Chapter 11

CHAPTER ELEVEN

“Your new girlfriend just kissed Blink,” Howler said with a curl of his lip.

Kevlar turned toward the bar, where he’d already seen Remi sitting next to the other SEAL, and watched as she walked back toward the table with the women. “What?”

“His head. She kissed his head. Jeez, Howler, don’t give the man a heart attack,” Safe told him.

“A kiss is a kiss. If that was my woman, I wouldn’t want her kissing another man. Especially one like him,” Howler said.

“Leave him alone,” Flash growled.

“He’s been an asshole all night,” Howler protested.

“And he has a good reason,” Flash returned immediately. “Cut him some slack.”

“Wonder what she said to him,” Preacher mused. “Because I’ll be damned if he doesn’t look less pissed off at the world than he usually does.”

Kevlar studied the SEAL sitting in his usual spot at the bar and realized Preacher was right. Blink was still sitting there with his shoulders hunched, staring at nothing…but he had a sort of half smile on his lips that definitely hadn’t been there before. Hell, hadn’t been there since returning from his last mission.

It didn’t surprise Kevlar in the least that his Remi had somehow gotten through the shields the broken SEAL had shored up around him ever since that mission had gone so fucking wrong.

“Still wouldn’t want my woman kissing someone else,” Howler grumbled.

But Kevlar dismissed his friend’s words. He’d already had more than enough to drink tonight, and something was up Howler’s ass lately. He wasn’t going to take anything he’d said to heart.

Ever since Kevlar had returned from Hawaii and the team had begun to prepare for their next mission, Howler had been even more difficult than usual. It was always his job to play devil’s advocate when they were strategizing. To point out the holes in any plans, to bring up points that were in opposition to what the others suggested, but for this upcoming mission, he seemed more…angry about his role. As if he was taking everything personally, which he’d never done in the past.

Kevlar had been thinking about asking Flash to take over Howler’s role, to be the one to bring up alternate viewpoints and suggestions to make them one hundred percent sure what they were planning was absolutely best for the mission. Howler wouldn’t like it, but if he couldn’t keep his emotions or whatever was going on with his personal life out of the planning sessions, then things needed to change.

“She fits you,” Smiley told Kevlar.

“She keeps checking on you, which is fucking adorable,” MacGyver added.

“Yeah. Looks over here as if she wants to make sure you’re all right,” Safe agreed.

“As if Kevlar needs looking after,” Howler said with a snort. “He’s with a dozen freaking Navy SEALs. What does she think’s gonna happen? A bunch of tangos are gonna break through the wall and take us out?”

“Maybe she just likes looking at his ass,” Preacher suggested.

Everyone burst out laughing, and Kevlar couldn’t help but like that thought.

“Maybe he should give her something to look at, then. Why don’t you go over to the other side of the table and try to put the three ball in the corner pocket?” Flash said as he lifted one brow suggestively.

“You tryin’ to show his ass off to my woman?” Dude asked, obviously overhearing the conversation.

“As if Cheyenne would look at anyone else,” Cookie told his friend as he slapped him on the shoulder.

“She knows better,” Dude said with a little smirk.

“Need to find me a submissive woman,” Howler said. “One who does what I want, when I want. Must be nice to have someone at your beck and call. Maybe I’ll try ordering around the next Frog Hog I take home, put her on her knees where she belongs.”

“Watch it, Howler,” Dude said in a low, harsh voice that was nothing like the teasing tone he’d had a minute ago. “A woman’s submission is a gift, not something to be forced on her.”

“I was kidding, jeez. Take a chill pill,” Howler retorted.

“What did you just say to me?” Dude asked, putting down the pool stick he’d been holding and taking a step toward Howler.

“Come on, Dude, enough,” Wolf said firmly, stepping in front of his friend.

“How many drinks have you had, Howler?” Kevlar asked, blocking him from Dude as well.

“Always the team leader, huh?” Howler sneered. “Always in charge, even in a bar. I have news for you, buddy, you don’t know everything. Not even close.”

“Never said I did,” Kevlar said calmly. Howler always got a little belligerent when he drank. That was nothing new. But tonight, he didn’t like his nasty attitude. Not at all.

