Sweet Hart

by Rae Marks

  Bray was in training, so if he was there, he was probably in the firing range working on his marksmanship, since he’d shot everyone in the leg in Kiev. Then again, maybe he was in one of the sparring rooms in the gym, working on hand-to-hand with one of the other guys.

  Sam pictured Bray getting sweaty as he tangled with Colt or Chase. Even the thought of Bray with a sweet guy like Brody had Sam itching to press the button for the first floor instead of the second. With a shake of his head, he swiped his badge past the reader, placed his hand on the biometric pad and pressed the button for the second floor.

  The first floor housed nothing that needed security clearance—not to say it wasn’t secure, but they did allow guests to use it. Dee’s apartment was the only living space on the first floor, since she hated elevators. The second floor was HC employees only, with a few rare exceptions—exceptions that required security clearance. The third floor was mostly unused at this point, but that would change as they hoped to expand.

  The fourth floor was housing space, with different-sized apartments. Some of the guys didn’t live in Virginia and stayed there while they were in town. HC had also been used as safe house space for a couple of government agencies. They could give keycard access to only the first and fourth floor, or just the fourth floor if the government agency wanted the person staying there to always have an escort. Each floor had an armory that doubled as a panic room.

  When the elevator opened to the second floor, Sam made his way directly to the bullpen. Their work was often solitary, so the guys seemed to prefer the open-style office. Private little work spaces were available if anyone needed a quiet place. No one chose to have their own office, not even Sam, though he was beginning to regret it.

  “Well, look what the cat dragged in,” Clay said as he pushed his rolling chair back from his desk.

  “Surprised it took you this long,” Colt said. “I expected you to be standing guard in front of the new recruit.”

  “I’d make a joke about him pissing around Bray to mark his territory, but then you assholes would just make some off-color joke about me and bathrooms,” Ax said.

  Sam had tried to talk Mase and Wade out of offering Bray a job. He’d been outvoted. It wasn’t that he didn’t think Bray was capable of taking care of himself. For a typical soldier, Bray had done really well in Kiev.

  Then again, Bray had had three men backing him up in Kiev and had still managed to wreak havoc. What would happen if he was without backup? Some ops called for that. The thought had anxiety clenching Sam's gut. It was a distraction they didn’t need.

  Ignoring all the jokes and insults flying around the bullpen, Sam pulled out his laptop. He had a little over a week until he had to be in Colombia and he couldn’t avoid the office the entire time, especially since he was due to meet with Jazz.

  He was going to take two ‘bodyguards’ with him as much as possible after the shit-show in Kiev, and that wasn’t even because of the trouble Bray had caused.

  Clement would have done something to try to fuck up the deal, whether Bray had been there or not. Having more people watching his six was a good thing. It also made sense. Word would spread about what had happened, and not adding security would be more suspicious.

  Sam was researching what was happening in Colombia when another round of laughing and joking started up. He didn’t want to turn around every time someone walked in, because eventually it was going to be Bray. But when someone called out “Woody,” Jazz's call sign, Sam smiled and turned from his computer.

  The smile fell from his lips when he saw that not five steps behind Jazz was Bray, looking unsure of his place. He also looked fucking amazing. His shoulder must have healed well, because he wasn’t wearing a sling of any kind.

  His blond hair was longer on the top, as if he’d forgotten to get it cut, but the sides were still short, so Sam figured he was finding his own style apart from a military cut. He was wearing athletic shorts and a tight T-shirt that was damp with sweat. Even seeing his bare legs had Sam struggling to control his wayward body.

  “Magnum…War Room,” Jazz said.

  The fact that Bray was following him, along with Wade, was not a good sign. It wasn’t a good sign at all. Sam blew out a slow breath before snapping his laptop shut and lugging it to the War Room.

  By the time he entered, everyone else was sitting. He sat in the only open seat at the end of the U-shaped table, the seat across from Bray.

