Free Wounded (An Aspen Series Novella) (Prequel to Relentless) by Cindy Stark Page A

needed to know what she was
getting into.  He cleared his throat.  “I didn’t know what to say to you.  It
was a tough time for me.”  He took a deep breath.  “I killed people.  Men.”
    A quiet descended upon them, and he feared the
thoughts that might be going through her head.
    “Did you think I didn’t know that?” she said in a
low voice.  “Or at least expected it?  You were in a war zone.”
    “I didn’t know how to tell you.  It haunts me. 
It changed me.  And I didn’t know if it would change your feelings for me.”
    “Jerry.”  She lifted, cradling his face in her
hands.  “I love you.  I know you wouldn’t choose to kill someone.  But I also
know you’re doing what you’re doing because you’re trying to make the world a
better place.  You’re in the army.  If you find yourself in combat, you have to
fight back.  It’s that or die.  Do I like it?  Not any more than you do.  Do I
wish there was a way around it?  Of course.  But you have to do what your
commanding officers tell you to do.”  She kissed him, her words and touch
soothing to his soul.  “It doesn’t make me love you less.  I’m so proud of who
you are.  You’re amazing to me.  Every part of you.”
    Her words humbled him and filled the reservoir of
his heart to the brim.  He rolled her over, trapping her beneath him.  “I love
you, Kimber.  I’ve always loved you.”
    She tugged his head to hers.  “I love you, too,
Jerry.”  Then she giggled.  “I think there’s another part of you that loves me,
too.”
    He’d grown hard again, his erection pressing
against her thigh.  “You think?”
    “I do.  And it doesn’t seem to want to be
ignored.”
    He shifted so that his penis sat against her
opening.  “What do you think we should do about it?”
    “I don’t think you need to ask that question,
soldier.  You’re an expert with that weapon, and I’m certain you know how to
use it.”
    A laugh rumbled from deep inside him, and he
realized the weight of the world had been lifted from his shoulders.  He nipped
at her neck.  “What if I don’t want to use it?”
    She wiggled beneath him.  “Then I may have to
take you prisoner.  I could tie you up and—”
    He cut off her words with a kiss.  “I don’t think
that will be necessary.”
    She started to laugh, but he silenced her as he shoved
inside her, making her gasp instead.

Chapter Twelve
     
    Kimber had no idea how much time had passed
before she and Jerry made their way to his Camaro.
    “I have to go back, Kimber,” he said as he climbed
inside the car and shut the driver’s side door.
    They both knew he didn’t mean Aspen.  “I know.” 
His words pierced her heart, but she refused to let him see it.  “But not for
long.  I’ve been crossing off the days on my calendar.”
    “Are we going to be okay?”
    “Yes,” she said, finding strength in the fact
that he loved her.  He needed her to be strong.  “I won’t let you down again. 
I have my foundation to focus on, plus my job at City Hall, and I have a group
of friends that meets regularly.  We help each other when times get tough.”
    “That’s pretty cool.  I’m sure their husbands
appreciate it, too, knowing things are okay back home.”
    It felt so good to actually be talking about
everything after all her months of waiting and wondering.
    Another question burned on her tongue.  She had
to ask, even though she didn’t want to hear the answer.  “Did you really get
shot the same day I broke up with you?”
    He stayed quiet for a moment, then sighed.  “Can
we just leave that in the past?”
    “You did.”  Her voice cracked.  God, she was a
horrible person.  “How can you forgive me for that?”
    “Because it’s not your fault.  There were many
things that came into play that day that led to the attack.  For a long time, I
wanted to blame it on you because I was hurt and angry, but it’s not your fault
or mine.  It