“Do you know what else I think?”
His hand smoothed over her head, feeling through the short-cropped hair that she’d had trimmed extremely short in an attempt to look halfway normal. He shuddered when he fingered one of the scars, and she knew how deep his rage went, but she also knew he was as angry with himself as he was with the men who had done this to her. Again he didn’t answer.
“The next time you tell me to leave. This will be my answer.”
Kelsey moved to his chin, nibbling as she scooted up against him, and continued the gentle assault on his jaw and cheek until she ended at his mouth. He cupped her face between his hands, and kissed her as tenderly as he had never done before. Her breath caught. As his kiss deepened, she offered herself all over again. His hands skimmed gently over her shoulders and down her back until they came to rest possessively on her backside. His mouth and tongue became more demanding, and once again, she knew she would do whatever he asked, even here in his hospital bed. Right now.
“I’ve missed you,” he murmured hotly against her lips, removing his hands from her backside only to wrap them around her ribs in a vise-like grip.
“You’ve helped me so much,” she whispered.
“I’ve hurt you so much,” he protested.
“But you love me so much,” she countered, and again he nodded.
“I do,” he said sorrowfully.
They lay side by side where he could no longer hide his emotion. She smoothed her thumb across his cheek to wipe that moisture away.
“I don’t know why I ever thought you should leave. I’m the dumbest ass in the world.”
“I shouldn’t have left. I knew you loved me.” She sighed. “When I’m with you, I feel like I’m beautiful and smart and—”
“You are beautiful and smart. You can do anything. You’ve proved it so many times.” His eyes searched hers so piercingly that she thought again how he must be able to see into her soul. “You’re the strong one. Not me. I’ve done so many things—”
“I’ve made mistakes, too,” she gulped. “Mistakes I have to live with the rest of my life.”
“No! You had no more choice than Jackie and Tommy!”
She stilled, wanting so much to believe his vehement declaration.
“Your only mistake was believing in a man who didn’t deserve you.” His voice caught. “I don’t want you to make that mistake again because—I don’t deserve you either.”
Her heart melted. This kind, warm, wonderful man thought he was less than her? There was no way. Finally, he relaxed. His anger dissipated. They lay wrapped in each other’s arms, and Kelsey knew there was no better place for either of them.
“Do you remember the first time we made love?” she asked.
He grunted like that was a silly question.
She smiled at his response. There was no way she could forget those wonderful days either. It was the honeymoon that wouldn’t end. “Remember the evening it rained? You built a fire in the fireplace, and I was kneeling in front of the hearth. Do you remember?”
“And I covered you with a blanket –”
“Yes, but you only covered the front of me—”
“Because I had serious intentions for the back of you—”
She giggled softly. “Yes, and you kissed my neck and—”
“And then I kissed your shoulders—”
“And my back—”
“And your bottom.”
She giggled softly. “Why did you do that?”
He blew out a big sigh. “Because I was making new memories on every part of you I could reach.” He cupped her chin with his fingers, and she hoped he really could read her mind. “Do you need me to do that again, sweetheart?” he asked tenderly.
She nodded, too full of emotion to speak.
Leaning his forehead into hers, he softly assured her, “Look at us. Our heads are shaved, we’re dented up pretty bad, and one of us might need bodywork. I know it’s going to take awhile getting back to who we used to be, but I have to know. Would you still marry me?”
She lifted her left hand to his view. The diamond glowed brightly between them. “I’ve already given you my answer.”
His smile lit up her eyes. Kissing her long and hard, once again she knew she would willingly submit to anything this handsome man had in mind. Anytime. Anywhere. Even now his hands prowled knowingly over her body, igniting her needs along with his. He owned her heart, body, and anything else he wanted to own. She was his.
Alex came to his senses with an aggravated sigh. “I want to go home. Tonight. I just want to go home.”
She sighed happily. “I already am.”
Epilogue
Alex
Alex and Kelsey stood at the Stewart family gravesite. It was a restful setting now, not colored with sorrow and loss so much as with acceptance and even a small measure of joy. The sprays of carnations and baby’s breath filled the air with the fragrance of clove and cinnamon. He re-positioned the flower baskets one more time beneath the bronze statue and the engraved words of one of Kelsey’s favorite authors.
The little bronze girl was exactly the way he remembered Abby in his dreams, the happy princess who loved to roughhouse and play. He could almost hear her giggle, the wind tossing her hair as she ran. A bronze butterfly sat on her shoulder. Now she chased after two bronze boys, their hair jostled, their faces split with wide smiles as they ran hand in hand, two little brothers in eternal mischief. At last Tommy and Jackie played in peace beneath the pines, within walking distance of the home where their fingerprints once more declared their childhood and their mother’s undying love.
“This was a good idea, Mr. Stewart.” Kelsey rested her head on Alex’s broad shoulder. The re-interment of her sons to Alexandria had eased the tremendous hole in her heart. His, too. It was a small thing to do for the woman he loved. Sometimes he felt like George Bailey in the old time movie, It’s a Wonderful Life. He would willingly lasso the moon if it made her smile.
“I believe you’re right, Mrs. Stewart,” he whispered into her hair, his arms securely around her.
After all these months, he agreed. It wasn’t coincidence that had deposited her at his cabin all those months ago. No. The forest was too big and his cabin too small for a coincidence of that magnitude. Neither was it coincidence the same woman he had found and begrudgingly helped had loved him unconditionally and in spite of himself. Something greater than luck was at work that day. And as far as him being the hero, yeah right. He knew better. He might have found Kelsey that day in the forest, but she was the one who had saved him.
And that was enough.
THE END
Upcoming books by Irish Winters:
Alex (2013)
Mark (2014)
Zack (2014)
Harley (2014)
Connor (2015)
Rory (2015)
Taylor (2015)
Gabe (2016)
Maverick (2016)
Cassidy (2016)
Adam (2017)
Lee (2017)
About Irish Winters
Irish Winters is an award-winning author who dabbles in poetry, grandchildren, and rarely (as in extremely rarely) the kitchen. More prone to be outdoors than in, she grew up the quintessential tomboy on a farm in rural Wisconsin, spent her teenage years in the Pacific Northwest, but calls the Wasatch Mountains of Northern Utah home. For now.
The wife of one handsome husband and mother of three perfect sons, Irish divides her time between writing at home, and travelling the country with her man while – writing. (Seriously, what else?)
She believes in making every day count for something, and follows the wise admonition of her mother to, “Look out the window and see something!”
To learn more about Irish and her books, please visit http://www.IrishWinters.com.
Alex (In the Company of Snipers) Page 29