by Lea Hart
“I like the sound of that.”
She pushed him back and filled her hand with soap. “Give me some room so I can get cleaned up.”
Scooping the bath gel out of her hand, he ran his hands over her body. “Allow me.” When she trembled under his touch, he grinned with satisfaction. “I’m going to make you come a couple of times so that when we sit down to discuss our relationship, you’ll think well of me.”
“Unfair tactical advantage.”
Sliding his hands between her legs, he felt her hands grip his arm. “I’ll do whatever is necessary.” Her hips moved against his hand, and he knew he was doing the right thing not only because he wanted her happy and satisfied, but because he needed as much of an advantage as he could get when he laid out his plans.
Her body trembled as he strummed her clit, and she gave in to the pleasure, calling out his name. “One down, two more to go,” he muttered as he dropped to his knees and lapped up her honey. Who was the boss of who?
The doorbell rang, and Frisco padded down the stairs and opened the door. Dinner had arrived. “Thanks, man.” He dug money out of his wallet and handed it to the kid and then took the extra-large pizza out of his hands.
“No problem.” He gave a salute and then walked back to his car.
Heading back into the house, he walked into the kitchen, slid the box onto the counter, and then grabbed a couple of waters out of the fridge. Heading back upstairs, he wondered if Brooke was ready to wake up. Apparently, three orgasms in a row was her limit, because right after she came with him buried inside her, she passed out.
Was he satisfied with himself?
Absolutely.
Did he have plans to do it again?”
Of course.
He walked into the bedroom and almost tripped when he caught sight of the blissful smile Brooke was giving him.
Got him every time.
“Hi, honey. Did you have a good nap?”
She pushed her hair over her shoulder and nodded. “Yes.”
“Ready for pizza?”
Pushing the sheet off her body, she moved to the edge of the bed and put her feet on the floor. “Absolutely. I’m starving.”
“Don’t get up, I’ll bring it up, and we can eat in bed.” He walked over and handed her the bottle of water, then kissed her head. “Be right back.”
Another delighted smile hit him, and he walked backward toward the door. “Don’t go anywhere.”
“All right.”
Satisfied she was going to stay put, he turned around and headed back to the kitchen. If he could keep her in bed while they talked, it would be much easier to do what he had to if the discussion started to go south. Not that he expected it to, but he was a man who liked to be prepared, so being able to love on her if she got irritated seemed like a good strategy.
They had demolished almost all the pizza, and Frisco felt like he’d done everything he could to ensure she was in a good frame of mind, which meant now was the time for talking. “What is your biggest objection to having a relationship with me?”
Her eyes flew up, and she scrunched her nose. “We’re starting with that?”
“Yes, let’s get the hard stuff out of the way first.”
“Well…I guess I’d say your job.”
“Because of your dad or for some other reason?”
“I know what it takes to be in a relationship with a SEAL, and I’m not sure if I have the skills to have a successful one.”
“That’s fair. I get the long separations and constant worry would be difficult and it’s certainly not for everyone. For every successful marriage, there is an unsuccessful one, and I’m sure stress is a huge contributing factor to the ones that don’t make it.”
“I saw my mom constantly sacrifice because my dad was never around. She did the heavy lifting when it came to our family life, and that’s not something I want. If I’m going to be in a relationship with someone, I want them to be around. Otherwise, why bother?”
“Makes sense. I think that’s why a lot of SEALs don’t get involved.”
“I think a lot has changed for you guys over the last ten or fifteen years because you’re in constant demand. I know my dad’s career changed dramatically after 9/11. He went from maybe a half a dozen direct actions a year to a half-dozen a month, and I bet you have one almost daily when you’re deployed.”
“That’s pretty accurate and leads me to my next question. What if I wasn’t on the Teams for very much longer?”
Crossing her legs, she shook her head. “You’re not ready to retire.”
“Maybe I am. I have another eight months on my current commitment, and I’m considering not re-upping.”
“Why?”
“The mind and body hold out for only so long, and I’m getting to the end of my peak performance. As you pointed out earlier, we’re almost constantly engaged in direct action missions of some sort, and after eleven years, I’m no longer operating at full capacity.”
Shaking her head, she twisted her hands together. “I doubt that.”
“It’s true. I’d rather go out at the top of my game than stay too long and make my team members pick up the slack.”
“Were you considering this before you met me?”
“Honestly?”
“Yes, Frisco. Full disclosure.”
“Not really. But the idea of us has given me all kinds of thoughts I never thought were possible. All of a sudden, I see a future outside of being on the Teams, and honestly, it’s pretty damn exciting.”
“What does that future look like?’
“Us getting hitched and starting a family.”
She pressed her hand to her heart. “Hitched as in marriage?”
“Yes, Brooke. Hitch our lives, our hearts, and our futures together.”
“I didn’t see that coming.”
He moved the pizza box off the bed and scooted closer, taking her hands. “Then you weren’t paying attention.”
“Hitched?”
