Craving Her Soldier's Touch
Page 16
No. Nix the war mentality. Violence was not the answer. He channeled his anger management. Ten. Inhale. Exhale. Nine. Inhale. Exhale.
Think happy thoughts. Merlene’s boyfriend standing on a tenth floor ledge facing the shooting end of Ian’s firearm. Good. Well, it worked for Ian, but his therapist probably would not approve.
He tried again. Jaci in her oversized tub. Naked. Surrounded by bubbles. Candlelight. An invitation to join her. Better.
Already feeling calmer, Ian decided one more happy thought should do it. He had survived three tours of duty in Iraq. He knew several dozen soldiers who couldn’t say the same. He had four women and seven children depending on him to be around for them. He had Jaci and Jena and the twins and Justin. He had a full life, a promising future, and no intention of wasting either by serving time in prison for manslaughter. Best.
Ian would let the law handle Merlene’s boyfriend.
The nurse returned. “The doctor wants me to clean your eyes out again before he examines you for discharge.”
Jaci felt down his arm to his hand and threaded her fingers through his. “Will you stay?”
He kissed the top of her head. “Try getting rid of me.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“WHERE’S Jena and Mandy?” Ian asked later that afternoon when he returned to her bedroom after being gone for several hours.
At the sound of his voice Jaci’s spirits lifted instantly.
She forced open her still swollen eyelids. He was literally a wonderful sight for sore eyes. “They took the babies out to give me some quiet,” Jaci said, patting the bed beside her. It hadn’t been easy to convince Jena to leave. “You were gone longer than I expected. Is everything okay at the center?”
“Fine.” He sat down and pushed her hair behind her ear. “Carla made it in as soon as her mom came over to watch her son. We decided not to tell Merlene what happened.”
“Good.”
“Which meant I had to disable the cable TV in the common room so nobody heard about it on the news.”
“Oh, man. Thank you. I hadn’t even considered that.”
“Carla broke out some board games, playing cards and books to ease the unrest. When I left a couple of hours ago, all was quiet.”
A couple of hours? If he hadn’t been at the center all this time, where was he while she lay in bed feeling sorry for herself and aching for his company and reliving the attack over and over? She shivered.
“Hey.” He climbed over her and lay down to cuddle her back to his front. “You’re okay.”
She felt on the verge of tears. “I keep seeing...”
He held her close. “I know.” He kissed the back of her head. “It will get better.”
But when? “Where have you been?” That was more important than spending time with her?
“I had some errands to run. How do you feel?”
“Better. But bored. I’m not used to lying around doing nothing.” And jumping at every noise. “My eyes start to ache if I keep them open for too long.”
“I brought dinner and a movie. I chose a romantic comedy.” He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. “I’ll keep my eyes closed and we can listen to it together.”
His thoughtfulness made her cry. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” She blotted her tears on the sheet. “I’m so weepy.”
“Traumatic day.” He squeezed her hand.
“You’ve been wonderful.” So supportive. Staying with her while the nurse treated her eyes then helping her dress to leave the hospital, paying a guy from the hospital laundry to sneak her out the back service entrance in a rolling bin so she didn’t have to face the reporters then covering at the crisis center until Carla could get there.
But she needed one more thing. “Do you think...? I mean would you...?”
“Anything,” Ian said.
“I think I’ll go absolutely crazy if I have to lie in this bed, all by myself for the entire night. I keep seeing his face. His sneer. And the knife.” She felt cold. “Will you stay with me tonight?” she asked.
“Every night,” he said.
“Good answer.”
They lay together quietly. After a while Jaci said, “When I was in that elevator, not sure if I’d make it out alive, you know the one regret that came to me?”
“What?”
“That I’d never told you I loved you.”
“I love—”
“Don’t.” She held up a hand. “You don’t have to say it just because I did.” Not if he didn’t mean it.
He cleared his throat. “When I was pinned beneath what was left of our Humvee, waiting to be rescued,” he said. “Surrounded by gunfire outside and my men, my closest friends besides Justin, all dead inside, I thought about you. How sorry I was I’d never again get the chance to see your beautiful face, or hold you, or hear your laugh. That I wouldn’t make it home to tell you, at some point during our friendship, or between us making love for the first time, me reading and rereading your letter, and fantasizing about your marriage proposal and us having a future together, I’d fallen in love with you. At least I’d thought I had.”
“Nice,” she said with what she hoped was the right amount of sarcasm.
