“You can in a couple of days.”
Her entire body tingled at his words. “I like your plan, and no, I’m not rooming with anyone. I’m checking out tomorrow though.”
His hand cupped her breast. “Not now you aren’t.”
A loud sound interrupted their reverie.
A teenaged skateboarder had just slammed the flat of his hand on the hood of Eden’s rental. “Get a room,” he called out.
They looked at one another and laughed.
Asher stared at Eden. He’d never seen a woman look so beautiful before. She was perfect. From the top of her chocolate-brown hair, to her pink swollen lips and witchy green eyes, down to her tiny feet in silver heels.
“You’re so keeping this dress,” he murmured as he reached behind her and started tugging on the zipper.
“Not so fast,” Eden shook her head. “I want to inspect the military’s medical job and see if you’re up for any physical activity.
“Lady, I’m so up for this you’d be amazed.”
Eden snorted. Then she went back to being serious. In her heels she came up to his nose, so she was able to slide his suitcoat off his shoulders. They both let it fall to the carpet floor.
“I like the suspenders,” she smiled.
“I didn’t have a choice, A belt isn’t in the cards for me at the moment.”
She frowned as he started to unclip them, and she brushed his fingers aside. He let his arms fall to his sides. He understood her need to do this. Then as she started to unbutton his dress shirt, he watched the expressions flash over her face as she saw the new scars on his body. He really wished she didn’t have to see them.
Eden sucked in her breath when she saw the large, still-pink scar. At least it was no longer swollen and inflamed. He’d been lucky—they’d saved both kidneys—even though it had been touch-and-go. He’d lost part of his liver. It was the infection that almost killed him.
She didn’t ask any silly questions, she just said, “we’re doing this slow and easy.”
She’s out of her mind.
When she started for the buttons on his slacks, he stilled her fingers. “Now you.”
“Okay.”
She let him unzip her dress. He had to peel it off her, and when he did, he found just a thong and silver thigh-high stockings.
“Woman, you are an angel. Thank you for this.” He traced the skin between the top of her stocking and the gusset of her panties, and she shuddered. She grabbed for his shoulders.
“Asher,” she sighed. “Now can you take off your pants?”
“Pretty soon.”
He would’ve liked to have carried her to the bed, but that just wasn’t in the cards at the moment. He guided her the five steps backwards, helping her to sink down. As soon as she was seated, he pushed her torso down and stripped off her silk underwear.
He’d dreamed of pleasuring her this way. He’d dreamed of doing everything with this woman. He spread her thighs and put both of her legs over his shoulders.
“You don’t have to do this,” Eden’s voice was hopeful. Asher wasn’t sure which way she was hoping, but it didn’t matter. He figured that she was going to end up happy.
“I know, but I really want to, is that okay?” he had to ask.
“I guess so.”
Good enough for me. Eden’s flesh was already glistening with her need. Her scent scattered all thoughts from his brain. He’d already been rock-hard, now he thought his cock would explode just from the look and fragrance of her. God knew what was going to happen when he tasted her, but he was dying to find out.
Asher licked at her delicate folds and she gave a long, loud sigh of pleasure. He parted her flesh so that he could lap up even more of her passion.
“Ashhhhh…”
He lifted the hood of her clit and sucked at the sensitive nub. He felt her moving and looked up to see her sitting up to watch what he was doing, her face suffused with passion. That was his lioness, claiming their loving. Participating every step of the way.
“This feels so good.” She sounded surprised.
Ash gently inserted two fingers into the tender entrance of her vagina and started a slow rhythm that had Eden flopping back down onto the bed. Asher grinned, he was onto something. He circled her clit with his tongue and continued to massage her slick channel. Her passion was a miracle. He should have realized that such a fierce fighter would grab hold and match him. He was dying to sink inside her, but first, he needed to pleasure her.
“Cock. Now.”
“Ouch.” Ash stopped sucking when Eden grabbed his hair. She was staring him in the face.
“I want us to make love now. Please?” she begged.
He laughed.
“What is it, Honey? Cock now, or make love?”
She bit her lip. “What’s going to get you out of your pants the fastest? Tell me and I’ll say it.”
“Then lean back and let me make you come.” He kissed her. All that time, his fingers kept up the torturous pace, but now his thumb was circling her clit. He felt her shivering. She was close. Asher leaned forward and took a swollen nipple into his mouth.
“Ashhh…”
God, she smelled like peaches.
The shivering turned to shuddering. “I’m so close.”
He flicked his thumb harder on her sensitive bud, while he enjoyed himself at her breast. She was so soft, even better than his memories. No, he hadn’t been wrong, he was all kinds of right about everything.
He felt her melt against his fingers as she shook in orgasm and grabbed his head against her heart. After the long last tremor ended, she looked at him. “Please be with me. Please?”
Asher grabbed a condom out of his pants pocket and then shucked out of them. He moved beside her. Her fingers tangled gently in his chest hair. “I don’t want you to hurt,” she whispered.
He took her hand and brought it to curl around his erection. “This is what’s hurting. Please help put me out of my misery,” he laughed roughly.
