“I’ll take your daughter and put her in the bassinet,” Megan said softly, leaning down and scooping up the tiny bundle. “I’ll be here all the time, Tahira. I won’t leave until Jabbar arrives, so you can relax and go to sleep.”
A trembling smile touched Tahira’s lips. “Thank you, my good friend. I know my daughter is in loving hands.”
Luke watched the new mother quickly fall asleep. He rolled the bassinet to her bedside. Just by the way Megan held the baby, he knew she would be a good mother. The tenderness in Megan’s face as she nestled the sleeping baby told him everything. He wanted so badly to be alone with Megan. Luke stilled his impatience. Two more hours.
* * *
“It’s over,” Megan whispered. They stood outside Tahira’s room. Khalid had just escorted Gholam to his wife’s private room. Two Marine guards were posted outside the door.
Luke wanted to slip his arm around Megan and pull her close, but he couldn’t. “They’re bringing in another bed so they can stay together.” He smiled down at her. “You don’t have to babysit anymore.”
Rubbing her face, Megan said, “All I want is a hot shower and bed. I’m so tired, Luke.”
“Would you like to go somewhere with me where we’ll be alone? No prying eyes?”
Slowing her step down the hall, Megan said, “Yes...but where?” Bagram was a big base, but there were no facilities for privacy. Especially between lovers.
Luke placed his hand beneath her elbow. “Follow me,” he said enigmatically.
Stymied, Megan trusted Luke with her life. They took the exit stairs down to the first floor. He led her out the rear exit door. The early-evening sun almost blinded her and she held up her hand to shade her eyes. As they moved down the few concrete steps, there was a car and driver waiting for them.
Halting, Megan eyed him quizzically. “Luke, what’s going on?”
He smiled. “Khalid is giving us the guest bedroom at their villa outside Kabul. It’s completely safe and guarded. He knows we love each other. They won’t be home until tomorrow evening. There’s a housekeeper who will show us the room and cook for us.”
The words fell gently upon her dizzied senses. If not for Luke’s hand on her arm, Megan wasn’t sure she could stay upright. Now that the crisis was over, the adrenaline was leaving her system. “That’s so kind of them....” Even her words were slurred.
Luke opened the door to the beat-up green Toyota Land Cruiser and urged her in, “Climb in....”
Megan remembered sitting in the backseat, snuggled up in Luke’s arms after they drove outside Bagram’s gates, heading toward Kabul. The sense of love radiating from him, his arms around her, lulled her to sleep for the first time in two days.
Luke pressed a kiss to Megan’s soft red hair. She slept hard for an hour before the driver drove carefully down one of the few paved roads near Kabul. “Hey,” he whispered against Megan’s ear, “we’re here. Time to wake up....”
Megan heard Luke’s voice and felt his lips against her hair and cheek. Lifting her head, she sat up, disoriented. She saw the Toyota was parked on a red-tiled plaza. A two-story home rose above them. Blinking and rubbing her eyes, she noticed the ten-foot-high wall around the estate, concertina wire on top of it. Grim-looking Gurkha Indian guards stood attentively nearby with rifles.
“Okay?” Luke asked as he threaded his fingers through her hair. It was silky and he wanted to continue touching her, but Megan’s eyes were drowsy. He understood the depth of her exhaustion.
The driver opened the door.
Luke guided Megan out of the vehicle. A guard nodded and gestured for them to follow him to the front door. As he wrapped his arm around Megan’s waist, she leaned against him. Birds were singing. The sky was turning a darker blue as the sun began to set in the west.
The door opened and a housekeeper with a grotesque scar on her face bowed and stepped aside. The sentry left and returned to his duty.
Megan looked around the quiet, beautiful home. It was filled with antiques and colorful Persian rugs covered the white-tiled floors. A small woman with a white apron around her waist gestured for them to follow her down another hallway. They were shown a suite. Megan thanked the housekeeper in Pashto.
