No Man Left Behind: A Veteran Inspired Charity Anthology by Elizabeth Knox (black authors fiction TXT) 📕

I pulled back and saw the sincerity in his statement. Uncle Mick had rented the house I live in while I was recuperating here years ago. He moved me into the house and stayed with me until I could take care of myself. Dalton and Jacob came to stay a few months later when my mother took off and Uncle Mick made sure we were safe. If he said I could trust Gunner, then I believed him.

I looked up at Gunner and he smiled down at me. I glanced back at Mick, Smokey, and Bullet and said, “Thank you.”

“Never thank us. That’s what family is for,” Smokey replied and winked before they walked out, leaving me alone with Gunner.

“Would you like a shower?” he asked, and I lifted my hand to my forehead, feeling the knot under the skin from where I fell.

“Please, but . . .”

“What do you need, Sadie? Tell me and it’s yours.”

“I don’t have anything to wear,” I responded shyly, realizing I would share a king-size bed with a man for the first time in my life.

I didn’t think Gunner expected sex, but the part of me that was waking up deep inside hoped that one day, I could give him that part of me. Piper explained years ago that the man who was meant to be mine would erase all the pain, shame, and regret that filled me. He would take the broken parts of me and make me whole with his love.

The way Gunner looked at me told me he wanted to be that person and if I was getting the blessing of my brother and uncle, I would trust him. He stood from the bed and opened a drawer, pulling out a pair of boxer shorts and a t-shirt. Handing them to me, he helped me from the bed and escorted me to the small stand-up shower in the tiny bathroom.

Bear, the sweet dog who hadn’t left my side, followed dutifully behind us and once Gunner got me a towel, he pulled the door closed, leaving Bear with me. I wondered why he had a dog when I never saw one around the clubhouse, but figured he would tell me when he was ready. A pair of dog tags hung from the mirror and I lifted one, seeing the stamp into the metal.

Kade Fuller. Army. O negative.

Knowing the handsome man who I could hear pacing outside the door defended our country made me fall a little more for him. I looked down at Bear and whispered, “I hope your daddy is for real.”

He licked my hand, and for the first time tonight, I chuckled. Taking the fastest shower in history, I washed the scrapes on my knees and avoided washing my hair because of the minor cut and knot. I used a washrag to remove as much of the dried blood from my scalp and pulled on his clothes, feeling wrapped in his embrace and surrounded by his woodsy scent.

Bear watched from his prone position on the floor and when I opened the door, Kade, I mean Gunner, was waiting for me.

“Are you okay?” he asked, worry etched on his face.

Needing to be brave, I walked up to him and wrapped my arms around his waist, hugging my face to his chest. He enveloped me in his powerful arms, and I felt Bear lean against the back of my legs. His heartbeat was steady, and he slowly ran his hand through the back of my long, black hair.

Fear that he would feel the scars on my back, I propped my chin on his chest and looked up at him, his amber eyes flecked with green around the edges stared into mine.

“Is this crazy?” I whispered, and he pulled back, linking his fingers with mine and tugging me toward his bed.

I crawled in and he covered me with the blanket before sitting on the edge, his hand in mine. I wanted to unburden my soul, but I met him less than two hours ago. What kind of crazy person was I to be here, with him, alone?

“I’ll stay in the clubhouse if that will make you more comfortable. I never want to do anything that makes you feel pressured,” he explained, and I shook my head.

“I don’t want you to leave,” I admitted and felt the bed shake from Bear jumping up.

The German shepherd settled against my leg and looked at us before settling in for rest. Gunner kissed the back of my hand and stood from the bed. He went into the bathroom and returned wearing a pair of shorts and a fitted shirt, showing off his muscles and toned body.

My mouth watered, and I clenched my legs together as he turned off the lights, leaving the bathroom sink light on to light the path. Settling on his side of the bed with Bear in between us, he laid on his side and I matched his position. We stared at each other and I brought my hand up to his, joining our fingers together. He smiled, kissed my hand again, and whispered, “Sleep well, Sadie. I promise I won’t let anything happen to you.”

“Good night, Gunner.”

“Kade. You can call me Kade.”

“Good night, Kade,” I replied and smiled before closing my eyes.

“Good night, sweet Sadie.”

Sometime in the night, Bear left his position as official separator and when I woke the next morning, I was tucked into Kade’s chest with his arm wrapped around me. Bear was pressed against my back and I watched Kade sleep, the worry missing from his face. He was handsome with blond hair that reminded me of a Viking. Strong, capable, sexy and from the feel against my hip, very well endowed.

There was a boldness, a newfound confidence in me that made me braver than I’d ever been. I leaned up, kissing him on his soft lips and he shifted, his eyes opening and a smile breaking out on his face.

“Good