by S. J. Wilcox
Love in Troubled Waters
Original Edition
S. J. WILCOX
Love in Troubled Waters
Copyright © 2019 S. J. Wilcox
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.
Find Your Way Publishing, Inc.
PO Box 667
Norway, ME 04268
www.findyourwaypublishing.com
First Edition
ISBN-13: 978-1-945290-28-2
ISBN-10: 1-945290-28-5
Dedication
This is dedicated to you, the readers. Thank you! From the bottom of my heart, I thank you. And to those of you who leave reviews for my books, I thank you even more. Reviews don’t have to be long, but they help so much.
Also, to all who are continually striving to live their lives with passion and gratitude. Every day we get to choose. Let’s have a love affair with life! Let’s get passionate!
Other books by Sage Wilcox:
Romance:
Until We Fall
Under the Covers
Photo Finish
U-Turn
Solitary Heart (With Heart Series #1)
Awakened Heart (With Heart Series #2)
Hopeful Heart (With Heart Series #3)
Nonfiction:
Love Letters from Exes: Proof That Life Goes on After a Break Up and Love Is What You Make It
Get It Up: 101 Ways to Raise Your Vibration, Reduce Stress, Depression, & Anxiety, Increase Joy, Peace, & Happiness and Attract Abundance Automatically!
The 2-Hour Vacation: Let Go and Relax, Reduce Stress & Anxiety, Gain Inner Peace, and Happiness
The Importance of Doing It: How to Utilize Discipline to Get Out of Bed, and Make Your Dreams Come True! A Guide to Taking Action to Create Successful Habits…
Less Is Best: Declutter, Organize, & Simplify to Reach Minimalism; Get More Time, Money, & Energy
You Had Me at Re: Hello: The Ultimate Guide to Online Dating, Including Tips and Testimonies
Neuroplasticity and the Default Mind: How to Shape Your Plastic Brain by Forming New Connections to Automatically Get Positive Results, Success and Prosperity
Adjust: How to Conquer and Accept Change and Adversity Swiftly; Stop Putting off the Love, Money, Peace, Success, and Happiness You Deserve Now
Born New: How to See the Familiar with New Eyes, Embrace the Magic of the Present Moment, Experience Satisfaction and Joy like Never Before
Level Up: How to Man Up and Excel When Society and Role Models Have Let You Down
Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
About the Author
Introduction
When the beautiful, tattooed Isabelle meets clean-cut Liam in his Navy uniform in a hotel club, she is stunned by the instant connection they seem to share. Plagued by her past, she has put relationships on hold while fighting off insecurities and past failures. But this sexy alpha male easily sweeps her off her feet and leaves her feeling like a giddy and carefree girl by day and an extremely pleased woman by night.
After Liam discovers that he will have a new assignment thousands of miles away, Isabelle finds herself desperately clinging to their two steamy, whirlwind weeks, hoping it’ll be enough to carry her through to the next time she can see him again or at least into the next healthy, adult relationship.
But Isabelle finds that old habits die hard when the person keeping her in check is not always in sight and depression becomes a monster eating away at her psyche.
Will Liam be the man to save her from herself, or will she self-destruct before he can get back to her?
Chapter 1
“Hey, Izzy!”
Isabelle leaned in closer to hear her friend over the dull roar of the crowd in Club Z. It had become Isabelle and Lana’s favorite spot to have a drink and unwind without things getting too wild and crazy. Most of the people there were staying at the adjoining hotel, usually traveling professionals attempting to escape the monotony and loneliness of constant meetings and travel. It wasn’t necessarily the girls’ crowd, but they needed a place safe from their old temptations. The two had met in college, at a mandatory support group meeting that they were required to participate in, otherwise, they’d be kicked out. It was more like rehab and that’s what they referred to it as. They had both partied and experimented with more than alcohol a time or two, and unfortunately, it had caught up with them. It was not something Izzy was proud of, but she was happy that she had met Lana.
“That guy over there has been looking at you for a while,” Lana told her, pointing to a man across the bar in a naval uniform. He was one of the youngest men there, and definitely the best looking.
“There’s no way he’s looking at me. He’s probably looking past me,” she replied, shaking her head in amusement.
There was a reason she almost never got hit on at Club Z, even though she’d been called pretty her fair share of times. The type of people that frequented this bar were a bit stuffy, all wearing nice, expensive, and conservative clothes. Isabelle’s arms were covered in tattoos, something she didn’t attempt to hide. She doubted someone in the Navy would approve, much less be attracted to it.
Isabelle turned back around in her seat, grabbing her gin and tonic. She remembered the lectures in rehab about addictive personalities and not being able to handle mind-altering substances, but she and Lana had bonded over the idea that it would keep them away from the hard stuff. It was a crutch to lean on, sure, but so far it had worked out for two solid years.
Isabelle dared a glance back in the direction of the man Lana pointed out. She had to admit, he looked amazing in uniform, even if it was mostly white. There was no denying the muscles he was packing underneath, either. It was silly to even hope someone like him would want anything to do with a girl like her. Heroes destroyed “the bad guys”; they didn’t fall in love with them.
