Compromising Love (The American Soldier Collection 10)

He headed back inside and Storm looked at him and raised one eyebrow. Winter shook his head, and disappointment filled Storm’s face and then quickly disappeared. It seemed his friend was hoping for the same thing Winter was. For Aspen to know they had been the ones to save her that night, and vowed then to always watch over her so she would never feel pain again.

* * * *

“You look a little bit out of it. What’s going on? Have the guys finally made a move on you?” Gia asked.

Aspen released a sigh. “I guess you can say they did.”

“Yes!” Gia exclaimed and pumped her fist in the air and then back down.

Aspen chuckled as they sat at a small high table to the corner of the room. They had danced to a few songs and were in need of something to drink.

Gia gave her a nudge. “Are you happy about it or what?”

“Are you kidding me? I’ve lusted over them like some teenager with a crush on the older, mysterious men. It’s just surreal I guess. Being here with them. Sleeping with them,” she whispered, and Gia grabbed her arm and hugged her.

“You lucky girl.

She chuckled. “They are incredible, and I’ve never done anything so intense before.”

“Then what’s the problem?” Gia pushed.

“Problem?”

“Yes, problem. You look preoccupied with something.”

Aspen thought about that a few seconds. Gia was a good friend. Porter had been the one to introduce them to one another.

“You know how I described to you that feeling I had. Like there was some sort of connection between me and the guys?”

“Yes. I figured it was the attraction you felt and how destined the six of you were to be together one day.”

Aspen nodded her head as she played with the glass in front of her.

“I remembered something from my abduction that I couldn’t remember.”

Gia placed her hand on Aspen’s arm. “Oh God, what did you remember?”

“A hand signal. A disguised face with eyes I would recognize anywhere.”

“I don’t understand. You recognized one of the men who took you and hurt you?”

Aspen shook her head. She felt the lump in her throat as she looked at Gia. “I remember who saved me.”

Gia’s jaw dropped and she looked around the room and then back at Aspen, whispering. “Who was it?”

“It was them.”

“Come again?”

“Storm, Winter, York, Weston, and Zin. It was them that rescued me and saved my life. I saw Storm’s eyes, and then the hand signal he used, just like in one of the pictures out front.”

“Are you sure? I mean that was like ten years ago, Aspen. Maybe you love them so much already and find such security and safety in their arms that you just want it to be them?”

“No, Gia. I know it was them. I feel it here.” She covered her chest where her heart was. “It’s what that connection has been all this time.”

Gia sat back and sighed. “My God, they probably have loved you, too, for like forever.”

“At night, when I’m sleeping with them, I feel so safe. I started remembering more details about my abduction. Things I thought I might never remember and that the doctors said could come back if triggered by something.”