Healing Hearts 1 Warrior Angel Read online

  She stopped by the jeep and tossed her duffle bag into the back seat.

  “It’s late, and you shouldn’t be going into your place alone. Just in case.”

  “Uhm, you did hear what I did to the two guys at Corporal’s? I think I can handle myself.”

  “I’d feel better knowing you got home safely. Go ahead and I’ll follow.” She shrugged her shoulders and got into her jeep. As she drove and he followed she wondered more and more about Thermo. He was so quiet most of the time, but today he talked more, and she had a feeling it had to do with his relationship with Keono and Keono’s family. They were good people, and she adored them.

  When she got to her driveway at the townhouse, she got out and fixed the roof of the jeep with Thermo’s help. He came around to her side as she grabbed her bag and then locked up the jeep.

  “That was fun today,” she said to him.

  “Filled with a lot of surprises,” he said, and looked her over. He was so big and intimidating looking. That thick beard, long hair pulled back, and those dark mysterious eyes.

  “Well, have a good week,” she said to him.

  “You too, and hopefully we can see you some time next weekend?” he asked.

  “I have that dinner event Friday.”

  “Zayn’s working anyway, so maybe Saturday?”

  “Thermo, I’m not really ready for this. I need time. It’s been…a while,” she whispered.”

  He held her gaze. “Been a long time for me, too. You’re not the only one taking a chance here. The best thing to do would be to spend time together. So maybe Saturday?”

  She stared at him. She couldn’t say no. “Okay, but slow, Thermo.”

  He nodded and started to walk away. He abruptly turned back. “Wait, I don’t have your number.”

  She walked to her door and unlocked it. “I have the feeling if you call Keono and tell him I said you could get it from him, he’ll believe you,” she said and he nodded.

  “He fucking better not pull some big brother bullshit.”

  She laughed and waved goodnight, then headed inside closing the door behind her. She leaned against it and listened to the sound of the diesel engine in his truck slowly get quieter until she could no longer hear it.

  Her heart was racing, her body tingled, and a stupid giddy feeling filled her insides. She was seriously considering a ménage relationship with three badass, six-feet-four military soldiers, and one was even in law enforcement? Had she lost her mind? She threw her hands up into the air and exhaled. This was going to be the longest week of work ever.

  Chapter Six

  “I heard from my brother. Kai Devaro went to speak with my nephew Monday morning. She’s helped him all week, Chadwick. She even got him in with a specialist and they feel he needs medication to help deal with his anger issues. She got him a new therapist, too. I’m amazed, Chadwick. Thank you so much,” John Sander told Chadwick.

  “I’m so happy to hear the news. I hope it all works out for your nephew, Kenny. I’ll be sure to pass your thank you on to Kai.”

  “Thanks again, Chadwick.”

  Chadwick ended the call as he walked into the main area of the hospital. He stopped the moment he saw Kai walking toward the coffee lounge area with her friend Amelia and two other women. He glanced at his watch. He had a little time before his meeting so he headed after them. As they started to go toward the coffee station he got her attention.

  “Kai,” he called out and she looked up, so did her friends, and he could have sworn one of them, Casey, swooned over him. She started fanning herself and went flush.

  “Chadwick, how are you?” Kai asked, and stepped from the line.

  “I’ll get your coffee for you, Kai. Dr. Hayes, do you need anything?” Amelia asked.

  “No thank you, Amelia. I just need Kai a moment,” he said, and then kissed her cheek hello and took her hand and walked her over toward the wall and away from everyone.

  “You are amazing. I just heard from John Sanders. He told me what you’ve been up to this week, Kai. You’ve gone above and beyond what we discussed over the phone Sunday night.”

  “He’s such a great guy, and I had seen some similar things before with other soldiers. It isn’t his fault, he just needs a little help to handle the outbursts.”

  “Well, I hope it helps him. I know your objective with Guardians Hope. So are you ready for tomorrow night?”

  “The awards ceremony? I guess so. How about you? You’re the one being honored and getting an award.”

