Secure Again

by R L Dunn

  "Your fee? Don't I need to sign a retainer?"

  "Kieran Chase already did," Terry said.

  "I don't know Kieran Chase."

  "Ask Mr. Bailey." The lawyers packed their briefcases, leaving her with her thoughts and Martin.

  Chapter Nine

  "Thank you." Elizabeth walked the attorneys and Zach to the door. After seeing them out, she turned around to see Martin standing behind her. Her shoulders lowered in defeat. "Why are you doing this for me, Marty?"

  "You're not a murderer." There was a soft, protective look in his gray eyes.

  Elizabeth turned away from him. "You don't know. It’s better if you leave.”

  "I do, and I’m not going anywhere, Sunshine." He moved closer and wrapped his arms around her. A shudder traveled down her whole body. "I understand some of what happened after I left. I'm so sorry, I wish I could have been there for you."

  "How?" Tears came flooding out in a torrent.

  Martin gathered her against his body, scooped her up and carried her into the living room. On the couch, he cradled her in his lap as her warm tears soaked his chest. With her head tucked under his chin, he caressed her silky hair and let her cry. "I received a background check on you."

  Elizabeth pushed up to study him. "What? How? Marty, why would you do that?" she spluttered, struggling to make sense of what was happening.

  He adjusted her position for her to meet his gaze. "My personnel requested it. Elizabeth, I’m the CEO of Chase Security International. It comes with my job description. Our technical analysis unit ran backgrounds on everyone involved in Austin's care. Pete Walter added a second request for details after your argument with Knox. No one had any idea of our shared past. They did it to protect Austin. To protect me. Your file included a copy of your employee physical."

  Realization traveled across her brow. "My history. The pregnancy, the loss, the scars. I never wanted you to know. There was too much lost time between us.”

  “Twenty years now.” He nodded, fearing if he let go of her, she would run. "Sunshine, we’re here, together, talking. I found a baby picture when I locked up the house."

  Elizabeth pushed off his lap, wrapping her arms around her knees as she forced herself into a small ball in a corner of the couch. "My mother, she wrote a deathbed confession. But I failed to trust our love. I'm the one who should be sorry. I wish I’d been strong enough to say no to my parents. I was too weak to leave Lewis. I made so many bad choices. And, because of it, I killed our baby girl,” she sobbed.

  Martin fought his desire to pull her close again. "You were just a girl yourself. We were both young."

  Elizabeth kept her eyes locked on his, yet her body seemed to collapse in on itself. "My parents deceived us. My mother stood by while my father intercepted every letter either of us sent. My father even sent you a fake wedding invitation and threatened to throw Austin in jail. They demanded I forget you—until they found out about our baby. Then my choices were abortion or marrying Lewis. I couldn't abort our baby. Not that I did any better protecting her."

  Martin stared into her dark violet eyes across what felt like miles, though she was just on the other side of the couch, and followed his heart. Seeing her tears shattered him. "I’m responsible too. I blew off opportunities to confront you—didn't fight hard enough for you." He moved to her side and lowered his head until his lips feathered against hers. Using his thumbs to wipe away the constant stream of tears, he caressed her face. "I’m sorry."

  The gentle touch grew into a breath-stealing kiss. His tongue swept along the seam of her lips, pushing them apart to take purchase of her mouth. There was nothing tentative about his desire. An involuntary moan escaped as she opened to the kiss with matched need. Their lips never broke apart, their tongues tasting, exploring, and dancing together in a passionate pas de deux.

  Angry with himself, he asked, "How did I stay away from you all these years?" He took a deep breath before pulling back and resting his head against her forehead. "Sunshine, when was the last time you ate something?" Her clothing concealed a skeletal body.

  "Coffee doesn't count?" she teased.

  "Stay put." He headed to her kitchen. First, he returned with two glasses of orange juice. "Drink." He gave her a peck on the cheek and returned to his meal preparation. He returned a second time with two grilled cheese sandwiches. "Eat." He plopped on her couch beside her, eating with one hand and sweeping her into his lap with his other.

