by Cat Johnson
Mission accomplished and now home to Isabel. He glanced at the time on his cell phone. It was too early in the morning to call and risk waking her. He could text Jon though and let him know he was home.
Not having any word from home was killing him.
While he’d been in the midst of the action he’d been fine, but after twelve hours in the air he was losing his mind not knowing how things went without him.
Rocky punched in a quick text to Jon and hit send just as they popped the hatch.
Standing, he pocketed the phone and resolved himself to the knowledge he might have to wait until he’d stowed his stuff and drove to the hotel to find out anything.
And if for some reason Izzy wasn’t in the same room?
Then he guessed he’d have to start making phone calls, no matter how early the hour, because he wasn’t going to wait to find out where she was.
“Look who’s in a hurry. I wonder why that is?”
Rocky was striding fast across the airfield in the dim pre-dawn light, loaded duffle on one shoulder when he heard Brody’s smart ass comment behind him.
“Yeah, I see.” Thom laughed behind him. “I don’t have to wonder why and neither do you.”
He didn’t turn around. Didn’t slow his pace. Rocky simply lifted his middle finger high in the air and kept walking. The sound of Thom and Brody laughing followed him all the way into the building.
Unloading, and then reloading and stowing his shit, always felt like it took forever. Today more than usual. But he worked his ass off to finish, in spite of the mocking of his teammates, and was pulling into the parking lot of the hotel before the sun rose over the building.
The hotel room he’d left her in days ago was on the second floor. He took the stairs two at a time, the key gripped tight in his hand. When he reached the door he held his breath and turned the key in the lock.
The base hotel wasn’t like a real hotel. There was no twenty-four hour clerk. The front desk was manned during business hours, and he was here way too early so he could only hope that Isabel was still in this room and not some stranger.
If someone new had checked in, they were sure going to get a surprise. With that fear firmly in mind, Rocky pushed the door open slowly.
The chain and the deadbolt weren’t engaged. He’d have to yell at her about that later because no woman and child should be in a hotel alone—even on a military base—without dead bolting the door when they went to sleep.
She’d left the small light on over the sink—or at least he hoped it had been Isabel and not the new resident of this room.
Only one way to find out.
After closing the door softly behind him, he crept toward the bedroom.
He saw the crib first and breathed in relief. That was a good sign. Moving closer he smiled down at Lola, sleeping peacefully.
Relief washed over him. Where there was baby, there would be Mommy as well. Turning toward the bed he saw her beneath the covers.
He decided he would let her sleep a while longer as he showered but after that—once he’d washed the dirt of the past two days off him and crawled between those sheets next to her—all bets were off.
Rocky liked that plan.
Anticipation carried him to the bathroom and through showering and brushing his teeth.
Not bothering to put on clothes he slipped between the sheets naked. He slid all the way across the bed until he was up against the warmth of her body.
She rolled over and gasped when she saw him next to her.
“Good morning, beautiful.” He brushed a hand across her cheek, pushing back the lock of dark hair that had fallen into her face.
“Oh my God. You’re back.” The final words were muffled as she threw herself against him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Why didn’t you call?”
“Plans weren’t firm so I figured I’d surprise you.”
The full truth was he wasn’t allowed to tell her when he was coming home. Or where he’d been. Or why. And more than that, he knew too well that travel plans changed radically in the military.
She was too new to this world to understand all that.
“I was so worried.” The pitch of her whisper rose and he heard the panic in it.
“Whoa. No need to get upset. I’m home safe and sound.” He held her closer. Selfish bastard that he was, he loved the feel of her clinging to him.
“I saw a firefight on the news . . .” Her sentence trailed off.
“Do yourself a favor and don’t watch, okay? The media get it wrong half the time anyway.”
“I know I shouldn’t. Darci and Ali told me the same thing.” She dragged in a shaky breath. “I’m sorry. I’m better now.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry about. But, since you’re better now . . .”
Izzy had such an effect on him he was already hard just from lying next to this woman.
His texts had loaded shortly after they’d touched down and there had been a day old message from Jon saying they’d gotten Isabel all set up on base. With that worry relieved, and Isabel in his arms, Rocky had other pressing needs.
He ran his hands down her body and groaned. “Damn, I missed you.”
“I missed you too.” She drew in a breath that filled her chest and had her nipples brushing against him through the cotton of her shirt.
That was enough to break his control.
For two days he wanted nothing but to come home to her. Over that time he’d found he liked the idea of having someone to come home to more and more.
And not just for the sex, though sex was certainly a bonus. That was proven when she reached between them and stroked him.
It would be nice to have her do that for an hour, or a lifetime, but he was too hyped up from the mission and from the need she instilled in him.
Pushing Isabel onto her back he slipped his hands beneath the bottom of the button-down nightshirt she wore.
He discovered she had on no underwear. Nothing beneath the shirt to impede his progress. No barrier to keep him from nudging between her legs.
It felt so good, so warm he couldn’t stop himself. He slid inside.
“God, you feel good.” He sucked in a breath, vowing he’d pull out and put on a condom.
In a minute.
