Contents Title Page Copyright Dedication CHAPTER ONE CHAPTER TWO CHAPTER THREE CHAPTER FOUR New In Town An Out of Uniform Short Annabeth Albert This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental. New in Town Copyright 2018 by Annabeth Albert Cover Art by Annabeth Albert, image credit Canva. Cover art is intended for illustrative purposes only—any persons are paid models All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. Contact information: [email protected] For all the readers in my Annabeth’s Angels Facebook group—you guys keep me writing! & For everyone who has ever had those first-day jitters! Author’s Note: Alex and Marco’s story is a stand-alone, but fans of the Out of Uniform series will spot a few favorite characters in supporting roles. If you enjoy their story, I hope you will check out others in the series! Thank you to all my amazing fans—if you’re not already in our Facebook group, Annabeth’s Angels, consider joining us to get to vote on future shorts and freebies and other fun! CHAPTER ONE “Is this the last room?” Marco hated that word. Last. Last room, last day, last night. And from the slump of Alex’s slim shoulders, he could tell his husband felt much the same way. “Yup. No more fall. No more leaves. No more sweaters. Goodbye pumpkins.” Alex took down the last of the decorations in the dining room, casting Marco a mournful stare that made his stomach clench. His light brown hair was rumbled as was the old sweater he had on, probably last one he’d wear for awhile since it was still shorts weather in California. “We’ll decorate in the new place.” He hated how damn helpless he felt, how this was all his fault, but also out of his control. Crossing the room, he wrapped Alex up into a hug from behind. “I know you’ll be missing your favorite season, but we’ll make the new place work. Promise. I’ll help.” “I know. And I appreciate that.” Alex leaned into the hug, head falling back against Marco’s shoulders. “And stop beating yourself up. I’m not blaming you. It’s not going to be the same. That’s all.” “Can’t beat this house for sure.” He should have known better than to get attached to this place. The little blue fixer upper that had been their first joint project. First. That word sucked today too. First house purchase. First kitchen install. First backyard. First place they’d come after they tied the knot. First real home for Evan and Ethan. First Christmas, first round of birthdays, and so many firsts together as a family that he ached with all the memories they were leaving behind, literally hurt down to his bones. “It was a good house. And the Realtor says it should sell fast. It’ll be a nice home for another family, I’m sure. All our work should equal a nice profit.” Alex sounded like he was struggling to find the positive, but Marco appreciated the effort. “Yup.” Marco forced his voice to be similarly upbeat. “And if we’re lucky, it’ll be enough for a down payment to get us into something of our own by spring. I hate that I’m dragging you guys back into Navy housing.” “Hey, it’s a three bedroom with a rent we can actually afford in San Diego with decent schools and not a terrible commute for you. Pictures look nice, and we didn’t have a wait. I’m trying not to complain too hard. And we’ve looked on the maps. The park nearby should be nice, and the kids will love the complex’s pool. I’ll have plenty of time to work on their swimming skills while job hunting.” “You’ll find something fast.” Marco pressed a kiss to his temple. Alex was leaving a job he loved here in Virginia as a part-time librarian. Marco was probably being a bit optimistic—finding something that worked with the kids’ schedule and Marco’s frequent deployments with his SEAL team that still brought in a little income was a challenge at best. But even with Marco’s last re-up bonus and bump in pay as a chief, they still needed every penny, especially when moving to the higher- priced San Diego area. “Hope so.” Alex sighed, stretching against Marco in a way that seemed to invite more kisses. Never one to miss an opportunity, Marco nuzzled Alex’s neck. Maybe this was exactly the distraction they both needed—with the last box sealed, there was no reason they couldn’t shut reality out the one way they were both fabulous at. “How long are the kids gone for?” he asked, holding Alex a little tighter. The boys were out with a neighboring family, one last hurrah with their friends, and a nice gift of some alone time from a fellow military family they’d grown close to. Another goodbye that loomed that he really didn’t want to think about right then. “A few hours. We should clean…” Alex’s didn’t sound that stoked about cleaning, and his tone was far less down than a moment ago, which was exactly what Marco was going for. “Later.” He yanked Alex in the direction of what had been their master bedroom at the back of the house and was now a staging area of boxes and disassembled furniture with only the bare mattress on the floor for them for the coming night. Maybe he couldn’t do a damn thing about this transfer and he’d done all he could with boxing up their life here, but he sure as hell could make Alex feel better for a little while, take