“No, she’s not. She’s a beautiful young woman with a badass attitude and is going to make one hell of a Warrior.” Sloan nodded, but his grin faded quickly. “You need to claim her, my friend, because I can’t have you going around threatening every male who even looks her way.”
Slade didn’t say anything; he just nodded. Pausing, he looked at Sloan. “You knew the whole time, didn’t you?”
“Probably before you did, you dumb bastard.” Sloan straightened up, walking behind his desk.
“I can’t wait for the day a woman wraps you around her finger,” Slade grumbled. “I cannot fucking wait.”
“Not going to happen, so go to hell,” Sloan growled. “Now get out of here and do your job before I have to fire your ass.”
“So Jill is safe? You’re not going to kick her out of the program?” Slade headed for the door, but needed to make sure he didn’t just kill any chance Jill had in the program.
“I’d be a fool to kick her out. I figured you two were going to happen. I would ask you to wait until after her initiation, but I don’t see that happening. I’m not kicking you or her out no matter what I said, not that you’d listen to me anyway.” Sloan turned more serious. “But you need to keep a cool head, especially tomorrow night, and let her do her job without interference because some guy might run his hand up her leg or some shit. It could be dangerous for her if you have another fit.”
Slade sneered, but agreed, “I’ve got it handled.”
“Well, I hope to hell you handle it better than you did a few minutes ago,” Sloan warned, but laughed again.
Walking out of Sloan’s office hearing laughter ringing out behind him, Slade knew without a doubt if Sloan was making fun of him, Jared and Sid were going to be relentless. “Fuck!”
******
Training had been brutal, but Jill welcomed it. Of course, Dillon gave her shit for not telling him about her and Slade, but in all honesty, she hadn’t really known. Or at least she wasn’t for sure. Damn him. He confused her and she had no way of talking to him during training.
Stepping out of the shower, Jill toweled off quickly. Tossing the towel on the floor, she walked out of the bathroom determined to get dressed, find Slade and ask him if he’d lost his mind.
“You need to start locking your door.” Slade’s voice snapped her head up, making her jump.
Slade stood against her wall in old ripped blue jeans, no shoes and a white sleeveless tank that fit him like a second skin. ‘Holy shit’ was all that came to her mind. She knew her nipples automatically reacted to the sight of him. Turning, she started to go in the bathroom.
“Don’t!” His command stopped her.
Slowly, she turned back around and stood before him. His eyes roamed her body, setting her on fire. She wondered briefly if she could actually bitch him out while standing before him completely naked.
“What in the hell was that all about in Sloan’s office?” Yeah, she had no problem with it. “Sloan is probably clapping in glee just waiting to see me so he can throw me out. Did you tell him we…you know…also.”
Slade lifted his eyes to hers and smiled. “First of all, I don’t think Sloan has ever clapped in glee.”
“I don’t find any of this funny, Slade.” Jill frowned at his joking. She did turn then, went into the bathroom, grabbed a towel and walked out, her body covered.
Eyeing the towel wrapped around her body, Slade frowned. “Oh, Sloan found it really funny.”
“No, he didn’t.” Jill’s tone clearly called Slade a liar. “And why did you act that way toward Dillon? He’s just my friend.”
“Dillon was not looking at you as a friend at the bar.” Slade took a step toward her. “He needed to know he had no chance with you. If you would have hooked your little finger at him, he would have followed you in the back and been balls deep inside you in a heartbeat.”
“Okay, that was crude.” Jill held the towel tighter against herself. “I don’t look at Dillon that way.”
“Crude but absolutely true, and good thing for him you don’t,” Slade growled, his eyes narrowed. “And no, I didn’t tell Sloan anything other than you are mine.”
Jill’s eyes widened. “You told him that?”
“I also told you that. My exact words to you were, ‘once you are mine, it will be body and soul’,’” he reminded her.
“But I didn’t know if I was yours or not, Slade. You’re a very complex man and…” Her stomach dipped as she shivered. This man had such an intense stare, as if he could see into her soul. “… you confuse me.” She swallowed hard.
Slade smiled without humor. “Oh, you are mine, Jillian.” He held his hand out, the towel ripping away from her body. “Never doubt that.”
Jill made a grab for the towel, but missed. Again, she stood naked before him. “It’s hard not to doubt when you run after touching me.”