He pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket when they got in the car. “Look this over and tell me if there’s anything on it you’re not supposed to do.”
V-crunches, planks, hip lifts, sit ups, side crunches, bicycle kicks. It all looked standard to her.
“Turn it over.”
Her eyes opened wide when she looked at the other side.
“Too much?”
“Um…no.”
“You’re sure?”
It was way too much, but she’d never admit it. Even if it landed her back in the hospital.
“That’s enough for today,” Mantis said ninety minutes later.
He’d pushed her, but not as far as she originally thought he would.
Mantis put his hand on her shoulder and squeezed. “You won’t get cleared if you let yourself get another injury on top of what you’re already dealing with.”
“I know,” she muttered, wishing her body was strong enough to do the kind of workouts she’d done before she’d gotten shot.
“How about a run?” she asked.
“A short one.”
“Right.” She smiled and walked over to the treadmill.
She was two miles in when her back spasmed. She pulled the cord to shut off the machine and leaned over with her hands on her knees.
“You okay?” Mantis asked, stopping his treadmill.
“My back,” she grunted through the pain.
“Come with me. Can you climb up on the table?” he asked, leading her over to an empty massage room.
She gingerly twisted until she was close enough that she could get her bottom on the table. Once there, she rolled to her side, and then onto her stomach.
“Where’s your scar,” he asked, raising the back of her shirt. “Okay,” he murmured, putting it back down and laying his big hands across her waist and gently kneading her flesh with his fingers.
“God, that feels good,” she murmured after he worked her muscles a few more minutes.
“If I remember right, I learned this from you.” He moved to her bottom, again kneading to loosen the tightness that had caused the spasm.
Alegria felt light-headed. If only she could change position enough to close her legs a little bit before Mantis noticed the effect he was having on her.
He switched sides, his hands once again way too close for comfort. She gasped when he made his way down her thigh and his fingers touched the inside of her leg. She held her breath, willing him to move, but praying he wouldn’t. All too soon, his magical touch was working her calves, but that didn’t lessen her body’s response.
“Does that feel good?” he murmured and she almost orgasmed.
His hands moved to her feet. Her weakness, and he knew it.
“Can you feel this?” he asked, shattering the shell of the warm cocoon she’d been blanketed in.
“No,” she answered, stifling a cry. She knew he was tapping the bottom of her right foot, but she couldn’t feel it.
Mantis moved up her body, running his hand as he went, until it rested on her shoulder.
“Soon you will. I promise.”
They met back out front after they’d both showered and changed.
“What’s next?” she asked.
“How about a drive?”
“Where?”
“Tilley Ponds? It’s cold, but we don’t have to get out of the car.”
“Sounds perfect.” They’d taken walks around the cluster of ponds that were filled with lily pads in the spring, and ice skated on them when they were frozen. However, it probably wouldn’t be a good idea for her to try to ice skate.
“No skating, though.” He winked and smiled.
Had he read her mind? If so, had he known what she was thinking when he had his hands all over her body?
As he drove, her eyes drifted closed, and not because she was sleepy. Those hands, the sound of his voice, the way he’d hummed as he kneaded her flesh, never realizing he did it—made her lose her damn mind with memories of all the times it hadn’t ended with just a simple massage.
“Manon,” he whispered. “Look at me, baby.”
Could she even open her eyes? Mantis had just ravaged her body again and again and again, bringing her to one mind-blowing orgasm after another.
As she lay there, trying to catch her breath, trying to put the fires out in all the cells of her body that felt like there were still fireworks going off inside of them, Mantis ran his fingers over every inch of her body.
“Flygirl,” he whispered, tickling her ear with the cool air of his breath. “Look at me.”
She stretched from her fingers to her toes, sighed happily, and opened her eyes to look into his beautiful blue ones.
“What you do to me,” she murmured with a smile she couldn’t help. “God, I feel so good.”
His finger drew a circle around her nipple, bringing it back to a hardened nub and making her moan all over again. “So good? Is that what you said?”
“Mmm hmm.”
“What about loved, Manon? Do you feel loved?”
She put her hand on his and looked into his eyes. “I do.”
“That’s good,” he murmured, bringing his tongue to her nipple where his fingers still teased. “Because I love you, Manon—with all my heart, my fingers, my lips, my tongue, all of my body, but most importantly—with my soul.” He parted her legs with his knee and with a quick thrust, they became one.
“I love you, Mantis,” she said, arching her back, feeling him go deeper, like he was in her soul too.
“Where’d you go just now, baby?” he asked in a voice as soft and sweet and hot and fiery as the sex she’d been daydreaming about had always been between them.
She opened her eyes, but didn’t look at him. She couldn’t, not without him knowing exactly what she’d been thinking about and how much she wanted to be with him like that—right this minute.
Chapter 15
Dutch
“You’ll be meeting with Mohamed Abdullahi,” Doc told him.
