Hope looked at her as soon as she came in, and her big blue eyes widened as Erin set Sophie on the floor. Immediately the little dog went to Wicked to greet him, then she turned her attention to the little girl, jumping up against her leg. Hope immediately went down to the floor on her knees, holding her hand out to the fuzzy little dog. Sophie seemed to sense a willing mark and did her cute little wiggle, making up to the little girl.
“Can I hold her?” Hope whispered, looking up at Erin.
“Just be very careful. She loves little kids but she’s tiny. If you drop her it will really hurt her.”
Hope nodded. “I’ll be super careful.”
Then she scooped Sophie into her arms, letting the little dog lick her neck. Hope giggled for the first time Erin had ever heard, and she watched the two of them fall in love right before her eyes.
The men stopped talking. Paul looked stunned, then his face relaxed into a grin. His entire demeanor changed as he looked at his little girl. For a second her gaze met Luca’s, and there was a moment of satisfaction that they had maybe managed to bring the little girl and her father some enjoyment.
It seemed like within just a few minutes Hope was running around the house giggling as little Sophie gamboled along behind her.
Erin looked at Paul. “Remember I was telling you I had a dog that would be perfect for the hospital? That’s Sophie. I’ve been fostering her and conditioning her for a few months, and I think she just found her new favorite human.”
Paul looked like he’d taken a fist to the gut, his blue eyes wide. “Are you suggesting that we take her home?”
Erin took a sip of lemonade Luca handed her. “That is completely up to you, but you’d better decide fast because that little girl is going to be crushed if she falls in love and you tell her no.”
Paul snapped his mouth shut and scrubbed his face with his good hand. “I haven’t had a dog for years. Do you really think it’s a good idea to bring in another house member now?”
Erin shrugged. “You’ll have to make that decision. I won’t do it for you. Sophie is a good little dog. She’s completely house trained, up to date on all of her shots and she’s been socialized to the best of my ability.”
Paul looked out into her house. Hope’s laughter could be heard even from the other room. Finally, he looked at Erin with a wry expression on his face. “I didn’t come here to get a dog.”
Erin laughed. “I know you didn’t but I think you’ve found a new friend. Take some time to think about it and you may want to talk it over with Hope. Express to her that it will be a big responsibility to bring in a new family member. She should have part of the responsibility for taking care of the dog.”
The big man nodded, still looking a little out of his depth. Luca rested a hand on his shoulder. “It’s a four-pound dog, Paul, not an assault on a terrorist-held village.”
Paul laughed, nodding his head ruefully. “You’re right, of course. Let me get this visit out of the way and I’ll talk to her about it.”
Nothing more was said about the adoption, but they were all very conscious of how much Hope was enjoying Sophie. When they left an hour later, silent tears rolling down Hope’s cheeks as she said goodbye to Sophie and Paul looking on hopelessly, Erin knew they’d be back. That man would do anything for that little girl.
Luca rested an arm over her shoulders as they waved goodbye to the Jamesons. “Did you know that she would take to the little dog like that?” he asked her.
“Of course not,” Erin said immediately, wrapping an arm around his waist and leaning into him. “But I might have hoped.”
They stood there on the front porch for several minutes, just leaning into each other. Erin loved having him so close and she refused to be the first one to move away, this time. But rather than let her go Luca wrapped her into a hug. Erin’s heart raced as she wrapped both arms around his waist, resting her head on his solid chest.
“You know,” he said softly, his deep voice making his chest rumble beneath her ear. “I don’t like holding you at arm’s length. I want to draw you in and breathe you in and make you mine.”
Erin could have melted right there in his arms, and not because of the heat of the day. “I want that, too,” she admitted, afraid all over again as she lifted her head to breathe against his throat. It had hurt when he’d shut her down so hard two weeks ago and she didn’t want to go through that again, but she couldn’t deny her need for him either.
