comfortable I was. That was the reality I was terrified of facing. We’d spent three nights hanging out. The first under protest, but the second I’d welcomed him in and already had takeout menus on the counter and his favorite beer stocked in my fridge. And tonight, I’d rushed home because I knew he was there waiting for me.
This was not me. And it scared the shit out of me how easily it had become me.
Which made no logical sense but it made perfect sense in my post-orgasm haze.
Before I could come up with something to say there was a high-pitched squawk followed by two long tones.
Luke moved lightning-fast and had both of us up and out of the tub.
“Pager,” I sputtered as I attempted to get my bearings.
“Fucking hell.”
“Sorry. I’m on call.”
I’m always on call.
I turned and placed my hands on his chest and felt his heart thundering under my palms. The pager quieted and my phone’s notification alert started.
“I’m really sorry, Luke, but I have to go.”
His hands came up and landed on my shoulders. His choice of placement had me glancing up and smiling.
“We’re naked,” I noted.
“We are.”
“Would it be weird after what we did if I asked you to turn around while I got dressed?”
He grinned back and shook his head like he found me amusing instead of stupid.
“Anything you need, baby.”
After he said that he dropped a kiss on my forehead and turned toward the wall.
Anything I needed.
I believed that.
I rushed out of the bathroom suddenly feeling extremely exposed.
“Are you checking out my ass?” Luke called out.
I stopped to answer but didn’t turn around. “I wasn’t since I asked you not to look. It didn’t seem fair if I ogled. But if you don’t mind…” I let that hang.
Luke’s deep rumbly laughter washed over me and I smiled so big my cheeks hurt. This could’ve been uncomfortable but Luke slid us right back to playful, recalling our conversation the first time I met him. It wasn’t that long ago, but strangely it felt like Luke had been in my life a long time.
“For the record, you can ogle whenever you want.”
At that, I craned my neck and took in his naked backside. I stared for a while; there was a lot to appreciate—high and tight ass, thick tree trunk legs, narrow waist that flared out to broad muscular shoulders. But that wasn’t all. He had a tattoo, a golden eagle, the wingtips spanning from shoulder blade to shoulder blade. There was a great deal of detail in that tattoo and when I had the time I planned on inspecting it further.
Which meant I’d have to get Luke naked again.
“You have a great ass,” I told him. “Next time, I get the back.”
I heard him chuckle and watched his shoulders shake.
“Doesn’t work like that, woman.”
“It will if you want a chance to do all that stuff you promised.”
Luke groaned and his head dropped forward.
I added, “Don’t worry, baby, I’ll be gentle.”
“You got two seconds to get dressed, Shiloh.”
“Someone’s testy about his ass.”
“Someone’s dick is hard again and all his self-control was expended holding you while you got off.”
“Are you referring to yourself or your dick in third person?”
“I’m referring to my resolve being pushed to the limits. Help a guy out and put some clothes on.”
Yikes.
“Fine. But just to note, you gave me permission to ogle so it’s not my fault your dick’s hard because I’m expressing my—”
“Shiloh,” he growled and I got a move on it.
I was dressed in record time and in my living room sending a text to my captain I was on my way when Luke joined me.
I looked up and smiled. He looked pained which made me smile bigger.
“If I didn’t have to leave I promise I’d offer to—”
I didn’t finish because Luke tagged me around the back of the neck and pulled me to his chest. I barely caught my breath when his mouth dropped to my temple and he kissed me there, stealing what little oxygen I’d been able to inhale.
“Be safe out there.”
Maybe I’d been wrong and it wasn’t pain I saw, it was worry. He certainly sounded worried.
I pulled back and tilted my head to look up at him. Oh, yeah, I’d been wrong. I studied the pinch of his brow, the creases around his eyes, which incidentally were more brown than green at the moment.
“I’m always safe,” I returned.
He gave me a tight nod and pulled away.
We were both quiet as he carried my gear through