Tightrope [Black Ops Brotherhood 6] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Bella Juarez

  “Don’t worry about it. We’ll have it figured out before we leave,” Anna said, glancing at her husband who scowled at her. “If you want our help, that is.”

  “I think a Christmas wedding would be wonderful,” Amy suggested.

  Rio looked around at the hopeful faces that surrounded her and said, “Uh…thanks?”

  Throughout the evening, Rio found herself being cared for like a little sister by three grown sisters who had it together. She found herself laughing hysterically at some of JJ’s commentary on the evening’s events. The SEALs, her brother’s Marine buddies, and her fellow CBP agents made a huge deal when she went up to accept her award. Before she’d left the house, she never imagined she would enjoy the evening as much as she had being surrounded by Danny and their friends. Nothing could sour her mood, until Sylvia dropped by the table to give her congratulations and say hello—to Danny.

  Rio let out a sigh and looked away when Sylvia planted herself between them as she snaked her arms around him.

  “Congratulations, Danny. What you did was so generous.”

  Danny untangled himself and stood up. “Well, it wasn’t me.”

  “Who’s this, Dan? Introduce us,” Irene said.

  “Yes, do tell. Is she an old friend?” Anna asked. Ice dropped from her words as she got up and stood behind Rio.

  “I was Danny’s high school sweetie. And you are?” she asked Anna.

  “I’m a friend from San Antonio. Dan and I worked together at the base. Anna O’Malley.”

  “So you’re an ex-girlfriend of Dan’s? Do you know his fiancée?” Amy asked, putting her arm in Rio’s.

  “Yes, Rio and I went to school together, too. I believe she was a year behind us, right Danny?”

  “Well, that was nice of you to come by and say hello and congratulations. We were right in the middle of talking about their wedding plans. Would you like to join the discussion or maybe even help? I’m sure being from around here, you’d know exactly where to go and who to talk to. Right, Danny?” Irene asked innocently.

  “Yes, ma’am,” Danny said.

  “Um… I don’t think I could be much help,” Sylvia said.

  “Then you’ll excuse us. The people who are planning this are a little short on time,” Anna said dismissively.

  “Well, congratulations again. Rio,” Sylvia said, nodding to her.

  Danny chuckled as Sylvia walked away and looked at each one of the ladies who had surrounded Rio. “You ladies are e-v-i-l.”

  “No, darling. That’s a man-eater, and she’s got no business around you,” Anna said.

  Irene growled, “I so disliked little bullies like her when I taught.”

  “Are you okay?” Amy asked Rio gently.

  “I’m fine,” Rio replied, touched by Amy’s concern.

  “Well, that woman needs to become part of your past and die quietly,” Anna said, putting her hands on Rio’s shoulders. “You’ve got your own posse now, girlfriend.”

  “I…uh…” Rio struggled with her words.

  “Don’t worry, sweetie, we know what we’re doing,” Irene declared with a wink. “Now, let’s get back to some of those plans.”

  When they had to leave at the end of the evening, she found it hard to say good-bye to her new friends. She could’ve stayed up all night talking and laughing with them. She consoled herself with the fact they’d be here for at least the next few days, and they promised they’d spend time with her planning the wedding.

  As she and Danny curled up in bed, she snuggled into his chest. Wrapping her arms around him, she squeezed him affectionately.

  “Did you have a good time after all?” he asked, stroking her back.

  “I had a great time. I love Anna, Irene, and Amy. I really like JJ, too,” she said and giggled when Danny groaned. “They all seem so perfect together, like they were made for one another.”

  “They’ve been through a lot together, babe. Rock watched Anna almost die. Amy watched Gavin get shot and nearly die. Irene saw JJ get tortured. It wasn’t smooth sailing for any of them.”

  Shivering, she couldn’t imagine watching Danny go through any of what he’d just described, then recalled how he’d rescued her from that awful attic. His wandering hand grabbed her ass and squeezed, making her giggle.

  “I love you, babe. I was so proud of you when you were up there getting that award.”

