Epilogue
EPILOGUE
Early the next afternoon, Jacin sat in one of the many chairs scattered around Lieutenant Colonel Ricci’s backyard. The Delta team leader had invited everyone over for lunch to celebrate another successful mission before the men from Guardian Security had to go back to their day jobs.
Jacin was happy to sit back and drink a beer while watching the men from Delta team and visitors from Guardian play combat volleyball. The day before had taken a toll on him. Melina had been right; he still had recovering to do. Fortunately, she had volunteered to be his personal nurse once they were back in Washington D.C. He was certainly looking forward to a repeat of last night. Many of them in fact.
She’d been checked out at the hospital then released with a prescription for some heavy-duty ibuprofen and given several cold packs to reduce the facial swelling. After stopping at the pharmacy, where he’d taken the opportunity to pick up a box of condoms, they’d proceeded to use several of them before they fell asleep in her brother’s guest bedroom. Neither cared if he’d overheard.
Melina strode happily toward Jacin with an overflowing plate, nearly bouncing the food off. “I’m so glad you and Austin bonded last night over a few beers.” She slid into the seat beside Jacin, leaning over to give him a kiss before settling back.
“I’m just glad he was okay with me sleeping with his little sister in the bed across the hall.”
She slid her sunglasses down her nose and glared at him. “We’re all adults. He knows I have sex. Besides, he hasn’t pulled the big brother card on me since I was a freshman in college.” She quirked one eyebrow. “I took his card and shredded it, in case you wanted to know.”
Jacin smiled. “You’re the one who’s going to have to be more quiet. You’re used to living alone. I’m just glad I kissed you when you started to scream during your fourth orgasm.”
“Oh, hush.” She grinned.
Her eyes went wide, then the grin returned. “Who knows? Maybe Austin will find himself a wild woman tonight and bring her home.” Satisfied with her reply, she opened her mouth wide and bit into a hot dog.
The memory of the way she’d gone down on him last night replaced any thought in his head. His cock stiffened in hopes she’d do it again, soon.
He glanced at her, realizing she’d been watching him. She ran her tongue the length of the bun, licking up catsup that had oozed out.
His erection pressed against the zipper of his jeans. “You’re playing with fire, babe.”
She leaned in close and licked the curl of his ear before taking the lobe into her mouth and sucking. “How soon can we leave?” she whispered.
“I’m ready now,” he suggested.
She glanced at his crotch. “Oh, yes. I can tell. And if we leave now, I don’t have to be quiet.”
Good thing he caught movement in his peripheral vision. He turned to see Alex headed his way. That was enough of a cock blocker to allow him to stand without embarrassment.
“We’re taking off.” Alex extended his hand. “Sure we can’t give you two a ride back to D.C.?”
Melina stood, put her plate in her chair, and threw her arms around Alex. “I can’t thank you enough for everything you did for me.”
The handsome Latino smiled as he gently hugged Melina. Jacin could tell the man saw a lot of female action and seemed to be enjoying his woman a little too much. When she finally unwound herself, Alex surprised him when he offered, “Katlin and I would like you guys to join us for our next party.”
“When will that be?” Harper asked as she approached.
“As soon as Kat and the other ladies get back home.” Alex turned that lady-killer smile on Harper. “You know how it is with her.”
“I certainly do,” she replied with a knowing grin.
“Good work out there, Harper,” Alex said in all seriousness. “I’m glad you came along with us on this mission. I’m even happier I put you on the rescue team, rather than with Rafe.”
“Me, too,” Melina said. “I don’t know how long it would’ve taken for someone from the bomb squad to get there.”
“I had someone on standby,” Alex reassured. His phone buzzed and his smile grew as he read the text. “Looks like we’re going to have that party sooner rather than later.”
Griffin approached the group and asked, “What party?”
“The ladies are on their way home. Want to ride to D.C. instead of Miami? I’m pretty sure there’s a feisty little redhead who would be eager to see you.”
“Grace is headed home?” Griffin asked excitedly. Watching the bulky man nervously shift his body was almost humorous. Large and in charge aptly described Griffin Mitchell, but obviously Grace had him all tied up.
“They’ll land close to midnight,” Alex announced.
“Wahoo!” Harper wiggled her shoulders and rocked her hips side to side. “Party time on the fifth floor tomorrow night.” She looked at Jacin and Melina. “You two will be there. I think you’ll like our friends.”
Alex glanced at his watch then his gaze swept the backyard. “We need to get a move on. The general has been kind enough to provide us with a plane ride home, I don’t want to delay takeoff.” He turned his attention to Melina and Jacin. “I’ll see you two at the party tomorrow night. Great work, Jacin. Melina, I’m glad we got you out of there.”
Jacin grabbed her hand before she could hug Alex again. “Thank you, Alex. I appreciate your help more than you’ll ever know.” Out of habit, he rubbed his thumb over the emerald ring she always wore on her index finger. The desperation on her face as she’d searched the dead man’s pockets told him how much that piece of jewelry meant to her. He hoped the diamond he had waiting for her would mean even more.
