by Susan Stoker
“Yeah. That works. Would you be offended if I didn’t change my last name?” Without giving him a chance to comment, Harley went on, trying to explain. “It’s just that it means a lot to me with my parents gone. Any kids we have would be Ralstons, but I’ve been Harley Kelso for so long it seems weird to change it now.”
Coach leaned down and kissed her tenderly, then said, “I don’t mind. As long as you’re legally mine, you can call yourself anything you want.”
She smiled. “Will I get a ring that everyone will think is an engagement ring but is really a wedding ring?”
“Fuck yeah. The biggest one I can find so everyone knows you’re taken.”
Harley rolled her eyes at that. “It’s not like men are beating down my door, Coach. I think you’re safe. I love you. So much.”
He sighed in contentment, and Harley groaned when his length slipped out of her. His hand was immediately between her legs, playing in their combined juices.
“Hmmmm, I hadn’t thought through this part of ditching the condoms,” she remarked dryly.
“I love it. I’m not going to freak you out right now, but I want to see it.”
“See what?”
“See my come dripping out of you.”
“Okay, yeah, that’s gross.”
Coach merely smiled back at her.
“How come you don’t think that’s gross?”
“Hon, you have no idea what’s really gross. I see stuff all the time in my job that’s not fit for anyone’s eyes. Trust me, Truck holding Fish’s artery between his fingers while he carried his ass out of the desert and bled all over him? Gross. This? The result of both our pleasure? Nope. Not gross at all.”
Harley harrumphed, but relented. “I gotta get up. I’m not sleeping in a wet spot.”
Coach kept his hand over her folds. “Stay. Just for now.”
“You like that.”
“I do.”
“Okay then. Coach?”
“Yeah, Harl?”
“I love you. Thank you for not giving up on finding me.”
“Never. I love you.”
Hollywood stared at the invitation to the annual Army Ball. He hated it. Loathed it. He’d been to every one since he’d joined the Army, but every single one was torture. This year it was being held in Austin, Texas. They’d rented some high-rise building and it was on the top floor.
He knew he was good looking, but when he put on his dress blues, women seemed to lose their minds. His teammates would roll their eyes if they knew how much he hated being hit on all the time.
It was part of the reason why he’d signed up for the stupid online dating site. Rayne gave him crap about it, but it was one of the only ways he felt he could get to know a woman and have even an inkling that she was attracted to him because of who he was, rather than what he looked like.
The picture he’d used on the site was an older one. He’d been fishing with one of the guys and was wearing jeans and a long-sleeve shirt. He had a ball cap on and it’d been pulled low over his face. He looked like any other guy…just about.
Over the last few weeks, he’d been talking to a woman online. He liked her. She seemed to like him back. But the last few times he’d talked to her, he’d gotten the feeling that she was hiding something. It was stupid; of course she was. They’d met online. It wasn’t as if she was going to open up and tell him all her secrets…just as he wasn’t telling her everything about himself. But it was a gut feeling that it was more than just an average reticence to tell a stranger you met on the Internet everything about you.
Hollywood wanted to ask her to the Army Ball, but wasn’t sure she’d say yes.
Her name was Kassie.
She lived in Austin.
She was younger than him.
And she was scared and hiding something from him.
It was only a suspicion, but somehow he knew it was true.
Hollywood took a deep breath and made a decision. He’d never get to know her better if he didn’t bite the bullet and meet her in person. The ball was a perfect plan. There’d be lots of people around, so she’d feel comfortable, she’d see that he was a soldier who had a lot of friends, and who could be trusted. It sounded like the perfect first date—so why did he feel so nervous?
Kassie Anderson looked down at her phone in trepidation as it dinged in her hand. She was hoping to hear from Hollywood again, but was also afraid of what he’d say. She was in over her head, was weak, but didn’t know how to get out of the situation she’d found herself in.
Seeing the email wasn’t from Hollywood, Kassie wanted to shut the phone off and ignore it, but she couldn’t. She knew it. She clicked the email open, not surprised by what she read.
* * *
Jacks is pleased with your progress. Time to step it up. Report back ASAP.
* * *
Kassie wanted to throw up.
