Before We Kiss (Uncharted SEALs Book 6) (10 page)

At the relief flooding his body, Wiley groaned and hugged her closer. “I’m not going anywhere,” he whispered against her hair. “I would never abandon you. I love you.”

Her chest expanded, and again, she stood on tiptoe to look directly into his eyes. “I love you, too,” she said, her voice clear and strong.

He kissed her, knowing he held his chance at happiness in his arms. Maybe he was selfish. He had little to offer her other than a generous bank account he’d built, because he’d never spent the money he’d earned acquiring things. But he’d give her whatever she wanted. Whatever she needed to be happy. “Then let’s do this.”

“When?”

“Tomorrow?” Now that he’d received her agreement, he wanted their future to start right now.

Her eyes widened. “Daddy will be livid when we ditch the team who are meeting us at the docks.”

Wiley waggled his eyebrows. “That team will be comprised of my friends. If I tell them we’re changing our destination, they won’t bat an eyelash.”

A smile played on her lips. “Where will we go?”

“Does it matter?”

“So long as the justice of the peace doesn’t have long sideburns and sing ‘hunka hunka burning love’—I don’t care.” She squealed and leaped against his chest. “We’re getting married!”

A gravely throat cleared behind them.

Wiley turned with Poppy still held against his chest to spot the three old marines and Captain Lundt standing a few feet away.

The captain’s lips were crimped like he was trying to hide a smile. “If I may offer a suggestion. We’re in International Waters…”

The three old men broke into broad grins. Sly’s smile glowed in the dark.

Wiley began laughing.

“What?” Poppy asked, confusion clouding her expression as she glanced among the men.

Relaxing his hold, Wiley set her on her feet. “Do you have anything white to wear?”

Her eyes grew large. “Now?”

“We’ve got plenty of witnesses,” he said, waving a hand toward his best men.

She glanced downward. “Red’s not exactly traditional…” When she looked up, tears were already tracking down her face.

His gut crimped. “If this isn’t what you wanted—”

Giving a head shake, she pressed a finger against his lips. “Shush. Before we kiss…
again
…I want you to be my husband.”

Wiley tucked her hand into the crook of his arm, and together they turned to face a growing crowd of smiling tourists.

An hour later,
they knelt naked in the center of their bed, arms linked, preparing to share their flutes of champagne—compliments of Lieutenant General Shackleford.

“Can you believe it?” Poppy said, shaking her head. “Joe and Daddy are friends.”

“He asked Joe to keep an eye out for you during the cruise. Joe’s been feeding him intel—about us and our ‘blossoming romance’.”

They both smiled at the old man’s words.

“I invited Joe and his friends to be a part of the Soldiers’ Sanctuary cruise. I can’t think of any men who’d be more inspirational to our recovering warriors.”

“They said they’d miss us, but that they’re glad the next cruise will be a quiet one.”

Poppy lifted her chin. “To us.”

Wiley repeated the toast, and they shared their champagne, spilling just a little as they tilted their glasses.

When they’d finished their drinks, they lay facing each other. “I was serious, Wiley. I don’t expect you to give up your work.”

He reached up a finger to brush a stray lock of hair from her forehead. “I can ask for assignments closer to home.”

The hand stroking his shoulder paused. “And where will that be?”

His pulse kicked up a bit. “Wherever you are.”

Poppy wrinkled her nose. “My apartment in Silver Springs is awfully small.”

“Then we should look for a house. Something with a fenced yard.” He took a deep breath. “Somewhere kids can play.”

Her head tilted. “You want children?”

Her question contained such breathless joy, he vowed he’d do his best to make it happen that very night. “I want whatever makes you happy, Poppy.”

She scooted closer and pressed her palm against his erection. “I’ll want at least two. Think you’re up for it?”

Pushing against her hand, he raised a brow then leaned forward to nuzzle her irresistible neck. “What do you think?”

With a wide grin, she pushed him to his back and climbed over his hips, not stopping her movements until she’d taken every inch of him inside her. “I think we’re going to very, very busy.”

*

Delilah Devlin is a
New York Times
and
USA TODAY
bestselling author of erotica and sexy romance with a rapidly expanding reputation for writing deliciously edgy stories with complex characters. She has published over a hundred sixty erotic stories in multiple genres and lengths, and she is published by Atria/Strebor, Avon, Berkley, Black Lace, Cleis Press, Ellora’s Cave, Grand Central, Harlequin Spice, HarperCollins: Mischief, Kensington, Kindle, Kindle Worlds, Montlake Romance, Running Press, and Samhain Publishing.

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Watch Over Me

Navy SEAL Deke Warrick’s unsanctioned detail is to keep tabs on a congressman’s daughter while she vacations in the Caribbean. He’s determined to keep his distance from the beautiful Nicky Martir, but finds his limits tested when Nicky sets out to seduce him. What seemed like a simple mission becomes deliciously complicated—and then dangerous, when she’s snatched from their hotel room.

Her Next Breath

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Dream of Me

After losing her partner and lover in a shootout, New Orleans police officer Aislin Dupree is tormented by memories of the past and the day she lost Marc LeBrun. At her darkest hour, she discovers that Marc had planned a romantic getaway on a Caribbean island before his death. All expenses paid. She decides to take the trip, hoping the island getaway will help her come to terms with her sorrow. Instead, she meets a man, a friend of Marc’s from his time served as Navy SEAL.

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