Dex moved back enough to look down at Sloane, an almost shy smile on his face. His cheeks were flushed, his kiss-swollen lips slightly parted. Sloane ran a thumb over one of Dex’s thick eyebrows.

  “You’re so beautiful.”

  Dex kissed him, his movements growing quicker, their panting breaths the only sounds in the room. Sloane held on tight to Dex, his head thrown back as Dex snapped his hips. Dex nipped at his exposed neck, then followed up with a kiss. He drove himself deep into Sloane, their bodies moving together, their skin flushed and beaded with sweat. At that moment, nothing existed outside the two of them.

  “Sloane,” Dex breathed, his face a study in pure ecstasy.

  “Do it,” Sloane growled, urging Dex to take what he needed. Dex pulled out and flipped Sloane over onto his stomach. He looked at Dex over his shoulder, moaning at the sight of Dex stroking himself, his bottom lip between his teeth, before he parted Sloane’s ass cheeks.

  “Fuck, your ass is a thing of beauty.”

  “Fuck my ass is what I’m waiting on.”

  Dex leaned in to pull Sloane’s earlobe between his teeth before murmuring, “Who’s in charge here?”

  “You are,” Sloane said with a groan. “Please.”

  Dex hummed and ran a hand over Sloane’s flank before slapping his ass cheek, leaving him tingling. Sloane sucked in a sharp breath and arched his back in response.

  “Fuck me, Dex. Please.”

  Dex pressed himself to Sloane’s back, rubbing his cock against Sloane’s crease. “Tell me what you want.”

  “I need you to fuck me.”

  “How bad?”

  “I need your cock inside me so fucking bad. I want to feel you for hours.”

  “Baby, you’re going to be feeling me for days.” Dex drove himself inside Sloane, and Sloane cried out. He grabbed fistfuls of the bedsheets, and Dex plastered himself to Sloane’s back, one arm around Sloane’s neck, his free hand grabbing a handful of Sloane’s hair as he pounded Sloane into the mattress, his thrusts deep and hard.

  “Oh, fuck. Fuck,” Sloane growled, his fingers digging into Dex’s forearm. The sound of skin slapping against skin filled the room, and Sloane was grateful for the soundproofing. Not to mention the Therian-size bed that rocked beneath them. Dex’s hips lost their rhythm, his panting breath in Sloane’s ear as he lost himself in fucking Sloane. He snapped his hips once more, and Dex turned Sloane’s head, bringing their mouths together as Dex came inside him, his body trembling with his release. After one final hard thrust, he turned Sloane onto his back and swallowed Sloane’s cock. When Dex slipped his finger between Sloane’s cheeks and along the trail of come, Sloane’s release exploded through him. He cried out, his muscles tightening and his toes curling. He came inside Dex’s mouth, and Dex took all of him. When he was done, he licked his lips and moved up Sloane’s body, letting his head rest against Sloane’s.

  “When I’m with you, it’s like the world slows down and I can just… be. You ground me, Sloane. I’d be lost without you.”

  Dex’s body trembled, and Sloane smiled lazily as Dex moved down to lay his head on Sloane’s chest. Sloane wrapped an arm around Dex’s back and absently stroked Dex’s shoulder.

  “We should clean up and get dressed,” Sloane said, chuckling at Dex’s groan.

  “But I’m so comfy.”

  “What if I make it worth your while?”

  “I’m listening.”

  “How about if you get up, I do all the work, and when this is all over, I’ll bring you breakfast in bed.”

  There was a pause.

  “Death Star pancakes?”

  Sloane held back a smile, relieved to have his Dex back. “You got it.”

  “You sure make it tough for a guy to be lazy,” Dex grumbled, pushing up onto his elbows. He gave Sloane’s lips a quick kiss. “But I like you anyway.”

  “I’m glad to hear it.”

  Dex climbed off the bed, and Sloane rolled onto his side, propping himself on his elbow as he admired Dex’s lean muscular frame while he stretched.

  “And you make me pancakes.”

  “There is that,” Sloane replied, amused. He got up and smacked Dex’s ass before darting over to the small sink and the towel rack.

