Final Strike

  “What does it say?” Gage asked.

  Team Ten,

  You are reading this because I am gone. I thought long and hard about who the hell I was supposed to write this letter to. I didn’t need to worry about my wife, her family would take of her. I never fit in with them, in their eyes I was never good enough for their daughter, and having no other family, it was hard to figure out. But in the end, I wrote two letters, it came down to who was my family and who I would have chosen as a family.

  I have watched you six men grow from being a rough and scraggly group of men into a team that most of the military hope to be. Out of all of my men, this team has had a special connection from the very start. No other team has been as close as you all, it has been a humbling experience to watch.

  When I first joined the Special Ops Group, I envisioned this type of friendship that you have all developed. And I realized I had not allowed myself to get close to anyone like that. Looking at how much you have been through with each other, and how much you are willing to go through for each other, it’s an amazing thing. Because of this, I chose you to write this letter to.

  If I would have ever had a son, I would have hoped he would be exactly like you, Thane. You are the head of this motley crew and because of that, I am sending this to you. I know all of your men are there with you. Let them know that I have never been prouder of a group of men as I have been of them. The obstacles that you have overcome are a testament to the men you have all become.

  I have all of my stuff in order; to be honest, I didn’t want to leave anything to chance. I have only one request, and I know it is asking a lot of you all since you have already been through so much. However, I needed someone I could trust with this.

  First off, I was never unfaithful to my wife, she was a good woman, and a strong partner for a military man like myself. What I am about to tell you, she doesn’t know about, and I don’t want you to share this with her either. With her family, this would have been the proof for them that I really wasn’t good enough for her and I won’t put her through it without me around to be a buffer.

  Many years ago, there was a woman who I thought I was going to marry. Like all young and stupid young men do, I took the relationship for granted, figured she would always be there for me waiting. When I got back from a mission, she was gone. No one knew where she had gone. I called her parents and it was a false number. I met her on the base, she was working at a restaurant there. The name she used was Laura McKenzie. It took me many years and a lot of favors to find out where she went. I received this the day before I wrote this letter, all hell is breaking loose here and if I don’t get a chance, please contact my daughter. I just found out Laura was pregnant when she ran away from me. I don’t know why, and I suppose it doesn’t really matter anymore. But could you at least contact her and let her know about me?

  I don’t have much to leave her, but enclosed is the money I want to be given to her. Thank you for everything you guys have done and the example you have set for the men who will follow in your footsteps.

  This letter was given to the JAG, and he had instructions on what to do. Before all this shit started, I wanted you all to know how much I cared about you. I believe you deserved more than what you were given. So to help with your new start, I had a friend find these horses for you. They are a symbol of what you have lost, and what you have gained.

  Ready to Lead, Ready to Follow, Never Quit.

  Norman “Apollo” Greese

  Thane looked up at his friends when he finished reading it aloud. They walked around to the back of the truck where the man had already unloaded six horses. Thane felt emotion clog in his throat, Persian Draft Horses; they were the original ‘War Horse’.

  The deliveryman smiled and held out the reins. “This is Wolfman,” he said and Alex reached for the leather lead.

  “Raider,” he said and Gage took the lead.

  “Dagwood,” he said and Mason took the lead.

  “Emo,” he said and Jessie took the lead.

  “Frogman,” he said and Drake to the lead.

  “Finally, Clipper,” he said and Thane took the lead.

  They stood and looked at their new horses. Dario and the others signed the papers for the deliveryman and moved him along.

  “Damn,” Gage whispered and petted his black horse’s nose.

  Thane looked into the horse’s eyes and smiled. Clipper moved and put his tall head on his shoulder and leaned against him a little. Thane closed his eyes and just stood there with him, neither moving, just being. He could almost feel the spirit of his friend next to him smiling.

  No one knew how long the men stood there with their new horses. The only thing they knew is that people had come and gone, men had worked around them, their loved ones sat and watched, but none of the men had let go of their horse until they had been able to hold it together. Their new animals had sensed it and been there for them to lean on.

  Dinner had been a quiet affair and after everyone helped with the cleanup, they had gone to their suites. Once Mel, Thane, and Dario entered their room and closed the door closed behind them, she turned to face her men. The fire in their eyes made her pause. Before she could blink Dario was in front of her.

  As Dario lifted her shirt, she kicked off her shoes quickly, and then waited patiently while he pulled off her jeans as well. Thane stepped behind her and unhooked her bra, but he didn’t take it off. From the way Dario’s gaze never left her face, she was in for a long night of passionate lovemaking—and she couldn’t wait.

  Thane’s hands slipped under the bra and palmed her breasts as his lips kissed a sensitive spot below her ear. “I love how you feel between us. It is like we were made for each other.”

  She moaned and nodded. “We are, I know we are.”

  “Darlin’, you have no idea how much you mean to us,” Thane whispered in her ear, making her shiver.

  Her panties soaked as she thought about how they could make her feel like she was the most important person in the world. Dario knelt in front of her and leaned his head against her belly. He needed her, and she wrapped her hands around his head and held him close. It was going to be a long haul with these men, they were both so wounded. One had never experienced a family and the other betrayed by his.

