Code Name: Forever & Ever (A Warrior's Challenge series Book 5)

by Natasza Waters

  It all made sense, except her pounding pulse didn’t agree. Thane cut westward and headed back toward land. A hundred feet from a sandy white beach, he turned the powerful outboards off and they drifted. Two big cliffs on both sides, and a sheer drop of rock face behind, provided privacy.

  “Okay, people, you’re swimming for beers and dinner,” Thane hollered to the group.

  Before she knew what was happening, Patrick pulled on her hands to stand. He wrapped his thick arms around her body and nuzzled her ear. “Come on, Marg. I know you can do this.”

  With a raised chin, she said, “Of course, I can do it. It’s only a hundred feet, but I don’t want to do it.”

  While everyone had a turn waterskiing during the afternoon, she had respectfully declined. She wouldn’t put it past Thane to do this to her on purpose, knowing she was scared. She watched as they tossed coolers onto an inflatable raft and the rest of the gang jumped into the ocean. Screeching and hooting.

  She and Patrick were the only two people left in the boat. He didn’t let a second pass when his lips pressed against hers. Reassurance or desire, it didn’t matter, she met his sensual kiss with her own.

  His rough hands roamed down her back and cupped her ass, pressing her firmly against him. Suddenly, he backed off. “Think I’m going to need that cold water.”

  She chuckled and looked out over the sea. Flat calm. The sun warm on her shoulders. Curious, her hand slid down his abs and stopped just at the waistband of his swim trunks. His silver eyes flashed with heat, but he gently rested his hand over hers.

  “I don’t expect that, Marg.”

  “And what if I want that?”

  He chuckled, and his carved jaw with a sexy shadow of stubble went taut. “Not here. Not like some porn star on the hard deck of a boat.”

  “Are you like this with all the women you’ve been with?”

  His gaze darted over her shoulder toward the beach. “No.” He paused. “None,” he admitted.

  “Then why am I any different?”

  Shaking his head, he nudged her to sit and kneeled in front of her. “Because you are different. Plain and simple. And because in a few days, I have to leave. I don’t know how often I’ll be back during my SQT’s. I don’t even know if abstaining from you is the right decision. Marg, I want to finish my training. Pass my probation and become a SEAL. You’re on my mind all the time. If I can’t concentrate, if I’m pulled back here because of you, I will fail and I’ll have nothing to offer you.”

  Marg leaned forward and rested her hand on his handsome jaw. “I understand.” She nodded and smiled at him. “Patrick, you are an amazing man. I know you want this and I’m behind you one hundred percent. If it makes it easier, probably on both of us, then we’ll wait.” His expression remained stony. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing, I’m relieved.”

  “Why don’t you smile more?”

  “I do.”

  “You don’t, Mr. Broody.”

  He broke into a laugh and so did she.

  “Not true,” he said, leaning forward and kissing her. “You make me smile.”

  “Break it up!” Someone called from the water.

  They both craned their necks to see over the edge. “What the fuck do you want, Austen?” Patrick said.

  “Escort service,” he answered, treading water easily with his musclebound arms swaying back and forth in the ocean.

  Marg shook her head. “Did you do this on purpose, Thane?”

  “Do what?” Though shades hid his eyes, a large white grin stretched his lips.

  “Park out here, which means I have to swim to shore.”

  He shrugged. “Maybe. Heard you were on a swim team. Think you can beat a couple SEALs?”

  “You’re not a SEAL yet,” she reminded him.

  “Ouch. You wound me, woman.”

  She stood up. “Ya know, you are such a cocky shit. Think you better put some fins on to beat me.”

  Patrick laughed behind her.

  “Challenge accepted. Get in here,” Austen said.

  She cannonballed over the side, making sure to land close to the loud mouth to splash him. When she surfaced, he was laughing and not long after, Patrick’s lean, muscled body sliced into the water beside her.

  They lined up. “On your mark,” Thane said.

  “Get set,” Patrick joined in.

  “Go,” she yelled and put everything she had into the arc of her arms and kick of her legs.

