Welcome To The Wolfpack
Page 29
Dean was surprised to find Tallgrass and Chavez sitting together in a corner of the dinning hall, their heads close, their conversation just for the two of them. The station workers were giving the couple plenty of space, and it was obvious that a spark had formed between the two veteran specialists.
Sergeants Grady “Ghost” Bradus and Emily Parker were nowhere to be found, but Dean had an idea that the two of them had found a secluded place to be together on the space base. Their romance was obviously further along than Dean had realized, but he didn’t mind. Some people thought that intimate relationships between platoon members would make them weak, but in Dean’s experience the bonds of brotherhood and friendship among platoon mates was just as strong as romantic bonds. Ghost had taken D’Vris’ death as hard as any lover would, simply because they were such good friends. So, Dean let his Sniper and Fast Attack Specialist enjoy their time together.
Lieutenant Owens and Sergeant Burnett were heroes to the small group of Operators on the space station. Dean found them, telling their stories to their peers, who were lauding them for keeping up with the infamous Recon Specialists and in many ways saving them all. Dean was proud of his new friends, they deserved every bit of praise that was being heaped on them. The success of the mission was the result of everyone’s effort, but Owens and Burnett had played key roles.
Esma was with them, listening to the stories, and waiting patiently for Dean. When he joined the group he was given a beer, which he took without complaint, sipping the frothy, bitter ale and reminding the Operators to tell the story of how they had saved Dean’s platoon on Rome Three.
And finally he was able to find secluded spot for a private conversation with Esma in the space station library of all places. It was quiet, with network access nodes and reading devices arranged neatly around the small room, and comfortable chairs nestled in quiet nooks that were perfect for a relaxing read.
Esma was as beautiful as Dean remembered. Her black hair seemed to shimmer from the lights overhead. Her dark skin and large, brown eyes made him feel like he was swimming in waters much too deep, but enjoying every second of it.
“Captain,” she said. “Planetary Medal of Honor recipient. I guess now I have to salute you.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t see you before you shipped out again,” he said. “I really wanted to.”
“It’s the life we both wanted. There’s good and there’s bad. I wanted to see you again too.”
“Did you get my message?” he asked.
Her smile made him feel like he was back in zero-gravity.
“Yes,” she said. “I’m so glad I did. I didn’t know what to say when I wrote to you. I spent all my leave reading about you in the press from the publicity tour.”
“It was the hardest thing I’ve done since joining EsDef,” he said.
“What, rubbing elbows with the rich and famous? Spending every night with beautiful women?
“No, being away from you.”
She didn’t respond, but just looked down. He was suddenly afraid that he had assumed too much about the way she felt about him. The last thing he wanted was to make her uncomfortable.
“I’m pushing, sorry, I just wanted you to know how I feel.”
“How do you feel?” she asked, looking back up at him with her penetrating gaze.
He had been so certain that if he ever got the chance to tell her how he felt he wouldn’t hesitate. His biggest regret was that he couldn’t tell her how much he thought about her while she was gone. And how he much he sincerely cared about her. But now that he had the chance to tell her all that and more, he did hesitate. He didn’t want to make a fool of himself or embarrass her. He didn’t want to do something that would drive her away. And he felt guilty for flirting with Doctor Rosen on Rome Three. Perhaps it had been a moment of weakness, or the thrill of surviving what had been a harrowing fight with the Swiss Guard, but he had clearly initiated a flirtation with the attractive physician. He wasn’t sure what that meant about his feelings for Esma.
“I want…” he hesitated, and she leaned forward a little. Her big brown eyes seemed to make his courage come alive. “I want to be with you,” he said.
“With me?” she asked.
“That kiss, on the Valkyrie, I think about it all the time. I want to get to know you, to spend time with you, to let you know how incredibly special I think you are.”
“We’ll be separated again,” she warned him. “Different assignments, different places, perhaps for years at a time. Do you really want to get all tangled up with someone like me.”
“Esma, I would cross the galaxy to spend one moment with you,” he confessed.
Unbeckoned, and unwelcome, the face of Doctor Esther Rosen popped into Dean’s head. A little voice spoke somewhere in the back of his mind, saying, do you really want to commit to just one woman?
Dean swept the image away and squashed the inner voice.
“You’re the only one I want,” he said.
“Admiral Holden says the fleet won’t get her for at least a week, maybe two,” Esma said.
“Let’s make the most of it,” Dean said, taking her hands in his.
“That’s what I hoped you’d say,” she replied, leaning in and kissing him like there was no tomorrow.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Epilogue