Covertly Strong (The Strong Series Book 1)

by N. A. Alcorn

  The pounding of her heart vibrates against his chest. Nix closes his eyes and smiles. His hands grip her body tighter as he savors this moment, relishing in the feel of her body against his, and his heart fills with an infinite amount of love for her.

  And he promises himself that he’s never letting go—ever.

  SHE’S LYING IN NIX’S BED. Her cheek rests gently against her hand. Sloan’s eyes tenderly assess every delicious inch of the beautiful man beside her. He’s delectably naked—every perfect inch of his toned, firm body on display.

  His hand reaches up and palms her cheek. Her eyes close the instant he touches her, a soft smile forming across her lips.

  “God, I missed you,” he whispers gently.

  Her eyes peer up at the sound of his voice. Her lashes delicately flutter as she takes in the visual of the man staring back at her. His eyes are so soft, so warm, and his expression too perfect. She doesn’t need him to say anything else. His eyes have already told her everything she needs to know.

  The peaceful silence descends upon them as they gaze at each other.

  She remembers how much she missed just breathing the same air as Nix. At one point in her life, he meant everything, and it seems he still does. Sloan leans forward and presses her lips against his—delicate and soft. Feelings of relief and happiness and utter harmony overcome her, blanketing her body in the most pleasant way.

  Despite the challenges and dilemmas that will most likely face her after all of this, she still feels whole. Her world was one giant, scattered puzzle, and Nix has managed to piece it back together again. Sloan’s heart beats with sure, precise movements as her entire being reaches a seamless equilibrium.

  Nix pulls her naked form close, tucking her under his arm, his chin resting comfortably on her head. A content sigh leaves his lips as his grip on her grows tighter—his fingers clutching her possessively.

  Her entire body relinquishes into his hold without any question—without any doubt.

  “Have you had a happy life?” he asks.

  Sloan is taken aback by his question. A happy life?

  She’s not sure that ‘happy’ is the right word. She lost a large part of her happiness when her family moved from Honolulu to Naples, tearing her world in two by putting so much distance between her and Nixon. And she lost another part of her happiness when her parents were tragically killed. Her world tumbled and crashed and burned into smithereens when she received that catastrophic phone call. No one can ever prepare you for receiving that kind of phone call. Nor can anyone prepare you for losing your entire family at the age of nineteen.

  That pivotal moment altered her life.

  Her goals, her dreams, her life choices dramatically changed after that. Everything changed.

  Two months after she buried John and Marie Walker, Sloan gave up on a lot of things. She gave up on the idea of having a normal life…and she gave up on Nix. She chose to believe that he had found someone else, was living a happy life, and was far better off without her. And that belief was the final straw—the last little part of her happiness—that shattered it into a million pieces, disappearing for good.

  She shrugs her shoulders in response to his question. “I’m not sure, Nix. I’m not really sure,” she answers with a lie. Deep down, she is sure, but she’d rather spare him from her pain. She knows she hasn’t really lived a life aimed towards finding happiness. She’s lived a life that has allowed her to hide behind a façade and place her focus on something that didn’t revolve around pain. “Do you feel like the world was against us or something? So many obstacles were placed in our way and all we wanted to do was be together. We weren’t asking for too much, were we?”

  “No. We weren’t asking for too much. I don’t know why things happened like they did, sweetheart. I wish I had the answers, but no one does. I couldn’t control it. You couldn’t control it. We were young and life got in our fucking way. Life barreled between us and chose to give us the hard road. But you know what, baby? We never really gave up, did we? We told life to go fuck herself and found each other again. And here we are, together. Me and you.”

  “Such a romantic, Lieutenant West. We told life to go fuck herself,” she repeats with an amused snort.

  “I guess you just bring out the softer side in me,” he teases. “No one else but you. You’re the only woman who makes me want to be a better man.”

  He tenderly kisses her forehead.

