As he’d hoped, Mark made a scoffing noise. “I’m not chicken. But I only know how to lead.”
“That’s fine.” Isaiah stepped closer. He’d follow Mark anywhere. Mark could lead all damn night as far as he was concerned. “Teach me.”
Mark’s mouth twitched like he was thinking hard. Finally he sighed and held out his hands. “Okay.” His big hand was warm and solid in Isaiah’s, no timidness in his grip like the few times Isaiah had attempted this with Bree at school dances. “It’s actually pretty simple. Just follow me. We’re going to make a box.”
Isaiah tried to focus on Mark’s words, but it was hard when he could feel his body heat, could smell his spicy aftershave—something with oranges and cinnamon, not unlike the tea Aunt Cecily loved, and he could drink Mark in all night. The song was a mega-popular eighties ballad, and it was perfect for the slow, careful way Mark led him around the brick path.
“You’re a natural,” Mark praised as they turned.
“Better than Heidi?” Isaiah couldn’t resist a bit of cheek.
Mark laughed at that, the low sound Isaiah couldn’t get enough of. “Far better.”
“Where’d you learn to dance?” he asked, not wanting the lesson to end.
“My mom insisted. Yacht club functions.” Mark made a face. “Mom never met a club that wasn’t worth joining.”
“Heard your dad bought a plane. Are they over the yacht phase?” Isaiah tried to act like Mark’s loaded parents weren’t hella intimidating. In addition to the beach house on Coronado where Mark had largely grown up, they had a yacht that had hosted Cal and Danielle’s engagement dinner, and now apparently, they’d added a “small” plane to their list of rich people distractions.
“Ha. They’re never selling the yacht. But I wish he’d taken more lessons before getting his own plane. I worry.” Mark led Isaiah further down the path, smooth fluid movements.
“Hey, don’t you like jump out of planes?” Isaiah gazed up at Mark. He was exactly the perfect amount taller, looming over him without giving him a crick in the neck or anything.
“I do. But my buddies all give me shit because it’s not my favorite thing.”
“What part is?”
“I love dives and long swims. Love the burn that comes after you put in the miles.” Mark got the same dreamy look on his face that Bree got when she talked about spinning. Fitness freak people were like alien creatures.
“I hear all you SEALs have nicknames. What do they call you?”
“Oh, man.” A reddish tinge crept up Mark’s neck. “We’ve all got stupid ones...”
“Come on. Tell me.” Isaiah really wanted to know something secret about Mark, something that maybe Cal and Danielle didn’t even know.
“Okay, okay.” Mark spun him around as the song sped up. “They call me Wizard. Which is silly—”
“No, it’s not.” It was perfect because there was absolutely something magical about this man. He had the ability to captivate Isaiah’s attention like nothing else ever had.
“It’s just because I’m good at stitching them back up.” Cheeks still pink, Mark gave a little shrug like he wasn’t all that. Didn’t matter. Isaiah was still impressed that Mark wasn’t that much older than him and was already a SEAL medic, out there putting guys back together in the field. That shit was real.
“I bet you are. What’s the grossest injury you’ve had to treat?”
“Oh, man. You do not want to know that.” The song had changed, but Mark kept right on dancing with him. Isaiah wasn’t ever forgetting this night. Mark was indeed a wizard, casting a magical spell over them both.
“What? I like horror movies. Gross shit doesn’t bug me.”
“Real life isn’t like the movies.” Mark’s voice turned stern again. “It’s life or death out there, and I’m just trying to keep people alive. I’m not stopping to get grossed out or impressed by the gore.”
“Yeah.” Duly chastened, Isaiah tightened his grip on Mark’s shoulder. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay.” Mark’s tone softened. “We’re just back from a hard deployment. Didn’t mean to unload on you.”
Please. Please unload on me. “You need some stress relief.” This was the opening Isaiah had been waiting for.
“Ha. I finally get leave and it’s all for the wedding. Not that I’m complaining.” His smile was indulgent, and the hope monster fluttered in Isaiah’s gut.
“Hey, weddings can be fun.” Isaiah let his voice get a little more flirty.
“For you maybe. All the champagne you can sneak and pretty...people to ogle.” The way he quickly corrected himself said that he’d heard from Cal or Danielle that Isaiah was gay. And he was still dancing with him, so that had to be a positive sign, right?
The moonlight and low garden lights reflected in Mark’s hair, giving him a halo effect. God, he was so sexy it hurt. Made Isaiah’s breath come faster, muscles trembling under the force of wanting.
“Lots of hot guys.” He looked right at Mark as he said it, then when Mark didn’t react, he quickly added, “Bree’s having fun with it too. How about you? See anyone hot?”
Please pick me. Please. Mark looked away. “Not really. Guess I’m still wound up from my mission.”
“We should unwind you.” Isaiah forced himself to laugh, to put the kind of swagger into his voice that all the older guys had when they hit on someone. He’d been taking notes, but this was the first time he’d really tried.
“Isaiah...”
