I hated having to talk about these things, but it was important, very important.
“Hey, baby, nothing’s going to happen to me: I can take care of myself. I’m more worried about you. Reporters get… hurt all the time.”
“I know, Sebastian, but I’ll be embedded with a Marine unit from Leatherneck; safest place to be. I heard US Marines are tough, and I know for a fact they’re hot. In fact the word ‘embedded’ has me thinking all sorts of interesting things.”
I could tell he didn’t know whether to smile or scowl.
“You stay away from those bootnecks, Caro. They’re a bunch of horny bastards.”
“I’ve noticed! But really, don’t worry about that. I’ve learned to say ‘no’ in even more languages than you.”
He took my hand, fiddling with my ring.
“Well, at least they’ll know you’re taken when they see this.”
I didn’t answer. He’d be hurt if he knew I wasn’t planning on wearing it; I couldn’t tell him that it would draw too much attention. I could either cover it up with a band-aid, or wear it around my neck on a chain – my own, unique dog tag.
“How long do you think you’ll be in Afghan?” he said, still running his finger over the diamond.
“Assuming my papers arrive,” I said, giving him a look which he wisely ignored, “maybe a month, six weeks. Certainly no more. I’ll have a couple of days in Kabul, maybe in Kandahar, too – meeting some of your top brass. Then I’m hoping I’ll be able to hitch a ride out to Leatherneck. I’ll just have to see how it goes. Maybe I’ll see you out there?”
He frowned. “I want you home, safe, Caro.”
“Likewise, Sebastian.”
We stared at each other, aware we’d reached an impasse.
He shook his head and changed the subject.
“Do you want to take a swim?” he said, suddenly. “I’ll be God knows how many miles from the nearest pool out there, and hundreds of fucking miles from the ocean.”
“Sure,” I said, relieved at the new topic. “And I get to see you in those ridiculously loud board shorts again.”
“And you’ll wear the bikini?”
“Only if you promise not to punch anyone who looks at me.”
“Can’t promise that, baby,” he said, with a smirk.
The time passed too quickly, and it seemed just moments later that we were sitting in the back of a taxi taking us to the airport at Naples, a short drive away.
It felt strange to be traveling in a car again and, much as Sebastian’s driving had scared the living daylights out of me, I missed the mean machine – it had been so darned sexy feeling his hard body through the leather jacket, my thighs clamped around him. I wondered if he’d get his other bike shipped over from Ches’s garage. I hoped so. I wanted him to feel that his home was in Long Beach, not a bunch of boxes in San Diego.
I decided to broach the subject.
“Sebastian, when do you think you’ll tell Ches about us?”
He turned to look at me, a slight frown on his face.
“I don’t know. Why?”
“Well, I just thought I could get all your belongings sent over from the west coast, but it’s going to make it tricky to organize if Ches doesn’t know about me.”
He blinked at me in surprise.
“And there are some beautiful places in upstate New York that we could ride out to on your other bike… if you want.”
A happy smile spread over his face. “You’d do that?”
I was confused by his question. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I? You’ll need your things when you come home.”
I couldn’t understand Sebastian’s surprise; he was shaking his head and smiling at me.
“Okay. I’ll email him tonight,” he said with a grin. “He’ll be pretty fucking surprised.”
I laughed darkly. “Yes, that probably about sums it up – to say the least.”
He pulled my face towards his, and kissed me hungrily, ignoring the fact that our driver had a grandstand view in the mirror.