She’d kept her responses bland with minimal description, a fact she knew which was not lost on him. She was afraid to tell him now. At first she hasn’t told him what she’d been through because she thought he was a bastard and didn’t need to know. As time went on she avoided the subject altogether since she could not find a way to say, ‘Oh, by the way. We lost a baby and I hate you.’ That particular childish scenario had become a familiar one having been acted out in her mind every day for a year. It did not however have any place in the present situation.
She was trapped in a cloud of tortured indecision because part of that secret heart of hearts honesty was the added fear that once he knew what they’d lost, and how it had nearly destroyed her, he’d feel obligated somehow. She didn’t want his pity or his obligation. The truth of what she wanted was starting to see the light of day. She wanted him to love her again, which he said he did, and she wanted to feel confident enough to love him back the way he deserved.
He came around the bed to where she stood so quickly and silently that Shannon jumped when she realized how close he was. She could feel his heat reaching out to her, drawing her in. “I can’t wait to show you my home, sweetheart.” he breathed against her skin as he stepped in for a quick kiss. “Seeing yours the way I have this past week has been a delight. If I haven’t said it enough already I love the way you’ve redone the house. Your use of soft fabrics and the subtle undertones of color throughout the rooms is very pleasing indeed. Just like the lovely lady who lives here”
She all but beamed at his praise and enjoyed the swift kiss before she watched him back out of her room. At the last moment, before he disappeared through the door, he fixed her with a scorching look that held her frozen and made her cheeks flush when he growled in a very sexy voice, “Pack something pink for me, little one.” and then he was gone.
An hour before dawn the next morning, she was ready to leave for the airport with nerves that were well and truly frazzled. There’d been so much cautious flirting and touching flying between them that the non-stop buzz of her emotions took a toll. As if sleeping cuddled up next to his side weren’t enough to deal with, the idea of being seated next to him during a long plane flight was both exciting to anticipate and exhausting to contemplate.
CHAPTER TWENTY
The announcement that they would be taking Barrett’s private plane back east had thrown her for a loop. When he took charge of making their arrangements to fly to New York City she assumed they’d be going first class but hadn’t expected the company jet. Honestly, hadn’t known such an option existed.
Her nervous excitement about being seated next to him for a transcontinental flight blossomed into an erotic tableau of possibilities available to them on a private jet. Good heavens, when had she become so sexually rampant in her thinking? Squirming impatiently in her seat as they drove through the dark and quiet streets, Shannon grimaced in acknowledgement that the reason for her thinking was mere inches away from her and his seductive scent wafting through her senses was starting a chain reaction of needs and wants that she could not tamp down.
Shannon tried mentally cursing as a way to distract from where her mind was wandering; perhaps fooling herself that such a tactic would blunt the carnality of her response. But she gave up after only a few seconds because she never had mastered the fine art of swearing; trying to pull it off now, even just in her mind, was making her uncomfortable.
Okay, time to change to a different tack. Perhaps humming quietly would provide the distraction she so desperately needed. Before resorting to the pathetic tactic her mind stuttered to a halt. Oh god, she grimaced, I shouldn’t look but I can’t help it. His leg was so close to hers; close enough to actually sense the force field of his lethal, male aura. Lifting her eyes just a scant inch or so her gaze encountered one of Nick’s hands lying absently against his thigh.
There was something about his hands which had always fascinated her. She remembered the work torn palms and calloused fingers of the grad student she’d known. He’d been very hands on back then both with his labors during the day and of course with her whenever they could be together during long nights of intense touching and endless embraces. His caress was the only aphrodisiac she needed.
The thought sent off a mini-explosion in her tummy causing Shannon to shimmy slightly while she tried to block out memories of long, slow, tactile explorations of each other’s skin that seemed to go on for days. She desperately tried to deny the building pulse beat of longing which these thoughts had ignited between her thighs.
The hands she surveyed today were those of a grown-up. He was all man now, his entire demeanor and the way he carried himself; how he went about being who he was, screamed with testosterone and virility. Truth be told; it scared the daylights out of her.
