Sailor Proof by Annabeth Albert

Chapter Twenty

Arthur

“You still soaking?” Derrick called from the other room right as I was about to turn into a waterlogged sponge if I stayed in this tub any longer.

“Yup. You can bring me my drink,” I yelled back, fully expecting him to tell me to come fetch it myself. But the warm water felt so damn good on my sore muscles. My mom had pressed a bag of Epsom salts on me, and Stacey some bubble bath that smelled like pricey herbs.

I felt like a well-seasoned, salt-basted turkey after my long, fragrant soak, but I was in a far better mood than earlier and could grin way more easily when Derrick appeared in the doorway to the bathroom, giant iced coffee in hand.

“Hey, merman. I got you the largest size they had.” He smiled indulgently at me, warming me even more than the water.

“Excellent.” Not about to turn down tub-side service, I wriggled under the water as Derrick brought the drink over. He even held it for me to take a long sip.

“You truly are the best pretend boyfriend ever. Like undercover FBI agent-level good at the ruse.” Beaming at him, I took another drink before he set the cup aside.

“You watch too many bad movies.” Derrick knelt down next to the tub.

“More like I read too much of Sabrina’s alternate universe fan fic.” I laughed as he shifted around, apparently settling in for a chat with me still all bubbly. “Speaking of, are you here to play valet? Going to scrub my back?”

“Does Sabrina write period pieces too?” Picking up the soap from the little tray on the side of the tub, he also reached for a washcloth from the nearby rack.

“Wait.” I held up a hand before he could proceed. “I wasn’t serious.”

“I was. Lean forward.” He pushed on my shoulder.

“Why do you have to be so perfect?” Sighing, I complied and sat forward. I wasn’t stupid enough to turn down a chance to have his hands on me.

“I’m not.” His face was far too serious to be joking with me.

“What? You could have fooled me.” I stretched as he rubbed my back, his firm touch even better than the warm water at relaxing me.

“Ask your brother. I’m known for being a hard-ass on duty and a cranky loner off.”

“I get the loner rep, but you’re nice,” I insisted. He used his thumbs to massage my neck, and I had to bite back a groan. “I’m the one who’s been cranky this week. I don’t know why I can’t seem to enjoy family trips.”

“Maybe it’s because I don’t have the same baggage as you. To me, this is a fun escape. Like visiting a movie set. I’m not the one who had to grow up in the family, though, so I’ve got the luxury of being nice.”

Huh. He wasn’t wrong. There was a whole history here, one that made it hard to simply let go and enjoy the present.

“That’s really astute of you.” Bending more forward, I made it easier for him to rub more of my back. “Now you’re nice and smart.”

“Well, I try on both fronts. Even if the kids think being a smart nerd is overrated.”

“You? A nerd? Never.” I flicked a bubble in his direction.

“Ha. Tell that to Taylor and the twins. And let’s see. I like data and organization, would rather play chess than poker, know all sorts of random trivia thanks to my grandmother’s love of game shows, and I generally play by the rules. I think that makes me a nerd.”

“I think that makes you pretty perfect,” I countered. “All that and you’re hot as fuck too? Damn. It’s a wonder you didn’t have volunteers lined up outside the barracks to be your rebound.”

“Hot, huh?” He leaned in for a soft kiss on my mouth.

“You own a mirror. You know you’re all that.” Even now, Derrick was so damn appealing, the way his brown hair was as rumpled as his T-shirt from the hiking, the gentleness around his eyes and mouth, and the strength in his hands on my shoulders and back.

“You’re full of it.” Eyes twinkling, he gave me another kiss. “And you’re not so bad yourself. You look damn sexy with all those bubbles playing peekaboo with your skin.”

I preened. “You could join me.”

“I could.” He kissed the side of my neck, making me shiver before he snaked a hand down my chest. “Got anywhere else I should rub?”

“Well, if you’re going for full service...” I stretched suggestively, letting my hard cock bob above the water, getting a laugh from us both.

“Maybe I am.” His next kiss was more aggressive, the way he growled and nipped before delving deeply.

“Get in here with me.”

“Some other time. Promise.” He slid his hand lower, palming my cock, making me groan because I had such a love-hate relationship with his promises. “Right now, I wanna get you off like this.”

“But I can’t reach you.” My complaint wasn’t all that convincing because the way he was touching me made me feel like some sort of pampered emperor, and I sure as hell didn’t want him to stop.

