Beneath the Fire (A Guardians Novella) (11 page)

“Hopefully, this is it.” Nathan said quietly.

A man in blue scrubs walked through the double doors into the waiting room. His gaze zeroed in on Nathan and his bloody shirt. “Lucy Cortez?”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

4 weeks later

“I think it would look better over here,” Lucy said, eyeing the wingback loveseat that Leo and Nathan were carrying.

“Whatever you say, babe,” Nathan replied good-naturedly.

“Quit being so difficult, Luce,” Leo grumbled.
 

She was officially moving in with Nathan. She had been staying at his place for the past four weeks anyway; it only made sense to terminate her lease on her apartment. Lucy felt a shudder go through her as she remembered her old place. She had loved that apartment, she had spent her first three years of college there and now that memory was tarnished by a heinous act of revenge.

She was thankful that Nathan had cleared out the remnants of that bloody night by the time she was released from the hospital. Lucy still had nightmares of Sayeed. The cold steel of the sharp blade was so vivid and she would wake up trembling and crying, but Nathan was always there to soothe her.
 

She went to a trauma counselor twice, but she found out she had a great network of friends and family who were always there for her. Her mother had flown in the very next day after the attack and had stayed for a week. Eva and Leo were visiting everyday. So she was never alone, and the cocoon of security was slowly rebuilt.

Plus, Nathan was her rock.
 

“Well, are you happy now?” Leo’s disgruntled voice broke through her ruminations.
 

“It’s perfect, Leo.” Lucy walked up to her brother and gave him a peck on the cheek before moving over to Nathan to circle his hips. His arms immediately came around to hug her.

“Thanks, honey,” Lucy stood on tiptoe, tilted her head up and gave Nathan an affectionate smack on the lips.

“Anytime, babe.”

“Alright, I guess that’s the last of it, I’m outta here before I puke,” Leo said. “You guys are so cheesy.”

“Don’t forget Sunday dinner!” Lucy called after her brother.

Leo just raised his hand in acknowledgement without looking back.

“Guess he can’t wait to get out of here...” Nathan murmured. “Works for me...”

Lucy glanced up suspiciously at her boyfriend. He was grinning devilishly down at her. She quirked an eyebrow and said, “No.”
 

“Why not?” Nathan breathed into her ear and she felt a warm tingle between her legs.

“Because... you’re sweaty and I just showered,” Lucy retorted, but heaven help her, his masculine sweaty scent was turning her on big time.
 

“Yeah, you smell delicious,” Nathan whispered. He herded her toward the loveseat until the back of her legs hit the edge. She lost her balance and plopped down on her ass. “I think we should try out the new furniture.”

“It’s not new... it’s...oh,” Lucy gasped as Nathan knelt down before her, quickly unfastening her shorts and pulling them off, leaving her in her panties. Then he wedged himself between her legs, leaned in and kissed her thoroughly, his hand sneaking under her shirt and flicking her nipple with his thumb through her bra.
 

After a few minutes of scorching kisses, he leaned back, his eyes smoldering possessively, leaving Lucy mesmerized as they stared at each other

“You are so beautiful...” Nathan whispered. He reached out and gently removed her shirt. The back of one hand stroked the top of her breast in a tender caress before slipping behind her to unhook her bra. A groan escaped his lips as he greedily sucked the plump orb into his mouth, grazing the nipple with his teeth while his hand dipped into the waistband of her panties, cupping her where she needed him the most.
 

Releasing her breast, he buried his face in her hair as his fingers continued to stroke her maddeningly between her legs.
 

“Can’t wait to be
 
inside you... fuck, you’re so wet for me, babe,” he groaned in her ear as his fingers continued to drive her to an orgasm. Suddenly she lost his fingers and her panties quickly disappeared and his face was buried between her thighs.

Lucy loved Nathan’s tongue. He worked miracles with it. And tonight was no exception. He was patient and thorough; he knew every pleasure point to stroke to drive her wild. And her orgasm, when it came, was incandescent. And she anticipated what would come next...

Nathan pulled her slightly forward until her hips were almost off the loveseat and before she knew it, he was pushing inside her. Sometimes their sex was primitive, but this time he eased inside her slowly, as if he was savoring every thrust and prolonging every sensual moment. Her core spasmed around him and she heard him curse, so she clenched around him again.

