NSFW. 4100-something words.
Previous chapters are here or you can find me on the archive.
Spanish translations at the end.
Manuals had to be the most mundane fucking thing on the planet.
Simon would prefer reading the terms and conditions over this.
If it were tactics or weapons maintenance then it wouldnât be so bad. Possibly. But âDeveloping Leadersâ was so soul-suckingly boring he was close to gouging out his eyeballs.
Or, he could just take a nap. Sleep off the boredom.
Simon reached down, brushing gently through the honey-hued ringlets spread across the sheets. Cuddled against his hip, Sereza was catching up on sleep after an exhausting shift â eleven hours in surgery followed immediately by morning rounds then a code.
Poor thing had gotten as far as kicking off her shoes before collapsing into bed.
Simon had smiled before emptying her pockets and tucking her in with a light kiss to her forehead.
She wriggled around, her arm getting tangled in the blanket, making her frown in her sleep. Simon suppressed his laugh and gently pulled it loose for her. Sereza burrowed impossibly closer, throwing one leg over his.
Her arm slipped across his stomach, and she let out a contented sigh.
Adorable. But he still had reading to suffer through.
His attention returned to the manualâ
Another small noise. She twitched in her sleep.
Simon brushed her hair out of the way, trying to find her face. See if she was okay or only dreaming.
Serezaâs arm moved again, her hand coming to rest at his crotch.
Simon froze, taking a few deep breaths. Trying not to react.
And it was working fine â fine enoughâŚ
His teeth clamped down on his lip. A quiet hiss through his nose.
She was too damn wiggly in her sleep.
He ground his teeth together. Fuck it felt good â very good.
His eyes locked on her hand, resting on the bulge forming in his sweats. Debating how to extract himself without disturbing herâ
Simon quietly groaned, his hips pressing upward against her touch before he could think better of it.
The manual dropped to the floorâ
Sereza let out a soft sound and lifted her head.
She sat up, holding the blankets close. Both stared at each other with wide eyes.
âIâm sorrââ Simon blinked. Why the hell was she apologizing?
âI-I didnât mean⌠to just grab you. There, especially. It was an accident, Iââ
Simon cupped her face in both palms. âI know. You were sleeping,â he said, tucking an unruly curl behind her ear.
She opened her mouth to argue.
He leaned in and kissed her. Sereza let the blanket drop between them before returning his kiss. Beneath his touch, Simon felt the tension leave her.
After they parted, her eyes still told him she wasnât entirely convinced.
âIâm sorry I woke you,â he said, caressing the side of her face. âItâŚâ
Simonâs eyes lowered. He picked up her hand.
ââŚIt felt nice. And it got a littleââ
He paused, not really wanting to use the word hard just now.
ââŚDifficult⌠to ignore.â
Serezaâs posture finally sagged, her expression losing all worry.
Simon kissed along her knuckles.
âYou didnât do anything wrong, Love.â
âDidâdid you just call me Love?â she asked.
Did she hate it? Probably hated it.
Probably didnât like sappy pet names, or any pet names. That shouldâve stayed in his head.
âYeah, and⌠to be honest,â he confessed, âIâve called you that in my head for a long time.â
âI wonât do it again if it bothers you,â Simon promised.
âWhaâNo! I love it!â
âYeah!â Her smile turned teasing. âItâs better than Buttercup.â
Simon laughed and kissed her again. Serezaâs arms settled around his neck as she moved closer.
Just as the kiss became deeperâ
âShit,â she hissed, flying over his legs to put her shoes on.
Simon helped, hurriedly stuffing everything heâd emptied from her pockets back in.
âSo you know,â Sereza started, twisting her long hair up and clipping it in place, âyou are my favorite alarm clock⌠mi amor.â
Before he could do anything more than grin at her words, she was out the door and racing down the hallway.
The Brit checked his phone.
Shift change would be soon and for the next twelve hours Sereza would be busy.
He picked up the manual, ready to resume his torment.
Her parting comment replayed in his head. He closed his eyes as the full implication came to him.
Crazy girl, he thought, smiling to himself.
Ghost fixed his sleeve over the bandage and joined everyone else in the waiting area.
Positioning himself in a corner, back to the wall and full view of the room. Just the way he liked.
Half of Westforge had been dragged in for lab work. Policy, someone said. Every year at the start of polar night, vitamin D levels were checked.
