The American Soldier Collection 11: Mending Hearts (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever) Read online

  Jaxon swallowed the small lump of emotion in his throat. This woman, this petite, sweet, gorgeous, young woman, could make a difference in all their lives, and especially in Gabe’s.

  “Let’s take that small table over there in the corner by the window,” Jeb suggested as they headed that way.

  They waved or smiled at a few patrons in the place. Locals who worked in town and were on lunch break just like Alana. The men looked at her, their eyes gazing over her figure and her long, tan legs. As Jeb released her to sit, Jaxon gripped her hips and pressed against her back, holding her in place before she sat. He leaned forward and kissed her neck, making her gasp softly then turn slightly toward him.

  “Have I told you how much I like your outfit, especially this skirt?” he asked.

  She looked at him peculiarly, as if she were on to his possessive tactics of staking a public claim.

  “It’s just a plain black skirt.”

  He shook his head. “Not on you. It shows your shapely figure and long sexy thighs, and my favorite part is how accessible it is.” He ran a hand along the hem as if he would raise it up right here in the deli, and she slapped his hand away and turned to sit.

  “Jaxon,” she reprimanded and took the seat next to Jeb, who looked hungry and aroused.

  He leaned closer to her. “Sure you have to go back to work today? Jaxon and I would love to find out what you’re hiding under that skirt.”

  “Stop it, Jeb, you’re making a scene,” she reprimanded, lowering her head, blushing. It was obvious by her red cheeks she was embarrassed by the attention..

  Both of them chuckled then lifted up the specials menu.

  “What do you feel like having?” Jaxon asked.

  “Alana,” Jeb teased.

  Jaxon chuckled as his buddy played along, obviously feeling the same things he was feeling. Alana released an annoyed sigh.

  “If you’re going to do this to me, then I won’t be having lunch with either of you again.”

  Jaxon widened his eyes as he took her hand and held it.

  “Now, darling, don’t be making any threats. You behave, or there’ll be trouble.” He winked at her.

  “What kind of—”

  She gulped, and her cheeks turned a brighter shade of pink.

  She might be a bit inexperienced, but she got the hint of his meaning.

  She cleared her throat.

  “I think I’ll just have the chicken salad sandwich.”

  Jeb smiled. “I’ll go place the order. Jaxon, what about you?”

  Jaxon ordered an Italian combo and an iced tea and then watched Jeb walk up to the counter to place the order.

  He turned toward Alana, and she was watching Jeb too. In fact, she looked to be checking out his ass.

  * * * *

  Alana felt as though her body was going to snap. It was taking all the self-control she could muster not to tell Jeb and Jaxon that she wanted them to kiss her, touch her, and just hold her in their big, strong arms. But she couldn’t be so brazen. She was feeling uneasy and overwhelmed. They were both so big and handsome. Jaxon with his striking blue eyes, blond hair, and commanding demeanor was intimidating. Jeb’s deep brown eyes and dark hair made him seem so hard-core, mysterious, and powerful.

  All four of the men were to die for. Geno with his brown hair and light brown eyes had the softer, more approachable personality, yet he seemed meticulous, orderly, and in charge. Then there was Gator. God, she’d thought of Gator just this morning when she was showering. He was the tallest of the men, with jet-black hair, military styled, and dark blue eyes that bored right through to her soul. He stood at six feet four inches, and she was a shrimp when he was nearby. It made her feel protected, shielded by anything bad or evil, and that, of course, made her aroused and downright horny.

  She took a deep breath and released it as Jaxon watched her. These were Marines. Capable, hard, never-give-up-or-give-in Marines. Lordy was she in a heap of trouble.

  “So how is work going today?” he asked her.

  “Fine so far. They got in a new shipment of fall clothing, so we’re trying to rearrange the racks. You know, place things on the discount or sale racks and then set up the new displays. We have to re-tag all the old items and then place new tags on the new items so they ring up properly at the front register. It’s busy work, so it makes the time go by.”

