by Bella Juarez
“No.”
Diego seemed to release an awful amount of tension at the news. “Thank God.”
* * * *
Isabel looked out the window as they drove along Route One. It was the long highway that ran the length of Florida’s east side and led to Key West. She wondered what was so special about seeing Boca Chica and Key West. Every once in a while her father would take her down to the southernmost point in Key West for a day and they would look to the southeast. He would tell her about how he brought her to America and would point toward Cuba. He would remind her she was a United States citizen by choice and to be proud. She remembered what Alex looked like in a uniform and was suddenly very proud.
Alex squeezed her hand. They were almost at the end of the one-hundred-and-twenty-eight-mile drive over water. They had just driven through Sugarloaf and were over the water again. She turned and looked at him.
“How you doing, angel? We don’t have much further,” Alex said.
“Where are we going? You still haven’t told me.”
“It’s a surprise. It’s a short honeymoon, but I promise I’ll make it fun,” Alex said.
“Yeah, I know what kind of fun you want to have,” Izzy teased.
“Angel, do you think I just want your sexy body?” he said with a smile as he lifted her hand and kissed it.
Alex looked like a Hollywood playboy with his sunglasses, button-down shirt, and his khaki shorts. Izzy decided to check the labels inside his clothes to see if they were designer brands. She would almost bet her next paycheck they were.
“Well, I sure as hell want yours,” Izzy quipped.
Alex started laughing. “Well, it’s all yours now, Mrs. Richards.”
They drove through Key West and up to a really nice hotel, and once again, Izzy was thankful Alex was such a planner. He always seemed to know exactly what he was doing and how to get there without missing a beat. Izzy sincerely hoped he didn’t expect her to do any planning because it had been damn near impossible to get to Afghanistan when she left Miami. Thank goodness Doctors Without Borders had taken care of those arrangements.
Alex parked in front and a valet opened the door for Izzy. They walked inside the Pier House Hotel and Izzy looked around her in amazement. Isabel marveled at the place as they were led to their room. Room hell! It was a secret garden! The porter opened up the terrace doors to a lush tropical garden and the sight made her smile. She could have reached out and touched the plants that were growing next to the terrace railing.
Alex walked up behind her after the porter left and gently laid his big hands on her shoulders. Isabel closed her eyes and melted as his hands massaged her tension away. So much had happened in such a short time. It would be nice to reconnect and relax with him for a couple of days.
“Do you like it, angel?” Alex asked.
“Did you think I wouldn’t?” Isabel asked, leaning back into his chest.
Alex wrapped his arm around her shoulders and kissed her. “Are you hungry?”
“I’m really not. But I’m sure you are.”
“What’s going on, angel? Are you still kind of queasy?”
“Yeah, I know it’ll pass, but something light will work for me,” Isabel said.
“Just as long as you eat something.”
They found the hotel restaurant and sat outside watching the sunset. She watched Alex eat, listened to him talk, and just relaxed with him. A contented tiredness washed over her. She remembered how they’d share a meal, talk, and do something after dinner. It was a routine she looked forward to and found comfort in when she was living with him in Stockholm. Izzy toyed with the ring he’d given her today and smiled because she never imagined being married. Now she wasn’t only married but expecting a baby.
“Would you like to go for a walk, angel?” Alex asked as he drained his glass.
“Yes, I would, especially after that long drive today,” Isabel said.
“Do you want to walk the beach or just around the grounds?” Alex asked.
“The beach would be nice.”
They walked along the beach and talked some more about so many things. Alex talked about the baby and reassured her she would make a good mother. The evening was perfect, the sun was setting, and Alex was holding her hand as they walked. Isabel felt like she was living something out of one of La’Rett’s romance novels. She let a giggle escape as she thought about how bad she teased La’Rett about reading that trash.
“Did I say something funny, angel?”
“No, it’s not you. I was thinking about La’Rett.”
“Oh?” Alex asked.
“I tease her about some of the stuff she reads. I was just thinking about it,” Izzy answered.
