The corners of his mouth ticked upward as he nodded once. “I’ll let him know.”
As she hurried out of the room with Roxie on her heels, he turned his chair just enough to see his superior. His grin grew wider when the divorced, older man subtly checked out Avery’s shapely ass before she disappeared into the hallway. “I’ll be damned,” Frisco muttered.
“What?” Haven’s voice had him spinning his chair back around to look at her. Tapping away on her keyboard, she gave him a quick glance and repeated her question. “What?”
“Nothing,” he responded, shaking his head. “I’ll tell you later. In the meantime, let’s find that nuke so I can take you out on a real date that doesn’t involve shop talk. Deal?”
She smiled for the first time since she’d awakened from her nightmare. “Deal.”
Eighteen
T hree days later, Jordyn, Carter, and Kenny relaxed on Haven’s patio as she made sure everything they needed was on the outdoor dining table. Satisfied she hadn’t forgotten anything, she eyed Frisco tending the barbecue. “Do you need any help?”
Smiling, he brushed sauce over several racks of baby back ribs. “Got it covered, babe, but thanks for the offer. I’d love another beer, though, if you don’t mind.”
She grabbed one from the nearby cooler and rolled over to him. Her reward was a brief kiss on the lips that held the promise of something more later when they were alone.
It was a quiet celebration of a mission gone well. It hadn’t taken long for the surviving terrorist-wanna-be, Sadi al-Bina, to start spilling his guts after being threatened with castration. Apparently, he was more interested in meeting the seventy-two vestal virgins than Allah himself in the afterlife. The suitcase nuke was right where he’d told them it would be, in an inconspicuous hotel room in Nuevo Laredo. The plan had been to kidnap “Preston Ward” and get the software protection dongle for free, then transport the bomb over the border and plant it in downtown Austin. Of course, they hadn’t counted on the operatives of Delta and Deimos messing up that plan.
After confirming they could move the nuke without the chance of blowing it up, several Deltas had loaded it into an unmarked van, then quietly drove it to an isolated area, north of the city. They were met by members of a government-classified team, who’d flown over the border in a non-military helicopter to retrieve the device and transport it to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico for disposal.
As far as the Mexican authorities knew, they’d been lucky that a few US soldiers happened to be at the mall after taking a break from training. After identifying the bombing suspects and trying to capture them, they’d been involved in a shootout, during which both terrorists were killed. Eighteen victims had died in the mall, and over seventy had been injured. Had the Americans not interfered, those numbers could have been much higher if the remaining pipe bombs had been detonated. The Mexican government was so grateful they’d willingly overlooked the fact the soldiers had somehow managed to bring their sidearms into the country without being detected.
The man Haven had recognized from both the wedding and from the terrorist attack in Madrid had been identified as Hamad el-Salik. The analysts at Deimos were still trying to track down how the man had remained off everyone’s radar all these years, but one thing they’d learned was he’d planned on becoming a martyr by blowing himself up with half of the population of Austin. He’d been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and wanted to go out with a bang—literally. With that new knowledge, Haven was even more satisfied with his violent death than she’d been several days ago and hoped he’d gone straight to Hell.
It had taken her a few hours for the reality of the day to hit her, but when it did, Frisco had been there to hold her as, once again, she’d grieved for her mom and sister. She’d sat on his lap and bawled for what felt like hours, as he held her tightly and murmured words of comfort. After that, he’d taken her to bed and made sweet love to her. Even though the mission was over, he’d slept with her each night since. Last night, he’d even taken her out on that date he’d wanted. At first, it’d been odd, sitting in a movie theater with a guy, for no other reason than to enjoy the show, but after they’d started making out in the back row, it’d felt so right. Somehow, Frisco had gotten past all her defenses, and she’d fallen in love with him. Where they were going from here, she had no idea, but wherever they went, she had a feeling it would be together, hand in hand.
Rejoining the others, Haven looked at Kenny who seemed to have completely recovered from his near kidnapping. “So, when are you going back to California? Tomorrow?”
