Nalani drove to the airport.
“Goodbye, my man. Thanks again for all your help,” Gage told Wolf after helping him with their luggage.
“Anytime, my man. You take good care of Nalani.”
“I will.” The two SEALs shook hands.
Tears flowed once again between Nalani and Caroline.
“Let’s keep in touch this time,” said Caroline.
“Yes, let’s,” said Nalani. They hugged. Then Nalani hugged Matthew and Gage hugged Caroline.
“Take good care of my friend,” said Caroline.
Smiling down at her, Gage said, “you got it.”
Gage and Nalani waved bye to their friends, and Gage said, “Mahalo,” while Nalani put her hand over her heart.
Caroline and Matthew put their hands over their hearts and said, “Mahalo.”
For the next few weeks, Nalani, Mikey and Gage took Shredder to his classes. Shredder began to loosen up and become more comfortable around other dogs and he and Mikey became almost inseparable.
One night, after fixing dinner for Gage to thank him for helping with Shredder she explained why she’d decided to adopt Mikey. As she began crying, he found himself putting his arms around her as they sat on the couch together. Since it was late, Mikey was already sleeping.
After a while, Gage asked Nalani if she was ready to go to bed.
“Yes,” she said.
He scooped her up and his secure arms.
“Where’s your bedroom?” She pointed.
He took her to her bed and let her stretch out. He put her blanket over her and asked, “Can I lie down beside you? I just want to hold you.”
“Yes, I don’t want you to go.”
He held her for a long time before he spoke. He spoke very softly. “I think what you’re doing with Mikey is very brave. My dad was in the military when he slept with my mother. She was a Native woman. He didn’t even know she had me until I was about 4 years old and my mother tracked him down. My aunt, his sister, helped raise me.
“Once when I was a teenager and I was feeling my Cheerios, I had a big fight with my dad. My aunt told me something about him he’d never told me. When I was about 5 years old, my father visited me at the reservation. My mom and her sister were heavy drinkers. One day when they got drunk, my dad heard my aunt call me her little ‘niglet.’ My mom giggled when she said it.
“My aunt told me that my dad scooped me up and took me home with him that same day. He kept paying my mom child support so she wouldn’t fight to keep me. Nalani, I want you to think of me whenever you wonder if you did the right thing for Mikey.
“You’ve done something special for him. You’ve saved him from a lifetime of pain. From a very young age, I knew I was different from everyone else on the reservation.
“After my aunt told me that, I realized how much my father had sacrificed to raise me. He was strict with me not because he didn’t love me—it was because he loved me so much. I’m the man I am today because of him. And because like you’re doing for Mikey, he had the courage to rescue me from an abusive situation.”
The tears she shed were for the hurt she felt for Mikey and for the four-year-old Gage. She looked up at Gage and kissed him. “Thank you for sharing that.” He softly kissed her back, then he began kissing away her tears.
Once they stopped flowing she said, “I know you said you wanted to hold me, but Gage—I’m ready for more.” She cradled his face and looking into his eyes told him, “I’m in love with you. I didn’t know it when I first met you—but I’ve been in love with you—for forever.”
“I love you too, Nalani.” He pressed his full, sexy lips onto hers, kissing her deep. She raked her fingers through his thick, curly hair. He pulled the blanket back then he gently unbuttoned her top. He tenderly caressed her breasts with his warm hands. He bent and planted delicate kisses all over her neck and chest. Taking his time, he played with her nipples. They tingled and peaked under his feathery touch. She bent her legs, and he began caressing her creamy colored thighs. She writhed in delight. He motioned for her to raise her butt so he could remove her pants and panties. He sat there and looked at her curvy naked body for a few moments, savoring every inch.
She pulled him to her and kissed his sumptuously full lips. They licked and explored each other. He stood and pulled off his shirt, then his pants. Then he got on top of her. She was wet went he entered. He did it slow and easy.
