Guide Me Home (SEAL of Fortune) (9 page)

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Forty five minutes later, Ryker’s phone buzzes in his hand. His eyes never moving from Kalif he puts the phone to his ear. “Grayland.”

“It’s the virus,” Ronnie says.

“Well, Kalif, seems you live for another day,” Ryker says to the man. “Make the call, Ronnie.”

Ryker kills the call but continues to hold the phone. Less than two minutes later, the phone buzzes again. “Grayland.”

“What do you need?” asks Spreck’s voice.

“I need a car, a driver, and a couple of people to keep Kalif from getting lonely on the drive.”

“Fifty minutes.”

Twenty minutes later his phone rings again. “Grayland.”

“I’m at the hotel. Spreck is meeting me here and taking the Mogle.”

“Where is the virus now?”

“Dying in the back of the truck. I poured the samples into an alcohol solution.”

“Do, er, people know this?” Ryker asks in surprise.

“It was Spreck’s idea.”

“So it’s over.”

“Yes. Thank God.”

“As soon as people get here, I’ll come there,” he says, relieved that this mission is finally complete.

***

Ronnie turns at the click of the door opening, rising from her chair as Ryker enters. “Is it over?”

Ryker smiles, taking Ronnie into his arms. “It’s over,” he confirms.

Ronnie relaxes into Ryker, placing her head on his shoulder. “Thank God. What do we do now?’

“I’m not sure. If we don’t hear anything tonight, I will report to Hargraves in the morning. See what my orders are.”

“Then what?”

“I assume I will be sent back to Little Creek.”

“Little Creek?”

“It’s the SEAL training base right outside of Norfolk.”

“Virginia?”

“That’s right. Long way from California, isn’t it?”

Ronnie is quiet for a moment. She knew this moment would come but she had thus far refused to think about it. “What are we going to do?”

“I don’t know. I could transfer to San Diego. That’s at least closer. But that will take some time.”

She can feel herself tearing up at the thought of losing him. “We’ve been through so much. I can’t bear the thought of losing you now.”

He smiles. He’s not ready to give up on her yet. “Hey… we’ll work something out. I have some leave coming.”

“I don’t want you just on leave. I want to be with you. Always.”

Ryker smiles into Ronnie’s hair. He would like that too. But it may not be possible. Not for a while. But even when his tour is up… he is going to have to do some thinking. Is he really willing to give it all up for Ronnie? If she were to ask him now, he would say “yes.” But when it really comes time to sign the papers, will he actually be willing to do it? He kisses her on the head. He has two years to sort that out. A lot can happen in that amount of time.

“Let’s not worry about that now, okay? Let’s just enjoy the time we have left. Then… we’ll work something out.”

She pulls back from his embrace and offers him a slightly sad smile. “Yes. You’re right. We can work it out. Maybe I can move to Norfolk. There must be teaching positions there somewhere, right? Or a medical company?”

Ryker smiles lovingly. “See? It will work out. If we want this to work, we will find a way.”

Her smile brightens. He’s right. After two kidnapping attempts, a rescue of her father, and two missions with him, what difference does a little distance make? They
will
find a way.  

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

With a car and the CIA’s credit card, Ryker does a little research and decides he and Ronnie are going to Abu Naim, a highly regarded restaurant located in the city center. The CIA hadn’t supplied dress clothes, the provided wardrobe focusing more on what American tourists would wear on vacation, but with a little creative mixing and matching, Ronnie turns out in a jaw-dropping outfit perfect for a night on the town.

When he kills the engine on the rented Merc, he places his hand on her arm, silently stilling her reach for the door handle. She smiles and sits demurely while he crosses in front of the car and opens her door. As she exits the car she tries to remember the last time a
gentleman
opened the door for her… and she realizes she can’t. Fearless, handsome, strong, a force of nature in bed… and a gentleman too? No wonder her panties are always wet!

“What are you grinning about?” he asks, noticing her mischievous grin.

“Nothing dear!” she replies brightly, patting him on the chest as she sashays past. 

Ryker grins and falls into step with her. It has been his experience when a woman says “nothing” and it is clearly “something,” it’s not a good thing. But this “nothing” appears to be the exception that proves the rule.

They don’t have to cool their heels long before a table opens. As they are escorted to their table he can feel the eyes upon them. Well, maybe not them… but Ronnie. As he seats her at the table he can’t help but smile at his luck. He had all but blistered the paint on his apartment walls with his language when he found out he was shipping out to Lebanon again... only to find out it is the best thing that has ever happened to him.

