“Thank you,” he whispered as his hands landed on the sink basin.
Sloane grabbed the soda and walked back to bed, placing the can on the nightstand next to Gage’s side. Then she walked around, getting under the covers while she waited for him to come out.
After the water turned on and off a few times, he came shuffling out. His eyes were still half shut, and she could see the movement was tough for him, but he smiled as soon as his eyes landed on her.
The mattress dipped slightly as he settled in next to her. Sloane was laying completely still, her arms down tight to her sides like a mummy under the covers.
And that’s when she made the decision. It didn’t feel right to be separated from him any more. Sloane rolled, pulling the comforter so that she could slide right next to his body. His breathing stopped as she placed her head against his chest and let her hand splay across his belly.
“Is this okay?” she whispered, not daring to meet his gaze.
“I should be asking you that,” he replied.
“I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t want to.”
Gage’s arm wrapped around her back, his hand landing on the bare skin of her upper arm. His fingers traced light circles around and around, soothing her nerves until she melted even further into him.
“This is exactly what I needed. Thank you.”
“Goodnight, Clark,” she giggled.
“Sweet dreams, Red.”
Seventeen
They’d fallen into a comfortable routine over the last few weeks. Sloane didn’t seem to mind seeing her clients through her computer, and when she wasn’t busy taking over the office in his apartment, she was downstairs, training with him or one of the guys.
They never left her alone when she was outside of the apartment, even if it was just inside Montgomery Defense. No one was taking any chances. He knew it was taking a toll on Sloane, but she was putting on a brave face like she always did.
Looking at his watch, Gage chuckled as he took a final sip of coffee. Sloane had slept in that morning, and it had nearly killed him to get out of bed and leave her.
He truly didn’t think a relationship would ever feel right again after Melody. But Sloane slipped so easily into place in his heart. Like a puzzle piece he hadn’t even known was out there blowing around in the wind finally came back home.
Gage walked to the edge of the bed, chuckling at the sight before him.
“Alright. Up outta bed, lazy bones.”
“Too warm. Come back later,” Sloane grumbled, the only part of her that he could see was her red hair splayed out across the pillow.
“I know for a fact you don’t have any clients today, so we’re celebrating ‘Bring Your Girlfriend to Work’ Day.”
Her eyes popped out from under the covers. “We are?”
“Mhm.”
“Clark.” He held back his laughter at the nickname. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I don’t really want to go downstairs. I mean, no offense, the gym and your offices are nice, but I’ll be bored out of my mind. I guess I could bring my laptop with me, but I’d honestly rather sit on the couch and rot in front of the TV for the day. Besides, I could go spend some time with Lily and Sage.”
“Nope, you can’t. Gunner is taking them over to Bell Ridge to see Cap and Emma. But don’t worry. We aren’t going down to the office.”
She sat up in bed, the comforter falling around her waist as a huge smile spread across her face. “Oh my god! Am I finally going to get to see The Trident?”
Gage nodded, unable to hide his own smile at her excitement.
“Are you going to let me shoot a gun?”
“Do you mean, am I going to teach you how to be safe when handling a firearm?”
“Yes.”