Page 6 of Quarantined With the Soldier

“The military changes you,” he shrugged.

“I guess that’s true.”

“I’ll always have those years to look back on with fond memories, but it’ll be nice to have more control over what I do now.”

“Control seems to be important to you,” she said carefully. She thought about the way he’d spanked her. He’d been totally in charge and completely in control during that moment.

She’d never been spanked before. Not by a guy. Not by anyone. She had liked it, a little bit. She didn’t think she was supposed to, but she did. Maybe that made her a freak, but she wasn’t sure. Either way, Ava hadn’t missed the fact that Dylan had been completely in control of what was happening.

At no point had he gotten angry, yelled, or hurt her beyond what he wanted to do. And it had been a very valuable lesson to her.

He valued respect.

He valued her.

At least, she liked to think that he did.

“In some ways,” he finally said.

“Sexually?” She raised an eyebrow.

“Are you propositioning me?” He raised his in a teasing gesture, and she shook her head quickly. Ava wasn’t sure if sex was something she wanted to do with Dylan. Not just yet, anyway. It had been a long time since she’d been with someone.

Did she really want to make love to someone like him?

Having sex with Dylan was going to be different than it was with other people. With the guys Ava had slept with before, nothing had been requested of her. She could lie there and look pretty if she wanted to. She could touch them and play with them, but they basically just did what they liked.

The guys she fucked hadn’t asked her to surrender anything. They hadn’t requested that she be especially vulnerable or open with them.

Would Dylan be like them?

She already knew that he wouldn’t.

“No,” she said.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

She wasn’t sure, though. There was a part of her that thought they were going to be locked up for two weeks, so they might as well have some fun.

Was that really fair, though?

They were going to be locked up for two weeks, so maybe she shouldn’t stress too much about morals and boundaries and that sort of thing. Maybe he’d want to make love to her. Then again, maybe he’d want something else.

She’d heard whispers before of the things people like Dylan wanted to do in the bedroom: naughty things.

Things like that spanking from the truck.

“That’s fine,” Dylan said. “I’m not going to make you do anything you don’t want to do, and I’m not here with any expectations.”

“You aren’t?”

“Ava, I missed you. You’re my favorite person in the world. I just wish you’d take care of yourself,” he said carefully.

She bristled at the comment. She did take care of herself, or couldn’t he tell? She was always taking care of herself because there was never anyone else to do it. If she didn’t watch her own back, then she’d probably just keel over and die.

Then again, maybe having someone like Dylan around would be nice.

He said he’d ordered groceries, after all. She hadn’t asked him to do that. She hadn’t asked him to stay with her, either, but maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.

“I missed you, too,” she told him. “It seemed like you were gone forever.”

“Did you think I’d change?”

“You have changed, a little.”

“Don’t worry, darling,” he stepped closer. “I’ve only changed in the very best ways. I promise.”

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