Line of Fire (12 page)

“What about you?” Hayden asked.

“I’m hoping to make love to you at the beach later,” Christian said kissing him lightly.

“That sounds good.”

* * * *

It was after one o’clock in the afternoon when they pulled up to the beach. Christian’s favorite spot was a short hike from the parking area. He carried the cooler while Hayden grabbed the blanket, towels and a small duffle bag.

“How did you find this place?” Hayden asked as they made their way down a nearly non-existent footpath.

“By accident, shortly after I got stationed here. It’s technically public property, but since it butts up against the south end of the base, most people don’t come here,” Christian replied. He could feel Hayden beside him. “You still doing okay?”

“I’m good. Just a few bruises and some weight loss, nothing serious.”

“Good.” Christian stopped, leaned over and kissed his lover, relishing in the freedom coming out had given him. “Something you said was right.”

“Oh? About what?”

“Stepping out of the closet fully is very freeing.”

Hayden laughed and the pair made their way down to the beach. They spread out the blanket and kicked off their shoes.

“It’s quiet here,” Hayden said, walking down to the water’s edge.

“It is. It’s one of the reasons I like it here,” Christian agreed, wrapping his hands around his boyfriend. “I missed you.”

“Yeah, the jumping me on the tarmac was a pretty good clue,” Hayden laughed leaning back into him.

“Three months is a long time,” Christian began.

“A lifetime.”

Christian kissed Hayden’s neck, holding the man tighter. He’d thought about Hayden and what he wanted. Even the return home hadn’t given him as much conviction as the fallout from coming out to his teammates. They’d been understanding, but their expectations and requirements hadn’t changed. There were uneasy emotions they all still needed to work through. Trust and integrity were paramount, and more than a few questions had been raised because he hadn’t told anyone. He’d never denied that he was gay, never lied about it, he simply hadn’t told anyone.

“I’m sorry I was an ass before. So afraid of what I’d lose I didn’t think about what I could gain. Don’t give up on me. I want to give us a real try. With real dates and handholding and kisses and everything else that two people in love can do. No limitations,” Christian said, dropping his hands to the hard planes of Hayden’s stomach.

“You’re hard,” Hayden said turning to face him. “Again or still?”

“Still. For you, always.” Christian wondered at the change of topic, but refused to voice the question. This had to go Hayden’s way. He’d been demanding enough.

Hayden unbuttoned his jeans and slid a hand in, wrapping it around his erection. “Going to fill me?”

“Yup, and later you can fuck the hell out of me.”

“Punishment for being a selfish ass?”

“Maybe. But I like your cock in me. Feels good. Right.” Christian nodded, his breath catching in his throat as Hayden bent down and licked the head of his cock. He ran his hands over Hayden’s head and back. Hayden stood, pulled at the hem of Christian’s t-shirt and took it off from him. Needing to feel skin, Christian yanked Hayden’s shirt over his head. Neither man was willing to let the other go too far, and their clothes were quickly removed and discarded. Christian grabbing his ass in both hands and pulling him closer. Kissing and licking a spot on Hayden’s shoulder, he wanted to mark the man as his.

Hayden tilted his head to the side, granting him greater access. “Do it.”

Satisfied with his mark, Christian returned to his exploration. His own body tingling with anticipation as his lover’s hands wandered over his body, bringing dormant nerves and feelings to the forefront. He groaned in protest minutes later when Hayden pulled away. Christian followed Hayden’s retreating form as he bent over the duffle bag.

Christian dropped to his knees, spread Hayden’s cheeks a little further apart and lapped at the entrance to Hayden’s body. His tongue swirled around the hole before pushing inside. Hayden gasped and pushed back towards him.

“Need you,” Hayden pleaded, holding out a bottle of lube and several condoms.

Christian grabbed the supplies and withdrew from his lover. “On your back, baby.”

While Hayden lay down in the middle of the blanket, Christian opened a foil packet and rolled the latex down his shaft. Hayden’s legs settled on either side of him. Squirting lube into his hand, he slicked up his cock before turning his attention to Hayden. Christian traced one finger around Hayden’s hole, skimming over the opening and teasing his lover’s sac, before plunging in. Fucking Hayden with first one digit then a second and finally a third, he pulled sound after sound from his lover.

“Want your cock. Now,” Hayden begged.

Christian withdrew his hand and added more lube to his cock. Pulling Hayden’s legs onto his shoulders he thrust forward, burying himself balls deep in one fluid motion.

“Yes! God yes!” Hayden ground out.

Christian smiled and nodded. He knew what his man wanted, what he needed. What they both needed. Hard and fast. Just rough enough to work out the excess stress and tension. Christian pounded into Hayden’s body, each thrust bringing cries for more, faster, harder. Hayden clung to one of his arms while wrapping the other hand around his own cock, matching the rhythm Christian set.

“Coming!” Hayden ground out.

Christian snapped his hips forward, pegging Hayden’s pleasure gland again and again. Hayden’s muscles gripped him almost painfully as he came hard, painting his abdomen and chest with semen. Christian continued to piston in and out of Hayden’s body, his own orgasm shooting through him, filling the condom. Setting Hayden’s legs down, he pulled out and lapped up the cream decorating his lover’s body. Tying the condom off and tossing it in a baggie, Chris laid down facing his boyfriend.

“Wet wipes to clean up with or the ocean?” Hayden asked propping himself up on his elbows.