“Whatever. I’m done here. Met the new side piece like a good little teammate. She’s not up to your standards, Kevlar. And I’m probably the only one brave enough to say it out loud. She’s frumpy and plain and she was just hitting on another SEAL right in front of your face, but you’re so hard up you didn’t even notice or care. Mark my words—once she’s ridden your cock, she’ll be gone. Just like all the other bitches who lust after SEALs.”

“Too far,” Cookie snapped as he wrapped a hand around Kevlar’s arm.

Kevlar hadn’t realized he’d taken his own threatening step toward his friend until Cookie stopped him. “Go home and sleep it off,” he told Howler between clenched teeth.

“Or just get the hell out of here,” Wolf barked, clearly pissed off. “Remi reminds me a lot of my Caroline. Women don’t need to be on the cover of a magazine to be beautiful, you dumbass. It’s what’s inside that makes them that way.”

“Figures you’d say that,” Howler said. “I’m out of here. Going to The Golden Oyster, where at least the women are honest about what they want. One night with a big cock. Both of which I’m happy to supply,” he said, slurring slightly. “Don’t come crying to us when she leaves you after the first mission she has to deal with, Kevlar.”

“I won’t,” he muttered, as he watched Howler weave toward the door.

“Is he driving?” Mozart asked.

“No. He always takes a taxi or an Uber when we go out now, because we always take his keys away from him, and he doesn’t like having to arrange to get his car back to his place the next day,” Preacher explained.

“At least that’s something,” Benny muttered.

“Wow, he’s an asshole,” Abe said, after Howler was gone.

“He’s not always that way,” Flash said, defending their teammate.

Kevlar didn’t speak up to defend him. He was disgusted with his friend. They’d been through hell together, literally, and always had each other’s backs. But hearing him disparage Remi made Kevlar want to pound his friend into the ground. He’d overstepped. Big time. Howler’s words didn’t make him think twice about being with her, but they definitely made him second-guess bringing her around the team.

Well, around Howler. And that sucked.

“Don’t listen to him,” Smiley told him.

“I’m not.”

“She did kiss Blink—the side of his head, not a kiss-kiss—but I’m thinking if anyone needed a woman’s compassion and kindness, it’s him,” Cookie said.

Kevlar didn’t disagree, but after the confrontation and ugly words from Howler, the evening had lost its shine.

It seemed Howler’s departure had also drawn the attention of the women, as they were looking over at them with concern.

“Looks like the ladies might be done with their girls’ night,” Dude said. “Think I’ll take Cheyenne home.”

“I’m sure April will be glad to see her mom,” Mozart said, as he walked over to the rack on the wall to put his stick away.

The others did the same, and before Wolf passed him, he patted Kevlar on the back. “She’s a keeper. I knew the moment I met Caroline that she was special. And I was right. When you know, you know. Don’t let her get away.”

“Don’t plan on it,” Kevlar replied.

Wolf nodded and headed for the table.

“Howler is being an asshole,” Safe told him once the other men were gone. “He was way out of line tonight.”

“I don’t know what’s crawled up his ass lately,” Kevlar replied.

“I’ll talk to him,” Flash offered.

“Not sure it’ll help,” Preacher muttered.

“Fuck him,” MacGyver said firmly. “Remi’s awesome. We like her. She’s good for you, Kevlar. Having a life outside missions and the Navy is a good thing. And it gives me hope that of all of us assholes, if you can catch the eye of someone as sweet as Remi, maybe we can too.”

“Thanks,” Kevlar said, feeling a little better but still wanting to get the hell out of there.

“Go,” Smiley prodded. “Take your woman home.”

His woman. That sounded amazing. He nodded at his friends and made his way to where Remi was hugging the other women goodbye at the table.

“Whatever happened, it was intense,” Caroline said in a low voice in Remi’s ear as she hugged her. “I don’t know his teammates that well, but I know my husband. And if whatever was said was enough to put that pissed-off look on his face, your man’s gonna need some soothing. So…go soothe him.”

Her man. Remi liked the sound of that.

She hugged the other women and watched as their husbands claimed them and everyone walked toward the door.

“Girl, tonight was fascinating,” Marley told her. “Love the women, and their husbands are hot as hell. They’ve definitely aged well. And Vincent’s teammates…” She fanned herself. “Whew. They should put them on a recruiting poster. Not sure about that dude at the bar, but I admire you for wanting to help him.”

