Intensity (3 page)

“Horizon is the operative word,” she said. A short
bark of laughter slipped free, and she shook her head. “You know
me, one bad choice in men after another.”

“Not true,” Shea countered. “I don’t see you with a
lot of men.” She narrowed her eyes and pointed her straw at Sarah.
“Almost like you’ve already found your man and are just waiting for
those stolen moments you’re allowed to share with him.”

The second she took her gaze away, Sarah knew it was
a mistake.

“Ohhh, girl, you’ve been holding out on me. Come on,
fill me in.”

She shook her head.

“Please, you know all my dirty secrets. Who is he?
Someone here on base? Someone you work with?”

“No, I don’t work with him. Well, if you consider
him being in the military, then yes, I do. But he’s not a
Marine.”

“Outside the family. Naughty girl. Okay, let me
see.” She drummed her fingers on the table. “Are you dating a
Coastie?”

“No. And I’m not even dating this one.”

“Just sex, then—exciting.” Her grin had Sarah
laughing, again.

“No, not even sex.”

Shea drank some wine. “So, what, it’s a strictly
intellectual relationship?”

“It’s not a relationship.”

She slowly took the glass from her lips. “He’s your
one.”

Sarah shifted uncomfortably on her seat. “Yes.”

“Who is he?” Shea leaned closer. “Do I know
him?”

“I don’t know, don’t think so. He’s a SEAL.”

“You’re doing a squid.”

She frowned. “Okay, don’t say that, again, for it
sounds all kinds of wrong.”

Shea snorted and wiped her eyes. “Okay, but I’ve
heard about that tentacle loving thing is supposed to be a big
deal.”

“I think I just threw up a bit in my mouth,” she
replied.

“I can’t believe you’re doing a sailor.”

“I’m not
doing
a sailor.”

“So, that’s the problem, then. You’re not doing him.
Where is he? Been gone a while?” She narrowed her gaze. “How long
has it been for you, Sarah?”

She exhaled slowly. “I don’t believe I’m discussing
this with you.”

“Hey, if you can’t tell me about it, who are you
going to talk to about your lack of sexual partners?”

“Will you let it go if I tell you?”

“Sure.”

“Two years.”

“Are you fucking kidding me? You’ve not had a guy in
two years? Sweetie, you need to track him down and get some. Or has
he gone and gotten himself married?”

“Not that I know of, no.” She shifted uncomfortably
on the seat.

“Do you know where he is now?”

She smiled at the waiter who placed her food before
her. “I have a pretty good idea of where to find him, yes.”

“No bar for you tonight. You need to go get him. Put
in for time off or something, just go get laid. Lord, woman, two
years?”

“I thought we were dropping this.” Sarah picked up
her fork and knife.

“Right, we were going to discuss you squid fucking.”
Shea’s deadpan expression had Sarah laughing all over again.

“You’re such a bitch.”

“But I’m yours.”

“How true, how true.”

She sighed and cut into her
dolmades
. One of
her favorites was the rolled grape leaves stuffed with ground beef
and rice. The topping of
avgolemono
sauce only enhanced it.
She had rice pilaf and a veggie mix alongside.

As they ate, she mulled over Shea’s words. Perhaps
that’s exactly what she needed to do. And that decision was
solidified over her
ekmek
.

αβ

Grey stared out the window of his hotel room and
watched the rain pound the glass.
I’m glad I’m inside on a night
like this.
He’d been in town—hell, in CONUS, for he’d been
OCONUS for three months—for one full rotation. The team had gone
their separate ways, and he’d made plans to return to Cottonwood
Falls, Georgia to see his own family. He hadn’t been home for a
while.

However, he’d decided to just get a room here for
the night and allow the storm in all its fury to roll over them
before he made the rest of the drive in the morning. On the table,
his cell rang, and he backed away from the window to answer it.

“Commander Sorenson.”

“Grey, it’s Daniel Fith.” The man was angling to
become the next SecNav. Damn near had it locked in; it was just a
matter of formality to become official.

“What can I do for you, sir?”

“I looked up that information you asked me to find
for you.”

Prickles ran up his spine as he sat in the chair.
“And?”

