Rookie in the Midst [Blue Platoon 1]

by Jools Louise

  The sound of a helicopter coming in to land stopped him from killing Craig where he lay. The lights caught him, and he glared up at the aircraft before deciding to cut his losses and get out of this shithole.

  He left Craig in the dirt, after a final, rib-breaking kick to the ribs, and disappeared into the night. He didn’t need these fuckwads. He was going places. And he knew just the people to help him. He would leave this place when he felt like it. Nobody was sending him home before he was ready to go.

  * * * *

  “Hey, sleepyhead, time to come back to the living.”

  The husky voice invaded Craig’s ears, urging him to fight past the cobwebs clouding his mind. The man sounded as though he was from the northeast of England. Newcastle or Sunderland perhaps.

  He groaned slightly, wincing as he tried to move, feeling the reverberation of a thousand hammers, tipped with fire, pounding at his body in all directions. No part of him remained untouched by pain, and he felt tears fill his eyes, leaking from behind his lashes and trickling down his cheeks.

  “Hey there, little one, don’t cry so,” a different voice said, with a hint of Liverpool in the tone, and Craig felt the touch of callused fingers against his cheek, wiping away his tears.

  “He’s coming back to us, Amos,” a third voice declared, this one definitely a Yorkshireman.

  “He was beaten pretty badly. He’s lucky he’s able to come back.” That voice was familiar, and harsh with worry and anger. Captain Hartland.

  “I know,” the second speaker said quietly. “When I catch up with that bastard Costa, I’ll rip his fucking throat out. We’d only just landed and found Craig like this, left to bleed out. We saw Costa running away, and it was only because you sent us a picture of him, warning us to watch out for Costa when we arrived, that we recognized him. He’s lucky he managed to escape. Had transport waiting for him. This was probably planned.”

  Costa? Was that who had hurt him? Craig tried to think, tried to process the intel, but his nose was invaded by the scent of four enticing odors. His cock reacted, shockingly given his current predicament. He heard gentle laughter, and soft lips caressed his cheek.

  “Well, I reckon he’s definitely excited to see us,” the first man said teasingly. “Typical guy. One track mind.”

  Craig actually smiled, wincing again when the move hurt his cheek. The burning intensified.

  “Easy, tiger,” Captain Hartland said gently. “You had some severe injuries to your head. It’ll take a while for the swelling to subside.”

  “Was…was it…Costa…who did…this?” Craig gasped out, even hurting to breathe. His ribs felt as though they were broken.

  “Yes. The bastard waited until you were defenseless, then attacked you. He went AWOL. We sent a drone up the following morning, after tracking him to a compound west of the base, and found he’s got some new friends among the insurgents. Too many there to do anything for the moment, but we’ll go back and deliver our own warning to them.”

  “Yeah,” the Scouser said. “Guess we found our traitor. The twat had bugs planted all over camp so they could listen in to briefings. No wonder the insurgents knew about our mission. Costa sold us all out.”

  Craig finally managed to open his eyes and peered up into four concerned faces. He recognized Hartland immediately and almost melted under the man’s warm regard. He recalled their last meeting and swallowed, shivering a little as desire wound its way under the pain.

  One of his visitors had a mane of dark brown hair, tied back in a nape-length ponytail, definitely not standard army. He had green eyes that glittered with a mixture of amusement, desire, and concern. Craig felt the pull of attraction toward the handsome guy and licked his lips, his mouth parched as the Sahara.

  “Water?” he asked plaintively.

  “Here, fella,” the Yorkshireman said and placed a straw to Craig’s lips.

  Drinking gratefully, Craig took several gulps and then leaned back heavily into the soft pillow. He studied the guy’s reddish-brown hair, and the manscaped beard that wrapped around his jaw and upper lip. Yorkshire had gray eyes, a contrast to his slightly dusky complexion, sparkling with intelligence. There was the same awareness in those eyes as there was when he looked at Hartland and the ponytailed guy.