“What does she read?”
“She reads those sappy romance books, all kinds of hot sex and bulky Neanderthals carrying their woman off. I swear the dialogue is so stupid sometimes.” Izzy giggled. Alex picked up Isabel. She squealed and giggled. “Put me down!”
“You could use a little romantic influence, Doctor. Not everything’s so clinical. You’re way too serious and I plan on making you sick with the stuff!” Alex said, tossing her over his shoulder.
“Alex!” Isabel laughed.
“You should try reading one of those hot books. Maybe you’ll learn something. I’ll bet La’Rett’s husband is a happy man after she’s done with a couple of chapters,” Alex said as he walked with her over his shoulder.
“Do I need to learn something? Put me down!” Isabel said giggling, lightly beating on his back.
“You could always learn something new, angel. This is a nice view. I should do this more often,” Alex said, running his hand over her ass.
“Alex! Stop feeling me up in public!” Izzy demanded.
Alex slid her down his body slowly and Izzy barely noticed her feet hitting the soft sand because he held her captive with his stare. The wind blew her long hair into her face and he gently brushed it away, cupping her face in his hands. His blue eyes were ablaze in the dim light of dusky evening and held her still with the intensity that she knew was behind the stare.
“You’re mine to feel up, angel. Know this right now, I don’t give a damn what anyone thinks when they see us together,” Alex said, bending to kiss her.
The kiss seemed to make time stand still and Isabel wasn’t aware that she dropped her flip-flops so that she could grip his biceps. Alex could make her forget her name and curl her toes when he kissed her. His light touches ran over her like warm water. Her pussy was starting to slicken in anticipation of what was in store for her. She pressed her body into his in a natural need to get closer.
“Angel, are you sure you don’t want me feeling you up in public?” Alex asked as he sucked in her bottom lip.
Izzy hadn’t realized Alex’s hands were secured to her butt. She frowned and tried to push away but Alex tightened his grip.
“No, Izzy. I’ve got you and you’re never getting away now,” Alex said, attaching his mouth to her throat. “Stop struggling or I’ll strip you and fuck you right here on this beach.”
“No, you wouldn’t. You’re too damn jealous and possessive.” Isabel moaned as he lightly nibbled her throat.
“I don’t give a shit what anyone sees, but they better never try to touch you.” Alex growled.
“Or talk to me…” Isabel trailed off as he released her.
Alex bent down and picked up Izzy’s flip-flops. He lightly kissed her as he put his arm around her waist.
“Let’s go back to our room, angel,” Alex said, leading her back toward the hotel.
“Told ya,” Izzy said in snarky triumph.
Alex stopped and looked at her. Uh-oh. Why the hell had she said that? His expression met her challenge and told her he was more than willing to carry out his threat. Isabel started running. He easily caught her around the waist and pulled her against him as she screamed with laughter.
“You don’t think so?” Alex growled in her ear as he lightly bit her earlob
e.
“Okay! Okay! Let’s go back!” Isabel giggled as Alex assaulted her neck with kisses.
“No, you’ve given me a challenge now.” He growled with a nip.
“I was just kidding!” Isabel declared.
Alex laughed and wrapped his arms around Izzy. He kissed her lightly and they walked back to their room. Isabel took a quick shower and slipped into bed while he was on the phone. She must’ve dozed instantly because she woke to him shifting in bed next to her. Izzy cuddled up to Alex’s back and breathed in his scent. She woke a second time to him gently rubbing her abdomen. She wiggled her butt against him and snuggled closer.
“Angel, you drive me insane when you rub against me like that,” his deep voice said lowly.
Alex’s cock suddenly came to attention as she wiggled. Izzy smiled in satisfaction. It was amazing to her that she could get that kind of reaction from him with so little effort.
“What are you doing?” Isabel asked as he continued rubbing her belly.
“Bonding with my baby and you’re interrupting our conversation,” Alex said.
Isabel giggled because for as serious as he was, Alex could be so silly at times. She turned around and put her arms around him.
