On Point (Out of Uniform 3)

“Uh-huh.” Ben paced while talking into the phone, nude body quite the spectacle even as Maddox wanted to groan and pound the pillow. They’d been this close to having the conversation they really had to have and soon.

“Okay, we’re on it. ETA thirty minutes, faster if I can.” Ben’s voice was mission-ready, no trace of the hangover of moments earlier. “No, I won’t speed. Promise. Love you too.” Ending the call, Ben started pulling on pants. “Got to go. Dad forgot his passport. I said I’d get it and meet them at the airport.”

“Of course.” No time to lie around feeling sorry for the loss of his morning, Maddox scrambled for his own bag and clothes. Ben’s father and Camilla were due to head to Portugal for a honeymoon, and Maddox didn’t want them to miss their flights just because he’d finally been about to have that conversation with Ben and maybe have it not go to shit. For an instant there, he’d thought...

Well. Didn’t matter what he thought. He’d have to find a new right time to talk to Ben about the future. And fast.

“I’m coming with you,” he said, hoping like heck it wouldn’t be the last time they charged off together to save the day.

Chapter Twenty-Two

“Mmmphf.” Ben snuggled into the warm body that was Maddox, cursing the Monday morning sun in his eyes—

Monday. Sun. Fuck. Ben jerked upright, fumbling for the alarm clock. “Fuck. Mad.” He jostled Maddox with his toe. “Alarm clock never got set last night. We’re going to be late.”

“Oh hell.” Maddox sat and stretched. “You take the shower. You’re the one who has to be in uniform. I can be a little scuzzy for therapy.”

“Fuck.” Ben fumbled for a clean uniform. Somehow a lot of his clothes had migrated to Maddox’s room over the past few weeks, and he’d hung up the last dry cleaner’s trip in here almost on autopilot. “Forgot that I’m supposed to drop you off. I really am going to be late—”

“Don’t worry about it.” Maddox hobbled toward him and patted his bare shoulder. “Pike and Dylan both have later starts on Monday. I’ll see if I can get a ride from one of them. Or if worse comes to worst, I’ll call a cab.”

“You sure?” Ben hated the churning in his gut. He liked being able to take care of his guy, liked being the one Maddox relied on. Hated letting him down even for a single morning.

“I’m sure. Now lightning-fast shower. You still smell like sex.” Maddox chuckled as he tossed Ben a clean towel.

Last night, after their mad dash to rescue his dad’s passport and an impromptu late lunch with some wedding guests, Maddox had been in the mood to talk. Ben had been in the mood to fuck. He’d won the mock-argument handily, and the memory made him shiver—God, how did things keep getting better and better between them?

“You coming straight back after work?” Maddox’s voice was deceptively casual, causing the hairs on the back of Ben’s neck to prickle. “Thought I might make a pot pie. And then we could talk.”

Ben’s ego would like to believe it was the great sex that had earned him one of his favorite meals, but his brain was warier. Wasting precious minutes, he pressed a hard kiss to Maddox’s mouth. “We don’t need to talk. We’re cool, remember?”

Please let us be cool. The argument of Saturday night seemed lifetimes ago. And Ben wasn’t sure he could bear it if Maddox was having second thoughts about being all-in on this thing.

“We’re cool.” Maddox shoved him in the direction of the bathroom. “But there’s still something I need to talk to you about. Nothing bad, promise, so keep your head at work.”

Ha. Fat chance of that.

Ben was stuck doing ropes inventory that morning—a thankless task if ever there was one—and his mind kept wandering to Maddox.

Maddox texted that he’d gotten a ride to physical therapy from Pike and to not worry. But of course Ben worried. Hard not to wonder what Maddox was so eager to talk about and to dread said conversation at the same. Fuck but Ben hated talking.

“Tovey. Thought I might find you here.” The LT came into the supply locker where Ben was working. “I’ve got news that should make you happy.”

“Can’t wait to hear it.” Ben wasn’t sure why the LT thought he needed cheering up, but he wasn’t going to complain at the distraction from his own stupid thoughts.

“We’re scheduled for some night ops training at the end of the week, and I’ve gotten approval to bring you along as long as we’re mindful of that shoulder of yours. No heavy packs for you, but I know you’ve been itching to get back out there.”

“You know it. Thank you, sir.” Ben resisted the urge to pump his fist. Getting back out in the field was exactly what he needed.