“Ocean. It’s a little cold or I’d suggest trying it in the water,” Chris answered drawing designs on Hayden’s chest with his fingers.

“Maybe next time.”

“You forgive me?” Christian asked, unable to keep the doubt out of his voice. Christian had pushed his concerns aside, but now that they were both sated, he wanted to be sure. To know where he stood with Hayden.

“What do you want from me?”

“A chance at forever. I love you. I think I have for a while, I was just too slow to realize that’s what I was feeling. Too selfish to consider anyone or anything else.”

“I need time,” Hayden answered rolling over and getting to his feet.

Christian watched quietly, as Hayden dressed. Following suit, Christian dressed and cleaned up their picnic spot. He followed Hayden up the trail and to his truck. The drive back to the base was quiet, tension mounting. He parked behind Hayden’s vehicle and turned off the engine.

“I’m sorry, Hayden,” Christian said unsure of what had just happened.

“Me too.” Hayden closed the door, grabbing his stuff from the backseat before loading everything into the back of his truck.

Christian closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Well, fuck.” Slamming the SUV into gear, he sped out of the parking lot.

Chapter Ten

Forever.

Hayden pulled into the visitor parking spot and turned off the engine. Several minutes later he slammed the door of his truck closed and swore. What the hell had he been thinking? Christian had offered him forever and he’d turned it down. Hayden swore again. Closing his eyes, he shook his head. He’d already made Christian his next of kin, why the hell had he said no? Saying he needed more time had seemed right until Christian had left him at the base and drove away. Hayden paced in front of Christian’s apartment building. He hadn’t been expecting the man to say he loved him, that he wanted to get married, well forever, not married. Stupid, intolerant fools still had that locked out. But they could have forever, couldn’t they?

Jamming a hand through his hair, he swore again. What the hell should he do?

“You’re Christian’s young man, aren’t you?” a soft willowy voice asked.

Hayden spun on his heels, to find the older woman that lived below Christian sitting in a rocking chair, watching him.

“I’m sorry ma’am, I didn’t see you there. I hope I didn’t disturb you.”

“You didn’t. You didn’t answer my question either.”

Hayden smiled. “Yes ma’am, I’m Christian’s boyfriend. Well, I think I am. We fought earlier. He said he loved me, and I freaked out.”

“Yeah, I suppose you did. You won’t find answers in the stars, only memories. Love is always worth it.”

“Yes ma’am.” Hayden shoved his hands in his pockets. He wanted Christian, had thought about the man off and on while he was in South America. Would it be enough? Was their love strong enough to withstand what lay ahead? Was he strong enough? What would the team think? How different were things going to be? Did it paint a target on their backs?

“Do you need to get in?”

Hayden looked up at the woman, smiled and nodded. “How did you know?”

“Like knows like. Don’t squander this chance. Time is rarely on our side.”

“Yes, ma’am. Thank you.”

The woman disappeared and moments later the door clicked. Taking the stairs two at a time up to Christian’s apartment, he prayed the man was home and awake. Or at least sober. Taking a deep breath, he knocked on the door. Several minutes passed, and he knocked again, harder. Hayden wanted to pace. He was restless and wanted to settle things between him and his boyfriend, his partner.

“What the fuck do you—” Christian growled, yanking the door open, his 9-mil in hand. “Hayden? What are you doing here?”

Hayden stared at the man. Bare-chested and dressed only in pair of jeans, he was hotter than ever, a fact his cock took notice of immediately. Hayden shoved his hands in his pockets and rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet, his gaze never leaving Christian’s. “It’s my turn to apologize. I love you, too. I have since before the date with Brian and Alexa, probably since Brazil, and to hear you say it back to me shocked me. Scared the hell out of me. I didn’t believe you. If you were toying with me, it would destroy me.”

Christian flicked the safety on and shoved the weapon in his waistband, before opening his arms. Hayden walked into them and breathed a sigh of relief when they wrapped around him.

“You really want forever?” Hayden asked as Christian locked the door behind him.

“I really want forever.”

“We could lose our jobs, not get promoted. There are bound to be repercussions. We will be separated at times.”

“I know. And those same things could happen even if one of us were a civilian,” Christian said leading him into the bedroom.

Hayden waited until the gun was in the dresser drawer before pushing Christian onto the bed. “Somebody promised me his ass.”

“I did. But it’s reserved for the man who loves me. I don’t think he shares.”

“Not even a little bit,” Hayden growled nipping at Christian’s neck. “You’re mine. All mine.”

“I love you, too,” Christian chuckled.

“I do love you. Forever.”

About the Author

Simone currently lives in West Michigan with her family, but has lived in a handful of states and Japan and traveled to many more of each. She has been writing all of her life, seriously in the past few years, when her writing took on a dark and delicious twist. A college student, she offsets the tedium of lectures by thinking up new and interesting ways to torture her characters, occasionally shrieking in the middle of class “I got it!” to the puzzlement of those around her.

Simone loves to talk to her readers and can be found at
www.simoneanderson.com
and can be contacted at [email protected].

Also Available from
Resplendence Publishing

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by Kim Dare

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It took Harvey months to work up the courage to let his friends set him up on a date with Fitz—a dominant he’d been admiring from afar ever since he set foot in the local kinky clubs. But, when their first scene ended in disaster before it even got started, he was very quick to retreat.

Forget going back to the club where he made a fool of himself. Harvey’s determined never to leave the house again. Facing Fitz is out of the question.

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