  “Which do you like better, the boutique or working at Casper’s?”

  “Well, besides clothing there are other popular items sold in the boutique so it keeps me busy. I like working at Casper’s because it’s harder work physically. I’m constantly moving around, and there are so many people to meet.”

  He looked a little angry for a flash of a second, and she squinted at him.

  “Jaxon, what’s wrong?” she asked.

  He licked his lower lip as if he were processing his thoughts before he responded to her.

  “There are a lot of guys who hang out there, especially at the bar.”

  “And your point is what?”

  He leaned closer and held her gaze with a firm expression.

  “They have their eyes on you. Looking your body over, trying to flirt and take an opportunity to touch you. I don’t like it, okay? It pisses me off.” He nearly spat the last words.

  He was jealous, and the thought did something to her. She reacted. She reached up and placed her palm against his chin. She held his gaze.

  “Don’t be jealous. It’s just a job to help me make ends meet. Those guys don’t mean anything, but you, Jeb, Geno, and Gator do. I like you guys, so remember that, please.”

  He looked at her lips and began to move forward, but she beat him to it and kissed him softly on the lips.

  She loved how his masculine, gruff skin felt against her palm. He was sexy and manly and everything her body, her heart, and soul found appealing.

  “Here we go.” Jeb returned, carrying a tray of food. She released Jaxon and smiled at Jeb.

  “Thank you, Jeb.”

  “You can thank me with a kiss like you just gave Jaxon,” he teased her as he leaned closer.

  She placed her palm against his cheek and smiled right before she kissed him softly on the lips.

  “Now that’s what I’m talking about.”

  They chuckled and then began to sort out the food and eat lunch together in the small deli and café. Alana felt comfortable and actually happy, for the first time in quite a while, and that she needed time to process.

  * * * *

  Gunner McCallister stood in the office of the local police station in Salvation. As a Texas Ranger and a resident of Salvation, he worked a lot of the cases nearby and in the town. Over the last several years, he’d noticed the increase in population as well as the increase in criminal activity. For the most part, their law enforcement agencies, in a cooperative effort, had been staying on top of things. However, as he stood there with Jim and Teddy, two detectives, he couldn’t help shake the funny feeling he had about this latest murder.

  “So where are you two in the investigation?” he asked them.

  “The victim was alone, no family, and had just moved into Salvation a few months ago. By the intensity of the violence committed upon her, we believe that the killer knew her, perhaps intimately,” Jim said.

  Gunner squinted his eyes and felt the anger begin to boil within him.

  “Are you thinking about an ex-boyfriend or lover?” he asked.

  “Could be. Duke, Shane, and Gerry are working on that theory now. So far they’ve found out she came from Houston, had told a few friends that she felt like someone was watching her, and then, within a few weeks, she packed up her things and left town,” Teddy explained.

  “I wonder if she knew who had been watching her. But why she didn’t report him? We need to find that guy. I think I’ll take a ride into Houston and see what I can dig up. She had to confide in someone. She was twenty-one years old, working at a local restaurant as a waitress, and taking college classes. There has to b
e more to this.”

  “We’ll keep digging on our end and hopefully come up with something more concrete or a clue. Her family is distraught, and they’re demanding that her killer be found,” Teddy added.

  “And rightfully so. We’ll find the one responsible. I’ll keep in touch.”

  Gunner headed out of the office then out of the building to his car. He couldn’t help but think about Gia and the two men who’d tried to forcefully take her, never mind that dick Jeffrey who’d attacked her. Men who went after women like that needed to be locked up and beaten. Someone had hurt this young woman, Samantha, very badly before they left her to die. The crime scene was horrific and definitely personal. He was out there, and Gunner would do what he could to find this guy and to bring justice to Samantha’s family.

  Chapter 4

  Alana sat on the living room floor, sweaty and tired from the workout video she did. She had wanted to go for a run but felt she didn’t have enough time to do so. As she gathered some energy, she got up and headed to the bathroom. She needed a shower and wanted to look good for tonight.

