Page 95 of Specter Bred

"If I was your unit leader... what use would you be to me?"

Hayes stared up at me as if I’d just spoken another language.

"Sir?"

I held his gaze.

"Answer," I barked again.

He swallowed hard.

The kid looked like he was trying to diffuse a bomb with no manual.

Then his eyes widened.

"Wait..." he frowned. "Are you asking if I’d fuck you too?"

My brow lifted.

Hayes went pale as death.

"Shit— no— I mean..." He scrubbed both hands over his face. "That came out wrong."

I folded my arms, waiting.

He winced. I let him fumble.

"I've never uh, I’m not normally into men, sir," he muttered. Then, after a beat, added, "But... if you needed to blow off steam, I guess I’d take one for the team."

For a second, all I could do was stare at him. Then I laughed. A sharp bark of it, unexpected enough that even I felt it. Hayes sagged in visible relief.

Farm Boy was either the dumbest recruit I’d ever trained... or the most loyal.

Maybe both.

I shook my head.

"You’re an idiot, Hayes."

His crooked grin returned.

"That’s Archer’s nickname for me too, sir."

My brow lifted.

He shrugged.

"Also, 'idiot' is an improvement from 'pathetic,' so I’ll take it as further progress."

Another laugh almost broke out of me. But I stifled it. I didn't want Hayes thinking he had grown on me. He hadn't.

"An idiot," I muttered. "But not the worst recruit I’ve had."

His grin widened.

I stepped back from him, giving the kid room to breathe again.

"Don’t tell Archer we had this conversation." My stare hardened. "I’ll know if you do," I warned.