by Grady, D. R.
“Okay,” Ryan said, sounding disappointed.
Changing tactics, Max said, “Ryan we need to take care of your mom.”
“We do?” Max was grateful for the interest he heard in Ryan’s voice.
“Yes. It’s our job to make sure she sleeps and eats.”
“Okay,” Ryan agreed and swung his legs. “How will we?”
“We’re smart guys, we’ll figure it out.” Max hoped, as he glanced at KC’s inert form again.
Swinging KC out of the car and into his arms was one of the most satisfying tasks Max had ever done. The solid, warm feel of her, right where he wanted her. He thought she might have lost weight, which wasn’t a surprise. He and Ryan would feed her back to her normal weight.
He brushed his lips against her hair and sniffed. She’d been traveling, after living in the desert, so she didn’t smell nearly as nice as the last time, but Max didn’t care. Too thankful for her scent and the fact she lay in his arms. Right where she needed to be. Where she should be. Max figured he wouldn’t let her out of them for at least the next fifty years. After that, he might be willing to negotiate.
“Max?” she murmured, and her brow furrowed.
“I’m here,” he murmured, grateful she asked for him. Even in her semi-unconscious state.
“Home?” Her voice was little more than a sigh.
“Yeah, baby, we’re home.”
“‘Kay.” Her easy acceptance of his house being home nearly brought tears to his eyes. But this was her home. No matter the convincing he had to do. Provided he found the guts to try.
Looking down at her sleeping face, Max realized he couldn’t let this woman go. Couldn’t allow her to slip out of his life. He needed her too much. And heaven help him if she didn’t need him.
Chapter 43
KC fought her way back to consciousness, wondering where she was. She felt cool air around her, but she snuggled under enough covers to dissipate the cold. Cold? Kuwait was chilly at night. Nighttime in Kuwait? But the air smelled fresh and sweet, just like home.
With a jolt, KC realized that’s where she was. In her bed in Max’s house. Déjà vu. She’d had a similar experience to this after she and Ryan first moved here. But this was so much better, because now she was here to stay. Hopefully.
She had no desire to leave Max’s house. Instead, she wanted to move in permanently. How to convince him of that was the question, however. Did he want her to stay? Or was he looking forward to revisiting his bachelor days, carefree and kid-free?
While she couldn’t imagine Max wanting to be liberated of Ryan, there was still the possibility. These past eight months might have changed his mind about Ryan’s place in his life.
She frowned at the dark, wondering about the quiet. Then her thoughts wandered to Max’s wants, needs, and desires. Already having established her own, now she needed to figure out his, if at all possible.
Finally, the reason she awoke reasserted itself and KC gave in to nature’s call. Her bladder felt full, so the IV must have worked. Mother Nature was indomitable, regardless.
Swinging her legs from the bed, she noticed the clock read 1:30 am. No wonder it was dark and the house quiet. Max and Ryan would be asleep. She saw she still wore the t-shirt under her fatigues. But her pants were missing, as were her boots and socks. Her dog-tags swung with her legs when she exited the bed.
Max must have removed her outer wear but left the under things. KC wondered how, and what he thought as he removed her clothing. There was a water glass by her bed, and she downed the contents. Next, she padded across the floor to the door. While her bladder was insistent, she thought maybe she better check on her males.
Peeking in at Ryan, she saw him and Spuds curled up together, sleeping angelically. Smiling at the picture they made, she entered the room to bend over and kiss her son. He’d grown since she left. Max mentioned he had a growth spurt. Looked like he had at least two.
After staring at him for a few more moments, she crossed the way to Max’s room. He’d left his door open, probably so he could hear either of them. She stared at his sprawled figure, taking in the smooth, large arms and his bare chest. And her temperature started to rise.
KC backpedaled, and made for the bathroom. Max needed his sleep, not her lusting after him, and her bladder was most persistent now. When Mother Nature had been satisfied, KC wandered back into her room and thought about a shower. As soon as she thought about it, the idea wouldn’t let her alone. Traveling for nearly thirty-eight hours had left her feeling grimy.
