Chapter 16

CHAPTERSIXTEEN

Slate couldn’t keep his gaze from straying to Ashlyn. She was literally glowing. Usually that was a phrase reserved for the bride, but he couldn’t help applying it to Ashlyn. She had a huge smile on her face, and she looked relaxed and happy.

The day had been perfect so far. From waking up with her mouth on his cock, and fucking her hard and fast, then soft and slow while in the shower, to witnessing her compassion and delight when they’d arrived at James Mason’s house, and she saw him wearing the shirt she’d bought him.

She’d led the older man to his Trailblazer and gotten him situated in the front seat, then happily sat in the back, chattering their ears off all the way down to Waikiki. Slate had dropped them off in front of the Outrigger, where Duke’s was located, and left to park. By the time he’d arrived at the restaurant, James was seated at a table, having the time of his life chatting with Kenna, Aleck, Midas, and Lexie.

Now, Ashlyn was at the bar getting drinks, most likely a mai tai for her and beers for him and James. She was laughing with the bartenders and had her arm looped around Elodie as they waited for their order.

Mustang wandered over and stood next to Slate. “Never thought I’d say this,” he said with a small chuckle. “But I fucking love weddings.”

Slate snorted.

“Seriously, what’s not to love? Get to see my wife all dressed up, she gets tipsy, which means good things for me tonight when we get home. She’s happy as a fucking clam, and I get to spend time with my favorite people on Earth. Gonna suck when you and Midas do the deed and we run out of people to throw these shindigs for.”

“Jumping the gun a bit there, aren’t you?” Slate asked. “Not sure Midas and Lex are ready to get married anytime soon, and I’m definitely not. Besides, we could both decide to go to the courthouse and do something quick and easy.”

“True, but we could still have a big party afterward.”

Slate shook his head at his friend. “But seriously, I don’t want you to be disappointed when this thing with Ash and me cools off, and we end up just friends.”

Mustang turned and rested his shoulder against the wall where they were standing, giving Slate his full attention. “I know you’re getting sick of me bringing this up—”

“Then don’t,” Slate interrupted, but his friend ignored him.

“It’s been almost three months since you two started dating. You both keep saying over and over that it’s casual, that you’ve just got some sort of friends-with-benefits things going on, but I’m calling bullshit.”

“It’s not bullshit,” he retorted gruffly.

“It is, Slate. Shit, you and Ashlyn danced around your attraction for each other for a whole damn year before you finally hooked up. And that is not like you. Name one other woman that you’re just friends with.”

“Elodie,” Slate said without hesitation.

“Fine, one other single woman,” his friend clarified.

Slate pressed his lips together.

“Exactly,” Mustang said, but he didn’t sound smug. “You don’t do the friend thing with women. There’s nothing wrong with that, but from the get-go, you and Ashlyn had something different. I hesitate to use the word special, because I don’t want to sound like a pussy. But seriously, you and her are not casual. I don’t know if the two of you will eventually end up walking down the aisle together or not, but I think you’re disrespecting yourself, and Ashlyn, by insisting that you’re just fucking. That you aren’t in a real relationship.”

Slate wanted to be irritated at his friend’s attempts at psychoanalyzing him. But he had too many valid points. Slate hadn’t ever been just friends with a woman. Not because he didn’t like or respect women in general, but because he simply clicked with men better.

Until Ashlyn.

She made him laugh.

She exasperated him.

Sometimes she irritated the shit out of him. Exactly like his teammates did.

He also trusted her. Hadn’t ever had a problem finding things to talk about with the woman. He enjoyed spending time with her…and not just in the bedroom. Yes, when they’d first started dating, they couldn’t keep their hands off each other. Every time they met up, they ended up in bed.

But their relationship had morphed into…more. They didn’t immediately jump on each other when they got together. They talked. They laughed. They even fucking cuddled on the couch watching TV. They weren’t spending every night together, but when they did have sex, they slept together at whichever house they were at. Getting up and leaving right after orgasming was the last thing he wanted to do.

He might not want to admit it out loud, but Mustang was pretty much spot on.

