Sidewinder 01 Shock & Awe (10 page)

“Something like that.”

“What outcome are we hoping for here?” Nick asked as he tapped at the screen.

Kelly gazed at his profile. Nick glanced at him, returning Kelly’s smirk with one of his own.

“I’m hoping I find watching a guy take it in the ass just as hot as I find the memory of you that night in San Diego,” Kelly finally decided. “Or last night. Or the night before. Or just the thought of you doing to me what you did to that girl.”

Nick was still looking at him sideways, but a flush began to appear on his cheeks.

Kelly swallowed hard, growing warmer. “You remember that night?”

“Yeah, I do.”

“You . . . you were, um . . . impressive.”

“I knew you were watching,” Nick murmured.

“Exhibitionist.”

“Voyeur.”

Kelly laughed. He took the iPad from Nick’s hands and pressed play on the video Nick had found. It wasn’t a full video, just a free sample of something, so it started right in the middle of the act. The sound blasted through the quiet cabin. Kelly held the iPad at arm’s length, cocking his head and frowning as he watched one man ram into another mercilessly, both of them contorting into unnatural positions. Nick leaned against the headboard beside him, but he didn’t take his eyes off the video. There was a lot of moaning and slapping and what looked like some very advanced yoga poses, and by the time the five-minute video ended, Kelly wasn’t certain it had done much for him.

He flopped the iPad into his lap and sighed.

“Nothing, huh?” Nick asked, sounding amused. Kelly shook his head. Nick reached for the iPad and clicked it off. “I tend to like the amateur ones myself.”

Kelly glanced at him, his cock showing interest at the mere thought of Nick getting off to amateur porn.

“They’re more real, less acrobatics,” Nick explained, meeting Kelly’s eyes without flinching. Kelly found it harder to breathe when Nick smiled mischievously. “Real people who are really attracted to each other. It’s sexier. Sometimes just the roll of the hips is all it takes for me.”

Kelly swallowed hard. “You realize what you just said got me harder than five minutes of watching two people fuck.”

Nick smiled slowly.

“You are a devious asshole, you know that?”

“I do.”

Kelly barked a laugh. “Is it possible to just be attracted to one guy, instead of all guys?”

“I don’t know, Kels, anything’s possible. You’re not attracted to all women, are you?”

“Not really.”

“There you go.”

“I’m so confused,” Kelly said with a sigh.

They sat side by side in the bed, looking at each other speculatively. Nick finally shrugged and smiled. He shifted and wrapped his arm around Kelly’s shoulders, pulling gently until they were both reclining against the headboard.

“You know what I think?” Nick rumbled in Kelly’s ear.

Kelly closed his eyes and leaned into Nick, smirking.

“I think you’re thinking too hard. And I know why you’re doing it.”

“You do?”

“The same reason I am. You don’t want to hurt me because you’re my friend.”

Kelly closed his eyes. Nick had the damnedest way of making things seem simple sometimes.

“Take your time figuring it out, Kels. I’ll be here.”

Kelly wasn’t sure if it was the Percocet hitting him or Nick’s simple promise that caused the warmth spreading through his chest. “You’d do that? You’d wait for me to figure things out?”

Nick began to grin. “I got no one better to do.”

Kelly laughed despite trying not to. “What about that guy? What was his name? The fireman?”

Nick cleared his throat and loosened his hold on Kelly’s shoulders. “Aidan. Like I said, that’s been pretty casual. And . . . if there’s something here with you?” He looked up and into Kelly’s eyes. “How could I pass that up?”

Kelly caught his breath, staring into Nick’s eyes and trying to decipher the heavy feeling in his chest. Nick drifted his knuckles over Kelly’s cheekbone, and soon enough their lips met.

Something about the combination of gruff no-nonsense and tender attention was hitting buttons Kelly had never known he possessed. He could hear hints of the staff sergeant giving orders in Nick’s words, but they were blunted by caresses full of adoration and mischief. It was a heady mixture, and it was signature Nick O’Flaherty. It was everything Kelly had always loved about Nick. His brusque leadership under fire—“Get your fat Navy ass down before I blow it off!”—and the warmth of his friendship in times of peace, all boiled down in this moment to a word and a gesture.

Kelly grabbed the front of Nick’s shirt. Nick looked down at his hand, smiling when he met Kelly’s eyes again.

“I don’t care why or how,” Kelly grunted. “I like this. I like seeing you like this. I like . . . I like thinking of you like this. I want more.”

