4

I saw Abby to her car, and she took off for home with a wave. She was such a good kid. I felt the need to introduce her and Skylar to each other. Abby had the same vibe, and those two would probably become thick as thieves.

Okay, she was off, and Jon was inside making dough for pizzas, meaning I needed to get toppings together.

My phone rang in my pocket. Since it was far safer to answer it out here rather than in the house, I pulled it out. Huh, not a number I knew. Didn’t mean much in my line of business, although I admit if I saw it was a spam caller, I answered in Tagalog. If I got them to hang up, I won. It was my own personal game.

“This is Havili.”

A smooth contralto voice answered. “ Hello, I’m Corporal Christine Knolton. Do I have Master Sergeant Donovan Havili ?”

Now that was a rank I hadn’t been called in a long time. “You do.”

“ Oh good, I hoped I had the right number in my records. Sir, I’m calling with a rather unique request. I understand you were injured in London while saving a mother and child from an acid attack ?”

My scars flared and ached for a second from the trauma reminder. The pain was a visceral thing, my heartbeat racing from adrenaline I didn’t need. It took me a second to find my voice. “Also correct.”

“ I’m calling because the mother you saved has reached out to the army trying to track you down. She and her daughter have moved stateside and want to reconnect with you. She wasn’t sure how to reach you. ”

“Wait, Simin and Eshaal are now living here? In America?”

“ I understand it was a recent move. First thing they did once they got settled was try and find you. They’re very eager to reconnect, sir. ”

So many emotions I couldn’t easily identify hit hot and hard, tangling into this knot I couldn’t quite swallow around.

“Do you have their contact information?”

“ I do, sir. I can email it to you, if you’d like .”

“That’d be great. What email do you have on file for me?”

She told me, but it was one I no longer used. I had her send the information to my Psy email instead, as that one I paid religious attention to. She repeated it back to me, which was correct.

“Thank you for reaching out, Corporal. I appreciate it. If they call in the meantime, tell them I’ll contact them shortly.”

“ That I can do. Have a good day, sir. ”

“You as well.”

I hung up and just stood there breathing. I didn’t know why I felt so overwhelmed. I’d never once blamed those two for what went down. They were as much victims as I was of one man’s cruelty. Still, for some reason I felt nervous at the idea of seeing them. Not even I could explain why. I simply did. I wanted to talk to them, at the very least, even if we didn’t meet up.

On autopilot, I put my phone away, but I kept standing there. Like I wasn’t sure how to move with all the emotions rampaging through me.

The back door popped open, and Jon stuck his head out. “Donovan, why— Oh shit! What the hell happened?”

Of course he could tell in a glance my emotional state. Some days, I was so thankful he could read me like a book. It saved me from having to untangle everything in my head and try to force it out through words.

“They’re trying to find me.”

“Who? The Mafia?”

Funny. “Simin and Eshaal.”

I saw the light click on in his head. “Wait, the mother and daughter you saved in London?”

“Them. They’ve moved here, and they reached out to the army to connect with me. I…I’m happy they remember me and want to speak with me, but it’s also…” I wasn’t sure how to frame it all into something that would make sense.

He came straight over and hugged me hard around my waist. “It’s all right to feel overwhelmed. I’m sure the memory is hitting you hard right now.”

Yes. That was it precisely. The memory of the panic, the pain, the outrage I’d felt in that moment when I’d fully realized what had happened. The anger. The shame of the scars I knew I’d carry and have to explain away the rest of my life. All of it.

Jon spoke softly, calmly. “Do you still feel those scars cost you something you can never regain?”

I knew he could read my answer without asking, but I appreciated he asked, regardless. Putting the feeling into words helped like nothing else could. “Sometimes, if I’m being honest. It’s rare these days, but when we meet someone new, I can see their initial knee-jerk reaction of fear. I’m reminded of those early days out of rehab, when I was trying to rebuild my life and kind of failing at it.”

“I know you give me the credit for turning your life around, but I’ve never fully agreed with you there. It’s your own lovable nature that draws people to you. And that I can’t take credit for.” He looked me dead in the eye. “The two you saved will not look at you in fear.”

A startled breath escaped my throat. I genuinely hadn’t realized what was making me jittery until he said it. Then it was all too obvious. “Is that what this is? My fear of being rejected by them?”

“From what I can see.”

I didn’t doubt his eyes. I shook my head at myself. “My rational mind is scoffing at the idea. Why are fears so irrational? You’re right, those two would never be afraid of me. We survived too much together for that to happen.”