“Yes, forever.”
“I think we should get to know one another beyond the bedroom and see if it’s a possibility.”
“That’s all I ask.”
Throwing her head back, she let out a disbelieving laugh. “No, it’s not. You’re going to ask for everything and not be satisfied until you get it.”
“True.” He pulled her into his lap and kissed her head. Running his hand up and down her arm, he breathed in the satisfaction of knowing he’d cleared the first hurdle. There were a hundred more to go, but he didn’t care, because they were going to do it together.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Friday, October 20th
Douala Airport, Cameroon
Brooke pushed the plate of Ndole away and shook her head. “I just can’t do it.” Wiping her mouth with a napkin, she then took a slug of her Coke and shuddered. “I know it’s the national dish, but spinach stew is not my idea of deliciousness.”
Shrugging, Frisco pulled the plate toward him and ate. “At least it has crawfish and shrimp.”
“I miss McDonald’s.”
“Honey, we’ve only been gone for twenty hours. How are you going to make it a week in Chad without your beloved cheeseburgers?”
“That’s something I don’t want to think about.” She rested her face in her hands, looked around the small airport, and sighed. “Did you know that Bosnia-Herzegovina has three?”
He patted her hand. “I didn’t.”
Letting out another long sigh, she dug a Cliff bar out of her bag and unwrapped it. “Yeah, Kuwait has seventy-five.”
“I guess we’ll have to make sure there’s one available the next time we make travel plans.”
She took a big bite of her protein bar and chewed slowly. “I’ve traveled almost constantly since I graduated college; I don’t know why I’m getting all nostalgic so early on.”
“Maybe your traveling days are over for a while, and it’s time to stick close to home.”
“Maybe.”
“Since we have a two-hour layover, I think now is the perfect time to start on the questions I brought with me, so we can get to know one another better.”
Wrapping up her Cliff bar, she shoved it back in her bag. “Okay, hit me with the first one.”
Pitching his plate into the nearby trash, he then opened his backpack and pulled out two crumpled sheets of paper. Smoothing his hands over them, he cleared his throat. “First one: How early do you like to arrive at the airport before a flight?”
Quirking her head, she gave him a questioning look. “This seems like a weird question.”
“I know, but it’s something that can cause tension if we have two totally different ideas about it.”
“Okay, I guess I like to arrive two hours before a flight, which hopefully is enough time to clear security, go potty, buy a magazine, and get something to drink.”
He nodded and then grinned. “I can live with that.”
Wiping her brow dramatically, she pretended to fall over. “Thank God. If we broke up in the Douala airport in Cameroon, I might never recover from the heartbreak.”
“Smart-ass.”
Pulling one of the papers, she lifted it and read, “How often do you like to visit your family?”
Looking over her shoulder, he stared off into space and then answered. “I like to get up to see my mom and sister at least twice a year. My dad took off when I was ten, and I haven’t heard from him since.”
Sucking in a breath, Brooke took his hand and linked their fingers. “I’m sorry, that must’ve been really hard.”
“Yeah, it wasn’t a fun time, and honestly, for a long time, I wondered if I would do something similar.”
“Why?”
“Because no one ever captured my attention, and all I was ever interested in was naked fun. I thought maybe it was a genetic thing and the Jones men had no sticking power.”
“And now?”
He let out a wry laugh. “Now I know I was just waiting for you, because from the moment I saw you, all I wanted to do was stick to you good and hard.”
“Sweet talker.”
He moved his chair closer and waggled his eyebrows. “I’ve only just gotten started.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.”
“Okay, your turn: How often do you want to see your family?”
“Well, if we’re talking about Chance, then the answer would be every day. If we’re talking about my dad, then I’d say…I have no idea. He’s been stopping by every few days with some excuse or another, and I have a feeling he’s determined to break through my indifference.”
“And how do you feel about it?”
“Not sure yet.”
“Fair enough.” He pulled the paper back and ran his finger down the list. “Here is a good one: How do we handle job relocation?”
“I’m planning on staying in San Diego for at least a couple of years. Piper and I are working on putting a mobile medical clinic together and traveling to low-income areas and offering care.”
“That’s a great idea, honey. It sounds perfect for you two.”
“We’ve been talking about it for years, and it seems the time is right to get the project off the ground.”
“I have a bunch of options for my second career, and when I get closer to retirement, I think we should figure out what works for us.”
“What appeals to you most?”
“I can’t answer that question yet, because there are positives with each option. I can stay on and become an instructor for a year or two, go work for Max at SAI, or sign on with your dad and go into the private military contracting business.”
“You may want to sign on again with the Navy, so don’t rule that out.”
“You trying to get rid of me?”
“No, I just got you, so I’m going to hold on for a while until you start irritating me.” When his fingers dug into her sides and he started tickling her, she shrieked and moved away. “Stop.”
Several people looked their way, and Frisco finally stopped. Catching her breath, she gave him a disgruntled look. “I didn’t say you had to start today.”
