SEALs of Honor: Cooper (22 page)

“Cooper, now,” she cried out. “I want you inside of me.”

He slid one finger down through her damp curls. She opened her legs wide. “Yes,” she hissed. “More. More.”

Carefully he worked one finger inside, and she realized he figured she might struggle with his size. And she might, but it was a challenge she was more than up to.

She pushed up on his shoulders and he willingly rolled over. She grinned. “You’ll fit, no worries there.”

He shouted with laughter. “You are awful tiny…”

“I am, and you’re awfully big,” she whispered, stroking the full length of him. “But we’re made for this.”

She threw one leg across and straddled him, her hips almost shaking with need. She gave him a salty smile as she placed him at her entrance and slowly sank down – but not all the way.

His breath caught in the back of his throat as he tried to lift his hips up, his back aching as she rose slightly above him to keep him where she wanted him.

“Witch,” he said in a thick voice.

“Never,” she whispered and relaxed, feeling the stretching as he filled her completely and still there was more of him. She let herself sink lower.

He groaned.

She moaned. And shuddered when she took all of him.

She sat in place for a long moment as she reveled in the sensation. It had been a long time. And never this perfect. This man had snuck into her heart and soul, and she’d welcomed him into her body with joy. “God I missed this,” she murmured.

“Not as much as I missed you this last year,” he whispered. “I was heartbroken to find out you were married. Then I was heartbroken for you when I heard about your divorce.”

“But not for yourself, huh?” she said, loving the moment. And needing so much more.

“No, you are mine. Have been since I first saw you,” he whispered, reaching up to cup her breasts. “Don’t ever doubt it.”

She placed her hands on his chest and leaned forward to stare into his eyes and started to ride.

Gazes locked, she took them both to the edge of the precipice. He slid his hands down to her hips and held her in place as he ground up hard against her and sent them both over the edge.

Collapsing down onto his chest, she lay against his heart, hearing that rapid beat against her ear. His arms gently stroked down her back, tremors still wracking his heavily muscled frame.

“We’re so damn lucky to have found each other,” she whispered.

*

“You’re so damn
special,” he whispered.

Still recovering, she propped her head on her hands and smirked. “Does that mean you’re ready to go again?”

He gave a shout of laughter and hardened up perfectly – already inside of her.

“Good thing,” she said. “I’ve been abstinent for a long time.”

“Planning to make
up
for it?” he asked suggestively.

“Depends, are you
up
for the job?”

Not only was he up for the job, he was bound and determined to give her a night she’d never forget. And he was
very
goal oriented.

T
he next morning,
true to his word, Cooper pulled into her driveway just before noon, and said, “Here we go. If we make it fast we can head to the beach afterwards.”

She reached over and kissed his cheek. Something she’d done dozens of times already this morning. There was nothing like a night of hot passion to make for the best moods.

“Perfect.” She really could use more clothes and she had a few plants she didn’t want to see die because of neglect.

They walked up together, holding hands. The house was dark and silent but with Cooper at her side, the edgy fear wasn’t there. She loved not having to face this alone. She unlocked the door and walked inside. Her huge fern on the front window was crying out for water.

“You go pack what you need, I’ll water this guy.”

She smiled at him. “There are two more in the kitchen.”

His phone rang as she ran lightly up the stairs, bracing herself for the reminder of what her bedroom had looked like last time. She could have asked Cooper to accompany her upstairs, but that seemed a little silly. Outside her door she took a deep breath and walked in. Then averting her gaze she went to work. She had a small suitcase in the closet that she pulled out and opened. Quickly she emptied her drawers. There were more clothes in her closet. She rifled through them, choosing a dress and a sweater. That’s all she had room for. With a quick walk through the bathroom she collected a few more toiletries and added them to the growing pile.

With the suitcase in hand, she walked out of the room. There was a second bathroom, but it was empty of everything but what a guest might need. The spare bedroom door was closed. She dropped the suitcase at the top of the stairs and pushed the door open. Walking inside her nose caught the scent of something strong. Something foreign.

And something that didn’t belong.

She spun around to run out of the room but strong arms grabbed her and a hand slapped over her mouth. She struggled, panic overtaking her normal judgment and she went wild kicking and twisting to get free. To let Cooper know she was in trouble.

“Stupid bitch.”

She shuddered. She didn’t know that voice. But she understood one thing. He was big, strong and determined.

Her energy drained quickly and she hung limp in his arms. She could barely hear the voice in the background as if he whispered something to someone. And she was pretty sure it wasn’t to her.

*

Cooper answered his
phone as he filled up a large mug of water and walked from plant to plant.

