Chapter 24
Twenty-Four
“T his is brutal today,” Sloane panted as she sent a right hook flying against the pad in Gunner’s hand.
“You’re not giving one-hundred percent. Harder. Faster. That punch was weak. It won’t get you out of a bad situation. All it’s going to do is piss off whoever you throw it at.”
God. Normally she liked when her sparring partner for the day wasn’t Gage. He was her favorite partner, there was no doubt about that, but he also worried and fussed over her too much. Nash was a softy too, but the other guys, especially Hawk and Gunner, never let her slip. They held her to an impossible standard, and she liked that. Because she needed that push. But there was something about the way Gunner was pushing her buttons that pissed her off. She felt the rage building up in her bloodstream as she sank her feet into the ground and rotated her body, ready for her next strike against him.
“Keep your chin up, Sloane. Dropping it will only get you in trouble.” Gunner grunted as Sloane landed a kick against his side. She was absolutely exhausted, sweat dripping down her face from their session. But the scowl on Gunner’s face was telling.
It fueled her to be better.
“Alright, let’s call it a day. Gage will kill me if we hit it too hard today.”
“No.” She shook her head before wiping the sweat from her upper lip. “I think we should keep going. I didn’t land that kick how I wanted to and I still need to practice getting out of a few different holds. Nash got me with a choke hold yesterday I couldn’t get out of and I don’t want that to happen again.”
“I think that was still a success don’t you?”
“Why? Because I didn’t freak out when he touched me?” To be honest, she’d been so surprised that Nash’s hold on her body hadn’t set her off. Gage had been there… his eyes locked onto hers looking for any sign of her trauma bubbling to the surface, but she hadn’t felt worried beyond a little unease in her stomach.
“We’re going to call it a day.”
Sloane sighed. “Fine.” She sat down on the mat and reached out for her water bottle. While the other guys would sit and chat with her as they cooled down and stretched, Gunner never did. He would simply nod and take off towards his office. Which is why Sloane was caught off guard when he sat down next to her, his eyes crinkled in the corner like he was contemplating something.
“Everything okay?”
“Yep.”
More staring. What the hell?
“If you have something you want to say, just say it.”
“Are you okay…” he cleared his throat. “After what happened the other day?”
Ah. The freak-out of epic proportions where she hyperventilated, passed out, and made everyone think a chemical bioweapon had been deployed in her office? Sloane felt her already overheated skin burn with embarrassment.
“Yeah. I’m okay. I meant to apologize for the hassle everyone went through. Especially you and Lily. I never would want her or Sage to be in danger from being with me.”
Gunner’s eyes searched her face, for what, she didn’t have the slightest clue.
“It was terrifying. They’re my whole world, Sloane. My everything. I won’t let them get hurt in this.”
“I completely understand. If Lily doesn’t want to work with me anymore, I get it.”
He scoffed. “Please. Like I could tell that stubborn woman anything. I mentioned we were sparring together and she told me in no uncertain terms that she wouldn’t be giving up her job, so I shouldn’t even bring it up with you. I just want it to be clear that I protect my family.”
“It’s clear. Trust me.”
Sloane was finally able to get a sip of water while the silence stretched between them again.
“Are you in love with him?”
The water bottle wasn’t even back up to her mouth for another drink, but that didn’t stop Sloane from choking. “With Gage?”
Gunner nodded, then sighed, running his hand over his face. “He’s one of my best friends Sloane, and for the first time in years, I’ve seen life back in his eyes. He’s worked hard to get here. To return to some sort of normal after he lost his whole world. I don’t ever want to see him like that again. So, I’m asking: do you love him?”
“I’m not going to say it to you before I get a chance to say it to him,” she admitted.
“You should tell him soon, then. Because we all know how he feels about you. If you can’t give it back to him, then let him go.”
She let her eyes fall closed as she breathed so deeply her chest hurt.
“I’m scared, Gunner. I’m scared that despite what I feel for him, I should be keeping him at arms length because this is all going to end badly. The writing is on the wall. It’s only a matter of time before he comes for me. How is it fair to Gage if I tell him the truth… that I don’t think I can live without him… when I can feel the end closing in on me?”
“Let’s get one thing straight,” Gunner growled so fiercely that Sloane pulled her legs up into her chest and wrapped her arms around her knees for stability. “You are going to make it out of this just fine. There is no scenario in the world where we all don’t protect you with everything we’ve got.” He stood, letting his hand rest on her shoulder. She didn’t flinch or try to move away from his touch. “I protect my family, Sloane. And you’re our family now, too.”
“Do you think…” she hesitated.
“Do I think… what?”
Sloane pushed off the mat, standing up while forcing her body to stay relaxed.
“Would I be able to cash in on that offer for a hug?”
Sloane would have laughed at how comically wide Gunner’s eyes went, but before she could even open her mouth, his arms were wrapped around her. He didn’t squeeze her tightly, leaving plenty of room for her to escape if she wanted to.
But she didn’t.
His hug felt like she was hugging her brother again. It felt safe. Hugging Stone. Hugging Gunner. She felt safe with these men.
“You remind me of him,” she said.
“Who?” Gunner still had his arms wrapped around her. Apparently he was going to let her decide when the hug was done. She didn’t want to take too much, but the similarities were so overwhelming.
