Stark Resolution (Stark Trilogy Book 3)

by C. D. Bradley

  The Rolls Royce pulled into the airfield and parked in front of her private plane. Now why isn’t the engine already running? Oh, this kind of laziness will not be tolerated. Someone is about to get fired. She stepped out of the car and stormed toward the office. Where the hell is my crew?

  She reached the door. Locked? What the fuck? Simone whipped open her phone and speed dialed the idiot pilot.

  “Hello.”

  He even answers like a putz.

  “This is Simone Preston. I called thirty minutes ago. I pay you to be on call twenty-four seven. Where the fuck are you? I am here at the airport. Imagine my surprise when I find my plane cold with no crew!”

  “I’m sorry, Miss Preston, we no longer work for you,” he replied.

  “What do you mean? I employ you. I fucking own this plane and you,” she seethed.

  “No ma’am, Mr. Stark owns the company. He owns all the planes, and we work for him.”

  What the actual fuck? I have to get on a flight. Uuuggghhh. Am I really going to have to fly commercial? First class is so petty. She dialed LAX to book.

  “What? Excuse me? There is no fucking way my card is declined. I have more money in there than you will see in your lifetime,” she hissed. This is not fucking funny. Fine. They will just have to drive to the house and get my back up cash.

  “Take me back to the house,” she barked at the chauffeur.

  “No can do, ma’am. I’ve just been instructed that I no longer drive for you.”

  She saw red.

  “By who?”

  “Him,” he said, and pointed up at the sky.

  Clouds of dust kicked up all around Simone as two black choppers closed in on her. Her hair whipped and tangled around her face. She screamed and tried to smooth her Armani jacket. She looked up and saw him. There on the side of the chopper sat Owen Fucking Stark. Their eyes met and she clenched her teeth. He was not going to win this easily.

  She pushed the chauffeur out of the way and jumped in the driver’s seat. I will fucking drive myself. She started the car and the ground began to shake. An earthquake? Fuck! She stopped just short of the gate. The road and drive were completely blocked by filthy bikers. Hundreds of them. What the fuck?

  Simone jumped out of the car, blood on fire. She turned toward the choppers, and Stark sat there in his chair.

  “Game’s over Simone. We have the Secretary and the CEO of Biotech,” Stark said calmly. “Give it up and come peacefully.”

  “You don’t scare me. You can coerce that fat little fucker to say whatever you want. Bottom line is, everything is in your name. If you bring this to court you are going to spend the rest of your life in prison. I’ll send your cute little ass some soap on a rope,” she said with a snarl.

  He just smiled. “You’re right. Everything is in my name. The companies, the house, the bank accounts, hell, even the lawyers work for me. You think you are having transportation problems now, wait until you’re working at Walmart, princess.”

  Simone stood there wide-eyed for a moment as the panic sunk in. Then fear turned to vengeance. She walked to Stark and stood over him. “You ungrateful piece of shit. I built this entire company for you. You. While you were off playing in the sand with your toys, I finished school, I took this company to new heights. Me. I did this. Now look at you in your chair, you spoiled fucking baby. You are such a pussy, just like your dad. Always thinking with your dick instead of your head. I should have taken care of you, like I did him!”

  Stark said nothing, but stood up from his chair. He towered over her. Hatred burned in his eyes.

  “You’re not going to hit me,” she spat. “You’re too honorable.” She stood with her lips curled in a smug smile then laughed in his face.

  “He might be, but I’m fucking not.” Kira took a step and threw her entire body into a right cross and laid that bitch out.

  STARK IS COMING home tomorrow! Kira could not wait. He was the most amazing man she had ever known. She still couldn’t wrap her head around the dedication and work that he put in to make it back to the team in six months. Even though she saw him getting up at four every single morning to work his sexy ass off, it seemed super human. The sweat and tears were all worth it. She still held her breath every time he left, but she knew that was his life and she loved all of him.

