HOT SEAL Devotion

by Lynn Raye Harris

  She was wet and ready for him. He tested her with a finger and she bowed up off the bed, hissing in a breath and gasping out his name. He grinned.

  “Yeah, Kayla. Like that, baby. You are so fucking gorgeous.”

  He dropped his head and buried his face in her sweet wet heat, licking and tasting and teasing her as he attacked her clit and then retreated before she could explode. Eventually, she fisted her hands in his hair and growled at him. He laughed against her pussy, and the vibrations made her moan.

  Then he gave in and let her have what she wanted, pushing her into a shattering orgasm that had her shoving a fist into her mouth to keep from waking the baby. When she was finished, when she flopped back on the bed utterly shattered, he climbed her body, licking and nipping and sucking her perfect nipples on the way up to her luscious lips.

  He hooked a knee and curled it around his hip, then he did the same to the other knee. Finally, he sank into her balls deep, heart pounding, cock aching for release.

  “You feel so good, Kayla. So fucking perfect wrapped around me.”

  “I love it when you’re inside me,” she moaned. “So much.”

  “I love it too,” he said, heart twisting with emotion as the words wrenched from him. He loved fucking her, and he was pretty sure he loved her. He’d never felt like this before, but it was so damned new that he didn’t think he could say the words yet.

  But he felt them. He felt them with every thrust, every sizzle of pleasure. He felt them as he dragged another orgasm from her, and he felt them when he finally let go and found his own release deep inside the hottest, sweetest body he’d ever buried his cock in.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  “There’s fifteen of them,” Viking said, tossing a file onto the conference table in the SEALs’ ready room on Monday morning. “We got a plate number for Gentry and tracked it to an address. He’s not living there anymore. We also have a good shot of him, but not the car that Kayla saw because the street camera had already overwritten the footage.”

  Neo reached for the file and the others let him have it first. He flipped open the cover and scanned the contents quickly before shoving it toward his teammates.

  “Fifteen,” he said disgustedly. “They were prospects or junior members when we busted up the club.”

  “Now they’ve decided to take over and reestablish the organization,” Dirty said as he read over the file after Neo shoved it at him. There were a lot of papers inside, but the ones that mattered to Neo were the brief on the number of current members and the information on Dal Gentry—a big, tattooed motherfucker with a goatee and a mean look—and Steve Dunn.

  Gentry was a petty criminal with busts for assault, disturbing the peace, passing bad checks, and domestic violence. He’d never done any significant time. Steve Dunn was a lot younger than James, the son of his father and second wife. He’d come into the club a few years after James, and he’d been working his way through the ranks. His record was clean, which was why he got to visit his half-brother in prison. He was the perfect conduit for orders passing between Dunn and Gentry.

  “It was probably inevitable,” Viking replied to Dirty. “They’re a brotherhood. Like us in a perverse way, with their own rules and hierarchies.”

  “Except for the fact they’re fucking criminals,” Neo replied, his brain churning with anger and a determination to find and stamp out every last asshole who wore the Kings of Doom patch on their cut. They’d threatened his woman and child, and he wasn’t letting that stand. He didn’t care who was in charge or what their internal politics were. They all needed to go, and he was going to be the one who cut them down if that’s what it took.

  He’d left Kayla early that morning, still sleepy and soft in their bed, her lush body wrapping around his only an hour before as he’d stroked deep inside her and made them both come. Then he’d got up, showered, dressed, made coffee and wrote her a note that he’d left on the counter near the coffee pot. He’d decided to leave a note every single day he was with her. She needed to start each day with someone telling her how fucking awesome she was. If he didn’t do it, who would?

  When he had to deploy, he’d try to write them out beforehand and instruct her to read one every day he was gone. He might not write enough of them, because he never knew exactly how long he’d be gone, but in that case he’d tell her to start over at the beginning and reread them all until he returned.

