SEALs of Summer: Military Romance Superbundle - Navy SEAL Style

by Sharon Hamilton

  “You okay?” he asked, spotting a chain of islands in the distance. Almost there.

  Darci lifted a pale face and frightened eyes. “I’m good, just a little shaken up. Don’t they know the motor is in the back of the boat?”

  Jack grinned. Gotta like her spunk.

  This time she didn’t sit up, just stayed ducked low. His maneuvers were working; the bullets were missing the motor. A couple pierced the hull, but otherwise they were good.

  “Jack, I see islands. And boats,” Darci cried, tugging on his leg. “We’re going to make it!”

  Looking ahead, Jack saw they were close to civilization. That was the good news. The bad: they were taking on water and losing speed. They weren’t going to make it to his boat.

  Heading toward the marina, he checked behind them to see their friends were giving up the chase and turning around. They obviously didn’t know this boat had taken on water. Finally, something in their favor.

  “Where are you going?” Darci squeezed his leg. “My villa’s right over there. You can see it from here. On that island right there. Jack!”

  He hated to do this to her but he had to get back to his sailboat. The bad guys may have turned around but they were going to be back and in full force. They had to be prepared for that. The only place Jack would be prepared was on his boat.

  They were slowing down now and only about halfway there. The motor sputtered. Wouldn’t be long before they had to ditch. They’d be swimming the last mile.

  “Jack. We’re slowing down. This isn’t good, is it?”

  Jack met her eyes as the motor coughed and died. The boat coasted to a stop and started to sink.

  “I’m sorry, sweetheart, but we’re going to have to swim to my boat.”

  Her eyes widened and filled with horror. She shook her head slowly back and forth. “No.”

  “Darling, we’re taking on water and in two minutes this boat is going to be on the bottom of the ocean. We don’t have any choice.” He gripped her shoulders.

  “You don’t understand.”

  “I do understand, but I know what kind of woman you are, and I know you can do this. I’m going to be right by your side and I’m a great swimmer.” He grinned. “You’re looking at the captain of the swim team and four time state champion.”

  “You were captain of the swim team?” Her gaze strayed to the water.

  “My mom’s the coach,” he admitted.

  “She taught you everything you know?”

  Jack smiled. “Yeah, and then some. She was an Olympic swimmer back in the day.”

  “Wow, that’s amazing.” She bit her lip. “You’ll be right by my side? The entire way?”

  “Promise. I can cross my heart if you wish. Scout’s honor.”

  “You were a Boy Scout?”

  “No, but I always wanted to be.”

  That earned a grin. “Okay, Jack, you win. It isn’t like I have a choice. But just so you know, I’m not a very good swimmer. My mom made me learn as a kid but I never got over my fear enough to become proficient.”

  “All I need is you in the water, babe. Ready?”

  She took a deep breath and nodded, her hand slipping into his with a tight grip. “Ready.”

  With a reassuring squeeze, Jack pulled her over the edge into the water.

  *

  Cool water engulfed her and for a moment Darci couldn’t move. She sank, lifeless, toward the bottom of the ocean. Old fears surfaced when her feet didn’t touch the bottom and her lungs started to burn. The water a thick, heavy blanket, suffocated her. Her arms floated outward as the weight of the water pushed her downward.

  Then an arm circled her waist and towed her upward. Helpless to assist, she laid limp until they broke the surface. Darci drew in a deep breath and coughed, managing to get her arms and legs working so she could tread water.

  “See? Piece of cake.” Jack held her by the waist. His hair stuck up in little wet spikes and water clung to his lashes. Darci looked into his warm, chocolate brown eyes and knew she’d be fine. He wouldn’t let her drown.

  “I can’t believe I’m actually in the water and still breathing.” She rested a hand on his shoulder. Muscle flexed beneath her grip.

  She lifted her eyes to meet his, her breath hitching when she saw his were now the color of dark chocolate and the gold flecks were more prominent. His arm tightened around her waist and floated her until she lay flush against him with all that hard muscle pressed intimately against her. It felt so good Darci moaned.

