A single teardrop glazes his cheek and sparks my own until we're both quietly crying, chests aching as we try to compress the vicious sobs that want to erupt into tiny droplets—the only release we can get without summoning anyone else.
He doesn't want Ted to hear him.
And I'm not ready for Colter to burst in here.
My brother is dying, and there's nothing we can do.
So Caran and I mourn together in soft, self-contained agony.
37
BRYLEE
Over the next few days,Alpha Team X and I settle into a routine that's annoying but bearable. The guys go about their work while one of them always stays behind to play bodyguard for the "prince."
They do include me in their strategic conversations about troop movements and logistics. And they may have taken my advice a time or two. I'm not sure. But they don't want me out there shooting Noths, and so what I can do on the battlefield is very limited.
It's a good thing they're such uptight fuckers and never allow anyone else into their space because, once the hours start to drag, I can’t allow melancholy to sink me, so I concoct some very creative ways to "play bodyguard" with them.
So far, I've initiated games like steal the bodyguard's gun, escape the bodyguard, and flash the bodyguard—all with very delightful, very destructive results. I'm honestly surprised the tent and my pussy have survived the wreckage.
The furniture in here hasn't fared so well. The guys have gone through two desks and a chair so far. I'm thinking we might round out the week with another chair, at least.
Being with them fills up that desperate, gaping hole they left in my chest when they shipped out. But there's another need that I'm not quite sure I'm fulfilling. One that I finally find the courage to bring up one morning after I've successfully stolen my bodyguard's gun and then ridden him into a wild, cursing, grunting, growling frenzy.
The morning light filters through the tan canvas tent and gives the space a warm glow as I straddle Ridge's naked body. He lies on his bed, his gun in my hand as he glides his hands contentedly along my bare thighs, relaxed now that his knot has unlocked and his seed is slowly dripping out of me.
This seems like the perfect time to argue my case. He's relaxed, not stressed about an upcoming battle at the moment. And we're alone, which rarely happens. For this particular topic, I think I've got my best chance if we discuss things one on one. As much as I love my alphas and fall for them more with every passing day, when they're all together, they're an impenetrable wall of male stubbornness.
Slow, Brylee. Nice and slow,I coach myself.
"I know you don't want me to go into any dangerous situation…" I start off slowly as I disarm his weapon and check the chamber because he hadn't given me time to do that before he'd grabbed my ass and pumped up into me as I bounced like a cowgirl on a wild bronco.
"Understatement of the year," he mutters as he leans up to suck one of my nipples into his mouth, laving slowly as though he might want to build up to a second round.
His hands come up to cup and play with my breasts, stroking until my muscles start to tighten. My head starts to fizz and bubble like a soda can that's being shaken, and I'm very nearly distracted from my intentions by his nipping teeth.
Fuck.
I want to…but not until we've had this discussion. It's too important. And I know that the rest of Alpha Team X will follow Ridge's lead.
I toss the gun aside, and it hits the ground with aplonkas I lean down, tracing my fingers lightly through his blond hair and say, "I need to do something. I don't even need to get close?—"
His lips unlatch, and cool air ghosts disappointingly over my breast as he glares up at me with angelic eyes that have transformed into ice chips. "No, Brylee."
"You haven't heard?—"
"No."
"Ted needs to be seen, Ridge!" I slide back on his legs a tad so that we're no longer on the verge of falling into bliss, because this conversation needs to happen.
"Nobody—"
"He's the future king!" My tone is a sharp reprimand that fills the tent. "I'm not asking you to take me anywhere wild. I can stay in the armored vehicle. That's fine."
"You were in a bus before, and you nearly were fucking?—"
"I saved that bus!" I jab my finger into his pec. "If I hadn't taken over driving, we'd have been Swiss cheese."
