Each man quickly slipped on his tanks, sat on the outside of the boat in the night, with the lighted ship in the distance. They activated their emergency beacon devices, slipped on their fins, covered their faces and fell backward into the water as the little boat powered out to the open sea.
The water was freezing, and Mark knew they only had a few minutes before they became a recovery mission instead of a rescue. But he turned to watch the little boat speed off toward the east, appreciating the fact that they had successfully kept the passengers safe.
“I expected to be dead right about now,” Tyler shouted over the water.
“Stick with me, kid. I just knew they’d make it,” Mark announced.
“Now if I can just get on board for that midnight buffet, I’d say it would be a perfect day in paradise, wouldn’t you?”
“That would be nice, but if I make it back, food is gonna be the last thing on my list.”
Suddenly they heard the distinct sounds of a helicopter overhead.
“Isn’t that just about the greatest sound in the world?” Tyler yelled.
“Makes me come every time I hear one, especially if I’m in the middle of the ocean off the fuckin’ coast of Africa,” Mark yelled back.
They both saw the bucket illuminated in early predawn light, and a friendly on board.
“You’re secret’s safe with me, Marky Mark. But you know they have pills for that sort of thing.”
“What sort of thing?” Mark said as a strong arm grabbed him around his upper torso, strapping a hoist on him with a satisfying click.
“Premature ejaculation.”
“Fuck you.” Mark tried to kick Tyler in the head before he was lifted to the chopper. “You fuckin’ tell anybody that and I’ll toss you off the ship myself.”
Mark watched as Tyler laughed uncontrollably while being helped into a crab net underneath and also pulled to safety.
Some of the gaiety of life began to seep in and thaw Mark’s psyche then. Maybe, just maybe everything would turn out the way it was supposed to in those books.
In which case, he’d like to make that happen with the rest of his life, with Sophia at his side.
Cruisin’ for a Seal: Chapter Thirty-One
Tyler was still yelling insults as they swung through the night sky. Mark was hauled inside the Seahawk and strapped into a jump seat. Tyler was strapped in next to him. A medic asked them a series of questions they both could answer “no” to.
They were rewarded with whoops and hollers from the crew, high fives and thumbs up all around. Mark actually began to feel the beginnings of a smile forming, something he hadn’t been sure he’d ever feel again during the past twelve hours.
Both SEALs then became distracted by the little headlights below, illuminating choppy seas and heading in a straight line west. A couple of the flotilla of boats were chasing the emergency craft, closing in on it with superior outboard power.
No accounting for stupid.
The glow in the horizon grew rosier, but remained a thin line, a mere suggestion of what the morning would soon look like. The night sky was still pitch black, populated with a generous dusting of stars.
Mark felt his breathing slow down as he returned to a calm state, watching the intensifying rose sky, the black and frothy turquoise blue of the illuminated ocean. Sounds of the chopper were drowned out when a pair of noise-cancelling headphones were placed on his ears. He could hear Tyler breathing next to him as the Team guy craned his neck to watch the scene below.
One of the flotilla that had caught up to the fleeing lifeboat threw grappling hooks that didn’t take hold.
“Something inherently wrong with that picture,” Mark said into the microphone, referring to the efforts to board the emergency boat.
In the middle of the second attempt a large yellow-orange fireball consumed the emergency vehicle, rising in a fiery plume, enveloping the fishing boat and the one close behind it. Without the aid of the boat’s headlights, the dark sky quickly consumed the blaze. Within seconds, the explosion was reduced to fuel burning on the ocean’s surface.
The helicopter angled perpendicular to the site so Tyler and Mark could clearly see the destruction below, with the help of the chopper’s powerful searchlight. Bits of wood and plastic and metal were still raining on the fiery cauldron. The ocean underneath was seething in anger.
“Like I was saying,” Mark repeated.
“That’s a picture I’d like to have,” Tyler said.
Two other boats in pursuit but a good distance away abruptly turned tail and sped off in the opposite direction.
“Impressive. Like it when that happens,” Tyler added.
