“I told you two you had to wait one week before you had sex.” Nita stood in front of Marcus and Tori with her fists on her hips.
“We considered that a suggestion, not an order.” Tori gave her friend an eat-shit-and-die grin.
“It’s only been three days since you were shot.” Nita didn’t need to remind Tori. Her head still throbbed, but her need for Marcus was off the charts.
Everyone involved in the nuclear warhead mission were gathered at Katlin’s condo in Washington D.C. Once again, Katlin had outdone herself with an absolute fabulous meal. Stuffed to the gills, sipping wonderful wine and drinking craft beer, both Black Swan teams, and the men from Guardian Elite were lounging around in the large living room.
Suddenly a thought struck Tori. “Did the Deltas get princess out? Are they still in El Salvador dealing with the warheads?”
“Yes, and yes.” Lei Lu gave the group a coy smile. “I might have peaked into some classified files.”
Katlin shook her head, smiling. “If General Lyon finds out you were in SOCOM’s files, it’s your ass on the line, not mine.”
“You know me better than that. I don’t leave a trace.” She shrugged. “Besides, I’m not going to be able to do this special operations shit all my life. I can, though, utilize my computer skills forever.”
Tori hadn’t thought about any life beyond tomorrow. As Marcus snuggled her into his side, the first time she wondered how much longer she would continue her active duty service. She still had another two years on her contract and was sure they would tempt her with the rank of major. But what if she got out? She’d think about that later. For now, she would just enjoy her time with Marcus, Black Swan team one, and whatever missions come their way.
“Back to your question, Tori, Christela is home safe and sound with her father, Cesar. Now, I didn’t get this part from government files, but I did happen to find out that grandpapa Osmin had asked Christela to go undercover in SV-16 to try to find out who was behind the grandiose plan. Grandpapa had assigned Carlos Gomez as her body guard but we know what happened to him. In case anyone wants to know, Eduardo didn’t last long in the El Salvador Army jail. He got shot trying to escape.” Lei Lu lifted one shoulder. “It seems his Colonel didn’t like traitors. Imagine that.”
Alex pulled Katlin into his lap as she walked by. “Out of curiosity, how are they moving the warheads back to the U.S.?”
Lei Lu gave him a smile that said I have that answer, too. “You’re going to love this one. They used the same trucks that carried the warheads from the port to Santa Ana. They were loaded on a U.S. Navy ship, handled only by the Navy crew, personally overseen by the ship’s captain. They are currently on their way back to Kings Bay, Georgia, their original destination.”
“Any other questions where I can demonstrate my brilliance?” Lei Lu asked of the group.
“Another job well done,” Katlin declared.
Tori stood up. “And on that complement to everyone, I’m going to go home and rest my aching head.” She held her hand out to Marcus. “Get me home and take me to bed.”
“We are running at six o’clock in the morning,” Katlin announced as more people stood to leave. “Black Swan team two, you’re welcome to run with us.”
“I wish we could, but we have training tomorrow at Langley.” Kayla sashayed across the floor to Jonathan and ran her hand down his chest flirtatiously. “We’re studying subduction techniques.”
Jonathan grabbed her wrist and lifted it off his belt buckle. “Sweetheart, I think the lessons are working. But I’m going to go back to my room at Guardian Security D.C. Center and call my wife. Looking forward to being home tomorrow.” He looked over the other Guardian Elite men. “You ready to roll?”
“Jonathan, you know I didn’t mean to truly tease you.” Her apology was sincere. “It’s part of our training. Please note that when we work together, I am completely professional.”
He laughed heartily. “Kayla, I know you are a professional. About fifty hours ago I watched you hurtle a twelve-foot fence topped with concertina wire then cut the throats of three terrorist guards. Trust me, lieutenant, I am well aware of your professional skills. If you want to know the truth, as a woman, you scare the fuck out of me. You can have my six in the day. It’s been a pleasure working with you and your team. I’m sure we’ll see other again. Good hunting.”
Alex rose and shook the hands of his men as they left. The announcement that he was going to spend the night there, with Katlin, went unspoken.
Nita grabbed Daniel’s hand. “If we hurry, we can be home in time to tuck the kids in bed.” As they passed Tori and Marcus, she reminded her teammate, “No PT for five more days. I’m serious about that one.”
The five women of Black Swan Team Two passed out hugs on the way out the door.
Tori and Marcus took the short walk to her condo down the hall. She opened the door and stared at the key. “I’ll get one made for you tomorrow. She stood for a moment in the foyer and allowed herself to see her home with fresh eyes. “Do you like this place?”
He stepped behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “I like anywhere you and I can be together.” He gave her a brief squeeze. “I know what this place means to you. It’s home. Your home. The first place that you’ve been able to call your own. It’s permanent. You’re surrounded by the sisters you’ve chosen. You’re comfortable here.” He turned her in his arms and peered into her eyes. “I would never take you away from here. Never.”
She rolled her lips into a straight line. This was a big step. Huge. But it felt so right. “Would you like to move in with me?”
That half smile of his clenched her heart. His face was still swollen, and she knew that smiling must hurt. “I hope you’re not talking about moving into your second bedroom. If what you’re proposing is for me to sleep in your bed, make love with you every night, be here to kiss you goodbye in the morning, and welcome you home after a mission, I’ll borrow a truck and move in tomorrow.”
He looked around the spacious living room decorated exactly the way she wanted. “Your furniture is so much nicer than mine, we’ll just sell it.”
He glanced toward the kitchen. “I never had the opportunity to cook for you, but I can hold my own when it comes to cooking. I just bought a great set of pots and pans after taking a class at the gourmet store.”
Tori was thrilled with that idea. Maybe they’d take cooking classes together. That could be fun, being able to make a meal that would rival one of Katlin’s. “So, you’re moving in?”
Marcus’s stare worried her. “If I move in, I’m here for the long haul. This will be the us we talked about. You’re mine, forever.”
She went on tiptoes and gently kissed his swollen lips. “Us. Forever.”
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