She wondered what those hands would feel like on an exploration of her body. Would he remember the way she liked to be touched? Would he use his hands on her breasts, his fingers kneading her sensitive skin, feathering soft rings of sensation around her enflamed nipples?
On that thought Shannon felt an immediate flush of guilty pleasure from her toes to the top of her head and pretty much wished she could scream from confusion or die of embarrassment. At this point, either would fit the situation she found herself in. Gulping back a wayward sigh lest he realize where her thoughts had been, she decided to close her eyes for a few moments to clear her head.
Nicholas was sure his extremely expensive designer trousers were about to spontaneously combust either from her intense heated gaze or from the fire which that gaze had started in his pants.
The way she’d been staring or rather drooling over what she saw in his lap, whether it was his muscular thighs, huge capable hands or the ever increasing bulge growing under his zipper, he wasn’t sure, but whatever it was had zapped right through his brain and landed straight in his genitals.
His incredibly strong reaction to being near her again had startled him from that first second of impact. Yes, he had dreamed of her often over the years. He still burned with a need to be inside her that was shaking his core. Last night he’d almost lost his mind having her so near.
Hell, right this second he wanted to transform some of the intensity she was displaying in her stare and just throw her back on the seat of the airport limo, push up her skirt, rip off her panties and lose himself inside her this very minute.
Only a thrusting, grinding possession could slack his need for her in the most basic and primitive way. He wanted to watch her while she fell apart in his arms, watch her eyes as he came inside her. She was all that he had ever dreamed of. Pure sex wrapped, oh so neatly, in total love. Shit, he was in trouble.
Once they’d arrived at the airport where the Barrett jet was being prepared for their journey, he quickly got Shannon on board before the manifestation of a huge private jetliner, completely at his disposal, rattled her already frazzled nerves. He wasn’t completely stupid after all.
Inside the luxuriously appointed airplane Nick introduced Shannon to the pilot who had been waiting near the entry steps for their arrival. There was a flurry of back slapping comments and doubting the other’s manhood, the kind men who knew each other well liked to toss around in jest.
She was watching the odd banter between Nick and his pilot with her head tilted off to the side, a bemused expression on her face. One hand rested on a curvaceous hip while the other leg slightly cocked to the side. He was instantly jealous of her hand as he stared at her long, lovely fingers curled into her softly rounded woman’s hips. She looked utterly adorable in an off guarded moment.
Grinning like a loon he swept forward so quickly she blinked just once before he was towering over her. Reaching for the hand which hung at her side, he was powerfully aware of the slight trembling he detected before his huge warm hand engulfed hers. She tensed for a fraction and then relaxed into his touch bringing him a rush of gritty satisfaction from the acceptance that arced through him like a thunderbolt. His mind briefly blank
ed while he blessed the saints above for that single moment of truth.
Before settling them into the luxurious front cabin of the massive Barrett jet, Nick took charge of the hand he was still holding, pulling her into another section of the plane. They walked through a small work zone which looked like a flying office, past the forward galley to a rear cabin where several people were already seated.
Shannon was caught a bit off guard by the presence on his plane of what looked to be a small family and was more than slightly curious what was going on. A tiny sigh of acceptance left her throat as she silently acknowledged that no one was full of more surprises and hidden depths than the man pulling her along behind him down the aisle of his private plane. As always, he just took command of whatever situation he found himself in.
What she assumed was the patriarch of this gathering leapt to his feet when he spied Nick moving purposely towards them and met them in the aisle, hand extended, a warm greeting ready.
“Mr. Barrett, I am Alejandro Reyes. There are no words to thank you for what you are doing for me and my Sophia.” he uttered with so much sincere emotion that it made Shannon’s eyes sparkle. She was awash with warmth as she picked up on the intense gratitude and good will which was swirling all around them the minute Nick’s hand connected with that of Mr. Reyes.
