Protected by a SEAL (Alpha SEALs, Book 6) (21 page)

Brent smirked as Ella playfully tossed a
crumpled napkin across the picnic table towards Brianna. Matthew
swiped it midair, chuckling. “You did not say that,” Ella laughed,
her blue eyes twinkling. “You told me to stay away from Brent.”

The group gathered around Patrick’s backyard
burst into laughter, the other men on the SEAL team howling at
Brent’s expense. Patrick looked up from his spot manning the grill
a few feet away and grinned. “We all would’ve advised you of that,
Ella.”

“Oh, be nice,” his girlfriend Rebecca
chastised, putting more drinks in the cooler. “I think it’s sweet
they’re together.”

“Sweet?” Brent asked, raising his eyebrows.
“I don’t do sweet. Next time say something like ‘Brent fucking
rocks!’”

The other guys laughed again, and Matthew
bumped fists with him. “Hoorah!”

“Maybe I said something about telling you to
stay away,” Brianna admitted, absentmindedly rubbing her belly, her
pregnancy just beginning to show. “But I meant well.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Brent
said dryly.

“You gotta consider the source,” Matthew
drawled. “Never thought I’d see the day you had a girl. And don’t
get me wrong, I love Ella like a little sister.”

“Noted,” Brent said, pulling Ella closer to
his side. She relaxed against him, and Brent wanted to roar in
approval. Having Ella living with him for the summer was a high he
hadn’t expected. There were no more nightmares about his sister. No
more need to chase after a new woman every night—not when he
already had the perfect one in his arms. Beneath him in his bed. He
was more than happy to teach Ella all the ways he could pleasure
her night after night—and she was an eager recipient of all his
attention. Plus knowing she was safe in his arms? Nothing
better.

“Sonofabitch,” Christopher said with a grin.
“Never thought I’d see the day.”

“Me either,” Lexi agreed with a laugh. “I
don’t know if you know this, Ella, but Brent’s the one who found me
when I was kidnapped.”

“Really?”

“Absolutely. All the team was searching for
me, but Brent’s the one who burst into the room where I was being
held. He’s a good guy.”

“The best. He found me, too,” Ella
admitted.

“Hell. I found you in the middle of the
street after you’d already escaped. And I’m damn glad those
assholes are on trial for life in prison. Although that isn’t
nearly long enough.”

“If you ever want to talk, let me know,”
Lexi said. “I was terrified for a while after I was kidnapped. I’m
glad you’re here with Brent for the summer though, so you’re not
all alone.”

“Me too. For lots of different reasons,” she
added with a grin.

Brent took a swig of his beer as the others
chuckled. Mike and Kenley walked over to say hello, each holding a
drink. “Thanks again for finding me that great internship for the
summer,” Ella said.

“Hun, I work in HR. It’s no problem at all,”
Kenley said, brushing a curl that had escaped from her ponytail
back into place. Mike grinned down at her, and Brent resisted the
urge to rib him. Not when he’d managed to become just like the rest
of the guys. Tied to one woman, but happy as hell.

“It beats the waitressing gig,” Ella said.
“And working in a finance department will give me some great
experience for when I graduate. I really appreciate all the help
you’ve given me.”

“We’re all kind of like one big family
around here,” Kenley admitted. “The guys on the SEAL team are like
brothers, but the women have learned to stick together, too.
Especially when they’re gone. And hey, the job might work out even
better than planned.” She winked at Ella, and Brent eyed them
suspiciously. Before he could ask Ella about it, Patrick walked
over from the grill.

“Grab some food,” Patrick said, setting down
another platter of grilled meat. The scent of charcoal wafted
through the air, and Brent’s stomach rumbled. He’d have to give
Patrick and Rebecca credit for one thing—they sure knew how to
throw a damn party.

“Hell, Ice, are you opening a restaurant or
what?” Brent asked with a smirk.

“Or what,” Patrick said dryly.

“I just wanted to make sure we had enough
for everyone,” Rebecca commented, glancing over at them.

