Whatever It Takes (Code Of Honor Book 5)

by Reese Knightley

  His eyes burned. Luke, of course, was accurate as all hell and the only thing Dillon could do was give a short nod.

  “So, you don’t want to be in a relationship with me because you think if you get angry or we fight that you’ll hit me.”

  “Yes,” he rasped, waiting for Luke to turn away.

  “What makes you think I won’t throw you out on your ass if you ever raised a hand to me?”

  The unexpected words had his breath catching in his throat.

  He could see Luke, the general, in the words and hear it in the man’s tone, a voice who had commanded thousands. He had to be stupid to think Luke wouldn’t kick him to the curb if he ever raised a hand.

  Dillon shook his head, his ready argument spilling out. “It wouldn’t matter if you threw me out. If I ever hit you, I’d leave anyway.”

  “There you have it then.” Instead of turning away, Luke moved closer. “We both agree that if you ever hit me, you’re out.”

  Hadn’t Luke heard him? He could do some real damage when he got pissed off. It wasn’t that simple.

  “Agree, Dillon.”

  God damn it! Was Luke crazy taking a chance on him? What the fuck?

  “Agree, Dillon, or release my arm and let me go.”

  He blinked, staring in a daze down at the hand he had clamped around Luke’s arm before he lifted his head. The words when they came felt foreign on his tongue, but the overwhelming shakiness when he said them almost brought him to his knees.

  “I agree.”

  “Now fucking kiss me.”

  The order in Luke’s voice swept through his body and right to his dick. Forgetting that this was a really bad idea, Dillon lowered his head and delivered a scorching kiss to Luke’s lips.

  “We’re going to need to work on your communication skills.”

  “I’m sorry,” he husked against Luke’s mouth. “I was trying to do the right thing.”

  “I get that, but let’s promise to talk in the future,” Luke growled, sliding his arms around him and gripping him close.

  Sweeping in again, Dillon brushed his mouth against Luke’s, nipping before entwining their tongues. The kiss ended all too soon.

  “I promise. How long do we need to stay?” he asked, and the thought of a future together long enough to talk shit out was so foreign, his voice came out all raspy.

  Luke pulled back with a laugh just as the patio doors opened.

  “Sir? Fullerton is here.”

  Luke turned casually, as if they’d been talking and not kissing.

  “I’ll be right there.”

  “Go,” he told Luke when he hesitated. “I’ll be right behind you.”

  “We won’t need to stay long.” With a lingering look, Luke disappeared through the set of doors and the sound of the party once again became muffled when the doors closed.

  He caught the faint whiff of Luke’s aftershave and cupped his hand around his nose and mouth, breathing it in deeply. The scent of Luke wasn’t helping the state of his dick and he dropped his hands to grip the railing. Lifting his face to gaze up at the stars, he drew in a few deep breaths.

  The realization that he’d agreed to be in a relationship with Luke had him squeezing the railing with a brutal grip.

  Luke thought it would be so simple, but it wouldn’t be. When he lost his temper, things escalated rather quickly. Once it had taken his whole unit to pull him off a guy who’d sucker punched Isaac. That had been when he was twenty-three, twelve years ago. Once again, Liam had slapped his ass back in anger management and therapy.

  It was through help that he’d come to realize his anger was a result of childhood trauma and insecurity. Yet, it was one thing to know what the problem was, but a whole other thing to get a handle on it. He’d punched a few assholes through the years since, but never lost control to that degree again. But he also kept his distance, kept from getting too close to anyone.

  What about Beckett and Oliver? Yeah, but they were just friends, not someone he was sleeping with. With them, he could distance himself if he needed. With Luke, he suspected it wouldn’t be that easy.

  Running a hand over his nape, he had to trust that Luke knew what the fuck he was doing. It gave him a sense of relief to know Luke would kick him out if he ever lost control.

  The door snapped open behind him and he turned with a smile.

  “What’s going on?” Oliver asked, staring at him.

  “What do you mean?”

  “You’re out here when Luke is inside.”

  “I was on my way,” He said with a smile.

