Blood dripped from the man’s chest to the floor. The plip monotonous and unerringly consistent. Blue eyes stared sightlessly down to the very floor his blood hit.
Another watched from the shadows, not just the dead man but the one beside him, strapped to a chair, covered by the dead one’s blood.
He stroked his goatee and adjusted his eye patch before moving from the darkness that had shadowed him. His steps were silent as he repositioned himself before his prisoner.
Defiance sparked in those dark blue eyes. The bruising and blood around his eyes didn’t lessen the anger showing forth.
“Nothing to say?”
“Fuck off.”
“Actually, I was hoping for a bit more civility from you, considering I haven’t killed you yet. Just your boyfriend.” He hooked his thumbs in his belt. “He’s of no use to me while you have some. For the moment anyway.”
“How do I know I won’t share that fate if I tell you what you want to know?”
“You don’t. However, you do know if you don’t tell me what it is I wish to know, I send men to rape and dismember your sisters, and mother. Then I will have your father thrown into some third world cesspool of a prison to live out the rest of his days. Trust me, while his days would be few they would seem like an eternity in hell for him. All the while you get to be my bitch.”
“So, I have your word you won’t hurt my family?”
“Not at all, I’m not striking a deal here. I’m informing you most definitely what will happen if you don’t cooperate.”
“Then what’s my incentive?”
“Avoid a long painful death for you. Possibly save your family.” He withdrew the SIG from its holster and dragged it along his cheek. “You are pretty strong for an Air Force pilot. If they can ever be considered strong. But you have to remember that you’re not trained to withstand torture. Sure, a short course but what’s it really like? You haven’t the faintest idea. And I wonder how strong your resolve will be when you see the fifteenth of thirty men working on sodomizing and raping your little sisters. Or hell, your two-year-old niece.”
“Like you said. I don’t have any proof you won’t still do that after. Still not enough for me to help you. So, fuck you. Put the muzzle against my temple or in my mouth and pull the goddamn trigger. Just kill me, so I don’t have to listen to you any longer.”
His smile was feral and he knew it. “Still trying to be brave.” He slid the barrel of the pistol down until it lodged against his cock. “You’re like a little Eagle Scout going up against trained Spec Ops.”
His prisoner’s eyes narrowed and he spit on him. “You talk like you were a bad ass SEAL when we both know you didn’t last. You barely made it out of BUD’s from what I heard. And no one wanted to work with you because of your incompetence. And they didn’t trust you at their back.”
He backhanded him, rocking him in the chair.
The man spat more blood. “What’s that say about you when the Team would rather go out short a man, than have you included as one of their numbers. You can try all you want but you’ll still never be good enough. And those men, that group you’re going after. They’re going to tear you a new asshole.”
Anger lined with raging embarrassment swamped him and he struck out again, this time using the weapon.
The man landed unconscious on the floor.
“Fix him,” he tossed the command to another man lingering in the far corner.
Exiting the subterranean room, he took several deep breaths when he reached the surface. Scrubbing a hand down his face, he swore as he realized the man had gotten to him. A fucking Air Force chauffer got under his skin.
He strode over the sand until he reached the small cabin set off to the side. Drawing open the door, he entered his sanctuary.
Small. Clean. Efficient. He didn’t need much, preferring to live more like the spartan life as he tried to model life like them. Between them and the gods, he knew how things should be. The warrior life. The life of a god, one who decided when people lived and died. Always ready. Always in control.
He was that warrior. Unmatched in battle. No fears. Unbeatable.
He stood over the ceramic basin filled with pristine clear water and took a moment to stare at it. No ripples. Perfectly still. No unrest, no disturbance.
Like him. Calm. Unruffled.
He plunged his hands in the liquid and scooped some up to his face. He relished the crisp break along his fevered skin. He may appear composed on the outside but torture, the fine art of extracting information from others tuned him up like few other things.
All of it reverted to the primitive need of his for power. Exhaling slowly, he lifted his gaze to the small mirror there he typically only looked at for shaving.
Towel in hand he wiped away the excess and walked to his small section of kitchen counter. He used the edge to hold the material and went to his room.
Within ten minutes, he’d changed and sat at his dining room table. So, it was more like a card table but it worked with the papers he’d worked so hard to gather and collect spread out in organized piles before him.
