Page 26 of Valiant

“Next time,” she murmured, unwilling to break the intimate contact with him. “I want you now.” She wrapped her legs around him as he thrust into her, going deep in one motion. They both moaned with the pleasure of it, and then he was kissing her again.

His hands went around her torso, holding her tight to him as they moved together. Their skin became slick and heated. She dragged her fingernails down his back as sensation built inside her. When she came, she broke from his kiss as she arched upward and cried out his name.

His head pressed into her shoulder as he murmured, “Kelsey, Kelsey, so good, so good.” His body shuddered with his release. She didn’t want the moment to end. She wanted to stay like that forever, but soon, he kissed her again, soft, loving kisses on her lips and closed eyes. He left her then to clean up, and she nearly whimpered with the loss, but he was back in seconds. He pulled the blankets up around them and tucked her against his side.

“I’ve missed this. Missed…us,” he said.

She shifted her head to kiss his cheek before settling back down. “Me too.”

FIFTEEN

Cole slipped from Kelsey’s bed in the middle of the night when he heard Eddy stirring, wanting to let her rest. He couldn’t help but smile as he pulled on his gym shorts. Making love with her was even better than he remembered, and he loved sleeping and waking with her. During the day she was logical and organized, driven. In bed, everything altered, and she softened in the sexiest way possible.

“How’s Daddy’s little man?” he greeted his son as he leaned over the crib to lift him out. At first, he’d struggled to think of Eddy as his, but it was easy now. Natural, even, when the little guy was looking up at him with a smile. “Let’s go downstairs. I don’t want to wake your mama.”

With light footsteps, Cole took the baby to the kitchen and prepared a bottle while he talked to Eddy to keep him happy. They moved into the living room and sat on the couch while Eddy took the bottle. The quiet of the night was soothing, as was the soft snuffle of Eddy drinking the formula. Cole had had no idea that he’d even wanted moments like this. He liked the baby scent and the way Eddy curled into him when he moved him to his shoulder.

The baby was snuggly and sleepy, making Cole want to keep holding him even though it was two in the morning and Cole was tired. He just wasn’t ready to return Eddy to his crib. He stayed longer on the couch, closing his eyes as Eddy rested against him and slept. Suddenly, he felt more than heard movement near him and Eddy was lifted away.

“Just me,” Kelsey whispered to him. “I’ll put him back to bed. Are you…?” She left the question open-ended. Did she think he wasn’t returning to her bed? If so, she was wrong. He couldn’t imagine wanting to be anywhere else.

“Right behind you.” Out of habit he checked the downstairs rooms before going up. She was already back in bed, curled up on her side when he joined her. He scooted close facing her and could see that her eyes were open. Something was worrying her, and he didn’t have to wait long to find out what it was.

“How much longer will you be stateside?” she asked softly.

It was a familiar question between the two of them. Their entire relationship had been in small clusters of time—a few days here and few weeks there. But it was also an indication of how things had changed since he’d first arrived on her doorstep. Then, she’d been reluctant to let him in. And now, it seemed she didn’t want him to go.

“Not sure,” he said, being completely honest with her. “We were pulled stateside and put on hiatus after the SEAL team was ambushed. Now that Gomez has been arrested for the leak, I’m guessing that missions will start up again.” She closed her eyes, half-turning her face into the pillow. It clearly wasn’t the answer she’d wanted, but she wouldn’t say that. “Kels, look at me.” He waited for her to comply. “I’m still on leave, so I’m not going anywhere. I don’t plan on returning to my team until your father is located or comes home on his own. I have to know that you and Eddy are safe. I don’t care how long that takes.”

“You can’t make that promise,” she said. “If you get called in, you’ll have to go. That’s the way it is.”

“I can apply for emergency family leave if necessary.” He’d already considered that possibility. His regular leave was almost half over, and they were still no closer to knowing where Edwin was.