his mind off things. “Mattress on the floor. No sheets. I’m flashing back to college right now.” Alex laughed, but Marco growled. He had only met Alex after his college days and always got all possessive after hearing about past boyfriends. This was his guy, his one-and-only, and he didn’t want Alex pining for his carefree past. “How about you flash to right here, right now?” “Easy there. God, you’re sexy when you go all caveman on me, but trust me, I wouldn’t trade my life now—even with the move—for anything.” “Good.” Marco kissed him then, a slow claiming, a reminder that they still had each other, no matter what other uncertainties they might be facing. And a reminder that Alex was his. No more wild college parties and parade of guys for either of them. No one-night stand could ever compete with what they’d built together, and he tried to put all that into the kiss, even as he tugged Alex’s sweater up. Smiling, Alex pulled away long enough to remove his shirt and jeans and push at Marco’s clothes. Marco took the hint and started stripping as Alex quickly ducked into their attached bathroom. He tossed a towel and a bottle onto the bed. “You didn’t pack the lube?” he had to laugh. “This is extra. Figured we might need it.” Naked now, Alex draped his arms around Marco’s neck, tugging him down for another kiss, one that had Marco wanting to get horizontal as fast as possible. To that end, he stepped away far enough to flop on the mattress, patting the spot next to him. “You were right. Come here.” “Yes, my bossy chief.” Alex gave him a fond smile as he straddled Marco’s waist. Not exactly complying, but Marco wasn’t complaining. Instead, he stretched, content to see what Alex wanted next. Scooting backward, Alex kissed Marco’s neck before trailing his lips and fingers over Marco’s pecs. He was obsessed with Marco’s chest, something Marco had loved right from the start. He worked hard with his team to keep in shape, and he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t a little vain about his muscles. And his tats, which Alex was tracing now with his fingertips. He’d modeled his chest and back after some of his favorite athletes who managed to have multiple motifs with a single, cohesive look—all black artwork connected by lattice work and vines. Alex lazily drifted his fingers from the entwined Puerto Rican and USA flags Marco had gotten for his parents to the hibiscus flowers for his grandmothers before traipsing to the other side and the song lyric from a concert they went to on their third date, and below that, the baby elephants to represent the boys—their first outing to the zoo, the long, long wait for the adoption to finalize, and the playful spirit they brought to his life. “I’m getting a new one,” Marco said, throat thick. “After the house sells, when money’s not so tight. Took a bunch of pictures of the tree in the backyard so the artist can get it right.” “Marco…” Looking up, Alex bit his lower lip, blue eyes full of emotion before he finally nodded. “That’s a good idea. Think I should get one too?” “Ha.” This was an old joke between them—Alex’s fear of needles and Marco’s love of his creamy, freckled skin keeping him tattoo-free. “Come here, you.” He pulled Alex up for a lingering kiss before releasing him to continue his explorations. Alex bent his head, licking all around Marco’s nipples. “Uh huh. Like that. You can keep right on with that.” God bless Alex and his oral fixations. He’d kicked social smoking as a first anniversary present for Marco several years ago, and Marco knew the prep for the move had had him popping gum and mints like crazy to cope with resurgence of cravings. But Marco’s cock and nipples were always happy to benefit from Alex’s obsessions. And unlike their recent spate of late-night blow jobs done with sleepy enthusiasm under the covers, they actually had some time to enjoy themselves now, something Alex seemed to be intent on doing, taking a long time licking and sucking Marco’s nipples until he was panting, hips rocking up toward Alex’s smaller body, their cocks dragging together. Just like how Alex had a kink for chests and oral loving, Marco had a thing for slim men, loving the contrast between his own larger, muscled body and Alex’s paler, slighter frame. But Alex was strong too, as evidenced by the way his fuzzy legs squeezed Marco’s and his hands dug into Marco’s biceps as his mouth had a party on Marco’s chest. “Mmm. Fuck. Either you let me come this way or you get serious about using that lube,” he demanded, adding an ominous tone because Alex would undoubtedly be happy to keep torturing him all afternoon. “Oh, I have plans for the lube.” Eyes sparkling, Alex reached for the bottle. “Yeah? You wanna ride me?” He tried not to sound too eager. He’d be happy to flip things around if that was what Alex wanted, but damn, he loved Alex on top and it had been far, far too long in the endless string of busy weeks leading up to the move. “Yeah.” Alex’s eyes shifted to storm cloud gray. “Just want to ride you, forget about everything other than that fat cock of yours and what it can make me feel.” “Hey, now.” Marco used a hand to encourage him closer, until they were face-to-face