by Hamel, B. B.
“Go ahead,” he whispers, sensing my tension. “Go ahead and come for me.”
I gasp his name and let it roll through my body. It’s an explosion of pleasure between my legs that rips its way through every inch of my skin. I’m tingling and buzzing with it as he fucks me through my orgasm, unrelenting and unstoppable.
He’s growling now louder, moaning, and he whispers my name. “Fuck, Lily,” he groans. “I need to fill you up. I need to fill you up nice and deep.”
“Come for me,” I moan. “Please, come for me.”
He groans and I feel it. He comes hard and deep between my legs. I can feel him filling me and the only thought in my mind is one single word: More.
He finishes and we lie in the sheets together, tangled in them. We’re sweating and I’m smiling like an idiot.
This trip was almost worth it now.
He looks at me. “I’m glad you came back here,” he says.
“Yeah. Me too.”
“Good.” He kisses me gently and cocks his head. “I’m going to get some water. And then you’d better be ready for more.”
My eyes widen. “Really?”
He smirks. “Really.”
I watch him get up and walk into the kitchen, his body hard and lean and muscular and beautiful. He’s the most attractive man I’ve ever been with and I almost feel like I don’t belong here.
But I’m here and I’m not going anywhere tonight. He says he wants more, and I know that’s what I need.
So I’m here, one night only, with this total stranger. I don’t know what’ll come of it, but right now, I feel too good to turn away.
2
Abel
Two Years Later
I chafe a little against the starched collar of my dress uniform. I haven’t worn it in a long time but the brass wanted me here and in dress, so here I am.
It feels weird to be back in the States. The past six years of my life have been a constant whirlwind tour of one battlefield after another. It got to the point where I was more comfortable sleeping on the floor instead of in a bed. My squad was my family and I couldn’t picture what it would be like to be a normal human anymore.
But now I’m home, thrown into the civilian world. I can’t pretend like it’s not completely jarring.
At least there’s an open bar.
I sidle up to the end and ask for a whiskey. I sip the thing when the bartender comes back and smile to myself. It’s hard to find a decent whiskey overseas, especially in the Middle East. I turn my back on the bar, leaning up against it, and start to survey the room.
It’s a charity for wounded vets. It’s a good cause, but charity events aren’t exactly my thing in general. The brass wants me here to represent the SEALs, I guess in an effort to get these sympathetic rich people to part with more of their cash. Maybe they think I’m charming, but the last thing I feel like doing is talking up a bunch of whitecaps with platinum cards.
I sigh and take another sip. If I close my eyes I can feel the winds in Pakistan whipping through my hair, feel the weight of my gear, the heft of my rifle in my hands, the grit of sand between my teeth. I can hear the sharp deafening pops of small arms fire and the screams of enemy combatants as they’re torn to shreds.
I shudder and open my eyes, skimming the crowd, until suddenly I freeze.
I narrow my eyes, heart suddenly beating fast. I swear I recognize a woman talking to a group of smiling men in tuxedos. She’s wearing a cocktail dress, a little less fancy than all the other women in their absurd ballgowns. She looks pretty, gorgeous actually, and I recognize her from one of the single best nights of my whole damn life so far.
Lily, her name was. Hell, I can’t even describe how many times I’ve thought about that night with her. It’s not like she’s the only woman I’ve been with since becoming a SEAL, but that night was something special. Something… intense.
I watch her carefully. It’s been two years but she looks exactly the same. I guess I probably do too. She hasn’t looked over but I’m not shy about staring at her. I know what I want and god damn, do I want her again. I can practically hear my blood singing for her.
Finally the group she’s talking to breaks up and she heads over to the bar. It doesn’t take long before I catch her eye and a little smile slides across my face.
She looks startled for a second and I know she recognizes me. Then she smiles and asks for a glass of wine before coming over to stand next to me.
“I didn’t think they’d bring someone like you to a place like this,” she says.
I snort at that. “Wasn’t my choice, if you want to know.”
“I figured.” She cocks her head. “Still some kind of spy?”
I grin and shake my head. “Not a spy.”
“Right. Just a ‘consultant.’” He winks at me.
I sip my drink and feel my heart beating fast. “You ever get that story?”
She shakes her head. “Unfortunately, no.”
“Ah, well. At least you got one good night out of the trip.”
She blushes a little at that. “Not how my editor saw it.”
“He was pissed, huh?”
“She was very pissed.”
“Still with that outfit?”
She shakes her head. “No, but not because of that trip. It was, uh…” She hesitates a second. “Personal reasons.”
I arch an eyebrow. “Personal reasons?”
“Nothing special.” She clears her throat. “So, what are you doing here?”
I watch her for a second and I can tell there’s something she’s purposefully holding back from me, but I decide not to press. I sip my drink again and look out at the sea of rich old people milling around trying to impress each other with how big their checks are.
“Brass says they’re giving me a break,” I grunt. “Putting me on a little tour of home, they say.”
“Wining and dining the donors, huh?”
