Zulu
Becca drew in the last potent sip of the fruity tropical concoction and held it in her mouth, savoring the flavor.
She glanced at her watch.
The flight from Chicago would be landing any minute.
Excitement skipped through her.
It had been a long month since Shepherd had offered her a permanent job.
This time away had done wonders for her to gain a new perspective and to deal with everything that had happened enough that she felt she could move forward in her life.
She and Carter had stayed in touch as they’d promised, texting and talking on the phone, usually daily unless work got crazy for him.
And then he’d send a quick text apologizing for not having the time to talk.
Her feelings for him had grown with the passing of time.
They’d spent hours talking about anything and everything, enjoying long in-depth discussions where they both bared their souls without hesitation.
She could honestly say she knew Carter better than she had any other man, ever, and she had shared parts of herself with him that no one else ever got to see.
She missed him greatly and couldn’t wait to see him.
The danger of his job was no longer an issue for her.
The feelings she had for him overruled the fear of losing him.
Life had taught her that someone did not need to have a dangerous job for violence to find them.
She also knew that life was fleeting, therefore it had to be lived.
And she planned to do just that.
She stepped away from the pool bar, knowing the call would be coming in three minutes.
If Shepherd was anything, he was precise.
Upon hitting the sand, she kicked her sandals off and walked barefoot through the warm sand.
Ahead of her, the waves lapped at the shoreline, the incredibly beautiful turquoise water shifting into a stunning aquamarine color farther out.
The sky was cloudless and the most incredible shade of blue.
The eighty-five-degree breeze caressed over her skin, which had become nicely suntanned over the last month.
Her sundress rustled, as did the nearby palm trees.
This was indeed paradise.
But all good things must come to an end.
Wasn’t that the expression?
Her phone rang, startling her, even though she expected it.
The display read ‘Shepherd Security’ and a smile formed on her face.
“Hello,” she answered.
“Hello, Becca. It’s Shepherd.”
“Thank you for calling.” She’d reached out to Angel a few days before to ask for a phone appointment with the Colonel.
“Is that position you offered me last month still on the table?”
“Yes, it is,” he answered.
“I’d very much like to work for your organization. I plan to be back in the area in about a week.”
“Don’t you want to know the employment terms?” he asked.
Becca smiled into her phone.
No, she really didn’t need to.
She knew all she needed to know about Colonel Sam Shepherd and the organization he ran.
Carter had already shared the particulars of time off and the other job perks with her.
The salary was irrelevant.
“I’m sure you offer a fair and competitive employment package, and if there are any issues, I’m confident we can come to an agreement.”
“Me as well,” Shepherd said.
“Reach out to Angel when you’re back and let her know what day you’d like to start with us. She’ll set it all up and get you an appointment on my calendar for first thing in the morning of your start date.”
“Thank you, Shepherd. I’m looking forward to it.”
“You’ll help us do a lot of good. Enjoy your last week in St. Thomas,” he said and then disconnected the call.
Becca stared at her phone.
How did he know she was in St. Thomas?
She’d told no one but Carter.
***
Tessman gazed out the window at the familiar sights as the plane taxied towards the terminal at Cyril E.
King Airport. Rae leaned in close to him to look out the window too.
She was excited. This was her first time visiting any island.
Tessman looked past her and smiled at Wilson, seated in the aisle seat.
Wilson returned his grin.
“I say after we check into the hotel, we head over to Coki Beach, like usual, and get in a quick dive from the beach,” Tessman said.
Wilson nodded. “You mean after Rae and I check in? You’re basically checked in already.”
Tessman’s grin widened.
“Yeah, I guess I am.”
“You sure you won’t want a private afternoon with Becca?” Wilson asked.
“Oh, I definitely want a private afternoon with her, but we haven’t discussed that yet.”
“She’s invited you to stay in her room. Duh! What do you think that means?” Rae said sarcastically.
“I’m hopeful, but assuming nothing. We haven’t seen each other in a month.”
“Except on video calls,” Wilson reminded him.
“Jesus Christ, Tessman, the lady is in one of your favorite places, checked into a hotel, waiting for you. What do you think that means? Or are you trying to back out because it’s becoming real now?”
“You better not be,” Rae warned.
She’d met Becca a few times.
Tessman had brought her over, and they’d had dinner and hung out several evenings before Becca left for her time away.
Rae liked her, and she was happy for Tessman that he had a woman in his life.
Rae was hopeful the four of them would spend a lot more time together.