Remi wasn’t surprised her friend knew what she’d done. She and Marley knew each other almost better than they knew themselves at this point in their friendship.

“Here comes Vincent. Take him home and rip off his clothes and tell me tomorrow if he looks as good naked as he does in his wetsuit.”

“Marley!” Remi exclaimed, but she couldn’t say anything else because Vincent was there, wrapping an arm around her waist from behind.

“Have fun!” Marley said with a grin. “I’m headed home to the husband. I’m thinking we’ll put the kids to bed early. I’ve been…inspired by all the eye-candy tonight.”

Remi rolled her eyes. “Drive safe. Text me to let me know you made it home all right.”

“I will. Don’t text me when you get home, because it’ll be way too early in the morning for me.”

Remi blushed, but Marley simply laughed and waved as she headed for the door. As she watched, Safe jogged toward her through the crowd, giving Vincent a chin lift.

“What’s that about?” Remi asked him.

“He’s gonna walk her to her car. Make sure she’s good,” Vincent told her.

“Oh, that’s nice. Thank you.”

“You don’t have to thank me for taking care of the people you love.”

It was amazing that he truly didn’t think he was doing anything out of the ordinary. But he was. And Remi was grateful. Thankful. Felt blessed that he was with her.

“You ready to go?”

“Yeah.”

Without a word, he turned her toward the door.

“Wait, I need to pay for my drinks.”

“Already taken care of,” Vincent told her.

“By who?”

“Me. I won the right to pay for drinks tonight.”

“Wait, won? I’m confused,” Remi told him as they made their way to the exit.

“When there’s a girls’ night out, the guys take turns paying. Since you and Marley joined them tonight, I got the privilege of paying.”

“I’m not sure that’s a privilege,” she told him dryly.

“The hell it’s not,” he countered.

Remi didn’t understand guys, not at all. But she couldn’t help but feel a warm thrill move through her at being taken care of like that. At being a part of a group of such amazing people. It wasn’t as if she couldn’t afford to pay for her own drinks; she could pay for everyone’s drinks. But it was nice not to have to for once.

Vincent led her to his car and once they were on the road, she looked over at him. He looked…perturbed. But Remi didn’t think it was at her. “Things looked intense with you and your friends there at the end of the night. Everything all right?”

Instead of immediately saying yes and dismissing her concern, Remi was impressed when he shrugged and said, “Not really.”

“Anything you want to talk about?” she ventured.

Vincent sighed. “Howler was being a dick.”

Remi thought about his friend. He looked to be the youngest on the SEAL team. Had blond hair and blue eyes and was extremely good-looking. Like the man could probably be a model if he wanted to be. He was muscular, but not overly so. He wasn’t as tall as the other SEALs, but Remi had no doubt he could hold his own when it came to combat.

But the way he’d looked at her made Remi uneasy. As if he’d been sizing her up all night, and she’d come up short.

“He said something about me, didn’t he?” she blurted.

Vincent turned to glance at her, and she knew with that one look, she was right.

He sighed. “Yeah.”

One word, but Remi’s respect for the man next to her rose even higher.

“Vincent, it’s okay if one of your friends doesn’t like me. That’s normal. It doesn’t bother me.”

He raised a brow as he looked at her again.

Remi gave him a small smile. “I mean, of course I want all your friends to click with me, but the odds of that happening are low. I’m a little weird, and I can be standoffish when I meet people for the first time. That’s a result of growing up and having people only want to be my friend or go out with me because of my family’s money. And you can’t imagine the number of condom jokes and sexual innuendos I’ve had to suffer through as a result of being the daughter of the man who founded Crown Condoms. If it’s just my looks he took a disliking to, I can deal with that, because I am who I am. But if it was something I actually said or did, please tell me so I can try to fix it the next time I see him.”

“It wasn’t anything you did,” Vincent said immediately. “Something’s been up Howler’s ass for a while now, and I can’t figure out what it is and he’s not talking to me. But I’ll find out sooner or later. Preferably sooner, since we have a mission coming up and if he’s still being a dick, the team’ll turn on him. But no, you didn’t do anything offensive or that needs fixing.”

“Are you upset that I talked to Blink?”

