My Daddy Is a Hero 02 Read online

  Something else was new and fresh as the new day waiting to burst through the sky with the sunrise. There was Noelle and the attraction he had for her. He hadn’t felt like this in a long time, and he planned to follow it through until she was his. He took his coffee cup and went out to his porch to watch the sun come up across Georgia and to keep the dreams at bay.

  * * * *

  She never believed in whirlwind romances, but in the days since she’d met David it was nothing but. Each day of the week he called her just to ask about her day or to tease her about reading. He flirted outrageously and she was surprised when she had a few naughty things to say.

  Friday came and he picked her up at seven for their date and took her to an exclusive restaurant called The Grotto. It was named for the secluded outside dining they offered on a massive cobbled stoned deck covered in grapevines and amazing smelling exotic flowers lined the walkways. They even had gazebos set up with honeysuckle climbing the trellises. David had picked one of those, beneath the star lit night, with the sweet smell of flowers and magnolia in the air. They ate by candlelight, and it was the most romantic thing she had ever done. He fed her mussels. They talked about any and everything, including the little blow up with Andy and another boy in the classroom.

  “He has a temper and he doesn’t know how to react when he’s frustrated. All kids go through this,” Noelle explained. “Paul can be a bossy child and they’ve had it out before. They are two big personalities, and before class dismissed they were friends again.”

  “I’m thinking about signing him up for some classes to get some of that energy out,” David commented. “I wonder if he has ADHD or if he needs medicine. Sometimes the boy can go like an engine of a race care and can’t focus on one thing for any length of time.”

  She put her hand over his and traced his knuckle. “Andy does not have ADHD, he is a normal boy who has a lot of energy. I’ve been trained to notice the signs of that disorder in children and he has none of the markers. Channeling his energy into a sport or after school activity might be good. Maybe soccer or baseball, but he is absolutely fine.”

  He didn’t say anything, instead looked at her fingers trailing over his skin. She followed his gaze and stopped herself.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.” She tried to pull her hand away but he stopped her by covering it with his own.

  ‘Don’t be sorry, I like you touching me,” David said with a smile. “I was thinking how good it felt.”

  It only got better from there. He moved closer in the booth, and over a glass of wine and a shared tiramisu he kissed her and her toes curled. By the time they left the restaurant he held her close against him and each step to the car seemed to seal him into her heart. Noelle knew she was falling fast and couldn’t stop it. Reining back wasn’t something she could do. She knew when she fell in love it would be hard and fast. David was the one, and they had only shared a few kisses.

  At her home he turned off his car and faced her. “I had a great time, Noelle.”

  “Would you like to come in for a little bit for coffee?” Noelle licked her lips nervously.

  “Is that all?” He gave her a slow smile.

  “Maybe another kiss or three,” Noelle smiled. “But we’re taking it slow.”

  He raised his hand as if in an oath. “Scout’s honor.”

  “Well, not too honorable I hope,” she teased and got out of the car. She looked in and asked. “Coming?” Before closing the door.

  He moved quickly and was out of the car. The door slammed and he ran up behind her and lifted her off her feet. He lifted her high and twirled her around before lowering her to the ground and taking her lips in a kiss. Noelle couldn’t help but giggle at his antics.

  “You make me happy. I haven’t smiled or felt like this in a long time,” David said huskily.

  She could almost drown in his gaze. She saw the desire in the depth of his eyes and more. Instinct told her he was feeling it too. Noelle felt a surge of something in her chest; certainty, assuredness, bravery. She didn’t know exactly which one it was, but she did know that tonight was the night for them to make love.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Can you stay the night?”

  He furrowed his brow in confusion. “I thought you said we’re taking it slow?”

  Noelle shook her head. “Forget what I said. This feels right, you feel right, so my question still stands. Will you stay with me?”

  “I’ll call my mother and let her know I’m not coming home tonight,” David replied with a grin. “She came with her overnight bag. I think she was expecting it.”

  “Take me to bed then,” Noelle took his hand and led her inside her home.

  While she turned on the lamp that sat on the table next to the door, he placed the call to her mother. She really didn’t pay attention to the conversation because she was calming the nerves inside her. She wanted this but it was the first time she had been with a man in a few years. The last few times weren’t great, and she wondered if it was her doing. He disconnected the call on his cell phone with a promise that they would be there bright and early to help set up for the twins’ party.

  ‘We have a seven a.m. wake up call so we can work on streamers and decorations,” David said.

  “I have their presents in my car and I’ll follow you over. Your mom can put me to work,” Noelle replied.

  “I have some work for you now,” he teased.

  Noelle laughed huskily and led him down the hallway to her bedroom. She opened the door and flicked the switch on the wall, flooding the room with light. She looked around at her décor, the champagne colored walls and orange and cream accents…even the comforter on her bed matched her color scheme. She winced thinking that David must be seeing all the frills and thinking how simple it was.

  Noelle turned to him. “I’m sorry it’s not as sophisticated as you might be…”

  He put a finger on her lips and took her glasses off before gently placing them on the bedside table. “It’s perfect, Noelle. I’m not expecting you to be anything you’re not. I don’t want sophistication, I just want you.”

