Off Base (Out of Uniform 1)

Across the room, the woman from earlier was talking to her friends and as if on cue, the whole table tittered and three blond heads swiveled in his direction before returning to the giggle fest. Fuck.

He knew he’d regret this, probably within the hour, but at that moment he couldn’t stop his head from nodding. “Bring it on.”

Chapter Two

“Another round?” Pike headed to the bar without waiting for Zack to say no. They’d done a round of shots, but Pike really needed at least two before he got buzzed. Pike had been intending to get his swerve on even before Zack walked into Mellow all alone and put out over the no-shows. Oh he’d tried to cover it—for like five seconds—but Zack had not been happy to see him. Which was fine, because Pike knew that, like Fireball shots, he was an acquired taste. And twice as much fun. Or at least he liked to think so.

Not that Zack agreed—Pike could tell that he was on the man’s “barely tolerate” list, and even when he was talking about SEAL stuff, he didn’t get particularly happy. Not that he’d gotten any happier when that chick had dragged him out dancing. Pike had figured he might lose Zack for the night to those girls, but then Zack had gone into tourist mode over the gay couples on the dance floor and had his sorry ass booted back.

Oh yeah, Pike had noticed all that. It was why he enjoyed riling Zack up so much—he was the gayest straight person Pike had ever met. And Pike had a mother who loved theater, Glee, and Drag Race. No, with Zack, it wasn’t what he liked or how he spoke or stood. It was his eyes.

Zack’s pale spring-sky eyes went all hungry and needy whenever he was near two men being affectionate—exactly how he’d gotten about the couple next to them and the guys on the dance floor. Even from where he’d been sitting, Pike could see that need rolling off Zack when his attention should have been on the girl he’d been with. He got that way around their mutual friends a lot, and even had the hungry look when Pike and his roommate Landon rolled around on the floor mock-wrestling during a LAN party. And it wasn’t even a flirty thing—Landon was the brother Pike had never had, and tangling like happy puppies was just part of their shtick. Pike had offered Zack a turn, but Mr. Big Tough SEAL had turned crimson and fled the room.

And therein lay the reason Pike was waiting on the bartender to get them their shots—if he got Zack loosened up enough, maybe the guy would actually talk. And despite what everyone thought about Pike being a loose cannon and immature, he totally could listen.

Finally, shots in hand, he made his way back to their table where Zack was texting on his phone. He scowled when Pike set the drinks down. “I was trying two of my buddies, see if they wanted to come out and join us, but they’ve got plans.”

“Too bad.” Pike refused to feel slighted that Zack couldn’t stand being alone with him, and instead passed over the shot. “Guy buddies or girl buddies?”

“Guys.” Zack threw back the shot with a full-body shudder. And damn but those muscles were sexy when he moved. When he’d first met Zack, he’d noticed his ropey forearms first. Pike was definitely a hand/arm guy, and Zack’s were sexy as fuck with the sort of vein and muscle definition that only came with serious work. But now his biceps were bigger, shoulders more defined, and he had this new way of standing where it seemed like he physically took up more space. Hell, even his neck was ripped, and Pike really needed to focus on Zack’s answers, not his muscles.

“So no girlfriend waiting back in Arkansas? No hotties on the hook down in San Diego?” Pike pushed before he tossed back his own shot.

“Fuck no.” Zack’s tongue had become looser with each drink.

“Ever had a girlfriend?”

“Nah.” Zack shrugged and stole the last fry. “Too busy.”

The “too busy” part sounded like a well-rehearsed line, but Pike nodded. “Yeah, I hear you. No girls in high school or college though?”

“There were some girls at church. Went to a few dances. Not really my thing.”

“Girls or dancing? Because I saw you earlier—you’re a good dancer.”

“Thanks.” The tips of Zack’s ears, bared by his blond crew cut, flared pink. His short hair always made Pike want to pet it, see if it was as soft as it looked. “And I dunno. Maybe both?” He sounded unreasonably sad, then brightened, a rather fake smile firmly in place. “I’ll figure it out, man. By the time I’m ready to settle down, right?”

“I am never settling down.” Pike laughed because the other option was to let his heart hurt for this guy who was so clearly twisted up in ways he couldn’t even see himself. Been there. Done that. Didn’t get the T-shirt. “And now I’m going to dance. Join me?”