“What? No. Why would you even ask that?”

“I don’t know,” Remi said with a small shrug. “He’s just…No one went over to talk to him tonight, and he’s a fellow SEAL. I just thought that maybe he’d done something so horrible that he was a pariah or something in your circles, and maybe me talking to him set Howler off.”

She knew she was right when Vincent winced slightly.

“It was me talking to him that upset your friend, wasn’t it?” she probed.

“Blink’s not a pariah. We all feel bad for him, but we’re not sure what to say that will help him cope with what happened to his team. As I said before, Howler’s got something going on, it’s got nothing to do with you. And you can talk to whoever you want. I’m not the kind of man who doesn’t want his girlfriend associating with anyone but him. As long as I know you’re coming home with me at the end of the night, you can talk to anyone you’d like.”

His words made her feel all warm and fuzzy. But she still wanted to clear the air about Blink. “He’s hurting, Vincent. I don’t know what happened, but it’s eating at him. He’s actually kind of sweet, in a grumpy-old-man kind of way. He looked like he needed a friend. I totally embarrassed myself, said all sorts of stupid things, but he smiled, Vincent. And even laughed once! Was probably laughing at me for being such a dork, but I don’t care because I got him to smile. I wasn’t hitting on him, I just felt the urge to talk to him a little. Let him know that I appreciated everything he’s done for our country…even if I don’t know what that is.”

“You told him that?” Vincent asked.

“Yeah. He didn’t respond, and I didn’t really give him a chance. He didn’t like that I called him a hero, but tough. He is. As are you and all your friends. No, don’t shake your head, you are,” Remi insisted almost fiercely. “If you hadn’t been there in Hawaii…” Her voice trailed off and she shuddered.

Vincent reached over and took her hand in his and squeezed.

Remi took a deep breath to control her emotions. She didn’t want to cry. The night had actually been really good, and she’d enjoyed herself. She refused to think about what-ifs.

“I kissed him,” she blurted. Then hurried on so Vincent wouldn’t get the wrong idea. “I don’t know if you saw me do that or not, but it didn’t mean anything. I mean, it did, but not in the way it does when I kiss you. It was just on the side of his head. I just wanted him to know that no matter how alone he might feel, there was someone who cared about him. As a friend. Even though I’m pretty sure he was just tolerating me being in his space and talking to him. But that’s all it was.”

“Relax, Remi. It’s fine. I know what your kisses do for me, and I have a feeling Blink needed your special brand of care more than most people.”

Her muscles, which she hadn’t realized were tense, loosened.

He pulled up to her condo, and Remi’s eyes widened in surprise. The ride home hadn’t taken nearly as long as she’d thought, hoped, it would.

Without a word, Vincent turned off the engine and reached for his door handle. “I’ll walk you up,” he said, making it clear he wouldn’t take no for an answer.

Remi got out and smiled a little when he took her hand in his as they walked toward her door. She noticed that Vincent’s head was on a swivel, looking around the area as they approached her front door.

“You should get the bushes around your door trimmed,” he said almost casually. “Someone could hide in them and you wouldn’t know they were there until you’d opened your door, and they came up behind you and pushed you inside.”

She shivered at the vision his words created in her head.

He swore under his breath. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.”

“No, you’re right. I’d much rather be safe than sorry.” Remi unlocked her door, then turned to him and asked shyly, “You want to come in?”

“Yes. But I’m not.”

Remi frowned. “You aren’t?”

Vincent stepped forward and took her face in his hands. He tilted it up to his and stared down at her for a long moment.

“Why?” she whispered. “I want you to.” Later, she’d be embarrassed at how desperate she sounded, but right now she simply wanted to spend more time with this man. To take him to her bed and show him how much she wanted him.

“I want to come inside more than I want my next breath. But you know what I want more?”

“What?” she asked, trying not to let disappointment overwhelm her.

“You in my bed a year from now. You smiling at me across the breakfast table. You waiting for me when I return from missions. Your brand of kindness and goodness infecting all my friends. You being there for my fellow SEALs when they’re at the end of their rope and are struggling to find a reason to continue on.

“I want more than one night, Remi. I want it all from you. All your mornings, all your nights, your tears, laughter, hearing you babble on about anything that comes to mind, and seeing you look up at me exactly how you are right now, as if you’re two seconds from ripping my clothes from my body and you’ll die if you can’t have me right this second.”

