Claimed by the Hero

by Yahrah St. John

  “I won’t sugarcoat it, Savannah. I have my work cut out for me. I’m relatively unknown in the state, other than in Baltimore, while Eric Thomas has been a state congressman for decades. He will be a worthy opponent.”

  “And you will rise to the occasion. You’ve always had a drive to succeed.”

  “How can you know that?”

  “We may not have known each other long while you were at West Point, but you were determined, disciplined, and needed to excel.”

  “I’m surprised you remember.”

  “I’ve never forgotten you, Caden.” The moment the words were out, Savannah couldn’t take them back and she didn’t want to. She’d had a lifetime of yearning for this man. The reality of their future was that they were married, and if she wanted to give it a fighting chance, she had to take a risk and lay herself bare, so she continued. “I’ve never stopped wanting you, and I never thought I’d ever get the chance—”

  Her words were lost because Caden jerked her toward him, sunk his fingers deep into her hair, and crushed his mouth down on hers. The kiss was raw and fierce, whipping her into a frenzy of sensations that in her wildest dreams she would never have imagined. Her mouth clung to his, and a low moan broke from her throat, feeding the hunger she’d kept bottled inside her.

  But the hunger was free now, and their mouths moved together, seeking and finding each other with a savage need Savannah thought she might drown from—from the masterful glide of his lips, the sensuous nip of his teeth, or the sexy mating dance of their tongues as they dueled with each other. Caden left no part of her mouth untouched, and Savannah felt her nipples turn taut and her panties become damp with lust.

  His arms were like steel bands around her body, and when he squeezed his hard thigh between hers, she began rubbing herself against him, desperate for contact.

  Caden lifted his head. “We need to take this inside before I have you right here on the deck.”

  Once inside, they divested themselves of their clothes with economical movements until they were both naked and reaching for each other. The graze of Caden’s fingertips on a swollen nipple sent a moan rippling out of Savannah’s mouth, and when he rolled it back and forth with his fingers, she felt an arrow of need center in her lower belly.

  She twined her hands around his neck, begging for more, and he gave it, bringing the other breast to his mouth with delicious whorls and flicks of his tongue. She didn’t protest when his fingers dipped into her folds and found her wet warmth. Instead, Savannah arched into the fingers he pushed inside her.

  First one and then a second. She cried out as he teased her and made her crazy with need. But Savannah was no casual observer. While Caden paused in his exploration, she ran her palms down his neck to his defined pectorals. His skin was warm and his hair springy to her touch, but that didn’t stop her. She touched him all over, running her hands over his hard body, broad chest, and rock-hard abdomen.

  When she came to his arousal, she licked her lips and heard a low rumble deep in Caden’s chest. “Don’t do it,” he murmured, but Savannah would not be dissuaded. She had thoughts of her own. She felt wanton for the first time in her adult life, and she was going to live in the moment.

  She scraped his butt cheeks with her fingers, causing goosebumps to form all over his body. He was a beautiful man, and he was all hers. She sank lower onto the bed, and before he could stop her, she took him into her mouth. She sucked the head of his erection gently, and Caden fisted his hand in her hair. So she took his shaft deeper into her mouth. She teased him with short flicks and sucks.

  “Stop,” he pleaded. “Our first time together as husband and wife, I want to come inside you, Savannah.”

  His hoarse plea was the only reason Savannah eased him out of her mouth and smiled up at him. He was breathing rapidly, but that didn’t stop him from grabbing her by the hips and making her straddle him. “Take me, Savannah. Take all of me.”

  Savannah’s gaze connected with Caden’s, and bracing one hand on his chest, she slowly sank down on his still-hard erection. Caden was her husband, the man she’d wanted more than any other, and she was about to give him the ride of his life.

  Holy shit.

  His shaft was gloved inside Savannah’s tight, wet heat, and Caden nearly lost it. No way in hell could it still be this good, but it was. Each time they were together, it only got better, but he was already on the edge. The way she’d sucked him off, he could be racing quickly to the finish line and he didn’t want that.

