Dominant Deception [Black Ops Brotherhood 3] (Siren Publishing Classic) (44 page)

“Anna!” Jack cried as he thrust himself inside her.

Jack stayed buried inside and she could feel his hips jerk against her as he came. Anna fell onto her elbows, weak and exhausted. He gently turned her around and lowered himself onto her, holding her close. He kissed her deeply and slowly.

“You don’t have any
patience
either,” Anna quipped breathlessly.

Jack chuckled seductively. “Not when it comes to you, my queen.”

He tried to adjust his weight and she pulled him closer.

“No! Don’t move,” Anna said breathlessly.

“Anna, baby, I’ll crush you.” Jack cupped Anna’s face.

“No you won’t. I love the feel of you on top of me,” Anna said, holding Jack closer.

Jack moved off of her and pulled her close. At times Anna wished she could crawl inside his skin. She turned onto her side and snuggled close to him. As he wrapped himself around her, Anna knew that Jack really belonged to her, and she needed to guard him like a secret treasure.

Historic Menger Hotel

Colonial Room Restaurant

Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, Texas

November, 27, 2008/2335 Zulu

Thanksgiving Day

Anna anxiously watched the staff rearrange the dining room for the VIPs that were scheduled to arrive any minute. She wanted everything to be perfect. All the guests with reservations for the Thanksgiving meal were cleared out of the dining room by 4:30 p.m. It left the staff only one hour to clean up and rearrange the whole room. They were running slightly behind. Anna watched disapprovingly as they struggled with the last of the arrangements. If she were the exec they’d have all been dismissed. She saw the charter buses pull up and instantly felt the butterflies begin.

Justin came from the kitchen to stand next to Anna. They watched as the men dressed in the desert-camouflaged uniforms invaded the Colonial Room Restaurant. Justin and Anna had convinced the hotel management to provide Thanksgiving dinner to two hundred Navy SEALs and fifty Navy SEAL families. They were too happy to do it as long as they could release it to the press. Jack and his new XO managed to get a press release that didn’t have pictures, got the press the hotel wanted, and mentioned nothing about Navy or SEALs in the story.

“Are we being invaded?” Justin asked, sucking in his breath. “Mmmm, I surrender.”

“You’d have to be the one bending over. These guys are all boy and full of testosterone,” Anna said.

“No problem. I can take it just as much as I can give it.” Justin winked.

“You’re such a queer, Justin!” Anna said with a laugh.

“Yes, I am!” Justin said proudly.

Jack and his new XO, Lieutenant Commander Lance “Cobra” Corbin met Anna and Justin before anyone entered the dining room. Anna made the introductions. The two hundred SEALs were directed into the dining room and seated. The tables had been arranged family style with enough room for the men to get up and mingle with one another. The two hundred SEALs had no family they were going home to and were all unmarried. The families had been in and out all during the regular dining hours. When all the men were settled, Mac offered grace.

The staff that had stayed looked a little nervous as they served. They soon found that the men were easygoing and thankful for the meal. Mac, Cobra, and Jack had been given a small table prepared especially for them. The three men rarely sat because they were weaving their way in and out of the groups that were seated. It was a very festive occasion. After an hour, Anna and Justin were finished in the kitchen and came out to the dining area. The men all stood and applauded when they saw the two chefs. The pair also received the ultimate SEAL compliment, a hearty
hoorah
that shook the building. Anna sat at the small table where Jack and his staff were supposed to be seated and Justin joined her. JG Harman came to the table and seated himself.

“Anna, this was really nice of you all to do. It’s nice to be appreciated,” Shaq said.

Anna stood and gave the young man a hug. Shaq remained seated. He shyly glanced at Justin.

“This is the executive chef, Shaq, Justin Siller,” Anna said.

“Thanks for the meal. It was great,” Shaq said as the two men shook hands.

“It was my pleasure. I’m glad you liked it,” Justin said.

Jack come up from behind and wrapped his arms around Anna. All the men that saw the embrace started catcalling. Encouraged, Jack scooped up Anna and gave her a long, wet kiss. The jeers started in earnest. Anna walked arm in arm with Jack throughout the dining room, greeting her old friends and making new ones. This was the first time she’d met Lieutenant Commander Corbin, Jack’s new XO, who was gracious and friendly. She felt Jack had chosen well. She glanced at the table where Justin had engaged Shaq in conversation. Anna prayed that Justin wasn’t trying to make any moves on the young officer.

“You need to sit down and eat,” Anna said to Jack.

“I’m fine, wrap me up a plate and we can eat when we get home,” Jack said.

Anna stopped Jack and forced him to look directly at her.

“I want you to relax and enjoy your meal,” Anna said sternly.

“I will as soon as I get home. I can relax at home with you,” Jack said.

Jack gave Anna a quick peck and she knew it was useless to argue. His mission right now was to see to his men, and he would put himself last for their comfort. Much like he did with Anna most of the time. She walked into the kitchen and saw Justin preparing a couple of plates to take home.

“Do you need a couple to go? I noticed your husband and the three guys with him never sat down,” Justin said.

“I guess that would make four, two for me and one for Mac and Lieutenant Commander Corbin,” Anna said.

“Okay, let me fix this up and I’ll get yours ready,” Justin said.

“I can do it. You go home. I’ll make sure it gets closed down and Jack can ride home with me. Do you have any plans?” Anna asked.

“Just taking in a movie at home and eating dinner.”

“Alone?”

“No, there’s a friend coming over. You?”

“Oh, Jack and I will probably pass out before ten.”

Anna shooed Justin out of the kitchen and out the door as she and the small staff that was left cleaned up the kitchen. Jack sat waiting at one of the empty tables for her to finish. They were home by eight and asleep by ten.

