Page 55 of My All American Girl

24

DEAN

What did I just do?

And why do I want to do it again?

My heart was still pounding in my chest as Sarah brushed a final kiss over my lips. Then she slid off my lap and rolled into the passenger seat. I watched her in the faint glow of the overhead light. She handed me my shirt before putting on her bra and hopping out of the truck to put her dress on.

She smoothed it down and flashed me a satisfied smile. “That was well worth the wait. Best lesson you’ve taught me so far.”

I gritted my teeth, struggling to keep my emotions in check. “Don’t remind me that I’m your teacher. I shouldn’t have done that.”

I pulled off the condom and tossed it out the window before buttoning my pants and pulling on my shirt.

She rolled her eyes, dismissing my concern with a wave of her hand. “You’re so dramatic, Dean. And you didn’t do anything. We did it.”

I shook my head, my frustration mounting. “This can’t happen again, Sarah. Your father is my friend. I’m your superior officer and your teacher. It’s crossing so many lines.”

“Crossing lines is fun,” she said, her tone light and teasing.

“We both have too much to lose,” I insisted, my voice hardening.

Sarah shrugged, seemingly unbothered. “Fine. It can be a one-time thing.” She hopped back in the truck and flashed me another grin. “I’ll leave my panties in the backseat. A little token to remind you of your one hot night with me.”

I shook my head and started the truck. We rode the rest of the way back to base in silence. When we arrived, Sarah got out, turning back to me with her cheeks still rosy from sex, her hair a bit of a mess. Damn. She’d never looked better.

“See you tomorrow for drills?” she asked, her voice almost casual.

I forced myself to maintain a stern expression. “Take a couple of days to rest. You’ll need your energy when you get to Washington on Tuesday.”

She smirked and gave me a little salute before closing the door and walking away. I watched her disappear into the dorm. My heart was hammering in my chest as I drove away, the enormity of what had just happened weighing heavily on my mind. That was about the dumbest thing I had ever done. And I had done a lot of stupid shit in my life.

When I got back to my quarters, I sat on the edge of my bed, staring blankly into space. My mind refused to comprehend the situation fully. Images of her riding my dick flashed before my eyes. The scent of her was still on my skin, a sinful reminder of the transgression that had just occurred.

Sarah was not just someone. She was significant, special, vital in ways that made what we had done risky. And she cared for me too, enough to complicate her life for a quickie in my truck.

I had to shower and get the scent of her off my skin before I chased her down for another go. Stripping, I left a trail of clothes on the floor as I headed into the bathroom.

The warm water cascaded down my shoulders. I felt the stinging sensation of numerous scratches on my back and my sides. It was another reminder of what I was going to refer to from this point on as “the incident.”

I let the water wash over me, hoping it would also wash away my guilt. But no matter how much I scrubbed, I couldn’t erase her touch. It had imprinted on me, marking me in ways invisible to the naked eye.

It was late when I finally dragged myself out of the shower, my fingertips pruned and my skin red. I dried off and dressed in a pair of old sweatpants, my mind still replaying what had happened tonight.

I collapsed into bed, trying to figure out how I was going to keep from interacting with her. A few more days and then she would be gone—out of the state. I would be able to clear my head and exorcise her from my thoughts. I had scratched the itch. It had to be over. It couldn’t be anything more than that.

The next day, I made my way to the Fly Trap earlier than usual. She was still on my mind. I couldn’t just stop thinking about her. I decided getting off base was the best thing I could do. I needed distance. The place was empty except for Jude, who was wiping down the bar, humming to himself. As soon as he saw me, he raised an eyebrow.

“You’re here early,” he said, tossing the rag over his shoulder. “What’s up? Did you finally retire?”

I sighed, taking a seat on one of the stools. “I just thought I would come in early.”

“Bullshit,” he said. “What’s going on?”

I thought about denying it, but he was going to know better. My secret was killing me. Jude would talk some sense into me. He would tell me what to do.

“I did something,” I said.