Honor: A Heroes of Big Sky Novella Read online

  “Why are you looking at me like that?” she asks with a laugh.

  “Are you the same woman who was pissed last night?”

  “Yeah.” She cringes. “Sorry.”

  “How are you not hungover?”

  “I never get hungover,” she says and wrinkles her nose. “I know, it’s not fair. I also don’t drink much, so just a couple of drinks make me completely tipsy. It’s ridiculous. I’m a cheap date, and I feel great the next morning.”

  I bite into a muffin and almost fall out of my chair. This might be the best thing I’ve ever put in my mouth.

  Until I taste her.

  “Well? What do you think?”

  “I think I’ll be eating this whole platter.”

  She laughs and goes to work rolling out cookie dough.

  “That’s okay. I have more set aside for tomorrow. Do you have plans today?”

  I sip my coffee and watch her move about the kitchen. Her movements are concise. Sure. When she reaches above her head for another bowl, I catch a glimpse of pale skin at her stomach, and it’s almost enough to bring me to my knees.

  “Nick?”

  “Yes?”

  “Do you have plans?”

  “No.”

  “Good. You can help me decorate all of these cookies. Then we’ll take them and deliver them to people.”

  “Why?”

  She frowns. “Because it’s fun.”

  I reach for another muffin.

  “Haven’t you ever made Christmas cookies before?”

  “No.”

  “Never?”

  “Never.”

  She wiggles a cookie cutter in flour and then pauses, looking at me. “Did your parents die in a fire, leaving you to be raised in an orphanage?”

  I bark out a laugh of surprise. “No.”

  “Good.”

  “My parents died in a car accident when I was a boy. I was raised by my grandmother.”

  Her face pales. “Shit. I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be.”

  “Your grandmother didn’t believe in Christmas?”

  “She worked long hours. She’s a good woman. And she did what she could. But I can’t say that holidays were at the top of her priority list.”

  “I think that’s sad.”

  “I don’t.”

  I pop the last of the muffin into my mouth and lean back, watching her. “Listen, there’s no need to feel sorry for me. I had a good childhood, and then I went into the military. Special Forces. After I got out, I started working for the royal family. I’m able to help my grandmother, and I like my job very much.”

  “Well, that’s good.”

  “And what about you?”

  She starts cutting shapes into the cookie dough. “What about me?”

  “Tell me about your family.”

  “Oh. Sure. Well, my dad died when I was twelve—massive heart attack at forty-five. It was completely out of the blue. So, it’s only been my mom and me for a long time. No siblings. I do have a lot of cousins, as I mentioned, and a huge network of people in this community. My family has been in Cunningham Falls for generations.”

  “So you know Liam Cunningham?”

  “I know his family, but I’ve never met him. Didn’t he just marry the princess?”

  “Earlier this year,” I confirm.

  “It’s a small world,” Jordan says. “And now you need to come over here and help me. I’m not going to do all the work and let you take the credit when we deliver these.”

  “I think watching is safest.”

  “No way.” She comes around the island, takes my hand, and drags me back around with her. “Come on. You’re not afraid of some hard work, are you?”

  She wasn’t kidding. We spent all day baking and decorating, and when it was time to run around town with our goods, I was covered in flour and sugar and tired. But it was fun to see the reactions when we surprised people with the cookies. We even took a big box to the royal house and delivered some to Sebastian, Nina, Ellie, and Liam, then more down at HQ.

  Jordan was bubbly and happy and made sure to tell everyone that I helped her.

  Liam will never let me live it down.

  But now, we’re back at the little lake house, sitting with a pizza by the fire.

  “Oh my God, this tastes so good,” she says. “Ciao makes some damn good pizza.”

  “I’m exhausted,” I admit, and Jordan narrows her eyes at me.

  “You overdid it. Is your shoulder hurting?”

  “No, all of me hurts.” I laugh and shift in my chair. “How is it possible that I work my ass off and feel fine, but one day of baking has me aching?”

