“We go to a lot of weddings, don’t we?” he asked. He tossed me to the bed and stepped out of his shoes and trousers. I pulled my shirt over my head and shrugged out of my bra.
“It seems that we do,” I said, scooting under the blankets.
Will nestled beside me, his skin hot and his mouth urgent as he kissed my shoulder and neck. “When are we going to our own?”
His cock pressed against my thigh, eager for attention. “Was that a proposal?” I asked.
Will laughed, and positioned himself between my legs. He wasted no time bringing his tongue to my clit and spearing two fingers inside me, and I arched back with a loud moan.
“Oh, fuck,” I cried. “Fuck, fuck, yes, right there.”
He popped up, his head on my belly. “See what I did there?” he asked, smirking. “You said yes.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
WILL
“Captain, I amlooking at your discharge papers. Would you care to explain this shit to me?”
I knew this was going to happen eventually. Word was getting out, wheels were turning, and one irate Lieutenant General wanted my ass. There was no way for me to leave the teams quietly when my command of this new task force was a foregone conclusion in McGardil’s eyes.
“The nerve damage isn’t improving, sir, and I’ve decided it’s time,” I said. “I’ve fulfilled my service.”
“Do I need to remind you that this country is at war?” he roared. “Men and women are losing their lives everyday, sailor. I expect this shit from a bedwetting tadpole during Phase One of BUD/S, not a decorated officer when there’s a team ready to load out.”
I leaned against the refrigerator, softly knocking my head on the glass door while the Lieutenant General ranted about the need for battle-tested leaders, and expecting more from me, and the impact of my departure on critical missions. In the twenty minutes that he yelled and swore, he barely stopped for a breath. It was remarkable.
But it was hard to hear. Nothing he said was new—I’d been thinking the same things since this leave started last month—but the gravity of it was much greater coming from a man I respected as much as McGardil.
My decisions affected more than me, and this was the smack upside the head to remind me of that.
“You are a highly skilled operative,” McGardil continued. “You are among the most lethal in the teams, and the United States has spentmillionsof dollars on your training. If you’re not mission-ready, there are other critical roles to assume.”
“I’m aware, sir,” I said. “This wasn’t a light decision.”
“I should hope not, Captain,” he said with a grunt. “Are you writing a book? A fucking screenplay?”
“No, sir. I’m…” I glanced around the kitchen, where I’d abandoned my lasagna preparations. I decided to keep those details to myself. Without a doubt, my newfound domesticity would land with a thud. “I’m exploring private security and defense contracting.”
McGardil huffed out a breath. “Have you given any consideration to returning to Coronado as an instructor?”
And there it was: my least favorite option. I enjoyed working with SEALs who’d finished all their qualifying courses—the baby SEALs, as Shannon liked to call them—but the last thing I wanted to do was holler at a bunch of guys during midnight rock portage drills on San Clemente Island.
“Thank you, sir,” I said, “though I’d rather not return to BUD/S. One visit was plenty.”
“It’s a loss,” he said. “There aren’t many men with your experience, even fewer with your cool head. This is a loss for the teams.” I heard McGardil shuffling and tapping papers across the line. “Allow me to thank you for your service, sailor. It’s been a pleasure, and I do hope you keep in touch.”
The call ended and I was left banging my head against the refrigerator. Leaving the teams wasn’t a simple decision. It was the only thing I knew how to do, the only thing I’d everwantedto do, and it wasn’t as though I could discard the responsibility like a pair of dirty socks. This duty pumped in my blood and gathered in my soul, and I would always live with the fire to push myself further than anyone thought possible.
When I’d banged myself right into a dull headache, I spied a new message waiting on my phone.
Shannon:I’ve been dealing with the most obstinate agent all morning. This guy is arguing every single point on this purchase and sale agreement. There’s nothing special about the terms, either.
Shannon:This guy’s just a dick
Will:When you get home, I’m taking your panties
Will:You’re not getting them back until Monday
