Sailor Proof (Shore Leave 1)

“Too late,” I groaned as I wiped my hand off on my T-shirt before collapsing next to him on the bed.

“You came from that?” Rolling to his side, he peered down at me. “Wow.”

“Yeah, well, it’s your fault.” My face was hot, more self-conscious than I would have thought. Trying to cover that, I made my voice flirtier. “You turn me on too much. But give me a few and I’ll take you up on the offer.”

“You’re incorrigible.” He gently tickled my side, but he didn’t say no. Win. With a repeat on the horizon, I felt less embarrassed about coming so fast.

“Lots of lost time to make up for.” I winked at him even as my back tightened. It wasn’t so much about making up for what I hadn’t gotten around to in the past as wanting to squeeze every drop out of today, get my fill of Derrick fantasies before it was too late. But focusing on our agreement to keep things light was far preferable to admitting how much I was dreading parting.

“Hey, it’s raining.” Derrick motioned over at the closed window. The curtains meant we couldn’t see the rain, but the soft plink of raindrops on the windowpanes and the roof echoed through the room.

“Maybe this means we’ll actually get to sleep in.” I stretched, trying to outrun my more melancholy thoughts, get back to the happy, sexy place Derrick seemed to be in.

“Always look on the bright side.” It was the same advice I’d often given, including to him. Tomorrow’s problems would be here soon enough. Choosing to live for tonight was only smart. Might as well ensure as many magical moonlit memories as possible.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Derrick

“I want to wake up like that every morning.” Arthur’s grin was enough to light up the rainy, dreary morning. I’d made the executive decision that we could be late to breakfast and instead proceeded to show Arthur that I could give as well as I got.

And holy hell, I’d gotten it good last night. My thighs trembled simply from the memory of his mouth. First-timer’s luck? I wasn’t sure I bought that, but whatever it was, Arthur had given me an all-time orgasm, and it was only fair—and fun—that I reciprocate. And apparently, I’d done well because he was still lying there all dreamy. His hair was all sleep and sex messed up and his dopey grin did excellent things for my ego.

“Coffee’s probably getting cold,” I teased.

“I like it better that way anyway.” He nudged me with his foot, not seeming in any hurry to leave our cozy bed nest. “And hand-delivered. Thanks again for yesterday. You’re going to make someone an awesome boyfriend when you’re ready to date again.”

His wistful tone made my chest hurt. “Don’t be so sure.”

I had no plans in that area and simply the idea of doing all these things with someone not Arthur made my jaw clench. I didn’t want someone new. I wanted him and that was becoming a problem.

“Derrick...” There was a question in his eyes, one I wasn’t ready for. Not meeting his gaze, I hopped out of the bed and scrambled for some clothes.

“We should get you fed before they close the kitchen.” My words came out too fast, but maybe Arthur was also looking for an escape because he didn’t press me on the matter.

“Okay.”

Of course, as soon as he started getting dressed, the urge to drag him back to bed returned. However, the change in topic and location would do us both good. We didn’t need to dwell on the future, not when the present was so damn good and not when there wasn’t a thing either of us could do to change that future either. He’d go his way and I’d go mine and that would be that. It was the only sensible course of action but one I was less and less sure I wanted.

After getting dressed, we headed out into the rain to the dining hall to join the rest of the stragglers in eating the last of the waffles while other folks enjoyed their second cup of coffee and milled around discussing the weather.

“Please tell me it’s a board game and hot chocolate kind of day,” Arthur said to his mom as she slid into a chair opposite us, coffee cup in hand.

“Better. We’re taking advantage of the rain to do crafts. It’ll be fun!”

“At least it’s not hiking in the mud.” Arthur gave her half a smile in return, which made her laugh.

“You had enough mud yesterday.” She was almost always cheerful, a trait I admired, even if I had no clue how someone could be so bubbly twenty-four-seven. Even Arthur with his boundless good humor and patience got moody, which weirdly reassured me. Him being cranky about family stuff made my own broody tendencies feel more normal and also made him more human.