Chapter 21
The teams returned to base with Denis Petrov and all of his inner circle in custody. There were a few injuries. Several gunshot wounds, but none that were life threatening. A broken ankle on entry team. And of course, Hazard’s assorted bruises from his fight. Everyone had been treated by the base’s medics.
The 448 were currently in the largest common room on the base, celebrating their success with their hosts. Ice had relaxed enough to leave off his wolf mask after showering and changing into a clean uniform, but he still had on his balaclava. Everyone was talking and laughing, some shouting to be heard over the music playing on the radio. Someone had smuggled in a couple of bottles of whiskey. The COs turned a blind eye as they were passed around.
Ice didn’t begrudge them their celebration. It was always a good thing when all members of an operation returned alive with all of their parts intact. But the noise and the closeness of so many people was getting to him. He needed a moment to himself to truly wind down.
If he was at their home base he would simply disappear to his room or the gym or the half-dozen of other places he liked to go to be alone after a mission. Here, he was on someone else’s turf. They didn’t have individual rooms and out of respect, he wasn’t going to go skulking around their base looking for a private spot.
After a nod goodbye to his squadmates, Ice left the party and went outside. Without too many options for privacy, he settled for slipping down the dark space between the rec building and the one next to it to catch a few moments of solitude. In this spot, he could still hear the limited activity on base at that hour. But it was a low buzz of noise, easily tuned out. The dark and quiet let his senses ease back from the high alert they’d been on during the mission.
Finally, the tension drained from his shoulders and he relaxed against the wall. The night was cold, but he didn’t mind it. Ice sighed and leaned his head back to look up at the sky. A wide swath of stars twinkled across the black, so close and thick they were sharply visible despite the base’s lights. He stayed there, mind content as he stared up at the stars.
A few minutes later, someone approached his hiding spot. Ice recognized Hazard from his scent first. It was unmasked and sweet. He must not have applied blockers after his shower. Then the sound of his voice drifted over to him.
“You good, Captain?”
“Mmmm.”
“Don’t have one of your headaches do you?”
“No. Just needed a minute away from the crowd.”
“You want me to go?” He partially turned as if he were about to walk away.
“No. You can stay.”
With permission granted, Hazard came all the way down the alley and leaned against the wall opposite him. He took out a pack of his O cigs and a lighter. Thumb rasping over the lighter’s wheel, he lit up. Hazard pulled in his first drag, then blew it out on a long exhale. The smell of cherries drifted into the air along with the smoke.
“You and those sweet fucking cigarettes,” Ice said in amusement.
Hazard took another drag before answering. “What can I say? It’s one of my stereotypical omega traits. I love sweets.” He stayed there, looking completely at ease with his shoulder blades and one foot braced against the wall, smoking.
They watched each other without speaking for several moments before Hazard broke the silence.
“You want?” Hazard held out the cigarette in offer.
They’d shared cigarettes on several occasions since that first time during the op in Florida. It was no big deal to share one now. Ice accepted the cigarette, putting his lips on the same spot where Hazard’s lips had rested. He inhaled, drawing the cherry flavored smoke into his lungs. When he passed it back, their fingers brushed, Hazard’s pleasantly warm against his own.
They went silent again as they shared the cigarette, passing it back and forth between them. As much as Hazard liked to talk, he seemed equally as comfortable existing quietly. Ice usually preferred to be alone post mission, but he found it peaceful here with Hazard, sharing a cigarette with no expectation of conversation.
When the cigarette neared its end, Hazard held it up for Ice to take.
Ice shook his head. “You finish it.”
Hazard put the cigarette to his lips and took the last couple of drags. When he finished, he dropped the butt on the ground, stubbing it out beneath his boot.
“I guess I’ll turn in,” he said. “We fly out early.”
“Wait.” Ice reached across the narrow space that separated them to grasp Hazard’s wrist. They were already close. Ice tugged him closer. When Hazard was standing directly in front of him, Ice leaned down and pressed their foreheads together just as he had at the compound. He breathed in, seeking the now familiar scent of apples. Hazard remained still, his breathing soft and easy, visibly puffing out in the cold air. Then, Ice adjusted his position slightly so that their noses rubbed together in a light scenting. His heart pounded. A glance at Hazard’s throat showed a similar rhythm in the beat of his pulse.
“Am I doing this right?”
“Yeah. You’re a natural.”