  “I’m Zane Finch,” the green-eyed tempter said, his voice suddenly sultry. “This is Alfie Blaze, and over there, shy as ever, is Brady Garnet,” he added. “Amos here tells us you might be our new pack mate,” he whispered, leaning closer and pressing a light kiss to Craig’s lips. Craig moaned when he felt the slick slide of Finch’s tongue and tasted the man’s delicious flavor. He opened up a little, feeling light-headed, and not just from the pain meds.

  “Put him down, Finch,” Hartland said dryly, smirking. “You’ll scare him off.”

  “Pack mate?” Craig asked, disappointed when Finch moved back.

  “Yes, sweetie,” Garnet said, moving in for a kiss, as well, his touch tender on Craig’s battered mouth. “Hmmm, divine,” he teased, and then pecked Craig’s nose. “I think you might be right, Amos. This one is definitely a keeper.” Garnet’s voice was pure London, a Cockney through and through, his light brown eyes gleaming with laughter. “I’m not shy,” he told Craig, his mocha-brown skin a contrast to Craig’s paler tone. “I’m just polite.”

  There was general laughter at that sally, and the three men pounded Garnet with mocking insults.

  “Guys,” Blaze, the Yorkshireman, said, smirking at his friends. “Let Craig get some rest.”

  Craig smiled at the guy, seeing the glint of concern in Blaze’s gaze as he perused Craig’s bruised complexion. “I’m okay, really, just a lot sore,” he said, his eyelids already drooping. “But perhaps, just a little nap.”

  * * * *

  “We need to get him home, Amos,” Garnet said, frowning as he gazed on Craig’s sleeping face. “He’s in danger here.”

  “I know,” Hartland said, squeezing Garnet’s arm. “I’ve requested special leave, for all of us. I’m just waiting for approval. Guard him, guys. We can’t lose him so soon after we’ve found him.”

  “We’ll make sure nobody gets to him,” Blaze said. “You go and take care of business. Once we’re granted R & R, we can leave this fucking place and never return. Maybe it’s time, now that we’ve found our heart, to quit the military for good. I don’t want to risk dying now that we have our center.”

  Amos nodded. “You’re right,” he replied sincerely. “We have a new mission to take care of. Taking care of this cutie.” He gazed at Craig, already smitten, seeing the wicked grins on his pack mates’ faces.

  “I’m looking forward to getting to know him,” Finch drawled, his green eyes sultry. “Particularly that luscious little ass.”

  Amos shot his lover a grin. “His cock is gorgeous, too,” he retorted. “Juicy, long, and perfectly formed.”

  “You got all that from a quick grope in your tent?” Garnet asked, full of snark.

  Amos snorted. “I got all that from carrying his battered body to sick bay, after you called it in,” he replied succinctly. “Which makes me a sick bastard, noticing something like that when he was fighting for his life.”

  “We won’t lose him, love,” Blaze told him. He went to Amos and kissed him firmly. “Now scat, we’re on guard duty. You have work to do. Another SF unit is on the way.”

  Amos departed reluctantly, needing to square things away, so his pack could go home.

  Chapter Two

  “Hey, rookie, how’s things?”

  Craig looked up from the book he was reading and smiled shyly as he watched Finch walk smoothly toward him, prowling closer as though stalking prey. The look on Finch’s face gave credibility to the description, predatory and filled with an intensity that had Craig’s heart pounding and his cock rising to the occasion.

  “Hi,” Craig greeted warmly, trying to sit up a little. He winced, his ribs protesting at the movement. After two days at the camp clinic, he’d been transferred to a
hospital in Birmingham, England, the Queen Elizabeth, which was the primary care provider for injured British military personnel. He’d been there for three weeks now and was recovering well.

  “Sorry I didn’t get here earlier,” Finch said, reaching out to help Craig, lifting him under the arms and then fluffing the pillow. Without releasing Craig, Finch leaned in closer to plant a soft kiss on Craig’s lips, smiling when Craig moaned helplessly. “That’s it, little one,” he murmured, deepening the caress until they were both panting. “Such a responsive rookie, aren’t you?” Craig curled his fingers into fists, clenching at the sheets as Finch ate at his lips hungrily. “Around my neck, sweetie,” Finch commanded. “Put your arms around my neck.”

