by Ivy Jordan
“I love you, too,” I gasped, leaping into his arms.
I nearly knocked him to his back as my arms wrapped around his neck. I knew it was fast, but I felt the same way. I loved Xander.
“Wow,” he gushed, laughing as he struggled to get back on his knees.
My legs wrapped around his waist as he held me in his lap.
“I wasn’t sure what to expect, but this is great,” he smiled.
“It took you long enough,” I teased.
His eyes widened, and he smiled with that beautiful crooked smile as he shook his head.
“Took me long enough?” he exclaimed.
“I didn’t want to pressure you. I thought maybe since you hadn’t sent the letters, that you weren’t ready or you weren’t sure,” I admitted.
He stood, lifting me with him, and then tossed me onto the bed. I stared up at him, his eyes filled with passion and love, knowing I made the right choice climbing the mountain.
His hands rolled up my belly, pushing my shirt with them. The cabin had warmed with the sun and the fire, so I didn’t flinch as my flesh was exposed to the cooler air of the room. I lifted my hands, letting him pull the shirt from my body, tossing it to the floor.
He slowly pulled at my pants, sliding them down my legs as my back arched, pushing my breasts towards the ceiling.
Xander’s mouth quickly covered my breasts, one at a time, sucking at my nipple and offering gentle flicks of his tongue. I squirmed beneath him, craving every touch, every sensation.
“You’re beautiful,” he whispered in my ear, and then nibbled gently on my lobe.
I giggled as his whiskers tickled my cheek.
“Do you want me to shave, does it bother you?” he asked.
At first, I thought I might want him to at least trim his beard, but now, I wasn’t so sure. It was part of who he was, part of why I fell in love with him, and I loved how it teased my skin.
“No,” I breathed, pushing my hips against his.
I reached up, gripped his shirt, and pulled it from his body. My fingers played on the ripples of his abs, tickling his ribs gently as he squirmed.
He ripped open his pants, and I could hear his boots kicking to the wood floor as he started to stand. His strong hands pushed at the denim, exposing his chiseled hips, thin trail of long blond hairs, and then his full erection.
I fell back on the bed, unable to move as I waited for him to slide on the condom he pulled from the drawer. My body quivered and twitched with anticipation as he gripped my hips, sliding me to the center of the bed.
He lay down beside me, his hands slowly tracing the curves of my body while his eyes took me in.
It was as if I was touching him for the first time, unable to control my hands roaming along his ripped arms, his thick shoulders, and smooth chest. Our eyes never lost contact, staring deep into each other’s souls as he moved on top of me.
His warmth and his weight brought me to a height of arousal, my legs opening freely to allow him inside, and my body melting beneath him.
His lips kissed at my neck, sucking and tugging at my flesh. I arched my back, let out a soft moan, and reached between his legs.
His thick cock in my hand pulled a growl from his chest, and as I stroked him and sucked on his neck, he groaned with desire.
I guided him to my pussy, placing him at the entrance and pulling my hand away. Our eyes locked once again, holding steady as he entered me, spreading my hips and filling me with his large muscle.
“Damn, I love you,” he gasped, slowly thrusting into me, deeper and deeper with each stroke.
“I love you,” I moaned, lifting my ass from the mattress to take his deep strokes.
His hand lifted my leg, pulling it to my side as he continued to thrust. He found the spot he was looking for, the one that made me cry out his name, and he picked up the pace, creating a friction against my G-spot that made me squirt all over his cock, and my juices ran down his balls.
He chuckled with pride at his accomplishment, and I merely gasped for my breath at the powerful explosion he’d created between my legs.
He kissed me softly, searching my entire body for new spots his lips hadn’t tasted yet while still remaining inside of me. Our bodies entangled like pretzels, rolling around the bed to explore every position.
He took me from behind, with my ass high in the air, from the side, with one leg draped over his hip, and we ended with me on top, riding him like a cowgirl.
His hands cupped my breasts as they bounced with each thrust. I moaned, groaned, and even growled once as my clit grinded into his hard pelvis.
Xander took his time, making sure I’d orgasmed several times before I noticed the first flinch on his face. His eyes closed and his lips parted with a loud growl as I slid up and down on his manhood, my slippery juices plentiful, and my body glistening with sweat.
When he quit twitching, I fell to his chest, letting out bodies throb against one another as they tried to calm.
“Thank you,” he whispered in my ear.
I lifted my head, my breathing still rapid, and stared at him curiously.
“Thank you for what?” I questioned.
“For loving me, for believing in me,” he gasped.
My hand reached to his face, holding his chin as I stared into his eyes.
“You don’t ever have to thank me for that. I’m lucky you found me, so I could find you,” I smiled.
“I promise I’ll do everything the counselor says, and I’ll work hard to make sure I get myself to a place where you can have the kind of life you deserve,” he insisted.
“The kind of life we both deserve,” I corrected him.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Xander
I stared up the mountain from the parking lot below. The trees had filled in quickly as summer approached, making it impossible to see the cabin that sat at the peak. Bailey’s hand slid into mine as she leaned her head on my shoulder.