  She ran to work. Their house was a little over eight miles from the rehab center, but morning routine gave her time to think, and meditate on the day ahead. A crispness in the air caused her to take a deep breath. The fall leaves were just starting to decorate the sidewalks. September was here … Her favorite time of year.

  Mags ran alongside her. “You are the best therapy dog ever! Yes you are!” Kira called to her and Mags wagged her tail. After they had come back to Colorado, Stark and Kira had Mags trained to be a therapy dog. Kira had been granted a transfer to rehabilitation medicine and was working toward building up the Amputee Center on base. Of course, the generous donation from Stark helped considerably.

  The time they spent at Walter Reed had changed her life forever. The therapists, doctors, and nurses that spent each and every day rehabilitating heroes inspired her to be a better doctor and soldier. She saw in the amputees just how easily their roles could have been reversed. She dedicated her life to serving them.

  She understood Stark’s desire and her father’s to stay in the military. She knew that when her commission was over she would re-up without question. When she got closer to the building she saw one of her newest patients struggling to get up the ramp to the center.

  “Hey, you. How’s it going today?” She smiled at him and helped push his chair up the ramp.

  “Thanks, Captain. Hey Mags!” Jarod beamed, and ruffled Mag’s fur.

  “So, how’s that leg feeling? Are you still having a sore spot?” She walked over to the exam area and he followed.

  “A little. It feels like my toes are being crushed. I know that’s crazy.” His smile faded and he reached down to hold the distal end of his stump.

  “That’s not crazy at all. It’s actually quite normal. I’ve got something I’ve been working on that might help.” She went to get her supplies. Kira had been working with the newest branch of Anderson Stark Technologies to develop new types of bionic prosthetics and therapy devices. Vet-Tech was her baby. They were just getting started, but the science behind what they were trying to do would be life changing.

  “Are you coming to the ballgame today?” she asked him as she wrapped the new thermogel onto his limb.

  “I don’t know. I can’t really do much yet.” He looked at the floor and let out a long sigh. “I can’t do anybody any good there.”

  “We like having you on the team. You might be surprised what you can do. Besides, I need moral support. Have you ever seen me swing a bat? It’s not pretty. Hey, can you hit a ball?” She finished his wrap and stood up abruptly.

  “Squirrel,” he said and laughed. “Why?”

  “Let’s try.” She went and got a foam bat and handed it to him. “Ok, ready?”

  She pitched underhand and he only halfheartedly swung and missed.

  “Guess not,” he said.

  “All right sissy bedwetter. Let’s try again. How ’bout this. If you hit it, I will try headstand pushups again.”

  “Ha ha! You’re on!”

  Kira tossed the ball underhand again. This time he swung hard and made contact. Crack! The dense foam ball went sailing across the gym and bounced off the wall.

  “Sweet! You can be my partner in the game! You hit and I’ll run the bases. Eventually you’ll run them by yourself, but for now I plan to take full advantage of your talent with a bat.” She mussed his hair. “We have a special guest coming tonight that I would really like you to meet. His name is Brian, and he helped start our team. He was instrumental in getting Stark going again.”

  “Ok. You got me. I’ll go. Now, about those pushups,” he said, grinning ear to ear.

  THEY WON THEIR game 4-3! The crew was going out fo
r a beer. She was happy to see Jarod and Brian hitting it off. She tried to help the best she could, but at the end of the day, sometimes what they really needed was that big brother to take them under their wing. When Brian scored the winning run, coming in hot on his flex foot prosthetic leg, Jarod had sat mouth open, beaming. He leaned over to her and whispered, “I want to do that!”

  “And you will,” she said with a knowing smile. Kira remembered the first time Stark realized Brian had a prosthetic leg like him. It was like looking at his future self and he knew he could do it too.

  Brian was so inspirational to Stark that Stark had donated over a million dollars to VETSports to help expand the programs. He dreamed of one day having a volunteer group in every state at least. The support and camaraderie they provided to veterans was a vital part of recovery. Treating the invisible scars was perhaps the biggest part of warrior medicine.

