He was tall and wide shouldered and, from the way his clothes were hanging on him, he must have recently lost a lot of weight. His long hair was clinging to his head and neck and his clothes were drenched by the rain and clinging to his body. Something about his clothes sparked a fleeting memory in Sarah. She couldn’t tell what color they were, only that they seemed familiar somehow. Her gaze narrowed on them, finally recognizing the ugly green color. Oh God, he was wearing army fatigues!
She sucked in a disbelieving breath, slowly walking through her living room toward the door. Being afraid never entered her mind. She had to reach him, had to be certain.
Please God, don’t let it turn out that I am dreaming! Her hand flew to her stomach and the closer she got the more she was convinced it had to be Clint.
Hot emotion clouded her vision, filling her eyes before spilling over onto her cheeks and further still, falling onto her swollen breasts. One hand smoothed over the life inside her womb, assuring her daughter everything was going to be all right, while she clenched her other hand into a fist against her trembling mouth.
She paused at the threshold barely breathing, willing him to turn around. As if something passed between them, he did so, slowly, moving almost painfully. Their eyes met and clung for a heart-stopping moment. He continued to stand out in the pounding rain, and if Sarah didn’t recognize anything else about him, she did recognize the fierce emotion in the black eyes staring back at her.
He was different. Not just in the weight he’d lost or the leanness of his features, but something else. Something not seen by the naked eye. His eyes were haunted, like the eyes of a man who’d been to hell and back. A man who’d lost his soul. He was standing there before her, but his mind was somewhere else. Yet as Clint began to focus on her, his tortured gaze slowly filled with hope, and life.
Sarah didn’t hesitate. With a cry she completed her journey to the man she loved beyond reason, throwing herself into his arms, almost knocking him down. His arms closed around her, crushing her against him as if he’d never let her go. She cried and sobbed against him, raining kisses all over his face before he could capture her mouth with his own.
****
Clint drank the life from Sarah’s lips like a starving man who’d been denied nourishment, a man who would never get enough. He’d thought of nothing else the last two months. Thoughts of Sarah were the only thing that had kept him alive in the hellhole where he’d been imprisoned. Thoughts of her had given him the will to survive the beatings and torture. And he’d decided during those nightmarish weeks that if he came out alive, he’d find her and make things right.
He didn’t want to admit how close he’d come to giving up when Stan finally found him. As he crushed Sarah to his weakened body, claiming her soft, eager mouth, Clint realized he’d been given a second chance.
“I love you.”
Sarah began to laugh and cry at the same time. They’d said the words simultaneously, in between passionate kisses. “God, I love you!” she repeated, kissing his eyes, nose and cheeks. “How did you get here? Never mind it doesn’t matter! I thought I’d never see you again.”
Clint took her mouth again, his hands moving over her desperately, wanting to make sure he wasn’t dreaming as he had been so many times before. When his hand glided over her belly, he pulled away in shock, breaking their kiss to look down into her joy-filled eyes.
She answered his unasked question by taking his hand and placing it back on her hard stomach. There was no denying the flutter coming from within, against his palm. His eyes stared into hers with awe and disbelief.
“Say hello to your daughter,” she said softly, her eyes shining bright with tears of hope and happiness.
My daughter.
Clint felt his heart swell with love, and the hot sting of unexpected emotion filled his eyes, spilling over to mix with the rain falling down upon them. He couldn’t speak when Sarah reached up, and cupped his cheeks, love and tenderness overflowing in her beautiful eyes. He shook his head no, unable to accept the truth. He must be dreaming.
“Clint.” The sound of her voice forced him to meet her eyes. “You’re not dreaming,” she said, reading his mind. “This is real. I’m real…our baby is real.”
Our baby.
“God, when Susan told me you’d disappeared, I lost my mind. I didn’t want to believe I’d never see you again. I wanted to go looking for you myself!” She sobbed brokenly before continuing, “Tell me you came back for me.”