  "Yummy." She let the gooey cheese swirl on her tongue. With her sandwich filling her belly, she rested against him, her eyelashes fluttering against his cheek. "Marty?" She traced her finger along the small scar in his brow.

  He turned, placing a kiss to her palm. "What, Sunshine? Tell me."

  Her lip quivered. "I never stopped loving you." A single tear fell again.

  His eyes closed and opened, staring at the ceiling. "Neither did I." Swiping the tear away, he kissed her again.

  Elizabeth wrapped her arms around his neck, holding on to him like a lifeline. "Marty, make love to me." He pushed her back with his strong forearms and gazed into her eyes. "Please."

  "Sunshine, you’re in a vulnerable place. I..."

  "Marty, please. I need you."

  Three simple words and his control broke. Martin's eyes glimmered with love and desire as he lowered his mouth to hers and answered her with another charged kiss. Twenty years of suppressed feelings poured out.

  He stood with her in his arms and carried her up to her bedroom, depositing her in the bed's center. Before crawling beside her, he kicked off his socks and shoes. His muscled arm flexed, reaching behind him to pull off his t-shirt. He watched Elizabeth kneel and study him. The toned youth was now a well-defined man. His shoulders were broader. Muscles rippled, defining every sinew of his chest and abdomen. The former tiny sprinkling of hair was thicker and trailed down his belly, disappearing below the waistline of his jeans.

  “Marty.” He felt the power of her trained surgeon's eyes explore the scar extending from under his left pectoral to his armpit. Another injury decorated his shoulder, and a longer scar stretched above his right hip. He shuddered as her soft, full lips peppered the old wounds with kisses.

  One of Elizabeth's nimble fingers traced over a tattoo covering his pectoral muscle, a gold trident surrounded by the words: God will judge our enemies. We will arrange the meeting. “I’m afraid I don’t know you anymore. You are a warrior.”

  “No, just a little older and, I hope, wiser.” Knee to knee, he licked the length of her throat, his lips resting upon the vibrating pulse point at the base of her jaw. His hand cupped her breast, possessive fingers running over her hardening nipple and provoking a moan.

  Martin warred with himself, wanting to rip her clothes off and surge into her core. He challenged himself to go slowly.

  She groaned as he pulled her bra cup down with his teeth, exposing a dark rose nipple. Her body swayed forward to meet his tantalizing tongue, her eyes turning dreamy. His eyes sparkled at her growing desire soaking her panties and coating her thighs. Her damp nipple puckered as his smiling mouth moved to the other.

  Their eyes met while he feasted on her silky skin all along her belly with kisses and nips. Powerful hands moved beneath the band of her colorful pants, sliding them off her hips along with her white lace panties. Her hands shifted to cover the scar that ran down from her belly button to the start of her curls.

  He took her hands, placing kisses against her wrists. "Don't. You're beautiful." His words were met with a teary nod. Scooting her body to rest against her pillows, he continued removing her last stitches of clothing.

  Elizabeth parted her legs for him to rest between them, whimpering when he nuzzled her red ringlets. He couldn't help his grin as he kissed her soft inner thigh and she raised her hips to meet his mouth. "Marty." A mewl escaped when he darted his tongue against her swelling red bud.

  Her dampness shone like a beacon. His thumbs parted her folds for the first dip of his tongue,
and Elizabeth grabbed handfuls of the quilt, rocking against him.

  "Sunshine." The vibrations from his lips brought her higher.

  Martin tunneled a finger deep inside her wet core, her body squeezing him in welcome response. After darting his tongue against her fleshy nub, another demanding finger entered her. Her body arched against him; the quilt insufficient, she anchored herself with a frenzied grab of his short blond hair. Every lave of his tongue, nip of his teeth, probe of his fingers brought her to the edge and back until she begged.

  "Marty. Please. I...." A throaty cry escaped.

  "Sunshine, come for me." The waves of her orgasm rippled against his fingers. He exhaled a warm puff of air against her while his insistent thrusts scorched her. One more firm tug of her sensitive flesh and she screamed his name, shattering into a million pieces. He suckled her release of creamy nectar coating his lips. He grazed her body, admiring her return to earth, maintaining soothing, slow movements in her still convulsing channel.

