Chapter 22
They’d kissed. A kiss that had his toes curling in his combat boots. It wasn’t out of the blue. Not at all. By now, Hazard was well aware that his attraction to Ice was returned. Especially after that sexually charged sparring session. Still, it was unexpected.
He’d never thought that either of them would acknowledge their attraction to each other, much less act on it. And yet, they had. With a kiss that felt as though it had shifted his entire world.
Now that he’d experienced that intimacy with Ice, he wanted more. Wanted to kiss the alpha somewhere more comfortable and private than up against the side of a building. And he wanted to kiss him without the mask.
It was crazy that despite the fact that he had yet to see Ice’s face, his attraction continued to grow. Or, maybe it wasn’t. He didn’t need to see a face to know that he liked the way the captain was cooly competent. Or to like his voice, deep and rough. Or to like his warm cedar scent.
The first time he’d caught a hint of Ice’s scent he’d been surprised. The warm cedar was at odds with both his call sign and the demeanor he revealed to the world. But he was learning that Captain Ice Anderson did have warmth beneath his icy exterior — in the way that he cared for his squadmates with cooked meals in the barracks and with his protection on the battlefield. And the way he looked out for young soldiers being bullied. The captain also had heat — in the way that he kissed.
No one who had ever kissed that man would think that he was cold. Every kiss, every touch from him had burned Hazard, until he was on fire with passion for his captain. However, as much as he wanted to kiss Ice again, he remembered what he had said before he walked away. That they couldn’t do it again. Hazard sighed. He’d never paid attention to it before, but now he hated the rule that was keeping them from freely exploring their attraction to each other.
Regardless, he wasn’t going to be kissing Ice any time soon. The four of them were heading to the armory for weapons and gear maintenance. All of their armor, guns, knives and tactical gear was to be cleaned, repaired or replaced.
The stern-faced armorer signed them in, then chatted with them as they collected all their equipment.
“Heard you all were up in Alaska.”
“Yep,” Hazard answered as he grabbed his rifle.
The armorer actually smiled. “Beautiful country. I’m from the Swift Night pack in eastern Alaska.”
“We were down in the Silent Dusk territory,” Ortiz said. “Didn’t interact with any of them tho. We dropped in and shipped back out as soon as the mission was complete.”
“That’s too bad. There’s nothing like a pack run through the wilds of Alaska,” he said wistfully.
“Maybe one day we’ll have the chance to do so.”
Hazard realized the 448 had never run together as a pack. He’d have to suggest it the next time they were all on base during a full moon.
With all of their gear collected, they went down a dimly-lit hallway to a room set up with several folding tables and chairs. They put their gear down on the table, weapons, body armor, and helmets landing with heavy thumps. Then they sat down and got started.
First, Hazard checked the straps on his tac vest to make sure they were all still functional. Next, he ran his hands over his helmet to look for any places it might be compromised. Then he broke his handgun down to clean it.
As he was cleaning the weapon, he looked up to see Ice’s progress. The first thing he noticed was that he’d stripped off his gloves. Watching Ice work, Hazard felt as if he was seeing something sinful. Bare hands. Pale skin. Clipped nails. Silver scars and old, shiny burns marred the flesh. But to Hazard, those hands were perfect. He wanted to know what it would feel like to have those skilled, calloused hands roam all over his body.
Hazard looked up. Ice was watching him, his dark gaze intense. Able to read him easily now, Hazard responded to the question he saw in those eyes.
“Feels like I’m seeing something I shouldn’t be.”
“What’s that?”
“Your bare hands.”
“Should I cover them?” Ice asked with amusement lacing his gravelly voice. “Protect myself from your wicked gaze?”
“Please don’t.” Hazard meant it to be teasing, but it sounded like a plea. He wanted to taste those hands. Clean the gun oil from the pads of Ice’s fingers with his tongue.
“So, Hazard,” Jax said loudly.