At that moment, it was as if new life had been breathed into Clint’s abused body. Sarah’s tortured, unsure words tore at his heart. He crushed her to him, closing his hands in her hair. He took a shuddering breath. “God, don’t you know yet how much I love you? Thoughts of you kept me going, Sarah. Gave me the strength to go on when I was in that…” He clenched his teeth, not wanting to subject her to the ugliness of what he’d endured.
“God, Sarah. I’ve got so much to make up to you. I fought my feelings for you. I fought you every step of the way. Brushed it off as lust when you had my heart all along. I don’t deserve your love…our child.” Clint fell to his knees, burying his face in her belly, his hands clutching the soaked material of her shirt. Thankful for so many reasons. “Our child…”
“Daughter,” Sarah pointed out. “And do you think you have a monopoly on being stubborn?” she teased.
Clint glanced up to meet her smiling eyes. “Maybe the next one will be a boy.” He gently pulled her down until she was on her knees in front of him. “I never thought I’d have a family.”
“Well, you have one now.”
He buried his hands in her hair. He never wanted to let her go.
“And we’re not going anywhere.”
Leave it to Sarah to make it sound like a threat. He grinned, for the first time in months. “Good, because neither am I, angel.”
Clint didn’t have to pull Sarah in for a kiss, she met him halfway. She brought her arms up and wrapped them around his neck. He crushed her against him, careful of her belly and the new life there. He was home. He didn’t know how long they stayed out there like that, and it wasn’t important. All that mattered was this moment in time.
Epilogue
One year later…
Sarah was on her way outside with the bowl of potato salad when she paused long enough to take in the domestic scene outside the French doors. They were hosting a community barbeque where everyone who came brought a dish to share. Long tables had been set up for the food. Folks were already beginning to fill their plates. Behind the tables, several smokers had been set up, filling the air with the smoky scent of hickory and mesquite, and the mouth-watering aromas of cooked pork and beef.
The yard was filled with friends from town and neighboring ranches. Family was also present--Lois, Clint's mom, whom she adored. Susan and her boys had also flown in to spend the week, but it was the sight of Clint, holding their daughter, Danielle, that made her heart swell and took her breath away.
She'd never been so happy or content in her life. At first she'd had qualms about moving to Montana, but now she couldn't imagine being anywhere else. She loved the ranch, the animals, and the amount of land that Clint owned that allowed them the opportunity to ride a horse as far as the mountains, or to picnic next to one of the lakes before they took a swim, or to take a nap beneath the warm sun. Though it was a working ranch and Clint was often busy, he made an effort to spend time with her and Danielle.
He was a changed man, partly due to what had happened to him when he'd been held prisoner somewhere in South America. He wouldn't talk to Sarah about it, but for months he'd had nightmares, waking covered in sweat and shaking uncontrollably. It had been heartbreaking for her to watch him try to go through it on his own, but in time, as his body had healed and filled out into the man that he'd been when she'd first met him, his tortured mind had also found peace. Sarah suspected that Stan had a lot to do with it, because he was the only one Clint would confide in.
C
lint glanced over and their eyes met and held. Sarah watched as Stan walked up to him and said something beside him. She could tell that he was speaking low, his head was bent as he spoke into Clint's ear, yet Clint's gaze remained on her. Sarah smiled when Danielle reached up with her chubby little hand to tug at Stan's bushy beard. He tolerated it, rubbing his nose against her nose, causing her to squeal. Susan joined them, taking Danielle from Clint. Words were said and she walked away as the two men went back to their conversation.
Sarah opened the door and walked toward one of the tables to set down the potato salad. Her gaze scanned the endless bowls of food and the baskets of rolls and desserts. There was enough for an army, which was good, considering that there were around a hundred people mulling about. More were likely to come, too, before the end of the day. She began to straighten up the plastic silverware and the napkins, responding to the occasional wave or greeting from a friend.
