As an officer of SEAL Team Seven, I planned our missions. The logistics, the equipment, the operations, every detail. I didn’t take a vote, I made the final decisions. Tonight, I was planning an important operation—Operation Rapunzel.

With her now long blonde hair, the name fit her to a T. After handing out assignments, I ditched Pat and Vic, and went to Sara’s room. My guys were trained well enough; little instructions were needed. I needed to see her before she left on the convoy. With any luck, she’d be waiting for me.

Luckily, she followed my instructions; her window was open. And it was dark. This was too easy. I climbed into the opening, careful not to wake her fellow cheerleaders or the virgin patrol mistress in the adjacent rooms.

Sara was curled up on her bed, her hair wild, her eyelids closed. The day’s events had definitely taken a toll on her. She wore a pink tank top with no bra and white pajama bottoms. I stared at her from the window. Her nipples were erect, and I wanted to suck them until she screamed my name.

I continued to stare around the room and at the walls: barren, white, thin. Nothing could happen in here. I didn’t want to waste any time. In two quick strides, I was at the bed. I bent and kissed her, gently rousing her from her sleep.

She rubbed her eyes and stretched her back. And I placed my finger over her lips, urging her to stay quiet.

Before she knew what was happening, I scooped her into my arms and smuggled her out of her room. She was so light; my seabag was heavier than her.

I snuck her behind the barracks, across our communications building, to a row of empty bunkers. She kept silent, and clung to my chest, waiting to see what I’d do next.

I placed a finger to my lips again and motioned for her to climb up the stairs to the top of the bunker. Her eyes grew to the size of saucers, and I chuckled softly. “I’ve got you.” It was quite comical that at six-feet-five and two-hundred fifty pounds she thought I would possibly let her fall. Still, she hesitated at first, but began her ascent, as I followed closely under her, my face just inches from her round ass.

Once up top, I pulled a thick sleeping bag out of my backpack, threw it down, and pulled Sara close to me. “I’m a regular Boy Scout,” I laughed, and she grinned, showing me a shy smile.

“Wow, how’d you know about this spot? Better yet, how many ladies have you brought up here?”

“Just you, sweetheart. But this is known internally as the hookup bunker. It’s far enough away from the barracks and watch spots to be inconspicuous. Occasionally I come up here to relax or pray, but I do that alone. It’s hard to find any peace here.”

Her head tilted in a thoughtful way. “Pray? Are you religious?”

“Yes, ma’am. Son of a preacher man. After my dad left the Corps, he became a man of God. What about you?” It was nice finding out more about her.

“I’m Southern Baptist. But I haven’t gone to church since I was in high school,” she admitted, her eyes downcast.

I moved a lock of hair out of her face, bringing her head back up so she could meet my eyes. “It’s okay that you haven’t gone in a while. Personally, I lost my way when I was playing ball.” My cheeks burned, a physical reminder of my shame. It was harder to take your own advice than to dish it out. “The women, the money, the drugs, shit, the lifestyle. I’m no saint, but seeing so much life and death really makes you want to believe in something bigger than yourself.”

Her lips widened into a smile, and she snuggled on my chest. She fit perfectly. There was an ease in talking to her that I hadn’t had with another woman in years. It felt like I’d known her forever. She didn’t make me feel like half the prick I really was. As if she saw the good in me even if sometimes I couldn’t see it myself.

Leaning in, I gave her a chaste kiss. There was no urgency behind it; I just wanted to be close to her, share the moment with her by my side. It was one hell of a scene. I took in the moonlit sky. Its many stars. The rarely quiet Afghani mountains. No commotions. Just quiet. Just us.

“So, what’s your deal? Why don’t you have a man?”

I was only teasing her, but she looked away from me. She did that often. As if she doubted herself a lot. Or somewhere down the line, she was told she was a disappointment and she believed it. Didn’t know why. I thought she was pretty damned cool. Whomever made her feel that way was a fucking imbecile. It was sobering to see we all had our hang-ups. We carried that extra weight on our backs as validation, trudging through life without justification, just feeding off of the bullshit we were fed.

“Oh, I don’t know,” she began, “it’s nothing dramatic. I’ve been so focused on practicing once I made the squad that I didn’t have time to date. I go to school full time, so a lot of my time is spent studying. Work mornings at a preschool, I dance, and work out the rest of the time.” She continued to talk but stayed looking away. “I had a boyfriend my first two years in college, but he was a bit controlling, didn’t want me to try out. I guess he was afraid I’d leave him or get hit on. He left me when I made the squad. So after we broke up, I didn’t want to date another guy who would be against my dreams.”

“Sara?”

“Yeah?”

“Look at me, sweetheart. I’d like to see your face while we’re talking.” She tilted her face in my direction. “Much better.”

She let out a calmed breath, and wet her lips. “What about you? A Navy SEAL and a former football player? You must have women throwing themselves at you.”

I laughed. There was my girl. “I’m not gonna lie, I’ve had my share. But once they found out I played ball, they only saw dollar signs.” Her nose scrunched at the comment. “I had a girlfriend for a bit when I was playing, but once I told her I wanted to leave football and join the Teams, she bailed. So I’ll be real with you, Sara. You’re gorgeous, a sweetheart, smart, and I’m glad you’re here, but I’m not looking for anything serious. It’s nothing personal. This job just has a way of destroying relationships. It wouldn’t be fair to get involved with you when I’m deployed nine months out of the year. I don’t want to lead you on.”

