Intensity (13 page)

Fith waved it off. “Never mind. What are you doing
here? I’m busy.”

He snarled. “So, I’ve been told repeatedly by your
secretary. I’m tired of being ignored.”

“Talk. You know this isn’t right.”

Grey crossed his arms, striving not to just separate
Fith’s head from his shoulders. “Why have you been ducking my
calls?”

“I’m SecNav,
Commander
. I take calls when I
want to and with whom I wish them to be with.”

He ground his jaw. “The op you wanted me on. In
Germany. All the questions after. Why?”

Fith narrowed his gaze. “I don’t answer to you. One
press of this button will have my security here.”

“Press it, then,” Grey goaded. “Go ahead.”

His eyes widened slightly. “You disabled it.”

“You then went after Major Mallery with the sole
purpose of kidnapping her team. Why?” Lord, it took every ounce of
control Grey possessed to keep neutral at that moment.

Fith’s expression darkened. “I have my reasons. How
did you find out about this?” He slammed his drink. “Davies tell
you this?”

“You’re not denying it.” He lifted Fith clear of the
leather chair by the material of his clothing. “You planned a
kidnapping with the possibility of good Marines dying for no other
reason than you wanted to.”

“They’re Marines; casualties among them is a
acceptable loss.” He sneered. “Plus, what do you care? You Navy
don’t much care for Marines.” He struggled ineffectively against
Grey.

“We get along fine when it comes to fighting a
common enemy.”

“I’m SecNav, damn it! Put me down.”

Grey shoved him hard against the dark wood of one
wall, sending a picture crashing to the floor.

“This, just because you fell for the woman during
Hamburg?”

“I fell for her long before that.” He tossed Fith
back to the chair. Hands on his desk, Grey leaned close. “You go
near her or that team, and I’ll be back. I’ve proven your security
isn’t able to stop me. Don’t try to make my life hell or they will
find your dead body somewhere.”

Fith’s face grew mottled. “Don’t you dare
threaten—”

“Shut up,” Grey growled. “Leave me alone. Leave them
alone. If I come back here, I promise it won’t end well for you.
Don’t think any of this will be recorded.” He strode to the
door.

“Wait.”

He paused by the door and turned slowly back to face
the man he would walk by if he were burning on the side of the
road.

“The woman. It had to be the woman. Who is she to
you?”

A low rumble whipped from his throat, and he
returned to the man he used to respect. “You never speak of her,
again. I will be watching you. And, if you so much as breathe in
her direction, I will show you firsthand why the SEALs are damn
near mythical to people for the feats they can pull off. I will
become your worst nightmare, and you will
pray
for IS or Al
Qaeda to kidnap you away from me.

Paling, Fith gulped, no longer able to hide his
fear. “Why?”

“That woman,” he said, heading back to the door.
“That Marine you threatened. She’s my wife.” He left as silently as
he’d arrived and slipped back into the trees.

“So, you’re threatening SecNav, now?”

Grey gazed to his left, picking up on the man
leaning against the tree. He lifted his shoulders in a
lackadaisical shrug. “He messed with my wife.” He would make no
apologies for that. Hell, he’d do it again in a heartbeat.

“Figured it was something like that.” This came from
Jeb as he stepped into view beside Harrier.

“We’re not arguing it,” Harrier picked up the
conversation, again. “In fact, I’m impressed the man’s still
breathing.” There was no heat in the comment.

The three of them reached the road, and moments
later, an SUV slowed, allowing them to climb in. It drove on, and
Grey saw Cade at the wheel. He stopped at a bar, and all four of
them climbed out.

“First round’s on me,” Harrier stated as they walked
in. The captain waved at a waitress as they claimed a table in the
back. While they waited, he rocked back in his chair, crossing
strong arms over his chest.

Grey waited for his beer then took a drink. “So,
what is it you want from me? I’m guessing that’s why you showed up
tonight. I can’t imagine the Megalodon Team doesn’t have more
important things to do than follow me around.”

