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Mitch shifted his gaze back and forth, waiting to jump in the middle.

  “And I don’t have time for your rhetoric,” the commander said, his arms raised to the side in an act of aggression. “So, if you don’t have anything substantial to say, then my friend and I would like to go back to our conversation.”

  “This is important.” Derek stressed the last word, inching closer. “Trust me, Riggs. You need to hear this.”

  “That’s Sir, or Commander to you,” Riggs said with a real bite to his tone.

  “You’re not my commander anymore and after how you tried to ruin my career—”

  “I’d watch your mouth.” Riggs dropped the envelope on the table before pushing back his chair. He stood well over six feet, his body still a solid mass of muscle. “You’re lucky all you got was a slap on the wrist after what you did.”

  Mitch rose, just in case he needed to insert himself between the two men, only he worried how he might react if Derek did anything stupid. If Mitch disliked him back then, he loathed him right now.

  “What I did? All I did was defend myself. You—”

  “I’m done with this conversation. Leave before my daughter gets back,” Riggs said, easing his stance, making Mitch feel a little better about the situation.

  But not much.

  Derek shook his head. “Please. Read the information. It’s important to Ashley’s safety as well as your own.”

  “Are you threatening me?” Riggs stepped forward. “My daughter?”

  Mitch pushed his arm out in front of the commander. Not so much to stop him, but if Derek was going to keep this going, Mitch would be the first to swing. “Let’s keep things civil.”

  Derek leaned back, tossing his hands in the air. “This isn’t a threat, and I’m not the person you should be concerned with. If anyone is a danger to you or your daughter, it’s this guy.”

  Mitch fisted his hand, itching to have his knuckles connect with Derek’s already messed up nose. “I don’t know what your game is, but back off before I become a danger to you.”

  “I warned you.” Derek pointed to the commander before wandering away as if he were taking a leisurely stroll in the park.

  “I’ve never hated a man that I didn’t know before,” Mitch said, shaking out his hands. “I didn’t like him the second I met him during Operation Hondor, I didn’t respect him after I heard him talking about Ashley, and now I just want to pounce on the mother fucker.”

  “Why don’t you tell me how you really feel?” Riggs asked, as he lowered himself back in the chair. The sarcasm might have eased the thick tension ready to explode, but based on Riggs’s rigid demeanor, things were still volatile.

  Mitch stared at the envelope. It wasn’t his place to ask Riggs to look inside. “He’s a nutjob.” He tried to ignore the hair sticking up on the back of his head and the sinking feeling that whatever information laid behind the sealed document, had something to do with him.

  Chapter 6

  ASHLEY KNEW HER father well, considering half her childhood he’d been deployed, and right now, he was on edge. Something happened while she’d been in the little girl’s room. She didn’t know what, but she suspected it had something to do with Derek.

  “You two are being awfully quiet,” she said, glancing between the two of them.

  “Enjoying the evening,” her father said as he stared off into the night.

  Only she noticed his gaze was fixated on Derek, who had separated himself from the crowd while he talked on his cell.

  “What happened while I was gone?”

  “Nothing,” her father said.

  She knew she wouldn’t get anything out of him, but she’d bet she’d get Mitch to talk. “What’s this nothing my father is talking about?”

  Mitch leaned forward, looking across her at her father, who gave Mitch the evil eye.

  “That’s a damned if I do, damned if I don’t kind of question. No matter which way I answer, one of you is going to be mad.”

  Placing her hand on his thigh, she gave him a little squeeze. “As my mother would say, it’s best to stay on the good side of the person you’re wanting to kiss good night.”

  Her father laughed.

  Mitched coughed, then chugged his beer. “That just makes it worse, but if you must know, Derek stopped by.”

  “What did he want?” she asked. Three times, Valerie had cornered her, begging her to be a bridesmaid at the wedding. Three times Ashley declined and informed her cousin that no way would she even attend.

