Lena had spent the last hour pacing around the room until Jesse had finally beckoned her to bed. Even in the safety of his arms, she still could not get any rest.
“Jesse?”
“Yeah, I’m up,” he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep. “What is it?”
Sighing, she snuggled closer to him, seeking out his warmth. “I just need you to tell me that everything is going to be fine. Everything is going to okay, isn’t it?”
He rolled over then, bringing her close enough to him that her head rested against his chest.
“Yes, it is. I know that you are scared, but things will turn out just fine. I promise you that. You do not have anything to worry about. I’m going to be right there with you.” And then he joked, “You know, my teammates and I may seem like a motley crew, but we’re actually very effective when it comes to carrying out our missions. I trust my team with my life, and most importantly, I trust them with your life.”
She was still emotionally raw after she had poured her heart out to Jesse by telling him AnSawar had planned for her father. It had been a huge step for her to have faith that Jesse and his team could save her and her family. But he had never lied to her before, and she knew that he would do his very best to keep her alive.
Lena was wary of telling anyone else besides Jesse about the scheduled meeting with her father, but she trusted Jesse. And he like he said, he trusted his team. That would have to be enough.
After transmitting the information to CO Mark Dewitt, the two men had discussed a very intricate plan involving a raid on her father’s house on Saturday. Mark Dewitt was going to compile a strike team of SEALs for the takedown. It was a risky, last-minute operation, but both he and Jesse agreed that it was their best chance to nail the key operatives for AnSawar, preventing them from unleashing another attack.
A few minutes passed by with Jesse soothingly stroking her back.
“Jesse?”
“Yeah, hun?”
“If you’re not able to…I mean, if I don’t make it out of the meeting, there’s something that I want you to know.”
“Hey, look at me,” he demanded, lifting her chin up so that she was staring directly into her eyes. “I promise you, no harm is going to come to you.”
“I know,” she whispered, the words lodging in her throat. “I know that you are going to do everything in your power to make sure that I’m not hurt. But Jesse, the unexpected happens all the time. And if I don’t make it out of there, I don’t want to die without you knowing how much I care about you.”
He swallowed, looking away from her for a second and then locking his eyes with hers. “I care about you too, Lena. Very much. And I am going to personally make sure that nothing happens to you. I’m going to make sure that you are safe.”
“I never thought…”
“You never thought what?” he prompted her after her voice trailed off into silence.
“I never thought that I would meet someone like you.”
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“You are just different from a lot of men that I have met. I feel like I’ve known you for a lot longer than I have. Not to mention that you have come to my rescue on two occasions now. Are you in the running to become a saint now or something?
He laughed. “Hey, let’s not start signing me up for sainthood. I have made plenty of mistakes before.”
“Well, it’s refreshing to know that sometimes when people change, they can change for the better.”
She kissed him then. It started out as a light peck on the side of his cheek. But like the first kiss that they’d shared together, that one peck quickly spiraled into a blazing hot kiss with tongue. They could very well on Saturday, and all she could think about was how much she wanted to feel him inside of her one more time.
Wrapping an arm around her, he lifted her on top of him to sit in his lap, straddling his waist. Pulling her head down, he brought his lips to hers for another kiss. One of his hands travelled down her back, down to her bottom and squeezed. Lena gasped.
“You are so beautiful,” he murmured against her lips. “So perfect.”
Lena found that when she was with Jesse she actually did feel gorgeous. She had never felt this uninhibited or more confident about her appearance than when she was with him. So what if she did not have huge boobs or a Kim Kardashian behind? When Jesse looked at her with half-lidded eyes, like he was doing right now, she felt like a sex goddess.
Her tongue mated hungrily with his as she ran her hands over his powerful chest. Pulling away from him, she kissed across his jaw line, and farther downward to kiss and lick his chest. Lowering herself even further down his body, she pulled off his boxer shorts.
He was already completely aroused, his hard length pressing against her. Reaching out, she grabbed the base of his penis and stroked him up and down. Taking him into her mouth, her tongue mimicked the licks that she had bestowed upon his chest moments earlier. She completely soul-sucked him until he was groaning and gasping for air.
Raising her head up with his hand, he rolled his body so that she was now shifted underneath him. It was her turn to gasp when he pulled off her shirt, and fastened his hungry mouth to her breast. He greedily suckled at her right breast while his hands played with her left nipple. By the time that he had finished with his ministrations, her nipples were rock-hard buds that advertised her yearning for him.
His hands travelled lower then, down to the soft blond curls that were now damp with her desire. She gasped when he ripped off the thin scrap of panties that she wore, dipping one long finger into her exposed vagina. Arching her back, she shifted her body lower, spreading her legs to provide him with easier access. Slipping a third finger inside of her, he stretched her, her muscles clamping tightly around his hand.
Her first orgasm took her by surprise, buffeting her upon wave after wave of sweet ecstasy. When she finally opened her eyes, he was watching her closely. His hands were on either side of her head and he held himself up off her body. Beads of sweat lined his upper brow.