  “I need you, need to feel our connection again,” she whispered, and Dario growled and kissed her stomach again letting her feel like she was healing them with her touch.

  “I have waited for so long to feel this way.” He kissed her stomach and looked up at her. “Together it feels like nothing can touch us. We are going make you feel so good.”

  Mel nodded and bit her lip, she had no idea what they had in store for her, but a girl could hope.

  He dragged his mouth lower. With his teeth, he tugged her panties low in front, but they didn’t budge over her ass. Thane had been waiting patiently from behind, but he lost the battle of wills he was having, and pulled the back of her panties down and cupped her ass.

  “Darlin’, I love your ass,” Thane said.

  She felt her ass clench as she thought about them taking her together again. The feelings had been so intense, she knew it would be the same again and she was ready. She had so much to learn about these amazing men. They had barely touched the surface with knowing each other, but she was more than ready to make it happen.

  With Thane’s help, her panties slipped lower, and Dario’s tongue pushed through her folds. Dear God, she wouldn’t be able to hold out if they planned on taking their time like this. Mel could feel her impatience growing with each chill that ran through her body.

  She clamped her hands onto Dario’s shoulders and leaned back her head. Thane stepped to the side and removed her bra. He leaned over and nipped at her nipple. His touch made her core quiver.

  “I think it’s time we show this woman exactly how much we love her,” Thane said.

  “Me more,” she said. They had been going back and forth saying that to each other. Whoever said I lov
e you first, the other responded with me more.

  “Darlin’, by the time we are done, you are gonna know who loves you more.” Thane swooped her up in his arms and lowered her to the bed. The movement made her dizzy, they had such a strong effect on her.

  By the time her head cleared, her arms were tied up and she was spread out wide for them to look at. If she could have covered herself, she would, until she saw the looks of passion and lust in their eyes.

  “We thought we would show that even with ranching being new to Dario and me, we at least know how to use ropes,” Thane said with a sparkle in his eyes.

  “You okay, sweetie?” Dario said.

  “Yes, but uh, I really need for you to hurry up,” she whispered.

  “Hang on, darlin’,” Thane said.

  “I’m trying.”

  Dario crawled between her thighs and spread her wide. “I need you wide open.”

  He tied a loose loop around an ankle and secured the other end on the leg of the bed. After he repeated the same action on the other leg, the vulnerability hit home. She was spread-eagle on a bed with two dressed men, who seemed determined to suck, lick, and kiss her to death long before she got any cock.

  “You okay, darlin’? You look a bit worried.”

  “I’m worried because you aren’t naked.”

  They both laughed. “We can take care of that.”

  Dario took a few condoms from his jeans pocket and tossed them on the bed. She really hoped they intended on using every one of those condoms. Her need to feel them was becoming desperation.

  After he stepped out of his pants, he stood before her proudly. Mel loved the sight of them and didn’t think she would ever get tired of it. She wondered briefly if one could die from happiness. Dario grabbed his cock and pumped it a few times.

  “This is what you do to me,” he said.

  She slowly ran her tongue over her lips, “Oh my God.”

  He grinned and dropped to his belly on the bed. Thane lay next to her so he was right at her breast level. “Damn it, you need to make sure I am watching next time,” she said.

  “I’m sorry, darlin’. I couldn’t wait, you can look at me all you want later, first I think these need a little attention,” Thane replied and captured her breast in his mouth, sucking in. The suction nearly made her lift off the bed. The shock of the pressure quickly subsided and turned into pleasure.

  “I am pretty sure the other one is lonely too,” she whispered.

  “Sweetheart, don’t worry, we will take care of you,” Dario whispered.

  Thane’s hands wandered all over her body, touching her entire length and then back up again before settling on her other breast. He slid to the side and wrapped his hands in her hair as he raked his teeth over her nipple. The tension on her hair and the erotic pull on her swollen nipple drove her crazy. She wanted to touch her men but couldn’t get loose.

  Dario seemed to be content for Thane to start the seduction, but the moment she moaned, he latched onto her pussy.

  “Oh, my God.” What the hell were they doing to her? She never felt anything like this before in her life, and she was surely not going to ever again.

  She wanted to scoot down for more contact, but the rope prevented her from moving. The lack of control heightened the excitement, but frustrated her at the same time. She wanted to feel them and show them how she felt. She loved them, and before the night was over, she wanted them to know how much. For now, she’d enjoy the ecstasy of their lovemaking.

  Dario’s tongue expertly circled her clit before licking up and down her slit. The dual sensations made her breath catch several times as they both worked her over. Placing a palm on her belly, Dario pushed one finger into her pussy. Damn it, she wanted to feel them inside her, not their fingers.

  “I need you,” she whispered, hoping they were listening to her.

  Dario’s answer was to press two fingers into her, but that only added to her desperation. He moved his fingers inside her, forcing her juices to flow. The air became thick as their passion began to build.

  Thane probably thought she needed to be distracted because he stopped playing with her breasts, crawled up to her face and kissed her. At first, the kiss came out hard and demanding, but once she opened up her mouth, he softened his touch. She nipped his tongue. When he pulled back a bit, she bit his bottom lip.

