Operation Family (16 page)

Mac stood in front of the makeshift work table and sketched out an option for the library. He wanted to give Nicole a few choices to decide from, to make this a place where she could find refuge. The plan was to make the fireplace the center point, with the built-in bookshelves throughout the room sanded down and refinished. He’d take out the built-in end table on each side to expand the window seat to the full length of the window. He’d also add extra depth to the seat so she could cuddle there with the girls.

He was just finishing his notations when the sound of heavy-soled shoes came down the hall and Sam cleared his throat.

“Come in, Sam, and tell me how the call to your parents went. Should I go out there and soothe Nicole?”

“She wanted to get some air, so she stepped outside, and the girls are playing in their playpen.”

Mac set the pencil aside and eyed Sam. Since he arrived, he’d changed. No longer did he have the stubble across the face or the chip on his shoulder. There was an understanding between them that was almost becoming a friendship. Considering how close he and Nicole were, it was good that he and Mac could bond. “Then what can I do for you, because I know you didn’t come in here just to pass the time of day. Still worried about your sister?”

“I’ll always worry about Nicole.” Sam ran his hand along the bookshelf, his fingers sliding over the old books that had been left in the house. “She must love this room. Nicole’s always been a reader.” As if realizing he was straying from the point, he stepped away from the bookcase and turned to face Mac. “Nicole is risking a lot by coming here, not just by putting her life on hold or our parents, but also her happiness. She’s leaving behind everyone she knows to come here to be with you and the girls. There’s no support system here for her, no one to call in case things go south between the two of you. Yet she’s willing to risk it all, not just because of the girls, but because she cares for you. So, before I leave…I want you to know if you hurt my sister, I don’t care how much training you have or who has your back, I’ll take you down. I won’t fail her again.”

“I understand where you’re coming from. I was raised in an Italian family. We’re protective, too. But you have nothing to worry about. I care for Nicole, and for the girls.” Mac shoved his hands into his pocket. “Hell, she’s already made fast friends with two of my men’s wives. Gwen called last night to see if we could plan a play date with her daughter, Roulette, for after Christmas. Then there’s Wynn, the owner of the boutique Nicole bought all those clothes from. Nicole won’t be alone here, not even when I’m deployed. The military is a tight knit family and the SEAL team even more so. She’ll have more support than she’s ever had. My parents live close by, so does my brother, they’ll be here for her and will help her with the girls when I can’t.”

“If you break her heart…”

Mac stifled a laugh. Sam cared for Nicole and that was what mattered. He was willing to take Mac on even if he didn’t stand a chance. “Threats will do no good. Nicole and I need to explore where things go, but no matter how things turn out in the end we will remain friends for the sake of Gabriella and Sophia. If she wishes to leave and return to Texas, she can do that. I already told her I would keep Shawn’s house at least until we we’re sure. It would provide her a place to raise the girls if she chooses to return to Texas, and if not it’ll be a place we can stay when we visit your family. She has the key and I’d provide a plane ticket any time if that’s what she wants.”

“What are you two doing in here?” Nicole asked from the doorway.

“Nothing, dear sister.” Sam shot Mac a warning glance.

“I’ve drawn up some ideas for the room. Want to take a look?” Mac grabbed the sketches from the desk and held them out to her. “If you don’t like anything, it can be changed. I want this room to be whatever you want.”

“I’m excited for it to be done. I’m not exceptionally handy but I’ll help in any way I can.” She took the papers from him and he slipped his arm around her waist, cuddling her against him. He never pictured himself being happy with a life outside the military, but if anyone could see that he was, it was Nicole.

“I’ve done some remolding in the past, and I’m here for a few more days. If you want I can give you a hand.”

“Sure.” Mac and Sam exchanged a glance, as if the two had come to an understanding. It was also another thing they’d have in common besides the fact they both cared for Nicole.

“I guess I’m finishing the Christmas decorating myself. I’ve been abandoned by both of you in my time of need,” she teased.

“It’s days before Christmas, why would you want to decorate more when you’ll only have to take it down?” Sam raised an eyebrow at her, implying it was a crazy thing to do.