  "Beautiful, Sunshine." Her scarlet hair spread like silken threads across the pillow as he withdrew his glistening fingers, sharing her taste with her. I'm not letting you go again. He savored his euphoria in silence.

  Wrapped in his embrace, her heavy lids lifted. Her soft hand deliberately skimmed from his chest to the seam of his jeans, where his straining manhood pressed against her palm. "Please."

  "Are you sure?"

  "Please."

  Martin slipped off the bed, first removing his wallet and a condom secreted inside before shrugging out of his underwear and jeans, exposing himself to her. His shaft stood against his taut abdomen. She rose to her knees again, pulling his hips toward her and drawing him into her hot mouth.

  Air locked in his chest. "Sunshine!"

  She swirled her tongue around his mushroomed head, bringing him deeper into her throat. His hoarse growl resonated in his chest as his balls grew heavy with need. He tore the foil packet open with his teeth and broke away from the seal of her lips. He concentrated on putting the condom on, then caged her body, crushing her lips with his.

  Spreading her legs, she rubbed her drenched center against his thigh before Martin pushed inside her. Sweat poured off his forehead while waiting for her tight core to fit him, and his eyes closed, absorbing the moment they became one. He was home. Her head rolled; desperation mixed with her cries.

  "Shh, I'm here." His hard, long strokes combined with the fierce grip of her internal muscles. They see-sawed together, the sounds of their lovemaking escaping through the open windows and the sweet odor perfuming the room. Her breaths grew faster and shorter. At her cues, he reached between their connection to massage her. Her legs wrapped around his legs, allowing him to sink deeper.

  "Marty!" She detonated around him, flying into a second explosive climax. His thrusts strengthened and accelerated until he followed her over the cliff. Panting, he pulled out of her still quivering body. After a feverish kiss to her forehead, he stumbled to the bathroom to dispose of the condom.

  On his return, he rustled the quilt from beneath her, his heartbeat pounding in his ears at the sight of her. Caught between dream and awake, she smiled with innocence. He crawled beside her, drawing up the coverlet. When his arms encircled her, she lay her head on his chest. He stroked her back, the aftermath of their lovemaking uncertain.

  The muscles beneath his fingers tensed. "What are you thinking?"

  "I fantasized about being with you so many times, I’m afraid this isn't real. After I lost our little girl, well, I..." She stumbled over her words. "Why would you...?

  "Why would I want to be with you?" His brows crunched.

  "I don't deserve this," she whispered.

  He lifted her to a sitting position and, with a gentle touch, held her face to make sure she listened to him. "You’re wrong. I won't let you punish yourself. We have a lot to talk about."

  "Lewis married me for the prestige of being an advisor to the governor. Every day, Daddy and he told me how you left me with your bastard child. After the election, he moved us to Des Moines. I realize now it was to keep me isolated. There wasn't a chance to bump into anyone. I thought agreeing to marry Lewis would protect our baby, but I was wrong. On our wedding night, he threw his first punch. He forbade me from saying your name. Because of the pregnancy, he said my vagina was soiled and took me from behind."

  Every muscle in Martin's body tightened with rage. Opening and closing his fists, he compartmentalized the hatred, not wanting her to think he was disgusted with her. “I don’t know what I can say other than I’m sorry.”

  "That was a long time ago, Marty. I'm not that girl anymore. I have wonderful friends, and I love what I do. I’m in a good place." She meshed her fingers with his. "I named our little girl Grace."

  "Grace, what a beautiful name."

  "The day I lost our Grace, Lewis left for work. I’d promised her I would give her the life she deserved and spent weeks making my escape plan. All my important papers and money I siphoned off the household account were in a safe place. That morning, I got my suitcases into the car and got away. At the stop sign, I realized the dolls you left me and the note were still in the house. I managed to keep them hidden from Lewis, and I couldn't leave them. Grace was conceived in love.

