by Jo Davis
Oh, God!
“Move the helicopters in! Let’s go!”
Emma launched herself from her hiding place with the rest of her team, opening fire. Dietz jerked the rifle away from Blaze and returned a few short bursts of fire before disappearing into the confusion. At the moment, Emma didn’t care about anything except getting to her lover.
Blaze pushed unsteadily his feet, face twisted in anger or pain. He tackled a nearby soldier and snapped his neck, divesting the fallen enemy of his rifle.
Emma picked off a goon who was taking aim at Blaze, and then he saw her. His eyes widened, and he aimed to her right, taking out a soldier who’d drawn down on her. She felt a stinging in her arm but paid it no attention. Her objective was to get to Blaze, fight at his side.
Her team as well as the others were busy vanquishing the opposition in other areas, and even a man as skilled as hers could take on only so many alone.
Halfway to her destination, a man in fatigues raised his rifle. Took aim at Blaze’s heart.
Legs pumping, she charged, yelling. The man spun, but he was too late. She pumped his chest full of lead and kept coming, not stopping until she reached her lover’s side. They fought back to back until the last traitor fell and all that could be heard was a random burst of gunfire as their teams cleaned house.
“My God, baby,” he panted, spinning her to face him. Throwing down his rifle, he shook her hard. “You’ve been shot!”
Numbly, she studied her upper arm. “It’s a scratch.”
“A scratch! Dammit, what the hell are you doing here? Why would you put yourself in danger?”
“You know why,” she managed, tears threatening. She’d been holding them back for endless hours, and they spilled over. “I love you. You’d have done the same for me.”
His anger melted, and he crushed her to his chest, holding her tight. “Damned right. But don’t ever do it again.”
“Can’t promise that.”
“Stubborn woman. My sub is supposed to do as I say, you know.” His voice was fading, fast.
“Not when it comes to a situation like this. Forget it.”
“You will do as I ...” He swayed and his knees buckled.
“Blaze!” She lowered him to the ground, laying him on his back. In the heat of battle, she hadn’t noticed that his shirt and pants were dark with blood. His face was pale and his breathing was harsh. As she moved around him to check his leg, she saw his blistered feet and stifled a cry. “What did they do to you, honey? Talk to me.”
“I’ll be fine,” he said, eyes drifting shut. “Lan?”
She searched around to find Lan sitting on the ground not far away, wrapped in Nicole’s arms. Something told her that Lan would forgive his lady for holding out on being an FBI agent.
“He’s okay, I think. Nicole’s taking care of him.” No response. “Honey?”
Bastian squatted beside her, concern etched on his face. But his tone was reassuring. “He’ll be all right. I’ll make sure of it. You did good, Emma.”
“Thank you.” Tears filled her eyes. “He’s been through so much. I can’t lose him now.”
“You won’t. Nobody is losing anybody they love. Not today, or ever if I can help it,” he said firmly.
She nodded, and she had to wonder whether he was referring to Michael as well.
“Did we get Dietz?” she asked suddenly. His jaw clenched, and deadly anger lit his eyes.
“The teams are searching, but it looks like he got away. I swear if it’s the last thing I do, I’ll put him in his grave,” he seethed. “I just got word, however, that Kosta, Meyer, and Major Fontaine have been apprehended by two of our teams. Kosta and Meyer were packing, presumably to leave the country, and Fontaine was in his office, oblivious.”
“Good, I hope they rot in prison. The weapon?”
“Secure, thank God. I’ve already contacted the president, and he’s dispatching a detail to retrieve it as we speak.”
That, at least, was one major victory. When Blaze was better, she knew they’d feel proud to have played a part in locating the bomb and saving so many lives.
But that was another day. For now she wanted nothing more than to see him open his eyes and smile, reassure her that he was fine.
The medical team rushed over and worked on him for a few minutes, attaching an IV and checking his vitals. Finally, they declared him stable and ready to transport. She was right behind them.