“Yup. You’re all mine.” Laughing darkly, he gave me another kiss, this one possessive and commanding. “Last night I really wanted to watch your face when you came, but my eyes shut at the last second and I missed my chance.”

“Hey.” My skin heated, and I ducked my head. “Now you’re making me self-conscious.”

“Don’t be.” He tilted my head up so he could claim my mouth again, before adding, “I think you’re so fucking gorgeous.”

“I’d think you were hotter if you let me get you off too,” I countered.

“Shush. I’ll keep until later.” Nibbling my neck, he coaxed loose another moan from me as his grip on my cock tightened.

“You are the king of delayed gratification.” I’d let him win this round, but later he was going to be all mine, and merely the thought of all I wanted to do to him made me shiver. “I’m going to make it more than worth the wait.”

“Good.” He sped up his hand, water sluicing over my aching cock. “Let me have my fun now, though. Kiss me.”

I did, finding his lips for a clumsy kiss interrupted by more moaning as he added a twist at the top of each stroke that was going to get me there fast.

“Oh. That.”

“Good?”

“So good.” Arching my back, I tried to spur him on. Already my body was far too ramped up for any impulses to draw this out. “Not sure how your hand can feel so much better than mine.”

“Maybe I’m just magic.” Chuckling, he kissed me again, deeper this time, one hand on the back of my neck while the other continued to drive me out of my mind. He was magic all right, and I forgot to be self-conscious about him watching me and instead gave myself over to his touch and his kiss.

“Fuck. Derrick.” My breath came in harsh pants as he jerked me harder. The now-tepid water splashed, some hitting my face, but I was singularly focused on my impending orgasm.

“Yeah, baby,” he urged, voice low and sexy. “Let it happen.”

Didn’t have to ask me twice. I was that close that he didn’t have to change his grip or speed, simply keep kissing and touching me and climax was right there. “Gonna...”

“Do it,” he growled, but I was already coming, crying out and shaking so hard it was a wonder the tub didn’t rattle apart from the force of it. “Damn. I knew it. That was the hottest thing I’ve ever seen. You’re sexy as fuck when you come.”

“Thanks.” Not sure what to do with the compliment, I leaned forward so I could drain the tub in advance of rinsing off with the sprayer. I still couldn’t get over how different climaxing with another person was. If I’d known about this intensity, I would have made sex more of a priority years ago. But then I wouldn’t be here with Derrick, experiencing all this for the first time.

I managed to avoid drenching him as I quickly washed off any lingering traces of bubble bath and the orgasm. I had some scrapes and bruises, but now that the dirt was gone, nothing needed a bandage, and it was mainly my pride that had taken the brunt of the fall.

“Don’t blush.” Derrick handed me a towel as I flipped off the water. “I mean it. You’re so fucking sexy. I’m gonna watch you come again later tonight as well.”

“How about right now?” I pitched my voice low and seductive, not that it ever seemed to work on Derrick. But he said I was sexy, and I certainly felt more attractive in the light of his warm gaze. “Bet I could go for doubles if you let me get you off too.”

“I will.” Predictably, he held up a hand when I would have advanced on him. “After volleyball and dinner.”

“Volleyball?” Stopping to rescue my coffee from the floor, I followed him back into the main room. “I’m supposed to play sports after you reduced my nerve endings to the equivalent of old piano wires?”

“Yup. You are.”

“There are other balls I’d rather play with.” If seduction wasn’t going to work, at least I could bring the jokes.

“Don’t tempt me.” His eyes flared dark before he too laughed and pointed at my coffee cup, which was damp with condensation. “Darn it. We took so long your coffee melted.”

“Trust me, your hands are more than worth slushy coffee. And it’s still good. Exactly what I was craving.” I took a watered-down sip. I’d drink three-day-old swill if it meant more kissing with Derrick. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me. Taking care of you is fun.”

Fun.There were a lot of things I wanted to be for Derrick, but fun wasn’t a bad start. Like he’d said, maybe he didn’t have enough fun in his life, and if he found doing nice things for me that enjoyable, I wasn’t going to stop him. “Maybe I should let you do it more.”

“Maybe you should.” Voice light and teasing, he winked at me, but something far more serious unfurled in my chest as I pulled on some fresh clothes. With every encounter, this felt less and less like a game, but no way was I pulling back now. Instead, I matched his laugh. “To volleyball and beyond!”

Derrick wasn’t the only one who could make promises for later, and I was damn sure going to make his wait memorable.