  “Jack…” she murmured, wanting him to kiss her. She’d never wanted anything more than to be kissed by those firm, sensual lips. His hands felt like fire against her bare skin and the water surrounding them only made it more sensual. Just as Jack lowered his head, something brushed against her foot.

  Darci screamed. “Something just touched my leg.” She pulled her legs up and tried to tread water at the same time. “Are there sharks this close to the islands?”

  “I doubt it. Probably fish. Come on, we better get moving.”

  Darci looked at him, then at the water. She didn’t like this one bit and the faster they got to his boat the better.

  “You got it.” She dove ahead, swimming to beat the band. She didn’t know what lurked down there and she didn’t want to find out.

  Jack fell in beside her, pacing her. His strokes were more fluid than hers. She tried to copy his movements, but he was stronger and more experienced so she stuck with what she knew and kept going.

  It didn’t take her long to get tired. The muscles in her legs and arms started burning and she struggled to keep up. Jack seemed unaffected by the exertion. Finally, she had to stop. Her strokes slowed until she dog paddled.

  “I need a break,” she said when Jack raise an eyebrow at her, treading water beside her. He didn’t even look winded.

  She scowled. “Why aren’t you tired? You’re like a machine. We haven’t slept at all since this whole thing started. I’m exhausted.”

  Jack brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes. “I didn’t expect you to swim the entire mile without stopping.”

  “Mile? We have to swim a mile?” she all but shrieked. “How far have we gone?”

  “About an eighth of the way.”

  She groaned. “Oh, man, I’m such a wuss. Well, break’s over. Let’s swim, tough guy.”

  Jack grinned and let her set the pace. He helped her perfect her stroke, taking her mind off her exhaustion, and soon she swam alongside him with more speed and agility than before. He made her forget they’d just escaped bad guys with guns and jumped off a sinking boat and they were swimming a whole mile to his boat.

  It didn’t take her mind off how close Jack had come to kissing her. Her toes curled at the mere thought of it. Heck, if he promised to kiss her senseless when he got her to the boat she’d win the world record in swimming. She knew this attraction was crazy. He lived on the west coast and she on the east. Once this ended they would go their separate ways, but that didn’t stop her from wanting him.

  “There she is. The sailboat on the last dock with the white sails and American flag,” Jack said after they had swam for what seemed an eternity. Darci wanted to drop. Her arms ached when she tried to lift them. She looked up and saw a long, narrow boat with billowing white sails anchored in the semi-busy marina, bobbing gently on the water. Mostly there were yachts and speedboats, so the sails stood out.

  To Darci it looked to be miles away. “I don’t think I can make it,” she said, slowing to a dog paddle. “My body isn’t conditioned to this kind of work out.”

  “Turn on your back and let me help you,” Jack said, slipping an arm around her chest. She did as he asked and allowed him to tow her the rest of the way. He had the strength of ten men and didn’t seem bothered by her added weight. She, on the other hand, appreciated the rest. Jack managed to swim with only one arm and she drifted, kicking the best she could to help out. She marveled at the smooth, sleek muscle moving against her. Definitely the most
erotic thing she’d ever experienced. Sweet mercy, she must really be tired. Jack was doing all the work battered and wounded, and all her thoughts were on how good it felt to have him rubbing against her.

  *

  “This is it.” Jack floated alongside the boat. “How about a shower, meal and a soft bed? Not necessarily in that order.”

  Darci almost drooled. That sounded better than sex. Well, almost. But since sex wasn’t on the list she figured she better take him up on the rest.

  “That sounds perfect, but shouldn’t we head back to the wedding party? Let them know we’re alive?”

  Jack shook his head. “Too dangerous. I don’t want to bring any more threat to Renee and Paul’s family or guests. Or attention. This team missed their score because of my interference. I can’t risk them trying again.”

  “So you think the twins will come after us?”

  “Yes. You have something they want. Besides, we can identify them by name and face. That’s reason to—” He must have noticed the blood leach from her face because he cut off mid-sentence. “Let me worry about the authorities and the danger. You just shower and relax. I’ll take care of the rest.”