  Stroke after stroke, she kept up with one target in mind; the sandy beach and a hot dog waiting at the end of the line. Motivation for a hungry girl, and she was hungry. About fifty feet from the beach, she could hear cheering from the crowd. Keeping her cadence and her breathing steady, she wouldn’t let the boys leave her behind. Patrick edged ahead of her, but not far, and Thane and she were breath for breath.

  Her feet hit the sand, and she surfaced. Rolling onto her knees and throwing her hair back out of her eyes, she opened them. Both Thane and Patrick were standing up, looking down at her.

  “Holy shit, can you ever swim,” Thane said, his chest expanding with deep breaths.

  She rose, and both Patrick and Thane’s eyes roamed from her breasts down to her legs.

  Thane shrugged a shoulder when Patrick darted a severe look his way. “Hey, man. I can look.”

  Patrick’s forehead creased. “No, asshole. You can’t.”

  Thane’s head torqued back with a laugh.

  * * * *

  That night, cradled between Patrick’s thighs and resting against his chest, Marg watched the beach fire. Low conversations and a burst of laughter every once in a while broke into her thoughts. Far away but very happy, she soaked every moment into her soul.

  Patrick nipped her shoulder with his teeth. “You sleeping?”

  She cocked her head. “I could.” She smiled up at him. “I’m happy. You know I’ve never sat around a fire before under the stars. It’s beautiful.”

  He nudged her so she turned a little to face him. “Never?”

  She shook her head. Her pulse galloped seeing the shadows flicker across his handsome, dark features. “Never.”

  Marg shuffled her bum in the sand and resumed her position, Patrick’s arms the only blanket of warmth she needed. Looking across the fire, she saw Thane necking with a blonde who he’d asked as his date.

  Karen leaned over. “You know, we have to do without these guys for the next twenty-six weeks or more, but I think we girls should keep in touch.”

  She nodded. “I think so, too, Karen.”

  Carlie nodded and smiled, cocooned in Justin’s arms.

  “Gonna miss me?” Paul rested his chin on Karen’s shoulder.

  “Like crazy,” she said and kissed his cheek. “We’re getting married as soon as he graduates. And you’re both invited.”

  Marg grinned. “I bet your parents love Paul.”

  Karen nodded. “They do. Dad just retired from the Navy and he’s starting a new business. Mom thinks Paul likes her more than he likes me.” She chuckled.

  Stingray piped up. “Hey, Paul, you going to tie the knot for real?”

  “No, it’s a pretend wedding,” Paul chided. “Course it’s for real.”

  Stingray had his arm draped over Nellie’s shoulder. The same brunette who came to the Haunted House. Marg and she had talked a little this afternoon. While Stingray was on his SQT’s, she was going to community college to get her accounting certificate. The only guy who didn’t have a permanent girlfriend was Thane.

  Marg wondered whether or not he’d ever settle down. No matter what woman graced his side, he made them feel special. Least for the short time he stuck around. He seemed opposed to being happy with one girl, and she couldn’t help but wonder why.

  Languishing in her comfy spot against Patrick’s beating heart, she turned her gaze to the sand and saw yesterday’s newspaper laying under an empty can. She picked it up and read the headline.

  San Diego Fire Department conf
irms another fire started in the east end of town. Carrying on, she read the article beneath. Patty’s Salon, Grab n Go Coffee and Houser’s Hardware were severely damaged in a fire set last night. Investigators continue to scour the devastation for clues.

  “Least this time, he didn’t choose a public place full of people,” Patrick said, reading over her shoulder.

  “What’s up, Marg?” Thane asked, pausing from his liplock with Jenny.

  She turned the paper so her friends could see the headline.

  “That guy has some serious issues,” Karen said.

  “Who says it’s a guy?” Stingray added as he stood from a cross-legged position and headed toward the cooler.

  “Whoever they are, they’ll get caught,” Nellie answered. “Hopefully, before someone gets hurt.”

  The group mumbled their assent.

  Switching topics, Nellie said, “How often are you guys going to be able to come home during your SQT’s?”

