Covertly Strong (The Strong Series Book 1) (54 page)

“SHIT. I’M SORRY, BABY. THAT was not at all how I planned on that going,” Nix apologizes as he watches Sloan’s perfect ass climb onto the bed. She’s still gloriously naked and now stretched out with a delightfully satisfied expression on her beautiful face.

She blinks in confusion. “Why are you apologizing?” She adjusts the pillow and then pulls the cool, cotton sheets over her body. “And why are you putting clothes back on?” she asks as she observes him slipping on boxer briefs and a T-shirt.

Nix chuckles as he slides into bed beside her. He glides his arm underneath her prone form, nestling her body into his side. His fingers run soft circles along her arm, enjoying the feel of her satiny skin.

“I was too rough with you, sweetheart,” he declares in a guilty tone.

“Uh…
no,
you weren’t,” she responds adamantly.

“Yes, I was. You’re not fully recovered and I just fucked you hard against the wall.” He shakes his head in utter disappointment.

She smiles against his chest before unleashing her magical gaze in his direction. “I thought the fucking was pretty incredible, and I know for a fact that Operation Blow Sloan’s Mind was a huge success. We exceeded any and all of my expectations. Hell, you blew those expectations right out of the water.”

Nix chuckles in spite of the fact that he’s mentally berating himself.

He clears his throat, shaking his head in disbelief. “Damnit, Meli, you make me lose every ounce of willpower and self-control…” He pauses as he looks down at her affectionately. “Once I saw your perfect tits and curvy ass, I was done for. I
had
to bury myself inside you… And then, once I slid my cock into that hot little pussy of yours…I just lost it. I couldn’t stop myself,” he groans. “I have to be gentler with you. No hard fucking until my girl is fully healed.”

“Excuse me?” She gives him a pointed stare. “I think
I
should be the one making
that
decision, Nix,” she voices with a strong tone. “Besides, I would have told you if it was too rough for me. And it wasn’t, by the way. My body didn’t feel one ounce of pain.
Only pleasure
. Amazing, earth-shattering, nearly coma-inducing pleasure,” she whispers seductively.

Her brown eyes stare into his, adamant and determined to drive her point home. “I loved it. I loved every single minute of it. It’s like you were fucking me and making love to me at the same time.” She raises a pointed eyebrow as she demands, “No way in hell will I let you take any of that away from me.”

He brushes his thumb across her lips. “Love, since you obviously have no sense of self-preservation, I think I’ll be making the rules on what’s allowed in terms of sex.”

He leans up on his elbow and gently adjusts her so she is lying on her back. His concerned eyes take inventory of the bruises and scars that are still visible. His lips turn down at the corners as he brushes his fingers across the black-and-blue splotches marring her olive skin. He traces them over her ribs, across her abdomen, and down her hipbones until he meets the visible gunshot wound. The sutures are beginning to dissolve as new skin heals over injured.

“It doesn’t hurt,” she tells him quietly.

“I have a feeling you wouldn’t tell me if it did, Meli.” He glances at her questionably.

Sloan sighs heavily. “I would, Nix. I wouldn’t lie to you about that.” She runs her hand across his forehead, brushing pieces of hair out of his face. “Yeah, I’m still sore, and I have a lot of recovering to do, but I’m doing okay. I don’t need anything to help me get around. And the slight limp in my step is only noticeable if I’ve been really active.”

He wraps his arms around her, pulling her against him as he lies on his back. His warm breath brushes her ear. “I’m so happy you’re here with me. I died a million deaths imagining the worst.” He grips her tight, crushing her chest to his. “I love you so much, baby. Always.”

The emotion in his voice urges tears to prick at her eyes. Her throat clogs from the overwhelming feelings bursting out of her soul. “Always,” she whispers against his chest. It’s the only word she can manage.

Sloan stays nestled inside Nix’s embrace.

His arms anchor her, making her feel safe and secure. Their hearts beat in synchrony against each other’s chests as if they were always supposed to be this way. No amount of words could communicate the emotions and feelings and love that are exchanged through gazes and kisses and just holding one another.

Peaceful silence caresses them, allowing them to savor the quiet moment.

“I can’t wait to get you home,” he tells her with a megawatt grin.

“I can’t wait to get home either. We have a lot of walls to christen,” she teases while simultaneously gauging his reaction.

His eyebrows crease in frustration. “
Sloan
.” Just voicing her name shows his disapproval of her lascivious intentions.

“Nixon
,” she retorts.

“Don’t start this again. Only soft and sweet until I know you’re all healed up. Get used to good old-fashioned missionary, because it’s all you’re getting from me.” He internally cringes at this idea but wholeheartedly agrees that it’s in her best interest.

Even at sixteen years old, Sloan was notorious for downplaying injuries. The girl refused to show weakness, and evidently, not much has changed. Yeah, this might be over the top, but he knows what it feels like to think he lost her for good. He refuses to put her in any type of risk no matter how big or small.

“That’s it!” she voices loudly, her words echoing in the room.

He gestures for her to quiet down.

“Fine,” she whisper-yells. “I’m going on strike. If all we’re going to do is boring missionary, then I say we just don’t have
any
sex,” she offers with a sly expression on her face, attempting to goad him into to changing his ‘we’re only doing missionary’ tune.

Nix smiles at her with amusement shining in his blue orbs, refusing to respond and knowing full well that this just Sloan’s way of taunting him.

