SEAL of My Dreams
Page 43
He cupped the side of her face. Her eyes lifted, met his.
“Hey,” he said, his voice thick with lust, with compassion. “I get it. I don’t know who I am, either. I don’t know where I fit.”
Tears pooled in her eyes and Max felt her lean into his touch. Time stilled, stretched, thick. He could hear a refrigerator humming down the corridor, tires crackling outside on wet streets. A fog horn sounded, lonely on the ocean.
“I feel like I know you Maddox McDonough,” she whispered, her gaze holding his. “I’m sorry for what I said—I’m glad you came home.”
Emotion arrowed through him. The need between them swelled, shimmered, like a hot and electric thing in the room.
She touched his chest again. “Be with me Max,” she whispered, her voice low, thick, her eyes dark.
He swallowed, need burning fierce and dangerous in him, too powerful for him to control.
“Ellie—”
She brought her mouth up to his, silencing his words. Her lips were soft, sweet, so full of promise. Her scent, her arms, wrapped around him and her tongue entered his mouth.
Lust exploded in his gut and his control snapped, a raw and primal need coursing violently through his blood. It stole thought, stole logic. Everything narrowed to this moment. He pulled her close, her breasts pressing hard up against his bare chest as he forced her mouth open wide under his, his tongue tangling with hers, slick, hot.
Her hands slid down his waist, found the waistband of his shorts. He pulled back suddenly, chest heaving, his groin pulsing, hot.
“Ellie? Are you sure?”
“More sure than anything.”
“I’ll get the lights—”
“No,” she whispered. “I want them on.” Under the harsh motel room lights there was no hiding, no mistaking the cruelty of the marks on his body. She wanted to see, embrace—all of him. And she craved exposing herself, every imperfection, she didn’t care.
“I’m not nineteen, Max,” Ellie whispered. “The person in those letters, in your mind, she doesn’t exist anymore. I want you to see who I am, all of me, every flaw.”
He kissed her, hard, fierce, and fire speared through her belly. She fumbled with the buttons on her blouse, the zipper on her jeans, as she kissed him back. He cupped her breast, scoring her tight nipple with his thumb, a low groan in his throat. He slid his hand into her panties. Ellie gasped as he thrust a finger into her. Her world tilted, her breathing came fast.
And it was like the room couldn’t hold them anymore—too small, too hot, clothes everywhere. Hair damp, bodies slick with sweat. They slammed against the headboard, against the wall. Old emotions burning, new ones searing, past memories colliding into present. Then he had her up against the wall, a dark hard look on his face that excited her, and he was inside her again. Her legs found his waist, wrapping around him, giving him deeper access. He kissed her so hard she tasted blood, didn’t care.
He thrust deeper, his fingers digging into her butt as he yanked her against him. She threw her head back, arms around his neck, as she arched into him, pleasure, pain, need, driving her higher, a scream building in her chest as every nerve in her body began to quiver. Ellie thrust her pelvis harder against his, faster, her world becoming a swirling kaleidoscope of reds and blacks.
He held her still for a moment, her breasts pressing hard against his scarred, hard chest, and she could feel from the way he quivered inside her that he was close. He looked into her eyes, and then he suddenly thrust again to the hilt. She released with a cry, head thrown back as rolling waves of contractions took hold of her.
Banging sounded on the wall. They were waking the place up, but Ellie didn’t care. He came inside her, pressing her hard against the wall, and she laughed, breathless as she held onto him. She felt all of nineteen again.
They lay on the bed, she in his arms. He stroked her hair, still damp from rain, damp from sweat, her lips swollen and bleeding a little.
It felt familiar, so warm, so right, and it scared the hell out of me . . . for a brief moment I didn’t want to leave . . . I didn’t want to lose you . . .
He traced his finger over the curve of her breast, her dusky nipple.
“He made me love you, Ellie.”
She stilled, something suddenly shifting in her, and Max saw fear touch her face, like the quick beat of a moth’s wing.
