Her Steadfast HERO (Black Dawn Book 1)

by Caitlyn O'Leary

  “That’s Matt.” Sarah lovingly traced the photo with her fingertips. “He died in Iraq.”

  “I’m sorry, Sarah.” Dammit, it explained so much. He stroked his hand down her arm, and she turned to him with a sad smile.

  “It’s okay, it’s been a long time. I just wish…”

  “What, what do you wish?”

  “I wish I could have seen what kind of man he would have grown into, you know? Twenty-two is so damn young.” She bit her lip.

  Twenty-two seemed like a million years ago.

  “How long were you together?”

  “A little over three years.” She let him hold her, then she drew back. “Have I ruined the mood?”

  “Tell me what you want.”

  “For you not to have to leave tomorrow.” She said into his chest. Then she gave a light laugh and pushed away. She took her wedding photo and put it on the bookcase, so it was facing away from the room. “I was giving you a tour. This is the living room. What do you think of the fireplace?”

  “It’s gorgeous. You have a lovely home,” David said. He knelt in front of the fireplace to get a fire going.

  “Thank you.”

  He turned and stood up. Despite her promise not to be nervous, he could still hear hints of hesitation in her voice.

  “Are you sure you want me here?”

  “I think I do.” She bit her lip, then shook her head the blonde silk of her hair swinging. “No, I know I do.” Her gray eyes pleaded with him to understand. To take control. He gladly obliged.

  Reaching up, he trailed his fingers along the fine line of her jaw. “Would it help you to know that I really want to be here and that I value the trust you’ve given me? I promise to do nothing to abuse it.” David watched as tension eased from her features, and she gave him a hesitant smile.

  “I know that. If I didn’t trust you, you wouldn’t be in my house.” There was the confident woman he’d seen glimpses of at the clinic. “I just wasn’t expecting to have you here so soon,” she said softly. Now that was the rub. His pretty nurse was used to taking her time. David found he liked that about her. Her eyes brightened. “Would you like a glass of wine?”

  “I would love a glass of wine.”

  She smiled in relief. “Red or white?”

  “Red.” She went to the kitchen, and he turned off the overhead light and left them with just the firelight. He’d ditched his shoes by the time she returned holding two glasses.

  “I love sitting in front of the fire at night and reading.” David could picture her curled up on the sofa, her blonde hair caressed by the firelight.

  “What do you like to read?” he asked as he got them situated on the sofa. As soon as she snuggled into her position, he inched closer. He was rewarded with that look of shy pleasure that he was coming to know.

  “I read a little bit of everything, but do you want me to be honest?” She looked at him through her gold flecked lashes.

  He tipped up her chin. “Always. I’ll always want honesty.” She swallowed, and nodded.

  “Most of the books on my reader are romances. I suppose that makes me kind of frivolous.”

  “I think that makes you human. Who doesn’t want a happily-ever-after?”

  “They’re rare. Hell, I should know that better than anyone,” she whispered.

  “All the more reason to desire them.” Damn, could he do this? “Sarah,” he began.

  “David,” she interrupted him. “I’m not some young virgin looking for a happily-ever-after. I’m a woman who really desires the man sitting on my sofa.”

  “That’s good, because I really, really desire you.” He plucked the glass of wine out of her hand and put it on the coaster on the coffee table. Part of him was pissed he was being reassigned so quickly. He would have preferred to slowly come to know her before getting to this point. But as he pulled her into his arms, he acknowledged that was bullshit.

  Settling Sarah against his chest, feeling her nipples pebble against him, he was suddenly glad that his hand had been forced, that he didn’t have to wait. Having her close was a gift. Her hands crept upwards until clever fingers worked the top button of his dress shirt loose.

  “No,” he said, his hands covering hers.

  “But I thought…” her voice trailed away.

