Page 8 of A SEAL’s Vigilant Heart

Chapter Three

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Mason was nervous, and he was never nervous. Of course, this was the first time he’d come home wounded.

He shut off the radio as he exited the Five Freeway, and took the side streets that led him to the home he shared with Sophia and Billy. His shoulder throbbed, and it pissed him off. He loved it when she launched herself into his arms, and he carried her into their bedroom. If he did it tonight, he’d probably tear the stitches. Dammit! He’d have to tell her about the injury right from the get-go. He hit the steering wheel hard.

“Fuck!” That had hurt. He had to remember not to use his right hand for a few days.

He had no idea how she was going to take it. They never really had a deep dark discussion about the dangers of his job. Sophia seemed to take it in stride, and that was enough for him. What happened if this changed things?

Fuck. Are my palms actually wet?

He and the guys always said they would only want to be with women who understood their need to be SEALs. Their need to serve their country and the fact it included going on dangerous missions. He always assumed Sophia was that kind of woman because she had handled it so well when he left in the past. But what if this injury changed things? Mason couldn’t imagine a life not leading his SEAL team. But he couldn’t imagine a life without Sophia either.

This time, he used his left hand to massage the tense muscles in the back of his neck.

He made the last turn down the street to their house and pulled into the driveway. The door flew open, and there she was. All of his worries temporarily flew out of his mind as he looked at the breathtaking woman who had agreed to marry him. She was wearing a yellow sundress that looked beautiful in the moonlight. She waited for him on the top stair of the side door at the kitchen, ready for the launch. Mason was slow getting out of his truck. He didn’t bother with his duffle; he’d get it in the morning. Sophia was practically vibrating with excitement and he grinned at her. But her smile dimmed as he walked slowly around the cab of the truck.

“Mason?” His name was a question.

“I’m all right.”

She moved faster than he had ever seen. In less time than it took to blink she was in front of him, looking up at him, her hands on his chest, and then cupping his cheeks.

“Mason, what happened? Should you have been driving? Do you need help getting inside?” He looked at her in amazement. There was no wailing, no censure, no histrionics, nope, nothing.

“I need a kiss. I need my welcome home kiss. I’m only sorry I won’t be able to carry you to our bedroom.”

He watched as she bit her lip. “I think I need our kiss more than I ever have before,” she said.

She stood on tiptoe, and he scooped her up with both arms, uncaring about the pain in his right shoulder. He needed to feel Sophia pressed against him. He was hungry for the taste of her, and he ravished instead of seduced. She trembled and forced himself to pull away.

“Too much?”

“Not enough. It’s never enough but tonight it’s worse.” Her green eyes were shiny, and it wasn’t just the reflection of the moon.

“I’m safe. I came back to you. I’ll always come back to you.”

Her head dipped down for a moment, and then she looked back at him. “I love you. And I need you, handsome.” She gave him a saucy grin. “And, since you can’t carry me does it mean I get to finally carry you?” Mason shouted with laughter.

“How about we race to the bedroom?” Sophia shot him a worried glance.

“It’s my shoulder, honey. I can race just fine. I’ll need some help getting out of my clothes. Are you willing to play nursemaid?”

“Who’s been helping you when I wasn’t around? Drake? I swear that man has had a secret crush on you for years.”

“Nah, it was Clint. You’re going to have to break it to Lydia that he’s probably going to end up leaving her because of his unrequited love for me.” He threw his arm around Sophia, glad she was willing to banter instead of obsessing about his injury. He’d been worried about nothing. Now he could focus on the important thing—making love to the woman who owned his heart.

When they were finally naked on their bed, she kissed him on top of the large bandage on his shoulder.

“How many stitches, Mason?”

“About the same amount you had when you were attacked.”

“Then should we be doing this? You could end up pulling them out. Maybe you need to rest.” He was kneeling in front of her. He pulled her hand to the front of his thighs so she could caress his throbbing cock.

“I would end up far more injured if I weren’t allowed to make love to you tonight. You’re my compass. Anytime I get lost or something goes wrong all I have to do is think about my Sophia, and I know where I am supposed to be. My place is with you.”