“I’m really proud of you,” she whispered.
I was proud of me, too.
It had been a long three months, but with Bailey by my side, she made the hard work worth it. I squeezed her hand gently and turned away from my secluded home on the mountain.
“You ready to go?” I smiled.
We walked to her car hand in hand, stopping at the driver’s side door for a quick kiss before I helped her inside.
“The kids are going to love you,” she said sweetly as I slid into the passenger side of her car.
It felt odd letting her drive me and not being behind the wheel of my own truck. She insisted, saying she had a stop to make before we got to the school and it was best that she drove.
It was the first time in months that I’d been down the mountain, other than a few quick trips to town for supplies. The therapist I’d been connected to insisted that I make the trips myself and not allow Bailey to bring me anything on her trips up. She was right. Bailey didn’t need to load her backpack down with water, whiskey, and other items I needed from town. I was a grown ass man, and it was my responsibility.
“Do you miss the kids?” I asked, watching Bailey’s expression turn serious as she pulled from the parking lot.
She hadn’t told me what the other stop was, and I didn’t ask. I trusted her.
“I do. It’s going to be great to see them again,” she gushed, her expression softening. “I’ll enjoy teaching online though. It’ll give me more freedom to be at the cabin more during the winter.”
I’d spent all morning running cable and finding the perfect spot for the modem in order to get a faster Internet connection at the cabin. I was amazed that she’d taken the job once the school year ended and that she’d taken it to spend more time with me. I wanted to make sure she had everything she needed.
We drove along the curvy road that took us straight into town. We passed the hardware store and the market where I purchased supplies, the only two places I’d ever stepped foot inside. Now, she had me talking to a group of ele
mentary kids about the military and what it was like being a Navy SEAL. I knew they’d all have their little hands shoved in the air, asking question after question. I was nervous, scared to death actually, but I didn’t want her to know that. I wanted to be the strong man she was so proud of.
“We’re here,” she turned the car into a small cemetery.
We drove through the large black gates and towards the back of the grounds. My heart raced, knowing what she was doing and appreciating that she wanted me there.
She turned to me, her eyes wide and filled with tears.
“I want you to meet the man that helped push me into your arms,” she chirped.
“I would be honored,” I smiled, gripping her hand in mine.
She reached in the back seat and grabbed a bundle of newspaper. When she pulled it up to the front, I noticed the wild flowers wrapped inside. They were mostly the green ones that matched her eyes, mixed with a few blue ones, wrapped in the politics section of the paper.
“He loved to gripe about the news,” she chuckled, sliding from her seat to the pavement.
I followed her, watching her approach a tall double headstone with the name Martin engraved on top. Pictures were on either side, one of her father dressed in his military blues, and another of a woman, strikingly resembling Bailey.
“Is that your mother?” I gasped, taking a step back to admire the resemblance.
She nodded with a smile, the same one the woman in the picture wore.
“Wow. You look just like her,” I smiled, moving closer to take her hand.
“And this is my father,” she motioned towards the picture of the man in military blues.
“Sir,” I stood tall, saluting the man before me, beneath me.
She introduced us, talking sweetly to her father as she started to cry. She told him how she’d followed his advice, climbed the mountain, and gone after love. It warmed my heart to hear her speak so openly to her father, as if he were still there and she’d brought me home for dinner.
I followed her lead, speaking to the man, thanking him for giving her that push. I promised I’d take care of her, that he’d never have to worry about her here, that I loved her, and I’d never leave her side.
When I turned back to Bailey, she had tears rolling down her cheeks. She knelt down, placed the wrapped flowers by the stone, and then kissed each picture before turning to me.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“Thank you,” I replied, honored that she wanted to share this part of her life with me.
I pulled her into my arms, kissing her softly on the cheek. I could taste the saltiness of her tears on my lips as she snuggled into my shoulder. I meant what I said to the man, and I was going to spend the rest of my life keeping that promise.
“Are you ready?” she asked, her bright green eyes staring up at me.
I wasn’t ready. “Yes,” I choked out, forcing a smile on my lips.
“I know this is hard for you,” she chirped.
“It’s harder thinking about not being with you,” I admitted.
My therapist thought this was the perfect opportunity to shake me out of my comfort zone. She was right. I was shaken, and I wasn’t comfortable.
Bailey drove us to the school and held my hand as we entered the front doors. There were more than a dozen men all dressed like me, in their blues, standing at attention, and ready to speak.
It was a summer camp program that the school sponsored each year, and since it was based highly on military life, they always invited veterans, and even some active duty men and women to speak about their experiences.
Bailey briefed me on what not to say before we’d left the mountainside. No talking about death if it can be avoided, no details that could scare the kids, and basically, no reality, no truth. I laughed when she gave me the list, telling her she was sheltering these kids.
“They are young. They can only handle so much truth,” she’d smirked.
I watched the kids being escorted down the hall by their teachers, recognizing Lila right away.