  “We’ll get there,” he assured her. First, he wanted to make sure she was with him every step of the way. She had been a puzzle all night. Sometimes bold, sometimes shy, always Sarah. Now that he knew about Matt, it all made sense. It was his job to make sure he gathered all those intriguing pieces together and brought her pleasure.

  Even before tonight, he’d watched this sweet woman, and noticed certain things. She didn’t readily accept kindness; her first inclination was to assume it was a mistake. She was quick to assume she was at fault for things that could never in a million years be her fault.

  Time with Matt would probably have helped her overcome those issues, but it had been cut short. Now he was going to be one more man who wasn’t going to be able to give her the time she deserved. But by God, he was going to make sure that she remembered everything that went on tonight in a positive light.

  “Can I take a kiss?” he asked.

  “Take? That’s an odd way of putting it.”

  David quickly changed positions on the sofa so he was lying full length on his back and she was on top of him.

  “You trust me, right?”

  “Oh yes,” her breath broke on the words.

  “Then tonight I want an opportunity to take you with me. Take you places that you might not have been before. Take you in my arms and make you mine. Would you allow me to do that? I want to start by taking a kiss. May I?” He watched as she bit her lip. God, he wanted to bite her lip.

  Easy Sloane, get permission first.

  Eyes wide, she nodded.

  David eased his fingers under the silk of her chin length hair and lowered her head to his. Her bottom lip was wet, swollen, and irresistible. He sucked the tempting morsel smiling when he heard her whine. He traced that tempting bit of flesh with his tongue and enjoyed how she opened her mouth for him.

  Take it slow.

  He slid his tongue into the warmth of her mouth, tasting wine and woman, the woman was by far the sweeter flavor. Her tongue shyly stroked against his, bringing every one of his dominant instincts roaring to life.

  Take it slow.

  Back and forth, he brushed his thumb against the arch of her jaw, then slowly he moved his other hand down her back, and relished the way she arched into his touch. He pushed his hand under the soft red cashmere and found even softer skin. He drew circles before edging upwards to the clasp of her bra. He traced the line of silk, readying her, not surprised when he felt her tension.

  “Easy,” he murmured. She breathed in then let it out, melting against him , and he unhooked her bra. Taking his time, he made long, languid sweeps up and down the length of her back. She pushed against his chest.

  “Off. I want it off.”

  David smiled. The little nurse was ready to be taken. He stood up with her still in his arms. “Which way to your bedroom?”

  She pointed to the hallway. “Last door on the left. My bed isn’t made.”

  “Honey, we’re just going to mess it up anyway.” He started down the hall.

  He liked the way she smiled. She was getting more comfortable.

  “Sarah, I didn’t bring anything to protect you. Do you have something?”

  She nodded. “I’m a nurse. Are you going to let me down now?” she teased.

  “I’m considering it.”

  He looked around the room, it was soothing tones of blue. It suited her.

  David let her slide down his body, lifting her sweater and bra off her body as he went. Pink. He’d wondered. Now he knew her nipples were pink.

  “Now you.”

  “No.” She had a lot to learn. “You agreed to be taken.” The hesitation was back, but not in a bad way, he saw curiosity. Good. />
  They were still too new to one another for her to strip in front of him, so he brought her close for another kiss, which was not a hardship. She wrapped her arms around his neck, but he brought them down to her sides.

  “David?”

  “Taken. Your turn will come later. This is my time to please you.” A delightful frown appeared between her eyes, but she put her hands to her sides. Could he get any harder as he saw her hands clench and relax? He traced his fingers from her collar bone to her sternum, over the tips of her breasts, and enjoyed the jerk of response. Then he went further, to the belly button exposed by her low rider jeans. He let his fingers glide across the top of her waistband, watching her tremble.

  “Please.”

  He unbuttoned the top button, then unzipped, and was rewarded with red silk panties. David pushed his fingers in and under. Damn, she was soft and bare, and his smile turned savage as he probed further to find her wet folds.