  Chadwick was very attractive, with dark hair and baby blue eyes. His skin was flawless, and she wondered if he used facial creams and things like women did. It was just too perfect.

  “I think we should go together. You know, to get through it.”

  She giggled. “Seriously? You can walk out right after your award if you want and no one would say a word. In fact, you could have someone else show up to receive the award for you and that wouldn’t even taint your name.”

  “I’m not like that though.”

  “No, you aren’t, and if you were, we more than likely wouldn’t be friends,” she said, and smiled.

  He took her hand and pulled her close then whispered into her ear. “I’ve wanted to be more than friends for quite some time. Accept my offer and be my date tonight. It could be the start of something amazing.”

  She pulled back. “Chadwick, you know I don’t date. I’m not ready to.”

  “It’s been several years since your boyfriend passed, surely you have needs.”

  “What does that mean? Like you want me as a bedmate, Chadwick?” she snapped at him.

  He looked her over. “I can get any woman as a bedmate, Kai. It would be more than that.”

  “I’m sorry, but your…offer doesn’t appeal to me at all. I hoped everything works out with Kenny,” she said to him.

  He pulled her close when she was about to walk away. “Don’t get angry with me. We’re friends, and I don’t want to ruin that. Just tell me if there’s someone else.”

  “I have met someone, but that’s it. Nothing more because I’m not ready for more.”

  “I’m not a patient man.”

  “I’ve noticed that.” She looked over her shoulder at her friends who were watching. It annoyed him.

  “You’re at my table tomorrow night. We’ll talk more about this slow thing, okay.”

  She gave him a nod, and he was disappointed but not giving up. Kai would be perfect on his arm, and as his woman.

  * * * *

  “What the hell was that all about?” Amelia asked Kai when she joined her friends at the table.

  “Sex,” she said, and Casey nearly choked on her coffee.

  “He came straight out and wants to have sex with you?” Amelia asked.

  “Basically. He wants me to be his date for the awards ceremony tomorrow night.”

  “And you said yes, right?” Casey asked.

  “No. I said no. I told him that I wasn’t ready to date. He proceeded to tell me I was more than ready, and that it has been several years since my boyfriend died.”

  “What? That jerk said that to you?” Casey asked.

  “He totally wants you in his bed,” Amelia stated, looking and sounding annoyed.

  “Well, that isn’t going to happen. I don’t need him, and surely he doesn’t need me.”

  “But he wants you. Maybe it would be a good pre-work out to the real deal with someone you actually have feelings for?” Casey said.

  “Casey, seriously? She isn’t a whore, and she isn’t going to come out of the celibacy stint for just anyone. Even though Dr. Hayes is super fucking gorgeous and holy crap, rich, sexy and he was military. An officer actually,” Amelia added.

  “Oh brother. You two are nuts,” Kai said, and then looked down at her cell phone. She felt her face go flush.

  “Who is that, Chadwick texting porn to you?” Casey asked, and they laughed.

  “No, it’s Zayn. Him and the guys are going to Corporal’
s tonight for wing night.”

  “Damn woman, you decide to get back into the dating game and your choices are a doctor or three Special Forces soldiers seeking to share you in a ménage. Holy shit. I wish I was you,” Casey said.

  Kai shook her head. “I’m not ready for any man. Not one and certainly not three.”

  “You like them though, but you don’t have the same feelings for the lust doctor?” Casey asked.

  “The lust doctor?” Amelia asked before Kai could.

  “Yeah, you know the rich doctor looking for sex with only hot women.”

  “So wing night tonight it is. I’ll text Lionel to see if he can go, too. He’s been acting funny lately,” Casey said.

  “Probably stress at work,” Amelia said, and took a sip from her coffee cup.

  “He works at a gym. How the hell stressful can that be?” she asked, and texted him.

  “Tell them you’re game, and we’ll be your bodyguards to keep them at bay,” Casey added.

  Amelia and Kai laughed, but Kai did want to see them. She actually couldn’t wait to see them. That giddy feeling filled her core as she texted Zayn back.

