Chapter 14

CHAPTERFOURTEEN

Tomorrow was the day they were leaving to head up to Seattle, and Owl had to admit he was nervous for Lara’s sake. Yes, she’d been doing so well, hadn’t had a panic attack in weeks now, but leaving The Refuge was going to be stressful for her.

Tonight, the two of them were spending a quiet evening in their cabin. They’d played on the flight simulator for a few hours, and Owl was impressed with how good Lara had become for never having been in a helicopter before. Well…while conscious. She wasn’t quite ready to join the Army and sign up to train as a Night Stalker, but he loved seeing the joy on her face when she made it through an entire flight sim—on the beginner level—without crashing. She wasn’t the greatest at takeoffs or landings, but Owl had no doubt that she’d master those soon enough.

“What are you thinking?” she asked as they cuddled together on the couch. He was pretending to read, and he’d thought she was engrossed in the sitcom on the television. Owl shouldn’t have been surprised that she knew he was thinking rather than relaxing. He’d been going over and over their travel plans, trying to come up with scenarios for how to react if the worst happened.

“Not much,” he lied. No way in hell was he going to pile more worry on Lara’s head.

“Are you excited?”

“Yeah,” Owl said with a small smile. And he was. He’d never dreamed that one day he could be part owner of his very own helicopter. And it made it even better that Stone would be at his side. Flying for pleasure would be a welcome change from the countless stressful missions they’d been on in the Army.

The last few days had been filled with details for their trip, emails to the seller, and generally trying to get everything together for him, Stone, and Lara to fly up to Seattle. He’d spent time with Brick, Pipe, and the others, taking their advice for keeping her safe, suggestions he welcomed. The last thing he wanted was something happening to Lara on his watch. He’d never forgive himself.

“Are you sure you still want to go?” Owl asked.

“Yes.” Her answer was immediate and heartfelt. Owl felt pride well up inside him once more. His Lara was tough.

She turned to him. “Do you still want me to go?”

“Of course I do,” Owl said, his brow furrowing. “Why would you think I wouldn’t?”

“Because of him. Having me around makes everything more stressful.”

Owl turned to the woman he loved and palmed her face. “No, it doesn’t. I’d be stressed out if you were there or not. And you know what else? I wouldn’t sleep. And that would make the trip more dangerous. Because who wants a pilot who hasn’t gotten enough sleep?”

Lara rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”

“I’m serious,” Owl said with no hint of humor in his voice. “For a man who hasn’t slept through a night in over five years, you’re a miracle.”

“So you’re with me because I help you sleep,” she said, her voice teasing.

“No, I’m with you because you make me happy. You make me feel as if I can be the man I’ve always wanted to be. You make me yearn for what I thought I’d never find…a family. I’m with you because you’re you, Lara. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Owl kissed her. He wanted so badly to push her backward and take her right then and there. Hard and fast. Show her without words how vital she was to him. But he forced himself to keep the kiss light and easy. He’d rather stick his dick in a light socket than do anything that would bring back any of the trauma she’d experienced.

Lara gripped his shirt tightly and pressed herself harder against him. He loved when she took control. Not only because it meant she wanted him as much as he wanted her, but also because it let him off the hook when it came to worrying about how much was too much when it came to intimacy.

But all too soon, she stopped, pulled back and stared at him. Owl couldn’t read her expression. He frowned, worried now. “What? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” she said quickly, biting her bottom lip.

“Talk to me, Lara. Do I need to call Henley?”

“No! I mean, I’m fine. I just…do you like it when I take control of our lovemaking?”

Owl arched a brow. “Do you mean to tell me you don’t know if my orgasms are real or not?” he joked.

She smiled at that. “No, I definitely know you aren’t faking those. Your come dripping out of me in the morning tells me that.”

Owl couldn’t stop his satisfied smile. He loved filling her up. Loved seeing his release drip out of her when she got up in the morning. It was a purely masculine reaction, and he probably should be ashamed of himself, but it was so damn erotic, he couldn’t dredge up the energy to feel bad. He’d kind of freaked out the first morning, worrying about how she would react, but she’d simply given him a sheepish smile before heading to the bathroom.

He belatedly remembered her question. “I love when you’re in charge,” he told her honestly.

“Me too, but…” Her voice trailed off.

Owl’s blood ran cold. She wasn’t happy with their sex life? Had he fucked up somehow? “But what?” he asked, a little harsher than he meant to.

Lara looked up at him. “I’m always on top,” she said.

Owl frowned. He freaking loved watching her bob on his dick. Seeing his cock disappear into her body as she sank down on him. The way her tits bounced as she took him. There wasn’t one thing about her sitting astride him as they made love that he didn’t like.

“And?” he prompted.

“I just…I wouldn’t mind if you were on top sometimes.”

Owl stilled. The image that popped into his brain was so carnal, it was taking everything in him to remember to breathe. “I don’t want to bring back bad memories,” he whispered.

