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Unexpected Touch

Chapter 15

Piers sighed and slid his phone back into his back pocket. From where he was standing, he could make out the rest of the group going into the cottage through the back door.

He stood there silently, taking a moment to shake off the phone conversation with Michael whatever-his-name-was from Investigations. Piers took a steadying breath. He closed his eyes and schooled his face into a neutral expression before continuing his trek to the cottage.

As he drew closer, he could see some of the soldiers exiting the small house and walking to the manor to get lunch.

Looking back at the cottage, a man stripping on the back patio caught his attention.

The man's shoes and socks were already off and were laid out neatly on the patio.

Piers nearly stumbled as he watched his gorgeous captain strip off his muddy shirt, dropping it down the concrete. He didn't know if his mind was imagining things, but it felt like the man was doing it far more slowly – far more sensually – than was necessary.

The sniper's mouth went dry as the man's hands dropped his pants, skillfully flicked open the button and unzipping them.

Blue eyes looked up at Piers as the sniper approached. Piers cleared his throat awkwardly as he was caught staring.

"Captain," he greeted the man, stepping onto the patio from the gravel path. He focused all of his willpower on keeping his eyes locked onto those of his captain. And on stifling the blush he felt creeping up his neck.

The man had been slightly bent over as he had unfastened his pants, but he stood up straight to regard the young man.

Piers couldn't help himself. His eyes darted down to take in the muscular abdomen as the khakis slid down just slightly to reveal a mouth-watering Adonis Belt. Piers imagined running his tongue down it, tasting the flesh there.

Piers licked his lips as he felt a throbbing begin at this thigh.

"Hey, Piers," the older man replied.

If he noticed the sniper's staring, he didn't show it.

"Thank you for taking that call, Piers," Chris said after a beat. "I'm sorry for putting you in this position."

At his captain's words, the sniper's mind immediately began summoning images of all the positions he wanted the man to put him in. He shook his head to dispel them and forced himself to return to the conversation.

Looking back up, Piers took a couple steps toward the man.

Suddenly his foot flew out from under him as his shoe slipped on a small pile of wet mud, his heart jumping into his throat. He had barely caught himself, arms flailing as he tried to regain his balance, before he could fall on his ass. He saw Chris watching him, amused.

Piers glared playfully at the man for a moment as he righted himself.

Piers said, "You didn't put me in any position. It was my dumb-ass, idiot brother."

Chris chuckled and shook his head. "Don't be too angry with him. He's just trying to protect you."

The captain quickly dropped his khakis to the ground. Piers tried to force himself to look away, but instead found himself watching with keen interest as the man bent over to pick them up and lay them out flat on the concrete next to his shirt. Piers was thoroughly enjoying how the thin, stretchy boxer-briefs were clinging to the man's body.

"I mean," Piers winced as his voice cracked and cleared his throat, "you are aware that he called Director Valentine and was the one to start an investigation against you, right?"

Chris hummed out a yes as he unfurled the garden hose that was hanging on its holder against the wall.

"Why aren't you mad?" Piers asked, confused. Piers himself was still unbelievably furious. He knew without a doubt that he was going to be shouting at his brother the next time he spoke to the idiot.

Chris turned on the hose bib, seemingly unaware of the hazel eyes intently following his rear end's every move.

The older man looked at the hose in his hand for a moment, thinking, before aiming the flow to hit his muddy clothes laying on the ground. "Well, I guess because we had a good conversation."

Piers felt his heart start racing minutely. He still needed to talk to the man about the mess of telephone calls his brother had made the previous night.

"Yeah?" he asked hopefully. He had no idea what the captain meant, but he was glad it hadn't ended with the death threats he thought it did.

Methodically spraying the mud out of his clothes, the captain looked up at the sniper and smiled. "Yeah."

The sniper just watched the captain, eyebrows knitted together in worry. "Care to elaborate?"

Piers watched the man closely as he continued silently hosing the mud out of his clothes.

The sniper could hear some of the soldiers in the house moving around and chatting as they got ready to head over to the main house for lunch. The front door banged shut several times and then there was silence.

