Page 27 of Monster

“You do the same,” the man answered before turning and putting distance between them.

Stop him. Tell him how you feel.

Dario opened his mouth and tried to force the words out.

But they wouldn’t come.

Instead, he stood there, watching Gator’s strong back. When the soldier was out of sight, Dario turned toward the farmhouse for a shower.

Cal and Samuel sat on the back porch, drinking coffee. Oh my god… how much did they hear?

Swallowing a bit of his pride, he sauntered up to the stairs, acting as if nothing was amiss.

“Morning,” Cal said, a slight smirk on his lips.

“Morning,” Dario muttered under his breath before grabbing the doorknob.

“He’s a good guy,” Samuel said.

Dario paused and looked over at his friend and mentor. “What?”

“Gator. I can see into his soul… and he’s a good man at heart.”

Dario knew that. He sensed it every time Gator was near. “Yeah. Okay.” Dario opened the door.

“He won’t hurt you,” Samuel called out.

Dario stopped again, unable to look at Samuel again.

“He won’t be like the others… he won’t hurt you. But if you don’t hurry up and tell him how you feel… you might lose this chance.”

Dario finally looked over at the man. “I think I already have.”

Samuel smiled softly.“No. Not yet.”

“And if he does hurt you… he’ll have to answer to me,” Cal announced.

Dario’s eyes widened a little.“Here I thought you didn’t like me, Cal.”

The beast of a man turned slightly and looked at Dario from the corner of his eye.“I don’t.” He slowly took a sip of his coffee. As the cup came back down, there was a small smile on Cal’s face. He gave another sideways glance before patting Samuel’s knee.

Dario smiled at the side of Cal’s head, knowing that last comment had been a lie.

Their relationship had been a bit tenuous—well, after he’d kissed Samuel in a wild fit of emotion, things had gone a little sideways.

He’d nearly caused a rift that couldn’t be salvaged between the pair. The straw that broke the camel’s back.

Samuel had been the first person he’d ever felt safe with. After his attack, he’d clung to that sensation and the man. They were both elementals… they had a bond. His mind had somehow twisted all that feeling into love.

He did love Samuel—as a friend. A best friend he could rely on at every turn.

A friend who wouldn’t lead him down the wrong path. Dario understood that now, and the thought of a sexual love with Samuel was out of the question.

They were brothers now.

He met Samuel’s stare and saw the upturned corner of the mouth. “Go get your shower.Sky should be here soon.”

“And I should get over to the base.Today’s moving day.”

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