Always a Warrior

by Patricia Bruening

  As her gaze skimmed over him, she grinned. His dark hair was tousled around his head in crazy waves. Sleep took the harsh edges of time off his face so he looked younger and a little more carefree. But when he woke, time and experience always caught up and left their marks. But, day or night, she loved the look of him.

  Ten minutes later, she looked out her kitchen window as coffee brewed, filling the room with its rich aroma. She heard movement upstairs. Damien was awake, getting ready for another job interview in Tucson. This was the second interview at Somerset Technologies. Damien had meticulously researched the company before submitting a detailed resume.

  Yawning sleepily, Stacy shuffled into the kitchen and slid into a chair. Laurie gave her apple cinnamon oatmeal and a glass of orange juice. Damien came into the kitchen dressed in black slacks and a dark blue short sleeve shirt. He'd slung a black suit jacket over his shoulder. He did not wear ties. Laurie stared avidly at him, her mouth watering at the temptation he presented. Though ruggedly handsome in jeans and Navy uniforms, Damien dressed up robbed her of breath and scrambled her pulse.

  A spark brightened his eyes as he chuckled. He snagged her hand and drew her into his arms. She slid her fingers into his still damp hair and smiled up at him.

  "Good morning.” His low husky growl stirred her senses.

  "Good morning,” she murmured. Her lips met his in a light kiss that stirred her soul as much as his hungry passion stirred her blood.

  "Yuck, kissing!” Stacy squealed with a child's disgust as she shoved her chair away from the table.

  Laurie's laughter mingled with Damien's as Stacy darted out of the kitchen. Laurie handed Damien a steaming mug of coffee, refilled her mug, and followed him into the living room. Settled in the corner of the sofa, she sipped her coffee as she listened to reports of Middle East upheaval.

  "Typical,” Damien commented from his favorite recliner.

  "In National News today, Nathaniel Crawford was indicted by a grand jury on multiple counts of treasonous behavior. He stands accused of supplying top secret weapons technology to terrorist groups around the world,” the news anchorman announced.

  Laurie set her mug on the end table with a loud clatter as her feet hit the floor, her startled stare riveted to the television screen as the announcer continued his story.

  "Crawford was apprehended in Mexico six months ago by military special forces. According to official sources, Crawford was a willing traitor after his disappearance a number of years ago. As a physicist and weapons specialist, he had top level access to secret weapons research. These revelations may have far-reaching implications on national security and terrorist policies."

  Laurie gaped, stunned speechless, at the black and white picture of her father in handcuffs. Familiar unanswered questions returned to plague her and disrupt her happiness. Heart pounding, she glanced at Damien and caught his intense scrutiny. Uncomfortable with that scrutiny, she averted her gaze and picked up her coffee. Feigning calm she did not feel, she sipped her coffee and carefully set the mug down.

  "Why did he do it?” she wondered aloud. She did not expect an answer. Only a slight tremor in her voice betrayed her nerves. She sucked in a deep breath and offered Damien a bright smile. “You'd better get going or you'll be late."

  "Laurie,” he began, his gaze holding hers as he reached for her hand.

  "Go on.” She waved aside his concern though her heart ached. “You need to keep your appointment."

  His eyes narrowed. “Are you sure?"

  "Honestly, Damien,” she assured him. “I'm fine. Get going. I'll look forward to something to celebrate tonight."

  She quite honestly preferred to be alone. She also did not want to be a whining ninny unable to handle news that did not directly affect her. Her only connection to Nathaniel Crawford was purely biological. Except for pictures, she had never laid eyes on him. She refused to allow him to have any further impact on her life.

  "Okay,” Damien agreed reluctantly. He kissed her gently but with plenty of heat, then left her alone with the ominous newscasts.

  "Biology,” she muttered as, after Stacy left for school, she exiled herself to her office with a second pot of coffee.

  Reluctant to ponder her father's indictment, the coming trial and conviction, she pondered another unexpected but natural growing development. After a while, she managed to immerse herself in her story. Her fingers flew over the keyboard as her fictional story continued.