Startled, Hazard looked at his teammate. “Yeah?”
“Are your bruises from your fight with that behemoth healing up okay?”
Hazard nodded. “Thank goodness for speedy shifter healing. That fucker got me good before I took him down with a sleeper hold.”
“I bet he was surprised as hell when he woke up in handcuffs.”
“I’m sure he was,” Hazard agreed with a laugh.
Jax and Ortiz started discussing the Alaska op. While they talked, Hazard took out one of the bullet proof plates from his tac vest to check it over for damage and wipe it clean. He tried to pay attention to what Jax and Ortiz were saying, but his attention was drawn right back to Ice.
This time, his eyes settled on Ice’s mouth, on the pink lips visible through the hole in his balaclava. The memory of those lips sliding over his had warmth swirling behind his navel. After a moment, he realized Ice’s lips were moving, shaping words.
“You’re staring,” Ice said.
He definitely was. “Sorry.”
“You’re not.”
Hazard grinned, cheeky and unrepentant. “No. I’m not.”
“Not much to look at,” Ice said gruffly.
Was he kidding? He might not be able to see the alpha’s face, but there was plenty more to catch his eye. Starting with his eyes. He loved how expressive they were, loved the warmth of the deep brown irises. Loved the way they turned intense and hot when they looked at him sometimes. Like now. Because yeah, he was staring. But Ice was staring right back.
Without consciously planning to, Hazard sat up straight. He pulled his shoulders back and slightly tilted his head to the side to show off his chest and the mating gland on his throat. Going by the way Ice’s eyes slowly slid down the line of his throat before rising to meet his again, he assumed that the alpha liked the display. Good. He wanted Ice to look at him and find him attractive.
Hazard dropped his gaze to Ice’s lips. They were fuller than any alpha’s had a right to be. He wondered what Ice would do if he leaned across the table and nipped that bottom lip with his canines. If they were alone, he might just be bold enough to try it.
The captain’s body was a pleasure to look at as well. His shoulders were broad and his arms massive. He wished he could see them without the cover of his sleeves.
His lower half was hidden beneath the table, but he’d seen the captain’s legs enough times to know that his thighs were thickly padded with muscle. And thanks to the barbell squats he did in his workouts, his ass was two round, meaty handfuls. Hazard dreamed of gripping them tight while the alpha was on top of him, thrusting his co—.
“Hazard!”
Hazard dropped the plate he was holding. He yanked his gaze away from the captain to look at Ortiz. “Uh... Yeah, Major?”
“A genie is gonna pop out of that plate if you polish it any longer.”
Jax snorted a laugh.
The tips of Hazard’s ears burned but he laughed too. “Sorry, ma’am. Guess I’m a little distracted.”
“Clearly,” Ortiz drily said, her gaze flicking to Ice.
Hazard looked at him too. He caught a flash of amusement in Ice’s eyes before he gave his attention to the Baretta he was cleaning. After being called out on his distraction, Hazard concentrated on the task in front of him. He stayed focused until they finished up.
Once they were done, they gathered up all their gear and supplies to return to the armory. Halfway down the hall to the gun cage, Ortiz stopped them.
“Hold up, Ice and Hazard. I need to talk to you two for a minute.”
Jax walked ahead. He grinned, silently mouthing “You’re in trouble,” behind Ortiz’s back as he passed.
Hazard had to tuck his hands behind his back to keep from flipping his friend off.
Ortiz pinched the bridge of her nose, closing her eyes for a long moment before she opened them again and spoke. “Listen. We all know what the rules are. No fraternization between officer and enlisted ranks. But you two. This circling you’re doing. I can’t have you distracted. Not during something as small as gear maintenance and sure as hell not during a mission.”
Hazard’s heart started to pound. What was she going to do? Reprimand them? Kick one or both of them off the team? He held his breath waiting to hear her decision...
