Issued to the Bride One Airman (Brides of Chance Creek Book 2)

by Cora Seton

  Meanwhile they’d finish this walled garden, and for the first time Sadie pictured it in all its glory as it would be one day. Graceful trees, masses of flowers, stone walkways—maybe a fountain.

  But always, always this patch of grass where they lay right now. Because this is where they’d seal their promise to each other to spend their lives together.

  Sadie tugged Connor on top of her, enjoying the press of his body on hers, as if he was tethering her to the land she loved so much. The metaphor pleased her, and she was glad Connor was a man who wanted to keep her at Two Willows rather than take her away from her home.

  When she felt his hand tug at the hem of her shirt, she helped him pull it up and over her head. Connor glanced toward the house, but she told him, “I don’t think anyone can see us behind the wall.” She arched her back and he slid his hands underneath to undo the clasp of her bra. When he tugged it off her, set it aside and palmed one of her breasts, Sadie closed her eyes and gave herself up to the sensation. She sighed blissfully when he replaced his hand with his mouth, teasing her, circling her breast with kisses, nipping tenderly at her sensitive skin.

  When he eased lower, trailing kisses down her belly, Sadie wrapped her fingers into his hair, remembering what he’d said. He wanted to wake up grateful for her. Wanted her to wake up grateful for him.

  If he planned to treat her like this she’d be grateful all her life.

  He undid the button of her jeans, and she lifted her hips so he could shimmy them down, kicking off her shoes and helping him untangle her legs from the thick fabric.

  “You’re wearing too many clothes,” she told him.

  “We’ll get to that. In time.” He tugged down her lacy panties, tossed them aside with the rest of her clothes, parted her thighs and bent to taste her.

  The sound that traveled from her lips was part hunger, part joy. Sadie was hungry for him—wanted him inside her right now. But Connor seemed to think he should take his time.

  And maybe waiting wasn’t so bad.

  As his mouth brushed over her, his breath warming her, Sadie moaned again. He began a teasing kind of sensual torment that made Sadie twist the fabric of his shirt in her fingers. With every touch he heightened her desire, until she couldn’t take it anymore.

  “I want you inside me,” she insisted. “Now.”

  “Plenty of time for—”

  “Now!”

  Connor chuckled. “All right.” In a flash he’d shucked off boots, jeans, boxer briefs and even tugged his shirt up over his head in a one-handed maneuver that Sadie barely had time to marvel over before he’d kneed her legs apart and set himself in just the right place to cause her to sigh all over again.

  He pulled a condom out of a pocket in his jeans, got it on before Sadie could even offer to help.

  “I’m glad you’re always prepared,” she said with a wry grin. “Do you restock every morning?”

  “I’m an optimistic man.”

  The laugh that bubbled from her throat dissipated all her remaining tension. She relaxed, fully accepting Connor’s love—and enthusiasm. Maybe she’d been making this more difficult than necessary all along. Maybe love was easy if you let it be.

  “This more like it?” he asked as he settled between her legs.

  “Hell, yeah.” Maybe she was taking a chance. A chance she hadn’t anticipated she’d take with her heart ever again. It was terrifying—

  When Connor pushed inside her, Sadie gasped.

  It was heavenly—

  She surrendered to him fully, loving the feeling of him between her legs—the way his arms boxed her in. The way he took control and the whole world came alive as they touched. She knew Connor could coax pleasure from her body like a virtuoso playing a fine violin. As he began to move inside her, she relaxed and let him press in deep, loving the connection between them and wanting to give him as much pleasure as he was giving her.

  She caressed her hands over his hips, glorying in the muscles that bunched and released as he moved. Connor was a thing of beauty—with a body hardened by war and experience. She believed him when he said Halil and Fatima’s safety made it all worth it. She was beginning to see that Connor was a man who’d closed his heart for many years—but was ready to open it again—to her.

  This was a man she could spend a life with. A man whose very touch put her in harmony with all creation. They created magic together.

