by HJ Raine
Finally back to himself, though he still was gasping for breath, Ellis hugged Clark's arms. "Oh... shit. I'm..." And to Ellis' surprise, something about how Clark had looked at Ellis, how Clark had known, made him stop the apology in its tracks. "Th-thank you, Sarge. Thank you."
Clark relaxed, kissed Ellis' forehead, rolled, and came back with tissues. "You're very welcome," Clark said while Ellis wiped eyes and nose. "I wanted to be here to hold you if that happened, and thank you for not trying to apologize for the good that came out of our time together. Not sure I'm up to beating your ass twice tonight." Clark gave Ellis a grin and moved Ellis back into his embrace.
Ellis managed a watery chuckle against Clark's chest and closed his eyes at how amazing being held felt. "It was good, Sarge. All of it. Didn't want you to have to deal with my fucked up self after, though. I'm grateful you are, but I don't know why it was so bad this time."
Clark's sigh was long and heartfelt. "Because for maybe the first time ever, you were brave enough not just to ask for but also to accept everything you need." Clark rubbed Ellis' arm. "Won't be this crazy after every scene, but the first one where you overcome all the nasty voices telling you that you're not worth it or good enough or right to be where you are with witnesses to what you've mistaken as your weaknesses, and you take what you crave when it's offered from someone you trust who respects and even cares about you... yeah." Ellis heard and felt Clark swallow. "It hits harder than any physical implement of human destruction, that's for damned sure."
"Uh... oh..." Ellis kissed Clark's skin. "When you put it that way..."
Clark laughed quietly, and a few of Ellis' tears dripped onto Clark, but Ellis didn't begrudge them. "I... oh, God. Thank you for getting it, Clark, for getting me."
"You did incredible things tonight, soldier," Clark whispered with one last press of tender lips. "Don't ever forget it."
***
A cannon blast interrupted Ellis' musings. He looked up to see a huge cloud of burnt cordite and Tim on the ground. A goddamned CZ 550 stopper rifle, chambered for a fucking .585 Gehringer wildcat cartridge was upended, off its tripod legs, and on the floor of Tim's lane.
"Damn it, Akkard. You get to patch up the concrete bunker!" Miss Maggie screeched, but she was drowned out by laughter. Tim rubbed his shoulder with a grimace and gave Miss Maggie a sheepish grin.
Everyone else had stopped firing and had started gathering up their stuff, so Ellis took the opportunity to stand and adjust his hard-on after his little trip down memory lane. Later that night Ellis had been woken by slow caresses. While Ellis moaned, Clark had lain on Ellis' back, clutching his shoulders, and had taken him slow and sweet, all the while telling Ellis how amazing he'd been. They never got to the flogger that night, but they more than made up for it later.
Ellis had never regretted telling Clark everything in the bar. Even after Clark had found Daniel, and to everyone's surprise, declared himself Daniel's submissive with a collar and everything, Clark had still taken care of Ellis. When Chance, Tim, or Lucian weren't available to play with Ellis, Clark vetted other candidates for Ellis' dominants. All the men had been attentive, following many of the same rules Clark had set down for Ellis in the beginning.
It was only years later that Ellis realized Clark could have gotten anyone to confess what they wanted and taken anyone at the club or otherwise. Which meant that Clark had wanted Ellis all along. That thought still humbled Ellis and always helped shut down that awful voice from his past.
Daniel walked up behind Clark to hug him, and Ellis saw how Clark leaned into Daniel's embrace. Seeing the ease on Clark's face when Daniel murmured in his ear, Ellis smiled and knew that Clark was safe with Daniel the way Clark made everyone around him feel safe. When Clark whispered something that made the Professor grin, Ellis found himself hoping that Daniel was smart enough never to use a gag on Clark. The man was just too good with his mouth.
Both Clark and Daniel's intent gazes turned on Ellis, and Ellis froze, feeling like a rabbit caught staring at mated wolves. He looked behind himself, didn't see anyone else, and swung back to a smiling Clark bearing down on him. Daniel stayed behind, helping Tim wrestle the elephant gun into its case.
"You busy tonight?" Clark asked Ellis when he got close enough. Mutely Ellis shook his head.
"Want to come over for dinner?"
"Sure, sir, I'm pretty hungry," Ellis said earnestly, thinking only of Daniel's cooking. Ellis respected Daniel too much even to dream of anything else other than sharing a meal. "I've got to sweep up casings first, but I'll be happy to come over after."
"Fantastic." Clark slung an arm around Ellis' shoulder. He smelled so good; like gunpowder, sweat, and aftershave. "I'll admit to ulterior motives." Clark's sly grin made Ellis' heart stutter. "Professor's been making noises about wanting to know more about me and my golden days as a Dom." Clark shrugged casually. "Figured there wasn't anyone better to talk to than you, soldier."
"Oh. Okay." Talk. Ellis' heart started again. It'd be easy to talk with Clark there.
"Good man." Clark leaned closer. "And I think he might want a demonstration, too, so if you're on board, soldier, come prepared."
"Oh." Ellis gulped in surprise and then wild hope. "Oh... y-yeah! Of course. I'll be there, Sarge."
Clark grinned, impish, honest, and open as he'd never quite been when Ellis had first met him. "Perfect." Clark kissed Ellis' temple. "We'll work it out when you get there. See you tonight, soldier."
Clark let Ellis go and walked backward, light on his feet. Ellis smiled. "Sir, yes sir."
End.
If you liked this book you might like: Hearts Under Fire, Winter's Knight, "Luck in the Making," "Swing Shift," and "The New Deal."