  Flexing his hips upward, Caden watched Savannah. Her eyes were shut, and she had a look of intense concentration. No way was he missing her reaction. “Open your eyes, Savi.” She blinked but did as he instructed. “Ride me. Give us what we both want.”

  He sank his fingers into her thick hair and let out a filthy curse as she began to move forward and backward, up and down, kissing his mouth when she came closer, rubbing those delicious globes and their turgid peaks against him. He wanted to make tonight unforgettable because he couldn’t get enough of her gorgeous body, genuine smile, and expressive hazel-green eyes.

  He buried his face in her neck, breathing her in, trying to center himself, but it was impossible. The scent of her filled his nostrils and, mingled with her unique female scent, made all rational thought flee. Pleasure came at him in waves, building up the pressure in his pelvis.

  He crushed her mouth to his, needy to taste her. She was just as lost as he was because the kiss morphed into something Caden had only ever felt once before with Savannah. How was it that Savannah was the only woman to arouse the primal animal in him and make him feel this way? Was their relationship more than just duty and satisfying the insatiable desire they had for each other?

  Because it felt more than just good.

  It felt right.

  As if he’d waited his entire life for this woman. And hadn’t he?

  Blinking himself back to the present, Caden ran his hands over her supple, sweat-slicked skin and willed his self-control to last a bit longer. Flipping her over, he took them home to the finish line by pounding in and out of her. Savannah’s eyes were wide open, gazing up at him as she matched his hunger, demanding boldly and giving as good as she got.

  He dipped his hand between them to that tiny bundle of nerves at her core, heard her breath hitch as he worked her over and over. Soon, she was screaming, writhing, and twisting beneath him. Her muscles spasmed, setting off his own orgasm. Caden rode the wave with her and continued pumping until he splintered and he heard ringing in his ears.

  He was still shaking with the force of his release when he realized his full weight was on Savannah. He immediately rolled off. When he glanced in her direction, her eyes were closed and Caden wondered if she’d felt the intense connection just as he had. Tenderness filled him, and he gathered her to him, needing a physical anchor. With Savannah’s backside curled into his chest, Caden couldn’t shake the sense he’d just discovered something he’d thought had been lost.

  Chapter 17

  Sunlight was streaming through the sheer curtains when Savannah rolled over only to find the bed empty save for the cold imprint Caden’s body left behind. Burying her face in the pillow, she breathed in the scent of the man who’d consumed her all night.

  Caden had worn her out. They’d made love twice more as dawn was filtering orange light through the windows. Her entire body ached but with a good kind of soreness. Last night had been extraordinary, more so than the other times they’d been together. Was it because deep down she’d gotten all she ever wanted? She was married to Caden Mitchell, the man she loved.

  There was no denying the truth. Last night, she’d made love to her husband and found incredible pleasure and inexplicable joy. It made Savannah want more, much more than they’d agreed to in the marriage—a real marriage with love, trust, and mutual respect. Maybe even more children, but they hadn’t discussed more offsprin
g.

  Does Caden even want more?

  Savannah had no clue. But what she knew for sure was that Caden was the only man she’d ever loved or would love. She found herself on a dangerous slope. She couldn’t show her hand and let Caden see how deep her feelings ran because to men, physical intimacy didn’t always equal emotional intimacy. And she’d hurt Caden years ago. She had no idea if he was closed off to the idea of a real marriage or whether he was just happy to have her, the mother of his child, and son around.

  “Good morning, sleepyhead.” Caden strolled into the bedroom carrying a large tray filled with a pot of coffee, some orange juice, bacon, eggs, and toast. “Thought you might be hungry.”

  “I am.” Savannah slid upward until she was nestled against the headboard. Although they’d shared intimacies, she felt a little shy and tugged the bedspread over her naked bosom. Caden eyed the movement but didn’t comment. “Thank you for this,” she said when Caden placed the tray in her lap. “It looks delicious.”