A stick of dynamite wasn’t going to blast her from his side.
Blaze emerged from his safe, warm cocoon even though he didn’t want to. It was fuzzy and nice here. Quiet and sleepy.
A voice kept droning around him, though. Wouldn’t let him remain in limbo. A woman’s voice, familiar. Suddenly he longed to investigate but couldn’t think why. He struggled to surface from underwater, and it was harder than he imagined.
Open his eyes. That’s what he had to do, but it seemed impossible.
“Come on, Blaze. Wakey-wakey.”
Huh?
“Nap time is over, big guy. Let me see those pretty eyes of yours.”
Okay. He really wasn’t one for naps anyhow, couldn’t fathom why he’d want one now that he’d heard such a pretty voice. Probably had a pretty face attached.
After significantly more effort, his lids eased open and he blinked to clear his vision. His eyeballs were gritty, but he made out a form hovering over him. A blond woman. With long hair where there should be short.
“Emma?”
“Welcome back, sweetie!” Her joy was apparent, and it made him smile.
Or he thought it did. His face seemed to be broken or something.
“I’m back? Where’d I go?”
She laughed and sniffled at the same time. Women were weird with the emotional stuff.
“You were in surgery to remove a bullet from your thigh. The one in your shoulder went clean through, so they closed you up. You’re going to be fine.”
“Bullets?”
“Don’t you remember? You were shot while being captured by Dietz’s men, and then they beat you. Burned your feet, too. You need to stay off them for a few days.”
“Oh.” His scrambled brain tried to remember.
“Don’t worry—it’s the drugs,” she assured him, kissing his cheek. “You’re still trying to wake up. I’ll probably have to repeat all of this later.”
“Will you repeat that you love me?”
“You bet. Every minute.”
“Will you say yes—that you want to marry me and get our own house together?”
“You know I will, if that’s what you really want. I love you, sir.”
Now that he’d remember with no problem at all.
“I love you, too, baby.”
Smiling, he let himself float into sleep once more, safe and secure in the four little words he’d waited a lifetime to hear.
I love you, sir.
Seventeen
Blaze picked at the bedcovers, fidgety. Restless. “I want to go home.”
Emma glanced up from the magazine she’d been thumbing through and smiled. Damn, that smile always made his heart trip.
“You sound like a little boy. Never mind,” she said, laughing. “I can already hear your response to that.”
A small smile curved his lips as he studied her. She still hadn’t had time to get rid of the hair extensions, and her clothes were rumpled because she’d been spending too much time at SHADO’s hospital sitting with him, but she was beautiful.
“I haven’t forgotten, you know.” He watched her reaction intently.
“Forgotten what?”
“You said you’d repeat that you love me. Often.”
Giggling, she scooted closer and bussed his cheek. “I’ll tell you that all the time.”
“Just reminding you. And you said you’d say yes, that you’d marry me,” he said, nervous as a schoolkid.
“Well, I would, except you haven’t technically asked,” she pointed out, expression merry.
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“How about I fix that, since I’m now coherent?” He took a deep breath. “Emma Foster, will you do me the honor of being my wife? Of making a home with me and sharing our lives?”
Leaning over, she took his mouth in a lazy, sensual kiss. “I’d love nothing more than to be your wife. Yes, my sexy, wonderful man.”
In that moment, he felt like Superman.
“You’ve made me the happiest man alive, baby.” He couldn’t stop smiling.
A knock sounded on the door, and Bastian stepped inside. “Am I interrupting?”
“Nope,” Emma said cheerfully. “You’re just in time to congratulate us—we’re getting married!”
Bastian’s smile lit his face, and he strode over to hug Emma, then to shake Blaze’s hand. “Hey, that’s fantastic! Huge congrats! When they spring you, a celebratory dinner is on me. We’ll invite a small group of friends, if that’s okay.”
“Sounds perfect. Why don’t we wait until Michael is on his feet so he can celebrate, too,” Blaze suggested. Bastian’s smile dimmed some, but he nodded.
