Protecting Her: A Romance Bundle

by Mia Ford

  “Oh fuck,” I moan while I cling to him desperately. “I’ve missed feeling you so much.”

  He pumps his hips harder, slamming into me in a way that’s no longer careful but controlled by a deep-seated passion instead. I much prefer that, nothing can hurt me anymore. Especially not with these amazing sensations rushing through my entire system. I feel like I’m completely lit up, every nerve ending is standing up and experiencing the most wonderful feelings in the world. I never want this moment to end…

  It isn’t long until I tumble and fall into the pit of pleasure. It’s been such a long time, I’ve wanted this forever, so soon the desire is racking through me, shuddering, shattering, causing me to see stars. I’d forgotten it was possible to feel this good. I let the zinging amazing sensations swallow me up, take me off this planet, allow me to feel wonderful once more. It’s such a simple yet complex orgasm, and I love every single second of it.

  “Oh, Jordan.” I cling to him, allowing him to support me fully. “Oh God, that feels so good.”

  Once the bliss has flown from me, I collapse weakly, emotionally and physically exhausted. I can’t take it any longer, everything has been drained from me. Jordan senses that and lays me back on the sheets. He hovers above me and drives himself into me slowly, lovingly, while looking down at me as if I’m everything to him.

  When it’s time for the pleasure to explode from Jordan, I kiss him hard, swallowing up yells. I love every shudder, every tremble, every moment of vulnerability that we share with one another because this is really us connecting, having a fresh start, sharing our love wholly and with everything.

  We collapse on the bed next to one another afterwards, lost in our own moments of post coital bliss, but we hold onto each other the entire time, as if we can’t bear to let go. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to let him go again. I will always want to know where he is from here on out, and I’m sure he will do me.

  “So, where do we go from here?” I ask with a chuckle. “Like, this is a brand-new start for us. What do we do now?” I make a sweeping gesture with my hands. “The whole world lies ahead of us.”

  “I don’t want to go anywhere but here.” He snuggles in closer to me. “I just want to stay in this bed with you forever. We don’t actually have to get up, do we? Ever?”

  I laugh loudly. “Not for the time being anyway. I suppose we’ll have to eventually.”

  Jordan twists onto his side and I see a twinkle in his eyes. But this one’s a little different. It isn’t the same one that came before. I don’t know what it’s about, but I presume it’s something to do with our future. I hope he’s as excited about it as I am.

  “Well, I’m just going to focus on the ‘for now’ for the time being because that allows me to stay here with you. The only place in the world that I really want to be.”

  I lean my head against his chest listening to his heart race rapidly. Yep, this is the only place in the world I want to be as well. My happy place.

  30

  Jordan

  There’s almost a skip in my step as I walk through the city with the sun beating down on my shoulders. With Veronica back home and our life slowly returning back to some semblance of normality, life couldn’t be better. I’m so freaking happy, I feel like my mouth could split with joy. I don’t know if I’ll ever stop smiling again.

  Of course, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing, nothing’s been that straight forward, there have been times where it hasn’t been easy, but me and Veronica are a solid team now, able to tolerate anything. When she wakes up in the middle of the night, screaming because she thinks that she’s still in the middle of that hell, I support her, when she went in to visit with her asshole boss who wasn’t nearly apologetic enough in my opinion I just about managed to keep my temper in check… for her benefit, and when I’ve had to deal with the consequences of the men we captured, she’s supported me to the bitter end. Life isn’t necessarily perfect, but it’s good enough for me.

  My job has been amazingly supportive as well. The way that they’ve treated me ever since all of this happened has reignited my love for the armed forces. I’m back on Brandon’s side now, it is the best place in the world to work. If I ever meet him, I’ll let him know that. I’ll tell him that I understand. He was right. Even though it led to some terrible things happening, I get why he sold it to me. They look after their people, I’m taken care of. I’m very settled in my desk job now, assisting with the training of new recruits. Sure, I don’t think they’ll let me on another emergency transfer to Afghanistan, but I’m pretty sure I’m not going to need it again. It’s over.

