Chapter 27
TWENTY-SEVEN
SLADE
Four months later
Igot off the bus with my gear. It had been a long, hard trek down from Alaska, and I was looking forward to getting home and sleeping in my own bed, preferably with Britton tucked in next to me.
My phone had gotten soaked before the crab boat had even left the dock.
I’d only had a few conversations by payphone, an irritating, ancient way to talk to people, especially when you didn’t have a lot of coins in your pocket.
Hunter was at the bus stop leaning against my car.
I leaned to the side to look past the mighty giant and into the car.
Major disappointment gripped me when I saw the empty passenger seat.
Britton and I had dated steadily, and we’d become what, in my book, I would describe as serious.
She was nervous as hell about me fishing out on the Bering Sea, but she knew it was what I wanted to do.
And it had been just as fucking awesome as I’d imagined.
“You made it back.” Hunter smiled. “And it looks like you returned with all your limbs. How the hell was it?”
“Grueling. Thirty-six hour shifts. After about twenty-four hours, you’re so numb from cold and being on your feet, you’re just moving on automatic pilot. I fucking loved it. I’ve got a pocket full of gold to boot.” I threw my bag in the backseat and climbed into the passenger side.
Hunter slid in behind the wheel.
“Sort of thought that—” I shook my head.
“What?”
“Nothing, just thought that Britton might come with you to pick me up.”
“Huh, yeah, haven’t really heard from her.”
“Great.” I’d been gone for two months. I’d left without any real commitment but, cocksure asshole that I was, I assumed she’d be waiting for me to come home. I sank back against the seat and tried hard to ignore how damn disappointed I was.
Hunter knuckled me on the shoulder. “So, were they ruthless to the new greenhorn? Any tricks or special treatment?”
“Well, they crowned me official dishwasher the second I walked aboard, but the toughest test was on the first day out to drop pots. It was about twenty degrees and spitting icy mist out on deck. The crew hid my raingear. I had to go out in a shirt and jeans. They were nice enough to leave me my gloves and boots. Safety first, you know. I was sure my balls would shrivel into blue icicles and break off. There was a running bet on how long I’d last out there without raingear.
The captain won. He was sure I’d make it to the record time of forty minutes.
My shipmates had less confidence. I was out there for two fucking hours before the captain told them to get my gear.
I hold the new record, and the captain thanked me for winning him the pot. ”
We drove along the coastal highway. It was late December.
The water looked cold and uninviting, but it was still like a warm pool compared to the Bering Sea.
I would give Britton a day or two before calling.
If she wasn’t that anxious to see me, then I wasn’t going to be a sap and chase after her.
It was going to be hard though. The thought of her smile, her scent, her sultry voice had gotten me through some hard times on the job.
We pulled down our street and headed to our house. “Is Amy home?”
“Nope, she had to work, and I’m going to be taking off. Colt and I are going to buy some roofing supplies. I guess you’ll have the whole house to yourself.”
“Yeah. Shit. Thought I might have more of a homecoming, but what the hell. I think I’ll climb into bed and sleep for a week.”
He stopped in the driveway. “I’m going to use your car. Figured you wouldn’t need it much today.”
“Fine.” I climbed out and grabbed my bags out of the back.
“Oh, make sure to put your stuff in your room. Street just spent the morning cleaning the place up.”
I stared at him. “I’m feeling so damn welcome.” I pointed to the garage. “Where the hell is my welcome home banner?”
He waved and pulled out of the driveway.
I walked inside. Even if no one was there to greet me, the house was inviting enough.
I’d missed my couch, my video games, my bed.
My bed. Every muscle in my body had been aching for a month.
I was going dive under the covers and sleep with no waves rolling under me or deck boss shouting orders.
There was only one thing that would make a good, long vacation in bed better. I pushed open my door.
Britton was sitting in just a pair of lacy panties and a bra on the edge of my bed. “I see my magic fairy dust kept you safe. Now, here you are.”
I dropped my bags and tried to think over the sound of my own pounding pulse. “Here I am.”
Britton stood up and sashayed toward me. She leaned up against me. I wrapped my arms around her and held her tightly against me.
“Did you miss me, Master?”
“Hmm, let me see.” I lowered my mouth down over hers, and she melted into my arms. “Tink, I’m going to need this. Always. I keep telling myself to play it cool, but I want this. I want you.”
“Then, Bolt . . .Trouble Magnet . . . Master . . . my love, I’m yours.”