Chapter 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Ellory was subdued the next few days, though Addison couldn’t blame her. Things with her bio-dad hadn’t gone exactly how any of them had imagined. But Ellory was a naturally positive kid, and before long she was back to her normal self. It helped that the fasting seemed to ease the symptoms of her Crohn’s tremendously. Letting her intestines rest had done what the doctor hoped. Lessened the inflammation drastically, enough to let her eat without pain for a few days before going back to the nutrient-based drinks.
Artem, Borysko, and Yana had settled back into their routine as well, which was a relief. They seemed to be getting over the trauma of being taken away from the people who’d come to mean the world to them. Ricky’s friend Tex had obviously done something, because Addison and Ricky had gotten word that their adoption of the trio was moving along at a faster pace than before.
Addison was grateful for the assistance, even while admitting that she and Ricky were in a place of privilege. Most people who wanted to adopt kids had to wait much longer and the process was far more arduous.
And as usual, just when things seemed to be going well in her world, life had a way of intervening…making sure she knew at any time her circumstances could change on a dime.
Addison was in the kitchen, putting the finishing touches on the Minion cupcakes she was making for a birthday party at the local bowling alley. They were adorable, if Addison said so herself. She’d used twinkies cut in half on top of each cupcake, blue icing, and Smarties for eyeballs. Add in some black icing piped around the eyes to make glasses, a dab for an eyeball and a smile, and voila! Instant minion. They were easy to make, but more importantly, super fun and something Addison hadn’t made before.
She’d just taken the last of the pictures she wanted to use for her website and social media when her phone rang.
Wiping her hands, she saw it was Ricky calling. She wasn’t immediately alarmed because he called her all the time to check on her.
“Hey,” she said with a happy lilt in her voice.
“Hey,” Ricky returned.
She immediately tensed. He didn’t sound like his usual easygoing self. “What’s wrong?”
“We got word. We’ll be headed out in the morning.”
Addison swallowed hard. They both knew this was coming, but it was still difficult to hear. She did her best to not sound as sad and worried as she felt deep inside. “All right. What do you need from me?”
Ricky was silent for a moment, then he sighed. “You’re amazing.”
Addison frowned in confusion. “What?”
“I know this is hard for you. It is for me too. I don’t want to go, but I don’t have a choice. You have every reason to be freaking out. To be upset that I’m leaving. But instead, your first instinct is to ask what I need from you. I don’t deserve you, Addy. The best decision I ever made was asking you to be my wife.”
“Ricky,” she protested.
“I’m serious.”
“And the best thing I did was say yes,” she returned. “We knew this was coming. Hell, you’re a SEAL, being deployed comes with the territory. We’ve prepared the kids as much as we can, and as you’ve pointed out time and time again, I have a ton of people who can help with anything that comes up. I’m not thrilled you’ll be away, and I’ll imagine all sorts of awful things that you’re doing while you’re gone. But I have to have faith that you’ll come home safe and sound.”
“I will,” Ricky said firmly.
Addison knew as well as he did that he couldn’t promise any such thing. But she didn’t call him on it.
“I’m just glad,” he went on, “that we have a little advanced notice. The last couple of missions we went on, the asshole in charge didn’t give us more than an hour. I can pick up all the kids from school today if you want.”
“Are you sure?” Addison asked.
“Of course. It’s not a problem. Anything else you need me to grab on my way home?”
Her heart melted. He was leaving in less than twenty-four hours on what was surely going to be a dangerous mission, if the intense preparations had been any indication, and he was asking her if she needed anything.
“No, I think we’re good. I just went to the store today.”
“All right, but if you think of anything, let me know,” Ricky said.
“I just need you,” Addison blurted.
“You have me,” Ricky said calmly. “I’ll call if anything changes. Otherwise, I’ll see you in a few hours.”
“All right. Be safe.”
“I will. Later.”
After hanging up, Addison closed her eyes and willed herself not to cry. This was what Ricky did. She was as proud of him as she could be. Crying over him leaving wouldn’t help the situation. But she gave herself some grace, since this was the first time he was being deployed since they’d gotten together.
After a few minutes, she took a deep breath, wiped the tears off her cheeks, and got to work boxing the cupcakes.
* * *
MacGyver was torn. He was actually looking forward to this mission. They’d gone over every contingency and he was positive about the outcome. There was no way the HVT would slip away. It should be a straightforward assignment. Not exactly safe, but nothing the team hadn’t faced in the past.
At the same time, he hated to leave his family.
He’d worry nonstop about how Addison was coping while he was gone. It was hard enough to be a single mother to one kid, and now she was responsible for four. She was amazing at it though. Strict, but not in an over-the-top way. She worked her butt off not only for her business, but to make sure each and every one of the children felt loved, safe, and cherished.