She gave him a half-smile. “I appreciate the offer, but Dad will come home soon, and you’ll be free to go.”

He was no longer sure that he wanted that. By leaving, he’d have his freedom, something he’d always deemed important, but the cost was that it would be months before he saw Kelsey or Eddy again. How much would the baby change in that time? How many nights would he miss the chance to hold her in his arms?

“I’ll do what I need to for you,” he said, unwilling to express everything he was thinking, but wanting her to be reassured. He’d never be able to return to active duty knowing that they were vulnerable, knowing they needed him. The two of them were his to protect.

“You’re a good man, Cole.” She gave him a sleepy, lingering kiss and snuggled closer, but he hadn’t missed the sadness and acceptance in her voice. She expected him to go. Maybe not right away, but eventually. She’d been saying goodbye to military men since she was a little girl. She wouldn’t try to stop him, just as she hadn’t last December. He wished he could go back and do that conversation again—but he still wasn’t sure what he should have said or done. She’d wanted them to be a family, and he wasn’t sure he could have given that to her.

Love was something he and Kelsey had never spoken directly about. After his disastrous first attempt at it, he’d never been sure he could go there in a relationship, and she’d seemed to perceive that and hadn’t pushed him. But…but he loved Eddy. That was obvious to him, and easy. What he felt for Kelsey wasn’t easily defined. Was it love? The kind of love that came with family and happiness? That was his last thought before drifting off to sleep with Kelsey in his arms.

He woke alone, immediately recalling where his thoughts had gone during the night. The light of day was supposed to bring clarity, but so far all it brought to him was the smell of coffee. He rolled out of her bed and grabbed a quick shower before heading to join Kelsey. From the bottom of the stairs, he could hear Eddy crying. Kelsey paced back and forth in the kitchen with the baby tucked against her. A half-eaten piece of toast was on the counter next to her untouched coffee.

“Bad morning,” she said when she saw him. “Eddy’s a mess. I think it’s the tooth. Maybe. I don’t know.” The soft, sexy woman of the night before was gone. She was in mom mode, the stressed-out version. Her hair was damp, which surprised him since he hadn’t heard her in the shower. He’d let his vigilance slip, and that worried him.

“I’ll take him so you can finish your breakfast,” he offered, holding his arms out. Lately when he’d done that, Eddy moved toward him. Not that morning. The little tyke wanted his mama, but Cole wanted her to have time to herself. “Come on,” he coaxed, giving Eddy a smile.

Even Kelsey looked indecisive for a moment, and then handed over the crying baby. “Give me ten minutes.” She tossed the cold toast in the trash and poured her coffee down the drain before remaking her breakfast.

Since he wanted her to relax, he took Eddy with him and walked through the house, trying to settle the baby. It didn’t work. Eddy’s cries were lessening, but not disappearing. He briefly thought of calling his mom and asking her advice, but that would become a difficult discussion very quickly since his parents were unaware of their grandson. He hadn’t wanted them to be disappointed over learning they had a grandchild at the same time that they were told that he—and therefore they—wouldn’t be a part of the child’s life.

He was going to tell them. That was one decision about his future that he’d managed to make. They deserved to know, and it would be good for Kelsey. He believed now, as he hadn’t before, that she’d welcome his parents reaching out. When he was deployed again, his mom and dad would be more people in California to support Kelsey. She could call on them for an extra set of hands.

“Your mama’ll probably have to beat them off,” he said to Eddy. “They are going to be excited to see you, and maybe a little mad at me.” More like disappointed. He accepted that, knowing they’d get over it quickly. And he’d feel less guilty knowing that Kelsey had their help and Eddy would have their love.

Since talking seemed to calm Eddy, Cole kept going, telling him about his grandma and grandpa and the whale-watching boat that his dad operated. Eventually, Eddy quieted. He didn’t fall asleep, but he wasn’t crying, so that was a victory of sorts. Cole was walking another lap of the living room when Kelsey came from the kitchen.

---