Page 28 of Loving a Warrior

“Canned sauce and boxed spaghetti tastes that good after chow hall food, huh?” With a teasing grin, Alexis patted him on the shoulder. “I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

Shane bumped him with his hip as he joined them at the sink. “Yeah, glad you enjoyed it. Pig.”

“At least I’m not wearing mine.” Matt shoved him back. “You’re wearing half of yours around your mouth.” He held his breath, hoping…

Sure enough, Shane darted his tongue out to lick slowly, thoroughly, around his lips, leaving them slick, the overhead light emphasizing their fullness. Matt bit back a groan, imagining Shane applying that oh-so-pink tongue to his nipples, the head of his cock…

Holding Matt’s eyes with his, Shane lifted an eyebrow. “Did I get it all?” Was it his imagination or did Shane’s voice sound a little lower, a little huskier? Behind him, Alexis chuckled.

His cheeks on fire, Matt hurried toward the laundry room. “Need to check my stuff.”

By the time he got himself under control and back to the kitchen, Alexis was gone and Shane was putting the last plate into the dishwasher. He tossed Matt a rag. “Wipe down the table and counters, will ya? I’ll go throw my stuff in.”

When the cleanup was done, they took their boots and went into the backyard with them, where they sat on a love seat to share pieces of old T-shirt and some polish. As they worked, Matt ventured, “Is Alexis okay? She seemed kinda sad for a minute there.”

With a shrug, Shane replied tersely, “She’s fine. It’s a long story, Matt.” He paused, looking over at him. “It’s been a rough couple of years, that’s all.”

Matt nodded, and they polished in silence for a while until Shane said, “Your new roomie seems cool.”

“He’s a good guy.” Matt told him what he knew about Trey, saying, “The third day of Hell Week he started coughing up blood. Tried to hide it, but those medical guys don’t miss a thing and rolled him back.”

“Wow, that sucks.”

“They don’t fuck around with pneumonia. He said this other guy broke his ankle on the last day and he talked the instructors into letting him finish the final evolution on crutches so he could pass Hell Week.”

Shane grunted. “That’s hardcore.” He set his boots aside, then sprawled back, slinging his arm along the back of the love seat. “What’s your uncle like?”

Achingly aware of Shane’s arm just behind his shoulders, Matt said, “Hell, you’d never think he was a SEAL to look at him. He’s not any taller than me, maybe one hundred sixty pounds. But he’s pure fuckin’ badass, man. He was at Mogadishu, if that tells you anything.”

Shane pushed on his shoulder. “No fucking way. The Black Hawk Down thing? You’re shitting me.” His hand lingered along Matt’s upper arm before sliding away. “I didn’t even know there were SEALs there.”

“He’s told me as much as he can about it,” Matt said gruffly, “but what he always says is that their training saved their lives. He told me everything they do to us here has a purpose, no matter how cruel it seems, and to remember that when things get rough.”

He tensed, waiting for Shane to make fun of him for the long speech, but Shane only snorted softly. “What keeps me going is the fact you’ll never let me live it down if I DOR. I can hear you now. ‘Good riddance. Fuckin’ clown.’”

Good riddance? No, not so much. Not anymore. Matt cleared his throat. “Well, you’ll always be a clown to me. Sorry. Just don’t be a quitter, too.”

Their eyes met, and then Shane nudged his shoulder again. “There’s the dryer buzzer, Soup,” he said huskily. “If you throw my stuff in, I’ll dig out the ironing board and starch.”

“’Kay,” Matt mumbled. He fled to the laundry room, feeling like a total idiot.

Goddammit.

The rhythm of ironing was hypnotic and soothing. By the time he had his stuff carefully folded in a neat stack, he was all but dead on his feet. He lay down on the couch while Shane took his turn, and the next thing he knew, cool fingers were brushing over his arm.

“Time to get up.”

Matt sat bolt upright, trying to focus bleary eyes on Alexis’s amused face. “Wh-what time is it?”

“Four a.m.” She glanced over at the other couch, where Shane was racked out. “I set my alarm because I had a feeling this might happen.”

Matt could have kissed her. “Thank you,” he said fervently. “Thank you.”

Alexis crinkled her nose at him. “Wake that fool up. I’ll make you guys a quick breakfast.”

She disappeared into the kitchen before Matt could protest her going to any trouble, and after scrubbing the sleep from his eyes, went to kick Shane’s couch roughly. “Get up, clown. We’re late.”

Those words had Shane scrabbling for his phone to check the time. “Fuck you, Soup,” he growled when he realized it was still early. “You just took five years off my life, asshole.” He shook his head in disgust when Matt cracked up.