Jamie stepped closer to Kyle, getting into his personal space. Kyle lifted his chin, that smirk still in place, and Jamie kissed it away. He didn’t let things get too far, mindful of the fact the Secret Service were picking him up in less than ten minutes. He couldn’t just drive himself to the White House tonight, not with all the security in place.
Reluctantly Jamie ended the kiss, but didn’t move away. He rested his forehead against Kyle’s, letting his eyes slide shut. “I love you.”
“I know. I love you, too,” Kyle said, the teasing gone from his voice. “I hear they’re serving Wagyu steak tonight. Eat one for me.”
Jamie sighed wistfully. “Wish it were you going with me.”
“Maybe one day.”
Jamie wished it were now. He wanted Kyle on his arm tonight, not the president’s son. The truth of who they were together existed only inside their home and nowhere else. Wishing wouldn’t change that.
“Come on,” Kyle murmured. “Let’s get you out the door.”
They separated, with Kyle picking up Jamie’s white gloves off the dresser and handing them to him. Jamie slipped them on, finding them to be a perfect fit. No cover would be worn tonight, as the event was too formal and being held indoors. No officer’s ceremonial sword would be worn either, though Jamie wished he could carry a gun.
“Katie has the central zone near the National Mall and the White House under telepathic watch. She’s got your gear with her, just in case you need it and can get to it in time,” Kyle said as they headed for the front door.
Jamie nodded. “I know.”
Jamie knew every spot the director had assigned each of his teammates. While he hated having them separated from him, he understood why the order had been issued. They needed to be able to access any part of the city in the event of an attack within a short window of time. Staying on base would’ve made that impossible.
Katie’s and Trevor’s apartments weren’t anywhere close to the National Mall, so the MDF had rented out a hotel room for them inside the central zone. They needed Katie’s telepathy to ensure stable communication, so she wouldn’t be allowed near where the MDF thought the fighting would take place. If Katie became caught up in Ella Blanchett’s nullification field, she would need to reposition herself outside Blanchett’s reach. Trevor was partnered with Katie to watch her six. The second Blanchett was eliminated, they’d regroup with the rest of the team.
Kyle would remain at the condo, his sniper gear close at hand. The penthouse offered roof access, and Kyle’s role as overwatch would start there. He’d reposition on another building by way of a pickup from any of the metahuman fliers on roster with the MDF. Jamie had offered up the location with a straight face to the director that morning, easily keeping up the pretense that Kyledidn’tlive there. Nazari had agreed to the placement, just as he’d agreed to most of Jamie’s other suggestions.
The rest of Alpha Team would split up to patrol the megacity, along with other field teams, special forces operatives, and agents from various federal agencies. Jamie’s job would be to help secure the White House before making any necessary field decisions on where to insert himself into the fighting.
All of the precautions—the boots on the ground, the metahumans in position, the military on standby—could be meaningless in the face of an attack guided by Stanislav’s power.
Jamie hoped they weren’t.
The front door slid open, the private elevator across the small lobby already there. Jamie reached for Kyle’s left hand and raised it to his mouth, kissing the ring there. He’d put it on Kyle after they arrived home from their mission briefing that morning. His father had wanted him to spend the day with his family and leave from their Washington, D.C. home to the State Dinner. Jamie had opted to obey the director instead.
“Make sure Liam watches your six,” Kyle said, rising up on his tiptoes to kiss Jamie softly on the mouth.
“He’s supposed to keep a low profile,” Jamie replied.
“Yeah, good luck with that. He’s SAS. Like hell will he stand on the sidelines while you run off to play hero.”
“Stay in contact with the team.”
As a sniper, Kyle was used to working alone or with a spotter. Jamie normally didn’t mind Kyle taking overwatch alone, but tonight it set his teeth on edge.
“I will. Now go make the media talk about how hot you look in your evening dress uniform rather than your shady business decisions.”
Jamie made a face, leaning down to steal one last, quick kiss. “I fucking hate the media.”
“You know, if you’d just let me shoot Dixon—”
“No,” Jamie said through a laugh as he stepped out the door.
“It doesn’t even have to be a kill shot. I can just wing him. One little graze.”
Jamie shook his head, walking backward toward the open elevator. “No shooting members of the press. That’s an order.”
Kyle leaned out the doorway to the condo, a grin on his face and laughter in his eyes. “Sir, yes, sir.”
The promise in his green eyes was enough to make Jamie’s cock twitch in his dress pants. Someday in the near future, he’d fulfill Kyle’s fantasy for the evening dress uniform. Until then, they had their duties to attend to.