  The persistent growling and rumbling of her stomach finally stopped her just before noon, reminding her none too quietly to eat. She rolled her chair back from the desk and stood up, groaning at the aches in her back and shoulders. She stretched, back and forth, side to side, until the aches eased.

  In the kitchen she fixed two tuna fish sandwiches to take back to her office. Her story was going well and firmly pushed all problems from her mind. Plate in hand, she turned from the counter. Damien lounged in the doorway. Her jaw dropped. She nearly screamed but shock rendered her speechless. She barely managed no to drop her lunch as she found her voice.

  "Christ, Damien,” she exclaimed, her heart pounding against her ribs. “Don't sneak up on me!"

  A mischievous grin twitched his lips and his eyes twinkled with a mix of amusement and satisfaction.

  "Where are we going for dinner?"

  It took a moment but realization dawned and a flood of pleasure rushed through her at the implications of his light-hearted question.

  "They hired you!” The plastic plate clattered on the counter as he strode across the room and pulled her into his arms. Her arms went around him in a fierce congratulatory hug. When she loosened her embrace, he put a finger under her chin and tilted her head so her excited gaze met his.

  "You're looking at the new computer systems analyst at Somerset Technologies.” He grabbed her up in a bear hug and twirled her around. Her feet left the floor and her breath caught as the room spun before he set her on her feet again.

  "Hungry?” He nodded toward the plate on the counter.

  "Starving,” she stated impishly as she raked a glance over him and met his gaze again. “But not for food—not anymore."

  The abrupt flare of desire in his dark eyes thrilled her. She slid her hands to the back of his neck and tangled her fingers in his silky black hair. She teased him with light nibbling kisses along his jaw until her mouth settled firmly on his. She savored the flavor, the heat, as his lips moved over hers. His arms tightened around her as he deepened their kisses, his tongue darting past her lips.

  Pure sensual pleasure washed over her, wrenching a low groan from her throat. She pressed even closer, molding her body to his until it would take a crowbar to pry them apart. His erection pressed into her, scorching her with the primitive fire of desire. She squirmed against him in heightened anticipation. With a low, drawn out moan, he backed her up into the wall and dragged his mouth down her throat to the low neck of her T-shirt.

  He shoved a hand under the cotton to cup her breast then groaned his delight at finding her braless. He pushed the shirt above her breasts, fastened his mouth to one nipple, and sucked ravenously. Anticipation exploded into mind-numbing need. The tug and release of his mouth shot straight to her loins.

  "Damien!” She arched her back, offering more. An adrenaline rush of desire surged in her blood.

  "Upstairs,” she croaked raggedly and tried to push him away.

  He merely gripped her waist, dragged her into the fire of his arousal, and switched his attention to her other breast. Desperate need clawed into her gut. Her head fell back and she dropped her hands to his belt.

  "Stacy?” he muttered against the moist skin of her breast.

  "Spending the afternoon with her friend.” She fumbled with his belt and finally released the catch. She yanked his shirt from the waistband of his trousers and unbuttoned it as fast as trembling fingers allowed. Craving flesh on flesh, she flattened her hands on his bare chest.

  "Then why move?” he growled aroun
d her nipple.

  He hoisted her onto the counter, unfastened her jeans, and pushed denim and her panties down to her ankles. Moving between her thighs, he took her mouth in another ravishing kiss that stole her heart all over again.

  Frantic now, she freed him from his clothes then wrapped her hand around his erection. She swallowed his harsh groan as he pushed her hand away and pulled her to the edge of the counter. He thrust hard into her and her muscles automatically contracted around him.

  Reality faded to a kaleidoscope of passion that exploded into brilliant sensation around them. Her heart pounding hard, she slumped in his arms, needing support. He trembled, breathing as harshly as she, but held her in a fierce embrace.

  "I love you,” he murmured in her ear.

