Page 29 of SEAL'S Baby Surprise
Maybe we should’ve hada grandma to talk to us, but I’m not really interested in conversations with preachers. I’d had about enough of Reverend somebody-or-other when we’d had mandatory chapel in most of my boarding schools.
I’d made really sure not to go to church once I was living independently. But it is good to have a memory to share with Austin, and to learn about him.
In just a few minutes, we are cuddled up in his bed, the opening credits are rolling, and the strains of “Bless the Beasts and the Children,” sung by the Carpenters come from the speakers.
I cry most of the way through it. I really cry at the end because even though the kids are all right, the buffalo really aren’t.
“I’m sorry,” Austin says, holding me and stroking my hair. “I should have thought. I watched this a lot while I was trying to get Julia.”
“It’s a super movie,” I sniffle. “I’m crying because the buffalo won’t ever get their range back. It’s all gone.”
“It is,” he says, “but the buffalo aren’t. Next year, when Julia is a little older, I hope to drive up to Yellowstone so she can see the geysers, hot springs, and the buffalo. Ark needs a little more training before then. He needs more practice heeling, and he’s better about barking, as long as I have my hand on him, but I don’t want him to start a stampede.”
I laugh at that. “I haven’t heard him bark since the morning he found me. He is such a sweet boy.”
“He is,” Austin agrees.
I lay my hand on the side of his face and kiss the light stubble on the underside of his jaw. “And you are a sweet man. I am so glad you are the person who belongs to Ark.”
Austin chuckles that adorable laughing-with-you laugh he has and kisses the corners of my eyes. He then runs a hand over my head.
“Maybe another person would have thought to dye that pretty pink hair before you took the scissors to it.”
“That was me,” I say. “I did it, you just cleaned up after.”
“Well,” he says, cuddling me up a little tighter. We couldn’t get any closer. “That’s a better description of my life than many I can think of. I’ve done a lot of cleaning up after. Just once, I’d like to get ahead of the problem so there would be less clean up.”
We are sitting in the corner of his bed, leaning on big pillows up against the wall. I squirm around so that I’m half facing him and look up into his face. I can imagine a young Professor Bhaer looking like this.
Not runway model handsome, but good-looking in his own way. His skin burned to a golden tan, and his hair bleached nearlywhite blond by sun and salt water. He is the near epitome of “California-surfer-dude.”
But more than that, his expression is kind and gentle. His touch is tender. His care of Julia and Ark make it plain that he is a guy who would always care about animals and kids. “Did you tease people when you were in school?” I ask.
“I might have, some,” he says. “I’m not a saint, Lee. Don’t try to make me into some kind of hero. I’m just a guy. I’d like to think that some of what I do makes the world a little bit better.”
“You’ve made my world better,” I say, combing my fingers through the light, golden curls on his chest.
He shivers at my touch. “Careful there, Lady Mermaid,” he says, “You might get more than you’ve bargained for.”
“What if I want it?” I ask. “What if I want all of you, my sailor?”
“Well,” he temporizes, “I saved the long parts of your hair. So, I guess you could say I’ve got your selkie pelt.”
“That means I must stay with you for a year and a day,” I say, laughing as I remember the fairy tale. “Longer, if you want me.”
Austin scoops me up as if I weigh nothing and sets me on his lap. His arms go around me, and I hug him back. I can feel his hard length growing against my thigh.
“Oh, I want you,” he says hoarsely. “I do. But is it right? You are under my care.”
I lean back far enough to poke him in the chest with one finger. “I’m a consenting adult, and I want you. How much right do you need?”
He laughs again, but this time there are tears behind the laughter, “A sign from God, perhaps? But I’m not a saint, and I don’t think any angels are going to come around telling me that it’s fine.”
“No angels needed,” I say, peeling off the pretty shirt, leaving me in my panties. “I am only a castoff from the seas, come begging shelter and a bit of reassurance.” Then I add, dropping the playacting, “I’m sorry that I’m not a very good gift. I’m not all muscled and you know... broad like you. And now I’ve cut off all my hair. I used my hair to take attention away from my body.”
“Oh, sweetheart,” Austin says. “You are beautiful. You were beautiful with your hair, and now you are beautiful without it. You’ve got curves, and under those curves you’ve got muscle. You’ve got the biggest blue eyes I’ve ever seen, and your eyelashes tell me that you are a true blond. You are my gift from the sea, and now that we’ve got the seaweed off you . . .” I smile a bit at that “. . . you clean up real nice. You’re a catch I for sure don’t want to throw back.”
“Then give me all of you, Austin. Show me how beautiful I am.”
