Legacy: A Salvation Society Novel

by Rachel Robinson

  Aara takes my head into her hands and keeps our lips locked. She meets my thrusts and she bites my bottom lip as she comes, a fucking assault on my cock in gripping waves that are uncensored. I hang on until she tilts her head back, arching her neck, and screams out in ecstasy.

  The thought of pulling out is fleeting. I want to possess her body and I want to linger inside her, own every inch that I can. Pressing my lips to her neck, I spill inside her. In this moment I’m the closest to heaven I’ve ever been. She wraps her legs around my waist and holds me in place as my thick cock jerks inside her cunt. It seems to go on forever, and when the sweaty air between us silences, and our breathing slows, I don’t move.

  Aara’s hands trail my biceps and my back. The caress is delicate and I revel in her attention. It’s an out-of-body experience where I’m watching a form of myself actualize every dream and desire coming true.

  “Just as fucking awesome as I thought it would be,” I mutter into the stillness.

  She laughs and kisses my jawline. “I told you.” I roll off her and fold my hands behind my head, looking down at my glistening dick still semi-hard.

  “It’s easier in clean up mode.”

  “For you, it’s easier.” She reaches between her legs and her fingers come away sticky and dripping.

  “Leave that there. I’m going to want back in that fantasy playland over and over tonight. No condom really changes things.”

  I swallow hard, thinking about the intensity of the orgasm. My dick twitches and I reach over to play with her clit while it’s covered in my seed. She spreads her legs farther to give me a better angle. I watch as her lashes lower, and her pink lips part.

  “You like when I touch you?”

  “I like when you do anything to me,” she breathes out. She’s dripping and it’s a goddamn turn on, I know I’ll be ready for round two quicker than ever before. She’s stupid hot. Her muscles lithe and glistening from a sheen of sweat. “I want to come with your cock inside me. Keep doing that.” She guides my fingers now, essentially using me to masturbate. Her abs tense and relax as her hips buck against the pressure, bringing her closer to climax. Rolling over to face her, I study her everything. I want her body to be an instrument I can play a million different ways.

  The way her parted lips barely touch when she gasps. It’s erotic and masterful. I kiss her ribcage and can feel her heartbeat on my lips. It speeds as she grows closer to climax. “I’m almost there,” Aara whispers, pulling on my arm. “Inside me now.” She continues stroking herself after I pull my hand away.

  She’s awakened the beast. But by the gleam in her eye as I line up my shaft and tease the wet slit, she knows it. I let out a controlled hiss as I push halfway, watching my cock stretch her open and disappear inside her. The sight is magnificent. Her chest is red and she’s panting as her orgasm hits almost immediately. I press my thumb on her clit and when I feel the first clench, I drive all the way into her.

  Her screams of pleasure abate and they vanish altogether when I kiss her. “How many of those are you going to give me tonight?” I ask, mouth brushing hers as I speak.

  “How much time you got, Hart?”

  “Forever.” I circle my hips and my dick rubs her G-spot.

  Aara brings her hands up to cover her face and the ring catches my eye and reminds me of my matching one.

  I flip us without disconnecting our bodies, which is quite an accomplishment, I might add. When she’s on top, riding me slowly. I let myself plan for a future that doesn’t look anything like I once assumed. It looks brighter. Better. More complicated in the best kind of way. Challenges I look forward to because it means Aarabelle Dempsey is by my side forever.

  She swings her hair over one shoulder and sweaty pieces cling to her skin. “One thousand percent forever,” I say.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Aarabelle

  I wake up, roll over, and find Hart is gone. His room feels endlessly empty when he’s not here. My limbs feel like jelly and even though I’m sore between my legs, there’s an aching hollow because he’s not there and he should be. The shiny edge of the black ring on my finger catches the light in the morning sun. It went exactly like I planned. My plan A worked. It might be the last time something in my life goes that smoothly. In between sessions we talked about everything. My recovery, his never-ending drama with a friend group he’s broken up with, the details of the deal with Aurora Ball. Even if I don’t approve of Luke bailing out Chantal for the fire, I have to admit it’s impressive, albeit scary how things are handled when large sums of money are involved.

