Page 108 of Homecoming

“Sorry, but I can’t resist.Hmm…” he growls, “I guess I’ll have to amuse myself tonight. Are you sure Noah’s not up for athreeso—”

“No. No, that is not his thing.” She smiles and returns his kiss.

“Such a shame. I could have taught him a thing or two… given him some proper lessons on how to turn you on.”

“Oh trust me, Noah doesn’t need any lessons,” she smiles. “Now, I need to take a shower before I go home.” She strips her bra over her head and grins. Listening to the loud growl that escapes his lips, she strips her panties and throws them at him.

Holding the black stretch fabric under his nose, he sniffs as Kat disappears into the shower.

“Fuck,”Darius hisses under his breath as he rubs the hardening want of his dick throughhispants. Listening with lustful intent as the water splashes in the background, he smiles. The image of Kat naked in the shower fills his head and he closeshis eyes.Hecan’t help but growl longingly and turning around, he takes the chair from the corner of the roomandforces it under the handle on the door. He then places a hand on the buttons of his shirt.

“Don’t even think about it, Master Chief!” Kat calls from the shower as she lathers the soap over her body.

“Grrr…” Darius snarls as the handle of the locker room rattles in the frame.

“Kat… Kat, is something wrong with this door?” Bud’s voice can be heard calling from the other side.

Darius opens the door and glares as the pungent waft of Bud’s heavily spiced body spray fills his nostrils and with a loud hiss through his teeth he shoves past him and strides away without a word.

Bud frowns as he re-examines the door. The lock and handle both seem okay and with an unconcerned look, he shrugs as he heads to his locker.

Thursday

Secret military training facility

Theskyisaclear bright blueandthe temperature in the desert scape is stifling. It’s hot and dry. An intense heat that shimmers in the sand as they march in a line formation across the dusty rock-strewn landscape.

Darius leads from the front at a blistering pace, followed not far behind by Digby, Zak, and Oz. The rear of the line is a little distanced but bunched tight at the back: Bud, QT, Kat, in that order, and following at the end is the team’s newest recruit—Rocky.

At six foot five and nearly half as wide, Rocky is impressive for a shifter. Most shifters tend to be a more slender muscular build, but Rocky’s a bear and everyone knows it.

Zak looks to the back of the line, watching him trundling along, puffing hard. The desert sun is hot, and it makes walking uncomfortable, more so in combat fatigues. It makes them want to find shelter and Zak can feel his skin ripple in the heat.

“I’ll bet he’s ready for his afternoon nap,” he laughs as he continues to watch Rocky thudding along at the back. Even from here, Zak can smell the heady scent of bear cologne. Rocky sweats a lot given his size, but unlike the putrid aroma of the other shifters they’ve had, this is like brown sugar and roast pine nuts, homely andwarm.Zak likes it.

“Oh, he’s alright, leave him be.” Digby snarls, issuing a warning. “And you can’t say muchcuzyou’reforever takin’ a nap, and Bud most certainly is. You know, I kinda like him… I mean, there’snothin’to dislike. He reminds me of an overgrown teddy bear.” He smiles, watching the large man as he stumbles to keep up. “Okay, so maybe not as graceful as a wolf, but he is what he is, right?”

“A bear is what he is. Man, I didn’t know shifters even came that size. You know, he really likes to work out. I watched him in the gym yesterday and, man oh man, can he lift weight. And did you see the way he eats? Hell, he puts Bud to shame. You’d think he was prepping for hibernation at breakfast before we left.” Zak laughs loudly, then coughs as the sand whips up and fills his mouth. “Uggghh… Fuck. Just remind me again why we’re out here? I hate thefuckin’desert.”

“You hate everything. Now quit whining,” Darius snarls. “We’re here to fill the place on the team and stop Edwards from cutting my dick off.”

Digby sighs. He can hear the angst in Darius’ tone. “Are you really gonna drop Kat? I mean, I like Rocky a lot. And he’s sure nicer than all the others we’ve had, so I know he’ll fit in, but seriously… you’re gonna tell her she can’t have her place?”

“I said shut the hell up.”

Digby sighs. He turns to look at Zak and with a shrug, he rolls his eyes.

“Alright, hold up. This will do. The L.Z’s just over there, so get something to eat and drink. I want to get there before night fall.”

“Alright mongrels,” Digby calls to the back of the line, “take five and prep. We’re one klick out from the L.Z, so it’s time to buckle up.”

“This is it.” Rocky smiles, rubbing his hand together as he unpacks a vast array of foods and a large pot of honey from his rucksack, and setting them out on the ground, he sits down.

Bud looks at Oz, who in turn looks at Zak. “What the fuck is that? Did you bring an entire picnic?” he frowns.

“Uh-huh.” Rocky smiles as he shovels a honey-soaked chunk of bread into his mouth. “You want some?” He slurps as he licks honey from his fingers and offers a piece of the fresh loaf to Zak.

“No, I don’t,” Zak sneers. “I have my own food.” He looks at the silver packet of dried rations and back at the fresh bread and honey as drool drops from his lip. “Alright, give me some of that damn bread.”

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