“Not much to go on, son. By all accounts, she works
directly for Admiral Davies in an administrative capacity.”

Grey frowned. That didn’t sound like Sarah at all.
Pushing papers all day? No, he had to be missing something. “You
said, ‘by all accounts’.”

“Picked up on that, did you? Well, when I
requisition a file, that’s what I get, but there is basically
nothing else in her file. For a woman who people only say good
things about, her file is basically bare. Sure, there are
nomination letters for early promotion, but I don’t see medals or
anything of the sort. Then, when I went to get an actual look at
the original file, I was told it wasn’t available, and I would have
to ask Admiral Davies for it.”

“And, did he give you the information?”

“No, he’s been away on business. I’ll ask him when
he gets home.”

“So, she’s gone, as well.”

“Apparently, they’re both at something over in the
Middle East. His staff wouldn’t give me the details. Saying it
wasn’t out in public knowledge and preferred to keep in house.”

Grey drummed his fingers on the table. “Thanks for
filling me in, sir.”

“You don’t have to thank me. You know, when I get in
office, I’m going to be calling in all these favors.” There was no
heat in the man’s voice.

“I’m willing to repay each one.”

“I’ll let you know if I find anything else.”

“Thank you.” He ended the call and tossed his phone
on the table before rising to his feet and pacing the room. “What’s
going on with you, Sarah?”

Two days later, he was out walking around the falls
that gave Cottonwood Falls its name when his phone rang once more.
He leaned against one of the thick cottonwood trees and fished it
out of his pocket. “Sorenson.”

“I found it.”

“Sir?” It was Daniel, again.

“Your girl, Sarah Mallery, isn’t just a secretary.
Oh, no, not at all.”

Grey hooked his ankles and gazed up at the brilliant
blue sky. Summer was a wonderful time here, even if it did get hot.
“Meaning?”

“She’s a Marine.”

He fought back his frustration. “I know that,
sir.”

“No, she’s a Recon Marine.”

His body went cold. “What? How is this
possible?”

“She went through the training. She’s got tons of
medals and commendations that will never see the light of day,
because she’s not
officially
one of them. She works in the
black of the black ops.”

He scrubbed a hand down his face. “Are you shittin’
me?”

“No, sorry, son. The majority of her file is blacked
out. She’s damn good. Her entire Recon unit is good. The things
they’ve done… Well, it’s impressive.”

Recon Marine. Why hadn’t he seen that sooner and
figured it out? “Thank you for letting me know, sir.”

“I do have a question for you, Sorenson.”

“Yes, sir?”

“What is your interest in her? Why were you so set
on figuring all this out?”

“I know her.”

“Uh huh, and?”

“Let’s just say I care about what she does.”

With some unintelligible muttering, Daniel ended the
call. Grey stared at the screen of his phone as if he would be able
to will Sarah’s number on the screen. It didn’t work. He shoved it
back in his pants pocket and returned to his rental. Before he
drove back to town, he drummed his fingers along the wheel.

How am I going to handle this? I want to confront
her, but I don’t even know where she is.

He swore and started the engine. The ride back into
the town didn’t take long, and he had soon parked and was walking
up Main Street. He had to get some pastries to take to his mother.
It was the reason he’d come down here to begin with.

Pushing through the door, he smiled at Mr. McGarrity
who ran the shop and had for as long as Grey could remember.

“Young Mr. Sorenson,” he said with a wave. “I have
your mother’s pastries, right here.”

Grey shrugged. “She called you, did she?”

“Was worried you would get distracted on your way
home and forget what she sent you for.”

He laughed, well aware he had the list in his
pocket. She needed things for her weekly bridge game and had been
feeling under the weather, so she’d not baked anything. “How much
do I owe you?”

As he paid and chatted a bit more, he realized how
much he missed being home. He loved this town. Not enough to stop
being a SEAL and move home, but enough he needed to come home more
often.

“Thank you, Mr. McGarrity.” He took the bag and
departed.

The sun shone brightly, and he slipped his
sunglasses on over his eyes. As he turned the corner to return to
his car, he heard it. The heavy rumble of a motorcycle. He looked
over his shoulder, only to fully pivot back to Main, in time to see
the bike go by. It wasn’t Sarah.