“Too bad Rory isn’t here to see it.” Mark was referring to fellow Teammate Rory Kennedy, who had quite the reputation as a troubled teen for burning down his foster parents’ garages, and who had grown up to become the Team’s explosives expert.
The chopper banked heavily and headed toward the cruise ship.
A small welcoming crowd had gathered on Deck 10. Cameras flashed all over the ship as the luxury liner took on the look of a spring break orgy for the over-fifty crowd. The small chopper the Wolf had arrived in guaranteed the Seahawk wouldn’t be able to squeeze in for a landing. Mark and Tyler were given helmets and airlifted in a crab basket to the deck below amidst cheers and well-wishers who clearly wanted to give a hero’s welcome to the pair.
They removed the harnesses, helmets and other gear they’d borrowed, stowed it back in the basket and gave a thumbs up to the helicopter crew just before the Seahawk flew off into the night leaving the sounds of a satisfying thump thump of rotors in their wake.
Under the sparkling string of white party lights, the crowd attempted to hoist Mark and Tyler on their shoulders, but Mark insisted they keep their hands to themselves. He was wet and cold, and desperately wanted to shed his wetsuit and damp emergency blanket for a warm shower and some recreational time with Sophia. Everything else was a distant second in terms of need.
He was surprised to feel the vibration of his phone from inside his suit. Tyler’s phone was jumping to life as well.
“I guess these cases really do work,” he said to Tyler as he activated the phone by opening the case and touching a passcode to the screen. They’d been sold what were supposed to be one hundred percent waterproof cases on base in Coronado, but hadn’t believed the hype.
“Hey there, Lanny,” Mark said to his Team leader.
“So you guys good? Any injuries?”
“Other than an adrenaline rush that is awesome, I’m more than good.”
“We got things mopped up. Captain’s inspecting the engine room for any signs of sabotage, so we’re lookin’ to get the engines fired up. You ready for some beers?”
“Sorry, Kyle. My needs are of a different sort.”
“Roger that. Well I guess Sanouk and Jones better find another place to go for the next twenty-four. She’s back with the women in our cabins. Libby’s frail, but Coop’s with her, and I think she’s going to be okay.”
“Nice.”
“Well, I got some more stuff to do here, but I’ll see you some time tomorrow, unless something else comes up.”
“All the bad guys gone?”
“Not gone, but either captured or killed. Seems the passengers here have exacted a penance they’ll not soon forget, those that survived.”
“The Moroccans?”
“Only one we can’t account for is Azziz, but a couple of Germans told me they’d tossed him overboard, so I’m not worried. Armando, Gina and Jones are trying to confiscate the guns so we don’t have any more innocent victims.”
“Anyone seriously hurt or killed?” Mark asked.
“You know what? Amazingly, no. Can you fuckin’ believe that? And we even got one bad guy dead from snake bite.”
“News headlines for tomorrow.”
“So we’ll see you when you crawl out tomorrow late, hear?”
“Roger that. And sir, thank you. Tha
nk you for everything.”
“Yeah, it was one helluva caper, wasn’t it? Best fuckin’ vacation of my entire life,” Kyle said and hung up.
Tyler had been allowing his body to be touched, hugged and kissed by all the lovelies who could squeeze their way through the crowd to reach him. He’d talked with Rory, and a couple of the wives who wanted to thank him. He’d told them they were headed back to the cabins.
Mark broke out in a loping run. Barefoot and cold, he scarcely noticed his condition, but as he got closer to the carpeted and much warmer indoor grand staircase, and then down the hallway towards the group gathered outside their bank of cabin doors he turned white-hot and urgent to get to a private rendezvous with Sophia. He hoped to God she was there with the rest of them.
Before he could make his way to the end of the hall, the door to Helena’s cabin opened and Maksym blocked his way.
At first Mark had an “oh shit” moment, but then saw the shame and remorse on the man’s face and noticed he had a hand extended for a shake.
“Not now, Maksym. I’m not up for a little chat.” He slipped by the officer, who could have easily detained him, but who called after him instead.
“She saved my life. Your Sophia saved my life.”
