separated.”
“Thanks. Now we really need to get some sleep. Tomorrow is probably going to be long. A fresh heat wave is hitting us.”
“Damn it, I thought that was all over. Guess we can’t get that lucky.”
“Yeah, and Bounder?”
“Yeah.” Bounder made noise like he was snuggling under the covers, sleep clouding his voice.
“You’re the best. I appreciate how nice you’ve been. You’re a real friend.”
“I feel the same. ‘Night.”
“Night.” Matthew tugged his sheet close, tucking it under his chin as he thought of Jazz and how sweet he was. With Jazz, everything seemed perfect, and he liked how they were together. He didn’t want anything destroying what they had. Maybe they couldn’t make it on the outside, but he hoped they lasted.
Chapter Six
Another week had passed, and he’d spent quality time with Jazz, but they hadn’t found time to have sex. They'd talked a lot, which he really enjoyed. They’d chatted a bit more about what they would do once they were in the states, but no specific plans came from their conversations.
His unit was back in the city, searching for another group plotting to bomb another building. It really was the same thing over and over again. He wished these men would grow up and stop trying to kill each other and just let people live.
Tensions were high, and the area seemed off. The guys were being led through the maze of streets and weren’t in his view some of the time. He didn’t like how their work was playing out below.
A woman stepped out of her front door, and Matthew tensed. Would it be like the kid all over again? He hated having kids and women in his sights. Their tour was supposed to end soon and though he loved being a sharpshooter, right now he needed a break. The only thing he would really miss was his special time with Jazz. When they called it quits for the day, he breathed out a sigh of relief, not feeling safe until they were back at the base.
All through the evening something felt off, like he’d overlooked something, or maybe it was just exhaustion tricking him. Jazz was busy talking to his mom, so Matthew didn’t get to see him. He missed being with Jazz. Just spending a few hours with Jazz made him happy. When he dropped to his cot, he was out of sorts, his body aching. The next morning, he caught Jazz as he was heading to breakfast.
“Hey, can I talk to you?” Matthew kept his voice quiet, hoping the other guys couldn’t hear.
“Sure.” Jazz slowed and hung back with Matthew.
“Hey, Jazz, Tex, you two coming?” Slider yelled to them.
“Sure, just give me a minute,” Jazz replied.
There were too many people, too much activity, but he had to say something. “Listen, I know—”
“Jazz, Tex, come on. All the good food is going to be gone if you don’t hurry,” Spike hollered as he ran past.
“We’re on our way,” Jazz yelled after him.
“There’s too many people, but I can’t wait to say this. I know now isn’t the best time.” As if to punctuate his point, more people walked past and he sighed and rolled his eyes.
“Just tell me,” Jazz whispered.
“I’m falling for you. I love you.”
Jazz smiled but before he could say anything Jimmy raced up behind them and threw his arms over both of their shoulders.
“Time to eat. Come on.” Jimmy didn’t let go as he led them to the mess hall.
Jazz fell in line with the guys before turning back to Matthew, his smile wide. “What you were saying earlier, same goes for me.”
The mess hall was packed with guys getting food, but he felt like he and Jazz shared a special moment as the noise faded into the background. Jazz was falling for him too. All through breakfast he kept catching Jazz’s gaze, appreciating the wide smile from his lover. Before he was done with his meal, one of the officers came over and asked him to come to the debriefing room before heading out for the day. He said he would as soon as he finished with his breakfast.
He hurried
“Thanks. Now we really need to get some sleep. Tomorrow is probably going to be long. A fresh heat wave is hitting us.”
“Damn it, I thought that was all over. Guess we can’t get that lucky.”
“Yeah, and Bounder?”
“Yeah.” Bounder made noise like he was snuggling under the covers, sleep clouding his voice.
“You’re the best. I appreciate how nice you’ve been. You’re a real friend.”
“I feel the same. ‘Night.”
“Night.” Matthew tugged his sheet close, tucking it under his chin as he thought of Jazz and how sweet he was. With Jazz, everything seemed perfect, and he liked how they were together. He didn’t want anything destroying what they had. Maybe they couldn’t make it on the outside, but he hoped they lasted.
Chapter Six
Another week had passed, and he’d spent quality time with Jazz, but they hadn’t found time to have sex. They'd talked a lot, which he really enjoyed. They’d chatted a bit more about what they would do once they were in the states, but no specific plans came from their conversations.
His unit was back in the city, searching for another group plotting to bomb another building. It really was the same thing over and over again. He wished these men would grow up and stop trying to kill each other and just let people live.
Tensions were high, and the area seemed off. The guys were being led through the maze of streets and weren’t in his view some of the time. He didn’t like how their work was playing out below.
A woman stepped out of her front door, and Matthew tensed. Would it be like the kid all over again? He hated having kids and women in his sights. Their tour was supposed to end soon and though he loved being a sharpshooter, right now he needed a break. The only thing he would really miss was his special time with Jazz. When they called it quits for the day, he breathed out a sigh of relief, not feeling safe until they were back at the base.
All through the evening something felt off, like he’d overlooked something, or maybe it was just exhaustion tricking him. Jazz was busy talking to his mom, so Matthew didn’t get to see him. He missed being with Jazz. Just spending a few hours with Jazz made him happy. When he dropped to his cot, he was out of sorts, his body aching. The next morning, he caught Jazz as he was heading to breakfast.
“Hey, can I talk to you?” Matthew kept his voice quiet, hoping the other guys couldn’t hear.
“Sure.” Jazz slowed and hung back with Matthew.
“Hey, Jazz, Tex, you two coming?” Slider yelled to them.
“Sure, just give me a minute,” Jazz replied.
There were too many people, too much activity, but he had to say something. “Listen, I know—”
“Jazz, Tex, come on. All the good food is going to be gone if you don’t hurry,” Spike hollered as he ran past.
“We’re on our way,” Jazz yelled after him.
“There’s too many people, but I can’t wait to say this. I know now isn’t the best time.” As if to punctuate his point, more people walked past and he sighed and rolled his eyes.
“Just tell me,” Jazz whispered.
“I’m falling for you. I love you.”
Jazz smiled but before he could say anything Jimmy raced up behind them and threw his arms over both of their shoulders.
“Time to eat. Come on.” Jimmy didn’t let go as he led them to the mess hall.
Jazz fell in line with the guys before turning back to Matthew, his smile wide. “What you were saying earlier, same goes for me.”
The mess hall was packed with guys getting food, but he felt like he and Jazz shared a special moment as the noise faded into the background. Jazz was falling for him too. All through breakfast he kept catching Jazz’s gaze, appreciating the wide smile from his lover. Before he was done with his meal, one of the officers came over and asked him to come to the debriefing room before heading out for the day. He said he would as soon as he finished with his breakfast.
He hurried
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