  His words were her undoing. He expected nothing but who she was. She rose on her tip toes and pressed her lips against his. David took control of the kiss, wrapping her into his arms and passionately molding her body to his body. She didn’t know one kiss could set her soul on fire like it did. His tongue traced her lips begging for entry, and when she let him in he moaned in response. He began to move forward and she stepped back until she felt the edge of the bed on the back of her thighs.

  His mouth was doing delicious things to the sensitive skin of her neck as he lowered her to the soft mattress. The movement barely registered in her mind since what he was doing made her feel as if she were light as air. Passion burned inside as his lips plundered hers and his tongue invading her mouth. He tasted so damn good, so masculine, and it made her ache. He covered her and ravished her, cupping her breasts before molding her body to him. Noelle moaned in wanton delight and feasted on him. God, I want more of him.

  “Touch me, I want to feel your hands on my skin,” she whispered.

  “You making me crazy. I want to rip your clothes off.” He muttered against her lips.

  “Then do it,” she gasped. “I can buy a new shirt.”

  His fingers worked on pulling her shirt from the wait of her silky straight skirt and he chuckled. “Next time, right now I want to unwrap my present.”

  He took his time to undo each button and it was driving her crazy. She was finally free of the confines of her shirt and he cupped her breasts. David braced himself on his hands and bent his head to taste her. Noelle gasped in pleasure as she arched her back, offering him more of her breasts.

  “Oh yes, David,” she moaned, and his groan echoed in response.

  He cupped her mound through her jeans and she raised her hips against the heat of his hand. David moved from her breast and worked on her jeans, pulling them
down her legs. She was now gloriously naked and open to his touch.

  “Do you trust me?” he asked.

  Noelle bit her lip and nodded yes.

  “Touch yourself for me. Let me see how much you want me,” David said.

  Her eyes widened at the request. She’d never even done that in the privacy of her bedroom to relieve the ache of her own arousal. Bu the way he looked at her made her melt and her body trembled as she scooted up the bed to comply with his wish. She lay against the pile of decorative pillows as she ran her hands down her body. Noelle cupped her breast before rolling her hardened nipples between her thumb and forefinger. David watched her every move, his eyes and his face a mask of desire.

  She moved her hands down the smooth skin of her stomach and his eyes followed the trail to the apex of her thighs. Noelle spread her legs, tantalizing him with the view of her moist core. She slipped her fingers between the slick folds of flesh parting them so he could see how wet she was. A low hiss left his lips and he met her eyes with his. She felt brazen at this point and wanted him to touch her himself.

  “Come taste me,” she whispered. “I want to feel everything.”

  “Fuck yes,” David muttered and undressed quickly.

  He climbed onto the bed and buried his face between her legs, tasting her pussy. His tongue licked and he sucked at her clit. Noelle gasped and arched off the bed, clutching the blanket beneath her as need rushed through her body. He used his mouth with expertise, enflaming her senses until she cried out in ecstasy.

  David used his fingers to touch and penetrate her. “David!” She couldn’t help but cry out his name as he slid his digits into her over and over again. Her hips rose to meet his thrusting fingers. She didn’t know how she could stand it yet she wanted more, the coil to her completion tightening under his onslaught. The sweet ache built until she cried out as the sensations assaulted her body. She grabbed at his hair while her body came apart under his mouth and she shook from the intensity of her orgasm.

  “Oh baby came for me so good.” He covered her body with his own and kissed her ravenously. “Tell me what you want.”

  “I want you and only you, David.” Her voice was breathless. This amount of heat was the kind she only read about in books. She didn’t know it was real, didn’t know that she could feel it with someone like David.

  “My name sounds so good on your lips.”

  Noelle could feel the hard length of his cock between her legs. His hand roamed down her thighs and David pulled her legs up high around his waist. She held her breath in anticipation before he pressed his cock into her wet pussy. His groan of ecstasy reverberated through her as she felt him fill her. He was so thick and somehow it felt like two pieces of a puzzle that came together in hot delight.

  “God yes, I’ve never felt anything like this.” She grabbed his hair and pulled his head from her breasts where he licked at her nipples. “How can I feel like I’m aching when I’m so full of you? I want more!”

  David thrust himself into her with deep strokes, pushing himself to the hilt inside her. Noelle felt hot, and each slick movement seemed to make every nerve ending in her body tingle. Her hips rose to meet his every thrust as he pounded into her with sweet savagery. She tightened her legs around his body and ran her hand down his back, feeling the dampness of his sweat. The wet sounds their bodies made filled the air.

  “Oh God, say you’re mine, Noelle. Say it!” He demanded. His voice was harsh with arousal and need.

  “Yours, David. I’m yours!” She cried out. How could she say otherwise when she meant it with all her heart. “Oh yes, I’m going to…”

  “Come for me baby, now!” David sucked her neck harshly.

  She could feel her body reaching for completion and then, like a snap of a rubber band, the dam broke. A small scream left her lips as her body shook from the intensity of her orgasm. His guttural groan echoed hers, and as she felt his seed fill her, her muscles clenched around his cock. He whispered her name and kissed her deeply.