again. “This is going to work out. I promise. And don’t think I’ve missed how hard this is on you, how much you’re giving up, what a rock you’ve been for me and the boys. So, yeah, let me make you forget and feel good, but don’t think I’m missing all you’re doing here.” Face softening, Alex’s expression was decidedly more tender as he cupped Marco’s face. “You really are the best. And you’re right we will. I’m just…sentimental I guess. Remembering fucking on the floor in the living room before all the furniture arrived, when it was just us and a fire in the fireplace the first night.” “Mmmm. I remember that night.” Marco waggled his eyebrows, trying to keep the mood light. “Got you off gangbusters then too, if I recall. And wasn’t that the first time we ditched the condoms?” “It was.” Alex’s slow smile was the response that Marco had hoped for. “That’s when I discovered just how filthy you are. I think we did it, what? Three times that night?” “Let’s try to beat that record.” Squeezing Alex’s ass, he stretched up for another kiss. “I mean, we might shock the neighbors if we don’t get a move on, but I’m game for trying.” “Yeah, yeah. Impatient as always.” Alex rocked into Marco’s touch, making their cocks grind together, and making Marco bolder as he traced Alex’s crack. Grabbing the lube, he got his fingers slick. “You know it. And now that you reminded me, I really do want to fill you with come. Make you all messy. God, do I ever love that.” “Do it.” Shifting his weight, Alex made it easier for Marco to finger him open, moaning softly as Marco rubbed circles around his rim, gently coaxing a finger in. It had been awhile, for both of them, and he didn’t want to rush this. But Alex was playing with his nipples, dipping his head so he could suck one again, and Marco’s body was all about the now-now-now. Forcing himself to wait, he eased a second finger inside Alex, working him until Alex was the one moaning, straightening so that Marco had better access. “Who’s the impatient one now?” Marco asked breathlessly as Alex grabbed the lube and slicked his cock up.Fuck, but he was never getting tired of this man’s touch. “I’m ready.” Batting away Marco’s hand, he positioned himself over the cock, steadying himself with one hand while his own cock strained against his stomach. Alex eased himself down, a little at a time, the way he always loved, and Marco made himself stay still, not thrust up until he was all the way in that tight, clasping heat. This was Alex’s show, and he but a willing participant. Letting Alex do the shallow rocking back and forth that always made his cock leak, Marco rubbed some of the slick fluid around his cockhead, starting a slow, feathery stroke, the sort designed to tease more than get him off fast. “God, you feel good.” Alex groaned. “That’s it, baby. Ride me,” Marco urged. “Hard as you want.” “Yeah.” Body picking up speed, Alex’s breath came in harsh pants. “Need it.” “I know you do.” Marco used his free hand to caress Alex’s hip and ass. “Need this cock? Need me to fill you up?” “Need you,” Alex moaned, fingers digging into Marco’s chest as he arched his back. The freedom of being alone in the house, being able to be as loud as they had been once upon a time was almost intoxicating, making his body buzz with pleasure. He brought his knees up, giving Alex the angle that always got him moaning loudest. “Say it. Say it. Say you want that come.” “I do. Fuck me. God. Fuck me.” The pure need in Alex’s voice was almost enough to tip Marco over, and his teeth dug into his lip as he tried to hold back, make this last, play out this part of their favorite game a little longer. “Yeah, that’s right. Tell me what you need.” “Need your come. Come inside me. Please.” “Oh, I will, baby. I will. Come on, faster now. Get us both off.” He sped up his stroke on Alex’s cock, getting more serious about bringing him off before Marco could come. “Marco…” Alex’s voice broke as his hips pistoned harder, body rocking impossibly fast as he rode Marco like it might be their last night on earth. Fuck, but he was glorious. Whole body shaking, Marco tensed, trying to stave off his orgasm a few seconds longer, needing Alex to— “Fuck. Marco. Come in me. Please.” Ropes of creamy come shot from Alex’s cock, coating Marco’s chest and abs and making it impossible for him to hold back any more, as he finally gave into the urge to thrust up hard and fast, pleasure barreling into him hard enough to make him shout, intensified by the tight clutch of Alex’s ass, milking every last drop of come out of Marco’s cock. Collapsing on Marco’s chest, mess and all, Alex laughed. “Okay. You win. Maybe we should move all the time. Because damn.” “Yeah. Damn.” Much less able to speak, Marco stretched for a soft kiss, trying to say with his body what words couldn’t—how damn grateful he was to have this, to have Alex, to know that he wasn’t alone in this new chapter of his life about to unfold. He’d been in some tight situations on missions, survived more than a few close calls, but this was still scary and unknown, and there was no one he’d rather go into unmapped terrain with than this man right here, the one he’d promised to spend his life loving.