Chapter 28
A day after returning from their trek through the forest searching for Cortez, Ice still hadn’t managed to shift his mind and body back into relaxed mode. He was on edge, skin hot and tight, muscle clenching in his jaw. He’d thought it was frustration that they’d failed once more to bring in Cortez. But he’d quickly figured out that their target had nothing to do with his tension. He was tense because of his omega teammate.
Hazard had been on his mind non-stop, ever since those precious few moments of intimacy he’d allowed himself to have with him. He’d managed to compartmentalize and focus while hunting Cortez. Now that they were back on base, his thoughts were on Hazard. It was a struggle not to touch him whenever he was near. He wanted to feel the warmth and strength of Hazard under his palms once more. And right now, it was all he could do to keep his eyes off him so he wasn’t caught staring.
They were in the training yard, having just finished up a joint workout with Sierra Six. He was next to Jax, stretching to cool down. Hazard was a few feet away, facing away from him. It was a sunny day, but the temperature was edging toward cold instead of only chilly. Still, Hazard was dressed in a tight Legion green T-shirt that emphasized the muscles in his back. His belt cinched the narrow waist that Ice was desperate to get his hands on again. And the dip of his spine curved into the roundness of his ass. With the way the material of Hazard’s fatigues clung to his thick thighs and ass, Ice was almost certain that he needed to go up a size in his uniform pants.
Ice groaned under his breath. He never should have touched him. Because now he wanted to do it again – every night. All night. The more he resisted his need for Hazard, the more he wanted him. It was an aggravatingly impossible situation to be in.
Plus, he was experiencing another issue. He’d ignored his wolf instincts for years, rejecting everything that came with being a shifter except for the physical abilities like strength and speed. His Instinct had gone dormant, until he almost forgot its existence. But lately, that inner voice seemed to be gaining strength, rising to the forefront of his mind. And with its re-emergence came something that he was staunchly refusing to acknowledge.
His wolf half was louder than it had been in years. And now it was snarling with impatience, ready to declare what it already knew but what his human half refused to accept. He would not say it. But the thought was there. Waiting. It was a daily battle to resist acknowledging it.
Ice determinedly pushed those thoughts aside. Instead, he focused on the alpha currently posturing in front of Hazard. The soldier stood as straight as possible, deliberately emphasizing his height. Ice meanly noted that he was still taller than the other soldier even without stretching his neck like a fucking goose.
He wanted to snarl at the alpha and tell him to fuck off somewhere else. His laugh was too loud as he joked with Hazard about something he clearly found extremely funny. And his scent was too strong. Why the hell wasn’t he wearing blockers?
His gaze narrowed into a glare when the alpha put a hand on Hazard. On his shoulder. Dangerously close to his scent gland. The word Ice had been avoiding burst to life from both his wolf and human halves before he could stop it.
Mine .
He didn’t speak it aloud, but a deep, menacing growl rumbled in his chest.
At the aggressive sound, Jax looked at him in surprise.
“You okay there, Captain?”
Ice ignored him. He stalked over to Hazard and took up position behind the omega. Close enough that his chest nearly brushed his back. Thankfully, the other solider had already removed his hand from Hazard’s shoulder. If he hadn’t he didn’t know what he might have done.
“I need to speak with you, Corporal Mitchell,” he said as he stared down the other alpha. He didn’t make the request an order, but he put his own hand on the back of Hazard’s neck, holding him firmly. Hazard went rigid, the muscles in his neck tightening in his grip. Ice knew what the move looked like. And in that moment, he didn’t fucking care.
The soldier’s eyes moved from Ice’s face to the hand possessively curled around Hazard’s nape. The man was no dummy. He nodded and stepped back before about-facing to walk away. After the alpha left, Hazard turned to face him. The movement dislodged the hold he had on Hazard’s neck. He was forced to release him, but he didn’t step back out of his space.
“What is it, Captain?”
Irritation was clear in Hazard’s tone. Again, Ice didn’t care.
“Come with me.”
After giving the order, he turned and strode off. He looked back once to make sure that Hazard was following him. He was, although it was with obvious reluctance. They walked together until Ice spied an out of the way place.
“Over here.”
Once they were hidden away in the shadowed, narrow space between the two buildings, they stopped and faced each other. Hazard stood, feet braced apart, arms crossed over his chest. His eyes glowed and his scent blasted his current emotion loud and clear: pissed off omega.
“Did I miss something, Captain?”
“What?”
“Did I wake up mated to you this morning? Because that’s the only reason you should be staking your claim on me the way you just did. So, tell me, did I wake up mated?”
Ice bit back another growl. A wave of heat rolled through him at the thought of waking up mated to the wolf in front of him. The part of him that wanted to claim Hazard would love it if that were the case. “You know you didn’t,” he forced out.
“Then what the fuck was that? You tell me we need to keep our distance from each other and just be work pals, then you pull that shit. Help me understand because I’m confused as fuck.”