It felt natural. Like this is what he was supposed to do. Maybe even what he had been missing from his life for over twenty years. But scenting wasn’t the only thing he wanted to do with Hazard. With the scent of apples in his nose, his attraction to Hazard — his desire to touch and kiss him — surged to the forefront of his mind.
Again he let their noses touch, but this time he tilted his head so that their lips brushed — just the tops — light as a feather. It wasn’t a kiss. Not yet. Ice wanted it to be one so damn bad. It appeared that Hazard did too. His eyes had drifted closed, dark lashes resting against his cheeks. And his lips, those lush, beautiful lips, were slightly pursed in anticipation.
“We shouldn’t,” Ice whispered.
“I know,” Hazard whispered back.
A silent pause, thick with tension. They didn’t move, although Ice’s heart pounded with anticipation. And then...
Ice brought their lips together in the softest of kisses. It only lasted for a second. Ice pulled back, but he didn’t go far. He looked at Hazard, gauging his reaction. Hazard ran the tip of his tongue over his lips before he lifted his face in a clear request for more. Ice kissed him again. Their lips clung, separated, then came together again. And again. Each time with more urgency.
“Open,” he ordered softly.
Hazard obeyed, parting his lips, allowing Ice to lick into his mouth. Ice groaned at the pleasure of tasting the omega he desired for the first time. He raised a hand to cup Hazard’s nape, fingers gently brushing over the buzzed hair there. Their tongues slid together, soft and sensual. When Ice drew back, he took advantage of their closeness to brush their noses together in another scenting.
“You taste like cherries,” he said.
Hazard looked up at him, humor twinkling in his eyes.
“So do you.”
Ice chuckled. “Brat.” He walked Hazard backward until he was up against the wall once more.
This time when they kissed, Ice let himself touch more of Hazard. He slipped his hands beneath his coat and smoothed them down his back, feeling the warm muscle under his shirt. He continued to caress him there, rubbing his palms up and down, wishing he could feel Hazard’s bare skin.
Hazard decided it was time to touch him too. His hands tentatively settled on Ice’s hips. They rested there, unmoving, until Ice nipped his bottom lip with his teeth. Hazard gasped and pulled him in close.
“You want me closer?” Ice asked between kisses.
“Mmmm, please.”
Ice banded an arm around Hazard’s back, dragging him up onto his tip toes. Now they were pressed together chest to chest, thigh to thigh. His cock, starting to harden behind his pants, brushed against Hazard’s, revealing that he was in the same aroused state.
A soft moan slipped from Hazard’s mouth. He slid his arms around Ice’s neck, holding on tight. Ice deepened their kiss in response. He wanted to make the omega in his arms feel good, have him moaning in pleasure. The scent of Hazard’s arousal was in the air, pushing Ice’s own arousal even higher as he breathed it in.
“Smell so good,” he whispered in a voice roughened with desire.
“Because of you,” Hazard got out between rushed breaths.
Ice groaned. The talking stopped. They were completely wrapped up in each other, kissing desperate and wild. He cupped the back of Hazard’s head to protect it from the brick wall behind him. The hold let him keep Hazard exactly where he wanted him as he ravaged plush lips and stroked Hazard’s tongue with his own. His bare knuckles scraped the brick, but he didn’t care. In that moment, the only thing he cared about was the heated passion Hazard was giving him in their kiss.
But then, the sound of people leaving the rec building suddenly intruded, forcibly reminding Ice where he was and what he was doing. With a low curse, he pulled back, dropping his arms from around Hazard. His breathing ragged, he looked down at the man in front of him. Hazard’s eyes were softly glowing, his face flushed.
“Finally,” he whispered with lips that were kiss bruised and swollen.
Ice shook his head even though Hazard hadn’t asked him a question. “We... can’t do that again.”
Hazard sucked on his bottom lip as if he was trying to savor the final taste of their kiss before he slowly released it. “Why not?”
“You know why.”
“It’d be a shame to miss out on more kisses like that.”
“We’ll have to accept that loss.”
With nothing else to say, Ice took a step back away from Hazard. Then another. A frown of disappointment turned down the mouth that moments before had fit so perfectly against his own. Despite the feeling urging him to stay where he was, he forced himself to turn around and walk away. His footsteps heavy and regret squeezing tight in his chest, Ice exited the alley, determined to forget about the kisses he’d shared with his corporal.