  “I love you, too,” she said, kissing him.

  Pushing her onto her back, he settled himself on top of her and cupped her face. He stared at her, and she watched him transform into her possessive tiger.

  “No rules, no orders, just me and you,” he murmured as he rubbed his nose against hers.

  She understood his meaning perfectly. He wanted to be a man intimate with his woman. The romance of complete surrender to her man and him making love to her overwhelmed her. There was no way she could say no.

  “You know what to do,” she whispered as she yielded to him.

  If his first kiss was any indication of things to come, she would soon be swept under by his ferociousness. She’d learned early he’d become a passionate lover, and she’d learned to read him even better since they had embarked on their new life, anticipating his needs and moods. She understood his need for release. The stress of their daily work lives was the very reason she needed it, too. But he was still her Danny, and whenever he kissed her, the sensual contact never failed to shake her to her very core. This time was different; she allowed him to leave her breathless. There was no mistaking his message—he would be in control for the rest of the night. For a moment, it made her uncomfortable. She instinctively reverted to her role and tried to assume the power she’d just given up. She pushed on his broad shoulders in an attempt to take the lead, and he nipped at her lip making her squeak in surprise.

  “My way,” he growled. “Relax, babe. Let me make you crazy,” he whispered as he nibbled her earlobe.

  Tiny shock waves went through her as his lips, tongue, and teeth danced over her throat and neck. He knew how sensitive her throat was, and he showed her no mercy as he exploited her weakness. She drew her hands over his back and pulled him closer, wanting to make herself a part of him. Early on, she’d learned that when he touched her, he’d become a master at building her anticipation, making her needy almost to the point of desperation for him to move faster, and bringing her to the bliss that he dangled just out of her reach.

  Wanting her skin against his, she tugged at her clothes to remove them. He swept her sleep shorts away as she quickly removed her tank top. Her brain went into overload as his warm mouth sucked in her nipple, and his fingers stroked the other. Arching her back into his hands and mouth, her nipples beaded to stiff points to meet his touch. Every nip of his teeth and flick of his tongue sent a jolt straight down to her pussy, making her gasp and moan. The blood rushing to her engorged sex made her ache with want.

  Digging her nails into his rock-hard biceps, she thrust her hips indicating her desire for him to bury his cock balls deep inside of her, now. He chuckled and moved to the other breast to start his maddening rhythm of nip, flick, suck, kiss, over again. Her senses heightened as he edged her on as her cunt clenched emptiness over and over. The desire to be filled by his cock quickly reached a zenith. Any moment now, she’d come, and it wasn’t the way she wanted.

  “Danny, please,” she whispered breathlessly.

  Grabbing his muscular ass, she spread her legs wider indicating her invitation to be fucked.

  Rocking his hips and finding the entrance to her eager pussy, he teased her.

  “What is it, babe? What do you want?”

  At the moment, she couldn’t string a coherent sentence together, and she growled in frustration when he moved away. Like breathing, primal instinct took her over, and the need to have him stroking his cock in and out of her weeping pussy had become a compulsion. His fingers brushed her clit, and the unexpected shock made her jerk and cry out in response.

  “Ask me,” he said,
sliding a thick finger inside her cunt. A whimper was all the response she could manage as she closed her eyes in a plea for release. “Eyes on me, babe,” he said. Opening her eyes, she moaned when he took his finger out of her pussy and licked it clean. He kissed her, thoroughly demanding her surrender as his tongue invaded her mouth, and he sucked the very air from her lungs. When he stopped she found herself breathless and needier than ever. “Do you want me?” he asked as he rocked his hips forward, his cock finding her entrance again.

  He continued to tease her, breaching her pussy with the head of his cock. He nipped at her chin for a response.

  “Yes, oh God, yes,” she begged.

