The next morning, Cowboy rose well before dawn, dressed and headed to the base. Leaving Miley alone in his house wasn't easy to do. He remembered too well how easily she had been snatched from her trailer by Loran Hoxha. The thought of that monster getting his hands on her again made Cowboy's stomach knot and sweat break out. While running on the beach, he confided his concerns in Bruiser.

"Already got it handled," their leader confirmed. "She won't be alone. You remember Caroline Steel, Wolf's wife? Her posse and Olivia will keep Miley busy. There will be no less than three of them with her while we're working."

"I don't want to put the women in danger," Cowboy replied.

"Those women are stronger than they appear. You know Olivia is ex-military. She can handle herself. The other wives have been through a lot as well. They're cautious and intelligent. Just relax. I don't think Hoxha is going to come starting trouble with two teams of SEALs."

"I'd say you're right, but Loran Hoxha is nuts, probably off his meds, and has an unhealthy obsession with Miley. I'm not sure he's firing on all cylinders here," he replied as worry gnawed at him. "Crazy people do crazy things."

"If he shows up here, he'll find out just how stupid of a mistake it is. Don't worry, Cowboy, we have your back. Miley's too."

With that assurance, Cowboy felt a bit of the tension ease. It took him some time to get back into the swing of things and by the end of the day, he was tired and ready to get home to Miley. Walking into his house that evening to find her in the kitchen cooking something that smelled amazing made him smile. He watched from the doorway while she sang along with her playlist as she danced. He shook his head and grinned wolfishly when she turned around and screamed. Even when she punched him in the shoulder in a half-hearted manner, he couldn't help but smirk.

They enjoyed a dinner together. Miley told him how she had met some of the wives of Wolf's team. Annabeth was busy with work, but Olivia had joined them as well. They went shopping downtown and had lunch together, followed by another trip to the beach. "I'm getting to know them better and found we have a lot in common. I can't wait to meet the rest."

Miley was relaxed and smiled, which made Cowboy do the same. "I'm glad you're settling in, Miley."

"Against my better judgment, I like it here. Part of me still feels a little guilty for leaving Pop-pop and Jessie to deal with things back home, but they swear they have everything under control. I thought I would get lonely or bored, but it's not nearly as bad as I thought. Then with the ladies, it's almost as if I don't have time to. They seem to stay busy. During lunch today, they told me about what all they had been through. Wow. They are amazing."

He pulled her down to the sofa next to him and tucked a strand of her chestnut hair behind one ear. "They're in good company then. You're amazing as well."

"Not like them. Terrorists, kidnappings, serial killers -- they all went through so much. Jessyka's story really hit close to home. I felt a kinship to her because of what she went through."

"How so?"

She leaned her head on the back of the sofa. "She had an abusive ex."

Cowboy took a chance and asked the question on his mind since she let his name slip. "Like Jacob?"

Miley stared out at the window. Cowboy let her be until she was ready to talk. He wanted to hear the story, but only if she was ready to tell it. He meant what he said about not pushing her.

"Jacob." She agreed and took another drink of her beer.

"You don't have to say anything, honey."

"I know, but Olivia said something today that resonated with me. She said that when we don't talk about the things that bother us, we're giving them importance and making a place for them to sit and fester. She said talking through them was a way to diminish them. That made a lot of sense to me. Maybe it's time I stop letting Jacob sit inside of me and take up valuable space."

Cowboy listened to her soft words. He didn't know what Jacob had done, but whatever it was, it made a huge impact on her. Telling himself he would sit there and let her talk without getting upset, he nodded. "Then let it out. I'm here for you, however you need me."

She hesitated a few minutes then the words spilled from her lips in a flood. "Things started out so great. Jacob was my instructor in Taekwondo back in San Francisco. I liked him a lot. He paid attention to me, showing me the world through his eyes. He knew all the right things to say, the perfect things to do. I fell hard and fast -- I thought he was my forever."

Her eyes darkened as she rolled the bottle between her palms. Cowboy remained still, letting her come to terms with her story and not pressing her. After several moments, she continued. "Then he changed. What I thought was protective assertiveness became the domineering focus. He took over my life, bit by bit until he took everything."

Cowboy knew the type. He'd seen too many megalomaniac personalities in his job. Men who thought they had the right to dictate what a woman could and should do. The thought that Miley had to deal with someone like that raised his ire. Some small part of him wanted to find Jacob and beat the shit out of him for hurting her, but he knew she wouldn't want that. Instead, he sat quietly, letting her purge the toxicity from her past. However, he needed to know one question. "Did he strike you?"

Miley hesitated a moment then nodded. "That last night when I finally got away."

The room became tinted in blood red as Cowboy fought to get his emotions under control. His father had instilled in Cowboy a deep need to nurture and protect. He taught his son never to raise his hand against an innocent. A real man didn't have to show his power in that manner. He bristled.