“You’re going to have to help me again,” Ronnie says, looking over the menu. It may have English and French under the squiggles that is Lebanese, but she still didn’t know what would be good.

“I have a better idea. Would you ask the owner to come over please?” Ryker says when the waiter arrives.

“Ryker?” she says, drawing his name out. “What are you doing?”

“Do you trust me?”

Ronnie grins. “You haven’t steered me wrong yet.”

“Then relax. Sheesh. You’d think we were in a foreign country surrounded by kidnappers and mad scientists bent on world domination or something.”

She looks to her lap to hide her grin before looking back up. “Now why would I think that?”

“I’m Abu Naim. You asked to see me?” a well-dressed man says, stopping at their table.

“My wife is new to Lebanese food. What would you suggest?”

Abu smiles. “How about a little of everything then? Allow the lady to decide what she likes. Then she will know what to order when her beauty once again graces my humble restaurant.”

Ryker grins as Ronnie blushes. “That sounds perfect, Mr. Naim. May I have the same? And a bottle of wine.”

“Of course, sir. I will have your orders out quickly.”

“You put him up to that!” Ronnie accuses when Abu is out of earshot.

“Did not!” Ryker protests, holding his hands up in wide-eyed innocence. “This is the first time I have ever been here.”

A moment later a waiter arrives with a bottle in a tub of ice. After the cork is removed, the waiter fills their glasses and moves off to service other tables. Ryker takes a sip. “Not bad.” He reaches into the ice bucket and removes the bottle to look at the label.

“What?” Ronnie asks, when Ryker grins.

He turns the bottle, showing her the label. “A little taste of home.”

“What?”

“Look where it’s made.”

Ronnie squints and then grins. “Napa! A little taste of home is right.”

They hadn’t even finished their first glass of wine when a large platter covered with various meats ringed by pita arrived, closely followed by several small bowl of vegetables. Abu returns to their table and explained the various delicacies, their flavor, and how to best pair the dishes. Ronnie tries to keep track but is overwhelmed by the variety of the pairings.

Ronnie decides she is very partial to the chicken livers and
kibbeh nayyeh
, much to her surprise, and the
batata harra
has just enough kick to make the potatoes memorable. The wine selected by Abu adds the perfect touch.

They nibble at their food, oohing and ahhing over the rich flavors, occasionally feeding each other a morsel. At the end of the meal, when the two small servings of
man’oushe
arrive, they look at each other, their grins quickly dissolving into snickers and giggles as they scrape their bowls clean. As she devours the last of her dessert Ronnie makes quiet moans with every taste, delighting in watching his color rise in response to her antics.

On the drive back to their hotel Ronnie is feeling full from the food, relaxed from the wine, and very much in the mood for some quiet time with Ryker. Or, if she gets over this stuffed feeling soon enough, maybe some not so quiet time, she decides lasciviously.

It is nearly nine by the time the door swings shut behind them in their suite. “Thank you Ryker. That is one of the most enjoyable evenings I have never had,” Ronnie says, melting into his arms.

“The pleasure was all mine, I assure you.”

Ronnie sighs deeply, that creeping sadness of their impending separation once again weighing heavily on her heart. Even if they can work it out, there is going to be a time when they can’t be together, and she doesn’t want to be apart from Ryker for even one minute, much less weeks or months at a time.

He holds her tight, her quiet stillness giving away her thoughts. The same thoughts he is having. How can he bear being separated from her for months at a time? He is confident they will eventually work out something so they can be together, but until then the distance between them will be hard to take. Maybe he should just call it off now.

A quick sharp pain as opposed to long drawn out agony. But he quickly rejects that idea. No… she is worth any sacrifice. He will talk to his commanding officer when he gets back to Little Creek and request a transfer to San Diego. The Navy owes him that much.

As Ronnie pulls back, he lowers his lips to hers and she accepts his kiss. The kiss is slow, deep, and filled with longing, speaking of a thirst that they can’t seem to quench—only temporarily satiate. When the kiss breaks, he pulls her hard to him, holding her tightly once more. “When I get back to base, I’m requesting a transfer to San Diego and I won’t rest until I get it. If I have to I will quit the SEALs. There is a naval base in San Francisco that maybe I can get transferred to. Don’t give up on us, Ronnie! We can make this work!”

“I know,” Ronnie says without moving. “But I dread the wait until we can make it happen.”

“I will fly out every chance I get. I can fly free on military transport. I will see you as often as I can. So often you may get sick of me!”

She giggles wetly then sniffs. “I hope so.”