A shudder wracked his body as her breath feathered over the skin of his neck. She hadn’t realized it but she was on his damaged side, not that it bothered her. The skin was a mottled pink but it didn’t look painful. Something must have triggered a reaction, though.
Moving her head the tiniest bit she pressed a kiss against the skin of his neck, her lips barely brushing. Luca drew in a deep breath, then another, quicker, and his arms tightened around her.
“Fuck, you’re going to kill me,” he growled, moving to find her mouth. Erin lifted her head the tiniest bit in encouragement and he took her lips in a long, delicious kiss. She held onto his neck and shoulders, hoping she didn’t hurt him in some way.
Luca felt bulletproof. The work he’d been doing on the ranch had paid off in sculpted muscles and unrelenting strength. For a second Erin wanted to just step back and admire, but that would be a little awkward. Instead she ran her hands down his chest, then back up to hold his jaw as he kissed her.
Luca seemed taken aback at how good it was, kissing her. When he pulled back enough to look down into her face, his eyes were even darker than normal, his pupils almost completely swallowing the deep brown of the iris, in spite of the daylight. That wasn’t the only response his body was giving her, as she could feel through the thin fabric of the nylon exercise shorts he preferred. She didn’t press, even as much as she wanted to explore that hardness.
Erin had had her fair share of relationships but none of them had ever developed into anything substantial. Short term liaisons with decent men but the pieces had just never fallen together like they were supposed to. The dogs and other boarders kept her busy and for the most part she was okay with being alone. Only occasionally did she ache for someone to hold her, usually after a pointed conversation with her mother on the state of her social life.
Luca felt different, though. Very different. They had a few bedrock things that they were passionate about, but the rest of the differences made him more interesting to her, not less. As soon as she’d spent a few hours with him, Erin had known that this guy could be dangerous to her heart. When he’d distanced himself she’d been okay with it, because it had removed a huge source of uncertainty from her. She’d tried to convince herself that he was too good for her anyway.
Now he was teasing her with this little glimpse of bliss.
When they drew back to catch their breath, she looked up at him, her eyes direct. “If you try to distance yourself after this I might have to murder you.”
Luca laughed, dragging her into another hug. “I’ll try not to make you murder me,” he told her, kissing her softly on the temple. “Let’s get out of this heat,” he suggested.
That was fine by her. They also needed to let the dogs in. Even in the shaded back yard with the coolness of the trees around, it could still be too hot for the animals outside. That was why she tried to make sure that every animal had a way to cool off and get out of the heat.
The dogs were more than happy to come inside, barking happily at Wicked and Sophie. It was a bit of a melee for a while until everyone settled down.
Erin made the humans sandwiches, which Luca appreciated. The entire time she moved, though, she could feel the weight of his gaze resting on her.
“I didn’t plan on kissing you,” he said finally. She paused as she wiped her mouth, glancing at him.
“I know. Do you regret it?”
“Hell, no!” He scowled at her. “I only regret that it took me so long to do it again.”
She grinned slightly. “This is n
ot a normal situation. I understand that. And I’m willing to wait until you’re ready to move forward. This may sound presumptuous and I’m seriously going out on a limb here, but I’m looking forward to being in a relationship with you, Luca. I think you’re a good man who’s been knocked around by life but that hasn’t stopped you from living. You’re going to do great things. I know you will.”
If his face was anything to go by she’d shocked the crap out of him. And then, in spite of their half-finished lunches he leaned over and gave her a devastating kiss. By the time he pulled back she was slick between her legs and ready to do damn near anything to be back in his arms.
“I’m not going to lie, Erin, you’re like a drug to me. Even when I didn’t want to let you in you managed to keep drawing me back. There are things you haven’t seen yet that I’m scared to death will frighten you away for good.”
“Impossible,” she told him firmly, one eyebrow lifted.
He gave her a thoughtful smile. “I’m not sure why but I think I believe you.”
