Seducing A S.E.A.L.

by Jamie Sobrato

  “I was just along for the ride, babe.”

  “You were leading the cavalry.” She backed up and splashed him, which was ridiculous as an assault since they were already soaked.

  He laughed and pulled her closer. “What do you say we get out of here before we get struck by lightning or washed away in the downpour?”

  “We’ve been safe so far,” she said, then threw herself into the surf to float.

  “We’ve been pressing our luck,” he said, but his gaze was fixed on her chest rising above the surface of the water.

  He was probably right. Yet Kylie was still in the process of proving to herself that she could live on her own terms. It was all such a new, thrilling, exhilarating idea to her. She felt like she needed to stick with it to make it real.

  She began a lazy back crawl that took her farther from shore, her body gliding easily over the surface of the water as waves bobbed her up and down.

  Drew dove in and swam beside her. “How far you going out?”

  “I dunno.”

  “Is it safe to swim after sex?” he asked with a wry grin.

  “Hmm, good point. We might get leg cramps or something, huh?”

  “Personally, I might collapse from exhaustion.”

  “So go back to the beach. I’ll be there soon.”

  “I’m not leaving you,” he said.

  “I’m a strong swimmer.”

  “I know you are, but I’m still not leaving you.”

  A loud clap of thunder sounded again overhead—this one stronger than any of the previous ones. Okay, there was a fine line between being a risk-taker and being stupid. She rolled onto her belly and started swimming toward shore. Drew followed.

  As they reached the sand, she ran toward the rocks and started getting dressed, but she was so wet, getting back into her clothes was no small feat.

  “How about we run for the car?” Drew asked. “There are some towels in the trunk.”

  “You mean, naked?”

  “Sure, why not?”

  She glanced around, reminding herself about the whole living in the moment thing she’d been determined to do just minutes ago. She could handle this. No big deal…

  She gathered her things then bolted across the beach to where they’d parked the rental car on the side of the road earlier. Drew quickly caught up to her.

  This was ridiculous. They were two grown adults, totally naked in broad daylight running through a thunderstorm. They could get arrested, or electrocuted, or photographed by weirdoes or all of the above.

  She started laughing and couldn’t stop. Soon she was laughing so hard she had to slow to a walk.

  “What?” Drew asked, smiling at her laughter.

  “Us. We look ridiculous,” she said between laughs as she held her aching stomach.

  “No, we just look naked. From my angle you’re looking pretty damn hot. Ridiculous isn’t a word that comes to mind at all.”

  Kylie tried to catch her breath, ducking as a car drove by. No, she really didn’t care. This would probably be a moment she’d look back on in her old age and see as one of the highlights of her life. If she couldn’t enjoy it fully now, then she was a sorry excuse for a human being.

  And with that thought, she relaxed. Another car went by, and she didn’t care this time. She grabbed Drew’s hand and pulled him to her, then kissed him long and hard. When she broke the kiss, he looked both pleased and stunned.

  “Where’d that come from?”

  “From me, to say thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “For this.” She kept walking, leaving him to catch up as he contemplated what she meant.

  “Sex on the beach? Anytime, babe. I’m your man.”

  They reached the road, and dashed for the car while the coast was clear. A few minutes later, they were sitting in the shelter of the front seats, toweling off and struggling to get into their clothes.

  Kylie succeeded at putting on her top and shorts, but she didn’t bother with her shoes.

  “Have you ever had a moment in your life when everything is suddenly clear to you, when you feel like you’re right where you’re supposed to be, doing exactly what you’re supposed to be doing?”

  Drew gave the matter some thought. “I think I felt that way the first time I went diving.”

  Drunk with her own happiness, she felt as though she could say anything. “That’s how I feel right now.”

  It was true. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt more like herself than she did right here and now—and she never wanted to lose this feeling.

  15

  AFTER ALMOST TWO weeks in Hawaii, it amazed Kylie how easily she forgot about her life in San Diego. Those fantasies about Drew she’d entertained had seemed so far beyond her reality a few weeks ago. Now she’d not only acted them out, but also she’d discovered how much better reality could be than fantasy—how much more detailed and satisfying. If she weren’t so blissed out, she’d be concerned about her lack of imagination and creativity.

  She tried her best to avoid thinking about how soon her visit out of time with Drew would come to an end. But every once in a while, she’d get a pang of fear when she thought about how tenuous her grip on this existence was.

  Such as right now. She and Drew were strolling along the marina, a flaming pink and orange sunset on the horizon. It was romantic and dreamlike and she hated the thought that these moments were soon going to end.

  “What are we doing here?” she asked to distract herself from the nagging worry.

  “It’s a surprise.”

  “Well, let me guess…it has something to do with a boat, since we’re surrounded by them right now.”

  “I’m not telling.”

  He was acting like a little boy on his way to the candy store, and Kylie couldn’t help but be charmed by his excitement. He’d been mysteriously planning something all day that he wouldn’t share. She suspected it had something to do with the boat fantasy she’d described to him when they first arrived in Hawaii.

  She blushed at the thought of acting out the fantasy—especially such an elaborate one—even while she was tantalized by the possibility. If her imagination proved to be as lacking in creating a fantasy as it had with the others, she was in for a scorching experience.