  As she let the water cascade over her body, she thought about the way the men made her feel. She wondered if she could allow Jaxon, Geno, Gator, and Jeb touch her when in the past any other man than Gabe made her panic and push them away. What was it about these Marines that had her considering having sex again?

  Could it be how much they reminded her of Gabe or the simple fact they were his room mates and best friends so they represented safety? It seemed screwed up to allow those type of feelings make her give her body so freely.

  But that thought didn’t sit right either. This confusion, the hunger for them was what led her to do the damn workout video. She was trying to clear her head and work out this need in her body. But instead her mind was consumed with getting involved in a ménage with four men and having sex again after three years of nothing.

  She stepped out of the shower and dried off.

  Alana put on some facial cream and then some special body lotion. She reapplied a little makeup. Not much, just some lip gloss and eye shadow. She sprayed her perfume and even made sure she’d shaved and was smooth in all the right places. That got her pausing and staring at herself in her mirror.

  Her breasts looked fuller, her cheeks had a light blush to them, and she appeared happy. How could that be? How could meeting Gabe’s four best friends and roommates make her feel alive again? She swallowed the lump of emotion and battled for the umpteenth time over how she could consider getting intimately involved with four men, maybe five if Gabe got his head out of his ass.

  She covered her mouth and gasped at her own thoughts. Holy shit, she was considering this. Hell, she was contemplating how it would play out and how intense and overwhelming sex could be for someone like her.

  She felt the tears hit her eyes. She was inexperienced, small, and susceptible to their masculinity and charms. They were all big all over from muscles to personalities. She was shy, soft-spoken, not delicate in a way that she was fearful, weak, or timid, but more reserved. Could she handle four men? Could she handle any man other than Gabe touching her, fucking her?

  She felt her cheeks warm and her pussy spasm, and she thought of them. All four sexy, eye candy Marines that wanted little ol’ her.

  She stared at her body in the mirror. Her bra barely covered her full, large breasts. The belly ring she wore was sexy and youthful against her tight abs she worked so hard to maintain. Exercise had helped her deal with her emotions and the loss of Gabe. She worked out sometimes to exhaustion so her mind would stop thinking of him and missing him.

  She ran her hand along her panties, tiny, sexy, black, and lacy. Would Jaxon like them? Would Geno be aroused by the piercing? Would Gator take his time making love to her, or would he lift her up and sink his cock in deep and fuck her hard against the wall? She closed her eyes and nearly moaned.

  Jeb would surely take his time. He had big hands, capable hands that would take from her, make her beg to come.

  Her eyes popped open, and she smirked. “You’re more than ready for this. You want them, and they want you. So what that Gabe is there? If he wants you still, then he will join them. Just relax and let go. If it falls apart, and things get all fucked up then at least you enjoyed the ride and the experience.”

  Her heart hammered in her chest. She was never so brazen and calm when it came to sex or giving up her heart to someone. How the hell was she going to handle these men and have enough love to give each of them? What if they stopped caring? Would it hurt like Gabe not loving her anymore does? This was a greater risk than maybe she really understood. Perhaps letting go and lowering her guard wasn’t the answer. Maybe protecting her heart was the only logical thing to do?

  * * * *

  Gabe was sautéing the vegetables as Geno made the chicken saltimbocca. He was adding the prosciutto and the sage and preparing the pan for the chicken.

  Gabe couldn’t believe he was doing this. His team was all showered, shaved, and ready to seduce Alana. And that was exactly what they were going to do. They wanted her. They were all attracted to her and saw her for the perfect woman she was. Smart, beautiful, a good head on her shoulders, and a body that aroused each of them, including himself. His mind focused on the ache in his leg, a constant reminder of his inability to satisfy her the way a perfect man could. It was a constant, throbbing pain that nothing made subside. Thinking of Alana, wanting her, needing her made the pain increase and his mind set him straight. He couldn’t have her. Not fully, not alone, not with this injury and with the scars on his soul.