They shared a look. “Actually, we’re making some
plans.” Cade spun his bottle around in his fingers.

He arched his eyebrows. “Plans?” His blood hummed
with the prospect of working with them, again.

Harrier let his chair thump to the floor. “We’d like
to talk to you about a job offer.”

Well, now, this could be interesting.

αβ

Sarah sat in the field, surrounded by all the
hundreds of butterflies. One of her favorite places to be in the
world. Legs crossed, she rested her hands on the soft ground
beneath her and leaned back slightly.

Her life had gotten back to normal. With one
exception. Grey. She groaned and tipped her head up to the warm
sun.
It always comes back to Grey.
She stood, slowly, and
gazed around. The wind shifted, and as one, the butterflies left
their perches, taking to the air. Her lips curved in a smile.

Simple pleasures.

“I thought I’d find you out here.”

And a voice to accompany the road her mind had
ventured down. She licked her lips and turned to face Grey
Sorenson. The man never failed to make her knees weak. He was clad
in all black, and he moved such predatory grace.

“Something you needed?”

“Yes.” He strode up to her, cupped her face, and
kissed her. Their tongues dueled and slid along one another. She
wrapped her arms around him, having him support more of her
weight.

The acrid taste of betrayal—his—sank in, and she
backed off. She immediately missed his heated touch. “What?”

He perused the distance she’d just placed between
them and pulled her back close to him.

“I did
not
betray you, Sarah. You know
that.”

“No. I don’t.” She tried to get free.

He refused. “Yes, you do.” His words were assured
and thrummed with confidence. “I get it. You’re pissed. So am I.
But it wasn’t on me. When he mentioned your name and that someone
would play your husband, I refused to let another do what is my
right. I took the opportunity to see you and spend time with
you.”

“Do you ever speak clearly? Or is that too difficult
for a Navy SEAL?”

“How much more plainly would you like? I missed my
wife. I missed you. Maybe the men you’re with have problems with
feelings. When it comes to you, I have no such inhibitions.” He
fisted one hand briefly. “I messed up on our marriage from the
beginning. I should have gone after you and explained the situation
with that jackass who I was on the phone with. I don’t even talk to
him now. It was a stupid ass mistake.”

She shook her head. “I can’t blame everything on
you.” Sarah raked her hand through her hair. “I’d love to, trust
me, but I can’t.”

“I fell for you that day I saw you on base. I wanted
to make you mine from that very moment. Claim you so no one would
ever be able to come between us.” He stepped away. “I’ll sign the
papers, Sarah. But, I will turn my focus to winning you back.”

She blinked repeatedly. “That doesn’t make any
sense.”

“I disagree. It makes perfect sense. I want you,
Sarah. I want you to finally start using my last name. I’m tired of
living a lie. You’re my wife. I want this to be more than in name
only. If you’re set on a divorce, fine. I’ll give you one. But I
will find a way to win you back and have you take my name once
more.”

Maybe this is a dream.

“Sit before you fall.”

She sank to the ground she’d recently risen from.
Her head spun, making her dizzy. Gulping air, she tried to regain
some control. He crouched before her, pants drawn tight over his
thighs.

“What’s going on with you?”

Sarah shrugged. “I don’t know.”

Before she knew what happened, he’d taken a seat and
pulled her onto him, where she straddled his lap. They were
nose-to-nose, breaths mingling.

“Kiss me, Sarah Sorenson.”

His voice, her drug. He was her dealer, and so, she
listened, craving the high he gave her. The one only he gave
her.

As tended to be the case with him, one kiss wasn’t
enough. Would
never
be enough. She slid her hands into his
hair and upped the intensity of the tangle of tongues.

His rumble vibrated through her straight to her
clit. Sarah rocked on him, and within moments of undoing clothing,
she cried aloud as his thick length pushed into her. Filling
her.

