’ll be able to confirm the rumor.”
“Rumor? What rumor?” Bailey asked, very confused.
"Oh, Jesus, Tenley. Now you’re going to scare the poor girl,” Autumn scolded her friend, then took a sip of her drink.
Tenley leaned forward and spoke in a low voice, so the guys couldn’t hear with their super-sonic hearing. “Rumor has it that Irish has a tattoo in a certain special place. From what I’ve gathered through hearsay, this tattoo is how he got his call-sign.” Tenley waggled her eyebrows up and down. “None of the guys will tell us, so it looks like you’re going to take one for the team.”
Bailey absorbed Tenley’s words, and then it sunk in. “He has a tattoo on his penis?”
Tenley sat back and sipped her sparkling cider. She shrugged her shoulders. “Don’t know for sure, but Alex and I have overheard some conversations that have led us to believe he could.”
Oh shit…. Bailey picked up her mimosa and downed it as the women laughed.
◆◆◆
The guys were all kicked back around the kitchen table, where they could still keep an eye on the women outside. The kids were in the game room down the hall, watching tv and playing air hockey. The good news was the storm had just skirted the coast leaving minimal damage in its wake.
“So, you and Bailey looked cozy last night?”
Irish looked at Ace and grinned. “Alex showed you the picture, huh?”
“Yep. And hopefully, now she’ll stop talking about you and Bailey and how the two of you need to communicate and shit. No offense to either one of you, but I was starting to feel as if the two of you were going to join us in bed,” Ace stated, taking a drink of his coffee as the others snickered. That’s when Irish noticed the words on Ace’s coffee cup, and he busted out laughing.