  The way he moved inside her felt like magic.

  Connor sped up and Sadie pressed her fingers into his skin, urging him deeper—harder. As Connor pumped into her, she opened to him, lifting her hips to meet him halfway with each stroke.

  He slid a hand underneath her bottom and lifted it higher. Sadie sighed as he pressed in, pulled out and pressed in again.

  He felt so good. Felt so right. She arched her back and he bent to take one of her nipples in his mouth. Sadie had no idea how anything could feel this good. As she crashed over the top into a series of shuddering waves of ecstasy, she clung to Connor, needing to feel him, needing to know he was here with her, in this most intimate of moments, when she was truly open.

  “I’m here,” he whispered, kissing her neck. “Right here. Right—” Connor came, grunting with his release, working himself in and out of her with a slow, deep rhythm that took her right over the edge a second time.

  “Connor—” She clung to him more tightly, her mouth pressed against his shoulder, thinking the waves of her orgasm would never stop.

  When they did, she collapsed back, Connor following her—allowing his weight to rest fully on top of her until she wriggled beneath him and he disengaged, then slid to the side. Both of them were breathing deeply. “How was that?” Connor asked her.

  “Fabulous. Can we do it again?”

  “Give me a minute to rest up. You’ll be the death of me, lass.”

  Sadie smiled. “Will you take me to Ireland someday to meet your mother?”

  “You’ll be seeing her soon enough,” he reminded her. “In about a week. My dad, too. Don’t forget they’re expecting a wedding.” He smiled roguishly. “In about… four weeks. Think we can make that work?”

  She held up her hand and touched the ring that graced her finger. “I think so.”

  Chapter Ten

  ‡

  “Hell, you really did it?” Logan asked, peering into his laptop camera until his face filled Connor’s screen. Connor was seated at the desk in his room, trying to keep his voice down so none of the Reed women would overhear him. Sadie had spent the night with him, but she’d gotten up early to get a real breakfast going. He should be working on the wall, or down in the barns helping Lena, but he’d told her he had something to take care of first. After a quick visit with Jo to see the puppies, he’d come back to his room and shut the door.

  “I did. The wedding is in about four weeks.” He couldn’t express how much satisfaction that gave him. Never in a million years had he expected to move to Montana, become engaged—and be happy. His role helping with the cattle would expand, of course, but he hoped there were more things to build at Two Willows. He found working with the granite, building the walled garden, oddly satisfying.

  “Congratulations,” Hunter said.

  “I bet it’s my turn next. Watch out, baby girl. You don’t know what’s about to hit you! A big ol’ dose of Logan love.” Logan turned to one side and Connor could only guess he was looking at Lena’s photograph.

  Jack grabbed something and chucked it at Logan, the first time Connor had ever seen him completely lose his temper. With each of them occupying a different box on his screen, the effect was comical; the bottle of water left Jack’s hand in one box and hit Logan in another one. Connor couldn’t help but remember when he’d been back in that rectangular office with them, wondering what was to come next.

  Now he had a home—and would have a wife in four weeks. It was nothing short of a miracle.

  “Have you told the General yet?” Hunter asked.

  “He’s
my next call.”

  “We’d better let you get to it. Don’t drop the ball now, O’Riley. You’re nearly to the goal line.”

  “I won’t drop the ball.” Connor signed off and made a new call. When the General’s face appeared on his screen, the man was frowning.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing, sir. I’ve got good news, actually. Sadie agreed to marry me. The wedding is four weeks from Saturday.”

  For a long moment the General had nothing to say. Then the strangest thing happened. Half a grin tugged up one corner of his mouth. The half smile disappeared almost before it started, but Connor’s fingers tightened on the arms of his chair. He’d never, ever seen the General smile.

  Had anyone else ever seen it?

  The other guys would never believe this. And Sadie—was the General different with his girls? From everything he’d seen, the answer was no. Sadie and her sisters avoided talking about their father, and when they did their attitudes weren’t friendly. How would Sadie feel if she knew the General had ordered him to come here and marry her?