A few hours later, a single knock proceeded the tall man entering.
“Did he provide you with anything else?” He never took his eyes from the notes in front of him.
αβ
Scott “Harrier” Leighton stared over those gathered. Everyone had a drink in hand, as they sat with their partners. Beside him was the love of his life. His wife and the mother of his children. Alexis. There were multiple softer conversations going on throughout the area.
They were his men, these seven. Part of the infamous Megalodon Team. A SEAL Team that had grown to legendary proportions. Even now, he had to laugh over some of the tall tales he heard about their old exploits. And were they ever tall.
Tyson “Cade” Kincade, his second in command and now the co-owner of Tungsten Protective Services‒their brainchild‒after having left not only the Teams, but also the Navy. He couldn’t help but notice how often Tyson glanced over to his wife, Jayde. Not uncommon but there was concern in his gaze.
What’s going on there? He’d seen it when they walked up at the airport, an air of something around them that seemed off.
Six of the ones here with him were the original members.
Ross “Jeb” Connelly had come in as a replacement for the man named Daniel they’d lost. He’d fit in so well, Scott considered him an original member. Ross laughed and joked with Osten “Baby Boy” Vittano, his deep southern drawl so thick it made his own seem nonexistent.
Scott got up, and dragged a hand along the nape of his wife’s neck as he made his way to the kitchen. She sent him a smile that had him ready to toss her over his shoulder and head to their room.
The lodge they were in belonged to a friend of his and their eight families were the only ones here. They were heading out to get the tree later this evening.
In the massive kitchen, he poured himself another water. A familiar light touch on his back announced the arrival of his spouse.
“What are you doing in here?”
“Getting a drink.” He wrapped her in his arms.
“There’s an entire container of ice water out there. Try again.”
“Thinking back over the years.”
She pushed up on her toes and kissed him, sliding her tongue into his mouth.
A growl of pleasure escaped him as he lifted her in his arms. He wrested control of the kiss and turned to sit her on the nearest counter.
“Not what I came in here for, Scott.”
He rested his head against hers. “Can I change your mind?” He palmed one breast, smiling as she purred and arched into his touch.
“Always,” she assured him. “Exactly why you need to put me down.”
He grumbled but complied. “For the record, I would have preferred to keep you there.”
“And I would have liked to stay. Not the time.”
It never was. Holding up his hands in surrender, he cocked an eyebrow at her. Lex’s jeans and sweatshirt had the same effect as if she were naked. Perhaps because he knew what was below those clothes. He wasn’t positive, didn’t matter either. This was his wife. “Tree time?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s go then.”
All sixteen adults bundled up and went out into the cold Montana evening. He smiled over Tempest’s obvious discomfort compared to Xaria’s enjoyment.
Tyson fell into step beside him and they dropped back letting the others go a bit ahead.
Silence extended between them as the snow they pushed through grew deeper. They may live in the same town and worked with each other but it had been a while since they had a nice talk. “What’s going on Tyson?”
“Beats me. I’m trying to figure it out myself.”
He watched his friend in his periphery. “Everything okay with you two?”
Tyson shoved a hand through his hair. “I wish I could say yes. Has Lex mentioned anything Jayde may have said?”
“Even if she’d shared something. Lex wouldn’t tell me. They protect each other.”
“Damn it. I know and while that makes me thrilled, I need some fucking help here. She’s pulling away from me, little by little. And I don’t know how to reach her. I don’t know how to fix this.”
The agony in his friend’s tone tore at him. He would be the same way if Lex were doing that. “What did she say?”
“Not a fucking thing. I suggested a trip. A cruise just the two of us and she completely shot me down.”
He was surprised. “I know she had a blast on the cruise she and Lex took.”
Tyson raked his hand down his face. “I know.”
“Talk to her.”
“Don’t you think I’ve tried? Christ, man. I’ve tried. She’s either too busy, reading, painting, or not there.”
“It’s not like she can get away from you here.”
“Look at her,” Tyson uttered. “She’s pretending.”
“Do you want me to talk to her?”
“No, I just I want my wife back. Let me know if you hear anything.”
He’d never heard Tyson sound so dejected before. Not even when he woke up in the hospital and she hadn’t been there, leaving behind the ring the man had given her. “Of course.”
