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Dean shook his head, knowing that was true. “No, you wouldn’t.”

“And I’m not going to say shit like this unless I’m sure. One hundred percent sure.”

Dean’s shoulders slumped. “I know.”

“It might be weird because I never saw it coming, but you know what’s weirdest about it?”

“That I have a dick?” Dean offered with a light, jittery laugh.

“You’d think that, but no, dude, you not having boobs, having a lot more body hair than I’m used to, and being all muscledoesn’t bother me. It’syou, why would it bother me? And that’s the weird thing. This doesn’t feel much different from what we were doing before. You’ve always been you, and I like you for you. Now, I just happen to like you in a different way. I don’t think anyone but you could have made me feel like this about them.”

Dean’s stuttering heart slowed, and his muscles relaxed as the full effect of Sloane’s words washed over him. The backs of his eyes pricked, and he sucked in a sharp breath as he took in the softness of Sloane’s gaze.

“Really?” Dean croaked.

“And I’m pretty sure I was jealous of Marco.”

That jerked a snort from Dean. “Seriously?”

Sloane wrapped his arm around Dean’s waist and pulled him closer. “Yeah, really. Didn’t feel like it at the time, but I don’t think I liked him being with you. But this, this holding you thing? It feels right like it always has. And last night? That was the extra step with what we’ve been doing. It all feels right, and my brain thinks that’s weird, but my heart knows it’s right.”

Dean had always known Sloane had a sentimental streak that stretched far wider than the man was willing to admit. Usually, Dean would make a joke, and Sloane would tease him back, and they would continue their lives. But, held in Sloane’s arms, knowing the words were genuine and aimed directly at him, Dean found himself at a loss for words.

Sloane searched his face. “I know it will take a little time for us to get over the weirdness, and there’s still things to work through. But while I might not have everything figured out, I know that if you’ll have me, I want to be with you. I want you. Everything you’re willing to give, I want, and everything I’ve got, it’s yours.”

“Holy shit,” Dean whispered, feeling lightheaded.

“Is that a yes?” Sloane asked.

“Fuck, yes. That’s a yes,” Dean said in a rush.

Sloane’s face broke into a wide grin, and he pulled Dean toward him. Dean’s heart caught in his throat as, without even the slightest hesitation, Sloane pulled him into a deep kiss. Heat radiated out from Dean’s chest, washing through him and flaring into bright points of sheer pleasure where his body pressed against Sloane’s. He clutched onto Sloane, desperate to feel the reassurance, the reality that his dreams had finally come true.

“Mine,” Sloane whispered, stroking his hand through Dean’s hair.

“Yours.”

EPILOGUE

1 Year Later

Sloane bent over his desk, squinting at the note. For the life of him, he couldn’t make out the chicken scratch, no matter how much he squinted. He picked the post-it note up, holding it closer to the light to see if that would help, but it was useless.

“Hey, Sloane, your shift is over, man. What the hell are you doing still here?” Simmons asked from the doorway to Sloane’s office.

Sloane rolled his eyes. “Easy for you to say. You weren’t left with paperwork a mile high. Is this your chicken scratch?”

Simmons leaned forward. “Oh, yeah. It was telling you General Winter wanted to speak to you but didn’t say what for. I left it because you’d wandered off again.”

Wandering seemed to be the bulk of his job. Sloane had been more than happy to shift into the military police if he didn’t have to sit in the guardhouse anymore. What he hadn’t known was that he was going to eventually get put in the control seat of the damn thing. He’d gone from being bored in a guardhouse tomaking sure his soldiers behaved and tossing the drunk ones in the drunk tank for the night.

Sloane looked up in disbelief. “You’re the guy’s assistant or whatever you want to call it. How do you not know what he wanted?”

Simmons scowled. “I’m his liaison first of all, and secondly, I don’t know all his business.”

Sloane didn’t believe it for a minute, though he let it drop. He wasn’t sure exactlyhowSimmons had gone from a grunt on constant guard duty to the liaison for the general, but he couldn’t argue with the results of the change. Simmons was considerably more agreeable than he’d ever been, and despite being quieter than before, he also seemed happier. Sloane had attempted to broach the subject of Simmons’ dating life, but all he’d got in return so far was a sly smile.

“Is he in right now?” Sloane asked.