“I can’t believe I’m saying this. But if you two need to fuck it out of your systems to get your heads back on straight then do it. Keep it private. I don’t need to hear about it and neither does anyone else. Do whatever you need to do to get your focus back where it needs to be.”
Hazard choked on an indrawn breath at the major’s decision. That was the last thing he’d expected her to say. “Yes, ma’am,” he managed to wheeze out. He looked at Ice from the corner of his eye. The alpha was stone still, his shoulders drawn tightly back.
Ortiz sighed, as if she was beyond tired. Then she turned to go, leaving the two of them alone in the dim hallway.
Once Ortiz was gone, Hazard turned to Ice. He leaned back against the wall and gave the alpha a slow smile.
“You heard the major,” he said softly. “Maybe we should just fuck this attraction out of our systems.”
“No.”
Hazard pouted at the abrupt rejection. “Why not? Don’t tell me the Iceman doesn’t fuck.”
Ice gave a short laugh, the sound harsh and lacking in humor.
“We can’t fuck because I’m a possessive bastard on the best of days. What’s mine is mine and no one else better not even fucking look at it. And you, Hazard. You bring out the worst of that trait in me. If I have you – it won’t be to get you out of my system. It’ll be to claim you and make you mine and only mine.”
With that, he went to follow Ortiz out. But Hazard didn’t exactly see Ice being possessive over him as a problem.
“What if I want to be claimed by you?” he boldly called out.
Ice stopped. He turned and strode back over to Hazard. When he reached him, he leaned in close, planting a hand on the wall next to his head. Hazard stared up into those dark eyes, seeing the same intensity from the night of their kiss. He waited, hoping he would be kissed again.
Ice put an oil-stained finger beneath his chin, tilting his face up. And then he was being kissed. Hazard shivered as Ice’s lips softly slid over his. He was ready to sink into it. Unfortunately, the kiss was over as fast as it began. Ice pulled back and Hazard watched in a daze as those lips shaped his next words.
“Trust me,” he said roughly. “You don’t want that.”
He stepped back, staring at Hazard for a long moment before he walked away.
Hazard let him go this time. But as far as he was concerned, the matter wasn’t settled. Usually, he trusted that Ice was always right. But this time the captain was wrong. Because he very much did want to be claimed by that big, gruff possessive bastard. Wanted it with every fiber of his being.
* * *
Ice didn’t return to the barracks after gear maintenance. Since he had his knives on him, he went to the target range. There were a few soldiers there. Ice ignored them and went to the far end to be alone. He’d practice his knife throws while he cleared his head.
He knew it was wrong that he’d kissed Hazard, both in Alaska and here today. And yet, it felt right. More fucking right than anything else had in long, long time.
Ice balanced the knife in his hand, flipped it, and threw it. It struck in the center of the target.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t go any further with Hazard. He knew, deep in his bones, that if he were to sleep with the omega he would want to do it again and again. He wouldn’t ever want to stop. And with them on the same team, plus the differences in their ranks, that couldn’t happen.
They would both suffer consequences for indulging in a sexual relationship. They could be demoted, thrown in the brig, or expelled from the Legion.
He threw another knife. His aim was slightly off and he hit the second ring. Ice cursed. Getting kicked out of the military was the last thing he wanted. The military was all he’d known since he was a kid. It was the only place he’d belonged since he’d lost his family at the young age of five years old. Not to mention his goal. He couldn’t forget about his career goal after dedicating nearly all of his life to it. He wanted to be the first shifter to make it to the rank of Brigadier General. That would never happen if he were caught fraternizing with an enlisted soldier.
Ice went still, remembering... Hearing the voices of the school yard bullies from his past telling him he would never make it. That shifters would never earn any of the star ranks. He walked down range to retrieve his knives, yanking them from the target. Those voices were wrong then and they were wrong now. He would earn that star.
And Hazard. He was certain that Hazard didn’t want to damage his career either. Which meant they would have to stay apart. The few kisses they’d shared were all they could ever have of each other.