Was that how she was looking at him? Remi wasn’t exactly surprised. She licked her lips and loved how she felt his erection against her belly. “And you can’t have all that if you come inside now?” she asked.

“I don’t know, can I? I don’t want you to be with me out of some sense of gratitude for what happened in Hawaii. I don’t want to be some sort of rebound fuck because you’re feeling emotional about everything. I want to be in your bed because you want what I want. A future.”

Remi opened her mouth to assure him that she did want that. But he put a finger on her lips.

“All I’m asking is for you to be sure. To think about it. Really think about it. Being with a SEAL isn’t a walk in the park. I’m hoping Caroline and the others made that clear tonight. I’m gone a lot. When you need me, there will be a lot of times I won’t be there. You’ll have to mow the grass yourself, fix the toilet when it breaks, wipe the tears off our little girl’s face when she falls and skins her knee. Being with you tonight, then having you decide you can’t do it, can’t live the life of a SEAL’s wife…I have a feeling it would change me in ways that wouldn’t be good.”

Remi could understand that. He’d just gotten out of a bad relationship, and she actually respected the fact that he didn’t want just sex.

“You aren’t a rebound,” she told him. “I was over Douchecanoe way before I finally broke things off. You are nothing like him. And if the grass needs mowing or the toilet breaks, I’ll call someone to take care of it or do it myself. And I’m strong enough to take care of our family until you get home to kiss our booboos, dry our tears, and celebrate any milestones you might have missed.”

He closed his eyes as he struggled to control his emotions. She saw it in his face; what she’d said meant something. Remi slid her hands up his chest. She wrapped one around his nape, and the other she used to pull him closer. His hands dropped from her face and curled around her waist.

“I’m sure, Vincent. But I can wait until you’re sure. I’m not with you because of your job or gratitude. I respect what you do and am damn thankful that you were the one on that boating trip with me. But I can feel gratitude and respect about other people, and still not want to invite them into my bed. I want you there because you’re you. When you’re ready, I’ll be here. I’ve never felt about a man the way I feel about you.”

His eyes opened, and he stared at her with such longing, it almost brought her to her knees.

“You make it extremely difficult to be a gentleman.”

Remi snort-laughed. “You, Vincent Hill, are no gentleman. And I can’t wait to experience every part of you. Just cut me some slack, because I have a feeling I’m not going to live up to your expectations at first.” She was blushing now, but refused to look away from him.

“Are you kidding me? Being around you makes me feel as if it’s my first time all over again.”

Remi smiled. “Are you sure you don’t want to come in?” she teased.

“I’m going to kiss you, sweetheart.”

“You won’t hear me complaining,” she retorted.

Then his lips were on hers, and Remi swore she saw stars. He made love to her mouth, and every nerve ending in her body tingled to life. She wanted him. Deep inside, fucking her hard and deep with the cock she could still feel against her belly. The kiss wasn’t enough. She needed more. Needed his hands all over her. His mouth.

She pulled back with a gasp and stared up at him. “How long?” she asked.

He frowned in confusion. “What?”

Remi felt a little better that he seemed as befuddled as she was. “How long do you need to wait before you’re sure of my intentions toward you? A week? Two? A year? How long are you going to make me wait?”

He smiled. “I’m not sure there’s a timetable to this, sweetheart.”

She studied him. Then said, “Twenty-three phone calls, two more get-togethers with your team, four one-on-one dates, a third-base make-out session, an afternoon at my parents’ house, and dinner with me at Marley’s place. That should convince you that I’m serious.”

“Fifteen calls, one more get-together with my team, two one-on-one dates, meeting your family and Marley’s, and three third-base make-out sessions,” he countered.

“Deal.”

“Damn, you didn’t even think about it,” Vincent teased.

“Don’t need to. I was the one who invited you in tonight, remember?”

More emotion passed through Vincent’s eyes before he closed them and rested his forehead against hers.

“Just don’t hurt me,” Remi whispered. “I couldn’t take it. My heart couldn’t take it.”

His eyes opened at that. “I won’t. I promise.”

“Thank you.”

