A Soldier’s Passion Read online

  We would retire relatively early. I wanted to have Vincent to myself for a little while each day while we were still awake. During those hours, we talked about the near future and the long term, or we didn’t talk at all. No one would believe it of a pair of trained human weapons, but we would sometimes just gaze at each other sometimes tracing each other’s facial features. Sometimes, I would just hold him and listen to him.

  “I’ve been alone for so long,” he whispered one night. “I thought I would always be alone.”

  “I understand...it’s always been hard to let anyone close,” I said. “What we are is difficult for anyone else to grasp. Even Remak recoiled at some of what I’ve told her these past days. She doesn’t know half of the darkness we live with.”

  “Yeah,” he sighed. “But I think telling them helps them to understand us a little.”

  “Some of what we are, anyway,” I agreed considering his face in the moonlight. “The rest is like magic. Beyond description.”

  “Yeah,” he replied. This time he had a sweet smile on his face.

  Each day I grew stronger, but I concealed that from Vincent. My lover was in need of correction for all of his teasing. I looked forward to slowly taking and learning that young, strong body. I was not alone in those thoughts. Vincent grew increasingly restless in my arms in the last days our guests were with us, yet he would not let me bring him release. Instead, he asked me to massage his scalp. This was not a surprise. We had not showered together in a few days. He missed that attention. The massage made him sleep.

  The last night we had guests brought a great deal of restlessness from my lover. I knew the cause and was prepared. It was Bobby who had inadvertently upset him. I had heard it all when I was supposed to be napping. In my defense, I had been asleep. But I felt an emotional tremor from my lover that woke me. Vincent had been sitting on the sofa with me wound around him talking to his brother. I tightened my hold around his waist as he and Bobby kept talking.

  “I can’t say I completely understand, but you are really happy,” Bobby admitted. “I’ve never seen you so calm. But Jenn is still really mad. She hung up on me today.”

  “I never told her...” Vincent began.

  “I know...and that wasn’t fair. But everyone thought...”

  “Yeah...I know,” Vincent replied bleakly. “We’ve been friends forever...”

  “I think she’ll be okay,” Bobby said. “But it will take time.”

  “I guess...”

  “It’s true. If she stayed to see how you are together, she wouldn’t want to stand in your way,” Bobby assured him.

  “Maybe...just let her know that she’s still welcome,” Vincent said glumly.

  “I will, I promise. Try not to worry. You can’t take on all these burdens,” Bobby advised.

  “I’ll try,” Vincent chuckled.

  He had seemed fine the rest of the evening, but I found him to be needy in my arms. I didn’t mind. Soothing his body and spirit was a joy for me. I loved carding my fingers through that thick silk and massaging his scalp. Soon, Vincent was sighing contentedly, and then I felt him relax into sleep.

  5

  The morning was hectic with soldiers moving out cots and suitcases. Our guards were scaled back to one car patrolling the area. I felt stronger than I had on the day of the Market incident, and I wanted our privacy back. While Vincent and Bobby said their farewells, Remak was giving her last instructions.

  “There is more than enough food for the weekend and into the week,” she said. “A patrol will be on the perimeter.”

  “I promise that we will close the shutters at night and keep our beacons on our persons,” I said. “I’ll see you on Monday when we come in to see the Doc.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Thank you, Ouida,” I said gently. “For all of your help and for your friendship.”

  My fierce lieutenant blushed before giving me a smile. “It is an honor and a pleasure to really get to you and Vincent. I’ll see you on Monday.”

  I watched Remak collect Bobby then bundle him in to the sedan. Vincent waved as they drove away. He lifted his face to the sunlight for a moment before turning back to the house. My heart lurched at the expression of happiness and anticipation on those beautiful features. I waited until he closed and locked the door before I moved, pinning him against the door as he turned to face me.

  I gave him no quarter, taking him by the hair and tilting his face up. Vincent moaned as I took his lips in a wholly possessive kiss and pressed my body against his. He melted against me. His knees weakened and only the press of our bodies held him up at that moment.

  “Rik...please...please...” He gasped against my lips.

  I pulled him into the bedroom then pushed him on the bed. Vincent moved to yank off his shirt, but I stopped him.

  “Slowly,” I murmured. “Or I could tie you down.”

  Vincent moaned loudly at that even while he was shaking his head.

  “No...I need to touch you,” he replied in a husky whisper before claiming a brief kiss.

  “Take me...fuck me...anyway you want.”

  “Take off your shirt only,” I said with a smile. It was a command but in a very gentle tone.

  Vincent didn’t bristle. He calmly took the hem of his shirt and slowly pulled it off.

  “Free you hair,” I added softly.

