“I know, man, and I’m sorry. That has to suck. You takin’ her home for Christmas to meet the folks ?”
Dominic froze. Would she come with me? “I don’t know. I haven’t asked her what her plans are.”
“She’s got you so confused you don’t know what end is up anymore, Hurricane. You need to hurry up and marry her so you can get to hatin’ her and love being back up in the air.” Charlie’s voice was full of good humor.
“I do agree I need to hurry up and marry her. I’ve known her for about eight months. Is that long enough to know someone before you ask them to marry you?”
“Don’t ask me, man. I’m more of a two woman at a time kind of guy.”
Dominic laughed. “That’s true. But if you’d find the right one, she’d be more than enough.”
“That’s sacrilege man. Don’t try to condemn me to only one woman at a time,” Charlie said with a gasp.
“One day, Charlie, you’re going to go in for your physical and find you’ve picked up a few things you don’t want to have.”
“Man, you’re like a buzz kill. You need to get to your woman and fast. I’d say any woman but I think you’d toss me over.”
He nodded. “I would. There is no other woman for me, Charlie. And it’s time I make that very clear to her I think.”
“You do that. I’m going to go grab some chow. Catch you later, Hurricane. And hey, I really hope when you ask her, she says yes.”
“Thanks man.” Dominic nodded as his friend disappeared from view. Focusing back on the passing water, he sighed.
Christmas with Verity in Texas. The idea had merit. I’ll ask her to join me. He smiled as the image of a sleepy and tousled Verity sitting with him as they opened presents with his family came to mind. Pushing away from the rail, he headed to his room. He reached into his bag, pulled out a picture of Verity and set it on his desk. Thinking about where they’d be pulling into port, he tried to figure out what to get her as a gift. He traced her face on the photo and sighed.
“Stay safe, baby.”
He climbed into bed after getting ready and closed his eyes. Sleep eluded him and the likeness of Verity only managed to taunt him. Dominic groaned and rolled over, desperate to get some rest. It seemed just a few minutes passed before there came a loud pounding on his door.
“Get up, Hurricane. We’re called up. Let’s go! I need you in my office in five minutes.”
That announcement shot adrenaline straight through to the marrow of his bones. Bolting up from the narrow cot, he shoved into his flight suit in moments and he left the small room after grabbing Verity’s picture and stuffing it in his chest pocket. With a sharp knock, he entered in the designated room and stared into the face of his commanding officer. After he left there, he hurried down the hall and heard the call over the loudspeakers calling up his squadron.
He waylaid his men from hitting the briefing room by the order, “Get to your planes, we’ll brief in the air.”
Dominic jogged across the flight deck to his waiting plane. The sun barely showed across the water and he smiled slightly as he climbed up the ladder to the waiting seat of his F/A-18A Hornet. He grinned at the familiar rush as he was catapulted off the deck of the carrier and took to the sky.
“Okay men. This is what we’ve got. We are offering up assistance to AFRICOM with the trouble that’s brewing in Sierra Leone. Coordinates are being sent and we engage only if fired upon. Only if fired upon. But keep sharp, they may be expecting us.”
“Roger that, Hurricane.”
All acknowledgments of his orders came into his ear. He listened to the light chatter as they soared above the Atlantic Ocean and headed for the country of Sierra Leone. As he continued on, his mind lingered upon the woman whose photo was pressed against his chest.
How can I protect her when I’m not around her? Damn it all, this is the first time I’ve wanted not to be in my plane. He took a deep breath and gazed across the sky. Nothing so beautiful as a crystal blue sky. Except maybe for the night sky, when it’s littered with stars like they were diamonds. Or the dark hazel beauty of Verity’s gaze.
A beeping snapped his attention down to his radar. He frowned and snapped his facemask into place. “Bogies coming in. five of them at three o’clock.” All thoughts of Verity faded into the back as he prepared to engage.
Late that night he moved through the halls of the carrier toward a phone. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a calling card and dialed the required numbers as well as a memorized one. He held his breath as it rang.