He kissed her again, and the electric currents once more shot through her system. He pulled back and stepped away from her way before she was ready. Remi licked her lips, still tasting him there. She wanted more, but respected him enough to give him what he needed. Namely, the reassurance that she was in this relationship for the long haul.

“In, Remi. Lock the door. I’ll talk to you soon.”

She nodded and backed into the doorway.

Vincent stood on her walkway looking so damn gorgeous, it made her heart hurt. It was still hard to believe he was interested in her. Nerdy Remi Stephenson, the cartoonist.

He grinned. “You going in?”

“Yeah.” But she didn’t move.

“Remi,” he warned with a small frown.

She giggled, then slowly closed the door. Once it was shut, she turned the dead bolt, then peered through the security peephole. Vincent ran a hand through his hair, adjusted his crotch with a grimace, then finally turned and headed back to his car. Remi couldn’t keep her gaze from dropping to his ass. He definitely had a good one. She noticed at the bar when he was playing pool, but up close and personal, it was even better.

Smiling, she turned her back to the door, still grinning like a fool. Her body was still humming from his kisses. Was she disappointed that she wasn’t in her bed right now, rolling around with Vincent? Yes. But deep down, she was satisfied with how the evening had gone. The respect he was showing her, wanting to be sure that they weren’t engaging in some short-term fling, felt amazing.

Her phone rang as she was still standing there replaying the evening, and Remi dug into her purse for her cell. Frowning when she saw it was Vincent calling, she answered. Not giving him a chance to say a word, she asked, “Are you all right?”

“Yes. This is one. Want to get them done.”

“One?” she asked in confusion.

“One phone call. We agreed on fifteen.”

Remi’s lips curled up into a huge smile. “Right. One. Where are you?”

“Just pulled out of your parking lot.”

“Oh.”

“Miss you already.”

“Well, I feel the need to point out that you could still be here.”

“I’m questioning my sanity at this point,” Vincent retorted.

“I think you did the right thing,” she admitted.

He paused, then said, “Yeah. I think the fact that I want this relationship to work so badly has made me nervous,” Vincent said. “Made me cautious.”

“Cautious isn’t a bad thing,” she told him.

“What’s your schedule for tomorrow?” he asked.

“I really need to get some drawing time in. I have a deadline coming up, and I’ve got a ton of ideas rolling around in my head for Pecky and his friends. What about you?”

“More meetings for that mission that’s coming up.”

“But it’s Sunday,” Remi protested.

“Lesson number one of being with a SEAL…there’s no such thing as weekends.”

“Right,” she said with a nod.

“I don’t know how long we’ll be tomorrow. But if I get off base early enough, you want to have dinner? With me?”

Remi grinned at how nervous he sounded. “Yes. I can cook for us.”

“How about if I pick you up and bring you to my place? It’s nothing fancy, but I can grill up some chicken, or steaks, or veggies if you’d prefer.”

“Sounds perfect.”

“Which one?”

“All of it.”

Vincent chuckled. “All right. I’ll text you tomorrow to check in and let you know what the plan is.”

“Okay.”

“Remi?”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For understanding. For being awesome. For being there for Blink tonight. I’ve tried to talk to him in the past, with no luck. But it’s obvious I should’ve tried harder. All of us need to step up and make sure he knows that he’s not alone. That we’re there for him.”

“You don’t have to thank me for that,” Remi protested.

“I do. And I did.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Sleep well, sweetheart.”

“You too. Drive safe. Will you let me know when you get home?”

“Yeah. Thanks for a good night.”

“Thank you. Talk to you later.”

“Later.”

Remi clicked off the phone and realized she had a goofy smile on her face. Didn’t they always say that anticipation made things better? She didn’t know who “they” were or what “things” they were talking about, but she prayed in her case, in regard to being intimate with Vincent, they were right.

Brandon “Howler” Starrett stared up at the ceiling as the Frog Hog he’d picked up at The Golden Oyster bounced up and down on his cock. He didn’t remember her name, not that it mattered. He needed to get off, and she wanted to fuck a SEAL. They were both getting what they wanted. But Howler’s mind wasn’t on what the bitch was doing.

He couldn’t stop thinking about how unfair things had become at work. He’d worked his goddamn ass off while Kevlar was fucking around in Hawaii. He’d researched the situation in Chad, where they were heading for their next mission. He’d done what he could to get the information their commander wanted, and yet as soon as Kevlar returned, everyone had conveniently forgotten his hard work, turning to Kevlar for intel instead.

