Page 117 of Beast

We were face-to-face, bodies intertwined. He slowly guided me onto him, staring into my eyes. I gasped as I felt his hard cock penetrate me. But my fear went away. There were no flashbacks. We were finally becoming one. After all the nights of longing, apart, we’d made our way back to each other. This man, my husband, loved me. He kissed my face, went slow, and let me control the motion, the need.

He kissed my nipples. Then stopped, cupped my chin and looked me in the eyes. “I love you, baby.”

My confidence rose. This wasn’t some cheap sexual encounter. He was now the father of my child.

He sucked on my nipples as I rode him, I couldn’t get enough. Slow and shallow at first, then fast and deep. Every push and pull felt incredible. His big arms, his sexy chest, he was so goddam sexy. I was so fucking wet, there was a deep throbbing in my belly, in my soul. Faster, deeper, every thrust, every moan, brought me closer to Pat. “Pat, oh-my-God. Pat.”

“Come for me, baby.”

His words took me over the edge. I was almost there, but I held back, wanting to stay at this pleasure point for as long as I could. My hips bucked, I thrashed on him, rocking on his hips, little circles and twists, my core on fire.

“Pat, you’re so fucking incredible. OhmyGod. Pat.” I came, again and again, his body steady, waiting out my pleasure. Euphoria overtook my body, and he finally exploded inside me. Filling me with such joy. This was the most amazing high ever, even better than heroin.

“I love you, Annie. Finding you was the best thing that ever happened to me.”

I collapsed onto the bed. For once, I didn’t need to explain my feelings, my emotions. I cuddled up into my husband’s strong embrace, and he rocked me to sleep.

38

Patrick

A FEW DAYS LATER, I woke up with her in my arms. Her head was tucked under my chin and she was curled up in front of me, leg thrown over my thighs and hair strewn across my pillow.

I wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer to me. I needed the connection that only she was able to provide. The movement startled her and her eyes shot open and she gasped. When she realized it was me, her body relaxed and she gave me a sleepy smile.

“Good morning.”

“Morning.”

“What time is it?”

“It’s early. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“That’s okay.” She snuggled closer and kissed my jaw line. “This is nice. What do we have planned today?”

“Well, I figured we could stop by my mom’s on the way back to San Diego, say hi. I haven’t called her since I got back and she would probably want to know her baby boy has gotten himself married to a beautiful woman, and has a son.”

She jerked backwards. “You haven’t called your mom since you’ve been back? Patrick Walsh how could you!” She paused, then her eyes widened and she rolled out of bed. “Oh, my God, I have to get dressed.”

I grabbed for her, but she pulled away and started babbling to herself as she sorted through her things. “Baby, come on. She’s not going to care what you look like, I promise.”

“Says you. Of course, she’s going to care what I look like. I can’t meet your mom for the first time looking like a mess.”

She grabbed a pile of things and headed toward the bathroom, but I jumped out of bed and stopped her. “All she will see are the same things I see when I look at you. Someone who is strong, loyal, and kind. I don’t want you to freak out about this. Trust me; she will think you’re the best woman on Earth.”

Tears filled her eyes and I crushed her to my chest. “Please, don’t worry,” I told her. “She’s going to love you. You look beautiful in anything.”

Later, we pulled up to my childhood home. It looked the same, and even though it was a dump, it was home to me. My mom had scraped and saved all her money to buy this place so I could have a permanent home.

My mom ran out the door, her hair with a few more gray streaks than the last time I saw her. “Pat, I’m so happy you’re home. Is this your new girlfriend?”

When I called to tell her I was coming by, I’d simply told her I was bringing someone special. I owed it to my mom to tell her in person. “Mom, this is Annie. Annie Walsh. And our son, Gabriel.”

My mom clutched my arm. Her eyes immediately darted to Annie’s left ring finger and then to her belly. “You eloped and didn’t tell me? Pat, how could you?”

“Sorry, Mom. I proposed last week and we got married that day. I wanted to do it before I deployed again and we were in Nevada. We’ll have a big wedding later.”

My mom and I had always been close. She knew my views on marriage and that I would never ever enter into it lightly. I’d been raised to respect women. Even if I had veered off course. “I’m a grandmother?” She knelt down and hugged Gabriel. “Is there another baby on the way?”