“Hello?” Verity’s soothing voice slid around him like warm liquid silk.
“Hi baby,” he said, a smile tilting up his lips.
“Dominic. How are you?” She paused. “Where are you? You sound kinda scratchy.”
“I’m on the carrier. I’m okay, missing you, but okay. How about you? How are you doing?”
“I’m doing well, missing you too.” Those words made his heart smile. “Are you coming home soon?” Those words made his heart skip a few beats.
Home. As in a home with Verity. What a wonderful ring that has to it.
“I hope so. I’ll be by when I get there.”
“Wonderful. I can’t wait to see you.” Some noise in the back reached him. “Just a minute,” Verity’s voice snapped to someone.
“Am I keeping you from something?” he asked.
“I’m going out with Kasey to a party. But it can wait.”
“A party?”
“Yes. You know what those are, right. We met at one.”
Dominic scowled. “Not making me feel better, baby. And we met before the party. We just exchanged names at that.”
“Don’t be jealous, Dominic Stark. You know damn well you’re important to me.”
“Do I?”
“I hope you do.”
He smiled at the slight reproach to her tone. “How important?”
“Enough so that you’re always on my mind.”
“I like that amount. And just so you know, that is the same for me.”
“Good.”
“Everything going okay at the dig?” he asked, not really sure he wanted to know.
“It’s okay. I got my car back finally, but they haven’t figured out who may have done it.”
Dominic looked up at the announcement that just went out. “You take care of yourself baby, okay? Promise me.”
“I promise. You too.”
“Always, baby. I have to go. I’ll see you soon.”
“Bye, Dominic. Thanks for calling; it is always nice to hear your voice.”
“Bye, Verity.” I love you. He hung up and ran a hand through his hair. With a sigh, he headed back to his room and turned on some music before allowing himself to get lost in the fantasy of him and Verity. It was like that for the rest of the cruise. Every free moment it seemed his mind drifted to the sensual vixen named Verity Andrews.
Dominic counted down the minutes until he’d be able to see Verity again. They’d finally returned from their mission and having been granted a short leave he was on his way to Verity’s house. It was almost eight at night and he itched to see her. While phone calls were nice, he longed to hold his woman. Pulling into her driveway, Dominic parked beside her vehicle. His engine had barely shut off before he jumped out and jogged up to her door. He knocked and shoved his hands into his pockets while waiting for her to answer. When the door opened, his breath hitched at the vision before him.
I didn’t think I’d miss her this much. Damn she looks hot!
Verity stood there. She was barefoot and wore a cute white dress that offset the stunning hue of her skin. It had long sleeves and a blousy fit top combined with a layered flouncy ruffled skirt that hit mid thigh showing off her mouthwatering toned legs. Her hair draped loose and free around her face and shoulders. Her eyes widened at the sight of him seconds before a grin spread across her face.
“Dominic,” she said on a sigh.
“Verity,” he said, stepping close
and drawing her into his arms.
Dominic kissed her with all the passion he contained within him. With dominating sweeps of his tongue, he swept through her mouth. Touching all he could and searching for any untouched spot. His cock became rock hard in a nanosecond. Slipping his hands down over the short skirt to her ass, he cupped it and lifted. Without breaking the kiss, Verity hooked her legs around his waist. Her arms circled his neck and held him tight.
He walked them inside and kicked the door shut before backing her against it. A groan slipped from his mouth when he maneuvered his hands up along the smooth skin of her thighs. He could feel her quivering beneath his light touch. Dominic unhooked her legs and once she had her feet on the floor, he sank to his knees before her and pulled down her underwear, tossing it aside.
“Dominic,” she mumbled her fingers slipping through the hair on his head.
Silent, he widened her stance and lifted the bottom of her dress. The action exposed her neatly trimmed pussy to his hungry gaze. He licked his lips and leaned forward and ran his tongue up the slit that teased him with its glistening juices.