  Vincent smoothly pulled the hair band from his ponytail then shook loose his hair.

  “No one will interrupt us. We have as long as it will take,” I murmured leaning toward him. “Now, let me Vincent...let me...”

  I took his mouth in a deep, demanding kiss as one hand gently but firmly grabbed him by the hair. He didn’t resist when I pushed him back onto the mattress. It was hard to move far from that sweet, hot mouth. Vincent’s kiss was addictive, but he was yielding to my touch. I had to take advantage.

  Vincent was responsive everywhere. The curve of his shoulders and the skin over his collarbones was delicious and licking or sucking there made him moan. The tone was pleading. Tonguing or nipping at his nipples made him writhe and arch on the mattress. All the while, his elegant hands caressed my skin wherever he could reach. I got what I had long wanted that night. I mapped every inch of his smooth, warm skin with my fingers and my tongue. He had some surprising areas that sparked arousal. Inside his wrists, his knee and the arch of his foot made him sob when I licked them. Vincent was compliant throughout yet he still managed to drive my crazy. By the time I pushed into his tight heat, I was as ready to explode as he was.

  Vincent’s eyes never left mine as I moved in him. They were hooded and nearly black from arousal. It was maddening for us both, but I took him as slowly as I could manage. We went to the brink over and over before I finally swooped down for a last kiss just as we came. He clung to me afterward, unwilling to let me move even to clean us up. I held him close while he caressed my back. Again, I massaged his scalp.

  “So intense...” he murmured nuzzling me. “I felt so...”

  “Exposed....I felt the same. It’s alright, love...”

  “Say that again.”

  “It’s alright, love,” I repeated softly, kissing him. “I love you.”

  “I’ve never felt this way about anyone,” he whispered. “You could destroy me...”

  “Never. I will protect you and see that you are happy for all of our days,” I said gazing into his golden eyes.

  “I want that from you,” he admitted. “I want to protect you and make you happy. Doesn’t this scare you.”?

  “Why?”

  “It was so fast...just hours...”

  “No, it wasn’t, Vincent,” I said softly. “We were always turning toward each other.”

  That day set the routine for the next two days. The hours were filled with making love, good food and long naps. We meditated and stretched. We massaged each other after long, hot showers. With every touch, more of our barriers fell. My trust in Vincent deepened. Of course, I paid for the sensual torture of
my lover. I knew he was watching me as I slept that next morning. His gaze had a weight to it. I felt it all over my body before I opened my eyes.

  His gaze was intent when I finally met it. Vincent was calculating his battle plan. I moaned before he touched me. No one ever out matched Hardcase in a pitched fight. There was no way I could resist him in this. I didn’t want to try. A beautiful smile curved his lips as he pushed the hair from my face.

  “Slowly,” he murmured. His voice was like honey.

  “Oh, god...”

  The beautiful smile grew wicked as his mouth claimed mine. Vincent’s tongue was sinful. He had learned so much in the brief time with me. It was hard to believe I was his first lover. His kiss was languid and sensual. He’d become expert in taking my mouth. I was helpless beneath him by the time he raise his head from mine. But that tongue was far from finished with me.

  Vincent’s tongue found everywhere on my body that had a direct circuit to my groin. My ears were very sensitive as were the soles of my feet and the small of my back. But it was his torment of my nipples that almost made me come. I was a trembling, pleading mass of nerves when Vincent finally pushed into me. I was on my side pressed back against my lover, my head tilted back against his shoulder.

  “Vincent...dear god...” I gasped. “Please, love...”

  He shifted that lithe, lethal body and electrified my nerve endings, blinding me with pleasure. In the aftermath, Vincent wrapped his whole body around me, soothing the trembling in us both.

  “I love that you let me see you this way,” he whispered in my ear.

  “My pleasure,” I sighed. “Truly.”

  Vincent was silent for a moment. Then, he gently turned my face toward him.

  “You won’t allow anyone else to see you this way,” he said softly. His eyes were intense.

  “Never, love,” I replied sincerely.

  He smiled then somewhat sheepishly. “I don’t want anyone looking at you at all. Crazy, huh?”

  I kissed his lips briefly. “I think I have more cause to be concerned about eyes on you, beautiful Vincent.”

  He snorted, nuzzling my throat. “We’ll see. I heard about you and those nurses.”

  “Heard what? All I did was lay there,” I muttered, turning his body so that he was flat on his back. “All I could think about was you.”

  “I thought a lot about you then, too,” he admitted softly.

  “I think all we ever really notice is each other,” I said as I caressed his skin. “And that may be a bigger problem.”

  Vincent said. “They won’t approve because you’re my squad leader.”

  “You’re being a man doesn’t help either, no matter what the laws are,” I chuckled.

