Password to Her Heart (The American Soldier Collection 9)

“Tex is right. Let’s eat up and enjoy the food and being here together,” Mercury added.

The men focused back on their food again while Shawna focused on her emotions.

What did she expect them to do, express their undying love for her, and tell her that they wanted her to be part of their family forever?

Her heart ached as she focused on not wasting the filet and not letting her tears fall. Even though she had a nice long nap, she was suddenly feeling very tired and spent. As soon as they were finished and she helped them, she was going to bed.

Chapter 10

Stitch joined Shawna at the hospital while she visited Keith. Tex had driven her in the morning and she remained all day. They had been sitting there quietly for an hour when Shawna turned to look at him.

She looked so young with one leg tucked underneath her and her hair in a long ponytail to the side. He wished that her bruises would fade quickly.

“I keep trying to think of happy things. Things that will keep the sadness and fear away.”

He pulled his chair closer, and placed his hand on the arm of her chair. “What about memories from when you were a kid? Maybe good times you had with Keith?” he asked.

She turned toward the hospital bed, the sounds of machines beeping and Keith’s heartbeat echoing in the background. She looked down at her hands she clasped on her lap.

“Unfortunately, there weren’t many,” she whispered.

He heard the strain, the sadness in her voice. “Things were tough growing up?”

She turned to look at him. “Stitch, Keith gave you guys the password so I would trust you enough to go with you.”

“Yes, it was cubbyhole, but we didn’t know why he picked that word.”

“It was where we had to hide from our parents when they drank too much,” she whispered, her voice cracking on the last syllable.

He felt terrible. His heart ached for them. “They were abusive?” he asked.

She stood up and wrapped her arms, hugging herself while she looked at Keith. “They drank too much. We had to hide and wait until they sobered up or they would hit us.”

He felt nothing but hatred for their parents. Anyone who could abuse a child was sick in the head. He stood up, turned her to face him, and gently rubbed his hands up and down her arms until she let her arms fall to her sides. He stared down into her gorgeous blue eyes.

“That must have been hell to go through, but you and Keith survived. You’re both very strong.”

She held his gaze, and he could see her eyes well up with tears. “I don’t always feel so strong.” A tear escaped her eye.

He pulled her close and hugged her as he whispered against the top of her head. “You can pull strength from me, or any of the others when you’re feeling weak. We want to be here for you, Shawna. We want to learn everything there is about the woman you are.”

“Why?” she asked, tilting her head up toward him. He cupped her cheeks and held her gaze. He could feel the beat of her heart and smell the scent of her perfume.

“Because you’re everything we’ve ever wished we could have and more.”

She shook her head. “Don’t pretend to feel something for me other than responsibility.”

“Responsibility? Do you seriously think that myself, Lee, Tex, Tiek, and Mercury are doing all this, are taking the time to help you, get to know you, just because of Keith?”

She held his gaze, swallowed hard as another tear fell. “Yes.” She tried to turn away. Stitch wouldn’t allow it, and held her firmly against him.

He held her cheeks between his hands. “Initially, knowing that Keith had a sister who was being held captive brought on a surge of our loyalty to Keith, and our beliefs in preserving your life. You were a civilian caught in the middle of a military operation. But then I saw you on the chopper. I looked into your beautiful eyes and all I wanted to do was protect you and keep you safe. I had this overwhelming possessive sensation that only becomes stronger the more we’re together. I want to get to know you. I want to be more than friends, more than your brother’s team member to you. So do the others.”

“I can’t accept that.”

“Why not, Shawna? We’re offering ourselves to you, to care for you and to protect you, provide for you, so no one can ever make you feel scared. With us, no one can ever hurt you.”

She was silent, and her lips called to him. He wanted to kiss her, to taste her. He lowered his mouth to hers and she closed her eyes right before their lips touched. The kiss was slow and sensual. He pressed his tongue between her teeth and she opened for him, allowing him deeper, to explore her mouth and fully taste her. When she wrapped her arms around his midsection, he felt overwhelmed with desire and emotions. Slowly he pulled away, kissing her cheeks, her chin, and neck before staring back into her eyes.