Holy, mother… no ass should look that good in a simple pair of jeans.
Luka turns and catches me admiring him. He smirks. “Are you admiring my ass…ets?!”
I feel a blush cover my cheeks, but I merely nod once and shrug as I grin back at him. “Why, yes. Yes, I am. I’m totally objectifying you, Luka. You have a mighty fine ass. In fact, why don’t you bend over again so I can make sure to soak it all in.”
Oh, my God. I never flirt this outrageously.
It’s because it’s Luka…
His green gaze locks on mine and my breath catches at the sudden fire in his eyes. All hint of joking is gone and white hot, desire has taken its place. His nostrils flare as he straightens to his full height and my heart feels like it’s going to leave my chest.
My nipples bead against the front of my dress and a slight breeze lifts my hair and caresses my skin. I shiver in molten awareness.
Luka’s eyes darken and he starts toward me. His gait is determined though still slightly unsteady. It’s the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.
I’m watching him stalk me as if it’s in slow motion. Every step is pronounced and my heart is thumping in tandem with his feet in the sand. He stops about a foot in front of me and his eyes follow my body from my head to my chest. My chest heaves under his scrutiny and he smiles. His eyes leave my breasts and trail over my waist and then my hips. He slowly looks down the expanse of my bare legs, showcased by the short hem of the white fabric and to the tips of my pink painted toenails before he slowly and deliberately looks back up my body. He’s a foot away, but it feels as if he’s touching me.
His eyes once again lock on mine and he steps closer as he growls, “Rea, I feel like I’ve waited a lifetime for this moment.”
His hands reach for my hair and his fingers weave into the long, loose strands, slowly tugging so my head angles back. I gasp at him as my scalp tingles and electricity invades my entire body. My hands reach for him, fisting in the fabric of his shirt. Breathlessly, I whisper, “I have waited a lifetime for you, Luka.”
His eyes flare and his head swoops down. His mouth crashes to mine, but I’m ready for him. My head angles as my lips part, welcoming the thrust of his tongue. He traces my teeth with his velvet tongue and slides it alongside mine. Every touch of it sends a pang of desire to my core and I moan. He swallows it and an answering moan leaves him and ricochets in my mouth.
My hands leave the fabric of his shirt to slip underneath. As they flatten against his abdomen, I can feel the raised skin from his healed injuries where they cover the firm muscle. He shudders and ends the kiss. His voice is ragged as he leans his forehead against mine. “Rea… don’t… I don’t want you to touch that… to see that… it’s ugly…”
Pulling my head back, I look at him. His eyes are squeezed tightly shut and I can see the grimace on his beautiful face. I softly say his name, “Luka… look at me.” My fingertips gently trace the scars beneath his shirt. He doesn’t open his eyes.
My hands still on his body and then I remove them from his skin. He exhales harshly, but his breath hitches as I start to unbutton the material. When I’m done with the last button, I look up and see him staring down at me intently. My eyes stay locked on his as I push his shirt from his shoulders and down his arms. He allows me to push the fabric over his clenched hands. It falls to the ground. My hands immediately return to his abdomen and I once again find the evidence of his bravery, that he doesn’t want me to see.
His breath hisses out from between his teeth, “Rea…”
With our eyes still locked, I lean in and find one of his scars with my lips. His body jerks as I slowly slide my lips over it before finding the next one. His body is tight and I feel his hands shaking where he’s clutching my shoulders. Raising my lips, I whisper against his skin, “Nothing about you is ugly, Luka. Never think that.” My fingers trace the ridge of imperfect skin. “These are beautiful. You are beautiful. I love every inch of you. The perfect and the imperfect… because I love you.”
He stares at me and I can see the war within his beautiful eyes. Finally, he nods and reaches for me again. He leans down and kisses me. His mouth is soft as it clings to mine. As fast as he leans down, he leans back and smiles at me. “I love you, Rea Badeaux. I have no idea what I did to have you love me, but this is one thing in my life, I’m not going to fuck up.”
