A Fighting Man (10 page)

“Seriously?” I snorted.

“Hey, I didn’t know.” Slater raised his hands in defense. “But it’s still funny as hell.”

“How many pillows are on this bed?” I leaned over.

“A lot. This is the grand suite; you haven’t even seen the living room.” Slater cocked an eyebrow. “Ready to take a walk?”

“There’s more?” My eyes widened.

“Yup. Ready?”

“Sure.” I nodded. I stood up and Slater pulled me into his arms.

“I want you to relax and have fun, okay?”

Slater kissed me and I sighed in his mouth. I was relaxed all right. He smiled and pecked my lips. I held his hand as we made our way back downstairs. When we hit the lobby, I tried to let go but Slater wasn’t having it. He entwined our fingers more tightly as we walked through the crowded lobby. A photographer stopped us and as much as I balked, Slater had him take our picture right there in front of God and country.

Slater was not what I would call shy.

Once we got outside, I stopped to smell the ocean air. There were vendors everywhere selling hot dogs and salt-water taffy. The boardwalk was buzzing with life.

“I thought the boardwalk got washed away?”

“See, that’s where the media screwed up. Only a section of it did, and it wasn’t anywhere near here. People assume it’s gone, when it’s not. Does it look like it’s been demolished by a hurricane?”

I looked around slowly. Businesses were open and thriving. Tourists were everywhere.

“Nope.” I smiled.

“Let’s take a walk along the beach.”

We walked hand in hand for what seemed like miles. I loved every second of it. Mason hadn’t been out, and I was, so our time together in public was spent more as friends. All of our intimate time, any touching, was behind closed doors. Slater didn’t seem to have any problem at all holding my hand and even kissing me out in the open. It was so different from what I’d had with Mason. Slater talked about his tours to Iraq and Afghanistan and his buddies who were still there.

“So, this Ramos guy is funny?” I asked.

“Ramos is a pain in my ass, but he was the first guy I met when I got stationed and we clicked. We’ve been tight ever since.”

“So he knows…?”

“Yes, he knows I like guys. I told you—I don’t hide who I am.”

“And it doesn’t bother him?”

“Nah, I mean at first he kinda looked at me real close and asked me if I found him attractive.”

“Did you tell him you didn’t?”

Slater laughed. “Hell, no! I told him he better sleep with one eye open because I wanted that ‘D.’ ”

I laughed so hard I almost choked.

“After that, he just never brought it up again. He knows I’ve been with women, too.”

“See, I never have been with a woman. They just don’t do it for me.”

“No?”

“No.” I shook my head.

“Did you ever top with Mason?”

I came to a stop in the sand and looked up at Slater.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked that.”

“No, it’s okay. I’m with you now, right?” I asked.

“Yes, you are.”

Slater pulled me in close and held me.

“I did once, but it’s really not my thing. I prefer bottoming.”

“Well, that’s good because I’m kind of a top.”

“Noooo!” I laughed.

Slater smacked my butt and kissed me. “I’d bottom for you, though.”

“Well, you won’t have to. We’re perfect the way we are.”

Slater held my face in his hands.

“Yes, we are.”

We resumed walking and I hadn’t felt so at peace since Mason died. It was like Slater and I were two pieces of a puzzle that had finally snapped into place. I’d always felt that Mason was the one and only for me and, for the longest time, I thought I’d never come back from the despair of losing him. Slater had a way about him, though. He was different from Mason in so many ways, but the harassment level was about the same. Maybe a little more from Slater, on second thought.

“What are you thinking?”

“Honestly?”

Slater nodded.

“I’m thinking about the similarities between you and Mason.” I peeked up at Slater to find him genuinely interested in what I was saying. “Don’t get me wrong, you’re worlds apart in some areas, but the way you pursued me was a lot like what he did. Although you did go above and beyond,” I snickered. “Does this bother you? Me talking about him? Honestly, I’m not comparing you two.”

“No, not at all, Casper. He was a big part of your life. You loved him and he deserves respect.”

I stopped and pulled Slater around to face me. “You see, it’s the things that you say sometimes that make me think, who is this guy? Is he the guy who sent me a raunchy stripper? Or the guy who’s standing before me now, saying one of the sweetest, most sensitive things I’ve ever heard?”