“More or less. Except I’m not wining or dining, just drinking.”
She laughs at that and I smile. I forgot how much I liked her laugh. It’s honest and endearing.
“So, can you tell me what you were doing out in India back then?” she asks, twirling her glass.
“Nah,” I say honestly. “Sorry. I can say that I’m Special Forces.”
She arches an eyebrow and nods. “I can see that.”
I glance down at my uniform. “Ah, yeah. Guess this gives it away.”
“Lots of shiny stuff pinned on there.” She pokes at my medals.
I can’t help but laugh. So many people treat vets like saints and are afraid to mess around with them, but she doesn’t seem shy about it. I like that. There’s a difference between being disrespectful and being funny.
“I’m good at my job.”
“And that earned you a break, huh?”
“Sure.”
She glances out at the crowd. “I should mingle,” she says almost absently.
“Go ahead. Mingle for both of us.”
She looks back at me for a second and sighs. “Ah, forget it. I’ll just make something up.”
“You reporting on this?”
“Just a little puff piece for the paper I write for now, yeah.”
“Good for you. Still in the business, I see.”
“I wasn’t for a little while, but yeah. This job is kind of new.”
“And already slacking off.”
She grins. “You know how it is.”
“Sure.” I cock my head. “I gotta admit, I never thought I’d run into you again.”
“Same here. Are you from Philly?”
“Born and raised.”
She arches an eyebrow. “What the hell are the chances of that?”
“I assume you’re from here too.”
“The suburbs, but yeah.”
I grunt. “Suburbs ain’t Philly.”
“Oh, sorry, didn’t realize you were the real deal.”
“Walking, talking real deal right here,” I say.<
br />
She can’t help but smile. “Are you always like this?”
“What, charming?”
“No, cocky and annoying.”
“Probably.”
She laughs again and sips her wine. “How long are you home for?”
“Not sure,” I admit.
“Happy to be back?”
That one makes me pause for a second. “That’s complicated,” I say.
“Yeah,” she answers softly. “I figured. Most guys I talk to that just got back aren’t sure they’re happy to be home yet.”
“Takes some getting used to.”
“It’s good though. We have the internet.”
I nod seriously. “The internet is great.”
“Right? It’s amazing.”
“Sure as hell beats getting shot at.”
She arches an eyebrow. “I thought you were a consultant?”
I grin at her. “Consultants can get shot at.”
“Right.” She laughs and puts her hand on my arm. I feel like my smile might break my face.
“Listen, I want to see you.”
She drops her hand and looks at me. “I don’t know,” she says. “It’ll be hard.”
“Hard? I’m not that scary, girl.”
“Your apartment was pretty serial-killerish.”
“True, but that wasn’t my place. Just a safe spot to get a little time off.”
“Oh, great. So lots of people slept in that bed, huh.”
“And ate on that counter.” I grin at her.
She sighs. “Whatever.”
“So why’s it going to be hard?”
She hesitates again and I see that desire to dodge. “I have a daughter,” she says finally.
I raise an eyebrow. “That’s cool,” I say with a shrug. “I like kids.”
“Ever spend any time with one?” she asks.
“Good point.”
She sighs. “I’ll find a babysitter though. Here, take my number.”
I hesitate a second before I remember the phone in my pocket. I pull it out and enter her number before calling her.
“Have a good night,” she says to me.
“I’ll try,” I answer. “See you soon.”
She gives me a charming little smile and a strange look before walking off to join another group of white-haired millionaires.
I last one more drink before I skip out and head back home. I’m not about to sit around and bullshit all night long.
Besides, I’m going to see Lily again. Never thought it would happen, but hot damn, fate really came through for me this time.
I’ve got a grin on my face as wide as the Grand Canyon.
3
Lily
I didn’t expect to get pregnant from a one-night stand in a random little town in India.
And I definitely didn’t expect to run into the Navy SEAL that knocked me up two years later.
God, and he had no clue. Even when I told him that I have a daughter, he didn’t look like he even made that connection in the slightest.
I should’ve just avoided him and refused to give him my number. I never thought Nova would have a father in her life and I never really wanted one. I mean, I have been trying to date, but I never really thought her real dad would ever be in the picture again.
He was just a spook and just one night. It was an incredible night, the best night of my life, but it was fleeting, never meant to last.
He has no idea the gift he gave me and the heartache. I had to leave that first job because of Nova and it was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. I’m just finally getting back on my feet and getting back into the journalism world.
And now he’s back and he wants to see me. I don’t know how I feel about it, but I know I’m not going to pass up the chance.
I guess I just can’t help myself.
“Lily! My office!”
I wince every time my editor Roger barks my name. He does that to everyone though, so I can never tell if he’s annoyed or if that’s just the way he talks.
I get up and head into Roger’s office. It’s cramped and crammed with papers and books. I clear off a spot on a chair and sit.
“Read the copy you submitted,” he says without looking up. “Pretty bland. You actually talk to any soldiers in there?”