She rifled through her nightwear draw, thankful to be able to select something civilian in nature. Tugging pajama pants and a long sleeved t-shirt from the stash, she moved on to underwear. Why she selected her most feminine pair, she didn’t know, but figured she had been in the desert so long, feeling like a woman would be wonderful.
Eagerly now, she paced down the hall, and then bypassed the upstairs bathroom because of the males who slept nearby. She didn’t want to waken them, but needed to be clean. Hurrying down the stairs, KC carried weariness with her, but also a huge relief to be home.
The first blast of the water made KC groan. Hot, fresh, with perfect pressure. She stood boneless beneath the spray for a few precious moments before selecting one of her shampoos. Even cleaning her hair felt sinful and luxurious. Conditioning would probably make the tresses fall out.
She exfoliated and then scrubbed herself down, attempting to remove as much sand as her pores could withstand. How long she remained in the shower, KC didn’t know, but was thankful the time was so late. The water heater would need time to work before the next person could shower, she figured. But oh, how wonderful she felt. She shaved her legs and finally shut off the water.
Tugging a towel from the rack, KC savored the moment. This wonderful piece of terry cloth genius was large enough to nearly wrap around herself twice.
By the time she dressed in fresh clothing, KC was feeling the effects of not eating. Food was the next necessity on her agenda. Everything sounded good too. Not feeling picky as she dumped her clothes in the laundry basket, KC folded her towel over the rack and yanked open the door.
And nearly screamed, until she ascertained who stood there. Sleepy eyed, with his hair ruffled, Max still managed a sweet smile. With an exclamation, KC launched into his arms, and relished the moment more this time than the last. This time she was alert and as she breathed him in, she concentrated on the size and strength of the arms holding her so tight. How KC enjoyed pressing against the warm width of his chest. His scent rose up and engulfed her.
She couldn’t suppress her sigh and felt him rumble. She squeezed closer and his arms tightened. “Never again,” he grumbled emphatically.
KC gurgled with laughter. “I agree.”
“Once. You can leave once. And you did. Not ever again.” He used his I’m-not-budging-on-this-one voice. The voice that usually skittered excitement down her spine, and definitely carried that effect now. Max was normally the most laid back of men, but that all-powerful male voice worked for her. He didn’t abuse the power, which helped make the moment so sensual.
Her stomach growled, long and loud and they both laughed. Max released her, and she thrilled at his grudging reluctance to do so. Unable to bear being parted from him, she took his hand to lead him into the kitchen.
When they reached the room, he helped her select a meal. Since she’d been living on military fare for the last eight months, she should have enjoyed the home cooked meal they put together from the contents of the refrigerator. But it was Max’s presence that made the meal for her. She was hungrier for his company than the wonderful food she didn’t even taste.
As she ate, KC scanned his face, drinking in every part of him. She wanted him so much and now she was here in his house. He didn’t look any different to her, if a bit sleepy. Guiltily she glanced at the clock. Two-oh-five a.m. Whoops.
“Max, I’m keeping you out of bed.”
“That’s okay. Ryan and I took
tomorrow off.” He grinned and her long asleep female hormones awoke and stretched.
“You took tomorrow off?” She blinked at him, happy to hear that news.
He looked sheepish. “Actually, we took the rest of the week off.”
KC stared, wide-eyed at him. She didn’t even care that she probably more resembled bug than woman. “You took the rest of the week off? It’s Tuesday.”
“We wanted time with you.” No apologies. Just fact. We wanted time with you. Wow.
“I’ll probably sleep a lot.”
“We expected that. But Ryan and I have been planning meals for you. And a family welcome home picnic.” He pointed to a calendar on the wall. Each block up until May 1st had a large, crudely made X in black marker. May 1st and 2nd both were circled in bright blue crayon.
KC bit her lip.
“You’ve been planning my arrival home for a while.” She rather than fighting the emotions welling in her heart KC embraced them. This man was intertwined in her soul like DNA strands. He had been there all along, and she never noticed. Not until she went to war.
