As they looked up at the magical night, it wasn’t long before they begin competing for whom was the most knowledgeable about the stars configurations. Lily couldn’t begin to keep up with Quinn as he had studied the stars diligently as a Navy SEAL. It was his guiding map at night during any assignment when electronics weren’t available. However, when he began pointing out breasts and vaginas in the sky, she wondered how long he’d been making up his own constellations and decided it was time to stop his shenanigans right then and there. Lily retaliated by dumping the rest of her champagne on his chest, and he retaliated by flipping her horizontal, setting off a rampage of necking and tickling in retribution, which didn’t last long before it turned serious and Quinn began licking the champagne off her nipples again, even though they both knew there wasn’t a drop left. At that point, Lily decided to return the favor.
It surprised Quinn that Lily was so quick to explore him as she softly reached out and ran her hand over his chest lightly sprinkled with soft black hair kissing him as she went. Quinn let her swirl her fingers around each flat nipple until she began to trace the strip of hair to his belly button and going beyond. He lay still, glorifying in her well-stacked breasts and her perky nipples that mesmerized him with their dusty pink color, all the while enjoying their feel as they hovered and dusted gently over his chest. That was when he finally put on the brakes and flipped Lily on her back again.
“My turn,” he murmured.
Quinn methodically began to peal the delicate scrap of rose pink string bikini slowly past Lily’s belly button and shapely tan legs. All the while he was exploring, he was enjoying her tiny waist that curved inward before it flared out to sculptured hips speculating that they would someday be perfect for carrying his babies.
Quinn wasn’t about to get out of control before he had taken Lily to her height of ecstasy like he had planned to do that last night on New Year’s Eve so many years ago. So, he immediately persevered with patience and began his sexual assault in slow motion as he heightened his sensual lovemaking so that it would be memorable and perfect for both of them.
Quinn wasted no time getting Lily’s attention again by teasing her nipples with light kisses before he began lavishing each one with a loving wet tongue that had Lily arching her back off the mattress with breathless passion – mission accomplished — almost. Quinn didn’t stop there. He continued kissing down her smooth porcelain torso as moaning Lily clutched his hair with both hands. It went on to be a lesson in restraint for Quinn – if the SEALs had taught him nothing else, it was patience in all endeavors. This first time was for Lily. So, when he finally made her his, he was more than rewarded for his patience with a pleasant surprise that she had waited just for him. It brought him complete happiness. At last, she was his forever and always.
CHAPTER 22
Lily knew Quinn was awake and watching her before she opened her eyes to connect with his, just as she did physically last night. She smiled, “I know you’re watching me.” Opening her baby blues, she met his baby blues. They continued staring at each other and found that it was just about as erotic as the touching had been last night.
Quinn smiled back and couldn’t help his finger from circling around the naked nipple that winked up at him. “I’ve been trying to contain myself for the last thirty minutes waiting for any sign that you might be awake.”
“Actually, I’ve been awake and playing possum since you rolled out of bed to go to the bathroom giving me a fabulous view of your naked muscular buns.”
“You’d better be joking?” he threatened.
“You’ll never know,” she grinned and stretched giving him a view of both breasts and her belly button.
Ah, Lily, you will always make my life interesting, he thought as he instigated another round of lovemaking for which he had been so patiently waiting.
The next few days Lily and Quinn spent the time savoring the islands recreation in “The Reef Atlantis” when they weren’t making their own recreation in the privacy of their suite. They swam, snorkeled, sailed, and enjoyed the beautiful fountain of pools that surrounded the hotel. The only hitch Quinn had was all the attention that Lily got from male admirers when she appeared in her turquoise“ string bikini. It plain annoyed him, but was pacified only because he was the one that got to make love to her in his bed every morning, noon, and night, which mellowed him out considerably. Unfortunately, like all good things, the week passed much too quickly and the mock honeymoon was soon over.
Quinn and Lily each left the hotel with a souvenir from that special night together. Lily left with the elegant nightie and a gold belly button ring with diamond stars pierced in her naval as a promise ring to be engaged. Quinn left with the rose colored panties in his left pocket over his heart.
Quinn drove them to the airport dropping Lily at one airline while he checked in his JAG and boarded another flight. He left her with a passionate kiss and only said, “I’ll be in touch.”
Lily didn’t see him again for almost two years.
CHAPTER 23
Quinn flew back to Coronado Island to join his unit at the Naval Special Warfare Center. He had very little time to reflect on his relationship with Lily as he snored on the plane all the way home. That reflection would come later – much later.
Quinn was at peace with himself — more so than he had been since he was ten. He had finally made Lily his. He began to make plans for their future. He was sure she would be on board as he mapped things out. It was time he retired from the SEALS. He was twenty-nine and beginning to be the oldest on his specialty team. He would put in his resignation after this last assignment and settle into civilian life. It would be a good life with Lily – one that would make them happy.
