The General's Lover, page 5
part #7 of Assassin-Shifter Series
“Babe, stop it.” Riley whispered.
“I can’t help it, he fucking gets on my last nerve.” Mateo growled.
“Feeling’s mutual, asshole.” Vince shot Mateo a sideways glance.
Josh stepped in between Vince and Mateo as the two went at each other.
“Now, now, kids. Can’t we all just get along?” Josh put his hand on Mateo’s chest. “We are on the same team guys, come on.”
“For now.” Mateo looked Vince up and down. “Although, these guys remind me of those damn gung-ho penguins in the ‘Madagascar’ movies,” Mateo mumbled. He looked up to see Vince’s group looking at him with eyebrows raised. “What? Oh please the way you’re looking at me tells me you’ve seen the damn movies. ‘Go boom now?’ Sound familiar?”
Commotion down the hall had them all turning to see what was going on. Vince chuckled as Justin and Lorenzo tried to keep a man about the same height as them in check.
“Must be the general?” Vince looked at Troy for confirmation.
“Yep.” Troy winked.
Derek looked at all the men standing around. “Where the fuck is James?”
“He’s fine, Derek,” Mateo tried to keep Derek calm. He was on the verge of losing it. “He’s getting some much needed rest.”
“What the fuck happened? Last I heard we were minutes from the target!” Derek shouted.
Mateo looked at Vince. “Ask him.”
Derek turned to the man Mateo had indicated. He was a few inches shorter, but Derek could see the man was ripped to shit. “Well?”
Vince tried to keep his temper in check. “Look, General, we don’t ask permission and we don’t wait. We go in and do the job and get out. We found James shackled to a wall and took him out. End of story. Now you can be pissed all you want, but the simple fact of the matter is that James is all right. So chill the fuck out.”
Mateo jumped between Derek and Vince seconds before Derek went for the man.
“Hey, James is fine. Let’s not lose it now okay, Derek? Whether we like it or not, these guys saved James. So let’s be grateful he’s alive, okay? This is Vince Markov, by the way.”
Derek sighed, dragging his fingers through his hair. “Okay, I know you’re right. I was just so worried about him. When he said he was taking this stupid assignment I got a bad feeling.” Derek looked at Vince and put his hand out. “I’m sorry, I’m just on edge. I do thank you for rescuing James.”
Vince took the man’s hand. “He’s a good guy, you’re a lucky man.”
Derek stammered. “Oh, it’s not like that—”
“Oh?” Vince smiled wickedly. “So I can ask him out then?”
“No!” Derek roared.
Riley giggled. “You are so transparent, Derek.”
Vince smiled and winked. “Everyone I know is gay, well most everyone. No one’s judging you, General. James is one hot piece of ass.”
Derek raised a brow.
Vince shrugged. “Well, he is.”
Reece exited James’ room and turned to see a very tall man looking down on him. Reece’s mouth fell open, his hair was so black it was almost blue and looking into his eyes was like looking at the tropical waters of the Pacific.
“You must be General Jacobs,” Reece said.
Derek tried to smile. “I am.”
“James is resting comfortably. He has an infection in his leg, but I’m combating it with antibiotics. He’s going to make a full recovery.”
“Can I see him, please?” Derek looked at the door hopefully.
“I wouldn’t dream of keeping you out.” Reece stepped out of the way and opened the door for Derek. As soon as it closed Reece looked at Vince. “Are you causing problems?”
“Why is it always my fault?” Vince crossed his arms over his chest.
Lorenzo chuckled softly. “Vince, you are very hard to get along with. Or should I say you were hard to get along with. It takes time for people to get to know the real you.”
Riley slapped his hand over Mateo’s mouth. “My husband is the same way, trust me.”
The door at the end of the hall opened and Riley’s attention was focused on the man making his way toward them. Steel grey eyes looked them over before finally settling on Vince.
Vince pursed his lips. “Oh, great. Not you, too, Andrei.”
“I did not say a word.” Andrei said.
“Guys, meet the ex-hubby, Andrei Panchenko. Andrei, meet the guys.” Vince said.
Riley put his hand out. “Riley Flynn-Esposito.”