Another few plunges inside her and not only was he gasping from the exertion as well as the overwhelming sensations assaulting him, but Izzy’s breath was coming faster too.
As her muscles clamped down on his cock, there was no freaking way he was stopping until he felt her come around him.
Amid the thoughts buzzing in his brain, he was aware they needed to be quiet because the baby was sleeping, and that he needed to pull out or risk them having another kid.
Then it struck him. He wouldn’t mind that. In fact, he wanted a baby with Izzy. Hell, more than one. Maybe four or even five.
He wanted Lola to have brothers and sisters and even cousins if his idiot little brother ever got his act together and settled down with one woman.
It was a discussion they’d have to have but now was not the time as she careened into an orgasm that rocked him to the core. Employing all of his self control, Rocky grit his teeth and held on tight as her body gripped his.
The second the pulsing of her climax slowed he pulled out and came with the intensity of pleasure denied and finally set free.
He realized he’d made a mess of her shirt but he couldn’t feel all that bad about it. The damp cotton clinging to her stomach was nothing when compared to the enormity of his recent revelation.
Braced over her, his heart pounding not just from the sex, he said, “What if we stay married?”
Her mouth dropped open. “What?”
“I don’t want a divorce or an annulment. I want you. And Lola.” He laughed as a bubble of emotion overwhelmed him. The feeling of everything finally fitting into place in his life hit him full force. “I love you. Stay married to me.”
He hadn’t truly known it until he said it al
oud but it was there, no doubt. Love like he’d never felt before.
“This is crazy, you know.”
“Yup.” His heart pounded as he waited for her answer.
Her eyes held his as tears glistened in them. “I love you too.”
“So is that a yes?”
She let out a breathy laugh. “Yes.”
Relieved, he kissed her hard.
Lola stirred in the crib, which reminded Rocky of his other coital revelation. He pulled back from her lips and said, “I want babies with you. Lots of them.”
“Okay.” She laughed.
Running his hands over her hips, he groaned at the thought of making those babies.
Smiling, Isabel struggled to sit up. “Can I take care of the baby we’ve got first before we get started on the next one?”
He sighed but couldn’t control the smile as he teased her. “I guess so. Go ahead.”
After a successful mission Grant had cut the team loose with a promise that barring any unforeseen incidents they’d all have leave for the next two days. Rocky intended to take full advantage of his time even if it meant ordering delivery and not stepping outside of this room.
He heard the text come through to his phone and smothered a curse. That’s what he got for making plans.
As Isabel changed Lola’s diaper, Rocky held his breath and reached for the cell on the nightstand. It wasn’t from his command.
Letting out a shaky breath, he read the text from Jon.
Got news. Need to meet when you can.
Glancing at his wife as she tended to the baby he’d taken on as his own, Rocky typed in a reply.
Can it wait until tomorrow?
Roger. Call me when you’re done with the honeymoon.
Jon’s smart ass text had been signed with a winking emoticon.
Rocky didn’t really care what Jon thought. All he knew was that reality and all of its problems would wait for another twenty-four hours. But his love for Isabel wouldn’t have to.
CHAPTER 20
Rocky glanced over to make sure Izzy and Lola were settled in the living room of the condo with Ali before he turned back to Jon. “Thanks for waiting for this meet.”
“No problem. But I will say I’m happy you’re finally back in society instead of holed up in your honeymoon suite. I’ve got some stuff coming to a head here that’s going to require my undivided attention.”
He wasn’t going to apologize for enjoying what time he had with his new wife so instead, Rocky asked, “With GAPS?”
“Uh, yeah.” Jon bobbed his head. “For the company and just a lot of stuff going on.”
“That’s great you guys are so busy.”
The success of Jon’s company gave Rocky hope there was life after the teams. That had always been a concern of his. Now that he had a family, even more so.
“Yeah. It is good. So let’s get down to business.” Jon leaned forward. Rocky did the same. “Chris and I spent the day with Izzy on base while you were gone.”
“Yeah, she told me. Thanks for that.”
Jon waived away his gratitude. “No problem. I brought it up because while we were together, she told me quite a bit about Tito.”
Rocky’s gut clenched at just the mention of the man. “Okay.”
“Apparently she was privy to quite a lot. The guy wasn’t real discreet. She heard the names of his associates. Scheduled meeting times and places. Basically his entire operation.”
Rocky leaned back. He saw where Jon was going with this and he didn’t like it. Jaw clenched, he shook his head. “No.”
“Hear me out—”
“I don’t want her involved in any take down operation you have planned.” Rocky kept his voice low so Isabel wouldn’t hear, but he spoke firm enough Jon would know he wasn’t playing around.
Making Isabel a sacrificial lamb was not an option.
“That’s what I’m trying to tell you. She won’t have to be involved. Thanks to Rick’s connections in Miami, we were able to anonymously drop just enough information to the right people that the Feds are now setting up their own sting without Izzy’s involvement. She won’t be connected to it at all. There’s a trail a mile wide to follow and plenty of evidence for them to discover all on their own.”
Rocky drew in a breath. “You certain it can’t come back on her?”
“I am.”
