Page 29 of Call Sign: Thunder
"I think the first order of business is for you to grab a hot shower."
Allison smirked shyly. "And I think the first order of business is to brush my teeth. I feel gross after…"
Zach chuckled. "After you tossed your cookies in downtown Georgetown?"
Her blush was adorable. Christ, she looked so young as she peered at him with her doe eyes. If he hadn't witnessed the aftermath of her time in the Colombian warehouse, he'd swear she was an innocent.
He pushed down a wave of dread that he was going to hurt her more than anyone else had before him. What the hell made him think he could help her? He was a love 'em and leave 'em kinda guy and Allie deserved someone who'd stand by her through all of the bullshit happening in her life.
She must have picked up on his apprehension because her smile slipped, replaced with an embarrassed frown. He wanted her smile back.
"Let's go explore, shall we?" He kept his voice light.
The suite was huge. It would set her father back a pretty penny. The first door they came to was a bedroom with two queen beds. Zach chuckled when he realized her dad actually thought they might sleep in separate beds. Allison's smile was back and he knew she was thinking the same thing.
They crossed back through the living space with a seating area around a large screen TV and past a dining table that would seat eight through the door on the other side of the suite.
He'd expected to find a bathroom. Instead he found another bedroom, this one with one king bed.
So her father actually thought they'd sleep in differentrooms. He stopped in the door, but Allison pushed through to plop on top of the bed, staking her claim.
Zach moved farther into the room, crossing to the ensuite bathroom that sported a huge shower with room for two and a sunken whirlpool tub. He felt like a bastard imagining himself with a naked Allie in each of them.
But this wasn't one of his normal one-night-stands where he got to defile his date until dawn and then sneak out before she woke up. Whether she knew it or not, Allison needed him to be her friend more than she needed him to be her lover.
"Hey, there's a toothbrush and paste in here with your name on it!" He called to her. When she didn't come, he crossed back to the door to the bedroom to find Allison curled up on the comforter, looking like she was down for the count.
"I just need a little nap," she purred.
"Considering it's approaching midnight, I'd say you need a bit more than that." He'd crossed to her, looking down at her petite body. She was so small. Diverging urges warred inside him. The old Zach who couldn't wait to strip her naked and make love to her until she screamed, and the new Zach who wanted to wrap her in bubble wrap so that nothing could ever hurt her again.
New Zach won.
He lifted her into his arms, easily carrying her into the bathroom to stand her next to the sink. She seemed in a daze, as if her mind hadn't caught up with what was happening yet. He nudged her along. "You brush your teeth while I draw you a bath."
Her eyes widened, but she didn't protest.
The hotel was top notch. There was a wicker basket full of scented oils and bath products next to the raised tub. Zach lowered the stopper and started the water, pouring in lavender oils, hoping they would help Allison relax enough to get a good night's sleep. He'd noticed that the majority of the letters she'd written to him over their months apart had been written in the middle of the night. A time she felt most alone and vulnerable.
He was determined that tonight she was gonna get a good night's sleep.
She got to the tub just as he was turning the steaming water off. There was an awkward moment as they both stood watching the water swirl in the tub's powerful jets. He knew she was expecting him to seduce her. She was going to be disappointed.
"I'll leave you now and give you some privacy. I checked. There is a thick robe on the back of the door you can put on when you're done. I'll be outside."
Her bright eyes showed her confusion. "You mean…" Her voice trailed off.
Zach pulled her into a hug. The lavender permeated the air and he caught a glimpse of them in the mammoth mirror. He looked like a giant next to her, swallowing her up in his muscular arms. Her head tucked neatly under his chin, a full head shorter than him.
God, she felt good. They fit together like locking puzzle pieces. He pushed the thought aside. He needed to go slow, or risk fucking everything up.
He released her and took a step back. "We have a lot to talk about, Allison, but before we can do that, you need to get some rest and flush all of the alcohol out of your system. Don't worry. We have plenty of time."
He said the words, but he wasn't sure they were true. Not only was he expected back at the base on Monday morning, but he had no idea how long her father would stay away. Still, he continued. "I'll be right out there in the bedroom. Are you hungry? I'll order us up some food."
She turned a slight shade of green at the mention of food, which told Zach she needed to get something in her stomach. "I'm not hungry."
"Well, I'm starving so I'll get something for you in case you change your mind. Have a nice bath." He leaned in to kiss the top of her head softly before leaving, pulling the door closed behind him.