She stroked him up and down. He handed her the condom and she opened it. Then he slid it on.
She gave him a wary look. “Should I be on top?”
Asher winced at the thought of anything being on top of his incision. “Uhm, no. I think we’re going for missionary, Honey. If that works for you.” He smiled down at her.
“I’ve dreamed about being wrapped in your arms, covered by you, having you inside me. That would be perfect.”
Asher closed his eyes so he could get himself under control. She still had a way of creating pictures in his mind. Asher couldn’t take in enough of Eden’s body—she was like a beautiful sultry banquet, created just for him. The stockings had to come off. He needed to see her, not any prop.
As he started to roll down the thigh-high from her right leg, she protested.
“I thought you liked those.”
“Not as much as I love your body. I want your body, heart, mind, and soul laid bare.”
He saw her bite her lip.
“Asher—”
“I know I’m asking for a lot, but we’ll get there. I almost died. Twice. I know what I want. It’s you.” He kissed his way down her leg until he got to the bottom of her foot, where he laved the slight scar she had on the bottom of her foot. “Does this hurt?”
She shook her head.
When her stockings were gone, he slid up to wrap his arm around her head, holding her, and then dipped down for a long, slow kiss. When she started undulating upwards, he stroked his hand down her ribcage. He played with her nipple until it pebbled, then he plucked and she groaned.
“More. Harder.”
He was happy to oblige. He broke off the kiss and scraped his teeth against the burgeoning bud. He thought she might snatch him bald. She spread her legs wide, and he couldn’t resist her invitation.
He positioned the head of his penis at her entrance and started a slow slide into her tight wet depths. He never stopped watching her face, checking for any signs of duress. H
er muscles were clamping down on him so hard, he was afraid he was hurting her.
She dug one foot into his ass, avoiding his wounded side.
“Don’t hold back or I’ll have to hit you again,” she gritted out.
Asher barked out a laugh. She lifted her hips and took more of him, then moaned.
“Eden, was that a good sound, or bad sound?”
“So good, let’s do it some more.” She pressed up again, only this time he pushed downwards. He thought his head would explode as she welcomed all of him. He pinched her nipple, and she groaned.
He had to move. He had to. So, he did. Her smile was ecstatic. She reached out and stroked his jaw. “Oh, Asher, it was just like I dreamed.”
He pumped harder and she met him thrust for thrust. He was dying and she was talking. He had to do something to make her come. He moved his hand from her breast and reached between them to touch her clit. She sighed with delight, her eyes closing.
“Open your eyes.”
Her lids opened slowly.
He kissed her again. She was his Eden. Her hand moved on the side of his body that wasn’t injured. Then her nails dug in as she started to thrash underneath him. She was panting. So close. Just one more thrust. She let out a loud moan as her channel clenched his cock so hard, they were fused into one being.
He shuddered and groaned as he released everything into Eden. His heart, his soul. Everything he was.
Chapter 18
She snuggled under the hotel duvet but didn’t bother with the pillow when she had Asher’s chest instead. He’d just gotten done telling her about his time at the hospital. It scared the hell out of her.
“Why do you think they’ll let me in next time?”
“I’ll put you on the list of people to notify and visit. It’ll be fine.”
Eden thought about having to drop everything and flying to find out about Asher’s health.
“We’ve been living in a vault again. Only this time there’s room service and we could go outside if we wanted to.”
He looked down at her. “How do you figure?”
“It’s a time out of place. For three days, we’ve gorged on sex and gotten to know one another. You surprised me when you said your favorite color is yellow. Never would have guessed that, Sailor.”
Asher chuckled.
“But we haven’t talked once about the future.”
He sat up in the bed and put a mound of pillows behind him, hitching her up with him so he could look at her. “No, I’ve been very clear about the future. You haven’t been listening.”
“Huh?” That was totally out of left field. He looked serious as a heart attack.
“Asher, I don’t know what in the hell you’re talking about. You have not once talked about the future.”
“Sure, I have. I’ve made it clear that I want your heart and soul, and you already have mine. What could be more clear than that?”
Oh my God, how did I miss that?
Take a breath. Don’t scream.
“Okay, can you be more specific as to what that would look like, say, in the next six months?” she asked slowly.
“Well, I have to live in Virginia for my job. You take translator gigs all over the place, so where you’re based doesn’t matter. I figured you could stay with me for a bit, then we could find a place that would suit you.”
“Asher Thorne, are you asking me to move in with you?”
“I’m not asking, I thought that’s what we were doing here. Did I get this wrong?”
Eden laughed.
Asher scowled.
She was now adept at hugging him in such a way she knew wouldn’t hurt his injury, so she threw her arms around him. “You have my mind, soul, and heart. I love you, Asher Thorne. I definitely want to live with you.”
His smile could light up all of Boise. Hell, it could light up the entire state of Idaho.
“So, does that mean you’re up with my plan?”
“It’s going to take a little more than a minute to get it accomplished, but absolutely.”
She reached up and kissed him with trembling lips.
“I love you too, Eden. More than you can ever know. Heart, mind, and soul.”