He was sick of being overlooked. Of Kevlar getting all the attention and accolades.

“Oooh, baby, you’re so hard. So big. Touch me, squeeze my tits,” the woman moaned from above him.

Fuck that. He did what he wanted, when he wanted. He was in charge, not her. He didn’t want to hear her voice. All he wanted was to fuck.

He grabbed her hips and pushed her off him. His dick popped out of her pussy with a loud squelch, and he immediately climbed to his knees and pushed her face into the covers. He yanked her ass up and smacked it hard. He could see his handprint bloom on her white skin. He lined his cock up and shoved himself back into her pussy.

She moaned into the sheet and arched. She was loving this. Loving his domination.

Howler held her hips tightly as he rocked in and out of her willing body. But even as good as she felt, he was a long way from getting off. He was getting more out of being in charge than the actual fucking. He craved the control.

Because he had no control whatsoever as a SEAL. He was a grunt. Just another warm body to carry a weapon and do what someone else ordered.

He wanted to be the one in charge. The one ordering everyone else around. The one planning the missions. He was just as good as fucking Kevlar. He’d been through the same training. Hell, he’d carried Kevlar through Hell Week, more than the man had helped him.

So why had he been chosen as fucking team leader over Howler?

He thrust harder into the woman, getting angrier and angrier about his fucked-up life. He barely heard her moans, which were probably fake anyway.

He’d thought he’d taken care of this problem. It was why he’d worked so hard for months to show his commander that he’d be just as good, better, as team leader—he’d assumed Kevlar wouldn’t return from Hawaii.

Because he’d done everything in his power to make that happen.

How was he supposed to know the asshole would bring his wetsuit on vacation? And that he’d have that fucking tracker Tex used to watch over them?

The trackers were fucked up. Howler didn’t want or need someone babysitting him. When he was in charge, he’d order his team to leave that shit at home. He didn’t need some old fart in his basement in Pennsylvania watching his every move. It was a pussy thing to do, and it figured that the damn guy and his trackers ruined his plans.

He’d hoped Kevlar would die in that ocean. The captain was supposed to bring him twenty miles offshore and leave him behind. He’d known Kevlar was a goddamn SEAL. Instead, Howler had learned the captain got lazy and greedy, not wanting to use all his fuel. He’d dropped him eight miles from Oahu.

He’d waited impatiently that day, expecting to get a call from his commander that Kevlar was reported missing. He’d been ready to fly to Hawaii immediately to put on a good show of organizing the search for his friend and teammate, to prove to everyone that he was able to be team leader…

But instead, he got the call that the asshole had been rescued.

Not only that, but the passenger on the boat with him, who should’ve just been collateral damage, was actually from the area—and now Kevlar fancied himself in love.

Everythinghad gone wrong.

Howler wasn’t the new team leader. He was still a fucking grunt.

Kevlar wasn’t dead. He was very much alive, and happier than ever with the new bitch in his life.

It wasn’t fucking fair!

Howler deserved to be team leader. He was so angry and jealous, he couldn’t fucking see straight. He was just as smart as fucking Kevlar, and yet, everyone still looked to him for guidance. Even now, the others on the team were bending over backward to please him. So frickin’ happy for him that he’d found some new pussy. It was disgusting.

But more important than any of that—Kevlar had Tex and that old-ass former SEAL in Hawaii trying to figure out who’d hired the captain to leave his ass in the middle of the ocean.

They couldn’t discover it was him. If they did, his SEAL career would be over. And that wasn’t acceptable.

Howler had covered his tracks, he was too damn smart to leave any trace that he was the one who’d arranged for Kevlar to fucking disappear. And he’d taken care of the one loose end that could link him to the events in Hawaii.

The captain.

Tex had surely known who’d piloted the boat before Kevlar was even rescued. And when the captain called to tell Howler that Kevlar and Remi had been grabbed from the ocean by Baker, he knew what had to be done.

He’d immediately called the man who’d delivered the burner phone to the captain…but instead of delivering the rest of the money for the job, as the captain demanded, his contact had gone to the man’s shitty apartment and silenced him—permanently.