  Last night, when it was evident we wouldn’t be sleeping very much, we called out of work for today. I’ll deal with Lt. Williams and the truth later in the week. Hopefully after news spreads that we intend to use the loophole to make our love permanent in the eyes of the Navy. It won’t be hearsay or a rushed proposal in the middle of a meeting. It will be real. He’s mine. I still haven’t fully absorbed what that means.

  I stretch my arms over my head and slide to the side of the enormous bed. I showered before I fell asleep a couple of hours ago, and my hair is still a bit damp. I walk into the bathroom and find the huge mirror covered in writing, and a Dry Erase marker lying next to the sink. In Luke’s chicken scratch writing, it says,

  Take the Mondial to the jungle gym from hell. You know the place—by the bell. Make sure to dress in PT (but still dress for me.)

  At the very bottom, in smaller capital letters, it says, Follow the clues. I love you. My stomach flips and I lay a hand on it as I read it over and over. I dress in a pair of black workout shorts and a dry-wicking tank. It’s PT gear, but it’s not the standard Navy issued shorts and t-shirt that sag off my body. That has to be what he meant by dress for him. I’m winding my long hair into a bun on the top of my head.

  “The Mondial?” I finally shriek.

  I pull on my socks and sneakers and grab my wallet as I jog to the other side of the house—through the kitchen, snagging a banana from the bowl on the counter and inhaling it as I bound into the garage tingling with excitement. The Mondial is not in the garage, it’s pulled out on the driveway, idling. Luke’s Lambo is gone, and I consider if this is some cruel trick. Is he really letting me drive the car?

  There’s a sticky note on the steering wheel that says, Drive safe. She’s yours now.

  I don’t try to hide the squeal as I slide into the driver’s seat and caress the steering wheel in disbelief. I try to call Luke, but it goes straight to voicemail. Is this real life? This is my dream car and he’s trying to give it to me. Pressing the gas pedal, I drive off his property. Nothing can take the cheesy, elated grin off my face as I drive down the freeway to the jungle gym from hell. It’s on our Coronado base. The obstacle course. A dreaded, awful event I’m sure Satan himself had a hand in creating.

  The guy at the guard shack looks at me weird after he eye fucks the car. He waves me on after I show him my military ID. Strangely, I don’t see Hart’s beacon of a car in our lot. I park nearest the building, taking the key out like it’s a precious commodity, and slipping it into the back zippered pocket of my shorts. It’s a workday, so there are people scurrying about, but no one gives me a second glance. I smile at a friend and he waves back as I cut through the center of the grinder to head toward the obstacle course. Sure enough, as soon as it’s in view, I shield my eyes and see a piece of paper fluttering in the wind at the very top of the cargo net. It’s fifty feet high, and not for the faint. SEALS hate the cargo net. Always. Sighing, I start climbing, thankful I’m fresh and not dog tired right now. Otherwise, I’d probably be swearing all the way up. I snatch the piece of paper off a zip tie, put it in my mouth and begin my descent. I hop down when I’m about three feet from the ground and land in the sand.

  The paper says, Next to the place where you’ll never feel dandy. Take a dip in the cold and get wet and sandy. He has got to be joking. As I stride down to the water where Hell Week takes place, sure enough, the bright or
ange buoy on the horizon has a fluttering piece of paper tied to it. Looking left and right, I try to find Luke. He has to be here somewhere. Watching me weigh my options.

  “Hart, you are a dead man!” I call out as I take off my tank top, shoes, and socks.

  I put the car key in one of my sneakers and wade into the cold water in my shorts and a sports bra. When the water, that feels like ice, reaches my stomach, I start stroking, face in the water. The shivering starts almost immediately and I take solace knowing that he had to swim this same path to put the damn clue out here. Or did he take a boat? I may kill him after all. I frogger kick when I get to the bright orange beacon, spit out some of the salty water, and rub my eyes. There’s a baggie with a white piece of paper in it. I do my best to get the paper out and read it without soaking the message completely.

  Take a run to where you fire your gun. X marks the spot. Try not to get caught. The gun range. Clutching the paper in one hand, I stroke back to the beach. Shivering, I slide my hands down my arms and legs, trying to get the excess water off my body. Laying near my sneakers is a package and a towel.