“I’m the guy who pursued you, sent you a stripper and a singing telegram. I’m the guy who walked into the middle of your meeting and took you out to dinner. I’m also the guy who can make you happy, if you’ll let me.”

Slater took my hands and searched my eyes.

“I want to be the guy who makes you smile in the morning. I want to be the guy who makes you laugh at night. I just want to be your guy.”

Damn that was romantic. I wanted to check for a film crew.

“W-wow, you really know what to say to a guy,” I stammered instead.

“I care about you Casper. And I knew it from the moment I saw you. You had such a delicious ass.”

“Aaaand there’s the Slater I know,” I chuckled and he bumped my shoulder.

“Honestly? I can’t tell you how I knew you’d be special to me. But I can promise you one thing right here and right now. For me, it’s you and you only from here on out.”

“Really?” I whispered, almost afraid to believe.

“Yes, Casper. Really.”

The kiss that followed was one for the books. I think my foot went up like you see in magazine ads. Slater held me in his arms and kissed me like we were the only two people on the beach. When he finally came up for air, I was in a daze.

“Hungry?” he asked.

“Uh huh.” I nodded. “Wow.”

“There’s more where that came from.” Slater winked at me.

More? Hell, I could barely stand.

We ate dinner in the hotel and spent some time at the casino. Slater played the roulette wheel and kept asking me what my favorite number was. Damn if that ball didn’t drop on the number fourteen three times in a row. Slater walked out with more money in his pocket than he’d walked in with. Which I guess is a win in the gambling world.

I played slots because I suck at cards and have no poker face. After spending twenty bucks on slots, I decided I have no luck and no game. Slater just smiled and dragged me to another table. After an hour, we ended up back in the room and flew at each other. I was naked on the bed in seconds and Slater was on top of me.

I kissed him and rolled him to his back. I grabbed his hard dick in my hand and licked it. Slater moaned and a hand moved into my hair. I was waiting for the push onto his cock, but it never came. He just held my head and gently threaded his fingers through my hair. I was mid-bob when Slater picked up my lower half and managed to settle it over his face. I gasped as he licked one of my balls and then his hand pulled my dick to his mouth.

“Oh, fuck,” I whimpered.

How the hell was I supposed to concentrate with him sucking my dick? I grabbed his and sucked him down to the root. Slater’s moan reverberated down my cock and I almost came right then. I tried to concentrate on giving him my best blowjob ever, but it was exceedingly difficult when he kept licking my dick and fingering my hole. I sucked on one of my fingers to coat it, and then massaged his hole. Slater’s back arched and a loud groan resounded. I fucked his ass with my finger as I continued to bob up and down on his length. Both of us were dragging air through our nostrils as we sucked, licked and nibbled on each other.

I wanted him to come in my mouth; I wanted to taste Slater.

I got my wish.

Slater cried out, his dick erupted in my mouth and hot semen poured down my throat. I greedily lapped it up, swallowing as fast as I could as Slater continued to draw on my cock.

“Oh shit,” I groaned, dropping my head on Slater’s thigh. “Slater…”

“Mmmmm.”

Slater sucked harder and I lost it. My legs shook as my orgasm raced from me. I collapsed on Slater and tried to catch my breath. Slater moved from beneath me and crawled up next to me. He smiled and kissed me.

“How was that?”

“Wow…just…wow.”

I met Slater’s eyes and then it became so real. I was going to lose him. He was going to go back to Afghanistan and I was going to lose him. Slater caressed my cheek and his brows furrowed.

“What is it? Talk to me.”

“I don’t want you to go back,” I barely managed to whisper.

Slater gathered me into his arms and held me tight.

“I know you’re scared.”

“Aren’t you?”

“Sometimes,” Slater acknowledged. “But I know my guys have my back and I have theirs. Besides, I have you to come back to.”

“Please come back to me.” I tightened my grip on him and buried my face in his neck.

“I promise I will do everything in my power to come back to you, Casper. We have a lot of life to live, and years for me to torment you.”

I chuckled. I couldn’t help it.

“You have no idea how much I look forward to it.”

“Me too,” Slater grinned.

