A Fighting Man

by Sandrine Gasq-Dion

  I stood up when I heard the elevator bell and the sound of voices headed my way. Blaine came into the office with Spencer at his side. It was so cute to see them together. I had gotten a front row seat to watch their love story unfold.

  “Hey, Casper.” Spencer winked at me. “How are you? My fiancé driving you crazy yet?”

  “Nope, but these pictures will.” I held up the folder and sighed.

  Spencer sighed theatrically. “Oh, no! Staring at hot guys all day? You poor thing.” He mussed my hair and I batted his hand away.

  “So, the meeting is coming up soon, eh?” Spencer kissed Blaine on the cheek.

  “Yeah, it is, and I don’t know what we’re going to do if they don’t settle on one guy. We’ve been through hundreds of pictures! I swear I don’t know what the hell they’re looking for.” Blaine sighed in exasperation.

  “We’ll find him, boss,” I smiled.

  “Well, I’ll leave you two to it. I’ll try to come by later with lunch.” Spencer stroked Blaine’s cheek and kissed him.

  I felt weird standing there watching them. They were so in love.

  I’d been alone for so long, I think my body craved attention. I’d given it my fair share, but someone else doing it would be nice. I almost gasped at the thought. Someone else? I hadn’t wanted affection since…well, since Mason.

  “Casper? Are you all right?”

  I looked up to see Blaine and Spencer eyeing me warily.

  “Yes, I’m fine,” I said with a grin. “Let’s get to work.”

  Blaine moaned.

  “By the way, I heard from Slater.” I watched their faces closely. “Any idea how he got my e-mail address?”

  Blaine looked at the ceiling, and Spencer joined him. I crossed my arms and glared at them.

  “Um, it’s on the website?” Blaine offered.

  “That’s my work e-mail, not my personal one.”

  “I have no clue,” Spencer said seriously, smiling at Blaine.

  “I hate you both.” I narrowed my eyes at them.

  “We love you, though.” Blaine put his arms out. “Come here.”

  “Go away.” I laughed and headed toward Blaine’s office with the folder.

  “Have fun!” Spencer called out.

  “Pfft.”

  Slater

  “Yo, Cassidy! You planning on taking all the hot water?”

  I looked over my shoulder to see one of my battle buddies, Ramos, smiling at me with his lopsided grin. The women went crazy for him, don’t ask me why. I narrowed my eyes at him.

  “I’m contemplating whether or not to shave my nads, asswipe.”

  Ramos chuckled.

  “You got crabs again, Cassidy?” he snickered.

  “Fuck no, thank God!”

  I had to laugh. I’d gotten the little fuckers when the team had gone to Thailand very early in my career, during our first deployment. I had always thought of crabs as little crustaceans hanging from pubes—until I actually got them. Worse itching of my fucking life. I had shaved my pubes right off and powdered my dick and balls.

  “Why don’t you use that shit that just melts the hair away?” Ramos stood against the wall and crossed his arms.

  I almost gave him my look of horror. I had used that shit about a year back. If I thought an itching sac was bad, a burning one was so much worse. I had followed the directions, but I was in for a nasty surprise. Not only did it burn my asshole, but I could have sworn the skin on my sac melted right off. I was curled in the fetal position with a bag of frozen peas gingerly applied to my flaming asshole and balls as I cried for the good Lord to take me swiftly.

  I raised a brow at Ramos instead. “Have you used it?”

  “Nah, my girl likes me hairy.”

  “Well, if she ever changes her mind, you should use it. I know chicks loved licking my balls when I was shaved,” I added. I’d been with men lately, but women had indeed been enthusiastic about the lack of hair. I really hoped Ramos would do it. He’d pulled so many damn pranks on me; I owed him a good one.

  “Yeah?” His brows furrowed.

  “Oh hell yeah! Chicks dig soft balls.”

  Besides, I owed him for the he/she in Thailand, and I finally had a chance to get him good.

  “Maybe,” Ramos waved a hand at me. “So, you ’bout done?”