  “Because you’re not used to it,” she says. “Totally normal. You need a hot shower.”

  “How do you feel?”

  “Tired, but good. It was fun to deliver the cookies today. I had a good time. You did a great job, by the way.”

  “Oh, I think it was pretty obvious which ones I decorated, and which ones were yours. But I tried.”

  “You didn’t do too bad for a newbie.”

  “You’re always so upbeat. Happy.”

  “Being sad is a waste of time,” she says with a shrug. She takes a bite of her pizza. Sauce lingers at the corner of her mouth. Before she can lick it away, I reach out, swipe at it with my finger, and then lick it off. Her eyes dilate.

  My dick stiffens.

  “Jordan, if you don’t want me to kiss you, you’d better say so now.”

  She sets her plate aside, and I drop my slice back into the box.

  She straddles my lap, wraps her arms around my neck, and plants those gorgeous, plump lips on mine.

  Mind. Blown.

  Chapter 7

  ~Jordan~

  “Definitely.” I kiss his chin. “Want you.” Kiss his nose. “To kiss me.”

  His arms wrap around me, and those big hands of his glide up my back to my shoulders and then down to my hips. I’ve been watching him all day, been two feet from him in the kitchen where we laughed and talked and enjoyed. For the first time, I feel like I’ve spent time with the real Nick, not the wounded bodyguard.

  And I’m done keeping my hands to myself. If the injured man is sexy, this happy, jovial man is absolutely irresistible.

  I’m careful not to grab onto his injured shoulder, but aside from that, I attack him with gusto. I’ve been waiting for days for Nick to kiss me again. And I may have been impaired last night, but I remember the chemistry between us, and his admission that he’s open to this.

  Thank goodness.

  “You’re going to make me crazy,” he mutters against my lips as he slows the kiss. “We’re not in a hurry, sweetheart.”

  I press myself against his jean-clad crotch and watch his eyes dilate, making me grin.

  “I’m not rushing, I want you.”

  He growls deep in his throat, and it only turns me on more. He easily stands with me in his arms, and I pull back to scowl at him.

  “Stop lifting me. I’m here to make sure you don’t hurt yourself.”

  “I’m not hurting,” he says as he lays me gracefully on the floor in front of the fireplace. “Trust me, I’m not daft. I won’t do anything to injure myself further.”

  “Have I mentioned that I love your accent?” I ask as he tugs my sweater up my stomach and presses his talented lips to the skin just above my navel.

  “I don’t believe so.”

  “Well, I do. It’s not super thick, but it’s there.” He unfastens my jeans and manages to wiggle them down my legs and then tosses them aside. The warmth from the fire surrounds me. I sigh as Nick peppers my skin with open-mouthed kisses, moving from the inside of my knee to just below the promised land.

  “Oh my,” I breathe and bury my fingers in his thick, dark hair. Suddenly, I can’t say anything at all as he hooks his finger in my panties and moves them out of his way.

  He’s not rough. In fact, his touch couldn’t be gentler as he glides his fingertip through my
folds.

  “I’m monumentally pissed at myself,” he mutters.

  “Why?” My hips arch as he pushes just a bit farther inside.

  “Because you’ve been here all this time, and this was waiting for me.”

  Without another word, he leans in and feasts. That’s the only word I can use for what he does. He’s going to town down there like it’s his damn job.

  And God bless him for it.

  I’m still in my sweater, nearly naked from the waist down, and the sexiest man I’ve ever met in my life is making a meal out of me.

  I mean, am I the luckiest girl in the world, or what?

  My legs start to shake. My spine tingles. I’m pretty sure I just went blind.

  And then I break completely apart.

  Nick kisses up my stomach and tugs my sweater over my head. When he’s settled over me, resting on his elbows, he grins down at me.

  We’re on the living room floor.

  And I just had the best orgasm of my freaking existence.

  “How are you, sweet girl?”