“I know you two are old n’ shit,” James “Maverick” Lonetree yelled back to them. “But are you helping pick a tree or not?”
With a smile to Tyson, Scott called out, “My wife can kill you and make it look like an accident, you know.”
“Hiding behind the wife.” Maverick shook his head as the others laughed.
Lex held up her gloved hands. “Leave me out of your issues, I’m on holiday. And I have zero plans to kill anyone.” She propped her hands on her hips. “That goes for your injuries, boys. I’m not healing any injuries you all get from horsin’ around.”
His moment of smugness vanished the second she pinned him with her gold-flecked eyes. “That goes for you too, Harrier.”
Her reprimand set off more laughter and he moved his finger between the two of them. “We’ll discuss this later.”
“No fair using sex to persuade her,” Hondo said, his Irish lilt in full force.
Scott swore as all the wives swooned. Cheating bastard, he knows how they love his accent.
Lex grinned. “Aidrian, you talk like that to me and I’ll happily stitch you up if needed.”
Hondo threw up his arms much like Rocky and jogged in a victorious circle until Xaria smacked him with a snowball.
The joviality continued as they searched for and found the perfect tree.
“Perfect,” Landi chirped, staring up at the fifteen-foot pine.
He agreed—pointed to Ghost who carried the chainsaw. “Do you know how to use one of those?”
“Why’d you give it to me if you didn’t think I could wield one?”
“Wanted you to feel important.” The words were delivered with a cheesy grin.
Ernst “Ghost” Zimmermann flipped him off and started the saw.
αβ
He watched from his high-powered scope. He curled his finger around the trigger as the crosshairs centered on the skull of the man who went by the call sign, Harrier.
Lying here on his stomach, he was a god. He decided if they lived or died. Who did and when. Power flooded through him and he inhaled deeply, relishing in the rush. To apply the remaining bit of pressure on the trigger tempted him, but no. He couldn’t. This wasn’t the time. They would scatter and escape.
Patience. I have more patience than any of you down there. I’m your god and you will come to realize that. You will give me the respect and adulation you kept from me for so long.
With the mental pep talk, he eased his finger off the trigger. Panning the rest of the group, he again hesitated with the mark on Lex, the surgeon.
Her death in front of Harrier would be nirvana. To watch the man who’d told him he wasn’t fit for his Team‒because he couldn’t control his emotions, but instead was controlled by them‒lose all semblance of it while his wife lay dead in the snow, turning it deep crimson red with the blood as it vacated her body.
Moving with a slow exhale, he paused again with the crosshairs on each man and his wife. The power shot through him. He was just a god, he was their god, deciding who lived and who died as well as when their life was to end.
In the left of his view, he froze and fought the urge to duck. Maverick was staring in his direction. No way the man could see him, yet he swore his location had been compromised. His chest tightened but he refused to move.
I’m camouflaged and well protected.
Didn’t stop his momentary panic before he reminded himself that gods didn’t panic.
αβ
“Mav?”
Scott paused by the sniper from their Team. The man had crazy scary instincts.
“All good.” He tossed a grin in Scott’s direction.
Immediately, he knew the smile was for those who may be watching their interaction or reading lips.
Stepping up to him, Mav turned so they both faced the downed tree. “We’re being watched,” he muttered below his breath.
“Friendly?”
“I have no idea?”
“Let’s get them all back inside.”
“Agreed.”
Ropes around the tree, all eight men began to pull. The women strolled with them, their laughter and teasing infectious amongst the group. He laughed at Osten’s comment about speedos.
A bit off to his side, he spied Jayde. Her watermelon pink knit cap, brilliant against the dark of her hair and jacket. She glanced at him and he smiled. She’d held a special place in his heart ever since she’d saved Tyson. “Hey you.”
She offered up a small smile. “Hey back.”
“Walk by me, I haven’t heard about you, yet. Fill me in on what’s going on in your life.”
Smooth, man. Like she’s not going to know you’re fishing for something.
Jayde sidled a bit closer, hands in pockets and dark tendrils curling around her face. She truly was adorable. “Staying busy. Lots of shows at the beginning of the year. The children are keeping me on my toes as well.”
He nodded. “I get that. Ours are the same. Wouldn’t change it for anything.”
“Me either.”
