Free Jaxson by Kris Keldaran Page A

His fingers threaded through her hair and he pressed it against his nose, breathing deeply. “Even the way you smell is perfect.”
    Kehau giggled. “I thought men were only visual learners.”
    “Nope. We identify smells too. When I had been in Afghanistan for eight months, it was long enough to forget what women sounded and looked like, never mind smelled. Got back to Camp Leatherneck, hopped on a bus, headed to the PX, and leaned back to enjoy comfy seats with AC for the first time in months. That was when it hit me like a ton of bricks. Lemon and oranges, mixed with something else. It smelled delicious. I looked to my right and there they were, three female British soldiers, fresh from the shower I assumed. I was tongue-tied.”
    “No way.”
    “Yes. I would've married all of them right there they smelled so good.”
    “So tell me, what do I smell like?”
    “Coconuts and sugar cane. And sexy.”
    “Sexy is a smell?”
    “Very.” He pulled her in closer, his tongue running along the edge of her ear before he nibbled on the lobe.
    Kehau fought the urge to jump. This…this…this man is infuriating ! Squirming in his lap, she leaned her head back far enough to lay a kiss on his thick neck.
    For a long moment, he seemed to resist her touch. Then his walls came down a little. She sensed, more than anything, a long, deep scar running the length of his body emotionally. It’s as if he’s afraid of being touched . Turning, she gently embraced him and kissed him once more. Nothing sensual. Just kind, and endearing.
    “Thank you, Johnny Rocket, for everything.”
    The dam seemed to break and he returned the embrace, clasping her tightly to him. Whatever was wrong, he couldn’t say. Not yet. But it would happen in time. For now though, they sat together, a man and a woman desperately in need of healing, listening to the quiet stillness of the pond.

Chapter Seven
     
    Last night I found a soft place to fall, loving arms to ease me down To a big old feather bed instead of cold hard ground
    I still love the rodeo but with you I can have it all
    'Cause last night I found a soft place to fall
     
    Chris Ledoux
     
    It was two more weeks before Jax left the island again. This time he’d be taking Donny and the whole of Donny’s squad, call sign Banshee, with him to Japan. They would be training the initial wave of cadre and instructors for the next while.
    In the meantime, Jax and Kehau spent every possible minute together. When she finished teaching for the day, he would pick her up, either from her house or the school, and together they explored the whole island. On one occasion, Kehau remarked about needing to go by the Victoria’s Secret at Ala Moana Mall for new workout clothes. Walking straight past the men seated on the planters outside the store, Jax followed her in, without any hesitation! Other women looked at her with a mixture of envy and admiration as he helped carry her shopping bag around the store.
    She had only planned to buy a few items out of the whole bag though, because of her small budget, and told him as much before she went in the dressing room one last time to try on a new bra they had on display. When she came out, Jax was still standing there, waiting patiently. But her shopping bag was nowhere to be seen.
    “Where’s my bag?” she asked nervously.
    “I was looking at something and I set it down, and it disappeared on me” he told her.
    “You what! Do you know how long it took to select all of that?”
    A clerk poked her head around the corner. “Excuse me, sir, here’s your purchase and the receipt for it.”
    She handed Jax three massive bags and told him to, “Have a nice day,” then disappeared from sight.
    “You bought those bags of clothing for me?” Kehau asked, slightly awestruck.
    “Yep.”
    “Why?”
    “Because I like seeing you smile,” he told her. “And did it 'cause I wanted to.”
    The honesty of his answer took her back to the dreams she’d had as a little