Page 30 of Protecting Clove
She shook her head. “And I wouldn’t know if Keith showed up. I’m okay getting notifications and freaking out if it means I can be sure I’ll know if Keith is near.”
He pulled her into his arms and kissed the side of her head. “That was intense. Let me hold you until you fall asleep. I’ll sleep on the couch tonight.”
She leaned back. “You don’t want to continue?”
He nuzzled her neck. “Let’s get back in bed, and if it feels right, we’ll get back to it. I need to calm down.”
She wrapped her arms tighter around him. “Can I rub your back?”
He shook his head. “I just want to hold you. That’s it.”
“Okay. I’d like that.”
She wished they would have gotten back to sex, but it was nice to fall asleep in his arms. The next morning, she found Neo and Bud eating breakfast. He’d made pancakes for her and was eating some, too.
“Good morning.” She kissed Neo on the head before moving to the coffee pot and pouring up a mug.
Bud winked at her when she turned around. Heat slid through her at the thought of the meaning behind that wink. She had no memory of him leaving her bed. She really had been exhausted.
Tonight, she would make sure to give him a blowjob. He’d been so good about getting her to orgasm, and he hadn’t asked her to reciprocate.
Bud left after breakfast, and she and Neo cleaned the house and started laundry. She worked on her budget and decided she needed to add a shopping day in the middle of the week. Neo would complain, but she would try hard to make it fun for her.
Once Neo was in public school, she could cut out the shopping. Working extra now in the summer would give them a safety net cushion she desperately needed.
22
Bud wasn’t happy that Monday morning rolled around and he wouldn’t be able to stay up late making love to Clove. It was love, too. They’d gone past the sex part and into something deeper. She was sexy and turned him on, but it was more than just that. He felt things for her that he’d never experienced before.
He walked into the room where they were being briefed on the target they’d been tracking. After the shit show of their last mission, they’d lost track of the guy, but now he’d shown his face, and they could track him again.
They would be heading out again, maybe. A different set of teams could be sent out, but it could be them. They would find out when the orders were given. None of the guys looked pleased about the high-value target still being alive. They wanted to capture the jerk and take him down. They would have to be patient.
They finished their meeting, and Rider told them before they left the room that they were headed out for a run. He needed the exercise and time to clear his head.
Kevlar’s team decided to go for a run with them. As they were getting ready, Sharp’s team decided to join them alongwith Wild’s team, then a few more guys join them. They were an impressive group running along the beach. Being a part of this group made him feel pride at what he’d accomplished. Becoming a SEAL was one of the best things he’d ever done. He loved these guys and knew they had his back.
After the run, he showered and then dressed before sitting down to clean his equipment. Trip and Rider finished their showers and sat next to him to clean their stuff. They chatted about nothing important as they made sure their things were in good shape.
They had about thirty minutes before quitting time, and he was looking forward to seeing Clove. They wouldn’t be able to squeeze sex in tonight since he would have to be in bed early. Neo was a part of their lives, and he wouldn’t give that up for more alone time with Clove. Waiting until the weekend gave him something to look forward to.
He finished cleaning his firearms and was putting the last one away when his phone rang. He saw Clove’s name and answered.
“Hey, what’s up?”
“She’s gone.”
The tone of her voice, along with the urgency, made goosebumps erupt on his shoulders. “Who?”
“Neo. I was shopping, and someone attacked me and grabbed Neo.”
“Fuck. I have your location. I’m calling Thario and then going after Neo. I’ll bring her home.”
He ended the call to concerned looks on his team’s faces. They hadn’t heard enough to know this was the worst nightmare he could think of. His stomach clenched, and he wanted to throw up. They had to find Neo.
Keith couldn’t believehis luck. He’d found the brat with her mother. He knew she had to be close to this area. Staying the course and looking for her in places like grocery stores and fast food joints had paid off.
The kid was scrawny. She was smaller than he’d thought she would be. He wondered what someone would pay for a little kid like this. She would probably fetch him a pretty penny.