  “Oh, you know.” I blow out a breath and stare at his lips. “Average.”

  He narrows his eyes. “Average?”

  I giggle and drag my fingertips up and down his biceps. “Is this hurting your shoulder?”

  “Fuck my shoulder.”

  “I’d rather fuck something else, but only if your shoulder doesn’t hurt.”

  His lips twitch, and he leans in to nip the corner of my mouth. “I like your sass.”

  And with that, he kisses me like a man starved. He wiggles out of his pants and helps me out of my bra and panties. I hear the sound of a packet being ripped, and then he takes one of my hands in his, threads our fingers, and pins my wrist over my head.

  He glances down between us and nudges his way inside.

  I bite my lip.

  His eyes fly to mine.

  “Okay?”

  I nod and sigh when he slowly slides in until he’s completely seated, and then growls low in his throat.

  “Bloody hell,” he mutters.

  I lift my legs higher on his hips and invite him to move.

  “Jordan.”

  “Yeah?”

  “You usually talk nonstop, and now is when you don’t? Talk to me. Are you okay?”

  “I’m not sure I’ve ever been better,” I whisper and gasp when he starts to move. “Holy shit, Nick.”

  “God, you’re sweet. And so damn tight, I won’t last long.”

  I can’t help myself. I bear down on him and watch in fascination as his jaw clenches, and his eyes slam shut. He buries his fingers in my hair and makes a fist, pulling the strands and tugging enough to hurt, but only a little.

  It’s freaking amazing.

  “Jordan,” he says, just before every muscle in his body contracts, and he falls over the edge of his orgasm.

  Nick is the most amazing man I’ve ever met.

  And as cliché as it sounds, I might have just fallen in love with him.

  “Why are we going to this again?” Nick asks the following afternoon as I wrap my scarf around my neck.

  “Because it’s the Christmas Stroll,” I say and watch as he zips up his puffy Northface coat. Even in that puffy jacket, his body is off the rails.

  How is he legal?

  “And?”

  “And it’s tradition. Besides, I haven’t gone in a long time. I’m finally back in town, and I’m not missing it. Besides, you’ll like it.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “Because it’s the Christmas Stroll.” I roll my eyes and open the door, shooing him outside to the car. “It’s not too cold outside, and there are all kinds of vendors. We’ll wander around Main Street, do a bit of shopping, some eating. You know, be members of the community.”

  He nods and slips into the car beside me.

  “Whatever you say.”

  “Honestly, if you don’t want to go, you don’t have to.”

  I haven’t started the car yet. I don’t want him to feel like I’m making him go anywhere. I’d rather go with him, but if it sounds horrible to him, I shouldn’t push it.

  “I’m all yours, sweetheart.”

  I start the car and grin at him. I know he means just for tonight. He’s all mine tonight. And at some point in the near future, this will all be over, but I’m determined to enjoy him while I have him.

  The sex last night? Ridiculous. I didn’t know people could have sex like that, and so many times in one evening. My experience has always been once, in the dark, under the covers.

  I don’t think Nick and I did it even once in the dark last night.

  I stop at a light and think about it.

  Wait! Yes, we did. When Nick woke me up at like two in the morning.

  I had no idea sleepy sex was so…sexy.

  “What are you smiling about?” he asks and reaches over to hold my hand. He brings my fingers up to his lips for a kiss.

  “Nothing.”

  “That smile is absolutely not about nothing.”

  I clear my throat and drive when the light turns green. “I might have been thinking about two in the morning.”

  He blinks, and then a slow smile spreads over his handsome-as-hell face.

  “Were you now?”

  “Maybe.”

  He kisses my hand again.

  “It seems I’m having a hard time keeping my hands off you now that I’ve had you. Seen every inch of you. Been inside you.”

  “Do you want me to wreck this car?”

  He laughs and shakes his head. “No. I’m just being honest. But I’d better stop if I plan on walking through Cunningham Falls without an erection.”