And MacGyver would certainly miss holding his wife throughout the night. Yes, the lovemaking was amazing, out of this world, mind-blowing…but it was the intimacy of holding her, of talking about their days and their upcoming schedules, laughing together quietly in the dark, that he’d miss the most.
He hadn’t known what he was missing before Addison. Kevlar, Safe, Blink, and Preacher had been so much happier since finding their women, almost too damn chipper in the mornings for PT, and now he knew why. And it certainly wasn’t because they were getting more sleep. Hell, they were probably getting less, now that they had women to love each night. No. It was because they were more content. Because they had someone to share their lives with. It was corny as hell, but MacGyver understood that now.
And one additional thing he had that his teammates didn’t was the joy of children. He was extremely blessed. Yes, it was stressful trying to make sure everyone had what they needed, emotionally as well as physically, but the reward was in every hug from little Yana. From seeing her face light up when she asked him something in English and he understood. When Artem proudly told them that he’d made a new friend at school. When Borysko understood his homework. When Ellory came home from school smiling after a pain-free day.
“I’m headed out!” Flash shouted from the hallway before sticking his head into the conference room they’d taken over for their mission prep.
“Sounds good. See you in the morning,” MacGyver told him.
“Addison all right?” Flash asked.
And that right there was one of the many reasons why he loved the men he worked with. “She’s good. Trying to be brave, but she’ll be fine,” MacGyver told his teammate.
“She has Wolf’s number, right?”
“Of course.”
“And Tex’s?”
MacGyver chuckled. “Yes. Definitely. Thanks for thinking about my woman. You ever thought about settling down yourself?”
Flash leaned against the doorjamb. “Not really. I’m not the kind of guy most women want.”
“What? Why would you say that?” MacGyver asked.
His friend merely shrugged. “I’m just not. I’ve learned the hard way. I’m too nice. Too intense. Too smart. Too focused. Too quick to fall in love. Too good-looking, so that must mean I’m a man whore. I’ve basically heard every possible reason why I’m not long-term material. It’s fine though. I like living vicariously through you and the others. I’ve already claimed dibs on being Preacher’s manny.”
“Manny?” MacGyver asked, smirking.
“Yeah, a male nanny.”
“How come you haven’t volunteered to be my manny?”
Flash chuckled. “Because I like babies. Your kids are old enough to not need me.”
“They will always need their uncles. To spoil them. To play catch with them…or Barbies,” MacGyver countered.
“True. Anyway, I’m good. Honestly.”
“Well, if I’ve learned nothing else, it’s not to count on anything staying the same,” MacGyver told him. “Not too long ago, I was as single as you, and now I’m happily married with four kids.”
Flash snorted. “I’m still not sure how that happened.”
“You want to come over and hang with us tonight?” MacGyver asked impulsively.
“Nope. No way will I be the seventh wheel,” Flash told him.
“You wouldn’t be.”
“Yes, I would. Enjoy the evening with your family, MacGyver. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“All right. But if you change your mind…”
“I won’t. Later.”
MacGyver glanced at his watch and realized it was later than he thought. He quickly closed his laptop and cleaned up the area. He was the last to leave, and he made sure there was no sign of the mess he and his teammates had made while making their final preparations for the mission.
He picked up Artem and Borysko from their school first, then Yana, and lastly swung by the middle school to get Ellory.
To his delight, she was in a very good mood. It was a relief that apparently Chrys had backed off picking on her, which went a long way toward improving the preteen’s mood.
“I heard from my dad again today,” Ellory told him with a huge smile.
“Yeah?” MacGyver wasn’t thrilled that Brady had been texting Ellory, but he couldn’t exactly forbid the man from talking to his daughter. Besides, it made her happy.
“Uh-huh. He said that when he lived in Washington, DC, he met the president once!”
MacGyver highly doubted that, but he nodded anyway. He’d met more than one president. He didn’t brag about it; it was simply one of the many things he’d done.
“He’s also been asking when he can see me again. Do you think Mom will set it up soon?”
MacGyver’s belly rolled. He didn’t even know why the thought of Ellory seeing her father again bothered him so much. He and Vogel hadn’t hit it off, which was kind of an understatement, but he hadn’t done anything that would make him or Addison outright forbid him from seeing his daughter again. They’d agreed to follow Ellory’s lead in whether or not she was interested in furthering the relationship with her father. And it seemed she was eager to do just that.
“Ricky?”
