by Bella Juarez
“Rock, I’ve got that background check you wanted,” Mac said.
“What did you find out, Mac?” Rock asked.
Master Chief McGuire sat down and opened a folder. He scanned the contents and looked up a short time later.
“He checks out okay to me. He’s a reservist who went active in July of last year. He’s been at BAMC ever since. He was working at Southwest Research here in San Antonio for Pfizer Pharmaceuticals on a contract for the last five years. I don’t see any red flags. He got a divorce a couple years ago,” Mac said as he handed Rock the folder.
“Thanks, Mac,” Rock said.
Chapter 10
Old City - Kucukayasofya Caddesi
No: 60 Sultanahmet
Istanbul, Turkey
May 20, 2009/1012 Zulu
Isabel watched buildings pass as the cab sped through the narrow streets. They pulled up to a mansion that was located on a busy street corner in the center of Sultanahmet. As Alex opened the door and climbed out, he held his hand out to help her from the backseat of the small cab. She stepped out and looked around.
“Is this the hotel?” Isabel asked Alex as he picked up their few belongings.
“Apparently. It’s a nice Best Western, huh?” Alex said as he led her inside.
The hotel was a renovated old townhouse in the center of the Old City on the European side of Istanbul. The hotel faced the Marmara Sea and had a view of St. Sophia. Around her Isabel could see Western-style dress and cars. She looked down at the clothes she’d been wearing for the last couple of days and knew she needed to go shopping before she did anything else. They stepped inside the lobby and were greeted by a clean, classic area that was lined with warm wooden walls.
As Alex was busy talking to the concierge, Isabel was drawn to the boutique inside the hotel. She was looking through the clothes when a woman came up to her and started to shoo her out of the store.
“We want no beggars here!” the woman hissed in Arabic.
“Excuse me?” Isabel replied.
“Get out, gypsy!” the woman hissed.
Isabel missed the woman’s eyes widening because she was angry at being treated badly when she was the one spending the money.
“Who the hell do you think you are? I need some clothes, damn it! And you’re a store. I am a size eight. I don’t know what that means here, but you better find out pretty damn quick!” Isabel demanded in English.
“I’m so sorry, ma’am. Please this way,” the woman replied in English.
“I’ll be there in just a minute, remember size eight,” Isabel repeated as she turned around toward the lobby to find Alex.
Izzy didn’t go far because she walked into Alex’s chest when she turned around. He was staring at the saleswoman with a murderous look she’d seen before. He was pissed off and it was a damn good thing he wasn’t carrying a gun.
“Are you all right, angel?” Alex asked softly. His features softened when he looked at her.
“I can take care of myself, thank you.”
“No doubt, Izzy.”
“Did you get my room?”
“Yes, I did, room fourteen,” Alex said as he handed her the key card.
“I need to get some clothes and some other things. Do you think we can find a store for some personal things I need?”
“I think so, angel,” Alex said as he started to lead her out of the store.
“Actually, I really want to get something to wear. This outfit I’m wearing now will start walking by itself. I’ll be there in a little while.”
Alex smiled at the little joke. It had taken them two days to get out of Afghanistan. The airport in Jalalabad had come under brief attack and the military transport, or MAC, plane that took them from Afghanistan to Turkey was delayed. Alex had a week of leave in Turkey before they’d get to Stockholm.
Alex walked out of the boutique and Isabel went and found the saleslady, who had selected some clothes for her to try on. Many of them were too dressy, so she opted for more casual jeans and comfortable shoes. She never really thought about the kind of underwear she wore until now. She selected a few lacy things and made her purchase. The woman offered to have the clothes cleaned and sent to her room within a couple of hours.
Isabel felt much better about having something to wear. The shalwar kameez she wore was comfortable, but it was time to lose it. She found her room and slid the card through the lock. She shook her head when she stepped inside the room and heard water running. The damn nerve! She’d told him she wanted her own room! Alex was in her room taking a shower. Isabel set down the bags she was carrying and looked around. It wasn’t a room, it was a suite, and as she looked closer she saw there were two rooms separated by a common living area. She rolled her eyes. He’d technically done what she’d asked.
