Angelo: A Second Chance Navy SEAL Romance Read online

  Yet, she couldn’t sound too eager. “I think so.”

  “Good. How about I meet you at your place tomorrow? Seven good?”

  Her heart pumped wildly. She stifled the urge to spin through her living room like a ballerina. Keeping her voice steady, she replied, “Seven is perfect.”

  “Don’t worry about anything. I’ll pick up dinner and wine and bring it over.”

  She smiled at the considerate gesture. “That sounds wonderful. But, how are you going to get here?”

  “I’ll see if I can borrow a car.”

  Once she ended the call, she squealed and pounded her feet. The cats ran in, curious about the excitement.

  “I have a date tomorrow!” It was un-Catherine-like behavior.

  And it felt damn good.

  Catherine all but bolted out of bed the next morning, thrilled about her date with Angelo that evening. She made the bed, as she did every morning, but ensured it appeared warm and inviting with the soft bedding and extra overstuffed white pillows.

  Would he take her in his arms with a heated kiss when he arrived? God, she was jittery with anticipation.

  Catherine stared at the clock, counting down the hours until she met up with Angelo.

  It was finally time to leave. She rushed back home and took a shower. As she lathered up, she ran her hands over her body, reliving the sensations of Angelo’s hands on her.

  She wavered over what to wear, something she didn’t often do. She decided on a royal blue Hawaiian sundress with large orchids. It made her feel feminine. Maybe she should buy some lingerie. The idea of wearing something special for him, witnessing how it might turn him on, was a thrilling idea. But when would they have the opportunity? Time was short. She put in her contacts and applied some light makeup.

  The doorbell rang. Flutters of anticipation rushed through her. She bounded down the stairs, as excited as the kittens who beat her to the front door.

  Get a grip. You’ve known him for ten years. You shouldn’t let yourself get too excited about this.

  She inhaled and opened the door. Seeing him there wearing a wide smile sent giddy tremors vaulting through her. With his black shorts and forest green button-down shirt, he looked casual, yet scrumptious. The shirt brought out some green in his brown eyes. He had a paper bag in one arm, and the scent of seafood reached her.

  His gaze raked over her. “You look beautiful. Hot.”

  The way he looked at her convinced her it was true. She returned his bold look with a flirtatious smile. “You don’t look half bad yourself.” She stepped aside and welcomed him in.

  “Hope you’re in the mood for seafood.” He stepped into the kitchen. “Can’t get it often when I’m deployed.”

  “Well then, you should have it as often as you like while you’re on leave.”

  He planted a kiss on her lips. Although it started out like a welcoming kiss, it soon turned into something more. He pulled away for a moment to drop the paper bag on the counter and then pulled her into his arms for a deeper embrace. All the anticipation that had been building up unleashed a heady wave of passion within her. She grasped for him like she needed him to breathe. While he did the same, claiming her body everywhere he could touch.

  He pulled back and stared down at her. “Funny, I’m no longer hungry—for dinner at least.”

  “Oh?” She arched an eyebrow. “And what are you hungry for?”

  “I should think that’s obvious.” Angelo gave her a dark, decadent look that left little guessing to what was on his mind. “I’ve been thinking about you all day. And I couldn’t wait to get back here to see you.”

  Those words thrilled her more than they should. Getting so excited about a fleeting encounter was silly.

  Then again, why shouldn’t she enjoy herself for once? Why did it have to mean anything more than what it was? Surely, it didn’t to him. He might have women tucked away in many corners of the world. She needed to get over herself with thinking this might mean something to him. It was better to enjoy their time together for what it was meant to be—a fling and nothing more.

  “I hope you do more than just see me.” She wrapped her hands around the back of his neck and rose to kiss him.

  His hands trailed down her body, claiming her. She moved her hands down over the strong muscles in his back, down to his waist, over his ass.

  He pressed his hard length against her and moaned. “God, Cate, you’re killing me. I want you so bad.”

  They stumbled through her place and into her living room, almost knocking down a lamp, before he ended up on top of her on the couch. She tore at his clothes, frantic to shed the obstacles between them. She had to get closer to him. Needed the skin to skin contact.

  Needed him.

  Soon, their clothes lay in a pile on the floor. She reached over and closed the window so no one would hear them. They kissed as they ground their naked bodies together. An echo of the salty ocean scent lingered on his skin. She breathed it in.

  He moved down to kiss her breasts and she moaned. God, he was so good at drawing out her pleasure. She trailed her fingers through his hair. When he stroked between her legs, heat spread throughout her body, igniting a deeper yearning. She needed him inside her.

  “Angelo, now. Please.”

  He pulled his head up and gave her a smoldering look. “Please what?” His voice dropped to a low seductive tone.

  “You know. I want you.”

  “Want me how?”

  Oh no, he was going to tease her, wasn’t he?

  “I want to hear you say it.”

  “Why?” She gasped.

  “It turns me on.”

  “Okay,” She convinced herself to say the words. “Fuck me, Angelo. Please.”

  Words she’d never said sounded foreign from her mouth. And oh so naughty.

  His grin was victorious. “Yesss.”