Tessman raised his hands in surrender.
“Not backing out of anything. Just not assuming either. Look, she’s been through probably one of the worse things a person can go through, losing her entire family. We’ve slept in the same bed before and not had sex,” he said, not believing it himself.
“Well, that’s a first for you,” Wilson said dryly.
“Fuck you very much,” Tessman joked.
“I’m being serious. So, that’s why I’m taking the approach on this I am. We’re close and I like her in my life. Yes, I’d like it to be a hell of a lot more, but that’s up to the lady and where her head is. Don’t forget what she’s been through.”
“You’re a true gentleman, Carter,” Rae said.
Wilson snickered. That wasn’t a description that usually fit his friend.
He recalled their last trip to the island not very long ago.
His life had changed drastically since then, with Rae and Lilly coming into his life.
It wasn’t out of the realm of possibilities that Tessman’s soon would.
He hoped it would be for him.
Tessman’s eyes were locked on Wilson’s.
He could damn-near read his thoughts.
He nodded. Yeah, Wilson’s life was different now from how it was during their last trip to the island.
And Wilson would never tell Rae or Becca what his usual vacation antics were.
He sincerely hoped his past life was just that, his past. He believed that Becca was his future, and he hoped she had worked through her loss and the incredible grief that went along with it, and got her head to a place that would allow him into her life.
His gaze shifted to Rae.
Wilson was genuinely happy with her.
And while Tessman had the hope of that happiness, had glimmers of it with Becca, Becca’s healing would determine if that happiness had a chance to flourish or if that glimmer would be extinguished.
He hoped for the former.
The three of them deplaned and rushed through the airport, exiting into the warm Caribbean air.
Rae looked around in wonderment, thrilled to be there.
It was her first trip out of the contiguous United States.
Jimmy had surprised her with the trip and even arranged for Madison to keep Lilly for the four days they’d be away.
They caught a taxi to the resort.
While en route, Tessman sent Becca a text message.
On our way to the hotel, ETA fifteen minutes.
Becca’s reply popped in right away.
I’ll meet you in the lobby.
I’ve missed you.
He smiled, reading her reply.
I’ve missed you too.
As the taxi pulled up under the canopy in front of the hotel, Tessman saw a beautiful sight.
Becca stood near the taxi stand wearing a white spaghetti strap sundress.
Her skin was sun kissed and golden with her hair up in a messy bun, showing off tanned skin, which looked soft and kissable.
Or maybe it was just that he remembered how soft her skin was and how much he wanted to kiss her neck, her chest, her lips, and everywhere else.
It had been a long month since he’d last held her.
He truly had missed her.
He was out of the taxi before the driver had come to a complete stop.
He rushed to her and engulfed her in a hug.
His lips crashed into hers and the kiss was lengthy and passionate.
Yes, the only place he wanted to go was their room.
An afternoon dive was the last thing on his mind.
When their lips separated, Becca held him tighter, her eyes closed, just taking in the incredible sensation of holding his body to hers.
She’d longed for his embrace, his touch, his kisses for the entire last month.
But it had been a month that she’d needed.
“I’ve missed you,” she whispered in his ear.
“Me, too,” he said.
When she pulled further back, she smiled and let her eyes wander over his face.
“I’m glad this worked out. I thought for sure something would happen at the last minute that would make you cancel your trip.”
“I was worried about that too,” he admitted.
“We’re going to go check in,” Wilson said to them as he and Rae stepped around them.
“It’s nice to see you both again,” she said, completely breaking her embrace with Carter.
She gave them both a hug in greeting.
“Come on, I’ll show you our room,” she said to Tessman.
“Lead the way,” he said, twining his fingers with hers.
She walked him through the open-air lobby, through the lush grounds, around both pools, to the far building closest to the water.
They took the elevator to the top floor, floor five, and walked the open-air hallway to the room she’d been in alone for the past four days since she’d arrived.
She swung the door open and excitedly pulled him inside.
Tessman let out a long whistle, seeing the beautiful room.
“This is nice!” He and Wilson never stayed at a place this nice.
The wall in front of them was all windows, sliding glass doors, with a balcony.
The ocean spread out, meeting the sky at the horizon, turquoise waters meeting the beautiful afternoon, dark blue sky.
“It’s a beautiful view,” she agreed.
His gaze shifted to her.
“Not as beautiful as the view in here,” he said.
He set his backpack on the floor and took her into his arms. “I’ll take looking into your eyes over the view out there any day. I missed you, Becca,” he confessed.
