Page 74 of Breathe
After the air cleared and the argument settled, the pair had become fast friends, finding they had a lot in common besides age.
The mess hall noise bombarded his ears when he walked through the door.
Meal times took some getting used to around there. Music blared inside; the same type that had been piped into the training facility now thumped overhead. Men were gathered on long picnic-style tables and benches with trays stacked high with the meal of the day.
It was ground beef and gravy over mashed potatoes without mushrooms after that first day, thanks to Real. Azrael had heard some call it shit on a shingle, but that didn’t seem right to him. It looked more like shit on a mountain of goop.
Grabbing a tray, he served up a large cheeseburger patty and some deviled eggs that looked awesome. Of course, he took some of the beef gravy and potatoes too.
“Az!”
Real’s deep voice boomed over the room, yet was muffled beneath the noise and music, but Azrael heard him.
He located Real at one of the tables near the wall, sitting along with Rip, Crow, and Winter, as well as several men he couldn’t remember the names of. There were too many of them to recall.
His heart skipped a beat at the sight of Real. They were getting to know each other, and it was thrilling and terrifying at the same time.
Real had saved the whole bench across the table from them. When the warrior waved a hand for them to sit, Azrael plunked his tray across from Real and slid onto the bench.
“You guys done for the day?” Real asked.
The way Real’s gray-blue eyes ran over him tightened Azrael’s gut and sent warm butterflies through his stomach.
“Um, yeah,” Rebel said, elbowing Azrael. “We’re going to go swimming after dinner.”
The elbow knocked him out of his daze, and Azrael flushed before stuffing his mouth with food. A small smile worked at the corner of Real’s mouth. Fuck, the man was hands down the sexiest man alive.
“Are you going swimming with them?” Real asked, his voice low and husky sounding.
Azrael thought about it. It was either swimming or take Real back to the cabin they shared and have sex on the wide bed. He did want both. The thought of the water sounded awesome, but then so did the thought of sex with Real.
He wondered when Real would stop long enough to make a firm commitment between them. So far, every time he brought it up, Real evaded him.
Their last conversation had been last night when Azrael had found the courage to ask Real.
“So, are we dating now?” Azrael had asked.
“Let’s see how things go, there’s no rush. You don’t have to commit to anyone.”
Or…you don’t want to commit to me, Azrael thought silently, but he let it go. And the only reason hehadlet the words slide was because he knew Real was trying and that it was all very new to them.
“Yes, I am going swimming,” he said with a wide smile at Real.
Even though it was late April, the lake water was still hella cold, but Azrael would brave it and go. He tipped his chin up, smirking at Real.
His warrior pouted at him. Oh, it wasn’t a big pout, but Azrael knew the signs. The heavy sigh, the drop of shoulders, and the small downward curve of Real’s lips.
Azrael lifted his spoon with potatoes and gravy and flipped it at Real.
The goopy mess smacked Real in the nose and splattered his cheek. The potatoes, beef, and gravy did a slow slide down one cheek.
Real’s eyes widened with disbelief, and Azrael grinned. He was damned pleased with himself.
“You’re going to pay for that.” Real’s sexy growl sent goosebumps over his skin.
“Oh yeah? Bring it, big guy.” Azrael tipped his chin.
“Food fight!” Beck shouted and flung his own spoon of food at another guy sitting across from them.
