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Christian’s eyes widened. “You have a hot tub?”

David chuckled. “I know it sounds a little hedonistic, but it serves a practical purpose. One of the things about getting older is, even if you keep yourself in decent shape, your body does start to protest. That thing has saved my back muscles more often than I could tell you.”

“Doesn’t hurt that it probably attracts people too,” Christian teased.

David looked up after flipping something in the pan. “I told you, I rarely bring people here. If I’m going to…entertain, I prefer to do it in a hotel room.”

Christian smiled. “Is it because you have a thing for younger guys? You don’t want to be seen?”

“I wouldn’t be telling the truth if I said that wasn’t one of the reasons, and thank you so much for saying it with all the grace and subtlety I’ve come to expect from you,” David said wryly.

“Hey, I’m not saying it to judge you,” Christian told him.

And that wasn’t just because Christian knew damn well if circumstances were different, he’d want to be one of those younger guys the general was into.

Christian drummed his fingers on the countertop. “Alright, what’s the main reason you don’t bring people here?”

“As much as I made it sound like this wasn’t the home I chose, I have made it mine. Sara always said that even as a child, I was pretty territorial and preferred my own space. I suppose that’s only gotten more intense as I’ve aged.”

Christian plopped down on one of the benches. “You know, that’s twice you’ve mentioned getting old, but you shouldn’t.”

David raised a brow, pulling the pan off the heat. “Oh? Closer to fifty than forty doesn’t count as getting old?”

“I’m pretty sure you could still run paces around many of the soldiers on the base.”

“Hmm, I should update the training schedule then.”

“And you’re not exactly carrying a lot of fat on you.”

“A good diet and proper exercise will carry you for decades.”

“And you’ve got the stamina to keep up with people younger than me.”

“And there’s the tact again.”

“General.”

“I told you to call me David.”

“David.”

“Yes?”

“You’re a damn good-looking man who’s in great shape. Stop talking like you’re getting ready to keel over and die.”

The slight smile forming on the general’s face faded, and he looked up at Christian. Something in his pale green eyes made Christian’s stomach tighten as he stared back. Christian didn’t want to swear by it, but he couldn’t help thinking there was something heated behind the cautiousness in the general’s narrowing eyes.

“You know what they say about flattery, don’t you?” General Winter asked.

“Reports are conflicting. At this point, I’m hoping the ones telling me it’ll get me anywhere are accurate,” Christian said with a cheeky grin.

“I suppose you’ll have to find out.”

“A little mystery in life never hurt anyone.”

General Winter chuckled, pulling the pan from the heat and turning back toward the far corner, his back to Christian. It was the first time Christian remembered seeing the man in anything other than his uniform. Not that Christian could argue with his uniform; it was a good look for him. Yet seeing him in jeans and a loose button-up shirt was even more enticing than the video.

Well, in the immediate sense, anyway.