Page 377

Story: Men of Fort Dale

His mother laughed, leaning against him and laying her head on his arm. “Sloane, honey, your heart has always been in the right place, even if you try to cover it up by being as grumpy and surly as possible. That doesn’t mean you’re always going to know what your heart contains. No one does. But now that you do, it’s obvious how much you love that man waiting for you in the living room.”

“Doesn’t sound much like waiting,” Sloane said, taking the last pan from her.

“He’salwayswaiting for you. He knows you, inside and out, parts of you that your sisters and I will never get to see, let alone understand. But he knows them. And he still waits to catch sight of you. I’ve seen how his eyes track you whenever you move, and now I can see you do the same. My son has found someone he loves as much as he is loved, and that, above all else, makes this a Christmas to be remembered,” she told him.

“Mom,” Sloane managed, not sure what to say.

She waved at him. “Go on, go see what he’s up to, and make sure your sisters haven’t terrorized him completely yet.”

Sloane shook his head, knowing his job wasn’t done yet but that there was no arguing with his mother. He handed her the damp dishtowel and stepped out of the kitchen, met with laughter and loud conversation.

He found Dean, eyes wide and confused, as Shawna practically flung him around a space they’d made in the livingroom. He looked completely out of his element and unsure of himself, but there was a broad smile on his face as Sloane’s sister showed him the steps. Without seeing Sloane, Dean threw his head back and laughed when he stepped on Shawna’s feet, earning him a half-hearted curse from the woman.

Yeah, there was no question. He loved this man with every inch of his being and was content to watch him and his sisters for as long as he could.

DEAN

Hours later, they lay together in the dark of the guest room, Dean on his side, pressed against Sloane’s, and Sloane on his back, an arm around Dean’s shoulders. They had fallen together in the dark once the whole family had retreated to their rooms. Dean listened to Sloane’s breathing, deep and easy but not quite the slow pace he set when he drifted off to sleep.

“I know you’re awake,” Dean told him softly, trailing his hand up Sloane’s bare chest.

“Because you’re not sleeping,” Sloane told him, just as quietly.

Dean smiled in the dark of their shared room, pushing his face into Sloane’s chest. If Dean knew that Sloane wasn’t sleeping, then the opposite was true. They had never served on the field together, yet they had the same sense of the other as those who had lived and fought side by side. It had always been one of Dean’s greatest sources of comfort, and before he’d finally had his chance to be with Sloane, his greatest bane as well.

“You’re tired,” Dean insisted.

“And so are you,” Sloane shot back, though his voice was thick and distant.

“Stubborn,” Dean said softly, kissing Sloane’s bare chest.

“Kettle. Pot.”

“It’s gonna be one of those nights, Sloane.”

“I wish you wouldn’t.”

“I don’t have much choice.”

Beneath him, he felt Sloane give a great, ragged sigh. One of the realities of their relationship was that no matter how great a comfort Sloane was to him, the man couldn’t be a balm to all his ills. Sometimes, no matter what Sloane did, no matter what he was to Dean, his mind would run out of control and keep him from sleep.

“Need to walk?” Sloane asked softly.

“Probably,” Dean admitted, smiling in the dark at how well the man knew him.

“Then go walk.”

“Only if you promise to sleep.”

“I’ll sleep, but it won’t be the same.”

Dean had to admit he would have no choice but to accept that. Ever since he had admitted that the sleepless nights he spent, and the dream-filled ones, were due to a harrowing and heartbreaking experience on a deployment, Sloane had never willingly let Dean sleep alone. It didn’t always chase away the taste of blood and fear on his tongue or the memory of good men lost, but mostly, it did.

“Go for a walk,” Sloane finally said, nudging Dean.

“Trying to get rid of me?” Dean teased, letting himself be pushed away.

“Never.”

Table of Contents