  “Anything for my wife.” A sly grin crossed his face as he sat beside her on the edge of the bed. “You need to keep your energy up.”

  “Do I?” Savannah asked, glancing up as she munched on a piece of bacon.

  “Oh yes. Last night was only the first course.” He leaned over to trail soft kisses along the line of her jaw. “Eat your breakfast because I can’t wait to be inside you again.”

  Savannah blushed. She’d never spoken so openly about sex. She was going to have to get used to this. For so long, she’d buried her feelings for Caden along with all her hopes and dreams that they would ever be together like this. Yet here they were, husband and wife.

  Caden wasn’t lying when he told Savannah that last night was the first course. The rest of the morning he continued to push her to the edge with his hands, mouth, tongue, and fingers until there was no place for Savannah to run. Instead, she allowed Caden to push her to new realms of carnal pleasure only he could satisfy.

  Later that day, Savannah, outfitted in a simple sleeveless cotton V-neck shirt and shorts, and Caden, in similar casual attire of a T-shirt and shorts, prepared to go boating. Savannah had never been, but Caden told her he’d done a bit of rowing at West Point.

  After packing a picnic lunch to take with them, they walked the short distance to the dock. Caden offered Savannah his hand as he helped her into the rowboat. She sat in the front while Caden seated himself in the rear, pushing off the dock with one of the oars.

  “I’ll row. You steer.”

  “Let’s go!” Savannah cheered.

  As Caden rowed, they laughed and talked and finally got down to learning more about each other. Savannah learned of Caden’s military career and how he won his Medal of Honor. When Caden talked about his company being under intense fire in Afghanistan and not knowing whether he would survive to see his family again, Savannah was deeply affected. Caden explained how he carried each of the wounded men to a helicopter that finally came to rescue him before he was wounded in the abdomen. Savannah was impressed by his bravery and thankful he had survived what could have been a deadly wound.

  Eventually, they reached Hooper’s Island, and after dragging the boat ashore and spreading a blanket on the sand, they dined on the hearty picnic Savannah had packed up with meat, cheese, and fruit from the well-stocked refrigerator at the cottage. The day was relaxed and cheerful. Caden was an easygoing companion, and Savannah recalled how it had always been this way with them … and could have been if she hadn’t listened to Caden’s mother and left him without a word.

  “Savannah?”

  She glanced up and found his magnetic dark eyes on her once again. “Yes?”

  “Something on your mind? You were a million miles away.”

  “I’m sorry. I was just thinking how great this is, being here with you.”

  “No, that’s not it.”

  Is he reading my mind?

  “Okay …” She paused. “I was remembering how it was between us before I made certain choices that put us here.”

  “I understand you may have regrets, Savannah, but we can only move forward, and I would very much like to have an uncomplicated but enjoyable picnic with my wife.”

  “Do you have some thoughts in mind on that?” As she spoke, Savannah could feel color mounting in her cheeks because she suspected she knew exactly where Caden’s mind had traveled to.

  “Oh yes. Let me show you.”

  He reached for her then, kissing her until she trembled with need. Then, to her astonishment, he made love to her right there in the open, pulling off her panties and shorts in one fell swoop and lifting her on top of him on the blanket. Savannah gasped at the intimacy of drawing him inside her. She was no longer shy when it came to their lovemaking. Instead, she rode him, slowly at first, then she quickly began building speed. She gripped his shoulders tight and pushed herself against him, harder, deeper, and faster until eventually she screamed and Caden gave an answering growl from below her and the world exploded around her and she fell on top of him.

  Caden’s eyes rested on Savannah over the candlelight of the small bistro they were dining at that evening. Was she thinking about how wild for each other they’d been earlier that day? After making love on the islet, they’d packed up the picnic basket and made their way back to the boat. Caden even let her row, which was a feat unto itself. Savannah was terrible at it, but she had a good time. He couldn’t tell her they hadn’t gone very far.

