“You two were so lucky to survive,” she murmured. She traced her fingers over the bumps and ridges of scars and surgery lines when they’d had to go in after the shrapnel.
“Yes, we were,” he agreed, watching her face carefully, unblinking. She knew he was looking for any kind of rejection, but he wouldn’t see it on her face because she didn’t see anything worth rejecting. Everyone had a story. Luca’s story was just more visible than others’.
As if he reached some conclusion he sat up on the edge of the bed. “Let me run to the bathroom real quick and I’ll show you how this works,” he said, tapping the outside of the prosthetic.
Erin waited, her eyes going to his tall form as he re-entered the room. He sat down beside her, his prosthetic nearest her.
“The outside of the prosthetic is carbon-fiber. This,” he indicated a small round rubber thing, “releases the pressure inside the socket. Then I hook behind the knee and pull it off.” He did exactly that, then showed her the interior vinyl lining and the cotton pads meant to take pain away from his pressure points. “When the leg is amputated it takes a while to settle into its final shape. Exercise makes it slim down quicker. I’m probably going to need to be fitted for a new socket in a month or so.”
There was a blue silicone sleeve over his stump and he took a deep breath before he rolled it off. Again, Erin could feel his gaze on her, weighing her reactions, but his leg didn’t bother her. The incision lines looked a little angry.
“Are they supposed to be that red?”
He shrugged. “Probably not, but I’ve been working pretty hard.”
Before he could tell her otherwise she reached out and stroked down the leg to the end, fingers brushing gently over the scars. She ignored his harshly drawn breath. “It’s warm. Are you sure?”
“I think it’s all right. It’s usually warm at night, after I’ve been on it all day. In the mornings when I wake up it’s cool.”
“Do you have phantom pain?”
“I do, sometimes” he said softly. “Not as bad as other guys. And I thought I stubbed my toe the other day. I slammed into a door jamb and just for a split second I waited for pain from my toes.”
She laughed a little. “That has to be weird.”
“It is, but I’m getting used to it. Your brain learns to compensate.”
Finally, she looked up into his eyes. They were both naked, but she didn’t think he even noticed that. Exposing his leg to her had been hard for him, but there really was nothing to be ashamed of. “Thank you for explaining it to me.”
“Thank you for not freaking out,” he told her, voice rumbly deep.
She shook her head at him, reaching out to run her hand over his chest. “There’s nothing to freak out about. You were fighting in the war and you were injured. Period. Now you’re learning to adapt and I think you’re doing a phenomenal job. And don’t thank me. It’s an observation. Period.”
He gave her a crooked grin and reached out to flick her nipple. “I can add something else to my list of accomplishments now.”
She arched a brow at him. “I don’t know about accomplishment, per se. I think you need more practice.”
A wicked glint entered his expression. “I’m all about perfection. Tell me what I need to do.”
He tumbled her to the bed and Erin completely lost track of everything.
Chapter 13
If Luca could have danced a jig he would have. He and Erin had stolen a couple of perfect hours away from everything, but they had other beings depending upon them. She was taking care of her animals and he would take care of his own and they would meet up later for dinner. Luca hated to leave her but he also needed some space.
He thought over the way she’d approached him. It probably wouldn’t have worked the way it did with any other girl. Erin was the key ingredient to their hookup. She’d pushed him to the point of no return and he’d loved it. He’d needed it, and she’d known that.
Luca climbed the stairs to his apartment, tired in a completely different way than he normally was. Making love used very different muscles from running. Shucking his clothes and his prosthetic he hopped into the shower, cranking the water as hot as he could stand it. Shudders went up and down his body and he felt his muscles relax. He stood there and soaked in the heat as long as he could. Hopping out onto the towel and rug he dried himself off, then headed for the bed. It was midday, but he needed to stretch out and think about some things. Wicked joined him on the bed and the two of them curled up together. The AC was blasting chilly air into the room so he took a minute and pulled the sheet over top of himself. Before he knew it he was out.
Luca woke disoriented, his phone beeping on the bedside table. He grabbed it and looked at the time. Six forty-eight. Shit. Erin was going to think he stood her up.
Luca jumped from the bed, reaching for his leg, but then he couldn’t find the sleeve. What the hell had he done with it? Must still be in the bathroom.
By the time he got himself situated and out the door, it was seven.
“C’mon, Boss,” he said, taking off running. The horses nickered at him when they saw him come through the door but he didn’t have time to stop. He’d kind of made it a habit to stop and talk to the animals, and give them treats sometimes.
Wicked stayed at heel as Luca bolted through the parking lot, past the kennel and along the side of the back yard. Erin wasn’t on the back steps, and the dogs appeared to be inside. Going to the back patio door he peered inside, then knocked when he didn’t see anyone.
Within a minute she padded out from the depths of the house, looking rumpled and sleepy. “I didn’t think you were coming,” she said softly as she let him in.
“I fell asleep. I’m so sorry,” he told her.
