55. alessia

PRESENT DAY

55

ALESSIA

It's a beautiful summer night on the beach. My toes are in the sand as mild waves wash up and soak them. My father went to Orlando with his wife and my little sister for her high school graduation. They wanted to celebrate at Universal, and I don't blame her. Fun rides and snacks always sound like a good time.

They left me alone for the weekend. My leave of absence is coming to an end and I appreciate they're letting me spend the last few days of it alone. I haven't been alone since I was attacked. Everyone in my family is scared for my life. They're scared Gabe will show up and finish the job…I dare him to. I've been sleeping with weapons to defend myself, and I won't hesitate to protect myself or my family.

It's dark out. The ocean waves are mostly black with a breeze that hits me over again smoothly. Feeling euphoric on my lotioned skin, and I can taste the salt on the tip of my tongue.

I wish I could stay here forever. There's just something about a beach and its environment that makes me forget about everything. I have to go back to work soon, and taking this time away from Bloomings has been refreshing. It's been giving me time to think and process everything that happened without having to worry about people trying to kidnap or kill me. To get away from a place where it was easier for those evil people to find me.

I'm in a summer dress, tempted to go for a midnight swim. The current is perfect tonight. Everything about this summer has been perfect except for the lingering hole in my heart. It's stayed a gaping mess, and I don't think it'll ever close…but maybe with more time, it will.

I've talked to Ravenmore multiple times. We're in talks to have me move duty stations to Italy. I've always wanted to go. I think it'll be easier for everyone and my safety to be away from Bloomings for a few years.

My phone rings as I sit on the sand. I pull it out and see that it's my mother. She never calls me this late. It must be something important.

"Mija, we got them. The entire human trafficking problem here in Bloomings is solved. Gabe is arrested, and all of the leaders, along with other service members who were a part of this. You don't have to worry anymore."

"Oh my gosh, ma, that's great."

"Gracias a Dios."

"How's…?" I want to say Daegan, but I trail off and bite my tongue instead. "How's Henry?"

"He's great. Things are really intense right now overseas. SEAL Team executioners are leaving right now to go on this really dangerous mission…you didn't hear it from me."

We say goodbye, and I hang up, leaving my phone on a towel on the beach.

The water looks so peaceful, and I'm jealous of the ocean. I want to sink into it until I become one with it. Maybe it'll help me.

I start walking towards it until the water is up to my waist.

I wanted to go deeper when something from my left moves, and it looks like a human silhouette. Immediately, I think it's a neighbor. But that dragon tattoo. Those dark waves. Those bright grey eyes that look like they're glowing as the moon kisses them, making them glimmer and my heart doing a crazy dance.

How did he find me?

He's in the water with me. His shirt is off, scars, tattoos and all stalking toward me. Handsome and mysterious, Daegan is fully healed and closing the distance like he's ready to hunt me down. I walk back slowly, but his pace is too fast.

It's been two months. By my mother's words, I thought he was getting ready to deploy. I palm the water, keeping my arms above the surface.

"I told you to go do the good guy thing, Daegan!" I shout over my erratic heart and crashing waves. I'm referring to the letter I wrote him. He shouldn't be here. He should be in Bloomings.

"I thought about it, but then I realized the only time I want to do good guy things is when I'm with you." He shouts back, and I'm tempted to turn around and run back into my dad's beach house.

I look at the sage green two-story beach home with stairs contemplating.

"You're not running anymore. I won't let you."

He breaks me out of those thoughts when I realize he's right in front of me. I turn back to him, and he grabs my hand, pulling my attention from anywhere else. Saltwater drips down his chest, onto his abs, and down to his…God, I miss him.

"Daegan. I thought you were supposed to be getting ready for a deployment. You're not supposed to be here."

He smirks, his scars crease when he smiles devilishly. He picks me up and forces me to straddle him. I let him take me, my skin melts against his hard muscles, and my pussy immediately screams for him.

"How'd you know? Now, look who the stalker is." His snarky comment has me rolling my eyes and furrow my brows. I force myself to frown so I can hide the smile that wants to curve my lips. "You're right. I shouldn't be here. Show me how wrong I am." He teases me right before he pushes his lips on mine, and I kiss him back hard, fast, and messy. Our tongues are moving like we're becoming one. His hard bulge is right against my thigh, and I want to rub myself against it.

He breaks the kiss and whispers against my lips. He caresses my face with his giant, rough palms, and I do my best not to want to smother myself against him. My hands hold onto his back tattoo tighter.

"Daegan. We can't be together." I murmur while staring at his mouth that I've missed kissing so much. His beard is shorter, hugging his sharp jawline. He furrows his brows like he's in pain at my admission.

"You're mine, little valentine. Stop fighting it."

"I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought we both needed time." I concede, and he shakes his head.

"Do I have to fuck your doubts away? Do I have to mark you so you remember who you belong to? Do I need to fill you up with my babies over and over again? Do I have to have fucking marry you so every time you put on your dog tags, you'll have my last name? Do I need to buy the brightest ring so you'll know you're my wife and no one elses?" He grabs my jaw, opens my mouth, and then devours me with his tongue. We kiss each other hard, and I'm soaking everywhere at his possessiveness.

"I want all of those things and more." A tear falls down my cheek, and a hard wave crashes into our bodies. The cold sea bites our skin, but Daegan still holds onto me, not letting me move…almost like he's afraid I'll walk away again.

"Good. Now, put me out of my misery, baby. The only time I'm not hurting is when I'm inside you."

Daegan kissed me as he carried me back into my father's vacation home. It's like he knew exactly where to go and where my room was. At this point, I am already lost in him; I let my selfishness take over and let myself feel a glimpse of happiness that my soul so desperately needed.

"Fuck, I missed you. I missed you so bad, I wanted to kill myself. I convinced myself you didn't want me. But look at you. Look at how consumed you are by me like I am with you."

"Daegan." I breathe against his lips, but he doesn't let me say anything else. He keeps stealing my breath away with more detrimental kisses and I love it.

"This is what you do to me. Don't you ever fucking leave me again, or I'll make sure to tie you up and spank your ass until it's raw." He pulls on my hair as he kisses me, pushing himself harder against me. I'm still in my yellow dress. He pushes me into the small shower space and closes the glass door behind us. He grabs my dress by the collar and tears it open. My breasts fall out with small bounces, and he bites on the skin underneath my nipple as he throws it out, and it hits the tile floor with a loud smack.

I'm exposed, naked, and hungry for his taste.

"Get on your knees, and suck." Daegan growls, and I look at his pierced dick. Precome leaks from him already. He is so hard and ready for me that I'm on my knees in a split second, eager to take him in every way that I can.

The shower head runs down his back, and I oblige without hesitation. Our movements have been fast, ferocious, and anything but soft. I grab his already hard, thick cock, and I suck him hard. and just when I think he can't get any more massive, his cock thickens even more as I tongue him. I want to feel him. I want to stop hurting, too, and ask questions later.