Line of Fire

by Anderson, Simone

  “I’m going to get cleaned up, don’t go anywhere,” Hayden said, rolling off the bed.

  Christian shook his head. Sated, he didn’t feel like going anywhere. Taking a deep breath, he looked around the room and at the piles of clothes strewn about. He should get up and at least fold them, so he could find everything in the morning and move his weapon within reach; instead, he closed his eyes and burrowed into the covers.

  “Your turn,” Hayden said, seconds before the bed dipped. “Clean towel on the counter for you.”

  Christian nodded appreciatively and slid out of bed.

  “You know, you owe me one.” Hayden stretched out and grazed his fingers along the hip and butt cheek, sensitizing the skin.

  “Owe you one what?” Christian asked, staring down at Hayden, whose fingers still hadn’t retreated.

  “An orgasm. You came twice tonight, so you still owe me one.”

  “Hmm, I do, do I?” Christian asked playfully, careful not to dislodge the digits.

  “That’s the way I see it.”

  “We have all weekend, let’s see if you can catch up.” Christian bent and flicked one of Hayden’s nipples before turning and heading for the bathroom. Hayden groaned and muttered something under his breath. Christian closed the door behind him and swore. Why in the hell had he said that? Stay the whole weekend? Shit. Turning the shower on and climbing in, he tried to figure out a way out of the mess he’d created, while simultaneously trying to not imagine a naked and wet Hayden in the shower with him, and the sex that should accompany such an occurrence.

  Chapter Two

  Hayden reached blindly for the phone, pulling it to his ear as his body came alert. The digital display on the clock read two forty-three. He and Christian had fallen asleep after a round of sex in the shower followed by another one in the bed. Untangling himself from limbs and blankets, he snapped awake as he recognized the number.

  “Medema,” he said answering the phone. A firm hand rubbed the small spot of his back drawing his attention to Christian. The look in his lover’s dark eyes told him as much as words could that Christian knew whom he was talking to and what was going on.

  “Report to base, now,” the voice on the other end said.

  “Yes sir,” Hayden replied squeezing Christian’s hand. He’d been looking forward to spending several more hours with his lover before they separated.

  Hayden hung up the phone just as Christian’s rang. Raising an eyebrow as Christian dug for his phone and had a similar conversation, Hayden swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood.

  “Looks like it’s time to go to work,” Christian said, smiling.

  “Enough time for a shower and a shave before we have to be on base.”

  “That could be fun,” Christian said suggestively, following Hayden across the bed.

  “As wonderful as that sounds if we take a shower together, we’ll be late,” Hayden laughed. “I’ll take a rain check though. Something to look forward to.”

  Christian pouted, pulling a new round of laughter from Hayden and kissed the other man quickly.

  “I’m glad you’re amused.”

  Hayden smiled, shook his head and stepped forward rubbing his hands over Christian’s body. “Slightly. However, while I wouldn’t mind going to hell and back still feeling your cock buried in my ass, what I doubt neither of is ready for is to explain to anyone why we’re late.”

  “No, I’m not.”

  “Okay, then. Go ahead and use the bathroom first. Do you have to go home first?”

  Christian shook his head. “Thanks and no, I have everything I need in my car.”

  Thirty-five minutes later they pulled into the parking lot outside of the array of buildings set aside as the SEALs base of operations. Hayden swallowed all trace of emotion when Christian parked several spots away from him, got out, grabbed his gear and headed inside. They were back to lying about who they slept with. Snarling, Hayden stepped out of his truck, slamming the door behind him. Unsure of why it bothered him this time. He was unwilling to look at the reasons too closely.

  “Hey, what the hell?”

  Hayden turned to find his best friend and dive buddy Brian O’Shaunessy walking up to him.

  “What do you mean?” Hayden asked, opening the back of his Dodge Durango.

  “The text message saying that you would be busy all weekend.”

  Hayden shrugged. “An opportunity arose and it was one I needed to take.” He’d sent the text while Christian had been in the shower. A weekend having some of the best sex of his life with his lover was better than beer and pool at the bar or playing video games with Brian for the rest of the weekend. Even if he’d already agreed to both.