“My brother.”
Sloane stepped back and wiped a tear from her eye before it could fall. She jolted at the sound of something hitting the floor. Turning, she saw Gage storming over towards them, his work bag laying on its side by the wall.
“What the fuck happened? Are you okay?” Gage’s eyes bounced between her and Gunner as they stepped apart. “I swear to god, Reap, if you said something to upset her?—”
Sloane’s hand landing on his arm seemed to work. She stood on her tiptoes, pressing her lips against Gage’s jaw.
“Easy, handsome. I asked Gunner to hug me. Not because something was wrong. But because he made me feel safe.”
“Oh.” Gage wrapped his arm around Sloane, tucking her into his side. “Look, Reap?—”
“No.” Gunner held his hand up to stop Gage. “You’re looking after your girl. Just like I do with Lily. I get it. No hard feelings.”
“I’m ready to go home if you are. I need to take a shower.” She leaned in to whisper in his ear, knowing full well that Gunner could still hear her, but hoping he wouldn’t acknowledge it. “Maybe you can take one with me?”
“Bye, Gunner.” Gage slipped his hand around hers, spinning the both of them so fast she felt dizzy.
“Gage! Slow down.”
“No way, Red. You just invited me to shower with you. Let’s go.” He stopped to scoop up his backpack, and then turned back to her. “Ready?”
“Of course,” she replied, thinking he only meant to ask if she was ready to go upstairs, so it was the biggest surprise when the next second, she was being hoisted over his shoulder.
“Hey! Let me down,” Sloane laughed. One of Gage’s hands came up to rest against her bottom.
“Hey, you two. Don’t do anything Lily and I wouldn’t.” Gunner’s booming laugh filled the gym as they made their way into the hall.
“Don’t worry, Red. We won’t ever be doing half the stuff they would do.”
Gage must have called the elevator as she laughed, because before she knew it, he was carrying her onto the lift.
“You have to put me down,” Sloane kicked her feet until Gage shifted her and she got the most glorious view of his ass. Even covered in his jeans, the sight was delicious. “Never mind. The view back here is incredible. Thanks for carrying your computer bag instead of slinging it across your back and cutting off this incredible sight from me.”
She fidgeted against his shoulder until they were standing right outside his apartment. He opened the door and she waited for him to set her down. Instead, he marched with her still over his shoulder through the apartment.
Gage’s fingers came up to dig into her side. “I love this playful side of you, Red.”
“Put me down, Gage. I’m going to pee if you keep tickling me like that.”
“I’m not putting you down again until we’re in the bathroom. Undressed. Under the water.”
Sloane laughed as they finally made it into the bedroom. “How are you going to get me undressed while holding me on your shoulder?”
“Semantics. If a SEAL is determined enough, he can make anything work. Anything, Sloane.”
She couldn’t hold back her laughter as he slid her down off his shoulder when they finally made it into the bathroom.
“Wait.”
His fingers rested just under her shirt, tickling her skin with the lightest amount of pressure.
“You okay?”
“Of course. You don’t always have to check in like that.”
“Yes, I do. And I will. Because I’ll never take for granted the gift you are giving me, Sloane. Trusting me to touch you.” His fingers gripped the edge of her shirt. “Arms up, Baby.”
“Okay,” the raspy pant of her response ignited fire in his eyes.
In an instant, her shirt was off her body, floating down to her feet. His hand slid up her belly and over her breast, reaching for the zipper of her sports bra and slowly pulling it down until he had access to her. Gage moved the loose fabric away, circling her nipple with the pad of his thumb. Her breath hitched and for a moment her mind went blissfully numb. Lost to the incredible sensations his touch was giving her. “Trusting me to touch you like this, Red.”
“I do trust you.” She reached for him. “But I need you to be paying attention to me completely when I say this, so you know I really mean it.”
“Shit.” His hands slid under her arms and he lifted, setting her to sit on the edge of the sink. “This sounds serious. Should I be worried?”
Sloane nibbled on the edge of her lip, letting Gage push her legs apart so he could fit his body between them.
“No. Gunner just?—”
Gage growled and his hand squeezed possessively against her thigh. “I knew he upset you. What did he say?”
“He didn’t upset me. What he told me was actually beautiful and reassuring. But it’s not about Gunner. It’s about us.”
“Okay…”
“I love you,” she blurted out. Shit. She’d meant to do it with more softness than that. “I mean, I’ve been wanting to say it for a while now. You make me feel so safe and loved and needed. You make me want to explore a side of myself I thought was lost a long time ago. I trust you completely, Gage. With my mind. With my body. With my heart.”
His hands came up to frame her face, and before she could blink, his lips were against hers, devouring her. The kiss was something she’d never experienced before. A deepening of a connection already so strong that it took her breath away.
“I love you too, Sloane. Every inch of your mind.” He reached up and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Every inch of your body.” His lips pressed against her jaw, her collarbone, down her arm, to each one of her fingers. “Every bit of your incredible heart.” Her head tipped back as he pressed a kiss over her heart. Her hand came up, tangling in his hair as his mouth moved lower, covering her exposed nipple in the incredible heat of his mouth. “Now, we’re going to get in the shower and I’m going to show you how a man in love worships his woman.”