Page 59 of SEAL Ever After

“He’s taken care of. He’ll never touch you again.”

Ryan began ascending the stairs, Christopher at his heels, as the other men rushed toward them. “Patrick!” Sarah cried out. Patrick rushed over to hug her awkwardly, as Ryan still held her tightly in his arms, unwilling to ever let her go.

Patrick spoke quietly into his mouthpiece, telling Matthew and Evan to ready the Humvees.

Sarah snuggled even closer against Ryan, clinging onto him for dear life. “Let’s get the hell out of here,” she said.

Ryan chuckled, the first time he’d laughed or smiled in days. “Yes, let’s get the hell out of here. I couldn’t have said it better myself.”

Chapter 27

Sarah sank into the hot tub in Ryan’s backyard several days later, smiling blissfully as the hot water surrounded her. It was dusk, the sun nearly all the way beneath the horizon, and the sky was a beautiful inky blue. Birds chirped in the air as they flew between trees, a light breeze blew, and the scent of charcoal wafted through the air.

Ryan sauntered over wearing only his swim trunks and climbed in beside her. “The grill will be ready in twenty minutes.”

“Okay. I might be ready to eat by then,” she said dreamily, leaning back and closing her eyes.

“I still have to grill the food,” he said with a chuckle, sliding over beside her and collecting her in his arms. She leaned back against him, letting his muscular arms wrap tightly around her. With Ryan behind her and the hot water surrounding her, she felt safer than she had in days.

He held her for a moment, and they sat there in contented silence. She’d told him parts of what had happened when she’d been kidnapped but had mostly wanted to forget about it and move on with her life.

“The admiral called me earlier,” Ryan said in a low voice. “I’ll face no disciplinary action for going after you.”

“Well that’s a relief. Stealing a U.S. Navy plane for your own means can’t look good on your record.”

She felt Ryan huff out a laugh behind her. “We didn’t steal it. I notified them we were leaving on a mission. The visiting admiral didn’t approve but said he wouldn’t stop me.”

“As if anyone could stop you,” Sarah teased.

“They couldn’t stop me from finding you,” he said, his voice growing serious.

“I should’ve told you about that guy Juan,” Sarah said sadly. “Morgan thought he was a little creepy, but I just figured he was a visiting tourist that liked having someone to talk to. You said we should all be careful, and I was anything but.”

“He was part of the ring,” Ryan said. “I couldn’t tell you before, but the recent mission the Alpha team was on involved that sex-trafficking ring down in Mexico.”

“What happened to that other woman, Alyssa? I got her contact info but didn’t feel like I should reach out to her yet.”

“She’s still in the hospital as far as I know. I’m sure she’d love to hear from you whenever you’re ready.”

“I can’t believe there are men out there evil enough to do that sort of thing,” Sarah said with a shudder.

Ryan tightened his arms. His lips brushed against her hair. “I thought I lost you.”

“I was willing to do anything to get safely back home to you.” She turned to face him, and he ducked down and kissed her tenderly. He smelled faintly of spice and man, and her heart fluttered. She opened her mouth, letting him take control and slowly thrust his tongue inside, and she gasped as arousal sparked through her.

They’d hadn’t been intimate yet since she’d returned—just held one another and snuggled in bed each night.

Her body was ready for Ryan’s touch though. She wanted—needed—him inside of her. She needed to feel safe and secure and to come apart in Ryan’s arms, the only place she ever wanted to be.

His large hand dropped to her breast, lightly kneading it through her bikini top as she whimpered. He paused a beat, breaking their kiss.

“Ryan, I need you. I’m really okay,” she told him quietly.

“Are you sure?” Ryan asked, gazing at her cautiously.

“Sure? Of course I’m sure. I want you to hold me, touch me. Make love to me. I want you to make me feel something good for a change. I was so scared and alone there—frightened I’d never get home and never see you again. I need you.”

He nodded, swallowing, and she saw his Adam’s apple bob.

---