Free Alpha, Delta by RJ Scott Page A

has me fucking and leaving. I want forever with you. You up for it? I’m not much, my time is up with ERU in ten months or so and I’m back in London, and you’ll just be dating a cop again. And i—”
    “Shut up and kiss me,” Niall ordered.
    So he did. And Niall enjoyed it so much that he even forgot he was in pain.
    Well…very nearly anyway.

Epilogue
    Forsetti was a mess.
    Three weeks on the platform and Niall was a mess as well. Not only was it one of the hardest things he had to do, going back to where he’d nearly died, but he missed Finn. And that was just ridiculous. The very nature of who they were would mean they’d spend time apart, weeks, months even, but this was all so new, and there was no way Finn would be missing him. He’d be busy, focused on the important work he did.
    “You okay?” Ewan had asked that a lot over the last three weeks, and was still asking it now as the Puma landed back at base. So far Niall had managed to gloss over how he was feeling, but with his feet on solid ground he felt like maybe now was a good time to clear the air and get his worries out there. His brother was a good listener and maybe all he needed was for Ewan to tell him everything was going to be okay, and that relationships like the kind he and Finn had could work.
    “I miss Finn.”
    “Yeah, I know. I miss my family as well.”
    Finn wasn’t family. Not officially, but the way Ewan casually implied Finn was family to Niall was a nice thing. They entered the station and Niall offloaded his case and laptop onto the first table they came to.
    “How do you do it? How do you deal with time apart?” Niall immediately asked.
    Ewan crossed to the coffee maker and poured two mugs, exchanging insults with the security team who had shadowed them on Forsetti. Real security guys this time, not gun toting terrorists with hidden agendas. Seemed like Niall would have to wait for his answer until caffeine was consumed. Ewan began talking as soon as he was back at the table.
    “It’s exciting, you know, I get home and I see Mel and it’s like we’re newlyweds again. Although she’s had Adam on her own and probably needs more of the baby care help than the hot monkey sex.”
    Niall frowned. “I don’t want to hear details about what you do with Mel.”
    Ewan poked him. “Well I’m not a virgin, you know, I’m a married man.”
    “I just… I’m not sure Finn will be missing me as much as I miss him, okay? He’s probably out there saving the world and not giving one ounce of thought to the idiot who nearly died on his watch.”
    “I thought he said he loved you.” Ewan looked puzzled, then his expression brightened. “I think you need to go now.”
    Niall picked up his coffee and sipped at it tentatively. “After debrief and coffee,” he answered.
    “No, I’ll cover debrief. I promise you really need to go.” He nodded to indicate something behind Niall and it made him turn. To see Finn standing just inside the door in his heavy coat. Something inside Niall snapped into place and in seconds he crossed to where Finn stood and pulled him into a hug.
    “Glad you made it back okay,” Finn said into his ear.
    Niall made a split second decision and returned to scoop up his laptop and case. “Tell them I’ll debrief tomorrow,” he said to Ewan. “We’ll do it together. Go home to Mel.” Then he turned on his heel and followed Finn outside. He wanted to kiss his lover, to hold him so close and never let him go, but he didn’t, because if he started he wouldn’t stop.
    “Where to?” Finn asked cautiously. He looked uncertain, his eyes wary.
    “Anywhere warm.” As if to underscore that the wind blustered around them, and with it came the hint of icy rain. Finn tugged Niall towards a car and they drove in silence away from the station. They turned off the main road and pulled up outside the cluster of apartment buildings where Finn had a room. Niall had been here before once and it was a nice room right