“Nope,” he answered with a smile. Haven’s eyes narrowed as he continued. “I talked to Mr. McDaniel and asked if I could transfer here to work with you. He said yes.”
“What? Seriously?” She was shocked but thrilled.
“Yeah. I mean, how else am I going to find the right girl someday without one of my two best wingmen . . . or wingwomen, I guess I should say.”
“Look out, Texas chicks,” Carter said with a teasing laugh, “there’s a new geek in town.”
Haven leaned over and gave her redheaded friend a peck on the cheek, which caused him to blush. “This is great. I’m going to love working with you.”
“Dinner’s ready,” Frisco announced, placing a plate laden with ribs on the table, before going back to the barbecue to grab some baked potatoes and ears of corn.
The others moved from the sitting area around the fire pit to the table as Roxie hurried over to join them from where she’d been sleeping in the shade of a tree in the backyard. Realizing she wasn’t getting any human food, she laid down next to Haven’s wheelchair.
“By the way, where’s Avery?” Jordyn asked as Carter filled a plate for her.
Haven’s eyes sparkled as she smiled. “On a date . . . with Frisco’s colonel.”
“Ooooh. Good for them.”
Frisco took the seat next to Haven, and before anyone could dig into their meal, he held up his beer. “A toast. To a successful mission, good friends, good times, and new beginnings. Cheers.”
Everyone clinked their bottles and glasses together. “Cheers!”
Later that night, after their guests had left, Frisco sat on the couch, moaning in pleasure. While watching a movie, now forgotten, Haven had rolled onto her stomach, unzipped his jeans, pulled his boxer briefs down, and withdrew his cock, which had responded in her hands. Taking him into her mouth, she wrapped her lips around his girth and sucked, as his hand plunged into her thick hair and palmed the back of her head. Her tongue swirled around the hard flesh from the notched tip to its base. When she tried to gain access to his balls, Frisco lifted his hips just enough to push his jeans and boxers to his knees, then relaxed again to enjoy her ministrations. She rolled his heavy sac in her hand, while her head bobbed up and down. Drops of salty and tangy pre-cum oozed from his slit and the taste urged her on.
Frisco’s hand skimmed down her back, ducked under the waistband of her sweatpants, and squeezed her ass cheek. When she brought him to the back of her mouth and swallowed, he groaned, “God, baby, don’t stop. That feels so good. Please, don’t stop.”
She loved how desperate he sounded, as if she was the only woman on Earth who could drive him to the brink of sensual insanity. Each time they made love, she regained more confidence in herself. The old Haven Caldwell was gone forever, but she liked this new one much better, even if she hadn’t in the beginning. If it hadn’t been for Frisco, she might never have realized she had so much to live for. Her life hadn’t gone as her teenaged self had hoped it would before being irrevocably changed for the first time in Madrid and then again in Mumbai. But somehow, those traumatic events had led her to the man she was certain had been made for her. There were very few men who could truly understand what she’d been through, and even fewer she could discuss her past, fears, and career with. But Frisco got her in more ways than she’d ever expected someone could. He hadn’t run away when things got tough, instead, he’d
regrouped and come on even stronger. After asking a few questions about her memory of the terror suspect, he hadn’t scoffed at or placated her, he’d trusted her enough to stand beside her and helped prove she’d been right.
The hand in her hair tightened, sending a tingling through her scalp that bordered on pain, but excited her even more. Frisco pulled her off his erection. “Baby, if you keep that up, I won’t be responsible for drowning you. Can you straddle me?”
Giving the tip of his cock a final swipe of her tongue, she said, “I think so. If you help me.”
As he retrieved one of the now ever present condoms from his wallet and quickly donned it, Haven shed her clothing, tossing them in a heap on the floor. Frisco added his T-shirt to the growing pile and kicked his jeans and boxers off. He then grabbed Haven under her arms and pulled her on top of him. She grasped the back of the couch for support as they worked together to arrange her legs on either side of his thighs. He glanced up at her. “Okay?”