  They reached a small yacht, and Kylie saw a candlelit dinner set up on the deck. She laughed. “Are you serious?”

  Drew smiled, took her hand and led her across the gangplank to the deck.

  “I’m serious about being hungry,” he said. “Hope you like oysters.”

  “I love them. Who set all this up?”

  “It’s magic. I snapped my fingers, and—”

  “Oh, stop it.”

  “I can’t ruin my mystique by telling you the inner workings of my plan.”

  “Of course not. Sorry I asked.”

  He pulled out a chair for her, and she sat.

  “I thought we’d better eat before leaving the dock, if that sounds good to you.”

  “Absolutely.” Kylie surveyed the food on the table and could hardly believe how good it looked—a delicate red beet salad with goat cheese, orange slices and walnuts, baby asparagus, fresh French bread and a selection of oysters on the half shell. A bottle of chilled white wine had already been opened and poured, probably only minutes ago.

  She looked at Drew and shook her head. “I’m amazed.”

  “Good.” He picked up his glass of wine and toasted. “To fantasies,” he said.

  She smiled shyly and touched her glass against his, then looked out at the water and shook her head at how ridiculously perfect it all was—better than her fantasies.

  Growing up in landlocked Iowa hadn’t afforded Kylie opportunities to experience life aboard a boat. The Navy had changed all that for her; however, no matter how challenging serving on a military vessel got, she’d never quite gotten over her romantic ideas about the seafaring life. Blending her once-in-a-lifetime fling and her love affair with all thing
s nautical was almost too perfect to be believed.

  The boat rocked gently on the water, and Kylie looked out at the open ocean as she imagined what was on the other side. Japan, China, all of Asia.

  “What are you thinking?” Drew asked.

  “I was just imagining faraway ports of call.”

  “Have you ever been to Asia?”

  “On deployments. And I got to travel around Thailand for a while after one tour.”

  They chatted about traveling as they ate. Drew hadn’t been to many ports of call yet, but he would soon enough. Kylie had a feeling he was going to make the S.E.A.L. team. The more time she spent with him, the more she recognized that he had the drive and the focus to do it.

  By the time they finished dinner, she had a slight buzz from the wine. A waiter appeared from the cabin bearing dessert. He lit a plate of bananas on fire, then made quick work of serving them over ice cream.

  “Wow,” Kylie said. “Bananas Foster?”

  Drew smiled. “It’s a little showy, I know. Too much?”

  “Not at all. I’m just amazed—it’s my favorite dessert.”

  “Really?” He looked pleased with himself.

  “Really.” It was one more absurdly perfect detail to emphasize that this was a whole state of fantasy they existed in.

  Kylie tried to ignore the uneasy feeling in her belly that this was too good to be true. She could live this way forever, she knew, pretending sunset dinners aboard yachts were real. But they weren’t. She was still Drew’s commander, and this affair was still forbidden. There were still two disparate lives they’d left behind in San Diego.

  After the waiter had served them, then disappeared, Drew leaned across the table and took her hand.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I’m sorry, it’s nothing. This is all really perfect. Thank you.”

  She felt like a total shit for feeling anything but thrilled at all the effort he’d put into the evening.

  “No, don’t lie to me. I saw that expression that just crossed your face.”

  What could she say? That she was too caught up in her Mrs. Robinson role and had forgotten that it was just that—an act?

  No.

  Not now, anyway. She owed him the enjoyment of this night he’d planned for her.

  “You’re too damn intuitive for your own good,” she said, hoping to distract him.

  “Were you thinking about San Diego? What happened?”

  Kylie nodded and cast her gaze down at her dessert. That was close enough to the truth. “Yeah. I guess I had a moment of feeling guilty that we’re here having so much fun, and other people…aren’t. You know?”

  “Yeah, I know. It hits me sometimes, too, at the oddest times.”

  An awkwardness descended. Kylie didn’t want to ruin this night, especially after Drew had gone to so much effort for her. She picked up her spoon and forced herself to take a bite. The flavor was exquisite enough that there was no way not to enjoy it.

  “This is amazing,” she said.

  Drew was still watching her. “This trip really is helping us heal, you know,” he finally said.

  “I know. I can feel it. Sometimes I don’t believe I’m entitled to be happy so fast.”

  “We have to hold on to happiness whenever we can. There’s no rule that says we have to suffer constantly to mourn the loss of people we care about.”

  “I guess you’d know about that better than I.”

  “One hard lesson I learned was that it’s impossible to go on with your life and stay sad. We’re not really honoring the dead when we do that.”

  “No, I suppose we’re not,” Kylie said quietly, stirring the bananas and ice cream.

  “The only way to honor the dead is by living life to its fullest. As cliché as it sounds, life is a gift. It’s gone too fast not to cherish every second of it.”

  Kylie shifted uncomfortably in her seat at the raw, unvarnished sentiment behind his words. Cliché, yes. But the thing about clichés was they often revealed the most basic truths about life—the things everyone experienced.

  “You’re right,” she said. “Thank you. I need to learn not to feel guilty about being happy.”

