“Is your steak okay?” Mercury asked her.
When she looked up, all eyes were upon her. “Yes. Thank you.” She began to cut into it, seeing steak as a delicacy she never could afford on her own. The entire spread before her looked so appetizing. Did these men eat like this every night? From the fresh-colored vegetable medley to the hot baked bread in the basket, it was a meal she only read about or saw pictures of in magazines. She was poor. There was no other way to describe her way of life.
Of course, she wasn’t homeless, but she did spend a stint of time renting a small bedroom advertised by the college for a few months her first year. Then it became unsafe. The young woman she rented from was a party girl and when strange men hung out all the time, it got scary. She swallowed hard, recalling the one guy who decided to walk into her bedroom and wait for her when she finished showering. She swallowed hard. She was always on a budget, always sacrificing to make ends meet. Her daily salads, canned tuna, or chicken constituted most of her main meals.
“Do you like steak?” Lee asked her. She softly gasped, caught so deep in her bad thoughts she hadn’t expected the male tone. She held his gaze.
“Who wouldn’t like steak?”
“Do you like it rare?” he asked.
“I like it, Lee. I rarely have steak.”
“Shoot, are you a vegetarian?” Tiek asked and then took a huge chunk of meat and pulled it off the fork and into his mouth.
“No, nothing like that,” she replied softly.
“Then what?” Stitch asked her, pushing for a better answer.
She stared at her plate. “I never could afford to have steak. It’s something special. And this is a filet, right?” she asked, noticing how they all had extra-large steaks like porterhouses and she had the filet. There were more steaks on the platter in the center of the table.
“Sure is. We love steak. And now that you’re here, you can have steak whenever you like,” Tiek told her. She felt a bit ashamed, or maybe foolish, for revealing that info about herself to make them feel obligated to provide for her. She didn’t want that. She wanted to be alone. She did alone perfectly.
“That’s very kind of you. But I don’t expect I’ll need taking care of for much longer. In fact, I can’t accept all these things you’re doing for me. I could never pay you back.”
“You don’t have to pay us back. We’re doing it because we want to. Can’t you see that?” Lee asked her.
She held his gaze. “I know it’s what Keith asked of you. To take care of me no matter what happened in Mexico. But, I’ve taken care of myself for this long.”
“You’re more than that to us,” Lee started to say, but Tex grabbed his arm to stop him from continuing.
“Darlin’, let’s not talk about any of that right now. It’s your first night here. We want you to feel safe and comfortable. We’ll talk about what may or may not happen another time,” Tex said.
“Tex is right. Let’s eat up and enjoy the food and being here together,” Mercury added.
The men focused back on their food again while Shawna focused on her emotions.
What did she expect them to do, express their undying love for her, and tell her that they wanted her to be part of their family forever?
Her heart ached as she focused on not wasting the filet and not letting her tears fall. Even though she had a nice long nap, she was suddenly feeling very tired and spent. As soon as they were finished and she helped them, she was going to bed.
Chapter 10
Stitch joined Shawna at the hospital while she visited Keith. Tex had driven her in the morning and she remained all day. They had been sitting there quietly for an hour when Shawna turned to look at him.
She looked so young with one leg tucked underneath her and her hair in a long ponytail to the side. He wished that her bruises would fade quickly.
“I keep trying to think of happy things. Things that will keep the sadness and fear away.”
He pulled his chair closer, and placed his hand on the arm of her chair. “What about memories from when you were a kid? Maybe good times you had with Keith?” he asked.
She turned toward the hospital bed, the sounds of machines beeping and Keith’s heartbeat echoing in the background. She looked down at her hands she clasped on her lap.
“Unfortunately, there weren’t many,” she whispered.
He heard the strain, the sadness in her voice. “Things were tough growing up?”
She turned to look at him. “Stitch, Keith gave you guys the password so I would trust you enough to go with you.”
“Yes, it was cubbyhole, but we didn’t know why he picked that word.”
“It was where we had to hide from our parents when they drank too much,” she whispered, her voice cracking on the last syllable.
He felt terrible. His heart ached for them. “They were abusive?” he asked.
She stood up and wrapped her arms, hugging herself while she looked at Keith. “They drank too much. We had to hide and wait until they sobered up or they would hit us.”
He felt nothing but hatred for their parents. Anyone who could abuse a child was sick in the head. He stood up, turned her to face him, and gently rubbed his hands up and down her arms until she let her arms fall to her sides. He stared down into her gorgeous blue eyes.
“That must have been hell to go through, but you and Keith survived. You’re both very strong.”
She held his gaze, and he could see her eyes well up with tears. “I don’t always feel so strong.” A tear escaped her eye.
He pulled her close and hugged her as he whispered against the top of her head. “You can pull strength from me, or any of the others when you’re feeling weak. We want to be here for you, Shawna. We want to learn everything there is about the woman you are.”
“Why?” she asked, tilting her head up toward him. He cupped her cheeks and held her gaze. He could feel the beat of her heart and smell the scent of her perfume.
“Because you’re everything we’ve ever wished we could have and more.”
