I ignored him. I knew how I looked, but did he need to point out the obvious?
“Seriously? You have no couth, man.”
“Yeah, I can’t be that. I don’t know what it is.”
I sighed, not in the mood to listen to them bicker. I said, “It means manners. Buy a dictionary, why don’t you?”
“Yeah. I think not. If the Corps wants me to have one of those, they’ll issue me one.”
I did some stretching and took off, leaving Priest and Cam behind like always. They’d stand around, shooting the shit with the others as they arrived. I liked to get my heart rate up before the rest of the unit got here.
I stopped next to Cam and Priest when I finished the mile I typically did before PT every morning. They looked at each other and me.
“What?” I asked, stopping my watch without looking at it.
“You got lead in your feet? That must have been at least a minute or two off your normal pace.”
I looked at my watch and grimaced but didn’t confirm or deny cause… fuck them.
After PT, I got changed for the day. I grabbed a protein shake, drinking it while packing the last of my gear. I looked around the apartment, wishing Declan was home for our daily morning routine. He was barely awake when I left for PT usually, but when I came home afterward, we’d fuck and share a shower before making breakfast together. Typically something fast that we’d meal prepped together earlier in the week or the night before because after a fuck and a shared shower that included us both getting off a second time, I’d have to rush to make it to work on time.
I’d miss our routines.
I’d miss kissing him goodbye before PT and our usual morning fun.
I’d miss meeting him for lunch, and well, we’re still newlyweds. That usually involved a blow job, either given or received. Sometimes both. I’d miss those, too.
I’d miss his cooking and working out with him in the evenings.
I’d miss movie nights cuddled on the couch or playing video games with him.
I’d miss the submissive who brought out the Daddy Dom protector like no one else ever had.
I’d miss the dominant man who’d wrestle me to the ground, yank my pants below my ass cheeks, and shove his dick up my ass until I begged to come.
My watch beeped, and I sighed. “Time to go.”
Grabbing my shit, I hustled downstairs and dropped everything next to the door. I took one last glance around the apartment, at the home I didn’t think I’d ever have, with a man I didn’t deserve. I didn’t know if I’d be back here before I left, or at all, if I considered the grim outcomes my job could have. Moving into the kitchen, I ran my fingers across the surface of the kitchen table—the first and only piece of furniture we’d purchased together. It was a bit big, but pushed against the wall as it was, it gave us plenty of room. Staring at the spot I’d come to think of as his, worry for us crashed in on me.
Declan could take care of himself. I had to remember that. I bounced my knuckles on the tabletop, knocking on it for luck as I turned and left, locking the door behind me before heading to work. The brass had us doing a last run of training jumps before we deployed. I fucking loved jump days. There was something so exhilarating about it.
We loaded onto the plane, and I dropped into a seat next to Priest and Cameron.
“Marin?”
I turned, looking at one of the junior officers assigned to the unit as I strapped myself in. “Yes, sir,” I said, glancing at his chest. Second Lieutenant Rocco. Hmm. Must be new. I’d never heard of him.
“I’ve been meaning to ask… how do you know Colonel Holt?” Lieutenant Rocco asked.
The question took me by surprise. I stared at him, not sure how to answer. Priest nudged me in the ribs. I licked my lips, glancing at him, then back to the officer whom I’d never interacted with before.
I knew Walker was a retired colonel, but I didn’t understand where the question came from. How did he even know I knew Walker?
“I’m sorry, sir. I’m not sure I understand?”
“It’s not a particularly difficult question, Sergeant. How do you know Colonel Walker Holt, retired Marine Raider? I saw some photos taken from the tarmac before the last float, and he stood with the four of you as you said your goodbyes to some guy.”
Then, some guy’s comment made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. His nose had curled a smidgen, and I wanted to fucking punch the man. Fucking homophobe.