* * * *

“Hey don’t forget! I’ll be on a four-day weekend this week!” Anna called to Justin as he hung the schedule.

“I remembered. You’re covering for me in a couple of weeks. I’m going out of town for Christmas,” Justin said.

The lunchtime rush was over by two, and Justin finally had the opportunity to do all of his paperwork and scheduling. Anna and Justin usually ate lunch after the staff and the lunchtime crowds. He sent her to the main office with the food requisitions for the next week while he prepared their lunches. She walked into the dining room and stopped to greet a familiar face.

“Shaq! What are you doing here?” Anna exclaimed.

“I had to go to BAMC for a physical, so I thought I would take a late lunch here. The food was so good the last time,” Shaq said.

“Let me go to the kitchen and get you something. What would you like?” Anna asked.

“I’ve got it. Come on, let’s sit and eat,” Justin said, setting three plates down at a small table. “Anna, would you get the drinks? They’re on the prep counter.”

Anna turned with a puzzled frown and walked into the kitchen to grab the lime cooler pitcher and three glasses that Justin had prepared on the counter. She was really suspicious. This drink was Justin’s signature recipe.
Hum…

The three made polite conversation during the meal. She cleared away the dishes while Shaq and Justin stayed at the table talking. She could see glimpses of Shaq through the window in the kitchen door. He kept sending glances over at the kitchen and Justin kept talking. Both men got up and left, Justin returning alone a short time later.

“Spill!” Anna demanded as soon as Justin returned to the kitchen.

“What?” Justin asked innocently.

“Don’t go there. What the hell is going on between you two?” Anna demanded.

“Anna…” Justin started fearfully.

“Don’t ‘Anna’ me, you Sissy Mary! I better not find out you’re fucking with my baby!”

“Believe me, he’s a big boy and he can take care of himself…” Justin started.

“If I find out you hurt him, I will come for you, Justin! Do you understand me! Don’t screw with me,” Anna warned.

“Anna, please, it’s not me you need to worry about,” Justin pleaded.

“
Spill,
” Anna said dangerously.

“Let’s prep for the dinner menu and I’ll tell you all about it.” Justin and Anna talked for over an hour as they prepared dinner. Since Thanksgiving, Shaq and Justin had become a couple. She wasn’t surprised at how fast things had moved. Jack had moved as quickly as apparently Shaq had. She knew these guys didn’t mess around, any of them. When they wanted something they went for it.

“Anna, he’s scared to death of your husband. He’s told me they could kick him out of the SEALs and the military for being gay. Why is that?” Justin asked, concerned.

“It sucks, Justin. Unfortunately that’s the way it is for now. I won’t tell Jack anything. Tell Shaq his secret is safe with me,” Anna said.

“Shaq will be glad to hear that. I told him you were pretty cool. Can I ask you a personal question?”

“What?”

“Is your husband built like him?” Justin asked as a smile started crossing his features.

“My husband has twenty years on that boy, but yeah, he’s built like that. They all are.”

“Holy fuck!” Justin whispered. “I thought I would explode when he took off his shirt,” Justin said, almost breathless.

“I did,” Anna confessed.

Randolph Air Force Base, Texas

Field Grade Officer Housing

December 4, 2008/1330 Zulu

Jack loaded the last of the coolers and the bags in the back of his truck. He was starting to get a little aggravated with Anna because she’d been dragging her ass all morning. It was almost eight thirty and he wanted to get on the road to Kingsville. He walked into the house and hustled up the stairs to figure out what was taking so long. He reached the bedroom and saw the bed was made and no one was in the bathroom.

“Anna!” Jack called out, irritated.

“I’m in here,” Anna called.

“What the hell, Anna? Can we go now? The only thing I didn’t put in the truck is the damn furniture!” Jack complained as he stalked into his study. “For the love of Chri…”

Jack froze when he looked at the wall and his jaw dropped slightly. It was the painting he’d fallen in love with at a gallery in Old Town Alexandria when he and Anna had walked through the Torpedo Factory Art Center. It was hanging on the wall in his study.
How the…

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t wait until Christmas and it’s your birthday on Sunday,” Anna said.

“Anna…” Jack whispered.

“Did I get the right one?” Anna asked, worried.

Jack stood squarely in front of the painting and looked at the brush strokes and mixture of colors as well as the symbolism he remembered from the original. He looked at Anna and back at the painting. Jack was overcome, and he wasn’t sure what to do. No one in his entire life had ever taken this kind of consideration when giving him a gift. In his memory he couldn’t remember receiving something that touched him so deeply. Anna walked to Jack and put her arms around him.

“Anna, baby, you shouldn’t have…” Jack kissed her.

“You deserve more than this,” Anna said with a tender smile.

“It’s perfect. Thank you,” Jack whispered.

* * * *

Anna was happy as they started on the road to Kingsville. The look on Jack’s face when he saw his painting was worth every last penny she’d spent on it. It was a gift she knew had been instantly appreciated. She had another surprise for him on Sunday. She’d bought him a wedding band. They had recently had a major fight over the fact that she didn’t wear her wedding ring to work. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to wear it. It was because food got into the little openings in the design. He finally relented and brought home a simple wedding band the next day.

“
The only thing I’ll ever require of you is to wear my ring,” Jack said.

“If you’re such a freak about rings, Jack, why don’t you wear one?” Anna shot back.

“I went out and bought that ring for you to wear to work and the one I gave you the day we got married. If you want me to wear a ring, go get me one and I’ll never take it off,” Jack said.

Anna was about to test his statement.

Jack was quiet for the first hour they were on the road. She could tell he was thinking. She decided he’d been quiet long enough.

“Is everything okay? Do you want more coffee?” Anna asked.