  “I mean, that could be a conversation starter, but it’s probably for the best if you don’t.”

  He takes a deep breath. “Agreed. Okay, so who will we see here?”

  “Most people come to this unless they’re sick or working. I’d like to stop in and see my cousin Willa at Dress It Up. She owns that clothing store, and she always has a big to-do during the stroll. And then we’ll just see people as we walk along.” I bite my lip as something occurs to me. “Though I should warn you.”

  “That sounds ominous.”

  “We might see my mom.”

  I park behind Willa’s shop. Parking around town is tough on nights like tonight, and it pays to have family who own businesses.

  “You haven’t talked much about her.”

  I cut the engine but don’t make a move to get out of the car yet.

  “It’s not that I don’t love her. I do. But she gets on my nerves like no one else in the world. She’s bossy and demanding, and she can hand out a guilt trip like it’s candy on Halloween.”

  “Good to know.”

  “Okay, then.” I slip my beanie over my head and my hands into my mittens, and we’re off. “Let’s start at Dress It Up since we’re right here.”

  “I’m with you,” he says, but his eyes are already scanning the area. “Wherever you want to go.”

  “Are you ever able to turn the bodyguard off?” I ask casually.

  “What do you mean?”

  “You’re already scanning the people around us. Your body is stiff. You’re on high alert. And I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, I’m just wondering if you’re ever able to let yourself relax and be a man.”

  “I’m both,” he says after thinking it over for a few moments. “I’m a man and a bodyguard. I’ve been military since I was eighteen. It’s part of who I am.”

  I nod and then smile when I see Willa passing around a tray of champagne.

  “Hey, Jordan,” she says and leans in to kiss my cheek. “You look amazing, as always. Hi, Nick.”

  “Willa,” he says with a nod.

  “That’s right, you guys already know each other.”

  Willa is friends with Nina and hangs out with her often. So, of course, Nick has been around when the ladies got together.

  Not to mention, Willa attended all three o
f the royal weddings.

  “How are you feeling?” Willa asks him.

  “Much better, thank you. Looks like you’re going to be busy this evening.”

  “That’s the goal,” she says with a wink. “I hope you have fun tonight. I have some sales going on, but you’re always welcome to come and poke around. And, of course, I’ll always give you the sale price.”

  “Because you’re the best,” I reply. “I do need some new jeans and stuff. My ass has grown since I’ve been home. Christmas cookies, and all that.”

  “Girl, I wish I had your ass issues,” Willa says with a laugh. “I have some cute jeans coming in next week. Come have a look.”

  “I will. See you later.”

  We walk away, leaving Willa to her job.

  “Your ass hasn’t grown,” Nick says when we’re out of earshot.

  “Yes, it has.” I sigh in happiness when Nick takes off my mitten and then slips our clasped hands into his coat pocket. “I haven’t been running like usual. But it’s winter, and that happens. It’s no biggie.”

  “I happen to like your ass,” he says. But his eyes are still alert, dancing through the people.

  “I like your ass, too,” I reply with a laugh. “Do you like hot chocolate?”

  “That’s a silly question. Of course, I do.”

  “Let’s get some, then. There’s a vendor set up just across the street.”

  We step off the curb into the street that’s free of vehicles and open to foot traffic only. We get into position for some hot chocolate. The line moves a little slow because people like to chat.

  How’s the family?

  Do you like your new job?

  Did you hear about the new community center being built?

  But that’s just how it is in small towns. And it doesn’t bother me at all.

  It doesn’t seem to bother Nick either, as we stand silently, taking it all in. Once we have our hot drinks, we walk down the street.

  “I admit, there are more people out here than I anticipated,” Nick says. “It’s cold, and it’s dark.”

  “Yes, but there are little campfires going on each block, and all of the holiday lights are lit up. There’s music. And food. Come on, admit it. It’s fun.”

  “It’s fun,” he says and smiles down at me. “I’m glad we came.”