“Aren’t you going to say anything?” she asks as irritation begins to creep in her voice.

He rests his arms behind his head, giving the appearance of pure relaxation.

“
Seriously
?”

Nix just nods in response.

“Gah!” she cries in frustration. “Fine! I can play the silent treatment game too!” she declares. With lightning-quick speed and before Nix can stop her, she scoots down his body and slides as much of her petite frame—head included—underneath his white shirt. The cotton material stretches as Sloan makes her naked body comfortable against his bare chest, her waist and legs dangling out below.

He can’t stop the bout of laughter that consumes him as he looks down at the odd, prominent shape that’s formed under his shirt. Her naked little body is hibernating inside his clothing….while he’s still wearing them.

He pulls his collar back with a strong finger and peers down at her.

She couldn’t be any more adorable in this moment if she tried.
Stubborn and sassy.

God, he loves this woman.

Her brown irises meet his blues. Both remained fixated on each other while trying to hold back the laughter that bubbles up from their bellies, threatening to burst out of them any minute.

“You look good on me,” he tells her with a cheesy tone to his voice and a suggestive waggle of his brow.

She giggles, and not just a few, but full-on, can’t-stop bouts of giggles. Her smile beams up at him from under the stretched-out cotton material.

Nix’s heart nearly bursts from the endless amount of love and adoration that are only reserved for her. His arms curl around her body in delight, cherishing the feel of her nearness.

Despite everything they have been through over the past few weeks, they relish the joy that hovers over them, soaking up every ounce of happiness that radiates within the small confines of the hotel room.

It’s a moment filled with a million I love yous and the kind of love that makes you feel like you’re flying.

SLOAN WALKS OFF THE ELEVATOR still dressed in her pajamas and a messy bun thrown on top of her head. With two cups of coffee in hand, she is more than ready to catch the flight home to San Diego. A certain sexy Navy SEAL kept her up most of the night—in a very delightful way nonetheless—and coffee is a much-needed boost to get her ass moving since the alarm clock went off before the sunrise. A click of a door echoing in the hallway urges her eyes to look up instead of sleepily staring at her feet. She’s startled to find a disheveled-looking Julian walking out of Aly’s hotel room.

What the heck?
She cocks her head to the side, looking at him with curiosity. “I’m pretty sure that’s not your hotel room,” Sloan voices as she makes a show of glancing back and forth between the room Julian
should
be staying in and Aly’s room.

He runs a hand over his buzzed head. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Sure you don’t,” she adds with a smirk. “Here. Hold these.” She holds the two cups of coffee out to him and then pulls the room key out of her pocket.

Julian dutifully follows her, knowing there isn’t a chance in hell that he can get out of this situation.

Before she slides the keycard into the door, she throws another pointed look his way.

“My lips are sealed, doll,” he responds accordingly, tossing a wink in her direction.

Sloan continues to stare at him, curiosity etched all over her face.

“Just open the damn door,” he demands, averting her inquisitive gaze.

“I’m going to get it out of you eventually. I’m pretty relentless when it comes to shit like this,” she declares as she opens the door.

Julian chooses to use his signature sarcasm as a distraction from Sloan’s scrutinizing intentions. “Are you sure Nix is down for this, doll? I mean, I’ve never known him to be game for threesomes…” he nearly shouts as he follows her into the room.

“God, you’re annoying,” she responds with a laugh.

Sleepy cerulean eyes open, finding his gorgeous brunette walking in through the door along with a smirking Julian, who is holding two fresh cups of coffee in his hands.

“Morning, sweetheart,” Julian says. “Are you naked underneath those sheets, Boss?” he asks jokingly. “You know what that sexy bod of yours does to me.”

“It’s too fucking early for me to deal with your sarcastic ass,” Nix groans as he pulls a pillow over his head.

Sloan chimes in to the conversation as she grabs the coffee from Julian. “Guess where I just saw Julian leaving from?”

Julian jumps in, throwing both hands in the air and downright refusing to give Sloan a chance to elaborate. “I’m out. I’ve gotta shower and pack my shit. I’ll see you assholes in a bit,” he tosses over his shoulder as he strides out of the door.

Nix pulls the pillow from over his head, looking at Sloan questioningly. “What was that all about?”

She laughs and shakes her head. “Honestly, I have no idea. I saw him leaving Aly’s hotel room on my way back from getting us coffee.”

“Really
?”

“Really.”

“Interesting,” Nix states, still too tired to understand Julian’s motives.

“I’m surprised someone finally decided to wake up,” Sloan teases as she sits on the edge of the bed.

He chuckles, rubbing a hand through his sexily disheveled hair. “Some crazy woman kept me up all night arguing about her disdain for missionary sex…”

“That sounds like one ridiculously intelligent woman,” she retorts with a straight face.

“She’s quite the ball-buster. That’s for sure,” Nix declares with a quirk of his lips.

“I bet she has to be to keep your caveman ass in line.” She holds a cup out towards him, the delicious smell of coffee wafting in his direction.

He reaches for the cup, but she pulls it away quickly—visibly enjoying taunting him.

“Coffee in exchange for a kiss,” she demands, setting the two cups on the bedside table.

His mouth crests into a grin. “Come here, beautiful.”

Sloan leans forward and is taken by surprise when Nix quickly grabs her before tossing her petite body down on the bed. His large body hovers over her, his obvious arousal pressed into her belly.

“Well, hello there, Lieutenant,” she quietly says through her giggles.