The door to the room where Isabel heard the water coming from was open. She peeked inside and saw his bag sitting on the bed. Not wanting to disturb him, she walked across the suite to her own room and shut the door. Before she took off her clothes to take a much-needed bath, she looked for towels and found a robe hanging behind the door. The space Alex had acquired for them was nice.
Isabel slipped out of her clothes and into a hot bath. As she soaked, her tense muscles eased and relaxed. She must’ve dozed because the water was cold by the time she got up and ran the shower to really scrub herself. She stepped into the warm, inviting bath robe that was waiting for her. She heard the TV playing through the door as she lay down to rest only to be woken to a soft kiss on her cheek and a gentle caress to her back. She moaned softly, rolled over, and opened her eyes to find Alex smiling down at her.
“Your clothes are here, Izzy,” Alex said with another kiss.
“Don’t you knock?” Isabel asked sleepily as she wrapped her arms around him.
“I did knock. You didn’t hear me,” Alex said, lowering himself to her.
“Why do you assume I want you in my room?” Isabel asked as Alex nibbled at her throat.
“Is that a trick question, angel?” He kissed her.
“No, you always assume that I want you touching me and that you can do it anytime you want to.” She pulled him closer.
“A man assumes that when he’s having sex with a woman.” He untied her robe.
“Are we having sex?” She closed her eyes, giving in to his sweet caresses.
“Yes, we are, angel.” He locked his lips onto hers.
Isabel melted into the sheets when Alex ran his tongue over her bottom lip and sucked it into his mouth. At the same time he was working her mouth, he slowly moved his hands over her ribs. She shivered when he grabbed her breasts and lightly massaged them, slowly stroking her nipples with his thumbs. She moved her hands firmly over his back, wanting him close, but he held his position steady and chuckled lowly.
“Easy, angel, I know what you need,” Alex said in his sensually hypnotic voice.
Alex moved his mouth over her throat. As he moved down to her breasts, he lightly bit and nipped at her. Isabel was writhing underneath him. She never imagined what biting would do to her. She loved the way he nibbled at her with his teeth and Alex seemed to know how to do it just right. There was a familiar twinge at her nipple as he bit down and licked it away.
“Alex…” Izzy moaned. It was a slip. She couldn’t help what she was saying. He was shredding her consciousness with his delicious manipulation of her senses. “Alex!” she cried as another bite to her nipple went straight to her pussy.
“Angel? Why don’t you want me touching you? Don’t you enjoy this?” he asked as he bit lightly again and licked to ease the slight ache.
Isabel couldn’t answer because she couldn’t string a sentence together right now. She gripped Alex’s biceps and moaned as he moved his way back up to her lips and kissed her gently.
“Answer me, Izzy,” Alex said, his voice a little more demanding.
“Huh?” she asked, opening her eyes slightly, looking into those sapphire pools that made her go liquid.
“Ah!” she screamed.
Izzy threw back her head and closed her eyes at the jolt of pleasure that shot through her. Alex continued his gentle strumming of her pussy and nibbling of her skin. Isabel pulled at his clothes. Somewhere she’d retained a shred of logic and wondered what the hell was making her so crazy whenever this man touched her. She wanted to fight it because she knew he was a control freak and it would come back to haunt her if she didn’t maintain a level of independence from him.
The last glimmer of reasonable thought was snuffed out when Alex kissed her. The stroking of her clit and the tweaking at her skin made her shudder. She was at the threshold of another perfect orgasm. Suddenly her pleasure was rudely jerked away, and she howled in protest when he moved his hand away. He traced his wet finger up her body and circled her nipple with it. Alex leaned down and took it in his mouth, licking her juices from her skin. He adjusted himself to rest fully on top of her and kissed Izzy again as he took both of her breasts in his big hands and squeezed gently.
