Seal of Honor Read online

  “Her name is Marianne,” Jordyn said. “Marianne Celesta Hennessey, and you will be her father in every sense of the word. But you’re right, I keeping slipping back to thinking like I’m still alone. But it doesn’t mean that I don’t think about you every day and realize that I’m the luckiest woman to be married to you. So, yes, let’s go shopping and I won’t try to rein you in from spoiling our girl.”

  She couldn’t have made him happier than when she spoke those words. Our girl. The words I love you hadn’t been spoken yet, but he would wait until she was ready. God knew that from the first time he set eyes on her he loved her. Zack never took anything for granted; his life and his military career taught him that. He loved her with every fiber of his being and he’d love Marianne too. He took her hand and kissed it gently before resting his head on her belly and feeling the soft kick in response.

  “Hey, little girl, Daddy’s gonna buy you a mockingbird,” he crooned. “And diamonds and a BMW. Then, when you grow up, a taser for stupid boys with cooties.”

  Jordyn laughed. “Hey, how about we let her believe in prince charming for a long time, a man like you?”

  Zack looked up and grinned. “Okay, then the taser is for me when they come calling at our door.”

  “Come here, goofball.”

  Jordyn opened her arms and this time it was him who snuggled against her happily. The baby nestled snuggly in her womb, pushing against her stomach until they both laughed while they watched. He loved being her husband, having this feeling of family so near to him. This felt perfect and he was going to cherish the feeling forever.

  * * * *

  “Let’s get you checked out, Jordyn.”

  The days ran quickly by and before she knew it, it was her usual prenatal appointment. Dr. Patel was the nicest obstetrician she’d ever met. Heck, the nicest doctor in the world as far as she was concerned. Her first appointment in New York was with a family health clinic that was understaffed and overbooked. The nurses were snippy and the doctors were indifferent and acted like their office was just a conveyor belt of women coming and going. They didn’t answer questions fully and acted impatient when she told them the prenatal vitamins they had given her made her ill. Basically, they said if she wanted a sick, underweight baby she’d stop taking them and if she wanted a healthy baby she’d suck it up.

  It was a complete surprise when she met Dr. Patel for the first time. He made sure his office worked out a payment plan with her. They helped her fill out the paperwork for the hospital so she could have her bill reduced. Each question was answered and they made her feel at ease. Even now, lying down with her feet spread apart in sterile stirrups while he checked her cervix, she felt at ease.

  “You’re not dilated and there is no thinning of your cervix yet,” Dr. Patel said.

  “It feels like she’s ready to just slip out of there.” Jordyn sighed as Dr. Patel snapped off his gloves and then helped her to sit up.

  “At this stage, you could thin out and efface in days,” Dr. Patel said with humor in his voice. “January fifth will be here in no time. Do you want to bring that strapping soldier in here to see the baby?”

  “He’s not the father,” she said and bit her lip. “I don’t know why I just said that. Maybe I feel like everyone is looking at me for marrying a man while carrying another man’s child. Geez, I’m sorry, Dr. Patel, you are probably wondering what the heck is this girl talking about.”

  He chuckled. “Pregnancy is an emotional time and who else can you talk to if not your doctor? But I’ll tell you this, Jordyn, I’m from a county where poverty is more prevalent than any other part of the world and children are orphans in the blink of an eye. They raise each other in the slums and claw their way to survival. Let me tell you that if you have a man who is going to be a good father to this little one, then it doesn’t matter who was there at her conception, only who is there now.” He patted her hand when she started to sniff. “Okay, let’s dry those tears and get your guy in here to see this baby.”

  Jordyn put her hand on his to stop him. “One more thing, Dr. Patel. Um, if we wanted to, um, you know, be…intimate, would that affect the baby?”

  “It may actually help get your cervix thinning out,” he said. “You’ve not been sexually active in this pregnancy, but my concern would be his sexual activity.”