That stopped Mark. He turned and faced the officer, who had removed the cami top he’d borrowed from one of the commandoes and replaced it with a wool sweater over the pants he’d kept.
Mark took three long strides to cut the distance between them.
“Not sure those ladies would be alive today if it weren’t for your Sophia,” Maksym whispered, tearing up. “I’m so deeply sorry for what I have done, and I intend to pay for it.”
Mark couldn’t find it in him to forgive the man, but he knew Maksym had protected her, and that deserved something.
“Thanks, man,” he said as he slapped Maksym’s arm. “Later?”
“Absolutely. She’s waiting for you. You deserve each other.”
Maksym abruptly retreated to his cabin and closed the door.
“Mark!” He heard Sophia’s voice over the buzzing at the end of the hall. She came running full tilt and slammed into him, wrapping her arms around him, hiking her legs up and around his waist. He held her while she sobbed in his arms.
“Baby, baby, it’s all good. We’re okay now, right?”
She was babbling things he couldn’t understand in Italian, rambling on and on, and he could hear several words he did understand, like amore several times, her little body shaking with every syllable, with every inhale and exhale. He tried to unpeel her arms to give her a proper kiss, but eventually gave up.
“Baby, I’m not going anywhere. I’m right here,” he said into the side of her face. “No one’s going anywhere without you, sweetheart. Trust me.”
“Oh God, I thought I’d lost you,” she said between sobs.
“It’s all good. Not to worry, baby. I’ve got you.” He let her decide when she’d had enough of squeezing the life out of him. It was almost hard to breathe she hung on so tight.
Finally, exhaustion began to kick in and he leaned her back against the wall, his muscles unable to hold her up any longer. She dropped her legs but kept her arms about his neck, tipped her tear-stained face back and searched his eyes.
God, she was beautiful. All the warmth of her dark hair and chocolate brown eyes soothed his soul. At last they kissed, but she burst into tears again as soon as their lips touched.
He put his palms under her chin and pressed his forehead to hers. “Sweetheart, we’re good. We’re all good, safe. But please, honey, I need a shower and a bed, in that order. And I want you naked and strong beside me for the next twenty-four hours. Can you do that, baby?”
She smiled up at him. “I knew that day would bring me to this. I knew it the first time you kissed me.”
“I did too.” He slid one hand under her ear, back into the hair at the nape of her neck and squeezed, pulling her face urgently to his. His tongue penetrated her deep as he drank in the sweaty scent of her worry, her love, and her desire for him. The taste of her mouth ignited his insides, his chest needing to feel her naked breasts against him, his thighs rubbing against hers as he nailed her to the wall with his package between them, at the full and ready, stuck in the on position. “I’d like you to talk some dirty Italian to me now. Can we do that, please?”
Her eyes danced as she threw her head back against the wall and laughed. He kissed her under her chin, under her ear, that little place she loved in the hollow he found there. He kissed over her cheek, pressing his lips to both her watering eyes, feeling her come alive sexually against him. Her little moan and inhale when he found her gaping mouth again.
“Marko, vamos a ser amantes para siempre. Quiero follarte cinco veces por la noche para el resto de mi vida,” she whispered.
Mark understood part of it. “Only cinco veces?” He smiled and she returned the smile. “If I learn too much Italian, we’ll have to find another language,” he whispered in return.
“Oh, but Italian is still the language of love, Marko. And I’ll never tire of speaking it to you, whispering it to you. There are many, many words you have not yet heard, mi amore.”
She unwrapped her arms from his neck and took his hand, leading him through the swell of well-wishers. Fredo and Mia were standing arms, around each other, as they spoke to the crowd. Mia was drying tears from her eyes and Fredo kissed the top of her head several times. Christy came out of Libby and Cooper’s room and gave Mark a big hug.
“Thank you, Mark. Thanks to you for keeping him safe.”
Mark shook his head. “I’ll tell you one thing, next time Kyle suggests we all go on vacation together, I’m staying home. His idea of fun, while awesome, is going to make me an old man.”
