“This is what you like, isn’t it?” Ben held him tight, big body surrounding Maddox, strength meeting strength. “Slow and soft?” “Love being close to you,” Maddox admitted, soul stripped bare by this unexpected side of Ben. “Don’t even need… — Annabeth Albert Copy Share Image
“God, please spare Ben. I don’t care about my sorry self. Just save him. Maddox’s hurried prayer was his last conscious thought. *” — Annabeth Albert Copy Share Image
“And there, in the doorway someone had left open was Ben. Ben, wearing jeans and an old Pride T-shirt, one that might have been… — Annabeth Albert Copy Share Image
“Your ass is flapping in the breeze,” Maddox warned with what felt like his first real laugh since this whole thing started. “Shut up.” Ben winked at him. “And you should be so lucky to see my ass.” “Ain’t nothing I haven’t seen before.” God, it felt so good to joke like this. Felt like it had been months and… — Annabeth Albert Copy Share
“Transport got in sooner than we thought.” Still in uniform, Ben sounded exhausted and looked worse, dark circles under his eyes. But he was… — Annabeth Albert Copy Share Image
“I can’t say too much without putting my neck on the line, but this isn’t the Navy forcing him out.” “Oh, we’ll talk.” Ben’s… — Annabeth Albert Copy Share Image
“I just don’t think dating’s going to make you as happy as you think. You could wait—” “Ben.” Maddox touched his arm lightly, making him turn toward him. Maddox’s eyes were deep and serious. “Can you give me one reason why I shouldn’t? One rational reason?” Ben’s mouth clamped shut. There was nothing rational about what he was feeling. “Just… — Annabeth Albert Copy Share
“This may be your craziest idea yet, and considering you followed me over the side of a cliff that’s saying something, but all right.… — Annabeth Albert Copy Share Image
“I had another idea.” Ben rolled so that he could grin down at Maddox. “Yeah?” Maddox generally liked Ben’s big ideas—not that he wasn’t… — Annabeth Albert Copy Share Image
“It wasn’t until Maddox said no that Ben realized that he’d wanted the repeat more than he’d wanted to get laid, and that knowledge… — Annabeth Albert Copy Share Image
“Maddox had been kissed there before. Polite little explorations, tentative tongue flicks, quick forays before the main event. But Ben made a meal out… — Annabeth Albert Copy Share Image
“Yeah, I figured you’d be down about that.” The LT sighed and leaned against a shelf, an uncharacteristically casual gesture from the man. “But… — Annabeth Albert Copy Share Image
