“Mrs. Henry doesn’t worry me.” He let out a light chuckle as he intertwined their fingers. “Grandma and Hazel and wedding plans…now that is more terrifying than being dropped in the middle of a war zone without any weapons.”
“You asked for it, buddy.” She ran her free hand up his chest. “Now let’s get back to what I thought you were waking me up for. Morning sex, there’s nothing better.”
“What about shower sex? If my memory serves me right you were pretty hot and bothered by it the other day, and I don’t mean from the hot water.” He pushed the ring box aside so he could put both of his hands on her body.
“Shower sex is amazing but right now…” She rolled toward him, hooking her leg around his thigh and drawing him closer. “I want you. We’re already naked so don’t make me wait.”
“You’re sexy with your demanding.” He arched his hips, dragging his shaft along her folds.
“Daniel…” His name came out on a desired filled whisper. “Make love to me.”
“If you’re going to start demanding sex every morning we might need to keep a stash of breakfast bars by the bed. You know I need to keep up my energy,” he teased, rolling her over so she was on her back and he was hovering over her. His hands slid over her body, teasing down her sides before caressing over her hips. “You might wear this old man out.”
“Old man my ass.” She reached up and ran her hands through his short dark hair. “There might be a few grays in the mist but you’re certainly not old.”
He trailed his hand over her hip and between her thighs. His caress had her spreading her legs, giving him the access he needed. Ever so slowly, he teased his fingers along her inner thigh until he slipped his finger between her folds, quickly finding her core and working deep inside her. His thumb brushed along her clit, sending her wiggling against his hand.
“I love that you’re so wet for me already.” She arched into him as he worked his fingers in and out of her, each pump of his hand growing quicker and quicker. Her back arched, and he shook his head. “Not yet, sweetheart. I want to be in you before you orgasm.”
“I need this. Please…” Her words were breathy as her fingernails pressed into his skin, no doubt leaving marks.
“Don’t worry sweetheart, I’ll give you what you need. I’ve never disappointed you yet. Have I?” Wiggling out of her hold, he trailed a blaze of kisses down her body, while his free hand strolled along the curves of her side. Just light enough to tickle. With every touch, she arched her hips into him, demanding more. “You’re sexy when you’re impatient.”
“This isn’t impatient” A moan tore from her lips as his thumb brushed along her clit, causing her hips to lift off the bed to arch into his touch. “This is torture. Daniel, I need you inside of me, now!”
“Like this?” He slid his finger inside of her.
“Daniel.” Her eyelids flung open as she started down the length of her body at him. “You know I want your cock.”
“It’s been less than ten hours since I was buried deep inside of your warm, wet pussy. What are you going to be like when I have to travel for business?”
“Maybe I won’t let you go. I’m sure I could call in a favor and get me a pair of police issued handcuffs. I’ll cuff you to my bed and never let you go. Then I can have my way with you whenever I want.” Her lips curled into a smirk. “You know that sounds like a really good idea. Then I can torture you instead of the other way around.”
He pulled his hand away and rose up her body. Quickly grabbing her wrists, he held onto them with one hand and brought them above her head. “Mrs. Henry would love to know you have a man chained to your bed.”
“That old biddy is going to get what’s coming to her one day.”
Not wanting her to think about that woman he pumped his hips, slowly drawing his hard cock over her pussy lips. Her legs wrapped around him, but that only brought her pussy closer to his cock, allowing him to brush along her clit, making her freeze mid-motion.
“How’s that working for you?” He nipped her earlobe, sucking it between his teeth. “Are you getting what you need sweetheart?”
“Damn it, Daniel.” Her voice barely above a whisper as she begged.
He let go of her ear and arched up so he looked down at her. “I love when you beg. It’s sexy.”
“Let my hands go. I want to run them over your body. I need to feel you.”
He let go of her wrists and placed his hands on either side of her shoulders, using them to brace himself. He teased the tip of his dick along her slit before arching forward, shoving into her pussy with one quick movement. A moan echoed through the room as her core muscles stretched to accommodate his width.
Air escaped her lungs in a hiss as she ran her hands up his chest.
Staring down at her, their gazes locked, as he slowly pumped his hips, sliding his dick in and out of her core. Using one arm to keep himself leveraged above her, he brought his other hand to her breast. He groaned as his fingers found her nipples. Rolling the hardened bud between his fingers, pinching it with enough pressure to have her arching forward, he increased his pace. Each pump of his hips had him going harder and faster, stealing her breath as her climax neared. Heat coiled between her thighs, and her sex clenched around him.
“Faster!” With every pump of his hips she arched up to meet him, until their bodies were slamming off each other.
“I love how you feel wrapped around my cock. So good…so fucking good.” He pulled nearly his full length out, before slamming back into her. When he did, he sped his pace up. Their bodies rocked back and forth, each thrust gaining momentum, drawing him closer to the edge.
Letting go of her nipple, he slipped his hand between them, instantly finding her clit. His thumb brushed over the hardened bud. Sucking her lip between her teeth, she bit down, and he almost lost it. “Don’t bite your pretty lips, scream for me, Em.”