  “I hope it was worth it.”

  Hayden smiled, allowing the memories of sex with Christian to surface momentarily before clamping down on them and turning his attention back to his friend. He’d known when he sent the message that Brian would rib him. But he still couldn’t find it in himself to feel guilty for canceling gaming plans to spend time in Christian’s arms.

  “I hope he was worth it,” Brian chuckled softly.

  Hayden shrugged and grinned. Christian was worth it, he just wasn’t willing to tell Brian that. He and Brian had met during BUDs and his dive buddy was one of the small group of people who knew he was gay. At first, he’d had to lie in order to avoid problems with the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy. The repeal didn’t mean he was safe, however. He was a member of the SEALs, and he wasn’t sure other special ops personnel, let alone civilians or other military personnel, were completely ready for a gay SEAL.

  “Who the fuck did you spend the weekend with? Did you even leave the bedroom?” Brian asked, grinning.

  “What makes you think I spent the weekend with anyone?” Hayden asked opening the back of the truck.

  “Seriously? That’s your answer? First, I called several times over the weekend to see if you wanted to go to Hell’s Dune and you never answered or called me back. And second, you’ve got that half-dazed look Smitty had when Lisa said she’d marry him, and again when he found out he was going to be a father—you know, that pure-bliss higher-than-a-kite look.” Brian smirked. “So, who is he?”

  “I—I—” Hayden started before he shook his head. How was he supposed to answer that question? Even with the hell they’d been through together, he still wasn’t entirely comfortable talking about his sex life. Especially when the man of his desires and weekend fantasy was a fellow SEAL.

  “I’m going to take a wild guess it wasn’t a woman or even two.”

  “Ah, no.”

  “So, who is this guy?” Brian demanded, lifting his pack. “I’ll tell you about Alexa in excruciating detail.”

  “Dude, cruel and unusual punishment,” Hayden answered pulling his gear out of the truck. “Why do you want to know?”

  “Because he has the rare ability to break your concentration, miss pool at Hell’s Dune and make you cancel standing plans.”

  Hayden shrugged and partially admitted defeat. “He’s just a guy I met at a club.”

  “Just a guy my ass. Does club boy have a name?”

  Boy was not a word he would use anywhere in the description of the tall, muscular body that had held him gently after fucking him rough and hard. No, boy was definitely not something he was would ever use to describe his weekend lover. Hayden swallowed, willing the images away. Sporting a woody in proximity of his straight best friend was beyond weird and was high on his top ten list of things never to do.

  “I can’t tell you,” Hayden replied, finally. “He’s not out and asked me not to tell anyone who he was.”

  It was almost the truth. Christian wasn’t in denial, he wasn’t out and while they’d never discussed telling others or not, Christian had agreed immediately that he didn’t want to explain where they’d been. Although Hayden knew Brian could and would keep a secret, it wasn’t his place to tell. He trusted the man with his life. Brian was more understanding than most, a
nd there was a reason behind it, Hayden was sure of that, but it was one Brian didn’t want to share, and he wasn’t willing to push for. Brian’s word was enough for him.

  “Fair enough.”

  Hayden took a deep breath and forced memories of Christian into the recesses of his mind. He needed to get his head back were it belonged. He knew as well as the next man that not being fully aware of your surroundings was the fastest, easiest and stupidest way to get yourself killed. Or worse, one of your buddies.

  “Military or civilian?”

  “What?”

  “The guy you were with—is he military or civilian?”

  “If I tell you, will you stop pestering me?”

  “Depends on your answer,” Brian replied.

  Hayden blew out a breath. “Not a civilian.”

  “In the closet and in the military?”

  Hayden nodded.

  “Do I know him?”

  “Brian, he’s military and isn’t ready for anyone to know he’s gay. Back off it,” Hayden bit out. “Damn, you’re worse than a girl sometimes.”

  “Hey, that hurts! Are you ever going to tell people?”

