FEELING TERRIBLY PROUD of her bad self, Angie smiled sweetly at every person they encountered once it was time to get dressed and rejoin the human race.
Why was she rather full of herself today? Because she’d won the anal sex battle and teased her wicked husband in the wee hours of the overnight to take her again even though he’d previously declared that once was enough. For now.
Rousing him from a dead sleep with an audacious oral wake up and then begging for his big cock in her ass wasn’t as easy as the words made it sound. She’d begged. Even after he ate her pussy to a quivering climax.
He gave in because he couldn’t help it and sent her flying when he completely lost control. He wasn’t happy with himself afterward and kept apologizing during the aftercare. She explained that she wanted a second time because she needed to know if her response the first time had been a one-off.
It wasn’t. She got off on his cock dominating her and said so in those words. He nodded and assured her he understood.
They were packed and ready to depart when he unceremoniously made love to her one last time. He removed her thong panties, lifted her dress, and bent her over the arm of the sofa.
By the time the boat tied up at the dock, she was thoroughly fucked, a little unsteady on her feet, and involuntarily giggling. Before helping Angie back into her panties, he’d cleaned her up with his mouth and ensured she was hot and bothered by denying her a follow-up orgasm.
His enormous grin and obvious satisfaction were evident, so she simply smiled and had a good time with the whole thing.
He caressed her bottom when she sat forward on the boat to talk to the captain.
She covered his bulge with her hand when no one was looking.
At the airport in Papeete, her husband got out of the way and let her buy everything she saw. It was while they were killing time and shopping that the satellite phone activated. He was standing apart from her while she inspected a selection of key chains. Angie did a slow double take when his body jerked slightly. A call coming in shocked him too.
Parker removed the phone from his carry-all and connected. She watched, carefully studying everything. His posture, body language, and head movements. The call lasted less than two minutes. It looked like he made a few short comments with some minor head nods but no conversation took place from his side.
Hmph. I wonder what the hell that is about?
He put the phone back in his bag and turned to her. She smiled and waved him over, indicating with her pointer finger that she found something. He chuckled and briefly shook his head. It was his indulging the wife move.
Would he volunteer who the caller was or would she have to ask?
“What did you find now?” he asked. His arm went around her shoulders as his head bent closer to the display. “Key chains? They don’t make key chains in Arizona?”
“I’m sure they do, but these are from Tahiti. That makes them awesome and special.”
He chuckled softly. “They’re from an airport souvenir shop and probably made in China.”
“I don’t think Ben or the guy who parks your car every day will care who made them. It’s the thought that counts,” she assured him.
“You’re gonna run up quite a customs tab with all this shit.”
She sniggered and looked around quickly to make sure no one heard her reply.
“I’m good for it. Maybe we can work out a trade.”
“Careful, lady,” he drawled. “My wife might hear you.”
His playful offhand remark hit a nerve, and her face lost its smile.
He noticed and frowned. “What?”
Angie bit her lip. Then she quietly blurted out her objection and waited for his reaction.
“I don’t like cheating scenarios. Not even for playtime.” She pushed some hair behind an ear and winced. “Sorry, it’s a whole thing.”
He put his hand on her butt and pulled her into his body. “Don’t be sorry. You’re absolutely right. Cheating isn’t something to make light of. I was stupid.”
She didn’t say anything.
“I’m sorry. Am I forgiven?” he asked.
“Um, you know what? This is a teachable moment. Just so we’re clear, cheating will lead to jail time because I will destroy anyone who crosses that line. Including you.”
“Honey, what you described is a two-way street. Nobody touches what’s mine. As for me crossing a line? No fucking way, Angel. I’ve waited too long for this to mess it up. I meant every word of my vows to you. I gave you an undying pledge of love and fidelity, and no thing or person can change that.”
The possessive hand on her ass made Angie weirdly happy. She liked being his.
“Let’s go home,” she told him.
He looked at his watch and winked. “If the plane keeps to its schedule, you might be able to bang out two quick hours on Rodeo Drive.”
She scoffed and made a face. “Hardly! But if there’s an outdoor mall with a Target, a Hallmark store, a Bed, Bath, and Beyond, and a Walgreens, I’ll be happy to empty your wallet, Counselor.”
“Grab your key chains, Mrs. Sullivan, and let’s keep moving.”
“Oh, wait. Shit! I forgot Bella. Hold on.” She giggled. “I saw a shorts outfit and a bunch of mermaid crap in a display over there. You get the key chains. Four should do. Meet you at the checkout.”
She was about to dash off when she yelped, “Hey. Hold up. Who was on the phone?”
Parker’s face was totally blank for a second, and then he made a face. “Your brother.”
“Why? He missing his girlfriend?”
“I dunno,” he told her with a shrug. “Mumbled some bullshit about checking in. He vetoed my return plans and will have Sawyer on call for tomorrow.”
“He’s sending the plane to Los Angeles? Why?”
He shrugged again. “I do not know.”
“Should I be worried?”
Angie was glad when he didn’t dodge the thousand unspoken questions hanging on her words.
“Let’s save the worry until we find out what’s up. Red is fine, that much I know.”