He resisted the urge to release the rope he pulled and bring her in close. She was another little sister to him and he wanted to protect her as much as he needed his next breath of fresh air. “You look troubled. What is bothering the Megalodon Amazon? You know I’m here if you want to talk.”
Her gaze shuttered and her steps faltered slightly. Seconds later, a smile turned her lips up further. “I’ve not been called that in a while. I’m fine, but thank you for the offer.”
“Jayde.”
She shook her head, tears lining her eyes, but they never fell nor did her smile slip one iota.
He let it go.
She continued beside him, smiling at the appropriate times and responding accordingly.
None of it mattered, all he knew was Tyson had been spot on. Something was wrong with Jayde. Something was on her mind and it had her worried.
While he could feel Tyson’s gaze upon him, he ignored it. There would be time later for them to talk about whatever was going on in more detail, where they wouldn’t be interrupted.
αβ
The tree stood tall in the main room. The scent of popcorn was in the air, intermingling with the unbeatable smell of a fresh pine tree. One no matter how much they tried, couldn’t be duplicated into a spray. A few people sat around a huge bowl making it into strings for the tree.
Osten, Xaria, Landi, and Lex were around boxes of decorations, unwrapping lights, tinsel, and more.
Ghost smiled at his wife who brought in the makings for hot toddies followed by Tempest.
Harrier and Maverick brought in presents to be placed around the tree once they finished trimming it.
“Don’t give Landi the star,” Kacy said, waggling her finger at Osten. “She’s too damn short, we don’t want it on the bottom.”
He chuckled at the daggers Landi shot at her. The tiny spitfire stomped to the popcorn where she grabbed two fistfuls that she threw at Kacy accompanied by some Greek curses‒courtesy of her husband.
Kacy picked a piece out of her hair and ate it. “Tiny little gnome hands. Can’t throw more than that?”
The women had been best friends for years and he enjoyed watching them. CJ tended to get in on it as well.
Popcorn flew and he crossed his arms.
Ross paused beside him. “I think they need Jell-O.”
“Make the suggestion,” he dared the grey-eyed Southerner.
“Does it say dumb fuck on my forehead?”
“What about on your ass?”
Ross cocked an eyebrow. “Want to look?
He snorted. “Hell no. Not for anything. Come help me with the cake.”
They headed for the kitchen and carefully removed the large cake from one of the walk-in coolers. Once it had been placed on the stainless-steel counter, Ernst stared at it.
The cake had the Budweiser in one corner, Hondo’s dates of service across the bottom, and “Congratulations on your retirement” in the middle. In the lower left corner, they also had “Now you have a new CO to answer to.”
“Here’s the plates and stuff.
Hondo was a great friend and he would miss him. Ghost would now be the only one who was still active duty on the East Coast. Merlin was stationed out on the West Coast. Even Osten had switched to the private sector. Which meant Tungsten Protective Services.
“You okay?”
Ghost pasted a smile on his lips before meeting Ross’ seeking gaze. He was probably closest to the man who went by Jeb.
“Ghost?”
“Just thinking it may be time for me to get out as well. Hondo leaving means another body.” He curved his fingers around the cold stainless steel of the counter and gave a slow nod. “Not sure I have it within me to train anymore young guys. The chemistry isn’t the same and if I want it back, I need to leave the service.”
“Chemistry always changes. I was the new guy once to the Megalodon Team.”
Another nod. “You replaced Daniel. He was new too, and hadn’t followed orders. Thought he was invincible.” A slow headshake. “He wasn’t. And I have no wish to speak ill of the dead but he hadn’t fit in like you did when you joined the Team.”
Ernst had no intent of being ugly about it, that was purely a factual statement. If Daniel had lived, he wasn’t sure he would have remained on the Team. Scott was fastidious about who he had around him, protecting beside him, and watching his back.
But then, they all were and this group ran like a well-oiled machine. He wanted that back. That comfort in the knowledge of the one beside you. The new guys were good, damn good, but they had something to prove which could make them reckless.
He sighed. “Just thinking aloud is all. Grab that cart thing and let’s get this out there before they come in here.”