Before Isabelle could make herself look away, he caught her gaze and smiled, staring right into her soul with his baby blues. They were such a bright color, blue as the ocean, even from this distance. Her cheeks felt hot, and she turned away, bumping Lana with her shoulder.
“I think maybe you were right. He just caught me looking at him,” she told her friend breathlessly. “I think he smiled at me.”
Isabelle’s history with men had been quite sordid. She didn’t know how to handle the attention of a man worth having. She didn’t even believe she deserved it. And she wasn’t ready to be intimate with someone again. Not after all she had been through.
“You should go over to him,” Lana nudged with a wink. Despite her fairy-like appearance, Lana was the more daring of the two. She was always picking up men and dating around. She even started dating straight out of rehab, against their recommendation of waiting, always showing a preference for the older, successful, and wealthy type. It was entertaining, if a little cliched.
Isabelle looked down at what was left of her gin and swallowed it down preparing to walk over, but as she stood and pulled her black dress down over her thighs, she saw he was already halfway to her. He looked a little nervous himself, which she thought was sweet, but she started to panic as he closed the distance between them, wondering if maybe it was Lana, her pretty blonde counterpart, he’d been admiring the whole time.
“I’m sorry,” he said with a t
wang she couldn’t quite place. Instinctively, she knew he must be from the south, but where exactly, she wasn’t certain. “I don’t usually just come up to people like this, but I saw you across the room,” He paused, “and I think you saw me too. I’m sorry. It just felt like I had to come over here and meet you.” His smile was sweet, and he stood a head taller than Isabelle, even while she was wearing heels.
“Did you mean me, or my friend?” Isabelle asked, pointing to a smiling and waving Lana who looked like she was holding back a laugh. Isabelle made a mental note to chide her for it later.
“You, of course,” he answered, looking at her as if he were confused by the question. “No offense to your friend, though.”
“None taken!” Lana hollered back, proving that she had been eavesdropping a little too much.
Isabelle felt frozen in his shadow as she attempted to remember her own name. “Isabelle,” she spouted. “I’m Isabelle.”
She awkwardly held out her hand as if for a shake, but he took it in his own and slowly brought it to his lips, gently touching them to her skin. It left a searing spot she felt would never cool.
“I’m Liam,” he offered, letting her hand go. “Would you like to dance with me, Isabelle?”
Isabelle smiled and nodded, feeling too nervous to do anything else as she allowed him to lead her out onto the dance floor. The music was mostly top 40s, and she was pleasantly surprised to learn that he could dance, even in his uniform. He made her feel more comfortable as they moved together to the beat, coming closer together by the second. After about three songs, Liam paused and took her hands placing them around his neck and then his hands fell to her hips. He began swaying as if to a slow song.
“I hope you don’t mind looking a little silly, but this kind of music doesn’t really lend an opportunity to talk and get to know one another at all,” he said with a goofy smile, making her feel like they were the only two in the room.
“I’m used to being a little different from the rest,” she told him, smiling up into his deep blue eyes. She could stare into something like this forever. Liam seemed to be looking at her with great intensity before leaning down and placing his lips against hers, freezing her body to the spot. His lips were just as soft there as they had been on her hand, but his strength pressed up against her made her feel safe and wild at the same time.
As they finally pulled away from each other, Isabelle felt breathless and dizzy, still swooning a bit in his arms. “I’m sorry. I should have asked permission first. I hope I’m not being too forward. It’s just you were looking at me with your beautiful eyes, and…”
“Stop apologizing,” she kissed him back, “I like it.”
“I don’t know if I can stay too long,” he looked at his watch, looking as disappointed about it as she felt. “I have to get back to base soon, but I’d like to see you again sometime, if I can, Isabelle.” The way her name rolled off his tongue made her melt.
“Sure, I actually live with my roommate in an apartment near the naval air base. Is that the same one?” She didn’t even recognize the thinness of her own voice as they continued to comfortably sway through the bumping, partying crowd.
“It is.”
Chapter 2
The waitress smiled at Isabelle as she set their plates down before walking off, but she didn’t leave without looking Liam up and down first like she wanted to give him more than what he had ordered. Not that Isabelle could blame the woman. Liam was quite a sight in his uniform, and she herself would just love to sink her teeth into him. However, she knew she wasn’t ready for that and even though he was clearly attracted to her, he seemed to be a gentleman and had insisted they meet for lunch instead of heading straight for a bedroom somewhere. She appreciated it and was having a blast just talking with him, which greatly surprised her.
“So, what made you decide to join the Navy?” Isabelle inquired as she waited for her lobster mac n cheese to cool a bit.