  “Oh my gosh.” I look around. “Where are you?”

  Wrapping the towel around my shoulders, I open up the package to find a necklace. It’s a delicate chain with a bull sign pendant with a diamond in the palm of the tiny hand. It shines in the light of the sun. It’s not ostentatious, but it is insanely beautiful. Narrowing my eyes, I scan the horizon, and I don’t see him. I clasp it around my neck and dry off as best as I can, shoving my feet into my sneakers, carrying my stuff to the gun range.

  It’s obvious I’m being ignored as I go by training buildings and pass by SEALs coming and going to the range. Someone smirks but avoids eye contact. Then another looks away from me completely. This isn’t normal behavior, at least, it’s not anymore. Hoffer sees me and starts laughing.

  “What am I walking in to right now?” I ask when he stops to say hello. “I’m getting a little irritated.”

  He laughs, shaking his head. “Nothing to be irritated by, Dempsey. But, hey, I gotta get going. I’m, ah, late for a meeting.”

  “Bullshit,” I hiss under my breath as I watch him retreat.

  More people are in on this scavenger hunt than I would have assumed. The AC hits me and chills racks my body when I push into the indoor range. No one else is in here which is incredibly strange for this time of day. Leave it to Luke Hart to take over a SEAL base with whatever reckless, harebrained plan he concocted last minute. I walk up to the only lane that has a paper target set up and pick up the gun sitting on the rack. After checking the chamber, I aim and shoot at the X on the white paper until I’ve hit all the marks, then tap the button that slides the target to me. I unpin it and flip it over, unsurprised when I find another clue.

  Grinning as I read, I realize how much trouble he’s gone through to make me work. For what? What’s the end state? Him in a giant brightly wrapped package? That’s all I want. A non-refundable Luke Hart, with dimples add-on package. It says:

  Shower off the grime, it’s party time. You can’t look a mess, so put on the dress. Time for a snack, it’s burger attack.

  This is an easy one. Mayton’s. There’s a bathroom with a shower stall in the back of the range. I only know because it’s the bathroom I use when we’re over here in the training area. The men have a full-on locker room. I have this small add on. Sure enough, there’s a dress hanging on a silver hanger on the stall. A pair of low heels sitting on a box under it. It’s beige and lacy and the sight of it makes my stomach turn in anxiety and anticipation. I left my cell phone in the car, or I’d probably try Luke again. My makeup bag and toiletries are in a bag on the counter in front of the mirror.

  I’m on autopilot as I shower and get ready in record time. Another wet, low bun, and minimal makeup. I admire the new necklace around my neck before I turn off the lights and take my stuff back to the Mondial. I don’t see a soul when I get into the car and fire up the engine. God it sounds perfect, I think, relishing the feel of the power as I try to calm my nerves. At least I’m showered, so I know whatever comes next won’t require physical exertion. I hope, at least, as I wiggle the heel over the gas pedal. My phone has no missed calls or texts and that’s not completely abnormal on a workday, but today is completely strange in general.

  When I pull into Mayton’s parking lot, I see Marissa’s car and breathe a sigh of relief and also have a mild panic attack. She greets me at the door as I walk up. “That was quick,” she exclaims.

  “You look so pretty,” I admit, eyeing her long maxi dress. “As my best friend, you are obligated to tell me what in the hell is going on and why I’m wearing this dress and these heels.” I breathe heavy. “I played by the rules at work, but I need you to give me something before I deconstruct into a pile of nervous ashes. You hear?”

  “This is the best part. I can’t ruin it, Aara. Plus, you wouldn’t want me to. Do you trust me? Do you trust him? This is a fun surprise, not pirates and broken ankles.” Pirates and broken ankles. Like, killing a man isn’t on that list. She levels me with a gaze, then wraps me with a hug. “You are such a goddamn champion and you deserve all the happiness in the world.”

  “Trust is a tricky thing when you’re doing it blind. I swam in the ocean to get a clue, Marissa. I froze my ass off!”