  “I never heard him come back. He found me taking them from their hiding spot. I begged him to let me go, that Daddy wouldn't fire him now. He ripped the dolls from my hand and took his lighter to them, dropping them from the upstairs balcony. I scrambled to reach them. The last thing I remember is he picked me up and said if I wanted them so bad, I should get them. Marty, I... He threw me over the rail." By the time she finished the story, she was sobbing.

  "Shh, shh, shh." He rocked her. "I'm so sorry."

  "You were hurt too."

  "No. Not like that. I was able to shove the hurt and anger away. After I got the wedding invitation, I buckled down, first to become a SEAL and then into my job. Lewis is an animal. He deserves to burn in hell. Did you press charges?"

  While they sat together in the living room, Martin asked Zach to check on the statute of limitations. It was too late to start something now.

  "Daddy said it would be too hard on me. That was another stupid mistake. I escaped to New York and then Maryland. I've never been with anyone since you." She held her hand up. "By my choice—my training didn't leave much room for dating. I had no desire after that.”

  She bit her lip. “What happens now? Us?"

  Martin took a bracing breath. "I never stopped loving you. I’m not a saint—I dated other women through the years. No one was ever you." He lowered his gaze.

  "We were both free to make choices." She shrugged.

  "Tuesday, sitting in that waiting room for word about Austin, an administrator told us the surgeons’ names. In that instance, I tried to pretend it couldn't be you. Mandy checked the hospital website, and there you were. All the feelings returned. I wanted to hate you.

  “After the surgery, I was angry and mean to you. In the ICU, Dr. Caine told me about the grueling surgery and how you fought for Austin. Wednesday morning, you walked into Austin's room, beautiful, strong, and exhausted." His Adam's apple bobbed. "That woman hit you. The struggle started inside me, but I stayed firm instead of helping you. When you danced with the man in the hall, I became jealous. I wanted to feel your arms around me. This morning, after reading the report, I yanked my head out of my ass. I had to speak to you. I should have trusted my gut. Will you ever forgive me? I should have protected you better."

  Her eyes glistened as she placed her hand against her heart. With a trembling voice, she said, “Let's put blame behind us."

  He let out a breath. "I don't want to lose any more time. Would you consider getting to know each other again?"

  Elizabeth chuckled. "We kinda just did that, didn't we?"

  Martin laughed. In one quick move, he lowered his body over hers. With his last condom, taking his time, he made sweet, slow, passionate love to her. In the post-orga
smic bliss, Elizabeth slept in his arms. He made a silent prayer that no one would hurt her again.

  Elizabeth's eyes opened. The light filtering in the room told her it was late afternoon. She felt soft kisses pressing down the length of her spine. Her body tingled with awareness; this was no dream. "Marty." She folded her arms around her pillow.

  He straddled her bottom to massage her tight shoulders. His fingers kneaded away the tension as his manhood lay engorged against her backbone. "I can't stop touching you."

  "Then don't." She snuggled her bottom up against him.

  "You’re naughty." He bit her shoulder, his hands sliding underneath to play with her breasts. "Mmm." Her nipples peaked at the wisp of a touch. Begging for contact, she flexed her bottom against him. "Sunshine." He positioned himself and surged into her welcoming, wet entrance.

  "Marty," she whimpered.

  He froze. "Did I hurt you?"

  "No, oh goodness no. Do you feel how perfect this is? I could stay like this forever."

  "It would be a little hard to go to work this way." Martin swirled his hips and pressed into her accepting body. Elizabeth squealed.

  She squeezed him and tilted her pelvis, driving him wild. He knelt, bracing her hips with a pillow, and took over their sensuous push and pull. Long fingers stimulated her bundle of nerves until she screamed out his name, her body convulsing. Martin followed her over the cliff of pleasure, filling her with his essence.

  He withdrew and rolled off her, his eyes brimming with fear. "I'm sorry. I swear, I'm disease-free. But..."

  “It’s alright.” Elizabeth sat up. "I didn’t have a chance to tell you. The doctors, they said I can't conceive again. There was a lot of damage after the fall." She reached for his face. "I can't give you another child."

  "I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. If we can't make a baby of our own, if you want, we can adopt. I want you." His lips sought hers. "Today and always. Nothing will take that away from us again."