  How could she not love this man? “Point me in the right direction.”

  “Up the ladder, babe, and it’s all yours.”

  Darci grinned and reached for the ladder with renewed energy. Jack gave her a boost and she climbed onto the shiny wooden deck of the sailboat.

  “Follow me,” Jack said and led her across the deck to a set of stairs that led below.

  Darci let out a gasp when she stepped into a spacious room that looked like home. The wood flooring and walls were gorgeous. An L-shaped booth with a table and lots of modern day appliances sat in a small kitchen. All in all it had a cozy atmosphere that made her want to settle in, and oddly enough, sail the high seas. It had everything she needed and she didn’t even like boats.

  “This is all yours?” Awe crept into her voice. “It’s great. I never knew boats could be so…wow, it’s like home.”

  “You haven’t even seen the best part yet. What would you like first? Shower or meal?”

  Darci smiled at him. “Are you cooking?”

  “You bet.”

  “Then I’ll take a shower while you cook. Which way do I go?”

  “Head is the door to your right.”

  “Head?”

  Jack grinned. “Bathroom.”

  “Ah, sailor code. Got it. Anything else I should know?”

  “The kitchen is called a galley and the bedrooms are staterooms. Now you can be my first mate.”

  Darci smiled. “I’d like that. Give me ten minutes.”

  “Take your time, there’s plenty of water.”

  She did just that. The head held a shower, sink and toilet. Sparse but efficient. She found a towel and stepped into the stall, then let out a groan when the hot water hit her. Had a shower ever felt this good? She would never take life’s pleasures for granted again.

  She used Jack’s shampoo to wash her hair and scrubbed her body with his soap until she glowed. Then she quickly washed her dress and undergarments and wrung them out. With reluctance, she turned off the water and climbed out, but she wanted to save enough hot water for Jack.

  Leaving her gown drying on the towel rack, she saw Jack had hung a t-shirt on the hook on back of the door. She hadn’t even heard him come in. Then again, she’d been in total bliss in the shower. He could have fired off a grenade and she wouldn’t have heard it.

  Taking it off the hook, she slipped it over her head. Oh, boy, it smelled like Jack. Unable to resist, she inhaled deeply and sighed. He had taken good care of her on that island. Before bitter memories could rush in, she opened the door and walked out. Delicious scents came from the ki-galley so she followed her nose.

  Jack stood in front of a stove, stirring something in a pot. He still wore his wet clothes.

  As if sensing her gaze on him, he turned and glanced over his shoulder. For a moment his hand stilled and he stopped stirring, his eyes traveling slowly over her from head to toe. Darci swallowed, feeling it like a caress.

  When his eyes met hers, they were dark with hunger. Darci responded, her nipples tightening beneath the t-shirt and her knees going weak. She considered skipping dinner and asking him to take her to bed.

  “I see the shirt fits,” he said, looking away. “Soup’s almost ready.”

  Disappointed that he was also a man with morals who wouldn’t take advantage of a woman who needed food, water and rest, she slid into the L-shaped booth and tucked a leg beneath her.

  “Thanks for loaning it to me. That smells wonderful. I can finish heating it if you want to go shower.”

  He set the spoon down on top of the stove. “Deal. I won’t be long.”

  He disappeared into the head and a few seconds later she heard the shower turn on. She let her mind wander and imagined a naked Jack in the shower, hands braced against the wall as water sluiced down his muscle-packed body, leaving little trails over his tanned skin. She imagined herself in there with him following those trails with her tongue. What would he do if she joined him?

  Shifting in her seat, Darci pushed the thoughts out of her mind. When that didn’t work, she got up and walked over to the stove. Tomato soup. Yummy. She stirred it and laid the spoon back down, wishing she could forget about Jack in the shower.

  On the counter next to the stove sat a plate covered with a towel. She lifted the corner and found a pile of grilled cheese sandwiches. A classic mix that sounded delicious right now. Going to the small fridge, she opened it and grabbed a bottle of water. She had it half gone by time Jack walked out of the head, wearing nothing but a towel.