  His fingers slide down to her rib cage, reverently tracing her tattoo. “Diamond Head—the first place I told you I was in love with you,” he declares as a wistful smile kisses his mouth. “Will you tell me about—”

  “Please don’t ask me why my name is different,” she abruptly cuts him off, afraid that he’s going to ask the one question she can’t answer—why she’s living under a different name. “I wish I could tell you, but I can’t. God, there are so many things I want to tell you. I want to tell you everything…” she trails off, her brow scrunching in frustration.

  Nix’s finger erases the stress from her forehead. “I wasn’t going to ask you about that, but since you mentioned it, can I ask you three yes-or-no questions?”

  “Okay,” she responds hesitantly.

  “Are you in trouble?”

  She shakes her head no.

  “Are you really a physician?”

  She nods yes.

  “Is your job kind of similar to mine? Like there’s a specific reason that your name is different? A reason that might entail a certain government with a red-white-and-blue flag?”

  “That’s more than three questions,” she retorts.

  He chuckles. “Just answer with yes or no, sassy pants.”

  “Yes.”

  He nods, letting the information soak in. He’s thankful that he managed to get that much out of her, and if he had to take a guess off what little bit she has revealed, he’d say that she’s either FBI or CIA.

  “So, earlier, when you so rudely cut me off”—he pauses, pinching the spot on her rib cage that’s covered with black ink—“I was going to ask you about this tattoo. When did you get it?”

  She leans her head back, her russet eyes peering into his. “I’m not really sure why I got this tattoo…” She stops for moment, visibly lost in thought. “I think it was because it reminded me of a happy time—a period in my life when everything was right. I had you, I still had my parents, and my heart was full of love on that perfect day.”

  “What do you mean you still had your parents?” he asks, confused.

  She takes a deep breath. “I got this tattoo two days after my mom and dad died,” she blurts out. Her words come out in a quick whoosh of air, like the only way she can tell him about her parent’s death is to say it as fast as physically possible.

  His jaw drops in absolute shock. “Both of your parents died?”

  Sloan nods. “They died when I was nineteen.”

  His breath is stolen from his lungs. Nix’s heart twinges relentlessly inside of his chest at the mere idea of this terrible tragedy. “Oh my god, Meli. I’m so sorry. I had no idea. I had no fucking idea,” he declares as the shock of her parents’ deaths really starts to sink in. He tenderly grips her cheek, staring into her eyes with concern. “Will you tell me what happened?”

  Her entire demeanor is one of pain. “Car accident. Drunk driver. My mom and dad were killed instantly upon impact,” she takes a shaky breath, the action practically a sob. “I can only give you the shorthand version. It’s still too painful for me to really think about.” She clenches her eyes shut, her body going completely still.

  Nix watches a few tears leak from her closed lids.

  She opens her eyes and the pain inside of her russet orbs pull at his heart strings. He places a soft kiss on her cheek, and then tender imprints of his lips brush across her forehead, her cheekbones, and her chin. His mouth taking her tears as they go.

  “What was it like when you lost your parents?” he asks in a quiet tone as he thinks about the fact th
at she went through all of that—losing two of the most important people in her life—without him. He hates that he wasn’t there for her.

  A strangling sound rushes out of her mouth in a stumbling whoosh of air. “Like I said, that was a really painful time for me. I try like hell to avoid thinking about it because it just hurts too damn much.” Her mournful emotions are audible in her voice as grief-stricken tears continue to fill her eyes and stream down the soft skin of her cheeks.

  Nix embraces her tight to his chest. He knows she needs this—his comfort, his love. He hates that she had to go through all of this alone, without him.

  “I’m so sorry, Meli.” He quietly soothes her pain with tender strokes across her bare back. “I should have been there for you. Fuck, I wish I could have been there for you. I would do anything to go back in time and do everything different.”

  She looks up into his eyes. “Nix, there was nothing that you could have done.” A shuddering sigh passes her lips. “I’m just so thankful that you’re here with me right now.”

  His gaze is reverent, undeniably affectionate. “I’m here with you right now. Forever. Always.” And Nix means it. He will never leave her side again.