“Oh, Daniel…please…faster.”
Her legs wrapped around him, with her ankles locked together at the small of his back as he pounded into her faster, giving her what she needed. Her hands ran down his body as her eyes fluttered shut for a moment. When she looked at him again, her gaze not completely focused on him, he knew she was close. Tension had her muscles constricting around him as her orgasm neared, urging him to engage an even faster rhythm, and his eyes glazed over with his own ecstasy creeping up on him.
“Daniel!” She screamed his name as her pussy walls tightened around him, and her climax sent him over the edge.
With her core muscles tightening around his dick, he was a goner. He slammed his dick deep within her for the final time and allowed himself to follow her over the edge into bliss. Leaning forward he pressed his forehead against hers and let go. Their gazes locked onto each other, as her nails raked down his sides, and she arched into him. Their moans echoed together until she collapsed back onto the bed.
“Em…” He sucked in a deep breath before trying again. “I’m going to spend the rest of my life doing just that.”
“That was even better than shower sex.” She wrapped her arms around him, drawing her tight against her chest.
“Hmm.” He buried her face into the crook of her neck, kissing along her warm skin, up to her ear. “I might have to up my shower game.”
“I don’t know if we’ll survive that.” She let out a soft chuckle as she teased her fingers along his spine. “Merry Christmas, Daniel, my love.”
He planted one last kiss along the curve of her neck before pulling back. As much as he’d love to spend the day in bed, making love to her, they had to be at his grandmother’s soon. Next Christmas he promised himself, they’d be able to spend the morning in bed, making love until they passed out. “Merry Christmas, sweetheart.”
Chapter Thirty-One: The Past and The Future
In a matter of a few months everything had changed for Emily. The life she thought she was happy with turned out to be something she was content with. The life she had with Daniel was what m
ade her happy. Before Daniel she didn’t realize there had been things missing. One of the missing things in her life had been family. She had friends, but they weren’t family, not in the way Margaret and Hazel had become. They welcomed her into their tight-knit family without a second thought.
Everyone was excited about the upcoming wedding and just as Emily thought, Margaret and Hazel were going overboard. If she didn’t rein them in this would be the wedding of the century for Blessing. It was already becoming the most talked about event, and it wasn’t even for another couple weeks. Originally, they planned to do a summer wedding but once she found out she was pregnant, they moved it up. She wanted to be Mrs. Daniel Fitch before she had to waddle down the aisle. A Christmas proposal and February wedding seemed perfect. With Valentine’s Day, February was a romantic month. More than that it meant they could begin their lives as husband and wife sooner than expected.
“Em.” Daniel called as he came into the cabin.
“Hey hon, I’m back here.” She placed the box of wedding invites on the dresser as Daniel made his way back to the guest room that had turned into wedding central.
He shook his head at all the wedding stuff. “Are you sure this room is going to be ready when C.T. comes into town.”
“That’s two weeks after our wedding. This stuff will be gone by then.”
“Wedding presents will clutter the space then.” He came up next to her wrapped her arms around her and pulled her tight against his body. “I know the clutter is bothering you, but it won’t always be like this. By this summer the addition will be done.” Winter was holding them back. Once the snow stopped and the ground unfroze they could break ground and start building.
“Good because we’re going to need the space with a baby on the way.” She ran her hand over her still flat stomach, still finding it unbelievable she was pregnant already. They talked about kids, even considered adopting, but the fact she was pregnant within a month of being together just made sense for her. They were meant to be together, meant to have the family she always hoped for. It was more than she could have dreamed, yet it would be reality soon.
“How’d lunch with Grandma go?” His arms tightened around her as if worried what her answer would be.
“She’s coming around. I thought since she decided to stick out a winter in Blessing, rather than returning to Florida, she was accepting things, but her concerns are still there.” She turned in his embrace and brought her hand up to caress along his cheek. Mrs. Fitch was excited about having Emily as a daughter-in-law but her concerns for her son still lingered. She expected the easy-going son she sent off to boot camp and the fact was she’d never get that. Daniel had changed but she wasn’t willing to accept that. The concerns she voiced over them rushing to start a family had drawn a divide between them. He loved his grandmother, but the tension was thick between the two of them. “I know this isn’t easy for you.”
“I don’t like you stuck in the middle.”
“I know.” She didn’t like being the go between with him and Mrs. Fitch either, but that’s how things were. Keeping the peace meant right now that needed to be her role. She had faith they would work it out. With time Mrs. Fitch would see that Daniel was still the same boy she watched grow up. “We talked over lunch and I think she’s more upset that you and Hazel aren’t as close as you were as kids.”
“We talk every day. How much closer does she want us?” Daniel shook his head. “Forget it. I know where this is coming from.”
“I’ve invited Hazel over for dinner tomorrow. I think we can use this to ease Margaret off your back.” She wanted to pull back, to put a little space between them as she laid out her plan, because she knew he wouldn’t like it. That move might have made Mrs. Fitch think she was afraid of him, but that wasn’t the case. She wanted to give him a moment to think it through before he discarded the idea. “Hear me out before you say no.”
