SEALs

Chapter Four

As the night progressed I began to agree with my decision to stay in the room without Ali in it. I was sitting up at the small table by the balcony. The curtains were closed, keeping out the bright lights and loud city traffic. It was a good thing for the team but not a good thing for me. I was fighting to keep myself awake as I slouched in one of the hard chairs, the dim light of the muted television was my only companion. Joe was sprawled across one of the beds, his snores loud and sounding a lot like a dying cow. Since Joe's big body covered one whole bed and Frank was in the other, sleeping quietly on his side without a peep. In the chair across from me was Locke who was breathing heavily as the drool dripped down his chin. He had told me he would stay awake and keep watch with me since there was no way I was letting him in the other room with Ali. But of course the dick was counting sheep only about five minutes into our time.

I was proud of my decision to send Mamun into the other room to watch over Ali. I wouldn't be able to since my mind was still in the gutter. It had been over an hour since the incident with her but I still couldn't forget about her face. How easy could it have been to have just kissed her right then and there? That is if she wanted it. If she didn't want me then I was setting myself up for disappointment and frustration both physically and emotionally. How could one woman cause me so much trouble? I used to be confident that women liked me, but with Ali, I could never figure it out.

The door connecting this room to the other opened and a very dreary looking Mamun poked his head through.

"Shift," he muttered in a tired voice as he yawned, covering his mouth with his hand like the polite gentleman he was. I nodded, yawning in response before pulling myself to my feet to wake Frank and Joe. Joe groaned like a kid getting up for school and it took a few pushes to actually get him on his feet. Frank easily woke right up and slid into the other room to watch Ali. I felt better when Joe took my seat and didn't go to watch Ali. He wasn't exactly the person I wanted looking after a beautiful woman, in a bed, alone.

Sighing in relief I slid into one of the beds and closed my eyes, allowing myself to fall into a deep sleep. It had been a while since I had been in a real bed and even though I was still fully dressed and lying on top of the covers, my body felt relaxed instantly. It was like one second I was awake and the next I was asleep. And the dreams I had that night were unlike anything I'd ever experienced. Not something I'd tell anyone about. These night time 'liaisons' and the woman who starred in them were for my mind alone.

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The booming sound of Joe's voice jarred me from my sweet dreams. Just as it was getting to the best part. I sighed, sitting up and running a hand through my hair which was already standing on end. I never bothered to tame it except on special occasions. The thing had a mind of it's own. It only took a few short months for me to grow it all back from the buzz cut I was given when I joined the SEALs. Pretty impressive and important since the ladies did like something to grab on to.

Joe was bellowing about how great the food was at the hotel restaurant. Being in a place where religion was a large part of their culture, food wasn't really cheese burgers and French fries. It was more traditional and definitely no bacon or pork. But the hotel did cater to their guests and served things like eggs, toast and coffee. Joe, being the child he was, had got himself pancakes before drowning them in syrup. I rolled my eyes before pulling myself off the bed and going to pour myself a cup of coffee from the tray Joe and Locke had brought up from downstairs. I needed it for the day we had ahead of us and although my sleep had been deep it hadn't been very long.

Mamun decided to have a quick shower which left no one in the room with Ali. Frank looked up at me from his plate of food, almost afraid I would get him to go wake her. I shook my head, waving my hand at him before putting my coffee down and quietly going into her room. I could do this. I was just waking her up, not jumping into the bed with her. And that's what I got for sleeping in a testosterone filled room.