  Veronica is only based here in America for the time being as well. I’m pretty sure that Oliver wouldn’t dare try to send her anywhere else. I might not have been able to do anything to him directly, but I gave him a look from behind Veronica which I’m pretty sure he understood. He tries anything and I will kill him.

  If it were up to me, she wouldn’t even work for him anymore, I wouldn’t have him anywhere near her, but I promised myself that I would be so much better now, I vowed to be more supportive and that’s what I’m doing. Whatever Veronica wants, I’m there by her side, supporting her, even if I don’t like it too much.

  I head to the jewellery shop, knowing exactly what I’m looking for. This is something I should have done a long time ago, there’s no reason for me to hold back certainly not anymore. Another rush of glee washes over me as I glance my eyes around the silver and gold dotted around the store, glinting desperately at me. Each and every item is begging at me to buy it but today there’s only one item that I’m going to leave here with.

  “Can I help you?” the pretty blonde-haired sales assistant purrs at me. “Do you know what you’re here for?”

  “Actually, I do.” I know she’s only flirting with me for her commission, so I pay no attention to it. “I’m looking for an engagement ring for my very beautiful girlfriend. I’m going to ask her to marry me today.”

  “Today?” Her eyes almost bug out of her head in shock. “And you’re only just getting the ring right now?”

  “Well, it’s a bit of a spur of the moment decision. I need to ask her soon, we’ve been… apart for a while…”

  “Wait, I know you!” Recognition flickers across her expression. “Your girlfriend is the journalist, isn’t she? The one who was captured by terrorists, am I right?” Her hands clutch to her chest. “Oh, my goodness. And you rescued her, am I right? You’re her superhero. And now you’re going to ask her to marry you. That’s amazing.”

  Again, I beam. “I know, I’m so excited. I’ve wanted to marry her for ages. I just didn’t ask before…”

  “Oh, well let’s make this perfect then.” She claps her hands together gleefully. “This has to be the most romantic proposal of all time. The soldier and the damsel in distress. Now that is a romance story that anyone can get behind. I’m pretty sure we can even do a cheeky little discount for you…”

  “Oh, you don’t have to do that. I don’t need any special treatment. I just want a nice…”

  “No, we will. And we’ll get the best ring as well. Since this isn’t a very well thought out proposal, it’s more spur of the moment – which is super exciting, by the way, I absolutely love it – then the ring needs to be everything. I’ve seen her on the television, so I think her colouring will suit a platinum band, and I also think you might want to look at an emerald stone. A nice little green one which will match your eyes, remind her of you every single time that she looks at it. What do you think? Did you come in here with any thoughts?”

  “No, not really, I just assumed the right one would jump out at me as I see it.”

  “Oh, well that’s very possible. Let’s get some out, shall we, and take a look through?”

  I let the excitable sales girl sell me anything that she wants, with Veronica’s face in my mind the entire time. Now that she’s back at home and our life is slowly returning, I want to make her my wife. Like we’ve said to on
e another, if we can get through that, we can survive anything. We’ll be just fine. Our future is golden.

  It doesn’t take long, with just a little bit of guidance I soon see a ring which I just know is perfect. It’s the one, it screams out at me from the moment I lay eyes on it. It’s the ring to make Veronica give me the ‘yes’.

  “That’s it,” I exclaim excitedly. “I want that one. It’s absolutely perfect.”

  As the sales girl rings it up I grow even more excited. This is really happening now, soon Veronica won’t just be my girlfriend but my fiancée too. We’ll plan a wedding and get married. Everything will be wonderful.

  ***

  I pace the kitchen, constantly adjusting my shirt while I wait for Veronica to come back. She has been at the office all day long, catching up with some of her old work friends, but she should be back by now. I would have gone with her if she let me but she was dead against it. She wanted to face work alone, I suppose she’s trying to get to a place where life is normal again which I can understand, but now I want her back. Every moment that she isn’t by my side makes me anxious. I keep thinking of all the things that could happen to her, even here.

