The tub was filling up and she slowly discarded the dress Lee had picked out for her. She folded it neatly, placed it on the counter along with the pretty matching panties and bra, and then looked into the mirror.
She would be relieved once these bruises were all gone. She looked black and blue almost everywhere, and her forearms were now an even deeper black and blue. As she grabbed onto the top of the tub to step inside, she felt the instant pain in her arms and in her ribs. She took a deep breath and stepped into the hot bubble bath. She moaned as she sunk into the water, letting the bubbles and the floral scent take away the pain.
She used her foot to turn off the faucet and then leaned back and closed her eyes.
She wasn’t completely surprised to imagine Lee in her head. She thought about the way he kissed her, how when their gazes locked, it was as if they shared some sort of deeper connection. Was that her mind’s subconscious trying to make excuses for her unacceptable attraction? But then she imagined Tex, Mercury, Stitch, and Tiek kissing her, too, sharing that same connection, and immediately her body responded.
Her nipples tightened to hard, sensitive buds. Her breasts felt full and her pussy ached. She couldn’t help but try and use the soap to rub along her large breasts and attempt to alleviate the ache she felt. It didn’t work and she released the soap, running her hands over her belly and wondering if that deep ache she had in her gut was actually from her bruised ribs. But she found herself moving her fingers lower, over her mound, between her bare pussy lips, and she knew where the ache originated. Her unused, unexplored cunt.
Maybe I’m just horny? Maybe the lack of sex, the near-death experience combined with meeting five sexy, muscular, to-die-for soldiers is bringing forth my own desperation?
She removed her fingers from her pussy. She had never touched herself like that before. She never imagined any man, never mind five she didn’t really know, touching her so intimately. Yet she let Lee kiss her. She pushed him away when all she wanted to do was hold on to him and let him in. Let all five of the men into her heart. She felt so lost and out of control. How was she going to live her life after everything that happened to her? How was she going to leave when the men realized they couldn’t fake their desires out of guilt and commitment to Keith? It wasn’t right. It wasn’t fair.
I finally feel an attraction to a man, well, five men, and I can’t have them because I’m so fucked up. I can never let my guard down. They’ll hurt me worse than anything if I let them inside my heart, never mind inside my body.
The tears filled her eyes as she squeezed them tight and tried to relax in the glorious bath.
* * * *
The guys were fixing up dinner and Tiek headed upstairs to check on Shawna. He knocked on her bedroom door but heard no response. He wondered if she were still sleeping. She looked exhausted after lunch today. He opened the door and walked into the room. The scent of flowers filled the room and he could see the light on in the bathroom. He walked deeper into the room.
“Shawna, it’s Tiek. Dinner’s ready.” He thought he heard some mumbled sounds and walked closer to the door. He knocked.
“Yes.”
“It’s Tiek. Dinner is almost ready.”
“Uhm…okay. You can start without me.” He didn’t like the sound of that. In fact she seemed like she was mumbling.
“Is everything okay? Do you need help?”
“Well, come in, but cover your eyes,” she told him. He felt his heart racing. Why the hell would I need to cover my eyes? Unless she’s naked. Oh God.
He used one hand to cover his eyes and the other to turn the knob on the door.
“Shawna?” he whispered.
“I’m in the tub. I tried taking a bath because I didn’t take the painkillers like I was supposed to and my ribs are sore.”
“Shawna, you need to take the pain meds,” he stated, uncovering his eyes and zeroing in on a very naked Shawna trying to use a small square washcloth to cover her rather voluptuous breasts. He turned away.
“Tiek, please. This is embarrassing enough. I can’t get out of the tub. My ribs hurt too much and I lose my breath when I tighten up to strain to get out.”
“Okay, don’t panic.”
“That’s easy for you to say, I’m shivering and have been in here for far too long. The water is cold, I’m shriveling up. God, I feel stupid.”
“Stop that. Don’t ever say any such thing. You’re injured. Bruised ribs can be just as sore as broken ribs. You should have called one of us to come help you. That’s why we’re here.
