Page 100 of Loving a Warrior

“Lookin’ good.”

Shane turned his head to see Matt floating alongside him. Before Shane could answer, a huge swell caught him and rolled him over, the weight of the sledge dragging him under. As he flailed, a strong hand caught the back of his belt and pulled him to the surface, where it lingered on the curve of his ass before giving him a sharp pinch.

“Hey!” Shane sputtered, and Matt grinned at him as he stroked away.

“Hang in there, clown. Almost there.”

Almost there.

The water was cold, the sea rough. They were swimming against the wind, which made it even harder. All around him men shouted encouragement to each other, swim buddies to the core.

At last the finish line. Shane staggered from the water and stood at attention in the shallows as, one by one, his brothers joined him, their friends and families cheering loudly. They listened to a rousing speech from the base CO, and then—finally—came the moment almost two years in the making.

“You’re joining an exclusive brotherhood, son,” the CO said as he pinned Shane’s Trident over his pounding heart. “You’ve worked incredibly hard, sacrificed much, and you’ve earned this. Wear it with strength and honor. You’re a team guy now.”

Shane choked back tears as the man went down the line to each new guy before raising his voice. “Now the real work begins!” he shouted. “But I know each and every one of you is up to the task. You’ve made your family, your friends and your nation proud today, gents.”

He paused.

“You’re secured!”

With whoops and hollers, the newly christened SEALs broke rank and ran to join their families. Alexis flew to Shane and, heedless of his soaking wet clothes, threw herself into his arms. Shane hugged her tight, face buried in her fragrant hair.

“So proud of you, big brother. So proud.”

Shane’s throat was too full to speak, but he kissed her cheek before letting her go, and arm in arm they walked toward Matt and his uncle, who were waiting for them a short distance away. Matt’s eyes were alight with love and pride, too, but all he did was bump Shane with his shoulder.

“Nice job, I guess.”

Matt’s uncle gripped Shane’s hand and clapped him hard on the shoulder. “Welcome to the family, son.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Aww, hell, call me Uncle Rick, would ya? Now let’s go celebrate!”

“Only if you’re buying,” Matt teased him, dodging out of reach as Rick tried to slap him on the back of the head. They trotted on ahead, still bickering.

“You know,” Alexis said as they trudged through the sand after them, “when you look at Rick, you’re seeing what Matt’s gonna look like at, what, fifty years old?”

Shane choked. “I am so gonna bust his balls with that later. ‘I know what you’re gonna look like as an old man!’ Hahahaha.”

“Fifty’s not old—” Alexis started to say indignantly, but Shane cut her off.

“I know, but it’s still gonna piss him off.”

His whole body tingled in anticipation. A pissed-off Matt was a tiger in bed, and Shane would count them both lucky if either one of them could walk tomorrow.

When they reached the parking lot, Rick turned to Alexis. “C’mon, my dear. Why don’t you ride with me, give the boys a little time alone? We can chat, get better acquainted.”

They agreed on a meeting place, and then Rick and Alexis set off to secure them a table while Shane climbed into Matt’s truck and struggled out of his wet clothes before pulling on a pair of track pants and a hoodie.

Matt did the same and they sat for a moment, catching their breath. Finally Matt wrinkled his nose. “It smells like wet dog in here.”

Chuckling, Shane reclined his seat a little as Matt started the engine. “Eau de SEAL,” he agreed. “It’s a smell that’ll always remind me of you.”

“What? Fuck you!” Matt’s voice rose indignantly, and Shane reached over to pat his thigh.

“If only I could bottle it.” He closed his eyes and breathed deeply. “That smell of the ocean on your skin.”