  THEY TRIED TO PIECE TOGETHER the past and figure out where everything had gone wrong, but there are so many unknowns. Nix and Sloan know that they will never really get closure with that painful time in their lives, and now, the only thing they can do is put the past behind them. They know without a doubt that both of them tried to stay in contact so many years ago. They tried with everything they had, but for some unfortunate reason, something stood in their way.

  Maybe their letters got lost because both of their families had relocated within days of each other? Or maybe life just decided to put up one hell of a fucking roadblock?

  There is no way of ever really knowing what happened.

  And how long do they let their past consume them? How many times can they try to retrace the steps of their past before it drives them crazy?

  Those two questions are why they’ve decided to just move past it and focus on the positive. They found each other again. Nix and Sloan vowed to each other that nothing—life circumstances, misperceptions, ill-fated events—would ever stand in their way again.

  She has opened up to him as much as she can in regards to her CIA life. She told him without really telling him, revealing enough information for Nix to understand the dire need for him to continue to see her as Dr. Felicia Santora. Well, at least when they’re out in public, but when they’re behind closed doors and he’s loving on her something fierce, that’s a whole different story.

  And they’ve practically spent the past twenty-four hours in his bed, loving on each other.

  Nix managed to leave her sleeping form once yesterday because he had to train with the guys. And even then, he couldn’t stop thinking about her, couldn’t wait to get back to her. The cheesy grin he had plastered on his face encouraged a lot of teasing from his fellow frogs, but he didn’t give a shit. He’d tolerate their sarcastic jabs every single fucking day if it meant he got to come home to a naked Sloan in his bed.

  And to his own surprise, he actually remembered a holiday like Valentine’s Day. Mostly thanks to Rob, who had big plans for his wife, Mary, but that’s just minor details. Yesterday, after a hellish day of training, Nix surprised Sloan with flowers, dinner, and multiple orgasms thanks to his skillful mouth and hands…

  It was a fucking fantastic Valentine’s Day in his opinion.

  With only a few days hovering over their blissful second chance, Nix watches Sloan peacefully sleeping in his bed. Her long, brunette hair is splayed out across his pillow, her gorgeously naked body only covered by a white cotton sheet. Her eyelids flutter as sunlight bursts through the open window of his bedroom. He is lost in her, practically high off her very presence.

  His long fingers trace the delicate curves of her spine, startling her sleeping form in the gentlest way. A faint sigh passes from her ruby lips, spurring his need for her. As brown eyes find his, a hint of a smile kisses her perfect little mouth.

  “Mmmm, is this a wake-up call?” she asks. Her voice is thick with sleep, rasping in a sexy way that makes his cock twitch.

  “Are you looking for a wake-up call? I have some ideas…” he offers as he edges his body closer to hers, yanking the sheet off both of them in one fell swoop. His obvious arousal makes it apparent that he didn’t need any waking up—he is most definitely awake and ready.

  Sloan turns on her side. Her head rests gently in her hand as she steals an appreciative once-over of the man lying beside her. “I’d like to order a lifetime of wake-up calls like this. Make that happen, Lieutenant,” she jokes with a sly smile. “Oh, and next time, maybe throw on some of those hot-as-hell fatigues. That’d be sure to wake me right up.”

  Nix chuckles as his eyes dance with unadulterated lust. “Fuck, baby,” he moans in appreciation. He knows that he’ll never tire of seeing her beautiful body bared for his loving gaze. “You can bet that sweet ass of yours that all wake-up calls you’ll be receiving in the future will only be from me. Got it?”

  “Got it, caveman,” she answers on a laugh. “Do you still get up at the butt-ass crack of dawn?”

  Even in high school, Nix was notorious for waking up by sunrise and Sloan would get more than irritated when he’d make her get out of bed early on the weekends.

  “Yes,” he responds with an amused tone. “Do you still refuse to make your bed in the morning? I remember a certain seventeen-year-old girl saying it’s pointless because, and I’m quoting directly, ‘I’m just going to mess it up again.’” He mimics her voice, doing his best impression of teenage Sloan.

