Page 22 of The Rough Ride (Sanctuary, Inc. #3)
L iz’s phone rang. Nick. She answered before it had a chance to wake Ella.
“I’m sitting out front. I didn’t want to ring the bell and startle you. May I come in?”
What? She set her book down and scooched across the bed, peeked around the curtain. His truck sat in the driveway behind her car.
“Give me five minutes. I need to pull myself together.”
“You don’t need to fuss, babe. I’ve seen it all before.”
No, you haven’t. He hadn’t seen her leg without the prosthetic yet. “I need to put my leg on to get to the door. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
She hung up and swung herself across the bed to the wheelchair with her leg and slipped on the silicon sleeve.
Damn. She’d need to change into longer pants instead of the boxers she loved at night.
No—she didn’t. The tears from earlier in the evening had everything to do with full disclosure, freedom from pretense.
She glanced in a mirror. Her eyes were puffed-up like tender plums. Oh, well. Stop by without any notice and this is what you get, Nick Flannery. She finger-combed her hair on the way to the door and waved him in.
Only steps from the porch, their gazes locked.
“Oh, babe—your eyes.” His hand caressed the side of her face the second he crossed the threshold.
She placed her hand over his and leaned in a bit. “It was a good cry. Cathartic even. I feel much better.”
“Do you want me to leave?”
“No, of course not. Although, I’ll admit I’m a little surprised you’re back so soon.” A whoosh of relief flooded her system that he had come back at all.
Nick ran a hand through his hair. “I had a few hours to think and a beer with a friend. I’m still working my head with this baby thing, but I honestly believe you did the best you could with the hand you were dealt.”
An instant lump gathered in her throat.
“I didn’t finagle the open relationship to get Ella.” She traced a finger down his cheek. “I wouldn’t have done that to you—to us.”
He kissed the palm of her hand and tugged her into his arms. “I know. I believe you.”
Her arms slipped around him. “I’m so glad I’m not hiding her anymore, Nick.”
“Yeah. Good decision, honey.” He leaned back and gave her a once over. “Want something cool for your face?”
“No. Thanks. It’ll look better in the morning.” She chuckled. “Or worse. I don’t care. I don’t have to work. Are you staying?”
“If it’s okay with you?” He looked at her with hopeful eyes.
“More than.” She locked the door and flipped the living room light switch .
When she turned to him, he picked her up and ducked-walked her down the hallway.
“Which room?”
“First one on the left.” The scent of his woodsy pine soap made her want to burrow into his shoulder.
“That’s what I thought. Eh—same bed you had in high school.”
She rolled her eyes. “New mattress, though.”
Nick barked a laugh. “That’s good. We put a real hurtin’ on the old one as I remember.” He set her down, toed-off his shoes, and pulled his shirt over his head. “Does the baby need to feed or something before you can sleep?”
Liz giggled. “She’s not a vampire from one of those books you like. She doesn’t feed, she eats. I nursed her a little while ago. She’ll most likely sleep ‘til morning.”
“Very funny.” He picked up the sexy romance she’d left in the middle of the bed and looked it over. “Speaking of reading habits, when did these become your thing?”
Her heart warmed. “Romance novels got me through rehab. I needed the happily-ever-after. I grew fond of them.”
He placed the book on the bedside table. “Maybe some night you’ll read me a hot scene? I could learn a thing or two.” He smirked.
Liz stared at his massive chest, defined abs, the tats she loved on his arm and zoned out for a second picturing herself snuggled up, kissing his pecs.
“You don’t sleep with the prosthetic on, do you?”
“No. I take it off. But I sleep on that side of the bed with the chair nearby and the leg propped against it. If I get up, all I have to do is swing myself over the side and put it on.” She sat and removed the outer silicone piece.
“You sure you’re ready for this? You haven’t seen it yet.
” Nerves danced in her stomach like the first time she’d undressed in front of him.
He sat next to her on the bed. “I’ve got buddies that came back with pieces. But yours is personal.” He gave her knee a gentle squeeze.
She nodded. “Whatever you do, don’t look at it and say they did a good job.”
His eyebrows lifted. “What?”
“A lot of people say they did a good job when they see it for the first time. I guess they’re uncomfortable or stuck for something to say.” She slipped the final silicone layer off and removed the prosthetic, setting it aside.
Nick moved in front of her on one knee and caressed her upper and lower leg, running his calloused thumbs through the divots—favoring the stump. He gave her a tender kiss on the lips and gathered her hands in his, his sapphire eyes a darkened furious storm.
In a voice thick with emotion, he said, “Thank you for your service, Lieutenant.”
Oh hell. Her throat slammed shut when her eyes brimmed with tears. “Thank you,” she choked out. The tears she thought were over trickled down her cheeks as she leaned her forehead against his. “I’m so sorry. I should’ve told you about Ella. I should’ve dealt with it.”
His fingers gently framed her face. “You had a lot to deal with, babe. I’m sorry, too. I should’ve pushed harder to find out what was going on. I wasn’t there for you.”
“It was my fault for pushing you away. You were discharged from a career you loved to be with me, and I didn’t even greet you at the airport.” Regret filled tears fell as she traced his jaw with her fingers. “I apologize from the bottom of my heart. ”
He kissed her forehead and her nose and nipped her ear lobe. “You were kind of busy. It was the day of your Purple Heart ceremony.”
