Second Chance with Her SEAL

by Gillian Blakely

  Oh, Sabrina.

  His beautiful, brave Sabrina.

  David quickly read deeper. She’d continued exercising. They’d been eating well. She was loving school. Every word was more vibrant than the last. The color of her ink changed daily.

  Life had finally turned around for her. She no longer shied away from social events and even made friends with “pretty girls.”

  And then her life shattered again.

  Ethan’s cancer is back. He’s optimistic and smiling, but I can tell he’s in pain. He never could shake that cold.

  My head is still spinning. The doctors are acting fast. The nurses are so kind. I’m camped out on the couch. He keeps telling me to go home, he’s got this. Maybe later, just to sleep.

  David’s heart cracked wide as he read her words. She’d stuck with Ethan to the bitter end. She’d been there, tending him, making him comfortable, helping with his medications, supporting his parents.

  A week ago, he’d thought she didn’t know how to stick it through the tough times. David was ashamed. So ashamed.

  This was a woman who’d walked through fire and came out forged of steel. She, more than maybe anyone he knew, could tough it out. She had toughed it out through high school, through a miserable family life, through her best friend’s passing.

  He’s gone.

  Two words. Two short words that said everything. So much pain, loss, emotion. Tears trailed down David’s cheeks.

  He sat back, digesting her words. Her story. She’d endured so much and come out a shining example of perseverance and hope. It was so clear now.

  Everything was clearer when you had your head out of your ass.

  He bolted out the door and didn’t even bother to lock it. Vaulting behind the wheel of his truck, he turned over the ignition and dug his phone from his pocket.

  “Call Teo,” he instructed as he backed out of his space.

  And then he was driving. He didn’t even know where he was going but he wanted the head start.

  “Hey man, what’s up?”

  “I need Sabrina’s number.”

  “Umm… okay--”

  “Jill has it, right?”

  “Oh, yeah. Let me ask.”

  A moment later he rattled off a number and David repeated it over and over in his mind.

  “Are you driving?”

  “Yeah. Gotta go.”

  He hit the disconnect button and then repeated the number out loud for the phone to call. It went to voice mail.

  Shit.

  He was at the red light in front of the park. Which way did he go? Why hadn’t he bothered to get her information when he’d had the chance. Fuck, he was a stubborn ass.

  “Dial Teo.”

  “Was that the wrong number?”

  “No. Got her voicemail. I need to see her right now. Like right now. Does Jill know where she’s staying?”

  There was a long pause as Teo relayed the information. They must have understood the urgency in his voice.

  “Pull over. I’m texting you her address.”

  Not for the first time, David thanked God for giving him such good friends.

  But he kept his prayers brief, thanked Teo, and pulled over where he could safely read the text.

  Less than ten minutes later he was pulling up outside an old mill that’d been converted into apartments. His blood thundered in his ears. He hadn’t felt like this since his last mission with the SEALs. Every moment, every movement mattered.

  Once again, he felt like life was narrowing down, guiding him to this place, this time. Focusing him on the path to Sabrina’s door.

  He couldn’t get there fast enough.

  And when the door swung open and he saw her standing there wrapped in a thick white sweater, her lovely eyes red with tears, he ached anew.

  All those years, the pain, the distance, the history, it had all brought him to this moment.

  It’d brought him back to her.

  And this time he wouldn’t fail her. He wouldn’t let her go. She’d said her biggest regret was turning him down after their date.

  Not being there for her was one of his biggest regrets.

  He stepped forward and she came into his arms willingly. He held her close, felt the tears quaking through her. He closed his eyes as he fought tears of his own.

  Then, he cupped her cheeks in his hands and slanted his lips across hers.

  15

  Sabrina wanted to say something. Ask what he was doing here was the obvious one on the tip of her tongue. But when his tongue speared between her lips and she felt the resounding zing all the way to her womb, she forgot all about forming coherent sentences or even words.

  “I’m so sorry,” he whispered against her lips.

  He walked her backwards and kicked the door closed. She loved that he took the time to reach behind himself and lock it.

  Then he was backing her down the hall to her bedroom. His hands slid down her sides to close around her waist. The tender touch washed away all her anxiety.

  Gracious he was strong. And big.

  “I’m sorry I wasn’t paying attention. I’m sorry I didn’t see how mean those girls were to you. I’m sorry for so many things.”

  She nodded as his words brought a fresh round of tears. Amazingly, there were tears in his eyes as well.

  He was crying for her. With her.

  She cupped his cheek with her hand and kissed the wet trails coursing down his cheeks.

  Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined this. This handsome, strong man, crying over her.

  After brushing the bulky poncho from her shoulders, his fingertips skimmed the skin between her shirt and her pajama pants.

  “I’m sorry I let them win,” she said. “I’m sorry I hurt you.”

  He seemed to know exactly where he was going. It was almost as if he had a schematic of her apartment or a blueprint or a treasure map. He certainly knew his way around her body.

  They bumped into the wall.

  He grunted and then picked her up. No strain. Just lifted. She tightened her grip on his broad shoulders and locked her ankles behind his back.