“It’s a helluva lot better than those damn
MREs,” Brent said. “Thought I might die of starvation on our last
op. Guess I got too used to Ella’s cooking.”

“Hoorah,” their SEAL team CO Ryan Mitchell
said as he strode over in pressed slacks and a short-sleeved dress
shirt. Always looking large and in charge, Brent thought. The man
never even broke a sweat. “No one misses those when they leave the
service,” Ryan said.

“Are you planning to retire soon, Commander
Mitchell?” Ella asked.

“Call me Ryan. And not just yet, ma’am. But
I don’t deploy with the rest of the team.”

“I guess I’m still learning how everything
works.”

“Life in the military has its own set of
rules,” he agreed.

Patrick set the food down on the table
amidst other plates overflowing with burgers, hotdogs, and side
dishes. Brent grabbed paper plates for himself and Ella when
Patrick’s young son ran by, chasing after his aunt, and nearly
bumped into their CO.

“Sorry, Commander,” Patrick said, nodding at
the slightly older man. They watched as Patrick’s sister ran off,
looking like she was having as much fun as the kids.

“No problem,” he said coolly, abruptly
walking away.

“What was that about?” Ella asked Brent.

“Guess he doesn’t like kids.”

Patrick chuffed out a laugh. “With half the
SEAL team expecting a baby, I guess he won’t be around much at our
BBQs next year.”

Brent’s gaze shot over to him. “Half?”

“Rebecca is pregnant,” he said in a low
voice. “We haven’t announced it to everyone yet. It came as a bit
of a surprise, but we’re pretty damn happy. And our kids would love
to have a younger sibling.”

“Damn,” Brent muttered.

“You don’t like kids?” Ella asked.

“Wait—you want kids?”

She laughed, her dark hair blowing in the
light breeze. “Well, not right now. I want to finish school and get
a decent job first. Work for a few years. Maybe someday though,”
she added with a shrug. “I don’t have any siblings, and my parents
passed away. It might be nice.”

Brent gazed down at her, trying to imagine
Ella as a mother. Hell. Not even a few months ago he couldn’t
imagine himself with one woman. And now he was seriously
contemplating a life with the one at his side? Never thought he’d
see the day.

They each filled their plates with food,
Brent piling on nearly twice as much as Ella, and then walked over
to a quiet corner in the backyard, away from the rest of the group.
Conversations and laughter drifted in from the background, but
Brent gazed down at Ella curiously.

“I do have something to tell you though,”
Ella admitted.

Brent froze, and Ella laughed as she saw the
expression on his face. “And
no,
I’m not pregnant. God. But
it has to do with the job situation Kenley mentioned earlier. I’m
transferring to a school in Virginia for my senior year. I can keep
working in the finance department of Kenley’s company with an
internship during the school year. If all goes well, I’ll have a
job there next summer.”

“So wait, you’re moving here
permanently?”

“Yep. I know we just talked about living
arrangements for the summer. If it’s too soon, I’ll get an
apartment off campus.”

“Hell no.”

“No?” she asked, a shadow crossing her
face.

“Hell no to the apartment by campus. I want
you staying right where you are. With me.”

“Well how could I say no to that?” she
laughed.

“You’re mine, Ella. Have been from the
moment I first saw you.”

She shot him a smug grin. “And you’re
mine.”

Hell. Always a touch of sass with that one.
But he wouldn’t have it any other way.

That night Brent took her home and slowly
undressed Ella in their bedroom. He was usually up for something
more quick and dirty, but at the moment? He just wanted to be close
to her. As he tugged off her strappy little sundress, Brent bent
her over the edge of the bed, his hand tracing down the line of her
thong. His fingers edged beneath the slip of fabric, running along
her backside. “This is so fucking sexy, but it has got to go.
Now.”

“Um-hmm,” she murmured, arching back against
him.

He freed his aching cock from his shorts,
and then moments later was inside her, thrusting deeply as Ella
cried out and clamped down around him. His hands found her breasts,
palming them as he took her over and over again.

