Chapter 21
Lochlan
She’s so fucking good. I don’t deserve her but can’t give her up. She’s got my baby growing in her. I need to become the man I once was. The only way I figure I can do it is to go back to where I was at my best.
Until things all went to shit, I could handle any scenario, anyplace, anyone. My aim never missed, my nerves were steel, and I never fucking questioned my abilities. I was in control. Every fucking second. I had none of this bullshit with bad dreams and fucking daytime hallucinations. Maybe, with a structured physical regimen, I can get my act together. The alternative is too awful to consider. I won’t go to a nuthouse and be a burden on my family.
My sweet sheila turns in my arms, lifts her hands to the back of my head, and smiles so sweetly, I have to return it. I kiss her under the warm water now mixed with the rain beginning to fall. Tree leaves rustle as the wind picks up and heat lightning flashes repeatedly.
“We should get back inside.” I soap her curves, growing hard.
How the hell does she do it to me? I can’t get enough of her. My mates tell me the lust grows less after you’re married but I see no signs of it yet. I thought I might slow down as she grew more pregnant, but hell if her ripe body doesn’t make me want her more.
Done touching her all over, I reach for the shampoo, pour some into my hand, and scrub. She leans back into me and moans in pleasure.
“You keep making those noises and we may never leave.”
When she giggles, the world lifts off my shoulders. With her by my side, I can do anything. Maybe the nightmares will go away by being with her. I’ll just wait and see.
Taking a huge towel, I rub her down until she’s starts to laugh. “I’m dry already.”
She tries to dry me off as well but I shake my head and get her all wet again. She turns on the bottom hose, points it at me, and douses me with frigid water.
“Fook, no.” I grab it and spray her back.
Shivering and laughing, I turn the warm water back on and hold us both under, our towels now in a wet heap at our feet.
An explosion blasts our small enclosure, I hold her tight, and drop to the sand.
Insurgents surround us. The damn tires spin on the damn vehicle resting on its side. Bullets whistle by my ear, my mates moan, and I can’t fucking save them because one leg is stuck up to my knee, deep in the sand. I dig with my knife, trying to get free but there’s no time left.
My gun glued to my hand, I fire. Men drop dead but there’s more. Holes appear in the Hummer’s metal chassis over my head, inches from my torso, and yet I’m still alive.
“Fuck.” I run out of ammo and reload.
“Lochlan!” My wife calls out from under me.
“Stay down.” I fire another set of rounds.
“Stop! We’re safe.”
I close my eyes as bright lights flash. At the next earsplitting explosion, I manage to get free, and pull my wife to my chest. Her eyes are full of fear.
“Don’t worry luv.”
Her palms cup my cheek. “Lucky. Come back. We’re here in the shower. No war. Thunderstorm. You there?”
Huh?Horrified, I let go, heart thumping. Sand turns into wood, desert to water, explosions to the grumble of a fading thunderstorm.
This was the worst one to date and I haven’t got a clue how to explain it to my wife. She’s still standing there like an angel, hands to my face, eyes wide.
I put my large hands over hers, pull her knuckles to my mouth, and kiss them. “Sorry, luv. Did I hurt you?”
Her brows crease. “How long has this been going on?”
No doubt, the gardener filled her in on my last episode. “I had some bad dreams right after I left the service. After I was home for a while, they died down.”
“And now?”