Slate was still just as determined as ever to not change the nature of their relationship. But now…it was because he didn’t want to fuck anything up. He didn’t want to spook Ashlyn.

“And that woman doesn’t look at you as if you’re just a friend,” Mustang continued. “Her eyes are constantly searching for you when you’re not at her side. She’s not checking out other guys, looking for better prospects, like some women do when they’re in a casual relationship. And when you guys are close, you automatically reach for each other. You touch her back. She leans into you. You hold her hand or wrap an arm around her.

“You can both protest and tell everyone who’ll listen that there’s nothing serious going on between you, but it’s all bullshit. The sooner you own up to it, the better off you’ll both be.”

“Mustang, you know I respect and love you like a brother, but you need to back off,” Slate said, feeling uncomfortable with the serious tone of the discussion.

“All right. But I’ve got one more thing to say before I shut up.”

Slate braced.

“Elodie is the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and I’m not bullshitting you by saying that. I never thought much about marriage before meeting her, but I literally can’t imagine my life without her now. I thought I was content. I had a job I loved and was damn good at, I had great friends, money in the bank, was living in Hawaii…what else could I ask for? I can’t explain how it feels to get off work at the end of the day, or when I get back from a mission, and know that when I walk through my front door, she’s gonna be there. Ashlyn might not be your soul mate, but…what if she is? The last thing you want is to spend the rest of your life kicking your ass for letting her go. For not at least trying to see if you can make things work long term.

“At some point, she’s gonna get tired of being a piece of ass. She’s gonna want a deeper connection with a man—and she’ll leave to find that with someone else. Deep down, if you’re truly okay with that, fine. But if you aren’t…you need to stop half-assing this relationship.”

Slate’s hands curled into fists. He wasn’t upset with Mustang. It was the thought of Ashlyn being with another man that didn’t sit well with him.

“I can see I’m finally getting through,” Mustang said with satisfaction. He clapped his friend on the back and straightened from his position against the wall. He turned to look at Elodie and Ashlyn at the bar. They were both laughing hysterically at something one of the bartenders was saying.

“On another note,” Mustang said, and Slate was more than ready to change topics, “looks like we’ll be heading out on Sunday.”

Slate nodded. He’d expected that. The situation in Afghanistan was volatile at best. Threats against the American base there had been declared credible and a few special forces teams were being sent overseas to see if they could ferret out the ones responsible.

“Does Jag know?” Slate asked.

“Yeah. Told him this morning. He’s not thrilled he has to leave Carly so soon after their wedding, but he’s relieved that she’ll be wearing his ring before he does. Sucks I can’t give him the next few days off though,” Mustang said on a sigh. “We need him in on the planning sessions.”

Slate nodded. Researching and planning their missions were the most important things the team did. No one liked going into a situation blind, and while they’d already been examining the town and trying to narrow down the locations of the major ISIL players, they needed to know every alley, every bad guy’s house, and every escape route like the backs of their hands before landing in the country.

“Incoming,” Mustang said softly.

Slate turned his head and saw Elodie and Ashlyn walking toward them with huge grins on their faces. Ashlyn had three drinks in her hands, doing her best not to drop any.

Slate took a step forward and took the two beer bottles from her, leaving her with just the mai tai. “Jeez, babe, did you leave any alcohol for anyone else?” he teased. He absently noted Mustang leading Elodie away.

Ashlyn’s grin widened. “I told Kaleen I wanted a double so I didn’t have to go back and get another anytime soon, and she gave me this huge glass.”

And it was huge. Instead of being a double, it was more like a quadruple drink.

“Hope you weren’t planning on walking by the end of the evening,” Slate mused.

Ashlyn giggled. “Nope. Why walk when you can carry me? But seriously, I’m planning on drinking a lot of water too. The last thing I want to do is pass out at my friend’s wedding and embarrass myself.”

Slate couldn’t help himself. He leaned forward and took her lips with his. The only parts of their bodies touching were their lips, as his hands were full and she was holding her big-ass glass. She tasted like the fruity drink—and Slate wanted her. Right then and there.

He forced himself to pull back, staring at Ashlyn as she licked her lips. She wanted him too. Her desire was clear to see.

