by Leslie North
The ache of loneliness settled in his chest again and images of M resurfaced in his mind. Her laughing, her giving him hell when he deserved it, her crying out his name as she’d come apart in his arms. God, he’d do just about anything to have one more night with her.
As if conjured by magic, the sound of the door opening echoed down the hall and then there she stood. Mirabelle Walker, M, in all her made up, colorful glory. Her hair was pink today, matching the glittering pink shadow on her eyelids and the shimmering gloss on her lips. Loki didn’t think he’d ever seen a more beautiful sight in his life.
“Loki, are you still there?” Steele asked from the phone line.
“Oh, um, yes sir. I’m still here.” His gaze was locked on M in the doorway. She was soon joined by Everly, with the baby in her arms, and Alexandra, who pushed past the other two and came in to sit on Hunter’s lap.
“Did you tell him yet, baby?” Alex asked Hunter after giving him a long kiss.
“Nope. Not yet. Cam here’s been hogging all the spotlight.” Hunter hiked his thumb toward his buddy, who was now cooing to his infant daughter like an idiot. Loki couldn’t help but smile.
“What’s your decision, Loki?” Steele demanded. “I don’t have all day.”
“Put him on hold again,” M mouthed to him and Loki did as she asked.
“I’m sorry, sir. One more second.”
“Loki, I’m warning you—” Whatever else Steele had been about to say was cut off as Loki hit the hold button again. “What’s going on? Why is everyone here? And what were you going to tell me, Hunt?”
“Alex here has decided to invest some of her hard-earned movie money in our company.” Hunter kissed his fiancée’s cheek. “Her financial advisors have been bugging her for months to diversify so this is the perfect opportunity.”
“Plus, I like to feel as if I’m making a difference,” Alex added. “You guys need the money and I know you’ll spend it wisely. Consider it an investment in my husband’s career.”
Loki sat back, considering the offer. “I’ll require a significant initial outlay and subsequent infusions of cash each year, indefinitely, until we get on our feet. Are you willing to take that on?”
“Whatever you need.” Alex smiled then snuggled closer to her soon-to-be husband. “I’ve instructed my accountants to handle all the paperwork and give you anything you ask for, within reason.”
“So, what do you say?” Cam asked. “Should we take over Norse Security ourselves?”
“Hey,” M said, walking into the office to perch on the corner of Loki’s desk. Her position gave him an excellent view of her smooth, creamy thighs beneath her short black leather skirt and damn if his body didn’t tighten in response. “I want in on this too.”
Those words shocked him out of his lusty imaginings. “What? What about your promotion?”
“What about it?” M shrugged. When he raised a brow at her, she rolled her eyes and gave him an irate stare. “Fine. I turned it down, okay?”
“Why?” He scowled. “That promotion was everything to you. You worked your ass off for it.”
“Not everything. Not anymore.” She slid off the desk to sit in his lap, her sweet scent and warmth surrounding him. “Look, I think you and I made a pretty good team, in and out of the sack, and I’d like the opportunity to explore that further.” With those last words she slid her fingers up his chest to tangle in the hair at the nape of Loki’s neck, making him shiver. “That is, if you’re interested.”
Oh. Fuck. Yes.
He was more than interested, but after years of deception and suspicion, he had to be sure. “I’m interested. But you realize this means us trying to live with each other, both in business and outside of it, right? Twenty-four seven. You and me.”
Her smile started small then grew as she looked deep into his eyes. “Yes. I realize that.”
“No more pretending,” he said, cupping the back of her head and pulling her closer.
“No more pretending,” she said, closing the tiny gap between then and kissing him deeply.
The world around him fell away and there was only his M, in his arms, in his life once more. Hope and happiness swelled inside him, shoving aside the cold loneliness he’d thought he’d have to live with forever. All he wanted was to hold her and love her and keep her with him forever.
Until the sound of a clearing throat broke them apart.
M buried her face in his neck and Loki looked over her head to see four pairs of curious eyes watching them. The light on the phone blinked angrily and he reached over to push it one last time.
“Steele? I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to decline your offer. We’ve decided to buy you out and take over Norse Security ourselves. I’ll have my attorneys contact your attorneys next week. Thanks anyway.”
His backer blustered and cursed, but Loki just hung up.
A huge cheer erupted from his office. The guys shook hands and the girls hugged. Even Cam’s infant daughter got in on the celebration by letting loose a healthy wail. Loki kept M in his lap, his arms locked tight around her waist, holding her close. While the others chattered amongst themselves, Loki whispered in M’s ear, “Are you sure you want to be saddled with a charming chameleon like me? Half the time I don’t even know who the real me is.”
M raised her head and cupped his cheeks, her warm smile the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. “I’m more certain about you than I’ve ever been of anything ever. And I know where to find the real you. I can always find him, no matter how lost he becomes. He’s right here.” She placed her hand over his racing heart. “I love you, Kevin Low.”
Loki hugged her tight, inhaling the floral scent of her shampoo and warm clean woman. “I love you too, Mirabelle Walker. Now, today and always.”
She kissed him sweetly then rested her forehead against his. “Now, today and always.”