“How is that bonding?” she asked.
“I don’t get to feel it growing inside me, so I’ve got to feel it from the outside,” Alex said.
“You really do want this, don’t you?” Izzy asked.
“Yes, I do, angel,” Alex answered, kissing her.
Isabel lost herself in Alex’s magical touch because he always managed to ease her into a blissful state of surrender. While he was gone, she briefly wondered what another man touching her would feel like. As Alex ran his lips over her skin and nipped, she knew there was no one else who could make her feel this way. He was right. She’d been created just for him and if there had been another, she’d have discovered him long ago. She’d waited for Alex, knowing somehow he was out there waiting for her.
Alex eased Izzy’s clothes off and she moaned at the way his fingers moved over her skin. His touch sent every nerve at the surface into a heightened state of sensitivity. Her body ached for him and it was a relief to her senses to have his erotic caresses running over her body again. She cried out when he bit down on her chin.
“Angel, I missed you,” Alex whispered.
“Alex,” she managed in a drawn-out whisper.
“That’s it, Izzy. I love hearing you moan my name. It sounds so damn sexy when you do,” he said, capturing her mouth and nibbling her lower lip.
Izzy felt the familiar quickening of her pulse at his love bites. She couldn’t manage much more than his name and her feral cries at this point because he was driving her over the edge with his kisses and nips. She cried out at the familiar ache at her nipple as Alex bit down and then lapped it to a hard point. She pushed him onto his back and quickly undressed him. She worked her mouth over his throat and returned the light love bites to his jugular as she worked her hands over his perfect body. Alex hissed as Izzy ran her finger lightly down his hard cock.
“Izzy!” Alex gutturally called as her fingers wrapped around his cock and started to stroke slowly.
“Mine!” Izzy growled.
Alex opened his eyes and watched her move lower. His breathing was just as jagged as hers. She nipped around his belly button and kissed the big scar that she’d patched up a few months earlier. Izzy closed her eyes and rubbed her cheek against his cock, and as her hands moved over his thighs, Alex shuddered and she smiled. His hand directed her head to what he wanted, his cock in her mouth. She shoved his hands away. She continued her teasing, running her cheek along his inner thigh. His cock twitched every time she made contact with his thighs and Izzy cruelly ran her fingers lightly over this newly discovered vulnerability in him. Alex groaned.
“Angel, you’re playing with fire,” he warned.
Izzy let out an evil giggle as she continued her teasing. She finally gave into his unspoken demand when she ran her tongue over the length of his shaft. Alex sounded as if she’d touched him with fire as he reached down and grabbed a handful of her hair into his fist and hissed.
“Suck my cock!” he demanded.
Izzy took his hands and laced her fingers through his as she kissed and nipped his hip. She watched as he threw back his head and cried out at the little nip. She slid lower and licked around the head. Alex squeezed her hands, sending a little jolt of pain that ignited her as she took him in slowly. She moved up and down, slowly taking him in inch by succulent inch until he hit the back of her throat.
“That’s it, angel, deeper.” Alex gasped.
Izzy moved up and down, learning how to relax her throat and take him deeper. She knew the reflex to gag was less in the morning when your muscles had just come out of a state of complete relaxation. She fucked him with her mouth until he was crying out with every downward motion. He lifted her off of him suddenly.
“Stop, angel. You need to stop now.” Alex groaned, breathless.
Izzy straddled Alex and seductively moved over his cock, lubricating it with her creamy pussy. She shuddered as the contact of his cock stimulated her sensitive clit. A familiar tingle in her belly told her this would be quick for both of them. He grabbed her ass and maneuvered himself inside her pussy, forcefully impaling her on his cock, both crying out when they collided.
“Fuck me!” Alex commanded harshly.
Izzy’s instincts responded to the call of his demand as she moved up and down, gripping his thighs as she balanced herself. She was open and exposed to his every whim as she rode his cock. Alex’s fingers dug into her hips and moved her in time with him. He released her and moved his hands over her body up to her breasts. She started to move her hands to grasp his arms.