  “Will you be able to make it?” He wasn’t sure what answer he wanted, but when the General quickly shook his head, Connor was relieved—then disappointed on Sadie’s behalf.

  “Why not?” he asked.

  “We’ve got teams working all over the world. Trouble’s heating up around the globe. I can’t leave USSOCOM now.”

  “With all due respect, General, there are other men who can do your job for a couple of days—”

  The General cut the call.

  Connor stared at the blank screen. He thought about that smile. Then the General’s palpable anger as he’d reached out to put an end to their conversation.

  The General had missed Cass’s wedding, and he wasn’t coming for Sadie’s either. Was he worried the women would figure out his ruse if he did?

  When his phone buzzed, he picked it up thinking maybe it was the General again, but it was a text from Lila.

  Hey baby. Busy?

  Connor nearly tossed the phone away. Instead, he answered her.

  Stop texting me. I’m getting married. It’s over, got it?

  A knock sounded at his door. “Connor?”

  Hell. Connor turned off his phone, jammed it in his pocket, and went to open the door. Sadie stood in the hall.

  “Breakfast is ready.”

  He waved her in, shut the door behind her, led her to the bed and sat down, patting the comforter beside him. Sadie sat down, too.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I just talked to your father,” Connor said.

  She straightened. Her eyebrows rose and he could read the question in her face.

  Connor shook his head. “I’m sorry. He—”

  “He won’t leave USSOCOM. He doesn’t want to set foot on Two Willows—even for my wedding.” She wilted again.

  “I can’t believe—”

  “I can. The General is the one who taught me to be disappointed by men,” she said sharply.

  Connor pulled back and Sadie’s expression softened.

  “I’m sorry. That wasn’t fair.” She reached for his hand. “He’s never been here for me—for any of us. I don’t expect any different. That’s probably why I didn’t expect much from Mark—or you, at first.”

  “I’m not going to disappoint you,” Connor told her. “I’m going to change the way you think about men.”

  “You already have.”

  Connor kissed her. “You’ve got a ring. My folks have booked their flights. What else do we need to do to get this shindig off the ground?”

  “Lots.” Sadie made a face. “Tons, in fact. You know, Mia Matheson does wedding planning. Should we ask her for help?”

  “Hell, yeah. Let a planner do the work. We can have the fun.” He flopped back on the bed and pulled her down on top of him. “I suppose there are a few things we should talk about, too.”

  “Like what?”

  He tucked her hair behind her ear. “You’ve never said if you want kids.”

  She propped her chin in her hands, elbows planted on his chest, and thought about it. “Yes. I do. Two girls and one boy.”

  “How about two boys and a girl?” Connor countered. “Don’t want to be outnumbered.”

  “You’re going to be outnumbered,” Sadie told him as she began to get undressed. “Get used to doing what you’re told. Now make love to me.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  When Sadie set out toward the walled garden later that morning to help Connor, she couldn’t help the spring in her step. Their bout of lovemaking had left her glowing, and after Connor had taken a quick rinse and headed downstairs for breakfast, she’d luxuriated in the tub for a time before showering off the bubble bath and washing her hair. Freshly dressed, her still-wet hair pulled up in a ponytail on top of her head, she made short work of feeding herself and cleaning up after the meal, all the while looking forward to a morning spent working with Connor.

  Outside, the day was lovely, and Sadie increased her pace, eager to reach Connor. But halfway across the garden, a sage plant whispered it was thirsty, and she stopped automatically to shut her eyes and listen to what else the garden had to tell her.

  And that’s when it hit her. She could hear the garden—hear the growing things.

  And Connor wasn’t anywhere close to her.

  Sadie wobbled and sat down hard in the dirt. Messages came from all around her: aphids in the peonies. Mold on the zucchini. The tomatoes were almost past-ripe and needed harvesting.

