Chapter Thirteen
Hannah
Brett’s groan came only a second after the alarm began to blare. “For God’s sake! Shut it off!”
I slapped for the button, finally hitting it, silencing the noise. Forcing my eyes open, I successfully bit back a moan as I slipped out from under Brett’s arm. However, once I sat up, the sound slipped past my lips. It felt as if I’d been ridden hard and put up wet. That had me giggling as it was exactly what had happened. Not about to scoot to the edge of the bed because my ass was warning me it would revolt and revolt big if I did, I moved to my hands and knees, crawling across the expanse of mattress.
“Babe, I know you enjoyed that position last night, but couldn’t we wait until the sun comes up before having another go?”
How I could still blush after last night, I had no idea, but I did. Continuing my journey, I crawled off the bed. “What’s the matter? Did this poor little recruit wear out the big, bad major? Come on, it’s five thirty. It’s time to get up, so get a move on, Commander.”
“The only soldier who is going to move is you as you get back here. We didn’t go to sleep until after four and big bad major or not, I need more than an hour and a half of sleep. Besides, I assure you, all that hand-to-butt contact last night counts as exercise.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to wimp out.”
“I’m sure. Now get your ass back here.”
Jumping back onto the bed, I moved much faster to snuggle against him again. “See how well your little recruit obeys?”
“Remind me to give you a prize later. Now, go back to sleep.”
I did and the next time I opened my eyes, Brett was no longer in bed, and I could smell coffee. Abandoning the bed, I turned and stripped off the sheets. We’d both crowded onto his side of the bed all night because of the huge wet spot in the center. I’d managed to ignore it last night, not even very embarrassed that I had been the cause, but in the light of day, I wasn’t about to sleep on those sheets again until they’d been washed.
After dropping the bundle by the door, I took a shower. The hot water went a long way to relieve muscles that I really hadn’t known were tight until I remembered how I’d had to strain to keep my hands on the rail, spread my legs wider than ever before, and how hard my husband had fucked me. Fucked my ass. Dripping wet, I turned to look at that very ass in the mirror. I’d thought that he’d spanked me hard last week and had been surprised to find not a blemish had remained on my skin the next morning. That wasn’t quite the case today. Though my butt was no longer red, there were two spots that were discolored. Pressing my fingertips into them, I smiled. Yes, it had hurt like hell when that belt had licked against my ass, but seeing the marks, feeling the tenderness, all I could think about was how damn grateful I was to see evidence that I belonged to Brett.
Drying my hair and dressing, I added the clothes from the hamper to the sheets and carried the load to the utility room before going into the kitchen.
“Good morning, lazybones.”
“Someone seems to forget that I was not only awake but anxious to get moving hours ago,” I huffed.
Brett cocked his eyebrow. “For someone who was so anxious, you sure got back into bed a hell of a lot faster than you got out of it.”
I laughed and went into his arms for a hug and a kiss. “Something smells fabulous,” I said, sniffing the air.
“I made breakfast. Sit and I’ll serve you. Consider it your prize.”
Seeing the pillow that had appeared on my chair, I gave him another hug. “Well, I was actually hoping for a promotion in rank, but the pillow and breakfast is even better.”
He handed me a mug of coffee after I sat down. Breakfast consisted of crisp bacon, fluffy scrambled eggs, and thick slices of bread that he’d turned into French toast. I topped mine with sliced strawberries and then covered the entire stack with syrup.
“Oh, my God, this is almost as good as sex,” I said after swallowing the first bite.
He chuckled and after eating a few bites, paused to take a drink of juice. “I meant to ask you something yesterday.”
“What?”
“Why did you call Stephanie—”
“I wanted to tell her that I was coming,” I said, the memory of how exactly that had turned out dampening my enthusiasm for the food remaining on my plate.
“No, babe, I didn’t mean that. I meant, why did you refer to her as Coach?”
“Oh.” Stalling, I shoveled another huge bite into my mouth. I’d wanted to surprise him, but also didn’t ever want him to wonder if I was keeping anything from him. Swallowing, I took a sip of coffee and then looked at him.
“You know how you have me exercising and running?” At his nod, I continued. “Well, when I took the t-shirts to Stephanie and apologized for being such a bi… not nice about her efforts, she asked if I was going to run in the 5K. I honestly had never considered ever doing so, but she said it would be great if I joined the team, and when I told her that you were already having me run, she said I’d be ready.”
“You are,” he said with a smile. “You’ll do great and it will be fun.”
Nodding, I bit off a bite of bacon and then continued. “I think so, too. But, then we started talking, and she told me about this other run. Well, it’s not just a run, it’s a run and obstacle competition. Gary’s done them before, but this will be her first time. I wanted to surprise you and enter both of us, but wasn’t sure if I could really do it.” I laughed and shook my head. “I’m still not sure, but she’s been coaching me every day.”
“What competition? Like a triathlon?”
“Oh, no. It’s a Mudder Run.”
He sat back in his chair, and though his grin grew huge, he was shaking his head.
“What? You don’t think I can do it? You don’t want to?”
“No, babe. I think it would be amazing to enter with you. With Stephanie and I both coaching you, I’m absolutely sure you’ll be ready.”
“Then why did you shake your head?” I asked, another forkful of eggs ready to go into my mouth.
“I was just imagining my beautiful wife, covered in slimy mud.”
Shaking my head, I took the bite before I spoke again. “That is where you are so wrong. I’m going to be so fit, so toned, so ready that I’m going to get through the entire course without a single splotch of dirt. By the time we cross the finish line, the sneakers I’ll be donating won’t even need to be washed.”