He fiddled with the wrap around his forearm. Stupid thing pulled at his skin and wouldnât sit right over one of the scars.
âIâve been stabbed, LT!â Soap whined as he joined the crowded room, messing with his own neon orange wrap.
âI think youâll survive,â Ghost grumbled.
A corporal shifted a step too close on his right. Simon rolled his shoulders, trying to keep them down.
His eyes scanned the room, purely by habit. Doors, exit signs, another hallway at his nine oâclockâŚ
He sighed, trying to make himself relax the way everyone else was.
As usual, not very successful.
âLieutenant,â a medic called, beckoning him.
âUh-oh,â Soap teased, elbowing Ghostâs bicep. âYouâre getting a talking-to.â
A displeased sound rumbled from the skull.
Begrudgingly, he followed the medic down the hall.
He was led to one of the open curtains. The medic pulled it closed behind them.
âApologies, Lieutenant. Your labs were low, so one of the doctors will be by in just a minute,â he explained.
Ghost simply nodded in acknowledgement.
The medic left, and Simon idly paced the room alone. Nothing to do but keep waiting.
A proper handwashing chart hung above the small sink. Simon stared at it without seeing. Sharp senses counting footsteps beyond the curtain. How many people were nearby⌠if they were in a hurry or notâŚ
A new set of footsteps, different from the others.
Couldnât it have been anyone else?
Ghostâs arms crossed over his chest.
âLieutenant,â Abrams sneered.
The fucker pulled the curtain half closed and stood in the middle of the space with Ghostâs chart open. âYou failed your labs; vitamin D is quite low. Shame,â he said, flipping through pages.
Abrams tsked. âYouâll need the shot and, unfortunately for you, itâs a gluteal injection.â
âArm is fine,â Ghost growled.
A smile spread over that fucking smug face.
âOh no, no. See, in here, you do as I say. And I say that, given your musculature, the arm is quite impossible. Now, lower your pants, soldier.â
Ghost leveled a glare at him and remained exactly where he stood.
âŚThough his skin crawled.
âSuch defiance.â Abrams laid the chart down by the sink and flipped it open to a pink sheet. âKnow what this section is?â he asked, his index finger tapping the page.
The skull didnât answer.
âPsych. And wouldnât it be a shame if your file were to suddenly require a review?â
He clicked his pen and began to write.
âRefusal of required treatment. Hostility toward medical personnel. Insubordination. Failure to comply with base medical protocol. Possible oppositional behavior, perhaps trauma-related instabilityââ
âWhat the hell are you after?â Ghost ground out. âWhat do you want?â
Out of the corner of his eye, Simon spotted Nervous Kid.
Wills stopped, eyes flicking briefly inside the room. Then he disappeared.
âWhat do I want?â Abrams slowly turned and faced Ghost.
âI want soldiers like you to recognize youâre not as big and strong as you think you are. Your only purpose is to follow orders; you have no value beyond that.â
He paused, pleased with himself.
âSo whatâll it be, soldier? Cooperate, or I refer you for evaluation. Thatâll see you benched for the better part of a year.â
The glare behind the skull mask stayed.
But underneath it, his stomach dropped.
âReady to obey? Or shall I send this up the chain and let command decide if youâre fit for deployment?â
A referral. Review. Pulled from duty while some stranger picked through his head and wrote down everything wrong with him.
âŚTheyâd have to go on without him, Johnny and the others. Track down Makarov on their own.
Abrams looked him over with open satisfaction. âLetâs go. I donât have all day.â
With one hand, he began opening his belt.
âMask too while youâre at it.â
The room changed shape around him. Becoming smaller. Narrow.
Sounds around them farther away and dull.
For all he wanted to yell and rage at this fucker, words stayed firmly lodged in his throat.
That would probably end up on his record too.
âThat wasnât a suggestion, Lieutenant.â
His fingers slipped on the nylon.
He worked to steady his breathing.
Let his mind wander. Anywhere outside this room.
âŚHeâd done it before.
Simon opened his belt. Gloved fingers began working the top button.
âStep away from him.â
Abrams turned, his pale face reddening.
âDr. Olivares, this doesnât concern you.â
âEverything you do is highly concerning to me.â
Serezaâs eyes rapidly scanned the room. The open chart. The pink sheet.
Abrams between him and the exit.