  “Yeah, gimme five.”

  I stepped out of the shower facility and was immediately sweating. Damn, the sandbox was always so fucking hot. Our Containerized Housing Unit, or CHU for short, was just as sweltering if not more.

  I threw on a uniform and jogged to the chow hall. Most of the guys were already there. It was steak and shrimp night. Nobody missed that. I grabbed a tray and piled it high, finding my guys; I sat down at the end of the table and attacked my food.

  The conversation centered on our last jaunt into town. Ramadi was unstable even now; you never knew what you were walking into. I got an elbow to my side and then Ramos pushed me across the bench.

  “Asshole,” I muttered, stuffing a shrimp in my mouth.

  “So, leave, huh?” Ramos grabbed his steak with both hands and bit into it.

  “Yep, thirty long days of peace and quiet.”

  “Damn, Cassidy!” Ramos spluttered. Pieces of steak hit the table.

  I grinned. “Use it or lose it, my friend.” I shoved another shrimp in my mouth triumphantly.

  “What the fuck ya gonna do for that long?”

  I smiled wickedly. I knew exactly what I’d be doing, and with whom. Casper Kennedy. I was going to take him out on a date if it was the last thing I did. I have no idea why he affects me the way he does, but from the moment I set eyes on him, I was a goner. Oh, he pretended he didn’t want me, but I knew he did. It was the way his eyes looked me over, the way his hands shook slightly when I came close to him. I knew because it was the same way I felt around him.

  “I’m going to take long walks on the beach and scorching bubble baths.”

  “Ya gonna catch a chick flick, too?” Ramos laughed.

  “Maybe,” I shrugged. “I figured I’d try on my mom’s dresses and high heels while I’m at it.”

  Ramos leaned back and eyed me from toes to head. I smiled broadly as he raised a brow at me.

  “I can’t see you in high heels.”

  “But you can see me in a dress?”

  “I hope it’s Vera Wang.”

  I chuckled as one of the few females at our camp walked by us.

  “I wouldn’t wear anything else, Harris!” I sing-songed. “I got class out my ass.”

  “Cassidy here is going on leave for thirty days,” Ramos announced.

  “Damn, Cassidy!” Harris exclaimed. “How in the hell did you pull that off?”

  “I’m on a mission,” I winked.

  Sirens went off and we all flew off the bench. Ramos was right behind me as I ran to our CHU for my weapon and gear. The first round came over the wall and obliterated the media trailer, the second hit the infirmary. Shouting and sounds of gunfire erupted all around us. We ran to meet up with other soldiers by the front gate. Our commanding officer was there already yelling orders and as soon as we heard what he wanted, we were out.

  The full moon illuminated our surroundings as we crept through the desert. We kept low with our night vision goggles on waiting to see where the enemy fire was coming from. A shot rang out and we dropped to our bellies.

  “You see that?” Ramos whispered.

  “Yep.”

  Another RPG round flew out into the dark and this time, we pinpointed them. Ramos radioed back the location and then all hell broke loose. Sounds of automatic weapons filled the desert and I fired back. Explosions rocked the earth beneath me as the camp began firing at the location we’d given them. We kept firing until smoke choked the air and quiet fell upon the desert. We stayed in stealth mode until we got the all clear from the surrounding teams and the spotter.

  As we came back inside camp, medical units were already assessing the injured. I glanced
over at Ramos to see him frowning. This wasn’t the first time—nor would it be the last—we would be attacked. I was looking forward to getting the fuck outta Dodge.

  * * * *

  I peered around the CHU, making sure I had everything I needed. I was finally going home. I’d already had the ‘Later, dude’ party at the chow hall and was now on my way to the airfield where I would sit for hours on lockdown before I finally caught a flight out of the hell-hole I was in. I wouldn’t miss it, that was for sure.

  I’d had way too many close calls in the years I’d been in the military. I kept the stories to myself; my mother would have a heart attack if she knew how much danger I faced every day. I hadn’t told her exactly what day I was coming home; I wanted it to be a surprise. And I was looking forward to seeing my brother in love and holding my niece. Victoria was getting bigger and I wanted the hugs while I could get them.