  Oliver blinked. “Okay, now you’re freaking me out.”

  He snorted and then sobered. “Where’s Pia?”

  “She’s with the general since you aren’t.”

  He stepped up to Oliver and slapped his friend on the back in passing.

  “Well, we better get back to the party then.”

  “Okay, now you’re really freaking me out.”

  “Why?” he chuckled.

  “Are you… happy? Is that happiness I see?” Oliver’s mouth gaped.

  “You’re so annoying.” He frowned and stepped through the door.

  “That’s why I was put on this earth, you know I’m-”

  Oliver’s voice was cut off when he shut the door in his friend’s face.

  Of course, Oliver yanked it open, his mouth open to keep going, but Dillon stepped around the couple trying to get out the door. Oliver was thwarted and Dillon made a break for it.

  Striding across the room, he hurried to where Luke and Pia were standing with a group of people.

  Luke must have been waiting for him, because the general shifted over a bit, not noticeably, but Dillon noticed. He stepped closer and stood at Luke’s side.

  The back of Luke’s knuckles brushed against his hand, connecting them.

  It felt a bit foreign, but he returned the smiles of those around him as Luke made the introductions to the group.

  Luke

  Dillon believed because he had a problem with his temper that he might hit him in anger.

  It boggled the mind as he watched the soldier wrestle gently with the small rescue pup.

  There was way more to Dillon’s story than the “I hit people” bullshit.

  What he’d yet to tell Dillon was that after they’d returned from the benefit, he’d asked Liam for his file.

  Dillon, as a private, had been in several altercations that had been downgraded by either Liam or the S.O.D. through the course of that first year. Because of Dillon’s exceptional scores during bootcamp, he’d appeared on the Secretary of Defense’s radar. The S.O.D. at that time liked to get them young and mold them.

  After reading the file, Luke had been shaken. One of Dillon’s therapists had noted that the type of anger Dillon displayed stemmed directly from child abuse.

  What he’d done when they’d returned from the benefit was have his own investigative team find out everything they could about Dillon’s parents. It had taken the team three hours to gather the evidence. He’d learned that the violence came from Dillon’s father. The man was dead, having died in a bar fight. He died the way he lived, with his fists. Dillon, Isaac, and his mother had been admitted to the E.R. numerous times from physical abuse. But Dillon’s injuries had far outweighed the other two’s because he’d stepped between them and his father’s fists to protect his family. Luke could almost picture a young Dillon defending his little brother and mom. The man had become one hell of a protector.

  Dillon’s anger was understandable. Hell, Luke had felt his own rage when he’d read his investigator’s report.

  The notes Liam had made of the struggles a younger Dillon had gone through broke his heart. Thank god Liam had taken Dillon under his wing, tossing the boy—a private at that time—into anger management courses and extensive therapy while Liam groomed him to become the best of the best. Liam had furthered Dillon’s education and the soldier now held a bachelor’s degree in criminology.

  Th
e last real significant incident had been twelve years ago when Dillon had gone ballistic on a guy who had cold cocked his brother. The guy had needed eight stitches and Dillon twelve, but neither had pressed charges. Liam wrote that he’d thrown Dillon back into anger management classes.

  The whole file had been like reading the taming of a wild animal on paper.

  He’d called Dave and found out that there’d been another incident since the encounter with his brother. It had been at the local bar in town.

  Luke had no clue that Dillon had gone and stayed in Phoenix on his very first day off after coming to the ranch. If he’d known, he probably would have tracked him down. Maybe that was why Dillon hadn’t told him. Nevertheless, he was thankful that Dave had made the incident all disappear.

  “Let’s give the hat a rest.” Dillon’s teasing voice drew his eyes to the man and the animals surrounding him.

  Dillon exchanged the hat for a ball and tossed it across the drive. Cricket and his three ranch dogs, Milly, Duke, and Rocket, raced after the rolling object.

  “I need to get a workout in.” Dillon winked at him before heading to the barn and Luke jumped up.

  “Yeah, I gotta get some work done.” He stretched, nonchalant.