Suddenly, Slate couldn’t wait for the afternoon to be over. Sex with Ashlyn when she was tipsy was fantastic. He had a feeling that sex with her when she was drunk would be stupendous.

“Stop that,” she whispered.

“Stop what?” he asked.

“Looking at me like you want to strip me naked and fuck me right here.”

“Can’t help it,” he told her.

“I don’t think this is normal,” Ashlyn mused.

“What’s not normal?”

“Us. We already had sex twice this morning. How can we want it again so soon?”

Slate grinned. “Because you’re you,” he said simply.

She wrinkled her nose. “That makes no sense. I’ve always been me, and I haven’t been like this before.”

“Fine, because we’re us,” Slate amended.

Ashlyn grinned. “That, I’ll buy.”

“Come on, babe. James needs his beer, and you being cute is only making me want to skip out on this wedding thing and take you back to my house and show you how normal we really are.”

“We can’t leave!” Ashlyn exclaimed in horror.

“I was kidding. I wouldn’t miss Jag’s wedding for anything,” Slate told her. He switched one of the beers so he was holding both in one hand, and put the other on the small of Ashlyn’s back. He leaned down and nuzzled the skin next to her ear. “Drink all you want, but not so much that you get sick,” he said softly. “Don’t like when you feel like shit.”

She nodded and gazed up at him, her eyes swimming with emotion he couldn’t read. “Thanks for going along with my idea to bring James.”

“I like him. And not only because he’s a veteran. He’s got some interesting stories, he’s funny, it’s obvious that he’s lonely. And I’d do just about anything to make you happy, Ash.”

“I’m very happy,” she said without missing a beat.

“Good. Me too.”

“Good,” she echoed, leaning into him as Slate put his arm around her shoulders.

They walked back over to where everyone was gathered, waiting for the ceremony, which was scheduled to start in about twenty minutes. Everyone would move out onto the sand at the back of the restaurant where a white gazebo had been set up. Jag hadn’t been sure about getting married on the beach where Carly’s ex had literally blown himself up while trying to kidnap Kenna, but she’d convinced him that it would help cleanse the area of his bad juju.

Personally, Slate agreed. The beach should be a happy place, and he was glad the awful memories of that night were being replaced by good ones…for everyone, not just Kenna and Aleck. But for every civilian who was at the restaurant that night when Shawn had lost his mind.

“Here ya go,” Slate said, handing the beer to James.

The older man looked up, and it was easy to see the happiness in his eyes.

“Thank you. I’ve got money, I can pay you back.”

“Nonsense,” Ashlyn said, overhearing him. She leaned down and kissed his cheek. “Consider it a birthday present.”

“You already gave me this,” James said, tugging at the brightly colored Hawaiian shirt he was wearing.

“Yup.”

“I’ve got a couple bucks for a beer,” he said, quieter now. “I know I’m getting meals from Food For All, but I’m not broke.”

Ashlyn squatted next to his chair and put a hand on his leg. She spoke just as quietly, so everyone around them couldn’t overhear. But since Slate was standing right next to them, he was close enough to hear their discussion.

“I know you’re not. And honestly, even if you called to cancel the service tomorrow, I’d still keep showing up. I already told you, James, you’re like a grandfather to me. Giving you gifts isn’t an act of charity, it’s because I love you. As far as I’m concerned, you’re now a part of my family. And family doesn’t bitch when someone buys them a beer. In fact, you should be manipulating me into buying you more. Because that’s what family would do. Got it?”

It took a second for James to compose himself, but after a moment, he nodded. “Got it.”

“Besides…I didn’t buy your beer. Slate did. I opened a tab,” she whispered, winking at James. “And told the bartender my hunky boyfriend would be paying it off at the end of the evening.”

James chortled. “In that case…cheers!” he said, lifting his beer bottle and clinking it to Ashlyn’s huge-ass mai tai.

Slate pulled Ashlyn against his side as soon as she stood. He kissed her temple and whispered, “You’re amazing,” into her ear.

She beamed up at him.

“Come on, guys,” Kenna said, gesturing to everyone from a few steps down on the beach. “It’s almost time, and we need to get into place!”