  “He’s not been in a serious relationship in almost two years and his last physical and tests were two months ago and he had a clean bill of health,” Jordyn supplied the information. “If you feel I shouldn’t or she’d be in danger then that means an instant no for me.”

  “I’m not saying that in the least. Everything sounds good and if you trust him, then the decision is yours.” Dr. Patel draped her lower body with a warm sheet. “No wild romps or acrobatics, of course. Let’s wait until she’s officially in the world for that.”

  Jordyn smiled and felt her cheeks get warm. “Don’t worry, Dr. Patel. I don’t think this body can do any of that right now.”

  He opened the door to the exam room and ushered Zack inside. He had to go to base that morning before the appointment so he was in a blue navy digical working uniform. She had kissed him goodbye that morning and watched him get into his Armada thinking how sexy he looked. He had explained that for her security someone would be watching the house. A police car was at the end of his driveway when he left and when he came home it pulled away. Zack took her hand as he sat down beside her and Dr. Patel dimmed the light before walking over to the sonogram machine. Surprisingly, the gel was warm when he squeezed it onto her belly and soon they were looking at pictures of the little girl nestled in her womb.

  “Her heart sounds great and it’s one hundred and sixty beats per minute,” Dr. Patel said.

  “Isn’t that high?” Zack asked worriedly.

  “No, a baby’s heart beat is supposed to be that way. If it goes down quickly or goes beneath a hundred in labor then we know the baby is in distress,” Dr. Patel explained.

  “Okay.” He pulled out his phone and took the stylus from the bottom.

  “What are you doing?” Jordyn asked.

  “Taking notes.”

  Dr. Patel laughed and shook his head. “Now, here’s the good part—a four-dimensional image of your baby.”

  Jordyn gasped and her heart simply melted. Unlike the grainy image of the usual ultrasound, the image was smooth and she could see Marianne's chubby cheeks and little mouth. Zack gave a soft laugh of amazement and squeezed Jordyn’s hand. Her little finger moved and she yawned before popping the finger in her mouth. That made both her and Zack laugh and she wiped tears of happiness from her cheeks.

  “I hope you caught that image, Doc,” Zack said. His voice was husky with emotion.

  “I surely did,” Dr. Patel replied.

  “Look at her, sweetheart. She’s gorgeous,” Zack said and kissed her hand.

  “She’s amazing,” Jordyn whispered in awe. This was her girl, her baby. She would never feel alone in the world or unloved. By the time they left the office, they had a handful of pictures and Zack had one tucked into his wallet to show off to his team. Just seeing the baby made them both feel closer and connected. They walked out holding hands and Jordyn felt like she was beaming from ear to ear and floating on air.

  “So now we hit the mall, and I have a surprise,” Zack said. “Well, two—one today and one tomorrow night when we get home.”

  “What do you mean when we get home? We’re not going home tonight?” she asked. “What are you up to, Commander Hennessey?”

  “We’re going to Honolulu for shopping, dinner and then staying for the Thanksgiving luau.” Zack kissed her as he helped her into the Armada. “Tomorrow’s surprise will be seen when we get home.”

  He got in beside her and she tapped her hand on the window. “Let’s go, Commander. I’m all excited now.”

  He laughed as he pulled away. Jordyn hummed along to the Christmas music playing on the radio as they drove and talked about Marianne showing off for t
he Sonogram pictures. The sun was shining and the water off the sea was a sparkling sapphire. By now, it would be as cold as heck in New York and she would have been bundled up in double or triple layers of clothes. Here, she was wearing a white cotton maternity top and Capri pants. I could definitely get used to this. Somehow, this was turning out to the best holiday season of her life.

  * * * *

  The drumbeat made her heart beat faster. What was it about the ancient rhythm that made excitement build in your chest and made you watch with fascination for something to happen? The sound of the conch shell made her jump and she giggled as the Samoan master called the dancers out between the lighted torches. The ambience of the event was amazing. There were lush flowers in shades of reds, yellows and whites against dark green palm fronds. The island version of Christmas was in every flowered lei around the necks of dancers and the audience. White string lights were strung in the trees. The music in the background was Christmas songs blended with the traditional Hawaiian island music. Everyone quieted as the warriors took the floor.

