Royal

Deciding what to wear for a ‘pre-date, casual hang out’ is way more stressful than it should be. I feel like I’m going on an interview. I don’t want to overdress because I want to come off as laid back and fun (which I totally am). But I also want to make a good first impression so he’ll want to fuck me later (which he totally should).

“Gah,” I grumble as I dig through my closet for the exact right outfit. Finally, I settle on a white V-neck t-shirt. It’s casual and shows off a lot of my ink, plus if you are looking real hard you can sort of see my nipple ring through it. Okay, it’s a little slutty. But it’s casual slutty so stop judging. I pull on a pair of worn jeans and then check the mirror to make sure my hair isn’t doing anything weird.

A knock at the front door sets my heart pounding in my chest. I don’t know why I’m so nervous. He’s just a guy. Just a gorgeous, sexy, Marine...but still a guy.

I pull open the door and try not to drool. The motherfucker totally out casual sexy’d me. He’s wearing a tight black shirt that’s hanging onto his muscles for dear life and a pair of low slung jeans. He’s got dog tags around his neck, resting between his well-defined pecs. Is it weird he’s still wearing them now that he’s out of the service?

“Can I come in?” he asks with a boyish smirk.

“Oh...uh...yeah...of course.” I step back, and let him in. I’m not too proud to admit that I take a good long look at the taut globes of his ass as he passes. Dear God, if you can hear me...please, please let Zade be vers. Love, Royal. Amen.

“Feel free to take a picture if you need to,” Zade offers teasingly at my not so covert ass staring.

“Maybe later,” I deadpan. “So, do you have anything specific in mind for tonight?”

“Of course. You know the Marine motto, always be prepared.”

“Wait, isn’t that the boy scouts?” I ask as I follow Zade into the living room. He’s apparently decided to make himself at home as he starts emptying the contents of the mystery bag he has with him.

“That’s not important. What’s important is you, grabbing the other end of this sheet.” He unfurls a black bedsheet from the bag and hands me one end.

My eyebrows crease in confusion but I do as he instructs and hold one end of the sheet. Then he sets to work getting the sheet draped over the furniture, producing more sheets, until it’s clear what he’s building.

“Did you seriously walk into my house and randomly start building a fort in my living room?”

There’s that boyish smirk again. He must’ve gotten away with murder when he was a kid.

“Hell yeah I did. I brought snacks and horror movies, too.”

“Marry me?”

“Sure, why not. We’ve known each other, at least a few hours now.”

Once he’s done building his masterpiece we grab the pillows off my bed and the cushions off the furniture and crawl inside.

“Is this what you do on all your non-dates?” I ask once we’re comfortable, laying on our backs side by side, staring up at the ceiling of the fort.

“I can’t remember, it’s been awhile,” Zade says with a laugh. “Now, do you want to watch Insidious or Nightmare on Elm Street?”

“Nightmare on Elm Street.”

Zade pulls his laptop out of the mystery bag and sets it up so we can both see it from where we’re laying. Then he hands me a bag of caramel corn and a bag of M&M’s.

Best. Non-date. Ever.

“I feel like we’re at a slumber party. Should we prank call cute boys after this?”

“Okay, but promise you won’t put my underwear in the freezer if I fall asleep.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” I assure him.

While the movie plays we talk quietly like we really are at a slumber party trying not to wake the parents. He tells me about his time in the Marines, not many details but places he went and some of the characters he served with. I share with him stories of my crazy friends and weird tattoos people have requested. I tell him about how Nash and I started working at Heathens Ink and he laughs at our matching tattoos.

“So what do you want to do now that you’re out of the Marines?”

“Not sure yet. I have some ideas, but I’m not rushing any decisions. I have a lot of money saved up so I have the luxury of taking my time to decide.”

“That’s nice. I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”

I scoot closer to him and my eyes land on his dog tag again. Reaching out I take it between my fingers and hold it up to read by the light of the computer screen. Talmitch, Juliana Brenda.

“Is this the same Julie as the tattoo?”

Zade nods but doesn’t offer any further explanation. The playful, smartass who was here two seconds ago is gone, replaced by a man who’s clearly carrying significant pain. Reaching for his hand I entwine our fingers and give them a small squeeze of comfort.

“Am I allowed to kiss you if this isn’t a date?” I whisper in the darkened fort.

“Hmm, I’d have to check the rules and regulations associated with the ‘non-date, pre-date, acquaintance opportunity’. The guidelines can be strict.”

