Remembering the moment was hard; the explosion and screams still rested heavily in his mind. The smell of smoke, of burning flesh hit him hard. The searing pain of shrapnel hitting him in the head and leg washed through him. He never thought of that day; it was too heavy of a thought. It only brought back strong, vivid images.
“It’s okay, I’m here,” Fallon cooed.
Her soft and gentle voice helped Nash along.
“Shrapnel exploded everywhere. I lost a lot of men that day.”
“Did you get hit?” her eyes were questioning and sorrowful.
Nash nodded, letting the truth bleed through. “I was hit in the head and the leg.” Nash turned so she could see the scar on the back of his head.
“I noticed the scar on your head and figured it was from your tour in the army. How’s your leg?” She reached for it, but he pulled her hands away.
“Don’t touch it,” he snapped, his heart racing.
“I’m sorry; I just thought…” she recoiled and Nash hated himself at that moment.
“No, I’m sorry,” he apologized.
“Do you have a lot of scars on your leg? Is that why you limp?”
“No,” Nash shook his head. “The damage was too great to repair, they had to amputate it.”
Nash watched Fallon’s face closely, waiting for a cringe, waiting for a disgusted look, but instead, her eyes were full of love.
“You’re an amputee?” Nash just nodded. “And you’ve been afraid to tell me? Why?”
He shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know. I was afraid you would look at me differently, that you would be disgusted or not see me as a whole man.”
“Are you kidding? Nash,” Fallon pushed him back on the bed and climbed on his lap. “I would never think that. You served our country, you gave up so much, all I could ever be is thankful that you are here with us today and grateful for putting your life on the line for the greater good.”
Her words sank into his soul, her approval lifted his spirit, and her understanding broke his wall. The weight of the world was lifted off his shoulders, and for the first time in a very long time, he could see clearly.
“Can I see?” She was cautious, searching him for an okay.
“I’ve never shown anyone. I’m really uncomfortable with it.”
“Then you don’t have to show me; I don’t need to see. I just want you to know that my opinion about you doesn’t change, Nash. I still very much like you and want to be near you. You’re still the same Nash to me, whether you have one or two legs or one with one badass biomechanical engineered leg.”
Nash laughed and wrapped his arms around Fallon, pulling her into a hug. “I don’t think you understand the impact you’ve had on my life. You make me want to be a better man, Fallon.”
“You can’t be a better man, Nash. You’re already a good man, you just haven’t realized it yet.”
Their lips found each other and their tongues tangled wildly together. She tasted like heaven, like Nash was granted a little piece of fucking heaven for a moment in time. Her lips left his mouth, traveled down his jaw, to his neck. Her hands found the bottom of his shirt and slowly brought it up and over his head, making his chest bare to hers.
His tattoos graced his body and his dog tags hung just above his stomach. Fallon scooted down his body, trailing kisses down his stomach until she reached the waistband of his jeans. Eagerness shone through her eyes as she unbuckled them.
“I won’t pull them down all the way,” she let him know, being careful not to make him feel uncomfortable.
Deep down, he wanted to show her, but right now, he just wanted to enjoy Fallon’s touch, so he nodded and lifted his butt so when she pulled his pants down he could assist her.
“Scoot down so your back is on the mattress.”
Nash never pictured Fallon to be one who took charge in bed, but he liked it. She was demanding, unyielding, taking whatever she wanted.
Once situated on the bed, Fallon grabbed his boxers and brought down his jeans which rested on his thighs. His cock strained upward, hard and ready for whatever Fallon had planned.
Straddling his legs, Fallon bent her head down and took the head of his cock into her mouth, swirling her tongue around the rim and pumping him with her hands at the base.
Instantly, Nash’s head was plastered against his pillow, his hips wanting to thrust into her mouth. It had been a while since he’d had sex, and with Fallon attached to him, pleasuring him, he thought he could come right then and there.
From above, he watched in satisfaction as her head bobbed up and down, humming on his length, licking it and sucking so fucking hard that he thought his cock was going to be swallowed whole. What a fucking away to go.
“Fuck…that feels so good.”
Exquisite pleasure ran up his spine as she flattened her tongue and ran it up the underside of his cock, pressing deeply on his sensitive nerves. Her mouth held his cock, her hands grabbed his balls, slowly and rhythmically massaging them with each stroke of his dick.
His breath became labored, his hands dug into the sheets and his mind went blank. All he could feel was Fallon’s mouth on him, her hands pushing his body to climax. White hot pleasure started to envelope him and instead of finishing off, he told her to stop.
“Fallon, I’m going to come. Please stop.”
With a smile, she pulled away for a second and then kissed the tip of his penis, causing pre-cum to funnel out the top.
“Christ, don’t do that,” he laughed, not wanting to explode over his stomach. “I want you to straddle me. Grab a condom from my nightstand, put it on me, and take off your underwear.”
She did as she was told, almost an expert with the condom.
“Straddle me, Fallon.”
Her legs were on either side of his hips, but instead of pushing his hard cock inside of her, she rested on top of it and slowly moved her wet core up and down his length while holding his shoulders.
“Fuck…” Nash breathed heavily.
