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Troy frowned. “I knew it. I just...forgot it.”

“Really?”

“It wasn’t important. And don’t change the subject.”

Oscar’s smirk grew. “Yes, I was jealous. You didn’t care enough to know a guy’s name.”

Troy huffed. “Because I was trying to stop thinking of you. It didn’t work out too well, which is why I bailed on him and tried to go home. Only to run into you.”

“Almost literally.”

“Yeah, life has been weird lately.”

Oscar drew Troy’s hand closer, shaking his head. “My point...actually, I don’t have a point. But the point of me coming here is that I did do some thinking, and I realized I was being a possessive, jealous ass who wanted you all to myself. And I mean, it’s easy for me to stand around and say it’s not a good idea, that it was scary, because it was?—”

Troy leaned forward, heart pounding hard enough he’d swear he could hear it. “But?”

Oscar pulled his hand away and reached into his jeans to pull something out. “But I never quite left it behind, even though I walked away, I couldn’t...leave it there.”

Oscar handed the object to him, and as Troy took it, he realized it was a folded picture. Opening it, a smile came to his face. The two of them had had a couple of free days at the same time and had taken an impromptu vacation to the beach a couple of hundred miles south of where they’d been stationed. Troy couldn’t remember the name of the beach, but he remembered the fun they’d had, playing in the water and lounging in the sun by day and at night, holing up in their hotel room for hours.

“I remember the girl who took this picture. She’d been flirting with you before we asked her to take a picture,” Troy said with a laugh.

Oscar smiled. “It was the first time I can ever remember someone just knowing I was gay. And she didn’t care.”

“She said we looked cute,” Troy added.

Oscar looked down at his lap. “And happier than I thought I’d ever be.”

“Does...this mean what I think it means?” Troy asked.

Oscar picked his head up, holding his hand out. “I’m not going to pretend that I’m not still worried or that my old fear isn’t still there. But I can’t stand around, living and working on this base, knowing you’re here and pretending I don’t want to be with you.”

“Even though it freaks you out?” Troy asked.

Oscar snorted. “I was freaked out every time I had to go into the field, knowing there was a chance I’d get shot. If I can face that, I can deal with being a little freaked out about how good being with you makes me feel. At least at the end of the day with us, I know I’m going to be happy.”

Troy’s smile softened, and he reached out to cup Oscar’s face and draw him closer. Oscar leaned in without resistance, and Troy brought their lips together. His body flamed with a rush of pleasure and desire as Oscar’s stubble brushed against his skin. Oscar unwound his fingers from Troy’s so he could hold onto the back of Troy’s neck and draw him in even closer.

Troy let out a happy little hum as he was pulled against Oscar’s body. He’d never been shy about how much pleasure he gained from the feel of Oscar’s strong chest and stomach against him. Without thinking, his hands roamed Oscar’s sides, stroking the muscles as he carefully explored. Oscar leaned back, taking Troy with him. Troy fell against the hard bulk of Oscar’s body, hips pushing down against him as their mouths parted.

“Shit, you got bigger,” Troy murmured against his lips.

“Just harder,” Oscar chuckled.

Which was true in more ways than one. Troy was all too aware of the sensation of Oscar’s straining cock pushing up against him as they kissed. A thrill of anticipation and pleasureran up his spine as he ground against Oscar’s groin, a low moan of happiness escaping him.

Troy sucked in a breath, trying to keep himself calm. They’d only just agreed that they would make a go of things, and it was going to his head, both of them. The last thing he wanted was to go too far, too fast, and risk driving Oscar away after the man had talked about being so fearful. But damn, it was hard to keep his mind focused on staying in control when he could feel Oscar’s warmth against his skin, the man’s hand against his neck, their lips pressed together, and his cock straining against his thigh.

Oscar gasped, pushing his hips up against Troy. “Jesus, I missed this.”

“Did you?” Troy asked, burying his face in Oscar’s neck.

“Would you believe me if I said I didn’t realize how bad I missed you until now?” Oscar asked, running his hand down Troy’s shoulders and back.

Troy nodded. “I know the feeling.”

Oscar glanced toward the wall behind the couch. “Bed?”