  Even though they’d done this before, a couple of times actually, she knew she should be nervous. But she wasn’t.

  She’d come back to Georgia with an open heart, ready to try again in the romance department only to have bumped into David. Everything seemed so much more important than it had a few short weeks ago. Each look, every question…

  He trailed his lips down her jaw, awakening all the nerve endings in his wake. She marveled at how she didn’t feel any awkwardness that usually came with a new partner.

  There were always those little moments where you weren’t quite in sync yet.

  With David, miraculously, there was none of that.

  He stepped into her bedroom and lifted his head long enough to locate the bed. She wasn’t going to think about tomorrow.

  He was here.

  That meant everything.

  A giddy tendril bubbled up inside her and she smiled. How had he gotten her address?

  Probably Teo and Jill. It didn’t matter.

  He was here, tearing her clothes off. Kissing and crying. How was that for a combination?

  Following her down onto the mattress. Only when he shrugged out of his shirt did he stop kissing her. Her tears dried on her cheeks and so did his.

  She loved a man with a one-track mind, so she sent him her most wicked smile.

  “Fuck. Don’t look at me like that.”

  Her brows lifted. “Why not?”

  She let her eyes roam over his newly uncovered skin, once again admiring the ink, pausing at the scars. Normally she wasn’t a fan of tattoos, but on him, every design fit. From the thin cuff around his forearm to the wings curling around his shoulders.

  The intricate trident design over his heart snagged her attention.

  When he leaned over her, she stretched up to kiss him there. Somehow, that one seemed more important that all the othe
rs.

  “One day,” she murmured against his skin, “you’ll have to tell me about each of these.”

  “But not today,” he said, swooping in for a kiss.

  Sabrina loved the feel of his big body above her, blotting out the world. He was so strong, so solid, so real. She felt completely safe...more than that.

  As he trailed his fingertips from her throat, between her breasts, to her navel, she realized she felt cherished.

  There was something new in his gaze. A tenderness that hadn’t been there before. And a reverence. The way he touched her this time was so different; urgent, yes, but also like he was memorizing her.

  When he slid his hand between her legs, all other thoughts vanished. She loved how her world shifted to him and her and their pleasure. She adored how he seemed to know just how to touch her. How hard, how fast, which direction to circle his fingers against her clit.

  Arms around him, she held on tight as he brought her to the brink. Breasts straining, nipples tight, she pulled him in for a kiss and rubbed her chest against his.

  He groaned into her mouth and then shifted so he was between her legs. She locked her ankles around his back and reveled in the feel of him. His heat, the faint scent of barbeque that clung to his skin.

  He didn’t have to move. Skin against skin, his deep eyes locked with hers, it was the most intimate moment of her life. And for just a second, she wanted time to stop. To freeze in this moment where everything was okay in her world. Where she had the most exquisite man in her arms.

  “Hold that thought,” he murmured.

  He was back a moment later, protection in place, his arms gathering her close as he rubbed his long, hard length against her. The moisture gathered at the apex of her thighs made the movement smooth and frictionless.

  She arched her back, enjoying the way the hair on his chest abraded her nipples. He was all man, packed with muscles, work-roughened hands, two days growth of beard that felt so good against her skin.

  Eyes locked with hers, he entered her slowly. Taking his sweet time, he sank in, inch by inch. And the most delicious sounds rumbled from his chest. She took that as a supreme compliment.

  When he was bottomed out, she ran her foot up the back of his left leg. He shuddered, and the movement caused his cock to tease her g-spot. A sigh left her lips, as she tossed her head back, trying to recreate the angle, the feeling.

  Then he moved.

  Gracious he was thick.

  Though he was all carefully restrained power, she could tell that he was holding back. Each thrust was delicious and methodical, carefully sending her spiraling upward. The look in his eyes was sweet and tender.

  “So, this is what it’s like,” she murmured.

  “What?”

  “Making love.”

  She trailed a fingertip down his cheek and over his lips. This was so different than last time, so romantic. Her lips curved at the thought. Wasn’t sex supposed to be romantic? Intimate?

  Sabrina didn’t even care that he didn’t respond. In fact, she appreciated the way he kept up his perfect tempo, driving her body closer to release.

  It hit her suddenly, stealing her breath. Her skin tightened, and she strained against him, milking her orgasm for everything it was worth. Above her, he stilled. His jaw flexed, and his eyes clamped shut.

  When they came down from the high, his chest heaved against hers and she kept him locked in her embrace.

  “I loved you,” he whispered against her ear. “I knew it that night at the fair. I hated the way you just cut me out of your life and I resented you.”

  “I loved you too.”

  “I know.”

  He kissed the tip of her nose and pulled away. After disappearing into her bathroom to take care of the condom, he returned, sliding under the covers.

  Her heart did a little happy dance. He was staying.

  She shimmied between the sheets and sank into his embrace.

  “I'm sorry I wasn't a better friend back then. I had no idea those girls tor--”

  His voice cracked, and she hugged him tighter.