  He looked a little concerned then. “I’m not used to hiding my feelings. And we’ll be at Central a lot this week.”

  I smiled at him, and then kissed him when he looked confused.

  “I count on that. Someone will piss you off early and often. You’ll be your usual scowling but beautiful self the whole time we’re there.”

  “And you’ll be the same smug, smiling bastard,” he retorted playfully.

  “Why wouldn’t I be? I have everything I want,” I purred. “And I know how to keep it.”

  ***

  Altereds were understandably wary of doctors and hospitals. They were responsible for a life altering change in our bodies. They were there throughout our conversions. Trauma, pain and isolation were associated with the military medical division.

  Dr. Auerbach was different from the physicians who had altered us. The tall, lanky man seemed to have always been gray haired with deeply lined skin, so I wasn’t sure how old he was. But his eyes were always kind, and he seemed to see a lot more than even his instruments told him. Auerbach was the one putting us back together after a mission or a battle. He never pushed us back to full duty until we were absolutely ready. I suspected that was why Vincent was relatively relaxed during the exams. He was wary as I was, but not rigidly tense as I’ve seen him in a hospital. It also helped that the Doctor was highly intuitive. He saw us together. Thus, my lover was uncharacteristically patient as he was weighed and measured and scanned.

  “In general, you are healthier than I’ve known you to be,” he commented thoughtfully. “You’ve put on good weight. You aren’t drawn so tightly.”

  “He’s a good cook,” I commented, smiling at Vincent’s blush.

  “His power levels are at 80 percent,” he continued. “Have you been sparring?”

  “Just a little with my brother,” Vincent replied. “I’ve been meditating and stretching though.”

  “You can begin full workouts, but at a very easy pace. You can assume full duties in another four to six weeks?” He asked while looking at me.

  “Six weeks sounds good,” I replied.

  Auerbach filled out a slip then handed it to Vincent. He smiled at the man

  I was up next. The Doctor considered his readings carefully.

  “You are better rested than I’ve seen you this soon after being depleted,” he commented. “You’ve put on a little long needed weight as well. Very good...full workouts would benefit you as well. You are at about 75 percent of your strength.”

  “Fine. And when do I return?”

  “You shouldn’t rush. Six weeks should be sufficient,” he said. His voice was neutral, but his eyes were devilish. “I look forward to meeting with you tomorrow.”

  “I as well,” I replied accepting the slip. “Good day, sir.”

  Vincent relaxed visibly when we walked out of the hospital, but he didn’t speak until we were well away from the building.

  “He’s one of the VIPs? Vincent asked.

  “Yes,” I replied. “Dr. Auerbach is very concerned about the long term affects of being an Altered. He wants to do a study on the physical and psychological affects of our induction and training.”

  “He’s always been nice, and I could tell he wanted to protect us,” he commented thoughtfully. “Where to now?”

  “The library,” I replied. “The Military Library. And mind, I’ll probably do some flirting.”

  “When aren’t you flirting,” Vincent muttered. “I saw those nurses. You never turn it off, do you?”

  “Vincent,” I said quietly and with as much intensity as I could put in a soft tone. We weren’t close enough to touch, but I could feel the tension vibrating between us. “I cannot help what they say or how they look at me. I sure can’t figure out why. I only actively flirt as a means to an end.”

  Vincent blushed. He shoved his hands in his pockets as he stalked down the street. I was grateful that urban surveillance still didn’t include audio. I walked as close to him as I dared, scowling to match his frown.

  “I’ve gone hours without your kiss,” I muttered heatedly. “I am fighting with all I have not to slam you against a wall had have you in public.”

  My lover inhaled sharply. His eyes remained cast down, and he spoke softly. “I thought it was just me. I can’t even look at you right now. I want you so badly.”

  I smirked to keep from grinning like an idiot. “Don’t hurt me when we get home. I’ve just been cleared by the Doc for light workouts.”

  Vincent smirked as well and relaxed markedly. To anyone reviewing the videotapes, it would look like any one of the hundreds of public fights we’ve had over the years. We made our way to the large, majestic building that housed the Military Library. We were scanned several times and several ways before we reached the front desk. I wondered what sort of call I’d receive from Remak when we left.

  Miss Kraus, the head librarian was on duty that morning. The woman was actually smiling as we approached – an uncharacteristic expression on her sharp features.

  “As I live and breathe,” she said quietly. “I thought the news reports were untrue – Vincent Greven, you are a wonder.”

  “Hi, Miss Krause,” he said softly. “It’s good to see you, too.”

  “What can I do for you boys?�
��

  I passed her a slip of paper. She considered it with a raised brow. “Never one for light reading, were you?”

  “You know me,” I smiled.