Chapter Ten

Eagle

He did his best at trying to hide his smile when Link went all commando on him.

Jordan pulled out of the parking lot with Creed and Owen, and Ice had already taken the other vehicle to the local police station. That left the SUV Eagle had driven back at the motel.

“Uber?” Eagle asked, catching up to Link.

“No.” Link shook his head. “Hey, Detective, can we get a ride to the motel? We need to pick up our SUV,” Link called out to the man who was talking to a few officers.

“Yeah, I’m heading out as it is. I have officers staked out in case they come back,” Wall said, walking toward a black SUV.

Link slid into the back, leaving the front with more leg room for Eagle. Yeah, Link could be nice sometimes. It made Eagle think they might have another shot, a chance at getting their friendship back, but did they still have a chance at something more?

“Thoughts on what’s going on, Detective?” Eagle asked to take his mind off Link.

“I think these boys got caught up in the wrong hate group,” Wall said.

“Why are they coming back then?” Link said.

Wall sighed. “That is the question.”

“Maybe they needed to finish the job for the group. You know, kill the owners,” Eagle said.

Wall threw Eagle a quick look and picked up his radio to put officers on watching the Richards family.

Eagle slightly turned in his seat to glance at Link and the man smirked—mouthing the words “good call.”

Eagle grinned back. It was almost like old times. Something flashed in Link’s eyes and maybe it was a memory…because in the next heartbeat, Link’s eyes went hard and flat.

Turning to gaze out the window, Eagle wondered if the Richards family had targets on their backs. It made sense that the perps would return to finish the job, but why not attack their house or on the street when they were vulnerable? Why continue coming back to the restaurant? One good thing remained out of all this—if this was a targeted attack, then there wouldn’t be any further random bombings and their job got a whole hell of a lot easier.

Chancing a glance into the back again, he was met with Link’s profile. The man was looking out the window, but his leg was constantly bouncing, and he knew Link was wound up.

Eagle also suspected that pent-up energy was because Link hadn’t had a chance to kick some ass when Eagle had been tasered, and when Link couldn’t let off steam, it wasn’t good. Sometimes, when Link went off on any and all bad guys, it gave Eagle gray hairs. It would start with Link shooting him a devilish smile and cocky head tilt and then the man would explode into action, all power and muscle. It was utterly breathtaking, and every single time, Eagle swallowed a knot watching him.

He pulled his gaze away from Link with difficulty and stared blindly out the window.

Being a badass was in Link’s nature. Eagle had his own amount of toughness, but Link took it to a whole other level. He just wished Link would slow down a bit and ease up on the stress that coursed through him every minute.

Still, he’d never stop following Link into the fray of whatever they were up against. It was his duty, and as long as he drew breath, he would never stop protecting Link.

They’d become partners years ago when Dave had formed the aptly named Fury. It had been him, Link, and Spencer. In all the years of service to the former SecDef and the President, Fury had never lost a teammate in action. Although, they had come close a few times. Thinking of the SecDef, he was reminded of a recent conversation between them when Dave had asked—

“Eagle?”

He turned his head from the window and met Link’s gaze.

“Where were you?”

Eagle blinked. What could he say? That Dave had asked him if he wanted to go up north and work with Phoenix for a while? Or should he just say he’d taken a trip down memory lane to a time when things were better between them? A time when they’d been tighter than blood. Had they lost all of that? He didn’t think so, but sometimes it felt like it. In the end, he didn’t say either of those things.

Talking about your feelings is for fucking wussies, boy.

“I’m here,” he rasped, his father’s ugly voice ringing in his ear. Link hesitated and then nodded. Eagle swung around and stared through the windshield to the motel coming up.

It was clear Link didn’t believe him and Eagle wasn’t sure if he believed it himself.

Eagle barely waited for Wall to stop the SUV before he was jumping out of it. He couldn’t be around Link and his smirk and knowing blue eyes. Just a moment alone would do the trick, allow him time to stuff the memories down and give him back his calm.

“Where are you going?”