Epilogue
Asher laughed at Eden’s nervousness. It was a new look for her. “You know they won’t care if the food doesn’t come out right on time. As long as the beer is cold, they’re good.”
The doorbell rang.
“Oh no, somebody’s on time.”
“Well, sure,” Asher smiled.
“Oh, God.” Eden disappeared into the kitchen.
“Is she always like this?” he asked her friend, Samantha Brooks. Sam was staying with them for the weekend and had agreed to man the tables in the backyard.
“I’ve never seen her like this. It’s a totally new phenomenon. What have you done to her in the last four months, Ash?”
“Nothing, I swear.”
Sam took a sip of her beer. “Now, that’s certainly not true, I’ve gotten some details.” She smirked.
Asher felt his face heat. How come my teammates can give me shit all day long, but the idea of one of Eden’s friends knowing something about our sex life scares the hell out of me?
“I’m going to go see if I can help the hostess, but everything is perfect in the kitchen. I’ll see if there’s a paper bag for her to breathe into.”
That caught Asher up short. “Do you think it’s that bad?”
The doorbell rang again.
“Go answer the door. Eden will be fine.”
When Asher got to the door, he was confronted with a big bowl of potato salad, courtesy of A.J. McNamara. “I figured that Eden could use some reinforcements. I also brought tequila for her and me. Maybe Carys too, if she isn’t on-call.”
Standing behind her, Kane shrugged.
“Actually, I think a shot would be welcome at this point. For some reason, she’s freaking out.” Asher explained.
“Of course, she is. This is the first party she’s hosted with your team, and it’s in your new house. She wants it to be perfect.” She tilted her head. “Is the kitchen that way?”
Asher nodded.
A.J. left to provide aid and comfort in the form of tequila.
“I need a beer,” Asher said to Kane.
Kane laughed as he slapped him on the back. “Nice place you have here. I assume it’s all Eden’s doing?”
“Except for the garage. That’s where the beer is.”
“I didn’t see one when I pulled up into your driveway.”
“That’s because it’s detached and out back. It’s pretty slick.” Asher made sure to go outside using the kitchen’s sliding glass door so he could check on Eden. What he saw made him smile. She and Sam were both laughing at something A.J. was saying. Eden was looking a lot less stressed. Asher relaxed.
“When are you going to ask her to marry you?” Kane asked as they made their way to the garage.
She’s going to Europe next week to meet with the prosecutors on Becker’s case. I’m flying out to Montana to talk to her dad. Trust me, there is no way I can ask her until I’ve asked his permission.”
“For real?” Kane asked as they got to the garage.
“I’m just happy I don’t have to ask all her brothers, too.”
Asher opened a cooler and pulled out two beers. He looked up and saw Raiden, Nic, and Ezio coming their way. He pulled out three more.
Eden leaned into Asher as they sat on the picnic bench together. “You did good,” he whispered into her hair.
She looked around at all of the empty bowls and platters. Since everybody had a plastic container of food to take home if they wanted it, she felt like it was a success. Now people were all settled and spending time talking. Yep, the party was a success. She’d wanted that for Asher.
“When do we get to kick them out?” Asher asked.
She looked up into his blue eyes and laughed. “They’ll probably leave by midnight.”
He
groaned. “That long?”
“Sam’s staying here anyway.”
“Her bedroom is upstairs. Everything’s good.” He stroked her lower back. She loved how he could get her hot and bothered by just a touch.
“It’s a shame Lawson couldn’t make it,” Eden said.
“Yeah, he was looking forward to it. But missions come up.”
“Do you think he’ll finally get some help?” After hearing Asher’s last phone call with his brother, she was really hopeful.
“I think so. But I’ll have to see it to believe it.”
Eden put her arms around Asher, trying to give him comfort.
“It’s okay, Honey. I’m not giving up.”
“No, you never do,” she smiled up at him. “You’re it for me, Asher Thorne. I love you.”
He looked around their backyard. Everybody was happy, full, and occupied. Asher stood up, drawing Eden up with him.
As he pulled her inside, she laughed. “We can’t.”
“Oh, we absolutely can.”
He walked her down the hall, tugged her into their bedroom, locked the door, and pulled Eden into his arms.
“Eden, your trust in me is a gift. Thank you for that. I love you; body, heart, mind, and soul.”
He was her gift. He was the man she would always choose to protect her.
“Did you see that?” Samantha Brooks laughed up at Ezio Stark. “I think we’ve been abandoned by our hosts.”
Ezio looked down at the beautiful blonde who he’d been talking to half the night. “I did see that. I think that means we could make our getaway. What do you say?”
THE END
Read Ezio and Samantha’s Story in Her Intense Protector, Night Storm Book 4
Read Lawson and Jill’s Story in Lawson & Jill, Night Storm Legacy Novel 1
About the Author
USA Today Bestselling Author, Caitlyn O'Leary, adores writing Military Romantic Suspense and Paranormal Romance. She started publishing books in 2014. Storytelling has been a tradition in her family for years, and she still holds on to the letters she has received from family members since her childhood.
Her Chosen Protector: Navy SEAL Romance (Night Storm Book 3) Page 18