  “Yes, you do.” He went quiet for a moment, then leaned in close and added, “Because I’ve got more fun planned.”

  She couldn’t help but smile at his leering expression. “I don’t know. We might have trouble finding bioluminescence tonight.”

  “That’s okay because I brought the next best thing,” he said, leaning over and retrieving a box from beneath the table.

  “What is it?”

  “Glow sticks.”

  Kylie bit her lip when he pulled out a little plastic tube of green liquid. “Perfect,” she said.

  He set the box aside and dug into his dessert.

  His thoughtfulness humbled her. When was the last time a man had taken such care to ensure she was happy, her wishes fulfilled? When was the last time she’d allowed a man to do so? That Drew had listened to her then recreated her wishes down to the last detail of her favorite dessert and glow sticks overwhelmed her. What a barren wasteland her emotions had been. How many wonderful experiences had she cut herself off from while trying to keep herself under control? Drew had given her a bigger gift than he’d ever know.

  She reached across the table to clasp his hand. “Thank you,” she whispered around the tightness in her throat. “Thank you for this trip, for this night…for the romance. It’s been far too long since I’ve experienced something like this.”

  “Yeah?” He turned over his hand so their palms touched and their fingers entwined. “Why is that?”

  She shrugged. “The usual. Too caught up in my career.”

  “That sounds like an excuse.”

  “Maybe it is. I don’t know.”

  “When’s the last time you had a serious relationship?”

  “Define serious.”

  “You know. In love with someone.”

  “In love?” she said, stalling. There had been only one time when she’d thought she was in love—the first time she slept with Drew.

  “Yeah, head over heels, crazy in love.”

  “I…um…haven’t been.”

  “Ever?” He looked stunned.

  “Ever.”

  “How could that be?”

  “Maybe my definition of love is too strict. Maybe I’ve played it safe and never let anyone get close.”

  “Haven’t you ever dated anyone long-term?”

  “Oh, sure. I’ve had a couple of relationships that lasted a year or two. But even at the time I knew I wasn’t fully engaged. It was real easy to let the next deployment or the next promotion be an excuse to walk away.”

  “I don’t get that. Why’d you stick around if you weren’t into it?”

  “Companionship?”

  “Did they fall in love with you?”

  Kylie winced. “They claimed to.”

  Drew wore a disbelieving expression as he withdrew his hand. “So you strung along these saps until, what? You got bored? Or until you got promoted and could cuddle up to your new rank. Man, that is cold.”

  The warmth and affection she’d been nurturing from Drew abruptly ceased as he continued to stare at her. “That’s harsh. Those relationships have nothing to do with you.”

  “Don’t you get it? They have everything to do with me—with us. You hold yourself apart, never letting yourself commit. Meanwhile the guy, the poor sap, is turning himself inside out trying to get your attention. But there’s no point, is there? Because no man can compete with the mighty Navy for you esteem, can he?”

  He stood and began to pace. “God, I’ve been such an idiot. Here I’ve been busting my ass to show you that we could have something amazing together and you’re just looking for exit.”

  Panicked, Kylie couldn’t speak. Not only was his attack out of left field, but also the real possibility she could lose him—had already lost him—froze her in place.

  “Wel
l, aren’t you going to say something?” He paused, then turned his back on her. “Of course you’re not.”

  Seeing those broad shoulders averted spurred her into action. She rose and approached him, hesitating only a moment before wrapping her arms around him and resting her cheek on his rigid back. “Drew, I swear it’s different with you. I have no proof of that. I can only tell you I feel things for you I’ve never felt for anyone. You mean more to me than the Navy, than my job, and that scares the crap out of me.”

  Something about her clumsy apology seemed to have an impact on him because his muscles relaxed as he turned to embrace her. The relief flooding her system made her knees weaken.

  “I’m sorry, Kylie. I shouldn’t have said that shit to you. Guess I freaked a little at the thought I might not be important to you.”

  “You are, Drew. I just don’t know how—”

  “Let’s not worry about the hows tonight, okay? We’ll figure it out. In the meantime, we’ve got a moonlight cruise and some glow sticks that need our attention.” He said the last with a leer that made her laugh.

  As the yacht’s captain navigated the vessel into the open water, Kylie worked to restore the flirtatious mood between them. Despite her best efforts, however, she couldn’t replace the sad, bleak look in Drew’s eyes.

  AFTER THEY’D ANCHORED and the crew remained discreetly hidden, Kylie and Drew stripped down and dove into the dark Pacific. The air was warm and humid, the water felt refreshing. Despite his earlier blow-up—or maybe because of it—Drew had every intention of making this experience better than her wildest fantasy.

  He handed her a glow stick. “So you don’t get lost,” he said, grinning.

  He pulled her against him and kissed her. She tasted like saltwater and wine, a perfectly intoxicating combination. Her naked legs wrapped around his hips, and for a few moments the pumping movement of his legs suspended them both in the water. But his energy could be put to much better use. He guided them to the boat’s ladder where he could hold on as they floated.

  As she held on to him, he lowered his own glow stick between her legs and rubbed the side of it gently against her clit.

  She squirmed and laughed. “Is that what I think it is?”