I smirk at him as my hands trail down his back and settle on the soft denim covering that ass I love to ogle. As I cup him, he groans and one brow raises. Leaning in, I press a kiss to his chest, over his heart and then look up at him. My eyes are alight with love and I suck my lip into my mouth as my fingers trail up his back and then back down to the curve of his delectable ass. “Good to know. Now… I’ve waited my whole life for this moment, Luka Fitzgerald. I think it’s time you deliver.”
His brows raise and then he smirks at me. “Yes, Ma’am.” He lifts me and my legs wrap around his trim waist. My bare thighs are clutching at his warm skin and my breathing is erratic.
Luka turns with me in his arms and he stumbles, but the car allows him to right himself. He growls. “See what you do to me… I keep forgetting I’m not the man I used to be.”
My hands cup his face and I look into his eyes. “No, you’re not. But, go ahead and take your time. I trust you, Luka. I love the man that you are.”
His steps are more deliberate as he makes his way to the blanket he’s laid out for us, but I’m not worried. I trust him. I feel safe. I feel loved.
He stops at the edge and his cheeks flush as he mutters, “I’m not sure I can bend down with you in my arms and not drop you, Rea. I think that might be out of my skill set… for now…”
Reaching up, I press my lips to his. “Raincheck…”
He smiles at me as he gingerly shifts me to allow me to slide down his body and stand in front of him. We’re both breathless as my feet touch the softness of the blanket. He winks at me. “You bet…”
His hands are on my waist and mine are on his forearms as we stand. Finally he glances at the blanket. I can see he’s nervous. He chuckles. “Shall we sit?!”
A smirk escapes me and I step back from him. Watching him, I reach for the hem of my dress and slowly raise it. I hear his breathing stop as I raise the white material over my waist and then my head. My hair fans over my shoulders as I drop the dress and look at him.
Here I am, Luka. I’m exposed… in the open.
Oh my God…
Luka’s eyes drink me in. My scant white panties are the only thing covering me from his gaze. My hands fist at my sides as I fight the urge to cover my chest.
Finally, he groans. “Ok, so we’re not sitting…”
I can’t help it, I laugh. “I don’t want to sit.” His eyes crinkle at the corners as I take a step toward him and reach for the clasp on his jeans. They widen as I pop it and my hands slide inside. His skin is like a furnace. He moans my name, “Rea… Oh, God, baby,” and elation fills me. I push the material down and it catches. Looking down, I see what it’s caught on.
Dropping to my knees, I help the jeans over the prosthesis and slowly remove his shoes so I can get the jeans off.
His eyes are vulnerable and unsure as he watches me. Finally, he takes a shaky breath and says, “Rea… I haven’t… I mean… this is the first time since… everything… what if I can’t?!”
My eyes lock on his throbbing length. I smirk and lean out to stroke him. His breath hisses from between his teeth. “Luka, I really don’t think you’ll have that problem. Stop overthinking it and just be here… with me… finally. I love you.”
He still looks uncertain, but want is overriding it. Slowly, he bends down. He takes his time and I just watch him… want building in me as I watch the man I love, who’s trying so hard, who was injured doing what he always wanted to do, and serving his country… join me on the blanket. Stretching out beside me, he pulls me to him and for the first time, my practically nude body is pressed against his. We rub against each other
and I groan as I feel him at the apex of my thighs. I can’t prevent myself from acting wanton. He grins and reaches between us to trace the elastic at the top of my panties. “Sweetheart, why on earth do you still have these on?”
I grin back at him though it’s hard to concentrate with him so close to where I most want him. “Well, I can’t do all of the work, Luka.”
Throwing his head back, he laughs. Leaning down his eyes lock on mine and he mutters, “Fair enough.” His hands slide my panties down, though I help him. I want him too badly not to. When they reach my ankles, I kick them off but before I can do anything, Luka pushes me back and traces my folds with his finger. I gasp as he dips one inside of me. His strokes are slow and shallow as he plays my body. The sounds he’s creating within me, as he fingers me and readies me for him, are not common.