“Fuck!” she screamed.
Closing his eyes, Dominic began to feast upon the bounty before him. Long strokes up, circling her clit and back down. Never giving her a chance to catch her breath. Verity’s hands dug into him, but he ignored everything but the desire for the taste of her on his tongue. Her cries filled the room and he laid one of her legs over his shoulder. Sucking her clit into his mouth, Dominic slid two fingers inside her, her tight pussy gripping him like a vice.
When she hit a new high with her voice, he removed his fingers and replaced them with his tongue. A pinch to her clit and she came apart. Dominic never moved until he got every bit of her essence and only then did he back away and push to his feet.
Verity stared at him, her skin flushed, lips parted and eyes smoky with desire. The pulse along her neck pounded hard. He reached out and pulled her close. Dipping his head, he kissed her. She moaned deep in the back of her throat and arched into him. Her hands worked the button of his jeans and he purred in contentment when her hand wrapped around his erection.
Without missing a beat, Dominic kicked off his loafers and stepped out of his jeans and boxers. He broke the kiss long enough to whip his shirt off and then he covered her mouth again. Her touch was driving him crazy. Her hand began stroking him; her thumb smeared the precum on the head.
Thrusting into her fist, he growled low. Verity mumbled, “Take me,” into his mouth.
Lifting her, he waited until she had placed the head of his erection at the entrance to her pussy. Then he flexed his hips and sank home in one smooth stroke.
“Ummm,” Verity groaned.
I couldn’t agree more. Dominic began to move within her. Each forward propel made him teeter closer to the end of his control. He wanted to pound into her.
“Harder,” she whimpered, ending the kiss and burying her face into the side of his neck.
“Bed,” he replied.
“Couch.”
Dominic moved them to the back of the couch. It. He pulled out of her and before she could voice an objection, he spun her around so she was bent over the back, then he drove into her again.
“Yesss,” she hissed.
She tightened around him and rotated her hips. His control snapped. Gripping her hips, Dominic powered into her, his grunts mingled with her cries and soon they both screamed their release to the room. Gathering her into his arms, he carried her up the stairs to her room where they began all over again. The sun had barely risen when they succumbed to exhaustion.
Chapter Six
Go home with him for Christmas? Verity licked her lips and stared at the man who looked down at her. She had her head in his lap where they sat in her backyard in the porch swing. “Don’t you usually have a family thing?”
He smiled and her insides warmed all over again. “I want you with me, Verity. I want my parents and my brothers to meet you.” Dominic gave her a light kiss. “I haven’t been home in a while, haven’t seen my brothers in a while, but I’d really like you to come with me.”
Meeting the family? Texas isn’t that far from Oklahoma, maybe I could go see my parents too. “Are you sure your parents won’t mind having me there?”
“I’m positive. There’s plenty of room,” he shrugged, “not that we’ll be in separate rooms. But yes, they will be thrilled.” He watched her with those amazing cornflower blue eyes of his. They swirled with emotion, some of which made her insides knot and some she wasn’t ready to face yet. “What do you say, Verity?”
“Ne. Assuming of course you talk to your parents about it and they are okay with it. I don’t want you to show up with me and have it be a shock. If it’s just family, then I shouldn’t be there.”
“You belong.” Dominic sighed and reached into his pocket, withdrew his cell and opened it. He kissed her forehead and pressed a button.
“Oh, jeez, Dominic, don’t bother them now.”
He held the phone away and a kind smile crossed his face. “Hello, Mama,” he said, his Texas drawl even more apparent. “I’m fine, yes ma’am. I wanted to make sure I could bring home someone with me for Christmas.” He chuckled. “Yes ma’am, her name is Verity Andrews. Wonderful mama, I’ll see you then. Love you, too.” Dominic snapped the phone shut and met her gaze. “Problem solved. She’s expecting you.”
Verity didn’t know what to say. She shook her head. “I can’t believe you did that.”