“Lucy... stop that... fuck...” Nathan growled as he increased his pace which was what she wanted.

“Feels so good... you always feel so fucking good...” he chanted over and over. At this point he was pounding into her and the smacking of their hips felt so primal, Lucy exploded in another orgasm. She felt him get harder inside her before he plunged into her one last time and gripped her to him tightly as he grunted his release. “Lucy!”

Lucy felt him shudder violently as he crushed her to him. His convulsions ebbing slowly until his body relaxed.

Nathan gently lay her back on the loveseat and kissed her on the forehead before saying, “I love you Lucy.” Then he crouched in front of her and rested one side of his cheek on her lap in a gesture of contentment.

***

Nathan traced the delicate contours of Lucy’s beautiful face. The sun was just breaking through the horizon, sunlight filtering through the windows of their bedroom. His fingers traced the three-inch scar that marred her throat. The stitches had come out two weeks ago, but it would take a couple of months for it to fade. He nearly lost her. If he had been even a few minutes late, Sayeed Reshadi would have taken the joy out of his life, his reason for living.

Everything that he was, his existence was reduced to the girl lying right now in his arms. He did not give a fuck that she made him weak, for when it came to Lucy, she could bring him to his knees and he wouldn’t care. But he would kill for her, because no one could touch and hurt what was his and get away with it.

“It still looks bad, doesn’t it?” Lucy whispered, her eyes blinking open. And this was another part he loved. Waking up beside her.

“It’ll fade, and I don’t care how it looks,” Nathan whispered. “I hope you don’t too.”

“I don’t. Somehow it’s a reminder of how far we have come,” Lucy said. Her whiskey-colored eyes were fully open now and luminous with emotion. “I’ve never told you, Nathan, but right before he cut me with his knife, my one thought was... that I love you.”

Nathan felt his eyes sting. This was it. The right time and moment and he was not wasting another second. Rolling away from Lucy, he opened his nightstand drawer and rummaged through its depths.

Lucy sat up in bed, her brows knitting adorably in confusion. She was holding a thin sheet over her naked self, her hair was mussed after a whole night of lovemaking and she had circles under her eyes from lack of sleep and probably wouldn’t appreciate him doing this now, but he didn’t give a fuck.

Kneeling on the bed, he held out the velvet box and opened it, watching her eyes widen in shock as he said, “Marry me, Lucy.”

Uncertainty flashed through her face, so he continued quickly, “I know you’re still in school and fuck, you’re only twenty-one and I’m not exactly a safe guy to be with. And after what you’ve been through, I know you have doubts. But take a chance on me Lucy. I love you so fucking much, you own me. We don’t have to get married right away, although I hope you don’t want to wait too long. But I want you to wear this ring, just so I know you’re mine.”

“Oh Nathan,” Lucy said, her eyes filling with tears. “You don’t need a ring for me to belong to you. I already do.”

“Well, I need you to wear my ring anyway,” Nathan said roughly. He didn’t know whether it was a guy thing or a possessive psycho thing, but she damned well better have this ring on her finger before she left this bed or she would find herself chained to it. He did not say this out loud, of course.

“And, I think your job is pretty hot. I’ve talked to Maia—we’re invited to the wedding by the way,” Lucy said. “And, I know there will be times when I will freak out.” She sighed. “We’ve been through a lot and we’ve come out stronger for it. And it was because of you. You’re my rock, Nathan. I love you.”

“Sounds good enough to me,” Nathan murmured as he took the ring out of the box and slid it on her finger. “That’s settled then.”

Lucy stared at him like he had lost his mind. “I didn’t say yes, yet.”

“Babe, after your heartfelt declaration about me being your rock, do you think I would let you say no?” Nathan said smugly.
 

“Nathan, it doesn’t work that way!” Lucy said in exasperation.

He yanked her legs toward him, had her flat on her back and was on top of her in no time.

“I don’t hear you protesting too much,” Nathan said with a smirk. He had her, he knew he did and if he was wrong, well tough for her, because that ring was not coming off.

Lucy rolled her eyes. “Unbelievable.”

“What?”

“You’re so damned cocky.”

“I’ve got plenty of that to give you too,” Nathan said playfully as he ground his hips against hers, and yes, he was getting hard.

“Nathan...”

“Yes, babe?”

“Shut up and kiss me.”