“Well, my grandfather is a veteran himself who got injured during Vietnam. On the one hand, I knew he had seen some pretty bad things, but he also had a lot of good things to say about his experience and it stuck with me. You know, the comradery and discipline involved. Honestly, I was a bit of a spoiled kid without much direction. I wasn’t bad per se. I didn’t do drugs or get in fights, I just didn’t care too much about grades or the future. One of my friends, though, died from a car crash after a race. It was a spontaneous silly thing he did after he saw another sports car driving around at night, and it ended his life. It was eye-opening for me. I didn’t want to be like that, but I didn’t know what else I wanted to do. So, I thought it wouldn’t hurt to talk with a recruiter. That was that. I was 19 and I’ve been enlisted ever since.”
Isabelle was surprised by his story, not expecting anything so strong or passionate. Most people she knew who had joined any branch of the military had done it for the benefits or because their father expected it, nothing more.
“That’s inspiring,” Isabelle said, finally taking a taste of the delicious food in front of her. It was heavenly, and she was grateful he’d taken her there. She did okay for herself, but she didn’t usually splurge on going out to eat in places as nice as this. “Some men twice that age don’t have the courage or the morality to do something like that.”
Liam burst out laughing, turning a few heads in their direction. “It’s funny,” he explained, “that you think I’m so moral and upstanding just because I’m in the Navy. I’m not some pious man or anything like that. I would say I’m probably a good man. I try to help those I can and do right by my fellow comrades, but I probably drink too much, sometimes, and have thoughts about women I see in the bar, just like any other typical man. Like when I saw you, for instance.” His tone became serious and his voice quiet as he stared her down again, making her feel like she would do anything at all for him under that gaze. He exuded a power that made her want him even more.
“Interesting. I appreciate your honesty. What about tattoos?” she asked, sizing him up and trying to keep her composure under his gaze as her imagination went wild at what he might be able to do to her body. “Do you have any?”
“I might have a couple. Nothing like yours, though.” He reached over and stroked her arms, which were covered in roses, dragons, and mermaids. It used to make her feel beautiful, when she first got them, and the chills he was giving her now made her get in touch with and remember that place again.
“They’re beautiful,” he murmured.
“Thank you,” she said, quietly. “Not many people around here seem to think so.”
“Who cares what they think?” he asked, shrugging his shoulders and diving into his plate with a renewed vigor and savory every bite. She got the feeling that Liam was one of those men whose heart was in their stomach and smiled at the sight.
***
The couple stumbled in the door of Isabelle’s apartment, their lips locked in a passionate kiss since they exited her car. It was the fourth time in one week they had seen each other, and it would be the second time she brought him over to her apartment, ready for him to ravage her, again. She knew they were moving quickly but it felt like they had known each other forever. She knew some people wouldn’t approve and worrying about other people’s opinions often made her second guess herself. But she was tired of being bothered and influenced by what others might think. She was tired of second-guessing. She was tired of feeling bad about making decisions that felt right to her. She was a grown woman and Liam was great at making her feel like one. He made her feel like a woman and a giddy girl at the same time with his dominance and strong hands.
Liam lifted her into his arms, slamming the door shut with a kick of his foot. He nibbled at her bottom lip, sucking it into his mouth until it had become swollen. He held her tightly, wrapping her legs around his rock-hard body as he hiked her dress above her ass cheeks. He grabbed both of them with his hands, squeezing as his fingers surely made ten distinct imprints on her pale skin.
&
nbsp; “Your roommate’s out again, right?” he asked, breathlessly, his heart beating quickly against her chest as he pulled them through the house. Feeling drunk with his touch and presence, all Isabelle could do was nod and point towards the laundry room. Liam raised his eyebrow at her but complied, taking her into the small room and setting her down on the cold washer.
Liam smiled in question at Isabelle as she reached over to put it on a cycle, spreading her legs enticingly for him. “I’m a little embarrassed but I’ve always wanted to try this, and I’m comfortable with you,” she said as she watched him undress. Isabelle thought to herself that this was an Adonis of a man, truly sculpted by some artist high up for the purpose of pleasing women. He was in excellent shape, with a perfect eight-pack rippling down his chest, leading to a smooth and picturesque shaft, then down to his long, muscular legs. He was the ultimate specimen, built for saving the country as well as rocking her to completion.
The washer began to shake underneath her, and she squealed as he slowly approached her. He placed himself at her entrance, teasing her with the smooth tingling sensation of their centers touching, just enough to drive her insane.
“You must be really good at torturing others,” she teased between gasps, as she tried to keep her heated body from forcing him further into herself. She knew from experience now what would happen if she tried to make it go faster; he was one for punishment. Punishment in the form of withholding.
Finally, he began to push himself inside her, easing into her wetness with the rocking of the machine underneath her. He filled her up bit by bit with his length. He began to pull and push her flesh in a rhythm, taking cues from the shaking washer, which just added to the pleasure that ripped through her body.
She moaned as he lifted her legs higher in the air, allowing him to push even deeper, slamming into her with a sweet sound as the washing machine chugged on below. She was in a state of euphoria, quivering with pleasure as she reached her climax, squeezing him inside her until he reached the same place. They shook and moaned together in harmony as the washer finished its cycle, leaving them satisfied and tired.
