Page 6 of Pierre
“But I especially worried about you, Pierre. What you do, what all of you do, is so dangerous. You’re big, tall, and wide, and I keep thinking that someone can easily see you and harm you.
“I see men and women come in from the field all the time. Their injuries are usually minor as wounds go. But sometimes, they’re severe and-and all I think about is…”
“Us,” nodded Pierre.
“No. You. I think about you, Pierre. I think about you, I worry about you. I’m not even sure when it happened. It started to get worse when I was in high school. I thought, I’m old enough, almost. I’m almost old enough to kiss him.”
“You’re old enough now,” he said in a throaty voice.
“I am. And yet here I sit, still not kissed by you.”
“I can fix that.”
He gripped the back of her neck, pulling her closer. She slid across the leather bench, her hands flat against his chest, feeling those rippling muscles once again.
She couldn’t look away from him. Her huge eyes took in his every movement. As he lowered his full, luscious lips, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and held on for dear life.
Ambry had been kissed a time or two, but nothing could have prepared her for this. Nothing could have made her aware of how a real man kisses a woman.
Pierre could sense her hesitation and inexperience. He rested his lips against hers, her hot breath sending shivers down his spine. As she scooted closer, he gently nibbled on her lips. He was all ready to push back when she opened her mouth wide, inviting him in. And he was no fool. He accepted that invitation.
As his mouth massaged hers, their bodies wiggled and wormed their way against one another until Ambry found herself sitting on his lap. Her dress was hiked up around her thighs, and he lay one large hand on her upper thigh, gently squeezing.
“Am-Ambry,” he said breathlessly. “I think we have to stop, or I won’t be able to.”
“I-uh, I don’t want to stop,” she said sweetly.
“Oh, baby. Me too. But we have a lot to talk about, and we need to get to know one another as adults, not just old friends,” he grinned. She looked so disappointed, it gutted Pierre. “Ambry, listen to me. I’ve waited, not so patiently, for you. You, honey. I want to do this right. I want to ask your father’s permission to date you, and if I’m lucky, to marry you and love you for the rest of our lives.”
“Oh. Oh, wow,” she said, staring up at him. “Really?”
“Really. Don’t you feel the same?”
“Y-yes. I mean. Yes. I just want us to talk about children.” He nodded, smiling at her.
“I know. I’ve heard you’re a little afraid of the triplet gene.” She stared at him with confusion, then grinned.
“Right. Big mouth Bailey.”
“Your sister loves you, and she was nice enough to tell me that you might feel the same about me as I feel about you.”
“When do you have to go back?” she asked.
“Day after tomorrow.”
“Okay. I guess we squeeze as much into twenty-four hours as we can.”
“Let’s start with that kiss again.”
CHAPTER THREE
Twenty-four hours wasn’t nearly enough time. Pierre spoke to Ham and Sadie together, politely asking for permission to date their daughter. Ham said nothing at first, waiting for Sadie’s response.
“You still have time left on your contract, right?” she asked him.
“Yes, ma’am. About four months. I’m hoping to be done after that and return here. But if Ambry is still serving on the hospital ship, I may sign up for another four.”
“Do me a favor, Pierre,” said Sadie with a sad expression. “Get my daughter to come home. I can’t describe it, I can’t explain it, but something feels wrong, and I’m not sure if it’s her or Cole, or both of them.” Pierre nodded.
