Chapter 21

Cameron

“I’ll give you a show,” I say as I quickly remove my jeans leaving my boxer briefs in place, and practically leap onto the bed.

Samantha giggles and squeals as I settle beside her and place teasing kisses along the column of her neck. She pushes at my shoulder. “Hey, no fair, you’re not naked.”

My mouth makes a trail down to her exposed breast and I gently suck one of the dusky pink nipples into my mouth causing her to moan as her back arches. I grin as I release her with a pop. “Just trying to make this last.”

Samantha tugs on my hair until my eyes meet hers. “Later, I need you now.”

The need I see in her eyes makes my dick jump. “How ready are you?”

A lazy smile pulls at the corners of her mouth. “Why don’t you find out for yourself?”

I extend my arm until my fingers encircle her ankle then slowly drag my fingertips up her leg. Samantha’s skin is soft and flawless. Unlike mine. When I reach her inner thigh, I can feel the heat radiating from her core. The closer my fingers get to their destination the more Samantha squirms beneath my touch. A gasp leaves her as I drag a single finger through her wet center.

“Jesus, Samantha you’re soaked.”

I slip a finger inside her, and she hums in satisfaction as I slowly stroke her. “That’s what you do to me.”

Removing the digit from inside her, I scramble off the bed, remove my wallet from my jeans and retrieve the condom I recently placed inside. I tear open the wrapper, shed my boxer briefs, and roll the condom on. Samantha watches as I climb back on the bed and settle between her legs. I run my cock through her wetness. “Please, Cameron,” she begs as I line myself up with her entrance. I lean forward and capture her mouth swallowing her gasps as I push slowly inside her.

Samantha’s legs wrap around me as she breaks the kiss. “More, Cameron, I need all of you.”

Her eyes flicker with lust. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You won’t. Please.”

I pull back and thrust fully inside her stealing her breath as her whole-body arches into me. “Oh, God, yes!” I wait to let her adjust to my size.

Buried in her warmth, she fits around me like a glove. “You feel so good. Baby, I’ve got to move. Are you okay with that?”

Her fingers tangle in the hair at the back of my neck as a smile appears across her full lips. “Yes, I need more of you, Cameron.”

I kiss her softly. “I’m all yours, beautiful girl.”

I kiss her again and together we begin a rhythm, our bodies separating and becoming one again and again. I can feel her begin to tremble beneath me as she tightens her hold on me. “Oh, Cam, I’m close, so close,” she pants into my ear as I nip at her collarbone.

I reach between us, my finger massaging her clit, eager for both of us to embrace her release. “I can feel you, beautiful girl, don’t hold back. Come for me.”

I thrust into her with purpose once, twice, three times. As her nails dig into my back and shoulder, she shatters under me. With her inner walls tight around me, I find my own release just moments after.

Satisfied and spent, I collapse onto the bed rolling to my side and taking Samantha with me. She kisses my chest. “That was incredible.”

I drop a soft kiss on her nose and tip her chin up so her eyes meet mine. “You are incredible.” I gently pull out of her, climb out of bed and dispose of the condom in the trashcan on the opposite side of the nightstand.

I slide back under the covers, gather Samantha in my arms, and pull her back against my chest, kissing the top of her shoulder.

Her fingers gently skate up and down my arm. “Want to tell me about the scars?”

My spine goes rigid at her question, but I know if I want a relationship with this woman, I need to open up to her. “Saw those did you?”

She hums softly. “Mmhmm. Even if I hadn’t, I would have felt them.”

She starts to turn to face me, but I hold her in place, knowing this will be easier if she’s not looking at me. I focus on small spot on the wall where a nail once held a picture. “Two weeks before I arrived home, my unit got a call. One of the cargo trucks had engine trouble. The cargo was off loaded onto another truck traveling with them so they could continue to our encampment. When our CO needed someone to check out the truck, Ziggy and I jumped at the chance. I threw the toolbox in one of the Jeeps and we headed out. We passed the cargo trucks on our way out. When we reached the disabled truck, Ziggy hopped out and went to check out the truck while I grabbed the tools. When he popped the hood, an IED exploded killing Ziggy immediately. I took shrapnel mostly on the right side. All of it superficial to the sacrifice Ziggy made.”

I hear Samantha sniffle before she clears her throat. “Is that how you were discharged early on a medical release?”

“Partly. My paperwork was already being processed. I was supposed to end my tour at the end of the month. In the military when a soldier is killed and needs to be transported back home, a friend from their unit is designated to accompany the body. My commanding officer asked if I wanted the honor. Said he’d see to it my discharge was fast tracked so once I hit American soil, I’d be home for good. I agreed.”

“Did you tell your parents why you returned early?”

“You’re the first person I’ve shared any of that with.”

She turns in my arms and stretches up to kiss me. “Thank you for telling me. I guess we both carry some guilt from our past.”

I kiss her forehead and hold her closer. “Yeah. It feels good to talk about it. Thank you for listening.”

Samantha sighs sleepily. “Cam?”

I smile. It’s the first time she’s called me anything except Cameron. “Yeah?”

“You should tell Craig; he worries about you.”

“I know. I will, soon.” I kiss the top of her head. “Sleep now, beautiful.”