  Finally, Ashley had enough and tossed Derek’s affair in her face. For a second, Ashley thought Valerie might ask who the woman had been, and then Ashley would have seriously considered letting the cat out of the bag. Of course, the cat, as in Valerie’s sister, showed up at the tail end of the conversation, looking a little white around the edges.

  This was not a good way to start a marriage. Secrets and lies only destroyed people.

  “He babbled on about something that didn’t make much sense.” Mitch laced his strong fingers through hers, rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand.

  “Can you be specific?” she asked.

  “He doesn’t like Mitch, so he’s just trying to cause trouble. Nothing any of us should concern ourselves with,” her father said.

  “I hate to say this because I’m enjoying the handsome men I’m sitting with, but I’m going to be glad when this weekend is over and I don’t have to look at Derek, Valerie, or her sister.”

  “On that note, I’m going to hit the hay,” her father said, leaning in to give her a kiss on the cheek. “I’ve got an early flight.”

  “I’ll walk you to the elevator,” Ashley said, before turning her attention to Mitch. It was odd how much she felt like she’d known him his entire life. Normally, she’d be uncomfortable having her father meet her boyfriend—was Mitch her boyfriend? “I’ll be right back, so don’t move.” Boldly, she cupped the side of his face, gazing into his rich eyes and giving him a quick kiss. His pupils widened slightly, which made her belly roll with that pitch of excitement right before a roller coaster plummeted down that first steep fall.

  “I won’t move a muscle.” He stood, stretching his hand out to her father. “It’s been a real honor to see you again.”

  “Likewise, but I’m guessing our paths will cross soon.” Her father guided her from the pool area to the lobby. After the incident with Derek, it had taken her awhile to be able to look her father in the eye again. The shame and humiliation of having her naked body ogled over by the men under her father’s command still haunted her heart.

  Her father had been telling her for the last four years that she had nothing to be ashamed of. That she did nothing wrong and he’d never once been embarrassed by what she’d done, only by what Derek had done.

  Which to her was one in the same. She’d let Derek take the pictures, so he’d have them for his private viewing while deployed. She doubted she’d been the first girlfriend of a soldier to do it. Even so, Derek had made it dirty. Pornographic.

  And she hated him for it.

  “When were you going to tell me about your new boyfriend?” her father asked, once inside the hotel lobby.

  “Honestly, Dad, yesterday was the first I’ve seen him in months, so don’t go calling him my boyfriend just yet.” Everything about Mitch made her want to take that leap of faith that he wasn’t a liar like Derek had been. But first, she’d need to see how things were when they got back to Jacksonville. It could be they were just caught up in a whirlwind moment and when they returned to real life, they could see where their relationship might go.

  That was the biggest cop-out. Of course there were sparks flying and had been since he showed up for his first physical therapy appointment.

  Attraction didn’t make for a lasting relationship.

  If she even wanted one.

  Not to mention, who knew where Mitch would end up being stationed, and she’d moved around so much as a kid, she didn’t want to leave her little house on D
octor’s Lake.

  “He’s quite taken with you.”

  She smiled. “I do like him a lot.”

  “He’s one of the good guys, and if it helps, your father approves.”

  “Sounds like you’ve got a man crush,” she said, as the elevator doors swung open.

  Her father laughed. God, she loved that laugh. It was throaty and low, and when she’d been a little girl, she’d recorded it, so she could listen to it anytime he’d been deployed and she’d been feeling sad.

  “I love you, sweet girl.”

  “I love you too, Dad.” She gave her father a long embrace before watching him step into the elevator. She stood there for a moment, collecting her thoughts. Mitch had a been a surprise in many ways. He made her feel whole again. Even when Derek showed his ugly head, Mitch’s presence gave her strength.

  “You look deep in thought,” Mitch said from somewhere behind her, making her jump.

  “Geez, you scared me.”