“Don’t worry about it. After you left I did a few things in the kennel, came back to the house and let these guys out for a few minutes. I was sitting on the back steps dozing off and I thought it would be nice to just go to bed. Now that you’re here, though, I’ll wake up.”
She turned into the kitchen, then spun right back around. Leaning up she pressed a kiss to his mouth. “Hey,” she whispered, smiling up at him.
Luca grinned. “Hey,” he whispered back, wrapping his arms around her.
“You don’t have to knock. Just come inside.”
Frowning, he leaned back to get a better view of her face. “You sure about that?”
She nodded once. “I trust you.”
Her words echoed through his head as he followed her into the living room. The TV was on but muted and there was a discarded blanket on the end of the couch. Sophie and Greta were curled up together, but as soon as she saw Wicked Sophie jumped down from her perch to say hello.
“I don’t remember what I was watching. Feel free to flip,” she said, handing him the controller.
Luca took a spot in the corner of the couch, grinning when Erin immediately sat down and curled against him. He thought it would be a little smothering, but he found that he loved it. Tightening his arm around her he drew her close.
Then his phone beeped again, letting him know he’d missed a call. Leaning out a little he jogged the thing from his pocket and looked at the screen. Calls were few and far between for him and he didn’t recognize the number, but there was a new voicemail. Erin was leaning against his chest and he wondered if he shouldn’t check it in private, but then he realized that he would probably tell her about whatever it was anyway. So, he played the message.
‘Mr. Carmichael, this is Lt. Hampton, a recruiter liaison with Phoenix PD’
Luca’s breath stalled in his lungs at the man’s voice.
‘Thank you very much for your email regarding the upcoming police academy. To answer your question, yes, we do take military service into account. If you and your K9 are both able to work as a team we would love to have an in-depth panel interview with you regarding service. You would have to be able to pass the physical portion of the test, obviously, but the interview will give us a
better idea of how much schooling you will need. If you’re interesting in setting up an interview please call me back at this number…’
Luca blinked, shocked at the response. It had only been a couple of days since he’d sent in the email.
Erin sat up, her brows raised in question. “That sounds promising.”
He nodded. “I looked at that packet again and once I knew I could do everything on the list I emailed them.”
Hope spiked through him, taking him a little off guard. The prospect of being a cop had been kind of an ephemeral thing, but now that there was a chance…
Erin was staring at him, her head cocked and brows raised. “Are you excited?”
He thought about her words for a long moment. “I think I am, actually. I mean, before I kind of felt like it was an option, but… I don’t know. Maybe I deliberately didn’t want to think about it too much because I didn’t want to be disappointed.”
She smiled at him softly and he had to reach out and pull her in for a kiss. Then, unable to help himself, he guided her hips up over his own. Erin gasped in surprise, then laughed. “You seem to be getting a little cocky, Mr. Carmichael.”
She swiveled her hips and lifted her knees, riding the ridge of his hardening cock.
“I am,” he admitted, grinning, running his hands up beneath her t-shirt, “but it’s mostly your fault. Fuck, where is your bra, woman?”
Giggling, she leaned into his touch. “I never put one on after you made love to me,” she admitted. “Maybe I was hoping…”
She braced her hands on his shoulders and rocked against him, then leaned in for a kiss. Luca was more than happy to oblige her. It was amazing to him how quickly they’d become close. He couldn’t even remember why he’d thought it would be a good idea to stay apart.
Erin moved off of him, dropping her shorts and panties to the floor, then helping him shift his shorts down. “Is this okay?” she whispered.
Luca choked out a laugh. “You’re joking, right?”
Reaching one hand down he slipped a finger into her damp curls as she settled over him. She was soaked. Fascinated, he explored her a little, finding what she liked. Erin was a very responsive woman, gasping and sighing, then crying out as he circled her clit with the tip of his finger. Luca himself was aching to be inside her, but first he wanted to watch her orgasm. The first time had been rushed and he’d been too lost in himself.
She panted as he touched her and he could tell by the speed of her breaths when she was about to peak. Her head lolled back on her shoulders and her breasts bounced as hard contractions began to roll through her. Sliding a finger deeper he felt the pulse of her body and it was all he could do to fight off his own orgasm as she ground against his hand. Then she cried out, panted and moaned, long and hard. Rolling her head forward she found his mouth, keeping their lips connected as she lifted up for him to slide his dick inside her.
Luca groaned then as well, feeling the aftereffects of her orgasm. She was slick and hot and as he seated himself inside her he set off another round of little contractions. “Oh, my god,” she groaned. “You’re going to make me come again.”
She flexed against him, grinding down hard. Luca held her ass in his hands and forced himself into her as tight as he could. Their bodies made sound as they moved together, but it enhanced the experience. Luca knew his orgasm was only moments away and when she slipped her tongue into his mouth he was a goner.
It was only as the orgasm began to surge through him that he realized he wasn’t wearing a condom. That was why the sensations were so much stronger. She rode him hard and the pleasure was the absolute best he’d ever felt.
