Author's note: This chapter was probably the trickiest I've found to write, and I have to thank the ladies of the Writer's Block Party for their invaluable assistance, especially Tmtcltb who gave me the key to finally unlocking it!
Hope you enjoy, and as this will be the last update before Christmas, wishing all of my lovely readers happy holidays and epic new years!
Chapter 29 – You Only Have to Ask
When Tom woke, Sasha was already up, standing in the tiny kitchen area making coffee. He took a moment to appreciate the sight of her in nothing but one of his shirts, her hair mussed from sleep, and reflected on how much he'd like to wake up to this sight every single morning, preferably for the rest of their lives.
"Morning." He said, and she turned and smiled.
"Morning. I had a dream that a handsome Naval officer snuck into my apartment and got into bed with me."
He put on a sceptical look. "That sounds very unlikely."
She laughed and poured coffee into two mugs. "Thank you, though, for coming over. I like sleeping with you."
He smiled as she handed him a mug. "I like waking up with you."
"Do you have to go home for breakfast?"
He shook his head. "No, Ash knows where I am. It was her idea, actually."
Sasha looked surprised, but somehow not quite as surprised as he might have expected. Again, he had to dismiss the irrational thought that Ashley might have spoken to Sasha the night before.
"Well I'll have to thank her, then." Sasha said lightly, "Though maybe not specifically for this..." She set her coffee cup down and started to unbutton the shirt.
He set down his own coffee, pushing back the blankets and holding out his hand as she shed the shirt and settled onto his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Morning." She said softly, before kissing him, and he stroked her bare back as he tugged her bottom lip with his teeth, making her whimper.
Her hands moved to the hem of his t-shirt, pushing it upwards, and he took over and stripped it off before pulling her close again, feeling the softness of her breasts pressed against his bared chest. He kissed her neck, scraping her skin lightly with the stubble that had bloomed on his jaw overnight, and she hissed and tipped her head to the side, giving him greater access as he licked and nibbled his way down to her collarbone, gently pushing her back a little so he could move lower, his lips finally finding her breast.
"Tom…" She murmured, then whimpered as he teased her nipple with his teeth. He raised his head and looked at her, seeing her face a little flushed, her teeth biting her lower lip. He grabbed her waist firmly and rolled them over, so that she was pinned beneath him, and he kissed her once more before returning his attention to her breasts.
"Delicious breakfast," He declared, his voice slightly muffled against her skin, and she giggled. He ran his tongue down to her navel, dropping a kiss there before progressing further south, her hands finding their way into his hair as she parted her legs obligingly.
"Oh god!" Her whole body bucked as he traced his tongue between her legs, seeking out her sweet spot, groaning as the taste of her flooded his mouth. He teased her gently, hearing her pant and gasp, her legs starting to tremble.
"Please!" She said, or rather demanded, and he obeyed, tonguing her hard as he felt her tense and then come apart, crying out softly.
He kissed his way back up her body, and as his mouth met hers she responded with a hungry kiss. It should have been a warning, because before he knew it she had flipped him onto his back, and climbed astride him, pushing down his boxers so she could take him inside her.
"Fuck! Sash!" The suddenness of her tight heat enveloping him almost made him lose control, and as she started to move on him with a swift rocking motion, he had to fight hard not to surrender. When she slipped her own hand between her legs, he grabbed her waist and lifted his hips, thrusting up hard, and as soon as she tipped her head back and shook with her climax, he let go with a shout of relief.
Sasha fell sideways onto the bed, breathing hard, and he managed to gather her up into his arms, kissing her softly with what was left of his strength.
"You are incredible." He murmured, and she smiled with satisfaction.
"You're not so bad yourself, sailor."
Tom was in the shower, water pounding satisfyingly hard onto his shoulders, when he faintly heard the ring of his cell phone. A moment later, Sasha was in the doorway with it in her hand.
"It's home - want me to answer it?"
"Please." He quickly started to rinse off, just in case there was a problem.
"Hello?" Sasha said into the phone, then he saw her face relax into a smile as she said, "Hi Sam. How are you?"
Tom shut off the water and opened the shower door, just as Sasha put her hand over the phone and looked at him, her smile gone and her eyes wide.
"Sam says did you come over here to ask me, and did I say yes?" She sounded a little incredulous, and a little nervous, and it sent a pang through his chest, at the same time that he was trying not to curse his son for jumping the gun. He held out his hand for the phone.
"Sammy? I'm going to be home later and I'll talk to you then, okay?" He didn't wait for his son's answer before hanging up.
He swallowed and saw how apprehensive Sasha looked, something probably mirrored in his own face. He quickly reached for a towel, wrapping it around his waist. If this had to happen now, he really didn't want to do it naked.
"So what is it you were supposed to ask me?" She prompted, her voice shaking just a little, and he tried to smile.
"Something I wanted to make a much better plan for than this. But I guess it's too late now." He pulled her close, trying to find the right words. "Sash, I told the kids last night that I want to marry you. They think it's a great idea, by the way-"
She gasped in a breath, but there was a smile dawning on her lips, and it gave him the courage to push on. "I was going to plan it all out, get a ring, do it properly. But it seems Sam couldn't wait."
She was really smiling now, and he smiled back and finally relaxed. Maybe it didn't matter that it was like this, maybe all that mattered was what he was about to say to her.
"Sasha, the moment I saw you again, it felt like fate was handing something back, after everything that had happened. I can't explain it any better than that. And these last few months, I know that's the case. I love you, I miss you when you're not around, and I want to wake up with you every morning." He took a breath, wondering if he was making any sense at all, but the intent look on her face and the tears in her eyes told him he was probably doing okay. "I want to be with you, I want to make a family with you," He watched her tears spill over even as her smile grew wider, "I want to marry you. So please will you marry me?"
She just nodded, and he wrapped his arms around her as she laughed and cried at the same time. "Yes." She managed after a moment, her voice muffled against his chest. "Yes, yes, yes."
He kissed her hair, stroking her back, filled with relief and elation, and when she raised her head and looked up at him, she was wearing the biggest smile.
"You did hear me say yes?" She checked, and then it was his turn to laugh, right before he kissed her breathless.
"You should call Sam back." She said, when their lips finally parted, and Tom handed her the cell phone.
"You do it."
She grinned and dialled, and he watched her smile as she greeted his son.
"So Sam, guess what? Your dad did ask me, and I said yes!"
Then Tom saw her face crease into confusion as she listened to Sam's excited voice on the other end.
"Okay then, I'll see you later." She said eventually, "Can't wait." Hanging up, she turned to him with a quizzical expression, "Tom, was there something else you were supposed to ask me?"
He tried to process what she was saying. "Something else?"
She started to laugh, "Because Sam seems to think you're all going bowling this afternoon - and you were supposed to ask me to come?"
He was speechless for a moment, taking in the fact that his whole proposal plan had gone awry just because he'd forgotten a five minute conversation with his son from a couple of days before. But then he looked at Sasha, laughing, beautiful, and soon to be his wife, and he started to laugh himself, pulling her back into his arms as she grinned up at him.
"Well thank you Sam," She said, "Thank you very much indeed."
