They lay on a big blanket on the shoreline. Cassidy was wearing her string bikini again, despite their insistence not to. Orlando ran his finger along her belly by the scar she had. Cash had explained the whole story to all of them about how she’d sustained the wounds and saved numerous lives, including Red’s. She also killed a bunch of enemy soldiers, and it was all so impressive. But it also made him think about losing her and how they might have never met her. That led to thoughts about this guy who was after her.
She lay between them, her breasts overflowing the bikini top, and Memphis was lying on his back, holding her hand and kissing her fingers. They’d made love several times already and even eaten some lunch.
“Cass, Cash told us about the combat you saw and how you sustained your injuries.”
She didn’t open her eyes or look at him.
“I knew he would ask Red. I told him and Stryker to.”
“That’s pretty amazing stuff. You’re a hero, Cass. You represent everything a Marine stands for. You’re strong, you’re brave, and you stand up to every challenge with dignity and determination.”
“I’m not all that, Orlando.” She opened her eyes then pulled her hand from Memphis’s and rolled to her side to face Orlando.
“How can you say that? We heard the facts,” Memphis added and turned on his side to face her back and place his hand over her waist. She put her hands under her head and stared at Memphis. Her breasts pushed together, and she looked so sad suddenly.
“What is it, Cass? Why don’t you feel like you’re all those things?” he asked.
“Because I’m not. If I were, then I could have handled Blaze better. Before things got out of hand, I could have ended it, gotten that order of protection, gone to the police, the military, or whatever I needed to do, but I didn’t. I was so worried about coming across as a weak female Marine.”
“No, Cass, it’s not right to feel that way. The son of a bitch broke into your apartment and put a gun to your throat. He was going to kill you. You didn’t want to antagonize him or provoke him to lose it and take both your lives. That showed a lot of guts,” Orlando said to her.
She was silent a moment. “You think so?” she asked, and Memphis kissed her shoulder and snuggled up against her back.
“Definitely.”
“But I can’t change what I did. I can’t get that order of protection now or press charges or have him committed and analyzed. His friends cover for him every time anyway. They’ll make things up and say I lied. He’s got the upper hand.”
“No he doesn’t. You do because you have us and our friends. We can ensure your safety, Cass. We can protect you and get that guy off the streets so that he can’t find you and hurt you ever again,” Orlando told her.
“But I don’t want you guys involved. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“We won’t get hurt because you told us all about the guy and how he wants you. He can’t surprise us,” Orlando said. “But we can surprise him. By coming at him in all directions and stopping him from hurting you.”
“None of the charges will stick. It’s my word against his. I didn’t report the things he did at the time, and I should have. None of that would stand up in court or to the police anyway.”
“Don’t be so sure. Will you let your friends help you? Will you let us help you?”
She was silent a moment, and Orlando wondered if she would push them away after all they’d shared these last few weeks and, of course, today. It was special.
“Don’t you want to stay here in Tranquility with all of us and make a life together?” Memphis asked.
She looked up at him and smiled softly. “Of course I do. I love all of you. I feel protected and cared for. I never had that. Never felt that. I lost my parents when I was a child. I had to live with an older aunt I didn’t know, and she was poor. The Marine Corps helped me get out and become someone, and that was my family. But being here and meeting all of you, it’s like you’ve filled this large hole in my heart that I’ve always had. I want more of what you make me feel. I w
ant to give you all of me, everything.”
“We can have that, baby. All of it and then some. Just let us in and let us take care of you,” Orlando told her.
She ran her palm along his chest, and he felt his cock grow thick and needy again.
“Okay, Orlando. I’ll try. I want to. I don’t want to leave here or leave all of you.”
Memphis cupped her breast then placed his palm against her cheek to turn her to look up at him.
“You’re ours to cherish, protect, and love. You’re a part of our team now, part of our family and our hearts.”
He kissed her, and once again, that kiss grew deeper, and Orlando joined in, pressing Cassidy’s bikini bottoms down then spreading her thighs and taking a taste of her cream so they could mark her once again, their lover, their woman, their everything.
Chapter 11