He recognized the name. The current president of Somalia, known as “Hermeja,” had immigrated to the States and had worked as a civil servant in Upstate New York. He’d earned degrees in history and political science, all the while determined to one day return to his homeland. Some said he purchased his victory as president, funded by “organizations” anxious to further democracy in the small nation. Regardless, his anti-corruption platform resulted in a surprising win.
“Who else am I meeting with?”
“Ahmed Umar, the head of al-Shabaab.”
Dutch knew enough not to bother asking. There was no way Abdullahi and Umar would ever be in the same room at the same time.
“When do I leave?”
“Tomorrow, but you’ll stop at Ramstein first.”
The base in southwestern Germany served as headquarters for the United States Air Force in Europe and also for NATO Allied Air Command, also known as AIRCOM. If he was stopping there, it meant that the war in Somalia had escalated enough that NATO was about to get involved.
He put his feet up on the coffee table that sat in front of the sofa in his hotel suite. He was up for the challenges of this op, probably the most important of his career. Like Mantis’ mission in Afghanistan, when he got to the other side of it, no one would know it had even happened, and that was okay.
The politicians of the world could take credit for the things he and his K19 partners made happen all day long. He wasn’t in it for the glory; he was in it to save the goddamn world.
Not everyone understood what drove men like him. There were probably a lot of people who believed he’d gone to the Air Force Academy because it was an easy road to a career. Nothing could’ve been further from the truth, both in why he’d done it and in its perceived ease. Nothing he’d done since the day he arrived in Colorado until where he found himself today, had been easy. Most of it had been gut-wrenchingly, heart-poundingly, soul-numbingly hard.
Like his grandfather and father before h
im, Thomas “Dutch” Miller had been brought up knowing freedom wasn’t free. The kind of life most took for granted was hard won, at the cost of hundreds and thousands of soldiers and their families who had given the ultimate sacrifice.
If he ever had a son or daughter, he’d want them to understand that it wasn’t just their duty to serve their country; there was no greater honor.
He picked up the bottle of whiskey and glass that sat in front of him and poured his second shot of the night. As it burned all the way down his throat, he wondered where Mantis and Alegria were tonight.
Were they rediscovering all the things that made them fall in love with each other in the first place? He closed his eyes and imagined the two of them together. Sure, it hurt like hell, but at the same time, he felt a sense of honor in doing what he believed was the right thing, no matter what his own personal sacrifice might’ve been.
“Here’s to you and the life I hope you build together,” he said, raising his glass to the two imaginary friends standing in front of him. “I hope you both know how much I love you.”
Chapter 16
Mantis and Alegria
The shower Mantis took was ice cold, not that it did anything to tame the erection he’d had since Alegria had climbed up on the massage table. It had gotten worse when he knew she was as affected by his hands on her as he was.
He held his gym bag in front of him as they walked to the car, but once they got inside, he didn’t know what to do. Even in jeans, she’d be able to see the clear outline of how much he wanted her.
He closed his eyes and thought of the only thing that might tamp him down—Dutch.
The idea of betraying his friend squashed any thought he’d had of Alegria naked. He got in the car, repeating Dutch’s name in his head over and over to the point where he was afraid he might say it out loud.
“Are you okay?”
“Fine. Why?”
“I don’t know. You’re moving weird. Did you hurt yourself too?”
“Nope,” he said, looking out the driver’s side window.
“I could always give you a massage when we get back to the house.”
When Mantis groaned, Alegria giggled. She was teasing him.
“I’ll get you back for that, Flygirl.”
She just laughed.
“Where have you two been all afternoon?” his mother asked when they walked in the front door.
“Tilley Ponds and then down to East Shippan.”
“Brr.”
“We didn’t get out of the car,” Alegria told her.
“There they are,” said his dad, coming up from the basement. “Ready for dinner?”
“We thought we’d go to Sonny’s,” said his mother.
“I love Sonny’s,” Alegria said, practically swooning.
“Let’s go, then.”
“Hang on, Kip. Maybe they need to shower and change or something.”
“We’re good,” said Mantis, doing his best not to picture Alegria with the warm water of a shower trickling down her naked body.
“Yeah, we’re good,” she said too, looking straight at him.
Was he imagining the heat in her eyes because he wanted to see it there so badly, or was she having the same thoughts he was?
“Have you heard from Dutch?” Mantis asked Alegria on their way to the restaurant.
“I was going to ask you the same thing.”
“I haven’t,” he told her and then looked away. Was it because he was traveling and couldn’t get in touch, or was it because he was intentionally staying quiet?
“I left a message and sent a text,” he heard her murmur.
“We can check with Doc,” he suggested.
Alegria nodded.
“I was thinking we could fly tomorrow.”
Alegria turned her body toward his. “Is the plane still here?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
“Right. Maybe we should ask Doc when he wants it back on the West Coast.”
He had already, and the answer Doc gave him still perplexed him. He told Mantis that the plane would stay in Westchester as long as he needed it. If he owned a two-million-dollar jet as nice as the SF50, he wouldn’t want it out of his sight.