I wakethe next morning to the sound of Aunt Jane’s rooster. The clock on the nightstand reads four-thirty a.m. Samantha lays beside me, resting peacefully on her stomach. After we made love, both of us fell into a deep sleep. It’s the first night I’ve spent nightmare free since being home. After I told Samantha about Ziggy and my scars, I felt as if a weight had lifted from my shoulders.

I roll to my side watching Samantha as she sleeps. Her long brown hair fans out across her back and partially covers her face. I gently brush it away giving me a better view as the rooster crows again. Samantha’s brows dip causing a vee to form between them. “How long do you think it will take Jane to realize her rooster is missing?”

A light chuckle escapes me. “Not a fan of nature’s alarm clock?”

A lazy smile tips her full kissable lips. “I prefer music or the smell of coffee brewing.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” I lean over and place a soft kiss on her mouth.

“Mmm, or that,” she says giving me a sleepy smile.

I grin at her response as I gently stroke her soft cheek with the back of my fingers. “I need to help Craig with the horses. I shouldn’t be long.”

Samantha smiles. “Okay, I’ll start breakfast. Mind if I use your shower?”

“Not at all. Make yourself at home.”

I climb out of bed, get dressed and drop one more kiss on Samantha’s sweet lips before heading downstairs to start a pot of coffee while I wait for Craig.

Once the coffee finishes brewing, I pour two cups. I lean against the counter and take a sip as Craig comes down the stairs. “Morning.”

“Mornin’,” he mumbles as he picks up the cup I poured for him and takes a cautious sip.

Silence fills the kitchen as we drink our coffee waiting for the caffeine to do its job. With one last tip of the cup, Craig sets his cup on the counter by the sink, prompting me to do the same. “You ready?”

“Yep, let’s go.”

We head out the door, climb in his truck, and drive the short distance to the barn.

We hop out of the truck and walk to the barn. The door is open and the light glows from inside indicating Uncle Ken is already here. We step inside and without looking up from his task, Uncle Ken greets us.

“Mornin’ boys.”

“Mornin’, Uncle Ken,” we both reply as we grab a lead off the wall and head to the horse stalls.

I lead Samson outside to the paddock, unhook the lead and give him a pat. He takes off in a run making a couple of trips around to stretch his legs. I walk back to the barn and repeat the process with Delilah, while Craig takes care of Brutus and Cinder. Craig grabs the wheelbarrow and rolls it back to the stalls while I get the rakes and shovels. As I head back to the horse stalls, I stop beside Mary Belle’s stall. “Uncle Ken?”

He looks up as he continues with the milking. “Cameron. What’s on your mind son?”

“Not much, just wanted to make sure you knew, if you ever wanted to sleep in or get away with Aunt Jane, say the word and I’ll take care of Mary Belle for you.”

“I appreciate the offer,” Uncle Ken says as he removes the milk bucket, stands and stretches out his back. “I’ll be sure to keep that in mind.” I nod and start toward the horse stalls to get to work so I can get back to my girl.

Craig and I work in silence until we each finish our first stall. It’s not until Uncle Ken leaves and we are starting on our second stall that he speaks. “So, either I slept harder than I thought, or you didn’t have any nightmares last night.”

Remembering what Samantha said last night, I take a breath and prepare to tell my brother of the source of my restless nights. When I hear him leave the stall he’s working on, I step over to the stall door and lean against it as I address him. “No nightmares.”

He leans against the shovel and looks over at me. “Really?”

I glance up at him. “Yeah. You should probably know, Samantha stayed over last night. In fact, she’s making breakfast for us.”

“Is she now?” I nod as he grins. “That explains why you didn’t have any nightmares. Did you tell her about them?”

“I did.” I rub the back of my neck nervous about what I’m about to say. “I need to tell you about them too.”

When I finish telling him what happened, Craig wipes his eyes with the back of his hand and wraps me in a tight hug patting me on the back several times. For the first time, I allow myself to feel the loss I suffered and break down in my brother’s arms. When I finally manage to get my emotions in check, he pulls away and wipes his eyes again as I do the same.

With his hand on my shoulder, Craig says, “I’m sorry you lost your friend. But I am so grateful you came back to us. I can’t imagine life without you.”

I look down, kicking at the ground with my boot. “You know, I didn’t realize how much I missed the family and the farm until I came back. Of course, I’ll probably never understand why I get to live my life and Ziggy doesn’t.”

Craig smiles and shakes his head. “You spent as much time in Sunday school as I did, you already know the answer to that. Brother, you have a bright future ahead of you and a beautiful woman to share it with. Not to mention there are countless ways you can honor your friend.” His observation leaves me speechless, so I nod confirming everything he’s said. “Speaking of your beautiful girl, didn’t you say she was making breakfast?”

I laugh, thinking of how sweet Samantha is and how my life feels fuller with her in it. “Yeah, she insisted.”

“Then we better get a move on before the food gets cold, and she decides not to cook for us again.”

“Good point.” I push off the stall and turn to head back in to finish cleaning up but stop. “Craig? Thanks for listening.”

Craig grips my shoulder and gives it a squeeze. “You’re my brother Cam, I’m always going to be here for you.”