“I need a minute,” Eagle growled, stalking across the parking lot. He shoved the key into the door, walked in, and quietly shut it behind him.

“Fuck, get a grip,” he muttered to the empty room and paced a few steps.

“Eagle?” Link knocked on the door.

Eagle held his breath, not responding. What part of needing a minute did Link not understand? The knob turned, because of course Link tried the door, and Eagle hadn’t locked it. Link shoved it open and walked inside enough to let it close behind him.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” He frowned and picked up his duffle bag. “Just needed…” He stared at the pack.

“Just needed what?”

“A fucking moment,” he snapped.

“For what? To powder your nose?” Link’s eyes narrowed.

“Fucking smartass. You never let up.”

“Oh, I let up when it’s necessary, but right now, it’s not. I don’t need you falling apart on me.”

Eagle dropped the bag and whirled on Link. He moved closer and Link backed up. He should, because Eagle was tired of this shit. All the tension, all the snapping comments. Link’s back bumped against the door and it rattled in the room.

“When the fuck have I ever fallen apart on you?” Eagle said, nose to nose with the other man.

“Back off,” Link growled, his breath coming in pants, and Link shoved him with both hands—only Eagle didn’t budge, crowding closer instead.

“Make me.”

Link lost it and shoved an arm against his throat and a leg between his thighs. Eagle found himself spun around, his back slamming against the door.

Bringing his hands up, Eagle gripped both sides of Link’s face and took his mouth in a kiss he’d been dying for. The touch of Link’s mouth clouded his mind; the room disappeared and his world narrowed down to the man right there in his arms. Link stopped pushing at him and groaned, parting his lips, biting at his mouth. Eagle followed suit and laved his tongue inside, tasting Link and sucking at him.

Eagle had waited months for this to happen again, but in all honesty, he’d been waiting for what seemed like a lifetime for Link.

He turned them again, putting Link’s back to the door with a thud, never breaking the kiss.

Panting against his lips, Link ran his hands over his chest, ribs, and stomach, then yanked at the buttons on Eagle’s jeans. When Link tore his mouth away, Eagle eased up a bit from pressing Link into the door and reached down to cup the man’s hard dick through his pants. Link finally freed him, wrapping a hand around his cock, and Eagle growled long and low. He tore at the front of Link’s pants, shoved down the dark, tight briefs, and closed his hand around the soldier’s warm, hard cock.

Link moaned loudly, nuzzling his lips along his jaw, teeth cleaving into the skin until Eagle took the man’s lips again. Air tore from his lungs in gasping bursts and any sounds around them faded. The only thing Eagle heard was Link’s panting breath and his own harsh sucks of air. The only thing he felt was Link against his body, his hand wrapped around both of their cocks.

All Eagle could do was give in. Breaking the kiss, he tipped his head down to gaze at Link through hooded eyes and dropped his own hands down to close them around Link’s, guiding the man’s hands when his jerking grew sporadic.

Link’s lips parted, red and wet. Those beautiful eyes held his and Eagle imagined he saw love.

He hissed and jerked tight with the thought that Link might love him. For real.

“Yes, come with me,” Link rasped out, increasing the rhythm, and Eagle followed the man into the abyss. He shuddered and released hot seed over their combined grip, taking Link with him. Link’s seed joined his and Eagle shuddered until he was spent; only then did he rest his head to the wood on the door beside Link’s head, panting for air.

Link’s chest rose and fell; a trickle of sweat dripped from the man’s hair onto his shirt. Eagle rolled to the side and leaned his back to the door next to Link. When he felt Link reach down and zip his own pants, Eagle did the same.

“Link…” he said, almost inaudible.

“We better go.”

“Wait…”

“Look.” Link sighed. “This doesn’t change anything.”

Eagle pushed away from the door and stood in stunned silence. It didn’t? Then what the hell was it, a quickie to get their rocks off? Maybe…and in a way it was true, but one thing was clear, it meant a whole hell of a lot more to him than it did to Link.

Link pulled the door open, hesitated, and then walked through and closed it.

Eagle sank slowly to the edge of the bed. Maybe he would take that job with Phoenix after all.