  “You really think I’m going to let you get away with that?” Dex grabbed the washcloth away from Sloane, then wrapped his arms around Sloane’s waist before Sloane could turn the water on. Dex backed Sloane up against the door, pinning Sloane’s wrists against it.

  “I sure hope not,” Sloane teased, nipping at Dex’s chin. As they kissed, Sloane made a promise to himself. He’d never allow Dex to lose what made him so special—his heart. Sloane would protect it with everything he had. Always.

  “Hello, Dex. Please, make yourself comfortable,” Dr. Winters said as he closed his office door.

  “Thank you, Doctor.” Dex took a seat on the comfortable floral-print couch, pulling one of the soft blue pillows onto his lap. There was a plush blanket in the same color beside it, and he absently ran his hand over it. The office was designed to create a sense of calm with its soothing tones and soft lighting. A lovely smell floated up from the aromatherapy diffuser. The space was elegantly decorated but cozy, with potted plants around the room and a window that let in the sun during the day. From what Dex could gather, everyone except him, Cael, and Sloane had been in to see Dr. Winters. The rest of the team had been signed off and cleared.

  Winters took a seat in the wingback chair across from Dex and crossed one leg over the other. He tapped the screen of the tablet on the coffee table beside him. “I’m going to start our session.” He turned to Dex with a sympathetic smile, his amber eyes filled with concern. “I know this is the last place you want to be right now, but you understand how important your well-being is to the THIRDS and to me.”

  “I know. You’re just doing your job.”

  Winters frowned at him. “I hope you don’t believe you or any of the agents I see are just a file to me, Dex.”

  “I’m sorry. No, I know that.” Dr. Winters had helped Dex work through a lot of emotional upheaval during his time at the THIRDS. From his acclimating to the team when he first joined, all the way through his supposed “ambush.” Everything Dex and Winters talked about was confidential, but Dex never disclosed any information regarding TIN. The last thing he wanted to do was place the good doctor in danger for just listening to him. “You’ve done a lot for me, for Sloane, and the rest of the team, and I appreciate it, I really do. It’s just frustrating. This isn’t where I should be spending my time. We’re working against the clock. Every minute I’m not out there looking for my father, chasing down leads, is a minute closer I get to never seeing him again.”

  Winters nodded. He was roughly Tony’s age. A tall wolf Therian with a kind face and gentle eyes. He was soft-spoken, always calm and ready with a smile. A lot of agents hated seeing him, mostly because they didn’t like having their emotions prodded. Dex didn’t mind. He understood Winters’s role, and he genuinely believed the guy wanted to help. This was just bad timing.

  “Dex, you’re an incredibly resilient man,” Winters said, leaning forward. “I know I shouldn’t get personal, but I have never met anyone with a heart as strong as yours. Everything you’ve been through, everything you’ve suffered, and you always find a way to pick yourself back up and keep fighting. You might be a little worse for wear, but you dust yourself off and jump back into the fray. I admire that about you.”

  “Thank you.”

  “How are you holding up under all the pressure? You’ve had a lot on your plate recently with months of wedding preparations. Thank you for the invite, by the way.”

  Dex smiled. “I meant what I said. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me and Sloane. You were there to help me work through some things when Sloane got hurt in the car explosion, when my brother was taken and Tony was shot.” He shook his head as he thought of all the other times he’d been in here. “Do I get like a special badge or something for most office visits?”

  Winters chuckled. “You know you’re always welcome to come talk to me. No flying bullets or apocalyptic events needed.”

  Dex nodded, grateful for the support. He squeezed the pillow to his chest and let out a heavy sigh. “It feels like I’m getting slammed from every angle, and I’m trying to focus on one thing at a time, but it’s hard. I mean, I’m supposed to be getting married in a few days, and I keep thinking maybe I should call Lou and have him cancel the whole thing, and I said as much to Sloane, and man, he’s just so amazing. He always knows exactly what to say or do to pull me back from that ledge. But even then, I can’t stop thinking about how what if instead of me enjoying the happiest day of my life, I’m arranging a funeral? I don’t know if I can come back from that. How am I supposed to come back from losing another father?”