Lowering his head, his tongue thrust deep inside of her mouth, demanding more from her, taking more from her. Sighing she pushed herself tightly against his body, her hips lifting off of the bed to fit against his lower body. And then, he pulled away.
“Shit.”
“What?” she asked while he held himself above her, motionless.
“I don’t have a condom with me. Again. Damn.” He sighed, a pained expression crossing his face.
“It’s okay,” she reassured him, wrapping her legs around his waist. And she realized that it really was okay. The thought of having unprotected sex with someone she had only known for a few weeks should have terrified her. But she wasn’t scared. Not about this. This felt right.
“Are you sure? I’ll try to pull out in time…I just want you so much.”
“I’m positive,” she said reassuring him. “I want you too.”
His mouth connected with hers again. His hands feverishly roamed all over her body and then with one hard thrust, he was inside of her. She forgot about everything as he stroked in and out of her. He was such an intimate part of her that she didn’t know where she ended and where he began.
Shuddering against him, her second climax rippled through her.
I love you. I love you.
She did love him. She’d never felt this way about any man before. She definitely hadn’t felt this way about Kevin. But thank God she did not say those words aloud. Or did she? The second time they have sex and she’s already declaring her love for him? No. He hadn’t heard her. If he had, he’d be halfway to San Diego by now.
Three more thrusts and he followed suit, collapsing into her arms. Hauling her against him, he plopped a kiss on her forehead.
“Just for the record,” he said, breaking the silence in the darkened room. “I love you too.”
CHAPTER
EIGHTEEN
“Remember to keep your arms out like this,” Jesse said, his voice
booming. “Don’t forget your stance either. You need to stand with your feet about shoulder width apart with your left foot slightly leading.” His arms were outstretched at little less than a one hundred and eighty degree angle. The handgun that was clasped in his hands still looked menacing even after two days of practice.
It was around five o’clock in the afternoon and they’d been practicing for the past two hours. The sun was beating down on her, making beads of sweat roll into her eyes. Wiping a frustrated hand across her brow, she stared up at the man who’d become her friend, lover, confidant, and protector in such a short amount of time. Jesse had insisted that she needed to learn how to defend herself, even though she was now protected by a veritable army since the rest of his teammates had arrived at the small house. Jesse had even attempted to show her some martial arts self-defense techniques. That had only gone a little better than her current shooting lessons. Refocusing her attention, Lena repositioned her arm, mimicking his movements.
“Good,” he said, watching her shift her body to reach the appropriate stance. “Now aim and fire.”
Inhaling and then slowly exhaling, Lena pulled the trigger. She was wearing earplugs, but she still heard the muted sound of the gunfire, felt the kickback as the weapon’s residual energy surged backwards into her palms. The bullet went wide. Instead of striking her intended target—the empty soup can that Jesse had set up on the fly for her impromptu marksmanship practice—she hit one of the large trees in the background. She tried again and again. The bark of the tree exploded like confetti with each pull of the trigger.
“I really suck at this, Jesse,” she said finally, her booted foot tapping against the ground as she stared at the butchered tree.
Rubbing a strong hand against his jaw, he looked down at her a little perplexed. Then grinning, he said, “Yeah. Yeah, you really do. But at least you remembered to grip the gun properly this time. That’s progress.”
“This is a waste of time.”
“No it isn’t,” he said fiercely, the humor instantly leaving his eyes. “This is important. You’re getting comfortable with handling a weapon. If you’re put into a dangerous situation and I’m not there, or any of my other teammates, your training will kick in. Trust me.”
“Hey, you two done out here? CO is on the line.”
Lena swiveled around to see Will Castle peeking his head outside of the back door. She’d been trying to keep all of their names straight since seven tall, heavily-muscled, brooding soldiers had taken over the small house. Will was easy to remember because of his distinctive blue and green eyes.
“Yeah we’re pretty much finished here, man,” Jesse confirmed, his hand reaching out to squeeze Lena gently on the shoulder. Unconsciously, she leaned into the comfort of his grip. Commander Dewitt had spoken to them all multiple times via the video communications system set up in the basement room of the house, so they were now all familiar with the hastily formulated plan.
In less than ten hours, they were all going to board a helicopter to Cape Vidal. Once there, Lena was to meet with her father as directed by Faizal Shariff. Even though AnSawar had stated that they just wanted her to converse with her father, Jesse had pointed out that the group probably already had a good idea as to where her father was located. That AnSawar didn’t really need her to find her father. Essentially, this was a trap of some kind.
It was also their best bet on nabbing some of AnSawar’s key operatives, possibly stopping the group before they could wreak more havoc across Africa or move their terror campaign abroad. It was also Lena’s best chance of discovering where her family was being held hostage. But she wasn’t walking into the situation alone, trap or not. Jesse and the rest of his SEAL Team comrades would be there, watching her back until the time was right to move in.
Entering into the lower level of the home, Lena watched as all of the men gathered around the video monitor. Commander Dewitt’s deep, gritty voice fit his craggy, weathered face. Standing beside him was a tall and slender young woman whose gaze quickly skimmed over everyone in the room.
“Ms. Westlake,” Mark said. “We appreciate your cooperation with us on this. I understand that this is a very challenging situation for you.”