  He pulled himself away to put on a condom and then he slid against her folds. She grabbed his shoulder blades, coaxing him in. As he filled her, she sighed. He was what she craved. She clung to him as she allowed herself to be swept away. The reality might not last, but it would fuel her fantasies for a long time.

  Chapter Nine

  Angelo

  They rolled off her couch and onto the brown carpet with swirly designs. Angelo knelt behind her and reached around to caress her breasts. He nuzzled her neck and kissed her sweet-smelling skin. Already missing the sensation of being inside her, he ached to bury himself again.

  He pressed his chest against her back and stroked down the front of her body, seeking that sweet spot between her legs. So hot.

  “You feel so good. So wet.”

  She moaned and leaned against him. “I want you.”

  He rubbed his cock at her slick entrance, and she fell forward, using her arms to brace herself. She turned back over her shoulder and bit her lip. Nervous?

  “Are you okay like this?”

  After a moment’s hesitation, she smiled. “Yes.”

  He gripped her hips and slid in. Although he started slow, he couldn’t resist driving into her this way. Once fully in, he dropped his head back as he reveled in the sensation.

  She felt too damn good as he took her from behind. The rug burn on their knees might be a bitch later, but it was worth it. Her passionate sounds filled his ears. And the rough, primal way their bodies joined fueled the excitement.

  He wouldn’t last long at this rate, but he damn well wouldn’t come until she did. Preferably multiple times.

  It took all his reserves to slow down and not fuck her the way he wanted. He reached forward and thumbed her nipples, finding this new distraction utterly pleasurable. Was it pleasurable for her as well? He slid his fingers over her stomach and down between her legs. She gasped, but then pressed against him. He stroked her, teasing her sensitive nub and she moaned.

  As her breathy moans escalated so did his excitement. Their pace quickened again as he pumped into her harder. He steeled himself to hold on a little l
onger, applying more pressure.

  With a cry, her body tightened, and she shattered. Her slick channel pulsed around him, squeezing his shaft. He couldn’t hold back any longer. He grasped her hips and dropped his head back as he released himself inside of her, letting out a low groan. He lost sense of time and place as he willingly drowned in this delicious ecstasy.

  A thousand degrees hotter, covered in a sheen of perspiration, Angelo draped one arm across her. They lay together on the rug, and their breathing still came quick. After thinking about her all day, and finally getting close to her again, he didn’t want to let her go just yet.

  When his breathing level normalized and he could speak, he said, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to go all caveman on you and jump on you the second I walked through the door.”

  Cate gave him a sassy look. “And what gave you the impression that you need to apologize? I thought I exhibited my enjoyment.”

  “Yes, you did seem to express some pleasure.” He winked.

  “I’m not usually like that. So, um, bold. You know, in that position and all. Or, uh, vocal.”

  Angelo smiled with self-satisfaction. “Happy to bring out that side of you.”

  He leaned in to take a deeper inhale of the scent of her hair. Some sort of citrus fragrance, like orange blossoms. He wanted to remember her scent. Hell, he wanted to remember her taste, her touch, everything about her.

  Fuck. This wasn’t good. Committing her to memory like this would make it more difficult to leave. He’d seen the other guys moon about missing their wives and girlfriends, but he couldn’t afford that mental taxation. He was a SEAL. His team relied on him to take care of them. He couldn’t be distracted, pining over a woman who could be thousands of miles away.

  Yet, plenty of SEALs were married.

  If the other guys could do it, maybe it came down to a personal decision.

  “Did you just smell my hair?” she asked.

  Busted. “No,” he lied. “What if I had been?”

  “I’d say you’re strange.” She laughed. “It’s just shampoo and conditioner.”

  Hell no, it wasn’t just something from a bottle. It was more. It was Cate. Not that he would tell her that.

  “Come on let’s eat.” He gave her a playful swat on her ass. “I’m starving.”

  He went into her bathroom to clean up. After dressing, he stared at himself in the mirror. The last face that Donovan saw. Angelo gritted his teeth. Would that reminder ever go away? He doubted it. But maybe one day it wouldn’t stab him like a blade.

  He splashed water over his face. “Don’t let your head get in the way and ruin this,” he told his reflection. Then he returned to her kitchen and reheated the seafood.

  The kitchen had to be 800 degrees. “It’s so hot in here.”

  She poured them glasses of Pinot Grigio. “Well, yes. We kind of heated things up.”

  “Don’t you have A/C?”

  “Sure, I have central air, but I like having the windows open. Getting some natural air in here.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “You call city air natural?”

  She laughed. “It’s better than being cooped up with all the windows closed.”

  He pulled out plates from her cabinet. “You might not be saying that if you spend months over in the desert, sweating in 100+ degrees.”

  She gestured in his direction. “Fine. While you’re here, we’ll put on central air. Happy?”

  He grinned at her. “More than you know.”

  Once she turned on the air, they sat at her dining room table to eat.

  He ate a clam strip. “Anything fun and exciting happen at work today?”

  She finished chewing a bite of cod. “I spent a good part of the day having one-on-ones with my summer interns.”

  “Doing what?”

  “They’re helping in the lab—examining brain imagery, entering data, and so on.”