I sound so breathless… so free.
Finally, he leans over me. I part my thighs. He freezes as his forehead leans on mine. He looks at me, asking me if this is what I want. In answer, my back arches and my feet lock around his waist. Our eyes stay connected as he enters me.
I gasp as he stops. “Ohhhhhh.”
His breathing is just as ragged and then, still watching me, he moves. I move in perfect synchronicity and we find our rhythm.
Our gasps, groans, and the sound of sex and love fill the night air.
I’m so close.,.
He reaches between us and finds my clit. It sends me over the edge and I scream out his name, “Luka,” as stars that rival the night sky explode behind my eyelids. My release seems to be the sign he was waiting for. His pace quickens and he yells against the skin of my neck, “Rea… oh, baby. Rea…” His body spasms above me and then he stills.
He rolls us both so we’re side by side on the blanket, a tangle of arms and legs… his prosthesis is resting against my calf and it’s the most natural feeling in the world for me.
Finally, he sighs. I can feel him looking at me, so with a contented smile I turn and face him. He smiles back and then he grins.
I can’t help but grin back, “What?”
He laughs and presses a kiss to my shoulder before pulling me closer to him. “You were right, baby.” My brow wrinkles and I look at him in confusion. He winks at me. “I didn’t have a problem. It’s like riding a bike…”
Slapping his shoulder, I laugh with him. “Oh, my God, Luka!”
He rolls slightly so he’s up on his elbow, looking down at me. The dusk light is accentuating his face and my breathing hitches at his beauty. His eyes light up as he watches me and I can read the emotion in them. He confirms it. “I love you, Rea.”
**If you loved Luka and Rea’s story and can’t wait to see what happens next with both of them, as well as Laeten and Leila, you’re going to want to watch for the next book in The Fitzgerald Triplets!
The Fitzgerald Triplets
Battle Ground (Luka and Rea)
Laeten’s Story
Leila’s Story
About the Author
Skye Turner Skye Turner as Sloane Nicole
Skye Turner is an avid reader and an editor turned International Bestselling Author of Sexy Adult Romance. Bayou Stix Series (Rocker Romance), James Black Series (Romantic Suspense), Unwanted Desire (Contemporary Romance), With Gratitude and Love (Military Romance), His Only Salvation (Dark Romance. Love Triangle), Rookie Love (Baseball Romance), Behind My Charade (Military Romance), A Lil Bit Country, A Lil Bit Rock & Roll Series (Music Romance), Dear Diary Short Stories (Erotic Romance), Gemstone Burlesque (Erotic Romance), A Joe of my Own (Military Romance), Nutt Cracker (Romantic Comedy. MPOV), Hart of the Storm (Music Romance), Love Bites (Romantic Comedy, co-written with Amanda Lanclos) and Pothos Chronicles (Erotic Romance).
She has recently expanded her writing capabilities and is writing Paranormal Adult Romance as Sloane Nicole. Her PNR Series is called L’Amour Bayou with the first book being Antoinette’s Fall.
She attended Southeastern Louisiana University and Louisiana State University where she majored in Mass Communications, centering her studies in Journalism. Unfortunately, life intervened and she never finished her studies.
She lives in small town Louisiana with her husband, two children, and nine fur babies.
When she's not chained to her laptop pounding out sexy stories she can usually be found playing ‘Supermom’, reading, gardening (playing in the dirt), listening to music and dancing like a fool, cooking, baking, crafting, or spending time with those most important to her.
She loves to incorporate pieces of her home state of Louisiana into her writing.