  Darci dropped the bottle, spilling water all over the floor.

  “Oh, sorry.” She tore her eyes off him. No woman should have to withstand Jack in nothing but a towel.

  “Don’t worry about it, this is a boat, remember? I’ll be right back.”

  He disappeared down a hallway in the back of the boat and Darci berated herself for being so clumsy. She’d seen Jack half-naked when she treated his wound. Why should the sight of him in nothing but a towel shake her up? Because she was a woman and the man was sexy as sin.

  Finding a kitchen rag, she cleaned up the mess. Then poured the soup into the two bowls she found in the overhead cupboards. Her stomach rallied now, ready for food.

  The boat rocked gently beneath her, but it didn’t worry her, knowing they were in a marina and not in the middle of the ocean.

  “You found the bowls.” Jack walked into the galley.

  Darci glanced over to see he had changed into a pair of cargo shorts and tan colored t-shirt that reminded her of the camouflage soldiers wore in the desert. It hugged his chest and biceps and made her mouth water for a whole other reason.

  He looked as good in clothes as he did out, and she was falling for him. Hard. And right now she didn’t care that it didn’t fit into her life; she lived in the moment.

  “Jack, what did you do with my necklace?”

  “It’s in my safe. Trust me, no one will find it.”

  She nodded. Always protecting her. “Thank you. Well, I’m starved. Let’s eat.”

  Jack took the bowls while she grabbed the plates and two bottles of water and led her to the table. They sat down and ate in silence, both too hungry for conversation. Darci finished her soup and ate one and a half sandwiches; Jack polished off the rest. When she finished, she sat back and sighed with content.

  “Well, there’s two of three,” she said.

  Jack smiled. “Your bed is ready whenever you are. Fresh sheets and everything.”

  “You changed the sheets for me?”

  Jack grinned. “Impressed?”

  She returned the grin. “I think I am. You sure know how to pamper a girl.”

  He laughed at that. “Honey, if grilled cheese and tomato soup is pampering, then you’re in for a real treat when I take you to Demarco’s.”

  The
thought of going anywhere with Jack sounded like a good time. But for now she was content to be here, off that island and away from the evil twins.

  “Come on, let’s get you to bed before you fall over,” Jack said, rising to his feet and holding out a hand to her.

  “Sounds good to me. Let me get the dishes first.”

  “Nope, off to bed. I’ll clean this up.”

  Letting him pull her to her feet, she followed him down the hall. “You’re a good man, Jack Taggart.”

  “Yeah, well, don’t tell anybody. Might ruin my reputation.”

  She laughed as he led her down a hallway and opened one of the doors to a magnificent room with a full-size bed that looked soft and enticing. The forest green blanket called her name.

  Jack barely had time to pull back the covers before she fell face first into the bed and let out a groan.

  “Oh, this feels so good. Good night, Jack.”

  She barely felt the blankets being pulled over her or Jack’s whispered reply as she dropped off to sleep.

  Chapter Seven

  ‡

  Jack stared at the nine-inch television screen on the counter. Absently he beat six eggs in a bowl. He set the bowl down, picked up a knife and chopped onion and pepper, his eyes the screen. Not good.

  “You’re going to cut yourself doing that,” a sleepy voice said from behind him.

  Jack turned to see Darci standing a few feet away. She looked pleasantly rumpled, as if she’d just woken up from a long night of mind-blowing sex. Her dark hair hung in tousled curls over her shoulders, sexy as hell. Her color looked better, not as pale as yesterday. The morning-after look she had going on made her look more beautiful than any woman he’d ever laid eyes on.

  His gaze caught on her long, shapely legs stretching for miles beneath the t-shirt that looked better on her than it did him. Why did a woman in a man’s shirt stir up all kinds of primal instincts in a man? Those instincts reared their stubborn heads right now and it took all his effort to tramp them down. If he didn’t exercise control he’d be stripping that t-shirt off and having his way with her. On the table, floor, counter, wherever.