Table of Contents
by Victoria Bright Chapter One
Chapter One
Chapter TwoTed:
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five“Shit!”
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Text copyright ©2017 by the Author.
This work was made possible by a special license through the Kindle Worlds publishing program and has not necessarily been reviewed by Stoker Aces Production, LLC. All characters, scenes, events, plots and related elements appearing in the original Special Forces: Operation Alpha remain the exclusive copyrighted and/or trademarked property of Stoker Aces Production, LLC, or their affiliates or licensors.
For more information on Kindle Worlds: http://www.amazon.com/kindleworlds
by Victoria Bright
Chapter One
“Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!” the guys chanted as Ethan “Joker” Carlton licked a line of salt from the swell of a blonde’s breast and quickly downed a shot of tequila. He squeezed his eyes shut tight as he bit into a slice of lime and threw his fist in the air.
“And that, fellas,” he said, “is how you do a proper body shot!” He turned his attention to Cameron “Savage” Garrett. “Your turn, birthday boy.”
“Nah, I’m good,” Savage said, taking a sip from his glass of Scotch, welcoming the slow burn that filled his chest.
“You’re killing me, Sav! All you have to do is—”
“I’m not doing a body shot off a stripper,” Savage said, shaking his head.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I thought your name was Savage, not Pussy,” Joker said and laughed.
Savage playfully jabbed him in the ribs with his elbow. “I swear I hate you bastards,” he said and chuckled.
Myles “Ghost” Richards handed him a shot glass. “Aye, we’re just busting your balls, man. It's your birthday; live a little.”
Savage glanced at the blonde, who winked at him and blew a kiss from the table she sat on. “I don’t bite, big boy,” she purred, tossing her locks over her shoulder and beckoning him to come to her with her finger.
“See? She doesn’t bite,” Joker teased, tapping his shot glass against Savage’s.
“Well, look what the wind blew in!” Ghost exclaimed when Bryan “Bullseye” Stanton and Sterling “Diablo” Haughton came into the VIP room. “And just in time too.”
“We’re trying to get limp dick over here to do a body shot, but he won’t,” Joker said, passing them a shot glass full of tequila.
Bullseye smirked and shook his head. “Should we call you Sissy instead of Savage tonight?”
“Right? That’s what I said,” Joker exclaimed.
Savage ran a hand down his face as he stood. “Out of my way, dickhead,” he said, pushing Joker aside. He met the gaze of the stripper and gave her a slight nod. “Let’s do this.”
“Wait, put it on the other one,” Ghost said when the woman started to sprinkle salt on her breast. “There’s no telling where Joker’s tongue has been.”
“It’s been on your mom, asshole,” Joker retorted.
Savage laughed as Ghost slapped Joker behind the head. “I told you about those stupid mom jokes.”
“Whatever, ya cry baby,” he said, rubbing his wound and turning his attention back to Savage. “Alright, Savage, let’s go! GO! GO! GO! GO—”
“Joker, shut up,” Savage said.
Joker looked around and leaned in close to Savage’s ear. “Go, go, go,” he whispered, eliciting a chuckle from Savage. You only live once.
Savage quickly licked the salt from the woman’s breast, downed the shot, and sucked on the lime, wincing as the alcohol sent a slightly soothing burn throughout his chest.
“Yeah!” the guys cheered behind him, shaking his shoulders.
Savage turned and pointed to Joker. “You call me a pussy again and I’ll kill you.”
“Savage ‘Not-The-Pussy’ is back in the building, folks!” Joker exclaimed. “Let’s get this party started! Who’s next?”
Savage settled back onto the dark plush couch and watched as his SEAL brothers took turns taking shots off the stripper. It felt good to be home. Another successful mission, another day of freedom obtained, and everyone came back safe and sound. Success.
Two more women wearing bikinis waltzed into the room holding a birthday cake with lit candles. “We heard it’s someone’s birthday today,” the brunette exclaimed with a bright smile.
“Happy birthday to you,” Ghost started as everyone else in the room surrounded Savage and joined in. He looked around at the faces of the men he considered his brothers and grinned to himself. They could’ve spent their first evening back home doing anything they wanted, but instead they gathered to celebrate his birthday.
Savage clapped when they finally stopped singing. “Thanks, guys. You really didn’t have to do this, but I appreciate it.”
“Don’t get all mushy, ya chump,” Bullseye joked. “Blow out the candles already, I want some cake now.”
Savage leaned forward and gazed into the flickering flame. Just as he took a deep breath to extinguish the candles, a group of laughing women passed the entrance of their VIP room, one in particular catching his attention. No, it can’t be.
“What the hell are you waiting for, grandpa? Blow the candles out already,” Joker said, giving Savage’s shoulder a playful shake.
Savage quickly stood and sidestepped the women holding the cake. “I’ll be right back,” he said and dashed out of the VIP room before his confused SEAL comrades had a chance to object.
He looked both ways down the hallway, seeing the last woman from the group disappearing around the corner. It can’t be her. I haven’t seen her in ten years.