  His sensual chuckle sent a tremor through her. Every nerve ending in her body tingled as he pushed a little farther. She deliberately clenched her pussy, coaxing his cock inside and arched her back to pull him in deeper. The sudden thrust when Danny drove himself deep inside her caught her by surprise. With the first plunge of his cock, the nerves in her body snapped, and she screamed the release that hit her like a tidal wave. He fucked her with a steady cadence as she squirmed underneath him. For a moment, she blacked out from the overstimulation, but when she floated back, he was still going with his fixed tempo. He slid his arms under her knees to raise them and went deeper.

  Their thighs slapped together as his thrusts became harder and more urgent. From this position, he hit her sensitive G-spot, and she soon found herself on the edge of another bone-melting climax. He groaned as he picked up the pace of his steady fucking, and she dug her nails into his hands as a second orgasm coursed through her. She involuntarily closed her eyes and arched her back. Bright lights exploded when her muscles locked in bliss a second time. The sudden impact of his climax hit him as she rode her wave to completion. He ground his hips against her ass and gripped her legs as his cock pulsed inside of her. His body relaxed, and he smiled at her, releasing her legs. She held her arms out to him, wanting him to cover her with his body. She rubbed her cheek against his as she exhaled.

  “That was amazing,” he said, rubbing his nose against hers.

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  Rio melted as he kissed her long and slow. For the first time in her life, she’d been owned by a man. It was the most exciting thing that had ever happened to her because it had been the right man. He knew how to mix the right amount of sensual torture with mind-bending pleasure. Her feral tiger had rocked her world to its very foundation.

  “I love you so much, babe.”

  “We can do this more often; I don’t always have to tie you up,” she said, stroking his cheek with her thumb.

  Laughing as he nibbled at her neck, it sent a shiver through her tingling nerve endings.

  “I like being tied up, remember?”

  Chapter 25

  USS George Washington, CVN 73

  Norfolk Naval Base, Virginia

  November 3, 2010/1537 Zulu

  Cobra arrived at Naval Station Norfolk, and a cold, damp Virginia wind greeted him as he strolled across the dock to where the USS George Washington was moored. She’d been preparing for deployment to the Persian Gulf within the next thirty days. He walked up the gangplank to the quarterdeck, and when he arrived, the petty officer manning the post saluted.

  “Commander, sir, can I help you?”

  Returning the salute, he unzipped his jacket and handed the petty officer his orders.

  “I need to report in to the captain.”

  The sailor quickly scanned the orders he’d been handed and jerked his head up after a few seconds. Cobra watched the young man glance at the pocket on the left side of his uniform blouse and then back at him.

  “The captain? Is he on board or should I come back?” Cobra asked.

  “Yes, sir. He’s here. I’ll ring him.”

  It was apparent by the young man’s reaction the crew of the Washington wasn’t expecting a SEAL to be assigned as mission commander. He turned away and looked out at the dock. It had been almost twelve years since he’d been aboard a ship and preparing for a cruise. He recalled what shipboard life was like and really didn’t relish taking a six-month cruise this late in his career. A few things had changed since his last days on a ship because there were cameras everywhere he seemed to look. The poor sailors on this cruise wouldn’t even be able to dig a wedgie out of their asses without someone seeing it. He wondered if the security had been amped up for the new weapons system she would be sailing with, or if this was a side effect of all of the war on terrorism over the last ten years. His mind drifted to the team he’d selected as he turned back to the quarterdeck.

  “Commander Corbin?”

  Lance looked to where his name had been called. A woman in navy camouflage stepped forward and saluted.

  “Chief Petty Officer Davies, sir,” she said.

  He returned the salute. “Chief, I need to see the captain. Are you able to make that happen?”

  “Yes, sir, I’ll be your yeoman while you’re aboard. If you’ll follow me, I’ll take you to the captain and then show you around, sir.”

  “Very good. Lead the way.”

  Following Chief Davies down the narrow passageways that led into the huge carrier, he recalled how he could find his way blindfolded through the miles of passageways that ran within an aircraft carrier. Now, he was grateful for a guide because he’d already lost his bearings.

  Christ, get your shit together, Lance.