“I missed you. But you’re here now and I have a surprise for you.”
His lips turned up in an erotic smile.
“You do?” He would love anything she had planned for the bedroom.
“I talked to Shepherd earlier today. He offered me a permanent position, which I accepted. I start next week.”
His grin spread over his face.
“You did. Are you ready for that? A regular work gig?”
“Yes, I am. I can honestly say my head is in the right place now. I told him I’d be back in town next week. He told me to contact Angel and let her know when I’d like to start. My first day at the job is up to me. I think he’s going to be very flexible with my schedule.”
“He is with the others who are in the support positions. As long as you get the job done, he usually doesn’t care how or where you do it.”
“Yes, I talked to both Angel and Brielle about it before contacting him and accepting the position. They’re both very happy in their positions and find the work and family balance even.”
“Family?” Tessman asked, caught a bit off guard by the word.
She took a step back and took hold of both his hands.
“Sit with me,” she prompted, pulling him towards the bed.
“Carter, I’ve gone to school and worked, focused on both, always believing there would be time for my personal life, for a family. I loved my nieces and I’ve always wanted children and believed in time I would get married and have children. If the last few months have taught me anything, it’s that there is no guarantee of tomorrow. The other thing with my life is that I hadn’t met a man who I ever could see forever with, a home and children, until I met you. I want you in my life, but I have to know your destination is the same as mine. If not right away, at least soon.”
In that second, everything clicked into place for Tessman.
He now understood how Wilson had moved in with and proposed to Rae so quickly and why his teammate, Burke, was commuting to Virginia to spend time with Donna and play daddy to her three children.
It wasn’t about how long either had known either woman.
It wasn’t about timing or what a natural progression of a relationship was supposed to be.
It was about feelings and knowing what was right when it was in your life.
It was exactly how he felt about Becca.
His heart didn’t need a set or prescribed amount of time to know it loved her.
There was no magical timeline that living together, getting married, or having a kid should follow.
He could see it all so clearly, his life with her, just as Jackson had said he’d seen before getting involved with Angel.
“I’m in love with you and that’s never going to change,” he said, professing his love for her for the first time.
And it came out so easily, with no fear of rejection, no second guessing himself if that was how he felt.
He knew he was in love with her.
“Yes, that’s my destination as soon as you’re ready for it. I’ll put a ring on your finger whenever you want it there.”
“Did you just propose to me?” she asked.
Tessman grinned, the most contented smile he ever smiled.
“Yeah, I think I just did.” A thought that would have scared the crap out of him just a few months ago felt so perfect.
“Though I think, actually, you proposed to me first.”
He gripped her cheeks with both his hands, and he leaned in and kissed her.
A soft, gentle kiss turned into something ravenous very quickly.
They had a month’s worth of love to make, both needing the connection, both hungry for the other.
Hands got reacquainted with each other’s body, clothes got stripped away.
Exploration and passion coalesced in the most incredible sensations they brought to each other.
There were no second thoughts.
There was no stopping until they were both quaking with spectacular, fulfilling releases, breathless and clinging to each other.
And after, they lay in each other’s arms while their heart rates returned to normal.
“You do realize St. Thomas is known for the jewelers and duty-free shops that line the downtown area.”
She smiled a guilty grin.
“Why do you think I picked St. Thomas to end my travels and propose to you?”
Tessman chuckled.
“I love how you think, Becca.”
“I love you, Carter. And I love the future I believe we’ll share.”
“So, you want to have kids?” he asked.
“Yes, not necessarily right away, but I know I do want to have a baby, your baby.”
“I was over at Lambchop and Michaela’s last week. I’ve seen the big man hold other babies, but watching him with his little girl…it made me think about having one of my own, probably for the first time ever. He and Michaela are so happy,” he said.
“Let’s pick up a little gold necklace with a cross on it for Stephanie when we’re out in town getting your rings.”
Becca laughed.
“You still need to teach me how to dive. Will we have time for it all in the four days we have here?”
“Yeah, we will,” Tessman guaranteed her.
Then he kissed her again.
“But we’re going to do a lot of this too, and we’re going to do it with no condom. No condom ever again.” He kissed her and then slid his suddenly re-hardened cock back into her.
Round two would be the best sex he’d ever had.
He was making love to his fiancé, the woman he loved, who would have his child.
That thought fueled him and he spent the rest of that afternoon showing her how much he loved her.
The End