They wheeled it out moments later and Mav stood up, hands out, gesturing for them to lower the music. “Okay, okay. We all know why we’re here. To celebrate with this old fuck as he gets out of the Navy and joins Tungsten. Personally, I have had the distinct honor of fighting beside this arrogant bastard Irishman, parachuting in behind enemy lines, and doing a whole lot of shit together we won’t mention in front of the wives.”
They all laughed and Ernst sent his wife a wink.
She returned it.
“While you no longer will be answering to Uncle Sam, you still have a boss—who may I say is a ton sexier and hotter than Uncle Sam—who will make you toe the line.”
“Damn straight,” Xaria piped in, bringing more laughter.
“So, although you won’t be suiting up for your country anymore. I am looking forward to being beside you once more. It has been my complete honor to serve beside you, brother.”
“Here, here!” They cheered.
Ernst gazed around the room. This was his family, there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for them. Or their wives and children.
Xaria stood, ran her hands down her black cargo pants, and walked to the center. “Bring that cake in here.”
He and Ross listened.
“I want a picture of this. Your Team. I want it to go beside the other one we have.” Gesturing, she caught the camera Tempest tossed her. “Get comfortable.”
The wives scattered out of the way and watched the guys settle around Hondo and the cake, beers in hand.
After a few photos were snapped, they got to work on the cake.
Hours later, Ernst lay on his stomach while his wife straddled him, giving him a massage. Her bare skin slid along his as she worked her fingers into his muscles.
“If you ever want to give up being an electrician, you could make a killing giving massages.”
She never paused in her administrations. “Spend my days like this with hot guys? Sure thing. Do they get happy endings as well?”
“Not from doing this and you can only massage old ladies. No men.”
Her laugher—as usual—wound around him. “There’s only one man I would cheat on you with.”
Ernst closed his eyes. “He’s not even playing for the Braves anymore. Hell, he’s not even playing period.”
“Doesn’t mean he no longer gets—or needs—massages.”
“Sad, Kacy, sad.”
She shifted her lower body against him. He moaned as her bare pussy moved over him. He began to turn.
Not having this, she tightened her legs around him. “No, you whined all day about a massage. You will lie here and take it. No sex because you’re suddenly horny.”
“Trust me. It’s not sudden.” He moved again but she gripped him harder.
He smiled but let her think she had the upper hand.
“Right, because you’re constantly aroused.”
“When it involves you, most definitely.” He flexed his fingers in the plush blankets. Sure, it snowed outside but there was a lovely fire burning in the hearth. Each room in this lodge had one.
His wife and mother of his children scoffed.
“Come on. Don’t you want some German in you?” he challenged.
“I’ve had so much in me over the years, my DNA is changing.”
He rolled over, pinning her beneath him. Putting them nose to nose, he smiled. “I think we should try a few more times.”
She nipped his lower lip. “I didn’t finish my massage.”
“Let’s skip to the happy ending.” He rolled them again, so she was on top.
“Practice makes perfect,” she whispered, grasping his cock and rubbing it along her wetness.
He longed to push into her but allowed her to set the pace, no matter how he longed to take over and claim control. However, as much as he wanted that, there was something sexy as fuck to watch her take what she desired.
She lifted slightly and positioned him at her entrance. With a small smile and moan, she sank on him. “Fuck yeah.”
He clasped her about the waist, keeping himself buried deep in her pussy, velvet walls tight around him. “Kacy.”
Head back, breasts pushed forward, she was his own Aphrodite. Kacy ran her hands own over her breasts, fingers plucking at her nipples before continuing down her belly. His heart clenched when her touch trailed over the small tattoo she had on her lift hip, his name in a gentle cursive.
“Ernst.” Her word was faint, lined with husky need.
Her voice pushed more blood to his cock. “Work it out, liebling, take me however you want.”
“I plan on it.” She undulated her hips, rotating and grinding against him.
Sweat broke out on his skin.
Up and down, she moved along his shaft, flexing her internal muscles around his shaft.
This was his woman and he would fight all the hands of Satan to keep her safe. She bent forward and he sank a hand into her soft afro. She’d gone natural about two years ago and he fucking loved it. Couldn’t imagine her going back to straightening her hair.
“Ernst,” she panted against his lips.
“Come for me, sweetheart.” He thrust up, deep and sharp.
She listened and came hard with a low keening cry, body shuddering against his.
Her release triggered his and soon, they lay in the quiet, the crackling fire being the only sound he heard along with the howling winds buffeting the windows.