Pulling her into his arms, he laid a big kiss on her until she melted into him. When he finally released her mouth, he grinned. “Kissed it better.”
Pushing at his shoulder, she then sat back. “Ask your next question.”
Lifting the paper dramatically, he studied it. “How do we handle relationships with the opposite sex?”
“I’m interested to hear your answer on this one because you’ve been acting a little like a caveman, and I’d like to know how far that thinking goes.”
“First off, I trust you implicitly. No questions asked. What I don’t trust is other men and their ability to control themselves around you.”
“You realize it’s never been an issue in my life.” Running her hand over her hair, she cut her gaze sideways. “I’m not a woman who has inspired uncontrolled lust in men.”
Crossing his arms, he let his eyes move up and down her slowly. “Yeah, I’m going to call bullshit on that one.”
“It’s true.”
“I’ve had nothing but uncontrolled lustful thoughts since I saw your picture on Carrick’s tablet, and I know that I can’t be the only one who has felt that way.”
“Agree to disagree.”
“I’m probably going to go full caveman on you if I think a man is making a play for your attention, because I protect what’s mine. If I do it, it’s no reflection on you and your character, but my way of making sure no one gets too close to my woman.”
“Next time I go to Balboa Park and visit the Natural History Museum, I’m going to see if they have a picture of you next to the Neanderthal display.”
Giving her a dismissive shrug, he grinned. “If they don’t, maybe you can tape one up.”
“I’ll be sure to do that. And to answer the question, I don’t have a problem with you being friends with women.”
“What if someone is rubbing up on me, trying to give me a smooch?”
“If you don’t end it quickly, then we have nothing to discuss, because it’s up to you to let someone know that you’re taken and unavailable for random rubs and smooches.”
“Not going to be a problem, ’cause I have no interest in any woman other than the one in front of me.”
Taking his hand, she laced their fingers together. “But you’ll tell me if that changes, won’t you?” Feeling her gut clench, she looked up. “Please don’t string me out or make a fool of me if your feelings disappear. I can take the truth, but I couldn’t take lying or indifference.”
He raised their joined hands and kissed her fingers. “Not going to happen, because you’re the one I’ve been waiting for.”
“I believe the same is true for me, because now that you’re here, you fit.”
“I knew if I stuck around long enough, you’d figure that out.” Standing, he stretched and then held out his hand. “Let’s go walk around before we have to get back on the plane.”
Taking his hand, she stood. “Sounds good.” Lifting her backpack, she was about to swing it over her shoulder when Frisco took it out of her hand. “What are you doing?”
“The same thing I’ve been doing since we left San Diego, carrying my woman’s bag.” Giving a smirk, he shouldered his own duffel and took her hand. “Follow me.”
“You are all kinds of bossy today.” Walking next to him, she felt a certain amount of ease that she hadn’t remembered having before unless she was traveling with a group from MSF or the UN. Because she knew he was on alert and had five different plans at the ready should something happen, she found herself relaxing. “Ask me another question.”
“How many kids are you willing to give me?”
Stopping abruptly, she looked up. “That wasn’t on the list of questions.”
“I know it said something about fertility, and I decided to get to the point and ask what I really wanted to know.”
“How many do you want
?”
“It’s not up to me since I’m not going to be carrying them in my body for nine months and then spitting them out like a watermelon.” He ran his hand over her stomach and grinned. “I’ll put as many as you want in you, but you have to decide on the number.”
“Two.” She watched his shoulders drop as a look of disappointment crossed his face. “Just tell me your number.”
“Five.”
“Three and that’s my final offer.”
“I’ll take it.” He bent down and kissed her as people streamed around them. “Want to get started by joining the mile-high club?”
“Uh…no, thanks. You’re six-foot-two and well over two hundred pounds, and I’m five seven and…never mind how much I weigh. The point is, we won’t fit, and I don’t want any of my body parts touching any of the surfaces.”
“Okay. We can wait until we get to Chad.”
“Practicing, that’s all we’re doing.” She let go of his hand and walked over to a large, open glass door that was overlooking the runways and looked out at the planes. He dropped their bags next to his feet and circled his arms around her waist. “We may not end up liking each other after this trip, or next month or two months from now, so maybe we shouldn’t hit all the heavy subjects right away.”
“We’re going to make it, Brooke. No doubt in my mind, and finding out about one another is going to ensure that when we get there, we’re going to know what we’re getting into. I’ve developed some serious feelings for you in the span of a month, so I know it’s only going to get more intense as time moves on.”
“What if you discover something that’s a deal breaker?”
“I don’t have one with you. There is not one thing that you could do that would make my feelings cease to exist.”
“What if I’m not so lucky next time and my leukemia relapses?”
“Then we kick its ass, and by the way, no more of that bullshit pulling away from me either. You almost made me believe that’s what you wanted, but it won’t happen again.” He tightened his hold and kissed her head. “I’m on to you now, so you can’t fool me again.”
“Not sure how I feel about that.”