She was still breathing.
Her vision was clear.
She wasn’t shivering at the contact.
“’Randa? You okay?”
“Okay.” Moving the bracelet closer to her wrist, she drew in a breath and felt it catch in her lungs. “I’m okay.”
Trace touched her chin and gently lifted it so he could see her eyes. “You don’t have to.”
“I know that.” And she meant it. She didn’t have to, but she wanted to. She wanted to be okay for him.
And herself.
She set the chain gently back in the box.
Looking up at him, she smiled and saw him smile back. He was still there with her. Trace wasn’t upset.
And that acceptance meant the world to her. Picking up the pendant she turned her other hand so that her palm lay over his hand on her thigh. A moment later, without overthinking it, she set the pendant down on the bare skin of her wrist.
The world didn’t implode.
It didn’t stop turning.
And the heart in her chest burst with love for the man holding her like she was everything to him.
Heaven help her, she couldn’t love him anymore if she tried.
“Someday soon,” she promised him.
Soon, she promised herself.
He leaned closer and pressed a kiss on her cheek, just shy of her ear. “There’s no rush, darlin’. I’m here for you. We don’t have to worry about anyone else.”
Miranda felt a tickle of sensation all over her body as she looked down and put the pendant back in the box. “I’m getting there,” she reassured him, “I’m so close. Having you with me… not just physically with me, but emotionally, Trace. It’s meant everything.”
Smiling, Trace set the box aside and reached for the bottle in the bucket.
“I had them sneak this in for us.” He held it in one hand and started to peel the foil back with the other. “A little celebration.”
She saw his fingers reach for the wire that held the cork to the bottle. “Wait.”
He stopped and looked at her with a curious smile. “Something wrong?”
“No,” Miranda put her hand over his, “but we’re not finished with gifts.”
She knew she had his attention when she heard the heavy thump of the champagne bottle on the table instead of back in the champagne bucket.
“Are you ready for your gift?”
Trace’s ready smile faltered when she reached across his lap and pinched the fabric of her skirt near her knees, lifting it a few inches at a time.
Higher.
Higher.
When the hem of the long, circle-cut flounce spilled over the outside of her thigh, Trace’s hand closed over hers.
“Wait.”
She smiled up at him and saw a bead of sweat slip from the hairline at his temple. “Why?”
“Doesn’t the garter thing come a little later?”
“This isn’t about the garter,” she sighed, “but I am looking forward to you reaching up under my skirt.”
The way Trace shifted on the swing made her smile. Miranda loved to make him squirm because it meant that she was getting to him.
And that meant for a lot of fun later.
But like an oversized fish, it was amazing to catch him, but she had to let him off the hook.
“This time, I’m doing the reaching.”
Oh, she had his attention. He looked down and followed her hand as she reached under her hem and found exactly what she was looking for.
“I got this garter about a month ago, so it’s a little snug right now, but…” with a broad smile she gave it a little tug and set the long capsule-shaped container in his outstretched hand, “you like my thighs.”
He nodded because they both knew how much he loved to touch her.
All over.
When he turned the capsule over, he found the latch. “It looks like a cigar case and you know I don’t smoke.”
He met her eyes and winced.
“Not a cigar.”
She gave him a pointed look. “Open it.” When he still didn’t move all that much she sighed. “You’re going to be so difficult at Christmas. My family tears into their gifts.”
When he reached for the clasp, she couldn’t help crushing some of the lace between her fingers.
The clasp popped open and she touched his arm gently. “Don’t worry, Trace. You have time to learn.”
“Hmm?” He turned the case over in his hand and the white oddly shaped stick slid out into his palm.
Miranda pried her gaze off of his hands and watched his face.
Trace’s expression went from blank, to confused, then narrowing at the teeny tiny display under the light string illumination.
When the realization hit, she pressed her lips together in a thin line.
Blinking, Trace shook his head, and then picked up the tin lantern to shine on the face of the test.
“Pregnant.”
He looked up at her and mouthed the word again.
Pregnant.
“When?”
She laughed. “When it happened? No clue. I took the test this morning, so you’re the first to know. I really hope you’re ha-”
Trace took her breath away with his kiss and ended with a whispered confession. “I love you so damn much, Mrs. Carson.”
“And I love you more, Trace. I’ll love you forever.”
THE END
Looking for the next book in Reina’s San Antonio First Responders series? Well, you can get it NOW!!! Shelter for Vivian is just one click away!!
Love - Romance - Books
Aren't they all the same thing?
Oh, I sure hope so!
I've been reading romance books for what seems like forever. When I was a teen, the days that I wasn't in dance class after school I'd go to the mall to wait for my mom to finish work for the day and my haunt of choice... Waldenbooks. (I think I just showed my age there.)
Whether it was Scottish Lairds, Medieval Knights, Regency Gents, Rough and Tumble Cowboys, or handsome modern Heroes, I loved them all! There was always another hero and heroine to follow through page after page of breathless love!
I really hope that my readers will enjoy some of the same thrills as discover characters to love between the pages of my books.