You can find her here as Skye Turner:
Facebook as Skye Turner: www.facebook.com/SkyeTurnerAuthor
Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/author/skyeturner
Twitter: @SkyeTurner_Auth
Blog: www.skyeturnerauthor.com
Instagram: http://instagram.com/authorskyeturner
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/7164331.Skye_Turner
E-mail: [email protected]
You can find her here as Sloane Nicole:
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/sloanenicole
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SloaneNicoleAuthor
Twitter: @SloaneNicoleAtr
Blog: www.skyeturnerauthor.com
Instagram: http://instagram.com/authorskyeturner
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/sloane-nicole
E-mail: [email protected]
No Beginning
by
Sam Destiny
Blurb
First Lieutenant Micah McCain lost his best friend and wasn’t around to tell him goodbye. When finally visiting Timber’s grave, Micah meets timber’s little sister. It’s as pleasant as it’s unexpected, and Micah cannot help but follow her home and meet the people who raised his best friend.
Lost without a course, this could be his chance at a better life, but will he take it?
Sarah Timber lost everything when she lost her big brother. He’d been her support, her best friend, her protector. Drifting in a sea of sadness and despair, all she has left is to fulfill her brother’s last wish.
But will Micah stay and let her heal him, or is the solider too afraid of deep-felt connections and runs the other way?
Chapter 1
First Lieutenant Micah McCain walked up the tree-lined road toward the Ashburn Military cemetery. He’d just returned from his latest deployment, and his first stop was to the grave of a soldier he’d known for almost his entire service time.
Staff Sergeant Elton Timber and him had been in basic training together, and Micah remembered the first few weeks, wading through mud, carrying the heaviest backpacks through rain and rivers, and yet Timber had been almost like a brother. They’d done their first tour together at twenty-three, had seen their first death, had done their first killing shots, all side by side.
When they’d been twenty-six Timber had demanded to move bases because he’d met someone online.
Micah had been jealous and happy, all wrapped in one. While they’d gained an edge, Timber had kept his sunny personality, brightening up every party, every gathering he went to.
He’d also ended up happily married at twenty-eight, and no matter how much Micah had wished he could’ve been there, another tour had kept him away.
There hadn’t been much for him at home in the states, and whenever he was on leave, he spent his time with his brother and his family. Their parents had died when he’d been just out of basic training, and although the time had been hard, it had caused him to dedicate everything he had to his life in the army.
The gates to the Ashburn cemetery came into view and his steps faltered.
At thirty-two Elton Timber should’ve been high on life, holding his children and his wife, not being buried in the cold, unyielding ground.
They’d lost touch for eighteen months, and yet it had been that way before, with them not having spoken for a length of time. Still, meeting again t
hen had been as if they’d never been apart. It was what made true friendship.
Micah closed his eyes before pushing the gate open. It gave way to his touch easily and silently, the hinges well oiled, and he almost wished it would’ve kept him out.
God, regrets flooded him as he made his way to Timber’s slot.
They should’ve talked more.
He should’ve made time for him last time he’d been home.
Maybe they should’ve exchanged letters.
Micah should’ve asked more about the wife and the kids.
It was then he realized he had known Elton for so long, but he couldn’t recall his wife’s name, or how many children they had, and if any, how old they were.
They’d talked about tours, lost comrades, regrets, and the fact that Micah tended to not get serious with women.
Then again, why would he, knowing he was still going to do tours as often as the Army allowed him to? He hadn’t met anyone he considered captivating enough to keep him in the US forever.
“God, El, you would’ve loved it. They had this raw rock sound, the edge you always enjoyed when listening to music. I was going to play some songs for you, but they aren’t on YouTube yet, and all the recordings I did on my phone were so horrible you’d turn in your grave.”
Micah froze as he spotted a dark-haired girl sitting next to his friend’s headstone. She had two blankets she sat on, wrapped in an army-green jacket that definitely was way too big for her because he saw the sleeves reach down to the middle of her hands, which she had wrapped around her shoulders.
“I’m considering getting a new phone, but really, where’s the fun in that? I can no longer complain then.” She laughed softly, and then seemed to listen to something.
Micah knew he probably should’ve made himself known, but he feared she’d interrupt herself the moment she knew he was there, and he wanted to give her the chance to talk to Timber.
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