“I’ll need to grab a towel and see where I’m reaching to help you.”
“Oh God.”
“Shawna.”
“Fine. Okay,” she whispered, her breath sounding shallow and raspy. She probably didn’t even know how sexy she sounded.
He uncovered his eyes and tried to be a gentleman. But damn, Shawna was incredible. He grabbed the big fluffy towel and then half closed his eyes and reached for her. He submerged his hands and arms into the water to lift her up from her hips. She grabbed on to his upper arms and he couldn’t help but to open his eyes. Her plump, full breasts’ creamy skin and taut nipples called to him immediately. His cock hardened, his grip tightened, and he lifted her up and against him.
“Tiek, the towel,” she stated. He took his time moving the towel around her back, absorbed her curves and her clean-shaven pussy, then looked into her eyes. “You’re one sexy little lady,” he told her. Then he wrapped the towel snugly around her and cupped her cheek.
“Thank you for trusting me to help you.”
She widened her eyes. “I thought I was going to be stuck in there for another hour. I’m sorry that I got in there. This is damn frustrating for me.”
He ran his thumb along her lower lip and held her gaze. “Shawna, I’ll always be here for you. Do you know that?”
She lowered her eyes and he used both hands to cup her face and tilt it toward him. He towered over her. She was so petite. Maybe five feet six and he was six feet three.
“You have a sexy body, a sweet smile, and appetizing lips.”
“Tiek, don’t say such things. You can’t possibly—”
He slowly lowered his mouth toward hers, and when she closed her eyes, he thanked the good Lord above and kissed her.
* * * *
Shawna held on to Tiek even as the towel began to fall from her body. He lowered to his knees as he released her lips and then leaned forward and kissed her belly.
She reached for his head and held it, ran her fingers through his hair, and shivered from the intimate contact. She was out of her mind, but his mouth, his size, and his gentleness captured her full attention.
“Tiek.”
“I wish I could take all the pain, the bruises, and bad memories away, baby. You’re too beautiful, too perfect to have them on this sexy body.” His words combined with the warm breath tickling her skin made her close her eyes and hold him closer to her bosom.
Was it so bad to want so much? To feel a desire and attraction to every man in this house even knowing it was a bad idea. She could get lost in Tiek’s extra-large arms, feel safe and content in his embrace, and his lips. God, his lips felt incredible.
When he used his tongue to lick along the lower part of her breast, and then tilted upward as she lowered down so he could suckle her breast, her pussy spasmed and she came.
“Sweet Jesus, you’re so responsive. God, that excites me and makes me happy.” He suckled more of her breast as he wrapped his arms around her over her ass and hips and squeezed her to him.
“Tiek, you have to stop. It’s too much. I can’t believe this. This can’t be happening,” she whispered, half meaning it and half wanting to feel more. She couldn’t believe the attraction she felt, the connection and hunger, just from his touch and compassion.
“Baby, it is happening. It’s incredible. You’re incredible,” he whispered against her breast. She was shaking with desire. She wanted to press her pussy ag
ainst his chest and rock her hips to feel more of the sensations running rampant through her body. It was foreign, yet felt too good, too right to ignore. But then came the concerns, the fact that if she gave in to her desires she would only get hurt. Was she a glutton for constant pain in her life? Her heart ached and her belly tightened as tears filled her eyes.
He kissed her breast and then began to kiss along the bruises on her ribs. His mouth felt so good on her skin. She battled between pushing him away and letting him explore her further. She imagined her fantasies coming true, but the reality was that she couldn’t allow this. Tiek was huge, intimidating, wild, and dangerous. The thoughts had her nipples hard as pebbles and her pussy dripping with desire. She gripped his shoulders and tightened up.
She closed her eyes and then she felt his fingers caress up her inner thigh. Reality came back fast as she pushed away from him, grabbed the towel, cringing from the quick movement, and turned away from him to wrap herself.
“Shawna?”
“Please, Tiek, I shouldn’t have let that happen. What you must think of me.”
