Chapter 111
Lee kisses him tenderly. In a soft voice, he murmurs, “Hush.”
* * * *
Later, after the lights are out and the red bar lining the wall has dimmed to little more than a faint glow, the two men spoon together on Lee’s narrow bunk. Joe fits nicely within the span of Lee’s arms; Lee’s spent cock lies cradled in the crevice between Joe’s firm buttocks. The only sounds are their breaths, slowing as they drift towards sleep together.
But something bothers Lee. Something nagging him, something he couldn’t quite manage to put into words earlier, as he showered with Joe and then climbed into bed. Now that they’ve quieted down, one thought pesters Lee. He presses a kiss to the back of Joe’s shoulder, then murmurs, “Hey.”
After a long moment Joe stirs, turning his head towards Lee. “Hmm?”
Lee props himself up a little. He brushes a hand over Joe’s ear, nails scraping softly through Joe’s stubbled hair. “You know, I just think it’s funny—”
“Uh-oh.”
With a laugh, Lee asks, “What?”
Joe rolls onto his back and frowns up at Lee. “Nothing good ever follows that phrase. I just think it’s funny. Can’t we just enjoy this for a little while?”
“It just strikes me as funny,” Lee insists. “Not good or bad, really. Just funny how you happened to hook up with me tonight, that’s all. Weren’t you even a little surprised when you found out I was the one you were chatting with?”
In the growing darkness, Joe studies Lee for a moment, then sighs. “Actually, no. I knew it was you.”
Lee pulls back. “What?” he asks again. “How? Wait, it was my position, wasn’t it? Of course you know where I bunk.”
“No, not that.” Joe chews on the inside of his lower lip, as if debating on saying more. His gaze flickers over Lee’s face, maybe trying to gauge how Lee will react to whatever it is he’s afraid to say.
“Then what?” Lee prompts. “Tell me.”
In a soft voice so low, Lee almost can’t hear it, Joe whispers, “I knew it was you. I’ve been…I don’t know, trying to get your attention? I knew you liked that silly game, and I figured how hard could it really be, right? I mean, I’m a soldier, it’s a fighting simulator, hello.”
Lee isn’t quite following. “What’d you want to get my attention for?”
With a playful jab of his elbow, Joe smirks. “As if you don’t know.”
Honestly, Lee doesn’t. He should be able to connect the dots, but he isn’t quite getting it yet. “You already know me,” he says. “I mean, hell, you break my balls daily.”
“Yeah, but I wanted this.” Joe wiggles his hips back against Lee, teasing awake Lee’s slumbering dick.
Lee touches Joe’s nose with one finger. “If you’ll remember, I made the offer when we first met.”
“I know.” Joe nips at Lee’s finger, and Lee lets him catch it. Joe’s tongue is warm and wet and soft curling around his fingertip. When Joe releases him, Lee rests the hand on Joe’s collarbone and traces the curve of his jaw with the wet digit. “What can I say?” Joe asks. “I was wrong. I made a mistake, and I’ve been trying to figure out how to correct it ever since.”
“So you’re saying this isn’t a one time thing?” Lee wants to know.
“Not if you don’t want it to be.”
Lee’s tempted, to be sure. Still…”What happens when we’re on duty?”
Shrugging, Joe admits, “I’ll still chew your ass out on duty when I have to. I mean hell, I’m your CO and I outrank you. But when we’re alone, like now? I’m more than happy to let you take charge, as long as we end up in bed.”
Relieved, Lee laughs. “Shit, when we’re alone? We’re never getting out of bed.”
* * * *
The ban on gaming in the rec room only lasts about a week, if that. It’s never officially lifted, but when Lee drifts down one evening after his watch, no one stops him from logging into the game server. Just to check my stats, he says, as if that’s any excuse. Before he knows it, he’s challenged a chief petty officer who drifts over from the bar to watch. The next evening, he doesn’t even pretend to be checking his stats. “Who wants to fight?” he asks nobody in particular. Two ensigns take him up on the offer.
Before long Brenna’s elbowing him aside to grab the second controller. “Move over, kid,” she says, plopping down beside him. “Let a girl show you how it’s done.”
“Girl, my ass,” Lee snips. “You’re the same age as me.”
Arching her eyebrows, Brenna laughs. “Yeah, but I wear it better. You ready to go another round, or what?”
“You mean a do-over,” Lee clarifies. “Sure.”
Brenna smirks. “I mean are you ready to get your ass kicked again?”
“Don’t even get me started,” Lee growls. “Get ready to get mauled.”
“Big talk from someone who lost,” Brenna teases.