Susan Stoker’s Fan Fiction World
Rescuing Hi`liani
San Antonio First Responders Series
Justice for Sloan
Justice for Miranda
Shelter for Vivian
Sylvan City Alphas Series
The Tiger’s Innocent Bride
The Fighter
Three Rivers Express Series
Always, Ransom
Always, Wyeth
Always, Ellis
Orsino Security Series
Her Unbearable Protector
His UnBearable Touch
Their Unbearable Destiny
St. Raphael, CA Series
Finding Home
Playing With Fire
Healing Hearts
Taking a Chance
Shapeshifters of Arcadia
Beneath the Surface
Ellingsford, Montana Series
Stay With Me
Her Gentle Heart
Hold Her Close
Other
Too Much Bear
Home to Roost
There are many more books in this fan fiction world than listed here, for an up-to-date list go to www.AcesPress.com
You can also visit our Amazon page at:
http://www.amazon.com/author/operationalpha
Special Forces: Operation Alpha World
Christie Adams: Charity’s Heart
Denise Agnew: Dangerous to Hold
Shauna Allen: Awakening Aubrey
Brynne Asher: Blackburn
Linzi Baxter: Unlocking Dreams
Jennifer Becker: Hiding Catherine
Alice Bello: Shadowing Milly
Heather Blair: Rescue Me
Anna Blakely: Rescuing Gracelynn
Amy Briggs: Saving Sarah
Julia Bright: Saving Lorelei
Victoria Bright: Surviving Savage
Cara Carnes: Protecting Mari
Kendra Mei Chailyn: Beast
Melissa Kay Clarke: Rescuing Annabeth
Samantha A. Cole: Handling Haven
Sue Coletta: Hacked
Melissa Combs: Gallant
Anne Conley: Redemption for Misty
KaLyn Cooper: Rescuing Melina
Liz Crowe: Marking Mariah
Sarah Curtis: Securing the Odds
Jordan Dane: Redemption for Avery
Tarina Deaton: Found in the Lost
KL Donn: Unraveling Love
Riley Edwards: Protecting Olivia
PJ Fiala: Defending Sophie
Nicole Flockton: Protecting Maria
Michele Gwynn: Rescuing Emma
Casey Hagen: Shielding Nebraska
EM Hayes: Gambling for Ashleigh
Desiree Holt: Protecting Maddie
Kathy Ivan: Saving Sarah
Jesse Jacobson: Protecting Honor
Silver James: Rescue Moon
Becca Jameson: Saving Sofia
Kate Kinsley: Protecting Ava
Heather Long: Securing Arizona
Gennita Low: No Protection
Kirsten Lynn: Joining Forces for Jesse
Margaret Madigan: Bang for the Buck
Kimberly McGath: The Predecessor
Rachel McNeely: The SEAL’s Surprise Baby
KD Michaels: Saving Laura
Wren Michaels: The Fox & The Hound
Kat Mizera: Protecting Bobbi
Mary B Moore: Force Protection
LeTeisha Newton: Protecting Butterfly
Angela Nicole: Protecting the Donna
MJ Nightingale: Protecting Beauty
Sarah O’Rourke: Saving Liberty
Victoria Paige: Reclaiming Izabel
Anne L. Parks: Mason
Debra Parmley: Protecting Pippa
Lainey Reese: Protecting New York
TL Reeve and Michele Ryan: Extracting Mateo
Elena M. Reyes: Keeping Ava
Angela Rush: Charlotte
Rose Smith: Saving Satin
Jenika Snow: Protecting Lily
Lynn St. James: SEAL’s Spitfire
Dee Stewart: Conner
Harley Stone: Rescuing Mercy
Jen Talty: Burning Desire
Megan Vernon: Protecting Us
Police and Fire: Operation Alpha World
Freya Barker: Burning for Autumn
KaLyn Cooper: Justice for Gwen
Aspen Drake: Sheltering Emma
Deanndra Hall: Shelter for Sharla
Barb Han: Kace
CM Steele: Guarding Hope
Reina Torres: Justice for Sloane
Stacey Wilk: Stage Fright
As you know, this book included at least one character from Susan Stoker’s books. To check out more, see below.
SEAL of Protection: Legacy Series
Securing Caite
Securing Brenae (novella)
Securing Sidney
Securing Piper
Securing Zoey (Jan 2020)
Securing Avery (May 2020)
Securing Kalee (Sept 2020)
Delta Team Two Series
Shielding Gillian (Apr 2020)
Shielding Kinley (Aug 2020)
Shielding Aspen (Oct 2020)
Shielding Riley (TBA)
Shielding Devyn (TBA)
Shielding Ember (TBA)
Shielding Sierra (TBA)
Delta Force Heroes Series
Rescuing Rayne (FREE!)
Rescuing Aimee (novella)
Rescuing Emily
Rescuing Harley
Marrying Emily (novella)
Rescuing Kassie
Rescuing Bryn
Rescuing Casey
Rescuing Sadie (novella)
Rescuing Wendy
Rescuing Mary
Rescuing Macie (Novella)
Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes Series
Justice for Mackenzie (FREE!)
Justice for Mickie
Justice for Corrie
Justice for Laine (novella)
Shelter for Elizabeth
Justice for Boone
Shelter for Adeline
Shelter for Sophie
Justice for Erin
Justice for Milena
Shelter for Blythe
Justice for Hope
Shelter for Quinn
Shelter for Koren
Shelter for Penelope
SEAL of Protection Series
Protecting Caroline (FREE!)
Protecting Alabama
Protecting Fiona
Marrying Caroline (novella)
Protecting Summer
Protecting Cheyenne
Protecting Jessyka
Protecting Julie (novella)
Protecting Melody
Protecting the Future
Protecting Kiera (novella)
Protecting Alabama’s Kids (novella)
Protecting Dakota
New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author Susan Stoker has a heart as big as the state of Tennessee where she lives, but this all American girl has also spent the last fourteen years living in Missouri, California, Colorado, Indiana, and Texas. She’s married to a retired Army man who now gets to follow her around the country.
www.stokeraces.com
www.AcesPress.com
susan@stokeraces.com