“Grey,” she panted, rolling her hips and taking all
he offered. Eyes closed, she tipped her face up. “Oh,
oh…Grey…Jesus.”

He cupped her breasts and teased the tips. Fire
raced along her skin, nearly burning her with its force. Shins on
the ground, she moved faster, wanting more.

“This is where you belong, Sarah.” He wound his hand
in her hair before nipping the side of her neck, adding to her
pleasure.

Time lost all meaning for her as he carried her
higher and higher until she reached the stars. They crested
together, falling over the precipice as one. After, they lay
together, the butterflies still hanging around.

“Sarah. I want this to work.”

His skin, warm beneath her fingers, distracted her
until he captured her hand.

“I can’t fight you over my job all the time.”

“I know.” He kissed the tip of her index finger.

Her stomach tightened. “I busted my ass to get to
where I am now.”

“I know.” He drew her middle finger into his mouth
and swirled his tongue around it. She whimpered, a spear of longing
ripping through her. Reawakening more of the nigh desperate craving
within her.

“There would be problems if you tried to change
that.”

Her ring finger was next to receive attention. “I
know.” He nipped the tip.

“Are you only going to say that phrase?”

“You should be wearing my ring.”

“Not what I meant.”

He chuckled. “I know.”

She rolled her eyes. “I don’t need you to protect
me.”

“I will always protect you, Sarah. I know no other
way.”

She squeezed his hand. “That’s what makes you such a
good SEAL. And why I think you’d be better off with someone who
needs it.” The words cut her up inside as she forced them by her
lips.

He rolled them over so his large body pressed her
into the soft grass. “You really see me with a wife who needs to be
protected?”

“You
need
to protect women.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

His hair hung around his face, and she brushed some
away from his eyes. “Not for some.”

“But for you?”

She flicked her tongue along her lips, again. “I
can’t stand hovering, and I know you. You’ll hover. You’ll be
checking up on my missions.”

He nodded. “Probably.”

He was honest. “I can’t,” she said. “I just…I
can’t.”

“I love you, Sarah.”

Tears pricked her eyes. “No.”

“Yes. I will still check up on you, Sarah. I always
will. But I won’t be in uniform.”

She furrowed her brow. “What?”
What could
possibly get him out of his uniform?

“My time as a SEAL is over.”

“Did something happen?”

“Not really. I refuse to work for a bastard like
Fith. Not after what he risked with you. Plus, I got another job
offer.”

“Job offer?”

“I’ll be working in the private sector.”

She touched the corner of his mouth. “Cryptic.”

“I’ll be part of a security-protection group put
together by the ex-members of the Megalodon Team.”

She whistled. “That’s scary to think they’re
starting something like that.”

“Stay married to me, Sarah. Let me be home for you.
Let me love you.” He kissed her. “I know you love me.”

“You do?”

“Yes. If you didn’t, you would have divorced me long
ago, no matter who found out.”

Perhaps, he had a point. “Okay,” she said, conceding
that. “Are we going to do this?”

“Tell me you don’t want to. We’re right for one
another. Why fight it?” Another lingering kiss. “Do you love
me?”

“You just said you knew I did.”

“Tell me.”

She dragged a finer along his eyebrow. “Yes, yes, I
do.”

“So, if I put this ring on your finger, you’ll keep
it there?”

Lost in his eyes, she nodded. “As much as I
can.”

“I love you,” he murmured, lips upon hers.

Twining her arms around his neck, she opened beneath
his pressure. She shut her eyes seconds after the butterflies took
off once more—as always, beautiful.

A sign. It had to be. Time for her to be a wife.
Grey’s wife.

About
the Author

Aliyah Burke is an avid reader and is never far from
pen and paper (or the computer). She loves to hear from her readers
and can be reached
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on TSU:
@AliyahBurke

She is married to a career military man. They are
owned by three Borzoi, and a DSH cat. She spends her days sharing
time between work, writing, and dog training.

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Intensity
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