  The note he’d left this morning told her how amazing she was, and how much he loved her perfect body. Maybe it should have said that he loved her, but he wasn’t completely comfortable with that thought yet. How did you tell a woman you’d been married to for three days that you thought you might be in love with her? Especially a woman like Kayla who was used to people bailing on her or not being what they’d purported to be in the first place?

  “Yeah, they’re definitely fucking criminals,” Money grumbled as he flipped through the papers. “Assault, battery, passing bad checks, domestic violence, soliciting. Not as bad as the asswipes we helped collar a few months ago, but they just didn’t have time to get there yet.”

  “They want to get there,” Neo said. “And they need money to do it. Partly why they decided to target Kayla.” He frowned. “Dunn has to know she doesn’t have that kind of money, so why try it?”

  “If they’ve surveilled her at all, then Dunn knows she’s lived with me and Bailey,” Camel said. “We bought the house, so he might think we could get a loan for the cash if we didn’t already have it.”

  Viking nodded. “That’s a good guess. They don’t care if she has it or not, just that she can find it.”

  Neo’s belly tightened. “Yeah, but do any of us think all they want is 75k? They’re a motorcycle gang with a code of honor, and Kayla is a traitor in their eyes. If not for her, their officers wouldn’t be in prison. Dunn wouldn’t be in prison.”

  “That’s true,” Camel said. “It’s about more than money.”

  Neo jerked his head at the file. “Why don’t we know where Gentry and his fuckwads are holing up yet?”

  “Because they’re fifteen douchebags in a crowd and this isn’t our primary mission?” Viking said, turning it into a question that wasn’t really a question. “They didn’t leave a forwarding address, man.”

  Neo’s fists clenched on the table. “We need to find them. Gentry and Steve Dunn at the very least. Find them and sweep them up.”

  Viking’s eyes narrowed. “Ghost gave us permission to find out what we could, not to take anyone into custody. The military doesn’t operate against domestic criminals on US soil. You know that, Neo.”

  Frustration and anger hammered at him. “I know, but what are we supposed to do? Wait until he does something to my wife and kid? Call the police?”

  Camel’s brows climbed his forehead. Neo knew why.

  Yeah, he’d called Ana his kid. Well, fuck, she was his. He’d claimed her mother and that meant he claimed her too. Besides, she was freaking adorable—and she seemed to like him. He’d walked into her room to have a peek at her this morning and she’d opened her eyes and smiled up at him. Then she’d opened her arms as if reaching for him. He couldn’t say no. He’d picked her up, checked her diaper, then took her with him to the kitchen. Before he left for work, he carried her in to her mother, who smiled at them both, her face lit from within with so much love for her kid that it nearly blinded him.

  He kind of wished she’d look at him that way. Maybe one day.

  “We aren’t going to let anyone do anything to them,” Viking growled. “She’s not driving herself to work, right?”

  “Right.”

  He didn’t want her going in at all, but the salon depended on her and she still needed her own income. She hadn’t said that last part, but he understood it. Kayla was too used to things disintegrating on her and she wasn’t going to let herself be without resources of her own. She wanted to work so she wouldn’t fall on her face. Just like his sister in that regard, so he couldn’t argue with h
er about it.

  Since Chloe had been taken at gunpoint from the salon by her ex, Dirty had helped Avery get a deal on security cameras and silent alarms. The place was wired for trouble and the police were on call. Signs in the windows proclaimed that to be the case, so any criminal who wanted to test the system would have to be either dumber than shit or beyond caring.

  Neo had to hope that Dal Gentry was neither of those things. He didn’t think the biker would be with James Dunn pulling the strings. If Dunn had started this process while still in prison, then he had a bigger plan at work. He wasn’t looking for instant gratification.

  “I assume Ana isn’t going to the salon with her anymore either,” Viking continued.

  “No, she’s not. She’s with Ella again today.”

  Chloe was driving them both to Ella’s where they’d drop off Ana, and then she and Kayla were going to the salon. Kayla wasn’t happy about not being able to drive herself, but she understood. She’d sworn she did when they’d discussed it last night, anyway.

  “Soon, beautiful,” he’d said. “We’ll get Ana into base daycare and us into base housing.”

