Page 68 of Explosive Vengeance

She lifted a shoulder. “I like to think I’m pretty brave in the face of danger. But that…” She nodded at the point and the beach beyond it. “I honestly wonder if I’d have had the guts to step out of the landing craft that morning.”

He stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. She leaned into him, fitting snug and warm against the front of his body.

He loved holding her. Loved that this strong, independent woman had let him in as far as she had. But he wanted even deeper. He wanted all the way in, until she couldn’t stand being without him.

“You don’t make a charge like that because you’re brave,” he told her. “You do it because of the people beside and behind you.”

“I don’t know what that feels like.” She tilted her head back to look at him. “Is that what it was like for you?”

“Yes.” She’d never had teammates beside her and at her back when she’d gone into harm’s way, except for yesterday. “There were plenty of times when I was afraid on the battlefield, but you do what you have to do.” When fear had intruded through all his mental shields during a mission, seeping through all the professionalism and training. “Your focus is on getting the mission done, and making sure everyone on your team gets to go home alive.”

Her brown eyes shone with admiration as she gazed up at him. “That was romantic and sexily alpha at the same time, fyi.”

He gave a quiet laugh. “Didn’t feel like it at the time, I promise you.” He squeezed her tighter, enjoying the feel of her and glad he was able to share this moment with her in this hallowed place. “And,fyi, you’ll never have to go into harm’s way alone ever again.”

Her little smile turned his heart over. “That’s a pretty mind-blowing concept for me.”

“You’ll get used to it.” He tucked her back into his hold and rested his chin on the top of her head, taking in the panoramic view and thinking of the sacrifices made on that terrible day.

Next they drove to the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial.

They were both silent as they entered the cemetery. Almost two-hundred acres of beautifully manicured grounds containing more than nine-thousand burials. Even though Heath had known what to expect, the sight of all those white marble crosses still hit him hard.

The visual impact of all those crosses laid out would affect even the hardest heart, but the American flag flying above them was too much.

An instant lump formed in Heath’s throat, the backs of his eyes stabbed by a thousand pinpricks. Before him lay a testament to the cost of war. Every one of these graves marked someone’s son, husband, father, brother, friend. It made him think of the friends he’d lost in service to their country. Made him wonder for the millionth time if their sacrifice had been worth it.

He had to believe it was. He couldn’t handle the alternative.

Something brushed his hand, then slender fingers twined through his. “You okay?” Chloe asked.

He nodded, not trusting himself to speak as he took it all in and remembered his dead buddies. During his tours he’d seen a lot of death. But losing a friend never got any easier, and his mother’s violent death would always haunt him too.

He was thankful he hadn’t seen it, but he would never stop feeling that he should have been there to protect her. That he should have forced her to leave that abusive asshole before it was too late. Maybe then she would still be alive.

Chloe squeezed. “You lost friends overseas.”

She was so perceptive. Even after just a few days together, she saw the deepest parts of him. No one had ever done that before. Not even his family, and he loved them to death. “Four.”

“And your mother. You blame yourself for not being there to save her.”

God. He finally found the courage to look at her, unashamed that his eyes were wet. “Yes.”

A nod. Then she turned her gaze back to the crosses in front of them, allowing him some privacy while still giving him the comfort of her support. “We’ll honor them all today in this sacred place. Together.”

Her quiet words almost did him in. If she’d made a big deal out of it or tried to fawn all over him, he would have been embarrassed and probably annoyed. The way she’d handled it was just so damn perfect. “And Fleur,” he managed past the restriction in his throat. He hadn’t known her, but he wished he had. To earn Chloe’s love and loyalty, she must have been an amazing person.

Chloe flashed him a poignant smile that pierced his heart. “Yes. And Fleur too.”

They stayed where they were for another ten minutes or so, standing side by side in silence as he privately grieved for his lost friends. When he tugged on her hand, she didn’t say a word, just walked beside him down the path. Driving away from the cemetery later, he felt more at peace than he had in a long time.

As soon as they were inside their rental condo, he picked her up and carried her to the bedroom, where he laid her down on the bed and took his sweet time making her come with his mouth before sliding deep inside her. She was right there with him, urging him on with sweet gasps and whispers, holding him close.

In the aftermath he rolled them so she was on top, her cheek nestled into the hollow of his shoulder. A level of peace he’d never experienced before flowed over him.

Chloe’s phone rang. On a groan she reached across him to grab it from the nightstand. “Hey, Itch. Everything good?” She listened for a minute. “Copy that. I’ll tell him.”

“Something up?” he asked when she ended the call.

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