  Kira consented to going along for just one beer. She wanted to get home to make sure everything was perfect for Stark when he got home tomorrow. She had planned a surprise graduation party for him at the Garden of the Gods and invited all his friends and mentors. The major and his wife would arrive in town in the morning. Brian was staying all weekend. Colin’s mom was already there. The team guys were there too, but they had a celebration of their own planned. She even managed to get a hold of Jayce and Cyrus. Even Abby was going to be there with her husband.

  “Good game!” Paige came over and gave her a hug. “Say, who's your cute new friend?”

  “Which one, Jarod or Brian?” Kira asked, rolling her eyes.

  “Hmmmm, I’ll take both. One for me and one for Zoe,” Paige said, grinning wildly.

  “Oh brother. Don’t stay out too late. Remember, you promised to help me tomorrow,” Kira mock scolded.

  Kira's phone buzzed.

  Nice uniform

  Stark! Kira looked around but didn't see him.

  Where are you?

  She looked around. Still nothing.

  Come home.

  The biggest shit-eating grin spread across her face. “Hey Paige, I’ll catch you guys tomorrow. I need to go home.”

  “Have fun!” Paige called, but Kira was already booking it toward her Jeep.

  “Come on, Mags! Daddy’s Home!”

  The lights were out when she got to the house but his Harley Night Train sat in the driveway. He’s home! Kira ran in the unlocked front door. The whole house was dark.

  “Hello, Owen, are you here?” She walked into the living area and could hear music upstairs. What is he up to? Kira ascended the stairs. With each step, the music drew her a little closer. It was coming from their room. The melody swirled around her and the beat compelled her forward. When she reached the door, she smelled the deliciousness of his cologne mixed with the steamy bubbles of a recent shower. She opened the door and her heart melted. He had filled the tub for her. All the lights were out, but he had placed candles, large and small, all over the bathroom. Bubbles and steam crested the top of the large tub. All this paled in comparison with the vision of a completely naked Owen Stark standing in the moonlight waiting for her.

  Sweet Lord! His dark hair and beard were freshly trimmed. The silver light danced in his eyes like moonlight on the waves. They were alive and wild, staring straight into her. His strong jaw was set in determination like a lion who had locked in on its prey. His lips slightly parted. Her eyes traveled over his neck and chiseled chest. His dog tags caught the light and took her breath. Each tattoo, each scar, told a story. He was perfectly flawed and he was hers. The moonlight and shadows accentuated the deep cuts of his six-pack abs, and the V that drew her eyes down to the thick cock, already awakened to her presence. Her eyes traveled on down his massive thigh with the lightning bolt scar that disappeared beneath his prosthetic covering. He stood strong on his sexy blade, ready and waiting.

  “Welcome home, Captain,” she said with a smile.

  “Well, thank you, Captain.” He stepped forward and grabbed her pulling her to him. His lips grazed hers ever so lightly like a cool breeze on an autumn night. He seemed to relish in the moment of just having her there. His lips found her again, but this time they began a tango with hers … giving and taking … One move complemented the other and they became swept away in an improvisational mix of form and chaos. Kira sighed into his mouth as her knees became weak. One hand moved down her back to the belt of her ball uniform. He grabbed it and gave a tug.

  “Nice uniform, but this needs to go.” He stepped back and took her face in his hands giving her a deep sensual kiss. She could have sworn that violins were playing in the moonlight all around her. His strong hand slid down either side of her neck and began to unbutton her uniform. After each closure was breached, he kissed the newly exposed skin. Kira let her head fall back. The mixture of the cool night air and the heat of his lips was otherworldly. By the time, he reached her waistband, she was breathing so hard she had to hold onto the tub. He knelt before her and began to unbutton and unzip her softball pants. He let the pants fall, exposing white lace panties. He pressed his face into the fabric, kissed and bit her gently through it. Kira moaned. He had been gone to alpha school for twenty-six long weeks. This was so long overdue. Every touch of his skin ignited little fires in her until she was consumed by the flames. He peeled her panties down giving every inch of skin the same attention. Kira shuddered when he got down close to her clit. But he stopped.