She inhaled, sat up, began to gather her clothes. He felt fear himself now.
“I need to go,” she said, pulling on her jeans. “I need to see Jessica off to school.”
“You’re a good mother, Ellie.”
She looked up from buttoning her blouse, something unreadable in her features. She turned round quickly, grabbed her coat, shrugged into it.
Max felt the bottom drop out of his heart. She was leaving. This was it. Over.
“I’m sorry, Ellie.”
She stilled, her brown eyes showing a vulnerability he’d not seen yet.
“I’m sorry it was me who made it, and not Flynn.”
She inhaled, sat on side of bed. “What are you going to do, Max?”
“I’ve been offered contract work. East Coast based.”
“You going to take it?”
“Yeah,” he lied. Truth was, he wasn’t sure. He had a few options.
“Your leg going to be okay?” There was compassion in her eyes. He didn’t want compassion, pity.
He got up, wrapped a towel around his waist. “Yeah, fine. My flight leaves in a couple of hours.” Her eyes met his. “How ‘bout you? You going to be okay, Ellie?”
“I will. Thank you, Max, for . . . everything.”
She got up, went towards the door. Then stilled, hand on the knob. She turned suddenly. “It’s Jessica’s birthday tomorrow—she turns fifteen. We’re having a small dinner party, just close friends.” Ellie hesitated. “I’d like you to meet her, Max, properly. I’d like her to hear about her father from you. Would you come?”
Emotion raw, ripped through Max’s chest. He didn’t trust himself to speak.
He knew what she was doing—opening a door. She didn’t want to end it right here. They shared something subliminal, deep, something few might understand, and she wasn’t going to throw it away.
“Please?” she said.
When Max knocked on the bungalow door the next evening he had a different box tucked under his arm—a present for Jessica, something he imagined Flynn might buy for his daughter. And he held a single dark-red rose in tissue paper.
Ellie opened the door to him. Warmth layered with the scents of cooking spilled into cold air.
Her eyes went to the rose. “There’s no manual for this, is there?” she said softly.
“No,” he said. “There isn’t.”
She leaned up, kissed him lightly on the lips. “Then we’ll have to write our own.” She took his hand. “Come inside, Max, there are some people I want you to meet.”
Max stepped into the warm glow and he knew, finally, truly, he’d come home.
(Continue reading for more information)
About the Authors
Jami Alden is a multi-published author of dark, sexy, romantic suspense and hot steamy contemporary romance. She lives near San Francisco with her socially well-adjusted alpha male husband, two sons, and a German shepherd of questionable lineage. Learn more about Jami and her books at www.jamialden.com.
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Kylie Brant is the author of over thirty books for Berkley and Harlequin. A three-time Rita nominee, she’s the recipient of two Daphne du Maurier awards for excellence in mystery and suspense and a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award. Her most recent full-length novel, Deadly Sins, is available now. Her hometown is Charles City, IA. Visit her at www.kyliebrant.com.
“My father is a World War II veteran,” says Brant. “When we began talking about donating the proceeds to a veteran’s group, I immediately said, ‘I’m in.’”
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Helen Brenna is the author of the popular Mirabelle
Island series set off Wisconsin’s Lake Superior shore. Since her first book was published in 2007, she’s won numerous awards, including two Romance Writers of America’s RITAs, two RT Book Reviews Reviewer’s Choice awards, and the National Readers’ Choice award.
She lives with her family and a menagerie of pets, in Minneapolis. For information on upcoming releases or to contact her, please visit her website at www.helenbrenna.com.
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Stephanie Bond was born on the U.S. Army base in Fort Riley, Kansas. Her father, Willis Bond, served in the First Infantry in the Vietnam War. (Go Big Red One!) The author of over sixty romance and mystery novels, Stephanie is honored to contribute to the SEAL of My Dreams anthology. She lives in Atlanta, GA.
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Robyn Carr is married to a former Air Force helicopter and jet pilot and her son is an Army orthopedic surgeon who served in Iraq. She takes her military-based heroes very personally. Robyn is the New York Times bestselling author of over forty novels, including the Virgin River Series.
