Grissom (In the Company of Snipers #26)

Chapter Thirty-Seven

After her first fantastic orgasm, Grissom had dragged Tuesday into the ensuite bathroom, where he first covered the burn mark on her waist with a large waterproof bandage before they played like kids under the shower. Soapy fingers and hands had explored each other, their mouths hungry for more than food, and their bodies eager for another coupling.

But when he turned her face to the tile and ordered her to, “Spread ’em…”

When he pressed a massive palm firmly to her lower back until she was bent so far over that she could touch her toes…

When he told her, “Grab the backs of your knees. I’m going to fuck you till you scream…”

Tuesday discovered she liked being bossed. She especially liked Grissom pumping into her from behind. The way he took control. Seemed smart since he seemed to know his way around her body better than she did.

The harder they crashed together, the louder their wet flesh slapped, and the deeper his glorious cock went, the more her love for this handsome father bloomed. She didn’t think she could manage another screaming orgasm, but he took her there. What she lacked in experience, she made up with enthusiasm and another ungodly growl that made her sound like a woman in the throes of labor, “Gr-r-r-issom!”

“Shhhhh,” he ordered, reaching down and pressing a wet hand over her lips.

As if she could. “Gris-s-s-som!” she hissed between his fingers, pleasure exploding through her body like Fourth of July fireworks.

With one final thrust, he filled her with heat. There was nothing better than his version of play. It took the stress out of sex, because, wow. She never knew orgasms could feel so good. Or how much she craved the smile her coming always put on his handsome face. Or how loud he could make her grunt and scream. Grissom made the night exciting. She couldn’t wait to do it again, to stimulate the heck out of her cowboy in his bed.

Better yet… Our bed. His fingers digging into her hips kept Tuesday balanced. His cock buried to the hilt didn’t hurt. Her hair was drenched, the tips of it swirling like silk on the tile floor. She was utterly boneless, limp as a noodle, but her ass was so damned happy. She’d be sore in the morning, but she’d never regret what she’d done with—and to—Grissom.

Especially what she’d done with her mouth. When she’d knelt in front of him and touched her lips to his—there. When she’d kept her eyes on him to make sure he was watching as she kissed the tip of him—there. When she’d opened her mouth and licked up that squeaky-clean shaft. She’d barely gotten a taste when he’d jerked her to her feet and ordered her, “Wrap your legs around my waist. Hurry up. Now!”

Thrilled with the power she had over him, Tuesday had complied in the nick of time, finding herself wedged into a corner of the shower. With her pinned in place, Grissom worked her slick, wet body up high enough, he’d wormed his shoulders under her thighs, and then… Whoa.

She shivered remembering how her thighs had clamped over his ears, holding his head and that wicked, wicked mouth of his in place, while she came and came and—

Her body clenched again, reliving every sensation. Thunder roared once more. The blessed friction of his body pounding into hers brought on another blinding, searing orgasm that stole her breath.

Even facing the floor like she was, Tuesday knew her man was smiling. She could feel it in the gentle way his rough hands smoothed over her well-pleased ass. The way his hips thrust forward while those callused fingers tenderly held her in place. They’d given each other something tonight, something they’d never had before, and it wasn’t just sex. It was that indefinable more , the coming together of two broken parts. The joy of finally being put back together. Of putting each other back together.

It dawned on Tuesday then, standing there naked in Grissom’s shower, tipped nearly upside down, staring at the warm water sluicing down her bare legs. At Grissom’s much larger bare feet and toes spread behind her thinner, daintier feet. With his very capable fingers tapping her wet, naked skin… It came to her the way the winter sun dawned over the wild Atlantic on bitter cold mornings. Warming the earth. Promising spring, new life, and second chances. Maybe, third chances, too.

“I love you, Grissom,” she told him, her heart in her throat. “I love you so much that—”

One moment she was upside down. The next she was wrapped in a delicious bear hug, her chin against his burly chest, staring up at the most beautifully tortured man in the world.

“Say it again,” he ordered gruffly. “Please, Tuesday. Tell me what you just said again.”

Gazing up at the strongest man in her world, she ran her fingers through the water-blackened bangs dripping in his eyes like ink. This hulky giant of a man was still so much that desperate little boy who never should’ve had to fight to be loved. All of his life, he’d needed to hear those four simple words. Which was why he’d fought so hard for Tanner and Luke, to keep them from living the shallow life he’d lived.