Nick looked a bit discomfited at the man’s words as if thanks were the very last thing he expected or wanted to hear. Still gripping Shannon’s hand in his, she felt a flare of connection flow between them, from the hand of the man looking at Nick with intense gratitude through Nick himself, and although she still had trouble reading him as clearly as she did everyone else, she could feel his satisfaction through their clasped hands.
Pulling her forward until she was at his shoulder ,he introduced her to their guest with a sense of pleasure and pride he could not disguise.
“Mr. Reyes, let me introduce Shannon Reynolds to you. She will be accompanying us on our trip east. She’s probably wondering in her female mind why I didn’t tell her we’d have company today.” he ended with in a conspiratorially comical tone that men use in mixed company when they are making jests about themselves and how they handle their women. Especially if they suspect they might be in for a stern look or worse!
Laughing Mr. Reyes jumped in, “Ah, my Sophia would be taking me to task in such a situation but you must not be angry Miss Reynolds.” he added as he shook her hand. “Mr. Barrett is an angel to me and my family for allowing us to fly east with him. You see our son Anthony is a Marine!” he said with such obvious pride that his face all but glowed.
“He’s a good boy,” Mr. Reyes continued as he looked around at his wife before turning back to her “and a good soldier. But… he was wounded in Afghanistan and is in hospital near Washington. Mr. Barrett is so very kindly giving us a lift so we can bring Anthony’s family to him when he needs us.”
Shock must have shown on Shannon’s face for he instantly added a heartfelt, “Don’t let this worry you Miss Reynolds. God has been good to Anthony and his injuries will heal, with a lot of rehabilitation. We go to help our son now thanks to this man here.” he finished as he looked at Nick with nothing short of worship, making the man in the spotlight of gratitude practically squirm in embarrassment.
Shannon’s eyes were huge and owl-like as she swung them at him. Her surprise at what he was doing vanished instantly when overcome by the deep, deep pleasure she found in this completely astonishing act of self-less kindness. The look he gave her and the aw shucks grin that followed was so cute and unpretentious that it melted more than just her heart.
“Please, let me introduce you to my Sophia.” Mr. Reyes interjected. “As you can see, the babe is asleep in her arms so she cannot get up.”
Talking to his wife in rapid Spanish, they spoke briefly before Mr. Reyes turned back.
“Sophia sends you the blessings of a grateful mother, Mr. Barrett. We will never be able to repay you for the kindness and help you are showing to our son.” he offered in translation of his wife’s words which she emphasized with a look of pure gratitude as she gazed at Nick.
“Mr. Reyes, sir….please call me Nick. And tell your wife it is she who is blessed with so wonderful a family and a son to be proud of who risks his life for his country.” Looking a tad uncomfortable with the open appreciation of the Reyes family, Nick was trying to deflect any praise coming his way. Watching the interplay Shannon was struck by the many different sides of this man which she had seen just today. Gentle lover-in-waiting, Shannon liked that phrase because it made her feel powerful, take charge man, joshing buddy with a crew of men’s men, and now secret do-gooder.
Remembering just where they were, she felt today’s puzzle pieces falling into precise order. Yes, he wielded his power and authority without apology and the obvious trappings of enormous wealth were evident everywhere in his life, but not all of what she was seeing was indulgent or abusive. Her long-held bitterness for the life of money and power she’d assumed he’d chosen over her had been crashing down brick by brick as the wall of resentment she’d erected around her bruised heart lost its sway.
Realizing she’d been deep in thought, Shannon melted back into the moment while Nick was earnestly telling Mr. Reyes and his wife that he was honored to be of whatever service he could and went further by telling them that he tried to always include a military family with travel needs in his journeys when the room was available. This reveal brought a burst of pure joy to her awakening heart.
“I will call you Nick if you will please call me Alejandro.” Mr. Reyes said proudly before he turned in Shannon’s direction. “Miss Reynolds, my wife bids you hello and apologizes for not getting up. The babe is Anthony’s son! My Sophia holds him close every chance he gets. Please both of you come meet my family.” Alejandro smiled proudly as he drew them forward.