Tugging the blanket up around their joined bodies, he closed his eyes. “I love you,” he murmured in German.
“I love you, too,” she replied in the same language.
She’d learned German wanting her children to learn his language.
And he appreciated that and everything else she did so much.
αβ
Ross woke the moment she slipped from their bed. His wife didn’t head to the bathroom, instead she tugged on a baggy sweatshirt and simple cotton pants he’d taken great pleasure of removing from her earlier in their night of shared bliss. Five seconds after she vanished, he hid his smile as she popped her head back in as if checking to see if he was still there sleeping. Monitoring her from beneath his lashes, he gave her a minute before he too, rolled from the bed. Drawing up his sweat pants, he padded down to the first floor of the lodge.
Dezarae sat with the women, surrounded by the flickering pinpoints of light from the fire. All eight wives.
He leaned against the wall, remaining in the shadows to allow privacy but he couldn’t bring himself to leave her. They all lifted their drinks and toasted one another. No words were spoken, so he wasn’t sure what they were celebrating but it didn’t matter. They knew.
After the brief moment of silence, they began talking and laughing. A sound from behind him had him turning and peering up to see Harrier and Maverick sitting on other levels of the stairs.
“Spying on your wife?” Mav’s voice was low to not to disturb the women.
“All our wives it seems.”
He flipped Harrier off, yet he couldn’t explain how blessed he felt to have been accepted by the Megalodon Team all those years ago.
“Just wondered where she was going. What about y’all?”
“Felt eyes on us earlier and we were going out to look.”
Maverick’s statement had Ross taking another glance at them, they were dressed to go outside. He frowned. “You didn’t say anything.”
“We were out with the wives, didn’t want to worry everyone.” Harrier brushed by him.
Mav followed.
Determined not to be left behind, he went as well.
They went to the back of the lodge.
“Want more company?”
“Yes.” Scott didn’t hesitate. “Get dressed and get Tyson.”
Ross departed and shoved into his clothes before making his way to the room Tyson and Jayde were in for the duration of the stay. He knocked twice and stuck his head in. “Cade.”
“What?” The question came clear and free of sleep.
“Get dressed, we move out in five minutes. Back door.” He left him alone and returned downstairs.
Exactly five minutes later, the four men stepped out onto the porch that circumvented the entire lodge. There was a front set leading to the main doors and a back set of steps.
Maverick cleared his throat.
The snow fell fast, fat heavy flakes.
“It may be nothing but I swore we were being watched while we got the tree. I want to check and see if there are any signs to support it or if it’s in my head.”
Ross knew none of them believed it was strictly in Mav’s head. The sniper was too damn good. However, it wasn’t necessarily a threat.
There were kids around who could have been out there.
Ross scrunched his toes inside his boots. “Direction each?” he posed the question.
“Let’s do it.” Tyson took a final look back to the interior where their wives were. There wasn’t any way to hide the worried expression on his face, not even with the soft holiday lights strung up around the frame.
Without another word, they all separated and melted into darkness. Ross walked slow and with caution, this wasn’t his backyard and he wasn’t decked out in SEAL gear either.
He heard nothing and saw less before he turned back to the lodge. Snow continued to fall, covering his recently made tracks and peppering his face with the cold bite.
They all gathered by the back door. Inside, this time and they removed all wet and sodden layers.
“Nothing,” he said breaking the silence.
A word that was confirmed by the others.
“Where have you lot been?”
Ghost strolled in followed by Hondo, Baby Boy, and Merlin.
“Out checking. What are you doing up?” Tyson fielded the question.
“Wives are up having a good time.” Merlin thumbed over his shoulder. “I was lonely.”
Ross held up his hands. “I ain’t filling that void. You’re on your own there, Merlin.”
“Fuck you.”
He pursed his lips. “Again. No. I have my limits to what I will do for you. Bullet? Yep I’ll take one. Cuddle? Fuck no.”
“I don’t know about y’all,” Scott said. “But I’m hungry.”
They took their own party to the large kitchen and soon had a huge spread of sandwich fixing and chips in front of them.
“We have three more days until the kids arrive. Is everything set for the dinner in two days?”
Scott had asked his friend to put a few special things in the freezer for them to use. They were going to create a very special meal for their wives as a thank you.