  The dancers used flames and daring moves to entice the audience while Zack and Jordyn fed each other bits of roasted meats and rice and fruit. Their day of shopping was fun and the furniture they had picked out for the baby’s room was scheduled to be delivered in the next few days. The rest of the things like clothes and diapers were packed in the back of his Nissan Armada. She took a sip of her virgin piña colada and sighed happily. It was a perfect night. The stars blanketed the sky, the air was cool but not cold, the music was upbeat and fun and she had an amazing man by her side. They were sitting in a low-to-the-ground lounge chair that was big enough for the both of them to share. Zack had planned everything down to the last detail because the plush pillows at her back kept her upright but comfortable as she moved her bare feet to the music.

  Jordyn was enraptured by the sensual moves of the women dancers and sighed. “I wish I could get up there and dance with them. I love to dance.”

  “Why don’t you? They usually do get people from the audience to join in,” Zack said. He bit into a piece of kiwi and fed her the other piece.

  Jordyn licked the juice from her lips. “Look at them and all the other women here and then look at me. I’m as big as a house.”

  “You look gorgeous and sexy as hell to me,” Zack said. He waved his hand over to one of the dancers.

  “Zack, what are you doing?” She gasped.

  “Getting my beautiful wife up to dance. Do you know that Hawaiian culture reveres pregnant women and fertility?” He kissed her as two dancers came over with friendly smiles. “Go dance, my darling.”

  The dancers helped her up carefully from the lounge chair and put a white flowered lei around her neck before escorting her to the stage with them. As people in the audience began clapping, she watched the dancers carefully and imitated their movements. Soon, with all the other members of the audience who were chosen to come on stage, she was dancing and enjoying just being up and moving. The moves actually loosened the tight muscles of her back and hips. Zack was on his feet clapping and whistling when they were done and she came over to their lounge seat and was embraced in his warm arms.

  “You were amazing,” he said huskily.

  “Your wife is beautiful and this is for her and the new life you are bringing into the world.” The host came over to them and gave them the conch shell he blew earlier. “So the child will always know his or her way home to the island by the sea.”

  Jordyn was so moved that she burst into tears. “Thank you,” she managed to say between her sobs. They watched the rest of the show before strolling hand in hand to the room that Zack had surprised her with. When they got into the suite, Zack threw the balcony doors open to the fresh, salty breeze that ruffled the soft, white lacey curtain. When he turned, Jordyn was standing behind him and she wrapped her arms around his thick waist and laid her head against his chest.

  “I love you,” she whispered.

  “What?” he said and lifted her face to his with a finger under her chin.

  “Zack Hennessey, I love you. I married you not because I needed your protection; we could’ve figured something out,” she said, “but because in my heart I could see myself spending the rest of my life with you. So I love you, Commander.”

  He smiled ear to ear. “I’ve been waiting for that, waiting until I could say it without thinking I would scare you. Damn, baby, I love you more than any man could love a woman.”

  He kissed her long and deep and Jordyn relaxed into his kiss until she felt the wetness of desire pool between her legs. She moaned into his mouth as his tongue slipped between her lips to taste her deeper.

  “I want you,” he said when he lifted his head.

  “Dr. Patel said that it’s okay, just no tricks,” she said in a husky, teasing voice.

  He lifted her easily into his arms as if she weighed nothing even though she was pregnant and she felt like a very heavy, fine piece of porcelain in his arms. He was kissing her along her jaw and neck when he placed her on the bed and leaned over to unbutton the tiny pearl buttons on the front of her shirt.

  “I’m going to make love to you nice and slow like you deserve,” he said as he helped her shrug out of her top and unhook her bra.