“As long as it’s here…”
“We’ll work through some maneuvers.”
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“Off the books.”
“Mantis…”
“The SF50 has yaw stability augmentation built into the flight control system. We can override it by using the rudder pedals, but it shouldn’t be necessary.”
“And if it is, you can take over.”
Mantis nodded. “That’s right.”
“Okay.”
He wished she sounded excited rather than trepidatious. Maybe being on the controls tomorrow would help her attitude.
Since it had started snowing, his dad pulled up to the front entrance of the restaurant to let his mother and Alegria out. Mantis volunteered to walk in with him.
“We’ll order appetizers, Kip,” his mother said before she closed the car door behind her.
“I wonder where she thinks I’ll have to park,” said his father, circling the parking lot, looking for an empty spot. “Here we go,” he said when he saw someone backing out.
“What did you want to talk to me about?” his dad asked as they both climbed out of the car.
“Dutch.”
—:—
“I’m famished,” said Minnie when they were seated at their table. “What sounds good?”
Alegria laughed. “Everything. I’ve missed this place.”
Minnie set her menu on the table. “Is that all you’ve missed?”
“That isn’t fair,” she murmured. “It was his choice.”
“Biggest mistake of his life.”
“I don’t disagree, but it doesn’t change the fact that he made it, and now we both have to live with it.”
“What if he’s changed his mind?” Minnie asked.
“Would it make a difference?”
When Mantis approached the table with his father and sat next to her, his knee brushed against hers, sending a jolt of electricity coursing through her body.
She moved her chair but giggled when he did too. “You’re incorrigible.”
“I am that.”
“He takes after his father,” said Minnie, winking.
When Kip put his arm around Minnie’s shoulders and leaned in to kiss her cheek, Alegria was reminded how she and Mantis used to have the same easy affection. Dutch tried, but it just wasn’t the same. Her eyes met Mantis’, and he winked like his mother had.
She closed her lids momentarily, wishing she could wipe the memory of how they used to be together from her brain.
When he rested his palm on her knee, she thought about brushing it away, but the comfort of having it there felt too good. Instead, she put her hand on top of his. Too soon, the warmth of his touch was gone, and in its place, a chill spread throughout her body.
Willing him to put his hand back wasn’t going to work any better than sitting there, wishing he’d tell her he’d made a terrible mistake or beg her to forgive him.
He wouldn’t do any of those things in front of his parents, except maybe put his hand back on her leg, but he didn’t do that either.
“Did I hear you say you’re flying tomorrow?” Kip asked.
“That’s the plan.”
He pointed toward the window. “Better check flight conditions before you head to the airfield. It doesn’t look good.”
Alegria followed Kip’s gaze and saw it looked like a blizzard had started since they’d come inside.
“Maybe we should get our order to go,” suggested Minnie.
Judging by how quickly the snow was falling, Alegria agreed. Looking around the restaurant, many of the other diners had the same idea.
“I don’t remember seeing this weather in the forecast,” said Kip.
If she were cleared to fly, Alegria w
ould have been keeping track of changes in weather every fifteen minutes, but since she’d been grounded, she got out of the habit of checking.
What othe Whatever you think is r skills had she let lapse in the time since she’d been shot? When she finally got medical clearance, she’d be weeks behind where she’d been, rusty, and out of tune, like a guitar. Was it even worth trying, or was it time she gave up flying altogether?
“What do you think of that idea, Alegria?” she heard Minnie ask. She’d been lost in thought and hadn’t realized anyone was talking to her.
“I’m sorry. What was the question?” She looked first at Minnie, then at Kip, and finally at Mantis.
“My mother asked if you’d like to leave now or wait for the food,” he murmured. He had his elbow on the table and was running his finger back and forth over his lips while he waited for her answer.
“Whatever you think is best.” She tried not to look at Mantis any more than she had to. It was like he was reading her mind and didn’t like what he saw in it.
“Mrs. Cassman, Chef will have your food ready in about five minutes,” said the waiter. “Sir,” he said, addressing Kip, “you might want to bring the car to the door.”
“I’ll handle it,” answered Mantis, holding out his hand for his father’s keys.
“I’ll come with you,” offered Alegria.
Mantis put his hand on her shoulder when she went to stand, and leaned down. “I can’t risk you getting hurt, Flygirl,” he whispered.
She felt the heat spread from somewhere in her torso, up her neck, and to her cheeks as she nodded in agreement. If this was the way she felt after being with Mantis less than twenty-four hours, how would she feel after they’d spend days together?
Mantis pulled the car up, but moved to the back seat so his father could drive them home.
All she wanted to do was lean over and put her head on his shoulder or take his hand. But she couldn’t. Not until she ended things with Dutch. As soon as she was able to speak with him privately, she had to tell him things were over between them. The feelings she had for Mantis were far too strong to do anything else.
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