Lena stiffly nodded her head in acknowledgment. Again, a slew of emotions assaulted her all at once. Hope that this ordeal would soon be over, sorrow that she would have to betray her father, and warmth at the realization that no matter what happened tomorrow, Jesse loved her. It was that last fact that kept her going. She still couldn’t believe that after all this time and under these completely unideal circumstances, she’d fallen in love. There was a certain peace in that knowledge alone, the knowledge that she was in love and that that love was returned unconditionally.
Early this morning, Jesse had relayed all of the information—or at least all of the information that the CIA had given him—about her father’s business dealings. Apparently, her father had essentially gambled away close to ninety percent of his fortune. He was now only worth a fraction of the five hundred million dollars that he once had. This incredible downfall was the likely motivator behind her father’s new corrupt business dealings with AnSawar.
Yesterday, after a technician had processed the envelope, Jesse and Hawk had finally been able to peruse the contents of the package she was given. In it were change of deed and transfer of shares documents for five of her father’s more well-known business ventures. Now it seemed that he was being extorted by the same individuals he’d sold out his country for. Lena was slowly coming to terms with the fact that each scenario that could play out tomorrow ended with her father being taken away from her. But she knew that the sad truth was that he was already gone, had been gone for years.
Lena listened intently as CO Mark Dewitt went over the strategy one more time before they readied to leave. She was an anxiety-ridden, tattered mess by the time the call finished.
“You okay?” Jesse asked, concern for her apparent in his somber gaze.
“I’m fine,” she reassured him, giving him what amounted to a weak smile.
“You’re going to get through this, Lena,” he said, as if he could read her thoughts. “You’re strong. You’re a lot stronger than you even realize. All you have to do is get through one more day. And I’ll be there right by your side the whole time.”
“I’m just glad that you’re going to be there.” Reaching out her hand, she clasped his. They were by themselves downstairs now, everyone else having departed to get ready for the mission.
“I’ll always be there for you,” he said, bringing her hand up to his lips. And Lena knew with an unparalleled certainty that he meant every word.
CHAPTER
NINETEEN
Cape Vidal, South Africa
what she had to do was simple. At least that’s what Lena kept telling herself over and over again. Jesse had spent the past few days coaching her, reassuring her. Yet, as she walked up the stone steps of the ornate cliffside mansion, she still felt sick to her stomach.
What if she screwed things up? What if her father could see right through her and realize that she was working with the U.S. Navy and other law enforcement officials to bring both him and AnSawar down? She couldn’t think about that now; she couldn’t allow doubts to consume her. She had to be positive. She knew that by now, Jesse and his teammates were already in position, ready to storm the building if anything went wrong. Taking a deep breath and gathering her courage, Lena rang the doorbell.
A few moments later, the door cracked opened. A thin, young African woman wearing a maid’s outfit opened the door. “Yes?” she asked, the woman’s eyes guarded and nervous. She was sweating and seemed a little confused.
“I’m here to see my father,” Lena said, her voice coming out a lot calmer than she had expected. She tried not to nervously touch the wire that she was wearing. She didn’t need to draw any untoward attention to herself.
“Your father?” the woman repeated, blinking at her.
“Yes,
my father. I’m Lena. I know that he’s here, and I need to speak with him immediately.”
Lena knew how she must’ve looked. She was wearing an ill-fitting pair of jeans and a blouse that Jesse had managed to get for her, but the ordinary outfit wasn’t up to the extraordinary standards of the Westlake family image. No, the daughter of Alfred Westlake should have been decked out in an expensive Armani suit or at the very least designer jeans. Lena also wasn’t wearing a stitch of makeup. The housekeeper probably thought that she was some kind of lunatic because she couldn’t have possibly been a member of the Westlake establishment.
“I need to see my father right now,” Lena said in the haughtiest tone that she could muster. “I won’t ask you again.” She was her father’s daughter after all. She’d been playing the part for the past thirty odd years, so speaking with authority had never been an ability that she’d lacked.
Sensing the change in her demeanor, the maid departed behind the door and scurried off to somewhere inside of the fortress, presumably to fetch Lena’s father. Letting herself inside the home, Lena stopped before going too far into the house. The home was opulent, even by her father’s standards. Whoever his new girlfriend was, she had expensive tastes.
“You’re doing great, Lena,” Jesse’s voice sounded in her ear from the miniscule ear receiver that she wore. She went over in her head everything that she was supposed to say to her father. She nervously twisted the cross where it hung on her chain. The seemingly innocuous necklace had been outfitted with a nearly microscopic listening device embedded on the inside.
Time seemed to stand still as she waited anxiously for her father. Waited to hear the familiar thud of his booted footsteps on the pristine hardwood floors. Waited to confront him for the first time in years. She wasn’t left alone to her own devices for too long; the housekeeper returned moments later.
“He will see you,” she said, her eyes averted down to the floor. She led Lena past the grand foyer, down a long hallway, and up the steps of the lengthy spiral staircase.
Swift Strike (SEAL Team 14 Book 2) Page 21