  “Sorry, but I got worried you might not be coming back. You’ve been gone a long time.”

  She rested her hands on Mitch’s shoulders. “Awe, feeling a little lonely?”

  “That, among other things,” he said, his hands firmly planted on her hips as he brushed his mouth over hers so softly it tickled. “Where’s your father?”

  “Went to his room, why?”

  He didn’t answer. Instead he heaved her to his chest and kissed her again. This time with intent. His tongue swirled around in her mouth, searching for something in every crevice.

  A few people walked by, their heels clicking on the floor. She knew she should pull away, but God, it felt so good to be in his arms. He drew her in like a dark sky that gave way to the bright stars and moon.

  The elevator dinged.

  She took that as a sign to head upstairs.

  “Excuse me,” her father’s voice echoed.

  Mitch pressed his cheek against hers. “Is that your dad?” he whispered.

  “Yes.”

  Her father tried to look mortified, but she saw the amusement in his eyes, and that meant the world to her.

  “You forgot this,” Mitch said, not looking in her father’s direction as he pulled something from his back pocket, waving it in the air, keeping his face hidden behind hers.

  “That’s what I came back down for.” Her father snagged the envelope from Mitch’s fingers, who buried his face in her neck. “You two have a good night.” Her father stepped back into the elevator and disappeared as the doors closed.

  “That was embarrassing,” Mitch said, kissing her neck. “Want to take the stairs, giving him a chance to get to his room before we enter one of ours?”

  “That’s a bit presumptuous, don’t you think?”

  “Nope.”

  She laughed. “Let’s go to your room.”

  “Negative. I’m right next to your father.”

  Chapter 7

  MITCH HADN’T meant to slam the door shut, but he couldn’t wait any longer. He pulled Ashley hard against his chest and crash-landed on her lips, as her hands clasped behind his neck.

  Reaching under her ass, he hoisted her up, wrapping her hot legs around his waist. He took one step and twisted his knee.

  He groaned as he stumbled, but managed to keep his balance.

  “Put me down,” she demanded.

  He wasn’t going to argue, but he wasn’t going to let it ruin the night. He made it to the bed, laying her gently on her back as he slid his hands under her dress, tugging at her skimpy panties.

  “Let me take a look at your—”

  “Later,” he murmured, lifting her dress over her hips, exposing her perfectly shaven womanhood. He wasted no time in burying his face between her legs. He kissed and teased, enjoying her hands massaging his scalp.

  “Mitch, really, your kn—oh, God.”

  He smiled against her sweetness. His fingers and tongue probing, finding the places that made her toes curl.

  “You don’t play fair,” she whispered.

  He was too busy to reply. He wanted her thoroughly satisfied before he even thought about his own pleasure.

  Giving her gratification meant more than his own indulgence.

  There had only been one other time in his life where everything changed on a dime and since then, his life had been smooth sailing.

  Only he’d never realized how lonely his existence had become. He always believed that because he’d had his health and was out of his mother’s grip, life couldn’t get any better.

  Then Ashley walked into his life and became the water he needed to stay alive.

  Her body jerked as she fisted his hair, her legs clamping around his head. Her hips rolled with his hand as he slowly kissed the inside of her thigh, tracing a path to the back of her knee.

  “Let’s get you out of this dress,” he said, tugging at the strap on her shoes.

  A long moan escaped her lips. “Only if you get naked with me.”

  “You don’t have to ask me twice.”

  Careful not to put too much pressure on his bum knee, he slowly undid the buttons on his dress shirt, staring down at her while she wiggled out of her dress. Her nude body sprawled out over the bed like an angel floating above the clouds. She rose to her knees, pulling out a few clips from her hair, letting it bounce over her perky breasts.

  “I could get used to this view,” he said. His voice low and filled with deep desire. Her tanned skin glowed in the moonlight.

  She took his hand and placed it over her breast.

  He sucked in a deep breath as she reached inside his slacks, her warm fingers curling over his length.