  Dex ran a hand over his face in frustration. “And then I get pissed, because really? One time wasn’t enough? Am I so fucking cursed that the universe keeps trying to take people I love away from me? I lost my parents, I almost lost Sloane, my brother was kidnapped by Hogan, Tony was shot, and God knows how that could have turned out, and now he’s out there somewhere in the hands of killers who are just biding their time.” Dex swallowed hard and blinked back his tears. “I don’t know if I can do this.”

  “You can,” Winters assured him. He sounded so confident. Like if Dex just agreed with him, it would be so. “You’re strong, Dex. What’s more, you have a brother who looks up to you and depends on you. What would happen to Cael without you? What if the worst comes to pass, and he no longer has his father? What will he do if he doesn’t have you to turn to?”

  “No. I know. You’re right. I’m just… tired. To be honest with you, Doc, right now, I’m exhausted. My head is a mess, but my heart is, like, ‘don’t you fucking dare.’”

  “Then it’s clear you need to listen to your heart.”

  Dex nodded his agreement, and Winters sat back in his chair. “You’re not as restless as you once were. It’s good to see Sloane’s influence helping you through such a difficult period.”

  Dex couldn’t help his smile at the thought of Sloane. “There’s something about him that makes me… breathe. Just having him close by makes me feel calm, and if I start not to be calm, he touches me, and it’s like everything’s going to be fine. He grounds me.”

  “You’re both perfectly suited for each other, and I’m so happy for you both. You’ve come such a long way.”

  Winters’s words touched Dex. “Thank you.”

  “Now, are you prepared to do what needs to be done? Are you confident you can perform your duties to the best of your abilities? That your teammates can rely on you?”

  Dex nodded, putting as much conviction behind his words as possible. “Yes, I’m confident in my abilities, and I’m here for my team. We’re going to find Tony and bring him home.”

  TEN

  This was really happening.

  Sloane stood in the middle of the empty training bay. It was one of the biggest in Sparta. The most high-tech with the newest equipment. This was where he’d be training agents and team leaders. At the end of the bay was a large locker room split into two for male and female agents, and to the right of the bay was his new office.

  He headed into the sleek office twice the size of the one he shared with Dex. As he looked around, he wondered why a training officer would have such a big office with so much hardware and gadgetry, and the answer became clear. When he wasn’t out in the field as a TIN operative or at home with Dex, he’d be here. He’d need everything at his disposal because this wasn’t who he was first; he was a TIN operative moonlighting as a training officer. It was all so very surreal.

  “Where the hell is he?”

  Sloane checked his watch for the third time. It wasn’t like Ash to be late. His best friend was always punctual, and he expected everyone else to be. If he got delayed, he always sent a quick text. Sloane decided to go see what was holding Ash up. He walked out into Sparta, greeting his fellow agents along the way as he headed up to Unit Alpha, stopping by his old office. It was tough, seeing only one desk in there now. Ash’s desk. Sloane imagined Ash wouldn’t be spending much time in there. While Dex and Sloane had been off, they’d moved Rosa, Letty, Cael, Calvin, and Hobbs to a much bigger space they now shared, each with their own desk. As soon as Dex and Sloane were sworn in, Destructive Delta would start in their new role as training team, so it made sense that they’d need to share the same space to collaborate and plan.

  Sloane walked through the bullpen toward the conference rooms, and he found what he was looking for, well, the second thing; Ash was still nowhere to be found. The shiny new digital screen beside the door read Destructive Delta—THIRDS International Training Team.

  Sloane opened the door, and five sets of eyes greeted him.

  “Sloane!” Cael jumped from his chair. He rushed over to Sloane, surprising him when he threw his arms around Sloane and hugged him.

  Sloane laughed. “What’s all that about?” It had only been a couple of hours.

  “He’s feeling a little nostalgic,” Rosa said, motioning around them.

  The room was impressive, but then it had been one of Unit Alpha’s largest conference rooms. It was state-of-the-art, with sleek new desk interfaces and a wall-to-wall digital board. Another wall had a huge flat screen built into it, while the third wall was lined with comfortable seating. At the far end were three doors, the left the bathroom, locker room, and shower for the female agents. The middle door led to the kitchen, where Sloane could see vending machines and all kinds of appliances, and the right door led to another bathroom, locker room, and shower for the male agents. It was a pretty sweet setup.