In pure ecstasy, Fallon’s head floated backward, exposing her neck. Nash took advantage of her position, his large hand spanning her back and pulling her closer while his other hand undid her strapless bra. With one snap, it fell between them. Nash tossed it to the side and then looked down at Fallon’s breasts. Pink, puckered nipples poked up at him, enticing him.
“You’re so fucking perfect,” Nash admitted, loving everything about Fallon’s body.
As she continued to run her pussy up and down his length, coating him in her wetness, Nash raised his hands to her breasts, cupping them gently and then squeezing her nipples, hard. A loud, feral scream escaped Fallon’s mouth, her eyes opening in shock.
“Do that again,” she breathed heavily.
Nash didn’t have to be asked twice. With the same pressure, he squeezed her nipples until she cried out again. Her pace on his dick grew frantic; her fingers gripped his shoulders until he felt her fingernails dig into his skin. He continued to squeeze her nipples, making her roar in pleasure.
“Yes,” she screamed, her head back, her lips parted and her breasts propped up for Nash’s pleasure. “Nash, fuck yes!”
Her hips glided against him, and with one last shout of his name, she came on his cock as her clit rubbed against his length.
His cock beat rapidly, release only a few seconds away. He needed the friction of her pussy to make him come; he wanted it that way. Not by blow job or hand job, he wanted to be inside of her.
“Put me inside of you,” he demanded, speaking into her ear, his voice raspy from being on the verge for so long.
Spent, she rested her head on his shoulder, but lifted her body and placed his dick at her entrance, watching their connection intimately.
“Don’t fucking tease me, Fallon. I want to feel you surround me. Sit down.”
On his command, Fallon sat down on his lap, taking him in all the way with one smooth stroke.
“Fuck me,” he breathed.
His hands gri
pped her hips, encouraging her movements. Slowly, she lifted up and down, taking him almost out of her before she plummeted back down on him. With each slam of her hips, Nash gripped tighter into her skin. Her head lifted from his shoulder and quickly found his. Their lips crashed together, their tongues fighting for ownership.
She was just as eager as he was. Their need to please each other was overwhelming. Together, they worked in unison as the brink of their climax approached. Fallon was the first to fall over again, screaming his name from her lips, and Nash followed quickly after, pumping her hips on his own as well, seeking every last drop of pleasure.
Tired, Fallon fell on top of Nash, still connected with him inside of her. Her hair tickled his chin and her soft breasts pressed against his chest.
“Nash, you have no clue what it’s like to fuck you.”
Laughing, Nash asked, “What do you mean?”
“I mean, you fucking flipped my world upside down just now. You should really fuck yourself one day, you won’t ever go back.”
“I would rather fuck you,” Nash whispered, kissing her ear.
“Mmm…give me ten minutes. I’m going to need to do that again.”
“I won’t put up a fight.”
Fallon snuggled into Nash’s chest, her arms gripping him and her cheek pressed against his now-salty skin. There was no way he was going back to the old Nash now, not after just being with Fallon. He’d changed and for the better.
Chapter 15
**Jane**
“Where are the mini quiches?” Jane asked in a frantic voice, searching the kitchen of her house. “I don’t see them. I specifically requested mini spinach quiches!”
She slammed her clipboard on the counter and tore through the kitchen, looking for the eggy finger foods.
“Ma’am, they’re still in the van in heat boxes,” one of the waiters said, keeping his distance.
“Oh,” Jane straightened up, removed her hand from the oven, and adjusted her dress. “I’m sorry; I’m just a little on edge.” The waiter backed out the door and ran to the van. “And you don’t care because I’m a dragon lady right now,” Jane said to no one, gathering her clipboard again.
There was only one reason why she was a hot mess right now and his name was Brady. He was supposed to be at the party by now. Guests had arrived, Marc and Patty were out by the pool enjoying a cool cocktail and talking to party goers. The pool area was transformed into a twinkling night with white draped linens and white mums bunched together in balls. Lights were strewn by the yard through every bush and pole, making the area look like another world. It was beautiful.
Jane had spent every waking moment she had putting together the party; all of her energy was focused on this one night, and she feared what she would do after.
When she talked to Brady on the phone about the party, she was nervous he was going to get mad because she wasn’t calling to talk about their relationship. Boy, was she right. She hadn’t heard him that mad in a while. She knew she was doing the right thing, but she just wished Brady would give up, because every time she spoke to him, she felt like she was stabbing him repeatedly in the heart. Maybe she was…
“This party is beautiful, Jane,” Michael, her college friend and Brady’s teammate said. He came up from behind her and gave her a hug.
“Hi, you’re here!” She returned the hug, turning in his embrace.
If Michael was here, that meant Brady wasn’t too far away, right?
“I am. It was one hell of a trek to get here. Some of the guys missed the plane because of traffic. But I made it and that’s all that matters.” Michael tugged on his suit jacket in a pimp like way, kissed Jane on the cheek, and then went to the back where the party was.
Some of the guys didn’t make the flight? Jane wondered if Brady was one of them.