  He was applying for both as soon as this meeting and morning training were done. He didn’t know how long it would take, but he’d know once they were on the list. Until then, they had to be vigilant.

  “Why don’t we lure him out?” Money asked. “Ella or Quinn can spare the cash. Like Blade said before, we can put a tracking device in the bag and Kayla can hand it over—”

  Neo growled. “No. Not Kayla. I don’t want her involved.”

  “Gentry probably isn’t going to accept it from one of us and you know it,” Money said. “It’s better if it’s her. We’d be there backing her up.”

  “Not acceptable. She’s not an operator and I won’t put her in danger. Would you let Ella make a drop like that when the fucker waiting for the money’d threatened her?”

  “We haven’t even gotten that far,” Viking interjected before Money could respond. “One thing at a time here.”

  Neo twirled the pen he’d been holding and sent it skipping across the table as he leaned back and put his hands behind his head. His fury was tightly contained, but it simmered beneath the surface. And not really at these guys, but at the way some random-ass motherfucker had showed up and wrecked Kayla’s peaceful existence, sending her into a tailspin that ended with marriage and yet another move from one house to a different one in the space of days.

  “I’m calling Ian Black,” Neo said, shoving to his feet. “We can’t operate inside US borders, but he can.”

  “That’s true,” someone said, and they all jerked toward the door. General Mendez walked out of the shadows and into the room. Everyone scrambled to their feet and snapped to attention. “As you were.”

  They relaxed, though Neo didn’t think he’d ever relax fully. Not until he knew Kayla was no longer in danger from those assholes.

  “Ghost tells me we’ve got a problem with the Kings of Doom,” Mendez said. He dropped into a chair and propped his booted feet on the table, crossing them at the ankles. “Somebody fill me in on the latest.”

  “You look mighty happy,” Chloe said when Kayla opened the door for her that morning.

  She’d been up for a couple of hours, since Zach had left, and yes, she was happy.

  “I think married life agrees with you,” Chloe added.

  Kayla laughed and retreated to the kitchen while Chloe closed the door behind her. “So far, so good,” she called out. “Do you want some coffee?”

  Chloe sashayed in behind her, looking gorgeous in a pencil skirt with low-heeled sandals and a white button down. She wore a chunky bracelet on one wrist and sported a big diamond on her ring finger.

  “Of course I do.” Chloe took a seat at the table and started to coo at Ana, who sat in her high chair.

  Kayla poured a cup of coffee for her friend and went back to fixing Ana’s oatmeal. “Thanks for the casserole and the dessert,” she said. “Zach loved it.”

  “I’m glad.”

  Kayla set the cup down in front of Chloe. It took her a moment to say what was on her mind. “Do you think you could teach me to cook?”

  Chloe’s grin was huge. “Of course I can, honey. I’d love to!”

  Kayla took a moment to appreciate the relief and love washing through her. It was hard for her to ask for things sometimes, especially things she considered big, because she might get a no instead of a yes.

  But not from Chloe, apparently. Kayla returned the smile. “Thank you. So much.”

  She’d originally intended to ask how to make the dessert he loved. But that wasn’t big enough. Zach deserved more. He loved Chloe’s food, so she would learn to make it.

  Maybe. She might suck at it, but at least she could try.

  “No problem.” Chloe sipped the coffee. “So how much do you know how to do anyway? For reference.”

  Kayla laughed as she brought Ana’s oatmeal to the table. “I can microwave a frozen dinner. Heat up a can of soup. Oh, and I can fix ramen noodles. And oatmeal. That’s probably my greatest accomplishment.”

  She spooned some up and blew on it before offering it to Ana.

  “Okay,” Chloe said. “I can work with that. If you can follow the directions on an oatmeal packet, you can follow my directions. And those in a cookbook. It’ll be fine, hon.”

  They chatted while Kayla fed Ana. When Ana was done eating, Chloe followed Kayla into the newly decorated baby room so Kayla could put Ana’s dress on.

