Page 26 of Take Me Big Boy
“The explosion killed half of us and changed the rest. William lost most of the hearing in his right ear. Miller has metal in his leg now.”
“God,” she whispers.
“I got off the easiest,” I add quietly.
She wraps a hand around my neck and hugs me to her chest. She doesn’t offer words of comfort or assure me that it’s not my fault like others have, and I take small comfort in that.
“Men in our field do not form roots, little rabbit,” I rasp, pressing my face to her chest. “There is a risk of not making it home after a mission, so we don’t form roots. And yet, that day, everyone was just so full of dreams. Jefferson was talking about proposing to his girlfriend. Carter wanted to open a shop in his hometown in Arizona, work with his hands finally. Johnny was going to gamble whatever was left in his savings after divorce number two—already had his eye on wife number three.” I let out a sound that isn’t quite a laugh. “William wanted the whole nine yards. A house. A wife. Kids. Henry was going home to see his family. Miller and I were the only two who didn’t have plans. The military was our life, and the squad was our family.”
“That’s why you were so mean to me this morning,” she murmurs, pressing her lips to my temple. “You don’t think you deserve happiness because of what happened to your team, do you?”
“How could I?”
“I can’t imagine the weight on your shoulders. I can tell you it’s not your fault, but I guess that’s something you have to tell yourself to believe.” Ashley pulls back, cups my jaw, and forces my eyes to meet hers. “All I am asking is that you don’t push me out. You don’t have to carry that weight alone.” Her fingers caress my beard as she speaks, soothing something inme I didn’t know needed soothing. “Until you’re ready to accept the truth, I can help with the headaches when they come and be here for you when you’re having a difficult day.” She leans in and brushes her lips over mine. “Don’t ask me to leave again, or even your superb tracking skills won’t help you find me the next time you do.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“And if you break my heart again, I’ll drag you to those cliffs and—”
I slam my mouth down on hers, cutting off her murder threat before it can form and take root. Not that I’ll be breaking her heart again. The thought of losing her is enough to make my chest ache. “I’ve learned my lesson,” I assure her, kissing her, sliding a hand to her nape, and holding her still as I kiss her soft lips. A whimper slips out, and her mouth opens against mine, hot and demanding. The kiss turns wet and heated, and the sexy little sighs she makes has my cock hardening to steel.
With a growl, I spin the stool around to face her and pull her flush against me, gripping her waist with my free hand and pressing my cock against the wet heat between her thighs. I rake my mouth over hers, seeking to claim. To possess what I almost lost.
She’s out of breath when our lips break apart, and I can’t seem to catch my breath either. My eyes drop to her lips, swollen from the kiss, and I feel desire shoot up my spine. The need for her grows as does my affection.
“I love you, Ashley,” I rasp, pulling her back in for another kiss but not before I see the look of surprise on her face. I get up and spin her around, pressing her back to the counter as I ravage her mouth possessively. It’s wet and dirty and obscene. Carnal.She clings to me, wrapping her arms around my shoulders and whining as she rocks against me.
“Matt, now,” she whimpers, dropping one hand to the bulge in my pants. “Want it. Want you now.”
“Baby, you’re hurt. Today was—”
“I’m fine,” she argues, drawing a groan out of me when she makes quick work of unbuttoning my pants and tugging down the zipper. I nearly come on the spot when she dips her hands into my boxers and grips my cock. “Now, Matt, please. Please.”
She shatters my control in ways no one else ever has. I break the kiss to trail my mouth over her chin, moving lower as I tug down her top to kiss the valley of her breasts. She moans when I tug down her bra and lick across her nipples, sucking one hotly into my mouth and making her grip tighten around my shaft.
“Fuck,” I curse as I fight the need to spill. Christ, she tastes so good. And the way she reacts, arching into my mouth as my tongue strokes the stiff peaks, licking until she’s sobbing and bucking into me. I slide a hand into her pants and stroke the drenched lining of her underwear, teasing her clit through the thin cotton of her panties.
“Matt!”
I push up and slam my lips back against hers, tugging down her pants and letting them drop to the kitchen floor. Her panties follow. My cock hurts with the need to be inside of her. To claim this woman, I nearly lost to my demons.
Mine.
With a growl, I lift her onto the edge of the counter and line my cock up at her entrance. “Look at me,” I growl, grippingher chin and forcing her eyes back to mine. “Look at me while I take you, little rabbit. You’re mine.”
“Yours,”
She cries out when I thrust deep into her, back arching as she tosses her head back. “Eyes on me,” I growl, my voice thick with passion, and I don’t move until they are.
Mine.
I want her to see the man who will pleasure her body and ruin anyone who dares touch it. “I love you, Ashley. I need you, baby.”
Her eyes swim with tears as she grips my shoulders and rocks forward. “Then show me, Matt. Show me how much you need me.”
I do.
I withdraw completely before slamming hard into her, burying my cock deep into her. She cries out and falls back on the kitchen counter, baring her tits to me, so I lean down and capture a rosy peak between my lips in hot suction as I hammer in and out of her. She’s so tight and incredibly wet. So fucking hot wrapped around my cock, rolling her hips to meet my thrusts, taking everything I give her, bearing every brutal thrust, every fevered touch and nip meant to mark her. To brand her as mine.