After a minute or so, the captain repositioned the clothes to wash out the last the mud. Once he was satisfied, Chris walked over to the hose bib and turned off the water.

"Can I ask you something first?" the older man asked as he began coiling the hose back up.

Piers dragged his eyes off of the perfectly sculpted abs that were smeared so enticingly with mud. Looking back up, he said, "Of course, Captain."

His captain calmly put returned to hose back to its holder. Piers' breath caught in his throat for a moment as the man turned to face him, intense blue eyes locking with haze ones. Stepping quickly up to the sniper, the captain stopped about a foot away.

Piers could practically feel the heat radiating from the man's sun-warmed skin. He wasn't used to people standing so close to him, especially not his captain. The man had always kept his distance from people. The sniper stopped breathing, unable to tear his eyes away from the penetrating gaze of his captain as the man stared him down.

"Why did you kiss me?"

Piers felt several emotions wash over him. Surprise was first. He honestly hadn't expected that question. Accusations regarding the investigation? Yes. But his motivations for kissing the man? No.

It was quickly overshadowed, though, by embarrassment and then anxiety. He had no idea what he could say that wouldn't just leave the handsome man scoffing at his childishness. Or that wouldn't result in a cold rejection.

The sniper decided his best course of action was to remain silent and hope the man dropped the subject. He looked away, unable to meet his captain's eyes any longer.

Several long seconds went by while Piers refused to answer. While he refused to even look at the man in front of him. He could feel his captain's eyes watching him intensely.

Then the sniper felt a firm hand take his chin and force hazel eyes to meet blue.

"Piers."

Piers closed his eyes against his embarrassment, feeling almost like an errant child. He was struggling trying to keep his calm façade under the older man's scrutiny.

In front of him, he could hear his captain's easy breathing. How could the man be so calm and relaxed while Piers felt like he was going to have a full fledge panic attack soon?

Piers quickly peeked at the man standing there. He didn't know what he expected. Anger, maybe? At the very least some impatience at the sniper for refusing to answer. Instead, the man was waiting there unperturbed.

Shutting his eyes again, Piers' jaw clenched. The sniper's embarrassment was quickly starting to turn into irritation. The man was just sitting there watching Piers tie himself into knots!

And why was Chris even asking? Lucas had to have told the man exactly how Piers had felt about him. And if Lucas didn't, then Claire or Jill no doubt did. Why was Chris cornering him like this? Was this some sort of sick game? Revenge for accidentally getting an investigation launched against the decorated captain?

Piers eyes open in surprise as felt his captain's thumb gently stroking his cheek. He looked at the older man. The man looked so comfortable. The sniper could make out a kind smile ghosting across his lips.

The sniper let out a breath he hadn't realized he had been holding. There was no sign of the maliciousness on those rugged features. He relaxed against the touch on his cheek as he focused on that smile.

Taking one last moment to enjoy the soft, warm touch, Piers turned his face to lean fully into the rough palm at his cheek. Giving in to the gentle touch and to those probing eyes, he took a breath.

"I kissed you…because I wanted to," the sniper breathed.

He wasn't sure whether Chris heard him. He had barely been able to form the words.

Closing his eyes again, he waited for the inevitable rejection.

Gently, the brunet asked, "But why, Piers?"

Piers remained silent, his eyes squeezed shut against the older man's penetrating stare.

Please, don't make me say it, the sniper thought. I don't want to lose you.

He had never felt so cornered by his captain before. The man had always been sure to give the sniper space. But now? He felt trapped.

Piers felt like he couldn't breathe.

"Piers," he whispered. "What are you afraid of?"

Piers swallowed against the lump he felt in his throat.

Whispering, he said, "You're going to send me away."

There was silence following his statement. Piers could hear his heart thundering in his ears as he waited for his captain's response.

"Send you away?"

Anger suddenly reared back up inside the sniper. Piers released a short bark of laughter.

"Yeah, send me away."

Chris was quiet for a moment, regarding the sniper curiously. "Why would I do that?"

