Delta Recon (SEAL Team Phantom Series, Book 2) (21 page)

“Come on. We’ll talk more upstairs.” Tay let her slide out and after making sure she could walk, he kept a protective arm around her waist.

“You really are the sweetest man.”

Inside the elevator, she leaned heavily against the back wall. Being surrounded by four sides of mirrors, she looked at her and Tay standing side-by-side. “We really do look good together,” she murmured. “Our baby would’ve been adorable,” she said on a sad sigh.

Tay’s head whipped around. “What do you mean?”

How she wished she could blame her loose tongue on alcohol. “I’ll explain in the room. I’m going to need to sit down.”

She was saved by the doors opening on their floor, then had no choice as Tay grabbed her hand and pulled her along with him. The trepidation she thought she’d feel was absent.

“Alright, explain.” Tay rounded on her when they entered.

She kicked her shoes off, then sat on the king bed. Without looking at him, she explained about the pregnancy and then the miscarriage. She always hated silence. Silence to her meant thinking. Which usually ended with someone coming to conclusions that were not good.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” His ragged voice made her look up.

She snorted. “Really?”

****

T
ay shook his head. He understood why she hadn’t told him. Hell! He thought back to the second time he’d made love to her that afternoon. “I wore a condom but didn’t check to see if it broke. I mean I don’t think it did completely, and then the text came through. I was such a dick. I’m shocked you even talked to me.” His eyes blazed with passion and regret.

“Well, I have had a while to forgive you. Do you forgive me for not telling you?”

He scooped her up and sat back with her in his lap. “There is nothing to forgive you for. We can’t replace what we lost, but we can always try for another when the time is right.”

From the look in her eyes, he thought she might agree to his next words. “Jaqui, when I first met you I was...how do I put it? A man with a mission, but not fulfilled. I swear I had all these jagged parts of me until you. You smooth those edges out and make me a better man.”

“My mom said I was always a lost girl with my head up in the clouds. I don’t know how accurate that was, but since joining the Navy I didn’t feel so lost. When I met you my feet didn’t seem to touch the ground when I was with you. I thought, this is the guy I want to be with forever. If I had to be lost, he was the one I wanted to get lost with. If I could chase stars, you would be the one I’d want to do it with.”

His smile felt like it was going to split his cheeks. “Do you know that is the exact way I’d express how I felt about you. You made me feel like a man, yet made me want to be a boy. Sort of like a grown up version of Peter Pan. Only with guns and shit.” Her burst of laughter had him bending to stifle it with his lips.

“I couldn’t stop thinking of you. Even now I can’t think of you being in danger. I know,” he stopped her words with a quick kiss. “I’m not asking you to give up your career in the Navy. I’ll have to come to grips with it, it’s just hard to think about the woman you love with all your heart in danger.”

“I’ve been thinking about that, too. My reenlistment is coming up. I was thinking of not, but I want to be near you. I mean I don’t want to be clingy or...” She looked away.

Tay used his hand to turn her back to face him. “Presume away. I want you with me every day and night that we can be. When I’m not on a mission that is.”

“I love Hawaii. I could find a little bungalow near base and I’m sure I could find a job.”

He stopped her flow of words with a thumb to her lips. “Jaqui, there is something I want to ask you. I had it all prepared, but this sort of pushed it forward and isn’t where I wanted to do it, but it feels right.” He lifted her up, then placed her on the edge of the bed, getting down on one knee. “You deserve a grand proposal, and I am not worthy, but if you give me the chance I will be the best husband you could ever ask for. I’ll be there with you when you want to reach the stars, and do everything in my power to help you achieve your goals. I’ll gladly float up in the clouds with you, and when our kids have kids, I want to be sitting next to you on the beach watching them make sandcastles. And when we’re old and grey, I’ll still love you to the moon and back and be there telling you how much I love you. You are the smooth to my jagged edges. If you say no, I’ll keep asking until you say yes, because you are worth it. I may not be worthy, but dammit you are.”

She hiccupped then launched herself into his arms. “That was the sweetest, most romantic thing I’ve ever heard. Screw Richard Gere, he is so not worthy. God, I love you Taylor Rouland. Oh my gawd. I’m going to be Jaqui Rouland.” She peppered kisses all over his face.