Her ex-boyfriend wasn’t going to leave her alone. Ever. She’d thought that when he’d gotten arrested for kidnapping and assault, she could finally relax. That she was done with him. But she’d been deluding herself. It didn’t matter that he was behind bars. He had enough friends to keep tabs on her. If she didn’t do what he wanted, she’d pay.
Her phone made another dinging noise. Another email.
This was the one she’d been expecting from Hollywood.
* * *
Hi Kassie. I don’t have long, so I’ll keep this short and sweet. We’ve been talking long enough now for me to know that I really like you. You’re funny and sweet and I’d love to meet in person. I don’t want you to feel threatened though. There’s an Army Ball in a few weeks. It’s a dress-up thing, and it’s being held in Austin. I thought maybe you might want to meet me there. We could see if the chemistry we have online transfers to face to face. If so, great, we can go from there. If not, no harm, no foul. What d’ya say?
~ Hollywood
* * *
Kassie read the email twice, her eyes filling with tears.
Hollywood didn’t deserve what she was doing to him. The shit thing was, she honestly liked him. She did feel the chemistry between them. What had started out as a revenge thing at the request of her ex had turned into something else entirely.
She wanted to tell Hollywood no. That she didn’t want to see or talk to him anymore, but that was impossible. Jacks was holding all the cards.
She slowly typed out a response, hating herself with every word.
* * *
I’d love to. I can’t wait to meet you. ~ Kassie.
Want more Deltas? Check out Marrying Emily in Feb 2017. See if Annie gets to wear those combat boots with her flower girl dress!
* * *
Then it’s Hollywood’s turn. No one expected Jacks to be an issue ever again, certainly not Hollywood! Look for Rescuing Kassie in May 2017!
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Also make sure you check out all the Special Forces Fan Fiction books…over 25 authors have written books using either Susan Stoker’s SEALs or Delta Force Heroes that you’ve grown to know and love.
http://www.stokeraces.com/kindle-worlds.html
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To sign up for Susan’s Newsletter go to: http://www.stokeraces.com/contact.html
Also by Susan Stoker
* * *
Delta Force Heroes Series
Rescuing Rayne
Assisting Aimee - Loosely related to DF
Rescuing Emily
Rescuing Harley
Marrying Emily (Feb 2017)
Rescuing Kassie (May 2017)
Rescuing Bryn (Nov 2017)
Rescuing Casey (TBA)
Rescuing Wendy (TBA)
Rescuing Mary (TBA)
* * *
Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes Series
Justice for Mackenzie
Justice for Mickie
Justice for Corrie
Justice for Laine (novella)
Shelter for Elizabeth
Justice for Boone
Shelter f
or Adeline (Jan 2017)
Shelter for Sophie (Aug 2017)
Justice for Erin (Oct 2017)
Justice for Milena (TBA)
Shelter for Blythe (TBA)
Justice for Hope (TBA)
Shelter for Quinn (TBA)
Shelter for Koren (TBA)
Shelter for Penelope (TBA)
* * *
Ace Security Series
Claiming Grace (Mar 2017)
Claiming Alexis (July 2017)
Claiming Bailey (TBA)
* * *
SEAL of Protection Series
Protecting Caroline
Protecting Alabama
Protecting Fiona
Marrying Caroline (novella)
Protecting Summer
Protecting Cheyenne
Protecting Jessyka
Protecting Julie (novella)
Protecting Melody
Protecting the Future
Protecting Alabama’s Kids (novella)
* * *
Stand Alone
The Guardian Mist
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Special Operations Fan Fiction
http://www.stokeraces.com/kindle-worlds.html
Beyond Reality Series
Outback Hearts
Flaming Hearts
Frozen Hearts
Writing as Annie George:
Stepbrother Virgin (erotic novella)
About the Author
New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author Susan Stoker has a heart as big as the state of Texas where she lives, but this all American girl has also spent the last fourteen years living in Missouri, California, Colorado, and Indiana. She’s married to a retired Army man who now gets to follow her around the country.
She debuted her first series in 2014 and quickly followed that up with the SEAL of Protection Series, which solidified her love of writing and creating stories readers can get lost in.
If you enjoyed this book, or any book, please consider leaving a review. It’s appreciated by authors more than you’ll know.
For more information:
@Susan_Stoker
authorsusanstoker
www.StokerAces.com
[email protected]