âExplain. You have three seconds.â
Abramsâ mouth opened, closed, then opened again. âIâm following protocol. His labs are low, and per the guidelines, a gluteal injection is warranted. I informed him of that and he refused to comply.â
âAre the guidelines in the room with us?â she asked, picking up the chart.
âYour attitude is inappropriateââ
âWhatâs inappropriate is threatening patients with baseless psych referrals.â
Sereza flipped through the pages, reading quickly.
âI have to say, Donald, thatâs not very evidence-based of you.â
She turned to the psych sheet, frown deepening as she read.
âGet out,â she ordered icily. âAnd expect a meeting with me and your chief resident before end of shift.â
âOr I can request a formal review now.â
With a stiff turn, he left the room.
Sereza took out a pen, drawing a firm line through the notes before adding her own.
âFix your belt,â she said, turning slightly away from Simon.
He quickly fixed his clothes, the fucking glove catching in the buckle.
Simon stepped away from the exam bed. Then another. Pacing a short line along the wall.
He cleared his throat, a sharp breath leaving through his nose. Fists clenching and unclenching at his sides. He cracked his neck, then cleared his throat again.
âYes, your vitamin D is low,â Sereza said, turning around. âBut not catastrophically low. He made it sound worse than it is.â
She showed Simon the page, pointing with the tip of her pen.
âYour options areâŚâ She held up one finger. âOral replacement. One small pill daily.â A second finger. âOr, if you donât want pills, itâs a simple shot in the arm.â
âItâs your choice.â
Simon looked at the page. Then off to the side at the wall.
His stomach gave an unpleasant turn.
But it was his choice. Not Abramsâ.
âPill is fine,â Simon answered.
Sereza nodded once and made the note.
âDone. Now then.â She shut the chart and pocketed her pen. âYou still with me?â
Simon moved closer and lifted a palm to her face, thumb brushing her cheek.
âStill here, Love,â he replied softly.
Too much damn fabric in the way.
He moved the balaclava up. And took her lips in a slow, gentle kiss.
Sereza returned it. Her arm came under his, palm resting on his shoulder.
âDr. Olivares, Iâ Oh!â
Willsâ shoes scuffed against the tile as he stopped at the curtain.
âI-Iâm⌠Iâm sorry,â he stammered.
Ghost kept his back turned, pulling the mask down.
âItâs okay, Melvin.â Sereza smoothed her ponytail, adopting her professional voice again. âWhat is it?â
âJust, um⌠Dr. Abrams ordered amoxicillin for a patient with a documented anaphylactic penicillin allergy. I thought⌠maybe youâd like to go with something else?â
Sereza rubbed her forehead. âCoĂąo de la madre. Yes, thank you. Are you okay with a verbal order this one time?â
Wills smiled. âFrom you, yes.â
âSwitch it to doxycycline. One hundred milligrams PO BID. You handle that, Iâll call his resident.â She sighed. âFor the fucking third time today.â
Sereza threaded her fingers with Simonâs, giving his hand a squeeze.
âIâll see you in the morning, mi amor.â
Something the Brit liked but also didnât. Depended on the crowd.
Tonight the crowd kept growing until it seemed that the entire damn base was in the common room.
Downtime was important, and he didnât begrudge them that. But Simon had stopped counting the number of times heâd been bumped into. Someone else had nearly stepped on his foot.
So heâd placed himself in a corner, out of the way.
Normally with his size and what Garrick called his âintimidating aura,â everyone gave him plenty of space.
Perhaps this was Serezaâs doing. Perhaps his girlfriend, with her sweet demeanor and gorgeous smile, was making him seem⌠approachable.
The mask shifted with his grin. What a naughty thing to do, Love.
A chill washed over his skin under his hoodie.
He was being watched. Could fucking feel it.
His senses pulled his attention to the far end of the room.
Abrams sat in an armchair, ankle propped across one knee and nonexistent chin resting in his hand. Staring.
A group of recruits stepped in front of him, breaking the line of sight.
That didnât bother Simon in the least. The cover was welcome.
The lights dimmed. A microwave beeped for hopefully the last time; there was enough popcorn in the room already, bloody hell. All he could smell was oily butter.
Soldiers shushed each other as the opening credits started.
Some idiot collided with his elbow. The lieutenant closed his eyes and mentally counted to ten.