She shook her head. “Don’t pretend to feel something for me other than responsibility.”
“Responsibility? Do you seriously think that myself, Lee, Tex, Tiek, and Mercury are doing all this, are taking the time to help you, get to know you, just because of Keith?”
She held his gaze, swallowed hard as another tear fell. “Yes.” She tried to turn away. Stitch wouldn’t allow it, and held her firmly against him.
He held her cheeks between his hands. “Initially, knowing that Keith had a sister who was being held captive brought on a surge of our loyalty to Keith, and our beliefs in preserving your life. You were a civilian caught in the middle of a military operation. But then I saw you on the chopper. I looked into your beautiful eyes and all I wanted to do was protect you and keep you safe. I had this overwhelming possessive sensation that only becomes stronger the more we’re together. I want to get to know you. I want to be more than friends, more than your brother’s team member to you. So do the others.”
“I can’t accept that.”
“Why not, Shawna? We’re offering ourselves to you, to care for you and to protect you, provide for you, so no one can ever make you feel scared. With us, no one can ever hurt you.”
She was silent, and her lips called to him. He wanted to kiss her, to taste her. He lowered his mouth to hers and she closed her eyes right before their lips touched. The kiss was slow and sensual. He pressed his tongue between her teeth and she opened for him, allowing him deeper, to explore her mouth and fully taste her. When she wrapped her arms around his midsection, he felt overwhelmed with desire and emotions. Slowly he pulled away, kissing her cheeks, her chin, and neck before staring back into her eyes.
“You feel it, don’t you? When one of us kisses you, you feel the attraction, the power of this connection.”
“I want to. I want to accept it, to explore it and take a chance, but I can’t,” she said, pulling away.
He grabbed
her hand and pulled her back and against his chest. He held her tight and stared down into her eyes. “Why, Shawna? Why can’t you let us in?”
“I’m afraid. Afraid to trust you, afraid to let you into my heart, and afraid that you will hurt me even though you claim such noble intentions.”
He thought about her words and the emotions he saw in her eyes. She needed time. They couldn’t push her.
“I understand. But our desire for you grows stronger every day you’re in our lives. I know that you’re scared. Hell, we’re scared, too, because we’ve always had just one another and now we all want you to be part of us. One team, one family. It’s a risk. But it’s one we’re willing to take. Won’t you take the risk, too? Baby steps and all, just don’t turn your back on these feelings. They’re too strong, and too perfect, baby.”
She hugged him tight and never responded as the nurse came into the room to check on Keith. Stitch would tell his brothers about this conversation and make them see that she needed time. Now that the danger was behind them all, time is what they had plenty of.
* * * *
Shawna was so tired she fell asleep against Stitch’s shoulder on the drive back to the ranch. She didn’t even wake up until she felt the hands on her body as someone opened the door. She blinked her eyes open to see Mercury standing there looking concerned and serious. She was shocked at how good of a rest she had against Stitch. So far at night she pulled her comforter and pillows into the large walk-in closet and slept in there, deep in the corner. She felt safer having the walls around her. If the men only knew.
“Come on, honey, I’ve got you,” Mercury whispered.
“It’s okay. I can do it,” she said as she slid to the passenger door, her dress lifting to her upper thighs as she eased toward Mercury. She saw him look down and then lick his lower lip before he lifted her up and into his arms.
“Mercury, you can put me down, I said I’m fine.”
He looked down into her eyes and then glanced at her lips. “Maybe I want to carry you, and hold you close.”
She kept her arms wrapped around his shoulders and stared at his face, the shadow of whiskers on his skin as he walked her from the SUV into the house. The sun was already beginning to set, the rays cascaded through the large windows in the living room and toward the staircase. She could hear the other’s voices echo from the kitchen.
“Everyone’s in the kitchen.”
“I need to get washed up. You can let me down.”
He squeezed her a little snugger and carried her to the washroom. When he set her down, he trapped her against the wall with one hand against her hip and the wall and the other against her shoulder and the wall. He leaned forward. “I missed you.” Gently he pressed his lips to hers, and she closed her eyes and enjoyed the kiss. She was surprised at how comfortable she felt being kissed by Mercury. He was the fiercest, and the one in complete control. She didn’t feel guilty for letting him kiss her, she felt guilty for fearing that she couldn’t give them all what they were asking for. Yet the numbness she felt deep within her heart was turning to an ache. She didn’t know what it meant, but she fought, pushing to understand it.
He released her lips and then gently pushed a strand of loose hair away from her cheek.
“I’ll wait for you.”
She knew it was useless to tell him that he didn’t have to wait for her. Instead she nodded and then walked into the powder room, closed the door, and stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her face was flushed, her breasts full, and her body moist just imagining what it might feel like to be made love to by a man. But then came the thought of five men wanting her. Five retired military soldiers who represented her newest fears, yet her every fantasy come true.
* * * *
While Mercury and Shawna were in the hallway, Stitch explained quickly about his conversation with Shawna in the hospital today. Tex, Lee, and Tiek nodded their heads. “She’ll come around. She’ll see that this can work and it’s real,” Tiek stated.