Inside the suite, Megan stood in shock. There was a colorful American quilt on the large bed and a nearby American rocker. The decor was decidedly 1930s Americana. Luke shut the door behind them and his hand slid around her slumped shoulders.
“You’re in culture shock,” he said, looking down into her half-closed eyes. “At this point, Megan, you need some serious sleep.”
Frustrated, Megan lifted her hand and grazed his cheek. “But I want to love you, Luke.” Her voice fell into a hush, laden with emotions. “After I was kidnapped the only thing I regretted was not telling you that I love you, Luke.” She drowned in his green-and-gold eyes, felt her love being returned tenfold. His hands slid from her shoulders upward and framed her face.
“Listen,” Luke whispered, leaning down and brushing her lips with his, “you’re so tired you’re slurring your words.” He touched her lips and felt them part beneath his. How long had he wanted to kiss this brave woman?
With a soft moan, Megan threw her arms around his shoulders, pulling him hard against her. Their mouths met, hungry and eager. Luke embraced her, holding her solidly against his male body. Inhaling his scent was an aphrodisiac that awakened all her senses. His mouth was commanding, guiding and she felt starved for him in every way. Megan could feel his heart beating against hers. The moistness of his breath feathered across her cheek as he eased his mouth from hers. Megan opened her eyes. She drowned in his and suddenly noticed regret in them. Why?
“You need a shower and sleep, Megan. I don’t want to love you like this. You’re still in shock.” Luke gave her a very male smile. “I want you, but I want you rested. We aren’t going to get many times like this, and I want you to enjoy it as much as I will.”
“You’re right,” she said, resting against him. Luke wasn’t as tired as she was. Megan could see the glimmer of humor in his gaze. Leaning down, he kissed her wrinkled brow, her smooth, flushed cheek and, finally, her nose. “You’ve been through hell. It takes time to come out of it.”
“You should know,” Megan whispered. Resting her head against Luke’s powerful chest, she sighed and closed her eyes. “I just want to hear the beat of your heart, Luke. I want to sleep with you holding me....”
Pressing a kiss to her hair, he said in a husky tone, “I never want to leave your side, Megan. Not ever.”
The words seared her wildly beating heart. Her emotions rushed like a torrent through her. His face blurred before her. Tears leaked out of her eyes and Megan felt the warmth trickling down her cheeks. “I—I thought I was going to die, Luke. You don’t know how many times I thought of you. I was so scared. I didn’t know what Gholam would do. I thought for sure he was going to kill me.”
“I know, I know,” he rasped, holding her tightly, rocking her in his arms. “But you’re safe now. You’re with me and everything’s going to be all right.”
His words were like an invisible unguent. A sob worked its way up and out of Megan’s throat. “I’m sorry I’m crying,” she choked, her words muffled against his uniform. How wonderful his strong arms felt around her right now!
“Shh, don’t apologize,” Luke whispered, feeling her tremble. Rocking her, Luke took Megan’s full weight. As he threaded his fingers through her hair, love welled up within him. A fierce protectiveness swept through him. She finally surrendered to the terror she’d had to endure. Closing his eyes, he simply held Megan and allowed her to expend that terrible poison that had threatened her life.
What would life be without her in it? Luke couldn’t conceive it. Not then and not now. The woman in his arms was so strong and resilient, able to handle even the possibility of death stari
ng her in the face. She’d been an ardent warrior on Tahira’s behalf, despite danger to herself. Megan had stood up to Gholam, who hated Americans. Sliding his hands around her shaking shoulders, he soothed her and held her safe. In a war zone, there was no place to hide. No place to ever feel safe. Luke understood, like many veterans who had three or four tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, that it took a terrible toll on a person’s soul. No one was ready for what war took away from them.
Through it all, Megan had been courageous. She’d fought like a tiger for Tahira’s and her unborn baby’s lives. There were few people who could challenge Gholam and live to tell about it. Sliding his hand down her long spine, he wanted to let her know how much he loved her.
