Always a Warrior(66)

Keeping her hands in one of his, he gripped her chin. “Look at me,” he said softly.

“Please.”



His face was blurry when she met his gaze. She blinked but the tears only fell faster. His thumb swept over her trembling lips. Desire jolted her and her heart clenched in longing.



When he spoke, his voice was low and full of regret. “Do you want me to leave?”



“No.” The word was soft, barely audible. She bit her lip again to stop the persistent trembling.



“Don’t do that,” he murmured, sweeping his thumb over her lips again. Framing her face in both hands, he used his thumbs to wipe the tears until her vision cleared.



Relief mingled with uncertainty in his eyes. He leaned closer, pressed his lips gently to hers. Pleasure moved slowly from that point of contact into her whole system. Her lips parted in ALWAYS A WARRIOR Patricia Bruening

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surprise and his tongue touched hers. Her heartbeat quickened. Her pulse scrambled. He lifted his lips from hers. The fierce gleam in his eyes held her.



“Please,” he said softly. “Give me another chance.”

“I

….”



“I need you,” he interrupted quietly. “Let me try.”



Stunned, bewildered, she only stared at him until he tugged her gently into his lap and wrapped his arms around her. His heat suffused her. His heart thudded against hers.



“I missed you, so much,” he muttered darkly into her hair, his voice thick with his familiar passion.



She tilted her head until her eyes met his hungry gaze. Desire, long denied, shot through her. She tangled her fingers in his hair, applying just enough pressure to show him what she wanted. His mouth covered hers, seeking and demanding, then devouring. This she could give him, freely and willingly, without strings. The rest would take time. Desire exploded into a raging firestorm enveloping them both.



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Chapter Ten




Just three weeks after Damien’s heart-stopping reappearance in her life, Laurie still had not quite grown used to his presence in her house and in her bed. As she kicked the car door closed, she looked at the front door of her house and smiled. Her heart soared at the simple knowledge that he was there, waiting for her. Carrying four plastic bags of groceries, she entered the house, kicked that door shut behind her, and hauled the groceries into the kitchen.



Damien sat at the table scanning the classified ads of several newspapers. As she watched, his finger slowly slid down the employment column of the newspaper. An erotic memory of his fingers sliding over her skin just as slowly put a flutter in her stomach. The finger stopped in the middle of the printed column. She lifted her gazes to his face, caught his welcoming smile, and her heart lurched. The concentrated look in his eyes softened and those dark eyes brightened.



“Any more bags out there?” He pushed the chair back and stood up.



She shook her head. “This is it. Where’s Stacy?”



An indulgent grin curved his lips. “In her room, drawing pictures.”



Laurie shot an amused glance at the refrigerator door, which was covered with her daughter’s drawings. The pictures, done in crayon or colored pencil or marker, varied but the basic theme was the same in each one. Laurie, Stacy, and Damien held hands in various childish scenes. Laurie gave a mock groan.



“Guess I’ll have to start covering the walls.” She smiled at her lover. “How many do you have in your wallet now?”



“Three.” His hearty laughter filled the kitchen and her heart. “You?”



“Two in my wallet and two taped to the bulletin board in my office.”



Chuckling, Laurie put the groceries away as Damien returned to the table and his newspapers. She watched him curiously out the corner of her eye as she rummaged around in the freezer. Was he serious about leaving the Navy? She popped London broil into the microwave to defrost. Biting her lower lip, she touched the defrost button then programmed the weight of the beef and hit the start button. Finally she leaned against the edge of the sink, smoking a cigarette, and looked at Damien again. Why on earth would he give up a career that suited him so well?



“What are you doing?” she finally asked, as much from concern as curiosity.



“Scoping out the job market,” he replied without looking up. With a deft flick of those amazing hands, he switched to the next newspaper.



“Why?” She genuinely wanted and needed to know if Damien planned to change his entire life and why he would do such a thing.



“If I don’t re-enlist, I’ll need a job.” He flashed an engaging grin. “You know—one of those nine-to-five weekday things most civilians have.”