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Best-selling and award-winning romance author HelenKay Dimon has an undying respect for the military. Not only does she live in a military town—San Diego—her husband is an attorney for the Navy, and her father-in-law is a retired Army Colonel.
Dimon is a former divorce attorney who is thrilled to write romance full time. Two of her novels have been designated as “Red-Hot Reads” by Cosmopolitan Magazine and excerpted in its issues. Her books have been featured at numerous venues, including E! Online and The Chicago Tribune, and translated into more than a dozen languages. HelenKay lives with her Navy husband in San Diego. You can visit her at www.helenkaydimon.com
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Cindy Gerard is a New York Times, Publisher’s Weekly and USA Today Bestseller. She’s a six-time RITA finalist and is proud to display two RITAs in her office. Cindy writes fast, sexy, action-adventure romantic suspense featuring former Spec Ops warriors and is proud to count many military families among her readers. LAST MAN STANDING, book 7 of her award winning Black Ops series, is available in February, 2012. Find all of Cindy’s books at www.cindygerard.com.
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Tara Janzen is the author of the Steele Street Series, eleven books about a crew of juvenile car thieves and chop-shop boys who become one of America’s most elite black ops military teams, Special Defense Force. The series began with Crazy Hot and Crazy Cool and ended with the New York Times bestselling Loose Ends.
Visit her at www.tarajanzen.com
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Leslie Kelly has written dozens of light, sexy romances for Harlequin Temptation, Blaze and HQN. She also writes dark romantic thrillers under the pseudonym Leslie Parrish. A three-time nominee for the highest award in romance, the RWA RITA Award, she was also honored with Career Achievement Award in Series Romance from Romantic Times Magazine in 2010. Visit her online at www.lesliekelly.com.
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A RITA-award nominated author, Elle Kennedy began pursuing writing at a young age and holds a bachelor’s degree in English. She currently resides in Toronto, where she writes full time. Visit her at www.ellekennedy.com.
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The daughter of an Air Force veteran and daughter-in-law of an Army veteran, both of whom served during the Korean Conflict, Alison Kent currently writes about the cowboys of the Great State of Texas. She lives near Houston with her petroleum-geologist husband and three rescue dogs, one a Hurricane Katrina survivor. Visit her at www.alisonkent.com.
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Jo Leigh has written over fifty books for Harlequin, is a triple RITA finalist, and teaches writing whenever she can. She lives in a tiny Utah town with her many rescue pets, and sends care packages regularly to her nephew, who is currently serving in Kabul, Afghanistan. Visit her at www.joleigh.com.
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Gennita Low writes sexy military and techno spy-fi romance. She’s also a roofer and knows six hundred ways to kill with roofing tools. A three-time Golden Heart finalist, her first book, Into Danger, about a SEAL out-of-water, won the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award for Best Romantic Intrigue. Besides her love for SEALs, she works with an Airborne Ranger who taught her all about mental toughness and physical endurance. Gennita lives in Florida with her mutant poms and one chubby squirrel. Visit her at www.Gennita-Low.com and www.facebook.com/gennita
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Marliss Melton is the author of the bestselling Team Twelve Navy SEALs series. Wife of a retired Navy veteran, she relies on her experience as a military spouse and on her many contacts in the Spec Ops and Intelligence communities to pen realistic and heartfelt stories about America’s most elite warrior, the U.S. Navy SEAL. As the daughter of a foreign services officer, Melton grew up in various countries overseas before settling permanently in Williamsburg, Virginia.
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Christie Ridgway is a five-time RITA finalist and the USA Today bestselling author of over thirty-five contemporary romances. She lives in San Diego, California, where Navy SEAL teams are based and can be seen training on local beaches. If that isn’t inspiration enough, she is the daughter-in-law of a former fighter pilot and now-retired Navy captain. Visit her at www.christieridgway.com.