  “I can’t wait, get on your hands and knees” Dario ordered, he and Thane already moving to release the rope holding her, then waited for her to turn around.

  Mel moved quickly, Dario laid on the bed and pulled her over to him and grinned. He lined up his cock, then pushed up into her at the same time she pushed down and the instant feeling of fullness almost drove her over the edge. Nothing could compare to the intimate sensation though, of having Thane move around behind her and press a finger in her ass. It made her feel decadent.

  Slowly, Thane began to stretch her gently, moving in and out of her ass as Dario moved slowly in and out of her at the same time. She could feel her impatience, she needed him inside her.

  “Please, you need to get inside me,” Mel yelled.

  “Calm down, I will get there,” Thane laughed and pulled his fingers out.

  Fisting her hands in the bedcovers she held on, took a deep breath, and waited. She let out a cry when Thane pressed the head of his cock through the tight ring of muscle and into her ass.

  “Yes, feels so good,” Mel moaned and dropped her head.

  Thane rubbed her back and slid inside her with one thrust. She screamed at the sensation and moved to take them both fully. She was theirs and she had never felt so loved.

  Both men cursed and held themselves deep inside her, their harsh groans were the most erotic sounds she had ever heard. It made her feel powerful. Her pussy and ass gripped both of them and she needed them to move fast.

  Mel started to rock on Dario’s cock, sucking in a breath as it hit her clit. Thane held inside her as she situated herself where she wanted.

  “Ready?” Thane whispered and Mel nodded.

  Dario gripped her waist and withdrew all of the way out of her, and then thrust back in quickly as Thane pulled out. They slid in and out deeply, both of them almost withdrawing fully from her body before thrusting back in. The strokes were driving her crazy.

  Stunned by the incredible sensations in her inner walls of her pussy and ass, she held on, as they owned her. She clenched and felt her juices flow freely as they gave her pleasure.

  She started coming, a slow roll of pleasure getting stronger and stronger as they moved. She couldn’t catch her breath as they tightened their grip on her.

  “Fuck,” Thane yelled and she knew they were close.

  With frantic thrusts and moans the trio came together with a blazing explosion that took all of their energy and sapped it from their bodies. Falling to the side, they stayed together as they tried to catch their breath.

  It could have minutes or hours, when Thane’s voice broke through her sex-induced brain. “Everyone ready for around two?

  “Well, yeah, that was the plan with the condoms, using them,” Dario chuckled.

  The men did exactly what they said they were going do, they showed her several times how much they loved her.

  Chapter Nineteen

  The one-year anniversary of the bombing started with an amazing sunrise they were all together to witness. On the lawn of the ‘Big House’ as they now referred to Alex’s home, they stood side by side and watched as a new day begun. Each of them felt the presence of the fallen next to them as they thought about the same day a year ago.

  As the day progressed, their hearts grew heavier. They knew instinctively what was to come. They were going to say goodbye to them for the last time.

  People began to arrive at lunchtime and didn’t stop until the band started to play in the barn. Old and new friends were there. Alex’s entire family was present. Men from other SEAL teams came. The town folk were there. And they all celebrated the lives of Team TEN.
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  Dallas stood on the podium and looked across the barn to where they all stood. “I want to welcome home the family of Team TEN. We are all connected to these men’s lives because of their ability to touch us all. When Alex came to us and said he wanted to join the military, his mother, Bailey, flipped out.”

  “Yes I did,” Bailey yelled from somewhere in the front.

  Dallas rolled his eyes and continued, “However, we were proud of him. After he was assigned to the team and we met all of them, our family grew. They are outstanding men who have all proven beyond a shadow of doubt their love for each other, and the Corps. One year ago today, we lost men who had become a huge part of our family. Although some of you didn’t know them, they were amazing and will be missed every day. Through them, the remaining team members have met their partners in life. For that I will always be grateful. To the TEAM!” Dallas said and held up his beer.

  The rest of the room followed and the six men of Team TEN raised their glasses to all of them. Out of the corner of his eye, Thane saw Sam standing and smiling with the rest of the team. It was time, he thought and looked at the others who had already seen their friends.

  Slowly, the group began to filter out of the barn as the party went on without them. The yard had been transformed over the week, and it seemed like the place they needed to end this. Thane stood in front of the group and smiled at them before speaking.

  “It has been exactly a year,” Thane said to his friends, brothers in arms, and family. “So much has happened and changed. New people have come into our lives, and old friends have come home. Now it is time to let the ones who brought us together go.”

  He could hear the sniffles of emotion already rising as the fallen appeared around them. This last time no mystical powers were needed to see them, they were right where they had always been, standing next to them, supporting them, and most of all—protecting them.

  “You know when I first came into the Corps, I was looking for something I had never had. A place to belong, and you all gave that to me,” Thane said, his voice husky and thick. Sam smiled and shook his head. “Losing the six of you almost broke me. I will be honest with all of you. My intention was to make sure you guys were settled and I was going to leave. I didn’t think I could be here with you all when I thought I was the one to blame.”