  I grab my cell phone again, just about to call her, when the front door swings open.

  “Veronica!” I call out, my heart pounding desperately while I wait for her to answer. “That you?”

  “Yeah, it’s me. Hold on a moment I’m coming.” She sounds happy. I like that.

  While I wait for her to come into the room, I drop to one knee and wait for her there with the ring box open for her to see the moment she comes in. It’s going to be a simple proposal, no romantic gimmicks or ridiculous over the top statements worthy of ten pictures posted online, but I think we’ve been through so many complications. Simplicity is what we need. Our love is so pure, it’s gone back to basics.

  “So, work was crazy today,” Veronica calls out. “I have so much to tell you.”

  I smile to myself, knowing that she’s about to get the shock of her life. I almost want to warn her, to let her know that she has something to look forward to, but of course that would ruin it. I want this to be perfect.

  Be patient, my jittery brain tells me. Just be patient for a few seconds longer. Any minute now…

  “Oh my God!” The look on Veronica’s face as she claps her hands over her mouth. “What are you doing?”

  “Veronica Best, I want to ask you something that I should have asked you a long time ago.” I can already tell that she loves the ring, it’s written all over her face. I make a mental note to go back to the store and thank the sales girl at some point. She was a real help! “I love you, I’ve loved you for years now, ever since we reconnected at college. You have always been my shining light, the sunshine in the darkness, the person who makes me happy. Yes, we got a little lost somewhere along the way, but fate brought us back together. That proves to me that we’re meant to be. This love is supposed to last forever. I want to make our love official, I want us to have our happy ever after. I want you to be mine, my wife.” I suck in a couple of deep breaths as emotion gets the better of me. “So, what do you say? Will you make me the happiest man alive and marry me?”

  Veronica doesn’t answer me at first, I think she’s in shock. But as her eyes fill with tears and one splashes down her cheek, her vocal chords loosen enough to put me out of my misery.

  “Yes,” she gushes out, her voice thick with emotion. “Of course, I will! Oh, Jordan, I love you so much, I can’t believe this is really happening. You honestly want to get married to me?”

  “Yes, you fool!” I chuckle. “Of course, I want to. I wouldn’t ask otherwise, would I?”

  I grab her trembling hand and slide the ring onto her finger, marvelling at the perfect fit. Once it’s in place I leap to my feet and I wrap my arms tightly around her, lifting her from the ground to spin her around. I love the way that I can no longer feel her rib cage, she’s finally getting full well, and she’s going to be my wife.

  “When do you want to get married?” I ask her with a giggle. “I would marry you right now if it were up to me. I would take you down to the court house and make you my wife now.”

  “Oh, I don’t know, I haven’t exactly thought of it.” I pull back to give her a look. “Okay, so maybe I’ve thought of it a little bit.” She smirks brightly. “But that doesn’t mean I want a big wedding. I want it to be small and intimate, just for us and the people who really care about us, you know? I want it to be about our love.”

  My heart swells with joy, her words make me feel amazing. “That’s what I want too. So, you just let me know what you need me to do to make it happen and I will. I’m going to make you the happiest bride ever. The happiest wife ever too. I get to live the rest of my life just taking care of you.”

  I kiss her all over, licking up the wetness of her tears, and I hold her tightly to me. As the kiss deepens, I lift her up and wrap her legs around me, before taking her to the room where I love to be the most. In our bedroom, we can explore one another, reconnect, and really get back to just being us with no outside distractions. I honestly would stay there just me and her given half the chance, but I suppose we do need to face everyday life. Even if I don’t much like it.

  31

  Veronica

  “Thank you for coming to visit, to help me with all of this, Rachel.” I grab my friend’s arm gratefully. “I honestly appreciate it so much. I wouldn’t be able to do this alone. I need your advice on the dress.”