“Don’t let me off that easy. I was scared to tell you about Ella.” She placed a gentle kiss on his lips. “I’ve been such a coward, Nick.” She grabbed a tissue from the bedside table.
He tilted her chin up with a finger. “You’ve a survivor, honey.”
She swept the hair from her face. “Thank you for forgiving me.”
He gave her a lingering kiss. “You’re not the only one who needs forgiveness, babe.”
She ran her hands through his hair. “C’mon, soldier. You’re the perfect one here.”
Nick shook his head. “No, I’m not. I hooked up with somebody a couple weeks ago. I gotta get past it. It’s eating me alive inside.”
Liz leaned back on her elbows and cocked her head. “Are you still seeing her?”
“No. Never was. It came at me out of the blue.” He held up his hands. “I still don’t know what came over me, but I own it. It’ll never happen again. It was beyond humiliating. I’m pretty sure I shouted your name at some point.”
Liz narrowed her eyes. “It served her right.” She sat up and wrapped her arms around him. “You allowed yourself to be in a situation where you were an easy mark. I did the same thing. Stupid human stuff.” If she ever met the woman, she’d have to hurt her.
He sighed against her neck. “We’ve both crossed lines that we wish we hadn’t.” He lingered at the little hollow beneath her earlobe.
His every touch ignited a slow burning flame of desire, and Liz pulled him closer.
“I want to feel again, Nick. Help me, please.” She took his mouth in a deep kiss, her hands roving the breadth of his chest to the rose tat above his heart.
She craved every sexy inch of this man. If only they could find their way back to the good that had defined them in the past.
He clicked off the lamp on the bedtable. “Ready to get some shut-eye? We both need it,” he snickered.
She smacked his arm. “Always such a tease…”
His tone grew serious. “You’re the only woman I want to love, Liz.” He rested his nose against hers. “Gimme a heads-up here. Is sex any different when you’re not wearing the prosthetic? Anything I need to know?” His index finger lightly traced the length of her arm.
Liz flopped back on the bed. “I’ve got no idea. Before the other night at your place, I hadn’t had sex since us in Iraq.” Someday, she’d figure out why that confession felt embarrassing.
“Well, then.” He stood and lit the candles on her dresser, extinguishing the match between two fingers before tossing it in the garbage. “Knowing you the way I do, it’s a wonder you haven’t been consumed by fire.” He gave her a predatory smile.
In the past, this had been her cue to take off running until he caught her. But now? She glanced at the prosthetic a few feet away.
As if he could read her mind, he strode over and lifted her chin with his finger until their eyes met. “Would you like to put the prosthetic back on? It won’t bother me a bit.”
Liz scrunched up her face and giggled. “No, I’ll just stretch out here on the bed and do my best imitation of a pin-up girl.
” She shimmied backwards, gave him a wink, and reclined in a sexy centerfold pose.
Her heart hammered erratically in her chest as she tossed her hair over one shoulder and crooked a beckoning finger.
He hovered above her and licked his lips. “Mmm, lucky me.” He dropped his boxers and kicked them aside.
“I didn’t know if you’d come back. I wish I’d worn something sexy.” Not that it mattered. She’d be nude putty in his arms any minute now.
“Nice thought, but I’m much more interested in what you’re not wearing.
” He nudged her hands over her head and slipped her roomy t-shirt off, tossing it on the wheelchair.
He bent and nibbled her lips as his fingers danced across her breasts.
“Elizabeth, I’m gonna take you apart inch by inch, and you’re going to let go of all that angst you’ve been nursing for fifteen months. No pun intended. It’ll take a while.”
Her insides quickened with the husky promise in his voice. She could hardly wait. When Nick threatened a thorough loving, he fulfilled her every desire and then some.
He kissed her forehead and rested his nose against hers. She laughed out loud when he hauled her into the middle of the bed and removed her boxers in one swift move.
She reached down to tug off her lace undies, but he swatted her hand away.
“I’ll get them when I’m ready.” He stood proud as a bull for a moment before he straddled her.
Her pulse quickened at the intensity in his eyes. Finally, her Nick—hard-bodied and hot. All to herself in a soft bed.
She sighed with desire. He scooted behind and pulled them into a spoon position, his hands plucking softly at her nipples. Oh, please. She backed into him, longing for closer, and reached again to get rid of her underwear.
“Nuh-uh, sugar. I get to take them off.” He slipped his fingers through hers and guided them through the edge of her panties. “Show me the right spot, babe. I want to feel you.”
Oh, she loved this man. They moved in unison, each touch forcing her higher, tighter. Her core quivered with anticipation. She threw her injured leg over his hip and arched her back in a consuming freefall of pleasure, his voice a whispered echo in her ear.
“That’s my girl. Enjoy it as long as you can.” He kissed her hair and shoulder. “In a few minutes, we’re going do it again when I taste you.”
She moaned. He was always so thorough,
He feasted on her body and soul until her legs gave out and she shrieked with pleasure.
And then, one teasing inch at a time, he nudged inside her, whispering promises while she murmured love.
They moved together, not hurried or urgent, but with care and tenderness, reunited finally.
In the soft glow of a nightlight, they melted in each other’s arms, became one again, far from the combat area that had last separated them.
But how long could they keep the warzone at bay?