“Go on,” Slate told her. “I’ve got James.”

“You sure?”

“I’m sure.”

She went up on her tiptoes and kissed him on the lips, soft and sweet, before grinning and hurrying to join her girlfriends.

James slowly stood next to Slate. “She’s beautiful,” the older man said.

Slate nodded. She was. She absolutely was. She wore a dark blue sundress that hugged her chest and hips, but blew around her calves in the sea breeze. She’d left her sleek, shiny hair down, and every now and then a few strands would blow across her face and she’d have to brush them back. She wasn’t wearing heels; they weren’t practical on the sand, and Carly wanted everyone to be casual and comfortable. Her toenails were painted a bright pink, which matched the flowers on the flip-flops she wore. Besides, she didn’t need heels. Ashlyn was the tallest of all her friends, perfect for his six-foot-two height.

As Slate took James’s elbow in his hand to steady him as they made their way down the few steps to the sand, he thought about how Ashlyn was perfect for him in just about every way. In the few months they’d been dating, he hadn’t once gotten so much as annoyed with her. Truly annoyed.

“It’s been a very long time since I’ve been on the beach,” James mused.

Slate turned his attention from Ashlyn to the older man. “Heard you were quite the surfer back in the day.”

“I was,” James said without a hint of boasting. He was just stating a fact.

“You would’ve been a damn good SEAL,” Slate told him. He wasn’t just blowing smoke up the guy’s ass. He’d heard James’s stories about some of the things he’d done while in the Navy. And while he might not have been a SEAL, he’d certainly done some of the exact same things Slate and his team still did today.

There weren’t any chairs set up around the gazebo, everyone was just standing to watch Carly and Jag’s short ceremony. Ashlyn started to drag a beach lounge chair closer to the tent so James could sit, but Slate shook his head.

“He’s fine.”

“But—”

“He’s fine,” Slate said again, with a little more emphasis.

Ashlyn stared at him for a moment before nodding.

Slate did move into the shade of the gazebo with James, but he knew without having to ask that it would embarrass the veteran to be the only one sitting. He kept his hand on James’s elbow, giving him some support and making sure he didn’t accidentally fall over in the sand.

Everyone’s eyes turned to the steps leading down from the eating area at Duke’s as Carly and Jag started toward them. There was no real aisle, no music, and no bridesmaids or groomsmen. It was simply two people in love, coming together to pledge that love to one another in front of their friends.

Ashlyn snuggled up against Slate’s left side and hooked her arm through his, resting her head on his bicep. Slate felt James shift against him on his right, and he looked at the slightly stooped eighty-nine-year-old. The man was looking over at Ashlyn with a tender expression. Then he raised his gaze and met Slate’s.

He nodded in approval before turning his head to watch Carly and Jag once more. They approached Paulo, who’d agreed to officiate, and turned to face each other.

It was crazy how content Slate felt right at that moment. He knew in a few days’ time, he’d be sweating his ass off in Afghanistan, doing his best to kill insurgents before they killed him. But for now, he had the sand under his feet, the breeze blowing against his legs and arms, an amazing woman at his side, a man he respected a hell of a lot on his other side, and he was watching one of his best friends in the world marry the woman he loved.

Life was pretty damn good.

* * *

“Move, babe,” Slate ordered late that night.

They were in his bed, and Ashlyn was indeed drunk. She’d attacked him as soon as they’d gotten inside his house. He’d let her take the lead. And apparently, what she wanted was to be on top.

Not that Slate had any problem with that whatsoever. Except for the fact that she wasn’t moving fast enough for him. Ashlyn’s cheeks were flushed from the alcohol and all the dancing she’d done earlier. After Carly and Jag had said their I do’s and shared an entirely inappropriate kiss on the public beach, they’d all gone back into the restaurant and done their best to make a dent in all the food that had been prepared for them.

Then Ashlyn had joined Elodie, Lexie, Carly, and Kenna on the dance floor. Monica had mostly watched from the sidelines, saying that since she was pregnant, she couldn’t dance. Of course, the girls had only let that excuse go for so long before they had her up and dancing with them…albeit a little less boisterously.

