“Different.”
A scowl that I was sure he thought looked threatening darkened his face. “Are you saying I’m not a great conversationalist?“
The small huff turned to a full-blown laughing fit. “If the shoe fits, Daddio,” I said through tears, my belly clenching with hilarity.
His mouth dropped open, but twin alarms sounded from the other room. His head twisted on my thigh, looking over his shoulder at the door as my own gaze did the same. I had a good idea what it was, but having never received that sort of call before, I wasn’t positive until Daniel sighed deeply and shovedto his feet. He walked from the room, naked, that glorious ass of his on full display, teasing me with every step.
I sighed, rolled out of bed, and followed after him.
“We have an hour to get the base.”
“Are we being deployed or…“
“Not sure. I’ll call in while you grab a shower. Unless you need to go back to your place? “
I smirked, “Yeah, but it won’t take me long.”
“What do you mean?”
“We’re neighbors.”
“Wait, did you get lost like you were sitting outside my door…”
“No, dumbass.” I chuckled at the dumbfounded look on his face. “I did not get lost. My apartment is another two floors up.”
“Hmm.”
“What’re you hmming about?” I asked.
“Only that having a hot guy living in the building, who I know is gay and fucks like a champ, could come in handy is all I’m thinking.”
He had a point. Not that I was gonna tell him that. Before I could come up with a witty response, my phone rang with a number I didn’t recognize. Daniel peered at the screen.
“You should get that. It’s Parker.”
“Madison,” I said, putting it to my ear as I searched for my clothes.
“It’s Parker Holt. Did you get paged?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good. I’ll see you on base. Be sure to call in. Otherwise, they’ll keep paging you. And don’t forget you have an hour.”
“Yes, sir,” I responded, then asked, “Are we deploying?”
“Maybe. Maybe not. I dunno any more than you. I just wanted to make sure you got called, too. Sometimes new guys get left off the list. Will you make the deadline?”
“Thanks for checking in. And yeah, I live at the Horizons on West Harbor.”
“Cool. Daniel lives there too.”
My eyes locked on Daniel’s face as I listened to the ticking of a turn signal through the phone that sounded more dramatic than it was. Like a ticking bomb waiting to go off. Were they…
“Madison? You still there?”
I ignored his question. “Daniel…” I asked in return, trailing off.
Daniel’s eyes locked on mine, and just like that, he dropped the act—naked in his living room, he’d been listening to me all along.