  * * * *

  A few hours later, Amelia, Casey, and Kai were driving in Kai’s jeep when Casey screamed for her to stop the jeep right before the entrance to Corporal’s parking lot. At first, Kai didn’t know why, but then Amelia gasped as she saw a guy with a young woman pressed up against a sports car, and his hand under her skirt, obviously stimulating her.

  “Let me out. Park the jeep and let me out!” Casey yelled.

  Kai pulled into the parking lot of Corporal’s and Amelia let Casey out, then she followed. Kai locked up the jeep and grabbed her purse, but before she even got close enough, Casey shoved at the guy and then pushed the girl away from him.

  “You slut, that’s my boyfriend. And you jerk, how long have you been cheating on me?” she demanded to know.

  “You work all the time, Casey. I got needs.”

  “You have needs? We were together last night.”

  “He was with me this morning, this afternoon, and now,” the other woman said in a snarky tone.

  Casey shoved her.

  “Don’t do that, Casey. There’s enough of me to go around,” he said, and then looked at Amelia and Kai.

  Casey punched him and he turned around ready to hit her when Amelia grabbed her, his fist hit her shoulder hard and Casey cried out.

  “You need me, Casey. You’re nothing without me, bitch!” he yelled at her.

  “Take her inside, Amelia,” Kai said as Amelia started walking Casey into the place. A few people were walking into the bar and saw what happened.

  “Stay clear of her. It’s over.”

  “You don’t tell me to stay clear of my woman!” he yelled at Kai.

  “It’s obvious you don’t give a shit about her. So be with this one and leave Casey alone,” Kai said, and she could tell he was pissed. He started swearing and then began to pace. Kai went inside.

  She headed toward her friends when she spotted Zayn talking to some other guys. She gave a wave but then put her finger up like she needed a minute. When she felt the hand grab her arm and pull her back she saw it was Casey’s boyfriend. “We aren’t done talking,” he yelled at Casey.

  Kai jumped in his way. She pressed her hands against Lionel’s chest. “Lionel, calm down before you do something stupid.”

  “He already did something stupid. He cheated on me and he hit me,” Casey yelled.

  Lionel went to step forward when out of nowhere Thermo grabbed him by his shirt and yanked him back.

  “You put your hands on her?” he demanded to know.

  “Thermo, it’s okay. He’s leaving,” Kai said to him.

  “Let go of me and mind your fucking business. What is this shit?” Lionel demanded to know.

  “Please, Thermo, it’s okay. He’s going to leave,” Kai said to him.

  He stared at her and she hoped he would put Lionel down. He did and Lionel pointed at Casey. “Right now, bitch. Get your ass over here and let’s go!”

  “No. You hit me. I want nothing to do with you. Leave or I’ll press charges.” Casey yelled at him.

  By now a crowd formed and this idiot didn’t realize he was surrounded by cops and soldiers.

  Thermo stepped forward. Kai pressed her hands to his chest. She could see the anger in his eyes and now two other men came over and asked the guy to leave or the police would be called. She stared way up into his eyes.

  “It’s okay, Thermo. He’s going to leave,” she said to him, and he settled down as the two guys started walking Lionel out, but then Lionel pulled from them in a rage, and he struck Casey again. Thermo grabbed Lionel and punched him, knocking him onto the ground and he was out cold. She grabbed onto Thermo as did his brothers Zayn and Selasi, and she knew in that moment that Thermo had a temper, and was not a man to reckon with. The place erupted in claps and praise and Zayn and Selasi walked toward Lionel and the men lifting him up while they waited for the police to come.

  Kai was shaking and looking at Thermo in shock, yet her body was aroused. He growled, grabbed her hand and started pulling her along with him. She didn’t know what he was going to do, and she felt so much. Arousal, intimidation, a twinge of fear, wondering what a soldier like Thermo was capable of. They passed by their friends, and other guys they knew and he brought her down the hallway and to the side, lifted her up, pressed her against the wall and kissed her. Her heart was racing, her body on fire at his shocking reaction, but she kissed him back, ran her fingers through his hair as he rocked his large, thick hips against her body, spreading her thighs. The tightness of her jeans added to the stimulation she felt in her pussy. Her thighs were shaking, his hold so tight, his mouth and tongue demanding as he ravished her. Thermo was huge and she was so small in comparison. He could hold her with one hand on her ass and it turned her on.