  “Could you get used to this?” Her deft hands undid his trousers. Lowering her head, she looked up at him, licking her lips, her hot mouth covering him like a well-fit glove.

  He rocked back on his heels, staring at her. His chest rose up and down with each choppy breath, but his lungs never completely inflated with air.

  His eyelids fluttered as the room blurred in the background. He had no idea what love felt like. His mother didn’t understand the word, and she didn’t have a loving bone in her body. The men that came in and out of her life she’d used for purely selfish reasons, and it wasn’t just about sex. His mother learned how to control men at a young age to get what she wanted, making her one of the most feared women in the drug world.

  Even after he’d been freed from his mother’s horrifying grasp, he couldn’t imagine what it would be like to fall in love. Putting other people first became second nature after watching the way his mother treated those in her service, making the concept of laying down one’s life for a loved one an easy thing to do.

  Except he never saw himself loving anyone. He figured it was just one more thing his mother had taken from him.

  “Ashley.” He piled her hair on top of her head, tugging gently.

  With her lips still coiled around him, she opened her mocha eyes, blinking wildly.

  He eased her off him, cupping her chin. “You’re an amazing woman in so many ways.” After covering himself with protection, he rolled back, bringing her body over his like a blanket.

  Their mouths melded together in the kind of deep, passionate kiss old lovers shared. It was familiar and yet filled with exploration of new sensations. Not only could he get used to this, he feared he’d die a long, slow painful death without her in his arms.

  She pressed against his chest, raising her upper body as she lowered herself, taking him inch by inch, clamping herself around him like a warm cocoon. His muscles tensed as he took in a deep breath, focusing on remembering that he was a grown man, not a horny teenager unable to have any control over his ability to perform.

  Her soft moans filled the room. Her hips rolled back and forth as she cupped her breasts. It took every ounce of energy he had to not explode.

  He dug his fingers into her hips, forcing her to slow her movements, but it didn’t help. Raising up, he drew her nipple into his mouth, twirling his tongue over the ha
rd flesh, biting gently, filling his mind with what his lips were doing.

  Still didn’t help.

  Reaching between them, he found her swollen nub, rubbing and pinching, hoping to bring her to climax again.

  “Oh, Mitch,” she said, dropping her head on his shoulder, grinding harder and faster, her body jerking as heat poured out of her and onto him in a sea of passion, colliding with his climax as they both groaned, calling out each other’s name.

  Nothing could have prepared him for a woman like Ashley and as she collapsed on top of him, breathless, he caressed her back, staring at the ceiling.

  For months, he tried to get her to go out with him on one date. He had no idea what would’ve happened if they had, but in this moment, he wanted to believe that everything happened for a reason.

  “I’m going to take the training job in Jacksonville,” he said as she rolled to her side, her leg and arm decorating his body.

  “Is that what you really want?” She stared at him with her chin on his chest. Whenever he spoke, it appeared she hung on his every word.

  “I want to be near you,” he admitted.

  She blinked twice as her lips parted. “I don’t want you to make a decision based on me.”

  “I’m not, but it does play a role in my thinking. I’ve loved living in Jacksonville. I know I’m more equipped to be an instructor. I know you’re worried about my knee, but I wouldn’t be doing half of what was required of me as a SEAL.”

  “What about physical therapy? Are you going to continue?”

  “Yes. Will you take me back?”

  She kissed his chest. “I can’t if we’re going to give this a go. But I can recommend someone in my office that is as good as me.”

  “Couldn’t I have private sessions?”

  Her smile stole his breath.

  “Of course, but I’d still want you to go see someone until it’s the best it can be.” She reached down, rolling her palm over his bad knee. “With this kind of swelling, it’s not anywhere near where it should be, and you’re overdoing it.”

  “We’re in bed, naked, and you’re lecturing me on overdoing it?”

  “Welcome to a relationship.”