One by one, baseball players shuffled in the house looking slightly frazzled from their travels, but none of them were Brady. Jane didn’t want to admit it, but her heart sank from Brady not showing up. She convinced herself it was because Marc would be upset, not because she was actually looking forward to seeing him.
Right behind one of the players, three waiters popped in the house, carrying trays of mini quiches. Crisis averted, Jane thought, knowing full well that it wasn’t even close to a crisis.
The party ran smoothly; Patty and Marc were a gorgeous couple, clearly infatuated with each other. Marc was terribly obsessed with Patty, always keeping his arm around her waist, and Patty was incredibly in love with Marc, as Jane could see by the way she beamed up at him.
Jane knew a time when she and Brady were like that, where no one could interrupt their love; at least she thought no one could.
“Jane, this party is beautiful. Thank you so much.” Patty enveloped Jane in a hug, and for some reason, Jane felt tears threaten her eyes.
“You’re welcome.”
When they separated, Patty said, “I wish Lucy was here; she belongs here.”
“She does.” Jane quickly wiped away her tear before she could let it fall down her cheek.
Sensing Jane needed some privacy, Patty pulled her into the pool house away from all the guests.
“What’s wrong, Jane?”
“I don’t know,” she wiped another tear. “Lucy isn’t here, Brady isn’t here…”
“I know,” Patty soothed. “He called Marc before we got here. He missed his flight.”
“You knew he wasn’t coming?”
“I did. I didn’t say anything because, honestly, I didn’t think you would care.”
“I don’t,” Jane lied.
“Clearly you do, or else you wouldn’t be so upset. Were you looking forward to seeing him?”
“No, I mean…he was so mad on the phone last time I spoke to him. I’m not used to him being that angry at me. I was hoping to soothe him a bit.”
“Jane,” Patty gave Jane a stern look. “You served him with divorce papers, you’ve told him time and time again that you don’t want to be with him, and when he asked you to give him time, you took that back as well. Of course he’s going to be angry with you.”
“Are you mad at me?” Jane asked, a little surprised by Patty’s honesty.
“I mean, maybe,” Patty huffed, as she walked back and forth in the pool house. “Jane, I love you dearly, but come on, you’re being stupid. It’s Brady. He would love you if you had three eyes, a snaggletooth, and wore a Yankees jersey to bed every night. He doesn’t care about anything outside of you and your love. Why have you even questioned that?”
Tears continued to flow down Jane’s face, smudging her mascara. “I’m so lost, Patty. I don’t even know what to think anymore. I thought I lost everything that one day, and you know, I might have because we both changed. Our frame of mind shifted. Brady and I are not the same people.”
“Of course you’re not. You’re never going to be the same people after something so tragic. You need to realize that and grow to know each other again, Jane. Love will never be easy. You will have moments of utter despair, like the day you lost your daughter.” Patty let the words sink in before she continued. “But you will also have moments of complete elation like your wedding day, or when you do have a child, because I know you will.”
Jane cried into her hands, unable to handle her emotions anymore. Patty, the good friend she was, put her arms around Jane on her engagement party day and listened to Jane cry her sorrows away.
**Marc**
“Who knew that many people liked us?” Marc laughed as they drove back to their house from the party.
It was a beautiful nighttime soiree, a night he would always remember, mostly because Patty looked like an angel dressed in all white and her hair pulled into a low knot at the back of her neck. She exuded beauty with her infectious smile and her green eyes brighter than ever.
“I think people like me, they tolerate you.”
“That wounds me, Patty Cakes.” Marc placed his hand on Patty’s thigh and held it there while he continued t
o talk. “I’m kind of upset Brady couldn’t make it though.”
“Yeah, it would have been nice to have your best man there.”
“I don’t really care about that. I care more about him getting another chance to talk to Jane. I know it’s been hard on him, so I thought the party would have been a great opportunity for them to be together again.”
“Is that what you really cared about?”
“Of course,” Marc replied, pulling into their driveway and turning the car off. “I promised Brady I would help him win Jane back. Tonight was a perfect opportunity to do so.”
“Tonight was our engagement party, Marc.”
“I understand that, Patty, but it was also a missed opportunity for Brady. Don’t you want them to resolve their issues?”
“I do!” Patty said out of frustration. “I just want them to resolve their issues outside of our wedding activities. I’m so sick of our wedding being the ‘Let’s get Jane and Brady back together’ event. I plan on getting married once; I only have one shot at this. I don’t want it to be tainted by anything outside of just you and me.”
“I understand, but these are our friends…”
“Yes, and as our friends, they should realize they need to figure things out on their own.”
“Don’t you think that’s being a little harsh?” Marc asked, surprised by Patty’s candor.
“You weren’t the one holding Jane in the pool house while she sobbed into my dress during my engagement party. I shouldn’t have had to deal with that. Tonight was supposed to be about us and it turned into the Jane and Brady show once again. I’m starting to lose it.”
“It wasn’t the Jane and Brady show,” Marc countered. “It was all about us, but you were too focused on what Jane was doing to realize that. Everyone told you how beautiful you were, everyone asked about the wedding, about our honeymoon plans, about our future plans for a family. Not once did they ask about Jane or Brady, or was I missing some secret code that you were picking up?”