  "Love you,” she mumbled against his throat. Her heart gradually slowed and she sighed, deeply content in his arms.

  * * * *

  Laurie adjusted her alarm clock to get up with Damien. Since he worked in Tucson, he drove an hour and a half to get to his office and another hour and a half to get home. The three hour daily commute didn't bother him.

  "Unwind time,” he had told her the previous night.

  She groaned at the two hour earlier than usual wake up time, shut off the steadily buzzing alarm clock, and forced her body out of bed. Get used to it, she ordered as she pulled on a thick terrycloth robe.

  Early dawn was a thin line of dull silver on the eastern horizon, barely visible in the kitchen window. Laurie yawned as she waited for the coffee to finish. A few minutes later, she carried two mugs of coffee into the living room and turned on the very early morning news. Steam curled in thin streams from her mug as she lifted it to her lips. Damien's mug sat next to the recliner he preferred.

  A snicker escaped her. That recliner had been ‘her’ chair before Damien had appropriated it. She could not bring herself to mind. She loved having him in her house, in her life. If the very existence of their love stunned her, it was hardly a surprise. Except for Stacy, no one had ever loved her until Damien had battled his way into her life and into her heart.

  She looked up as he came downstairs, fresh from an early morning shower. His damp hair gleamed in the lamplight and his eyes sparkled with anticipation. He wore a crisp white shirt and dark blue slacks that did nothing to hide that superb male physique. Though totally oblivious to it, he radiated sheer masculine sex appeal. But she noted the slight tremor of his fingers as he picked up his coffee.

  "Nervous?” She kept her tone light but smiled encouragement despite the strong urge to go back to sleep.

  He grinned sheepishly. “I haven't worked as a civilian in twelve years. I'll have to get used to it."

  "Somerset has government contracts,” Laurie teased. “Just think of their nasty supervisors as nasty military commanders."

  He chuckled then linked their fingers across the small space over the table between the end of the sofa and the chair. The newscast went on and, relieved there was no mention of her father, Laurie gradually relaxed muscles she had not realized were tense. She only had one problem to deal with and decided it shouldn't really be a problem, only an unexpected surprise.

  At the end of the news reports, she gave Damien a smoldering kiss at the front door, wished him a good first day, and went upstairs to get dressed. Her lips tingled pleasantly and she knew she would think of him all day. Several minutes later, ready to face the day, she carried her second cup of coffee onto the back porch and watched the morning sky brighten.

  After Stacy left for school, Laurie settled into the corner of the sofa with yet another cup of coffee. But she couldn't concentrate on the women's talk show she watched every weekday. Sometimes she acquired good ideas for plot twists or characterization from the show. Today, however, it didn't hold her interest. Her mind consistently wandered to the home pregnancy test she had used earlier. The result had been positive. She was pregnant, about six weeks along by her best calculations.

  She didn't question that she had to tell Damien. But how would he take the news? She knew he would not run from the responsibility. After all, their wedding was only a few days away. But he had just started a new job, a totally new life. He had enough adjustments to make. What would another, unexpected, change do to him? To escape the ever-present confusion circling her mind, she concentrated meticulously on housework.

  As late morning became early afternoon, she entrenched herself in her office to continue working on her current manuscript. She didn't get much done. She stared into space, ignoring the cursor blinking in the middle of the page of text depicted on her screen. Her mind whirled like a tornado around Damien and the baby. She finally turned off the computer she had not touched in two hours, leaned back in her chair, and stared pensively at the ceiling.

  "Hi, Babe,” Damien said from the open door.

  Startled, she flinched and gaped at him. Blood drained from her head in a dizzying rush. Guiltily she shifted her gaze to stare at the keyboard in front of her. She had been unaware of the passage of time and had not heard him come home.

  "Sorry. Were you busy? I didn't mean to startle you."

  "No,” she responded in a monotone, unable to prevent her gaze from meeting his.

  His eyes narrowed and she squirmed under his intense scrutiny. He knew her too well, read her too well, not to realize something was wrong.

