“Hold up, Soldier Boy. Double set of wings? You’ve lost me. Doesn’t everything have two wings?” Coop asked.
Rick never thought being calledsoldier boywould make him blush but it did. He liked the idea of Coop having a nickname for him. He had Coop saved in his contacts asHot Wheels. He reached for his soda and took a gulp. “So you might have noticed what looked like a plane over my ribbons when I was in uniform?” Rick waited until Coop nodded. “So those are jump wings, which means that I’ve completed five successful jumps from a C-one-thirty.” Coop muttered something but when he didn’t speak up, Rick continued, “I’d love to be stationed with the 82nd Airborne, which is Fort Liberty, but going to Fort Campbell would mean that I could earn my air assault wings. I’d have two sets of wings on my chest. Make sense?”
“Kinda, but air assault? And where is this Fort Liberty? I think Fort Campbell is in Kentucky?” Coop seemed to try to understand Rick’s plans.
Right as Rick started to answer, Jamie returned with their food. He placed a plate in front of each of them and a basket of bread in the middle of the table. “Do you want to check your steak, sir?”
Rick wasn’t too picky an eater, and if his steak wasn’t exactly medium, it wouldn’t kill him. “Nah, it’ll be fine.”
“Can I get you anything else?” When neither of them said anything, he backed away with a quick “Wave me down if you need anything before I stop back around.”
Rick fixed his salad with dressing, cut up the steak, and then took a bite. The flavor of the steak, mixed with the avocado ranch, hit his stomach like a cannonball. “Wow, I didn’t realize I was this hungry. Anyway, air assault is rappelling from a Black Hawk or Chinook. Just another form of airborne. Fort Liberty used to be called Bragg, but with the renaming of bases away from historical figures who served in the Confederate Army, Fort Liberty was born. So it’s in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Technically, Campbell straddles Kentucky and Tennessee. The post office is in Kentucky so…”
And with just that verbal download, Rick saw Coop’s body relax. Maybe he wouldn’t be driving back to Benning tonight after all.
Rick was feeling loose as he walked beside Coop out of the restaurant. When they got to Rick’s car, he put his back against the side and reached for Coop, pulling him into Rick’s space. He wrapped his arms around Coop and made sure that they were touching from chest to knees.
“Now, I think this is where we left off earlier,” he murmured before he captured Coop’s mouth, not waiting for permission totangle his tongue around Coop’s. Coop rested his weight against him, both of them starting a slow bump and grind. Coop moved his hands up and down Rick’s sides. He wasn’t sure if Coop was reassuring himself or Rick, but it gave him a sense of peace while the heat increased.
Coop pulled out of the kiss and dropped his head to Rick’s shoulder. “Any chance you don’t need to be back tonight?”
The words were music to Rick’s ears. They might not have settled every challenge that was in front of them over dinner but they were still on the same page. Well, at least Rick thought they were if Coop was asking about the night.
“I’ve got until zero six on Monday. Threw a bag in the car before leaving base. When do you need to be back in Dublin?” Rick prayed the answer was at least Sunday afternoon.
“Sunday night. We don’t practice on Sundays. It’s the Lord’s day, don’t you know?” Coop teased. “So, I saw a decent-looking Comfort Inn and Holiday Inn as I drove in. Up for it?”
Rick pushed his hard cock against Coop’s. “Oh, I think we’re both up for it. I’ll follow you?”
Coop snagged Rick by the neck and pulled his mouth to Coop’s. A hard buss from Coop’s lips and the man was pushing Rick away. “I’m over there in Vick’s truck. He’s visiting his family for the weekend so he left me his wheels.” Rick watched Coop strut toward the Ford before the man yelled over his shoulder, “Get your ass in gear. The view will be better later.”
It didn’t take them long to drive to the hotel. He’d let Coop pick. Rick didn’t care as long as there were no bugs, a bed for them to share, and a shower. If said shower was big enough for the two of them? Rick wasn’t going to argue with anyone. He parked next to the big truck and grabbed his bag from the back seat. Neither of them reached for the other’s hands. They werein the South. He wasn’t sure if the town was gay friendly and they’d already put on a show or two in the restaurant’s parking lot. Thank all that was holy that it wasn’t a brightly lit space.