  “What about your mom?” She cocks her head curiously at me. “Wouldn’t she want to be here for this?”

  I sigh deeply, knowing that my friend is right. “I agree, and I did suggest it, but when she was here earlier on in the month it was a nightmare. I love the woman, but she drove me up the wall. It’s lucky we don’t speak all the time because she didn’t even know about my trauma in Afghanistan, so when she found out she lost it.”

  There was a whole lot of crying, wailing, promises never to let me out of her sight again… I appreciate it. I think it’ll probably repair our slightly fractured relationship, but I don’t want to live in the past anymore. I don’t want to cry over what happened, I don’t want to talk about it, to remember it, I would much rather move forwards, to continue on with my life. It’s in the past now. At least it is for me. I just want to look forwards.

  “Well, she must be really freaked out about it.” Rachel’s cheeks stain red. “We all were. I know that I was really upset when I read about it on the Internet. It must have been a horrible thing to go through.”

  I don’t get the impression that Rachel wants to force me to talk, I don’t even feel like she needs to know all the nitty gritty details, she’s just leaving the door open in case I want to speak. No chance of that today.

  “Yeah, well, I never thought I would be here about to buy a wedding dress, but here I am.”

  I push the door open and step into the store, inhaling the sweet scent of the store. I might not be mad keen to have the biggest wedding in the world, but I would like a nice dress. This will be my special day after all. I want to look nice for it. I’ve spent a lot of my recent life looking like crap, there are images of me coming back to America with another girl for all the world to see. For once, I just want to look my best.

  “Good morning, Miss Best,” the sales girl who I spoke to on the phone, Sara, smiles at me. “It’s good to see you. I have a glass of champagne for you then we can go through into the dressing room to pick out some styles.”

  I take the glass from her, but the smell of it brings a churning sensation to my stomach, which I assume must be the nerves. As soon as I get the chance, I put it down and discard it on the side. Rachel can have it. Then I wait. A whole selection of dresses is handed my way. Fishtail designs, sweetheart necklines, sleek elegant fitted dresses, and poofy numbers. I have no idea which design is going to suit me, so I’ll go through them all.

  It feels like a whirlwind; the dresses are put on and torn off me too
fast. I don’t feel like I have enough time to examine them all. Rachel gives me the occasional thumbs up, but more often than that she shakes her head. None of these dresses feel right to me. I don’t really feel right in myself. I’m a little dizzy, I feel overwhelmed. All of a sudden, this feels like it might be a bit much for me. Not the wedding, I’m very certain about wanting to marry Jordan, but the dress shopping. The need for perfection is almost too much. I need a time out.

  “Rachel, come with me to get some air,” I gush out. “I just need a little moment.”

  Rachel takes my hand and guides me outside. As the cool air washes over me, I try to suck in some deep breaths but I don’t feel calm. I feel sick, really ill, like I might actually throw up.

  “Are you okay?” Rachel rubs my back. “You don’t look well, Veronica. Are you sick?”

  “I don’t know.” I clutch onto my chest. “I don’t feel so good at the moment. I don’t know what’s wrong.”

  “Do you want me to rearrange your appointment? I’ll go and speak to Sara?”

  “Yes, please.” No chance in hell of me going back in there now. “Thank you.”

  As she goes, my brain spins back as I try to work out how I’ve gotten sick. It must have happened at some point. I’ve been so well since I left the hospital, but maybe my immune system is low.

  “Right, that’s all sorted.” Rachel returns to my side with a bright smile on her face. “You left your champagne as well. You aren’t pregnant, are you? That’s not why you’re sick, is it?”

  “No, I…” At first, I think she’s joking, that it’s ridiculous, but the more I let her words sink in the more I realize she might be right. Since I’ve been back a lot of time has been spent in the bedroom and I suppose we haven’t always been careful. There have been times where we’ve just got caught up in the heat. “I don’t know.”