Finding Kenna (SEAL Team Hawaii #3)(63)

“Wow, um, okay. Maybe.”

He smiled at her.

“But I’m sure I’ll be fine going home tonight.”

“Stay,” he cajoled. “I might not be able to join you in my bed, but I love the thought of you being there.”

“Well, shit. How can I say no to that?” she teased.

“You can’t.”

“Okay. I’ll stay.”

“Good. I’ll get the bags with the stuff you picked up this morning at the swap meet from the car, and give them to Robert or whoever is on duty to store for you until tomorrow. I’ll also arrange for a taxi for you.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“Yes, I do.” They stared at each other for a moment before Aleck pulled her closer. “Come ’ere,” he said gently.

Kenna snuggled into his embrace. They both sighed.

Aleck hated that this was how their night was ending. Not because he wouldn’t get the chance to go to bed with her, but because he could tell she was now stressed and sad.

“I’ll be back before you know it.”

“I know. Marshall?”

“Yeah?”

“I know your job is dangerous, and your team is one of the best, but…” Her voice trailed off.

She didn’t need to continue. Aleck was pretty sure he knew what she was going to say. “We’re good at what we do. We’re coming back,” he told her. He really shouldn’t promise anything of the sort, but there was no way he could just stand there and not reassure her.

Kenna nodded against him. He felt her take a deep breath before she pulled back. Tears shone in her eyes, but she blinked them away. “Right. So…you need to get packed so you can go kick some ass.”

Fuck, this woman killed him. “I’m gonna miss you. I think we’ve talked and texted every day since you jumped on my head.”

“I didn’t jump on your head,” she protested automatically, as she always did. “And yeah, I think we have. I’ll miss you too. But you need to go and do your thing.”

Aleck nodded.

Kenna gave him a little push. “Go. I’ll clean up our dinner stuff.”

Reluctantly, knowing he really did need to get moving, Aleck headed for his bedroom. By the time he’d packed, Kenna had filled the dishwasher and put away the leftovers. She was standing on his balcony looking out at the ocean when he returned to the living area with his duffle bag and wearing his camouflage uniform.

She obviously heard him and turned. She gave him a wobbly smile and walked toward him. “I don’t know how much this place costs, but that balcony makes it worth every penny.”

Aleck knew she wasn’t fishing to find out how much the condo was worth. She was making small talk to try to make his leaving easier. He met her halfway across the room and cradled her nape in his hand, his other arm sliding around her back. It felt natural now to hold her like this. “I’m coming back,” he said gruffly. “There’s no way I’m fucking dying before I taste your pussy. Before I get inside you.”

She choked out a laugh. “Okay. Good. Because I haven’t gotten to suck you off either,” she returned.

Aleck lowered his mouth and kissed her long, hard, and deep. He was only torturing them both, but he couldn’t seem to stop. He’d always assumed that deployments were harder on the ones left behind. Mustang and Midas always talked about how difficult they were for their women. But he hadn’t realized how tough it would be for him to leave her behind.

When he finally pulled back, they were both breathing hard. Kenna’s fingers were digging into his chest and as he stared into her eyes, a tear finally broke free and fell down her cheek. She immediately used her shoulder to wipe it away.

“I’m fine,” she said almost defiantly.

“I know you are,” Aleck said gently, then kissed her forehead. “Stay here,” he said. “You don’t need to walk me down.”

She shook her head. “No, I want to—”

“It’s hard enough for me to leave you,” Aleck interrupted. “I’d like my last sight of you for a while to be here. In my space.”

Kenna took a deep breath. “Okay,” she said, giving in immediately.

He stared at her for a long moment before swallowing hard and backing away. He needed to just leave already. Staying here looking at her longingly wouldn’t make his departure any easier. “Like a bandage,” he muttered.

“Get it over with fast,” Kenna agreed, on the same wavelength as him, as usual.

Aleck backed away, not taking his gaze from hers until he almost tripped over his duffle bag.

Kenna giggled, and Aleck knew the sound would stay with him the entire time he was gone. He smiled and winked at her, picked up his bag, then backed toward the door. He opened it and gave Kenna a chin lift, then turned, exited his condo, and shut the door behind him.

Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to walk down the hall toward the elevator. This sucked.





This sucks, Kenna thought to herself as she stood in the middle of Marshall’s empty condo. She wanted to run after him and tell him not to go. But he had to. It was what he did. Who he was. She’d so wanted to ask where he was going and if it would be dangerous, but of course it would be. He was a SEAL, for God’s sake.