Seeking Love in Salvation (The American Soldier Collection 16)

“Our dessert should be waiting at home in about ten minutes,” he said, and his brothers chuckled but his mom gave his arm a slap.

“Ridge Brazos, you be sweet to that young woman. I like her a whole lot. She’s a keeper.”

“Just like you, Ma,” he said and hugged her. Beck hugged her next.

“Kiss-up,” Sparrow said to Ridge, who winked at him but smiled. Their fathers picked up on all of it. Now Sparrow hoped that Valentina could calm Jace down. He didn’t want anything to come between their relationship. This sudden foreboding feeling hit his gut hard, and now he was worried.

“Let’s get going,” he said to his brothers, and they headed down the steps and over to their pickup truck. A glance toward the woods and he was hoping Jace didn’t start one of his arguments with Valentina.

* * * *

Jace was walking so fast Valentina could hardly keep up. “Jace, slow down. Why are you so upset?” she asked him as they got to a set of big trees and then the large clearing in the distance. It wasn’t far to their house now, but it was getting darker, and soon she wouldn’t be able to see too far ahead.

“Jace,” she demanded, pulling on his arm.

He released her hand.

“God damn it, why can’t you just be here for me? I just need you to be here for me while I deal with this and get it under control.” He raised his voice and she stopped short and stared up at him.

Jace was a big guy. He was in such amazing physical condition, thick, solid, and capable. He was intimidating. She trusted him, though, just like she trusted his brothers. Something their dads said to him had set him off. She thought she’d heard something about him disappearing for weeks.

“I am here for you. Maybe if you tell me what your dads said—”

He shook his head, stepped toward her, and then stepped back. He was really struggling here. “Jace, whatever it is, we can handle it together. Talk to me,” she whispered and then stepped closer. She ran her palms along his back and then one on his arms.

“Everything was perfect. We were all enjoying the visit. It wasn’t like other ones. Like the ones that made me stop going there with my brothers,” he said in a low voice.

“You stopped going there to have dinner? Why?” she asked.

He turned around and pulled her close.

“I don’t want to say.”

She hesitated a moment, which was so unlike her. “Why not? I’ll understand,” she said.

He clutched her chin and stared down into her eyes. She felt the desire, the love she had for him instantly.

He licked his lower lip. “I love being inside of you. Everything is perfect there.” He lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her. She ran her palms up his chest and then to his shoulders. She could feel his palm massage along her waist then under her dress. She parted her thighs. She could never deny them entry. Not ever. She adored all four brothers immensely.

He pressed her panties down and then softly drew tiny circles on her mound, teasing her clit and making her moan into his mouth. He pulled from her lips and kept his mouth on her jaw as he whispered.

“I had a difficult time after the last two tours of duty. I would be combative and on edge with everyone. When I retired and came home permanently, I had some episodes,” he told her.

“Episodes?” she asked.

“I was on edge and got into verbal arguments that could have easily escalated into worse if it weren’t for my brothers.” She tightened up and pulled back a little. He gripped her tighter and pulled her close. “No, don’t be scared of me for telling you that. I would never hurt you, baby. Never. I’ve come far.”

“How so? What’s different from when you first returned, and why are your fathers concerned to bring it up tonight?” she asked him.

He continued to play with her clit and walk her back a few feet. When her back hit the tree, she held onto his shoulders as he manipulated her body to his liking. She felt his digit press slightly against her clit and into her channel. It was a tease, pure and simple.

“Jace?”

“I didn’t want to fight with the people I loved, so when I started getting uptight about things, and before it escalated, I would take off and go camping by myself. I would disappear for as long as I needed to calm down and to deal with it.”

“I haven’t seen you disappear,” she said to him, holding his gaze.

He licked his bottom lip and stroked his finger up into her cunt. “You had something to do with that,” he whispered and then kissed her deeply. He stroked her pussy, in and out, as his words sunk in. She felt happy and special. He released her lips.