“Mmm-hmm. But it’ll be more than okay after you’re inside me.”
“Impatient, are you? Well, so am I, baby.”
Using the back of the couch, Haven raised her body up, and Frisco positioned his cock at the entrance to her pussy. As she lowered herself down on top of him, he clutched her hips to give her extra support. They both moaned as he impaled her. Slowly, her body yielded to its mate’s invasion until he was buried to the hilt. With his eyelids closed, Frisco held her in place for a moment, clearly trying to get himself under control and not cum too soon.
Finally, his eyes opened again, and Haven almost gasped at the love she saw in them. Her heart pounded in her chest as she realized he wouldn’t say the words until he thought she was ready to hear them. It was at that moment she knew she’d fallen for him completely. There were no more doubts, no regrets, and no defenses needed. This man was the other part of her she’d never known was missing.
Leaning down, she brushed her lips against his. “One month.”
His eyes narrowed. “Huh?”
“If you’re still looking at me like that one month from today, I want you to move in with me. You’re here every night anyway, so what’s the point of having two places. Unless, that’s the way you want to keep it.”
His hand went to the back of her neck and pulled her down for a hard, demanding kiss. When he released her, he flexed his hips upward. “I’m ready to move in tomorrow, baby, but if you want a month, then that’s what you’ll get. But don’t think I’m not going to try and make it sooner—after all, I am a guy.”
She smiled. “And I’m the woman who’s madly in love with you.”
“Well, damn. I thought it was going to take a lot longer for you to be convinced. I must be more irresistible than I thought. And just for the record, I love you too, baby.”
He leaned forward, and his mouth latched onto one of her bare breasts. As he tortured the stiff peak with his lips, tongue, and teeth, he clutched her hips and set a steady pace that soon had her spiraling into space. They worked as one, raising and lowering her hips, as he thrust upward from underneath her. While perspiration coated their bodies, their breathing and heart rates increased.
“Finger your clit, baby,” Frisco ordered as he moved to her other nipple to give it the same attention.
Leaving one hand clutching the back of the couch, she slid the other down between their bodies. She was smooth down there again, having gone for a waxing and a few other beauty treatments with Avery two days ago. Gene McDaniel had treated them to a day at the spa for all Haven’s hard work on the case and Avery’s hard work with her patient. Haven was still super sensitive down there but that made tonight even more erotic. She rubbed the tiny bud while Frisco picked up the pace. His fingers dug into her ass as he fucked her, driving her higher with every thrust of his pelvis.
Haven was on the edge, and she begged for relief. “Please, Frisco . . . oh, God, please!”
He slid down a little further on the couch, and it changed the angle of his hips. His cock stimulated her G-spot, and that was all she needed. Screaming his name, she fell into a vortex of pleasure. Her eyes slammed shut as wave after wave tumbled over her. Her orgasm triggered his, and he came inside her with a roar. Haven gasped for air as her walls quivered around his cock.
They collapsed into a mass of heated flesh and sagging limbs. Haven rested her forehead against his. She had no idea how long they stayed like that, but she startled when Frisco slid from her body, scooted to the edge of the cushion, and stood, wrapping her legs around his waist.
“Where are we going?” she asked, content to be in his arms.
“The shower. I plan on making love to you in every room of this house over the next few days, and then start all over again. Sound like a plan?”
She licked his ear. “Sounds like a great plan.”
Epilogue
T aking a swig of his beer, Frisco sat in a chair across the unlit fire pit from Reardon, after handing over the grilling duties to Oz and Grover. There were about forty adults and a dozen or so kids spread out across the patio, backyard, and pool area at Haven’s house. It was a welcome home party for both Frisco’s and Ghost’s Delta teams after being overseas for the past three months on a joint mission. Despite some bumps, bruises, and an isolated wound or two requiring stitches, everyone had come home safe and sound three days ago. They’d shipped out two weeks after the mission in Mexico, and Frisco had been able to join them, having been medically cleared the day before. For the first time in his career, he’d regretted having to leave a girlfriend behind, not knowing when he’d be back. But thankfully, there’d been numerous opportunities for Frisco to call or video chat, via a secure link, with Haven while they were apart. Although he would’ve preferred to be in her bed every night, it had given them a chance to get to know each other better. It had cemented in his mind that taking their relationship to the next level was the right thing to do. An engagement ring was practically burning a hole in the pocket of his shorts, and he was working up the courage to take a knee in front of her.