Andrei smiled. “Of Flynn Electronics, I know of you.”
“Nice to meet you,” Riley smiled. “This scowling man is my husband, Mateo. Seems he and your ex can’t get along.”
Andrei shook Mateo’s hand and smiled. “You are not the first,” Andrei chuckled. “Vince is a taste you must acquire.”
“Thanks, babe.” Vince sighed and slumped against the wall as the rest of the men introduced themselves to Andrei.
“Is anyone hungry?” Andrei looked over the men. “We have prepared dinner.”
“I could eat.” Josh nodded.
“You can always eat.” Troy looked at Josh with a smirk.
“Well, let us head down to the dining room.” Andrei put his hand out. “After you.”
Riley giggled, looking at Andrei Panchenko. “I’m having dinner with the head of the Russian mob.”
Andrei chuckled. “And I am having dinner with the famous Riley Flynn.” Andrei put his arm out. “Accompany me? I very much enjoyed your press conference.”
Riley grinned, taking Andrei’s arm. “Did you now?”
Andrei smiled. “Shall we?”
Mateo watched as his husband walked arm and arm down the hall with the head of the Russian mob. He felt an arm come around his and looked to see Vince Markov winking at him.
“Come on, handsome.”
“I hate you.” Mateo chuckled.
“Yeah? I hate you too.”
~~ Derek sat by James’ bed and picked up his hand gently. He looked so frail. Derek let out a loud sigh of relief. When they’d been informed that James was kidnapped from the meeting, all hell had broken loose and he’d been in front of his commanding officers screaming to be allowed to help in the search. Once they’d found out where James was, the team had been sent in - only to find charred remains of a cave and bodies. The pure horror of what could have happened to James had him paralyzed. Until the phone call, the one that had brought him out of his devastation.
Now he sat by the bedside of the man he was in love with and wanted to kiss him and hold him. He felt the rapid pulse in James’ wrist as he kissed his cheek softly.
“I’m so glad you’re okay.” James’ skin was so soft; he couldn’t help but let his fingers trail over James’ raw lips. The pain in his chest returned at the thought of James being held captive, what could have happened to him. Derek felt the wetness in the corners of his eyes and wiped at the tear rolling down his cheek. James’ eyelashes fluttered and Derek smiled when arctic blue eyes smiled at him.
“You came.” James whispered.
“Of course I did,” Derek caressed James’ cheek. “You really thought I wouldn’t?”
“I didn’t…I hoped,” James took a deep breath. “I wished so many times that I would open my eyes and you would be there, rescuing me.”
“I wanted to be. Jesus, James, I fought so hard just to get to you. They weren’t going to let me leave and I was ready to go AWOL. I don’t fucking give a shit anymore. The thought of what could be happening to you.” Derek ran his fingers through James’ soft hair; he’d always wanted to know what it felt like.
“I thought I was going to die,” James closed his eyes. “And all I could think about was you.”
Derek pulled James up and held him in his arms, he ran his nose through James’ hair taking in his scent and let out a heavy sigh. “God, you feel so good in my arms.”
“Is this real?” James whispered, pulling back from the embrace.
“Yes, it is,” Derek smiled and ran the pad of his thumb over James’ lips. “I’m here and you are okay.” Derek’s eyes met with James’ and the need to kiss him was overwhelming. Keeping eye contact with James, he palmed his face and leaned in. The door to the infirmary opened and Derek closed his eyes, cursing under his breath. “Dammit.”
“Is this a bad time?”
James looked around Derek’s massive frame. “Lucas?”
“Yeah, um, Reece said you were okay and I finally found the right hallway.” Lucas looked at Derek on the bed. “I can come back?”
“No, James and I have plenty of time.” Derek leaned over, kissing James’ forehead. “I’ll be back, I’m not going anywhere.”
“Okay,” James smiled as Derek squeezed his hand, winking.
Lucas moved out of the way so Derek’s massive bulk could get through the door. Derek stopped and looked down at him and Lucas looked up, trying to smile.
“I’m glad you’re okay.” Derek grinned.