“Sorry. I’m sure she will.” This felt like as good a time as any to let the kids know he wouldn’t be around for a while. “Although, I won’t be able to go with you guys this time. You know that mission I’ve been planning? Well, it looks like I’ll be headed out in the morning.”
There was dead silence in the car.
MacGyver looked in the rearview mirror and met Artem’s gaze.
“I’m gonna need you to step up, buddy. Help Addy with some of the housework, watch after your brother and sister…you do that anyway, but maybe keep an extra eye on them.”
Artem nodded.
“And, Borysko, I want to know at least ten new English words you’ve learned when I get back.”
“Okay, Ricky.”
“Yana?”
The little girl refused to look at him. She was staring out the side window with a little pout on her lips.
“Are you mad, Yana?” MacGyver asked her softly.
He realized he should’ve waited to have this conversation until he wasn’t driving when tears began to drip down her little face.
“Ricky, gun. Run. Sad!”
MacGyver wasn’t exactly sure what she was trying to say. She understood English quite well now, but speaking it was another issue. She was working hard, but she still struggled.
Borysko asked her something in Ukrainian, and she answered in a flurry of words.
“She is scared you will get hurt,” Artem translated. “Like Borysko did when we were in Ukraine.”
Yeah, he definitely should’ve waited until he’d gotten home to let the kids know about his upcoming mission. He’d messed up, and he wasn’t sure what to say or do to reassure the little girl who meant the world to him.
Thankfully, Ellory turned in her seat as much as her seat belt would allow and spoke directly to Yana. “Ricky will be okay. He’s smart. And he has all his friends with him. You saw how good he is when he was in Ukraine with you. He’ll come back before we know it. And my mom will take care of us while he’s gone.”
“Addy,” Yana said with a sniff.
“Yup. Oh! I know, maybe she’ll let us make a fort in our room! We can drape a sheet over the top of our beds using the brooms and a mop to hold them up, and we can sleep under there. Would you like that?”
“I want sleep fort too!” Borysko said, a tad too loudly for the small enclosure of the car.
The kids began talking amongst themselves, and MacGyver didn’t even scold them for speaking in their native language. Usually he preferred them to use English, so they could practice it and so he could keep his finger on the pulse of how they were doing, but he was too grateful for the distraction to insist on it at the moment.
“Thanks,” he told Ellory quietly.
“You’re welcome.”
“You’re a good kid,” he told her.
“I know,” she said a little cheekily.
MacGyver chuckled.
“So you think Mom’ll let me see Brady again even though you won’t be here?”
The tension MacGyver had felt about Ellory seeing her father returned ten-fold. “I don’t see why not,” he said as calmly as he could.
“Can I be honest?” Ellory asked.
“Of course. I prefer it.”
“I haven’t made up my mind about him. My dad. I can tell he’s trying to be cool, but it feels as if he’s trying a little too hard sometimes. Like, how did a janitor meet the president? That seems weird to me. But why would he lie about it?”
“Because he wants to impress you,” MacGyver told her. “He wants you to like him, and people sometimes stretch the truth to accomplish that. Even adults.”
“Have you ?”
MacGyver immediately shook his head. “No. I want you to like me too, but I don’t want to make stuff up in order for that to happen.”
“I like you,” Ellory said without hesitation.
“Good.”
“Have you met the president?” she asked with a grin.
MacGyver returned the smile. “Twice.”
“The same one?”
“Nope, different ones.”
“Cool.”
MacGyver shrugged. “It wasn’t as cool as you might think. There were secret service people everywhere, and both times we just lined up and he went down the line and shook our hands, then he was gone. That was it. I didn’t even get to speak to him.”
“It’s still cool.”
“Yeah, I suppose it didn’t suck,” MacGyver agreed. “I have the pictures that were taken somewhere. You know, if you want me to prove I’m not lying. That was part of the thing…we got our picture taken shaking the pres’s hand.”
Ellory’s eyes got big. “Really? I’d love to see them!”
“I’ll dig them out. But it’ll have to be after I get home.”
“You’re going to be all right, aren’t you?” the preteen asked quietly.
“Yes. You were right in what you told Yana. I have my team at my back. We’ve prepared—hell, over-prepared for this mission. We’ll be fine.”
“Okay.”
“You’ll keep your eye on your mom for me? I know she’ll worry about me, you, the others. She takes a lot on, and I’m afraid this first deployment will be really hard on her.”
“I will. Maybe I’ll wait to see my dad again until you get back. So she doesn’t have to worry about one more thing.”
MacGyver wanted to agree that she didn’t need the added stress, wanted to encourage her to wait. But that wasn’t fair. “I don’t think it’ll hurt to see him again.”