It was several long minutes before she could sit up. Her body had rippled with aftershocks for a long time, teasing out little mini bolts of pleasure from him as well. Luca couldn’t even begin to articulate the happiness he was feeling at that moment. He was settling into the stride of his combat modified normal, as some of the guys at rehab had called it. Wicked was healthy and strong. He was dick deep into the perfect girl…
Luca couldn’t even think what would make it more perfect. Well, if Erin felt about him the way he felt about her.
As if she sensed his thoughts, she drew back enough to look into his face. They were eye level with each other and the closeness that he felt with her in that second was profound. Literally, he was as close as he could physically be to another person, and if he could have been closer he would have.
Erin gave him a slow smile. “If you get spooked now, buddy…”
He shook his head. “I’m not spooked. Quite the opposite actually. I want more.”
Her golden eyes widened and she tilted her head. “Oh, really? I might need a few minutes to recover.”
Luca grinned, then let it fall away. “That’s not what I meant. I’m nuts about you. I mean, seriously coo-coo for Co-Co Pops nuts. You could ask me for anything right now and I’d do my damnedest to give it to you. Or die trying.”
Her eyes seemed to turn glossy, like she was fighting tears. “I just want a few little things. Your trust, for one. I’m not going anywhere and I’m not looking for anyone else. I also want your heart. Every little tiny piece of it.”
Luca swallowed but nodded. It was time to jump into his future with both feet. “You’ve got it,” he promised her. “I love you, Erin. I can’t even pinpoint when exactly it happened. It’s just been creeping up on me, a little here, a little there, until I can’t even imagine a life without you.”
Now he knew she was crying. They rolled down her cheeks and dripped off her jaw and onto his chest. Wrapping his arms around her he held her tight to his heart.
* * *
“Erin, where are you?”
Erin jerked her head around to the sound of her mother’s voice, then she squinted at her bedside clock. Was it seriously five o’clock in the morning? What the hell was her mother doing in her house?
Scrambling from the bed she darted to the hallway door, cracking it open. Luca shifted in the bed behind her.
Her mother was in the hallway, grinning like the cat that ate the canary. She was stroking her hand down Wicked’s head.
Erin knew that the gig was up. “Go make coffee,” she snapped before closing the door.
Her mother’s chuckle as she disappeared into the kitchen held self-satisfaction, and it pissed her off.
“What’s up, babe?” Luca asked.
Erin loved the endearment and she paused for a moment to absorb it. She crossed to drop a kiss to Luca’s mouth. “My mother is here. She wanted to catch us together, and she’s done exactly that. I have to go do damage control.”
Striding into the bath she cranked the shower on. There was no way she was facing her mother with the remnants of lovemaking on her body. She took her time, too. If Mom was that determined to catch them she could damn well wait for her daughter to get cleaned up.
Erin dressed quietly, hoping that Luca could get some more sleep in, then she let herself out of the bedroom.
Linda sat at the kitchen island sipping steaming coffee, looking smug. Erin poured herself a cup, with a heavy dose of creamer, then leaned against the counter. “What were you thinking coming over here at five a.m., Mom?”
“I know it’s a little rude but I thought I could catch Luca before he left for his run. I haven’t had a chance to meet the man yet, and if he’s sleeping with my daughter I feel like I should have some kind of idea what sort of man he is.”
Erin sighed in frustration. “Mom, whether you believe me or not, we weren’t sleeping together before last night,” she snapped.
Her mother’s eyes widened. “Really? This is the morning after? Oh, maybe I’d better get out of here then and let you all hash it out. I thought you were lying to me when you told me there was nothing between you.”
“Yes,” Erin told her sarcastically, “because I lie to you all the time. Are you serious?”
Her mother looked a little crestfallen. “I’m sorry, dear. I’ll go.”
/> Erin refused to feel bad as she watched her mother walk out into the predawn light. Maybe next time she could ask her mother when she planned to introduce her to the man friend that had been taking her to the country club, recently.
She let the dogs out to go pee, then left the big dogs in the laundry room chewing bones. Wicked, Greta and Sophie she let into the bedroom when she returned. She crawled back into bed and checked that her alarm was set for her normal six-thirty.
Luca murmured something in his sleep but didn’t rouse. She laughed softly to herself. Normally, Luca was up by this time and working out with Wicked.
No need for Mom to know that, though.
* * *
In the morning Erin woke to the beautiful smell of bacon being cooked. She dressed and headed out to the kitchen. Luca stood in front of the stove, looking dark and delicious. His curls were long enough now that they were hanging over his forehead a little. Crossing to him she swiped her hand back through the curls, getting them in line.
“I need a haircut,” he murmured.
She wanted to ask, ‘for the interview?’, but kept her tongue. Yes, he’d told her he loved her but she wanted him to decide the path his career took. In these times maybe she didn’t want her significant other as a cop.
Well, she thought, it’s probably less dangerous than being a SEAL.
They cooked breakfast together, laughing and teasing, and getting used to interacting as a couple. it was very strange for Erin because she’d been alone for so long. She’d never had anyone live with her before, either.
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