by April Kelley
“Hey, V. What’s the punishment for having a big mouth?” Even as Jalen asked the question, his focus never left Casey, not even when the flames were high enough to conceal most of his body. “In basic, I mean.”
Instead of answering directly, Virion yelled, “Christian, what do team leaders do when a soldier gets mouthy?”
Christian rolled his eyes. “Makes me run laps. Solo. Fucking boring. I wish you’d pick something else.”
“That’s not as much fun.” Virion looked up at Jalen. “It’s not any different in basic.”
Jalen nodded and sighed. “Well, Casey will be in hella shape by the time he’s out.”
“I heard that, and I will remind you that I haven’t said a word about Uri practically dry humping Virion on the blanket or you feeling up Markie.”
“Oh my god. We were just kissing.” Uri’s exasperation did nothing to alleviate Jalen’s worry.
He was beginning to think maybe he really did need to see a therapist. He’d thought mating would help fix his issues, as if mating were a magic potion that would suddenly cure him of all his emotional baggage. It hadn’t worked that way, at least not yet.
His gaze met Rico’s. Rico was upset about something. He could see it in the set of his shoulders.
“Rico needs us.” Jalen set Markie on his feet and stood, lacing their fingers together as he walked the short distance to get to Rico.
The entire time he could feel Markie’s body shaking.
The second they got within touching distance, Markie went right to Rico, wrapping his arms around his waist. “Are you leaving?”
“No, love. Not for a while.” Rico met Jalen’s gaze over the top of Markie’s head. “The human army has video of me on their property and you, although you’re human and part of the construction crew, so your presence is explainable. Mine isn’t. The colonel has to do some fine talking, I guess.”
Alpha Delco nodded. “It’s a problem, but because Jalen made that phone call, it gets us off the hook a bit and explains why we sent you, even if it is a lie.”
“So I’m stuck on the island for a while. A least long enough for the colonel to talk the humans out of an all-out war.” The information obviously wasn’t what Rico wanted to hear, but Markie sagged in Rico’s arms.
Jalen’s eyes widened. “They’d go to war over what happened?”
“Let’s hope not, baby.”
“Well, I for one am glad you get to stay for a while.” Markie laid his head against Rico’s chest and closed his eyes.
Alpha Delco smiled at Markie and then patted Rico on the back. “I’ll catch up with you later, man.”
“Thanks for letting me know.”
Delco nodded and walked over to the party.
Jalen stepped up to Rico’s side and put his arms around both of them. He leaned in and kissed Rico on the cheek. “I know you want to go undercover. It makes you happy. I’m sorry you can’t for a while.”
“You make me happy, baby. You and Markie.”
“But what if you never get to go out again? Will we be enough?”
“It won’t be forever, but it’s enough to chase you both around the café for a while. I’ll occupy my time in other ways.” Rico gripped Jalen’s ass cheek and wiggled his eyebrows. “Now stop worrying.”
Yeah, Jalen needed help with that last thing. He’d talk to them about it later. He’d enjoy the party and his mates. It would be a while before he had his family all together in one place again, and he wouldn’t ruin that. “I’ll try not to.”
Markie leaned over and kissed Jalen on one of his mating marks. The feeling of his lips on the scar made him shiver, the lust working through his body. “I got ideas on how you can relax.”
About the Author
Living in Southwest Michigan, April resides with her husband and two kids. She has been an avid reader for several years. Ever since she wrote her first story at the age of ten, the characters in her head still won’t stop telling their stories. If April isn’t reading or writing, she can be found outside playing with the animals or taking a long walk in the woods.
If you wish to contact her, email [email protected].
Please visit her website at authoraprilkelley.com