“Angel, do you want me to touch you?” he asked, tracing his tongue over her bottom lip.
“Yes!” Isabel moaned.
“Then why does it make you angry when I reach for you?” Alex asked.
“I’m not angry,” Isabel said with a sigh. I don’t want to talk. Please just make me come!
“Then why do you say the things you do?” Alex asked as he nipped at around her throat.
Isabel opened her eyes and looked at him in slack-eyed confusion. What did I say, again? She was trying to think, but her body was screaming for release.
“It hurts me to think you don’t want me. I care about you and now that I can touch you, I don’t want to stop,” he said, kissing her.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. Please just make me come!
“You can reach for me anytime you want. Can I touch you if I want to?” Izzy closed her eyes in delight as he nibbled on her earlobe.
“Yes, Alex.” She moaned at the tickling sensation she got from the new spot he’d discovered.
“I won’t hurt you, angel. Trust me. Take what I’m giving you and let me make you happy.” He kissed her tenderly.
The emotional plea of Alex’s words reached deep inside Isabel to a place she didn’t know existed until something melted and cracked. She could almost hear it in the center of her body. She would give anything to be truly happy. Something had always held her back and kept her on the edge. Now this man who could turn her into a shaking mass with just his voice wanted to make her happy. How could she resist? She took his face in her hands and smiled at him. He smiled back and kissed her.
“Touch me,” Isabel whispered, closing her eyes.
“Anytime I want to?”
“Anytime you want to.”
Alex’s hands and mouth returned to their heart-stopping ministrations. Even though his fingers were focused in one area, his light touch ran down the length of her body. He moved farther down and lifted himself up. Isabel opened her eyes and saw that he was starting to take off his clothes, so she sat up and knelt on the bed and reached for the buttons on his shirt. Alex dropped his hands and let Izzy undress him.
Isabel opened his shirt and shoved it from his shoulders and placed a kiss to the center of his chest as it fell to the ground. She unfastened his jeans, and as she pulled down the zipper and moved her mouth down his belly to bite lightly, Alex hissed. She saw his abdominal muscles flex at the little nip and looked up at him with a smile.
“You have an outie,” Isabel said, kissing around his belly button.
Alex took Isabel’s upper arms and pulled her up. He looked…dangerous. Izzy was still very naïve and was unsure if she’d done something wrong. His entire demeanor changed.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Nothing, angel. That feels so good,” Alex said as he pushed the loose robe from her shoulders and kissed her. She finished the task of slowly undressing him.
* * * *
Alex inhaled to try and get a grip. When Isabel had licked around his belly button, he almost took his cock out and ordered her to suck it, slow and deep. He had to get this instinct under control because she was making him crazy and he was liable to slip back into his old self without thinking. He watched as she continued to undress him. He’d just managed to get her to release more of that precious power she wanted to maintain with him to keep him at a distance.
The last thing he needed to do was make demands. It would just piss her off and he’d have to start back at square one. Alex was patient and fully expected gaining Izzy’s trust would take some time. Isabel pushed Alex’s jeans down his legs and looked up at him. Oh no! His cock was so close to her face. He inhaled again because he could picture her down on her knees, looking up at him, ready to do his bidding.
“What is it, angel?” Alex asked, cupping her face under her chin.
“Come to me, Alex.”
Alex pushed the rest of his clothes off and backed Isabel onto her bed. He stroked her ribs and played with her belly, tickling. Izzy giggled. He smiled and kissed her. He needed to lighten his mood a little. He decided he needed to get to know her a little better and explore any minor limits she might have.
Leaning down, he kissed Isabel’s belly. He worked his way down and kissed the top of her pussy. He carefully watched her body language for any indication of displeasure. She looked at him and smiled. He moved off the bed and knelt on the floor.
“Come here, Izzy,” Alex said, directing her to the edge of her bed. He stroked her long legs lovingly and moved his hands to her inner thighs. He touched her clit lightly and moved his finger up and down. She moaned and relaxed.