  “They were great at hiding it.” At the time she hadn't understood what she'd done to them or how a person could be so catty, so hateful. But with time and distance, she'd finally realized they'd been threatened by her friendship with him. Not that that excused their behavior.

  “I'm glad you told me.” He rubbed her arm and kissed her forehead.

  Sabrina rose onto her elbow and met his gaze. “Turning you down for that second date is my biggest regret. Second runner up is that I didn't have the confidence to tell those mean girls to shove their opinions where the sun doesn't shine.”

  Rich laughter rumbled out of him and he pulled her on top of him. With one arm bracketed around her back, the other cupped her cheek. He stared into her eyes for several moments.

  “No more regrets.”

  16

  “Guess who called me today?” David said as he entered her bedroom two Fridays later.

  Sabrina was in the bathroom applying mascara. Over her shoulder, her gaze raked over him. She’d made love to him almost every night for two weeks and she still couldn’t get enough.

  They’d made a lot of progress since he’d read her journal. Staying up late, talking, kissing, reminiscing. She was falling for him all over again. The sweet boy she remembered was still in there.

  Knowing it drove him wild, she licked her lips.

  The resulting growl made her smile.

  “Who?”

  “What?” He stepped into the bathroom and wrapped his hands around her hips, pulling her ass against his groin.

  “Who called you today?”

  “Allen Croft.”

  She paused the mascara wand long enough to lift her brows at him. “Is that right?”

  “Know anything about that?” he asked, staring down at her ass. The red dress did wonders for the curves she worked so hard for. He was happy to work out with her, which was a fun addition to her workout regimen.

  “Perhaps.” She focused on her makeup again, reaching for a nude colored lip liner. After a slow, careful application that made him wait, she said, “I may have given him your number when he called me earlier. What did he want?”

  “He wants me to fly to Florida to talk about a pet project.”

  She slathered on a matching lipstick.

  “Well,” she said, pursing her lips to even it out, “you’re free till January, right? You should do it.”

  She was all for him following his dreams. Though they’d talked about the past, he hadn’t shared much of his and she got the impression that there was some deep pain lurking there. Things that he couldn’t bring himself to talk about.

  “Maybe.”

  “You said you’d like to do something more creative, maybe this is it.”

  “I’d like to do something creative with you,” he murmured, giving her hips a little thrust.

  Sabrina laughed. “And ruin this makeup?”

  He flexed his fingers into her hips and sighed. “I suppose it’ll keep.”

  “Good. Let’s go eat.” She turned and gave his crotch a gentle pat. “Food. Let’s go eat food.”

  “Tease.”

  She laughed again.

  On the way out the door, she plucked her long, black coat from the back of a chair. The weather had turned brisk in the last few days, but she was prepared thanks to her occasional trips to Lake Tahoe.

  “Let me.”

  David took the coat from her and held it out, so she could put it on. She had to admit, chivalry wasn't dead, and it was a pretty big turn on.

  “Thank you.”

  His hands lingered, and she leaned into his touch.

  They'd decided her car was more practical for the parking spaces available in downtown Atlanta, so she handed over her keys and strode to the door. A part of her wanted to get used to this.

  She loved getting dressed up and going out on the town. Then again, she loved cozy nights on the couch
with her legs draped over his, a book in her lap. There had to be more of that in their future, right?

  As much as she tried to settle against the supple leather seat, she couldn't ignore the feeling that there time together was counting down. Somewhere out there, there was a giant hourglass with their name on it, grains running out.

  She held in a sigh and stared out the window as it started to rain. Of course, it'd rain on date night. It's not like she was wearing her best heels.

  “What's eating you?”

  “Honestly, you. I hate the fact that we've reconnected, and your next job is in New Orleans. I had enough run ins with alligators when we were kids.”

  “Are you still upset about that baby gator I let loose in your room?”

  Sabrina smiled. “I wasn't upset, but I'm sure its momma was furious.” They'd been eleven that year and she'd made him take that poor creature back to the swamp and promise to never mess with wildlife again.

  Being the great guy he was, and properly chastised, he'd promised and she was pretty sure he'd kept it. At least, that she knew about. Who knew what high school and college aged guys did when they got together and felt brave in a pack.

  “Yeah. I've been thinking about that.”

  Her head swiveled in his direction.

  That was news to her. “You have?”

  Her heart lifted.

  He nodded.

  “Well?”

  She'd gotten the impression that he'd been happy as a clam with the way his life was going. He had a job he seemed to enjoy, even if his supervisor had been a dick-head. Plus, there was the travel. And he got to blow things up for a living and evidently that was the dream.

  “I'm curious about Allen's project.”

  “I hear a but...”

  “That's the lesser known path.”

  “Of course.”

  “I don't know where I'd end up with that. What if it's Alaska?”

  “I don't think a theme park would work out well in Alaska.”

  “You know what I mean.”

  He sounded legitimately frustrated, like he'd been lying awake at night thinking things through. While she hated to think of him suffering in silence, knowing he was thinking about a future and being torn made her want to do a touchdown dance.