The sniper smiled sardonically at the man in front of him. "Okay, let's go run through this, shall we? I'll tell you I kissed you because I think I'm in love with you." Eyes still squeezed shut, refusing to look at the man and the expression of distaste he knew he would find on the man's face at his quick confession, Piers pressed forward, "You'll try to let me down nicely. And then you'll quietly transfer me to another team because I tried to start a relationship with my commanding officer. You have to. It's BSAA policy."

Piers opened his eyes to lock eyes with the brunet.

"So just do it," the sniper said, his voice tense. "Go ahead and tell me what I already know. That you don't—"

His words were cut off, though, as Chris quickly brought his other hand to Piers' cheek and pulled the sniper toward him, pressing his lips against the sniper's.

Dropping the hand that had been holding the sniper's chin, Chris wrapped his arm around Piers' waist and pulled the young man's strong body tightly against his own.

Even through his shock, it only took a moment for Piers to respond to the kiss.

Reacting purely on instinct and nearly two years of longing, Piers threw his arms around Chris' neck, pressing passionately against the older man. Chris released a moan as the sniper pulled back just enough to suck the captain's lower lip into his hot mouth and bite it gently. Piers felt the man shiver as the sniper ran a hand down the man's chest to his stomach.

He didn't know why Chris was kissing him, but he wasn't about to turn the man down.

When Piers released his lip, Chris pulled back and studied him, arounds still tightly wrapped around the sniper's waist.

It was a short kiss, but Piers was sure he was a mess. The sniper had never before in his life been so turned on by a single kiss.

His chest was heaving as he panted through parted lips. He could feel the heat of a blush spread across his ears and neck. Even his ears felt hot.

Piers' head was reeling. Just a few moments ago, he had been on the verge of panic, absolutely confident that he was going to be rejected. But now, he felt almost euphoric.

He tried to catch his breath as he drank in the sight of his captain.

By contrast, Chris looked relatively calm. There was a small but delighted smile on the man's lips that still glistening from their kiss. His blue eyes were sparking. The sniper couldn't recall having ever seen them so alive. Piers couldn't rip his gaze away from those beautiful eyes.

The sniper felt a rush of heat hit his groin at his captain's breathy chuckle. It was an incredible feeling knowing that such an amazing man wanted him.

Piers melted at the brilliant grin Chris gave him. Shaking his head, Chris said, "Piers, when have I ever given two shits about policy?"

Piers felt a grin forming on his own lips.

That was true. When it came to rules that kept his team safe, such as maintaining open radio communication and staying together, the man ruled with an iron fist. But the man had almost zero regard for administrative policy and procedure, something that had both impressed and annoyed the sniper to no end.

Piers reached a hand up to toy with the soft hairs at the back of his captain's head as he looked at the handsome face so close to his own.

He glanced absently down at the man's chest for a moment as he gathered his courage.

Looking back up at captivating blue eyes, he asked, "How do you feel about me?"

His heart fluttered as the older man leaned forward to press their heads together, their noses touching gently.

"I think you're the most incredible man I've ever met," his captain replied softly. The man hesitated before adding, "I could never send you away."

Piers was speechless. He was elated. And terrified. He had so many questions. So many concerns. What about the man Chris was in love with? What about the investigation? What about Claire?

Wait. What about their jobs? Chris was his commanding officer!

But when Piers opened his mouth to voice his worries, nothing came out. He knew he needed answers, but he also didn't want to risk doing anything that would talk the man out of being with him.

Instead, he decided to gently press his lips back against those of his captain, sweeping his tongue against his captain's bottom lip longingly.

Chris opened his lips and met the sniper's tongue with his own, humming as he did so. Piers pressed his body harder against his captain's as their tongues danced. Chris' hand left his cheek and fell to his hip, pulling their hips together tightly.

Piers broke the kiss, moaning, as his erection made light contact against his captain's thigh.

He felt a warm flutter of air as his captain chuckled against his cheek, kissing the flesh there and making his way to the sniper's ear. The sniper closed his eyes as he hummed his enjoyment.

