Page 58 of Casey's Hero

The next thrust sent him shooting toward the stars. He drove deep, his shaft pulsing, his body on fire—a flame that burned so hot it threatened to consume him.

When he finally came back to earth, he collapsed on top of her, took her in his arms and rolled onto his side, taking her with him. He was still buried inside her. If he could, he’d stay right there forever.

“That was amazing,” she said.

Jacob chuckled. “That’s exactly what I was going to say.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead, each eyelid and the tip of her nose. “Do you know the only thing that could make it better?”

She cupped his cheeks with her hands. “Nothing could be better.”

He shook his head. “The only thing that would make it better is if you would go out on a date with me.”

Her mouth stretched into a wry smile. “I think that can be arranged.”

“You don’t have a problem dating a military guy?”

She smoothed her hand over his jaw. “I swore I never would.”

“And now?” he asked, holding his breath, almost afraid she’d change her mind.

“Now, I know. I’m strong enough to live on my own. But I can choose to be with someone when he’s there, and be happy even when he’s not, knowing he’ll be back.”

He kissed her lips hard. “You don’t want me to quit the Navy?”

“No way. You are who you are in part due to the Navy and the training you completed. I wouldn’t ask you to give up something you love so much.”

He gathered her close. “Sweetheart, I think I’m in love.”

She laughed. “Isn’t it a little soon to know?”

“I think we’ve lived a lifetime in the past thirty-six hours.”

“No kidding,” she said. “But let’s take it a little slower and get to know each other before we make any rash decisions.”

He nodded. “Okay. I’ll give you until after the wedding. Then all bets are off.”

CHAPTER 14

Casey woketo her alarm at eight o’clock that morning. After a mere two hours of sleep and performing some pretty rigorous mattress gymnastics with Jacob, she was exhausted. Despite being tired, she’d never been happier. She rolled onto her side and stared at the man who’d done some amazing things to her the night before. His chin was covered in the sexy stubble that had abraded her skin so deliciously. She brushed a kiss across his lips ever so lightly, not wanting to wake him. He needed the sleep, and she needed the uninterrupted time to coordinate Kalea’s wedding.

Asleep, the man was tempting. Awake, he’d be impossible to ignore.

Casey slid out of the bed, grabbed her tote bag and padded to the bathroom where she applied her makeup, doing her best to hide the bruise on her forehead. She smoothed her hair with her flat iron and dressed in the clothes she’d shoved into her tote the night before.

Today was the big day. Her best friend was getting married to the man of her dreams, and Casey was going to make her wedding so memorable Kalea would smile every time she thought about it.

So, things weren’t going to go exactly as intended, but that’s what a wedding planner did. She made arrangements and then rolled with the inevitable changes.

Her dress and the bride’s dress were at the chapel. She hoped Hawk was able to find something suitable to wear in place of the tuxedo that had been ruined in the scuffle with the cartel members.

She glanced at her watch. The first call needed to be to the photographer to ask her to come later in the afternoon. It wouldn’t be an all-day affair of watching the bride prepare for her wedding, surrounded by her friends, or friend, in this case. The photographer was fine with the change of plan and promised to be there two hours before the wedding to shoot the bride and groom getting ready for the big event, the wedding and the reception that followed.

The next call was to the hair and makeup artists.

She leaned against the counter, speaking softly so as not to wake Jacob in the next room.

“Layla’s Beauty by Design,” the receptionist answered.

Casey explained who she was and who was scheduled to be at the wedding venue at eleven, and that she needed to move the time to four o’clock that afternoon.

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