A soft gasp escaped her when strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her against a hard body. Clint immediately began to nuzzle the side of her neck. She could feel his smile against her skin, and then his teeth as he gently bit down on her. A delicious shudder moved over her and she tilted her head, encouraging him to continue.
"You shouldn't do that out here," she said in a soft voice. "You know what it does to me."
A growl was Clint’s response, and then he grasped her hand and pulled her behind him. "And you know what it does to me when you say that." The mild humor in his tone was overshadowed by his need.
Sarah returned the smiles and curious glances of everyone they encountered as she let her husband pull her toward the door she'd just exited from.
"I don't know where you think you're taking me. We have a hundred guests out here."
"I want to kiss my wife and I don't want an audience," he explained, giving her a sexy grin over his shoulder.
Sarah didn't believe him. He kissed her whenever he wanted, and having an audience had never bothered him before. A pleasant tingle moved over her in anticipation of what he really wanted. They'd gone through a lot of changes in the last year, but one thing that hadn't changed was their sexual hunger for each other. If anything, it had grown.
"I don't mind an audience," she teased, smiling.
"You won't want one for what I fucking have in mind," he growled.
"Language!"
They both glanced over at Jan, who'd obviously caught the f-word that had slipped past Clint's lips. She was a second grade school teacher who should have retired ten years before, and wasn't afraid to correct anyone on their use of poor grammar or word choice. Clint ignored her. Sarah mouthed the word "sorry" to her as they passed the elderly woman.
Clint opened the door and yanked Sarah inside and into his arms. He slammed his mouth down on hers, pulling the curtains over the glass doors at the same time to give them privacy. She wrapped her arms around his neck and lifted up onto her toes for better access. With a deep sound in his throat, Clint lifted her, which prompted her to wrap her legs around his waist. Their kiss turned hot and needy within seconds, and when Sarah felt her back against the wall she reluctantly turned her head away.
"We are not doing this now," she gasped in a breathy voice.
"Doing what?" he murmured as his mouth explored her neck.
"You know what." She tried to remain detached, but it was a losing battle. Clint knew how to play her body, and she'd always been weak where he was concerned.
He chuckled gruffly. "You mean fucking? Sticking my dick in my wife's beautiful pussy and fucking her good and hard?"
Sarah quivered against him. "We have guests," she insisted weakly, arching her breasts into his seeking hands. "And you don't play fair."
"I'm not playing." His hands moved under Sarah's tee, grumbling with irritation when he reached her bra, before lifting it up and freeing the heavy mounds. "Jesus, I love your juicy tits."
A husky laugh escaped Sarah. "You love what being pregnant does to them."
That's right. She was pregnant with their second child. Clint hadn't wasted any time in putting another baby in her belly after her six-week checkup. She'd never given any thought in the past to how many kids she wanted, but apparently Clint had, and he wanted a lot. Having Danielle had been good for him. It hadn't tamed the mercenary in him, he was still every bit as dangerous and he still went on secret missions, but having a little person who relied on him had softened his heart a little, and it was obvious that Danielle had her daddy wrapped around her little finger.
Sarah moaned, throwing her head back when Clint bent and put his mouth on her nipple. He teased it with his teeth, nipping gently, tugging on it until it pebbled. He sucked on it hard, releasing it with a pop and causing Sarah to suck in her breath. She felt wet heat pool in her panties and began to move her hips against him, seeking her own pleasure. They were both breathing hard, the sound seeming overloud in the room as passion took control.
"I love you, baby." Clint's words were spoken hoarsely as he kissed his way down Sarah's throat. "I fucking love you."
Tears filled her eyes. When he said those words, with such feeling and depth, she gave him whatever he wanted, and it would never seem like enough. "I love you." A big, fat tear rolled down her cheek.
He saw it and pulled back. "Baby, why are you crying?" He rubbed it off with his thumb.
"Because you make me so happy." Sarah kissed him on the chin. "Fuck me, Clint." She dug her nails into his shoulders. "Love me." She wasn't asking him if he loved her, she already knew that he did. She wanted him to make love to her. The noise of the activity going on outside the door became muted and unimportant.