“I’ve never lied to you, Luca. Not ever. None of your scars bother me. They only worry me because of lingering pain you might feel.” Deliberately she rested her left hand on his disfigured right bicep, and leaned up to kiss his burned cheek, as gentle as a butterfly.
“They don’t hurt. Well, those ones don’t mostly. My leg hurts sometimes if I’ve trained too long. The musculature is changed.”
She nodded, understanding. “You can show me anything. You can tell me anything. I’m not going to turn on you because I find you lacking in some way.”
A sudden grin split his lips. “I’m not lacking in the way that matters,” he promised her.
Erin burst out laughing. “You’re such a dude.”
The laughter faded away as his gaze focused on her face. Cupping her face in his hands he stroked his thumbs along her jaw, then brushed one over her lips. She stroked the tip of her tongue over the pad of his thumb and he startled. Then, with a vulnerable intensity in his gaze, he leaned in to kiss her again, this time more deliberate.
Erin didn’t know how she knew, but he’d come to some decision. She would follow along with his cues and what her heart told her to do.
* * *
Luca felt like he was going to stroke out. What had begun as a fairly light-hearted day had taken on a load of emotional significance he hadn’t expected, first seeing Paul with Hope, and now with Erin. He wasn’t used to this much emotion.
It was good, he decided. More than good. Almost four months ago his life had gone to shit. Now it was searching for balance. Erin felt integral to his peace of mind, but he couldn’t articulate exactly why. Not yet.
He needed to move forward with her, though. Stagnating and staying in one place wasn’t good for either one of them.
With that thought in mind he took her hand and helped her off the stool, then began to lead her back through the house. “Where is your room?”
She pointed to the farthest door from the kitchen and he walked them through it. Luca was aware of a comfortable, cool space, tile floors and white linens on the unmade bed. It was gratifying to see that she wan’t perfect in everything. He motioned for her to sit on the bed.
Luca paced in front of her for a moment, trying to scrape together some courage. He needed to do this and get it over with.
“Luca, don’t do it this way,” she said, holding a hand out to him. “You shouldn’t force yourself. It will come naturally when we need it to.”
He shook his head. There was so much ahead of him to do and he felt like letting her see everything quickly would be one less hurdle. Without giving himself time to think he ripped his t-shirt over his head.
Erin gave him a critical look, but he thought it was because of the way he’d done it and not listened to her, not because of the actual scars. He watched as she glanced down his body. He almost felt the brush of her gaze over his burns and the scars from the shrapnel wounds. Then she looked up at him, her brows raised.
“You seem to be trying to turn me off or something, but it’s not working.”
Standing, she moved in front of him. “It seems only fair that I reciprocate.”
Before he could say a word, she ripped her t-shirt over her head, her brown hair flying. Her beautiful breasts were held in a pale blue satin bra. Luca knew he was supposed to do something but he couldn’t even breathe right that second. Reaching out he brushed his knuckles over the bud of her nipple, obvious through the thin cloth. Erin gasped and held his hand against her for a moment, then reached behind herself and unfastened the bra, letting it fall away.
Luca was dying. That had to be what the pain was in his chest. As her body was revealed to him, he said a silent thank you to whatever gods had granted him this moment. Then, stepping forward he cupped both of her breasts in his hands. She had dark tan nipples and they were rock hard, right now. Pinching them between thumb and forefinger, he rolled them gently.
Erin gasped, leaning hard into his touch and pressing her boobs together. Luca leaned down and laid a kiss on the lovely creamy flesh he held. Absolutely incredible.
It had been a long time since he’d been with a woman. Damn near a year. And for the life of him he couldn’t remember what to do for her. He could only think of his own pleasure. He needed with a desperation he’d never felt before.
Erin seemed to sense what he was feeling because she dragged him down into a kiss and cupped his length in her strong hand at the same time. Luca growled into her mouth, loving the way she squeezed him, firm enough to excite and tease. Torn because he really wanted to hold her breasts more, he dropped his hands to her waist and started going lower, cupping her hips and pulling her tight. Her hand stilled, unable to move, but he had to feel her tight against him for just a minute.
