Way of the Warrior (Troubleshooters #17.5)(103)

CHAPTER 5


Being carried to the master bath was right out of a fantasy. Alisha felt like a newlywed as Jonah perched her on the edge of the bamboo bathing seat, closed the door to the tub, and flipped on the taps. “Don’t you think we’re going too far?” asked Alisha, uncomfortable with the practice of trying out Kevin and Julie’s specialty step-in tub. “What if we break it?”

“Hey, we need to make sure this thing doesn’t leak,” Jonah said with a grin. “Besides, I’m curious about the inner workings. I’d like to be able to tell Kevin that he’s ‘good to go’ with some hanky-panky in here with Julie. He’d thank me for this.”

“You wouldn’t dare tell him!” She was incredulous. “Kevin’s like a brother to me.”

“Good. Glad you feel that way about him. But, I don’t feel that way about you.”

Alisha kicked her feet, splashing water at him. “I’m getting out.”

“No way,” he said, catching her to him. “You promised to stick this night out. Now, before we have to get back to work and finish your checklist, let’s get clean and then…talk.”

“Your smirk is much too smug, Mr. Melo.”

He handed her the bar of soap, and they made quick work of washing up. The tub really was superb. Julie and Kevin were going to love it.

Jonah helped her out of the tub and onto a pile of paint tarps and brand-new towels. Jonah slid underneath her and balanced her on top of him. “Unless you want to, ah, do other things now.”

His tongue snaked out and licked a large drop of water off her neck, and he watched her eyes mirror her delight as her body leaned toward his for more attention. When he pulled back, she followed his lead.

She kissed the top of his nose. “You’re right. We need to talk, to clear the air. So, you go first. I’d like to know how you feel about me.”

“Okay.” He took a deep breath. “Me first. Honestly, I’ve never felt this way with anyone.” His statement made his face scrunch up, like it pained him.

She elbowed him. “That bad.”

“No, your knee is pushing on a delicate spot.”

She shifted her weight. “Sorry about that. Thanks for being honest. I like you, too.”

“Only like?” he asked. There was mirth in his eyes.

“I’m not feeding your ego. I’m attempting to be honest, you jerk!”

He gathered her closer. “I know. I’m sorry. I agree. You’ve…always been the ideal, my wish for a mate. I just…always thought there would be more time. And, that we’d be able to date and court and move our relationship along in a normal way. Now that I know you like military men and are not opposed to moving forward, I’d like to. But, we still might need to make it a bit accelerated.”

She made a derisive noise. “As if…anything about you is normal.” She shrugged. “You know, normal is overrated.” Turning her face toward his, she reached forward for his lips.

He leaned in and kissed her. “Sweet, succulent kisses. No one kisses like you.”

“Thanks.” She leaned back. “Wait! Why would it need to be accelerated?”

“I’m back on duty in a couple weeks. I have a new assignment, and since the base is secure, only wives can accompany.” Jonah said this very nonchalantly.

“Duty? Where?”

“Well, I can’t give out all the details. But, I’m competing to go into space.”

“No way! Haven’t you seen Gravity? I don’t want you out there, now that I finally have you.” She wasn’t cool with this. Space! Really?

“Alisha, do you like being an interior designer? If I asked you never to do it again…”

She held up her hands. “Okay. I get it. Point almost taken. It’s not like I can get stranded and suffocate in a fabric warehouse, or get shot to death with a glue gun. It’s not exactly an equivalent situation we’re talking about here.”

He kissed her, a long, deep, languorous kiss. “None of us knows what is on the next horizon. Look at Kevin and Julie. Would they have tied the knot if they had been afraid of the future? No. What changed it for them? Facing it together.”

His hands stroked over her flesh. He distracted her from the conversation. But, she was tuned in enough to finally, really see the truth.

A blush rose in her cheeks. “I understand. Life is full of stolen moments, times that you value like pearls to tuck in the treasure box of your heart.” Her hand patted his chest. “I think I was angry with you. I wanted something that wasn’t real, a fantasy in my brain; when in reality, true life is better than anything I could ever imagine.”

“Are you saying what I think you’re saying?” He was hopeful. He didn’t want to let his heart go there, but nothing could rescue his spirit from feeling connected to hers. From the moment they had met, he’d known she was perfect for him. He was an idiot to have waited for the ideal time to be with her. That moment was now. If he didn’t embrace the moment and put his heart on the line, then he knew he would regret it.

Her smile was a ray of sunshine, a light that made his own smile grow. “Yes.”

“I need to hear…the words.”

She put her chin on his chest, grinning up at him. “I love you, Jonah. It’s always been you.”