Surrendering To Her Sergeant Read Online Free

before
shaking his head and stating, “Uh-uh. You’re still missing
something.”
    “What the hell are—”
    “You’re missing this.”
    The man yanked on Ethan’s collar,
pulling the fabric taut so he could jam a pin into the triangle
panel. Before Ethan could say a word, Franz finished off the
business by detaching the pin that had originally been there,
bearing the double stripes of his corporal rank.
    Garrett cracked a bigger grin. “Now
isn’t that prettier’n a fresh drop of dew on a morning
glory?”
    Zeke rolled his eyes. “Hawk, you’re a
serious dork sometimes.”
    “It’s okay,” Ethan interjected. He
stared at the new pin on his collar. Counted the stripes there for
the tenth time. One, two, three. Sure enough, they were all there.
“This time he’s right.” The pin was pretty. Fuck, better than
pretty. It was perfect. So was the identical one Franzen placed
into his palm.
    “I’ll let you get the other collar,”
his CO said. “And sorry we’re not doing this on a stage in our
Class A’s, Archer. Figured you’d appreciate getting the pay step
that much faster.”
    “You figured right.”
    “Oh, yeah. That reminds me. You’re
buying first round tonight.”
    Ethan chuckled. “Sure thing. And
thanks, Captain.”
    Franz busted out a wide
smile, gleaming in stark contrast to the jet-black hair of his
skull cut, before murmuring, “You want to thank someone, look in
the mirror. You worked hard for this. Congratulations, Sergeant. ” He shook his
head, his equally dark eyes glittering in amusement. “I can finally
say that without worrying I’ll fry your gray matter.”
    “I say we let Serenity take over that
chore.” Rhett nodded toward the bar and Godzilla Girl. While Ethan
repeated his laugh, this time because he seemed to be the only one
noticing the irony of a girl named Serenity with a fire-spewing
lizard across her chest, the redhead noticed Rhett and gave him a
soft wave.
    “All right, everyone,” Franzen
announced, “pomp and circumstance is over. Shuck at least the tops
so we can celebrate properly.”
    Three minutes later, after stowing
their jackets in the Hummers, they reconvened at a long ledge,
really a faded surfboard affixed atop cement blocks, that formed
one side of Serenity’s workspace. Despite her preoccupation with
Double-O, the woman had a line of five frosty bottles lined up by
the time they got to the bar. After taking his first swig, Ethan
jutted his lower lip in respect. Beer wasn’t usually his thing but
the microbrewed lager from a California-based outfit was strong and
smooth.
    “Well, well, well.” Franz
tipped his bottle at the bar mistress. “Breaking out the good stuff
for us now, Serenity? What happened between last night and now?” He
flicked a glance between her and Rhett, clearly following the
sparks zipping between the pair. “Or should I ask who happened?”
    The woman snapped a towel at him.
“Bugger off, Franzie Panzie. I’m tryin’ to be nice.”
    “Franzie Panzie?” Zeke’s face,
normally the texture of a granite cliff, crumpled in humor. “Damn,
why didn’t I some up with that one first?”
    Franzen eyed him. “Because you have to
put up with me after tonight and she doesn’t.”
    Serenity defiantly jerked up her chin.
“I noticed you wankers had some kind of special event goin’ down so
I broke out the good swill.”
    “You figured right,” Garrett offered.
“Mr. Dark and Chiseled over there is basking in his first hour as a
full-fledged sergeant.”
    The redhead’s face lit up. “Brilliant!
Nice work!” She swatted the towel at Ethan too, though her intent
was playful this time. In two seconds she was full of feisty fire
again, arching brows back at Franz. “Though I’m happy to get the
piss water back out for you, Panzie, if you fancy it?”
    Franz held up a hand. “Nope, nope.
This is just fine, sweetcakes.” He dropped that hand in order to
scoop up Serenity’s, grazing her knuckles with a kiss. “Thank