Page 64 of Rescued by a SEAL

Chapter 18

Taylor gasped as she awoke the next morning, sunlight streaming in through the windows. Her heartrate slowed as she realized she was safe in Mason’s bed. Nestled in his arms.

Mason’s arms tightened around her, and her breathing slowed back down as she felt his solid body next to hers. As she relaxed against his warmth.

“You’re safe, sweetheart. You’re safe. We’re at my apartment. Eric and Jake are in jail.”

“Oh God,” she whispered, a tear rolling down her cheek. “I was having a nightmare. Reliving everything.”

“No one can get you here,” he assured her, nuzzling against her neck. “They’ve both been arrested, and I’m right here. I’ll never let anything happen to you.”

“How did you find me earlier? With the police and the chaos and my crying hysterically on the way to the hospital, I never even asked.”

“When we got back to Little Creek, the Alpha team was already there. Someone from the Virginia Beach PD had contacted Ice. Patrick,” he clarified. “I guess your waitress friend told them about me. That you were dating a Navy SEAL. The entire police department was looking for you when you disappeared from your apartment complex, but when Patrick said Eric had been arrested, I knew it was probably his friend Jake that had taken you.”

“But how?”

Mason shrugged. “Just a hunch. He was at your place that one night to pick up Eric, and he just seemed unhinged. Plus, he was still holding onto your car for some reason. Most people want to get paid and move on to the next vehicle if they own an autobody shop. He seemed intent on keeping it there.”

“He’s as crazy as Eric,” she said, shuddering.

“Maybe even more so. As soon as Patrick told me you were missing, I was rushing out to my SUV to go get you. Patrick and another man from the Alpha team came with me while the rest of my team debriefed on our mission. It wasn’t exactly standard procedure to leave base like that right after an op, but my CO understood why I had to go. No one there could’ve stopped me.”

“I was so scared,” she said. “And when you came through that door, I couldn’t believe it. I thought I was dreaming at first.”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there sooner.”

“Ugh, and I thought they’d never let me leave the hospital. God, I just feel…gross,” she admitted. “Like I can’t wash this day off me soon enough.”

Mason chuckled slightly beside her. “We didn’t get a full night’s sleep. Aren’t you exhausted? We can go back to bed for a few hours. I have some time off since we just got back.”

“No, I just want to shower and wash Eric and Jake and everyone else off of me.”

Mason stiffened beside her but rose and followed her into his bathroom. “They didn’t—” he broke off, the expression on his face grim.

“No,” she assured him. “Eric passed out drunk in my bed. And Jake—well God, I can only imagine what would’ve happened if you didn’t come in right then. But you saved me,” she assured him. “You got there in time.”

He nodded, then turned on the water as steam began to fill the room. He took a deep breath, the tension slowly leaving his posture. “I never would’ve forgiven myself if they’d harmed you,” he admitted. “I couldn’t get to you fast enough. I just couldn’t imagine anything happening to you.”

“Thank you for finding me,” she whispered.

“I’ll always come for you, sweetheart. I’m just sorry I wasn’t there to begin with.”

“You were doing your job,” she assured him. “Saving the world. But now I just need you here with me.”

“You have me,” he assured her.

Hastily, she took off her clothing, tossing it into a pile in the corner. Mason stripped as well, joining her a moment later in the shower.

He held her trembling body to his as the hot water poured down over them. She rested her head against his chest, loving the feel of his large hands running over her hair and back. Of his hard, muscled body holding her close. Of his lips brushing over the top of her head.

“Will you come with me to get my tattoo?” she asked suddenly as he held her to him.

Looking up, she met his blue gaze.

“Of course,” he said. “Whenever you want to go.”

“I realized once again how short life really is when Jake kidnapped me. My sister’s been gone for ten years. It’s hard to believe, but it feels like both yesterday and a lifetime ago. I want that heart tattoo with my sister’s initials. I’m not going to wait around for the perfect time. I just want to go ahead and do it. To live my life with no regrets.”

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