The whomp-whomp of a helicopter’s blades sounded in the distance. She glanced toward the man who appeared to be in charge of this mission, waiting for his decision. Not until he nodded, did she allow another tremor to shake her.
And then Wiley’s arm was around her waist, and he pulled her against his side. “We’ll get you cleaned up before we fly to Key West,” he said, as he looked down at her.
She gave him a shaky smile and leaned into him. Only then did she allow her tears of relief to fall.
Wiley returned with clothing—uniform pants, a tee, and a pair of flip-flops that would all be too large—and set them on the bed of the hut back at Charter’s jungle camp. As soon as she was cleaned up, they’d fly to Key West.
Teague had just gotten off the phone with her father who wasn’t the least bit happy about her stubborn request. But he’d relayed his thanks to the team for saving his little girl.
After he’d hung up, Teague shot him a hard look. “Be sure of what you want, Coyote. That girl’s been through hell. Don’t give her another reason to cry.”
Teague’s words surprised Wiley because the man was always all business. He’d been spared a reply by Deke entering the command room and demanding an encrypted line to make his report to Charter HQ back in Dallas.
Wiley had showered in the barracks and changed into street clothes—jeans and a Hawaiian shirt Jax had produced.
His buddy had laughed at his expression as he’d handed it to him. “Suppose your cover’s already broken, but at least we’ll all get a smile watching your ass.”
Wiley grinned as he glanced down at the loud blue shirt with large red flowers plastered over it.
The bathroom door opened. Steam poured out. Poppy glanced up, her eyes widening beneath the white towel she’d wrapped around her wet hair. Another towel hid her pretty body. “Hi, there,” she said, her gaze falling to his clothing. “Nice shirt.” The corners of her mouth twitched.
His gaze went to the fresh bandage on her neck. “You okay?”
She nodded. “Did your friends collect blood samples from that bastard who held me?” She wrinkled her nose. “Bad enough just standing close to him. I’d hate to know I caught something from him.”
Wiley nodded. “You’ll know if you’re safe in a couple of days.”
Her gaze dropped. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think when I asked to rejoin the ship about how much bother accommodating my request would be for you and your people.”
“The job is what we were paid to do. No one minds, Poppy.” And I’m glad I’ll have more time with you. He hoped like hell part of her reason for being so adamant had something to do with him, too.
Glancing toward the clothes on the bed, she let out a sigh. “I suppose I should dress. Everyone must be waiting on me.”
“You have time,” he said, hating that he couldn’t say what he wanted to. That he was afraid to say. Fear had always been something he’d pushed past and used to stay focused. But here, now, with the awkward silence expanding between them, he didn’t know what to say.
Poppy drew a deep breath, and then tugged at the top of her towel. It pooled at her feet, exposing her lush curves. His gaze traveled from her toes, paused on her breasts, then moved upward. He wasn’t sure what was going on behind her those pretty blues, but his body tensed. Blood surged into his groin. “Poppy?”
She swallowed hard. “I know I’m not safe. Not until we get the results from the blood test, but we could do something, right?” A blush filled her cheeks. “I need you.”
Relief rushed through him. “Fuck the blood test, Poppy,” he said, rising and moving toward her. “I have to be inside you,” he blurted. Warmth spilled into his cheeks that those were the first words out of his mouth.
She didn’t seem to mind. Smiling, she pulled the towel from her head and shook out her wet hair.
Unable to stop himself, he reached for her and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against his body.
“Not fair. I’ll wait,” she said, sounding breathless.
He didn’t want to let her go, so he bent and lifted her, turned toward the bed and laid her across it before he toed off his boots and shrugged out of his clothing. Moments later, he lowered himself over her, careful not jostle her, because he’d seen the bruises and was aware of the injury to her neck. Plus Teague had warned him against making her cry.
She opened to him—holding out her arms, widening her legs. “Condom?” she asked the moment his cock pressed against her belly.
He gave a sharp shake of his head. “Whatever happens, baby. I’m in with you. All the way.” He lifted his hips, centered the tip of his cock between her folds, and pushed.
They both groaned deeply as he sank inside. Slick heat surrounded him. When he was all the way there, his cock touching her cervix, only then did he halt, rising, braced on one arm as he caressed her cheek. “Before we kiss…” he whispered.
“You keep saying that,” she said, a smile curving her mouth.
“Fair warning,” he growled. “I more than like you.”
“More than like?” she said, in a teasing tone, and tilted her head.
His muscles tightened and he closed his eyes. “I nearly came unglued when they took you, baby. Nearly fucking lost my mind.”
She cupped both sides of his face. Her smile was wide, but tears glistened in her eyes. “I knew you’d come. I had faith. In you. In this,” she said, lifting her head to press a quick kiss against his mouth. When she lowered her head, her smile dimmed. “This is real, isn’t it?”
“Poppy, I’ve never felt like this. Never had my thoughts filled with a woman. Never thought about a future. I’ve lived out of a duffel bag for so long, I’m not sure I know any other kind of life.”
Her smile deepened. “And I won’t ask you to change. I have my own work. My own life that’s pretty damn full. But if we can carve out time for us. Be each other’s harbor in a storm—I’m in, Wiley.”