âWatch your step, Corporal,â he ground out.
Whistles and several hollers broke out around the room.
Now everyone just made more noise.
Especially at the sofas. Damn near a cacophony.
Rafaelâs voice rose above the chatter.
âI really donât need to hear about Ghost defiling my sister, thanks.â He held up a hand in someoneâs face. âDonât bring them into this.â
The soldiers near him laughed, quieter this time.
Simonâs gaze lowered. His crossed arms drew in tighter over his chest.
âŚThatâs how he was seen?
A familiar smack landed on his shoulder.
âSurprised youâre here,â Price murmured, coming to stand at Ghostâs side. âShiftâs done soon, eh?â
Ghost looked at him from the corner of his eye.
Price ran a hand over his beard, hiding his next words.
âGo find your lady, Simon,â he whispered. âSheâll be happy to see you.â
Did Sereza feel⌠defiled⌠when he touched her?
Would she feel that way if they were toâ
Not that heâd blame her. Heâd understand. He didnât even like touching his own skin.
Simon stormed through the empty halls.
Rafael wasnât being serious, he knew. But still.
He rubbed at the middle of his chest, where the vise kept tightening.
Shrugging off whispered cruel words wasnât particularly difficult; heâd had plenty of practice.
But if Sereza were to react that way when she finally saw himâŚ
Didnât know if he could handle it.
The skull rounded the last corner, pulling the keys from his pocket.
âThereâs my love,â Sereza said, walking out of the bathroom just as he opened the door. Her smile bright, eyes shining as she untied her hair from its ponytail.
Simon came to a dead stop, the door slamming shut behind him.
No leggings. Only his shirt.
Naturally she looked lost in it.
âSorry for stealing your shirt,â she apologized, smoothing the front down. âMy scrubs got more than a little messy today, and the team said I was fine to leave a little early but⌠but I didnât have a clean change of clothes, so I had toââ
âFucking hell, Love.â Simon cut her off, his voice turning husky.
He fumbled with the knob behind him, locking it.
Then quickly yanked off the gloves and mask.
He swept her off her feet, lifting her up to crash his lips to hers. Sereza clung to him, arms around his neck and legs loosely encircling his hips as she hummed into the rapidly intensifying kiss.
Rough palms slid up the back of her bare thighs, pulling her close to him.
His trousers were uncomfortable, his erection straining.
Simon pulled away from her mouth, brows furrowed. A tremor ran through him as his cock pulsed.
âŚThis was too much. And too soon.
He shouldnât be this hard this fast⌠Should have better control of himself.
Sereza was watching him. Lips slightly parted and kiss-swollen, she breathed hard as her gaze swept over his face, returning again and again to his lips.
Her pupils dilated, amber darkening into molten gold. A faint blush tinted her cheeks.
The longer he watched, the more his thoughts quieted.
She had to feel him, hard between her legs. Her center was right against him.
Sereza leaned forward, kissing him slowly but deeply.
Simon had to stifle a groan at another pulse.
âMore⌠or stop?â she panted.
Simon hoisted her a bit higher, gripping her legs just below her rear.
âMore,â he rasped, and kissed her again.
Serezaâs legs tightened around him.
God, she tasted so perfect.
His hands moved higher, grazing the lace edge of her panties. He squeezed, just slightlyâ
A sweet whine rewarded him. Then she shifted against him.
Simon groaned, the movement setting his blood on fire.
His mouth found her neck.
One small press of his hips against herâ
Sereza whined louder, her head dropping back to give him more access.
âCan I touch you?â his deep baritone rumbled.
âPlease,â Sereza moaned.
Simon carried her to the bed and carefully laid her down. His mouth never left her neck.
Her fingers combed through his hair, her lower body still moving beneath him. Just enough to press against his arousal and pull a quiet moan from her throat.
âYou make the⌠sweetest sounds, Love,â he hummed near the shell of her ear.
His touch wandered down, cupping her chest through the shirt.
Sereza arched, the motion pushing her breast further into his palm.
She ground firmly against him.
The friction brought out a growl from low in his chest.
He sat up on his heels, bringing Sereza with him by the wrists.
Moving slowly, he pulled up the shirt until it came over her head, then flung it behind him.
A dark blue lace bra captivated him. Damn near ruined him.
Further down, black lace panties.