He burst out laughing and I huffed and stabbed at another slice of French toast. I squealed, the fork left on my plate as he plucked me out of my chair, holding me so that my feet were off the floor.
“Babe, it’s called a Mudder for a reason. There is no way you’ll come out spotless. But I’ll offer you a bet.”
“What sort of bet?” I asked, wrapping my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist.
“You finish every obstacle and cross that finish line with me, and I will scrub every inch of this house.”
I considered his offer. “Nope. If I win, you will give me another massage in our Eden.”
“Now, that’s a deal,” he confirmed.
“Wait, what happens if I don’t?”
He squeezed my ass that filled his hands. “Then, you will walk totally nude across our yard, go into Eden, get down on your hands and knees, lift this beautiful ass, and wait for the snake’s bite.”
Remembering the initial pain of his cock entering my ass and how it had transformed into incredible pleasure when he’d filled me, fucked me, I smiled. “You’re on.”
“Sealed with a kiss,” he said, kissing me hard.
After returning me to my chair, we both finished eating and then refilled our mugs and took them out to the porch. Swinging, my feet in his lap, my back against the armrest, I said, “I need to call Stephanie and apologize to both her and Gary.”
He nodded. “You do. How about you ask them to come over later? I’ll grill some steaks and Gary can fill us in on what areas we need to concentrate on for your training.”
“That sounds great,” I said, pulling my feet free and jumping off the swing once he’d stilled it. I ran inside and grabbed my phone, coming back to join him.
“Stephanie, hi, this is Hannah.” I paused when she asked how I was.
“I’m good, but I wanted to apologize to both of you. Brett suggested a cookout. Can you come over later?”
A few minutes later, I hung up. “They’d love to and she’s going to bring a dish.” I threw my arms around him and hugged him. “This is going to be fun.” After a kiss, I sat back. “But, if you want to grill steaks, you need to go buy some.”
“I can do that. I need charcoal as well. Do you want to come?”
“Nope, Stephanie loves coffee and chocolate, so I’m going to make a cake… sort of like an apology you can eat.”
He set me off the swing and went to get his keys. I watered the plants and then went into the kitchen to make the best damn cake I’d ever made.
* * *
“I’m so glad you are all right,” Stephanie said, putting her arms around me when they arrived later that afternoon.
I hugged her back. “Me too, and I really am sorry for being such an idiot.” Releasing her, I extended my hand to her husband.
“Hell, no,” he said, using my hand to pull me to him before wrapping his arms around me. “I want a hug as well.”
I did hug him and then said, “I can’t thank you enough, Gary. Not just for saving me, but for forgiving me. I really appreciate all you did for me.”
“You’re quite welcome.”
Brett went to check on his coals, while the rest of us went into the kitchen. Stephanie had brought scalloped potatoes that she slid into my oven for their final baking. As I started slathering butter over corn on the cob, husks still on but peeled back, I grinned as Gary decided that the steaks needed additional seasoning.
“Why is it that men never agree on the perfect way to stack coals, what slivers of wood provided the best smoky flavor, or even how to season the meat?” Stephanie asked, giving her husband a look as she shook her head.
“Because each man is king of their own grill,” Gary said.
“But this isn’t your grill, it’s Brett’s,” she pointed out.
Gary didn’t hesitate to flip the rib-eyes over to season the other side. “Any man who leaves the star of the meal unprotected should know it’s fair game.”
I giggled and finished shaking herbs and seasoning over the buttered kernels. “Gary, do you really think I can be ready to do the Mudder Run? I can’t even hang onto the bar long enough to get all the way across yet,” I said as I began to pull the husks back over the corn so that the butter and seasonings would melt into the kernels instead of dripping off on the grill.
“Sure you can. Keep training with Brett and Steph and you’ll be able to swing across the bars and run the course like a pro .” Evidently he saw the doubt on my face as he grinned. “If I can conquer it, you’ll be able to as well.”
I rolled my eyes. “I hate to point out the obvious, but you’re a soldier. By that I mean, you’ve been doing physical stuff for years.”
“Yes, but I’ve only been doing it with one leg for the last year.”
“What?” I couldn’t help but glance down at his legs.
Stephanie laughed. “He means one leg provided by God, and one made by man.” She reached down and tugged up the edge of his right pants leg and I gasped.
Looking up, I knew my eyes were huge. “I never would have guessed. My God, you are like the Terminator!” Slapping my hand over my mouth, I felt my face flush. “I didn’t mean… I wasn’t…”
“Relax,” Gary said with a grin. “I rather like to see an honest expression rather than one of sympathy, and I really like those movies.”
He grabbed the tray of meat and I took the platter of corn, still amazed that his gait showed no sign of his injury.
Setting the dish down on the side table by the grill, I said, “Brett, did you know that Gary has a prosthetic leg?”
His head snapped up, his eyes huge in an exaggerated look of surprise. “He does?”
Knowing I’d been had, I reached out to slap his arm, and then squealed. “Note to self: Never swat a man who has a metal spatula in his hands,” I said as my hands flew back to rub the sting away.
Stephanie laughed. “That’s why I’m grateful that it’s Gary’s leg and not his hand. Can you imagine having some artificial hand that never feels a burn or never tires landing on your ass?”
Evidently, I wasn’t through learning new things about our friends. I was pleased to realize I wasn’t shocked and actually felt closer to them. “How about we take ourselves out of swatting distance? I’ve got a pitcher of lemonade and a wonderful porch swing. We can watch our men dominate the grill instead of our butts.”
Stephanie linked her arm with mine and we walked away, both of us giggling as we each gave a bit of our own exaggeration by swaying our hips side to side.