It was their way of showing their appreciation to all of them for all the years of unwavering support. Each man had gotten something special for their wives. Those gifts were shut away in the office safe.
Ross smiled. He was looking forward to seeing the look on Dez’s face when she opened her gift.
“Yes.” Hondo slapped the top on his sandwich and took a huge bite. After he swallowed, he continued, “I checked on it earlier. Everything is here, so we just have to convince them to let us cook.”
“And the gifts?” Tyson turned to Harrier.
“Safe in the manager’s office. Jack confirmed to me he got them before he left on his latest mission.” The man crossed his arms.
“Not overconfident, are you?” Baby Boy chimed in. “I mean Landi’s nosy and can pick a lock.” A look to Ross. “So can Dez.”
Scott rested against the counter as he ran a critical gaze over his sandwich before adding more dill pickles. “They have no reason to snoop. It’s not their houses, or one of ours. They may be nosy but they wouldn’t do anything like that. So as long as you act normal—as much as you can—there isn’t any reason to be concerned.” He picked up his massive sandwich, eyed it from every angled then bit in, a low moan of satisfaction leaving him.
Ross completed fixing his own and joined the eating portion. “What did y’all get them?”
“Bit late to be figuring out what to gift, ain’t it?”
He flipped off Merlin with the mustard-covered middle finger on his left hand. Then he wiped it back on the bread.
“Doesn’t matter.” Hondo reached for his beer. “My present will put them all to shame.”
“What’d you get Xaria?”
Hondo stared at Maverick a slow grin turning up his mouth. “Not just Xaria. I’m sending all your women home with a recording of my deep, sexy, Irish brogue.” A brogue that currently ran so thick by the time he finished talking, Ross had a hard time understanding him. Hondo gave a short bow. “You’re welcome, little laddies.”
They all laughed and tossed threats around as they ate their sandwiches and drank beer.
All eight fell silent when the door opened and the women entered the room, carrying their dishes.
“Thought we heard some suspicious noises coming from back here. Christ y’all are having a feast.” Kacy led the way in.
He smiled at his wife, Dez, as she entered before she moved by him to the sink.
“Boys only or are we allowed to join?” Xaria asked as she kissed Hondo on the cheek.
“You ladies are always welcome.”
Ross rolled his eyes and heard the groan from his fellow teammates as Hondo laid out his thick accented timbre for them, then he went to his wife’s side.
“You’ve been up since I left, haven’t you?”
For the briefest of moments, he debated on a fib. “I have.”
“And this is why we like our no-husband time. Do you know how hard it is to sneak away?” She shook her head. “Never mind. I don’t want to know why you’re fully dressed.”
“I’ll entertain you in my boxers, babe, but not them. I don’t want to put the other guys to shame and make them embarrassed.” He rotated his hips and gave a few pumps.
She snorted.
“You wish!” Osten called out. “Although we’re glad you’re not up for entertaining all of us in your boxers.” More laughter. “Trust us. Entirely grateful for that.”
“You were in the pants. More than you wear swimming but again, I don’t want to know.”
Damn she was astute. Together, they washed the mugs the women had been drinking from. After which, they grabbed more stools and joined the gathering around the huge stainless-steel prep station now doubling as a table. All the women had food now as well.
Two hours later and they all went their own way. Instead of heading off to bed as the others had done, he and Dez walked out to the front porch and he trapped her between him and the railing. “Are you having fun?”
“I am. This is a beautiful lodge.” She leaned back into him. “I miss nights like this. I’m amazed we have phone service though. We’re in the middle of nowhere.”
“Do you want to move back to Montana?”
“No. We’re established there. Our friends are there. It’s just nice to be back with the snow falling.”
Ross rested his chin on her shoulder. “Does it remind you of the day we met?”
“No. This is a much gentler snow compared to then. And not as cold. Although I can feel the temperature is dropping. Rapidly.”
“I think I loved you from the first moment I laid eyes on you.”
She laughed softly. “Liar. You didn’t even trust me. Acted as if I were out to poison you.”
He remembered. “I was playing hard to get.”
More laughter that warmed his heart. He tightened his hold on her, hoping they were right and no one was out there. Watching. Waiting.
He would lose it if something were to happen to her. “Let’s go to bed.”