  His words alone made her tremble and she gasped when his finger flicked across her engorged nipple after he took off her bra and let it fall to the floor. Her body had changed, her breasts were much fuller. Zack groaned as if an ache was relieved when he filled his hands with the smooth chocolate globes. He finished undressing her, placing kisses in different areas. Zack stood and took off his own clothes until he was very naked and his cock stood erect. Her breath caught as he turned off the light and the moonlight bathed him. He was magnificent with smooth and defined muscles. She wondered how she ever became so lucky to be the woman he loved. He came over to the bed and lay down beside her. For minutes they just stared at each other.

  “You’re beautiful,” he said simply and put his hand on her naked belly. “Thank you for this gift. You and Marianne have filled something in me that was empty for so long.”

  “Thank you for being my hero, for showing me that I don’t have to be alone,” she whispered. “I do love you.”

  “We’re going to be parents,” he chuckled. “I never thought I’d get to say those words.”

  Jordyn laughed softly. “Say that at three a.m. when she needs a bottle and a diaper change.”

  “I’ll sign up for that duty right now,” he said firmly.

  “Now that’s love,” she teased and rested her hand on his cheek.

  Zack kissed her so gently that tears pricked behind her eyes. Jordyn made a soft sound as the kiss deepened with passion. She clung to his thick biceps as his tongue penetrated her mouth hungrily and he rose up on his elbows to take more from the kiss. “I cherish you, I cherish you so much,” Zack repeated the words reverently between kisses. He cupped her sex and she lifted her hips to the heat of his hand. She felt his finger slip between the lips of her pussy and she shuddered in his arms.

  “I’m dying to be inside you,” he groaned against her breast. “It’s torture.”

  “Then do it,” she whispered.

  “Not yet, darling. I’ve waited for this too long to rush it like some randy teen,” Zack said in a voice husky with desire.

  He cupped her breasts and licked at each nipple. After sucking the tip of one into his mouth he made a sound of surprise and looked up at her. “I tasted something.

  “I think that’s pre-milk or something. Maybe my body thought it was the baby suckling. The books said I’ll start making it during this time of the pregnancy. It felt really good,” Jordyn said, embarrassed.

  “That is seriously hot,” he said and went back to his task.

  Zack’s hot mouth closed over her sensitive nipple and she gasped before crying out. He moaned in response and his hips moved reflexively. His cock poked at her belly and she took hold of it and stroked the head of it which wa
s wet with pre-come. He was primed and ready to take her. Having his mouth on her body felt so good she felt her pussy clench in want and dampness pooled between her thighs. He kissed his way down her body and when he got to the apex of her thighs, Jordyn stopped him.

  “I don’t know if you should do that,” she said nervously.

  “Honey, you are so not stopping me from tasting you.” Zack chuckled. “Relax and give into it. Let me show you and give you the pleasure you deserve.”

  Jordyn tried not to be tense as he kissed each of her thighs in turn. She still struggled with how she might look to him. What if the pregnancy made her unappealing? She felt his lips against her core and the expert movement of his tongue. She whimpered as he sucked deeply on her clit and then moaned as he circled the entrance of her core with his tongue. She felt him penetrate her with one digit and move it slowly in and out of her, building the pleasure.

  “Oh, please, Zack, please,” she whimpered.

  “What do you want, sweet Jordyn? Tell me,” he said roughly.

  “You. I want you,” she whispered.

  “You can have me.” Zack moved from between her legs and lay close to her.

  He kissed her once more and she felt several of his fingers probe and enter her again. Each time, he took his fingers deeper and he found that spot that made her cry out.

  “Yes, baby, come for me,” his voice was guttural. “Let yourself go.”

  He kept his own pace, not changing it, but being gentle yet firm with his touch and her hips rose to meet the movement of his hand. Jordyn finally crested with a cry and he prolonged it by rubbing the ball of his palm against her clit. Her breath came in slow pants and he sucked at her nipples while she came down from her sexual high.

  “You come so good,” he said gruffly.

  “Please take me,” she said breathlessly.