The next morning the Navy had Team Five on a military jet headed to Yemen in the Middle East. Six of them were on assignment, which included Quinn as their commanding officer. After jetting nearly eight hours, they landed in Aden, a seaport near the Red Sea. It was a busy place as it was a major refueling port for freight and oil transit ships from many countries. It is actually the busiest in the world. Lately, it had had a swarm of earthquakes. There had been a lot of speculation as to what was causing them. Two theories existed – it was a precursor to an undersea tear in the Gulf of Aden Ridge or a volcanic eruption under the sea that was about to explode. Not only were underwater earthquakes a concern, but it was also an unstable area known as a haven for AL-Qaeda. Either way, it was not a healthy place for Americans to be hanging out any longer than necessary.
The USS Cole, one of our large Navel carriers, was supposed to briefly dock at the port in Yemen, but after fueling up, their radar equipment detected an unknown object attached to the side of their vessel under the water. They immediately alerted their situation to their superiors. They promptly sent the SEALS Unit Team Five to check out the operation and to diffuse a bomb if necessary. They were the best. It should be somewhat routine – it should have been.
Everyone was getting a little nervous by the time the SEALS arrived. They were greeted with respect and enthusiasm from their fellow comrades on board the carrier. They were given only a small amount of time to change into their underwater gear before taking a dip in the Aden Gulf to inspect the situation. It was just as the commanders suspected – a bomb large enough to blow a hole in the side of the ship was attached in the middle of the carrier like an oversized lethal barnacle right where it would do the most damage.
Climbing aboard the ship again, the SEALS prepared to dismantle the bomb by suiting up with bomb vests and other gear for protection, just as if they were dismantling a bomb on land. A small plan was formed within minutes. It would be routine.
While Quinn waited for all members of his Team Five to regroup and ready themselves to defuse the bomb, he transported himself back to two nights ago in the Caribbean and thinking about the time he spent with Lily. Lily was finally his. She had belonged to no one else. He was surprised, but not disappointed. Being a possessive male, he just wanted
to make sure it stayed that way. He was amazed that he was so dominant in his thinking, but there it was. He had never felt that way before after making love. He should have known, he’d always had a special bond with Lily, even though it was a tad turbulent. It had always been like she was his soul mate even as they had resisted each other as children. Now, that they had made love, he just needed to make sure that she understood that as well. He would call her as soon as he got back. They were going to plan a future. He touched his hand above his heart where he had carefully folded her rose panties in his breast pocket. It made him feel like she was with him. It was comforting. He was forced back to the present letting the memory of Lily fade to a special place until he was ready to pull it out again. Right now, he needed to focus on the present.
All appeared in order for the dive. As leader of the SEAL team Quinn asked, “Everyone ready?”
“Yes, Sir!!” was said in unison.
Quinn gave the signal to jump. They all followed.
The carrier was not evacuated, but as a precaution, all military split in half and was moved to opposite ends aboard deck. It was silent and respectful as the Navy crew stood at attention while they watched their fellow SEALS disappear underwater to the murky depths below.
The gulf was dense and dark. It was difficult to see even though the hot sun was shining brightly. It felt strange to Quinn and not just because they were in a foreign sea. He had an ominous feeling about their surrounding like it was waiting for something to happen. It could best be described as eerie and still – very still. Quinn tried to shake the dreadful feeling off. He needed to be concentrating on the task at hand. He would not be the one dismantling the bomb, but he would be there to help carry it to the surface. It would be dumped at sea.
Two men held flashlights that penetrated through the murky sea water. One worked on the mechanics and hot wires of the explosive. They were all as still as possible. No one made any unnecessary movement to stir the water. Hand signals were made in slow motion when needed.
Just as the last wire to the bomb was about to be cut, Quinn felt a subtle vibration. He looked around and noticed that they were completely void of marine life, which was very unusual as no matter where they were in the world they were always surrounded by curious fish, seals, turtles, dolphins, and hungry sharks looking at them as potential food. Quinn suddenly began to feel a dreadful rattle and rumble in the distance. There was not enough time to alert his team. It happened too fast. There was an eruption on the bottom of the gulf floor near them, a quake had begun that disturbed the serenity and created lethal conditions for the SEALS. His heart sank. The next scene unfolded almost simultaneously. Suddenly, they were all thrown against the side of the hull as the bomb imploded. Quinn saw flames shoot through the water in yellow, gold, and orange as it extended its flaming fingers of death to destroy anything in its path, which would include the Navy carrier and the men under it if at all possible.
Quinn felt the impact of the bomb as his body was thrust against the side of the carrier as though he were nothing more than a very small insignificant gnat that was suddenly plastered against a windshield. He felt like he was being hurled through space without the stars guiding him. In the same instance, he felt a searing raw stabbing pain that was so excruciating he couldn’t even identify the region it originated. After that, he was surrounded by an unidentified dark inky substance. It was like a dark red curtain had just come down to signal the end of a play. He could see no one. He felt nothing, only a numb coldness and then blackness that mated with oblivion pulling him into a deep dark abyss as his soul vanished and the light went out.