“I’ll see what Mom thinks,” Ellory said.
MacGyver was inordinately proud of this young lady. She was growing up quickly and already very mature for her age.
He pulled into the driveway and cut off the engine. Artem and Borysko helped Yana climb out of her car seat and they all headed into the house. As usual, the smell of baked goods hit MacGyver’s nose as soon as he entered, along with something garlicky and savory.
“Cookie!” Yana exclaimed with a happy smile as she headed for the kitchen.
MacGyver stood back and watched his wife greet each of the kids. She stopped what she was doing and got down on one knee to pay special attention to the younger ones. Ellory showed her the texts from Vogel, and MacGyver could tell that Addison wasn’t thrilled that her ex and his daughter were texting, but she didn’t let Ellory see her dismay.
After the kids had each been given a cookie and sent to their rooms to change, she looked over at him. MacGyver closed the distance between them and without hesitation, wrapped an arm around her and kissed her. Hard.
He was going to miss this. Coming home and seeing her interact with the kids. Smelling the food she’d been baking and cooking. Seeing the happiness in her eyes when she saw him. It sank home just then how much all this, she , meant to him.
“Hi,” she said breathlessly when he finally broke the kiss.
“Hi,” he returned with a small smile.
Then the kids were back, talking about their day, telling Addison about the fort they were going to make to sleep in.
MacGyver didn’t get a chance to have his wife to himself until after the kids were in bed. She’d been busy reassuring them that they’d all be fine while Ricky was gone. That nothing in their routine would change. That Ricky would come back to them safe and sound. He couldn’t tell them where he was going, or for how long, but with Addison’s seeming lack of concern, the kids gradually relaxed and didn’t seem as tense about his upcoming absence.
He and Addison were in bed, and he was holding her against him, when he told her, “You were wonderful with them tonight.”
“They’re going to miss you,” she said quietly. “As am I.”
“I know. This isn’t going to be easy for me either. I’ve gotten used to the chaos that is our life.”
She chuckled against him, then propped her chin on his chest so she could see his face. “It’s a good chaos though, right?”
“Right,” he agreed. “You get a chance to talk to Ellory about Vogel?”
“A little. Are you okay with her seeing him again?”
MacGyver wanted to say no. But he couldn’t do that to Ellory. “Yeah. But if he’s an ass, you get the hell away from him.”
“I will. He’s trying. I can tell from his texts that he isn’t used to talking to a teenager, but he’s making an effort. I’m not sure what else I can ask for.”
MacGyver wasn’t either. But he still didn’t know what Vogel’s angle was. It was too strange that he’d appeared out of the blue and immediately wanted to be best friends with his daughter when he hadn’t given a rat’s ass before seeing Addison at the hospital. “Just be careful,” he warned.
“I will. I’m not going to let him fuck with my daughter. I’m cautiously optimistic,” she told him. “But at the first sign of anything hinky, I’ll call a halt to everything.”
“Good. Now can we stop talking about your ex?”
Addison giggled. “Sure. What should we talk about then?”
“How about nothing,” MacGyver said as he pulled her up so she was straddling his groin. She smiled down at him.
“No talking, got it,” she said, before leaning down and covering his lips with her own.
Within moments, they were both frantically attempting to get their clothes off. Then MacGyver yanked Addison up his body so she was straddling his face. They hadn’t done this yet, and he couldn’t wait.
It didn’t take long for her to start undulating over his face as he tongue-fucked her. His cheeks were covered in her juices, and all he could smell and see was her gorgeous pussy. It was pure heaven.
Right after she came, he eased her back down his body and she grabbed his cock, lining it up with her pussy before sinking down on him.
For a moment, they both stilled, each lost in the feeling of the other—then Addison began to fuck him. Hard. MacGyver held her hips, giving her stability, and he felt his heart swell in his chest at the sight of her bouncing up and down on his lap. His cock was shiny with her juices, and he’d never seen anything as erotic as his woman taking him.
When he felt her begin to tire, he took over, lifting her and slamming her down. His cock felt as if it was deeper inside her than he’d ever been. His balls began to tingle and he knew he was close.
On the next downstroke, he held her against him with one hand while the other went to where they were joined. As he exploded, he roughly strummed her clit. It didn’t take long for her to come. She squeezed his dick, still deep inside her body, and MacGyver felt another spurt of come escape his cock.
“Holy shit!” Addison exclaimed as she dropped bonelessly onto his chest. They were both dewy with sweat, and MacGyver had never felt so drained as he did right that moment.
Seconds later, he felt a warm stream of their combined juices roll down his balls as he lay under his wife…and he tensed.
“Fuck.”