Nick opened his mouth to speak, but he seemed to struggle to say anything as his cheeks flushed.

“I’m serious, O.”

“I know you are,” Nick managed to say. He licked his lips and began to grin. Kelly’s heart skipped a beat as he recognized the look in Nick’s eyes. He had just decided to throw caution to the wind and follow Kelly into the fire, just like he’d done many times before. Damn the odds of getting hurt.

Kelly leaned and kissed him, wincing as his wound pulled with the movement. Nick pushed him back so he was against his nest of pillows again, still kissing him, his hands beginning to roam down Kelly’s body.

But soon Nick grunted in annoyance and shoved away from him. “I just really can’t do this properly until you’re better.”

Kelly grabbed for him and caught him by the collar. “Are you serious? How about improperly, then, because now I need it.”

Nick fumbled behind him and grabbed the iPad, plopping it in Kelly’s lap. “Watch more gay porn,” he said as he tried to disengage his collar. “It’ll calm you down.”

Kelly released him and slapped him on the side of the head, but Nick took the punishment and then rolled away, out of Kelly’s reach.

“Seriously?” Kelly cried.

“I don’t want to get carried away and hurt you again, okay?” Nick said as he straightened his T-shirt. He looked and sounded sincere. “Because I will. Last night was bad enough. I mean Jesus, you look like you got strangled, and I fucking bled, man.”

Kelly reached to the bedside table and grabbed a handful of bacon, chucking it at Nick with a laugh and a curse.

“Hey! I have to clean that up!”

“So get cleaning,” Kelly said as he grabbed a handful of cold, soggy eggs.

“Don’t,” Nick warned with a point.

Kelly quirked an eyebrow.

“Don’t you do it.”

“Come give me a cuddle with a happy ending.”

Nick was still pointing at him. “I will not be leveraged.”

“Cuddle,” Kelly said, waving his hand.

“I don’t negotiate with terrorists!”

“Come on, Nicko, come give me a manly cuddle.”

“Put down the eggs.”

“Promise I’ll get a cuddle?” Kelly asked.

Nick rolled his eyes. “Yes, just put down the eggs.”

Kelly grinned triumphantly and plopped the eggs back onto the plate.

“Now you’re disgusting, there’s no way I’m touching you.”

“I needed a shower today anyway,” Kelly said with a shrug. Nick rounded the end of the bed, watching him warily. Kelly gave him a sly smile. “Will you help me?”

Nick pulled the covers back and bent over him, pressing a kiss to his lips before growling, “I end up with egg on me and you’re on your own.”

“Deal,” Kelly managed. Nick hefted him out of bed, still kissing him, wrapping around him, growing more heated and pulling him closer. Before Kelly realized what he was doing, his hands were in Nick’s hair, grabbing on so he could kiss him harder.

He felt Nick growl, the sound thrilling him down to his toes. He began to smile, laughing and desperately trying not to. “I’m sorry,” he tried sincerely. He began to laugh harder, pulling his sticky hand away from Nick’s hair. “I’m sorry I did it. And I’m even more sorry I’m laughing. I can’t stop though.”

Nick was silent for a moment, fuming. Then he shook his head and pulled Kelly back to him. “Fuck it,” he snarled, delving into another kiss. He pulled Kelly toward the bathroom.

Kelly had to stand on his toes to wrap his arms around Nick’s neck to kiss him. He didn’t mind, though. It was kind of hot, actually, the height difference. Everything about Nick was hotter than the surface of the sun, and Kelly had to wonder why in the fuck he’d never noticed before. He pulled at the back of Nick’s T-shirt, getting egg all over it. Nick stopped and yanked it over his head, pressing their bare chests together.

Kelly dragged his fingers across the oversized tattoo on Nick’s shoulder, making him shiver.

“Gross,” Nick groaned, then pulled Kelly through the bathroom door and into the shower stall. He pushed Kelly against the cold tiles, holding him there as he turned the shower nozzle away from them.

“You’re still wearing your jeans,” Kelly told him, smirking.

Nick’s eyes were blazing when he met Kelly’s, and it was quite obvious that he didn’t care what got wet as long they were both naked and writhing when the water turned on. Nick grinned, and they both began to laugh. He quickly got out of his jeans and boxers, tossing them aside without breaking eye contact. There was something so intense just under the surface, Kelly was mesmerized. He’d seen it before, but only in battle. And last night. And the night before.