He smiled and hugged me tightly around my waist. “You’re loved, Donovan. Always. The next time such fear pops its head up, stare it back down.”

“Yeah.” I hugged him back, letting my head rest on his for a moment, soaking in the comfort and reassurance. “I’ll do that.”

Those clear blue eyes looked up at me and then Jon nodded like he’d made a decision. “Come on. You need an outlet.”

I had no idea what he meant but was game to follow. Let’s face it, there were very few places I wouldn’t follow Jon, including Hell itself.

He took my hand and drew me inside, then straight up the stairs and into our bathroom. Still had no idea what he was doing until he turned the shower on, warming up the water.

Oh. Sexy shower time? I was down. Honestly, being touched sounded like the best way to release some emotional overload. And the reassurance he could give me was something I craved right now.

He grabbed the hem of my shirt, tugging it upward, and I eagerly helped him shuck off clothes. The second his own shirt was off, I dove into a kiss, Jon kissing back. I could feel his smile, knew he was happy his plan was working.

Finally, all those pesky clothes were off, tossed carelessly onto the floor. I seized his bare hips and walked him backward into the shower, unable to stop kissing him. Unwilling to, either.

I backed him right into the tile, barely remembering to close the door behind us. Hot water hit our skin, splashing in all directions, and it soothed me. Settled me in a way I didn’t expect or understand. Every time I’d gotten into the shower with Jon, only love and comfort had come out of it. Maybe that was what my body remembered and responded to.

His hands roamed over my back, my chest, trailing down until he gave my ass a loving squeeze. It felt good, of course it did, and I responded in kind. I trailed hot kisses over his cheek, jaw, moving down to his neck. I knew exactly where to touch to get the best reactions from him.

A hot hand wrapped around my dick and smoothed over it, stroking. It felt insanely good and I groaned. I absolutely had to return the favor. I dropped my hand to his cock and started teasing him up to full hardness.

Jon seemed to take this as a challenge—he moved his other hand to my balls, massaging them, and damn, that felt amazing. I was thoroughly enjoying the attention. I knew how to make it even better, too.

Shifting my stance a little for balance, I grabbed him by the back of his thighs and lifted him up so his back was braced against the tiles but our dicks were aligned. He put his hands around both our cocks, caging them together.

I started shallowly thrusting, rubbing up against him. It felt incredible. Absolutely incredible. Pleasure spread through my body in gentle pulses, growing hotter with each thrust.

Jon let his head drop back against the tile, panting, clearly lost in pleasure. I loved seeing him like this. Loved knowing I could make him feel so good his brain switched off. It was empowering.

Tension built in my groin. I knew I was getting closer and closer to climaxing and wanted to make sure he was in the same state.

“You going to come soon, babe?”

He gave a jerky nod. “Soon. I-I need—”

I knew what he needed. I thrust up into him, harder, sparking firmer contact, and that was all Jon needed. He came with a hoarse shout, thighs trembling in my hands.

My thrusts became jerky—unable to stabilize myself under my frantic need for a climax—and I groaned against his shoulder as I came all over his stomach.

A warm lassitude swept through me, and I gently set him on his feet but kept him close. Frankly, I wasn’t sure who was supporting who, with both of us leaning against each other. It was a touch too hot, between our overheated bodies and the hot water, but I was loath to move and break the moment.

Against my neck he murmured, “You feel better.”

Of course he could tell. I responded anyway. “I do. Not as overwhelmed. You can always use sex to calm me down, by the way. A-plus method.”

Jon snickered, snugging me in a little closer via his arm around my waist. “Noted. Honey, you don’t have to contact them if you don’t want to. You know that, right?”

“I do, but I want to see them. The memory of everything that happened just came rushing back, is all. It was a bit much all at once.”

“Ahh. That’s understandable. Why don’t you sleep on it tonight? Contact them when you feel ready to.”

It was a good suggestion. “I think I will. I’m so happy their lives are improving, too. It makes it worth it, y’know? Everything I went through was worth it.”

“I think they want the same for you. The reassurance that your life improved afterward, and you’re not in a dark space.”

Now there was food for thought. Trust Jon to give me a different perspective. Then again, with the way he constantly studied humanity, it was no surprise he understood the psychology of humans.

My fiancé made a dissatisfied noise. “Water’s getting colder.”

It was now lukewarm at best, which was our warning. “Let’s wash up a little, get out. Pizzas await us.”

“That they do.”

I reached for the bodywash, but even though I didn’t say anything, I knew whatever I decided, Jon would support me one hundred percent.

And that made all the difference in the world.