Gently, Luke lifted her damp strands of hair against her cheek. “Better now?” he asked. Seeing her eyes red-rimmed, he gave her a game smile. “It’s good to get it out, Megan. Tears are always healing.”
Megan lifted her hand and wiped away the last of the tears. “I’m surprised I held them back for this long.” Looking up, she saw such intense love burning in his eyes. Swallowing convulsively, Megan whispered, “I love you so much, Luke. You’ll never know how much strength it gave me when I was kidnapped by Gholam. I pictured your face, how strong and quiet you are in an emergency, and it would calm me.” She leaned up and placed her lips against his, needing him now as never before.
Tasting the salt on her tear-wet lips, Luke groaned, the sound moving through him. Her mouth was soft, tender and hauntingly needy. Few would ever understand how the threat of death changed a person. He knew too well. It made a person appreciate life as never before. It made you live in the moment, fully. His mouth curved against hers, lips parting and allowing him entrance into her. Moving his tongue slowly, provocatively across her wet lower lip, he felt her tremble. Her hands curved against his chest, sliding and feeling him as a man who wanted her. Life and death. It was all mixed together in a cauldron of fire and burning desire to survive.
Reluctantly, Luke forced himself to release her lips. He opened his eyes and fell into Megan’s blue gaze. Easing his hands across her shoulders, he whispered against her mouth, “I’m going to start the shower and afterward, you need to sleep. I’ll be here with you. I’ll hold you in my arms, Megan. I promise.”
Chapter 18
Megan awoke slowly, feeling drugged. Her mind refused to work. Luke’s warm, heavy arm lay across her waist. When she realized she was pressed against him, head nestled in the crook of his shoulder, Megan felt joy thrum quietly through her. She opened her eyes to the barest hint of dawn outside the massive floor-to-ceiling windows. Luke’s moist breath fell softly against her cheek and temple. Like the greedy person she was, Megan absorbed the moment, cherished and inhaled his male scent. Life was precious. And only for a stolen moment.
Driven by need, Megan eased up on one elbow and looked down on his shadowed, sleeping features. He appeared so boyish and no longer worried or anxious, She marveled at how handsome Luke really was. Slipping her fingers across his brow, Megan pushed several dark brown strands of hair aside. She felt him stir. His beard had darkened the hollows of his cheeks. It gave him a vulnerable look that thrilled her senses. As his eyes slowly opened, she smiled softly, leaned down and began to kiss his brow and cheek before coming to rest against his mouth.
It was so easy for Luke to roll onto his back and bring his arm up across Megan’s shoulder. Meeting her searching lips, he groaned and brought her fully against him. Her hair swirled against his face, the scent of nutmeg intoxicating his awakening senses. Her lips were searching and hungry. Heat roared through him, dissolving his drowsiness and making him fully aware how much he wanted to love Megan.
In moments, Megan lay against the length of Luke’s body. Only her thin green nightgown provided a barrier between them. He wore only a pair of pajama bottoms. Where their hips met and melded, she felt his desire for her. Drowning in his kiss, his mouth worshipping hers, they gradually parted. Their breathing was ragged. As she stared down into his eyes, Megan saw a glitter of gold. Luke had such a strong face. She had come to know him on the battlefield, watched his calm and focus. And now, as his hands ranged downward from her shoulders, memorizing her ribs and waist and coming to rest across her hips, Megan felt her heart burst wide open.
“I don’t remember when I fell in love with you, but I did.” She kissed his brow, nose and mouth. Just to slide her lips against his, to taste Luke, enflamed her.
“I don’t want this moment to end,” he rasped against her wet lips. Looking up into her shining eyes filled with desire, he slid his fingers through her silky red hair. The desire in her eyes, in her face, sent a tidal wave of pleasure through him. “I loved you from the moment I saw you.” Luke’s mouth curved upward. “You are so kind, thoughtful and caring toward everyone, Megan.” As he touched her flushed cheek, his voice deepened. “We aren’t going to have many times like this together for a year....”
“A year seems so long.”
“We belong together, Megan. That’s more than anyone else has out here.”
