Page 92 of Dangerous Devotion

“You’re about to lose your life, Simpson.” AJ’s voice was cold, layered with barely controlled fury.

May’s insides clutched in dread. Was this some sort of pistols-at-dawn moment where they walked ten paces, turned and fired?

“AJ!”

Simpson didn’t drop the weapon he held in his shaking hand. “I’ll save you the trouble. Death before dishonor.” He whipped the pistol up to his temple and pulled the trigger.

May screamed again, and the SEAL holding her lowered her to her feet. As soon as she touched down on solid ground, she took off to AJ.

In two strides, he exited the storage unit. His strong arms clamped around her, and he lifted her, but this time she didn’t mind being carried away from the horrific sight of the major general. The traitor. The betrayer.

Tears rolled down her cheeks, soaking into AJ’s shirt as he shielded her. They rounded a corner of the long building, where the car was waiting. Time seemed to hang suspended. She didn’t know how long it took to reach the vehicle, but came back to herself when he slipped into the back seat with her. Another SEAL who was heavily muscled appeared in the open door. “You good?”

AJ answered with a hard nod, and the man moved away, probably to join the other SEAL and call Con.

AJ cupped her head to his chest and buried his nose in her hair. “Christ, May. I thought I’d lost you. I’ve never been so fucking scared in my life.”

She curled her fingers into the hard planes of his spine and clung to her lover. Her anchor.

“I’m okay. He was ordered to kill me.”

“Fucking hell!”

“H-he confessed everything. He was working for Cipher.”

He drew away from her and studied her. His vivid blue eyes roamed over her face. “May, I can’t be partners with you anymore.”

Her heart hitched. “W-what?”

“I can’t be your partner because you’re never going on another op again. I need you safe because I’m in love with you, May.”

“Oh my god, AJ. I love you too.”

He scattered kisses across her forehead, trailing his lips down her cheek, and finally claimed her mouth in a searing kiss filled with urgent need filled with the fear, the longing that had been tearing him apart.

He pulled her into his lap, and she curled close to him, comforted by his touch, his presence.

His love.

She lifted her head and met his gaze. “We’re not finished. The bomb is missing. Cipher is still out there.”

He gave her a grim nod even as he stroked the pad of his thumb down the curve of her cheek with all the tenderness burning in his eyes. “No, we’re not finished. But we’re together. And that’s all that matters.”

She melted in AJ’s arms, pressing her cheek to his chest and listening to the steady thump of his heart. “Together.”

* * * * *

Henner, Cobra and Mason walked through the doors of the Blackout Charlie base, the weight of the op on their shoulders. After the guys contacted the right people to inform them of Simpson’s death, they got in the car and traveled all through the night.

May had slept in his arms most of the way, seemingly exhausted from the ordeal. Henner looked down at her standing beside him in the open door, clinging to his hand.

He rested a gentle hand on her spine. “It’s okay. Go inside, darlin’.”

She took a step and then froze and let out a little squeal. “My things are here!”

Their luggage from the hotel in DC had been brought here, and clearly she was thrilled to have something to wear besides the department store clothes.

“Between your suitcase and the shopping bags we grabbed at the hotel on our way out of town, you have a whole wardrobe.” Smiling down at her, he touched the point of her chin.

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