CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Wednesday, April 25th
Daphne ran her hand over Bryce’s back and admired the man who dedicated his life to not only protecting his country but made her incredibly happy as well. “Did you have fun with the guys last night?”
He turned his head, so they were staring into one another’s eyes and shrugged. “Yeah, it was good. We ate pizza, had a couple of beers, and watched the game.”
“I thought having a free night would make you happier.”
“I like spending my time with you. I’ll be downrange in sixty days and it’ll likely be at least a three-month deployment, so I want to spend whatever free time I have with you.”
“Oh.”
He rolled over and took her hand. “Seems I didn’t make that clear.”
“I just thought you’d like a night off; that’s why I suggested a night out with the guys.”
“I have plenty of nights with the guys. What I don’t have is plenty of nights with you. He tugged her close and wrapped his arm around her waist. “This right here is what I want more than anything.”
“Is that because were naked?”
“Yeah, the naked part is definitely good, but having nothing between us is what I like most. We’re connected on every level, and that’s what makes me the happiest.”
She ran her hand down his face and felt her heart open. For the first time in her life, she wanted to let another human being in and let him see the soft underbelly of who she was. “There is a part of me that wants to open up to you completely and there’s another part screaming in fear. Since I don’t have a ton of experience in this area, I’m thinking I should ignore the fear and go all in and hope for the best. Otherwise, I’m just stuck on the sidelines in a safe place, wondering if there’s more.”
“You know what I’m going to say since I’ve gone all in from the moment I met you. But it’s up to you and all I can do is hope that I’ve shown you the gamble is worth it. I’m not promising you a perfect ending, but I will promise that I’ll do my best to see that we’re as happy as we can be.”
“All right, Bryce.”
“Are you ready for our first family dinner tonight?”
“No.”
“What are you worried about?”
“My sister acting like a bitch and your brother not liking me.”
He pulled her closer and hitched his leg over her hip. “My brother is going to love you. And if your sister decides to act up, then it’s on her. You’re not responsible for how she behaves, so don’t let her suck the fun out of the evening.”
“I have a lifetime habit of worrying about what my sister is going to say or do, and I’m not likely to get rid of it anytime soon. When you share genetics like we do, it’s hard to separate yourself from one another.”
“Seems you took on the role of the good sister and she got the freedom to act any way she wanted. Doesn’t seem fair, considering your actions always affected one another.”
“My sister has never been interested in fair and always told me I didn’t have to worry about her and should just do what I want.”
“Maybe tonight is a good chance to practice letting your sister own her own shit. Nobody sees you as the same person, and the choices she makes are on her and not you.”
“If only that were true. We basically share the same face and people have switched us up our whole lives. She’d be nasty to someone in high school and I’d get the blowback.”
“Didn’t you set people straight?”
“Of course, I did, and they only believed me half the time. I’m used to paying for my sister’s choices, and the only way I saw ending it was by going into the Navy and choosing a whole different path.”
“Which you’ve done. Trust me; there is enough difference between the two of you for people not to be confused anymore. My brother wants to meet you, and if your sister tries to do something to spoil it, then I’ll be stopping it before it starts. Nobody messes with my girl and that includes her sister.”
She moved her hand over his shoulder and pulled him closer. “My very own Captain America. How did I get so lucky?”
“I’m the lucky one.”
“Well…” Her lips parted so she could disagree, and he took full advantage, sealing his mouth over hers. His tongue tangled with hers and any argument she had fled as he kissed her thoroughly.
His tongue slid in and out and his mouth mated with hers as he gripped the back of her head with his hand. Holding firmly, he devoured her like he was starving, and she enjoyed every second of his dominant ways.
When he finally released her mouth, she nipped his lower lip and then laughed. “You like to kiss me into agreeing.”
“Nothing wrong with that,” he replied as he moved over her. “In fact, it’s time to start on the second half of my assault.”
His hand slid down her stomach and she saw his satisfied grin. “You go on ahead and I’ll do my best to enjoy it.”
“You do that, darlin’.”
Her laughter turned into a moan and she closed her eyes as he used every unfair tactical advantage he could.