“Mac and I purchased some additional things while we were out. Stuff I wanted to make the house feel homier and make it a special Christmas for all of us. There’s garland and lights for around the living room fireplace and main staircase banister. Some other smaller stuff for around the house, including one of those small Christmas trees you plug in and it lights up for the nursery. Remember, we had one in our room.”

“She’ll have your house looking like Santa’s workshop if you let her.” Sam shook his head at Nicole’s excitement. “I’m surprised she didn’t want lights for outside.”

“She did but I overruled her.”

“You didn’t overrule me.” She gave Mac a playful jab with her elbow to his stomach. “I saw reason. The outside isn’t finished and it’s too late to put them up now just to take them down in a few days. Next year we’re decorating outside. I don’t care if no one will see it from the road, we will.”

“Anything you want,
amore
.”
Mac kissed the top of her head.
Merda
, she had him wrapped around her finger. Oh, how the mighty SEAL had fallen.

The hour was late when Nicole stepped out the car in front of Mac’s dark house. The Christmas party had been wonderful, full of unexpected surprises, and new people. Mac had told her they were a tightknit group, but she didn’t truly understand it until tonight. They had accepted her into their fold completely, a tight bond already in place between her and the women. Gwen and Wynn had known each other for years, but it didn’t seem to matter to them that Nicole was a newcomer.

She stood there a moment, letting the cold December breeze flow over her, taking her stress with it. She hadn’t realized she had been nervous about meeting his fellow SEALs and their families, but now that it was over she was relieved. After talking to the wives, she had a better idea what to expect from the military life. Through uphill battles, deployments, and trainings, she was prepared to stand by him.

Mac wrapped his arm around her waist as they made their way toward the front door and she pressed herself tight against him. “It was a wonderful party.”

“I’m glad you had a good time. It was your first introduction into military life, think you can handle it?”

She waited until they were at the top of the steps before turning to him so they were face to face, and leaned close. “I can do anything to be with you.”

“You don’t know how happy that makes me.” He leaned down, pressing his lips to hers.

“Take me upstairs, I want you to make love to me again.”

He slipped the key into the lock and opened the door. “I thought you’d never ask.” He bent down and scooped her into his arms.

“I can walk.”

“I have no doubt,
amore
.” He kicked the door shut behind him and flicked the deadbolt, all with her in his arms. “You’re mine.
Sempre
.”

As he carried her up the stairs, she ran her hands over his chest, and she couldn’t help but like the sound of the words he spoke. “It’s so sexy when you speak in Italian.” He whispered something in Italian against her ear but she couldn’t make out the meaning of it. Instead, it seemed to have a direct line to her core. He could have said anything and it wouldn’t matter. It wasn’t about the words, but the way he said it.

In the master bedroom, he laid her on the bed and went to shut the door. “I want you naked.”

“So demanding,” she teased, echoing the very words he’d said to her.

“When I want something, nothing will stand in my way, including a few shreds of cloth.” He pulled off his shirt and began working his belt through the loops of his dress slacks. “Now come on, there’s something I want to show you.” He stripped off the rest of his clothes, only leaving his boxers in place before going to the closet.

“Where are we going?”

“The stairway to the stars. Now come on.” He disappeared inside the walk-in closet.

“You don’t seriously thing I’m going to have sex in a closet, do you?” She slipped her little black dress off, pulled off the stockings she hated, and still there was no sign of him. “Mac, I’m serious.”

“You’re going to miss out if you don’t come in here.” Following Mac’s words was a creak of wood. “Come on,
amore
. I won’t wait all night before I throw you over my shoulder and carry you in here.”

She slipped off the bed and padded toward the closet. “Mac, don’t you think the bed would be more comfortable?” She glanced around but all she could see was clothes and space. Where did he disappear to?

Mac stuck his head out of what she thought was a wall, but had to be a hidden doorway. “I do. Now come along, I promise you won’t regret it.”

“Where the hell are you going? Where does that door go?”

“I already told you, it’s the stairway to the stars, now are you coming?” He held his hand out to her. “Tonight I’m going to make love to you under the stars.”

“It’s too cold to be outside.”