After spending a little more than twenty-four hours in bed making love to her, interspersed with breaks for food and other necessities, he’d used a debriefing meeting as an excuse to go pick out the ring. Avery had agreed to meet him at the jeweler’s. The older woman had been delighted to help and was the only one at the party who knew the proposal was coming today. Out in California, his parents and sisters also knew and couldn’t wait to meet his intended bride after he’d been telling them all about her whenever he’d called them. Frisco was just waiting for the right moment to ask Haven to marry him. He wanted them engaged when his team helped him move from his apartment to her house in a few days, since they’d all shipped out prior to being able to do it for the date Haven had set.
Roxie was having a grand time following the toddlers and older kids around, snatching up any food they dropped onto the ground, and getting petted by everyone. In addition to Avery, Reardon, and the Delta teams and their families, also present were Carter, Jordyn, and a few Trident operatives. Surprisingly, Ian Sawyer and his pregnant wife Angie, Brody “Egghead” Evans and his new wife, Fancy, Kip “Skipper” Morrison, and Tempest “Babs” Van Buren had flown into town yesterday at the last-minute invitation. They’d been en route to Florida from California where they’d been visiting their friend, country singer Summer Hayes, who’d been in a recent rollover car accident. Angie and Fancy had gone along to check on her, while the Trident team members were planning the security for Summer’s release from the rehab hospital she was in for her injuries. She’d be returning to her new home outside of Tampa for the rest of her recovery. Babs had flown the Trident jet in place of the regular pilot who was laid up with a stomach bug. The others from the private security company hadn’t been able to attend due to various assignments or busy personal lives back in Florida.
When they’d arrived, Sawyer had handed over a case of expensive scotch to Ghost who’d been confused at first. He then laughed when the
Trident boss pointed to Hollywood and said, “Everyone can have some except that rat-bastard who should know better than to try and pull one over on me.”
Haven had been thrilled to meet Babs and Skipper to thank them for their part in her rescue. Apparently, she’d only met a few members of the two Trident teams prior to the mission. She was currently talking to Fancy and Brody, the latter was joking about telling someone named “Mistress Roxy” there was another auburn-haired Roxie running around. He pointed at the pup who was taking a break in the shade at the moment. His wife laughed and dared him to do it. From what Frisco could overhear, after a moment’s thought, the guy declined, saying he wasn’t into getting whipped by a Domme.
Rolling over, with Fletch and Emily’s daughter, Annie, on her lap, Haven stopped next to Frisco and leaned over for a swift kiss. The seven-year-old girl had apparently become enraptured with the Deimos operative, and vice versa, as Haven had gotten to know the girlfriends and wives of the other Deltas over the past few months. He’d been grateful they’d welcomed her with open arms. For the first time in far too many years, Haven had a group of women who were simply her friends, not coworkers, targets, or passing acquaintances.
“Look what Haven gave me, Frisco!” Beaming, Annie held out her hand. In it was a small, clear, display box holding one of the Vietnam-era, 101st Airborne challenge coins that had belonged to Haven’s grandfather. The little tomboy was fascinated with anything to do with the military, especially the Army. Haven had told Frisco one night, during a video call, she knew her sister and mother would’ve loved little Annie and her enthusiasm. They also would’ve agreed with giving her one of Joseph McBride’s coins, knowing she would cherish it.
“That’s great, sprite. You take good care of that.”
“I will.” She eyed Carter as he took the chair between Frisco and Jordyn, who’d also just sat down. When the spy smiled at her scrutiny, she held up the box. “Look what Haven gave me—”
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