“Thanks, General.” Lucas waited for the door to close then made his way over to James on the bed. “So how do you feel?”
“Like someone shoved a hot poker through my thigh, electrocuted me and some other shit I don’t care to remember. You?”
Lucas put the crutches on the side of the bed and sat down. “Shot, stabbed and like you, I’d like to forget the rest.”
“I’m sorry,” James swallowed hard, the tears were coming and he hated that he was going to cry. “I couldn’t…”
“Hey,” Lucas leaned over and took James’ hand. “I knew what I was getting into. I didn’t expect you to talk. Hell, I wasn’t going to,” Lucas smiled smoothing James’ hair back. “So, you and the general?”
James sighed and closed his eyes. “I don’t know what’s going on.” James felt Lucas’ hand in his and opened his eyes to see Lucas looking at him. “I haven’t seen you in two years, you didn’t even say goodbye.”
“I went undercover.” Lucas looked at James’ face. “I had some things I had to work through.”
“Like what? You didn’t say anything and you didn’t even give me a chance to say bye. You just left; I had no idea where you went.”
Lucas sighed. “Look this isn’t the time for this—”
“When is a good time then, huh? Explain to me why you just vanished; you were my partner, Lucas!” James sat up in bed.
“You want to know why I left?” Lucas shouted.
“Yes!”
“Because I was in love with you!” Lucas leaned over and brushed his lips across James’ softly, he pulled away to see James’ eyes closed. “That’s why I left; I love you.”
James opened his eyes. “But, you dated women.”
Lucas sighed and sat back. “Yes, I dated women and I even fucked some. It didn’t matter how many I dated or fucked, I couldn’t stop my feelings for you. I didn’t think you thought about me that way and then when you met Derek I knew I’d never have a chance. I had to get away and try to get over you.”
“Did it work?” James whispered.
“I just kissed you.” Lucas raised a brow.
“So that’d be a no?” James asked.
“Asshole,” Lucas sighed in frustration.
James sat up and took Lucas’ hands. “I wish I could tell you I feel the same way, but you know I’ve loved Derek from the moment I saw him,” James said and palmed Lucas’ face. “But, when we get home I want us to hang out. I missed you.”
“Yeah?” Lucas smirked.
“Yes,” James put his arms out. “Now hug me.”
“Can I kiss you again?” Lucas chuckled.
James looked at Lucas and smiled. “You’ll take it the wrong way.”
“Maybe I just want to make out?” Lucas felt James in his arms and sighed heavily. “I missed you, too.”
~~ Derek’s hand hovered on the door to the infirmary. He’d heard it all. Lucas Cain was in love with James. Derek sighed and leaned up against the wall. He ran his hands over his face, James had admitted to being in love with him. His cell phone rang and he looked at the caller ID. Shit.
“General Prescott?”
“Get your ass back to base right now!” Prescott shouted.
Derek sighed. “But sir—”
“Jessup and his men went out on a mission. They were ambushed, Derek.”
“Dammit!” Derek ran a hand through his hair. “Casualties?”
“We may have one - Connelly.”
“Oh no…” Derek looked at his watch. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.” Derek hung up and looked at the door to the infirmary; this
was not going to go over well. He knocked softly and peeked inside. “Hey, I’m sorry. I have to get back to base; the men were out on a mission and they were ambushed.”
James sat up and looked at Derek. “Oh no…”
“Yes, we may lose one.” Derek walked over to the bed; Lucas got up and moved out of the way. Derek sat down on the bed, taking James’ hands in his own. “God knows I don’t want to leave you, but these are my guys, James.”
“No, it’s okay, really.” James caressed Derek’s cheek. “I’m just glad you were able to come. Our vacation still stands, right?”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Derek looked into James’ eyes and he leaned in. Fuck it, he was going to kiss him. After what he’d just heard, he wasn’t going to give James a reason to think he didn’t care. James met him halfway and their lips touched softly. His hand swept James’ face and traveled to the nape of his neck. He pulled James in closer and increased the pressure on his mouth. They broke from the kiss, both breathing heavily. Derek was rock-hard and they hadn’t even used tongue. Fuck.