  “Sounds interesting.”

  She shrugged. “To me, it is. Not sure if it would intrigue anyone else. I spend much of my time in the brain lab, supervising interns, working on my computer, or attending meetings.”

  The slightly higher tone in her voice indicated something was up. Her expression darkened. What the hell was it with her work? He was used to studying people and keyed in to signals of deceit. She didn’t want to tell him for whatever reason. Fine. He didn’t blame her. She had no reason to trust him.

  But it would be nice if she did.

  What was wrong with him? He shouldn’t care. Time to change the topic. “Was MIT as tough as I hear?”

  Her eyes lit up. “It was tough, yes, but I loved it. The workload was stressful. Just about everyone feels imposter syndrome there at one point or another. But once I graduated, I felt a real sense of accomplishment. Know what I mean?”

  He nodded. “I do. Going through BUD/S was hell. But then, once I survived it—no greater victory.”

  “What is BUD/S?”

  “The intense training to become a SEAL.”

  “Oh, I really don’t know much about the military. Let alone SEALs.” She shook her head, gesturing as if flustered. “What you went through must have been hell. I can’t even imagine it. It makes my academic challenges look trivial in comparison.”

  “Not at all. I’d never think that. It took a lot of guts and hard work and sacrifices to get where you are. I respect that immensely.”

  Her lips twitched as if undecided if she should smile at his praise.

  “But I know what you mean,” he added. “When you face a challenge, you question why you’re doing it and if you can handle it. When you push yourself through and finally reach your goal, there’s nothing like it. Makes it all worth it in the end. It’s not all physical, what SEALs face. Many barriers are in your head.” He tapped his skull for emphasis.

  The way she gazed at him with near fascination almost leveled him.

  “Tell me about where you’ve been. What you’ve done,” she said.

  “I spent much of the first couple of years in training. It was intense but necessary. The harder we’re trained, the better prepared we are. And then once I was assigned to a team, the fun has never stopped.” He gave her a lopsided grin.

  Talking to her felt good, but he wanted to touch her too. She was too far away, across the table, and all he could think about were all the ways he wanted to do just that.

  Somehow, he made it through dinner without throwing her on the table and taking her right there. Why was he responding to her like this, like he was a teenager and could barely keep it in his pants? Was it because that’s what it was like when they were younger? Shit, it was no small feat to keep from touching her again. Her silky hair. Her soft skin.

  As they cleaned the dishes, he couldn’t resist any longer. He stepped behind her and kissed the delicate skin on the back of her neck. Her taste, her unique scent. It was addictive.

  When she moaned, it fed his addiction. He moved his hands down to cup her breasts. Fuck, she’d gotten him so hard again already.

  He rubbed his bulge against her ass. “Look what you’ve done to me.”

  She arched against him and moved her hips, shooting his desire up to aching levels.

  “I can’t say I’m sorry for doing that.” She arched one brow. “In fact, I’m quite happy about this response. It’s Pavlovian, in a way. I wiggle my butt against you, and I get rewarded.”

  He laughed and gave her ass a playful slap. “Bed.”

  “You don’t want a reboot? On the sofa?” she teased.

  “Not right now. I want all the play space we can find.”

  “Do you plan on—playing in there?”

  “Affirmative, ma’am,” he replied in a playful tone.

  They hurried up the stairs. Once in her room, he backed her onto the bed. Sliding his body over hers, he kissed her neck, savoring her scent. “I couldn’t choose a better—playmate.”

  Chapter Ten

  Catherine

  The next morning, Angelo made coffee and bl
ueberry pancakes.

  “You’re spoiling me.” After she took a sip of the delicious hazelnut brew, she asked, “What do you have planned today?”

  “The usual. Hang out with my family. Maybe get a workout in with my brothers. Then, if you’re up for it, come back here to spoil you with my cooking and sexual prowess.”

  She laughed. He had been spoiling her with both indeed. “That sounds like a great idea to me.”

  They each ate some more pancakes.

  “What about you,” Angelo asked. “What’s going on at work today?”

  “Good question. Let me check my schedule.” She pulled out her phone to check her calendar. The usual project meetings with her team. She flipped to her email app to make sure nothing else had come up.

  One was addressed from a sender reading “brain research.” She couldn’t resist an inquiry like that. She opened it and regret swamped her.

  It was from Trent.

  He likely created another throwaway email account since the other one had been blocked by IT.

  I’m getting impatient…

  That’s all it read.

  Why? A dark shiver ran along her spine.

  “Cate? What’s wrong?” Angelo asked.

  She shook her head. “Oh, it’s nothing. Work stuff.”

  “You turned white and froze. You look terrified.”

  Shit. She’d never play against him in poker. He’d read everything on her face.

  He dropped his fork and leaned back in his chair. “Is someone bothering you?”

  Cate squirmed under the scrutiny. “Not exactly.”

  “Well, what exactly?”

  “It is—sort of—a nuisance.”

  “What is?”

  She took a deep breath. “A man has contacted me a few times.”

  Angelo straightened, his expression turned grave. “What man? And how?”

  “It’s just some guy who has been contacting my team to warn us about our research for the government.”