“You said yes, Verity, and I don’t want you to have a reason not to come. So I called with you right here. Do you want to talk to my mama to make sure I didn’t make this up?”
“No. I’m just...nervous already.”
“Baby, they’re never going to want you to leave.”
“You need to tell me about them so I can get gifts for them. Your brothers as well.”
Dominic laughed and gathered her close, pressing kisses all over her until she squealed for mercy.
It was less than a month before Christmas and each day she waited for the phone to ring and to hear Dominic’s voice saying plans were changed. Each day she heard his voice but those words never came. Today however she was at Yusuf’s, telling him of her progress at the excavations and what was going on as far as cataloging in her office. Verity kept an eye on her watch, for she had to be to Souda Bay in less than four hours. She and Dominic were flying out together.
“All of that make sense then, Yusuf?” she asked as she finished her coffee.
“Yes. Trust me, Verity, I can handle it. Believe it or not, I have done this kind of thing before,” he said in a teasing, slightly reproachful voice.
She ducked her head. “I know, I’m sorry. It’s just...”
“Go and enjoy time with your young man. I’m happy to see you with a man who makes you smile so big and so often. Enjoy your vacation, Verity. You deserve it.”
“Thank you.” Verity pushed to her feet and carried the dishes back to the kitchen. Yusuf walked her to the door and she froze. “Damn it,” she swore.
“What?”
“I have to go to the dig before I leave. I left my stuff there and since I just bought these tools, I need to make sure they’re safe.”
“No!” Yusuf said in a sharp voice.
Verity looked at him in shock. He was normally so soft-spoken. “No?”
“I don’t mean to snap, Verity, but you have a plane to catch. I’ll go to Malia and get your things. You get going.”
“No, I can’t ask you to do that—”
“You didn’t. I told you I would. Now, from teacher to student, go. And that’s an order.”
“Okay.” She enfolded Yusuf in her arms and held him tight. “Thank you, my friend.”
“You never have to thank me, Verity Andrews. Go now.”
“I’ll see you when I get back.” She waved over her shoulder as she slipped through the door and outside.
A while later, Dominic was tossing his bags into the back of
her vehicle and soon they were on their way to the airport.
“Ready?” he asked.
“Nervous. But I think so.”
“You’ll be fine.”
They sat together and Verity looked out the window as they took off. Dominic picked up her hand and held it, helping to calm her wayward nerves. As they flew, he told her about the ranch and what the normal Stark holidays were like.
When they arrived in Madrid they were held up for a while and so she and Dominic got off the plane and walked around the airport. She was delighted to discover he spoke Spanish. Once back on the plane she used him as her pillow and fell asleep as they crossed the Atlantic Ocean. While they waited for their connecting flight at the Indianapolis International Airport, Dominic bought them coffee and a anish and while they were eating her phone rang.
Pulling it out of her pocket she frowned as she looked at the caller id. “Hey Larry, what’s up?”
“Thank God I got you, Verity. There’s been another accident.”
Her heart plummeted. “What’d we lose this time?” Across the table from her she could see, Dominic’s frown.
“Not what, sweetie. Who.”
Her hand shook so bad, Dominic took the coffee from her and placed it on the table before lacing their fingers. “Wh...wh...what do you mean, not what, who? Larry, ‘who’ indicates a person.”
“I know, Verity. Yusuf is dead.”
She dropped the phone and her hand was sweaty when she picked it back up. “De...dead? Sweet goddess, Larry, what happened?” Bile rushed up in her throat.
“I don’t know all the details, Verity. But I thought you should know.”
“I’ll...I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
Verity closed her phone and covered her eyes giving in to the need to cry. It scarcely registered that Dominic moved to her side and wrapped his arms around her. His hand rubbed her back in a soothing motion.
“What the hell happened, Verity?” Dominic asked removing her hands from her face. His strong fingers wiped away the tears and he handed her a napkin. “Talk to me, Verity. Don’t shut me out.”
“Yusuf...was...killed.”
Born To Fly Wild As The Wind Page 7