“It’s probably just his annoying Big Daddy persona poking its nose in. Making sure you were returning his baby sister in good condition.”
Her husband wagged his brows. “He shoulda waited then because I have one more day to wreck you totally, and honey, that’s definitely happening.”
Smiling broadly, she teased, “And how’s that whole wrecking thing going?” She prompted with air quotes in the appropriate place. “Looks to me like I’m still walking. I dunno.” Angie scoffed. “Maybe there’s something to the old guy thing.”
He swatted her ass, promised some spirited retribution for the unwifely comment, and then pushed her toward the kid’s section.
“Pick up something special for Ms. Bella Mia. From me,” he told her before she scooted off.
Once she finished lighting a fire to Parker’s credit card, they shoved everything into the empty carry-on he had ready just for this purpose. Then they grabbed a quick bite in an airport bistro and made their way to the gate for their plane.
Twenty minutes after the plane took off, she fell asleep with her head on his shoulder.
“Please tell me you’re fucking kidding,” Parker snarled into his cell phone.
Alex’s voice made certain he understood that no kidding was involved. “Polaris, that motherfucker, has both feet over the line. And Al-Awadi screwed the pooch big time.”
Hearing names from the past gave Parker a queasy feeling.
“So, everyone, all of us—we’ve been compromised?”
“Yeah.”
“Fuck.” He groaned
Alex’s answering sigh was so heavy it made Parker uneasy. “You have to tell Angie right away, man. This thing is in motion. The minute your feet hit the ground on this end, all hell breaks loose.”
Parker grunted and thought, Holy fuck. Then he asked about Meghan and the twins. “How’s Red taking the news?”
The long pause worked on Parker’s composure. Alex wasn’t much for prevarication, and his best friend rarely hemmed and hawed. The two-word answer said a lot and nothing at the same time.
“She’s struggling.”
Yeah, no doubt.
Doing some quick math, he figured they were eight or nine weeks from the twin’s due date. Meghan Marquez was a ballbuster extraordinaire but carrying two kids was testing her limits. Finding out her husband was preparing to strap on a bulletproof vest and walk into a Pakistani black ops site on a mission critical to US security and most likely eke out a bit of revenge in the process wasn’t what a pregnant woman nearing her due date wanted to hear.
Parker grunted. “My wife has no idea. Something tells me Angie isn’t going to react favorably.”
“How is she? My sister?”
Shaking his head and rolling his eyes, Parker pressed the phone to his ear and stared at the Hollywood Hills and distinctive LA scenery. They knew each other too damn well, and while that knowledge meant he had a damn good idea what Alex and Meghan’s intimate life looked like, it also meant his best and oldest friend knew what was going on with Parker and the man’s little sister. The connection made some discussions uncomfortable.
“She’s quite gleefully spending all my money and making plans for a dog and a hot tub. Oh, and she told me you peed the bed till you were twelve.”
Parker laughed when Alex bellowed, “She said what?”
“Marital privilege.” He chuckled. “No more secrets.”
“Oh,” Alex growled. “So what you’re saying is she’ll be fine with learning about your involvement with, well, you know.”
It was Parker’s turn to sigh. “Goddammit, Alex. Don’t you think she and I have been through enough? Why the fuck does this have to come up now? It’s our honeymoon.”
“I know, man,” Alex replied. “And believe me, I feel like shit tossing a grenade in your lap.”
“It’s not your fault. As you said, you’ve been trying to manage the situation, but the thing got out of hand. This one is on Al-Awadi. But I’ll tell you what. I’ll be having a little chat with my DoJ contacts and do what I can to make sure there’s a severe government-style DFP at the end of this. Something special for him.”
Alex drawled, “Good. If anyone needs a disciplinary fudge packing, it’s the Cowboy Prince. Dumbass shithead.”
“Hey, listen. Angie’s in the shower, and I just heard the water turn off. I’d better go.”
“Call Sawyer and tell him what time to expect you. I need you here by lunchtime so figure accordingly. Some things are on hold that need your input.”
“Right. Understood. My love to Red. See you tomorrow.”
He quickly ended the call and tossed the phone aside as the sound of his wife’s footsteps signaled her approach.
She was naked and had a playful expression that quickly vanished when she saw him.
He grimaced when her searching eyes found his discarded cell phone. Her shoulders slumped, and a furious case of lip biting broke out.
“I’ll get dressed,” she murmured before running into the suite’s bedroom.
“Handled that real well,” he muttered out loud.
His wife gave him ten minutes to work on his story before she rejoined him and wasted no time.
“The honeymoon’s over, isn’t it?”
Idly picking at her steak salad, Angie went through the motions of pretending to eat under her husband’s watchful, concerned eyes. She knew the second he glimpsed an opening, he would start talking again, and right now, she wanted him and his stupid man-logic to shut up. She needed time to think, so they sat in awkward silence in a busy LA restaurant.
How exactly was she supposed to react to finding out the husband she’d known her entire life had a secret spy thing or something like that going on? And she’d never known or suspected even though they’d been together for some of the time.
Angie wasn’t sure whether to feel stupid or admire the fuck out of her new husband for honoring the constraints of government confidentiality.