  “It’s a nice office,” Calvin said.

  Cael nodded. “We got our own kitchen.”

  “But it’s still weird,” Rosa added.

  Sloane understood. They were still together, but separate. “Hey, when this is all over, the sarge will be just down the hall, Ash will be just around the corner, I’ll be downstairs in Sparta.”

  “When you’re not away,” Cael said, frowning.

  Anyone who heard Cael’s words would think Cael meant when Sloane wasn’t off training abroad or in another state, but what Cael actually meant was when Sloane was off on an op with Dex for TIN.

  “Dex and I still represent Destructive Delta. We haven’t left, and when we’re not… on assignment, we’ll be right here. We’re family. That’s not changing. I’m proud of you guys. This is a huge deal for the THIRDS. You’re the first International Training Team. Sparks wouldn’t have given this to you if she didn’t think you could make a difference in these agents’ lives. They need to see what a real family’s like, and no one can do that better than Destructive Delta.”

  Rosa came over to Sloane and hugged him with a sniff. “Jerk. You’re not supposed to be the one reassuring us.”

  “We’re supposed to reassure you,” Letty offered, hugging Sloane from his other side. He wrapped his arms around them and tried not to give in to his emotions, but when Hobbs stood, Sloane couldn’t help it.

  “Oh fuck me,” he said with a laugh as everyone crowded him for a hug.

  “Don’t tell Dex,” Calvin muttered.

  “We’ll never hear the end of it,” Rosa said.

  “Don’t forget, you guys are going to have to be ready for when Dex and I need you. You’re our backup, same as it’s always been.” Destructive Delta might be the new training team, but they were also Dex and Sloane’s assets. It was going to be a challenge for all of them, balancing their old lives with the new.

  “Hell yeah!” Letty wiped at her eyes before turning to head back to her desk. “Your boy’s in the new team training bay, feeling sorry for himself. He’s been in there since he got back from seeing Winters. I think they talked about him being team leader.”

  “Really?”

  Cael nodded sadly. “When I asked him what was wrong, he said he just needed a few minutes on his own, how Winters had talked to him about his new role on the team and how he was going to do a great job.”

  Shit. “Okay, thanks, guys.”

  Sloane left Unit Alpha and took the elevator down to Sparta. He needed Ash to be at his best. Strangely enough, Sloane found himself feeling nervous all of a sudden, which was ridiculous. This was Ash. No one knew Sloane better than Ash. Dex might know Sloane intimately, but Ash and Sloane had been together for almost thirty years. Fuck, he was getting old. He couldn’t help his smile, knowing Ash would curse him out for thinking that since they were the same age.

  Just next door to his personal training bay was the Destructive Delta’s new team training bay, the one Ash had asked Sparks for when she offered Destructive Delta the position. It was just as high-tech as Sloane’s, but much bigger. It was divided into different training sections, and he found Ash on a bench, hunched over, near the boxing ring, his hands covering his face. Knowing Ash would hate being caught in an emotional state, Sloane called out as he approached.

  “There you are, Keeler.”

  Ash jolted upright. He wiped at his face before clearing his throat, his voice rough when he spoke. “Fuck. Sorry, I didn’t even realize what time it was.”

  “That’s okay. I stopped by the office. Saw everyone’s new digs. Cael seems happy about the kitchen.”

  Ash chuckled. “Yeah. Him and Hobbs. Couple of dorks. They already stocked the fridge.”

  Sloane took a seat on the bench and patted the space next to him. “Talk to me.”

  “Oh no. Fuck that. I ain’t having no come-to-Jesus moment with you. I’m fine. This is all so… fucked-up. I can’t stop thinking about the sarge out there, and now all this shit. Anyway, I’m fine.”

  Sloane called bullshit. Ash had just been sitting in an empty training bay, hands covering his face, and from his reddened eyes, it was more than obvious this was all hitting him harder than he expected.