  Sadie laughed as tears started to her eyes. It was back. Her gift was back—which meant—

  She lurched to her feet and raced to the greenhouse. Inside, she gathered what she needed, the roots and herbs speaking to her as well. It was back—her knowledge was back. Her intuition.

  Her ability to heal.

  She was still hard at work a half hour later when Connor let himself into the greenhouse. “Sadie? Everything all right?”

  She turned to him and smiled, hardly able to contain her joy. “I can do it. I can make my remedies. Jean is due any minute and I’ve made her tonic.” She held it up, knowing he couldn’t possibly understand.

  “You need me to hang close?”

  “No!” Connor’s frown had her backtracking. “I mean, I love it when you’re close. Be as close as you want to be. But—I can do it again. Myself!”

  He moved toward her. Linked his fingers through her belt loops and tugged her to him. “So you don’t need me anymore? Is that what you’re trying to say?” he growled, then kissed her nose so she knew he was kidding.

  “No.” She needed him now more than ever. She kissed him back, buzzing with as much anticipation as she had the first time they’d gotten close. “This means I’m happy.”

  “That kind of turns me on.”

  “Then you’d better lock that door.” Sadie checked the time. They had a half hour. Enough time if they were quick. Before Connor was gone and back again, she’d shucked off her clothes, and when he turned around and stopped, a smile spreading across his face at her nakedness, she pushed up to sit on the edge of the table. “Time’s wasting,” she told him.

  “Then I’d better hurry up.”

  When Connor was naked, too, and positioned himself between her legs, Sadie didn’t need any foreplay. She was ready for him. Aching for his touch. Like she always seemed to be when he was near. So when he lifted her up to press against him, she wasted no time in wrapping her legs around his waist and pulling him inside.

  “Wait—condom.”

  “I’m on the pill,” she told him. “I’ve been checked out. We are getting married, after all.”

  “I’ve been checked out, too. And you’re right; pretty soon you’ll be my wife.”

  He slid inside her and Sadie relished the idea there was nothing between them this time. As the two of them joined, she felt she was pledging her life to him already. He was so strong he could hold her up and ease in and out of her with such slow
precision, Sadie was close to losing control almost from the start.

  When he tilted her head back and kissed her neck, still sliding in and out of her with long, strong strokes, the pressure built inside her until she couldn’t hold back anymore. Her orgasm rolled through her in waves as strong, steady and persistent as the ocean, and Sadie was shaking by the time Connor grunted and came inside her, crushing her to him as he gave in to his release.

  Afterward, Sadie didn’t want to let him go. But soon they’d have company. “Come on—I need to go clean up quick. Jean will be here in a minute.”

  “All right.” They dressed as fast as they could and raced back to the house, laughing like teenagers as they barged through the back door, into the kitchen, down the hall and up the stairs.

  “Come find me when your friend is gone,” Connor told her when they’d climbed into the shower for a quick rinse. “I don’t think I’m done with you yet.”

  She didn’t think she was done with him, either.

  “You’re not coming back to Ireland, are you?” Connor’s brother’s disappointment was palpable even over the phone. Connor was a little surprised. As far as he knew, Dalton had always seemed to enjoy having their mother to himself. He’d certainly enjoyed becoming lord and master of Ard na Greine, their mother’s property, and the small herd of cattle the family owned.

  “No. Two Willows is going to be my home.”

  “Always thought you’d return in the end. Mom gave up years ago, but I never did.”

  His brother’s words twisted a knife in Connor’s gut, as did the pain in his voice. “You never said anything.” Connor couldn’t figure out what Dalton was up to. Surely he’d know it if his brother had missed him. All these years it had been like Dalton hardly cared.

  “She said I wasn’t to go driving a wedge between you and our dad. I always said Dad was the one who did that.”

  Hell. Connor clutched his phone more tightly, wanting to crush it if he was honest. “I never wanted a wedge between any of us,” he said forcefully. He paced the back porch, not believing what he was hearing. “Why would Mom try to keep us apart?”