  “Looks like the dust has settled in Ukraine.” Jazz addressed Bray, since both Sam and Wade knew all this. “Kozak took credit for Andreiko’s murder. He claimed it was a betrayal, which we knew already. He’s moving up due to his loyalty. They’ll probably go after Bagan for trying to usurp their territory and ‘merchandise’. Mase is also moving up, especially since he was working more closely under Andreiko and knows the trafficking side of the business but remained loyal to Kozak. He’ll be running day-to-day in Kiev while Kozak looks to expand into more of Europe—with our help, of course.”

  Sam nodded. That was probably what had helped Kozak get promoted as well, the promise of Greece that Sam had dangled in front of him.

  “Kozak wants a meeting with you and Sam.”

  “Why? To tell us to keep our mouths shut?” Bray asked.

  “I don’t know and I don’t care. He wants to meet in Spain. It’s where he’s going to be headquartered for the time being.”

  “I’m due in Colombia in a week,” Sam said. “We don’t want to ditch this either, with coke growing so fast in Europe.”

  “I’ll go,” Jazz said. “Human trafficking will always take precedence over drugs. Bottom line… People buying drugs have a choice. People being sold or cut open for organs don’t.”

  Sam nodded, even though this wasn’t news to him. Jazz turned to Bray, who seemed to be looking anywhere but at Sam, without trying to be obvious about it.

  “You said you weren’t sure about reprising your role as Sam’s boyfriend, but I’m hoping you’ll be willing since you’ve joined the team.”

  That statement confused Sam. He wasn’t sure why he thought Bray would be all right with pretending to be with him again. Maybe because this was what Sam had been fantasizing about since he’d snuck out of the bedroom in the safe house several months ago.

  “Can I speak with Sam privately?”

  That soft request stunned him. It was brave to ask two men who outranked you to leave the room before you answered their request.

  “Of course.” Jazz stood.

  Wade stood as well and followed Jazz out of the room. The War Room was huge, much bigger than a conference room. It could easily seat forty people between the table and the computers around the perimeter. The space felt much too large for just the two of them. When the door clicked shut, it echoed around them.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Brayden

  Bray felt like such a baby. He should have just accepted the job, but he wanted to make sure Sam was all right with it first. If he’d asked Sam in front of Jazz and Wade, Sam would have complied because they were watching. Sam would hold no punches when it was just the two of them.

  “I never got the chance to thank you for everything you did for me in Kiev,” Bray said as he met Sam’s gaze for the first time.

  Sam nodded.

  “I know I bombarded you. I know you could have left me twisting in the wind. You didn’t, and I’m really grateful—so grateful I’ll turn down my first assignment in my new job if it will make you uncomfortable.”

  “I would never ask you to do that.”

  Bray tried to swallow down the disappointment that Sam hadn’t used the nickname he’d used in Kiev. He wondered if Sam even remembered.

  “What if—” Bray swallowed. “What if Kozak still has the place we stayed in bugged?”

  Sam licked his lips. Bray followed the movement with his eyes, his dick twitching in his pants. He knew exactly what that tongue was capable of.

  “I have no doubt it will be a very simil
ar scenario. So if you’re uncomfortable—”

  “I’m not. Uncomfortable, that is. Or maybe I am, but only because I’m worried you’ll be uncomfortable. That last night…”

  Bray didn’t exactly know how to describe Sam’s freak-out, so he let the sentence hang. Sam’s nostrils flared and there was determination in his eyes when he spoke.

  “I won’t be uncomfortable. I don’t get a lot of ass, remember? I’m a workaholic and my job takes me all over the world. I take it where I can get it.”

  The words were like ice along Bray’s skin, the type of ice that was so cold it practically burned. The temptation to get up and leave was strong, but he wanted to be here. He wanted the chance to work with his brother, so he fought back.

  “Are you being an asshole to get me to back off this assignment? That would be especially cruel, since I offered to do it, no harm, no foul.”

  Sam huffed out a laugh and shook his head.

  “You’re a lot braver than I ever gave you credit for. I kept thinking you were naïve, but maybe you just have balls of steel.”