“He didn’t…I mean, he liked to straddle me and get off, but you aren’t him, Owl. When I’m with you, I don’t think about him. I trust you, and I know there are times you hold back with me. I want you to enjoy what we do together as much as I do. And when it’s obvious you’re doing everything in your power to be gentle with me, it makes me think that you aren’t getting as much pleasure out of sex as I am.”

Owl was torn between being extremely turned on, and pissed off at himself. He definitely loved everything he and Lara had done together, but he hated that she’d picked up on the fact that he’d been controlling his reactions.

He stood, taking hold of her hand as he did. He pulled her to her feet, then towed her toward the bedroom.

“Owl? Are you upset?”

In response, he gently urged her to sit on the mattress and scoot into the middle. She did so, not taking her gaze from his. When she was lying down, he crawled in and hovered over her.

“I’m not upset,” he told her as he caged her in with his body. “I love that you were strong enough, and brave enough, to make the first move as far as we’re concerned. Everything about you turns me on. Your brain, your kind heart, and especially your body. I’ve never been as satisfied as I’ve been with you in my bed. Watching you take back the control that asshole stole from you has been some of the best experiences in my life.” He hesitated.

“But?” she prompted.

Owl’s lips twitched upward. His Lara was so damn perceptive. “But,” he continued, “if you want to give me some of that control, I’ll gladly take it. On one condition.”

“What?”

“The second you feel any twinge of unease, you tell me. I’m serious, sweetheart. It would kill me if I did anything to make you uncomfortable.”

“Deal.”

Owl’s arm shook as he held himself over the love of his life. His brain was screaming, Do it! Take her! But his heart was urging him to have caution. To go slow.

Lara smiled up at him, and he could see the muscles in her body relax. He was pissed that he hadn’t noticed earlier that she wanted to give up some of the control he’d willingly given. But he’d make it up to her.

Straightening to his knees, Owl ripped his T-shirt over his head. The smile she gave him was enough to make his cock throb. Mentally telling himself to calm the hell down, he lowered himself once more and inched down her body, until he lay between her spread legs. He pulled on her leggings and was relieved when she raised her butt to help him.

As he dealt with her leggings and underwear, she wiggled until she’d taken her shirt off as well. She lay under him completely nude, and Owl once more wondered how he’d gotten so lucky. How this classy, beautiful, passionate woman was all his.

Lowering his head, Owl pushed her legs farther apart, and feasted.

* * *

Lara moaned as she gripped Owl’s head. This wasn’t the first time he’d gone down on her, but he seemed different tonight. Of course he was. She’d given him free rein to take control. And he didn’t hesitate. He ate her out like he was a starving man and she was a four-course meal. He didn’t let up when she squirmed under him. He used his lips, tongue, and even his fingers to bring her to the edge time and time again, but he stopped short of letting her orgasm.

“Owl,” she whined when he lifted his mouth from her clit for what felt like the hundredth time.

“You want something?” he teased.

“Yes! You!” she exclaimed.

Owl practically leapt off the bed, but he was back before Lara could blink. He’d removed his sweatpants and was hovering over her, one hand on his cock, stroking himself, the other pressing against her belly.

For a split second, Lara was back there. In that basement. Watching as her captor masturbated over her. But then she blinked and all she saw was Owl.

But of course, he saw her reaction. He froze, sitting back on his heels.

“No!” Lara exclaimed, reaching for him. “Please, Owl, I need you!”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes! I love you. I’m here with you, and you would never hurt me.”

“Damn straight,” he said, then his jaw clenched with determination and he scooted forward, forcing her thighs to spread apart to make room for him.

“You are so beautiful. Dripping for me,” he said in a hoarse tone.

“Yes,” she encouraged. Hearing his voice went a long way toward keeping her in the here and now.

“Touch me,” Owl ordered. “Put your hands on my chest. Feel my heart beating just for you.”

She gladly did as he asked, and he wasn’t wrong, his heart was thumping hard in his chest. She could feel one of his many scars under her palm, and it further grounded her. Owl had his own demons, and she wanted to be there for him just as he had for her.

She felt the tip of his cock brush against her sensitive folds, and gasped.

Then he was inside. He didn’t hesitate, which she appreciated. He buried himself as deep in her sheath as he could go, and nothing had ever felt so right in her life. And it felt different with him on top. Amazing.

“Is this okay?” he asked, holding himself still above her.

“It’s perfect,” Lara breathed. “Move.”

He did. Slowly at first, but with each thrust, his assurance grew that he wasn’t hurting her, that she was enjoying what he was doing, and he sped up.

Soon, he was pounding into her, claiming her. Ruining her for any other man—not that he hadn’t already done that.

“Yours,” he chanted every time he bottomed out inside her.

Lara couldn’t help but smile at that. He didn’t claim her; he was still giving her the power by claiming she owned him. It was semantics, because she did feel as if she was his right back, but she loved how sensitive he was to all that she’d been through.

Owl reached down, grabbing hold of her knee and pulling it up. Then he did the same with the other one. He hooked her legs over his arms and braced himself on the mattress as he hovered over her.