  Dillon tossed him a crooked smile over his shoulder, the late afternoon sun glinting on the soldier’s head as he strode away.

  Every day like clockwork, Dillon disappeared into the barn and every time, Luke snuck in to watch him.

  Sure enough, when he entered the barn a few minutes later, he heard the rapid thud of the speed bag. Easing closer, he placed his shoulder against the open door and watched Dillon in motion. The man was so fucking beautiful. He’d discarded his shirt, wearing only snug blue jeans riding low and combat boots. Dillon two timed the speed bag with a rhythm that Luke had miserably failed at. Yeah, he’d tried to hit the thing when Dillon wasn’t around.

  The three minutes were up before he knew it, and he stepped back to make his escape. Something caught his foot and clanged the side of a nearby wheel barrel. He froze, darting a quick look toward Dillon.

  The man stood facing him, wiping his t-shirt over his sweat slickened skin.

  “Hi,” he said, picking up the shovel he’d kicked. Trying to appear cool, he propped it against the stall and crossed his arms against his chest.

  The corner of Dillon’s mouth pulled into a smirk. “It’s about time you stuck around.”

  He blinked. “How long had you known?”

  Dillon took a slow step toward him. “Since the first time.”

  “Oh yeah?” He uncrossed his arms, but didn’t take his eyes away from Dillon.

  “Yeah. You know it’s rude to spy on people.”

  “Is it?”

  “Mmhmm.”

  “But this is my barn, and what’s in my barn is mine.”

  “Is that right?” Dillon’s eyes glittered and he took another slow step closer.

  Luke flattened his lips to keep from laughing, but when Dillon lunged, he turned and sprinted around the side of the stalls and further into the barn. The crunch of boots let him know Dillon was hot on his tail. He knew it would only be a matter of time before Dillon caught him, so he ducked into one of the freshly cleaned stalls.

  Turning, he caught Dillon and they tumbled into the pile of hay.

  “Oh no,” he laughed, rolling until Dillon was on the bottom. “You’re caught. Now what?”

  “I’m caught?” Dillon squinted.

  Luke straddled Dillon’s hips. Getting comfortable, he placed his hands on Dillon’s chest. “I’d say you’re well and truly caught.”

  The normal shadow of doubt in Dillon’s eyes was missing and instead, showed a softness. It was as if the man was starting to really believe they had a shot at making this a real thing.

  Over the past couple of weeks, he’d say things to Dillon that brought about doubt at first, then hope, and then a dawning acceptance. The more time they spent together, the more Dillon trusted him.

  “Show me,” Dillon growled huskily and pulled him down.

  Their mouths fused together in a kiss that curled his toes. The passion flared hot and fierce. It never ceased to get his heart racing. Luke knew without a doubt that he was falling in love with Dillon. He hadn’t said the words out loud, but he had let Dillon know by the expression on his face and with his touch.

  He did that now as they made love. Stripping naked in the barn, the packet of lube in his wallet was made use of. Using the lube to slick up Dillon’s cock, Luke was so glad they’d both gotten tested a week ago. Since that time, he’d been inside Dillon as much as Dillon had been inside of him.

  “Where are you?” Dillon whispered.

  Luke smiled, lifted up his hips, took the tip of Dillon’s cock, and pressed it between his cheeks.

  “I’m right here,” he breathed out as the head of Dillon’s thick cock breached his hole. He panted, stroking his hands over Dillon’s chest as he settled down. Every inch of the dick filled him so fucking full that his own cock bounced, dripping between them.

  Dillon groaned and clasped one roughened hand around his dick and tugged with a twisting pull.

  Luke fucking loved it. He sat back and began moving, letting his head fall back. Grinding down on the cock in his ass, he hissed when Dillon’s breath grew rough and the man’s hips snapped upward.

  Panting, he lifted his head, gazing down at Dillon.

  “I can’t hold it.” Dillon’s lips were stretched back exposing his teeth in a hard grimace.

  Luke grinned and then gasped when Dillon slammed up into him and yanked at his cock faster and faster.