She pushed some of the greens on her plate to one side and set about cutting a thin slice of rare steak into minuscule bites. Busy hands to hide the furious analysis inside her head.
Did his parents know about their son’s secret life?
And if they did, would that mean her parents also knew?
Escalating anxiety was gnawing in her gut. It didn’t matter one bit that his involvement was in the past tense. For her, even the slightest suggestion that Parker was in danger or at risk was something she couldn’t handle.
The fork and knife clattered against the china plate when she dropped them to wring her hands beneath the table. She was barely able to breathe and was feeling lightheaded.
“Honey? Are you okay?”
Knowing she’d never live it down if she fainted and face planted into her dish at a swank Los Angeles five star, Angie willed her fear to back off.
She could do this. Maybe.
He got up and calmly slid into the empty chair next to hers. “Easy, love. I’ve got you, Angie.”
Her hand was in his firm, reassuring grasp. Angling into him, she murmured against his shoulder, “I need some air. Can we go for a walk? A slow walk?”
He took care of everything, and before she knew it, they were on a park bench along a bike and walking path with a view of the ocean. Producing two small bags from the Starbucks drive-thru, he broke a big chocolate chip cookie in half and handed her a piece. The other bag contained a thick slice of banana walnut bread. Her husband was a clever man. Both were her favorites, and they would often share the guilty pleasure—each of them getting half of the two treats.
“Feeling any better?” he asked after brushing the cookie crumbs off her chest.
She nodded but quietly added, “It’s a lot to take on.”
“I’m sorry, baby girl.”
“No, no. Don’t do that, okay? I’m not a baby and being sorry for keeping an oath and doing the right thing can’t be part of this.”
“But I’m upset that you’re affected.”
“That’s different,” she told him. “Please don’t be sorry, Parker. I understand more than you think.”
He looked at her with a question in his eyes.
“Alexander. Remember? This isn’t my first patriotic rodeo.”
“The timing couldn’t be worse.”
She nodded with a deep sigh and held his arm. “Meghan. Oh, my. Lacey and Victoria!”
“Oh, right,” Parker murmured. “I forgot.”
“Forgot?”
“The details are murky because well, whatever, but the tale in the middle involves Lacey.”
She looked him in the eye.
“She went into labor at the reception.”
Angie snapped upright and barked, “Ex-squeeze me?”
“Yep, yep. Everyone knew, which is how we got hustled away from the party so efficiently. Miss Lily Rose Cameron entered the world the next day.”
Gasping with delight, Angie nearly exploded from the joy racing through her body.
“Are mom and baby okay?”
He smiled and kissed her nose. “Yes, my angel. I think she’s a tiny little thing, but Alex said Cam is in love and Lacey’s current address is cloud nine.”
“Aw, that’s sweet. And Meghan? Is she okay?”
“To be honest, Angie … I think she’s going to need you. She’ll need all the ladies to help her get through. Alex has far too much worry for someone whose head has to be on straight. Meghan, their babies, everyone else.” He ended with a shrug.
Angie thought about her big brother and the everybody else Parker referred to. The resurrection of Team Justice affected so many people that she couldn’t wrap her mind around it.
Her whirling emotions began to calm, and the thoughts acting like bumper cars in her head started to slow down. The twinkling rings on her left hand caught Angie’s attention. She reached for the delicate gold chain and diamond heart that hung around her neck and touched it where it lay on her skin.
She was a friend, a daughter, a sister, a daughter-in-law, almost an aunt, and most importantly, a wife. And she had an important role to play in what was unfolding back home in Arizona.
With Alex heading back into the danger zone, their parents would need watching. So would a very pregnant Sophie.
Meghan and the twins had a category all their own. It would fall to Angie to keep an eye on things at the Villa.
Stephanie and Calder would probably take care of Tori, who would, in turn, focus on Red and Lacey.
And then there were Parker’s parents. Aunt Wendy and Uncle Matt. She’d have to work overtime to convince them she was all right while simultaneously ensuring they also hung in there.
Recalling her impassioned honeymoon speech about needing to be a wife who took care of her husband, she knew how to proceed. Her mom always told Angie and Sophie to pull up their big girl knickers and get on with things—and that was exactly what she intended to do.
Alex needed to keep his wits. Shit. The whole team did. And the best way to ensure that happened was for the home front situation to be under control.
She knew what to do, starting with no more serious talk. They still had tonight. Tomorrow would have to wait.
“Hey,” she teased. “Are you planning to bogart the banana bread? ‘Cause I’m prepared to wrestle you for it.”
Parker’s amused snort broke the heaviness that ten seconds ago had hovered around them.
“Wrestling you say?” He nodded and smirked. “I could do wrestling.”
“Tell you what,” she purred in a tone Angie knew he found sexy. “Let’s make a new game. Strip poker and naked wrestling. Combine the two and call it Strip Wrestling.”
“Winner decides?” he teased.
“Of course, but don’t look so smug, Counselor. I’ve got some moves, buster.”
He laughed and put an arm around her for a squeeze-a-licious hug.
“Mrs. Sullivan, I do believe you’re trying to seduce me.”
What could she do except laugh and hug him back?
THE END