Stormy Seas
Page 1
Commander Berkley Levine and Captain Aidan Sullivan might have a life together if they survive the next mission. They’re undercover hunting down a treasonous ex-vice president and the militia he’s assembled to topple the US government, and the twisting trail grows deadlier at every turn. After an assassination and numerous attacks that could only have happened with inside help, they don’t know who they can trust, and the future looks darker than ever.
Just when they think the trail has run cold, their old enemy, North Korean pilot Jin Umeko, unexpectedly offers to help. Reluctantly, Berkley and Aidan accept the uneasy alliance, even while suspecting Umeko is motivated by vengeance for the loss of her mother and family. If they want to destroy the threat to the country, they’ll have to risk their lives and their futures, but they’ve been prepared for that since the day they put on the uniform.
The high-octane follow-up to the best-selling action-romance, Blue Skies.
What Reviewers Say About Ali Vali’s Work
Answering the Call
“[Answering the Call] is a brilliant cop-and-killer story. …The crime story is tight and the love story is fantastic.”—Best Lesbian Erotica
Beauty and the Boss
“This was a story of love and passion but also of surprises and secrets. I loved it!”—Kitty Kat’s Book Review Blog
“The story gripped me from the first page, both the relationship between the two main characters, as well as the drama of the issues that threaten to bring down the business. …Vali’s writing style is lovely—it’s clean, sharp, no wasted words, and it flows beautifully as a result. Highly recommended!”—Rainbow Book Reviews
The Devil’s Due
“This is an enthralling, nail biting and ultra fast moving addition to the Devil series. …The Devil’s Due is so fast paced you seriously have to concentrate, but once again Ali Vali has produced a brilliant story arc, solid character development, incomparable bad-ass women in traditionally male roles, leading both the goodies, baddies and cross-breeds. This episode closes off some of the loose ends, but sets us up for even more drama in the stories to come. This is a stand-alone, but I would seriously recommend starting this series at the beginning. The overarching story arc is so good, the interrelationships so complex, that while it might make a good read, you will simply be missing too much back history and nuance of personal interplay to get the most from it.”—Lesbian Reading Room
“A Night Owl Reviews Top Pick: Cain Casey is the kind of person you aspire to be even though some consider her a criminal. She’s loyal, very protective of those she loves, honorable, big on preserving her family legacy and loves her family greatly. The Devil’s Due is a book I highly recommend and well worth the wait we all suffered through. I cannot wait for the next book in the series to come out.”—Night Owl Reviews
Beneath the Waves
“The premise of an ancient but much advanced Atlantean race under the sea was brilliantly constructed, with an all female world and an ability to procreate without men. It was skillfully written and the imagination that went into it was fantastic. …The author managed to insert a real fear and menace into the story and had me totally engrossed. The love story between Vivien and Kai was slow burning but beautifully pitched. …I loved this book and it gave so much more than I expected. A wonderful passionate love story with a great mystery.”—Inked Rainbow Reads
The Romance Vote
“Won by a Landslide!…[A] sweet and mushy romance with some humor and spicy, sexy scenes!”—Love Bytes
Balance of Forces: Toujours Ici
“A stunning addition to the vampire legend, Balance of Forces: Toujours Ici, is one that stands apart from the rest.”—Bibliophilic Book Blog
The Devil Be Damned
“Ali Vali excels at creating strong, romantic characters along with her fast paced, sophisticated plots. Her setting, New Orleans, provides just the right blend of immigrants from Mexico, South America and Cuba, along with a city steeped in traditions.”—Just About Write
Blue Skies
“Author Ali Vali has written a story that is extremely relevant in today’s world. Blue Skies has plots within plots as the ‘old guard’ tries to undermine the mission and show that women can’t lead. Levine and Sullivan are strong characters who take on the misogynists in government. Vali is skilled at building sexual tension and the sex in this novel flies as high as Berkley’s jets. Look for this fast-paced read.”—Just About Write
Calling the Dead—Lammy Finalist
“So many writers set stories in New Orleans, but Ali Vali’s mystery novels have the authenticity that only a real Big Easy resident could bring. Set six months after Hurricane Katrina has devastated the city, a lesbian detective is still battling demons when a body turns up behind one of the city’s famous eateries. What follows makes for a classic lesbian murder yarn.”—Curve Magazine
“The plot is engrossing and satisfying. A fun aspect of the book is the images of food it includes. The descriptions of sex are also delicious.”—Seattle Gay News
“In Calling the Dead, Vali has given us characters that are engaging and a story that keeps us turning page after page.”—Just About Write
