Page 90 of Unloaded
“Hell, yeah we will!” Rosco chuckles. “Luke’s going to have to hire a contractor to sound proof the walls. I don’t want anyone else knowing what you sound like when you come.”
I’m sure my grin is matching his. My face hurts I’m smiling so big, and I’ve never been happier in my life.
“I love you, angel,” Rosco whispers softly. His hand cups the side of my neck while his thumb ghosts along my jaw. “For the last six years, I’ve punished myself for the loss of the 1Lt. I made myself believe I didn’t deserve to have a life and certainly not to fall in love. The night I met you made me want to rethink my self-imposed punishment.
“Wait, strike that, youmademe rethink my self-imposed punishment. It took too fucking long, but now I’m ready for this. I’m ready for us. We’re a forever deal, angel.”
“Yes, we are,” I murmur in agreement. Leaning into his embrace, I press my lips to his sealing our promise.
39
ROSCO
It’s been several months since we returned home to Virginia Beach. Nicolai had called less than twenty-four hours after he left, saying that Vena was no longer an issue, and he was flying the boys to D.C. on his private jet.
Uncle Branch and Nicolai had accompanied them. It was the strangest, yet happiest family reunion ever. I’d stood by and watched Rachel greet her brothers. The three of them had held on to one another for the longest time. Even the boys’ faces had been wet when they finally broke apart.
Uncle Branch had offered to come home with us. Bo and I were more than happy to have him tag along. I’d been a little worried about how things would go when we got back to Luke’s, but my fears had been for nothing. Luke was more than happy to see Uncle Branch. He’d invited him to stay at the beach house, which Uncle Branch had quickly accepted. He hasn’t seemed in any hurry to head back to Chicago, either.
Mom showed up a few days ago and things have been a little tense with so many of us in the same house, but it seems to be working, at least for now. Uncle Branch had put mom in her place rather quickly but in a kinder manner than I’d expected.
“Rosco?” Rachel’s sweet voice calls from the bathroom, pulling me from my thoughts. “Can you grab my lotion from the night stand?” Her beautiful head peeks around the door frame to make eye contact with me.
My breath stills in my chest, just like it does every time I look at her. It doesn’t matter how many times I see her in a day. She takes my breath away every damn time.
“Got it,” I answer, heading into the ensuite bathroom of our room at Luke’s. We’ve been looking at houses, but we haven’t found anything we like yet. I’m considering buying some land and building, but we’d both have long commutes for work if we do that.
“Here you go,” I say, handing Rachel her lotion. My shoulder leans up against the doorframe as I get comfortable to watch the show: her applying it to her arms and legs.
“You just going to stand there?” Rachel shifts her gaze to mine in the mirror.
“Yep, unless you want me to apply it,” I reply with a smirk before pushing off the doorframe to step into the bathroom.
“No, thank you,” Rachel moves the lotion bottle as I reach for it. “If I let you apply my lotion, we won’t be leaving this room anytime soon. Everyone will know why we’re late, and I’ve not gotten over the embarrassment from Saturday morning yet.”
I don’t even attempt to hold in the laugh that escapes me. Rachel gives me a withering look. “I rather enjoyed Saturday morning, and I know without a doubt you did, too.”
“You’re right I did, until we went down for breakfast.” Rachel’s cheeks are just as red as they were Saturday morning when Marley asked if she’d had a good morning.
“You know how inappropriate my siblings and their wives are,” I murmur, stepping closer and snatching the lotion from her hand. She’s only wearing her bra and panties. It would only take seconds to strip her completely naked, but I won’t add toher embarrassment. I hate that she was embarrassed the other morning.
We’d tried something new that had her begging for mercy before she came. It was the most beautiful experience of my life. She’d been the most beautiful person I’d ever seen or heard in that moment. I fully intend to do it to her again, but only when we’re sure no one is around to hear the effects.
Rachel shivers and goosebumps erupt over her skin as I smooth my lotion covered hand over her upper back. Taking my time, being sure to add more lotion when her body soaks up what’s on my hand, I make small circles on her back moving lower and lower until I reach the waistband of her underwear.
“That’s enough,” Rachel says on a breathy whisper, drawing a bigger grin from me. “I-I can reach everything else.”
“All right, if you insist.” Reluctantly I hand over the lotion bottle, realizing I’m going to smell her raspberry and iris scent all day. It’s definitely going to be a good day.
“I can’t believe how nervous I am,” Rachel comments as she finishes rubbing lotion over her abdomen. “I just want everything to go perfectly. It’s such an important day. It’s their eighteenth birthday, probably the last one I’ll get to spend with them, since they’re both determined to leave me behind. And not only that, it’s their send off to boot camp as they join the military.”
“Angel,” I scold for the tenth time today. “They aren’t leaving you. It’s part of life. They’re growing up and beginning to make their own decisions. I know it’s going to be hard for you, but you need to let them become the wonderful men you’ve raised them to be.”
“I know,” Rachel’s voice cracks, her eyes shimmering with tears. “I would never tell them how much this is killing me. Thank you for letting me cry and rant to you when they aren’t around.”
“I will always be your shoulder to cry on, your punching bag to release your frustrations on, and your sounding board when you need to work out a problem, just like I know you’ll do the same for me.”
Her tears stream down her cheeks as I take her into my arms. “Why’d you have to go and say such sweet things when I’m already about to cry?” She lifts her wet eyes to mine. “Now I’m going to have to redo my makeup.”