“Just one,” I say. “He didn’t give me any quotes.” I think back to my brief conversation with Abel and I know I can’t use any of that.
Roger sighs. “Listen, Lily. You gotta talk to the boys. Nobody cares about anyone else.”
“I know,” I say. “There weren’t many around.”
“Go out and get me some quotes, okay? I don’t care if you gotta dig up some random vet, just do it, all right?”
I clench my jaw. “Of course. I’ll get it done.”
“New copy by the end of the week. I want this to run next Monday at the latest.”
“I’m on it.” I get up and leave before he can give me anymore unreasonable demands.
I sit down at my desk and sigh. Getting back up to speed as a journalist hasn’t been easy. Print is dying and I’m a single mom. Fortunately for me, my mother lives in an apartment half a block away, so that’s been a lifesaver. But still, I’m worked ragged every day and exhausted all the time.
I stare at my computer screen for a few minutes, trying to come up with some solution to my problem, but I know there’s only one. I pick up my phone and bite my lip, looking at Abel’s number in my contacts. I don’t want to call him, really don’t want to do it, but I know he’s the only person I can turn to.
With a groan, I hit his name and the phone rings.
“Yeah?” he answers with a grunt.
“Abel, hi, this is Lily, from the other night?”
Short pause. “Lily,” he says. “Isn’t it customary for the man to call the woman?”
“Guess I’m a feminist. Equality and all that.”
“Fair enough. I was just thinking about you.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Sure. Remembering how it felt when I—”
“Abel,” I say quickly, blushing. “I’m at work. I actually need a favor.”
“What can I do for you?”
“Look, my boss is giving me crap about not having any quotes from soldiers.”
“Sailor,” he says.
I hesitate. “Sorry?”
“I’m in the Navy, so technically I’m a sailor.”
I sigh. “Right, yeah. I forgot you military people were sticklers for that.”
He chuckles softly. “Honestly, I don’t give a shit. But it’s fun to correct people and make them uncomfortable.”
“Asshole. But listen, I just need some quick quotes, won’t be a big deal. Do you have a second?”
He doesn’t answer right away. I think I lost him for a second until I hear him clear his throat. “Actually, I don’t right now,” he says. “How about we talk about this over dinner?”
“Really, it’ll just be a second—”
“Dinner,” he says and I can hear the smile in his voice.
“I’ll need to get a babysitter,” I say reluctantly.
“Get one. Text me your address. I’ll pick you up at eight.”
“Make it six. I’m in bed by eight these days.”
“Being an adult must suck.”
“Sure does.”
“See you soon.” He hangs up the phone without waiting for my reply.
I sigh and stare down at it before texting him my apartment address.
I really hope my mom can take Nova. Heck, I know she can. I guess I’m more hoping that I can handle this little dinner with the father of my daughter.
I’m not prepared for this at all. I haven’t really been with anyone since him, if I’m honest. I haven’t been able to date since I got pregnant, let alone after I had Nova. I finally feel like I’m getting back to myself, truth be told.
And now Abel is back in my life. It’s incredible, it’s impossible, but it’s happening.
<
br /> I’d better look really cute tonight.
* * *
I wait outside my house in a little black dress, feeing nervous to go out with a man for the first time in a long time.
Not that I’ve really dated, not since I got pregnant at least. And I have to keep reminding myself that this isn’t a date. I’m going out with Abel because I want some quotes for my story and nothing more.
I don’t have to wait long, fortunately. A motorcycle pulls up in front of me, parking at the curb. The man that climbs off is gorgeous, wearing tight dark jeans, a white shirt with a black jacket over it, and a dark helmet. He kills the engine and climbs off, smirking at me as I stare at the bike.
“You’ve got to be kidding,” I say.
“What?”
“I’m not riding on a motorcycle.” I look down at myself. “I’m wearing a dress.”
He shrugs. “You’ll be fine. We’re not going far.”
“If we’re not going far, let’s walk.”
He laughs again and puts the helmet under his arm. “You’ll like it. I swear.”
I eye the bike. I’ve never ridden on a motorcycle before and I have to admit, I am a little curious.
But no, no, no. I’m not riding on this arrogant SEAL’s bike, no way, no how. I’m keeping this fast and professional.
He quirks an eyebrow and looks me up and down. I know what he’s seeing. I’m wearing my cutest dress, cut a little low to show off my breasts. I look damn good in this dress and I chose it for a reason, but god, I guess that isn’t very professional after all.
Crap. His smile just gets bigger.
“No motorcycle,” I say seriously.
“I’ll get you on it sooner or later.” He straps the helmet to the back of the seat and crosses his arms over his big, muscular chest. “You look good.”
“Thanks.” I blush despite myself. I know I look good.
“Ready?”
“Let’s get it over with.”
He laughs and we head down the sidewalk. He wasn’t kidding when he said it was close. The restaurant is a little Italian place about five blocks away. We would’ve been on that bike for maybe two minutes at most, and I suspect he just rode it here to mess with me.
