Page 72 of SEAL's Angel

He found Dawn in the kitchen, loading the dishwasher. “Hey, angel, why don’t you leave that. We’ll take care of it later.”

She turned and saw the look on his face and nodded. They were alone in their house for the first time. Cindy and Chase had retreated to their rooms to play.

“How are you, babe? Was it too much for your first day back?” Dawn looked concerned.

“I’m fine. I might have overdone it a little, but it’s nothing I can’t handle. Thank you for doing this, for making sure I know how much everyone cares, especially you.”

“You never have to thank me. I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone. I should be the one thanking you for always being there for me.”

He bent his head for a kiss. Slanting his mouth over hers, he slipped his tongue inside her mouth and tasted her for the first time all day. He’d been craving her taste, her peachy scent, and having her in his arms, knowing she was his.

Breathless, he released her mouth and smiled.

“I have one more thing to show you,” Dawn said as she pulled him into the living room. “You might have noticed there are only lights on the tree. But actually, it has one ornament.” Dawn reached around the back of the tree and pulled something off. Then she handed him the ornament with tears in her eyes.

It was a pinecone with a little sign dangling from the bottom with the words, “Our First Christmas.”

“Did this come from Bristlecone?” He turned to her with a big grin.

“Yup. It’s the pinecone you picked up. I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate our first Christmas than with a reminder of that day.”

He opened his arms and she embraced him after a small hesitation. He knew she didn’t want to hurt him, but at that moment all he cared about was having her against him, her warmth and love filling the hole he’d had in his heart for so long. “Thank you. It’s the best present I’ve ever received. I love you with all my heart, and I will forever, angel.”

He pulled her down onto his lap in the recliner, not caring about the pain. He just wanted her in his arms for the rest of his life. He didn’t need parties or Christmas decorations as long as he had his angel.

The End