  I checked my paperwork for the hundredth time as I was escorted to the waiting area. I prayed there wouldn’t be a freak sandstorm that kept me grounded for days on end. I leaned against the wall and closed my eyes.

  Home.

  An ache formed in my chest as I thought about all the things I missed about New York, Casper Kennedy being at the top of that list. Everyone I knew had someone to go home to, a boyfriend/girlfriend/spouse. I was starting to think I was ready for that.

  “Sergeant?”

  I opened my eyes.

  “It’s time.”

  * * * *

  “Get out of the way, asshole!”

  “Ah, New York.” I smiled as I walked through the baggage claim at La Guardia.

  I was in a good mood and no one was going to wreck it. I’d had a few hours to kill in Dallas and had spent most of it in the USO section of the airport. I’d had quite a few people thank me for my service as well.

  Gotta love Dallas.

  A loud whistle pierced the air and I turned to see my brother, Spencer, with his fiancé.

  “Slater!”

  I grinned as Spencer enveloped me in a huge hug.

  “Big bro!” I squeezed him back.

  “God, it is so good to see you!” Spencer enthused.

  I eyed Blaine with a grin. “This seems like déjà vu.”

  Before Spencer and Blaine had gotten together, he had brought Blaine with him to the airport as a buffer the first time I’d come home. It was no secret Spencer and I clashed about my service in the military, and he figured we’d be civil if Blaine was there. I think his objections were more out of concern than anything else.

  I saw it then and I was looking at it now: Spencer and Blaine were made for each other. Didn’t mean I couldn’t fuck with Blaine.

  Blaine put his arms out. “Come here.”

  I hugged him tightly.

  “How have ya been soon-to-be-brother-in-law?”

  “I’m good,” Blaine nodded. “Up to my eyeballs in work on this Rush campaign.”

  “Spencer told me about it. Still no dice, huh?”

  “I don’t know what the hell they want.” Blaine sighed in exasperation.

  Spencer took my arm with a smile. “You came earlier than we were expecting.”

  “Don’t you love surprises?” I batted my eyelashes at him.

  “I do,” Spencer nodded. “What are your plans?”

  “I’m going to Mom’s first. She wants me to stay with her.”

  “Okay, Blaine and I can drop you off.”

  “I want to see Valerie this weekend.”

  “I can do that, too,” Spencer hugged me again. “I missed you, man.”

  “Missed you, too. Don’t tell Casper I’m here, please.”

  “Why?” Blaine asked.

  “I have a few surprises for him.”

  “Well, let’s get out of here before we can’t.”

  My mom went nuts. Seriously. I hadn’t even made it through the front door and she was on me. I had missed my parents more than I realized as I stood there getting squished. She was sniffling in my uniform and I held her close.

  “Mom, it’s okay, I’m home now.”

  “You’ve gotten so big.” She dried her eyes.

  “What did you do? Work out every day?” my father asked.

  “When I could—I have to keep up this fantastic physique.” I winked.

  “Well, go unpack and then come on down for dinner.” My mom smiled at me through her tears.

  I trudged up the stairs and opened the door to my room. It looked the same as it always did. I thought for sure my parents would have turned it into a wedding room or something. Even though they were retired from being wedding planners, they still helped out now and then with up-and-coming companies. Posters adorned my walls, mostly half naked supermodels. I still found women attractive, but I leaned more towards men. Well, one man at the moment.

  I sat down and flipped open my carry-on. My laptop was firing up as I put some of my clothes away. New York in late May was already hot, but I hated wearing shorts. I clicked on a file I’d made and opened it. Casper Kennedy, born in Junction City, Kansas. Twenty-five years old. There wasn’t much else available about him, really. He’d deactivated his Facebook, Myspace and any other social media account he had about three years ago. I’d done some snooping, and asked a couple of friends of mine to pull up any info on the guy. His parents were still living in Kansas.