End of Battle with the SEAL
Ride with the SEAL, July 19 2018
Undercover with the SEAL, July 26 2018
Battle with the SEAL, August 2 2018
PS: Do you love alpha-male SEALs? Then keep reading for exclusive extracts from SEAL Defender.
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About Leslie
Leslie North is the USA Today Bestselling pen name for a critically-acclaimed author of women's contemporary romance and fiction. The anonymity gives her the perfect opportunity to paint with her full artistic palette, especially in the romance and erotic fantasy genres.
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BLURB
Mark Aleki Rogers left the Navy SEALs behind, but he found another use for his special skills. He and his fellow “Brothers-in-Arms” now run an intense boot camp that trains civilians to survive extreme situations. Mark’s size is intimidating, but the half-Samoan surfer is an eternal optimist. A suspicious string of suicides among SEALs, however, has Mark convinced it’s murder. He’s determined to get to the bottom of it…quietly. If he doesn’t, a murderer may go free.
Reporter Geneva Rios has come to the California coast looking for a story. The recent SEAL suicides are connected to the Brothers-in-Arms, and Geneva wants to know more. The interview she’s hoping for, though, comes at a price. The smoking-hot SEAL won’t talk unless she completes his training course. If she can survive Mark’s audition, she’ll have the angle she needs. Spending more time with Mark has its own perks, but for the exotic brunette, exposing the Navy SEALs is more than just a story…it’s personal.
>
As the heat between them reaches its boiling point, the pair puts more than their heads together. But with their own lives in danger, can they catch a killer before it’s too late?
Grab your copy of SEAL Defender
(Brothers in Arms Security Book One) from
www.LeslieNorthBooks.com
* * *
SNEAK PEAK
Chapter One
Mark Aleki Rogers rode out the last crests of the giant wave all the way to the shallows, murmuring quietly, “Ola ma le alofa fua.”
Live and love freely.
Yep. That was his motto. Or, at least as freely as the events of the last few months would allow. Two funerals in six months. There was definitely something wrong.
Sure, there were guys who came back from combat so bruised and battered emotionally that they couldn’t cope and killed themselves, but the two guys who had worked for him as instructors at his security firm, Brothers In Arms, hadn’t fit that bill. Not at all.
In fact, Mark couldn’t shake the strong suspicion that they weren’t suicides at all.
Too many things didn’t add up.
He jumped off his customized Proctor Mendia Surfboard, a gift to himself last year and one he had yet to get enough use of, and waded to the shore. Looking at his watch, he sighed.
“Leila is waiting,” he reminded himself, as he looked back toward the ocean.
He’d love to stay out here the rest of the afternoon and catch more waves, for the water was the only place, he could live completely in the moment these days but his sister, Leila, was expecting him. She’d said she wanted help unloading a new shipment of ice cream for her seaside diner, but Mark knew from long experience that whenever Leila asked for his assistance, it was never that simple.
“I hope this new ice cream is good, sis. What am I saying, all ice cream is good.” He chuckled at his own comment knowing that he wouldn’t be heading back out to the surf anytime soon not when family needed him.
In the Samoan culture, you did anything for family. Family came first. Always. Aiga was the Samoan word for family and one his mother had emblazoned on his and his sister’s mind from an earlier age. Now, it was part of his DNA, just another facet of who he was, which was why he didn’t mind helping out in the restaurant.
His mom always blamed his inquisitive nature and high moral standards on his island heritage as well, but Mark knew better. Those skills had come directly from his time as a Navy SEAL. Honor, integrity, fortitude. If Hell Week didn’t drill those into a guy, nothing would.
That was another reason he was suspicious about those deaths.
Taking one’s own life was a sign of hopelessness.
And rule number one for SEALs—there was always hope.
He planned to do some nosing around into the cases later to put his own mind at ease. He’d have to do it on the down low though. No sense drawing law enforcement’s attention at this point. Not until he’d gathered the information, he needed.
After one last, longing look back at the excellent surf rolling in off the California coast, Mark tucked his board beneath his arm and started to jog the half mile to his sister’s place. Sure, he was still dripping wet and covered in salt and sand, Leila would most likely give him hell for it too, but hey. After serving his country faithfully as a SEAL officer for eight years and now as a busy small business owner himself, she’d have to take what she got. The afternoon sun beat down on his shaved head and made the slight shadow of dark stubble on his scalp itch. Yeah, a shower would’ve been good, but duty called.
Wearing a pair of neon blue men’s surf shorts and nothing else, he ran down the beach. Mark couldn’t help admiring the stunning beauty of the landscape. Sheer dark cliffs lined the sunbaked sand and jagged rocks jutted from the ocean waters. A colony of sea lions basked on a shoal, honking, grunting and generally causing a ruckus. The air smelled of salt, decaying seaweed and fish and if he closed his eyes, he could almost imagine himself in Samoa instead of California. Not that he’d ever visited his mother’s homeland, but it was certainly on his bucket list someday.
Mark rounded another cliff, and then slowed his pace as two familiar figures approached from the other direction. What the hell? This was supposed to be his day off from the office.
Grab your copy of SEAL Defender
(Brothers in Arms Security Book One) from
www.LeslieNorthBooks.com