“Izzy, I want to taste you. Can I?” he asked as he continued rubbing her clit.
“You can do whatever you want.” Isabel sighed.
Oh, angel, don’t say that. There’s so much I want to do right now. He leaned forward and replaced his finger with his tongue. Isabel twitched slightly when he stuck his finger inside her pussy and found her G-spot.
Alex wanted her to come for him quickly because he would be on the verge of exploding once he got inside her. Isabel was rubbing her pussy into his face and fucking his finger without abandon. She clenched his fingers with a slight spasm as she screamed. He sucked her clit and fingered her cunt a little faster, encouraging her peak.
Isabel slowed her thrusting and her screams turned into a whimper when he removed his finger and moved up her body. Alex easily flipped her onto her belly and raised her hips. He grabbed his cock and rubbed it against her slit, soaking it with her juices. Alex smiled as Izzy’s body shook. He knew he was causing slight shivers to run through her as the rawness from the rush of hormones still flowed just below her skin’s surface. He couldn’t wait to join her in that heightened physical responsiveness of release and pleasure.
Alex slid his cock in slowly and shivered. He shut his eyes briefly in delight as he gripped the flesh of Isabel’s sexy ass. He looked at her flawless skin and relaxed his grip. As much as he wanted to mark her, it could wait. He moved his hands over her ass. Grabbing her hips, Alex pulled his cock out and then pushed back in slowly. She was still tight from her orgasm. He always knew fucking her in this position would be good, but this was a dream. Alex started a slow, steady cadence of moving his cock in and out of her pussy while he played with her body. Isabel moaned and started moving with him.
Alex tensed and he tightened his grip because he didn’t want Izzy to move. He wanted to fuck her. His way at his pace. He squeezed his eyes shut. He also didn’t want to bark at her and command her obedience. He reached his hands around her waist and held her in place, stopping her. Alex threw back his head and increased his pace. He groaned at the sweet friction of his cock gliding in and out of her pussy. Isabel’s sultry, muffled cry drove Alex to the brink as he started slammin
g into her harder and faster.
“Fuck, angel! Your pussy feels so good like this!” He growled.
Alex’s cock lurched and his balls tightened as he grabbed Isabel’s hips like a vise and shoved into her. He roared as he released himself to the gratification of a bone-melting climax. He pulled back and shoved forward once more, holding her against him. His knees buckled slightly and he had to lean forward to catch himself against the edge of the bed. He rubbed Isabel’s back lovingly as he moved away and helped her onto her back.
Alex lay down beside Isabel and clutched her close to him. He closed his eyes and kissed her forehead lightly as she wrapped her arm around him tightly and squeezed. He opened his eyes and looked at her. She looked happy and her happiness spread through him as he closed his eyes and rested for a moment in sated contentment, his own rush subsiding. He wanted to fulfill his earlier promise to her and take her to the store as well as get her a good meal. All they’d managed for twenty-four hours was some MREs, but lying next to her felt so good.
“Do you still want to go out, angel?” Alex asked.
“I need to go out and I would really like something to eat that comes on a plate not in a bag,” Izzy said.
Alex smiled and yawned. He was relaxed and wanted to sleep for a little while. Instead he got up, picked up his clothes, and walked to his room. Izzy took another shower, got dressed, and they hit the streets of Istanbul, making their way toward the Grand Bazaar that was a fifteen-minute walk from the hotel.
Along the way they were able to find some shops with some more Western-style clothing as well as the personal things she needed. They lazily kept walking toward the Grand Bazaar as they took in the sights and talked. Alex watched Izzy’s expressions of wide-eyed wonder on and off as the Bazaar came into view. He was glad she’d appreciated its historic significance. They casually walked through the crowded covered streets and glanced into a few of the over 3,000 shops inside. They stopped for a late lunch at one of the restaurants in the heart of the Bazaar.