  I heard my mom calling me from downstairs and shut the laptop down. I couldn’t wait to have a home-cooked meal. She was setting the table as I came down and I grabbed the plates from her.

  “Thank you, Slater.” She kissed my cheek.

  “No problem.” I smiled, as I set the plates down.

  “Do you plan on going out to the city?”

  “Yes.”

  Mom put her hands on her hips and glared at me.

  “You’re not going to torture that young man, are you?”

  “Define ‘torture’.” I grinned.

  “Raquel, leave the boy alone,” my father piped up.

  “I don’t want you messing with Casper’s head. I know you, Slater.”

  “I like him, Mom, okay?” I huffed as we sat down.

  “You do? I don’t want Casper to end up another conquest. He’s a very sweet boy.”

  I glared at my mother. “Really, Mom? Thanks so much for your high opinion of me.”

  “Slater, you can’t deny your track record.” My father pointed at me with his fork.

  “No, I can’t, but Casper’s different.”

  “How so?”

  “He’s really smart, and funny. He’s devoted to his friends and his job; I admire that kind of loyalty. I find him interesting.” I reclined in my chair with a smile. “And he’s so damned adorable.”

  “Isn’t he older than you, sweetheart?”

  “Yes, by one year, Mom. It’s not like he’s cradle robbing me,” I snorted.

  “Nothing wrong with an older man.” My father winked at my mother.

  “Ew, just…no.” I pointed at them.

  “So what are your plans tomorrow?” my father asked.

  “I’m sending Casper a gift.” I rolled my fork between my fingers. “I don’t want him to forget me.”

  “I don’t think that’s possible, son.” My father laughed.

  “He doesn’t even know I’m back yet, and I’m going to keep it that way for a few more days. I’ve planned things for those days and I want to see how it goes over.”

  “I hope you know what you’re doing.” My mother patted my hand.

  “Me, too.”

  I helped Mom wash up and then headed back to my room after dinner. It was going on eleven and I hadn’t realized how long I had been sitting there talking to them. I was exhausted, mentally and physically.

  But I had one more thing to do.

  The cursor blinked at me as I waited to see if Casper would come on. A green light appeared and I almost shouted in triumph. I typed immediately.

  Captain America: Well hellloo.

  CK: Shit.

  C
aptain America: Well that’s less than enthusiastic.

  CK: I have a lot of work to do tonight, Slater. I really can’t afford to spend time turning you down.

  Captain America: Then don’t.

  I swear I could almost hear Casper sighing on his end. I felt kind of bad for the guy. He must be stressed out at work. Blaine seemed overwhelmed with the campaign, maybe Casper was, too?

  Captain America: I wish my buddy Ramos was in the States; he’d be a good guy for your campaign.

  CK: At this point I’m contemplating Europe.

  Captain America: For a guy?

  CK: No, vacation.

  I chuckled.

  Captain America: Goodnight, Casper and good luck.

  I signed off before he could reply.

  Casper

  I swear, I only closed my eyes for a second and then the alarm was going off. I woke up with a hard-on from hell and tried for over five minutes to pee. I gulped down an energy drink and stuffed a piece of toast in my mouth as I walked out the door.

  The city was muggy and already alive with people. By the time I got to work, I was already sweating. Blaine had already arrived; I could hear him on the phone in his office.

  The morning flew by and we ate lunch on the floor of his office as we went through folder after folder of pictures of male models. We were so stressed over the campaign, we’d barely had time to sleep or eat. Thankfully, Spencer was good about reminding us that we needed to eat or we were going to end up as skeletons with energy drinks in our hands.

  I cracked my neck as I sat at my desk and looked over our appointments for the next two days.

  I knew Slater Cassidy was coming home on leave soon, and I didn’t know how I felt about it. I heard the elevator ding and held my breath. If it was one more corporate suit, I was going to scream. Although I’d hold it in if it was the boss man, Matthew Hawke.

  That man was seriously hot.

  I glanced up to see a cop walking down the hallway. What the hell? Why was the NYPD in the office?