  “Oh my goodness, this is so sweet,” Chloe said. “You and Zach did it this weekend?”

  “Yes. I’ve got some things coming from Wayfair tomorrow and then I’ll finish it up.”

  Chloe stood in the middle of the room and turned around, looking at the paint and furniture. “So adorable. I love it. I bet she will too when she’s old enough.”

  Kayla frowned. “We won’t be here then. Zach’s applying for base housing.”

  Chloe made a face. “I forgot. Damn. But you’ll fix her room up there! It’ll be great.”

  Kayla looked at the pink wall, feeling wistful. She’d lived in this house for a few days. It shouldn’t mean a thing to her, and yet it did. Crazy.

  “I know. I’ll hate leaving you though. I think it’d be so fun to live across the street from you and Ryan. Heck, I wish Bailey and Alexei were here too. One big happy family in the same neighborhood.”

  Chloe squeezed her hand. “Oh honey, I get it. But it won’t be so bad. The base isn’t too far away from any of us. It’ll be fine.”

  It would, and she would get used to it. She always did.

  “Are you ready to go?” she asked Chloe as she picked Ana up and propped her on a hip. “I think I have everything. Ana’s diaper bag is by the door.”

  “Yep, let’s roll. We’ll get Ana-banana to Princess Ella and then we’ll be at work in time for Mrs. Jenkins to roll in and demand I change her hair color yet again.”

  Kayla had gotten used to the idea that Ella was a princess by now, though it was always a little strange to be reminded of it since the woman was so normal. She snorted at the thought of Mrs. Jenkins. “She’s a fun one, isn’t she?”

  “She sure is. I’ve told her that much color is going to break her hair off at the roots, but she keeps arguing with me. One of these days I’ll give in and let her find out.”

  They grabbed everything and headed out the door. Kayla locked up, double-checked the lock, and they walked across the street and piled into Chloe’s car.

  “I’m sorry we have to do this every day,” Kayla said as Chloe put the car in reverse. “It’s such a pain in the butt to move the car seat all the time.”

  “It’s fine, honey. Ryan and Zach and the others will take care of everything soon and life can get back to normal.”

  Kayla wasn’t sure she believed life would ever be normal for her, but she fiercely wanted it to be.

  They turned out of the neighborhood and Kayla’s phone dinged with a te
xt. She thought it might be Zach, but it was an unknown sender.

  Do you have my money?

  Her heart throttled into high gear as she shoved her hair behind her ear and typed back: I have two more days. I’ll get it.

  Unknown: Not sure I believe you. If you don’t have it by now…

  Kayla: I’m working on it. I swear.

  She sent the text with shaking fingers. When there was no reply, she set the phone on her lap and turned to look out the window, trying to pull herself together before Chloe figured out something was wrong.

  They were chatting about work and Kayla was feeling almost normal again when Chloe slammed on the brakes. “What the hell?” she cried.

  Kayla’s hair had fallen in her face with the sudden stop and she dragged it out again so she could see what Chloe was looking at.

  All she got was an impression of an object blocking the road before the glass beside her head shattered.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Mendez listened attentively as Viking briefed him on the situation. Tension crawled across Neo’s forehead and down his spine. If Mendez didn’t give them the go ahead to do something, then Neo was going to explode. Collecting intel was all well and good—and vital—but not acting on it was a fucking nightmare.

  And yet the military didn’t do shit like that because an act of Congress forbade it. Made sense when you thought about all the ways the military could be used against the citizenry by unscrupulous political leaders—and had been in other countries that didn’t have such a law on the books. That shit was how you ended up with dictators.

  Still, Neo wanted to go after Gentry and the Kings with all the considerable skill at his disposal and take them the fuck down. He didn’t need military equipment to do it. Just his bare fucking hands.

  Mendez rubbed his forehead as if he too felt the tension. “So what I’m hearing is these fuckers are extorting Kayla Jones—excuse me, Kayla Anderson—and threatening her child’s life and well-being. They’ve given her until Wednesday to get the money. Correct?”