  "Are you okay? What's wrong?"

  "Nothing nine months won't cure,” she muttered under her breath. How was she supposed to tell him to prepare for yet another major change in his life?

  She had not intended for him to hear but Damien had sharp ears. He turned pale and gaped at her in disbelief as he evidently took in her apprehension. He staggered and reached for the door frame as though he had been sucker punched. “Are you pregnant?"

  Laurie nodded slowly but could not force a single word past the ache in her throat. She had not meant to blurt it out like that. He didn't seem pleased. He looked shocked, hurt, and trapped. Well, she wasn't exactly ecstatic over the news, either. She had never considered having another child.

  He raked the fingers of both hands through his hair as he darted wild glances around the office. He looked at everything but her. Dejected, she stood and trudged to the window overlooking the back yard. She stared, seeing nothing though the film of tears blurring her vision. Her arms wrapped tightly around herself.

  "Christ,” Damien muttered behind her.

  His hands trembled on her shoulders. She stood, tense and rigid, and struggled to blink back the tears. He turned her to face him.

  "Not again,” he said flatly, his eyes dark with a mix of anger, bitterness, and pain.

  She glanced up at him, puzzled. Realization struck with the force of a sledgehammer. She wanted to kick herself. He already had two children he obviously never saw. Hurt and even ashamed, she dropped her gaze to his chest.

  "Let's sit down,” he suggested. He took her hand and urged her toward the sofa.

  Laurie sat beside him and twisted her fingers together as she stared at the floor, convinced everything was about to fall apart. All she could think of was that he was so upset about the pregnancy she wondered if he might leave her. Anger and hurt fought inside her with no clear victor.

  "Damn it,” he muttered harshly. “This isn't easy."

  His bleak tone put an ache in her heart, but she didn't look at him. She kept her gaze riveted to the floor. It hurt. How could he be angry and upset about any result of their love? She didn't understand it.

  "I know,” she agreed tersely, confused. “I never thought about having another baby but it's done."

  She winced at the pain and anger that turned her voice hard and cold but did not apologize. His reaction, despite her clumsy delivery of the news, hurt.

  "I never thought about having kids at all,” Damien admitted bluntly. “But I did. I married my ex-wife because she was pregnant. A year later, we had another one."

  Calm strength suddenly infused her and she turned her head, looked into his
eyes. There really was no problem here. She was not trapping him into something he did not want. Anger and pain had no place here, at least not over a baby their love had produced.

  "Damien,” she said serenely. “We're already getting married."

  That gentle reminder startled him into thoughtful silence. He stared at her until, as though everything had been rearranged in his mind, his face cleared and brightened. He smiled at her with genuine warmth and love. The sparkle lit his eyes and he reached for her, drew her into his arms.

  "I love you. I will marry you. I want a family.” He stopped and looked deep into her eyes. “This family. If that means I get more than I bargained for then.... “He paused a moment then murmured. “I guess I'm luckier than most men."

  "I didn't intend to hurt you,” she muttered as she buried her face in the curve of his neck and shoulder. “Or to bring back painful memories or make things harder for you."

  "Shhh.” Damien rocked her slowly in his arms. “It's okay. It just surprised me."

  He stilled, put a finger under her chin and tipped her head up.

  "This baby is part of you, part of us,” he said softly. “I'm sorry I reacted the way I did. It was knee-jerk, a part of something I thought long buried. I love you, Stacy, and our baby."

  He flattened his hand on her abdomen in a protective, tender gesture that brought more tears, of joy this time, to her eyes. Blinking rapidly, she slid her arms around his neck and snuggled closer.

  "She didn't deserve you,” Laurie commented, her lips grazing the heated skin of his throat. “Your ex-wife, I mean."

  "What makes you say that?” Damien enquired, his tone tinged with amusement.

  "She let you get away, didn't she?” Laurie teased, then pulled back a little and looked up at him. “Tell me about her. What happened?"