  Stingray sat down again with a couple drinks for him and Nellie. “Not sure. We’ve got our eyes on the prize,” he said, raising his beer.

  “Hooyah!” the men said together.

  While the men jumped into shop talk, Marg stared into the fire. Twenty-six weeks was a long time. She’d keep herself busy. Maybe go out with the girls a few times, but what she really wanted to do was search out the local Navy community help center. She could do her part. Offer to help.

  Another hour drifted by before Patrick woke her up with a kiss on the pulse of her neck. “It’s time to go,” he said.

  She blinked her eyes open. “I could stay out here all night.”

  “Me, too,” His low timbre rumbled by her ear. “I like it when you sleep in my arms.”

  Everyone helped to clean up their camp. Thane swam to the jet boat and brought it in close to the beach. The men transported the coolers and then the girls squealed when the men lifted them into their arms and sloshed through the tide to put them onboard. Patrick and she were the last to go, and Thane reached down to pluck her from his arms when they reached the boat.

  “I’ve got her,” Patrick said, but Thane grabbed her around the waist and lifted her inside.

  “Team work, buddy. Team work,” he said and winked at Pat, who hoisted himself over the edge.

  Patrick wrapped the blanket around her shoulders and kept her tucked against him as they rode back to the marina.

  * * * *

  Flying down the highway with little traffic in their way, Marg yelled out, “I don’t want to go home.”

  Pat grinned under his helmet. Neither did he. Taking the Coronado Bridge, he drove down the Strand. Marg pointed at the gates to NAB Coronado when they passed, and he nodded. A mile down the road he turned into a vacant parking lot and came to a gentle stop at the cement barricade in front of the beach.

  Marg unhitched her backpack and pulled the blanket she’d brought for the beach party. On her hands and knees, she smoothed out the sand and laid out the blanket. Watching her tight ass wasn’t a hardship, except if he lingered on the thought of her in the same position without her jeans and sweater on.

  She stretched out on her back and he joined her. Laying there, with their arms under their heads, they stared up at the full moon hanging in the sky. The night, cloudless and a little cool, just enough to ease his heated pulse. It had been a great day. One he wouldn’t mind repeating over and over again.

  She kept staring up into the heavens when she said, “Thank you for helping me get back in the water today.”

  “Didn’t take much convincing. You gave me a run for my money getting to the beach.”

  She chuckled. “Couldn’t let you beat me.”

  He smiled and turned his head to see her picture perfect profile. “I think there’s a little tomboy hiding inside the beautiful woman beside me.”

  Marg’s cheeks puckered. “Sometimes, but I don’t think I want to take you on in an arm wrestle.”

  Pat didn’t respond, but he didn’t know what was more beautiful. An endless night with stars and a full moon or Marg’s incredible beauty under it.

  “Pat?”

  “Yeah.”

  “When I filled out the questionnaire for the modeling agency, they asked me where I wanted to be in five years.”

  He waited.

  She finally turned her head to look at him. “You’re supposed to ask me what I said.”

  He nodded. “Aren’t you going to tell me anyway?”

  “Yes, but you’re supposed to ask.”

  He chuckled and turned on his side and she mirrored him. “Okay, how did you answer?”

  “You first,” she said, surprising him.

  “Me?”

  Marg’s finger traced his cheek and then his lip, her gaze concentrating on the sizzling trail she left on his skin. “You,” she finally answered.

  “Probably watching you rise to supermodel.”

  “But where do you want to be?”

  He liked that she didn’t downplay his answer. A lot of girls were self-deprecating when he gave them a compliment. He laid back and stared up into the sky. “I don’t know. I guess assigned to a team. Learning more. Missions.” He paused, remembering the fear when he thought Marg had drowned. Part of him had felt empty, which only meant one thing. “Spending time with someone special.”

  Marg rose up on her arm and hung over him. Yeah, she could take the place of the moon any day as far as he was concerned.

  “Have you ever been in love?”

