03-Strength of the Mate (50 page)

“There’s still a lot of active hostility,” Eric replied. His expression darkened. “Both sides are afraid of the other side’s refugees. Rwanda and Uganda are both using armed force to steal resources from the Congo.” Eric always got attached to the people he doctored.

“There’s no doubt your medical skills are important to them. But you don’t talk about your fellow aid workers, or your patients, anymore.” Tim waved his hand dismissively. Adam was annoyed on Eric’s behalf. “All you talk about now, is how stressed you are that one of your staff will get hurt or killed, so it’s time to just get the hell out and come home.”

Adam flicked the lid of his water bottle at Tim, nailing him square in the chest. It was shitty, how he talked about Eric’s work like it was a summer job he did just for extra money. Tim frowned at Adam, not hiding his irritation. He flicked the lid back at him, but Adam caught it out of the air. He wondered if Tim thought driving trucks full of supplies for his beloved Marine Corps was an important job. Adam thought it was. He knew he was good at it, and he even enjoyed it, despite what had happened.

“It’s not that simple.” Eric sounded more plaintive than angry, which surprised Adam. His list of reasons he worked in Rwanda sounded more fearful than before. Eric’s awareness of the danger to the women in his clinic had started to eat at him.

“It’s shitty, what was done to all those girls and women.” Tim’s tone was solemn. He’d noticed it, too. Eric’s ubiquitous compassion for his patients had changed when none of them was looking. Adam wondered who had Eric so worried. “You gave them ten years of your life. It sounds like it’s time to pack it in and come home.”

Tim was poking at Eric, like he always did, annoying him until he finally admitted what he was worried about. He wasn’t sure why, but Adam doubted it would work this time. He was about a minute away from just telling Eric how it was.

Lifting his bottle of water to his lips, Adam let the cool liquid fill his mouth. It was a pleasure he’d stopped missing, despite the arid heat in Iraq. For Adam and Dawson, cold drinking water wasn’t a priority when they had Marines who needed resupply, and a
sippe
of werewolves who needed nurturing.

Abandoning a task went against the grain for all three of them, but Adam couldn’t ignore the added burden of his own guilt. At least it was a familiar sensation. He’d been forced to leave Dawson behind. Ares hadn’t given him a choice, not that Adam had tried to fight.

“Eric?” Adam asked, tired of his brothers’ bickering. Had he and Jase been that bad? “If you’re that worried about how safe things are in Rwanda, just go get her and bring her home with you, for good.”

Tim snorted. Eric looked at Adam like he’d never seen him before.

“Excuse me?” Eric was incredulous. “What are you talking about?”

Adam waived a hand impatiently. “Yeah, okay, whatever.” He knew it was gonna take some pushing to get Eric talking. They all had that in common. Somehow, Dawson had managed to figure that out, though.

“What?” Eric demanded. He frowned at Tim, who openly grinned at his discomfort now.

“You’ve spent almost my entire adult life doctoring in some of the roughest places in the world.” Adam leaned forward in his chair, elbows on his knees. He recognized immediately that he was mimicking one of Tim’s common postures. “You’ve never been naïve about the ugly things that human beings can do to each other. But you’ve also never wavered in your commitment to your mission. Not until now, anyway. If you were only worried about your own safety, you’d have already moved to a new assignment, like when you left Somalia.” Adam sat back, crossing one ankle over his opposite knee. “I don’t know if she’s a doctor, a nurse, or a local who works in your clinic, but it doesn’t matter. Stop vacillating, ask her to come home with you, and open a low-cost clinic in Chula Vista or Southeast San Diego.” He lifted both hands, palms up, figuring he’d said everything he really needed to.

Tim laughed softly. “Yeah. What he said.” He gestured in Adam’s direction.

“It’s not that simple,” Eric insisted. He rubbed his palms on the tops of his thighs. One leg bounced in agitation.

“Yes it is.” Adam didn’t like that Eric was unhappy. Trouble was, all three of them were so stubborn, they were their own worst enemies. “You’re making things difficult. Either you love her, or you don’t. Either you want to be with her, or you don’t. She either loves you, and wants to be with you, or she doesn’t. If things have gotten too dangerous in Rwanda, both of you need to get out. But you have to make some decisions, and execute the plan together. As a team.”

Dawson had asked Adam to wait for him at home. He’d agreed, despite the nagging thought that he should stay. Even now, Adam’s heart was pounding, his gut twisting.