  “Maybe, when it seems safe.”

  “Dude, don’t ask don’t tell isn’t in effect anymore. Hell, we all went to the diversity and tolerance briefings. Besides, the crew knows.”

  “Yeah, that was an accident. And we both know that if someone on the teams hated gays it would be relatively easy to get rid of them, us. Make it look like a training accident.”

  “Easy to kill a SEAL? No way! Besides, no one is stupid enough to throw their career away like that.”

  “It would be easy enough for another SEAL. Never under estimate the power of hatred,” Hayden answered. He knew of two men that had openly let their hatred of gays and lesbians in the military be known. Alcohol had a tendency to do things like that.

  “You almost sound like Yoda.”

  Hayden shrugged.

  “You’re talking about Walters. He was drunk and pissed off. His old lady went on some religious bend and refused to sleep with him in any sense of the word. Threatening to take herself and the kids to some religious center so they can become more God-like without the evil of the world and the military corrupting them,” Brian said, dropping his gear on the ground and leaning against the car parked next to Hayden’s truck.

  “Would you bet your life on it? My life?” Hayden demanded. Every gay man knew someone who’d been threatened, attacked or killed by bigots. “And that doesn’t explain Seiboweitz.”

  “You don’t know if he’s like that. And usually he’s drunk or working on getting there. Fucking lushes, the both of them. And I know for a fact a couple of times, his girlfriends have left him. Both times for civilian guys.”

  Hayden shook his head. “Since he’s always saying how fags are ruining the military, the country and the world in general and how none would ever make it as a SEAL, not to mention that the only good fag is a dead one, you’ll forgive me if I choose not to take that particular risk.”

  “Maybe he’s in denial about himself. Doesn’t know who he truly is.”

  “At puberty while you were checking out girls, I already knew I preferred boys. I spent the rest of high school coming to terms with that. With the fact that I wasn’t normal.”

  “Hey Medema!”

  Hayden frowned as Ryland Seiboweitz made his way over to them.

  “Seiboweitz,” Hayden said and focused on checking that he had everything he could possibly need with him on their up coming mission.

  Ryland Seiboweitz nodded at Brian and hitched his pack higher up on his shoulder. “Rumor has it you were at Diversions. Dancing and kissing more than one man.” Contempt laced the man’s voice. “So, are you the woman in a relationship or is the other guy?”

  “Seiboweitz are you that stupid? How the fuck did you make it through training? We’re leaving for a mission to God knows where for God knows how long and you choose now to bring up a rumor? Does it matter who I sleep with? Who any of us sleeps with as long as we do our fucking jobs?” Hayden demanded. How in the hell had this asshole found out? Was he referring to this past Friday or another day? Christian was the only SEAL he’d sent there. He looked. He always did. He hadn’t seen anyone he knew from the base. And unlike some of the other clubs in the area, this one was for men only. Hayden mentally swore. The answers didn’t really matter. He was tired of lying. Tired of hiding who he was. It wasn’t like he wanted to flaunt it in front of everyone, he simply wanted to be himself. His real self. Taking a deep breath, he made his decision and prayed the cost wouldn’t be his life. “Yeah, asshole, I was at Diversions. And yeah, I was kissing a guy. Danced with one too. What the fuck difference does it make on how I do my job? Your comfort is not my problem.”

  “There is no room in the team for gays.”

  Before Hayden could act, Brian slammed Seiboweitz against the side of a nearby truck. “There’s no room in any team or any military for the kind of shit you’re spouting. Which, by the way, is not only against the rules now, but could very well get you killed.”

  “You the one he was kissing?”

  Brian shook his head. “Nope, but one of my best friends is gay, and I know for a fact the brothers of at least two of the men in this platoon are gay. Grow up. Lose the hatred and insecurity or get the fuck off this team. There is no room for that shit here.”

  “Hey! Break it up!” Several team members called out rushing to intervene.

  “There are fucking homos everywhere. Even on the fucking team,” Seiboweitz snarled.

