Topping the Alpha: Trident Security Series by Samantha A. Cole Page A

No, sweetheart, I’m not a priest. It’s my call sign from the Navy.” Jake lifted the carton to pour himself another glass of orange juice, but thought better of it and turned to put it back in the fridge. “You don’t get to choose it, it’s given to you by your team. But I’ll take ‘Reverend’ over some of the crazy names a bunch of my friends got.”
    He didn’t know how, but before he spun back around he knew Nick had entered the room. It wasn’t from any sound the kid had made because he walked as furtively as every other trained SEAL. Instead, the air crackled with electricity and made the hair on the back of Jake’s neck tingle with awareness. He eyed the newcomer as Carter offered Nick some pancakes. The kid was fresh from a shower and appeared…relaxed and tense at the same time. Hmmm .
    “No, thanks. I was going to go for a run, if no one minds.”
    Jake watched as Nick looked at everyone and everything but him. His Dom senses went on full alert. A shower before running? Oh, Junior, he thought, you are in so much trouble. “Not at all. As a matter of fact, I was on my way out for a run myself.” He lifted an eyebrow at Carter. “You mind holding down the fort. Cain should be down soon.” The spy shrugged his shoulders in the equivalent of ‘no problem’ as he poured more batter on the griddle. “Thanks. I’ll call Ian for an update when we get back. Come on, Junior, let’s see how you do off the O-course.”
    Nick didn’t look happy about suddenly having a running mate, but he didn’t back down. Jake tossed him a bottled water from the fridge, then took one for himself. “Sound the alarm if you need us.”
    “No worries,” Carter acknowledged as the two headed out the door.
    Not saying another word, Jake descended the front steps, and then stretched to loosen his muscles. Nick stood a few feet away, doing the same. A few minutes later they were jogging at a warm-up pace down the dirt trail. At the half mile mark, Jake increased his speed and the kid did the same, staying abreast of him. Smiling to himself, the Dom plotted how he was going to punish his submissive for his disobedience. He was positive the kid had jacked off at some point, either late last night or early this morning.
    One mile. Hmm . A cock cage would be ideal, but even if Jake had one with him, it wasn’t practical due to their situation. Checking his watch for their time, he lengthened his stride. Beside him, Nick was already sweating and he doubted it was from the exertion. It was a cool fall morning in the mountains, and as a trained Navy SEAL, Nick could do this exercise with a fifty-pound pack strapped to him and still wouldn’t be breathing heavy yet.
    Two miles. They were now clocking a seven-minute-mile pace. Maybe he could make a switch from one of the numerous types of trees in the area and tan the kid’s ass. Ah, nope, that wouldn’t work either. Jake didn’t have any arnica gel with him for the temporary welts he wanted to leave on Nick’s ass. And he couldn’t have him in obvious pain when they returned to the house—beside the fact they hadn’t discussed hard limits yet, so a switch was out.
    Two-point-five miles. That put them past the solar powered cameras Brody had set up as part of the house’s security system. No chance of anyone seeing them now unless it was some idiot out hunting, and on this section of the mountain that was very rare. Jake slowed his pace until he stopped altogether next to a large boulder on the right side of the path. Having gone a little further, Nick turned around and jogged back to him. “What’s wrong? Got a cramp?”
    Leaning against the cool rock, Jake crossed his arms and stared at Nick’s face, letting him see the disappointment in his eyes. He dropped his voice, making it stern and threatening. “Something you want to tell me?”
    “What?” Nick licked his lips in a sure sign of nervousness.
    Jake’s eyes narrowed further. “Don’t lie to me, Nicky-boy.