“We will get a ring tomorrow.” He promised.

“Do you want a big wedding?” Jaqui asked.

He tilted his head to the side. “I’m good with whatever you want, whenever you want it.”

“How about we have a pre-wedding honeymoon tonight, then get married tomorrow.” His dick jerked beneath his jeans as the woman of his dreams stood up and lifted her shirt over her head. The plain white cotton bra was sexier because of the stark contrast to her tan skin. With her legs straddling him, she unsnapped the button on her cargo pants. The hiss of her zipper going down echoed in the room.

“You just gonna sit there, or get nekkid.” Uncertainty filled her cornflower blue eyes.

He reached up and pulled her down. “Are you serious? You’ll marry me tomorrow? What about your parents?” Tay didn’t want to get ahead of himself, but if she was truly on board with getting hitched in Vegas, he would have her before the justice of the peace or at a little white chapel before she could change her mind.

“We can do a big party after they are both out of the hospital, but I don’t need or want a huge wedding. We can invite them to Hawaii and do a big luau, and invite both families and our friends.”

With her sitting astride him with her pants undone in the white bra, she looked too sweet for words. He licked his lips, then closed the space between them, nibbling on her neck until he had her moaning. She wrapped both arms around his neck, and he slipped his tongue into her mouth, claiming her with a thoroughness that would have frightened him, had he not just asked her to marry him.

He stroked one hand down her back and cupped her ass, pulling her closer. “God you smell good.” Their tongues dueled as they continued to kiss, becoming more restless, needing more than just a kiss.

It was Jaqui who pulled away breathless. She closed her eyes and rested against his forehead, sucking in air. The urge to strip every stitch of clothing from her body and pound into her was almost overwhelming. His cock ached for her.

“Up, Jaqui. I want to make love to you on that bed, not the floor like some randy teenager.”

She snorted, and he gave her a mock scowl, then tickled her side, making her breasts bounce.

Jaqui stood and held her hand out. This time it was he who took her hand. He didn’t miss the fact they were each willing to help the other. She was his equal.

He reached behind and unsnapped her bra, releasing her breasts. “You’re fucking gorgeous.” His hands went to work on her pants, taking the panties with them. They hadn’t turned the light on, but the room was bathed in light from the strip. “You truly are a goddess come to life. My very own Venus.” He stepped back and reached behind him, pulling his own T-shirt off. He stripped his jeans and kicked his shoes off, leaving him as naked as she.

“I think you’re the amazing one.” He started to deny her, but she stopped him. “No, don’t. You are. I mean look at you. Every inch of you is sculpted to perfection. Not to mention this guy seems to always be up and ready to go.” Her soft hand gripped his shaft.

The awe in her voice made him want to be all that and more, and he wanted to wrap her in bubble wrap to keep her safe forever.

“What’s put that look on your face?” She asked, stroking him.

He sighed. “I want to put you in a bubble and keep you safe.”

“You can’t, but you can love me.”

Ignoring the frantic beating of his heart, he placed his hand over hers, stopping the stroking. “Oh, I love you alright. We will definitely have time, but not if you keep doing that.” He kissed her temple then her cheek, following down to her jaw, then the corners of her mouth. “All the time in the world, sunshine,” he promised.

“Tay.” His name was little more than a whisper.

“I want you more than I want my next breath,” he told her. Slowly he ran his hands down her shoulders until they covered both her perfect breasts. “I’m not the kind of man for flowery words, but with you I swear I have never wanted a woman the way I want you.”

Her breasts were soft in his rough hands, and he bent to brush his mouth over the tips. She gave a breathy gasp and grabbed the back of his head. He took that as a good sign and continued to tease the tip with his tongue, working the other with his thumb over the distended tip. Jaqui gasped and then moaned making him even harder.

He had to swallow against the moan he felt vibrating out of his own body. Every cell cried out for him to toss her on the bed and claim her. With his dick throbbing, he was close to coming, but he ignored his own needs and focused on pleasuring his wife to be.

The smooth skin of her body under his hands, the bold thrust of her hips begging for more, the tender grip of her fingers in his hair, all designed to torture him.

It took monumental effort to lift his head from her, when all he truly wanted to do was continue. Instead he lifted her onto the bed.