Slate and the rest of his team had watched their women with amusement, making sure to claim them when the music slowed down. James observed everything from his chair in the corner with a smile on his face, perfectly happy to be out of his house and watching the merriment.

They’d driven him home, and Ashlyn had taken him inside, made sure he was good to go, then proceeded to make Slate crazy all the way to his house. Her hands roamed up and down his leg, brushing against his cock every now and then. She had a sly grin on her face, and the second he’d parked his car, she’d flung off her seat belt and straddled him right there in the car.

And now they were in his bed. Ashlyn was as bare as the day she was born, grinding slowly on his cock. Slate put his hands on her hips. The pleasure was almost too intense.

“Move,” he ordered once more.

Ashlyn seemed to be lost in her own world. A small smile lit her face as she used her inner muscles to grip his dick from deep within. “But I like this,” she argued. “You feel so good…”

He was done. He needed her to come so he could fuck her the way he wanted—hard and fast. One hand eased down, and he began to rub her clit with his thumb.

She jerked, and it was all he could do not to explode when her muscles clamped down on him even harder.

“Oh!” she exclaimed, finally undulating faster on his cock. It wasn’t the up and down motion he needed to come, but it felt amazing all the same.

“That’s it, babe. Come all over my cock. Let me feel you dripping down my balls.”

“Slate!” she cried, as her entire body began to shake. She curled into him, one hand resting on his chest, holding herself up, and the other gripping his bicep, nails digging in, as if he was the only thing holding her together.

Slate continued roughly manipulating her clit, needing her to get off. But he couldn’t deny he was enjoying the view. Her long hair brushed his chest and face, tickling him with every movement she made. Her nipples were hard and her tits bounced as she swayed. The pooch on her belly made her seem even more womanly, and he loved the feel of her soft thighs on either side of his hips.

Ashlyn bit her lip and closed her eyes as her trembling increased. He knew she was on the verge of coming, and he growled, “Open your eyes and look at me.”

When she didn’t comply, he stopped the motion of his thumb on her tender bundle of nerves.

Her eyes immediately popped open. “Slate,” she whined. “Don’t stop!”

“Keep your eyes on me, and I won’t,” he said.

She nodded jerkily, and he moved his thumb once more.

Her hips began to flex and her thighs tightened around him as she got closer and closer.

“That’s it, babe. Fuck, you’re so hot and tight! You’re strangling my cock and it feels so goddamn good. I’m gonna fuck you hard as soon as you go over. I’m barely holding on as it is.”

“Yes,” she sighed.

Their gazes were locked. Slate wanted to look down, see where his cock was buried deep within her, but he literally couldn’t. Her pupils were dilated with lust, her lips shiny from his earlier kisses.

He pinched her clit hard, and she lost it, curling into him even more as she came.

Slate’s hands moved to her hips and he lifted her slightly, then slammed her back down.

She cried out.

Slate did it again, but not getting the friction he needed, he rolled until she was beneath him. She was still shaking as he thrust into her over and over. Grunting each time he bottomed out inside her spasming pussy.

It didn’t take long for his own orgasm to overtake him. He pressed himself as deeply inside her as he could get, arched his back and let go. He swore his vision went dark for a second, then he saw stars, pleasure like he’d never even dreamed consuming him.

After he regained some sense of cognition, Slate lowered himself, propping his body on his elbows so he didn’t crush Ashlyn. He kissed her gently, loving how boneless she was under him. Her breath was still sweet from the mixed drink she’d nursed all night, and he swore he’d never forget this moment, that taste, as long as he liv—

Instantly, something occurred to him. And as much as he didn’t want to ruin the mood, it needed to be addressed immediately.

“Babe?”

“Hmmm?”

She sounded completely undone, and Slate fucking loved it.

“We were so crazy for each other, I didn’t have a chance to put on a condom.” He didn’t beat around the bush. But he held his breath, praying she didn’t freak out.

“Mmmm…kay.”

He waited for her to say something else, but when Ashlyn merely wrapped her arms around his back and eased him closer, he said, “Did you hear me?”

“Uh-huh. No condom. I’m on the pill. I’m clean. Hope you are too.”