“God, Brent, I’m coming!” she screamed.

He moved faster, chasing down his own
release, then nearly collapsed on top of her, supporting his weight
on one arm. He kissed her temple, now damp with perspiration, and
brushed some of her dark locks aside. “Why didn’t you tell me until
tonight that you were staying here in Virginia?”

He pulled free and then flipped Ella over on
the bed so that he could gaze down at her. She panted as she looked
up at him, a smile tugging at her lips.

“I just wanted it to be a surprise. Are you
happy?”

“Fuck yeah,” he said. “Never been
happier.”

Thank you for continuing on the Alpha SEALs
journey with me! I’ve loved writing about all the guys on the SEAL
team and hearing how much my readers have enjoyed the series. I
love sharing teasers on Facebook, so drop by my page to say
hello!

Lots of readers have asked WHAT is coming
next, but don’t worry, I’m not leaving the SEALs behind yet! I’ll
be continuing the series with both NEW and old characters and
starting a spin-off series as well. Here’s what I’ve got planned so
far:

LOVED BY A SEAL—FALL 2016 (Commander Ryan
Mitchell’s story, Alpha SEALs Book 7)

MAKE ME YOURS—FALL 2016 (Brock Rollin’s
story, Line of Duty Book 1)

I’m not ready to leave the Alpha SEALs world
yet or its hot heroes, and I hope you aren’t either. There is much
more coming down the road! And I hope you’ll check out the spin-off
series as well, featuring the assertive, hunky heroes of the
NYPD.

I love to hear from my readers and welcome
any feedback.

Want to stay in touch?

Visit
www.makennajameison.com
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Are you caught up on the Alpha SEALs series?
Want to read them again? Click below to borrow or buy!

SEAL the Deal (Patrick’s Story)

SEALed With a Kiss (Evan’s Story)

A SEAL’s Surrender (Christopher’s Story)

A SEAL’s Seduction (Mike’s Story)

The SEAL Next Door (Matthew’s Story)

Protected by a SEAL—You just read it!

Loved by a SEAL—Fall 2016

About the
Author

Makenna
Jameison is a bestselling romance author. She writes military
romance and romantic suspense with hot alpha males, steamy scenes,
and happily-ever-afters. Her debut series made it to #1 in Military
Romance. Makenna loves reading, writing, the beach, and traveling
to new places. She lives in Washington DC with her husband and two
daughters.

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Thank you for reading!

Keep reading for an
exclusive excerpt from the first book in her Alpha SEALs
series,
SEAL the Deal
.

Rebecca Mayes has already endured more than
her fair share of tragedy. After her husband was killed in a
horrific car crash, she’d do anything to shield herself from more
heartache. A highly sought after attorney, Rebecca’s success in the
courtroom has not come without costs. The disgruntled ex-husband of
a client is seeking revenge on the one he blames for his
troubles—and his sights are set on Rebecca. While she remains
blissfully unaware, he’s stalking her, and getting closer every
day.

Navy SEAL Patrick “Ice” Foster vowed to never
be in a relationship again after watching his ex-wife slowly die of
cancer. That type of anguish was more than he could handle in one
lifetime, and there’s no way anyone can change his mind.

Despite their determination never to fall in
love again, Rebecca and Patrick can’t deny the connection between
them. But when danger lurks around every corner, she knows there’s
only one man she can trust to protect both her and her daughter.
But who will protect her from a broken heart?

SEAL the Deal, a stand-alone novel, is book
one in the new series, Alpha SEALs.

Patrick “Ice” Foster hauled his sixty-pound
rucksack onto his back and sauntered down the ramp of the C-17
military cargo plane, boots and fatigues dusty from his SEAL team’s
week-long deployment to Afghanistan. He felt tired, his muscles
stiff and sore, and dirty from the sweat and grime coating his
skin. Nothing would feel better right now than a hot shower and a
solid twelve hours sleeping in his own bed.

Hell, after a week of pitching a tent in the
desert and barely sleeping five hours a night, he’d gladly crash on
his living room floor.