“Mason, what’s up?”

“The middle brother, Marten, was granted shore leave. He’s due back today.”

Cooper’s breath released suddenly. “Anyone go with him?”

“Yeah, the younger brother called Yarnel.”

Cooper’s mind suddenly filled with possibilities. “Do you think that could be the older brother Harken? Using the younger brother’s passport to get into the country? He is on a week’s leave.”

“And the freighter picked up several men down the coast four days ago. Supposedly Yarnel was one of them.”

“So Harken travels as the younger brother, joins the freighter and lands in the US illegally. And it just so happens that his wife who’s been having an affair disappears around the same time.”

“We’ve contacted the freighter. They say the brothers aren’t due back until later today, but they have given the Coast Guard permission to board.” His voice turned dry. “Of course that could mean nothing.”

“It means they either don’t have her or don’t know she’s onboard.”

“I vote the latter. This is a vendetta of the brothers against the wife.”

“Do we have any information on the brothers?”

“The younger one is clean of any violations. The middle brother is divorced. The wife had a restraining order against him. He was accused of domestic violence but the wife refused to press charges. She is currently living in Germany. All three brothers reside in Turkey.”

“So a predisposition for violence, particularly against wives.”

“Exactly.”

“Okay, keep us posted.” He went to close the call, then remembered. “Mason, can you shoot me a picture of the brothers. Just in case.”

And he suddenly realized that it was quiet upstairs. As in too quiet.

“Shit,” he whispered in a low voice.

“What’s the matter?” Mason said in a terse tone.

Cooper whispered, “We’re at Sasha’s place.”

He slowly turned to face the empty doorway. “She went upstairs ten minutes ago and now it’s quiet.” And his instinct kicked in. “Damn it, it’s too quiet. Give me two minutes, if I don’t call you back…” He hung up and slipped the phone in his pocket. He shifted to the base of the stairs. Studying the layout of the house, the stairs and the flooring, he realized that because it was hardwood it would be impossible to make it up without the wood creaking.

Unless… He hopped onto the railing and quickly pulled himself up to the second floor, his gaze on the level above him as he landed like a cat in the hallway. Could Sasha have lain down? Fallen asleep?

Her suitcase stood at the top of the stairs. He peered into the master bedroom. It was empty. Doing a quick check, he checked the ensuite bathroom and moved back out to the hallway. The second bathroom stood wide open. He stuck his head in but it was emtpy. The spare bedroom door was closed. Shit.

With his ear against the wood he listened.

Breathing.

Behind the door.

Well, that answered that.

He stepped back slightly and took a running jump, slamming against the door. It held. He hit again, focusing on the latch. The door popped open.

To show Sasha against the headboard, her arms tied behind her back.

Unconscious.

He searched the room but her attacker was gone. The window curtains fluttered in the breeze. He growled deep inside his throat as he stared out into the afternoon sun. Outside of indents in the soft ground below showing the intruder had exited that way, there was no sign of him in the yard. He opened his phone. “Mason, Sasha was attacked. The intruder got away. I’m checking her now.”

When the pulse beat strong under his fingers he closed his eyes and collapsed onto the bed. “She’s alive.”

“Thank God for that.”

He could hear voices in the background, but he was so overwhelmed he couldn’t speak.

“We’re five minutes away. Hold tight.”

And Mason hung up.

Cooper leaned over the bed and stroked Sasha’s face. “Wake up, sweetheart. Wake up.”

She muttered something unintelligible and her eyelids fluttered. She sighed then opened her eyes. When she saw him tears filled her eyes. “Cooper?”

“I’m so sorry, sweetheart.”

She blinked in confusion. “What happened?”

“Don’t move.” He pulled a pocketknife from his pocket and cut the bindings holding her arms.

“That hurts,” she cried out as her arms rolled forward. He picked up her closest arm and rubbed some life back into it.

“Do you remember what happened?” he asked gently, dropping a kiss on her wet cheek.

“Attacked from behind. Why does this keep happening?” Her voice was low and pained, breaking his heart. “At least it wasn’t Greg.”

“Even worse, it’s not about you.”

“Thank God. Imagine if it was.” And she realized what she’d said. “Poor Theresa.”

“The Coast Guard is on its way to search the ship for her.”

But Sasha was shaking her head. “I doubt she’s there. The guy that’s after her was here.”

Her gaze widened and she cried out, “Look–”

And he knew.

He spun and lashed out but took the blow on the side of the head. The last thing he heard was Sasha’s voice crying out to him. “No… Don’t hurt him.”

*