Going back home felt wrong somehow, like if I kept Slater in Atlantic City, he wouldn’t go back to the Army. I knew it was stupid, but I couldn’t help but think it anyway. I was running out of time. We ordered in and reclined on my bed to watch Casper. Slater held me close and I settled against his warmth. I knew he’d have to finish up a few more modeling shoots before he left and I planned to be at every one of them. I wanted to spend every waking moment with him.

Slater sighed and I lifted my head to look at him.

“What is it?”

“Poor Casper.”

“I know.” I tried to smile.

“Do you wish you had one more day with Mason?”

I sat up and searched Slater’s eyes.

“I wish I had more time with you.”

“Thank you, Casper.”

“For what?”

“For giving me this. For being here, for giving me a chance. I know how I came off in the beginning and maybe some of that is because of my past. But when I saw you, something changed. I haven’t stopped thinking about you from the moment I saw you.”

I pulled Slater down to my lips.

“Make love to me.”

And he did.

* * * *

Two days later, I was sitting on Raquel and Quinlan’s couch watching Slater run around with Valerie. Both Spencer and Slater thought it would be best if she said goodbye to him in a more family-oriented setting than at a busy airport. I couldn’t help but laugh as Slater was shot in the butt repeatedly with Nerf bullets. The couch dipped next to me and I turned to see Blaine smiling at me. We’d gotten a lot closer—even more than when we worked side by side.

“You’re going to be okay, Casper. You have us to hold you up,” he said.

I nodded. “I know. I just wish I had more time, you know? I want to tell him how much he means to me — all day, every day.”

“He knows, Casper.”

Blaine put his arm around me and I sighed, leaning into him. I hadn’t had a true family in forever; now I did. I’d forgotten what it was like to be cared about. Raquel crossed the room to us and smiled at me. She sat down on the other side of me and enveloped me in a hug.

“I made apple pie,” she whispered in my ear.

“With cinnamon?” I laughed.

“Of course! Let’s go eat, shall we?”

Slater grabbed a squealing Valerie and hugged her tightly. My heart ached and I thought of the conversation we’d had at Spencer’s. Could I see having kids with Slater Cassidy?

Oh, yeah.

“Come on, munchkin.” Slater hung Valerie upside down. “Let’s go get cake.”

“It’s pie, and we have to eat all our veggies first!”

I chuckled as Slater grimaced.

“Fine, but I’m slipping you my peas.” He put her on her feet and swatted her on the rear end.

Slater crooked a finger at me and I rose from the couch, extending my hand. He took it and kissed my palm.

“Ready?” he asked, kissing my cheek.

“So ready.”

* * * *

The day I had been dreading arrived and I held Slater’s hand tightly in the airport. God, I felt like my life was leaving me. Half of me wanted to regret letting Slater in my life, but I couldn’t. He’d brought me so much joy. I darted a look around and then brought my gaze back to him.

“I shouldn’t be holding your hand. You’re in uniform.”

“Oh, the PDA thingie?”

“Yes, public displays of affection.”

“Fuck ’em.” Slater pulled me close and kissed me hard.

A short cough interrupted our kiss and I glanced over my shoulder to see Quinlan and Raquel with huge smiles on their faces. I stepped back and allowed them to say goodbye to their son. Spencer stood off to the side with Blaine, and I knew he also wasn’t happy about Slater going back. He clapped Slater on the back and held his face in his hands.

“Shoot first, ask questions later.”

“Roger that.” Slater winked.

Slater turned to look at me and it took everything I had not to break down and cry. I steeled myself and gave him my best fake smile.

“Stop it, that’s just awful. A little scary even.” Slater pulled me back into his arms. “I’m coming back to you,” he whispered in my ear.

“I’m counting on it.” I squeezed my eyes tightly and willed myself to be strong.

I stayed until his plane took off, and then went home with Raquel and Quinlan. They tried to keep me occupied and thinking of other things, but I just couldn’t do it. I finally excused myself and went upstairs to Slater’s room. Raquel had offered for me to stay over and I agreed. Mainly because I wanted to be where I could be close to Slater. I slipped into his bed and sniffed the pillow. I could smell him; he was all over the bed and I snuggled in and closed my eyes. Slater had two months left on his tour, and then he’d come back to the States. It was going to be a long two months.

* * * *