  “Hell yes, I still stand by that mindset. Do you still drink a billion protein shakes a day?” she questions sarcastically.

  “How do you think I keep these biceps I know you love so much?” he retorts. “Do you still eat peanut butter from the jar…with your fingers?” he emphasizes in mock disgust.

  She nods, a full-on belly laughs escaping her mouth at his feigned revulsion.

  “You’re so gross. It’s a wonder I ever fell in love with you,” he jokes while tickling her rib cage.

  Sloan laughs harder. “Stop it! God, I hate when you do that!” she snorts through her giggles.

  “Hell yes!” he exclaims in amusement. “I knew I could get you to snort!” His fingers finally stop their teasing, allowing Sloan to catch her breath. “You don’t make your bed, you eat peanut butter with your fingers, and you snort. Good thing you’re so goddamn beautiful.”

  “You love my ridiculous snorts and messy habits,” she declares. A devilish smirk creases her mouth. “Now, are you going to just sit there and stare at my glorious ass all day or are you going to do something about it? I have no problems with taking things into my own hands.” A raise of her brow indicates her more-than-dirty intent.

  “Take things into your own hands? I definitely have something you can put your hands on…and your mouth for that matter.” A wayward grin crests his mouth as he moves his hips in an obscene way.

  “Oh yes, I’d love to take things into my own hands,” she purrs. “I have an endless amount of dirty fantasies that I’ve been stocking away for a very long time with you in mind. Fantasies that will quite literally Blow. Your. Mind.” She slowly sits up beside him, her eyes never leaving his.

  Their eye contact is broken when Nix’s lustful gaze takes in her full, soft breasts swaying gently as she adjusts her position. His mouth waters at the sight—his lips and tongue desperate to taste those perfect, pink nipples. His hands ache to feel her curves.

  “Sit up and get comfortable, and that’s a direct order, Lieutenant,” she demands with a stern tone that makes his cock stand at full attention.

  Nix’s laugh vibrates inside his chest as he situates himself into a sitting position. His back rests against the black, tufted-leather headboard as he runs a hand through his messy hair. He salutes her with a mocking smile as he a
dds, “Do your worst, sweetheart.”

  Sloan kneels between his spread legs, her hands gripping his muscular thighs. “You know I love a challenge, and I can guaran-fucking-tee I will rise to it.”

  Her lips create a hot path across the delectable V that highlights his mouth-watering form. She relishes the feel of his golden skin, her tongue savoring the taste of him. She leaves no inch of his body untouched, unlicked, or unkissed. Her hands and lips and tongue show Nix everything she’s willing to give, everything she so frantically wants.

  She raises her face to his, her lips merely brushing that wonderful mouth she’s loved for what feels like an eternity. “I can’t wait to fuck you with my mouth.” Her teeth grasp his bottom lip—biting and pulling gently. “I can’t wait to slide your perfect cock past my lips and taste every inch of you,” she whispers as her eyes seductively gaze into his.

  He groans as his hands tightly grip her hips. “You’re going to be the death of me and I’m going to love every goddamn minute of it,” he says through gritted teeth. “Fuck, I love when you take control like this. It makes me so fucking hard, Meli. So. Fucking. Hard.”

  “I’m about to make you harder,” she adds before her mouth makes a smooth descent down his rippled chest, to his defined abdomen, and back to that perfect V. Her lips form a tiny ‘O’ as she takes the crown of his shaft into her mouth, her tongue licking in a circular motion.

  His hips buck involuntarily the instant her mouth is on him.

  “Mmmm, you like that, baby?” she purrs around his cock.

  “Yes. I love it,” he groans out in appreciation. “Fuck, keep sucking my dick just like that, sweetheart.” He slides his hands through her brunette hair, holding the strands away so he can watch her take him into her mouth over and over and over again. “God, that’s perfect,” he moans as she takes him deep, the tip of his shaft mere centimeters from the back of her throat.

  Nix continues to gaze down at her in pure euphoria as Sloan does more than just step up to the challenge—she tells that fucking challenge who is boss.