There was a warning there, but it wasn’t a flat-out no, so Isaiah moved closer, letting their torsos brush, making the dance more intimate. Fuck. Mark felt so good, muscular chest against his own, body so warm and solid.
Mark inhaled sharply, but didn’t pull away, didn’t stop dancing. Surely he felt it too, felt this magic. His head turned, and then he was right there, looking into Isaiah’s eyes, and fuck but Isaiah could drown in that heated look and die a happy, happy man.
“I’m eighteen now. In case you were worried.”
“I’m not into guys.” Mark dropped his hands and stepped back. “Sorry.” He was lying. That look hadn’t been nothing. He’d been tempted, maybe even on the verge of doing something, and Isaiah had ruined it with his ill-timed blurt about his age.
“You are too. I’ve seen how you look at Cal.”
“I do not... I’ve never...” Mark scrubbed at his hair. “Cal’s been a friend a long time. Practically a brother.”
“Ha. You don’t want to bone your brother. And that’s how you look at him. Like you’re pissed as hell that Danielle got to him first.”
“They’re perfect for each other. Maybe too perfect.” Mark gave a shaky laugh. “Like you said, they party too much, and I’m worried about that. That’s probably all you’re seeing.”
“Nope.” Isaiah closed the distance between them again. “And it’s okay. I’m not going to tell. And Cal can be a jackass sometimes. He’s never going to figure it out either. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to get over it. Try some of that stress relief.”
“Isaiah...” Mark didn’t move away, instead resting a hand on Isaiah’s shoulder like his hand wasn’t quite sure whether to pull Isaiah closer or push him away. Isaiah made the choice for him, finally giving in to temptation and running his fingers down Mark’s smooth jaw. “We can’t.”
“We can. No one will have to know.”
“But I’ll know.” Mark made a tortured sound. “And fuck, you’re eighteen. For all I know, you’re a virgin.”
“You say it like it’s some disease.” Isaiah hated how defensive he sounded.
“Oh no. No way.” Mark did pull away then, striding over to a little bench by the grotto. “I’m not going to be your first time.”
“Why not?” He tried to tamp down the hurt coursing through him. “If not you, it’s going to be someone.”
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“And that’s exactly why it’s not going to be me.” Mark’s voice hardened, syllable by syllable, making Isaiah’s chest ache.
“Well, it doesn’t have to be casual.” Maybe Mark didn’t hook up. Maybe there was still hope if he let him know this could be special. Could be the start of something. “I want it to be you.”
“You’re eight-fucking-teen. Everything is casual for you. And I told you, I don’t do guys. I’m not sure what you think you saw—”
“What I saw was you wanted to kiss me. Bad. But you’re overthinking things. Why not just have some fun? See where things go?”
Come on, Wizard, take a chance on some magic. But Mark only frowned, deep lines bracketing his mouth and forehead. “I’m not looking for fun. Sorry. And I better get back in there.”
And with that he was gone, leaving Isaiah’s hope monster squashed on the bricks. Stupid fucking stubborn SEAL, ruining all Isaiah’s plans. But he’d show him. Someday Mark was going to regret turning him down.
Don’t miss Squared Away by Annabeth Albert.
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Copyright © 2018 by Annabeth Albert
About the Author
Annabeth Albert grew up sneaking romance novels under the bed covers. Now, she devours all subgenres of romance out in the open—no flashlights required! When she’s not adding to her keeper shelf, she’s a multi-published Pacific Northwest romance writer. The #OutOfUniform series joins her critically acclaimed and fan-favorite LGBTQ romance #Gaymers, #PortlandHeat and #PerfectHarmony series. To find out what she’s working on next and other fun extras, check out her website: www.annabethalbert.com or connect with Annabeth on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Spotify! Also, be sure to sign up for her newsletter for free ficlets, bonus reads, and contests. The fan group, Annabeth’s Angels, on Facebook is also a great place for bonus content and exclusive contests.
Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. Annabeth loves finding happy endings for a variety of pairings and is a passionate gay rights supporter. In between searching out dark heroes to redeem, she works a rewarding day job and wrangles two active children.
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Also available from Annabeth Albert and Carina Press
In the #gaymers series
Suggested reading order
Status Update
Beta Test
Connection Error
In the Out of Uniform series
Suggested reading order
Off Base
At Attention
On Point
Wheels Up
Squared Away
Coming soon from Annabeth Albert and Carina Press
In the Out of Uniform series
Rough Terrain
Also available from Annabeth Albert
Trust with a Chaser
Tender with a Twist
Treble Maker
Love Me Tenor
All Note Long
Served Hot
Baked Fresh
Delivered Fast
Knit Tight
Wrapped Together
Danced Close
Resilient Heart
Winning Bracket
Save the Date
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ISBN-13: 9781488081330
Tight Quarters
Copyright © 2018 by Annabeth Albert
All rights reserved. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this ebook on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 22 Adelaide St. West, 40th Floor, Toronto, Ontario M5H 4E3, Canada.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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Tight Quarters Page 27