"Piers…"

Shivering, the sniper smiled. "Yes, captain?"

"Piers?"

Piers opened his eyes. The man's voice had sounded…concerned?"

Pulling back, Piers looked at the man. The man's eyes were wide with concern.

"What's wrong, Chris?" he asked.

Chris reached up and grabbed the sniper's shoulder, shaking the sniper gently. "Piers! Can you hear me?"

"Yes?" Piers said, eying the man with confusion.

"Piers!" Chris nearly shouted his name, his shaking growing rougher by the moment. "Dave, get the door. I'm gonna take him inside. We may need to call an ambulance."

Piers was starting to feel alarmed by the man's strange behavior. "What are you talking about?"

Suddenly a piercing pain shot through the sniper's head. He squeezed his eyes shut against the pain.

His mind abruptly reset. Instead of standing in his captain's arms, he realized he was laying on the grounds arm. The sudden change left the sniper disoriented and dizzy.

A moment later, Piers felt someone getting ready to lift him up.

Gasping as the movement jostled his head, he opened his eyes again. He was partially on the ground. Chris had placed the sniper's right arm around his shoulders and was lifting the sniper off the concrete of the patio.

How did I end up on the ground? He thought. He quickly shut his eyes as pain again exploded through his brain.

The captain must have seen the sniper open his eyes. Piers heard the man release a sigh before he said, "There you are. Let's get you inside."

The sniper nodded slightly and wrapped his other arm around the man's neck to help support his weight.

"Is he awake?" He heard Bohan ask a couple feet away.

"Yeah." Piers could hear the relief in his captain's voice.

"Take him upstairs. I'm going to see if I can find a first aid kit."

He felt Chris carry him inside the cottage

Piers brought his left arm back down to press a hand against his head to ease the throbbing as Chris took him up the stairs. A few moments later, Chris laid him down on a soft bed.

"Here," the captain murmured. "Just lay there and relax, okay?"

The sniper nodded, eyes still squeezed shut.

He felt the bed dip as his captain sat next to him. A hand gently turned his head to the left and fingers began delicately touching the back of his head.

The sniper hissed as the probing fingers brushed against something painful.

"Sorry," the man said, apologetically, allowing the sniper to turn his head back. "You've got a pretty good bump there."

Carefully opening his eyes to look at the man, Piers could see he was in the captain's room, laying on Chris' bed. He asked, "What happened?"

Chris sighed. Piers could clearly see the worry and exhaustion on the man's features.

"I guess I left some bit of a mud trail on the patio and you slipped on it." Rubbing the back of his neck, Chris continued, "You hit your head pretty hard on the concrete."

Piers laid there in stunned silence.

"I did?"

Chris hummed an affirmative, watching the sniper with concerned eyes.

"Piers, what's the last thing you remember?"

The sniper was quiet for a moment. He didn't know. He had no clue where his memories ended and where his imagination had taken over.

"Do you remember the phone call with Investigations?" Chris asked gently.

Piers nodded silently.

"Good. Do you remember talking to me afterward on the patio?"

The sniper swallowed nervously.

"I think so," he said meekly.

"Do you remember me apologizing for this mess with investigations?"

Again, the sniper nodded.

"Not sure if I remember what happened after that though…" Piers trailed off softly, afraid to bring up their kisses.

Chris placed a comforting hand on the sniper's shoulder. "There wasn't anything after that. That's when you slipped and knocked yourself out."

Piers closed his eyes again, brows knitting together in frustration, as he realized that everything that had just happened between them had been a dream.

Chris must have confused his expression for pain. Piers felt him stand up from the bed before saying, "Here. Let me find you something to help with the pain. I'll be right back. Don't move."

Piers listened to the man's steps fade down the hallway. He felt angry tears pricking at his eyelids.

He had finally said it. After more than a year, he had finally admitted how he felt about the man to his face. Told the man he loved him. And the man had reciprocated his affection! He had even experienced the most exhilarating kiss of his life. And none of it – not a single goddamn second of it - had been real?

The sniper released a ragged breath as he threw an arm over his eyes.

Fuck.