Seeking Love in Salvation (The American Soldier Collection 16)

She locked onto his blue eyes and absorbed the feel of his arm snug around her waist and his hand against her cheek. She felt flushed and needy, and as he zeroed in on her lips, she wondered what it would feel like to be kissed by such a sexy, capable man. As the panic set in, his lips pressed against hers. Beck kissed her deeply and held her close. She was lost in his kiss and overwhelmed with the emotions she was feeling—the need to resist, the fear of being vulnerable or taken advantage of, and the arousal she had. As he explored her mouth. his brother Sparrow watched.

Her pussy clenched and cream dripped from her dormant cunt. Then she felt the second set of hands on her shoulders and lips gently press against her neck.

Beck slowly released her lips, only for Sparrow to kiss her next. They were both holding her between them and it was so wild and crazy to feel safe and protected. It made her feel like she needed them and she didn’t need anyone. She had to keep Lois and Kenny safe, to help heal them. She couldn’t entertain any pleasantries for herself. They must have sensed her pulling back, because both men slowly stopped kissing her. She felt Beck’s hand over her ass and Sparrow’s warm palm against her hip and over her belly, under her shirt. She panicked. She couldn’t let them see her scars, the gunshot wounds. They would ask questions and she didn’t want to talk about it all, or relive it.

“Damn, I was waiting to kiss you. It was killing me to wait,” Beck said as he caressed her chin.

“We shouldn’t have done that,” she said and Sparrow shook his head. “Don’t. Don’t try to minimize this. I’m just as shocked as you are, like Ridge and Jace are going to be when they find out.”

“Find out what?” she asked, surprised that by him mentioning Jace and Ridge she felt her pussy clench again.

“That you’re perfect for us, and we plan on making you our woman,” Sparrow said, and even Beck looked a little shocked, but then he smiled.

“Damn straight,” Beck told her and then pressed closer and kissed her again. It was a quick kiss as he held her around the waist.

“We better head back. It’s getting dark,” Sparrow said, and they started heading out of the woods and along the path leading back to the property. Valentina felt numb, and she wondered if what they said and what they did had happened or if she was losing her mind. What did they mean, ‘claim her their woman?’ Like, all four brothers claim her? Sexually?

She was in a panic, especially as they came across the yard and Jace and Ridge were standing there, watching them. When both Sparrow and Beck kissed her goodnight, she couldn’t help but glance toward the porch and see the shocked expressions on their faces. Then Jace stormed off, looking angry as Ridge gave a wickedly sexy smile.

How the heck did this all happen, and why wasn’t she feeling scared out of her mind about it? Was she interested in this kind of relationship, or sexual encounter? What would happen when it ended and they broke things off with her? Could she still live here with Kenny and Lois? She couldn’t make them move again. The constant changes were weighing on Kenny.

“We’ll talk more tomorrow, make some plans,” Sparrow said to her. She grabbed his hand. She shook her head.

“I’m sorry. I can’t do this.”

“Can’t do what? Entertain and accept the attraction we all feel for one another?” Beck asked.

“Yes. It will never work out. I can’t expose Kenny and Lois to any more changes or pain. We’ve been through too much, and they just started counseling. All the changes are affecting Kenny,” she blurted out.

“Counseling? For what?” Sparrow asked, squinting at her. Shit. Now they would have more questions.

“I’m sorry. I can’t do this. Good night.” She quickly headed to the back porch of the cottage and then glanced their way as Ridge joined them by the lawn. They all watched her with concern, and she felt like crap. She did like them. She liked the way they kissed her and how good, how safe she felt sandwiched between them. She couldn’t be selfish. She had Kenny and Lois to think about and put first.

Nothing more could happen here. Nothing.

Chapter 6

“I guess it’s safe to say your kisses scared her off,” Ridge said to Beck and Sparrow, tossing another pitchfork of hay into the stables.

“Don’t know why you bothered,” Jace added as he brushed down the horse.

“Don’t give us that shit. We’re all attracted to her. None of us can keep our eyes off of her when she’s around,” Beck said to them.

“Yeah, well, showing up on her run, telling her you were stalking her because you’re claiming her wasn’t too smart. Obviously,” Ridge teased.

“You didn’t see her. She was hugging the tree, bent over crying and trying to hide it,” Sparrow told them. That seemed to get Jace and Ridge’s attention. Jace stared at him.

“Crying? Why?” Jace asked.

“Don’t know, but that doesn’t seem like a normal occurrence for a woman like Valentina,” Ridge said.

“Did you call Ford or Gunny?” Jace asked.

“Ford knows we’re keeping ey

es on the women. Gunny just gave me some information that explains where Valentina, Lois, and Kenny run off to multiple times a week,” Sparrow said to them. He wasn’t sure he was going to tell them. It would just bring about more questions, and Valentina was keeping her distance. She’d placed this month’s rent in the mailbox in an envelope.

“Well, what did he tell you?” Beck asked.