Page 45 of SEAL's Tempest

Josh threw back his head and laughed. “I’m looking forward to it. Except this time, I’ll tie her to the bed and make her scream my name until she gets over herself.”

Tempest sure hoped so.

Epilogue

Six weeks later...

Josh was beginning to think that Dr. Sheridan was torturing him on purpose. She’d made him wait the full six weeks before she cleared him for active duty. He’d been waiting for this night since they’d returned from Marikistan. He and Tempest had been too sore to make love, not that they hadn’t managed to satisfy each other in so many other ways.

Damn, that woman had a mouth on her, and lips, and tongue, and hell. She would be the death of him but what a way to go. Now that he was finally cleared and could move without wanting to pass out, he was going to rock her world.

He’d planned their evening from the moment she opened his front door until the end of the weekend. If everything went according to plan, neither of them would be able to move by Sunday night. After checking his phone for the millionth time, Tempest finally texted that she was on her way.

Dinner was in the oven staying warm. He’d gotten his mom’s recipe for lemon chicken and rosemary potatoes. He’d made a huge salad to go with it all, and there was chocolate covered strawberries for dessert.

Then he’d bought two dozen roses. One dozen sat on the dining room table, the other he’d pulled apart and spread between the bed and the master bathroom. The finishing touch—about twenty votive candles so he didn’t have to worry about burning his house down. Everything was ready. Josh watched out the window and as soon as Tempest pulled into her driveway, he grabbed a rose and waited for her by the door.

His heart burst with love for her as he waited for her to open the door. He hadn’t told her he loved her yet, worried it would be too soon, and she’d freak out. But tonight, he’d say the words he’d never said to any woman except his family. She was worth the wait.

“Josh, oh wow,” Tempest exclaimed as she walked through his door.

He pulled her into his arms and took possession of her mouth. When neither of them could breathe, he released and handed her the single rose.

“I got the all-clear today and tonight we’re going to celebrate, baby.”

Tempest’s smile filled his heart to near overflowing. “Really?”

“Yes, I made dinner if you’re hungry or---”

“Definitely the ‘or’. Waiting all this time has been torture. Unless, you’re hungry,” Tempest said.

“I’m starving…for you.” As he picked her up she squealed.

“Put me down, you’ll hurt yourself.”

“Never, I’m never letting you go. You’re mine now and I’m going to show you ever day how much I love you.”

Tempest gasped as he said the words. Tears filled her eyes. “I love you too, Josh. Thank you for never giving up on me.”

* * *

Grace paced back and forth in her office. If she kept it up for much longer she’d probably have to replace the damn carpet. She’d been waiting over two months to get approval to go back to Marikistan. Leaving baby Hope was the hardest thing she’d ever done, and she’d regretted not fighting harder to stay.

Tempest and the SEALs insisted. Later she found out it was her father who’d laid down the law and forced the issue. But now he was dragging his feet getting her approval to go back. But Andrez hadn’t answered her emails in weeks. She was losing her mind with worry.

The cell phone rang, and she answered before it finished the first ring.

“Grace, against my better judgment, you have clearance to go back to Marikistan. But you can’t just bring that baby out of there. You must go through the formal adoption process,” Pavel Miller said.

“I know, papa. I will, but I need to know she’s okay.”

“You’re leaving in two days. Do what you need to do.”

“Finally. Thank you.”

“One other thing, Luca Rossi will be accompanying you. And before you object, if he doesn’t go, you don’t go either.”

Fuck.

Seriously?

The man thought he was God’s gift to women. Okay maybe he was, but he didn’t need to flaunt it. She’d drooled after him until he threatened to spank her. It was kind of exciting, not that she’d ever let him know that.

“Fine, whatever I have to do to bring Hope home.”

The End