Hot SEALs: A Mission of Love (A Hot SEALs / CSA Case Files Crossover) (Kindle Worlds) by Kennedy Layne Read Free Book Online

lying against his chest, pliant in his arms. He used the remote control that he always kept close at hand to lower the lighting to a golden hue and add some soulful music to help ease the rest of Julia’s stress. She was allowing him to take care of her, but her mind was starting to spin now that reality was intruding on their small respite.
    “I love you, too.”
    Schultz couldn’t help but smile as he said the words, the moment coming sooner than he’d anticipated. Nothing had gone as planned in the proposal area and honestly, that was something he’d been used to back when he’d been in the military. Nothing ever went as planned and as his friend, Gavin Crest, always drilled into his team of investigators… improvise, adapt, and overcome. Julia had shifted so that her head tilted up toward his and her blue eyes shone with affection.
    “I honestly hadn’t meant to blurt it out like that,” Julia commented a little sheepishly, the corner of her lips turning up into a radiant smile. “Not that I regret the end result.”
    “I have no regrets either,” Schultz murmured, leaning down and brushing his lips across hers. He lifted the loofah off the indention on the side of the tub and dipped it into the water, gathering as many bubbles as he could. He gently started to wash the front of her, adjusting her against his chest so that she was more comfortable. “I’ve known from the moment I set eyes on you that you would change my life forever.”
    “Have I?” Julia asked with curiosity, lifting her arms out of the water so that he could wash them. The bubbled liquid caressed her skin and made him want to start loving her all over again. He held himself in check due to the fact that he had to call into the office soon. This evening was another matter all together and he looked forward to using the new toy he’d purchased. “You’ve definitely changed mine.”
    “I’m very career focused, but having you in my life has made me see that there are more important things.” Schultz ran the loofah down Julia’s thigh and she immediately lifted her right leg out of the water and set her foot on the edge. The movement highlighted her calf muscle and visions of her legs wrapped around his waist floated through his mind. She was very sensual and her salacious appetite matched his own. Their sexual attraction was only a part of their multi-faceted commitment. “You’ve become my anchor, Julia. Every decision I make is influenced by how it will affect us. I’m no longer a party of one. I’ve never put a woman on equal footing alongside my duty to this country until you. You’re part of my personal perspective.”
    Schultz continued to glide the cream sponge over Julia’s skin as he allowed his words to sink in. Would she understand the weight of what he’d just admitted? There wasn’t a member of his family—male or female—that hadn’t dedicated their lives to the United States of America. The sense of gratitude they felt for their independence went above and beyond, sending a sighting call out to each of them they couldn’t ignore. He was no different, although he had witnessed love transform relationships. Julia was cut from the same type of cloth and that only supplemented each other’s strengths.
    “You mean more to me than I could ever convey in words, Julia,” Schultz admitted, baring his soul the way he’d wanted to for a while now. He dropped the loofah and folded his arms around her waist, pulling her as close to him as he could and resting his cheek against hers. The words spilled out before he could stop them, not caring that they were in a tub full of white foamed bubbles. “I love you, Julia. I want to spend the rest of my life by your side, walking hand in hand with you through the years ahead. I want to watch our children grow with you as their mother guiding their way. I want to watch your laugh lines grow into beautiful contours around those eyes that suck me in every time you look my