  “You are killing me,” she breathed.

  “Patience, woman. I am going to take my time and enjoy every moan that escapes your lips.” He kissed her again, and removed her socks and shoes. He stood up and peeled back the shoulders of her open jersey. He stared her in the eyes while he unfastened her bra, then let his warm wet mouth close around each nipple sucking them in gently and biting. Kira gasped and then moaned softly. She stood fully naked before him.

  “This is all fucking mine,” he said shaking his head in disbelief. He bent down and scooped her up. He held her in his arms and kissed her fervently at first, then with his lips still on hers, lowered her slowly into the waiting bath.

  Warm soapy water enveloped her in a honey jasmine cloud and swept away any care she might have had. He sat on the edge of the tub and removed his blade, then slid into the water behind her. Kira could feel the girth and pressure of his erection against her back. Oh, my God, how I want him inside me.

  He tilted her head back and rinsed her hair with the steaming water. Then without warning, he reached down under her thighs and picked her up. Slowly, he brought her down fully burying his cock inside her. Kira screamed with pleasure. She was not expecting him to give in to her so soon. He began to move back and forth inside of her. He held her hips pressing her into him. Kira’s body wanted to explode with fullness each time he claimed her, and each time he pulled away she died. The ache left by the void was physically painful and she begged for more. The rhythm of pleasure and torture set her adrift. He took her body to another world. The passion swept through her like a raging fire that consumed and electrified each nerve ending. Kira couldn’t hold back the wanton orgasm that loomed in the shadows building to overtake her. His hands came up and found her breasts as the exquisite pain and pleasure sent her cascading over rapids of ecstasy.

  She could feel his pressure building inside her. His grip on her breasts tightened and he began to moan deep and low, a feral growl with each thrust. Hot soapy water sloshed out of the tub and splashed onto the marble floor. Kira gripped onto the sides of the tub as she rode him to reckless abandon. There was nothing else in the world she wanted like this one moment.

  Kira looked in the mirror as she tucked each chocolate strand in a sweeping updo. The woman staring back at her was stronger and more confident than the shaky soldier who first arrived at Fort Carson. A round and slightly puckered scar that reminded Kira of a fully bloomed rose was visible just below her collarbone in the white strappy dress. She didn’t mind. Like Stark, she was beautifully scarred. Some could be seen, some couldn’
t, but that’s what made life interesting.

  Tonight, would be amazing. All their friends and family were coming to Garden of the Gods to Celebrate Stark’s promotion to Captain and graduation from alpha school. Special Forces 18-Alpha. She could not be more proud. She put the finishing touches on her makeup and ran downstairs. She kissed Mags and threw on her strappy heels. She was going to be late to a party she was hosting. Time was not her friend, or maybe she was just oblivious to it. She ran outside and stopped suddenly.

  “What are you doing here? I thought you guys had a thing?” Kira asked, puzzled to see Miller standing in her driveway.

  “We do, but Paige is freaking out that you are late and made me come get you. I’m missing out on shots right now,” he said pouting, but they both knew he wouldn’t defy Paige.

  “Shit, I’m sorry! Let’s go. I honestly didn’t realize it was getting so late.” Kira secretly vowed to start wearing the watch Stark bought her.

  “No worries. That’s what friends are for.”

  The twenty-minute drive felt like twenty hours, but finally she saw the edges of the club. Wow, there are a lot of cars.

  “Stark and the guys are finishing up at the pub, but they are keeping him occupied until you are ready. Then they’re gonna bring him over. Paige has everyone getting cocktails. She wanted you to take a look at the back patio though. She said you might want to do a group photo back there. I’m supposed to show you,” Miller instructed.

  “Do we really have time for that? I can just check that out later. I should get on inside before he gets here,” Kira insisted.

  “Look, if I don’t do what she says I’m going to have to pay for it later, so do a guy a favor will ya?” He looked at her with big puppy eyes.