He drove home and helped his mom set up then left
her and the women to their bridge game. This time, he went to
Sarah’s side of town and drove by her house. Nothing but her mom’s
car parked in front.

“Where are you, Sarah?” He went back to the town
square and sat on a bench, soaking up the sun and watching the
sleepy town operate. An hour after he’d sat, he heard another
rumble. Slightly different than the first, but he didn’t allow
himself to get too excited. Not until he saw it roll into view.

Sarah had come home.

The mere sight of her sent blood pumping through to
his cock, and he nearly crossed his legs to hide his arousal from
view. She rode around the small square before parking by the bank.
He never once turned away as she climbed off and removed her
helmet.

“Sarah,” he murmured.

While she was inside the bank, he made his way over
to her motorcycle and waited. She exited the building, and she drew
up short. Although her sunglasses covered her eyes, the pinching of
her mouth displayed her displeasure at seeing him there.

“Something I can do for you?” she asked, tone
sharp.

“We need to talk.”

“I don’t think so.”

She approached, and he allowed his hungry gaze to
run over her. Gods, the memories he had of running his hands along
those very curves.

“I’m not kidding, Sarah. We need to talk.”

People walked by, not really paying them much
attention. Still, they both noticed. “About what? I seriously doubt
there’s anything worth us talking about.”

He crossed his arms and tipped his head so he could
peer at her over the rims of his own sunglasses. “Recon.”

She blew out a long breath. “Jesus H. Christ. Turbin
Park?”

“I think that will be fine.”

They were there in very little time. He parked
beside her, this time, and was waiting as she shook her hair after
removing the helmet.

She faced him and crossed her arms, the helmet on
the seat. “How did you find out?”

He quirked a brow. “Really? That’s what you ask? How
I found out? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Besides the fact it’s not any of your goddamn
business? I am sworn to secrecy.” She straightened and unzipped her
jacket.

“None of my business?” His question was so low it
rolled off his tongue in a dangerous growl.

“None. As in, nada, zip, zero. Perhaps you prefer
the word zilch.” She propped her fists on her hips. Shapely hips.
Hips he loved to grip as he pounded the fuck out of her while she
cried his name to the heavens.

He took two steps toward her, paused, then continued
until the tips of their boots rubbed against one another. This
woman took all rationality and shoved it out the nearest high-rise,
sending him spiraling down a dangerous path.

She didn’t back away. In fact, if anything, her body
tensed slightly. Gripping the lapels of her black leather jacket,
he yanked her up to meet his descending mouth. Her plump lips were
addictive. Everything about her was. Her moan slid into his mouth
and wrapped him in another coating of steel. He drew hard on her
tongue, his cock pressing insistently in his jeans, clamoring to be
freed where her silken heat could surround it.

She twined her arms around his neck, holding him
tight. He slipped one hand down to cup her ass. Flexing his
fingers, he groaned as the need within him tripled.

Sarah ripped free and stared at him, her eyes
burning with lust, lips wet with his kiss were slightly parted, and
her pupils dilated. “This was supposed to be about Recon.”

He almost jerked himself back on that path until the
tip of her tongue flicked out and trailed along the lips he’s just
been kissing. “It was,” he rumbled. “And will be later. Right now,
I’m going to fuck you, Sarah Mallery.”

He would have sworn she whimpered something that
sounded an awful lot like “Thank God” before plastering her mouth
back to his. He turned them so they weren’t right out in the open
view of anyone who may swing in through the park. Pushing her back
against the tree, he drew back, pulling on her lower lip.

“Protection?”

She shrugged out of her jacket. “What, SEALs aren’t
prepared anymore?”

“No, I’m merely asking if you have some with you, as
well, because the ones I have won’t be enough for me to slake my
need for you.” Her tremble rocked him, and he kissed her, again,
needing what only she could give him.

Chapter
Three

Sarah Mallery crossed her arms and stared out the
window over the view. Spectacular, for sure; she’d always been
impressed by the city of Washington DC.
Not enough to live
here.
Snow fell, covering the city in a thick blanket of white.
She stifled a yawn and wished for her bed.