Chapter Sixteen

Mallory muted the television and picked up the mug of coffee.

“Santa Marita is still all over the news.” She looked at Rocket, who was intently reading on his tablet. “Find something interesting there?”

“An interview with Benito Alcante. He’s really got his act together.”

“He’s been back in Santa Marita for a month now. I’m gathering from your comment things are going the way he wants them to?”

“To say the least. He gathered most of the people who were on his father’s staff as well the top officials in the military. It took a week or so, but they’re all back in place and cleaning up the mess Barrera made.”

“Inez and her parents are back on the island and picking up the pieces of their lives.” Mallory sipped her coffee. “I owe my sister big time for that. From what I understand through Inez and from what you’ve told me, Barrera just quite literally stormed the island, killed President Alcante and took over, bringing in his drug business and killing the rest of the agriculture.”

“That’s true.” Rocket set his tablet to the side and turned to Mallory. “The population is damned glad to have gotten rid of him. I understand they gave Alcante an impromptu parade the day he flew in with his people as well as the army officers Barrera had tried to have killed.”

“I hate to see people celebrating someone’s death, but in this case, I might make an exception.” She set her mug back on the coffee table. “What happened to all the cartel customers? Did they get the word or did they just show up, demanding to know what was up with their business?”

Rocket laughed. “I’m sure you know the US Drug Enforcement Agency is able to work internationally as long as they have an arrangement with a country’s police.”

“I do. In fact, I plan to do a lot of reading up on it.”

“So Benito Alcante resurrected Santa Marita’s police force and assigned four of the top men to work with our DEA. The drug dealers Barrera cultivated arrangements with are either looking for new suppliers or spending time in someone’s jail. In fact, the United States has sent people from a number of different agencies to not only help put Santa Marita back in business and better than ever, but we’ve offered ongoing help.”

“President Alcante must be thrilled.”

“To say the least.” He grinned. “Your sister twisted a few arms for this, too.”

“I think my sister would have thrown herself at you and kissed you all over the day we came home and she arrived here to see me for herself.”

Rocket laughed. “I should be kissing her. If not for her, I might never have reconnected with you, stupid idiot that I was.”

They had talked about that many times since they’d arrived in Tampa. Mallory had settled very comfortably into Rocket’s home. As soon as she was really on her feet, they were going to do some shopping to make it a ‘them’ house instead of a ‘him’ house. There was no argument about the fact that they’d be living together from now on. And if she wanted a more solid arrangement, well, she was sure they’d get there when the time was right.

She’d sold her condo in Houston, including all the furnishings. Rocket refused to let her travel and go through the effort of packing her stuff while she was still healing.

However, Peyton West and Hannah Modell, who were engaged to two of the Galaxy partners, had both visited a few times. The three women had connected immediately and had volunteered to take care of Houston for her, despite her protests. They’d handled it very well and all her personal belongings had been shipped. Little by little, she was opening the boxes and putting things away.

Rocket had taken himself out of the action for the duration, despite her protests.

“I’m doing fine,” she kept telling him.

“And I want to make sure nothing changes that.”

This whole week she’d actually felt more like herself and begun some light exercise. And started compiling notes on her laptop.

“What did your agent say about your proposal?” Rocket asked.

“Considering the headlines plastered everywhere about Santa Marita and the fact that it leads almost every newscast with the latest events, she’s pretty excited. She wants the outline and the first three Chapters by the end of the month.”

“She’s savvy,” Rocket pointed out, “and wants to move on this while it’s still current news.”

“I think she’s looking at the long haul. It will be a year before the book comes out. But by the time I finish it, I can add more details about Santa Marita’s current situation. I think this story will be hot news for quite a while.”

She took the last sip from her coffee and curled up in a corner of the couch.

“I think you’re right,” he agreed.

“So what’s on the agenda today? I feel better every day and I’d love to see more of the Tampa area, since I’m going to be living here.”

“Well.” He slid over and placed her legs on his lap, gently massaging her feet. “I thought maybe we’d do some jewelry shopping.”

The look in his eyes was very intent and filled with emotion. A tiny thrill wriggled its way through her.

“Oh? Need some trinkets, do you?”

He slid a hand up one leg and eased it beneath her sleepshirt.

“I have a particular trinket in mind, since you asked.”

“Such as?” she teased, watching his face very carefully.

“I was thinking along the line of matching engagement and wedding rings. What do you think about that?”

The look in his eyes was so intent it burned into her. His hand had crept up to the tiny thong she wore to bed and eased the fabric aside.

“I think—” She gasped as a finger slid between the slick lips of her sex and began a slow rubbing motion. “I think it’s a great idea. Ohhhhh.”

“I’ve never said the words,” he told her, keeping up the steady rubbing motion. “But I can’t imagine my life now without you. I love you, Mal, more than I ever thought I could love a woman. I want you with me. Always.”

“I feel the same,” she whispered, using her hips to press against the touch of his hand. “Oh, god, Rocket. Don’t stop.”

“Didn’t plan to.” He pinched her clit, sending sharp arrows of heat coursing through her.

“We’ll have to coordinate with Peyton and Hannah. They were here first, after all.”

“Logistics. That’s easy. You ladies can work it out.”

Now he’d eased two fingers inside her wet heat.

“Oh, god.”

She dug her fists into the couch cushion for leverage as she pressed her body into his touch. When she tried to move, to get into position to straddle his lap, he used his other hand to hold her in place.

“Uh-uh. Just like this. In case I haven’t told you, finger fucking you is one of my great pleasures in life.”

“Oh, good.” She could hardly catch her breath. “Because having you do it is one of mine.”

She pressed against his touch again, riding his hand. More tremors rippled through the walls of her sex and she did her best to ride his hand, even as he held her in place. But when she was so close to the edge that she was sure she’d explode, he suddenly removed his hand, stood up and pulled off the sweatpants he’d thrown on earlier.

She took a moment to drink in the sight of his body, all hard muscle and a dusting of black hair making his chest even sexier.

“Don’t stop,” she begged. “Come back.”

“I’m here,” he murmured, a rough edge defining his voice. “Right here.”

He knelt between her spread-wide legs, lifting them over his shoulders so every bit of her sex was exposed. Holding his shaft in one hand and separating the lips of her sex with his other, he poised for a moment at her entrance then, with a hard thrust, buried himself inside her.

“Oh, god!”

The feel of him was just as incredible as the first time. Rocket braced his hands on either side of her, drew in a breath and began to thrust in and out, hard then harder, more then more. Mallory dug her heels into the small of his back to lock them together and gave herself over to the storm. It went on and on, heavy spasms that shook both of them. Nothing existed but the two of them. Together.

Finally, the spasms subsided, leaving her weak and spent, her heart thudding so loud she wondered he didn’t hear it.

Slowly he eased her legs down and braced himself with his hands on either side of her body.

“I love you, Mal.” His voice was thick with emotion. “More than I can even express.”

“I love you, too.” She smiled. “And I’d say that was a pretty good expression.”

“We’ll have a lot more of those for a very long time.”

He brushed a soft kiss over her lips. She gave silent thanks for the Fate that had brought him back into her life. She could hardly wait for the rest of their future to begin.