Free Changing Tides by Simone Anderson Page B

and turning toward Orion.
    Orion nodded.
    “Are you afraid of me?”
    Orion bit his lip and shrugged.
    “Words, sweetheart. Use words. Please,” Brett said, stepping closer. They were close enough to touch, but he wanted, needed , Orion to make the first move.
    “No.”
    Brett retrieved a bottle of water and twisted the cap off. “Is it me or something I said or did?” He waited, watching as emotions swirled in the brown depths of Orion’s eyes as he thought.
    “Did,” he answered finally, his voice cracking. “It just took me back.”
    “Sore throat? Drink some water,” Brett suggested, handing the bottle to him. Cursing himself that he hadn’t thought about how hard talking would be on Orion before. “I won’t lie and say I don’t want you. I do. You know I do. But I won’t push or pry.”
    Orion nodded, taking a long drink from the bottle of water.
    Anger raged through Brett, wanting a target, but another part of him wanted to know that the man beside him was safe and that his nightmares were gone. Brett pushed a hand through his hair. “Should we see if other sleeping arrangements can be made for me?” Brett asked. He didn’t like it and didn’t want to be separated from Orion at all. The smaller man still pulled out Brett’s protective instincts.
    Orion shook his head. “I…I asked… It-it’s fine.”
    Brett nodded his understanding. Orion had asked that Brett stay with him. He couldn’t ask for Brett to be reassigned without being seen as indecisive or revealing his secret.
    Brett retrieved Orion’s food, setting in front of him before sitting back down. “Eat. I won’t hurt you.”
    Watching Orion eat soothed some of Brett’s nerves. Exhaustion was edging its way in. He hadn’t slept well last night. Anxiety and a healthy dose of fear had kept him restless, waking him at every sound. The shower and food had relaxed him. Knowing Orion was near and safe had pushed him several steps further. Needing to move, he picked up his dirty dishes then washed and dried them in the small kitchenette before putting them away. The silence in the room was companionable as it always was when he was around Orion, as it had been with Taren.
    Not wanting to hover and scare the other man, Brett sat on the couch. On base, he worked, ran, exercised, read and hung out with friends. Here, there were no books, nothing to watch or do. He didn’t even know what he could do to help Orion and his group.
    Guilt tunneled through him. He shouldn’t be helping a group trying to start a revolution. He should be trying to get to his family, friends and base. He should be trying to escape and to help his country. He’d taken an oath to defend his homeland, had been raised with the knowledge that all government officials, especially the ruling commander, worked for the benefit of the people. Orion and his people accused the government of lying and being greedy. Brett didn’t want to think of his family in those terms, but he couldn’t deny that both his brother and sister had lied in order to get what they wanted or needed. Blowing out a breath, Brett shoved the argument from his mind. He’d made his decision, there was no going back. Exhaustion rolled over him.
    Closing his eyes, he promised himself he would rest only until Orion was done eating. They needed to talk. If they had any chance at a relationship, he needed to know what would trigger bad memories Orion had so he could avoid them.
    Relationship.
    The word materialized in front of him, hanging in the air. Relationship. Is that what he wanted from Orion? Did he only want sex? To be a protector? If Orion was the leader of this group, where did that leave Brett? He pushed the thoughts from his mind and laid down, trying to find a comfortable position on the couch.
    * * * *
    Shaking and urgent words pulled Brett from sleep. Blinking his eyes open, he looked up and smiled at Orion. “What…what time is it? What’s going on?”
    Orion shook his head, grabbed