“Hey guys. I’m so glad you’re here,” she stopped and grabbed my hand.
She’d spent a few days at the cabin at the start of summer, and I could see why Bailey loved her so much. She was sweet, fun, and she could cook like a rock star. I was glad she didn’t bring more clam chowder when she visited though, still not wanting to admit I wasn’t a fan.
The kids all entered a large set of doors that Bailey told me led to the auditorium. I knew they were just kids, but there were so many. My palms started to sweat, and I thought about running out of there, but Bailey gripped my hand.
“You’re gonna do great,” she urged.
I smiled, took a deep breath, and calmed myself down using the brain tricks my therapist had given me. I thought about next month, Bailey and I at the cabin, and then next year, Bailey and I in town. As I daydreamed about the future, the present became less frightening. It was a stepping stone to get where I wanted to be and nothing more.
I leaned against the wall, staring in the doors at the crowd of kids. Eventually, they called in all the military men and women that had volunteered to speak.
One by one, we entered the auditorium, and one by one, we were invited to speak. We each had a small notecard that we were to read, a fact about the military branch in which we served. Mine was a quick fact about Navy SEALS making up only one percent of the Navy and a side note about the training that is required to become one of the elite members.
When it was my turn to speak, I nearly choked. I cleared my throat, read my fact, and then panicked as the tiny arms flew into the air almost instantly.
Bailey smiled from the sidelines, offering her support. I called on one of the kids, and then another, and another, until the teacher in charge excused me from my duty. It wasn’t so bad. It was actually fun. The kids had some interesting questions, and luckily, none of them included death or extreme combat.
“I’m so proud of you,” Bailey squealed, wrapping her arms around my neck and covering my face with kisses.
My hands gripped her waist, lifting her from her feet, and twirling her around.
“That wasn’t so bad,” I admitted, still beaming with pride that I’d handled myself that well. “You make me a better man,” I smiled, leaning down to kiss her gently on the lips.
Chapter Forty
Bailey
The air was crisp as Xander extended his hand to help me down the mountain.
“Snow’s coming,” he warned, looking up at the sky.
“Are you sure about this?” I questioned, wondering if he was truly ready to leave his seclusion.
“I’m more than ready,” he assured me with a warm smile.
I took his hand, carefully stepping down the jagged mountainside to the path just below. Once we made this trip into town, to my house, he may not be able to get back up this mountain once it was covered in snow and ice. This was a big move.
“It’ll be nice not having to hunt food all winter for a change,” he laughed.
His life in Molokai had to be much easier, so I knew the threat of people crowding him had sent him into the harsh environment of a Maine winter. The fact that he’d made so much progress over the last several months was amazing. Even his therapist was impressed.
Xander just laughed when she told him how he’d far exceeded her expectations. “I have good motivation,” he said, reaching for my hand.
Lila greeted us with a bundle of balloons and a bottle of wine when we pulled up in front of my house. Xander gave her a tight hug when she ran towards him. I loved seeing the friendship blooming between them. I knew it was good for Xander to start developing more relationships outside of his SEAL brothers.
“I’ll let you two get settled in,” Lila smiled, giving me a tight squeeze.
“Thank you for watching over the house,” I gushed, accepting the bottle of wine she handed to me.
“Not a problem,” she assured me and then waved as she rushed to
her own house.
Inside, Xander immediately fell to the couch. He stared around the room, and then turned his attentions towards me.
“Come here,” he growled, extending his hands outward in my direction.
I walked over slowly, letting myself get caught in his grip and pulled onto his lap. I let out a squeal of excitement as my feet lifted from the floor, and my arms wrapped around his shoulders as his eyes buried deep into mine.
“Home sweet home,” he grinned.
“Home sweet home,” I agreed.
He stretched up, pushing his mouth towards mine. Our lips met, and a burst of excitement blasted through my entire body. I loved how he made me feel so alive with his kiss.
“How about I take you out for a nice dinner?” he suggested.
My heart sang with an overflow of emotion. Xander was here, in my house, not just for a night or two, but for the entire winter, and now he wanted to take me to dinner? These were things I never thought possible, at least not so soon. He’d come a long way with his counseling, and I couldn’t’ve been more proud.
“Yes,” I squealed.
He pulled me into him, lowering me to my back on the couch, and pinning me beneath him. I giggled as he delivered quick kisses to my neck, tickling me with his bearded face.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to shave?” he asked.
I shook my head as I stared up at him.
“I love the way it tickles me,” I admitted, reaching up to kiss his beautiful lips.
“Knock, knock,” the female voice pulled us apart and sat us up on the couch.
Mrs. Lemay stood at the screen door, waving at us from my front porch. I wasn’t expecting to see Xander’s therapist here, and from the expression on his face, neither was he.
“Come in,” I called to her, rushing to the door.
“I’m sorry to bother you, but I wanted to check to see how things were going,” she explained.
“They are great. We just got home,” Xander told her, extending his hand for a polite shake.
