Password to Her Heart (The American Soldier Collection 9)

He leaned forward and kissed her softly on the lips as his words sunk in. They want me and I want them. Is he out of his mind? Are they? Am I? No, this is not real. It can’t be.

He released her lips and stepped back. “I’ll wait for you in the bedroom and we’ll head down together.” He walked out of the room and she grabbed the counter. I came from him sucking on my breast and kissing my bruises. He must think I’m so inexperienced and easy. Well, I am inexperienced. What the hell am I going to do now? Could he be telling the truth? Are they actually attracted to me? Shawna James, a nobody?

She swallowed hard and let the towel fall. Looking into the mirror, she saw her flushed skin. The coloring on her cheeks never looked so good. Her pussy still spasmed and yearned to be touched by Tiek, by any of the soldiers. Her breasts felt full and all the sensations running through her body were stronger than any pain her bruised ribs may have caused and any sensation she ever felt before.

She stared at her reflection in the mirror.

“You’ll get hurt. They’ll use you, or control you, and when you stand your ground, they could demand their power and hit you. Then what, Shawna?” The tears rolled from her cheeks as thoughts of her past came rushing back to her. Her parents’ abusive ways, the creepy guys who tried picking her up at the bar or following her home, and the suffering she sustained from Cuadrone’s physical abuse. She had to resist these men. She couldn’t be weak. They could hurt her worse than anyone ever had before.

* * * *

“What’s taking them so long?” Stitch asked as they all gathered around the kitchen waiting for Shawna and Tiek.

“They’re coming down now,” Mercury said as he walked over toward the counter to finish making the salad. Lee was pulling the steaks off the grill.

The moment Stitch caught sight of Shawna and Tiek, he smiled.

“Hey, sleepyhead, how are you feeling?” he asked her. Her cheeks turned a nice shade of red and Tiek placed his hand against her lower back, escorting her into the kitchen. Something was different. He didn’t know how he knew, but both Tiek and Shawna looked different. He wondered if he kissed her like Lee had done.

“Mercury, Shawna didn’t take the pain meds, do you have the prescriptions the doctor sent home with us?” Tiek asked as he pulled out the chair for Shawna to sit on.

“No, Tiek, I don’t want to take them now.”

Tiek raised one eyebrow at her while he kept a hand on the back of her chair and one on the island as he stared at her. She lowered her eyes. He reached out and placed his fingers under her chin. “You’re going to take them so you don’t feel any pain.”

Mercury walked over with a bottle of water and a pill. “You need to take them, darling,” he said.

Stitch walked closer, instantly inhaling the scent of flowers or something feminine. They never had a woman in their home. Never one who smelled and looked as beautiful as Shawna.

“Did you have a hard time sleeping? Were you in pain?” Stitch asked, moving closer and placing his hand over her forehead to check for fever.

“I’m fine now,” she whispered.

“You weren’t fine when I found you stuck in the tub upstairs,” Tiek stated firmly.

She swung her head toward him. “It worked out fine.”

“It worked out better than fine,” he said and then stepped away.

Something definitely went down between these two. Stitch opened the bottle of water. “Take the pill, honey, and then before you go to bed, you can take another one.”

“No, Stitch.” He inhaled her scent, the smell of her hair, the bath soap Mercury brought her. He held her gaze.

“You smell fantastic. What is that you’re wearing?” he asked her, changing the direction of the conversation. She instantly appeared annoyed.

“Something I found in the bathroom upstairs. But you all should know that. Someone snooped through my apartment and my things.” She looked toward Mercury.

“Well, obviously that person cared enough about you to want to make you feel right at home here with us. Now take the pill. Doctor’s orders.” Stitch crossed his arms in front of his chest. Shawna looked at his muscles on his arms. He was certain she was feeling a bit intimidated, but he wasn’t worried. She was a tough one, and the more she healed, the sooner she would feel more confident and probably stubborn. He smiled as she swallowed the pill and held his gaze.

He reached over and brushed his thumb over her lower lip, wiping away a small spot of water.

“Good job. Now, I hope you like your steak rare, ’cause that’s the only way Lee knows how to cook them.” He pulled back and she nodded her head and then looked toward the doorway as Lee entered the room. His eyes lit up and so did Shawna’s.

* * * *

Shawna swallowed hard and clasped her hands on her lap. Her belly quivered as she looked around the kitchen at each of the men. They were just so damn large. Their muscles had muscles, and they all seemed to be sporting some sort of tattoos. She thought about how it felt to be held in Lee’s arms and Tiek’s. Both men were tough as steel. A woman knew she was safe and secure in any of their embraces. Tiek gave her a wink and she felt her cheeks warm and her breasts tingle. She still couldn’t believe he saw her naked and she let him suckle her breast and nearly touch her pussy. What the hell was I thinking?

She quickly turned to look at Mercury. He was definitely the one in charge, and took his role as gunnery sergeant seriously, even in retirement. He stood guard by the counter, watching everyone, including Lee as he returned from turning off the grill.