And she was the thief who’d held her love back from him. Talk about a rude awakening. She’d treated him just like his mother and his wife.

“I said I love you, honey,” Tuesday repeated, smoothing those floppy bangs back over his head. Tipping up on her toes, she kissed the end of his nose. “I think it was love at first sight, but I…” How could she explain the fear she’d harbored, that she’d believed she was a curse? A jinx? That just knowing her might’ve wrecked his dear little family?

“Good, because I love you so damned much it hurts,” he growled, his breath hot on her throat as he slathered his tongue over her sensitive skin. “I have for days.”

“I should’ve told you sooner, but everything happened so fast between us, and I—” She couldn’t finish, not the way his hands were squeezing her backside. Grissom was possessive as hell, and those thick fingers were branding her as his. Only his.

When he finally eased off, she dropped her gaze to where their bellies pressed together, damming a tiny pool of water between them. “It’s just that” —she couldn’t risk looking at him— “everyone I’ve ever loved is dead, Grissom. Mom and Dad. Freddie. Atchison Bremmer. His babies, Toby and Betsy. Everlee Yeager almost died in the gunfight with Maeve Astor. If I’d stayed with Shane or Heston, they’d probably be dead now too. I couldn’t do that to you or your boys. I was… I was afraid.”

Grissom’s fingers tightened on her hips. “Survivor’s guilt, that’s what you’re feeling. You’re no more to blame for those deaths than I am for what happened the day in Syria when I… when I…”

Tuesday molded her wet body to Grissom’s as the story of that tragic day unfolded. She watched his expression change as he relived the death of those poor boys. By the time it ended, his warm hazel eyes were cold, staring through her. Not seeing, and that just wasn’t good enough.

“I’m sorry you had to go through that,” she whispered, gently drawing his attention back into the steamy shower with her. “It’s not fair what happened, Grissom, but you would’ve died for your men that day. That’s why you defended them. You didn’t know who was shooting at you and your men. You had to take care of your guys. You’re a protector. It’s who you are. The first thing I ever noticed about you was that you’d die for Tanner and Luke.”

“So would you,” he murmured, his whiskey eyes so sad, his palm tenderly cradling her cheek.

“Exactly. That’s what people who love each other do, honey. On our best days, we’re all just doing the best we can, with what we’ve been given to work with.”

“We’re a couple jokers, is what we are.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because look at us. You’re telling me the same thing I just told you, only in a different way. We both sound like my counselor. She’s been telling me to let the past go and live in the present moment for weeks.”

Tuesday couldn’t hold back a grin. “Then let’s live, Grissom. Together. Let’s build that sanctuary for abused men, maybe build a few safe homes for unwed mothers and motherless children, and—”

Grissom’s mouth covered hers with heat and passion, ending her crazy dreams for their future. Tuesday wrapped her arms around his neck and hung on. By the time they extracted themselves from the shower, they were prunes. Happy prunes.

Now this… was living.

The next morning, Tuesday woke to an empty bed. The delicious aroma of bacon in the air and the noisy chatter coming from the kitchen told her the men of the household were making breakfast.

She hurried through her shower, then dressed in her last clean pair of skinny jeans, a thin red cashmere sweater top, white anklets, and the adorable red Converse tennis shoes Smoke Montoya, another rough and ready guy, had given her last year, in Texas of all places.

The minute she stepped into the kitchen doorway, she smiled to herself. Grissom had his back to her, as she settled stealthily on one of three barstools at the butcher block island. Tanner stood at his side, but Luke was nowhere in sight. Three plates of scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, and French toast, with glasses of orange juice, lined her side of the island.

Forget about this kitchen needing bigger windows. The man at the coffeemaker more than made up for that oversight. Pure bliss. She’d seen Grissom at his worst and was now drinking in the sight of him at his masculine best. He was a magnificent mass of muscle, from those long, lean legs, to his tight, round ass, to his narrow waist, and on up to those wide shoulders that completed the perfect inverted triangle of male perfection. To top it off, those muscular shoulders were wrapped in a black polo shirt that looked painted on. Twin leather holsters criss-crossed his back. A sheathed knife hung in the center of that leather X. This man was dressed for work. So soon?

“Good morning,” she said brightly, trying not to let it show that she was crushing on Tanner’s dad. At least, to not look like a star-struck teenager. Last night, Grissom had been all cowboy, but today? Weaponized, strong, and deadly? Drool-worthy. Utterly drool-worthy.