  Eventually, he’d taken over and led them back to the terrace, where they’d settled themselves on the Adirondack chairs to watch the sunset. Thinking about it now caused Caden to let out a pleasurable sigh. Savannah was his for forever. He would have a lifetime to sate himself with her. Even now, he couldn’t help but think how incredibly beautiful she was.

  She wore a red wrap dress with a string of colorful beads draped down her neck as the simple adornment. He admired how they highlighted her amazing cleavage. Caden couldn’t wait for dinner to end so he could have her again. She was so responsive, so pliant. He’d never met a woman with whom he’d shared a connection like this in bed and out.

  It scared him to think how quickly she was burrowing herself under his skin. Should he be worried that he could fall off the wagon and find himself head over heels in love with her again? He could only offer her passion, friendship, and companionship because he refused to go down the road of love a second time. He refused to give himself that completely only to have his heart broken again. The only way to prevent heartache would be to imprison any growing feelings he might have, to keep them chained beneath a wall of stone.

  Over the course of the next few days, Caden made sure Savannah was at ease with him, in and out of bed. It was essential they both get on the same page if they were going to present a united front while campaigning. So he wooed her on their honeymoon.

  After poring over the local map, they worked out the best stops and biked into the heart of downtown. They explored the area, browsing through antique and secondhand bookshops and indulging in a lunch of blue crab encrusted with crab seasoning, careless of the mess they made. Another day, he took her to a quaint teashop overlooking the tourist-packed streets and they sipped English breakfast tea and ate cucumber sandwiches while Caden filled Savannah in on what to expect in the next few weeks.

  A daunting task loomed ahead, but Caden made sure to stay cheerful and easygoing. He didn’t want Savannah getting skittish because they both had to ensure Liam would be alright throughout all of this. He’d undergone some big changes, and having the media spotlight on him would require adjusting his habits and schedule. Meanwhile, as each day on their honeymoon passed, Caden felt Savannah becoming more relaxed and content with the life they would share.

  On Sunday, when the newlyweds returned home, Jack called Caden to let him know he’d arranged for a press conference announcing their marriage. It would take place on Monday aft
ernoon. Savannah was not pleased.

  “So soon?” she asked. She and Caden had retired to the master bedroom with the door closed. “I thought I’d have more time to get Liam prepared.”

  Caden sighed heavily beside Savannah in bed. “It’s already been a week, Savannah. I can’t let the press get wind of our marriage without getting our narrative out there first.”

  She nodded. “I get that. It’s just …” Her voice trailed off.

  “You’re scared,” Caden ascertained. “It’s a new world that you’re not used to, but we’re going to get you prepared. We’re working on finding you an assistant.”

  “I need an assistant?” Savannah’s eyes widened with fear.

  “Remember, I told you there were going to be duties, campaign stops as my wife that I’ll need you to make. Your assistant will keep your schedule and help you prepare talking points. Don’t worry,” he said, bending his head to brush her mouth with his, “everything will be fine.” His hand closed over the luscious ripe mound of her breast, and she felt his body quicken with lust.

  Gently, Caden wrapped his arms around Savannah tightly. He would disquiet her thoughts with the best distraction possible: Desire.

  Snuggled in Caden’s embrace, her body languorous and sated from the most amazing sex of her life, Savannah’s heart was still thumping loudly. She knew what Caden had done. He’d distracted her with sex, but she had a right to be nervous. She was in a world that was foreign to her.

  It was hard enough moving from the home she’d built in Orlando with Liam to Baltimore to take care of her abuela. Now, she’d moved again, to Caden’s home. She was out of her depth in more ways than one. She was in love with a man who only seemed to want friendship and desire. But could there be more?

  Is that what I want?

  Emphatically, Savannah knew she wanted them to grow into more, much more. But she was afraid to put herself out there, so she crushed the feeling back even as her heart twisted. Instead, she would focus on being the best political wife she could be because that’s what Caden expected of her.