But if it was her, he knew he’d never forgive himself for not going out on a limb and finding out. The worst that could happen was that it wouldn’t be her and his friends would have a laugh at his expense. Whatever the result, it was now or never.
“Where are you going? You can’t leave your own birthday party early!” Joker said, sticking his head out into the hallway.
“I’ll be right back. I think I saw someone I know,” he said idly, breaking into a light jog down the hallway.
He stopped once he got to the bustling dance floor, running a hand through his hair as he looked around. People moved around him in a blur as his eyes scanned the crowd, trying to pinpoint the group. What the hell did you say to someone you never got over? If it was her, how would she react? Would she even be happy to see him? Would she remember him? Did she think about me as much as I’ve thought about her all this time?
His heart skipped a beat when he caught a glimpse of her again. There was no mistaking her bright smile, her perfect cheekbones, and her wavy chestnut hair that framed her baby doll face. She and the other women briskly made their way to the exit, leaving Savage with only moments to react. Here goes nothing.
Savage pushed through the crowd toward the exit. “Excuse me!” he called out over the music, ignoring the disgruntled dancers he cut in b
etween. “Excuse me!”
After what felt like an eternity, he finally broke through the crowd, jogging over to the women just as they reached the door.
“Oh my God, I’m starving now! Let’s get some food!” the woman wearing a “bride” sash said as she shimmied over to the door.
“Natalie!” Savage called.
It was as if time slowed down when all the women turned around to look at him with curious gazes. His pounding heart replaced the heavy reggae music that swirled around him as he waited for her to say something. It was her, all right. She still looked as she did the day she left him, as if time stood still just for her to preserve her beauty.
She took a step forward, her confusion turning into complete awe before a small smile tugged at her lips. “Wow…Cam…it’s been a long time.”
Chapter Two
Ted: I think we should see other people.
“Dude, if you check your phone one more time, I’m going to throw it in the trash,” Missy complained, giving Natalie McKnight a slight shake. “Forget about that douche. He didn’t deserve you anyway.”
Maybe he didn’t, especially if he wasn’t man enough to break up with her face to face instead of a text message. Her phone vibrated in her purse and it took everything in her not to look at it. Part of her prayed it was Ted wanting to talk and recant his last text message, but the logical part of her knew it wouldn’t be him. Forget him. I’m here for my best friend’s wedding. I’ll deal with him later.
“Did you guys hear that?” Vanessa asked, looking behind her. “I think someone just called you, Nat.”
Natalie turned and looked around, seeing no one she knew. She’d heard it herself, but the voice was a bit too familiar and the possibility of it being him was slim to none. “If it’s not one of you, then I don’t know who would be—”
“Natalie!”
A flurry of emotions swirled throughout Natalie as she gazed into the honey-colored eyes looking down at her. She’d thought her mind was playing tricks on her when she heard her name until she came face to face with the only man who’d ever made her weak in the knees. Who still did.
It was as if the clock started ticking again. He definitely wasn’t the tall, scrawny guy she’d fallen in love with in high school. His shoulders were broader, his strong jaw was dusted with dark scruff, and he’d put on a lot more muscle than she remembered. His black t-shirt fit him like a second skin, revealing an intricate sleeve tattoo on his right arm. His dark blue jeans encased his strong thighs, sending unforgivable thoughts through her mind. Geez, Nat, you haven't even been single for 24 hours and you're already trying to jump your ex’s bones.
“Well, hello there, handsome,” Bridget cooed, waving at him. “I’m afraid we haven't met.”
Natalie’s cheeks turned a light shade of red as she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “Ladies, this is Cameron. We dated way back when,” she said, finally breaking away from his intense eyes.
“Are you single? I'm single,” Missy said, slurring her words.
“Uh, you’re getting married tomorrow, genius,” Vanessa said with a shake of her head.
“Oh yeah,” she giggled. “Don’t tell my fiancé.”
Cameron chuckled and turned his attention back to Natalie, putting his hands in his pockets. “You’re right; it’s been a long time. How’ve you been?” he asked.
“Um good. How about you?”
“Much better now,” he said and smiled.
She shifted her weight from foot to foot, trying to ignore the butterflies that filled her stomach at his admission. His words shouldn’t still make her feel warm all over. Goosebumps shouldn’t be forming on her skin at the sound of his voice despite being in a noisy, humid club. And his lips…they definitely shouldn’t make her core clench with need.
“I don’t know if you ladies have any other plans, but you’re more than welcome to join my friends and I for some birthday cake,” he offered.
“You mean there’s more of you?” Bridget asked.
“More of me?”
“Yeah, hunks. Man candy. Walking beef sticks. More of you,” she said.
He laughed and shrugged. “I guess?” He looked to Natalie. “I’d like to catch up if you don’t mind.”
“Of course she doesn’t mind,” Missy said with a hiccup before pointing toward the direction they’d just come from. “To the cake!”