  Craig obeyed, pulling Finch closer, cupping Finch’s scalp and tugging unwittingly on the man’s sleek ponytail. Changing angles, Finch sucked on Craig’s tongue, reaching down under the covers and finding Craig’s excited cock. Craig whimpered, moving restlessly, his legs falling open involuntarily. He groaned, this time in pain, as his hip protested the movement.

  Instantly Finch pulled back, stroking Craig’s cheek gently. “Sorry, I forgot where we were, darlin’,” he said with a slight grin, his eyes dark with passion. “Are you okay?”

  “My ribs are healing, but my pelvis was fractured…and it hurts when I move in certain ways. I’m on the mend, though.” Craig saw the gleam in Finch’s beautiful green gaze and smiled. “I’m not complaining. You kiss like a master, and I’m a willing apprentice.”

  Finch grinned back and hauled himself onto the bed beside Craig, then dragged the younger man closer, taking care not to cause more pain. Craig couldn’t believe how comfortable he felt around this man, who oozed badass out of every pore. Come to think of it, all four of Hartland’s pack had the same tough aura. Except with him. When they were with Craig, they were tender, thoughtful, sexy, and careful of his every need. He was already half in love them. He’d never felt so cherished. The other surprise was that he responded with equal ardor to them all. And they responded in kind, with no aggression toward each other. He felt as though he’d found something special. He fit them like a missing piece to a complex piece of machinery, which was finally beginning to work right.

  “Blaze told me you’re being discharged soon,” Finch said. “That’s good news.”

  Craig wrinkled his nose, not meeting Finch’s intuitive gaze. “Yes, it’s great news,” he said, frowning down at his book.

  “You don’t sound thrilled,” Finch said dryly.

  “I am glad to be leaving hospital, just not so glad to be going home to my flat in London,” Craig told him honestly.

  “You’re going to your flat?” Finch said, scowling ferociously, as though annoyed by Craig’s response.

  Craig looked at him warily, seeing the fierce warrior that lurked beneath Finch’s charming exterior. “Of course I’ll be going to my flat,” he said. “Where else would I go?”

  “With us. Home with us,” Finch said flatly.

  “With you?” Craig was astonished at the suggestion, despite the bond he’d felt growing between his gorgeous suitors.

  He knew next to nothing about being a wolf shifter, having grown up among humans for most of his life. He’d had to hide who he was, channeling his inner aggression and keeping his true self hidden from the world. His instincts had been screaming at him whenever Blaze, Finch, Hartland, or Garnet were near, but he had no clue what the message was. All he had to go on was the rightness of being with them. His cock was always rock hard in their presence, his heart pounded with nervous excitement. And his wolf had been prancing in circles, giddy like a young pup.

  “You really are a rookie, aren’t you?” Finch said, almost tenderly, the light in his eyes softening. “Sweetheart, you’re made for us. Don’t you sense the mating bond? That urge to be with us, stronger than anything else? We’re leaving the military. Our task now is to take care of you. We don’t want to risk losing you after we’ve just found you, my heart.”

  Craig’s heart clenched with a yearning that startled him with its intensity. The need to belong to someone, to be a part of a family again, was what had made him enlist into the army. He needed time to recover, but then he would be going back out again, as soon as he was declared medically fit and passed his Combat Fitness Test. That would be weeks away, possibly months. The fact that Finch seemed to be suggesting that he and the others wanted Craig with them made Craig hopeful…and wary at the same time. Did they really want him that much that were giving up their career for him?

  “I didn’t know that you felt it, too,” he admitted shyly. “I feel…things. I don’t understand it. I barely know you, yet I feel this urge to be near you.” He blushed slightly, seeing Finch’s smile. “I ache when I’m not with you. It’s almost painful.”

  “You ache when we’re with you, too,” Finch drawled, cupping Craig’s cock again and squeezing playfully.

  Craig released a healthy bellow and nodded, blushing even more. “I can’t control it. You’re turning me into a sex maniac. All I’ve been thinking about is sex recently.”

  “Good to hear, rookie,” Finch said, laughing, as well. “What don’t you understand about us? I see hesitation in your eyes. As though you want to be with us, but are holding back.”