“Perfect. I know he’ll like that.”
“How’s he doing?”
“Better each day. I spend as much time with him as I can, but SHADO won’t run itself,” their friend said ruefully.
“How’s he coping with Dietz still being on the run?”
The other man sighed. “He’s pretty quiet about it. Hard to tell what’s going on in his head. It has to be weighing on him that the bastard might come after him again. All I can say is Dietz can try, but the fucker will have to come through me first.”
“He’ll have to come through all of us,” Blaze corrected. “We won’t allow a second attempt, no matter what.”
They fell silent for a few moments, and Blaze contemplated the road ahead of Michael, finding Dietz to ensure his safety once and for all.
“There’s a reason I dropped by, besides checking on you,” Bastian informed him. “Are you up for a special visitor?”
The lilt in his voice, the sparkle in his eyes, captured their undivided attention. Something important was up. “Sure. Anyone I know?”
“Not personally. I think—” Another knock interrupted. Giving them both a secretive smile, Bastian walked to the door and spoke with someone in a low tone. Then he stood back and announced, “Your visitor.”
A tall, imposing man with a head of dark hair going silver strode into the room, accompanied by a burly man in a suit. As the man strode forward, smiling, Blaze stared in absolute shock, as did Emma.
“Mr. President,” he croaked, dumbly sticking out his hand to receive the shake.
“Agent Kelly. It’s a privilege to meet you, son.”
He cleared his throat. “The honor is mine, sir.” Funny, that was the first time in years he’d called another man sir, and this title carried a weight of new meaning.
“I had to come myself and extend my deepest gratitude for what you and your fellow agents have done for our country,” said the president in a sincere, ringing voice. “Sometimes a man must do what he must, knowing he won’t receive accolades from the news media or from the public. Sometimes the call to duty requires sacrifice such as the ones you and your colleagues have made in this delicate matter. You were successful, you’re alive, and on behalf of the United States of America, I thank you and Agent Foster from the depths of my soul.”
“Thank you, Mr. President,” Emma whispered. The older man acknowledged her with a smile and a nod.
A lump formed in Blaze’s throat as he stared at the president, momentarily speechless. The older man, it appeared, was prepared to await his response, so he quickly gathered his scattered wits.
“You’re welcome, Mr. President. But I was one cog in the wheel, that’s all. It took the concentrated effort of all my team-mates to rout the Liberation group and take possession of the weapon. Without all of us working together, we couldn’t have succeeded.”
“And that, Agent Kelly, is what makes America so great. People like you and Agent Foster have kept this country safe and strong for over two hundred years, and will continue to do so for hundreds more. Wherever you go, whatever you need, know that I’m only one phone call away. Bastian knows how to reach me.”
The older man squeezed his shoulder, and Blaze wished he could place this moment in a time capsule to take out and examine and savor, over and over. He never wanted to forget this day.
“Thank you, sir.” He hesitated. “Before you go, can I ask you one question?”
“Sure. I may have to have you rubbed out if I answer, but go ahead.”
Everyone chuckled at the president’s joke, though Blaze wasn’t entirely sure he was kidding. “Why did we make this type of weapon? Why the risk?”
The older man’s humor died and the room held its breath. Blaze wondered if he’d trespassed too far, but the man answered with great dignity.
“Because one of our enemies, a terrorist nation I won’t name, was already making one, son,” he said quietly. “Many operatives gave their lives getting us the information we needed to assemble the weapon and beat them to the punch.”
“Checks and balances,” Blaze concluded. Now it made sense.
“Yes. Isn’t that what the universe is made of? Rest assured that weapon will never go astray again, and the men who’ve been captured won’t see the light of day, ever. Same goes for Robert Dietz when you locate him, and I have every faith you will.” The president smiled, ready to make his exit. “And now I have a few more rounds to make. Good-bye, agents.”