He shot a quick but serious glance at her over his shoulder. “Sorry, but Murphy called earlier, and I’ve got to leave. Haven’t needed a sitter since we moved. Might be gone for a couple days. I was wondering—”

“Ask Robin, Dad,” Tanner whined. “Please? She’ll come, I know she will.”

Tuesday didn’t care who Robin was. “But I’m already here, sweetheart, and I’d love to stay with you boys while your dad goes to work.”

“You’ll stay? Really?” Tanner asked, wringing his fingers. He looked back up to his dad. “Kin Tuesday watch us instead of Robin until you get back?”

Grissom turned around with two steaming mugs in his hands. “Robin’s the teenager who lived next door at our old place. She used to watch Tanner and Luke for me when” —he shrugged— “well, you know. When no one else was around.”

He meant What’s-Her-Name. “Of course!” Tuesday nearly squealed. “We’ll be fine, won’t we, Tanner?”

Were those tears in his melted amber eyes? This poor kid was breaking her heart all over again. Sliding off the stool, Tuesday crouched and opened her arms wide, ready to catch him if he fell. “I need a hug.”

Tanner ran to her and flung his skinny body against hers. Trembling, he wrapped his arms around her neck. My goodness, this little guy was scared. His poor heart hammered like the entire percussion section in her high school marching band—on steroids. “He gots ta go, Miss Tuesday,” Tanner sobbed. “This morning. Right away. He gots ta rescue some people who got left behind in, umm, Afghanstontun. Dad’s leaving, and he says it’s real important, but I don’t want him to go, and Luke’s hiding under his bed so no one kin ever steal him again and...” Tanner sucked in a shuddering inhale. “I don’t want Dad to go. Please, make him stay.”

That explained why Luke wasn’t in the kitchen.

“And you’re scared,” she whispered, hugging Tanner tighter.

“Uh-uh,” he answered through pitiful sniffles, his wet lips against her neck. “You stay too, so Mom d-don’t never, ever come b-back. You kin keep us safe. I know you kin cuz you already did. You saved us before. Can’t you save us again?”

This poor traumatized child was killing her. Tuesday hoisted Tanner onto her lap and held him. Just sat there in the middle of Grissom’s kitchen floor and hugged that perfect little boy as tight as she dared. “Of course, I’ll stay. I belong here with you guys and your dad. Right, Grissom?”

The second his dark eyes locked onto Tuesday’s, her heart kicked into overdrive. She was so much in love with this bear of a man who, when he smiled, turned into a gloriously, sexy beast. The ultimate tall, dark, and handsome star in her sky. Decisive. Bold. Stronger than anyone she’d ever known. A fierce, deadly fighter who’d die to protect his family. One of those few hard males who stood alone in the night against their country’s enemies. One of the few, the brave, the—the best of the best. Smiling at the way she’d butchered the Marine Corps slogan, Tuesday licked her bottom lip, knowing that tiny action would drive Grissom crazy.

“Yeah, about that…” Sliding the last few strips of bacon out of the skillet onto an already full platter, he wiped his hands on the nearest kitchen towel and then rounded the breakfast island. His hazel eyes shimmered like the soft touch he was. “Tanner, go get your brother. I want you boys to be the first to know.”

Tanner tipped back in Tuesday’s arms and wiped his face. “To know what, Dad?”

Crouching down to his son’s level, Grissom landed a gentle swat on Tanner’s thigh and said, “Just go, Scooter. Drag Luke out from under his bed if you have to. You’ll find out when you both get back.”

“Okay. I’m going.”

Once Tanner was out of earshot, Grissom leaned his forehead to Tuesday’s. “Actually, you should be the first to know. Will you marry me, Tuesday Smart? Will you take my last name and love me and my sons for the rest of our lives? I don’t think I can stand to live one more day without you in it. Neither can my boys. Our boys. I give you all that I am, without reservation. Please, say yes.”

“Oh, oh, oh…” was all Tuesday could manage. Her throat went dry, but before she let her fears scare her away from this one-in-a-million man, she gave Grissom the rest of her heart and her answer. “I love you so, so much. Your boys, too. Yes, I’ll marry you,” she replied hoarsely, collapsing into his arms with tears in her eyes.

That was where Tanner and Luke found her, tucked under Grissom’s chin, trying not to cry but doing a lousy job of it.