“Shut up,” I laugh and pinch his side where his love handles should be but instead there’s nothing but solid muscle. Then I inch forward until our noses are touching and his breath fans over my lips. Something tells me to savor this moment rather than rush right into shoving my tongue down his throat. 

Once I’ve committed to memory every detail of how he smells and the way this moment feels, I tilt my chin so our lips brush. Electrified butterflies take flight in my stomach at first contact. To Zade’s credit he doesn’t rush the process. He seems content to go along for the ride, returning each gentle kiss. His lips are soft and sweet against mine.

Zade’s hand comes up to rest on the back of my head, not rough or demanding but anchoring.

“Wow,” I breathe against his lips.

“Good, I was worried it was just me.”

“What the hell?” Nash’s voice is a bucket of ice water on Zade’s and my moment.

I crawl to the fort entrance and peek my head out.

“Hey, man.”

“Do I even want to know?” he asks with a raised eyebrow.

“Get your mind out of the gutter. We’re watching scary movies,” I chide.

Nash rolls his eyes at me.

“Riiight.”

I give him the finger and then duck back into the fort.

“Make sure you clean up after yourself out here when you’re done,” he calls and then the sound of Nash’s bedroom door opening and closing echoes and we’re alone again.

“Are we in trouble for messing up the living room?” Zade asks sheepishly.

“He’s my roommate not my dad.”

“That’s a shame, he had kind of a hot ‘disappointed daddy’ voice.”

I just laugh because I am not about to start discussing how hot Nash is with my...well whatever Zade is.

After watching two more movies Zade decides it’s time to head home.

“So, can I take you out on a real date tomorrow?” Zade asks as I walk him to the door.

“Oh, tomorrow’s no good. I’m trying to appear somewhat unattainable, so Thursday would be better.”

Zade shakes his head and smiles at me but doesn’t argue.

“Thursday it is.” He leans in to steal another kiss and my stomach jolts again at the contact. Is this what chemistry feels like? I guess I’ve never had that intense draw toward anyone aside from Nash.

“Night.”

“Night.”

I watch as Zade saunters to the car Thane loaned him to come over, admiring his ass the whole way.

Once Zade’s car is out of sight I sink down on the front porch and light a cigarette. I replay the last few hours in my mind. Frankly, I can’t believe how well our non-date went. I don’t want to get ahead of myself but maybe Zade could finally be the person who can get me past my pointless crush on Nash.

“I thought you said you were going to quit,” Nash chides, stepping out onto the porch and plucking the cigarette from my lips.

“Yeah, that was going to be my last one. But since you didn’t let me finish it, it doesn’t count.”

Nash crosses his arms and gives me a ‘cut the shit’ look.

“How’d your date go?” he asks, easing down beside me.

“It wasn’t a date, just hanging out,” I correct.

Nash tilts his head and looks up at the night sky, a serene expression washing over his face.

My heart gives a painful, longing ache. It’s not even about sex...well, not entirely about sex. I would do anything to be able to reach over and touch him, to tell him how much he’s always meant to me.

“You had fun with him, though, right?” Nash presses.

“Yeah, he seems great. We have our first official date on Thursday.”

Nash nods, eyes still trained on the stars.

“Mom sent some meatloaf home for you,” Nash says.

“That was nice of her, I’m starving. Zade and I ate popcorn and candy, not real food.”

“Come on then, let me heat up the leftovers for you.”

Nash stands and hold his hand out for me. My stomach flutters remembering, once again, the almost kiss. Forcing myself to resist the temptation, I ignore his hand and stand on my own. A flicker of disappointment crosses Nash’s face, but he recovers quickly, opening the door for me to head inside.

“So, tell me more about this guy,” Nash prompts as he pulls the leftovers out of the fridge.

“I don’t know. He seems fun and sort of unpredictable. And he’s surprisingly chill for a Marine. I always figured military guys are all uptight and shit, but I don’t get that vibe from him.”

“Sounds like the perfect guy for you,” Nash says and I could almost swear he sounds a little sad.

“Hopefully,” I sigh. “It would be nice to have someone serious for a change,” I admit for the first time.

Nash hands me the plate of now warm meatloaf, and he eyes me with resignation.

“I didn’t know you were looking for something serious. You seemed happy having fun or whatever.”

I shrug and stab my fork into the hunk of meat.

“I’m not unhappy, but I’m starting to think about the future and what it would be like to find someone to settle down with.”

Nash looks like he wants to say something more, but instead he gives me a small smile and then changes the subject to some girl he tattooed today who was coming onto him hard.