I was so wrapped up in what I was doing that I didn’t hear Trooper enter the kitchen, scrubbing a hand through his hair.
“Good morning, gorgeous,” he rumbled, sliding his arms around my waist from behind.
I smiled with a contented little purr, leaning back into his embrace. God, it felt so damn good to be held. As much as I hated to admit it, Raine was right—I was long overdue to get laid. And it had been years since I actually had feelings for someone like this.
Trooper nuzzled into my neck and heaved a sigh. He was only wearing his jeans, and his tattooed skin was still warm from sleep.
“Pizza does not count as breakfast, honey,” he said, his voice gravelly and low.
A jolt of need melted down my spine at that sound, hot and aching between my thighs.
“Don’t judge me,” I countered lightly. “I’m hungry, and you know I hate to cook. Besides, your diet isn’t any better than mine. I know for a fact that you don’t have a single vegetable in your refrigerator, Trooper.”
I held up a slice of pizza over my shoulder. He took a bite, sliding his hands under the hem of my T-shirt. His callused palms were deliciously rough against the softness of my skin as he caressed my hips, kneading my ass.
“So,” he mumbled against my shoulder. “We’re back toTrooper.NotTheo.”
The pizza turned to a lump in my throat and I tossed the remnants of my slice back into the box. Then I turned around to face him. He lifted his head to meet my gaze. I traced along thetattoo over his heart—the one I did for him when we first met at Hotline.
A military rifle, with a helmet and an American flag, to commemorate his fallen brothers, and those who managed to survive alongside him.
“Theowas a moment of weakness,” I admitted.
He hummed, trailing his fingers in mesmerizing circles over my lower belly.
“Ah.A moment of weakness.That’s not really your style, is it?”
I shook my head.
“Nope. The stress relief was greatly appreciated though. I wouldn’t mind doing that again.”
Trooper said nothing apart from a tight-lipped smile that didn’t reach his eyes. No witty response. No sarcastic comeback. I thought he would be thrilled at the prospect of no-strings-attached sex. Instead, he seemed…disappointed? Maybe even offended?
“Or not,” I added, trying to laugh it off. “I didn’t think I was that bad in bed.”
“You weren’t,” Trooper replied.
“The sour grapes expression on your face says otherwise.”
A shadow flickered across his eyes and he moved away to the counter, retrieving two mugs from my cabinet for coffee. He’d been in my house often enough that he knew his way around without asking for directions. Seeing him standing there, half naked, with his bedhead and his jeans unbuttoned, hanging low on his hips…a pang hit me in the chest.
There was a comfortable, domestic quality to this moment that I’d never really experienced with anyone else before. Trooper—Theo—fit into my life as easily as breathing. He looked good in my kitchen, as if he had always belonged here.
He placed one of the mugs on the table before me and leaned back against the counter, sipping his coffee.
“What if I don’t want to be fuck buddies?” he said at last.
I shrugged.
“Then we’ll call it a one-night-stand and be done with it.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
I blinked at Trooper, waiting for him to clarify. It was so damn quiet between us and I found myself holding my breath with expectation.
After a few seconds, he set his cup aside on the counter and crossed his arms.
“I’m not talking about hooking up. I’m talking about something serious.”
