Page 26 of SEAL's Sunshine
“Then that’s all that matters. Seriously, just because you know where I grew up doesn’t mean a thing.”
“Okay.” It was cute that he was worried, but material things never mattered to her. Besides, when she was young they didn’t have all that stuff. Her father needed them to blend in with everyone else.
After he unlocked the door, Halo was the first one into the apartment. Cam didn’t even have to tell him to check it out, it was what he did. After Halo came back with the all clear, Cam led Miranda inside. He was right it was small, but he’d done a great job decorating. The furniture was definitely geared toward a bachelor, leather, glass, and wood, but it was clean, and that was the important part.
“So, what do you think?”
“I like it. It is definitely you.”
“You think?”
“Yeah. Did you decorate it?”
“No, my sister did. She’s an interior designer. When I passed BUD/S it was her present to me.”
“She did great.”
“The kitchen is over there but we’ll have to do some shopping. There’s not much in the fridge. The bedrooms are down here.” He led the way down a short hallway with three doors. “There are two, but the second one is full of junk. I can sleep on the couch if you’ll be more comfortable. There’s just the one bathroom and it’s through that door.”
“I think we’ll manage. You forget I lived with a missionary group in Afghanistan for almost four months. Outdoor bathrooms, tents, dirt. Your apartment is like the Ritz. Thank you for inviting me to stay.”
“Sunshine, I’ve dreamed of having you here with me for months.” She melted a little inside at his words and all the awkwardness and exhaustion melted too. Standing on her tip-toes, she pulled his face down and kissed him. His lips were so warm and soft, probably the only soft part on her warrior.
“You are magical, Cam Patterson. You’ve turned this woman into a melted puddle of goo.”
“Oh no. Goo? Not sure that’s a good thing.”
“Oh baby, it’s the best thing.”
* * *
Before she hada chance to change her mind, he slipped one arm under her knees and the other around her back and lifted her into his arms. “You mean the world to me, Sunshine. I’ve dreamed of this moment in my long lonely nights in the desert. If you don’t want this tell me now.”
He held his breath while he waited for her answer. Either way, he wouldn’t put her down until he reached his bed. The question would be whether he climbed into it with her or left her to get some rest and took a cold shower.
“I want this…”
The words were soft, husky, and barely audible, but she’d said them. It was all he could do not to ‘yee-haw’ as he pushed through the slightly open bedroom door. This was one room he’d decorated on his own from the king-sized bed to the black lacquer furniture and white carpet.
Although he was tempted to toss her on the bed, he resisted, and placed her gently on the edge, and knelt down in front of her.
“What are you doing?”
“Undressing you. You’re the present I’ve been waiting for and I’m going to take my time unwrapping you.”
“But…wouldn’t you rather we just got under the covers and…”
“No, baby. I’ve been imagining this moment for so long.” When he saw the indecision on her face he tried to figure out what he’d done wrong. Just a minute ago she seemed to want this as much as him. “What’s wrong? Would you rather wait until tomorrow?”
“It’s not that. I’m just worried about what you’ll think of my body when you see it. The scars.”
Cam got up and sat down next to her on the bed. Then he took her hand and weaved her fingers between his. “Miranda, maybe I haven’t said this enough or at all, but you are amazing from your head to your toes. There is nothing about you that will bother me, except if you walk away.”
“Really?”
“Your scars are like medals of honor for surviving, how could I think that is ugly, or whatever else you might think.”
“I don’t know. I just, maybe I’m being silly. I know I’m not a perfect woman, but the scars are still so new, and I think they’re ugly…”