  Honey. It was the perfect word for her. He pulled his fingers out and brought them to his mouth and sucked them in. “I knew you’d taste like honey.” Her eyes were wide, just a slight bit of gray rimmed black as she panted.

  “Can I touch you yet?” Her voice was breathless.

  “No.” David bent, and as he helped her step out of her jeans and panties, he took a long lick of her feminine folds and suckled her clit.

  “David!” she wailed as she came apart. He grabbed her close and laid her down on the bed.

  “Where are the condoms?” he asked as he reached for the bedside drawer.

  “Wait, let me,” she scrambled to stop him.

  Too late.

  Score.

  He had found Sarah’s little assortment of treasure. He pulled out a small vibrator that couldn’t come close to matching what they would be working with tonight.

  “Too bad we don’t have more time,” he said regretfully as he placed it back in the nightstand. He pulled out a condom and stood beside the bed. He made short work of stripping, delighting in how she reached for him, but they were still on his program. “Sarah?” he asked.

  “Hmmm?” She was in a fog. “Now, I need you now.”

  “And I’m going to take you.” He emphasized the word take. “Hands over your head.”

  “No,” she said petulantly. “I want to touch you. I love your chest.”

  “Next time.”

  “Now.” She pushed out her bottom lip.

  It was too much to bear. He swooped down and shackled her wrists. If there were going to be a next time, he would have brought handcuffs. He grabbed her hands in one of his, and pulled them over her head, loving how her breasts were thrust into prominence.

  Fuck, this couldn’t be the last time!

  Sarah undulated, her breasts shimmering, taking all of his attention. Everything but the present moment flew out of his head. He suckled one piece of pink candy and savored the lusciousness of Sarah. The sweetest of all the flavors. She rolled her torso and begged for her other breast to have attention. He plucked and pinched, and she hissed out the word, “Yes.”

  Over and over, he took, waiting for a sign. At last, her legs were wide open, surrounding his hips.

  “Keep your hands where I put them, then you get my cock, do you understand?”

  She looked at him in confusion. She canted her hips upwards, trying to capture him, tempt him.

  He let go of her hands and went to put on the condom. She leveraged her hands against the headboard, and then used her feet to push high against him.

  “Dammit, honey, let me get this on.”

  She’d tempt a saint. Properly protected, he guided himself into her swollen, wet depths. She damn near strangled him with her need. Had anything ever felt so good?

  “Fuck. You’re perfect Honey. Squeeze me tighter.”

  He laughed. She was actually blushing. They were as close as two human beings could be, and she was blushing. She was a fucking delight.

  “David,” she admonished.

  “What? Don’t you want to know that your body is perfect?” He thrust deeper. Harder.

  She mumbled something into his chest. He cupped her chin and tilted her head so he could see her.

  “What did you say?”

  “It’s you.”

  He pushed back in, watching her carefully. There, that was the spot. He did it again, and again, rubbing the sweet spot.

  “What’s me?” he asked softly. His pretty nurse struggled to keep her hands above her head and answer his question.

  “You’re perfect,” she sighed. She was getting close, and he intended to make her fly. He reached his hand between them and found her clit wet and swollen. He circled it as he bent and lapped at one berry tipped nipple. God, which one of them was trembling harder?

  “David?”

  He pinched. He sucked. He thrust.

  She thrashed, her hair flew across the pillow, her moan long and loud.

  God, she was beautiful. Sarah came like a wanton, nothing held back. He’d never had such a pure and authentic lover. As her climax shuddered to completion, dazed gray eyes looked up at him.

  “Again.” Her voice was hoarse, but the demand was clear.

  He grinned. He hooked his hand under her arm and brought it up and over his neck. Her smile dazzled. She lifted her other arm and clutched him close. They met for a long kiss.

  Just kissing her was enough to make him come. Her release had made her more swollen, and pressing in made his head want to explode, but he’d be damned if she wouldn’t come with him. He swept his hand down her back and clutched her ass. She purred and jolted up, slamming their bodies together. He kneaded the lush curves, and she moaned. Wrenching her mouth away from his she gasped, “It’s too much.”

