“How rude,” Day scoffed.
“I know. Rushing us off after we did you this nice favor.” Steele tried to peer around him, the nosy bastard. “Not even gonna invite us in?”
Heck no. “Um. We were just about to watch a movie…so…” Take a hint.
Tech laughed loudly.
“That’s great.” Day smiled and stepped up on the porch, trying to see over Free’s shoulder, but there was no way in hell he was letting Day into the house. Hart had had a trying enough day. “So, he’s in a better mood now, right?”
“Day, what are you—?”
“Evening Captain!” Day yelled too damn close to his ear, and into the quiet house. “Hope you enjoyed your dinner!”
Free winced, pushing Day back.
Day put his hands on his hips. “Is he in there? Can he hear me?”
“The whole neighborhood can hear you,” Steele grated.
“I’ll see you all tomorrow.” Free still wasn’t permitted to close the door as his team stood there like disciplined puppies.
“Is he still going through with the grounding?” Day whispered.
“Yes!” Hart barked from somewhere in the house.
Free shook his head. What the hell was his team trying to pull? Tech grabbed Free’s wrist and yanked him outside as Steele closed the door behind him. Next thing he knew Ruxs and Green came from around the side of the house.
“What the hell?” Free frowned. “What are all y’all doing here? It doesn’t take five people to drop off a small camper.”
“We wanted to make sure you were okay, Free.” Green seemed genuinely worried. “You were in a car chase today. Wanted to see that you were good, man. That was some dangerous shit, and you handled it well.”
“Thanks, Green. I’m good, really.” Free tried to retreat, “So, I’ll just be getting along now, yes?”
“Yeah. You actually look good too,” Tech blurted.
“Yeah, real good.” Day smiled.
Free blinked. Okay. What’s with the compliments?
“Free. Come on man. We need your help, little buddy.” Ruxs winked.
“Little that,” Free flipped him off. “And I don’t know how you expect me to help. I can’t change Ivan’s mind.”
“Oh yes you can,” Steele murmured.
Free narrowed his eyes.
“Just need you to tap into that power, man.” Ruxs sleazily rubbed his palms together. “If he’s really happy in the morning…from… ya’ know…”
“The hell, Mark! You promised.” Green grabbed his partner from behind, holding him in a tight chokehold against his body. He scowled over Ruxs' shoulder, “Free. I want you to know that I had nothing to do with this and I completely disagree. What they’re all trying to do—”
“Yeah, yeah. Shut up Mr. Rodgers. We heard your opinion the whole way over here, okay,” Day bit at Green.
Free’s mouth fell open. “Are you trying to suggest that I manipulate him with—?”
“Of course not,” Tech hurried to say, then nervously looked to the rest of the team for backup. “Not ‘manipulate’. That’s such a nasty word to use.”
Free couldn’t believe them.
“You can take one for the team can’t you, Free?” Day pleaded. He lowered his voice conspiratorially, “We all know you got a forty-year-old virgin on your hands. So we like, literally. Need you to take it tonight…maybe hard at times…for the team.”
“Ugh,” Free choked in shock.
“DAY!” Green shouted.
“You’re impossible.” Free shoved his boss away and went back inside. No one stopped him as he slammed the door and engaged both locks after he did.
He leaned against it and laughed like crazy. He wasn’t about to tell his team that he was going to take it hard and in every position imaginable from the Captain…and it didn’t have a damn thing to do with any goddamn grounding.
Hart
He’d finished cleaning up their dinner dishes and placed the leftovers in the refrigerator. It’d been funny to listen to Free’s friends try to convince him to use sex on him. It was typical Day, and most likely his idea, since it was how he kept God wrapped around his little finger. Hart’s hands were in dishwater when Free came in. He walked up behind him and snaked his arms around his waist, tenderly kissing the back of his head.
Hart smiled. “You getting started on your sex plot already?”
Free balked, then pinched him hard in his side.
“I’m kidding.” Hart set the last clean glass into the drying rack and turned around with dripping hands. He let them dangle over Free’s shoulders as he leaned in for a kiss. The sound of water splattering onto the floor could be heard over Free’s soft whimpers. When he pulled away, he nipped at Free’s delicious lips one last time. “But I wouldn’t mind you attempting a sex plot.”
Free’s laugh sounded good in his home. Hart leaned in again, not able to get enough of those lips.
It was Free who finally had to bring them down and ease their mouths apart. He made a beautiful sight with his dark pupils, lips slick and plump from their kiss, those olive cheeks reddened from Hart’s beard. Free looked ready for loving. Hart wanted him just like that in his bed.