  “Is it always like this?” She murmured as he pulled her close.

  “With you, I definitely think so.” He sighed. “Is it way too early to say I want to be with you for the rest of my life?”

  Noelle giggled. “We should have a little more time as a couple before we go down that path. We are a couple, aren’t we?”

  David kissed her. “Do you think I go around giving up my goodies all willy-nilly?”

  This time Noelle couldn’t help but laugh. “Your goodies, huh?”

  He nodded solemnly. “I gave you a very precious gift.”

  She snickered. “Okay, I promise to treasure your gift over and over again if you let me.”

  He rolled her body on top of him. “That is a definite yes.”

  With his lips he began the fever in her body once more. Noelle gave herself over to the pleasure David created inside her. In her heart she knew this was only the beginning of something magical.

  Chapter Four

  Unlike Noelle, David was no good with planning. Giving a birthday party for one child could be hectic. But for twins with two different sets of interests and friends was a trial by fire. If it weren’t for his mom and Noelle, the twins’ birthday party would be complete chaos. Even though the magician was late and the pony rides weren’t set up yet, the multitude of children running around his back yard and their parents seemed content. His mother walked the route with drinks and platters of food for the parents, and Noelle manned the kids’ table and put out any fires of discontent. Even so, when each planned activity started he breathed a sigh of relief when the kids quieted down.

  He stepped into the kitchen to take a deep breath. A little quiet away from the crowd. David was still getting accustomed to being around people other than soldiers. Watching his back was a different story here. He felt cornered just for a moment. The doorbell rang and he sighed. Another child arriving late. When he opened the door, it wasn’t a happy child greeting him but the parents of his late wife. They never liked him, thought she married down. Their disapproval of him and his home was evident on their faces.

  “Are you going to let us in? We were invited,” his father-in-law asked crisply.

  “I’ll remind my mother about her invitational gestures after the party,” David snapped. “Jim, Barb, come on in, the party is out back.”

  “You don’t think we’re going to be going out there with a bunch of children running around” Barb said haughtily.

  “It is a birthday party for two six-year-olds,” David replied in a tired tone.

  “We could have had a casual brunch at our house.” Barb sniffed.

  ‘Then that would have been for you and not them,” he replied. “Any gifts for the kids?”

  “We’ve bought them bonds.” Jim held out his hand with the envelope. “It can help with their future.”

  “A gift is a spaceship for Andy, or a doll for Annette,” David snapped. “We don’t want your money, can’t you get that? Shauna never did, and neither do I.”

  “Don’t you dare bring her in to this. If it wasn’t for you…” Barb said furiously.

  “If it wasn’t for me what? She wouldn’t have been happy, had two great kids or left you and your money where she left it?” David asked. He clenched his fists at his side. “If it wasn’t me it would have been someone else just so she could get away from you.”

  “You’re wrong. You turned her against us!” Jim pointed his finger.

  “Is everything all right?” Noelle stepped in just as David was about to speak.

  He took her hand, needing the comfort of her touch and to ground himself against the surging anger.

  “No, this is Shauna’s parents and they were just leaving,” David ground out.

  “Before even seeing the kids?” Noelle asked gently.

  “Trust me, it’s not about them.” He kept his furious gaze on his in-laws.

  “And who is this?” Barb asked. She made the word sound like Noelle was a lesser being.
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br />   “She is Noelle, the kids’ teacher and my girlfriend,” David said.

  “Really, so quickly you cast off the memory of our daughter.” Barb laughed nastily.

  “Just like your kind to do that and to take up with someone like her.”

  “It’s been three years, and exactly what do you mean by ‘someone like her’?” David asked. He knew their prejudice but wanted them to voice it.

  “Really, David, as a school teacher she is fine, but women of her stature are better off as just caretakers.” Jim said casually.

  “You’re married to a black woman, too, Jim. Or did you forget that?”

  Barb raised her head. “Don’t put me in the same category as her., Back in the day her color was the kitchen staff.”

  “And your kind was the master’s mistress,” Noelle snapped and put her hand on her hip. “You’re looking down your nose at me because your color of skin is lighter than mine? It’s all black, sweetheart, and just because you’re ‘high yellow’ as they like to call it don’t mean a thing in my world. You’re the worst kind of African-American woman, money doesn’t respect. You might live in the exclusive part of Georgia, but you have a low calls attitude.” Noelle turned and kissed David. “I’ll go make sure the guests are entertained.”

  David was very supremely proud of Noelle after her little speech and watched as she walked back outside. Shauna would have liked her. He knew that she would have had no problem on Noelle being a part of Andy’s and Annette’s lives. He focused his attention back on his former in-laws.

  “You need to leave. I won’t have my children subjected to your brand of morals, and Shauna didn’t want it either.” David shook his head. “I tried, God knows I tried since she has been gone to give you both a piece of her through seeing the children. But just like you did her, you pushed them away.”

  “This isn’t over, we’ll fight you,” Jim said tightly.

  “And you’ll lose just like when she died and you tried to take them from.” He smiled coldly. “Let’s see you explain to a judge how you came to their birthday party and spewed racist crap near the kids.” He pointed to the door. “Leave my home. Now!”