Alex was sure his mouth was hanging open. Nick knew all this time.
“Get out of here.” Nick waved him off before turning back to face the poor MP’s and ordering them around. Alex didn’t hang around after that. He would much rather be with Payton anyway.
Epilogue
Three weeks later…
“Alex, put me down.” Payton chuckled as Alex carried her through the doorway to his apartment. “I healed up over a week ago.” It still pulled a little, but it was more of a twinge than actual pain.
“I was carrying you over the threshold,” Alex stated before setting her on her feet but not releasing her. She couldn’t resist leaning forward and kissing him.
The past few weeks had been like living in a dream. By the time she’d been discharged from the hospital, she’d signed paperwork releasing her apartment, had a new apartment lined up, the movers called, and emailed her letter of resignation to her supervisor.
Her boss hadn’t been happy about her leaving but understood. She finished her career with them on light desk duty while she sent out her resume in San Antonio. Her boss had written a glowing recommendation, and she had interviews set up before she stepped foot in the state. Everything had fallen together like puzzle pieces as if this was all meant to be.
It was a hectic few first days getting her sea legs in a new town and arranging all of her furniture in the apartment, but Alex had been with her every step of the way. She’d been introduced to his teammates and their girlfriends. They were warm and welcoming and all too happy to help her learn her way around town. She couldn’t wait to start her new life here.
She and Alex split their time between each apartment, though she stayed at his more than hers. It was bigger and had way more comfortable furniture. She loved his king size bed too.
All the women had a ritual of getting together when the men were away and were already including Payton in their get-togethers, as if she were one of them. Payton instantly loved all of them. She’d never had girlfriends before. It was new and fun.
“Isn’t that something done when people get married?” she asked hesitantly. Payton loved Alex, but she wasn’t ready for that kind of step yet.
“It doesn’t have to be. I just like carrying you.”
That made her roll her eyes. Big strong man needed to carry the dainty woman around. Though Payton would hardly call herself dainty. She was tall and muscular. She preferred sweatpants and jeans over dresses. She always carried at least two weapons on her at all times. There wasn’t a dainty bone in her body. And yet he made her feel that way.
“Well, don’t get used to it, buddy. I prefer to use my own two legs.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he said with an easy grin.
Payton noted he smiled more since they’d talked in the hospital. His face used to look so hard and stern, and now it was light and happy. She liked to think she was the cause of that. “So how does it feel to be the last bachelor to fall?” she teased. Catherine, Charlie’s girlfriend, had told her they had been trying to set Alex up for months.
Alex rubbed his nose along hers, his eyes turning molten. “I couldn’t be happier.”
Payton’s insides turned to a puddle of goo. “No regrets?” Not that he could back out now. He was hers as much as she was his.
“Not for a second,” he answered without hesitation.
“Good, because you’re stuck with me.”
“Just like you’re stuck with me,” he whispered, trailing a hot blaze of kisses down the side of her neck. Just like that, she lost her train of thought.
Payton tilted her head back, giving him more access to her neck. He greedily took the invitation, leaving a hot trail down to her chest. His hands skimmed up her back playing with the hem of her shirt.
This was as far as they’d gotten since she’d been released from the hospital. He’d treated her like porcelain. She hated it and was over it. She was healed enough for lovemaking. She’d ditched the sling a while ago. It was time to prove it to him.
Payton knew that Alex would try to be noble and push her away saying she needed more time. She had a plan of attack, and it started right now.
She hands stroked down his broad chest. Only the thin barrier of his shirt kept her from touching his bare skin. Soon, she told herself. Alex’s kisses turned harder, his hard length ground against her core. He wasn’t unaffected by her touch. This was good.
She took it to the next step, reaching between them, rubbing her left hand over his hard length. Alex groaned against her chest. His hips flexed in her hand. “Payton.”
Payton rubbed him up and down while her other hand undid the snap of his jeans. He hissed a harsh breath as she freed him from his constricting jeans. His cock spilling into her hand. Her thumb swiped over the tip. Liquid seeping. Payton licked her lips; she couldn’t wait to taste him again. It had been too long.
Alex pulled back. Indecision written all over his face. Oh no, he didn’t. “We can’t.”
“We can,” she assured him with a wicked gleam in her eyes as she wrapped her fist around him. She couldn’t wrap one hand around his full length so she added her other hand. She kept the pressure firm but not painful. She stroked lightly. She didn’t want him to get off yet. Just so out of his mind with lust that he would throw her down on the closest surface and make love to her. Hell, she wasn’t picky. It didn’t even have to be a surface. He could just pick her up and spear her.