He thrust, and she squeaked because he was so deep inside her now. Much deeper than when she’d been on top.

“Yours,” he said again, as he pushed inside her.

“Mine,” she agreed.

He stared into her eyes as he took her. She was helpless under him, but instead of feeling afraid and small, she felt powerful. When she ran her hands up his chest, he shuddered as she caressed his nipples. When she put one hand on the back of his neck, she felt the goose bumps rise on his skin. He might be in the dominant position at the moment, but she had just as much power over their lovemaking. It was a heady feeling.

“You like this,” she panted.

“Fuck yeah, I do,” he told her.

“You’re so deep.”

“Gonna fill you to the brim,” he choked out. “Gonna give you my baby. If you don’t want that, now’s the time to speak up.”

Lara smiled. She wasn’t sure why tonight was different than any of the other times he’d come inside her, but she didn’t argue. She wanted this man’s baby. Craved it with every fiber of her being.

“Do it,” she demanded.

Determination lit Owl’s eyes, and he stopped holding back. He pounded into her, grunting each time he bottomed out. Pleasure swam throughout Lara’s body. Everything tingled. She moved a hand down between her legs.

“Oh, fuck, that’s so damn sexy,” he said, his gaze now focused on where they were joined.

She stroked her clit as he continued to fuck her. The pleasure rose hard and fast, and Lara was lost in the exquisite sensations.

“Do it,” Owl begged. “Come, Lara. I can’t hold off. You feel too good. You’re too tight and hot.”

Her fingers moved faster, and she used her pinky to stroke Owl’s dick every time he pulled out of her. She tried to thrust her hips upward but had no leverage. She was completely at Owl’s mercy—and that realization was all it took for her to fly over the edge.

A long groan left her lips as she convulsed in Owl’s embrace.

Even before she stopped shaking, he pushed all the way inside her and let out the sexiest groan. He moved a hand, allowing her to lower her leg, and grabbed one of her butt cheeks, pulling her closer and shoving himself even deeper inside her body.

Her hand was trapped between them, she was sweaty, and she felt as if she’d been turned inside out, but Lara had never been more sated in her life.

Owl slowly moved so she could put her other leg down, but he kept his hand on her ass as he shifted above her. He pressed his hips closer and lay his body on top of hers. Their flesh slid together sensually as he used his free hand to smooth her hair. Then he palmed the back of her head and held her still as he rested his forehead against hers.

They were both panting, and she could feel his heartbeat against her chest. She should’ve felt smothered. But having Owl draped over her felt amazingly…right.

“In nine months, we’ll get to meet our baby,” he whispered.

Lara chuckled. “That sure you knocked me up?” she joked.

Owl lifted his head, and she saw absolutely no humor in his expression as he said, “Yes. There’s no way I didn’t get you pregnant after how hard I just came.”

Lara had the thought she should be feeling uneasy right about now. This wasn’t normal. Guys weren’t this obsessed with getting their girlfriends pregnant. Hell, she hadn’t even really figured out what she was doing with her life. Her parents expected her to go back to DC eventually, and her job was still being held for her there.

But instead, all she felt was…relief. All she’d ever wanted was to be married to a man who loved her above all else, and to have a family with him. Owl was that man, she had no doubt about that. And if she was lucky enough to be able to have children with him, she’d never ask for anything ever again.

Many people wouldn’t understand, but Lara didn’t care. She shifted until her feet were flat on the mattress, and she squeezed her thighs together, holding Owl in a full-body embrace. “I can’t wait to meet him or her,” she said solemnly.

He stared down at her for a beat, before slowly smiling.

“And for the record…I’m officially handing the reins of our sex life over to you. You can be in charge.”

She felt his cock twitch inside her at that.

“Yeah?” he asked.

“Yeah.”

The hand in her hair tightened, and the small tug on her scalp sent goose bumps racing down her arms. “I didn’t hurt you?”

“No. Not even close.”

His dick twitched again.

Then he moved, sliding up to his knees, forcing Lara to lower her legs to give him room. He sat back on his heels and pulled her ass onto his lap. The position felt a little awkward for Lara, but when he put his hands on her chest and pinched her nipples, she didn’t even care.

“Just to be sure I knocked you up, I’m gonna come inside you again. And again. As many times as I can manage,” he vowed.

This dominant side of her man was a little surprising, but then again, it probably shouldn’t have been. He might not be a Navy SEAL or a Delta, but he was used to being in complete control when he was piloting a multimillion-dollar chopper. And the way he flew in the simulator, at once focused and a little reckless, should’ve been a clue to Lara that her man might not act dominant in public, but behind closed doors, he was one hundred percent alpha.

“Your pussy’s gonna be dripping for days. Want you to feel me there throughout the next week while we’re gone.”

“Owl,” she moaned.

“You first though,” he said with a small smile, then moved a hand to her clit.

It was going to be a long night, but Lara wasn’t complaining. Not in the least.