Above deck, the carrier vibrated and swayed. It held its own as sailors in the middle of the chaos summed up the situation and began diving overboard to help the injured SEALS underneath as they fought for their lives. All six bodies from Team Five were pulled aboard. Some were pulled from the deep depths only to have a hero’s burial when they were brought home. Blood was everywhere. Sharks began to circle. By that time, all members of the Navy were accounted for and on deck. The scene, however, remained in semi-devastation as medics took over and medical helicopters were called for assistance.
The Navy took two SEALS home in body bags that day. Quinn was not among them. Evil had lurked in the Aden waters and surrounded them during the small sliver of time that they were there, taking as much life as possible while it gave nothing back but death and destruction in return. It was like most life altering dangerous situations that suddenly happen in an instance of time. No one is ever prepared to anticipate the x-factor, the unforeseen, unanticipated, or the unfortunate twist of fate that changes things forever.
CHAPTER 24
Lilly was three months pregnant. She had not heard from Quinn since the time that they had shared during the fabulous week in the Caribbean together. Quinn told her not to be concerned if she did not hear from him months at a time, but nevertheless, she was. She couldn’t help herself. She chewed on her bottom lip thinking about the child she carried and if it were a boy or a girl. Would it look like her? Would it look like him? She smiled at the thought. Then, her eyebrows puckered together in a small frown. How would Quinn react when she told him? Did he even want to be a father? Did it matter whether he did or not? Of course it did, but she would and could manage just fine on her own. It’s just not how she imagined her life might be or ought to be. She only wished with all her heart that he would return her phone calls soon and take away her anxiety. Her wish was not acknowledged nor was it even heard.
Across the Atlantic in a German hospital, Quinn was fighting for his life. He just didn’t know it yet. He had lost most of his upper thigh in the blast that shook The USS Cole, but he didn’t know that either. His shattered thighbone had been replaced with a portion of titanium in his upper right leg. He was fortunate that they were able to save and attach the bottom half of his leg with tissue and muscle that was also body friendly. His own skin was being grown into skin stem cells that would be sprayed on his body with a medical device that appeared to be right out of a science fiction dialog. The skin would regrow and eventually cover the top portion of his leg closing the wound and making it look somewhat normal. The same procedure was being used on burn victims in the service. It would still be a long time in healing, but it was as close to a medical miracle as was possible in this modern day of science.
Quinn lay in a sterile white hospital bed. Tubes were running out of his nose, arms, leg and chest, which also had several broken ribs. A lung had collapsed on impact and it was one of his many body parts struggling to heal and become normal again. A ventilator was helping keep him alive for the present. He had not yet awoken from the ordeal that had left two of his comrades dead. He was in unconscious agony on a daily basis since he had been brought into the facility. He could feel himself fading in and out of gray limbo as he would morph back and forth to an unknown place of divine serene and comfort. Most of the time, he heard nothing, felt nothing. It mattered not. Occasionally, he heard voices and tortured blood curdling unrecognizable screams. Everyone nearby could hear his shrieks of agony throughout the unit when the pain medicine would begin to wear off. It almost was his mom and dad’s undoing.
Swan and Troy had a bed in Quinn’s room. Neither had slept much for days that were now turning into months. Much of that period, Troy held Swan while she sobbed over her son. It was a difficult time for both parents. When death seemed eminent, the twins came for what they thought were his last rites and their final farewell.
Troy was especially glad when Steve arrived at the hospital, which was Jade’s new husband. It was good to have the reinforcements of another male in the family at this difficult time as they stared down at Quinn and held his hand watching him slip away right in front of them. He needed the extra support to keep the ladies from becoming totally unglued – himself included.
It was fortunate that Quinn surprised them all and began to rally for life not long after they all came for what they thought would be their
final visit. His journey suddenly changed directions that day for the better. Everyone was so grateful that they never questioned that there was just no rhyme or reason for his turn around. None of the family could talk about his horrible ordeal. It was just too devastating and awful to discuss with anyone outside the family. They all knew that his journey back to health would still continue to be long and painful, but they left thankful.
It would be almost nine months that Quinn would be kept in a coma to fight pain and infection before the decision was made to start slowly cutting doses of morphine and other pain killers. The medical staff began bringing Quinn back to life just as the lives that he had created were being born in the center of the United States in the state of Kansas. It was as though they were reaching for him and bringing him life through their umbilical cord of life.
Quinn finally began to see pieces of light that were no longer gray. It was like his body was thawing out from a long wintery frost. As the numbness began to subside, it was replaced with a searing burning pain. The sensation made Quinn fight to go back to the blackness, even death, but his body chose life as he continued to heal while he journeyed through hell to get there.
CHAPTER 25
Quinn, where are you? Why aren’t you answering my phone calls? This week Lily was going to the doctor for her sonogram. The doctor would tell her the sex of the baby. She needed Quinn here with her holding her hand and watching the new life that they had created together and sharing in the thrill of a boy or girl, smiling at each other as they tossed around a variety of names. Tears gathered and glistened in her eyes. She had told no one of her pregnancy. She needed to let Quinn be the first to know, but that possibility seemed slimmer with each passing day.
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