Free Her Shifter Soldier (BBW Erotic Romance) by Jackie Sexton Page B

for you. At least I’m here
with you now. This is why I do what I do, to keep you safe.”
His words were more than I could bear. I
pushed away, trying not to acknowledge the break of goose bumps
that were forming along my arms.
“Did you want anything to drink? Any
coffee?” I asked, my voice higher-pitched than I would have liked.
I winced at my own words, hard and grating.
“Iced tea would be great if you have it. But
I wouldn’t want to inconvenience you otherwise.”
“Not a problem,” I rushed quickly, making my
way to the kitchen. “I was going to bake you some cookies, but I
wasn’t expecting you so early.”
“They switched the flight time on me,” he
explained. I could still feel his eyes hot on the back of my neck,
making me feel both wanted and exposed. “And all those cookies
you’ve been sending me have been more than enough to get me through
the brutal nights. They’re sweet, like you.”
“Dalton…” I warned, the cold glass stinging
my hand as I gripped it tightly. I felt him come up behind me, the
heat radiating off his body. He wrapped one arm around my waist,
taking the glass from my hand with the other.
“I’m done waiting for you, Jessica. I’ve
done just about all I can to convince you I’m a stand-up guy. I’ve
never set my eyes on another woman—it’s been you since that day at
the lake, sweet heart.”
The truth was, I hadn’t been with anyone
either. I was a twenty-four-year-old virgin, and it wasn’t because
I didn’t have the chance to be otherwise. It was because every time
I thought to pursue a handsome guy, I thought about that sunny day
at the lake also. My toes were dangling over the edge of the wooden
pier, my eyes cast downwards at my reflection. I was sixteen—on the
cusp of womanhood. For the first time, I could make out my
voluptuous figure as something more than awkward and unwanted.
Because Dalton was beside me, telling me I
was perfect. Telling me I was everything he ever wanted and that
he’d make an honest woman out of me.
“I’m young,” he said, and he was.
Fresh-faced and eighteen-years-old. But he was strong and
confident, more of an adult than I could imagine being at that
point in my life. “But I know about forever. Forever is when you
don’t give up. Even when just about everything is going to crumble
beneath you. You’re my forever, Jessie. Don’t let a war make you
forget that.”
I could feel the weight of that memory
pulling inside of me as his breath fell on the back of my neck in
the kitchen, a million miles away. I closed my eyes for just a
moment, losing myself as I returned to his touch.
“No,” I said weakly, pulling away and
stepping back to look him square in the face. I took a deep breath
and mustered all the courage I could. I’m not the bravest or most
outspoken girl, but sometimes you have to fight to say what you
truly believe.
“You gave up the chance we had together the
day you enlisted,” I said, my voice wavering. I fought back the
tears for the second time in the last half hour. I felt weak, but
my false display of bravado was helping me get through the moment
as I stared down the most gorgeous man in the face, telling him he
couldn’t have me.
“It’s not that simple,” Dalton growled, his
handsome lips falling into a frown. He rubbed his thick, calloused
hand against his stubbled chin. He was used to me throwing this
point in his face, and yet it never ceased to frustrate him. “I’ve
told you that a million times. A lot more is at stake than I could
ever express to you.”
“So leave that to somebody else!” I
exclaimed, feeling guilty but exasperated. I knew it was wrong, but
I had always wanted him to myself; I couldn’t help the words as
they tumbled out of my lips.
“And then what?” he snapped, taking another
step towards me so that his face was only a few inches from mine.
“Leave all the good men and women I’ve met to fight the good fight?
I’m not that kind of man, Jessie. You know that.