Always a Warrior(81)

She didn’t want to leave her family, such as it was. I can’t blame her for it.” But the hard glint in his eyes said he did blame her.



“Sounds selfish of her, to me,” Laurie commented and her heart ached for him.



Damien looked at her in surprise, eyebrow raised, but continued. “When I was home, she wasn’t. I stayed with the kids while she did whatever she wanted. When we were together, we fought—viciously. After a couple of years of that routine, I came back to find divorce papers waiting for me. I didn’t fight it. There was no point. She got her divorce and my kids.”



He fell silent, obviously finished, but Laurie felt his pain and anger like a vise around her heart. She framed his face in her hands and looked into his eyes.



“Damien, she didn’t love you,” she said quietly but firmly.



“I know that,” he said bitterly as he grasped her wrists. But he didn’t pull her hands away.

“It was a relief. I was glad to see the last of her. But she took my kids, kept them away from me.

I haven’t seen or talked to them in years. She won’t allow contact. They’ve grown up without me.”



“Damien,” Laurie said softly, sadly, but no other words came to mind. She wrapped her arms around him and simply held him as she blinked back her sympathetic tears. Her heart hurt for him but at the same time she was fiercely glad he was with her. He clamped his arms around her and buried his face in her hair.



“I love you,” she whispered.



Without a word, he tightened his embrace but lifted his head until his gaze met hers. A gentle smile curved his lips as he eased back and then drew her into his lap. His eyes gleamed wet but no tears fell and she wanted to cry for him. He had lost more than she had ever known to keep his career. It was a measure of his love for her that he had given up that career for her, though she never wanted him to make so great a sacrifice. His eyes cleared then filled with love.

She lay her head on his shoulder and felt as well as heard his deep, contented sigh.



* * * *



Over the next few days, Laurie discovered she enjoyed the quiet time she had to herself during the hour between Damien’s departure for work and Stacy getting up for school. On the back porch, she sipped coffee and watched the majestic sunrise and the brightening of morning.

Peace and quiet enveloped her during that time and she was completely content. She had her daughter and the man she loved with her.



Saturday morning, however, was quiet different. She slept late and stretched under the covers as wakefulness gradually overtook her. Damien’s arm lay comfortably across her stomach and she snuggled closer, her back to his chest, seeking the warmth of his embrace. With every ALWAYS A WARRIOR Patricia Bruening

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deep breath he took, his chest rose and fell against her back. His breath caressed and warmed her skin.



She squirmed slowly, felt his arousal against her buttocks. The hitch in his breath told her he no longer slept. His arm tightened and pulled her closer. She wriggled and then rolled in his arms until her breasts pressed against his chest. Her nipples tingled, sending waves of pleasure over her senses.



“Morning,” she murmured, content to remain wrapped in his arms.



The low buzz of Saturday cartoons drifted up the stairs and through the open bedroom door. Stacy had been up for a while. Her Saturday routine never changed. She woke early to watch cartoons until noon.



Basking in family routine, Laurie looked at Damien and smiled. “I love waking up with you.”



He grinned then shifted abruptly and pinned her to the mattress, his leg across hers.

Moving slowly, he placed her hand on his erection and moved his hips suggestively. Desire flashed in her like a wildfire. Though his underwear covered him, her palm tingled and his heat scorched her. She stroked him, teasing and tantalizing, until he leaned closer and fastened his mouth on hers. His kiss was pure seduction and she reveled in it. His tongue teased her lips apart and she savored the unique flavor of him.



The abrupt loud ring of the front doorbell jerked them apart. Laurie flinched automatically then yanked the bedcovers to her chin. Low voices and footsteps ascended the stairs.



“Mommy! Damien!” Stacy’s excited shout drowned out the two unfamiliar adult voices.



With a fierce scowl at the interruption, Damien sat up. The sheet fell to his waist.

“Damn.”



“What on earth is going on?” Laurie demanded, irked by the interruption. Her darting glance fell on his broad hairy chest and her breath caught in her throat.



“Good morning!” A cheerful falsetto voice filled the air just before a large female form filled the doorway.