by Ivy Jordan
“Aren’t you getting too big for trick-or-treating?” Aiden teased Holly.
“I’ll never be too big for free candy,” she grinned, a perfect smile at least for now.
“You better be glad your mom works in a dentist office,” he joked.
“Not forever though,” I reminded them. “I’ll be starting school next fall,” I gushed.
I was finally on track to start school. I’d saved enough, that by next year, I could afford to take the time off. I’d keep my second job, the one at night, maybe even bump it up a couple more hours to earn enough to keep my bills paid. Now that Liam was in the picture, Holly had her dad to hang out with, releasing me of the guilt from leaving her with my mom so much.
Holly ran to a costume, gripping it with clenched fists. Her teeth were grinding as she pleaded for me to buy it for her.
“What is it?” I asked.
“A Navy SEAL,” she exclaimed, her voice reaching a higher pitch than I’d ever heard.
I laughed.
“Really?” I questioned.
Aiden shot me a look.
“What’s wrong with that costume?” he sneered.
“Nothing. I just thought she’d pick a princess, or even a zombie,” I chuckled.
“Please,” Holly begged, still gripping the costume.
“Of course,” I agreed.
I thought it was sweet that she wanted to honor her father by wearing his uniform. I knew maybe a little had to do with Aiden, but Liam was the main reason. After all, she hadn’t wanted to be a Navy SEAL on any of the past Halloweens.
“Are you sure you want to dress up for the carnival?” I asked.
She nodded, bouncing in her spot.
“It’s not a Halloween-themed carnival,” I reminded her.
“I don’t care. A lot of the kids are dressing up. There are free candy booths,” she argued.
“Okay,” I backed down and took the costume from her clenched fist.
I paid for it, and we made our way to the nearest McDonalds. I was starving.
Holly took off in the play area; even though she was much bigger than any of the other kids in there, she still seemed to enjoy herself.
“So, things are going really well with you and Liam?” Aiden queried.
“Yes. I don’t think they could get any better,” I gushed.
“No word from Bruce?” he asked.
I shook my head.
Holly ran back to the table every so often to grab a bite of her burger or to shove a few fries in her mouth, but for the most part, she stayed in the play area, leaving me with Aiden to talk.
“I’m really happy for you both,” he smiled.
“Thanks,” I replied.
I couldn’t help but hope that Aiden would find love. It was hard in such a small town. Everyone knew everything about everybody, and bringing someone new into the mix was usually overwhelming to them. I knew he would though. He was a great guy: handsome, patient, and kind.
“The carnival is all ready?” he asked.
“Yup, thanks to Liam, Holly, and my mom,” I laughed, realizing I’d done very little to plan the carnival I’d pleaded to have for so many months.
“How’s the…” he rubbed his belly to mimic the area where I had my surgery.
“So much better,” I smiled.
I couldn’t wait until I had my next evening with Liam. I was ready to make love. I missed his touch, his feel, his taste. I knew I was okay to go through with it, even without asking my doctor first.
“You don’t think he’ll leave again, do you?” I asked.
“No way,” Aiden shoved his arm around me, pulling me towards him.
“I’m really falling hard,” I admitted.
“You never got up,” he laughed.
“True,” I confessed.
“I think I want a Winter Wonderland wedding,” I blurted out like a silly school girl.
Aiden choked on his pop, spewing it across the table.
“What now?” he questioned, his eyebrows lifting high on his forehead.
I guess it was a little soon to be talking like that, but it’s all I could think of.
“Not this winter,” I laughed.
“You getting married?” he asked, looking at my hand for a ring.
“He hasn’t asked, but a girl can dream, can’t she?” I laughed.
Aiden cleared his throat and looked a little relieved. He smiled and gripped my hand in his.
“Alyssa, you deserve all of your dreams to come true,” he said sweetly.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Liam
I prepared a chef’s salad for Alyssa, ready to spend some alone time with her on her half-day. Since her surgery, and then both of us going back to work, time together had been scarce.
My phone rang, vibrating across the table as I finished the salad. I picked it up, seeing Xander’s name across my screen.
My heart sank, fearful he was in another jam. I couldn’t leave now, not with my plans to ask Alyssa to marry me less than a week away.
I slid my thumb across the screen and answered.
“Hey, wild man,” I greeted my old friend.
“Hey, man. I just wanted to say thanks again for everything,” Xander sounded humbled.
“No problem. That’s what we do,” I chuckled, not used to his overly sentimental demeanor.
I put him on speaker so I could set the table.
“You sound good,” I noted.
“I am. I’m great,” he boasted.
I was more than glad to hear that.
“I just can’t thank you enough. You saved my life,” he exaggerated.
“I wouldn’t go that far,” I laughed.
“No, I’m serious. I know how important your daughter and Alyssa are to you. It means the world to me that you came to my side when you were just getting things together there,” he gushed.
“You’re family, brother,” I smiled.
“How are things going with the ladies in your life?” he asked.
“They are amazing. Holly is just incredible, and Alyssa, man, I feel like I’m nineteen again,” I boasted.
“That’s good. Sounds like you might need to settle down there, let them make an honest man outta’ ya,” he roared.
