Chapter 10

Embry

I woke up the following morning and stretched as I looked around my bedroom. Trace brought me to my car late last night and then followed me to the small one-bedroom place I had just off the base to make sure I made it safely. I had to work today, and he had a basketball game to attend so he could see his son play later.

I moved slowly, feeling all the muscles in my body ache as I smiled. My pussy ached the most after all that Trace had done to me last night, and I blushed at my free usage of the word. Trace was rubbing off on me.

I glanced at the clock to see that it was nine, giving me a few hours before I had to go to work for the afternoon shift. I was working with my best friend Harper today and looked forward to seeing her. There was so much to tell her now, and I pictured her face when she heard who I was involved with. It was going to be priceless.

I stood and went to use the bathroom before heading to the kitchen to make some coffee. I thought about going to the cute place a block away from my apartment, but I was feeling a little lazy and overwhelmed this morning. It was going to take everything I had to go to work, but there was a surge of adrenaline rushing through my veins that was unfamiliar to me.

I sat down with my cup at the small table and read some apps on my phone as I sipped it. One of those was Trace’s Facebook page. I added him as a friend, blushing as I knew that it was just to see all the sexy pictures of him.

I hoped that he wouldn’t mind since I wasn’t sure where we were going, other than toward having crazy monkey sex. I knew he told me that I was his and things along those lines, but did he even mean it?

I imagined that men said things like that to get further with a woman when they were turned on. I was so new to this. I sighed, wondering why he even wanted me.

I thought long and hard about how much I wanted to sleep with him. In his presence, I forgot all about my vow to wait for the right guy and how brutal I was in most of my rejections to other men. I mean, I went far past being sarcastic.

I went to take a shower and let the water run over my sore body, making the water as hot as I could stand. It felt so good, and I closed my eyes as I reveled in the sensation. I washed my hair and reluctantly got out to dry off, sighing as I looked in the mirror. Was I enough for Trace?

I smiled as I drove through the base to the bar, parking as I looked at Harper’s green Honda. I walked through the door and smiled at her as I went to clock in.

Harper was an outgoing girl and beautiful, with her dark blue eyes and long strawberry blonde hair. She was a virgin like me and willing to give that up, but not for any man in the military. Working at the bar showed you the worst side of everybody, and she always told me that they didn’t deserve us, just before flirting her way to a big tip.

She knew what to say and do until it came to a proposition, something that she handled well. Harper made up a boyfriend a lot of the time, which usually worked.

“How are you?” Harper asked as she wiped down the bar after the lunch crowd, looking curiously at me. “You look different, Em.”

“I’m good,” I replied as I looked around, checking to see if we had a private moment to talk.

I noted that Gramps was sitting at a table with a few other older men. I smiled as I watched his happy expression. He was grumpy more than happy, but I could see through it and know just how much he loved me.

“How are you?” I asked her.

“What’s this I hear about our favorite SEAL dropping a guy for manhandling you?” she asked.

I blushed and bit my lip. I knew that word would get around. “Trace,” I confirmed and nodded as I looked at the bar for a moment. “Some guy grabbed my ass, and Trace did not like that. Not one bit.” I laughed and looked back at her. “You should’ve seen the guy challenging Gramps! I almost wanted him to give it a shot.”

“I’ll bet.” Harper smiled. “Is something different with you and Trace now?” She gave me a serious look, reminding me of her low opinion about SEALs and the military in general.

“We’ll talk later,” I promised her as a crowd walked through the door to get some beers.

They wanted a lot more as all the guys did, but I didn’t feel like being sarcastic or bitchy about it anymore. I knew that my willpower was gone, but only for one man. I just went about my business, and even Gramps gave me an odd look when he passed by the bar.

“Are you feeling okay, Em? You’re being too calm today.” He paused and looked at Harper. “Did she tell you anything?”

“No, Sir. Maybe she’s just tired of wasting her energy.” Harper winked and laughed as I shook my head. “Maybe she has someone special in mind.” Her voice was low as he walked away, one eyebrow raised at me as I pressed my lips together.

She had no idea.