She felt his hand on her shoulder, and his large, charismatic presence fill in the space behind her. He was so big, so tall and filled with muscles that even in this huge bathroom it felt small and cramped.
“Look at me, baby.” He turned her around and she looked up into his eyes. He smiled softly and cupped her cheeks.
“That was bound to happen sooner or later. I’m attracted to you, I wanted to kiss you for days.”
“But, Lee.”
“Lee wants you, too, just like Stitch, Mercury, and Tex do.”
She shook her head.
“You don’t believe me? Then we’ll prove it to you. Nice and slowly, so you know it’s not fake, it’s not put on because of Keith or the situation you were in. It happened, plain and simple, we fell for you, we want you, and you want us.”
He leaned forward and kissed her softly on the lips as his words sunk in. They want me and I want them. Is he out of his mind? Are they? Am I? No, this is not real. It can’t be.
He released her lips and stepped back. “I’ll wait for you in the bedroom and we’ll head down together.” He walked out of the room and she grabbed the counter. I came from him sucking on my breast and kissing my bruises. He must think I’m so inexperienced and easy. Well, I am inexperienced. What the hell am I going to do now? Could he be telling the truth? Are they actually attracted to me? Shawna James, a nobody?
She swallowed hard and let the towel fall. Looking into the mirror, she saw her flushed skin. The coloring on her cheeks never looked so good. Her pussy still spasmed and yearned to be touched by Tiek, by any of the soldiers. Her breasts felt full and all the sensations running through her body were stronger than any pain her bruised ribs may have caused and any sensation she ever felt before.
She stared at her reflection in the mirror.
“You’ll get hurt. They’ll use you, or control you, and when you stand your ground, they could demand their power and hit you. Then what, Shawna?” The tears rolled from her cheeks as thoughts of her past came rushing back to her. Her parents’ abusive ways, the creepy guys who tried picking her up at the bar or following her home, and the suffering she sustained from Cuadrone’s physical abuse. She had to resist these men. She couldn’t be weak. They could hurt her worse than anyone ever had before.
* * * *
“What’s taking them so long?” Stitch asked as they all gathered around the kitchen waiting for Shawna and Tiek.
“They’re coming down now,” Mercury said as he walked over toward the counter to finish making the salad. Lee was pulling the steaks off the grill.
The moment Stitch caught sight of Shawna and Tiek, he smiled.
“Hey, sleepyhead, how are you feeling?” he asked her. Her cheeks turned a nice shade of red and Tiek placed his hand against her lower back, escorting her into the kitchen. Something was different. He didn’t know how he knew, but both Tiek and Shawna looked different. He wondered if he kissed her like Lee had done.
“Mercury, Shawna didn’t take the pain meds, do you have the prescriptions the doctor sent home with us?” Tiek asked as he pulled out the chair for Shawna to sit on.
“No, Tiek, I don’t want to take them now.”
Tiek raised one eyebrow at her while he kept a hand on the back of her chair and one on the island as he stared at her. She lowered her eyes. He reached out and placed his fingers under her chin. “You’re going to take them so you don’t feel any pain.”
Mercury walked over with a bottle of water and a pill. “You need to take them, darling,” he said.
Stitch walked closer, instantly inhaling the scent of flowers or something feminine. They never had a woman in their home. Never one who smelled and looked as beautiful as Shawna.
“Did you have a hard time sleeping? Were you in pain?” Stitch asked, moving closer and placing his hand over her forehead to check for fever.
“I’m fine now,” she whispered.
“You weren’t fine when I found you stuck in the tub upstairs,” Tiek stated firmly.
She swung her head toward him. “It worked out fine.”
“It worked out better than fine,” he said and then stepped away.
Something definitely went down between these two. Stitch opened the bottle of water. “Take the pill, honey, and then before you go to bed, you can take another one.”
“No, Stitch.” He inhaled her scent, the smell of her hair, the bath soap Mercury brought her. He held her gaze.
