Page 25 of A SEAL’s Vigilant Heart

“Huh?”

“You take off your shirt.” She walked up to him, and tugged at the hem of his black shirt, and he pulled it over his head. She kissed him in the middle of his chest, and he felt it down to his toes.

***

No matter what went on in her life, intimate time with Mason made everything else disappear. Her whole world tipped right side up and then narrowed so it was just the two of them encased in a bubble. She slid her arms around his lean waist loving the hard solid heat of his chest as it met her breasts.

“God, I’ve missed you,” he murmured into her hair. She giggled.

“Hey, you aren’t supposed to laugh at the man you’re going to marry in four days.”

“Mason, we just made love this morning. How could you have missed me already?” she asked reasonably.

He tilted her chin so blue eyes met green. “Didn’t you miss me today?” He grinned down at her knowing the answer.

“I guess it’s a good thing we’re getting married.” She stood on her tip toes and nipped the dimple in his chin. Then groaned as he cupped the back of her head and kissed her. God, the man knew how to kiss. Slow kisses. Soft kisses. Melt your toes kisses. The list went on. Then she was lying on the bed naked.

He nibbled her jaw, and she sighed.

“Wife.” He whispered. “That’s my dream—to be able to call you wife.” His hands played music down her body.

“My Mason.” She could barely get the words out she was so choked up. “You’re my Mason.”

She tried to push him over wanting so much to make love to him. He shook his head. “Some other time,” he promised. “Let me love you tonight.”

“You always do.”

“I need this, Sophia.” Again she looked into his sapphire blue eyes and saw his truth and nodded.

His left hand cupped and molded her breast, his thumb teasing her until she begged for his mouth. He claimed her. She arched upwards. He was so much more forceful tonight, and she reveled in it. Sophia grabbed his hand and tried to move it towards her thighs. He easily clasped her wrists and placed her hands above her head.

“Keep them there,” his voice was low and rumbly. She shivered and nodded. This was not the man she made love with that morning. He dipped his head and savored her other nipple like a long denied treat, at the same time parting her legs. He softly caressed her folds, and she could feel him smiling against her breast.

“Don’t tease,” she wailed.

He thrust two fingers inwards, and she moaned in satisfaction as he twisted and found just the right spot.

Sophia wanted to beg him not to stop, but words were beyond her. He must have read her mind because he continued, and then he brushed his thumb over her bursting clit, and she found a voice that only knew his name. “Mason,” she cried over and over.

***

Sophia woke with a start. Dammit, it was the same dream. She wished she could remember it. Then she looked over at Mason and smiled. She stretched and winced. Then she smiled again. God, the man was a fantastic lover. If she were smart, she would marry him. She laughed to herself at her little joke. Then she got up, picked his shirt off the floor, and pulled it on as she walked to the kitchen to get some milk and cookies. She was hungry for what seemed like the first time in days.

She thought about her dream again. It was filled with regret, loss, and guilt. Maybe Frannie was right. Maybe she still hadn’t dealt with the loss of her mom. The cookie suddenly tasted like sawdust as a wave of guilt hit her. It was the overwhelming sense she always woke with after her dreams, and she knew why. She set down the food and went out into the living room so she could look at the picture of Billy and their mom that Billy had set on the mantle.

That was when she saw the photo album her mom had made for her. She carefully picked it up and opened it. Her album must have been made first because it was much neater. Her mom had started with her birth certificate. Then there was a picture of her at her first communion. It wasn’t until her middle school photos that things started to get crooked. As she got to the last page, she found the letter.

“Ah Mom, why didn’t I know you had written me a letter?” Sophia felt like a piece of garbage that in those many months together in the tiny trailer, she hadn’t realized all of the time and effort her mom had put into making these photo albums or the fact she had written these letters.

“I suck,” she said. She blew hair out of her eyes and tried to hold back the threatening tears. She bit her lip and opened the envelope, it was dated two weeks before her mother died. It was hardly legible, but Sophia could read it.

Sophia,

No woman could be prouder than I am. You are the best daughter in the world. I know you are going to try to deny this, but I need you to listen. Really listen. Long before I got sick I thought you were wonderful but now I know how truly exceptional you are. You are such a kind and loving girl. You don’t see yourself clearly, but I do, and all of us who have been gifted with your presence in our lives are truly blessed.

There hasn’t been a day that has gone by that you haven’t made me feel loved and cared for. Considering the fact you have had to care for me like I was a baby makes you a very special woman, Sophia. I love you more than words can say.

I know that even with my passing you are going to take on a monumental task of raising a young boy. I know Billy couldn’t have a better person to raise him. But remember to love and care for my daughter. She deserves all of the good things life has to offer. She deserves love and happiness because that is all she has ever brought to anyone else in this world.