“I have a feeling I’m not going to like this.” He shifted, leaning his weight back against the dresser before pulling her back against him.
“I know your initial reaction but if you let me explain I think you’ll understand my plan.” She looped her arms around his neck. “You love me and I’m carrying your child, so you’ll give into me.”
“Confident or cocky…I’m not sure which yet.” He shook his head. “Go ahead lay it out for me and I’ll do my best to keep an open mind.”
“Mrs. Fitch knew something changed with you a couple deployments ago, but her concerns grew stronger when Hazel confided in her that you were blocking her out.” When he opened his mouth to respond she tipped her head and raised an eyebrow at him, giving him the same look she gave her students, silencing him. “At least she felt like you were. You were working through the emotions of your upcoming discharge from the Marines and uncertainties of the future. To Hazel it felt as though you cut her out. She was excited her brother might be coming back to town and you weren’t showing that same enthusiasm. That was a blow she couldn’t handle alone. She went to Margaret and eventually to me.”
“Hazel continued to push to know what happened. To know why I changed. What was I supposed to tell her?” He let out a deep sigh and his arms around her waist loosed. “She’s too innocent.”
“I don’t think Hazel would like being referred to as innocent, but I agree.”
“I don’t care if she likes it.” Daniel’s voice rose. “She is. She’s as innocent as the kindergarten students she teaches. All doe eyed and optimistic. She doesn’t know what the real world is like outside of Blessing. How could she ever understand what it was like? What we went through?”
“Daniel” She barely had time to get his name out before he cut her off.
“Damn it, Em. Don’t ask me to confide in her. It’s not going to happen.”
With the anger pouring off him she pulled her arms back from around his neck but didn’t step back. She wouldn’t back down. “You said you’d hear me out.” She reminded him.
“Fine.” He reached back on either side of him and clutched the dresser.
“I’m not asking you to talk to her about what happened overseas for two reasons. One, I agree with you, she couldn’t handle it. She might want to know but it would crush something inside of her that is pure. You can’t do that. Second…” She reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and tried not to show the effect this part had on her.
“Second?” He pressed.
“You won’t even talk to me. I’m about to be your wife but you close that part of your life off from me as well. I’ve been there, I know what happened overseas, but you don’t open to me.” She swallowed passed the lump forming in her throat. “I know you have nightmares. You’re quiet, but I feel you thrash against whatever’s haunting your dreams. When you wake, you curl against my body, clinging to me as if I’m your life raft. After the first time I know you won’t confide in me, so I do what I have to.”
“What’s the supposed to mean?”
“If the only comfort you’ll take from me is when you cuddle against me after an episode, then I’ll give you that, even if I have to pretend to be asleep to do it.” Unable to stand there without touching him, she took a step back.
He reached out, grabbing hold of her wrist and pulling her back against him. “Why…why would you lay there pretending?”
“Last time I was awake you pulled back from me. I felt you build the walls around you as if you slammed a door in my face. It hurt. So, I understand what Hazel went through.” She met his gaze. “No one wants to see their loved ones in pain and not be able to do anything. It’s my nature to want to do something when I see someone in pain. When it’s you…”
“When it’s me what?” He tipped his head forward so his chin was almost resting on his chest.
“When it’s you I want to take your pain away. To ease the torment that’s going on in your thoughts and nightmares.” She stepped back in front of her, putting her legs between his, and cupped the side of his face. “Your beau
tiful green eyes lose their sparkle and you drift back to Iraq. The agony rolls off of you in waves and I’d give anything to ease what you’re going through. If you won’t talk to me, talk to someone. Letting this go is only going to make it worse.”
“It’s nothi—”
“Bullshit! Don’t lie to me. I don’t deserve that.” Hurt he denied it she pulled her hand away and went to step back.
His arm looped around her waist, stopping her before she could move away. “I can handle it.”
“I remember thinking that once too.” She shook her head, not wanting to relive those memories. “It’s only been since I told you I was pregnant. I thought you were happy about this but now…”
“I am. Fuck, Em. I’m thrilled we’re going to have a child together.” He leaned forward pressing his forehead to hers. “It’s terrifying, too.”
“Why?” Not wanting to stop him from opening up to her she stayed still in his embrace. She needed to know what was on his mind. Why did he find having a child terrifying after everything he’d been through?
“Barrett and his damn big mouth. The night before you came to South Carolina he asked me why anyone would want to bring a child into this world, especially after everything we saw. At the time I told him Blessing was different. It was safe here and the kids could be kids, like we were when we were that age.” He slid his hand between them to press it against her stomach. “Now I’m wondering if he might have been right.”
“He wasn’t.” She leaned back more and placed her hand over his. “Our child will be raised here, where they’re safe. He or she will no doubt have two overprotective parents. Still we have to let them live, let them experience things we did. As wonderful as Blessing is we still have to show them what the real world can be like. We can’t have our child going out into the world unprepared.”
“What if I fail our child?”
The question tore at her heart, forcing her to look back up at him. “That’s what you’re worried about? My love, you’re going to be an amazing father.”
Touch of Home (Blessing Montana Book 2) Page 17