Blaze stared after him, feeling like he’d fallen down the rabbit hole. “Holy crap, did that just happen? The president came to visit us!”
“He did indeed,” Bastian said. “And he’s clearly happy with the job we’ve done. Now to find Dietz, and it will be finished.”
“Wonder what he did with the traitors who were captured?” Emma speculated.
Bastian’s brows rose. “Trust me—you don’t want to know.”
Blaze settled in, not nearly as restless as before. A man could bask in the glow of a personal visit from the president for a very long time.
He’d gotten the girl and saved the world after all, and the thought made him grin.
Yeah, he’d get Ash started on that song. Right away.
“I hope you like it.” Emma’s hands tightened on the steering wheel, and she stole a glance at her sexy master. He was lounging in the passenger’s seat like a lazy cat with no cares in the world. Except loving her, it seemed, which suited her fine.
“I told you, if you love it so will I.” He grinned. “As long as it has a basement for our toys, I’m good. Oh, and a hot tub out back.”
“It has both. You’ll see.”
She peeked at him as they turned in the drive, noting how well he’d healed in the past couple of weeks. He still got tired easily and walked with a slight limp, thanks to the leg wound and his healing feet. But he was out of the woods and looking fantastic, his skin a healthy color and his black hair falling like lustrous silk to his shoulders, the blond gone.
He was the most beautiful man she’d ever seen.
As she turned onto their road, nervous excitement skittered through her. When she pulled into the driveway of the remodeled, two-story white frame house, she held her breath.
“Emma, sweetheart. It’s gorgeous!”
She smiled and shut off the engine. “The house was built in the early nineteen hundreds, but the previous owners did a major renovation, so it’s in mint condition. Master bedroom and an office downstairs, guest rooms up. Two fireplaces. A new redwood deck complete with a spa for soaking those tired muscles. Well? What do you think?”
His lips quirked. “I think my brain short-circuited when you said the word mint.”
She rolled her eyes. “Spoken like a real man.”
“Just teasing. I don’t care how much it costs as long as you’re happy.”
He leaned over, and his lips claimed hers, his tongue sweeping inside her mouth. The hea
dy taste of him spiked her need to be held by him after a couple of long weeks—just the two of them. She needed to be as close to him as possible. To crawl under his skin and stay there, safe from the world.
“Want to go inside?”
They got out, and she took his arm, steadying him as they climbed the steps. Fishing out the keys from the Realtor, she unlocked the door and let them in.
“It’s every bit as beautiful inside,” he commented, grinning at her. “But not as much as you are. Come here.”
Leaning against a wall in the foyer, he pulled her between his legs and cupped her bottom. Pressed her against his arousal, letting her feel his need. He kissed her again with slow thoroughness, and by the time they broke apart, they were both on fire.
“Why don’t you show me the master bedroom?”
“Yes, sir.”
His eyes glowed. “God, you know what that does to me!”
“Oh, I do, sir. Believe me.”
“I think you’re learning to top from the bottom, manipulative little minx.”
“Who, me?” She batted her lashes.
With a playful growl, he swept her into his arms, chuckling as she squealed. She resisted scolding him for aggravating his injuries. It wouldn’t do any good when the hardheaded man did exactly what he pleased.
“Which way?”
She pointed, and he took off. Reaching their destination, he placed her gently on the king-sized bed.
“This bed isn’t ours.”
“The owners are selling it with the house,” she said.
“It isn’t our house yet because we haven’t put in an offer.”
She held her breath.
“Hmm, I like my bed better, but it will be fine for one of the spare bedrooms.”
Happiness burst inside her. For Blaze, that was his way of saying yes. He loved the house and already thought of it as theirs.
His eyes never leaving hers, he unbuttoned his shirt and shrugged it off. Following suit with his jeans, he unzipped and pushed them past his hips. His cock sprang free, ready to play, and she drank in the sight of him, all six feet plus of battle-scarred man.
Big, naked, and hers. She gave him a seductive smile.