He grabbed her butt-cheeks with his strong hands. She whimpered with delight which made him build into a faster rhythm. She bucked to match his movements.
“Good Lord!” He cried. “You feel so damn good!” He suckled her neck then, as they were building into a frenzy of passion he covered her mouth with his. Their tongues went wild.
After making love, they showered together then he lay with her until the Hilo turquoise sky rose, mixing with ribbons of pink and orange to signal the glorious dawning of a new day.
After Gage left and Nalani was alone, she thought about the events that had brought her her new family. A brother she planned to adopt and raise as her own and a man who’d suffered the same pain from his mother and aunt as she’d suffered from her Aunt Lane.
She said a silent thank you to the man she knew was responsible for bringing her this happiness. She knew somehow her father had given her the courage to protect Mikey. And she knew that this new family of hers Mikey, Shredder and Gage and even her mother who came to visit Mikey often, would be able to heal their wounds—together.
Pronunciation Key
Ainanani Place ~ i-naw-nah-knēē
Brianna Kamehameha ~ Brianna ~ brēē ah nah ~ Kamehameha
kah māy ha māy ha
Casaus ~ cah sōw es
Dr. Hekekia ~ heck ah key ah
Furneaux ~ fur know
Ionale ēē oh nah lay ~ Palikiko ~pal lēē kēy kōh
Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo ~Naniloa ~ nah knēē low ah
Hilo ~ hee lōw
Haloe ~ howl lee
Hanne Kamehameha ~ Hanne ~ ha knēē ~ Kamehameha
kah māy ha māy ha
Ikebana ~ icky bah nah
Luau (lūū ow)
Mahalo ~ mah hah lō
maka maka ~ mah kah mah kah
Makoa Koskos ~ ma kō ah ~ Koskos ~ cause kōs
Nalani Yung ~ nah lah knēē ~ Yung ~ young
About the Author
Hi, I’m bestselling author Rose Smith. My latest novels include, Saving Satin, My Hired Husband, Flying Fawna and the upcoming Beyond the Silver Door. I live in New Mexico with my secret lover (aka hunky husband) of over 30 years.
I blame my ongoing love affair on all the ‘research’ I’m ‘forced’ to do for my romance books. My wish for you is that you--like your favorite heroine, find the romance of your dreams. Here's to loving a lifetime's worth!
Also by Rose Smith
Flying Fawna (Magic, New Mexico Book 16)
My Hired Husband
Beast: Sexy Shifter Erotica
Saving Satin (SEALs on Vacation books 1)
There are many more books in this fan fiction world than listed here, for an up-to-date list go to www.AcesPress.com
You can also visit our Amazon page at:
http://www.amazon.com/author/operationalpha
Special Forces: Operation Alpha World
Christie Adams: Charity’s Heart
Denise Agnew: Dangerous to Hold
Shauna Allen: Awakening Aubrey
Brynne Asher: Blackburn
Linzi Baxter: Unlocking Dreams
Jennifer Becker: Hiding Catherine
Alice Bello: Shadowing Milly
Heather Blair: Rescue Me
Anna Blakely: Rescuing Gracelynn
Amy Briggs: Saving Sarah
Julia Bright: Saving Lorelei
Victoria Bright: Surviving Savage
Cara Carnes: Protecting Mari
Kendra Mei Chailyn: Beast
Melissa Kay Clarke: Rescuing Annabeth
Samantha A. Cole: Handling Haven
Sue Coletta: Hacked
Melissa Combs: Gallant
Anne Conley: Redemption for Misty
KaLyn Cooper: Rescuing Melina
Liz Crowe: Marking Mariah
Sarah Curtis: Securing the Odds
Jordan Dane: Redemption for Avery
Tarina Deaton: Found in the Lost
KL Donn: Unraveling Love
Riley Edwards: Protecting Olivia