“Yeah. What he said.” The words were humorous, but Tim’s tone and expression were sober . “So, what’s her name?”

Eric stared at Tim silently for several long moments. He looked like he was going to keep denying everything. His expression said he wanted to evade their prying questions. “Keeva.” Eric finally answered. He cleared his throat awkwardly. “Doctor Keeva McManus. She was raised just outside of Chicago, but she was born in Belfast and has the most beautiful, lilting accent.”

Eric looked smitten, which made Adam smile. Lucky Keeva. Dawson had made sure Adam knew what it was like to be on the receiving end of that expression.

“Is there anything we can do to help you?” Tim asked Eric, without the slightest hesitation.

Adam had no clue how he could be of any help to Eric. But Tim included him in the offer, and for the first time in more than a decade, Adam felt like a part of his own family.

“Figure out what I have to say so she’ll admit she’s not safe in Rwanda, and realize that she needs to leave,” Eric answered.

Adam snorted. “If that’s what you’ve been saying to her, it’s no wonder she’s refusing to leave.” He remembered exactly how it felt when everyone told him they knew what was best for him, like he was incapable of thinking for himself. “Instead of ordering her around like the big, strong man who always knows what’s best for his woman, why don’t you just try asking her to leave with you, because you want to start a life together someplace that’s safe for you both?”

Eric sighed explosively. His knee still bounced, and he kept rubbing his palms on his thighs. “Christ. You’re probably right. Is that what Dawson did?” he asked suddenly. “Did he come right out and ask you to start a life with him? Was it as simple as asking you to please go home, where you’re safe, until he could come be with you?”

Adam sat frozen in his chair. He stared at Eric, unblinking. “He said he missed me, before I’d even left. He said we were stronger together than we would ever be apart.” Adam dropped his gaze to the floor, his eyes suddenly wet. Where the hell had that come from? He rubbed Dawson’s dog tags through the fabric of his shirt.

Silence shrouded the room, but it wasn’t awkward. Things had shifted in the blink of an eye, taking all the focus off of Eric. Now his brothers were waiting for Adam to make a momentous decision.

When Adam looked up, he found Tim watching him expectantly.

“I don’t want to leave, Tim,” he blurted. That simple statement relieved all of the anxiety Adam had been building since he’d left Iraq. Part of him had known all along, where he belonged.

“Okay. Where or…who…don’t you want to leave, Adam?” Tim asked cautiously.

“Dawson. Iraq. I don’t need to go home to heal. I don’t want to leave Dawson. I’m a better person when I’m around him, and he’s stronger when we’re together. I won’t abandon him.” Adam knew the power that particular word held between the three of them. And he had never been so sure of anything in his life.

“It’s Ares International’s policy that requires you to go home,” replied Tim. “Not the Marine Corps’. If we were talking about the Corps, I’ve probably got enough influence to keep you in the country. I’d have to figure out who has influence with Ares that I can call in a favor with.”

“Tim…” Eric sounded like he was about to play the older brother card.

Throwing up his hands, Tim said, “Hey, I’m going to try! I’ll do everything in my power. I’m just saying I can’t promise how much power I have, in this particular situation. I promise I’ll do all I can.” He paused, as if considering his words. “I do have a suggestion that might give Noah an advantage in persuading Ares to keep you at Camp Fallujah.”

“Tell me,” Adam demanded.

“You know those dog tags you’ve started wearing?” Adam touched the tags again as he nodded. “If we have Dawson register you at his Mate with the Corps, my Admin can push it through within twenty-four hours. Then Noah can persuade Ares to let you return to Camp Fallujah. If you’re okay with it, we can give Noah a copy of your psych eval, to verify you’re emotionally equipped to continue working.”

Adam’s decision was made before Tim had finished his explanation. “Let’s do it. I’ll call Dawson.”

“I’ll call Noah.” Tim smiled. He always did like a good machination.

“So, are we catching our flight out tomorrow?” asked Eric.

Tim pulled a face. “No,” he replied morosely. “And you get to be the one to tell Mom, Adam. I’m not taking the heat on this one. It’s all on you.”

Adam got to his feet, smiling. “Deal. You know damn well she’ll stop being mad when she hears she’s getting a new son-in-law.”

Tim and Eric both stood, as well. Adam had no idea who reached out first. All that mattered was that both his brothers returned his hug.