He holds her for many long minutes until this phone breaks the mood. He looks at the display. “The embassy,” he says before accepting the call. “Evans.”

“Evans, Hargraves. Report to me at oh-nine-hundred tomorrow morning. You and Dr. Baker bring your bags.”

“Yes sir, Colonel. Oh-nine-hundred tomorrow.” He kills the call, then drops the phone back into his pocket. “Tonight is our last night here,” he sighs.

She stands, staring into his eyes, trying hard to hold her tears but only partially succeeding. “I guess we should make the most of it then, huh?” she says stepping back in close and pulling his lips to hers. As their lips part, she looks into his eyes. “Take me to bed…”

Without undressing, they move slowly to the bed. There is no hurry. They have almost twelve hours before he has to report and he wants to savor each moment of it. As they settle on the mattress, he rolls her to her back before beginning to gently unbutton her blouse. Ronnie is passive, her face sad as he works her buttons. He understands her sadness, but he has come too far to lose her now. “It will be okay,” he murmurs, taking her lips for his own as he finishes unwrapping his gift.

Ryker slowly kisses from her lips down to her jaw, then from her neck to her chest. He takes his time, moving slowly, and despite the dark cloud hanging over the evening, Ronnie can feel her body begin to respond.

Just over nine hours ago they had fucked liked animals after smearing each other with food and licking it clean. But this time couldn’t be more different. They move slowly, allowing their desires to build, taking their pleasure in small measures to extend their enjoyment.

Ryker finishes undressing Ronnie, kissing nearly every millimeter of her skin in the process before allowing her to do the same to him. As she removes his pants, she takes his member into her mouth, fellating him slowly, gently, lovingly, concerned only with giving him pleasure, knowing she will get hers soon enough.

“I’m going to come,” he hisses softly as his orgasm begins to take his control, but she continues her slow erotic kissing of his manhood. She moves over him, taking him between her breasts and begins to stroke him, keeping him wet and slick with his own pre-ejaculate and her saliva until he can’t stand it anymore.

Ryker issues that sexy gasping grunt as he erupts onto her breasts. As he comes in three hard spurts, each accompanied by another gasping grunt, she smiles. Now, it’s her turn.

Ryker settles between Ronnie’s knees, tasting her nectar. He goes slow, lapping at her lazily, enjoying the giving of pleasure as much as receiving it. Besides, he needs a few minutes to recover and he can’t think of a better way to pass the time.

He builds her up with aching slowness. She wants to
go,
but at the same time draw the pleasure out to the maximum. The internal conflict between wanting to face-fuck Ryker into oblivion and yet have him do this to her for hours without end is tearing her apart, causing her to whimper and moan as she twists in erotic agony. Finally her orgasm takes her and she shudders briefly before relaxing with a smile and a giggle.

He knows there is a kiss waiting for him so quickly kisses his way up her body to her lips. The kiss is slow, deep, and erotic, serving to only confirm what he already believes: that Dr. Veronica Baker has the best kisses of any woman he has ever met.

Ronnie pulls at Ryker, trying to steer him into her, but he refuses to go. “Please Ryker. Please,” she begs, desperate to feel him inside of her once more.

“No…” he whispers, refusing to give into Ronnie’s breathy pleas. He isn’t fully hard again yet and she deserves better. He begins to kiss down her body once more before he again begins to tickle her most sensitive area with lips and tongue.

This time he augments his teasing with a finger, reaching inside of her to stroke her sweet spot. Slowly at first, but with increasing speed and power, he builds her up, his finger touching and stroking, his tongue darting and probing into all her secret places as he gently tugs and pulls with his lips.

With another hard grunt, Ronnie falls into a rushing torrent of pleasure, her orgasm consuming her as it burns along her nerves. She thrusts her hips, unable to stay still until her orgasm once more washes out of her, leaving her breathless and panting. As Ryker’s lips close over her own, she can’t help but giggle.

He pulls back from her long kiss and smiles at her. She gently bobs her head, opening her mouth slightly, offering him her lips and tongue again.
Yes, more of that
, he thinks, but first he tucks his hands under her and moves her up in the bed. He had been on his knees in the floor as he pleased her, but now, after forty-five minute of pleasing her with is mouth, he is fully ready to please her in another way.

She helps him move her higher into the bed, her breath speeding up in anticipation of what that means. Moving slowly between her legs while fulfilling her need to kiss, he settles lightly onto her before slowly entering her without breaking the kiss. As his hardness slides into her, she can feel her passions rising to the next level… and it tells in her kiss.