  “Pass the salt,” Geno said to him, and he nearly tossed the little glass shaker at him.

  “Yo, what’s up with you? You’re going to burn the veggies,” Geno reprimanded.

  He took the spatula from Gabe and moved the vegetables around in the large frying pan. They had a commercial stove and oven. They all enjoyed cooking but not entertaining. They never entertained except for a few football games with pizza and beers.

  “Okay, what do you guys need help with?” Jaxon asked as he entered the room. “Jeb went to pick up Alana.”

  Gabe looked him over. His commander, the leader of their team, one of his best friends, his brother, was dressed to kill. He wore a burgundy button-down shirt, with the first two buttons undone, dark black dress pants, black cowboy boots, as well as cologne. He was also clean-shaven and looking ready to get laid.

  Gabe’s teeth clenched, and his heart pounded. But he wasn’t jealous. He was envious. Why couldn’t he appear perfect, unscathed by the demons of war, violence, and near-death? Why couldn’t he let go of the feelings of inadequacy and just embrace the one woman, the one person who completed him and made everything okay?

  Because he wasn’t that big of a dick. Alana deserved men like Jaxon, Geno, Gator, and Jeb, who could put the war, the scars, and their pasts behind them and move on.

  “Gabe? Gabe, what the fuck are you staring at?” Jaxon asked, interrupting his thoughts.

  “You look like you’re going to a fucking club,” Gabe snapped at him.

  Geno chuckled.

  “Jealous?” Geno teased.

  “Fuck no. Jealous of that old guy? I don’t think so,” Gabe replied with an angry attitude.

  “Hey, I don’t think I look bad. This is my best fucking dress shirt.” Jaxon fixed the collar and ran his hand along the waistband to make sure it was tucked in neatly. It was so tight and tucked in it looked like his military uniform. Once a Marine, always a Marine.

  “That’s because everything else you own is either military green, black, or some shade of blue. It looks good. I was just fucking with ya,” Gabe told him, and Jaxon held his gaze and gave a small smirk.

  “That’s what you’re wearing?”

  What?” Gabe asked, putting down the spatula and turning off the burner. Gabe fixed the navy blue dress shirt and adjusted the waist on his black dress pants.

  “Nothing’s wrong with it. You never get dres
sed up. You’re always in camo pants and T-shirts.”

  “Yeah well, we never have company. Alana is a lady, so remember that,” Gabe barked and turned around. He could hear them chuckle low. But then he heard the door open and a slow whistle fill the room.

  Gator was staring at something and not moving an inch.

  “What’s up?” Geno asked as he placed the last piece of chicken onto the serving platter.

  “She’s here, and holy fuck she looks incredible,” Gator whispered.

  Jeb opened the front door, and Gator headed that way.

  Gabe closed his eyes and willed himself to remain calm and just let this happen. It was best for Alana. His team would protect her, care for her, and perhaps love her the way he wasn’t capable of.

  “Damn, baby, you are a sight,” he heard Gator say, and then Gabe turned around to take a look for himself, and he nearly lost his ability to stand.

  * * * *

  Gator pulled Alana into his arms and hugged her to him. He ran his hand along her ass and over the tight beige skirt she wore. In high heels, she still had to stand up on tiptoes to kiss him, and he loved that about her. She was petite, feminine, and she smelled edible.

  He sniffed her hair and then slowly let her lower after she pressed her lips gently to his.

  His eyes roamed over the cleavage of her blouse, low cut, sexy, and a pale pink. She was a knockout.

  “I missed you,” he told her.

  “That’s real sweet, Gator. I missed you too. What smells so good in here?” she asked as he released her, only for Geno to pull her into his arms and kiss her next.

  “Chicken saltimbocca with sautéed vegetables, thanks to Gabe, and some roasted red potatoes, thanks to Gator,” Geno told her as he pressed his hands over her waist and absorbed her beauty.

  Gator watched her lay her hands gently on Geno’s arms and smile.