Deal With the Devil
“Ali Vali has given her fans another thick, rich thriller…Deal With the Devil has wonderful love stories, great sex, and an ample supply of humor. It is an exciting, page turning read that leaves her readers eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.”—Just About Write
Second Season
“Whether Ali Vali is writing about crime figures or lawyers, her characters are well drawn and extremely likeable. Indeed, writing so the reader really cares about the main characters is a trademark of a Vali novel. Second Season is no exception to the rule. …This is a rich, enjoyable read that’s not to be missed.”—Just About Write
“The issues are realistic and center around the universal factors of love, jealousy, betrayal, and doing the right thing and are constantly woven into the fabric of the story. We rated this well written social commentary through the use of fiction our max five hearts.”—Heartland Reviews
The Devil Unleashed
“Fast-paced action scenes, intriguing character revelations, and a refreshing approach to the romance thriller genre all make for an enjoyable reading experience in the Big Easy. …The Devil Unleashed is an engrossing reading experience.”—Midwest Book Review
Carly’s Sound
“Vali paints vivid pictures with her words. …Carly’s Sound is a great romance, with some wonderfully hot sex.”—Midwest Book Review
“It’s no surprise that passion is indeed possible a second time around.”—Q Syndicate
“Carly’s Sound is a great romance, with some wonderfully hot sex, but it is more than that. It is also the tale of a woman rising from the ashes of grief and finding new love and a new life. Vali has surrounded Julia and Poppy with a cast of great supporting characters, making this an extremely satisfying read.”—Just About Write
The Devil Inside
“Not only is The Devil Inside a ripping mystery, it’s also an intimate character study.”—L-Word Literature
“The Devil Inside by Ali Vali is an unusual, unpredictable, and thought-provoking love story that will have the reader questioning the definition of right and wrong long after she finishes the book. …First time novelist Vali does not leave the reader hanging for too long, but spins a complex plot of love, conspiracy, and loss.”—Just About Write
“The Devil Inside is the first of what promises to be a very exciting series. …While telling an exciting story that grips the reader, Vali has also fully fleshed out her heroes and villains. The Devil Inside is that rarity: a fascinating crime novel which includes a tender love story and leaves the reader with a cliffhanger endin
g.”—MegaScene
“…this isn’t your typical ‘Godfather-esque’ novel, oh no. The head of this crime family is not only a lesbian, but a mother to boot. Vali’s fluid writing style quickly puts the reader at ease, which makes the story and its characters equally easy to get to know and care about. When you find yourself talking out loud to the characters in a book, you know the work is polished and professional, as well as entertaining. Ever just wanted to grab a crime boss by the lapels, get in their face, and tell them to open their eyes and see what’s right in front of their eyes? If not you will once you start turning the pages of The Devil Inside.”—Family and Friends Magazine
Stormy Seas
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Stormy Seas
© 2019 By Ali Vali. All Rights Reserved.
ISBN 13: 978-1-63555-300-0
This Electronic Book is published by
Bold Strokes Books, Inc.
P.O. Box 249
Valley Falls, New York 12185
First Edition: May 2019
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.
Credits
Editor: Shelley Thrasher
Production Design: Susan Ramundo
Cover Design By Sheri (hindsightgraphics@gmail.com)
By the Author
Carly’s Sound
Second Season
Love Match
The Dragon Tree Legacy
The Romance Vote
Girls With Guns
Beneath the Waves
Beauty and the Boss
Blue Skies
Stormy Seas
Call Series
Calling the Dead
Answering the Call
Forces Series
Balance of Forces: Toujours Ici
Battle of Forces: Sera Toujours
Force of Fire: Toujours a Vous
The Cain Casey Saga
The Devil Inside
The Devil Unleashed
Deal with the Devil
The Devil be Damned
The Devil’s Orchard
The Devil’s Due
Heart of the Devil
Acknowledgments
Thank you to Radclyffe for the home you’ve given me at BSB, and for the awesome family that comes with it. Thank you to Sandy Lowe for all the great advice, and for all you do to keep me on track.
My sincere thanks and gratitude to my editor, Shelley Thrasher, for everything you’ve taught me. All your lessons will always be appreciated. Thank you to my beta readers, Cris Perez-Soria and Kim Rieff. You guys are the best, and your questions and suggestions make every book better. Thank you, Sheri, for the fantastic cover. You hit a bull’s-eye with this one.
It’s always nice to revisit characters and continue their story. Thank you to all the readers who wrote often about Cletus and Aidan wanting more. That to me is the highest compliment, so as always, every word is written with you in mind.
Thank you to C for all the adventures we’ve shared, and for all the ones yet to come. Verdad!