The touch of her hand on his leg was a calming balm. "Alcide?"

He looked up at her and saw the uncertainty in her eyes. Forcing back the fury, he relaxed marginally and smiled. "I'm okay."

She looked doubtful for a moment but nodded slowly. She withdrew her hand, but he stopped her. "I like it there," he murmured to her.

"Okay," she breathed as she returned it.

They sat like that for several moments, absorbing comfort from each other. When she resumed her story, he squeezed her hand gently. "I got away from him. I didn't have anything left. He destroyed everything from my clothes to my mementos. I got out and never went back. Starting over was the hardest thing I ever had to do, but I did it for me. Not because of any other reason other than I had to take care of me. I made a vow to never be in that position again, to never let another man have control over me." She looked at him. "Yet, here I am, a thousand miles away from home, dropping everything and staying with a man who has control."

Cowboy shook his head. "You have all the control, Miley. You can go home anytime you want. I admit, it makes me feel better having you close so that I can help you if you need it, but in the end, you make the choices." He chuckled, "Hell, Rissa would kick my ass six ways to Sunday if she even thought I was upsetting you. I'm not afraid of a lot of things, but my five foot, six inch, one hundred and thirty pound sister terrifies me." She giggled, making him relax. "Miley, I'm not going to take away your money, your job or your ability to talk to whoever you want, whenever you want. I'm here for you. I hope you would look at this like a vacation and not that you've run away from your life. You've told me how much you love California, so please enjoy your stay, however long it lasts, until you're ready to return home. It's a chance for you to relax, unwind, let your shoulder heal and enjoy the sun for a while."

She pulled her knees up and hugged them. Laying her cheek on top she smiled softly at him. "I appreciate it. I know you wouldn't try to force me to do anything I didn't want. And yeah, I wanted to see the ocean again, but in the back of my mind is the thought that I'm putting myself into the same situation again. It's my own past haunting me."

Realization dawned on him. "That's why you don't date. You're afraid of getting into that situation again."

She nodded but kept her eyes down.

"Jesus, Miley, I'm so proud of you."

Her head shot up. "Proud of me?"

Cowboy chuckled and pulled her closer until she was against his side. Putting his arm on her shoulder, he leaned over and placed a kiss on her head. "Yep, very proud. Some people would let something like what you went through change them for the worse. It would make them bitter, resentful. Yeah, you were closed off, but that's understandable. What makes me proud is you're taking care of yourself. You aren't pushing for something you can't handle. You know your limitations, and you're working within them. That takes a lot of effort. You let your experiences guide you, but you don't let them rule over you. I know SEALs that haven't been able to do that. So, be proud of you because I sure as hell am."

Miley smiled. It wasn't a tentative grin, but rather a full face, brilliant smile that dazzled him. "Thank you, Alcide. That means a lot."

"Welcome," he replied.

They sat quietly for several moments before she broke the silence. "Alcide?"

"Yeah?"

"Are we... are we ... dating?" Her question was hesitant.

He felt his heart rate speed up. With one question, she had hit the proverbial nail on the head. Choosing his words carefully, he answered. "That depends on you. I already told you how I feel about you. I'm able to wait until you're ready for me."

"What if I'm never ready?"

"It'd be a blow, but I'd understand. I'm not going to lie and say I don't want more with you, but in the end it's all up to you. Your choice, your speed, your decision. "

Miley chewed her bottom lip. "What if you get tired of waiting and decide I'm not worth it anymore? Waiting, I mean."

Cowboy heard the fear in her voice. He wasn't used to hearing this uncertainty from her. Miley had always been strong, independent. That she could let down her walls around him spoke volumes of her trust in him.

"Come here," he murmured and pulled her into his lap. He pressed a chaste kiss to her lips then circled her waist. "You are and will always be worth it. Waiting for you to be ready for a relationship will be tough because I want you to want me as much as I do you. But, in the end, I'll wait for you because you're worth it and you deserve to be happy and comfortable, no matter how long it takes."

"Maybe you should date other wo..."

"Not happening," he cut her off. "Dating others wouldn't do anything but waste time and energy that I can spend on you. Miley, I don't want another woman. I don't want to date just to date. You're the one I want, the only one I want. Until the day you tell me you don't want me, I'll be right here waiting for you."

She leaned up and looked at him quizzically. "If I told you I didn't want you, you would let me go?"

"Yeah. It wouldn't be easy, but I'd let you go if that's what you wanted. I will never push you, never pressure you. I meant it when I said it's on your terms or not at all. I'm not Jacob. I'll never be that person. It's always your pace, honey."

She chewed her lip and laid her head on his shoulder. He could tell she was mulling things over in her mind. He stayed quiet, letting her work through her feelings, lending her gentle strength. He ran his fingers through her hair, twining the silken strands through his digits.