Though she didn’t work out the way he did, Erin had a beautiful, strong body. Her power was gained from day to day exercise and work that no one else would do for her. She’d gained this muscle by being a business owner and caregiver at all hours of the day and night, by giving of herself to creatures that had no way to articulate their needs or appreciation.
He hoped he wasn’t one of those creatures but even if he was, at this point he would give in to her.
When he released her hips she stepped back and pushed her shorts down her thighs, then the tiny scrap of her pink panties. Holding his gaze she walked toward him, proud in her own skin. She looked up at him with the promise of sex in her eyes. “Drop your drawers, Carmichael, and let’s have fun.”
She moved to the bedside table and retrieved a condom, handing it to him.
Luca didn’t even hesitate. With both hands he dropped his shorts and athletic boxers to the floor and stepped out of them, then he rolled the condom on. There was a moment’s awareness as he thought about the mechanics of what he wanted to do and whether or not he could do it with his prosthetic on. He supposed he could try and if it didn’t work he’d have her ride him or something.
Erin was staring at his erection, a sly smile on her lips. She hadn’t even looked at his prosthetic. Backing toward the bed she fell across it diagonally, scooting her butt to the center. Luca watched her move, fascinated with the way she held his gaze.
Then she positioned a pillow behind her head and reached up to him.
In that moment Luca was the most thankful he’d ever been that he hadn’t taken his own life. Looking down into Erin’s topaz colored eyes he lowered himself to the bed on his good knee—the prosthetic bent behind him— and he arm crawled toward her, between her thighs. She grinned at him, one eyebrow lifted tauntingly. “Is this going to work or do I need to shift?”
“I have no idea,” he admitted. “Give me a minute and we’ll see what happens. I’m a SEAL. I can make any situation work.”
She giggled, pulling him down into a kiss. Luca rested some of his weight against her as he readjusted. His body naturally seemed to know where to go and he nudged against her entrance. Erin gasped against his mouth and tilted her hi
ps up, welcoming him inside.
Luca didn’t even remember how he moved, just that he did. As soon as he felt how excited and slick she was for him, he quit worrying and just allowed himself to feel. With long, steady strokes he learned her body, accelerating his movements with the sounds she made. Her hands were everywhere, rubbing up and down his body, pulling him tight into the cradle of her hips. He curled himself over her, taking a nipple into his mouth to suckle, and she came apart in his arms. The sound of her high, keening cry was as arousing as the feel of her tight body rippling around his, and he didn’t even try to curb his own pleasure as it swelled through him. With a long groan he arched into her, over and over again as his body strained, playing out the pleasure.
It was a long minute before Luca realized he had collapsed on top of Erin, his head to the side and against the pillow. She didn’t seem to mind, though. She was rubbing up and down his sides, murmuring to him softly. Luca didn’t want to move but he also didn’t want to smother her. Arms quivering he pushed himself up enough that he could roll to the side.
Erin rocked her head to look at him. “I think we rocked that out,” she said with a grin.
Luca grinned too. How could he not? “Yes, we did.”
He leaned over and kissed her, wishing they could start all over again.
* * *
Erin couldn’t remember the last time she’d been so well-fucked. She sighed and rolled up into a sitting position, then she laughed when she caught sight of his feet. “You know, there has to be a joke about a Navy SEAL not even taking his shoes off to fuck. “
Luca glanced at his feet and laughed with her. “I think you just made it.”
She looked down at him, appreciating all the work he’d done for himself over the past few weeks. She brushed her hand over the scars along his right side. Now that he wasn’t wearing anything she could see the destruction the IED had wrought on his body. It had been devastating. Crippling. There were dark pink scars all up and down his side, with more along his upper chest and arm. She’d seen the injury to his arm and as he lay there in front of her she could almost see the position he’d been in when he’d been hit, jerking Wicked out of harm.
Wicked Healing Page 15