Speaking in English, he introduced Shannon and Nick to his son’s young wife Melissa, who it turned out was a kindergarten teacher in San Diego. She and Anthony had married just as he started his first of three tours of duty in harm’s way. The baby, Jon, was only four months old and his daddy had still never met him. Their reunion would be sweet and she spoke with eloquent gratitude to Nick for making it possible.
Next was a young man, probably late teens, in a very proper button down shirt and khaki pants whose demeanor screamed private school, who stood to shake their hands. This was Michael, Alejandro’s youngest son and adoring little brother to war-hero Anthony. He too was politely composed and deferential toward Nick in a way which reminded Shannon that he truly was a man amongst men. A stand-out in all ways which that term implied. He wasn’t at all like the spoiled playboy she’d been angry at all those wasted, empty years.
Then it was time to meet Alejandro’s wife, a lovely Latino woman with jet black hair and vibrant brown gold eyes whose quick smile and easy manner drew Shannon in. Reverting to Spanish, Alejandro made the formal introductions to his wife. Before anyone could say another word Shannon quickly stepped around both startled men and knelt down by Sophia’s seat.
Having picked up on Sophia and Alejandro’s fluent interaction, Shannon immediately began speaking in perfectly nuanced Spanish, completely in tune with the dialect and regional eccentricities they displayed in their speech.
Watching as Shannon spoke in rapid Spanish to an obviously delighted Sophia, Nick thought to himself, this is what she does. This is what I remember so clearly; how she could read a situation like nobody’s business.
The two women chatted away like old friends as Nick watched contentedly, proud of her abilities, the lady-like way she behaved and the intuitive way she had of putting everyone around her at ease.
When one of her beautifully, delicate hands reached up to ruffle the dark brown curls of the half-sleeping child, Nick’s heart flipped over in his chest watching the natural and loving interaction. He was immediately assaulted by the visions of Shannon lovingly moving her fingers through the long blonde curls of a little girl who loo
ked to have the cute as a button mouth of her mum and the adorable dimples of her daddy. Didn’t take a rocket scientist to guess where that vision came from since all of Nick’s thoughts and senses were specifically focused at all times on grabbing that longed for future with both hands and doing whatever it took to seal the deal and make her his forever.
Suddenly, as she was lovingly stroking the adorable baby in Sophia’s arms, Shannon looked up, directly at him, straight into his soul. They stayed like that for long moments, staring intently at each other as another thread was rewoven between them, stitching some small, still unspoken part of their tattered hearts back together.
“This is your woman, Nick?” Alejandro asked quietly. “She is special, this one.” he said just loud enough for her to hear. Nick, never taking his eyes off of her replied “Yes, yes she is. We are both lucky men Alejandro.” making Alejandro laugh out loud as he said for all to hear, “My luckiest day was finding my Sophia and I dare say you seem to have done as well my friend!” as he slapped Nick on the back and extended his hand once more in a bonding handshake bringing nods of approval from all assembled and smiles of delight from the two women at the center of it all.
Taking their leave of the charming Reyes family Nick and Shannon retreated once again to the front of the massive plane to sit in the well-appointed main cabin for take-off. Each had been relatively silent, lost in private thoughts and musings, after having seen to the safety and comfort of their guests during the long flight ahead.
Nick was grateful for the chance to sit down and relax after having to help Shannon to her feet when they left the rear cabin. Kneeling down next to Sophia and her adorable grandson had caused a hesitation when it was time to rise; a reminder of the injury which had started this log, odd journey they were embarked upon. Her ankle, while doing so much better every day, was still a bit stiff and unyielding at times. Was it total reflex which had her reaching out for Nick’s assistance when she went to stand? He wasn’t sure but regardless he was enormously glad that his ever watchful eyes had been one step ahead of her for he was already preparing to help when her hand shot out.
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