“Okay.” Rocky blew out a huff of air, finally able to breathe again. “Thank you.”
Jon laughed. “For that? That was nothing. Rick did most of the work. But here’s the rest and this you do owe me big time for.”
“What’s that?” Rocky’s guard was back up once again.
“I moved into Izzy’s apartment while you were gone.”
“Okay. And?”
“And he showed up, just like I expected.”
Hissing in a breath, Rocky cut his gaze to Izzy to make sure she was still occupied before saying, “No surprise there, I guess.”
“Nope. The only surprise was his when I opened the door.” Jon smiled.
“And how’d that go?”
“Pretty good. I went all out. Cardboard moving boxes broken down and stacked outside for recycling. More moving boxes inside. Newspaper and stuff all over the apartment like I was in the middle of unpacking. I answered the door in my underwear with a beer in my hand. It looked pretty convincing if I do say so myself.”
Rocky lifted his brow. “Yeah. I’d say so. So what did he say?”
“He said he was looking for the woman who lived there. I played dumb and said I’d just moved in, but that the landlord had told me his last tenant had taken all her stuff and skipped out on her lease without any notice. The beauty is, that’s pretty much the truth.”
Rocky shook his head. “Wow. You’re good. You think he bought it?”
“Judging by his cussing and storming away, I think he did. I wouldn’t move her back into the apartment though, just in case.”
“Yeah. About that . . . ” Time for the big reveal. “We’re gonna do this. Izzy and I are going to stay married. Live on base. Have more kids.”
Rocky finally lifted his eyes to meet Jon’s gaze.
The man was grinning. “I had a feeling that was where you were headed.”
“Really? Because I’m not even sure I knew where this was going until yesterday.”
Jon lifted one shoulder. “Sometimes it’s harder to see what’s close to us. You needed a little distance.”
“Yeah. Guess so.” Syria had sure provided plenty of distance. But it was the feeling of coming home to Izzy that had clinched it for him. He wanted that feeling every day for the rest of his life. “So anyway, I called and confirmed we’re on the list for our permanent housing assignment and I’m planning on going to Legal to see about adopting Lola.”
Jon smiled. “I’m happy for you guys.”
“Thanks. And just so you know the water’s fine, in case you’re thinking of taking the plunge yourself.” Rocky kept his voice low so the girls wouldn’t hear.
Even so, Jon shot a quick glance at Ali in the living room before answering, “I got a few things to straighten out first.”
“All right. I hear ya.” Rocky kept any further comment on the matter to himself.
He turned to glance toward the living room. Izzy caught his gaze and smiled. He couldn’t have controlled his own smile if he’d wanted to.
“So, you tell your parents yet that you got married and got yourself a kid all without telling them?”
Rocky leveled a glare at Jon as the man yanked him back to reality. “No, not yet. And thanks for reminding me.”
“Anytime.” Jon grinned. “That’s what friends are for.”
The tinkling sound of Isabel and Ali laughing in the living room caught his attention. She looked so happy she was practically beaming.
Still watching his wife and daughter, Rocky said, “So if I were to consider getting out in a couple of years—”
“You’ve got a job with GAPS whenever y
ou’re ready. Hell, I’d be more than happy to have you.” Jon answered the unfinished question.
Rocky finally yanked his gaze off Izzy and turned to Jon. “Thanks. Good to know.”
EPILOGUE
“The training’s going well.” The guilt of the lie he told his wife sat heavily in Rocky’s chest.
Through the cell phone pressed closely to his ear he heard Izzy draw in a breath. “Okay. Be careful. I love you.”
“Will do and I love you more. Talk soon and kiss Lola for me. Bye.” He disconnected the call and glanced at Jon.
The moon lit the night just enough Rocky could see Jon’s brows were lifted high. “Training, huh?”
Rocky shrugged. “What was I supposed to tell her? That my friend and I are roughing up her ex-boyfriend so he leaves town?”
Things had been going so well for them. In the past week Isabel had enrolled at the local college and they’d scheduled their first counseling session with the base chaplain—part of the deal for the man to perform their ceremony on such short notice.
Everything was moving in the right direction except for Tito. He hadn’t moved on at all, as evidenced by the fact he and two of his men were still hanging around the area.
Jon held up his hands, palms forward. “Dude. I’m not judging.”
Rocky rolled his eyes. “Whatever. We doing this?”
Jon snorted out a short laugh. “We’re all just waiting on you.”
He blew out a breath and nodded to the six-man team of GAPS operatives Jon—going above and beyond to help—had assembled.
GAPS had grown beyond the small group of Jon’s former SEAL teammates. Rocky didn’t even know some of the guys currently leaning on the vehicle waiting for Jon’s order.
They were all geared up for what looked more like war than just roughing up a couple of Miami thugs holed up in a Virginia Beach motel.
Business being slow this time of year for the owner of this place was working in their plan’s favor. There were two other cars in the lot, parked all the way down at the other end of the building. Only one other room of the eight-unit motel had lights on inside.
“All right. Let’s move.” Rocky reached to pull the mask down over his face, pausing long enough to say, “Remember, I get Perez.”