"Yes," she said quietly.

Jarred out of his thoughts, his fingers stopped. "Yes?"

Miley nodded and rose up. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she smiled at him. "Yes, we're dating. I want to give this thing between us a chance."

"Miley," he groaned in a whisper. Cupping her neck in his hand, he pulled her to him for a kiss.

And what a kiss it was.

She was destroyed.

As his lips descended on hers, Miley surrendered to him. There was nothing left of fear, uncertainty or unease. There was only joy, conviction and peace. She was lost, consumed by Alcide until they blended seamlessly into one. When he reluctantly drew back, she mourned the loss of him but only for a moment. Miley was not through with him yet.

Moving with practiced grace, she straddled his thighs, wrapping her arms around his neck again, holding him close as she nipped and explored his lips. He tasted of the chocolate mint ice cream they had shared for dessert, fresh and sweet. He moaned softly, sucking on her lips until she was wriggling in his lap. Quickly, he grabbed the bottom of the oversized shirt she wore and pulled it over her head, discarding it on the coffee table. His eyes roamed over her form, taking in the curves and valleys that defined her body. They narrowed when he saw the dark line just beside her left collarbone where the knife had sat.

"That will never happen again," he ground out through clenched teeth.

"Hey. It's okay," she whispered, pulling his face up until he no longer looked at her healing shoulder.

"It's not okay," he growled.

"For now it is. Love me, Alcide. Show me how you feel."

Her words made his breath hitch, and he captured her mouth with his again. Her head fell back and her back arched. Kissing his way down, he lingered on the tattoo on her chest. Realization flashed in his eyes before he pressed a kiss to her breast causing liquid fire to fill her blood with need.

"I think I understand the reason for this now." He leaned in and pressed his lips to the tip of the feather where it rested just over her heart. "This is about him."

"It's about me." Her fingers slid into his hair until they were tangled in the masses. "I got it after Jacob to remind me never to forget. Feathers may be fragile and easily broken, but they can also support a great weight. I can let my feathers break apart and fly away, or I can let them send me wherever I want. The choice is mine to make."

"Perfect, just like you, Miley." He peppered kisses along the swell, worshipping her body like a goddess. "The choice is always yours. Never let anyone take that away."

"I won't," she breathed as her back arched toward him. "Never again." She gasped as his wicked fingers slid along the swell of her rear and squeezed gently. She ground against his lap, feeding the fire until it turned into an inferno. It was too hot, too much and she pulled back slightly to give them both a moment to catch their breaths. "You've seen mine. Where are yours," she asked as she traced the contours of his face with her lips and teeth.

"I found yours; maybe you'll have to find mine."

The hell with taking it slow. Slow was for turtles and snow. This was fire and lightning, hot and electric. She growled like a cat in heat. "Challenge accepted," she breathed. Standing up, she dropped her pants and underwear. Alcide reached for her, but she danced just out of reach. "Nu-uh. We aren't teenagers, Alcide. I prefer a bed over a sofa."

"As my lady wishes." He rose easily from the couch. Sweeping her into his arms, he made his way down the hallway to his room.

"Always the gallant knight?"

"For you, always," he agreed then took her into the bedroom, closing the door behind.

It didn't take Miley long to discover the location of each of his tattoos. As they lay snuggled together, she traced the one on his side. It was a four-inch SEAL trident with the words; The only easy day was yesterday in a flowing script that graced his right rib cage. Above it, on his right shoulder sat a horseshoe with a four leaf clover in the center. "For luck," he told her sheepishly. "I got it when I was doing the rodeo circuit. Mom was furious, but Dad laughed. He told her at least it wasn't a naked woman."

The third one sitting on his left shoulder made her laugh. It was a frog skeleton splayed out from his shoulder blade to his neck. There were wisps of smoke floating above and one boney toe was on fire. "I have to hear the story behind that," she said as she gasped for breath.

He grinned at her as he pulled her tightly against him, kissing her tenderly. "I lost a bet with Toad, and he got to pick out my new tat. I was pissed at first, but it's grown on me. We're often called frogmen in the Navy and I'm an EOD, or Explosive Ordinance Disposal, technician so it sort of fits."

"I like it," she assured him.

In addition to the trio of tattoos, Miley found at least a dozen assorted knife cut scars and two puckered recesses she swore were bullet wounds. It brought the dangerous nature of his job to home in an entirely new manner.

They continued to talk between bouts of making love until they passed out several hours later. When he rose after only a couple of hours of sleep, she watched him through half-lidded eyes as he got ready. Dropping a kiss on her lips as he left, she turned over and pulled his pillow to her face. Inhaling his scent, she smiled. Yeah, things had changed between them, and she couldn't be happier.