Relief was quick. She wanted more time. Wanted this as much as he did. He cleared his throat. “Baby, if you haven’t noticed, I’m already in.”
She laughed and flashed her gaze toward the door. “Think they know what we’re doing?”
No, please don’t stop me now. He arched a brow. “Do you care?”
“I think…it makes me hot…” Pink rose in her cheeks.
His cock hardened more. Painfully so. Wiley shook his head and began moving, sliding with deliberate slowness through her tight sheath. “Hope you know you’re not leaving your cabin until we get to Miami.”
A slim shoulder shrugged. “I’ll need to check out their room service anyway.”
“Damn, I like the way you think.” He leaned down to take her sassy mouth, silencing them both. The time for talking had ended.
He thrust inside her, reveling in the sensation of her slick heat surrounding him, loving the way her features screwed tight. His chest ached she was so beautiful. He’d feared they’d never have a moment like this again. When her head tilted back, he arrested her orgasm by sliding free.
Her glare didn’t bother him, and he hid his chuckle at the outrage in her blue eyes. He turned her body, guiding her until she faced away, braced on her hands and knees. When he entered her again, her back sank, letting him snuggle closer to her round, soft bottom.
Letting her body steady his, he reached beneath her, one hand clasping a breast, the other sliding over her belly. He touched a fingertip to her hard clit, then began moving again. This time with urgency. He heard her raspy moan and saw her fists bunch the sheets. As his thrusts gathered strength, he silently promised that he’d give her pleasure and keep her safe. That he’d be there through every storm. He’d dry her tears and give her reasons to smile. He’d give her a house and babies. Anything and everything she needed to be happy. If only she’d let him have this—her sharing a bed and her life. Always.
Epilogue
‡
Wiley stood in line, waiting for the dining room to open. Once again, they�
��d be seated at the captain’s table. They’d rejoined the cruise after the ship docked at Key West. Upon arrival, they’d passed passengers eager to disembark and explore the island. Silver heads had turned and happy smiles and waves followed them as they headed into the ship.
Wiley grunted. They were the ship’s newest celebrities. He watched as Poppy was surrounded and cell phones were raised. Everyone wanted their picture taken with her, but they were respectful of his reasons for not participating. He didn’t really mind that his woman had been again abducted from his side, this time by gleeful septuagenarians, eager to post pictures on Facebook for their grandchildren to see.
Joe bumped his shoulder against Wiley’s. “You’re marrying her, right?”
“I will if you’ll be a groomsman. Have to ask her first, though.”
Shaking his head, Joe grinned. “What’s taking you so long?”
Wiley chuckled. “The fact we only met a couple of days ago, and I have yet to meet her daddy.”
“Yeah, I bet he won’t be so happy.” Joe lowered his eyebrows. “Maybe you should elope.”
The idea of them all dashing to the nearest wedding chapel made him laugh.
Poppy must have heard, because she turned and gave him a blazing smile, and then gently disengaged herself from her new fans and strolled toward him.
Wiley stood straighter the closer she came. Her silky red dress and determined expression were all business. He tucked a finger into the collar of his shirt which had just tightened around his neck.
“Yeah, better elope,” Joe murmured. “And fast. That one’s trouble.”
The exact kind of trouble he wanted in his life. Wiley opened his arms when Poppy drew near and pulled her against his chest.
She stood on tiptoe and smiled into his face. “One more night…”
Wiley glanced into the dining room before giving her steady look. “You really that hungry?”
Her eyes flared. She kissed his mouth, and then settled down on her heels. “Have something else in mind?”
Wiley met Joe’s gaze and raised an eyebrow.
Waving a hand to shoo them away, Joe nodded. “I’ll give the captain your regrets. Don’t think he’ll be surprised.”
Laughing, Wiley grabbed Poppy’s hand and they headed to the elevator.
Only he didn’t take her straight back to their rooms. He really just wanted to spend more time with her alone, in the open air. They strolled around the upper deck, the stars above them, moonlight flickering on the crests of the waves. Not another vessel was in sight in the big ocean surrounding them. A warm breeze ruffled their hair and skittered along their skin.
He stopped and reeled her near, wrapping his arms loosely around her back. This close her warmth and lush curves molded against him. Her scent, a mixture of flowers and orange, surrounded him. Poppy was everything he’d never known he needed. But would rushing her off her feet be fair? “You sure you want to move this fast? I’m willing to take this relationship slow.”
Her gaze narrowed. “You getting cold feet?”
Unable to resist, he kissed the tip of her nose. “I got some advice tonight.”
“Oh? From Joe? I saw you two, thick as thieves. Did he tell you something about shipboard romances not lasting?”
“No.” He glanced up at the moon then took his courage in both hands. “No, he said we should elope.”
First, her eyes shot wide then Poppy laughed, the sound like tinkling bells. When she quieted, she ducked her head and walked her fingertips up his chest. “And what did you say?”
“That we haven’t known each other long. Doing that would be crazy, wouldn’t it?” He held still, his heart hammering his chest. Had he misread her intentions? Was he the only one who’d fallen hard?