She licked her lips and he groaned at the thought of her lips surrounding his cock. “Don’t do that.”

“What?” She blinked innocently up at him.

He shook his head. “You are sensual without even trying.” Straddling her legs, every muscle in Jaqui’s body tensed. Her nipples tightened and a bolt of masculine pride went through him. His cock bobbed against his stomach, but he ignored it and leaned down to pleasure her. Leaning forward he licked first one nipple, then the next, blowing a cool breath of air over the wet tips.

She moaned his name when he plumped the firm mounds in his palms. He placed a sucking kiss on each tip, then moved down her body, pressing open mouthed kisses on each rib, remembering the bruises she’d had which now were only slightly discolored. He reached her mound, moved so his legs were in between hers, spreading her open. “Damn, baby. You’re wet.”

“What the hell did you think I’d be?” Her legs moved restlessly.

He ran his thumbs between her slit, exposing the tiny pearl at the top. “Exactly what I see. My woman hot, wet, and ready for me.” With those words, Tay leaned forward and swirled his tongue around her clit, treating her like the favorite treat she was. He hummed, making her moan and pant, her chest rose and fell.

He continued to lick and tease, burying his face between her thighs. Tay worked her with his lips and tongue and teeth, loving the sounds she made. His tongue probed her opening, then worked back up to her clit. He felt her hand grabbing the back of his head, her whimpers escalating and he chuckled.

“Tay, I’m going to come so hard the neighbors are gonna hear,” she swore.

Using his tongue, he curled it over the hard bundle of nerves at the apex of her thighs, wanting to test her theory. He flicked the little bundle, and lapped at it until she thrashed beneath him. When he inserted one, then two fingers inside her, she went wild, arching up. Her legs clamped around his head, they shook and her scream was muffled by a pillow she’d pulled over her face. He continued to move his fingers in and out, letting her ride out the orgasm before he removed them. Using his free hand he tossed the pillow off, then met her eyes while he licked his fingers.

“That was off the charts amazing,” she gasped.

“Oh, that was just the beginning, but you cheated.” He nodded toward the pillow.

She pouted up at him. “I was just preserving your ears.”

Tay scooted up so they were face to face, bracing his weight on his forearms. “When we are home, you will scream for me and nobody will be near.”

Nodding, Jaqui lifted her hips, her pussy rubbed against his hard cock, making them both shudder.

“Let me get a condom.”

When he went to get up, she stopped him. “I’m on the shot. I mean after...well, after what happened before, I didn’t want anything like that happening again. Not until I was ready and until I was with the man I loved. I haven’t been with anyone but you.” She looked away.

He used the hands next to her head to hold her so she was facing me. “You know you were the last woman I’ve been with, and will be the last until my dying day.”

Her eyes widened, a tear leaked out. “I love you so much.”

“To the moon and back, I love you.” Tay kissed away her tears, then ran the head of his cock through her folds. He coated his erection with her juices, stroking her clit with each pass, making Jaqui moan and brought him close to coming before he ever entered her.

Shifting his legs, he maneuvered them so he was between both of hers, then reached down and found her entrance and pushed inside. They’d made love before, but this time the experience seemed more profound. Her small body clung to him and he grabbed both of her hands in each of his, entwining their fingers as he began a slow and steady pace.

He pulled almost all the way out, then glided back in with a smooth thrust. Over and over again, he continued. Their eyes locked, he felt her legs lift and wrap around his waist, making it harder for him to pull so far back.

Tay angled his hips and hit her clit with each thrust, making sure to grind their pelvis together with each stroke. She bucked against him, panting.

“Yes, just like that, Tay. Faster, please.”

He lost control of his thrust at her plea and began to move faster and harder. The feel of her body getting closer and closer to orgasm made him more aware of his own impending release. He slid out and then in, increasing his speed until he no longer had any control, completely lost in the need to find pleasure. The tight rippling around his cock snapped the last of his control, and he growled like an animal and fucked her harder. His head lowered and he kissed her hard. The savage kiss would probably bruise her lips. She cried out and then he felt her pussy spasm around him, and then hard jets of semen filled her. He’d tried to stop and let her ride out her own before he found his, but the sensation was too great.