  If she could talk, it wasn’t enough. He slowed down, then sped up, ensuring she would never know what to expect. He heard her gasping and grinned.

  Ahhh, her nails in his scalp were going to draw blood, and he would happily wear the wounds. As her walls clamped down on his cock, tingles shot down his spine. She was going to kill him, and then she wailed his name, and he shot over the edge, lost in the stormy depths of her gray eyes.

  Chapter Four

  Present Day…

  It didn’t matter what time zone it was. It didn’t matter if he’d had three, four, five or six hours of sleep. Four a.m. was an ungodly hour to have to have the alarm wake you. David grabbed his phone and shut it off, wishing the magical, earthquake proof device could make coffee appear.

  He pushed out of bed, and the scent of the clean sheets brought his dreams rushing back to him. Four a.m. Would the medical team be asleep? Be at the hospital? Be coming back? Fuck if he knew. Everything was topsy turvy and had been since the fucking earthquake. It was now hour sixty since the earthquake.

  He needed to get to the prison. The warden and his men had been woefully lacking in their ability to put together search parties. Hell, they didn’t even have protocols in place to handle a prison break!

  His phone rang.

  “David?”

  He suppressed the sarcastic answer. “Yes, Carmen, it’s me. What are you doing up so early?”

  “The boat arrived. Where are you?” she asked irritably.

  Dammit, he’d forgotten. He’d been so focused on getting back to the prison, that he hadn’t remembered the shipment of large construction equipment that was scheduled to arrive that morning. The earthquake had damaged nearly all of the island’s equipment on various construction sites throughout the countryside.

  “Ship. It’s a ship. I’m on my way. You aren’t at the dock, are you?” Hell, she’d called him yesterday afternoon when he’d been at the prison. Bernardo had put her in charge of coordinating communications between police, fire, and the governor’s office. She was perfect. Annoying, but perfect.

  “No, I’m not at the dock. I don’t drive. They called me. I’m waiting for you in the lobby.” He sighed.

  “I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

  “Make it fi
ve.” She hung up.

  Despite the fact there were back-up generators in the hotel, David still avoided the elevators. He was close to the first floor when he heard Sarah. He stopped to listen.

  “I will have you arrested if I ever see you touch another patient.”

  “You bitch. You’re just a nurse.”

  “You’re a drunk and a junkie. Look at yourself, you can barely stand. I saw you go into that supply closet, and then come out higher than a kite! I’m going to file every report imaginable. When I’m done with you, you won’t be able to dispense advice.”

  He heard a thud. Fuck! He jumped down four steps and rounded the corner just in time to see the bastard roll on the ground, Sarah stood over him, fists clenched, and her chest heaving.

  “You absolute dolt. What part of former Army did you not comprehend?” She nudged him with her toe and then looked up. “Oh lookie, it’s the police.”

  Dumbass groaned.

  “Get up,” Sarah growled.

  He just moaned.

  “I barely tapped him,” she said as she looked at David. “He’s high. I hauled him out of the clinic we were working at.” Despite her brave words, he could see shock was beginning to set in.

  “Honey,” he started. But she put her hand out and shook her head. Instead, she pointed to the man lying on the floor of the stairwell.

  David nodded, and she gave a weak smile of appreciation.

  “What’s your name, asshole?” David demanded. The man just moaned again. David pulled him up and gave him a shake. “Name!”

  “Arnie. Dr. Arnie Stanton,” he slurred. Sarah opened the door to the lobby, and David marched the doctor out. He saw Carmen who immediately summed up the situation. She had her phone out in an instant. After she had hung up, she came over to them.

  “Carlos will be here in five minutes. I take it this idiot needs to be booked?” David revised his opinion of the older woman for the forty-third time. Once again, he adored Carmen.