“Are you going to cry?” Suspicion was uppermost in his voice.
KC smiled. “No.”
“Oh, good.” He reached over and scooped her out of her chair to hold her in his lap.
Home. That’s where she was. Savoring Max’s warmth and strength and his masculine scent wasn’t hard. She breathed him in, so thankful for him, but wanting more. Yet she didn’t know how to ask for what she wanted.
Or maybe needed. What if he didn’t want the same thing? Then she would lose everything. Except he loved her son and was willing to shackle himself to them to help raise Ryan. Could she use that toward her cause?
Her eyes grew heavy again and KC wanted to protest. But she was so tired. “Stay with you?” she mumbled when he stood up.
“Definitely, baby, most definitely.” If she had been more awake, she might have delved into how emphatic his voice sounded. And luxuriated in the strength of his arms when he easily swung her high against his chest.
She clung, not wanting to be put back in her own bed, because this was Max. They’d been apart for eight months and she needed to cuddle just a little while. A yawn interrupted her thoughts.
Max bypassed her room and padded confidently on to his. He crawled into the bed without putting her down. She smiled. What a man. Now if she could only convince him to be hers, then life would be perfect.
Still, she wrapped her arms around him, settled her head against his shoulder and hung on. For tonight, he was hers. He wouldn’t be able to untangle himself from her tonight. Then she let her mind blank as sleep arrived to whisk her off to the land of dreams.
*****
Max closed his eyes when KC folded him so close. Her arms were entwined so tightly he wouldn’t be able to work free without waking her. He breathed her scent and a surge of possessiveness undulated through him. Finally, she lay in his arms. And he loved the sensation, just as he had suspected.
Their son slept in the room across the hall. His family was whole again because his son’s mother was home – and in his arms. He couldn’t imagine life without her now. One eight month period of utter separation and he was down for the count.
Would she be upset with him when he informed her she couldn’t leave him? How would he tell her this information? The million dollar question of the century. Or maybe his life.
He tugged her closer, wondering if he would sleep any more tonight? With KC so close, her woman’s body and his man’s body were talking again. Well, his body was trying to converse, but hers appeared to have shut down.
Max tamped the images of her collapsing. That moment had scared and angered him. Because somewhere in the back of his mind, he figured the reason was exhaustion, but he hadn’t been sure. That thought hadn’t stopped him from panicking, though.
While she came around fairly easy, the moments before she roused had lasted for wrenchingly long heartbeats. He gazed down at her in the darkness, thankful for her speedy recovery. She would receive the care she needed, he and Ryan would make certain. Right now she slept easily in his arms.
Would he be able to convince her to stay with him until death did them part? With a sigh, he closed his eyes to better savor her curves melding into his body. It felt right, like her pieces completed his. He wanted the right to be her lover, and her husband. He did have an in, since Ryan was his son and they were partners.
Max smiled as he thought of that angle. How could he convince her they needed to be together, even if simply as a united front for Ryan? But then she might think he, Max Morrison, didn’t want her. And that would be false. He didn’t want her anywhere else but with him.
He wanted it all. KC and her son. He had Ryan’s love. But what about KC’s? Pondering that question was enough to keep him awake for days, not just tonight.
Chapter 44
When she awoke the next morning, KC realized something was wrong. But what? Blinking in the sunlit stream, she peered around her. No Max, that’s what was wrong. She heard Ryan giggling and a familiar masculine rumble and smiled.
“She’s awake, get her,” Max mock bellowed and suddenly the bed erupted with males.
Spuds licked her face, Ryan wriggled all over her, and Max somehow managed to work her into his arms. She rested her head against his chest, while trying to avoid Spuds’ tongue, and tickle Ryan. Who squealed and squirmed over both her and Max.
KC reveled in the family moment. How badly she wanted their little group to be a family. Dad, Mom, and son. Even the family dog romped with them. A poignant moment and one she tried to memorize. Just in case.
“We’re off all week, right?” KC ventured.
“Right.”