She swallowed and pursed her lips in thought. I felt bad but I prided myself on being honest about my intentions, about every aspect of my life. And I believed what I was saying. I was married to the Teams. I pledged my life to this job. A hookup with a beautiful woman was my reward for all the ways my career took over every aspect of my personal life. I needed her, I needed this release.

After an uncomfortable pause, she moved in closer and straddled me. “It’s okay, neither am I. Fair catch?”

I loved it when a woman talked football to me. “Fair catch.”

I pulled her under me, pressing myself between her thighs. She gasped and her mouth broke into a smile. The cool breeze from the mountain air seemed almost haunting, the landscape binding us together. My beard scraped her cheek, and I slowly lowered my lips to hers. She was so fucking beautiful. The first time we’d had sex, it had been all about urgency, lust, a desire for carnal knowledge. This time I wanted to take it slow, explore her, find comfort in her embrace. Kissing her was the only time I’d found peace since I’d arrived in this country and I didn’t want our connection to end. I was busy working for the rest of the week so this would be my only chance to steal her away. Come tomorrow, she’d be gone most of the day. And I wasn’t certain that I’d be able to get another moment with her.

She welcomed my kiss, her soft lips kissing me back, gently, her hot tongue exploring my mouth. Her hands clutched my ass, her fingers urging me closer to her, erasing the distance between us.

Pulling back, I reached under her tank top, my right hand cupping her left breast. I focused on the pert nipple and gave it a small pinch, then worked on the other. She had amazing tits. A phenomenal rack. And I fought the desire to yank her top off just for the view. I knew I couldn’t. I wasn’t about to take her clothes off and strip her down naked on top of this bunker, just in case we got caught. Fuck. This was hard. The forbidden element only made our liaison hotter. She arched her back and I rubbed circles around her nipple before giving it a small tug this time. She moaned softly then sucked on my tongue. Damn it. She kept that shit up and I was gonna blow my load before we even got started. “Easy,” I warned, taking a deep breath. “Lie back, baby.” She did as I asked, staring at me through lustful eyes. I stared back, relishing in the beauty that was her body for mere seconds before hooking my middle finger on the hem of her panties, and pulled it back with force. She whimpered, murmuring things I couldn’t quite understand. Using her wetness as lubricant, I slid a finger down her center then added two more, pressing into her warmth. Her lips were smooth; completely waxed. I was dying to lick her, taste her sweetness, but not here, not now.

She lay back on the sleeping bag, and I quickly unwrapped a condom, sliding it onto my length.

“Baby,” I whispered as I rubbed her clit hard and then soft, “you ready for me?”

She nodded yes, arched her back high off the floor, and I slid her pajama bottoms off as I positioned myself closer between her legs. One long thrust in and she gasped. Man, she was so hot and wet. I felt her hot center stretching for me, adapting to my size. Her tight pussy clamped around my cock. She took me like a champ, her sweet moans driving me wild. With one hand gripping her around the waist, I pulled her hips into me, my finger strumming her clit with the other.

“Oh, Kyle. You feel so good. Don’t stop.” She groaned each time I pulled out almost completely then slammed back into her. My own grunts sounded off in time with every little moan she gave. She already looked like she was going to come. Not yet, baby.

I flipped her over and propped her up so she was on all fours. She looked over her shoulder, her eyes heated, and gave me a playful glance. And I pumped my cock deep inside her, my hand prying her legs farther apart so I was still focused on her clit with two soaked fingers. The squishy sounds of our bodies rubbing together only made me want to pound into her more until she came moaning my name. Our rhythm picked up speed, and just as she would beg me not to stop, I slowed my pace.

“Doll, I could do this all night. I’m not gonna stop until you come all over me. But I want to prolong it for just a little while longer. Don’t come yet.”

She mewed in response. Her ass shined in the moonlight. My hand came down across her right cheek. Not hard, but firm enough. She had a serious booty. Round, plump, tanned.

I worked her back into me. I could tell she was closer, her breath hitched, her pussy clenched, her body shook. “Ah Kyle. Make me come.”

I wasn’t done with her yet. I wanted to stare into her eyes, see her body convulse, the look of pleasure flush on her face. I wanted to see the look she gave me earlier, now knowing I deserved it, because I’d put it there.

I reached down. Wrapping a long arm around her middle, I twisted her around again so she sat on me, and fastened my hot mouth on her nipple, licking, sucking, my tongue swirling on the tip for all I was worth.

She pressed into me, swiveling her hips, flipping her hair back, and bit her lip.

“That’s it baby. Ride me,” I encouraged.

With almost a wicked grin, she rubbed deep against me. Her rhythm varied, her legs wrapped around my back. It was as if she was giving me a private dance, the most incredible lap dance I’d ever had. My dick swelled.

“Oh, Kyle, oh, oh, oh, my God.”

“That’s it baby.”

Her pussy tightened around me, her eyelids closed, and she let out a deep moan. I let myself go, cradling her through her orgasm, completely connected to the beautiful woman on my lap.

That’s new.

She gave a final whip back on her sweat-sprinkled hair, and out came a sweet giggle. I pulled her into my arms.

It surprised me I didn’t want to bail the moment we were done. In fact, I was dreading her leaving. As I held onto her, the rise and fall of her chest told me she was still catching her breath. The ruins of war surrounded us, and I couldn’t help but feel our connection was deeper than a casual hookup, that we’d been placed on the same path for a reason.

But it didn’t matter.

Sara could be the perfect woman for me, but it wasn’t the right time. I had to let her go.