“You seem pretty confident,” Tex said.
“I told you about what happened in the bathroom. Now with each of us working on kissing her, letting our feelings show, she’ll see this is legit and not some scheme to show loyalty to Keith,” he replied.
“Let’s talk more later. She had a rough day, and I think she’ll want to go to bed right after we eat,” Stitch stated.
As they gathered the food, the baked chicken, breadsticks, corn, and mashed potatoes, and set them on the table, Mercury and Shawna appeared.
“Hey, how are you feeling, darling? How was Keith?” Tex asked as he placed his hands on her waist, leaned down, and softly kissed her on the lips. Her cheeks turned red and she shyly looked down then at the others. Stitch saw everyone smiling softly. This was a good thing.
“I feel pretty good. Keith is the same. No change. He’s not worse, so that’s a positive,” she replied as Mercury guided her to her seat at the table.
“That is a positive sign,” Lee chimed in as he stood next to her chair, gave her shoulder a squeeze, and then walked to his chair.
“This looks so good. Do each of you know how to cook?” she asked, taking a spoonful of potatoes and placing them onto her plate.
“We sure do. How about you, do you like cooking?” Tex asked her.
“Oh, I like cooking, I used to watch all the cooking shows and wish I could whip up some of the meals they made.”
“I bet you could do it. It’s really not that hard,” Lee added.
“If you have the right tools and ingredients, I’m sure it’s pretty easy,” she said.
Stitch hated hearing her sound so sad. “Well, now that you’re living here, and we have this gourmet kitchen, fully stocked for any recipe you might want to try, you can have a go at it. Whenever you’re feeling energized enough,” Stitch told her. She looked at him and then around the room at the kitchen.
“We’ll see,” she whispered, and Stitch smiled. She didn’t flat out say no way, so maybe making her feel more comfortable here was happening after all.
Chapter 11
“So he’s alive? That piece of shit destroyed my life,” Chavez stated as he spoke to Emoy.
“My men tell me that he isn’t doing well and that he is still in critical condition.”
“Unless he’s dead, your enthusiasm, Emoy, better be lined with some good news for me.”
“Well, unfortunately his sister is alive, too. She made it out of the compound with help from Keith and his team. They went in solo. That’s what caused the entire operation to fail.”
“Son of a bitch. I thought they were washed up, retired, and out of the whole military op thing. Why would they get involved?”
“Camaraderie?”
“Camaraderie my ass. What did the men find out?”
“Well, it could be the woman. It seems Keith’s team is taking care of her. She moved in with them.”
Chavez squinted his eyes and clenched his teeth. “Really? Now this is something I can work with.”
“What do you mean?”
“I want Shawna. I want her here with me in Brazil.” Chavez looked away, only partially hearing Emoy’s questions behind him. He was too transfixed on an idea formulating in his head.
“Chavez, did you not hear me? Why is this woman so important to find and bring here?” Emoy asked him as Chavez stared out the window that overlooked the Brazilian beach from a private estate he now called home.
He looked at Emoy, his partner, his associate for the last ten years. He was the one who warned Chavez about getting involved with Montoya. His friend had been correct. But the plan would have worked fine, and he could still be living in America, freely traveling to all his private estates he would have purchased with the money he would have gotten from the Iraqis.
“It is simple. Keith, one measly American soldier, stole my life and my future from me. His team helped him and apparently they desire the lovely woman. Keith wrecked the operation, and now that missile is under US cont
rol. By taking the only thing he holds dear, his sister, I will look at possessing her as a prize for my misery.”
“We are building more missiles right now. The plan is just on hold for a while. Is she worth the risk? Just because you seek revenge against this soldier? Kill him while he lays in that bed fighting for his life. That would be a successful and fulfilling revenge, my friend.”
“Emoy, have you looked at the folder on the table yet?”
“You know I haven’t. I was enjoying the sunset, the sound of music in the distance.”
“Well, look at them. You’ll see what I see in her eyes, and in her beauty.”
Emoy walked over to the table and lifted the folder up. He opened it and made a humming noise.
Chavez smiled as he turned to lock gazes with his partner and friend. “She is quite lovely, don’t you think?”
He watched Emoy trace his finger along the picture. He scanned through the others and then stopped. “You are right. Her eyes are stunning, too.” He looked at Chavez.
Chavez smiled. “If you are successful in getting her here to me, I will share her with you as well.”
Emoy widened his eyes. “This is unexpected, Chavez.” He bowed his head and Chavez smiled then walked closer, placing his hand on Emoy’s shoulder.
“It’s the least I could do. You saved my life. You were right about Montoya, and I should have listened to you. Shawna will be more than a replacement of Monique, she will be our everything.”
“Monique was supposed to be that.”
“Monique failed us. I’m just glad I caught her before she killed us both. Shawna will be different. Without her brother, Keith, with no family, no ties to anyone, we can make her into the woman we both desire.”
“I’ll make the arrangements and prepare a plan. It may take some time to coordinate.”
The American Soldier Collection 9: Password to Her Heart (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever) Page 8