“No school or office all week, Mommy.” Ryan bounced all over them and then rolled with Spuds across the bed. A nice wide bed, in fact.
“This is a big bed,” KC murmured as she watched the two wrestle.
“Yeah. I like to stretch out. And now that I’ve got a kid...”
KC laughed. “Right. He and Spuds always fall off mine. This one works much better.”
“Yours isn’t even a queen, right?”
“No, it’s a double.”
“This is a king, much more family oriented.” Max sounded smug, and KC’s heart fluttered an extra beat because he mentioned the word on her mind. Family. What if Max wanted the same thing she needed? Could it be that easy?
“True,” she said inanely. How was she supposed to answer that question? Was she supposed to say something?
“Yo, Ryan, not so close to the edge,” Max ordered, and Ryan scooted closer to the middle.
“He doesn’t listen to me like that,” she said in disgust against Max’s chest.
He laughed. “I’m the Dad.” He pointed a finger at his chest.
Max in brat mode, lovely. KC curled her fingers and yelled, “Attack!” A word Ryan and Spuds both recognized. With shrieks of delight, Ryan dove across Max and helped her tickle him.
KC happened to know Max’s ribs were especially ticklish, an idle fact she picked up from Lainy and learned through trial and error. She used the information to Max’s detriment. He howled and evaded her and Ryan’s questing fingers, managing to trap her against him, and push Ryan gently away.
Spuds barked happily from his corner of the bed, making lick dives whenever someone’s face came into easy tongue access. Panting, and laughing, Max retaliated, trying for her feet and underarms and KC yelped. He was good, since he had so many siblings, she was sure.
Managing to wriggle away, she nearly made her way across the acreage of bed before he grabbed her again. One big arm around her waist and KC was effectively trapped. He performed some maneuver and somehow she lofted because when she landed, Max loomed over her.
“Hey, Ryan, maybe you’d better let Spuds out,” he suggested.
Ryan and Spuds bounded off the bed and out the door. She heard them rattle down the stairs and across the kitchen floor.
&n
bsp; Max’s eyes gleamed in the morning sun before he blocked the light with those delectable shoulders. “Hmmm, suitable punishment for that tickle-fest? Let me think.”
KC squirmed, but not too hard. She knew what he wanted. She could read the lazy sensuality in his eyes, and hoped her punishment would be a kiss. When she finally loosened her arms from his hold, she wrapped them around his neck. Maybe she’d spur that notion she could see forming behind his sexy eyes.
“Yes, I think a good morning kiss,” he mused, but before she could comment, he pressed his lips to hers, and blew any other thoughts from her mind.
KC yanked him closer, even as his arms tightened around her. She could barely breathe, but breathing was overrated. And Max Morrison’s kisses were highly underrated. They now topped her list of favorite things.
When they finally did come up for air, by mutual consent, they both sucked in some oxygen before their mouths fused again.
KC heard a groan, but didn’t know or care whether it came from her throat or his. She wanted to crawl into his skin, but as things heated up, footsteps echoed through the house as Ryan and Spuds made their way back up the stairs.
Spuds jumped onto the bed as they reluctantly parted. KC didn’t care if her needs and wants and desires showed in her eyes. Maybe they would help her broach the subject of them spending their lives together. And the answering look in Max’s eyes comforted and gave her hope.
When Ryan rejoined them, KC rolled out of the bed with Max and followed her males down the stairs. Even after her late night meal, she was hungry again. The problem was, she couldn’t ascertain whether she was hungry for food or for more Max Morrison. MMM. Delectable man.
“So what are our plans today?” KC asked around a yawn. She had been relegated to watching as Ryan and Max prepared breakfast. She could still taste Max on her lips and wasn’t sure she wanted to eat anything. Food would wipe away the delicious flavor of his kiss.
Laughing at their antics, KC could see this pair definitely had formed a family unit. And both males seemed willing to include her. Max kept sending lazy, sexy smiles at her. Which made her insides heat. Certain he knew this, she narrowed her eyes at him.