I was about to tell him the good news when I looked up. Alyssa was standing in the doorway of the kitchen, still wearing her scrubs and a smile smeared widely across her face.
“Hey, man, Alyssa just walked in. Can I call ya back?” I asked.
“Of course; tell her I said hello. I can’t wait to meet her, maybe at your wedding,” he chuckled.
“Maybe,” I laughed, realizing that may be truer than he realized.
“I’m sorry,” I apologized for being on the phone when Alyssa arrived.
She shook her head.
“No. I’m sorry that I freaked out so badly when you left,” she sighed, taking a seat at the table.
“I understand,” I smiled, leaning in and kissing her cheek.
“I didn’t realize how close you guys were, that you considered one another family,” she confessed.
“Some of us, that’s all the family we have. They tell you when you leave, cut ties, so your head is in the game and keeps you and your brothers safe,” I explained.
“Is that what you did?” she asked.
It was the first time we’d spoken about me leaving without any bitterness between us.
“No, I mean, not really. I didn’t plan to anyway, but then your brother died, and I saw how it affected you. I knew you wouldn’t be able to handle four years worrying about me, not with that on your heart,” I admitted.
Alyssa sighed, her thoughts drifted, and to me, it was obvious they had wandered to that day when she found out about her brother.
“He wasn’t in long enough to create those bonds, the ones like you and Aiden have, and Xander,” she lamented.
“I’m sure he did. It doesn’t take long. Hell, most of us had bonded before we were out of boot camp,” I smiled, o
ffering her some peace and comfort.
“I would really like to meet Xander one day,” she stated.
“That would be great,” I agreed.
“Maybe on our wedding day,” she chuckled.
My cheeks burnt red, and I was afraid my intentions were splattered all over my face.
“You hungry?” I asked quickly, placing the salad on the table.
“I’m starved. This looks great,” Alyssa beamed, reaching for the salad forks and scooping a large helping onto her plate.
I sat down beside her, made my plate, and stared into her eyes. She was absolutely beautiful. Even though everyone said Holly looked just like me, I could see her in her mother.
We talked about work, mainly mine since I’d just started. I felt like I was domineering the conversation, so I steered it back to Alyssa.
“How are you feeling?” I asked.
“Great,” she said calmly.
“So, going back to work hasn’t been a problem?” I questioned.
She shook her head.
“In fact, I’m completely healed,” she coughed.
“Really?” My interest was quickly piqued.
“Yup. I could exercise if I wanted, take a bubble bath, even have sex,” she flirted.
My cock twitched against my jeans. Oh God.
It felt like it had been so long. I suddenly wasn’t hungry for a salad anymore.
“So, if we wanted to, say, try it out in the bedroom for once, that would be approved?” I queried.
Her smile widened, and her cheeks burnt pink.
“Yup,” she beamed.
I quickly pushed the chair back, standing at the table. I moved towards her, my hand extended.
“Would you like to go to the bedroom and find out if we are as good in a bed as we are everywhere else?” I smirked.
“I would,” she agreed, taking my hand.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Alyssa
Liam led me down the hallway towards his bedroom. As I entered, my heart skipped a beat. Candles were lit, the bed was pulled down in anticipation, and red rose flower petals were sprinkled on the floor.
“You weren’t expecting this or anything?” I teased.
“No, not at all. I keep my room like this all the times,” he chuckled, pulling me into his strong arms.
“I see,” I laughed.
My head fell back against my shoulders as Liam’s mouth engulfed the flesh of my neck. His teeth sunk into the soft skin, barely nipping me, causing me to squeal with delight.
We swayed back and forth as if we were dancing at the edge of the bed. My hands explored his strong back while his explored my hips.
Our mouths met, our lips pressed together, and my eyes closed to fireworks behind my eyelids.
His hands slid my shirt up. I lifted my arms to help him remove it, watching him toss it on the floor by our feet. He reached behind me, gently unlatching my bra, and then let it fall to the floor with my shirt.
My breasts pushed forward as my back arched. His mouth lowered, sucking the soft flesh of my left breast, biting gently at the sensitive skin, and then his tongue circled my nipple, teasing it until I moaned. He repeated the process on my right breast, slowly taking his time to tease me properly.
His lips clasped around my left nipple, tugging it from my breast, causing me to moan again, and then he moved to my right.
My flesh was so tight, so swollen, that it ached when his mouth pulled away. I yearned for more.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” he whispered.
“You won’t,” I assured him.
“Get on the bed,” he ordered.
I moved to where the sheet was drawn down and laid on top of it. I didn’t want to be covered, not yet. The look in Liam’s eyes told me there was plenty more exploration to be done.
I watched as he pulled his t-shirt from his thick chest and then undid his pants with one pull. He shifted as he kicked off his boots, and then bent over to slide his jeans from his body.
His cock was magnificent, hard, and ready. My body tingled at the sight of his manhood, and my arousal slicked against my panties.
Liam stood before me, nude and proud, and I took in the beauty of his form, savoring his image.
He bent towards me, removing my shoes, and then the thin socks I wore. His hands massaged my feet, rubbing gently between my toes, squeezing my heels, and then ran up my legs, his fingers digging into the flesh of my calves.
