NICK
Dinner is amazing. The balcony is dressed in fairy lights which is nice considering this whole date is a fairytale. It feels like going out used to with just the guys. Sophie fits in and makes it all the better.
She giggles and looks around the table before raising her beer glass. “To us.”
“To us.” We echo, clinking against her glass.
She smiles. “I want us to always be like this. Together, happy, in love.”
My smile spreads wider.
I spent how many years thinking of settling down with a woman, getting married, doing the two kids, and happily ever after thing, but that was before war. I don’t wear my scars like Holden, drink them away like Gunner, or push them so far down they barely exist like Roman. I went into the army knowing what I was going to get as a sniper.
But it did change how I felt. After being with the guys, after coming home and living together, after everything with Bella, I realized that a traditional life isn’t for me. I want to live with my friends, the people who know me better than anyone else in the world.
Sophie fills the only missing piece. The woman we need in more ways than one. Sophie nudges me. “Everything okay in your noggin?”
“With you here, absolutely.” I kiss her temple.
She smiles and then shivers. Which means Roman has his hands on her. Looking over, I see him teasing her inner thigh with soft strokes of just one finger. Sophie bites her lip, and color fills her cheeks.
I smirk and take a drink. Sophie grabs Roman’s hand. “At least let’s finish dinner.”
“Sophie is a better dessert.” Gunner looks her over like he didn’t get her all last night.
“And appetizer,” Holden says over his glass.
“In fact, I think you belong on this table right now.” Roman grins. “Share size.” He chuckles.
She giggles and shoves at him. “Not until we’re home. We’ll have the pool and all that.”
“So we’re skinny dipping,” I ask. “That sounds like a hell of a night.”
Sophie giggles, and I see Holden light up. “You know, Sophie did mention something about wanting to be on a warm beach somewhere.”
“Someone say nude beach?” Gunner pops up.
“I told you!” She yells, pointing at Holden. “I told you that would be his first thought.”
“Wait until the second one hits.” I tease. “That you’d be naked on a public beach, and we wouldn’t be allowed to fuck you.”
Gunner’s jaw tightens. “And all those damn eyes on you.”
“Absolutely not.” Roman agrees.
I nod. “A regular beach. The Caribbean.”
Holden grins and winks at Sophie. She rolls her eyes and leans back in her chair, her hand on mine. “I haven’t been there yet.”
“We’ll take you there and everywhere else you dream of, Soph.”
Once dinner wraps up, we head home. None of us bother getting changed. I dip in for some towels, and then we head up to our private rooftop pool. Once I get up there, I see Sophie stripping.
Gunner’s already in the pool, so I have no doubt he’s naked. Roman lifts Sophie’s dress over her head and pulls her close, kissing her hungrily. Holden sits on the edge of the pool, pulling off his prosthetic but keeping his eyes on Sophie.
I don’t blame him. Who could look away from that sight?
I slide behind her and slip my fingers into her underwear, dragging them down her legs before shoving her legs apart. She groans and braces herself on Roman as I lick up her inner thigh. She shivers and spreads her legs wider for me.