45. Connor
CHAPTER 45
CONNOR
T hough it was risky to so brazenly go back to my house with Alex after a second discussion with Captain Tucker, I couldn’t talk myself out of it. We took necessary precautions—he came to Sanlúcar in an Uber, and I left the gate unlocked so he could let himself in. No one in my neighborhood knew or cared why he shouldn’t be there, and the only person who’d had any interest in spying on us was still in custody in Rota.
It was worth the risk anyway because Alex was still shaken up, and quite frankly, so was I.
As we settled on my couch with a couple of beers, he said, “I can’t promise I’m up for much tonight.” He gingerly touched the side of his face and winced.
I took his hand and gently pulled it away. “Don’t keep poking it. And I don’t care if you’re not up for anything. I’m just glad you’re okay, and you’re here.”
He searched my eyes, all those insecurities and uncertainties plain to see in his expression. I fucking hated Tobias for that even more than I did for the mark on Alex’s face. It had darkened into an impressive bruise, especially over his cheekbone, but it didn’t go nearly as deep as all the psychological damage that asshole had done.
I wrapped my arms around him and let him lean the uninjured side of his face against my chest. Stroking his hair, I kissed his forehead. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
“He didn’t hit me that hard.”
“He still put his hands on you. Enough that he gave you a concussion.”
“Eh. It’s a mild one.” But Alex still curled closer to me and sighed. “Thank you. For having my back.”
“Of course.” I kissed his temple. “There’s nothing in the UCMJ about advocating for my patient when someone assaults him.”
“No, but Captain Tucker was already suspicious of us.” He found my hand and laced our fingers together on my chest. “It was a risk. I… wasn’t even sure I should come to you because I didn’t want to put you in that position.” Alex swallowed hard. “I just didn’t know what else to do.”
I stroked my other hand up and down his back. “You can always come to me.”
“Thanks,” he whispered. We were quiet for a little while, and then he said, “The next year or so is going to be long as hell. I can’t wait until we don’t have to hide anymore.”
“Neither can I. And we’ll make it. It’s kind of like a deployment—it sounds like a long time, and it’ll feel like a long time in the moment, but after it’s over, it’ll seem like it went by in a blink.”
Alex sighed again, relaxing against me. “I sure hope so.”
“It will. I promise,” I said. “Even if it doesn’t go by fast, it’ll be worth it.”
“From your lips to God’s ears.” He lifted himself up and pressed a long, soft kiss to my lips. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” I stroked the unbruised side of his face. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Neither am I. And now I’m counting down to retirement even more than I was before I met you.”
I chuckled. “Yeah, I bet you are.” I paused. “For tonight, should we find something stupid and funny to watch?”
“Definitely.” He took his phone out of his pocket. “Why don’t I order something from the kebab place?”
“Sounds perfect.”
It did, and it was, and I didn’t care if spending tonight with Alex in my arms was a bad idea. I wasn’t letting him out of my sight right now, and rules be damned, there was no better place for me to sleep than beside Alex.
We wouldn’t be able to do this often. Not until he retired. The next year or so would be tough. There was no way around that.
But I knew it would be worth it.
Because in the end, I’d be with the man I loved.