I let out a moan as his hands gripped my scrubs. My body lifted, allowing him space between me and the bed to slide them down, slowly removing them from my body and adding them to the pile on the floor.
A single finger slid between my legs, pushing the satin of my panty into my fold. He drug it across, slowly, precisely, stopping at my clit to flick it with a gentle greeting each time. My body jolted with each flick and arched with each stroke. Moans rolled from my throat, and my eyes were heavy, but I couldn’t close them, fearful I’d miss something.
Liam’s mouth lowered between my legs, his hands pushing them apart at the thighs. He sucked the satin of my panty, pushing his tongue between the crease he’d created, and then gently sucked my clit between his lips, tugging until I cried out with pleasure.
A quick jerk and my panties were down, my pussy exposed, vulnerable to his mouth, his eyes, his touch.
I arched my back, pushing my cunt towards his mouth as he let his tongue glide between my folds and into my hole. My arousal flowed freely, vigorously, readying my tight entrance for his large member.
He slid up the bed, his mouth tracing my hips, my breasts, and then my neck. I could feel his cock pressing against my leg as our mouths met again.
The muscles in his arms were bulging as he held his weight above me.
“Roll to your side,” he instructed and then slid behind me.
His cock rested in the crack of my backside, teasing me with twitches and an occasional throb.
His hands roamed across my breasts, squeezing them gently, and then moved between my legs.
My hips rocked against his thumb, strategically placed on my clit. With each rock, the hood slid back, eventually giving him full access to my sensitive pearl. He lifted my leg, gripping it tightly in his hand by my thigh. He pushed into me, his cock finding its way into my pussy without hesitation or any guidance from my hand.
He was gentle, slow, and sensual. His mouth kissed the back of my neck, his thumb continued to circle around my pearl. My moans grew louder with each stroke, his grunts deeper each time my pussy throbbed.
“I love you,” he whispered in my ear.
My body tensed and then released. My orgasm building so quickly I was losing control.
“I love you,” I gasped, reaching behind me and gripping onto the hard flesh of his hip, and then my fingers dug into his backside.
He pushed into me harder, deeper, and abruptly pulled his thumb from my clit, causing it to spasm out of control.
My eyes closed tightly, and my body began to erupt with pleasure. I pulsated around him, squeezing his cock with my cunt as my orgasm washed over him like a warm bath.
“Oh God,” he called out, and then pushed into me deep, holding his position as his body tensed.
His hands clasped around my breasts, squeezing them as his cock exploded inside of me.
My breathing was sporadic, my heartbeat wild, and I’d never been more satisfied in all my life. He said he loved me.
I wiggled against him, making my way to my back in his arms. Liam’s hand slowly moved to my incision, tracing it with one finger. It was hideous to me, something I wasn’t sure I’d ever get used to, and I hated him touching it, even looking at it.
“You’re beautiful,” he whispered.
“Except the scar,” I said quickly.
“The scar only adds to your beauty,” he smiled, turning his shoulder towards me so I could see his battle wound.
My hand reached for it; my fingers ran over the slick, raised skin. It was large, viciou
s looking, and even though I’d noticed it before, I hadn’t said anything.
“How did you get that?” I asked.
“An explosion overseas,” he said, not adding any more detail.
I knew one day we’d talk about his time overseas, but not today. Today, we’d said ‘I love you,’ and that’s what I was holding on to.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Liam
The carnival was all set up, and Aiden was working the booth where I’d hidden a special prize for Alyssa. She and Holly would be arriving any minute, and I was trying to finish getting dressed, fussing over everything, down to the length of the hair on my head. This was a special night, and I didn’t want anything to ruin it.
Headlights shone through my front window, so I rushed to grab my jacket. As I opened up the door, I noticed a truck in my drive, not Alyssa’s car.
I stepped out, blinded by the headlights, unable to make out who was inside the truck, or even what color it was.
Suddenly, the lights went out, and it was clearly Bruce.
What the fuck was he doing here?
The truck door opened, and Bruce nearly fell out, catching himself with the side mirror.
He didn’t look as big standing as he had sitting in the truck that day when Aiden and I ran him off from Alyssa’s work.
“What are you doing here?” I demanded, taking a step further onto my porch.
“You think you’re something else, don’t ya, boy?” Bruce yelled.
“Go home,” I growled and took the step from my porch to the sidewalk.
He wasn’t backing down; that much was obvious. I didn’t want to fight, especially not tonight.
“You ain’t nothin’,” Bruce slurred, taking another step towards me.
“You don’t get back in that truck and leave, you won’t be nothing,” I warned.
“Is that a threat?” Bruce growled.
“Yes, it is,” I smirked.
“What are ya gonna do? Put sugar in my gas tank?” he glared at me.
“Fuck off,” I snarled.
While he turned to point to his gas tank, I slipped the phone from my pocket and dialed 911. I pushed it behind my back so he couldn’t see and let him keep rambling while the dispatcher listened.
“You just come back here, think you can take Alyssa without a fight? You’re full of shit,” he shouted.
