Page 66 of Loved By You

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Ria

I spent the entire night in Jack's arms. He gave me three more earth-shattering orgasms. Once again on the living room floor and then he carried me upstairs to the bedroom, where he kissed and touched every part of my body. I have never been with a man who truly worshipped me and made me feel like I was the source of his oxygen—that if he didn't have me, he might die.

There's no doubt Jack and I have a connection that's rare to find in this life. Emotions fleet in and out of my mind as I think about us. About him. I want to be his, to belong to him. But I know I need to be free of Alex's clutches fully first, because that's what Jack deserves. He deserves all of me, not just the broken parts and the little slices I can give him at the moment. I just pray he is willing to wait for me. I’m not naïve. Jack could have any woman he wanted. He’s smart, charismatic, generous, hasa body that looks like it’s been carved by the Greek gods, and a mouth that should come with a warning. Because one taste of Jack and you won't ever recover.

I lay with my arm draped over his chest and our legs tangled together in the sheets. His breathing is slow and watching his chest rise and fall helps my own breathing pattern to even out. I am full of so many thoughts and worries, but I need to learn to enjoy the present and stop worrying about the future.

My room fills with the morning light peeking through the curtains that we didn't fully close. I trace a finger over his tattoos. They run down his left arm, across his chest and down his torso. I focus on his bicep that has a military map on it and notice a scar, unable to stop myself edging my middle finger over it, feeling the slightly raised skin.

Jack moves and begins to wake next to me. He stretches his arms above his head, rubbing his eyes, before he looks down at me with a look of confusion for the briefest of moments before breaking into a panty-melting smile when he realizes where he is.

“Morning, sweetheart,” he says, his voice laced with sleep.

“Good morning, you.” I smile back.

He looks down at my finger where I am still tracing over his scar.

“How did you get this?” I ask softly. He tenses and swallows hard, making me worry I have overstepped.

“I, err, got shot,” he mumbles.

I lift my head quickly. “You got shot?” I gasp.

How did I not know he got shot?

“Hey, hey,” he reassures me. “It was just a graze.”

“That feels more than a graze.”

His hold on me tightens, my face pressed against his chest so hard I can feel his heart hammering.

“Do you want to talk about it?” I ask cautiously, worried I’ve unlocked a memory he's fought hard to bury. I know all too well how that feels. He stares at the ceiling for a few beats before letting out a slow breath.

“It was our last tour of Afghanistan. We were out on a patrol. Noah was in command and we cleared the area. It was safe. There was no way of knowing we would be ambushed. They opened fire on us and a bullet grazed my arm, but…”

He stops, clearing his throat and closing his eyes. I nuzzle into him, trying to show I’m here for him.

“We called for back-up. It was the five of us. Harry, Brad and I took on one side and Noah and Scotty the other, but Scotty got shot and…” His eyes glaze over as if he is replaying the event in his mind.

“Jack, I’m so sorry you had to go through that.” My voice cracks. I can’t begin to imagine the things he's witnessed and the stuff he's had to do to survive. My chest tightens at the thought of him and Noah being in that situation.

“It’s part of the job. We know not everyone comes back, but it always hits harder when it’s someone who is like a brother to you,” he replies as he absentmindedly brushes the back of his knuckles up and down my back, causing me to melt into his touch.

“Noah dragged Scotty to the building to try to bring him back, while the rest of us stayed out to give them cover until back up came, but it was too late for Scotty. After that I couldn't face another tour, so Harry, Brad, and me started to make plans to leave and move to Miami. We tried to get Noah to come, but you know him…”

“Stubborn as a mule,” I agree.

“Yeah.” He laughs, but it’s empty.

“I think you are pretty incredible, Jack Lawson. You really are a real life action man.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Ria

“Okay, sweetie, hold the board up.” Fighting the tears that threaten to form, I take another photo. My baby girl has her first day of Pre-K and I’ve gone all Pinterest mom with the first day of Pre-K board and a cute outfit.

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