  “How is that any sort of answer?” Bray asked.

  Sam looked at him. He looked at him for so long that Bray was sure he wasn’t going to get any answer at all.

  “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about Kiev. I’m not thrilled about that, but there it is.”

  The words shocked Bray enough that he opened his mouth to respond, but nothing came out.

  “What I said was true, however cruel. I don’t get laid a lot. Even rarer do I get to play with someone who fits me the way you do, with the same predilections.”

  Sam gave him a long look, as if he were looking for some sort of answer, but Bray didn’t know the question.

  “If that makes you uneasy,” Sam continued, “or if you don’t want to play again, we can always jump up and down on the bed and moan. But don’t pass up your first assignment. It can be just what it was last time—a little reprieve, a little fun and games.”

  All Bray could do was nod. Sam stood and went to the door. He did most of the talking when Jazz and Wade returned.

  Bray had a hard time finding any words. He was lightheaded. He was dizzy. He was hard as a rock.

  * * * *

  The trip to Malaga was night and day compared to his little adventure to Kiev. For one, they flew First Class, which was a far cry from his coach seat to Ukraine. They were already in character as boyfriends. Ax would be watching Bray ‘like a hawk with no bathroom breaks’, as he’d put it.

  Mitch would be watching Sam’s back. Mitch’s call sign was Flash because he was such a quick draw, and that relieved Bray.

  They were staying at Gran Hotel Miramar in Gibraltar, which was closer to Kozak’s new base of operations and the biggest drug port on the coast of Spain.

  The hotel suite was just as lavish and ostentatious as the one in Kiev, but much smaller and only had one bedroom. Kozak must have thought they were only bringing Ax, because he’d given them the suite next door, which also had only one bedroom.

  Bray felt the last night he and Sam had spent together hanging over their heads. If they were in a real relationship, he would need to address it. Even though they weren’t, he still wanted to talk about it.

  “We should probably get some dinner then head to bed. Ax and I will take turns at the door to your suite,” Mitch said.

  “I call dibs on first sleep,” Ax said. “Watch out for Hot Cakes there. He’s good at popping up where he’s not supposed to be.”

  “Shut up, prince of the johns.”

  Sam burst out laughing and Bray’s chest expanded. Sam was so serious that it brought Bray pleasure when he got him to loosen up or laugh. He’d called himself a workaholic. He wanted another temporary fling. Bray wouldn’t pass up the chance to be with Sam again, but he couldn’t stop himself from wishing for more.

  This time, he knew how hard it would be for him to walk away and how easy it would be for Sam. If Bray hadn’t needed to talk to Mase, he would have sat waiting in that safe house for Sam to return. He would have made a fool of himself, so it was probably for the best.

  By the time they ate and showered, separately, it was almost nine p.m. local time. Bray lingered in the shower. He was unsurprised to find Sam on his laptop, his back against the headboard.

  In a way, this trip was more awkward than the last, because now Bray knew what it was like to be with Sam. He knew what he wanted but he didn’t feel like he could ask for it. He found himself wishing he had a little liquid courage like he’d had the first time.

  “We need sleep, B. If you’re going to dilly-dally, you won’t get to come.” Sam didn’t look up from his laptop until the sentence hung between them.

  Bray licked his lips. His heart kicked up at the use of that nickname and he hurried to the bed. He dropped the boxers he’d been wearing and slid under the covers next to Sam, who set his laptop on the nightstand.

  He was glad he couldn’t say things like, “I missed you,” even though it was true. It would just make him seem more pathetic when Sam walked away this time.

  “We’ve had a long day. I need to get off and so do you. What do you want, B?”

  What does he want?

  “I know we need to get to sleep. If I get to pick, I just want vanilla tonight.”

  “Vanilla, huh?”

  Sam slid down so they were both lying on the same pillow, facing each other. Bray looked at Sam’s full lips and licked his own.

  “You want my mouth, B? You want me to blow you, or do you want sixty-nine?”