“What I felt then is nothing compared to what I feel since getting to know the real you. I love you, Jaci and I want you in my life all day, every day until I take my last breath.”
“Nice recovery,” she teased.
“I’m serious. And I don’t want to wait to get married,” he added. “Life can be snuffed out in an instant.” He rolled off the bed.
“Where are you going, now?”
“Remember I told you I had some errands to run? Well I stopped by my safety deposit box.” He rustled through one of the bags he’d carried in earlier. “Here.” he placed something in her palm. A ring. She strained to focus on it. Silver or white gold. Vintage. A brilliant, square, princess cut diamond, at least one carat. Probably more. Delicate filigree with two baguettes. Absolutely beautiful.
“That’s an engagement ring,” he said. “It belonged to my grandmother on my father’s side. When you can see a little better you can tell me if you like it.”
Like it? She loved it, especially that his grandmother had once worn it. But, “Is that your idea of a proposal?”
He thought about it. “What would you say if I said, yes?”
“I’d say, you think, ‘Here. That’s an engagement ring. When you can see a little better you can tell me if you like it’ is a better proposal than, ‘My God that was amazing. Please say you’ll marry me?’”
He smiled then knelt down by the side of the bed, gripped the ring between his thumb and index finger and held it out to her. “Jaci Piermont, you make me happy. I love you and want to spend every day for the rest of my life with you and I want our time together as man and wife to start as soon as possible. Would you do me the honor of marrying me? And might I suggest you don’t take too long to answer or I may need some assistance getting up from the floor.”
Jaci didn’t need to take any time at all. “I’d love to wear an Eddelton heirloom.” She held out her left hand. He slipped the ring onto her ring finger and settled it at the base like it was made to be there. With absolute certainty she answered, “And I’d love to marry you.”
Ian leaned in and kissed her then stood and joined her back on the bed. “While I was out, I also had a prenuptial agreement drawn up.”
Jaci started to argue but he held a finger to her lips. “Sign it, don’t sign it. It’s completely up to you. Your money is yours to do with as you choose. If you’d like us to officially marry before your birthday so you can claim your trust or if you’d like to hold off, is completely up to you. As far as I’m concerned, by accepting my ring we’re joined together by love, respect, and honor. You are my wife in my heart as of today, and that’s all that matters to me.”
Ian almost dying in the war and the altercation with Merlene’s boyfriend really hit home the fact that each day of life was a preciou
s gift not to be squandered on indecision and delay in pursuing your heart’s desire. “What would you say to a Las Vegas wedding as soon as I can make the travel arrangements?”
“I’d say let me boot up your laptop then I’ll help you pack.” But the kiss he planted on her lips was not from a man intent on searching the Internet any time soon.
When they broke for air Jaci said, “You know how you said my money is mine to do with as I choose?”
Ian nodded.
“Well, with the first trust fund check I plan to set up seven fifty-thousand-dollar college savings accounts for the children of your men, to honor their memory and their service and dedication to our country.”
Ian’s next kiss conveyed without words just how much he liked and appreciated the idea. It was the least she could do. “And while we’re on the topic of children, maybe we could talk about babies?”
Ian rolled onto his back, taking Jaci with him to rest on his chest. “What about them?”
“I want some.” She straddled his groin.
“When were you looking to have them?” He squeezed her butt, pressed down, and rocked his pelvis up between her legs.
Ah, yes. A future filled with Ian—literally and figuratively—was a bright one indeed. “How does nine months sound?” So Jena’s babies and her babies would be close in age.
“Like we’d better get started.” He had her pajama top halfway off when he hesitated.
“Are you sure you’re up for it.”
Jaci pushed herself upright, went onto her knees, and slid his hand under the elastic of her lounge pants. He moved the rest of the way on his own, slipping along her slick folds, plunging two fingers deep inside her.
“I guess that’s a yes,” he said with a big smile.
Jaci reached down to caress his erection through his slacks. “And you’re definitely up for it.” Jaci returned his smile.
“Yes, ma’am,” Ian said, placing his hands on her hips and applying downward pressure. “Awaiting orders, ma’am,” he added with a seductive grin as he lifted his hips to meet her.
He wanted orders? She’d give him orders. “Love me,” she said, looking deep into his eyes. “Make me yours.”
And Ian did just that.
* * * * *
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ISBN: 9781460304440
Copyright © 2013 by Wendy S. Marcus
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