“I’ll see you on the Sound,” Derek winked and kissed James softly again before standing up and looking at Lucas. He put his hand out. “Good to see you, Lucas.”
“You too, General.” Lucas shook Derek’s hand and watched as Derek made his way to the door. He turned at the last second and looked at James.
Pulling his dog-tags off his neck, Derek walked back to the bed and put them in James’ hand, curling his fingers around them. “You hang onto these for me; I’ll get them back from you in August.” Derek smiled and squeezed James’ hand.
“Okay.” James nodded. He was still in a daze from the kiss Derek had given him. In front of Lucas no less. Derek walked to the door and looked back one more time. “I will call you.”
“Be careful, Derek.” James looked at his hand with the dog-tags in it.
“I will. I can’t afford to miss our vacation,” Derek winked. “Bye.”
James watched Derek’s fabulous ass walk through the door and sighed, lying back in bed. He felt the bed dip and opened his eyes to see Lucas smiling at him.
“What?” James asked.
“First kiss?” Lucas waggled his eyebrows.
James smiled and took Lucas’ hand. “You’re putting on a brave front; I can see how much that hurt you.”
Lucas shrugged his shoulders. “I can’t compete with him, I mean look at him.”
James looked Lucas over. In the two years since he’d seen him, he’d bulked up even more. The honey-blonde hair was shorter now, but the golden champagne-brown eyes were still the same, and currently locked on his right now. “You look…different.”
“Different good or bad?” Lucas asked.
James opened his mouth to speak and realized the fortune teller’s prediction was coming true. “Oh, shit.”
“What is it?” Lucas raised his brows.
James closed his eyes and ran his hands over his face. “Do me a favor.”
“What?”
James sat back up. “When we get back to the States, have dinner with me.”
Lucas sat back and raised a brow. “Excuse me?”
“Do I really have to repeat myself? It’s a long story, but I’m afraid if I don’t play this out I’m shooting myself in the foot. So to speak.”
Lucas narrowed his eyes at James. “Did Reece give you a happy pill?”
James laughed and smacked Lucas’ shoulder. “Shut up. I’ll tell you the story over dinner maybe. I have to go see my parents before they think I moved out of the country.”
The door to the infirmary opened again and Reece came in with his husband, Lorenzo. James had to smile; the height difference between the two of them was comparable to his and Derek’s. The way Lorenzo looked at his husband spoke volumes as to how much in love he was. Reece turned to look at them just then. James had to bite back a chuckle.
“How much longer am I going to be here?” James asked.
Lorenzo pulled the blanket off of James’ leg and looked at his thigh. “Maybe a few days? You could leave sooner if you wish.”
Reece looked Lucas over; he pulled his shirt up and looked at the stab wounds in his side. “You should be in bed, I have no idea how you are up and walking around.”
Lucas looked down at his side. “I’ve had worse.”
James was looking at the extremely defined washboard abs on Lucas. “Oh do tell, Lucas. I haven’t seen you in two years, remember?”
“How about I tell you over that dinner you want to have?” Lucas grabbed his crutches and looked at James. “I’ll be in Florida in a couple of weeks, just call me.”
Riley walked into the infirmary and stopped in front of Lucas. He looked from James on the bed to the man standing in front of him. “And who is this, James?”
“Lucas Cain.” Lucas put his hand out.
Riley shook Lucas’ hand and looked back over at James. “So, this is the old partner?”
“That’d be me,” Lucas said. “And you are?”
“Riley Flynn-Esposito.”
Lucas looked at Riley. “As in Mateo?”
“Yup, he’s my husband,” Riley said.
Lucas looked back at James, his mouth somewhere around his knees. “Mateo got married?”
“So did Josh Montgomery,” James grinned impishly, “to Mark Patterson.”
Lucas almost lost his footing; he felt Riley’s hand on his bicep stabilizing him. “I’m sorry, could you repeat that? I could have sworn you said Josh was married, and to a man.”
“He did!” Riley lost it then. Pausing for dramatic effect, he said, “and Sam and Troy are married to men as well.”
“I need to sit down.” Lucas moved back to the bed and dropped down onto it, looking at James. “Seriously?”
