He steps out of the vehicle and the director approaches. “Private Berringer, glad you’re here. We’re conducting a training exercise meant to simulate a boots on the ground military invasion in the tunnels of a large city.”
He tries to pay attention but he can’t help but look around for Graham, desperately hoping to see him. Did Graham ask for him to be here or is this the director’s idea?
That’s when Graham appears. Colton’s heart clenches and his stomach swoops like it’s about to fall into his boots.
Graham is so tall and sturdy. He’s very muscular, waist nipped in and legs long and lean. He’s a beautiful man. And he looks dominant.
It’s always interesting how some people are really easy to distinguish and others aren’t. Graham just doesn’t spark his radar as submissive. A lot of submissives do. Most of them, in fact. And if he can’t figure it out right away, he just about always knows by the end of whatever exercise they’re doing.
He doesn’t know if that would happen with Graham. There’s something so dominant and aggressive or cold about him that makes Colton hard just from seeing him. Was this really the submissive that came on his lap and begged him for his cock?
Graham is far enough away that Colton can’t see how well he looks but from a distance he seems to be in great health. Five days ago he was a mess, expecting to be out for a week and a half because of his drop, and here he is sauntering toward them like a hot-as-hell alpha male Dominant of the first order.
No one in the world would suspect he’s a submissive. He’s also older than Colton by at least five years. Maybe ten.
Which is probably just as strange to Graham as it is to Colton. Why would he want to submit to someone younger and with less experience? Someone who isn’t as big and couldn’t put him down or hurt him unless Graham allowed it.
If Graham Knox looks like the pinnacle of physical perfection, Colton looks like the guy who’d drive him around an army base and then be promptly and immediately forgotten.
It’s not like Colton has trouble getting dates or anything. He knows he’s a good-looking guy and most anyone with a submissive designation gives him at least a longing look if they’re looking for some stress relief. But he and Graham are not in the same league.
His mind and body have not gotten the memo. Every night he wakes up around two, reaching for Graham. Only one encounter and some part of him is still convinced that Graham is his.
He’s been drinking more to compensate. Which isn’t great. He’d usually go home and have a beer most nights, but now he gets home and has three. His body’s way of trying to numb the longing for the submissive he can’t have.
If he can just give it a few more days, everything will be fine. Back to normal. But it would be helpful if Graham wasn’t standing in front of him.
“Does he know I’m here for him?” Colton demands.
“He shouldn’t be surprised. We don’t keep him around for his pretty face,” the director says.
He’s sent to get kitted out for the exercise and walks away before Graham sees him. It will happen soon enough. What does it mean that the director wants to see how he and Graham work with each other? Is there any chance at all that Graham wants him to be here?
There’s a coordinating officer waiting for him in the lobby who gets him into a helmet and a simulation system he’ll need for the exercise. Which is when Graham walks in.
He doesn’t notice Colton at first. Now Graham is close enough to easily see and Colton’s instant thought is that he wants to fuck the hell out of him. Colton looks away, forces the thought down as far as it will go. That’s just not helpful. Like at all.
“Private Berringer,” Graham says and Colton looks up, forces a smile. He’ll wait to see how Graham plays this and will act accordingly.
“Sir,” he says, like maybe they’re meeting for the very first time. In a lot of ways, they are. The submissive in distress that he met before bears very little resemblance to the man in front of him.
Graham nods. He might be relieved. A blush crawls up his neck and into his cheeks. “You’re going to cover me as we clear out a few blocks.”
“Yes, sir,” he says and is impressed he sounds so calm about it. Colton stands up taller, determined to be even more professional. This isn’t going to be awkward because of him, dammit.
He’s given an earpiece and he can hear the occasional comment from the other soldiers as they head out. This is not a small exercise. There are at least a hundred men similarly prepared and branching off in different directions to entry points in the building. How much does something like this cost? How does it all work?
They exit the building and a Humvee follows along behind them, giving them a ten-yard gap. Graham gets Colton’s attention and gestures to the earpiece.
Colton turns his off.
“I just wanted to say thank you for the other day. And I’d appreciate your discretion going forward. My designation is unimportant and won’t be an issue again,” Graham says, voice deep and his Dominant persona firmly in place.
And suddenly it does feel like a persona. This version of Graham he’s talking to isn’t real. It’s a mask. How hard is it for Graham to pretend like this?
“Yes, I signed a lot of forms that threatened horrible things if I spoke about anything I saw or experienced in that building. Which I wouldn’t do anyway,” he adds hastily.
Graham’s jaw clenches. They’re both scanning the surrounding area. “If you’re uncomfortable guarding me, we can get someone else.”