Ice clenched his jaw. He couldn’t help Hazard understand because he didn’t understand it himself. He’d never been in this position before. The only emotional attachment he had was to the US Legion. He knew his role in the world. Knew the type of soldier he needed to be to carry out that role. Emotional entanglements weren’t a part of it. And yet, here he was, all twisted up over this one green-eyed, smart, skilled, gorgeous, and charismatic omega.
“I don’t know what that was.”
“Then why—?”
Ice cut him off before he could finish his question. “Be quiet. For once, stop talking and listen.”
“Talk,” Hazard snapped, fury still glinting in his eyes.
A low growl of frustration — at himself, at the situation — rumbled out of his throat before he spoke. “I didn’t plan to do that. But I didn’t like seeing that alpha’s hand on you or like watching him posturing trying to impress you. Before I realized it, I’d marched over and done some posturing of my own. I acted out in jealousy over someone who’s not even mine.”
“You told me you were possessive.”
“I did. And I meant it.”
“You can’t be possessive over something you don’t care about.”
“True.”
Hazard took a step closer. “That means you care about me.”
Ice shook his head. “I shouldn’t.”
“But you do.”
He took another step. Ice moved forward too, until there was barely a breath of space between them.
“What do you want?” Hazard asked in a hushed whisper.
What did he want? He wanted Hazard to use his name. He wanted Hazard to be his.
Reaching up, Ice unbuckled his mask and pulled it off. He held the mask in both hands, staring down at the wolf skull. “I want to be who I am. Who I’ve always been. And yet...” He looked up and met Hazard’s jade green gaze. “I want you too.”
“Why can’t you have both?”
“That’s impossible.”
The hint of a smile teased at the corners of Hazard’s mouth. “We put a man on the moon. Nothing is impossible.”
Ice leaned down and pressed his forehead to Hazard’s. “Somehow space travel seems easier than resisting you.”
Hazard quietly laughed at that.
Ice had to smile too. He moved his head so that their lips brushed. But they didn’t kiss. He was still fighting the pull between them. Still resisting it. But... he was losing. And they both knew it. Hazard parted his lips, the warmth of his breath feathering over Ice’s skin. They were so close. One kiss couldn’t hurt.
Hazard tipped his head back and Ice leaned in. He pressed their lips together gently at first. But in an instant the kiss turned hungry and deep. It was as if they were starving for a taste of each other. He greedily licked into Hazard’s mouth. And when Hazard did the same to him, he sucked on his tongue. He pulled back just enough to bite at Hazard’s full bottom lip.
“I want you so fucking much,” he said in a harsh whisper against Hazard’s mouth.
Hazard kissed his jaw before he answered. “I’m right here.”
Ice groaned at that sweet offer. He reached down and got his hands on that perfectly rounded ass. Gripping it tight, he hauled Hazard up to grind their cocks together.
“Oh, fuck,” Hazard cursed as he tucked his face into Ice’s neck.
Ice cursed too. Even through the layers of their clothes the contact felt amazing. He started rocking his hips forward, pulling Hazard’s hips in to meet each thrust. His cock throbbing, he was about to press Hazard up against the wall to give them both leverage for better friction. But a little bit of sanity somewhere in his head dinged a warning bell.
Ice froze. What the fuck was he doing? They were on base. Poorly hidden between two buildings, where anyone could walk by and see them. Exerting iron will over the passion that wanted him to keep going and grind them both all the way to climax, Ice got himself under control.
It was a battle to get his hands to release their hold on the warm flesh of Hazard’s ass. But he did it. He stepped back from the tempting man in front of him. Their chests heaved in a matching rhythm. The tension between them was thick, their scents rising together in a heady mix. Ice wanted to lick the air just to taste it. Instead, he dragged in a single deep breath before he apologized.
“I’m sorry. I will control myself from now on.”
“Don’t want you to control yourself.”
“I have to. Control is what I know.”
Hazard shook his head. “One day I’ll be there to see it.”
“See what?”
“When you finally lose that control.”
“It won’t happen.” He wouldn’t allow it. He had years of practice ignoring his personal desires. This was his biggest challenge yet, but he would overcome it.
“I need to go,” he reluctantly said.
Hazard raised an eyebrow. “That’s it?”
“What do you mean?”
“You dragged me over here to kiss me again and then tell me again that we can’t be together? Do I look like a yo-yo to you?”
Ice inwardly winced. “No.”
“Then stop jerking me around!”
“It wasn’t my intention to do so.”
“But you did.” Hazard slumped against the wall behind him, scrubbing a hand over his hair. “I’m doing like you said. We’re partners only. You’re the one who seems to be having trouble sticking with the plan.”
Damnit. Hazard was right. He was the one fucking up and his actions were hurting Hazard. Ice could smell the sadness and confusion on him. His Instinct wanted him to soothe those painful emotions away. For once, he listened to it and reached out. But Hazard jerked away from him.
“Don’t touch me!” he hissed. Hazard straightened and took several steps down the alley. Then, he stopped and looked back over his shoulder. “Follow your rules, Captain. Don’t tease me again with what you won’t let us have.”
This time it was Ice who had to stay there and watch as Hazard walked away.