Their Battle for Love (The American Soldier Collection 15)

Then it hit her. Maybe this wasn’t so positive for them? Maybe the pictures brought on bad memories. How could she ask them without upsetting them? Both Lucca and Border were intense, demanding men. She wanted to help them and be here for them like they were always there for her.

“I’m sure it will work out. I’ve got nothing to lose but a potential career in the art industry,” she stated and chuckled.

Border gave her ass a tap. “You’re going to do great.”

She took a deep breath and released it and then took both their hands and held them in front of her.

“So, this place is very cool. I absolutely love the old photographs and all the pictures from the last thirty years. How many soldiers do you think have come through this place and even come back to visit?”

“Don’t know,” Border said and took a slug from his beer bottle.

“A lot, I think. I was surprised at some of the faces in the pictures,” Lucca said to her. She looked at him since she didn’t seem to be getting anywhere with Border.

“Familiar faces? Like men you knew when you served?” she asked. He looked away from her. That was a first for him. To avoid her like that.

“Lucca?”

He looked back at her then reached up and cupped her cheek.

“Yes, Malayna. I saw familiar faces of men who no longer walk this earth or get to live a happy life, or feel the love of a perfect woman.”

He pulled her close between his legs and kissed her. Border remained holding her hand and placed it on his thigh as Lucca kissed her gently. When he released her lips his hand was under her hair and against her neck and cheek. He used his thumb to caress her skin.

“I love you so much. Do you know that?” he whispered.

Her eyes filled with tears. “Yes, Lucca, and I love you, too.”

She saw the emotion in his eyes and it pulled at her heart. She didn’t know what to say or what to do so she hugged him. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. She looked to the left as she remained with her cheek against Lucca’s shoulder and locked gazes with Border. He looked so serious. She just spoke freely as Lucca caressed her back and her ass and held her against him.

“Border, does this place upset you?” she asked him and he seemed surprised by her observation by the way he widened his eyes and then squinted at her.

“What?”

“You and Lucca seem angry, or maybe sad being here. Why is that? Were there people in the pictures you knew, friends that you haven’t seen or something?”

He appeared to be biting the inside of his cheek. He looked away from her. Her gut clenched.

“Border?”

“Don’t,” he snapped at her and she lifted slightly, feeling the effect his anger had on her.

He took a slug of beer then placed it down onto the bar. He made a funny expression with his mouth like he suddenly got a bad taste in it or something.

“I can tell you’re upset and—”

“Don’t, Malayna. I’m fine. Just enjoy the night.”

She was hurt by his words and dismissal. This was a side of Border she wasn’t fond of and wondered why he was being this way with her. Before she could push, which her gut warned her this was not the place or the time, she heard the familiar voices and some laughter behind her. Lucca loosened his hold and she turned to see Star, Krane, and a few of their friends.

“I think we should head out. Aspen and Nalia said that you will need your rest for tomorrow night,” Star told her.

She pulled out of Lucca’s arms and she noticed how Star looked at Border and Lucca then back to Border with concern.

“I should go say good night,” she said to Star.

He stepped closer, placed one hand on her hip, and the other he used to trail a finger from her jaw to the V of her blouse. “Not alone and showing off what belongs to us. Krane will walk you around and we’ll meet out by the SUV.”

Her breasts tingled and she licked her lips. “Okay,” she said to him.