Chapter Six
Sloane
We left her apartment and headed to the Ocean Front Walk to meet up with my friends.
While I was glad to be spending time with them—and my dog—I would have much rather fucked Ashley senseless, then fallen asleep. Because by nightfall, I was fading fast, and I was worried about how well I was going to perform later. I’d promised her I’d make waiting worth it, now I wasn’t so sure.
At dinner in one of my favorite restaurants on the pier, I found myself struggling to keep up with the conversation. Maybe walking Tank as far as we had on the boardwalk hadn’t been such a great idea.
Craig looked at me from across the table and said, “Dude, how long have you been up? You’re practically falling asleep in your mashed potatoes.”
I scrubbed my hand down my face, feeling the scruffiness in my palm before glancing at my watch.
“Going on twenty-nine hours.”
Ashley turned to me with raised eyebrows. “ Twenty-nine hours ?”
“Well, I managed to nap a little while we were crossing the Atlantic.”
She ran her hand up and down my arm. “Oh my god, Sloane. You need to go to bed.”
I shook my head. “No, I’m okay. It’s just harder when the sun’s gone down.”
“Which is pretty early this time of year,” Ryan observed.
Before I’d known I was invited to spend the night with Ashley, I’d planned on staying up until at least nine to try to adjust my sleep schedule and lessen the jetlag. Yeah, I’d wake up early, but that wasn’t anything new. But now that I was staying at Ashley’s, that put a whole new twist on things.
“I’m sure a full belly isn’t helping,” Ashley added.
Craig asked, “What time do they expect you on base tomorrow?”
“Not until noon. I’d like to say they’re being considerate and letting me acclimate, but I think it’s really because that’s what time the brass I’m meeting with is flying in.”
Maybe I could get a quick nap on the car ride back to her apartment.
Before I knew it, chairs were scraping along the wooden floor, and everyone was standing. Ashley leaned over and tugged on my arm, whispering, “Come on, galán . It’s time to go.”
Even in my exhaustive state, I couldn’t help but smile that she called me studly, even if she was just teasing me.
The group walked to the parking lot, and we came across Ryan’s Audi first.
My friend asked, “Are you coming back to my place?”
I didn’t want to embarrass Ashley, so I coughed into my hand and offered, “I, uh, left my duffel bag at Ashley’s apartment.”
Craig chuckled and clapped a hand on my shoulder. “Good thinking.”
I was too tired to argue that it hadn’t been a calculated move to manipulate going back to her place. The rest of them didn’t need to know I’d already been invited.
“I’ll take good care of him,” Ashley assured them.
I liked the sound of that.
“I know you will,” Ryan replied, then directed his next comment toward me. “Call me tomorrow when you’re leaving the base. Maybe we can grab dinner.”
“I will definitely do that.”
Slowly, I knelt to rub Tank’s ears one more time. I’d missed my dog and felt guilty sending him home with someone else. But I took comfort knowing Ryan loved my golden retriever and took good care of him.
Kissing the pup’s furry head, I whispered, “I’ll see you tomorrow, buddy,” before standing up.
“Do you want to bring him back with us?” Ashley asked.
She was so fucking considerate.
Ryan responded for me. “Nah, he’s good at my place. He’s got his deluxe memory-foam dog bed and a backyard with a doggie door so he can go in and out as he pleases. Plus, his toys, food, and dishes are there.”
Maybe it was because I was so tired, but I got the distinct impression I might have to fight my friend for my dog when I returned stateside.
Luckily, I knew I could take him.
In the meantime, I was just happy Tank was being so well taken care of.
“Come on, Marine. Let’s get you to bed.”
“I like the sound of that.”
I’d tried to be flirtatious, but even to my own ears, it sounded more like I was drunk. And I’d purposefully foregone having anything to drink but water.
“Why don’t you let me drive?” Ashley gently suggested.
I dropped the keys into her waiting hand without a fight.
Perfect. Now I can get that nap and be ready to rock her world .
****
Ashley
I glanced over at him asleep in the passenger seat and my heart swelled. He looked so peaceful, it was all I could do to keep myself from reaching over and brushing my fingers through his hair.
Poor guy. He has to be exhausted.
I chuckled to myself. We were not having sex tonight. But it still was going to be nice to lie next to him all night.
God, I hope he doesn’t snore.
I pulled into my complex and parked in number thirty-six, my designated spot. The second I shut the engine off, Sloane opened his eyes, blinking a few times as he got his bearings.
“Wow, we got here fast.”
I patted his arm with a smile. “Come on, let’s get you to bed.”
He got out of the car the same time I did and said over the roof, “I’m sorry I fell asleep.”
“Don’t be. I understand you’ve had a long day.”
With entwined fingers, we walked to my apartment where he waited patiently as I unlocked the door. He gestured for me to enter first, then followed behind—taking off his shoes the minute he entered.
I had taken a few steps inside, but toed out of my tennis shoes when I saw what he was doing.
I should get a mat to put by the door. Maybe the visual would help remind me to do that. It had worked for my keys. I had put a bowl on the table in the entry, so I’d remember to throw my keys in it when I first walked in, and I hadn’t lost my keys since.
I didn’t bother turning on the lights, simply took his hand and led him through the apartment until we reached my bedroom. Foregoing the overhead light, I made my way to the nightstand and switched on the lamp.
Sloane was sitting on my bed when I turned around, and I suddenly felt awkward, unsure what to say or do next.
Wringing my hands in front of me and rolling my foot to the outside, I blurted out the first thing I could think of.
“Do you have a particular side of the bed you like to sleep on?”
His smile was gentle when he reached out, beckoning me closer. Once I was within his grasp, he pulled me onto his lap and wrapped his arms loosely around my middle.
“I can sleep on the couch if you’d be more comfortable.”
“No!” I immediately turned so I was directly facing him, then tried to dial it back. “I mean, if you’d rather, I understand and can get you some blankets. But don’t feel like you have to on my account.”
He reached up and tucked my hair behind my ear.
“No, dulzura . I want to be in your bed with you.”
“Good. Because I want that, too. But I think we should wait before we take things any further. You need your rest.”
“I really want to disagree with you.” He moved my palm over his crotch so I could feel his erection. “But I want our first time together to be one you’ll never forget, and I think my performance might be subpar tonight.”
Looking into his cobalt-blue eyes, with one hand on his impressive length while the other rested on his hard chest, I had a difficult time believing sex with him would be anything but cosmic.
But I could wait.
Or so I thought, until I came out of the bathroom and saw him in my queen bed without a shirt on.