Dedication
For C
For All Active and Retired Military
Thank You All For Your Service
Chapter One
“Where are you?” Navy Captain Aidan Sullivan asked in a groggy voice. The bedroom in the small French Quarter apartment that overlooked a secluded courtyard had the French doors open, letting in a breeze even though it was July. After eleven in the morning, the air conditioner came on, no matter how romantic the view was.
“I’m making coffee, and you’re supposed to still be sleeping,” Navy Commander Berkley Levine said from what sounded like the kitchen.
“I’m awake in an empty bed.” Aidan rolled over, stared at the ceiling, and combed her blond hair back as she yawned. “You know the rules, Levine.”
Berkley appeared in the doorway completely naked, so Aidan focused on her tall, fit body, hoping Berkley wasn’t too set on having coffee anytime soon. “Do you plan to get up, or do you need an incentive?” Her straight posture with her hands on her hips looked quintessentially naval aviator—a little cocky and a hell of a lot sexy.
“If you come over here you can incentivize me all you want, baby.” She tossed the sheet off and smiled at the thought of how long Berkley would hold out. “You can make up for not being here when I woke up.”
“I didn’t break any rules—I was here when you woke up.” Berkley knelt on the bed and fell forward, stopping herself at the last moment before she completely collapsed on her. “And we don’t have time for any kind of incentives.” Aidan frowned when Berkley kissed her nose and started to get up. “Your parents arrive today, and I don’t want to be late picking them up.”
She wrapped her legs around Berkley to keep her in place, amazed that Berkley lifted her off the bed and held her while she kissed her on the lips this time. She should be used to the instant arousal by now, but it still stole her reason and had from the beginning.
They’d met in Hawaii nine years prior, and she’d tossed her carefully held caution in all things overboard and gone out with the young, good-looking aviator, only to sleep with her on their first date. That, she still couldn’t believe, but Berkley did things to the rational part of her brain, as in turning it off so her primal desires could take over.
“Do you remember our first date?” she asked when Berkley ended their kiss so she could lay her back down.
“I do,” Berkley said, lowering her head to suck on her nipple until it puckered steel hard. “That Chinese place you ordered from had fantastic egg rolls.”
“You suck,” she deadpanned.
“I sure do.” Berkley laughed as she made her way down Aidan’s body and spread her legs. All she could do was buck up into Berkley’s mouth when she sucked her clit in and ran her tongue over it. She’d wanted it to last, but she couldn’t possibly curb her need to come.
“Baby, please.” She grabbed Berkley’s head and tugged her closer. “Put your fingers in,” she said before groaning loud enough to feel a reverberation in her chest. Berkley slowed down, which was maddening. “I need you,” she said, sounding way out of breath and desperate, but Berkley gave her what she wanted. She slid two fingers in and sucked harder until she came with another loud moan.
“You’d better pray Mr. Comeaux isn’t out there watering his lilies,” Berkley said as she came up and held her as her heart rate slowed down.
They’d rented the place for a month enjoying the first vacation either of them had taken in years. Granted, they’d met years before, but Aidan had made the worst mistake of her life by choosing the navy over Berkley, leading them to four years apart. Thankfully, Berkley had forgiven her and not only taken her back, but volunteered to join her on the carrier Aidan had been given the helm of.
Their first mission together had almost ended in disaster when Berkley had been shot down over North Korea because of David “Blazer” Morris, a traitorous little shit who was part of her flight team, but she’d miraculously made it out, her backseat, Lieutenant Harvey “Junior” Whittle, in tow with a broken leg. It had been a wake-up call for both of them, so they’d stopped wasting time and admitted what they both wanted in a future together.
“I love you,” she said as she threw her leg over Berkley’s thighs.
“I love you too, and I was kidding before,” Berkley said, holding her tight enough that she moved to lie on her. “Our first date is one of m
y favorite memories.”
“Really?” When Berkley looked at her so adoringly, she felt like she was falling in love all over again.
“Why in the world would you doubt that?” Berkley asked as she wiped her tears, surprising her that she was crying. “You were the most beautiful woman I’d ever laid eyes on, and I didn’t figure I had a chance no matter what I tried. You threw me by saying yes.”
“You were pretty dashing, stud, so it wasn’t a hardship.” She leaned down and kissed Berkley until she held her tighter.
“What brought on your question?”
She put her head on Berkley’s chest and closed her eyes. “This last year has been completely different from what I thought it’d be, and I’m incredibly lucky you let me back in.”
“Now that wasn’t a hardship at all, baby.” Berkley repeated what she’d said. “Besides, you can’t really ever lose what’s yours for life.”