  He could find his way through choppy seas to a port, blow an objective to hell, and then swim back out a few miles, all in the stygian blackness of a moonless night, but here he would absolutely get lost. As they proceeded deeper into the vessel, the surroundings changed indicating they were getting into a much nicer section of the ship. They were close to the command section. The chief stopped in front of an office half the size of the one he occupied at Randolph.

  “This will be your office, sir, and I sit right outside. The captain’s office is up the passageway and to the left.”

  As they turned down the passageway, Lance had been distracted from making mental notes of landmarks and fell slightly behind. The chief turned the corner, and as he followed behind, he ran into someone and papers fell to the deck.

  “Sorry,” she said as she bent to pick them up.

  Lance knelt and helped the woman pick up the flurry of papers that had fallen but stilled when he saw the woman’s face. The sailor looked at him, and her jaw went slack. He hadn’t expected to see her so soon. She quickly recovered and stood. She hadn’t changed from the last time he’d seen her. She still had the high cheeks and big, soft brown eyes. Inhaling he remembered her tropical scent and the very first time he’d seen her—Christmas. She’d been sitting next to a fireplace wrapping presents. When she stood he remembered thinking how great she looked in a red sweater that hugged her body and jeans that set off her ass perfectly when she bent over to put the presents under the tree. Her smile was brighter than the lights that surrounded her. As he handed her the papers, he noticed she was looking at him as if she’d just seen a ghost.

  “Here you go,” he said.

  “Thank you, sir,” she said as she took the papers and brushed past him.

  Watching her walk quickly down the passageway, all of those old memories suddenly hit him. He knew he’d eventually see her again, but it was too soon, and he hadn’t had a chance to brace himself. He didn’t know how long he stood there watching her disappear down the maze of the ship.

  “Commander?”

  “Sorry, chief,” he said, redirecting his attention back to his yeoman.

  “Sir, this way…”

  “The commander that walked past us…”

  “She’s the Reactor Department head, Commander Wilson.”

  While he waited to see the captain, the memory of that Christmas flooded his mind. He and Rafe were young lieutenants who’d just come back from a mission in Africa a few days before the holiday. He’d found himself stuck on Christmas Eve because his flight home to Oregon had been can
celed due to weather. He’d been perfectly content to stay at his apartment near Little Creek, but Rafe talked him into going to Reston to spend Christmas with his family.

  Rafe had suggested that maybe he could get a flight out of Dulles quicker, and he reluctantly consented. When they got to Rafe’s parents’ place, he instantly regretted agreeing to spend the holidays with the Wilsons. For some reason, he’d forgotten about the charmed and privileged life Rafe had. His father was a United States Congressman, and his mother was well-known for her philanthropic and humanitarian charities and foundations. Lance had grown up camping and fishing near the Elkhorn and Wallowa Mountains in Oregon in a working class family. Rafe had an appointment to the United States Naval Academy handed to him on a silver platter. Lance needed a boxing scholarship to get him through college.

  The Christmas he’d be going home to didn’t compare to the one he walked into when he entered the Wilson home. He recalled following Rafe to the family room, seeing the tree with all the presents, and wanting to turn around and walk the hell out because he didn’t belong there.

  Then he saw her, and he knew there would be no way he’d leave.

  His dive buddy’s twin sister had to be the most beautiful woman he’d ever laid eyes on. She’d been cordial and welcoming along with the rest of his family, and because she was so nice, he’d been ashamed of the dirty thoughts that ran through his head about her. But those thoughts ended and a stronger feeling took hold the next day as he watched the Wilsons open presents. He sat apart not wanting to spoil their celebration, and all he could think about were all of the devious, sinful things he could do to the woman that had become the reason for his all-night boner.

  “Come closer, Lance.” Cheryl waved to him.

  He held up his hand and shook his head. “I’m just waiting for a flight home.”

  “I think Santa left you a couple of things, too.”

  “What? Oh no.” He took the three beautifully wrapped packages she offered him.