“Just trust me and come on.”

She placed her hand in his and let him pull her toward the door. “Stairs.” The word emerged soft and full of surprise.

“My CO has faith I can lead my men, but you doubt me when I tell you we’re on the stairway to the stars. What little confidence you have in me,
amore
.”  He nodded for her go to first. “Watch your head at the top.”

“I have every confidence in you but this is impossible. I’ve seen it from the outside. There’s not enough room for another floor.” She took the stairs slowly, her mind running with the possibilities of what she’d find.

“It’s not another floor in strict terms. It’s an attic of sorts that is only accessible from this room, but trust me it’s something you won’t regret. Now get those legs moving or I’m going to take you on the stairs. Those sexy bikini bottoms are calling my name, and you waving that sexy ass in my face is only making me hotter.”

“I’m not having the steps dig into my back.” She sped her pace, watching the slant of the roof as she neared the top. The chill in the air hit her and she felt her nipples hardening. “It’s a little cold.”

“No worries, I’m going to warm you up.”

There in the middle of the space was a full size mattress completely made, but what caught her eye was above it. A huge skylight, letting in the moonlight and all the stars. “It’s beautiful.”

“It’s not much, only a mattress on the floor, but when I can’t sleep or just need an escape I come up here. When you’re lying under the stars, you realize how small you really are in this world. After tonight, there seemed to be no better place than this to make love to you.”

She reached back, unhooked her bra, and lay down on the center of the bed. “Well, what are you waiting for?”

With a playful grin etched onto the contours of his face, Mac wasted no time stripping his boxers. Naked, he crawled onto the bed next to her. She reached out to touch him, to draw her hands over his perfect body.

“
Bella, amore
.” Mac leaned over her, kissing a path down to her breasts before he feverishly claimed her hard nipple. He slid his other hand down her body, caressing her thigh before he spread her legs.

She dug her nails into his back until he looked up at her. “Please…” He
pushed
her legs f
a
rther apart until he had enough room to slip between them, his stiff shaft pressed against her inner thigh.

“All in due time
,
a
more
.” Before she could
respond,
he pressed his lips to hers, his tongue diving deep between her lips.
He
slipped
his fingers
between her legs and
thrust into her tightness, making her squirm with delight
as
he used
his thumb
to massage
her clit
. She moane
d around his unrelenting kiss,
clawing at his shoulders
with her nails
, until finally his
teeth grazed her lower lip and he pulled back enough to let her cries of frustration escape.

“I need
you
now
.
”

He hovered above her,
angling between her spread thighs
,
his shaft teasing along her entrance with
out entering as he watched her.

“You’re beautiful
…
with the moonlight reflecting off your skin
,
even more so.” As if that single statement snapped the last of his control
,
he drove into her with one powerful thrust
. He gave her no time to catch her breath before he began rocking in and out.

She arched into him, her body pressed against his and placed kisses along the arch of his neck. Her teeth grazed over the pulse of his neck that beat frantically. Pleasure built
within her until the ecstasy began to overwhelm her. She wrapped her arms around his neck,
holding
onto him with every pump, until her body expl
oded around him. He continued to drive his shaft into her, slamming home with more urgency than before. Her inne
r muscles clenched around hi
m
, tightening until each pump felt like too much. Until with one final
thrust,
he called her name.

With him still buried deep within her
,
she collapsed back against the mattress, her breaths coming in hard, fast pants. “That was
amazing.”

He slipped out of her, leaving her with an emptiness, and lay down next to her.
His leg over hers, he pulled her tight against his body. “You’re amazing.”

They laid there snuggled together watching the sky. Never before did the star
constellatio
n
s
seem so clear. “This would be beautiful
when there’s a
meteor
shower.”

“It is, but nothing compared to the beauty
beside
me.” He kissed her temple. “Who kn
e
w
something as horrible
as death could bring me three wonderful
blessings?
You
’
re more than I cou
ld have ever hoped for, and the twins
are pure angels. Nicole, I love you
.”

He loves me.
She ran her hand down his cheek, their gazes locked together. “Oh
,
Mac, all my life I wanted something like this and now I have it. I love you.”