AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Got it,” he assured me.
We worked in silence for a few minutes with only the sizzling of the pans filling the silence. It was comfortable and very domestic. It had me daydreaming about a life with Tango where I was his husband—his boy—and we did this kind of thing every morning before he headed to the clubhouse for church.
I wanted it so badly, I ached.
A few minutes later, we were both sitting at the kitchen table with food. Tango had refilled his coffee cup, and I had chocolate milk in front of me. I had an obsession with the drink, and Tango had never blinked an eye when he figured out how much I loved it. Instead, he just made sure it was always on hand for me. And the guys in the club had picked up on it as well, always bringing it home with them if they went to the store.
“Uhm, can we go over my rules?” I tentatively asked a few minutes later.
Tango grunted and looked up at me in surprise. “Yeah, baby. I forgot, to be honest. Fuckin’ tired.”
I frowned, shrinking in on myself a little. I didn’t want to stress him out. “We, uh, can do it later if you want?—”
He shook his head at me, making me snap my mouth shut. “No, baby. Not your fault I’m tired. I’ve got things to get done today anyway. Your rules are simple, though.” He held up the index finger on his right hand. “Do not open the blinds or windows unless I’m in the room with you.” He held up his middle finger. “You are not allowed outside unless I’m with you.” He held up his ring finger. “Last rule: if you hear a noise and I’m not in the house with you, take the gun Gidget gave you,” I’d honestly already forgotten about Tango telling me about the gun during one of my lucid moments on the way here, “and go straight into the basement and do not come out until I come to get you myself.”
I didn’t like the third rule. It left Tango unprotected and no warning that something may be happening, but I wouldn’t fight him. Tango was ex-military and well-trained. He knew what he was doing. Even if I didn’t like his plan, I trusted him to do what he thought was best.
“Okay,” I softly replied, relaxing a little now that I had boundaries again.
We finished our breakfast in peace, and once we were done, I washed the dishes and he dried them, putting them away. My chest ached with how badly I wanted this with him every single day. I didn’t want some woman coming in and taking his last name and taking the responsibilities I had. I didn’t want him to fall in love with someone else and make me less important.
I selfishly wanted him all to myself. And I wasn’t the least bit apologetic about it.
Tango moved the curtain aside and then grinned, pushing it open so I could look out, too. I gasped, my eyes widening in excitement.
It was snowing!
“Oh, my God!” I rushed out, quickly turning off the water and drying my hands. I spun to face Tango, who was already looking at me with a tender smile, his blue eyes all soft for me. My heart went all gooey at the tender expression on his face. “Can we go outside?” I begged. I clasped my hands together in front of my chest, pouting at him and widening my eyes. “Pretty pretty pretty please? I’ve never been in the snow!”
Tango chuckled and ran his hand over my dark hair. “Yeah, baby boy. Go get your boots and jacket. They’re in the closet. And grab your beanie. Put your gloves on, too.”
I rushed off down the hallway, his faint laughter echoing behind me. Once I was dressed, I met him by the front door, and we stepped outside together. I ran out into the snow and spun around, my arms spread out wide as the flakes fell down around us.
When I looked at Tango, he was just watching me, his shoulder braced on one of the porch beams. Leaning down, I scooped up a handful of snow, packing it together.
Tango narrowed his eyes at me, already knowing what I was doing before I finished the task. “Think twice, boy,” he rumbled, a warning in his voice.
I threw the snowball at him, smacking him right in the chest. I knew he could’ve ducked if he wanted, which meant he’d allowed me to hit him with it… which also meant I had trouble coming my way. His eyes darkened a shade, and he prowled down the porch.
I couldn’t stop the giggle from slipping past my lips even while my heart hammered in my chest.
“Run,” he growled.
I burst out laughing and took off through the snow, running for the back of the house with Tango hot on my heels.
13
Tango
The desert heat had me sweating in places I didn’t even realize was possible. Sand stuck to my clothes, and my damn uniform felt like a sweatsuit. I hated just about every moment of this deployment so far, and I was more than ready to be back stateside where the weather made sense and could be predicted. Where I didn’t feel like my skin was melting off my fucking skin.
The damn Marine Corps. would be lucky as fuck if I decided to re-up after this bullshit. Because—and I meant this with every bit of disrespect I could muster—fuck this goddamn heat. My big body wasn’t built for these temps.
“This shit sucks,” Donald grunted from beside me. He was the first real friend I’d ever had and the closest thing to a best friend I imagined I would ever get. He was also the first and only person I’d ever truly connected with. I was slightly in love with him, but I would never mention it to him. Would never even voice it. Donald had given me no indication that he felt the same, and I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize our friendship.
I needed him.
“You can fucking say that again.” I cut him a dark look when he opened his mouth to do exactly that. He was always such a smart ass. A smirk tilted his lips when he shut his mouth. “But don’t.”