“That’s my Kyle,” she said in return. “Go. I’ll try to get everyone to give you some peace and quiet.
“Wasn’t looking for anything quiet,” he looked at Sophia who beamed up at him, “but I could sure use a shower.”
Inside their cabin he peeled her clothes off slowly, too slowly. His body was screaming at him, asking for the nourishment only her sex could give him. He kissed her belly button just before he slid her pants down to her ankles. Picking her up, he pressed her back onto the bed and removed her shoes and then slid her pants and panties off her dainty toes. Sophia had already removed her top and bra.
The wet suit was beginning to chafe and his cock was painfully demanding release from the form-fitting suit. He unzipped the front, peeling it off his arms and down over his hips as she lay back, her breasts covered with her arms folded across her chest, and watched him.
“Marko. Su hermoso cuerpo hace cosas hormigueo a la mía.”
“You too, baby,” he whispered back as he threw the wetsuit into the corner, shucked his briefs and dove onto the bed, covering her.
He wanted to take his time, but he knew he just wouldn’t be able to this time. His fingers found her wet channel, already ripe and ready for him.
“Maybe I should learn Hungarian or Russian or some other language, so you can learn what it feels like to guess what I’m saying to you,” he said to her ear. His fingers sifted through her hair as he pulled her to him. He nibbled over her lips, “but I understand this language best of all.”
The kiss went deep and urgent, both of them sucking, needing more and giving all they could. He wanted to kiss down her front and make her come in his mouth, but he just couldn’t wait that long. After a few long strokes with his forefinger to the tender, hot folds between her thighs, he smoothed his palm behind her butt cheek placing her knee over his shoulder and pressed his cock at her opening. She was vibrating, almost coming undone already, which was good, because he sure was. He wasn’t even sure he’d make it to deep inside her, but he did, and his urgent thrusts coated him in her juices. His arm moved underneath her, as he pulled her shoulder, moving her torso down against him, onto his shaft. His hips angled slightly as he slapped against the backs of her thighs.
Her breasts were bouncing as he rode her, his strokes moving faster and faster. He bent and sucked her nipples, one at a time. Her body rocked to his thrusting, as she rolled forward and onto her side and he fucked her at an angle, adjusting to take her deeper. The more he thrust, the harder her muscles squeezed him.
“Fly with me, Sophia. Make me fly, baby.”
“My Marko,” she said between sighs. He could tell she was losing herself, winding out of control. “I—”
He put his hand over her mouth. His seed began to spill as he held her, slipping one knee under her butt. He held her strong back as she arched toward the sea, her perfect breasts and the deep red nipples presenting themselves to the ceiling, and then to his hungry mouth. Her fingers got lost in the tangle of her long hair as he kissed her from nipple to under her breasts, in the folds there that smelled of her arousal, and then back up under her chin, her temple. His thumbs moved over her cheek, one grazing her lower lip before he claimed them again.
She gasped, beginning to undulate and squeeze him inside her, moving her body gently back and forth to his thrusts, and then slightly to the side, and then all of a sudden she was molten. She threw her head back as he lifted her other knee over his shoulder, and held himself impossibly deep as he lurched inside her hot, vibrating sex and filled her. Her moans he claimed with his lips. She bit the top of his shoulder as she held him, squeezed him against her breasts while he rooted up inside her.
In the soft unfolding of their bodies, as he kissed away the sweat and heaviness of her breathing, as he felt her muscles quiet, the peace was delicious. Her eyes were on fire, filled with tears.
He began to say the words he’d practiced, the two little words he’d practiced all the way back in the chopper, thought about while he was swimming to what he hoped was a chance at a new day, what he heard as he saw the fireball below him and knew they’d all be safe.
“Marry me, Sophia. Make me the happiest man alive.”
Her delicate fingers touched his cheek, tracing over his lower lip.
“Si, Marko. With my whole heart. I am already yours, completely.”
Heroes in Uniform: Soldiers, SEALs, Spies, Rangers and Cops: Sexy Hot Contemporary Alpha Heroes From NY Times and USA Today Bestselling Authors Page 82