  Crying out, Dillon came hot and hard, filling his ass. Luke kept bouncing, racing for release when his ass became slicker with the combination of come and lube. He groaned and rolled forward, pulsing over Dillon’s squeezing fist, shudders of pleasure raking through him.

  Soaked in sweat, he sprawled forward, his chest heaving against Dillon’s.

  He lay listening to Dillon’s heart rate slow and finally return to normal before he lifted his head. Dillon lifted him and then snatched up his own t-shirt. The man wasn’t satisfied until he’d completely wiped them both down. Settled once again on Dillon’s chest, he lay on his stomach.

  “If we ever got caught,” he said, resting his chin on his hands.

  “What makes you think we haven’t?” Dillon smoothed roughened palms down his back and squeezed his ass.

  “Oh shit.” He jerked a quick glance over his shoulder, but the stall door was closed.

  “Did you close that?”

  “Yup.”

  “I don’t remember, but I’m glad.” He smiled, thankful that his naked ass hadn’t been on display for his ranch staff to see.

  The distant sound of a helicopter reached the barn and he drew in a breath before rolling off of Dillon.

  He hurried into his clothes as Dillon did the same.

  “Expecting company?” Dillon tugged on his socks and boots and then checked the clip of his weapon. It echoed loudly.

  “Eric. I’ve put him off for two weeks. We’re going to finally have that talk.” He buttoned up his jeans and the front of his shirt, leaving it hanging loose.

  Dillon’s face changed. Not into anything identifiable, but rather into nothing. It was as if the man had turned to stone. He knew Dillon hated the way Eric treated him, but Luke planned on putting an end to his and Eric’s disagreement. He wanted his son back and hopefully, today he could make that happen.

  “It’ll be fine.” He tugged Dillon closer and brushed a kiss on the man’s tightly pressed lips.

  Dillon grunted, tucked his weapon into the back of his jeans, and strode out of the stall.

  By the time Luke followed, Dillon had disappeared toward the back of the barn.

  Dillon

  His phone pinged with an alert from Paul that Eric had landed. Dillon snorted at the late notice.

  It took all of his willpower to keep walking. Why the hell did Luke keep put
ting up with Eric’s crap?

  The background check he’d done on the kid had come up with a whole host of problems. After his mother’s death, Eric’s behavior had taken a turn for the worst. The kid left school and headed down the road to a gambling addiction. The twenty-something-year-old also had a vicious temper on him. Using his fists instead of his head.

  Dillon could have told the guy—if he cared to—that violence didn’t work. But it wasn’t any of his business.

  His phone buzzed and he smirked, answering it.

  “Missing work already?” He razzed Oliver.

  “Nah, Pia and I are having a great time. You should try Vegas, man. She’s trying to hook me up with every hot guy she meets.”

  Dillon laughed. “I can so picture that. Why doesn’t she date them?”

  “Not my type,” Pia called out. The pair were taking R and R at the same time.

  “Oh yeah, you’re on speaker phone,” Oliver added as an afterthought.

  “Now you tell me,” he teased.

  “How’s it going there?”

  Dillon let out a hard breath and walked to the corner of the barn to look out over the land.

  “That bad?” Oliver asked. “I thought you and Luke were doing great…” the man’s voice trailed off.

  “You thought right. He’s in the house having a heart to heart with Eric.” He tried but couldn’t keep the irritation out of his voice.

  “Eric is his son,” Pia said.

  “Stepson,” he snapped. “Besides, from what I heard, Luke’s marriage was a sham.”

  “Did he tell you that?”

  “No,” he admitted. “I overheard a few people talking at the charity benefit.”

  “Don’t listen to gossip,” Oliver said.

  “All gossip starts with some grain of truth,” Pia cut in.

  “I know,” Dillon murmured. “We haven’t had time to talk about that.”

  Which was a lie. They’d had plenty of time, but had been busier exploring each other’s bodies instead of sharing about their pasts. He still needed to tell Luke about his jacket. Sure, he’d told him he had a temper, but not the details nor why.