  She felt feminine, protected, but also vulnerable. He moaned into her mouth, his thick beard tickled her skin, but aroused her at the same time because it felt wild, manly, and dominant. Just as she thought that thought, he cupped her breast with one hand and squeezed her ass cheek with his other hand, and rocked his hips against her. She moaned into his mouth and he plunged his tongue deeper, then slid his palm from her ass up her back to her head and tugged on her hair. She pulled from his lips.

  They were both panting for breath.

  “Thermo,” she whispered in a husky sexy tone she didn’t mean to do.

  “Fuck,” he said, and pressed his mouth to her neck, then back up to her lips again. Then along her neck and into her top, that beard, so rough had a way of stimulating her skin and making it feel more sensitive. She felt his tongue lick between her breast and then nip her skin.

  “Thermo. Oh God, we need to slow down.”

  When they heard deep voices she tightened up, and gripped his shoulders of steel that were so thick and hard she barely covered part of it with her small hand.

  “Mine,” he whispered with eyes narrowed.

  Her heart pounded inside of her chest and despite fearing that someone was coming and would see her pressed up against the wall, she didn’t let go of him as he lowered her to her feet. She had tears in her eyes and felt overwhelmed with emotional shock. “I got you. Easy,” he said to her, caressing her hip bone under her top with his thumb. The voices sounded like they were coming closer. He helped her fix her top as he kept one forearm above her head, and his huge body encased hers, covering it from view. She looked up at him as she fixed her top and then the guys walked closer, saw Thermo and her there and commented.

  “Good shot, Thermo. The guy needed his ass kicked.”

  Thermo nodded and then his stare alone must have sent the message for them to get lost and they did.

  Kai couldn’t believe how she felt. She reached up as he stared down at her. She caressed his jaw. “What have we done?” she whispered.

  He eased his free hand from her hip and placed his hand over
hers that was against his cheek. He closed his eyes and her heart felt like it stopped beating. He was feeling what she was feeling? He was just as affected as she was? What in God’s name happened?

  “We got things started, Kai, and I want more. I want it all.” He pressed his mouth to hers, but instead of attacking her mouth and practically making her come in his arms, he kissed her tenderly, sweetly, and she actually felt her heart react so she pulled her lips from his and hugged him around the waist, tight.

  * * * *

  “What’s going on back here?” Zayn asked.

  Thermo stared at him. Kai was pressed against Thermo, her arms wrapped around his waist and she looked so petite and sexy. He knew that Thermo made a move and him and Selasi would, too.

  “Did the police come?” Thermo asked.

  “You’re good man. Casey is pressing charges. We’re just glad that asshole didn’t try to hit Kai,” Zayn said, and reached out to caress Kai’s hair.

  “I was fine,” she whispered, and her voice cracked, indicating she was emotional.

  Thermo pulled back. Selasi stared at her.

  “I want to know how things got started, but first things first.” Zayn stepped closer, cupped her jaw and cheek, tilted it up toward him before he leaned down and kissed her softly. She grabbed onto his hips and he slid his hand under her hair to the base of her neck and plunged his tongue deeper. Zayn lifted her up with one hand on her ass and pressed her up against the wall.

  “I’ll go talk to the police. You two watch over, Kai,” Thermo said, but Zayn was too engulfed in the effects of Kai’s kiss.

  The feel of her round, sexy ass, the scent of her shampoo and all the emotions, the attraction they had been fighting. He plunged his tongue deeper and she gripped onto him then pulled from his mouth and hugged him around the shoulders.

  “Oh God, I can’t believe this is happening.”

  Selasi caressed her hair. Zayn continued to hold her against the wall but leaned back as Selasi had a handful of her hair, their eyes locked and Zayn knew she was the one for him and his brothers.