  His gaze caressed her face, and his finger swept a wisp of hair from her cheek. “No.” His heart ticked with an uneven beat.

  Ticked? What a joke. Felt more like an elephant herd running through his chest.

  “Me either.” She nestled herself against him, and he wrapped her under one arm when she laid her head against his shoulder. “I don’t want life to go too fast. I want to enjoy every minute.” She kissed his jaw. “Every minute with you.”

  On the windless night, the familiar but creepy warm gust made him sit straight up. He looked around.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked, and turned to look herself.

  He’d freaked her out, but he had to admit since seeing the picture of her grandfather, it was always in the back of his mind. He’d felt that same wind a few times, and the first was when he’d exited the restaurant and seen her.

  Pat looked down the beach and his heart began to pick-up in tempo. He squinted.

  “Do you see something?”

  This time, he didn’t take his eyes off the barely visible shadow. Someone stood at the edge of the tideline. Someone in camo, staring out at the sea.

  “Stay here,” he said, and kept his eyes targeted on the figure as he put it into a jog. The closer he got, the figure became translucent. He stopped about twenty feet away. “Lt. Stines?”

  The form didn’t move. And Pat didn’t want to get any closer.

  “I don’t know what you want,” he said, refusing to turn around and check on Marg because as soon as he did, her grandfather would vanish. “Are you trying tell me like everyone else, that I’m not good enough for her?”

  The ghost didn’t turn, but he slowly shook his head. Jesus, was he actually talking with a ghost?

  “I—I think I’m falling in love with your granddaughter, sir, but if you’re a ghost, you probably already know that.”

  “Every minute counts. Love her fiercely,” the voice whispered, mingling with the wind.

  The hair stood straight up on the back of his neck because the voice was right next to his ear. He whirled around just as Marg’s hand came to rest on his shoulder, and he jumped.

  “What are you looking for, Patrick?”

  Just as he expected, the apparition was gone. “Thought I saw something, but it’s nothing.”

  “What?” She looked at him, her blue eyes a little frightened.

  He palmed her cheeks. “Nothing you should worry about, beautiful.”

  “You’re sure?” she said, glancing around. “It�
�s not Kit, is it?”

  He shook his head and pressed a kiss against her mouth. “No. If he wants to keep eating his food with a fork, he won’t come near you again.” He put a protective arm around her shoulder and guided her back to the blanket.

  Instead of laying down, she said, “Guess we should go home.”

  “I scared you, didn’t I?”

  She peeked at him. “Maybe a little.”

  He picked up the blanket and shook out the sand, then wrapped it around her shoulders and pulled her close. “Nothing will ever happen to you when I’m around.”

  “But you won’t always be around.”

  “That’s true. But you’ve got friends, and eventually other team wives.”

  A small smile lifted her lips. “Team wives?”

  “They…“ His heart beat faster. “They stick together. Help each other when we’re gone.” Her gaze turned into liquid silk. “Your father. Your sisters. There’s more people keeping an eye on you than you know.”

  Boy, wasn’t that the case, but he omitted telling her about her grandfather.

  “Are you trying to tell me something?” she asked.

  The night had stilled, and only the waves stroked the silence. “I think I am.”

  “Patrick? Do you see me in your future five years from now?”

  His thumb traced her pillowy lip. “Do you want me there?”

  “Yes.”

  He dipped his head closer. A breath away from her mouth. “Then I’ll be there.”

  An hour later, Patrick had Marg back at her condo. He didn’t want to leave, and worried if she asked him to come upstairs, there wouldn’t be much fight left in him to refuse her.

  “How many days do we have left?” she asked.

  “Three days, one hour and eight minutes,” he answered. He didn’t have to look at his watch. The countdown ticked away in his heart. Every second it left little room for any other woman but Marg.

  “I’m going to miss you, Patrick Cobbs.”

  He strayed a look around the complex, his training kicking in. Satisfied Kit Harper wasn’t lurking around the corner, he walked her toward the door. “Me too, Marg. But we have something to look forward to when I’m done.”

  “Sex,” she said, turning to face him.