Page 57 of Alpha Awakened

“Hazard!”

Hazard dropped the plate he was holding. He yanked his gaze away from the captain to look at Ortiz. “Uh... Yeah, Major?”

“A genie is gonna pop out of that plate if you polish it any longer.”

Jax snorted a laugh.

The tips of Hazard’s ears burned but he laughed too. “Sorry, ma’am. Guess I’m a little distracted.”

“Clearly,” Ortiz drily said, her gaze flicking to Ice.

Hazard looked at him too. He caught a flash of amusement in Ice’s eyes before he gave his attention to the Baretta he was cleaning. After being called out on his distraction, Hazard concentrated on the task in front of him. He stayed focused until they finished up.

Once they were done, they gathered up all their gear and supplies to return to the armory. Halfway down the hall to the gun cage, Ortiz stopped them.

“Hold up, Ice and Hazard. I need to talk to you two for a minute.”

Jax walked ahead. He grinned, silently mouthing “You’re in trouble,” behind Ortiz’s back as he passed.

Hazard had to tuck his hands behind his back to keep from flipping his friend off.

Ortiz pinched the bridge of her nose, closing her eyes for a long moment before she opened them again and spoke. “Listen. We all know what the rules are. No fraternization between officer and enlisted ranks. But you two. This circling you’re doing. I can’t have you distracted. Not during something as small as gear maintenance and sure as hell not during a mission.”

Hazard’s heart started to pound. What was she going to do? Reprimand them? Kick one or both of them off the team? He held his breath waiting to hear her decision...

“I can’t believe I’m saying this. But if you two need to fuck it out of your systems to get your heads back on straight then do it. Keep it private. I don’t need to hear about it and neither does anyone else. Do whatever you need to do to get your focus back where it needs to be.”

Hazard choked on an indrawn breath at the major’s decision. That was the last thing he’d expected her to say. “Yes, ma’am,” he managed to wheeze out. He looked at Ice from the corner of his eye. The alpha was stone still, his shoulders drawn tightly back.

Ortiz sighed, as if she was beyond tired. Then she turned to go, leaving the two of them alone in the dim hallway.

Once Ortiz was gone, Hazard turned to Ice. He leaned back against the wall and gave the alpha a slow smile.

“You heard the major,” he said softly. “Maybe we should just fuck this attraction out of our systems.”

“No.”

Hazard pouted at the abrupt rejection. “Why not? Don’t tell me the Iceman doesn’t fuck.”

Ice gave a short laugh, the sound harsh and lacking in humor.

“We can’t fuck because I’m a possessive bastard on the best of days. What’s mine is mine and no one else better not evenfucking look at it. And you, Hazard. You bring out the worst of that trait in me. If I have you – it won’t be to get you out of my system. It’ll be to claim you and make you mine and only mine.”

With that, he went to follow Ortiz out. But Hazard didn’t exactly see Ice being possessive over him as a problem.

“What if I want to be claimed by you?” he boldly called out.

Ice stopped. He turned and strode back over to Hazard. When he reached him, he leaned in close, planting a hand on the wall next to his head. Hazard stared up into those dark eyes, seeing the same intensity from the night of their kiss. He waited, hoping he would be kissed again.

Ice put an oil-stained finger beneath his chin, tilting his face up. And then he was being kissed. Hazard shivered as Ice’s lips softly slid over his. He was ready to sink into it. Unfortunately, the kiss was over as fast as it began. Ice pulled back and Hazard watched in a daze as those lips shaped his next words.

“Trust me,” he said roughly. “You don’t want that.”

He stepped back, staring at Hazard for a long moment before he walked away.

Hazard let him go this time. But as far as he was concerned, the matter wasn’t settled. Usually, he trusted that Ice was always right. But this time the captain was wrong. Because he very much did want to be claimed by that big, gruff possessive bastard. Wanted it with every fiber of his being.

* * *