“Are you asking me to marry you?” she whispered, her eyes luminous.
“Only if marriage doesn’t scare you.”
“And if it does?”
She was toying with his shirt collar. Was she avoiding meeting his eyes? “Then I’d ask you to allow me the time to court you. Properly. At least you’ll know my intentions. That I’m in.” He swallowed hard, suddenly realizing the importance of her answer. “All in, baby.”
Poppy lifted her face. Tears gleamed in her eyes. “I don’t want to wait. And I don’t need a courtship. I don’t want this thing between us to slip away. I don’t want you to slip away.”
At the relief flooding his body, Wiley groaned and hugged her closer. “I’m not going anywhere,” he whispered against her hair. “I would never abandon you. I love you.”
Her chest expanded, and again, she stood on tiptoe to look directly into his eyes. “I love you, too,” she said, her voice clear and strong.
He kissed her, knowing he held his chance at happiness in his arms. Maybe he was selfish. He had little to offer her other than a generous bank account he’d built, because he’d never spent the money he’d earned acquiring things. But he’d give her whatever she wanted. Whatever she needed to be happy. “Then let’s do this.”
“When?”
“Tomorrow?” Now that he’d received her agreement, he wanted their future to start right now.
Her eyes widened. “Daddy will be livid when we ditch the team who are meeting us at the docks.”
Wiley waggled his eyebrows. “That team will be comprised of my friends. If I tell them we’re changing our destination, they won’t bat an eyelash.”
A smile played on her lips. “Where will we go?”
“Does it matter?”
“So long as the justice of the peace doesn’t have long sideburns and sing ‘hunka hunka burning love’—I don’t care.” She squealed and leaped against his chest. “We’re getting married!”
A gravely throat cleared behind them.
Wiley turned with Poppy still held against his chest to spot the three old marines and Captain Lundt standing a few feet away.
The captain’s lips were crimped like he was trying to hide a smile. “If I may offer a suggestion. We’re in International Waters…”
The three old men broke into broad grins. Sly’s smile glowed in the dark.
Wiley began laughing.
“What?” Poppy asked, confusion clouding her expression as she glanced among the men.
Relaxing his hold, Wiley set her on her feet. “Do you have anything white to wear?”
Her eyes grew large. “Now?”
“We’ve got plenty of witnesses,” he said, waving a hand toward his best men.
She glanced downward. “Red’s not exactly traditional…” When she looked up, tears were already tracking down her face.
His gut crimped. “If this isn’t what you wanted—”
Giving a head shake, she pressed a finger against his lips. “Shush. Before we kiss…again…I want you to be my husband.”
Wiley tucked her hand into the crook of his arm, and together they turned to face a growing crowd of smiling tourists.
An hour later, they knelt naked in the center of their bed, arms linked, preparing to share their flutes of champagne—compliments of Lieutenant General Shackleford.
“Can you believe it?” Poppy said, shaking her head. “Joe and Daddy are friends.”
“He asked Joe to keep an eye out for you during the cruise. Joe’s been feeding him intel—about us and our ‘blossoming romance’.”
They both smiled at the old man’s words.
“I invited Joe and his friends to be a part of the Soldiers’ Sanctuary cruise. I can’t think of any men who’d be more inspirational to our recovering warriors.”
“They said they’d miss us, but that they’re glad the next cruise will be a quiet one.”
Poppy lifted her chin. “To us.”
Wiley repeated the toast, and they shared their champagne, spilling just a little as they tilted their glasses.
When they’d finished their drinks, they lay facing each other. “I was serious, Wiley. I don’t expect you to give up your work.”
He reached up a f
inger to brush a stray lock of hair from her forehead. “I can ask for assignments closer to home.”
The hand stroking his shoulder paused. “And where will that be?”
His pulse kicked up a bit. “Wherever you are.”
Poppy wrinkled her nose. “My apartment in Silver Springs is awfully small.”
“Then we should look for a house. Something with a fenced yard.” He took a deep breath. “Somewhere kids can play.”
Her head tilted. “You want children?”
Her question contained such breathless joy, he vowed he’d do his best to make it happen that very night. “I want whatever makes you happy, Poppy.”
She scooted closer and pressed her palm against his erection. “I’ll want at least two. Think you’re up for it?”
Pushing against her hand, he raised a brow then leaned forward to nuzzle her irresistible neck. “What do you think?”
With a wide grin, she pushed him to his back and climbed over his hips, not stopping her movements until she’d taken every inch of him inside her. “I think we’re going to very, very busy.”
*
About Delilah Devlin
Delilah Devlin is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of erotica and sexy romance with a rapidly expanding reputation for writing deliciously edgy stories with complex characters. She has published over a hundred sixty erotic stories in multiple genres and lengths, and she is published by Atria/Strebor, Avon, Berkley, Black Lace, Cleis Press, Ellora’s Cave, Grand Central, Harlequin Spice, HarperCollins: Mischief, Kensington, Kindle, Kindle Worlds, Montlake Romance, Running Press, and Samhain Publishing.
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If you loved Before We Kiss, check out more of Delilah’s UNCHARTED SEALS series:
Before We Kiss (Uncharted SEALs Book 6) Page 7