He shivered and raked his eyes up and down Nick’s naked body. Even a decade after their last deployment, Nick hadn’t changed much. He was still in peak physical condition, but his muscles were bulkier now. He’d injured his knee near the end, and he’d chosen to give up running, putting that energy into free weights instead.

Nick moved closer, pushing the tip of his nose along Kelly’s cheek as he pressed their chest together gently. Over the sound of his blood rushing through his ears and Nick’s harsh breath against his lip, Kelly heard the bell downstairs that signaled a car pulling up the gravel drive.

“What the fuck is that?” Nick ground out.

“Someone’s here.”

“You’ve got to be shitting me.” Nick turned the water on quickly, ducking under it despite the fact that it was freezing cold, and washed the egg out of his hair. Then he stepped out of the shower, gathering his jeans up and stalking out of the bathroom.

Kelly was left alone as the water slowly warmed, mildly turned on and amused. He held his hand out to wash it clean, then stepped under the spray to at least wash the top layer of dirt off. He took his time getting dressed, because he didn’t really have any other choice. And he took even more time getting down the stairs because tumbling down them didn’t sound fun.

When he pushed through the front door, Nick was standing on the deck, shielding his eyes as he peered down the driveway. He’d thrown a flannel shirt on but hadn’t buttoned it, and a gun was stuffed in the small of his back.

Nick’s cell phone began to chime from the kitchen. The song was one Kelly recognized for Ty, but he didn’t move to answer it. Someone coming down his driveway was unusual enough to warrant his undivided attention.

The car finally broke the ridge and came into sight, trailing dust and gravel. It was a government issue SUV.

“Son of a bitch,” Nick hissed.

“Maybe it’s a follow-up interview or something.”

Nick squared his shoulders, rolling them and sort of unfurling. Kelly grinned. He’d always loved watching Nick prepare for battle. It was like watching a dog bristle. Kelly moved out onto the deck, standing shoulder to shoulder with him, waiting.

The car came to a stop where the driveway ended, next to Kelly’s truck. The passenger door popped open, but it wasn’t a man in a suit like Kelly expected. It was a Marine.

He peered up at Nick as the driver, another Marine, rounded the front of the car.

“Staff Sergeant Nicholas O’Flaherty?” the man questioned.

Nick stiffened as Kelly’s blood ran cold.

“That’s right.”

The Marine came closer, standing at the bottom of the stairs. “It’s an honor to meet you, Staff Sergeant.” He waited a beat for Nick to respond, but when Nick didn’t, he stepped closer, handing Nick a blue packet of papers. “Staff Sergeant, I’m here to inform you you’ve been recalled to active duty.”

“What the hell?” Kelly blurted.

Nick was silent, reading the orders. He finally nodded, his jaw tight. “Thank you, Sergeant.”

Kelly stared for a moment before taking a step forward. He had to grip the railing as he shook all over. “What about mine?”

The Marine hesitated, glancing at his companion.

Nick put a hand on Kelly’s shoulder, squeezing. “Kels,” he whispered.

“I’m sorry, sir,” the Marine said. “We have no other orders to deliver.”

“No, no, if the team is being called back, I’m going with them,” Kelly shouted. “Kelly Abbott, check your goddamned orders again!”

Nick moved to stand in front of him, putting a hand on his hip as Kelly tried to go down the steps after the two Marines. “Kelly, stop. Stop!”

Kelly shoved at him, trying to break free, still shouting at the Marines. “You can’t take my team without me! You can’t send them back without me!”

Nick wrapped him up, glancing over his shoulder. “Go!” he shouted at the two men.

They hurried to obey, retreating to their SUV.

“Kelly, stop,” Nick pleaded, his voice breaking as he held Kelly tighter. “Please, stop. Doc.”

Kelly collapsed against him as the car pulled away. He lowered his head, resting it against Nick’s shoulder as he let out an anguished shout. Nick was truly holding him up now. Kelly didn’t care if he was standing or not. His team. His boys. He was supposed to be there with them.

“I’m sorry,” Nick whispered. “I’m sorry, Doc.”

Kelly lifted his head and shoved away from him, but Nick wouldn’t let him go. He pulled him into a hug, placing Kelly’s head under his chin and holding him tight.

“I know what you just did,” Kelly whispered. He relaxed into Nick’s protective embrace. Nicked hummed questioningly. “You weren’t holding me back. You were holding me up.”

Nick’s arms tightened around him.

“So I wouldn’t look weak in front of a Marine.”