Page 99 of The Wounded Warrior

“Mmm. Did I tell you I bought a cherry pie in case you wanted to cheat for dessert?”

“Oh, yum. I can so go there.”

“I thought it was a decent idea.”

“Thanks, babe. I’m pretty wore out.” Luke looked great, though, his muscles standing out from hard work.

“You worked your ass off, but it’s Friday. I can pamper you all night.”

“Oh, now.” Luke stroked his back, fingers finding the bumps of his spine and rubbing to ease the muscles. “I like the sound of that.”

“Do you?” He shifted around and offered Luke his lips. “Kiss me?”

Luke slid one hand behind his head to tug him close. Those lips met his, hot and damp and eager. He sobbed once, so fucking grateful that Luke wasn’t pulling away, wasn’t put off.

He had no idea how he would react to his history if he didn’t know it. Then again, Luke really expected to be rejected for not being the hero everyone thought he was.

Luke was a hero. His.

He touched one mangled leg, loving on it, thanking God that Luke had been strong enough to survive. Luke never even stiffened, used to his touch now. Trusting him.

He’d explored every inch, after all, with his tongue. Rory knew he’d proven he wasn’t disgusted or freaked out.

“I’m getting pruney. Wanna go, uh, have a rest before supper?”

“The potatoes will sit happily and the steaks are fine until we cook them.”

“And the pie just needs cream, so…” Luke beamed, and he knew he was in for some good loving.

“So we can go share amazing orgasms and a nap.”

Luke’s cheeks flushed even darker, and Rory knew it had nothing to do with the hot water. “Yep. Boom.”

“I want to suck you, honey. It’s been days.”

“Please. Oh, God.” Luketurned off the water.

Rory grabbed the towels, because they would need Luke mostly dry before he got back in the chair, and crutching in the damp tile was just wrong.

By the time they were in bed, they were laughing, having danced like a pair of drunk bears to get it all handled.

“It’s going to be okay,” he told himself.

It had to be. This was the life he’d always dreamed of. He couldn’t give it up now.

Chapter Thirty

“Okay, I have to run to the drugstore,” Matt said. “Are you sure you want me to just leave you here?”

Luke sat in his wheelchair outside the sheriff’s office, looking at the long, three-part ramp he could do in his sleep. “Yep. It’s all good.”

“Okay, well, I’ll swing back by and pick you up after I get done.” Matt rolled his shoulders. “All you have to do is call if you need me.”

Worry wart.

“I’ll holler.” Like Jake Neeley was going to be ugly to him. Luke had made an appointment, for heaven’s sake.

He needed to find out where they were on the whole thing with his Rory. He wanted this over.

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