“What? What’s wrong?” Addison asked as she lifted her head to stare at him in concern.
“I forgot to put a condom on. I’m so sorry! I swear I didn’t mean to forget, but having you come on my face made me block out everything except getting inside you.”
To his surprise and relief, Addison didn’t freeze against him. “I probably should be freaking out, but I can’t muster the energy right now. I’ll go see my gynecologist while you’re gone. Sort out birth control.”
“And if you’re pregnant?” he couldn’t help but ask, thinking about Preacher and Maggie. They hadn’t planned on her getting pregnant so fast, yet she had.
“And if I am…?” she returned, turning the question back on him.
“If you are, then I’ll be thrilled to give the others a little brother or sister,” he said, meaning that with every fiber of his being.
“Five kids…it would be a lot.”
MacGyver shrugged. “Like four isn’t?”
“True.”
“Look at me, Addy.”
She lifted her head.
“I love you,” MacGyver told her. “I know it’s fast, but then again, it’s not. We got married for convenience, but how could I not fall in love with you after seeing what an amazing mother, businesswoman, and kind person you are?”
“Ricky,” she breathed.
“You don’t have to say it back, but I wanted you to know before I left.”
“I love you too,” she whispered. “And I’m not just saying that because you did.”
Contentment spread throughout MacGyver. He had everything he’d ever wanted. A woman who loved him, kids who made him laugh and filled him with awe at the same time. A home. A job he loved. Friends. He was the luckiest son of a bitch in the world. He’d never take Addison or their life together for granted.
His cock twitched inside her, and he couldn’t help but flex his ass. As she was soaking wet, his dick easily slid in and out of her well-prepared body.
“Again?” she asked with a grin.
“Again,” he agreed, rolling over so she was under him. As he hovered over her, MacGyver memorized the face of the woman he loved, and who loved him back. Her red hair was in complete disarray around her face and shoulders, her green eyes sparkled as she stared up at him. Her chest was blotchy red, her freckles standing out in stark relief against the pale spots. Her nipples were hard on her chest and begging for his mouth.
She reached up and brushed a too-long piece of hair off his forehead. He needed a haircut, but because of the modified grooming options the SEALs enjoyed, it wasn’t something he’d made a priority.
“Make love to me,” Addison said softly.
“Gladly.”
MacGyver loved his wife twice more that night, aware that with every tick of the clock, his time with her was coming to an end. Tonight was a gift, for both of them. Exchanging I love yous, agreeing that they both wanted another child, and vowing to do whatever it took to make their relationship work…it was exactly what MacGyver needed before heading out on his mission.
Later that morning, after eating breakfast with his family, reassuring each of the children that he’d be back before they knew it, and helping Addison drop them off at school, he stood back in his kitchen with his wife in his arms. She sniffed a little, obviously trying to hold herself together.
“Don’t cry,” he murmured.
“I’m trying not to,” she told him as she dug her nails into his back.
MacGyver took her head in his hands and leaned down. He put his forehead against hers. “Call the other women if you get overwhelmed. They’ve already agreed to help with whatever you need. And they’ll be more than happy to come over because they’ll be feeling the same worry you are.”
“Yeah,” she agreed.
“And Caroline, Fiona, Alabama, and the others are also here if you want to talk. They’ve been through more deployments than you can count. And Jessyka would probably love for you to bring Artem, Borysko, and Yana over to hang with her kids.”
“I’ll call her,” Addison told him.
It was time to go. MacGyver didn’t want to, but dragging this out wasn’t helping either of them. He kissed her one last time, long, slow, and deep. They were both breathing hard when he pulled back. “I’ll call as soon as we’re back.”
“Okay.”
“Try not to worry.”
“Okay.”
“If Vogel acts like an idiot, tell him to fuck off.”
“Okay.” This time she smiled when she said it.
“I love you,” MacGyver told her. It felt good and right to say the words out loud whenever he felt the need now, rather than just thinking them.
“I love you too. Be careful. Kick some bad guy butt.”
He grinned. “We will.”
Turning, he went to the front door. He’d put his bag in Addison’s VW Bug earlier. He was taking her car because she’d need his Explorer to fit all the kids in while he was gone. Leaving her was harder than he’d expected. Forcing himself to open the front door, MacGyver walked to the car. He hesitated, then turned around.
Addison was standing in the doorway, tears on her cheeks, but she was bravely smiling at him. “Love you,” she called out.
MacGyver blew her a kiss, then got into the car. He backed out of the driveway and didn’t dare look back as he drove down the street. If he did, it would hurt all the more. He rubbed his hand over his heart, wondering if leaving would get easier. He had a feeling it wouldn’t.