“Keep your hands where they are, Isabel,” he ordered.
Isabel presented her body to him, offering it to him for his pleasure and ultimately her own. Alex moved his hands slowly up to her breasts as her tempo increased. She wanted to come because she was right at the edge of bliss. Alex took both her breasts into his massive hands, squeezing and tweaking her nipples. He moved one of his hands down lower, letting his fingers brush her clit, and the slight touch was a spark that set off a chain reaction in Isabel.
Izzy squeezed her legs around Alex in a death grip as her pussy clenched his cock tightly and her body released its tenuous control. Her nails bit into the flesh of his thighs and Alex groaned in delight. He gripped her ass and forced her to move up and down once more. She held onto him as her orgasm washed over her in a second wave. Alex shoved his hips upward and ground her into him as he roared his own climax. Isabel felt a second shudder of pleasure shimmy through her as his hips jerk against her, stimulating her sensitive clit.
Alex threw back his head, relaxed, and released his grip on her. Isabel freed her grasp on his thighs and fell forward as she lowered herself down, coming to rest on his chest. His arms surrounded her body protectively and lovingly as he kissed her. Isabel caught a glimpse of her ring and realized they had just now consummated their vows. They were indeed man and wife, now bound together. Last night she was exhausted, falling asleep before he could come to bed and Alex hadn’t tried to wake her when he climbed into bed later.
“I love you, Alex,” Isabel whispered tentatively.
“I love you, too, angel. More than you’ll ever know,” Alex said, stroking her back lightly.
Isabel slid off and snuggled next to him. She wanted to know what the plan was, what kind of direction her life needed to take for the day, the week or the month. Suddenly it didn’t matter. She knew Alex had a plan and he knew what direction they were going. She trusted in his guidance for the first time without feeling the need for spoken reassurance. He always did what was best for the both of them, and now for the three of them. Isabel sighed contentedly as the stress of the unknown left her. Her future was known and laid out clearly for her to see. Her future had massive arms wrapped around her and was holding her sec
ure, so she would await their next adventure with anticipation instead of the usual anxiety that seemed to rule her life for so long.
“Are you all right, angel?” Alex asked softly.
“I’m fine.” Isabel smiled as she closed her eyes.
Chapter 23
Company Grade Officer Housing
Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
September 30, 2009/2248 Zulu
Alex opened the door and was immediately greeted by the sound of laughter. He listened quietly for a moment and knew he was in trouble. Izzy had made a new friend and this woman was a bad influence. Alex walked into the kitchen and saw Isabel standing at the stove stirring a pot. Should be the other way around.
“Alex! You’re home early,” Isabel exclaimed.
“Hello, angel,” Alex said, kissing Izzy. “Smells good.”
Alex turned to the other woman in the kitchen and she smiled. He was staring into one of the most mischievous faces on the planet! He had briefly introduced Izzy around when they had arrived and then later when they had moved on base. Izzy had been picked up with a surgical group in San Antonio.
Alex had met one of the partners of the group during one of his stints in residency. The doctor was a reservist and had just lost two of the group’s surgeons to deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq. The practice was big so her hours weren’t as long and because it was a bigger practice, they were fine with her taking off to have the baby.
Izzy returned to the pot on the stove. Alex looked back at the woman sitting in his kitchen. He should’ve known this woman would be able to charm Izzy out of her shell. Her husband certainly had his hands full with her and Alex briefly wondered who the hell ran what in that house.
“Hello, Anna,” Alex said.
“Lieutenant,” she acknowledged. “I’ve got to be going, Isabel. Jack and I have plans tonight,” Anna O’Malley said with a smile.
“Don’t rush off because of me. How have you been?” Alex asked Anna.
“Fine, thank you and congratulations, papa. Jack said he’d be home early tonight and we’re going out to Justin’s restaurant. It’s not you.” Alex gave her a light hug. “Don’t forget my offer, Isabel, and I’m not being nice. I want to,” Anna said as she stood and started to walk out.