“Oh, no!” Tanner shrieked. “What’d you do to Miss Tuesday, Dad? Did you hurt her feelings again?”

Luke’s tiny hands curled into fists. “Say you’re sorry, Daddy.”

Grissom tipped his head back and laughed. “I guess I did make her cry, but I didn’t hurt Miss Tuesday, and I’m not sorry. She’s crying because I asked her to marry us. You guys and me. Those pretty tears in her eyes are tears of happiness, and you boys are going to be my two very best men at our wedding.”

“You’re gonna get married? To each other?” Tanner shrieked, his eyes bright, as if it were Christmas morning all over again.

Luke made it a hundred times more personal. “You’re gonna be my good mommy?” he asked, quietly worming under Tuesday’s arm and clinging to her like a tiny spider monkey, his legs around her waist and his butt perched on her hip.

Grissom didn’t give her time to reply. “Yes, Tanner and Luke,” he said, his voice rough. “Tuesday’ll live with us from now on. She’ll protect you whenever I have to leave, and she’ll sleep with me when I’m home.”

“Kin she sleep with us when you’re not home?” Tanner asked timidly.

Grissom looked to Tuesday for that answer.

“How about you kids sleep with me when your dad’s out of town?” she asked. “There’s plenty of room in his bed and I’ll get lonely. It’ll be fun.”

“I’ll keep you safe,” Tanner asserted, his chest puffed out.

“I kin, Too-Day,” Luke mumbled. The traumatized little guy was sucking his thumb. Darn that foul biological mother of his!

Grissom snagged Tanner and cuddled him tight. “Honestly, boys, I don’t have all the answers. But somehow, I’ll make sure you never have to see your other mother again. I already changed the security code. Only Santa can get in without it, and he has to come down the chimney. I’d like to see your other mother do that.”

Tuesday could tell Grissom was trying hard to change the tone of this serious conversation.

“You mean our mean mother?” Luke asked, still so quiet that Tuesday couldn’t help patting his back. “She can’t never get inside here no more? Promise?”

“That’s right, sweet baby of mine,” Tuesday crooned. “That mean woman’s in jail.”

“And that’s where she’s going to stay for the rest of her life,” Grissom declared.

“Promise?” Tanner whispered, shaking so hard it brought tears to Tuesday’s eyes.

She pulled him into the new and improved McCoy family huddle, and Grissom quickly settled Tanner on his thigh. “Like your dad said, we don’t know all the details yet, sweetheart, but your other mother” —man, how she loved saying that— “will never see you again.

Tanner’s cheeks puffed with a big, “Good, cuz I don’t ever wanna see her again neither.”

“Me too,” Luke whispered, his fingers twisting a knot into the neckline of Tuesday’s sweater top. “She made my tummy hurt, and sometimes at night, I get ascared, and I hafta climb into Tanner’s bed with him. And sometimes, I have a accident and I cry, but just a little.”

Tanner laid a brotherly hand on Luke’s shoulder. “I don’t mind if you sleep with me every night. We fit pretty good in just one bed, even when you bring all your trucks. I got lots of room, and I don’t mind helping you get into clean pajamas neither. I even know how to change sheets cuz Dad taught me.”

Tuesday heard Grissom’s sharp intake of air and his whispered, “Fuck.”

“And Tanner telled me that somethings scare the crap out of all us guys,” Luke continued as if he wasn’t breaking his dad’s heart by revealing how traumatized he’d been. “And sometimes, us guys know what’s scaring us, but sometimes, we don’t know, Daddy. But he telled me he’ll always listen to me even when I’m crying. Every time. Anytime.”

Tuesday tipped her nose into the curve of Grissom’s neck where it joined with his shoulder. He was struggling to contain his feelings. She could feel the vibration of his heart cracking down deep in his chest. The words Luke had just said were important. Grissom knew them from somewhere; might’ve said them to Tanner, maybe more than once. And Tanner had wisely passed them to Luke, in his three-year-old hour of need. When monsters came lying and screaming in the middle of the night. When the closest person he had to cling to was his big brother.

Grissom buried his face in Tuesday’s hair, hiding his tears like the tender-hearted man he was. With a soft growl, he wrapped his arms around her and the boys. Their boys . Together they sat in the middle of the McCoy kitchen floor. Holding each other. Holding each other up. Just being there. For each other. Like a family.