“You smell fantastic. What is that you’re wearing?” he asked her, changing the direction of the conversation. She instantly appeared annoyed.
“Something I found in the bathroom upstairs. But you all should know that. Someone snooped through my apartment and my things.” She looked toward Mercury.
“Well, obviously that person cared enough about you to want to make you feel right at home here with us. Now take the pill. Doctor’s orders.” Stitch crossed his arms in front of his chest. Shawna looked at his muscles on his arms. He was certain she was feeling a bit intimidated, but he wasn’t worried. She was a tough one, and the more she healed, the sooner she would feel more confident and probably stubborn. He smiled as she swallowed the pill and held his gaze.
He reached over and brushed his thumb over her lower lip, wiping away a small spot of water.
“Good job. Now, I hope you like your steak rare, ’cause that’s the only way Lee knows how to cook them.” He pulled back and she nodded her head and then looked toward the doorway as Lee entered the room. His eyes lit up and so did Shawna’s.
* * * *
Shawna swallowed hard and clasped her hands on her lap. Her belly quivered as she looked around the kitchen at each of the men. They were just so damn large. Their muscles had muscles, and they all seemed to be sporting some sort of tattoos. She thought about how it felt to be held in Lee’s arms and Tiek’s. Both men were tough as steel. A woman knew she was safe and secure in any of their embraces. Tiek gave her a wink and she felt her cheeks warm and her breasts tingle. She still couldn’t believe he saw her naked and she let him suckle her breast and nearly touch her pussy. What the hell was I thinking?
She quickly turned to look at Mercury. He was definitely the one in charge, and took his role as gunnery sergeant seriously, even in retirement. He stood guard by the counter, watching everyone, including Lee as he returned from turning off the grill.
“We’re all set,” he exclaimed.
She jumped when she felt the hand go to her shoulder and someone press behind her.
“Come on, Shawna, I’ll show you to your seat.”
She looked back and saw Tex. He held her gaze and she felt embarrassed for acting so skittish. But truth was, she felt intimated with all these muscular men around. They were capable of things even her wildest imagination couldn’t conjure up. She also thought about the men in uniform that held her captive. Their military positions, their authoritative attitude and abusiv
e ways made her subconsciously attach a stigma to any man in uniform. Even though deep down she knew these men were not like that, she still knew they were capable of hurting and killing as part of their positions as soldiers. It all made her so damn nervous.
She slowly climbed off the stool. Tex placed his hand on her hip and guided her around the room to the dining area. She pressed his hand away from her and turned to look at him.
“I got it,” she said, with more attitude than she meant to.
He held her gaze firmly, and the others were quiet as they watched them.
Tex took her hand and spoke to her as he brought it up to his lips.
“It’s my pleasure to care for you, Shawna.” He kissed her hand and she felt her entire body warm in response. Quickly she sat in her seat. He let her hand go and helped push the chair closer to the table. The scent of his cologne, the feel of his masculinity behind her made her close her eyes and try with all her might not to inhale before he walked away.
She opened her eyes and placed the napkin on her lap before looking around at the others.
The table was huge. The wood thick and solid. Another simile to the men who began to take seats around it. Mercury took the head of the table on one side and Lee took the other. She sat between Mercury and Stitch, while Tex and Tiek took the two seats across from her.
The smell of the food was enticing despite her nervous state. She had barely eaten at the hospital. The food was bland and she was still so afraid. She thought about tonight, and sleeping in this new place with the fears of her dreams causing restless sleep. She wondered if the doctor forgot to place the prescription sleeping pills in the bag with the painkillers. Stitch didn’t mention it. If she asked him, then she would have to explain why she needed them. She could lie, and say the doctor said it would relax her, but the thought of lying to them bothered her. She didn’t know why. It wasn’t like she knew them that well. She didn’t really trust them completely, just enough at a moment of desperation and with the help of knowing the password Keith had given them. From here on out she wanted independence again and to feel safe and secure.
The American Soldier Collection 9: Password to Her Heart (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever) Page 7