  “Commander Finch, that’s enough canoodling with the patient,” Nurse Rachel said as she walked into the room, arching one brow at the sight of Finch’s hand on Craig’s crotch.

  Unconcerned, Finch winked at her and eased off the bed, pecking a kiss on Craig’s nose before sitting in the chair. “Sorry, Nursie, I forgot that part.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Really? Because I’ve been telling you that part for the last three weeks. Are you sure you don’t need to see a head doctor, to check how that selective amnesia’s doing?”

  “No need, Nursie,” he drawled, grinning wickedly. “I’ll be getting all the head I need just as soon as Private Mason here is released into my care.”

  Craig gasped at the sally, closing his eyes in mortification as a ringing silence followed Finch’s bold statement.

  “Is that what you want, Private Mason?” the nurse asked quietly, sounding sympathetic. “If not, we can arrange something else for you for your aftercare. You won’t be able to take care of yourself for some weeks yet. Your injuries are life-changing. There’s a real possibility that you won’t be fit for active duty again. Plus there’s all the checkups and your physio to deal with.”

  Craig met her gaze, seeing the kindness there. “I’d like to go with Finch,” he said, blushing at the knowing twinkle in her eyes.

  “Of course you do,” came the snarky response from the SF commander. “I’m SAS, sweetie. Nowhere safer for you than with me.” He turned serious for a moment. “Nurse Rachel, I’ll take good care of him. He’s special. And I can help with the physio. Our home is fully equipped so Craig here can get back on his feet again.”

  Craig blinked at him. “It is? When did that happen?”

  “Three weeks ago,” Finch replied solemnly. “You got beaten up, and we’re feeling a little responsible. Costa was a creep, and we think he targeted you because Captain Hartland told you to keep an eye on him. From what we saw of CCTV in camp, he was close to the captain’s tent when you were being debriefed after the mission. We think he must have heard more than he needed to and went after you.”

  Craig stared at Finch, frowning at the news. “He said something about getting rich. He seemed to have some kind of master plan. Before I lost consciousness, he said something else, and I got the impression he already knew me, although I’ve never met him before basic training.”

  “He has got a plan,” Captain Hartland said as he entered the ward, nodding at the nurse. “We’ve been following his movements, and Costa has definitely hooked up with the group who attacked us in Kenya. He’s been responsible for several hostage killings, engineers and NGOs who’ve been working in the area close to the Somali border. Ransoms have been paid, and then the hostages are re
leased. If no ransom is forthcoming, they kill the captives. Not sure about him knowing you beforehand, but I’ll double-check on that.”

  “That’s despicable,” Craig said fiercely. “So he really is all about money,” he added bitterly.

  “He’s an arrogant, self-entitled fucker,” Finch said, scowling. “The little bastard needs taking down a peg or three. Six feet under would be my best suggestion.”

  “We’ll get him,” Amos said, nodding. “But first, I believe I overheard you agreeing to be released into Finch’s tender care?” He looked at Nurse Rachel. “You do know what that means, don’t you?”

  She grinned, patting his cheek. “Yes,” she drawled, smirking. “That Private Craig Mason is going to have the time of his life fending off you four sex machines,” she quipped, tapping him on the butt. “I’ll go and get the doctor, and then we’ll get all the relevant papers signed.” She winked at Craig, who was by now beet red and cringing against the pillows at all the sexy talk.

  “Hey,” Amos said huskily, as soon as the nurse had left the room. “How are you doing? Sorry I haven’t been by sooner—I had to stay behind at the camp and hand over to the new CO. Special Forces routed the insurgents, but Costa was long gone. He must have inbuilt radar because he always seems just one step ahead.”

  “It’s okay,” Craig said, giggling a little when Finch leapt back up onto the bed beside him. “Finch here has been keeping me company.”

  “Yeah, so I see,” Amos retorted drolly. “Are you okay coming home with us? We won’t do anything you don’t want.”

  “Where’s home?” Craig asked curiously. “I don’t remember anyone telling me.”

  “We have a place up in Scotland, close to The Cairngorms,” Finch replied, tugging Craig’s head onto his shoulder and wrapping a brawny arm around his shoulders. Craig snuggled against the big guy, feeling warm and secure in the embrace.