"Always, babe," he murmured, kissing her hungrily. Sarah was aware of him reaching for something to the side of them. The sound of him locking the door revealed that he was serious about fucking her. She knew he'd never leave them vulnerable to being caught in an intimate situation, out of consideration for her feelings. Clint himself didn't give a damn about who saw them.
He didn't give Sarah enough time to get cold feet. The next thing she knew his hands were undoing her shorts and pushing them down to her knees. Next he unsnapped and unzipped his pants, whipped out his cock, and penetrated her in one thrust. They both groaned loudly and paused to enjoy the gratifying moment. The fullness Sarah felt when Clint was inside her always took her breath away, and she clenched her muscles to show her appreciation, hearing him hiss.
"Did I hurt you?" she teased huskily.
He snorted. "Baby, your tight pussy is choking my dick, but in a fucking good way." He pulled out slowly to the tip before slamming back inside her. "This is going to be fast and hard."
"I think that's a good idea." Sarah was very much aware of what was going on outside the door. "Before someone tries to come in."
He grunted. "With pleasure." He lowered his mouth to hers and kissed Sarah through the next powerful thrusts, banging her up against the wall, but, in true Clint form, not caring.
When he fucked her he was a beast in every sense of the word. She'd learned early on that he liked his sex rough and fast. But that didn't mean that he got off and left her hanging. He always made sure that she climaxed before he found his release in her body. He pounded into her for a few minutes, until they were dripping in sweat and panting for breath. Every time he was seated deep, Sarah clenched around him, drawing out his savage hiss.
Suddenly, without warning, Clint spun her around to face the wall. "Stick that sweet ass out," he grunted. She had no sooner done that than she felt the head of his cock against her opening. She moaned and her knees buckled when he rubbed his cock up and down her slit, caressing her clit without mercy.
"Clint‒"
He slammed forward and began to fuck her hard and fast. One hand went to her breast to cup and squeeze it, while his other zeroed in on her throbbing clit. He flicked, pinched, and rubbed it until she was crying out with release. He fucked her through her orgasm, grunting out his own release. His hands held her hips tight while he emp
tied his balls deep inside her. The room was filled with the sounds of their mutual satisfaction, which gradually died down with the calming of their movements.
"Oh, God. That was fucking good." He slipped from Sarah and gently turned her around.
She smiled up at him. "I can't believe we got through it without someone knocking on the door." She pulled up her shorts. His crooked grin sent up a red flag. "What did you do? Make an announcement or something?"
"Or something." He zipped up his jeans. "I might have asked Susan to keep an eye on the door for a few minutes."
Sarah shook her head. "And just like that she agreed?"
"I had to give her our daughter."
Sarah laughed. There was a light rap on the door. She pulled back the curtain enough to see Susan standing on the other side with an unhappy Danielle in her arms. Sarah recognized the signs. Danielle's little face was red and her expression revealed her irritation. The only thing that put her in a bad mood was a poopy diaper. She absolutely refused to stay in one for any length of time. Laughing now, she pulled the curtain aside and unlocked the door.
"Thank goodness you two are done. Here! Take her!" Susan said as soon as the door was open. She held a squirming Danielle out away from her body. "She needs changing."
"That's what you get for taking my daughter and leaving me to the whims of this sex fiend," Sarah joked, automatically reaching for Danielle. Then the odor reached her. "Ugh! You did a stinky, didn't you, sweetheart?"
Danielle made her normal baby sounds in response, but her focus was on her daddy. Little chubby arms reached for Clint as she squirmed to get away from Susan. He made a face, but took Danielle without hesitation. "You like daddy best, don't you little girl." He turned in the direction of the stairs. "Daddy will get that stinky diaper off you, little one. We'll have you clean and smelling sweet in no time." His voice drifted away as he reached the top of the stairs and walked down the hallway.
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