“On the pill?” he repeated dumbly.

She laughed and finally opened her eyes to look up at him. “No, clean.”

“I am,” he said seriously. “I haven’t gone ungloved. Ever.”

“Ever?” she whispered.

“No.”

“God…I’m sorry.”

Slate frowned. “For what?”

“I basically attacked you. Didn’t give you a chance to even grab one before I jumped on.”

Slate chuckled. “Jumped on?”

“You know what I mean,” she said, her cheeks heating with a blush. “I didn’t mean to make you do something you don’t want to do.”

“I didn’t say that I don’t want you bare,” Slate said. “I just wasn’t sure if you’d be upset about it.”

“We agreed to let each other know if we were seeing anyone else, and since you haven’t said, I figure I’m the only person you’ve been with. It felt safe, and I’m protected against pregnancy. So no, I’m not upset.”

Slate couldn’t stop his hips from shifting if his life depended on it. He slid in and out of her body easily, both their orgasms easing his way. The feeling of being inside her raw was indescribable. His cock twitched and began to recover.

“Oh my God, you can’t be ready to go again. I’m a pile of mush here, and you’re already getting hard?”

“Can’t help it,” he gasped. “I can feel every twitch of your muscles. And your amazing heat. And you’re so wet and slippery…”

Ashlyn giggled, and he felt that in his dick too.

“Oh my God, you’re like a kid with a new toy.”

Slate kind of felt just like that. “Don’t worry, you don’t have to do anything. I’ll do all the work.”

“It’s a good thing, because I’m in an orgasm coma. And the room is still kinda spinning.”

“You gonna puke?”

“No.”

“Good.” Slate slowly pulled his cock all the way out of her body until just the tip was inside her, then steadily pushed back in until his balls were flush against her once more. “Don’t mind me then, I’ll just be doing this for the rest of the night.”

Ashlyn laughed and, once again, Slate felt it deep within her.

“Right, carry on then.”

So he did.

Thirty minutes later, they were both sweaty again, and this time it was Ashlyn lying on his chest.

“That’s it. I’m dead.”

“But what a way to go,” Slate breathed, still overwhelmed by the way she’d felt on his bare cock.

Ashlyn turned her head, kissed the skin of his upper chest, then rested her cheek against him once more. “Slate?”

“Yeah, babe?”

“I had a good time tonight.”

“Me too,” he said without hesitation. Before long, he felt her body relax against his as she fell asleep.

He lay under her for a long time, thinking of their day. He replayed Mustang’s words. Remembered how, even though Ashlyn was having fun with her friends, her gaze still sought his every few minutes. How good she felt against him when they danced. How generous and giving the woman was. How happy and content he felt when he was with her.

How amazing the sex was.

It seemed a little juvenile to add that into the pro category, but he couldn’t deny that they had some killer chemistry. He’d never forgotten to put on a condom in his entire life. But he’d been just as anxious to get inside her body as she’d been to have him inside. And the feel of taking her bare…it was better than he could’ve ever imagined.

The bottom line was that the last few months had been some of the best of his life. Slate felt balanced. In the past, he’d been all about his work, and when he dated, he usually got annoyed with the women fairly quickly. Usually when they started demanding more of his time than he was willing to give.

But Slate couldn’t remember one time when he’d truly been irritated with Ashlyn. She was so easy to be with. Didn’t pester him about what he did at work, didn’t pester him to spend time with her. In fact, he’d say he was the one who couldn’t get enough of Ashlyn. Of course, she also seemed to completely enjoy herself when they were together.

He ran a finger up the delicate curve of her spine as she lay on top of him, and smiled when she arched into his touch and tried to snuggle even closer to him in her sleep.

Did he want more with her? More than what they had? Something deeper…more long term? It was a scary thought. As he’d thought after his talk with Mustang, trying to change the nature of their relationship might ruin everything. Ashlyn had made it clear that she was perfectly content with things as they were. The last thing he wanted to do was rock the boat.

Regardless, he was heading out on a mission in a few days. Now wasn’t the time to have any in-depth conversations about changing their relationship.

For now, they’d continue to take things one day at a time. They didn’t have to make any decisions right this moment.