Bowing her head, she pressed her cheek into his large palm. Anguish flowed through her. “I didn’t want to fall in love with you, Luke.” The words came out filled with pain.
“I know...me, neither.” He saw the suffering in her blue eyes and heard the tremble in her voice. Her body pressed against his was all he’d ever want. “But I’m not sorry. Are you?”
Shaking her head, Megan absorbed his strength and warmth. Tears came to her eyes and for a moment, his face blurred before her. “I—I worry every time you go out on a mission, Luke. That...you’ll be killed.”
Capturing her face, he brought her down, their lips barely touching. “Don’t worry. I have you to return to. Megan, you’re everything to me.” He kissed her hard and long, as if to convince her of what he already knew. Luke pulled a drawer open and unwrapped a condom. After rolling it on, he turned and laid down next to her.
Heat exploded between them and Megan moaned as his mouth and body devoured her. The gown was pulled away, and she felt the rawness of his hips melting into hers. In moments, they had divested themselves of their garments and come together once more. Only this time, Luke guided her onto her back, a glint in his eyes as his hand moved slowly around the curve of her breast. Arching into his exploring hand, she thrust her hips against his, wanting him now. Forever.
In moments, his lips tugged gently upon her nipple, tasting one and then the other. His fingers, strong and memorizing, slid across each of her ribs. His hands flowed across her flared hips and he began a slow assault upon her thighs, coaxing them apart. Breath coming erratically, lost in this splendor, Megan kissed him with wild, hungry abandon. She eagerly opened to him, feeling him move her against him, monitoring his strength as he guided her.
As they came together, she gasped, arching against him. Megan felt his pounding heart beating in unison with her own as they flowed rhythmically into each other. The scent of him fueled her hunger. His mouth found hers, his tongue teasing hers.
Megan wanted nothing more than to mate with him. It was a powerful, predatory, survival need driving her hips against his. Each thrust proved her love for Luke. It drove Megan forward into his arms and body. The moment congealed and she suddenly felt an eruption of heat flowing out from the core of her body. A soft cry tore from her lips. Luke caught the cry, his mouth melding against her parted lips. His large hands drove her deeper as he enclosed her hips and brought her into a primal rhythm with him.
Luke felt his entire life melt into Megan’s strong, loving body. Never had he wanted to love a woman more t
han her. Never had he wanted a woman as much as he’d wanted her. Their desperate situation, the fact that either of them could be killed tomorrow, drove him recklessly to give her his body, his heart and his soul.
Slowly, so slowly, Megan felt the weight returning to her body. She lay across Luke, her head resting weakly against his shoulder, her hand moving across his chest. Never did she want this moment to go away. Closing her eyes, Megan memorized his thundering heart beneath her ear, the flow of his moist breath across her cheek, his calloused hands ranging across her sensitized skin.
A rooster crowed somewhere outside the window. Megan frowned, wanting to stop the sounds of dawn, of an awakening world around them. Pressing her lips to the column of Luke’s neck, feeling his power, his utter masculinity, she whispered, “I want the world to go away....”
He smiled. “I hear him, too.” Opening his eyes, Luke took in Megan’s strong, supple body across his. His strength was returning, filling her once more. Such was his love for her. “The world isn’t going away. We know that. What we can do is treasure these moments in between.”
Flesh tingling in the wake of his fingers’ small trails of fire down across her back, Megan sighed. “By this evening, we’ll be back at the base.”
“Don’t think about it. We’re here now.”
Megan felt him move deep within her. His masculine power amazed her. She was hungry for him all over again. There was nothing else. He was right, she belatedly realized. All they had was right now.
“I want to marry you when we get home, Megan.” Luke saw surprise flare in her blue eyes and then tears made them sparkle. Her lips, well kissed, parted. She smiled and touched his hair.
“I’ve been waiting for you all my life, Luke.” Her voice grew hushed as she drowned in his darkening eyes. “I didn’t know it until I met you. And I think I knew from that moment on, we were destined for each other.”
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