  “Who the fuck cares? Get your gear and get your ass back inside,” someone yelled.

  “Watch your back faggot,” Seiboweitz growled. “Never know what can happen on a mission.”

  Hayden refused to let the insult bother him and leaned into the other man’s personal space. “Try it,” he challenged, “and I’ll fucking bury your ass. I’m faster and a better shot. Who I fuck doesn’t change that.”

  Hayden let out a deep breath as the small group retreated inside. Seiboweitz was going to be trouble. The niggling feeling that let him know when danger was approaching or something was off, sparked. Just enough to cause wariness. He waited several moments before venturing into the briefing room. Like it or not, he was outted.

  “One of us?” Brian asked as they moved inside to the briefing room.

  “Pay attention to the mission,” Hayden shot back. That Brian had figured that much out, hadn’t really surprised him. At this point, he wouldn’t be surprised if Brian narrowed the possibility of who it was to one of the men in the room. Hayden had hoped, however, to keep that much from his friend until after they’d returned from at least this mission.

  “Well I’ll be a son of a bitch. I guess that would explain things.”

  “Drop it Bri, or I just might go into details about what happened. Vivid details.”

  “That’s low.”

  “Fair play.” Hayden shrugged.

  He swore, walked into the eggshell white briefing room and dropped into the first open seat he found as they waited for the briefing to start. Brian took one next to him and shot him a questioning look. Hayden bit his cheek to keep from swearing again, forcing himself to keep his gaze neutral as Brian scanned the room. One slip up on either his or Christian’s parts and Brian would know in half of a heartbeat exactly who Hayden had spent the weekend with.

  Hayden had used spare moments to bring himself up to date with the political situation. What he found had shifted his understanding for the frenzied pace and the request for the SEALs to extract the young man. The twenty-year-old Mikhail Dombrowski, code named Peter Pan, was thought to be the heir apparent for the new principality of Argyzchry in Eastern Europe. The official announcement would wait until after a long-planned holiday in Rio de Janeiro. But he’d disappeared seven days after arrival.

  Three days ago, twenty-four hours after Dombrowski had disappeared, the bodies of two of the young man’s bodyguards were
discovered. A grainy, thirty-second video burned onto a CD had been included on their persons. Without knowing exactly how the video was attached to the body, Hayden was certain that it was painful and obvious. Brazilian drug kingpin Raphael De Luisa, also known as O Caudilho or the Warlord, had later been identified as the responsible party. His move was meant to ensure that the Argyzchrian government didn’t take a similar stance as their European and American allies on drugs and dealing with drug dealers. The team had watched the short video and the several video clips sent later proving the young man was still alive, dissecting every frame for any clue that could help them. The successive footage showed an increasingly dirty, scared and injured man. Four days at the hands of the drug lord already, the SEALs could only hope it was still a rescue mission when they got there.

  Plans had been discussed and a secondary extraction point and time were agreed on. The normal laughing and joking that occurred between the men was absent, everyone’s focus was on the upcoming mission as they secured weapons, ammo, MREs, batteries and night vision goggles before checking and double-checking everything. They had forty-eight hours from insertion to extraction and the intelligence they had was sketchy at best.

  De Luisa’s organization was one that no one, including the DEA, the CIA or the Brazilian authorities had been able successfully infiltrate for any extended period of time. Upon discovery, the agent or police officer was tortured almost beyond recognition and thrown on the steps of the Rio police department or the U.S. Consulate. Blowing out a breath, Hayden checked his stash of weapons. It would have to be enough. There was more than one kid’s life at stake, a whole lot of lives and a shit ton of diplomatic consequences. Diplomacy was breaking down and there wasn’t extra time for more intelligence or training.

  Chapter Three

  Christian crouched in the dense undergrowth, his weapon trained on the armed men passing ten feet in front of him. The “minimal” patrols mentioned were frequent and well trained. Anger surged through him at the shoddy intelligence. It didn’t matter. They still had a mission to complete without the benefit of time to do proper reconnaissance. Now all they could hope was that the rest of the information wasn’t as bad.