“I look forward to meeting Katlin tomorrow night.” She squeezed Jacin’s hand. “We need to go say our goodbyes, too.”
Melina dragged him to a picnic table where Chanda and Austin were engrossed in a private conversation. “I really hate to interrupt, but we’re leaving now.”
Chanda stood and Melina released Jacin’s hand to hug the other woman. He couldn’t hear their whispered words, but as they parted both wore promising smiles. They’d been through a lot in such a short time; he hoped they would stay in touch. Melina was one of the strongest women he’d ever known, but having a continued relationship with someone who’d gone through such a traumatic few minutes with her would expedite the healing process. There would always be scars, but hopefully together they could heal.
“I’ll call you next week,” Melina said as she wiped the moisture from her face. “I want to know what the doctor says.”
“We’ll talk then,” Chanda said as Austin came up behind her and put his hands on his sister’s shoulders.
“Thanks for everything. We’ll probably be leaving tomorrow morning in case you don’t make it back to your place tonight.” Jacin slid a glance to Chanda before he shook Austin’s hand and pulled him in for a man hug that included hard whacks on the back. Quietly he whispered, “I would have married her without your blessing but thank you.”
They found and said goodbye to Rafe and Harper on their way out the door, excited to learn that they would also be at the party in D.C.
Jacin couldn’t wait to get back to the apartment and have Melina naked in his arms once again. They started stripping off clothes as soon as he locked the bedroom door, unsure of exactly what time Austin was expected home, if at all. When he slid into the sheets next to a naked Melina, Jacin knew the time was right.
“I want hard and fast.” Melina grabbed his head and pulled his mouth to hers.
That wasn’t what he wanted. He softened the kiss, carefully nipping her bottom lip from one side to the other as he cupped a breast. Her nipples had hardened into dark little pebbles. As he kissed his way down her neck, he rolled her nipple between his thumb and forefinger, pinching it gently before he sucked it into his mouth, then treated the other breast to the same pleasure. When he nipped one nipple and pinched the other, she moaned and lifted her hips.
“Touch my clit,” she begged.
He smiled. “I’ll get there. Don’t you like what I’m doing now?”
“Oh, God, yes. Too much. Please, Jacin, just touch me and let me fly.”
He debated following her orders, then decided to stay with his original plan.
But when she reached down and wrapped her fingers around his cock, he was ready to explode. Grabbing a condom from the nightstand, he quickly sheathed himself.
Parting her soaked folds, he knew she was ready for him. When he slid a finger over her engorged clit, she sucked in a ragged breath, moaning his name.
In one stroke, he was inside her warm, soft body, her muscles clamping around his cock. He almost lost control. As he moved in and out, nothing had ever felt so right. She was right for him.
“Melina,” he huffed her name between gasps of air.
Molten dark chocolate eyes looked up at him. She wrapped her legs around his waist, deepening each thrust. He could tell she was close as he fought off his own release.
“I love you.” The words spilled out before he took her mouth in a heated kiss and ground his pelvis against her clit.
She broke the kiss to gasp for air as her muscles tightened and released in a full-body orgasm. Her inner walls clenched his cock, and he flew over the edge with her, rolling to the side so he didn’t collapse on top of her.
When he rose from the depths of ecstasy, two fingers gently brushed the wet strands of hair around his face to the side.
As he opened his eyes, dark brown ones returned his gaze. “Welcome back.” Her smile was soft. “And... I love you, too.” With one hand she raked his hair from his eyes. “I fell in love with you years ago when you overpaid the grandfather for the emeralds.” She waggled her finger side to side in front of his face. “I know about the children you sent to school in America. It just made me love you even more.”
He grabbed her hand and turned it so he could see the ring. “So, you like this one, do you?” He wrapped her hand in his. “Then I hope you like the diamond I bought at the same time.” He flattened her hand over his heart. “You have been right here all the time. No matter what I’ve had to do for my job, to stay alive, you were the only woman I ever wanted in my bed. Marry me, Melina. Wear the Colombian diamond I bought for you the same day I bought this emerald. You are like that diamond, a rare and precious find.”
“I take marriage vows very seriously.”
He understood the warning in her carefully chosen words.
“So do I,” he replied.
The embarrassment on her face told him everything he needed to know. She would never need to make him jealous again.
“Fresh start,” he suggested. “We’re back in the United States and to be honest, we’re getting a little old for the cloak and dagger game.”
Her hopeful smile was encouraging. “I saw an opening for a South American analyst. I think I’ll talk to human resources about it on Monday. How do you feel about settling down in the D.C. area?”
“As long as it’s with you, I’ll move almost anywhere in the world…except back to Colombia.” He leaned over and kissed her. “You still haven’t answered my question.”
“Of course I’ll marry you.” An evil grin crossed her face. “But since my dad is long gone, you’ll have to ask Austin for my hand.”
“He already gave me his blessing.”
The End