PJ Fiala: Defending Sophie
Nicole Flockton: Protecting Maria
Michele Gwynn: Rescuing Emma
Casey Hagen: Shielding Nebraska
EM Hayes: Gambling for Ashleigh
Desiree Holt: Protecting Maddie
Kathy Ivan: Saving Sarah
Jesse Jacobson: Protecting Honor
Silver James: Rescue Moon
Becca Jameson: Saving Sofia
Kate Kinsley: Protecting Ava
Heather Long: Securing Arizona
Gennita Low: No Protection
Kirsten Lynn: Joining Forces for Jesse
Margaret Madigan: Bang for the Buck
Kimberly McGath: The Predecessor
Rachel McNeely: The SEAL’s Surprise Baby
KD Michaels: Saving Laura
Wren Michaels: The Fox & The Hound
Kat Mizera: Protecting Bobbi
Mary B Moore: Force Protection
LeTeisha Newton: Protecting Butterfly
Angela Nicole: Protecting the Donna
MJ Nightingale: Protecting Beauty
Sarah O’Rourke: Saving Liberty
Victoria Paige: Reclaiming Izabel
Anne L. Parks: Mason
Debra Parmley: Protecting Pippa
Lainey Reese: Protecting New York
TL Reeve and Michele Ryan: Extracting Mateo
Elena M. Reyes: Keeping Ava
Angela Rush: Charlotte
Rose Smith: Saving Satin
Jenika Snow: Protecting Lily
Lynn St. James: SEAL’s Spitfire
Dee Stewart: Conner
Harley Stone: Rescuing Mercy
Jen Talty: Burning Desire
Megan Vernon: Protecting Us
Police and Fire: Operation Alpha World
Freya Barker: Burning for Autumn
KaLyn Cooper: Justice for Gwen
Aspen Drake: Sheltering Emma
Deanndra Hall: Shelter for Sharla
Barb Han: Kace
CM Steele: Guarding Hope
Reina Torres: Justice for Sloane
Stacey Wilk: Stage Fright
As you know, this book included at least one character from Susan Stoker’s books. To check out more, see below.
SEAL of Protection: Legacy Series
Securing Caite
Securing Brenae (novella)
Securing Sidney
Securing Piper
Securing Zoey (Jan 2020)
Securing Avery (May 2020)
Securing Kalee (Sept 2020)
Delta Team Two Series
Shielding Gillian (Apr 2020)
Shielding Kinley (Aug 2020)
Shielding Aspen (Oct 2020)
Shielding Riley (TBA)
Shielding Devyn (TBA)
Shielding Ember (TBA)
Shielding Sierra (TBA)
Delta Force Heroes Series
Rescuing Rayne (FREE!)
Rescuing Aimee (novella)
Rescuing Emily
Rescuing Harley
Marrying Emily (novella)
Rescuing Kassie
Rescuing Bryn
Rescuing Casey
Rescuing Sadie (novella)
Rescuing Wendy
Rescuing Mary
Rescuing Macie (Novella)
Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes Series
Justice for Mackenzie (FREE!)
Justice for Mickie
Justice for Corrie
Justice for Laine (novella)
Shelter for Elizabeth
Justice for Boone
Shelter for Adeline
Shelter for Sophie
Justice for Erin
Justice for Milena
Shelter for Blythe
Justice for Hope
Shelter for Quinn
Shelter for Koren
Shelter for Penelope
SEAL of Protection Series
Protecting Caroline (FREE!)
Protecting Alabama
Protecting Fiona
Marrying Caroline (novella)
Protecting Summer
Protecting Cheyenne
Protecting Jessyka
Protecting Julie (novella)
Protecting Melody
Protecting the Future
Protecting Kiera (novella)
Protecting Alabama’s Kids (novella)
Protecting Dakota
New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author Susan Stoker has a heart as big as the state of Tennessee where she lives, but this all American girl has also spent the last fourteen years living in Missouri, California, Colorado, Indiana, and Texas. She’s married to a retired Army man who now gets to follow her around the country.
www.stokeraces.com
www.AcesPress.com
susan@stokeraces.com