  She pulls out of the embrace and tugs on my arm. Leading me away from the front door to the back of the building. That’s when I see the crowded patio area, people streaming out of the outdoor area down onto the beach. Some in uniform, and others in civilian clothing. My mom comes up, a huge smile on her face.

  “Oh, finally!” she exclaims. “I wasn’t sure you would do what you were supposed to!”

  “Mom,” I say, embracing her. She’s shaking. “I almost always do what I’m supposed to do. Why are you trembling?”

  “I’m so happy for you,” she mutters.

  Dad pulls both of us into his big arms. “My girls,” he says. “Welcome to your engagement party, Aara. That man went through a lot of trouble to make this happen. On a weekday. He was adamant, though. I respect his gumption.” I lean away to look into his eyes. “I’d ask if you are happy, but it’s so evident I don’t even have to hear you say it.”

  Engagement party?

  “Dad, I’m so happy. I found myself within him.” Mom has tears leaking down her cheeks. Dad brushes them away and returns his focus back to me. “He’s my person. I can be me. He guards my heart fully.”

  “There’s something to be said about a man who guards your heart and also America at the same time. I’m just glad it’s not the fucking rocker with the bad haircut and sappy songs.”

  I chuckle. “Dad, it was never going to be Durnin. Though he seems to be figuring his life out now.” I haven’t seen or heard from him since I stormed out of his dressing room, leaving him with Chantal and Chase.

  “Thank God,” Mom whispers. “I’m so glad our PR contract is almost up. Honey, I’m happy you’re happy. There’s someone else here who is happy for you, too.”

  Shane comes from around the corner, his long hair tucked behind his ear, wearing his super mod glasses that make him look like a scientist slash model.

  I run to my brother and hug him tighter than I realized and he makes a fake choking noise. “Easy killer. I’m a friend, not a foe.”

  I pull away and look him in the eye. “God, Shane I’ve missed you so damn much. How are you doing?”

  “Not as good as my big sister who is literally dominating in every area of life. Seriously, sis. I’m proud of you. Do you know how many chicks I score when I tell them who my sister is?”

  I raise one brow. “I’ll take that as a compliment, I think.”

  “It is.” He leans in and kisses my cheek. “It’s been pretty sad being away for such a long time. I might need to transfer back to the west coast. Don’t tell Mom and Dad, though. Not yet.”

  I put a finger on my lips. “Secret’s safe.”

  “Your boyfriend, m
an friend, husband?” Shane muses, looking at the ring on my finger. “He’s a big ass dude.” He chuckles, and it warms my heart. He’s had this happy-go-lucky laugh his entire life. At age two when he belted it out for the first time, I think my heart melted a little bit. “He’s also insanely in love with you. I guess he put this whole thing together a while ago. I was going to surprise you with a visit this week anyway, and the timing worked out perfectly. I think your whole team is here. In the middle of a workday?”

  “Where is he?” My heart leaps at the prospect of seeing Luke. “I want to catch up and hear everything about your life later on.”

  “Mom says you have plenty of guestrooms at your new mansion by the sea.”

  I shake my head. “That’s Luke’s.” I remember the Mondial parked nearby. “But I did drive a Spider here today.”

  His eyes widen. “Shut your filthy mouth!”

  I press my lips together. “It’s nasty in all the best ways. We can drive it this weekend.” I hug my brother. “Shane, I can’t believe you’re here. There were a million times when I wanted to hug you and you weren’t here.”

  “I’m sorry about the shit time you had. Mom told me the cliff notes version of everything. It read like fiction, I have to say.”

  I exhale noisily. “It led me here, though. What can I say? If I had to take the same path to have this outcome, I’d do it over and over again. The sweet balances the suck.”

  I release my brother when my dad calls him over to meet someone. “That car and I have a date later,” Shane calls out, aiming a finger at me.

  I nod as someone taps me on my shoulder. I know it’s Luke because my body responds with a rush of goosebumps the second his skin meets mine. A visceral response to his presence. I turn and he’s all dimples and ocean eyes.

  “There you are,” he growls, leaning down to kiss my lips. “God, I missed this mouth.” This kiss is brief and filled with passion, his tongue dipping into my mouth, his hands on each side of my head before he pulls away.