  “I want to taste your mouth,” Bray said. “I want to frot until I come all over your chest and I want to suck on your tongue while I do it.”

  Sam’s eyes fluttered closed as he groaned. They hadn’t kissed much the last time they’d been together. This time, Bray was looking at it like a smorgasbord. He was going to try to tick off some his bucket list items of Sam fantasies, all the things he wished they’d had time to try in Kiev.

  Bray rolled on top of Sam. They both moaned when their dicks pressed against each other. Sam’s was leaking just as much as Bray’s. That had Bray smiling as he leaned in and captured Sam’s mouth.

  Bray spread his legs and pressed his knees into the mattress at Sam’s hips to give himself more leverage as he began to hump in earnest. Sam thrust up against him but grunted in frustration when he couldn’t get enough purchase.

  Their movements became hurried and frantic. Bray was already close to the edge. Just as he felt himself building to the crest, the world toppled and Sam rolled them so Bray was on the bottom. He almost laughed at Sam being such a staunch top, but he sucked on Sam’s tongue instead.

  “Fuck, I’m already close,” Sam panted.

  “Me too. I need harder…just harder.”

  Bray felt Sam’s cock start to spurt, his jizz helping their cocks glide more fluidly against each other. Bray was almost there. He was so close. He just needed the tiniest bit more pressure. Trying to find purchase himself, Bray grabbed onto Sam’s ass and thrust up against him until he finally went over as well.

  It wasn’t until Bray let his head fall back onto the bed that he realized how tightly clenched Sam’s entire body was and where his hands were. He had a hand on each of Sam’s ass cheeks, and as he’d been pulling to get more leverage, he’d pulled Sam’s ass cheeks apart.

  Bray’s gaze snapped up to Sam’s. If he had to name an emotion Sam was feeling from the look in his eyes, he’d guess scared or confused, with maybe even a little surprise mixed in. Bray dropped his hands to the bed.

  When he opened his mouth to apologize, Sam pressed a finger to his lips. Bray had forgotten someone was listening in. The only sound in the room was their panted breaths echoing off the walls. After what seemed like an eternity, Sam lifted his hand from Bray’s mouth and hopped off the bed. He didn’t say a word as he hustled to the bathroom and shut the door.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Sam

  Fuckity, fuck, fuck, fu
ck. Sam paced back and forth in the bathroom a few times as the water ran in the sink. He was waiting for it to warm up so he could play the caring lover and go clean Bray up. But on the inside, he was panicking.

  Bray’s fingers near his hole had cut his orgasm short. His body had gone stiff as a board, but he hadn’t had even an echo of a flashback like he’d had in the safe house.

  Was he finally moving past what he’d done as a stupid teenager? Was it simply time, or was it Bray’s sweetness that had him giving more than he ever thought he could?

  He ran a washcloth under the warm water and went back into the bedroom. He wouldn’t find his answers tonight, so he cleaned Bray off and ignored the apology blaring from those blue eyes.

  They started the night out like they had every night in Kiev, Bray on his side of the bed and Sam on his. As Bray’s breath began to even out, Sam found himself anticipating the migration across the bed he knew was coming. Even though he was exhausted, he wasn’t able to find sleep until Bray had nuzzled against him. Sam turned so he was the big spoon. He wrapped an arm and leg around Bray and let sleep take him.

  * * * *

  “What time is your meeting?” Bray asked as they ate breakfast on the private balcony.

  “Not until two. Then we’re supposed to meet Kozak for dinner at seven.”

  “Let’s go for a walk along the beach. You have time.”

  Sam knew what was coming. It was going to be the most epic apology, the one that seemed to be bursting from all of Bray’s pores. He was such a sweet kid. He might be a soldier who could do what needed to be done, but Bray would never hurt someone emotionally—or sexually, a voice whispered.

  “Sure,” Sam said.

  He’d let Bray say his piece. It would make him feel better. After breakfast, they headed for the beach, Mitch and Ax in tow. As security detail, the two hung back.