Rick pulled out his credit card and asked for a room. Coop straightened next to him but he didn’t look over. If they kept seeing each other, they’d share many hotel rooms. Coop could get it the next time. Please, Lord, let there be a next time. The associate behind the desk didn’t waste any time, sliding two cards into the envelope. She might have winked at Rick as she gave it to him.
“Room two-oh-four, take a left off the elevator. We’re pretty full tonight with a wedding party but hopefully they’ll keep the noise down. If you need anything or have a problem with your room, press zero on the phone, and it’ll ring here. Have a good night, gentlemen,” she said before answering the ringing phone. “Comfort Inn, this is Sally. How can I help you?”
Coop followed Rick to the elevator, neither of them speaking. When the doors closed, Coop turned and leaned against the wall. “I could’ve paid for the hotel.” Yup, Rick had read Coop’s body language correctly at the desk.
“I’ve got it this time. Lieutenants aren’t paid too shabby, and right now, I’m spending barely anything. Once I’m settled, wherever they send me, I’ll probably be broke and you can pick up the tab.” Rick threw out his last statement, hoping Coop would agree. He watched as different emotions crossed Coop’s face. The elevator doors opened before Coop could say anything.
The room was dimly lit, with shadows cast by the small opening in the curtains. The woman’s wink made sense now. There was a huge king-sized bed in the middle of the room. A small seating area was at the far end. Rick tossed his bag down next to the desk and looked at Coop. He stood there, looking everywhere except at Rick. He saw Coop come to somedecision. He dropped his bag next to Rick’s and headed into the bathroom.
“It’s been a long day. Ups and downs for both of us. How about we take advantage of this shower together?” Coop asked, pulling his t-shirt over his head. “Later, we can talk out the options in front of you. I’m in training until I head back on the circuit, mid-November. I’m sure my sponsors will have events for me to appear at but I’m sure that visits can be arranged.”
Rick wasn’t an idiot and stripped as he walked into the bathroom. Coop had the shower started, and steam was quickly filling the room. Rick watched Coop bend at the waist to reach for his sneakers, putting his ass in the perfect position for Rick to rub up against. Coop didn’t let Rick get more than a grind or two before he straightened to kick off his shoes and jeans.
“That’ll feel better when you’re naked and wet,” Coop pointed out as he stepped into the shower. It was about the length of a standard tub but all tiled with no lip. Oh, this was going to be fun.
Rick toed his shoes off and lost his jeans to the corner as he kicked them off. He’d worry about them later. He stepped right into Coop as he slid the curtain closed. The water was beating on his shoulders as he kissed Coop. Damn, he loved his man’s mouth. Remembering his thoughts from earlier when he was trying to not kill Penston, Rick pulled out of the kiss and licked his way down Coop’s throat. He stopped long enough to nip at his Adam’s apple, then attacked his nipples. He flicked his tongue against Coop’s right nipple while he pinched the other. He kept batting the tight nub, loving the moans coming from Coop. With one last lick, Rick moved to the other and gave it the same treatment. He felt pre-cum dripping from the head of Coop’s cock and needed to taste. Probably more than he needed his next breath.
The tile wasn’t the softest as Rick dropped to his knees. He gave no quarter as he practically inhaled Coop’s dick, taking it right back into his throat.
“Holy fuck!” Coop exclaimed just shy of a shout.
Rick pulled back long enough to say, “You might not want to yell as loud next time. Don’t want the front desk calling up for a noise complaint.” Rick winked up at Coop before diving back onto the man’s cock. He heard a muffled cry from above but didn’t stop what he was doing. He was going to suck the man’s brains through his dick. He reached up and ran a finger behind Coop’s balls, massaging his taint.
“Oh fuck me,” Coop whispered. “I don’t think I’m going to last long.” Rick wasn’t stopping to answer or complain. He kept moving up and down Coop’s cock; running his tongue around the head when he pulled almost off. He growled as he took his dick all the way back in and that was all it took to throw Coop over the edge.