Simon reached out, lightly thumbing the dusky nipples visible through the lace.
âDonât need this anymore, right? Show me how to take it off, Love,â Simon murmured, leaning down to her mouth. ââŚBefore I cut this one off too.â
She guided him to a clasp between her breasts.
It snapped open. Simon slid her bra off her shoulders.
Bloody hell. He was never going to get tired of this sight.
He kissed her slowly, reverently. His touch drifted up her bare back as he held her closer, then guided her onto the mattress.
Simon broke from the kiss, mouth trailing to her throat before closing over her breast.
Serezaâs nails sank into his hair.
He rolled his hips, grinding against her.
Simonâs hand explored lower. Past her ribs, along her stomach⌠until he reached lace.
A fingertip brushed along the edge. Barely underneath.
Lower still, and he felt soft curls.
Heat radiated from her. Then wetness.
Sereza moaned deeply from above him.
Leaving her breast, Simon returned briefly to her mouth.
Holding her gaze, he ran a finger over her.
Simon froze, worried heâd scared her.
Her fingers brushed over his blond waves, coming to rest at his cheek.
âYouâre okay,â she reassured, breathing hard.
Drawing in a deep breath, he tried again.
Sliding his fingers through the wetness, Simon spread her lips apart.
His middle finger found her clit.
And began circling gently.
Serezaâs words cut off. Her eyes went glassy, her body rigid.
âŚThis wouldnât take long.
A little faster and Serezaâs head began tossing from side to side.
âS-Si⌠Ah,â she whimpered.
He bent down to her ear. âI got you, Love,â he said low.
Hands clawed at his shirt until she found his forearm and held on.
Her sounds rose in pitch until she arched off the bed.
Simon kissed her hard, holding her as she came undone beneath him.
A second later, she relaxed. Almost going limp. One last shudder running through her.
Simon eased his hand away.
âYou are so beautiful.â He kissed over her cheek and forehead.
Sereza mumbled something in Spanish, making Simon chuckle.
âDoâdo you⌠want your turn?â
The words stopped him cold.
Sereza looked at him, pink-cheeked and slightly dazed, smoothing the wrinkles sheâd left in his hoodie.
âYou deserve to feel good too,â she said. âIâd like to, but you can always say no, mi amor.â
He swallowed hard. Christ.
How could he say no to that? To something heâd secretly craved for months?
âYouâre safe with me.â
This⌠This much was okay.
Pushing aside his apprehension, he picked up her hand, placing a delicate kiss to the inside of her wrist.
âGo slow,â he whispered.
And he tentatively guided her hand to the bulge in his pants.
The contact made him throb even more.
Fortunately, Sereza stayed perfectly still, giving him time.
Her dark-amber eyes stayed fixed on her hand. On the shape of him moving beneath the fabric.
âY-you feel⌠huge,â she breathed out, unknowingly calming Simonâs mind a little. âAre you good or do you want to stop?â
Simon wasnât exactly sure.
It felt good. Very fucking good.
But his head was getting in the way.
He hadnât allowed this. Anyone near him like that. Not sinceâ
Cool fingers on the side of his neck brought him back.
Sereza placed a tender kiss to his cheek. âWe can stop, Si. Itâs okay.â
Placing his palm over her hand, Simon pushed her against his arousal more firmly.
âYou can⌠do a little more.â
Sereza nodded and began rubbing over his covered erection. Slow and gentle.
Simonâs eyelids became heavy. Tingles skittered up and down his spine as the pressure began building.
Sereza angled her hand until she could grip him as best she could through his pants.
âUghh,â Simon groaned, his head dropping forward.
He could feel fluid leaking from his tip, the heat growing in his veins.
And she was only palming him over his pants.
Slightly embarrassing how much it affected him.
Sereza inched a bit closer. Her grip began stroking him.
Up and down, slow but firm.
Simon nearly lost his mind.
His arm came around her shoulders, pulling her closer.
ââŚKeep going,â he answered, voice low and rough.
Simon held her to him, his chin resting on her shoulder.
A shot raced down his spineâŚ
Groaning through clenched teeth, he came.
Her touch pulled away, but she stayed, allowing Simon to keep holding her.
Soft kisses over his hair.
âI love you, Si,â she said quietly.
Simon held her tightly, still breathing through the last tremors.
CoĂąo de la madre - Motherfucker