The women parted through the sea of people once again and followed Cameron to a dimly lit VIP room where four other men were taking body shots off of strippers. A birthday cake with two lit number candles sat on the table, the wax slowly rolling down the sides. The men paused and turned their attention to their new guests with a curious gaze.
“Who are the chicks?” a guy with deeply tanned skin asked, cocking his head as his piercing blue eyes bored into them.
Cameron gently took her by the hand and pulled her forward. “This is Natalie and her friends,” he said.
The guy smirked. “You mean the-one-that-got-away Natalie? The one you claimed broke your ability to love anyone else? The one who—”
“Joker, if you utter another word I’ll rip your tongue out and shove it up your ass,” Cameron snapped. “But yes, this is that Natalie.”
Heat rushed to Natalie’s cheeks as her friends giggled behind her. Either he’d known these guys for a long time or he talked about her a lot. Either way, the fact that he referred to her as “the one who got away” made her feel warm all over. If what his friend said about his inability to love anyone else was true, had he been single this whole time?
Joker looked her up and down before nodding. “Well, nice to have a face to the woman that seems to be the only person to bring Savage to his knees,” he said.
“Savage?” Natalie asked.
“It’s a call name. We all have one,” Cameron answered.
“For what, exactly?”
“We’re military, sweet thang,” a man with chocolate skin said. “You can call me Bullseye.”
“How sexy. I love a man in uniform,” Vanessa said, draping an arm over Bullseye’s shoulders.
He raised an eyebrow. “Oh, do you now? How about we sit on the couch over here and talk about it,” he offered, snaking his arm around her waist and leading her to the plush sofa. Bridget strutted over to Joker.
“I find man buns to be incredibly hot,” she purred. Joker winked at Cameron and led Bridget over to the couch as well. Gina linked up with a guy who introduced himself as Diablo and Yazmin settled next to someone Cameron referred to as Ghost, leaving Missy standing off to the side.
“Missy, we don’t have to stay long. I don’t want you to be bored or uncomfortable,” Natalie said. Missy blew out the candles on the birthday cake.
“Knock yourself out. I’m just here for the cake,” she said, grabbing the knife lying nearby and cutting into the cake.
Cameron turned to Natalie and motioned toward a loveseat in the darkest part of the room. “Shall we?” he asked.
She nodded and moved over to the couch, taking a seat next to him. No sooner than she got comfortable, her phone vibrated. “Hold on a sec,” she said to Cameron, digging around in her purse.
A text message alert from Missy popped up on the screen. With a raised brow, she unlocked her phone and read the message.
Missy: If this is the guy you used to go on about in college, then go for it. You’re only here for a weekend. Make it one to remember. #FuckTed
Natalie met her best friend’s eyes across the room, grinning when Missy winked and turned her attention back to the slice of cake on her lap.
“Everything okay?” Cameron asked.
Natalie released the breath she didn’t realize she was holding and leaned back against the chair with a grin. “Everything’s fine. Let’s…catch up, shall we?”
Chapter Three
Once the initial shock of seeing her wore off, desire filled him as he gazed at her. Her lips moved as she droned on about something, but he couldn’t concentrate on what
she said. Her tight black dress crept up her tanned thighs when she crossed her legs, making his fingertips tingle at the thought of touching them. Get it together, Savage.
“So yeah,” she said, smiling at him. “What about you?”
He blinked, now wishing he’d been listening. “I’m sorry, what?”
“I asked if you were single,” she said and giggled, tossing her wavy hair over her shoulder.
“Oh yeah, I am.”
“Any particular reason why?” she asked with a smirk.
He shrugged. “Just busy, I guess.”
“I see,” she nodded. “My ex was like that. Always too busy.”
A look of disappointment flashed over her beautiful features before she diverted her eyes away from his, nibbling on her bottom lip. After a moment of hesitation, he tilted her head up to look at him and gently pulled her lip from between her teeth with his thumb. Uncertainty and what he assumed was rejection filled her eyes as she looked at him, her breath hitching in her throat. His surroundings melted around him until they were the only two that remained.
“They always say things happen for a reason,” he said. She turned her eyes away, her lips turning into a hard line.
“Oh yeah? What would be the reason for a broken heart?”
“To allow me in to take back what’s mine,” he said. Her eyes widened as he leaned forward, capturing her lips and devouring them as if they’d always been his. Her hand went to his cheek as her lips parted, inviting his tongue to dance with hers. Ten years. He’d waited ten years to touch her, kiss her, feel her and he’d finally been able to. His heart skipped a beat when she whimpered against his lips, her hands fisting his t-shirt before she finally broke away panting.
“Get a room!” Joker exclaimed and everyone in the room laughed. Natalie looked at him with lustful eyes, tempting him to take her on the couch if she said the word.
“We can go back to my hotel room if you want,” she nearly whispered against his lips.
Savage released a deep sigh and shook his head. “As much as I’d love that, I’m not sure if I’ll be able to control myself,” he admitted. She placed a soft kiss on his lips.
Special Forces: Operation Alpha: Surviving Savage (Kindle Worlds Novella) (SEALed Brotherhood Book 1) Page 1