As planned, the police had ruled his death an accidental fentanyl overdose. The asshole wouldn’t be talking to Tex, or Baker, or anyone, ever again.

And Howler’s contact in Hawaii? No one would find him. He was a ghost. Disappearing into the wind.

Smiling at the thought, Howler glanced down. He didn’t know how long he’d been screwing the Frog Hog, but she was no longer faking any moans. In fact, she looked uninterested as he pounded in and out of her. Fucking bitch.

Howler grabbed a fistful of her hair, and she yelped as he yanked her head up. “Bored?” he sneered.

“No! You feel great. Awesome. Oh, baby!” she crooned.

She was a big fat liar. Saying what she thought he wanted to hear. Just like everyone did with fucking Kevlar. Sucking up to him.

If Howler couldn’t kill him, he needed to take him down a peg. Hurt him in a way that would put him out of commission, that would allow Howler a chance to show the commander and everyone else that he could lead the team just as well.

Breaking a leg would be perfect, his back or neck even better, but Howler wasn’t sure how to do that without getting involved personally.

He thought of their evening at Aces…of Kevlar’s new woman kissing that pathetic loser, Blink…

He’d watched the asshole for a couple of weeks now. Seen how broken he’d become after one bad mission—which made him a sorry excuse for a SEAL in Howler’s eyes. If he couldn’t handle the dark side of their job, then he shouldn’t be in special forces.

But the man gave Howler an idea.

He realized that breaking Kevlar emotionally would be just as effective as breaking him physically.

Even Howler could see just how far Kevlar was already gone on his latest pussy. He could use that fact to his advantage…

His lips curled, and he felt his balls draw up against his body as he considered options in his head. A kidnapping, maybe. Kevlar would be consumed with finding the bitch he thought he loved. He’d get thrown off his game, wouldn’t be able to function in his role as a SEAL. But the mission in Chad would still need to continue.

Howler would volunteer to take over the team and lead them into Africa.

Satisfied that he could use Remi to take out Kevlar, even if he’d have to strike quickly, Howler pulled out of the bitch on her knees and jerked his dick frantically as he imagined himself kicking ass as the SEAL in charge in Chad. The accolades would pour in, he’d get the respect he deserved, and Kevlar and the rest of the team would finally see how badly they’d underestimated him.

Remi Stephenson would be collateral damage. But all was fair in love and war, and Howler would claw his way to his rightful position at the top of the heap no matter who got hurt in the process.

Grunting as his orgasm finally hit, Howler watched as his come sprayed all over the Frog Hog’s ass and back. As soon as he was done, he shoved the woman and she fell onto her side.

“Get out,” he growled.

“What?” she asked, looking at him in confusion.

“Did I stutter?” Howler asked. “I said, get out.”

“Asshole,” she muttered.

Howler moved before the woman could blink. He grabbed her around the neck and pressed her into the mattress. “What did you call me?” he hissed.

She scratched at his hand, trying to pry his fingers off her throat. “Nothing,” she croaked.

He loved the look of fear in her eyes. “That’s right, bitch. I’m in charge. I could do anything I wanted to you right now and no one would know. No one would care about a whore like you. You bagged a SEAL, now get the fuck out. And if I hear the slightest whisper of you complaining about what happened here tonight, you’ll regret it. You got exactly what you came for. You begged me to take you home. You begged for my cock. Don’t pretend it was anything other than what it was. Understand?”

He loosened his grip enough for her to nod. Feeling on top of the world, and loving the feeling of power he had over the bitch, Howler backed off.

He lay on the mattress and smirked at her as she scampered away from him and fumbled with her clothes. He loved that his stare was making her uncomfortable. Loved watching her tits bounce as she tried to put on her shirt. His come was still on her ass and back, and Howler felt a dark thrill at the fact that she’d have his mark on her until she got home and showered.

She didn’t look back as she left his room. He heard his front door slam, and Howler smiled as he rolled onto his back. With one hand behind his head and the other resting on his belly, he realized he felt amazing. Energized.

He had a lot to figure out, to plan, and little time to do it, but he’d get it done. Kevlar would be taken down, Howler would get the promotion he deserved, and everything would work out the way it was meant to.

His time to be in charge was coming, and he couldn’t fucking wait.