Guarded Heart

Chapter 6

Ryan^^

"So, what do you do for work?" Ethan asked Ryan.

"Well at the moment I'm in between deployments, I have been over seas for the past eight months, home for another week and headed back out for another seven months. I'm in the Marine's."

"Figured that much when you said deployments. Rank and how long you been in?"

"2ND LT and ten years."

"Oh, an officer, very nice." Ethan smiled and winked.

"Oh, so military status you care about huh?"

"Oh, baby it gets me so hot and bothered, knowing I had an officer in bed is just something I have always dreamed about." Ethan said in a sarcastic tone folding his hands in front of his chest bending slightly making Ryan laugh whole heartedly at him.

"That was good, and you have no idea how many times I have heard something along those lines from women. It's spot on and I love the voice you just did, made me aboutfall head over hills for you." Ryan laughed, and Ethan chuckled.

"I'm glad I made you laugh, you have a nice laugh. It reaches your beautiful eyes you know, your smile?"

"It does does it?"

"Yes, it does. Hold on I just realized what you said, head over hills for me?"

Ryan's cheeks turned red almost instantly after he heard Ethan say that. "You caught that huh?"

"Mhm I did. Do you feel that way?" Ethan asked taking his hand in his own.

"I'm not sure, I just feel drawn to you, feel like I can get lost in your eyes all day and want to be near you. After you left my house, I was up for hours just thinking about you, not wanting to wait any longer to see you, to spend time with you.

You take my breath away Ethan, that has never happened before to me. I know you said you don't do relationships, but I can't help but want to be in one with you."

"But you are leaving for another deployment."

"Yea, that's something I can't control but if you are willing, I want to put in the time and work to make this work between us."

"You may not know this but, I am a very patient man, I waited over five years for Marcus to come back, I still had hope that he would, that he was alive but I needed to get on with my life after waiting for so long, ten in total. I couldn't keep living in the past."

"I understand, he was pretty tore up when we found him..."

"What? What do you mean when you found him?"

"It was me and my unit that had rescued him, a little old lady came up to us when we were patrolling the area and told us to come with her that she had something to show us and she dragged me into a very small very fowl smelling room and I saw him in a tiny cell just barley big enough for him and a thin mat.

I have seen many many horrible things over there but that, it was the worst thing I have ever seen. He was barley alive, he was beaten black and blue all over, face swollen bones broke and he was bleeding from behind, badly.

He got up to put the clothes on that she had brought him, and he passed out after he was hugging her and wouldn't wake up for at least till we got him out of there and on a chopper to take him away. I didn't know what happened to him till you mentioned him.

I had nightmares of that day for months, one of ours had been taken for ten years, who knows what all he went through when he was captured. It could have been anyone of us at any time, he in my eyes is a fucking hero.

I will never forget him and I hope to see him again to see how he is sometime."

Ethan didn't say anything, he poured himself a shot and downed it quickly and did another one and picked up his phone and sent a text.

Ryan just watched him for a bit while he was cleaning up and got drinks for customers who came in and ordered. About twenty minutes later someone sits next to Ryan.

"Hey Ethan, got your message."

"Hey, I'm glad you made it. I hope I wasn't pulling you away from anything important."

"Nah if you call Monday night football important haha."

"For you it is." He smiled.

"Have you met my good friend Ryan?" Ryan turns his head and his eyes about popped out of his head and Marcus had tears in his eyes.

They hugged for what seemed like hours.

"Oh my god Marcus! How, how are you?" Ryan asked when they pulled apart.

"Hey sir, it's good to see you. I'm good, really good all thanks to that amazing woman and your unit and you. I wanted so many times to reach out, but I had no idea who you were to thank you, thank you for saving my life and bringing me back home."

"You're welcome but honestly there is no need, were brothers, its what we do for one another no matter what. I am happy to see you are doing well, you look a lot better, healthy."

"Food does that to a person. Also, surgery and physical therapy and lots of counseling but I am better, not all the way but I don't wake up in the middle of the night feeling them in me, things in me, them beating me and torturing me and all that so I'd say that's progress. It happens once in a while but not every night like before."

"That's good, I'm sorry what you went through, I can't even begin to imagine it all, I'm just happy to see you, to see you walking and healthy, I was worried about you when they took you away. I kept wondering if you were ok and what was going on, but I didn't know where you were to even start asking around.

When I read about Ethan and you in the press, we were talking about you and well he sent you a message I guess telling you I wanted to see you?"

"Yea he's a good guy like that. I'm gonna go, I'm exhausted. Had a long day. Going back to work tomorrow."

Ethan's eyes got big. "Are you serious? You're going back already?"

"Yes, it's been long enough. I miss it and I'll be alright."

"What if you get deployed again?" Ethan asked concerned, tears forming in his eyes.

"I can't, not until I'm clear and it'll take years before that happens so I'm safe, you have nothing to worry about honey, I promise. I am ok." Marcus took Ethan's hand and kissed the back of it.

"I shall see you later sweetheart." He winked and turned to Ryan. "It was good talking to you sir, if you ever are free for lunch maybe we can have lunch together sometime, since we both work on base that is."

"Sure, that sounds fine. Have a good night and it was good seeing you again, stay safe alright?"

"You too. Good night gentleman." With that he walked out the door.

Ryan looked at his watch, "Oh wow it's after midnight already, I gotta go. Got an important meeting at 5 am."

He said looking toward Jacob. "Yes, you do, do you need me to call you a cab?"

"Nah only had one and a half beers so I'm ok to drive."

"Alright well text me when you get home so I know you made it?"

"Worried about me already?"

"Well you are leaving my bar so I want you to get home safe so yes, you can say I'm worried."

"Ah huh if that's what you want to tell yourself. I'll text you when I get home." Ryan leans over the bar motioning for Ethan to lean in closer.

When he does Ryan puts his hand on his neck and pulls his lips to his own and kisses him deeply. When they pull apart Ethan is breathless. Ryan winks and whispers. "Good night sexy." And with that he walks out of the bar.