EPILOGUE

As the helicopter started its descent, Adam easily spotted Dawson waiting for him on the ground. Adam touched the tags beneath his T-shirt. They were comforting. He was returning to Iraq with a promotion. Once Adam was officially registered as Dawson’s mate, Noah called Ares. Once they had verification that Adam wasn’t a basket case, Ares was more than happy to send him back. Armando’s deployment was up in a few weeks, and Adam had the right skills and experience to take over when he left.

The flight crew protested when Adam unfastened his harness before they were wheels down. He ignored them. They’d barely set down when Adam was out of the chopper, running across the LZ.

Dawson caught him in his arms, pulling him in and holding him tight. Adam finally felt like he was home.

“I missed you,” he whispered against Dawson’s neck.

“I’m so glad you’re back,” Dawson replied. “So glad.”

Adam pulled out of Dawson’s embrace to greet his friends. He shook hands with Will, Paul, and Jason. He was almost as glad to be back with them as he was to be back with Dawson.

“How’s the arm, bro?” Jason asked.

“Healing just fine,” he answered.

Borovec took Adam’s duffel from the flight crew. Adam waved his thanks to them.

The sun was setting quickly. Tim had barely managed to find Adam a ride from Baghdad to Camp Fallujah. He was here now, though. Dawson was already off duty for the night. They had some catching up to do.

Adam got caught up on events aboard the base, as they all walked to Dawson’s hooch. No more fucking with separate billets, Adam and Dawson were sharing a space, as well as a bed.

Because they were mates.

Borovec set Adam’s gear just inside the door of the hooch. He, Paul, and Jason all said hasty goodbyes. They closed the door and left, laughing raucously. Everybody knew what Dawson and Adam were going to do now, and Adam didn’t care that they knew.

They kissed. Dawson’s fangs were bruising from behind his lips, but Adam licked at them eagerly. Dawson let Adam push him toward the bed. Adam stripped off Dawson’s T-shirt, tossing it aside. He reached for Dawson’s belt, hastily tugging it open. With a firm push at Dawson’s chest, Adam sent him falling backward onto the bed.

Kneeling between Dawson’s legs, Adam started unlacing his boots. Dawson got in his way, tugging his T-shirt over his head. Adam paused just long enough to shed the garment, before he stripped off both of Dawson’s boots.

“This is too fucking slow,” Dawson said breathlessly. “I want you naked and on my cock.” He leaned forward, reaching for the fly of Adam’s jeans.

Their hands tangled, slowing Adam down. “You’re in my fucking way,” he said with a laugh. “You finish getting your pants off, and I’ll take my own clothes off.”

Dawson growled. He pushed himself up to lay back against the pillows. “Just this once. It should always be me, stripping you out of your clothes.”

Adam’s cock jumped at Dawson’s words. The dirty talk hadn’t even really started yet, and Adam’s motor was already revving. He unlaced his own boots as he watched Dawson lift his hips and push his uniform pants down off his legs. Dawson’s cock was fully hard. Thick veins snaked along the dusky, red flesh. It bounced free of Dawson’s clothes, settling against his lower belly and curving away from his navel.

Throwing his socks across the room, Adam pushed his jeans off his hips. His asshole tightened reflexively at the sight of Dawson’s erection leaving wet smears on his skin. Adam was impatient to have Dawson’s prick slide into his ass. He couldn’t wait for Dawson to shove himself deep inside Adam’s body.

The small bottles of lubricant were right where Adam remembered. He handed one to Dawson. “Slick yourself,” he said firmly, surprised at the forcefulness in his own voice.

He straddled Dawson’s legs, watching him stroke himself with a lube-covered hand. Adam poured slick onto two fingers and reached his hand behind his hip.

Dawson gripped Adam’s wrist to stop him. “That’s for me to do,” he said in a hoarse voice.

Adam pushed at Dawson’s chest. “Not this time. Now just lay back.”

Bracing his hand on Dawson’s chest, Adam pushed his slick fingers into his own ass. He moaned, his lips parting as he held Dawson’s gaze. Adam lubed his hole, pushing his fingers deep and twisting them to spread the gel.

Dawson sat up slightly, gripping Adam’s hips. He tugged him forward until his cock slid along the cleft of Adam’s ass. “Christ, I’m gonna fuck you,” Dawson growled. “I want my dick inside you. Now.”

Adam was clumsy in his haste. He positioned the head of Dawson’s erection against his hole. Adam pushed himself down, gasping when Dawson’s cock slid past his rim, stretching him open. Rocking his hips, Adam took Dawson into his ass.