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Barbara Samuel, a native of Colorado Springs, is the proud mother-in-law of an Air Force staff sergeant at the Air Force Academy. She’s the winner of six RITAs, with more than 38 books to her credit in a variety of genres. She has written historical and contemporary romances, also a number of fantasy novellas with the likes of Susan Wiggs, Jo Beverley and Mary Jo Putney. She now writes women’s fiction as Barbara O’Neal for Bantam, including How to Bake a Perfect Life, which features a soldier at the heart. Visit her at www.barbarasamuel.com
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Roxanne St. Claire is a New York Times bestselling author of twenty-seven novels of suspense and romance, also a five-time RITA nominee and one-time RITA winner. The author of the popular Bullet Catchers and Guardian Angelino series featuring many military heroes, she will also be launching a contemporary romance series soon, called Barefoot Bay, and a her first young-adult novel, Don’t You Wish, in 2012.
She can be reached via her website, www.roxannestclaire.com or through her fan page at www.facebook.com/roxannestclaire.
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New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Tyler writes what she loves to read—romantic suspense novels starring military heroes, and paranormal romance novels, all complete with happy endings. She also co-writes as Sydney Croft. Visit her at www.stephanietyler.com
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Loreth Anne White was born and raised in South Africa, but now lives in a ski resort in the moody Coast Range, a place of vast, wild and often dangerous mountains, larger-than-life characters, epic adventure, and romance.
It was here she was inspired to abandon a sixteen-year career as a journalist to escape into a world of romantic fiction filled with dangerous men and adventurous women. Her real-life hero, her husband of twenty-six years, is an ex-naval serviceman whose veteran father was a pilot in two wars.
Loreth has won the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice award, is a double Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice award finalist, a RITA finalist, a double Daphne Du Maurier finalist, and multiple Cata Romance Reviewers’ Choice winner. Her website is www.lorethannewhite.com. She loves to hear from readers.
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Debra Dixon and Deborah Smith, partners and co-publishers in Bell Bridge Books, are well-known, award-winning romance novelists with more than fifty published novels between them, including Smith’s New York Times bestseller, A Place To Call Home. They are very proud to be trusted with the honor of publishing SEAL of My Dreams, donating all proceeds to veterans’ medical research.
Dixon and Smith, along with partners Sandra Chastain, Nancy Knight and Virginia Ellis, started Bell Bridge Books (original name: BelleBooks) in 2000, publishing their regional (Southern) short stories. Now Bell Bridge has published over 100
titles by dozens of authors, with fifty more coming in 2012. Bell Bridge will be a sponsor of the 2012 Romance Writers of America national conference and recently was a sponsor for the 2011 Dragon*Con, the world’s largest fan-based sci-fi and fantasy conference.
About the Veterans Research Corporation
All of the men and woman who have courageously served our country deserve the finest health care available—the kind that requires a substantial and sustained level of funding for medical research. Only through formally organized research can we create and verify new best standards to advance patient care for our brave veterans. The need for veteran-based medical research is great due to emerging health challenges that particularly pertain to veterans such as Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), as well as the healthcare concerns of an aging veteran population, including heart disease, osteoarthritis, diabetes and a host of other common medical issues. The Veterans Research Corporation, a non-profit organization based in San Diego, CA, was founded with the specific purpose of raising funds to support veteran based medical research to improve the lives of veterans and benefit society at large.
The Veterans Research Corporation works with the Veterans Medical Research Foundation, which administers cutting edge research studies at the VA San Diego Healthcare System. Many of these studies are national in scope, and their findings help elevate the level of healthcare for veterans everywhere. While the Veterans Medical Research Foundation works closely with the VA to serve VA patients, it is solely funded by external sources and does not receive VA funding. Thus, the goal of the Veterans Research Corporation is to secure funding by seeking alternative and private sources to support the growing need, and to foster a new generation of researchers for tomorrow’s veterans’ medical and health care challenges. Your purchase of this book will help us to continuously improve the standard of care for our veterans, who so richly deserve the best we can provide for them. Thank you!