Page 83 of Men of Fort Dale: The Complete Series

Christian hummed as he thought. “Did your dad get to see you become a general?”

“Aw, that’s sweet.”

“My parents were good people, and they loved me a lot. They had been trying for years, but two years before they had me, my mom was told she was never going to have kids. Then boom, a year and a half later, I came along. I guess I was spoiled, being a bit of a miracle child and all,” Christian said with a light laugh.

“I think most people would be a little indulgent.”

“Probably, maybe, I don’t know. But I wasn’t spoiled rotten; I was taught to say please and thank you, learned my manners, and did not act like a total brat.

My mom was into reading and always tried to get me to read books.

She started by reading to me when I went to bed.

I think she wanted me to want to read them myself eventually, but I just loved the way she read.

She always did these little voices, and sometimes brought my dad in to act stuff out.

I think she was an actress in another life or something.

But hey, why would I want to read them myself when my mom was better at it than I would ever be? ”

David watched a wistfulness pass over Christian’s face as he talked about his parents.

His tone had a definite note of sadness, but his eyes glimmered with remembered happiness.

David’s parents had lived full lives, and as far as he knew, neither of them had gone with regrets.

If anything, they had looked upon their lives, happy they had succeeded and were loving and loved in return.

David smiled. “I’m sure they’d be proud as hell to see what sort of person you’ve become.”

Christian looked at him, eyes watery. “You think? I wonder sometimes.”

“Why?”

“Truth be told, I’m not even sure I’m doing something I want. It’s not that I don’t enjoy working for you because I’ve grown to love it. But to continue serving in the military, should I renew my contract next year? I’m not so sure.”

“Makes sense, considering you said you joined to ensure you had a roof over your head and food on the table.”

“Not the most honorable reason.”

“Maybe your reasons weren’t noteworthy, but that doesn’t mean you’re not.

..honorable. You’ve got a spotless record, with plenty of commendations, and if I could, I’d give you more for what you did for me recently.

I’d say it’s more honorable to come into the service without noble intentions, follow through on your duty, and go above and beyond what was expected of you.

I think that’s someone worth being proud of, especially if it was your child. ”

That earned him a smile, and Christian turned his face away. “It’s a nice thought.”

David turned his attention away from Christian, allowing the man to collect himself at his own pace.

The moon had risen, creating a wide beam of light reflecting off the calm water.

It wasn’t calm enough to reflect the dim light of the stars, but David contented himself, as he had so many times before, in watching the gentle scene.

It was the first thing that sold him on staying in the house when he’d first been assigned to the base, and he’d never stopped loving it, even after a decade.

Christian cleared his throat. “This has been really nice. Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect when I showed up.

I know we talked about how casual the whole thing has been, but I never realized how much I needed it.

I’ve never been very good at the going out and having a good time at bars or clubs thing.

But this? Sitting with someone special, having good food, drinks, and great conversation? That’s the sort of thing I live for.”

“Someone special, eh?” David asked.

Christian didn’t flush or look away this time. Instead, he held David’s gaze. “Yeah.”

David hadn’t been so blind as to miss the attraction they shared.

He suspected they had been eyeing each other longer than they would admit.

David’s offer for Christian to stay the night had been innocently phrased, but deep down, it wasn’t all he was asking.

Sex was on the table and probably had been from the moment he’d invited Christian to his home.

He was sure he could integrate it into what he and Christian were. Sex was just sex.

But that one little phrase regarding Christian was different, equally terrifying, and wonderful in its insinuation.

Yet, the fact that nothing happened meant there was still a chance one of them could back away without any worry about what would happen.

All it would take was for them to go their separate ways, step back from the situation, and never acknowledge it again.

Christian’s eyes darted over David’s face. “So?—”

David raised a brow. “Yes?”

“I have a question.”

“I figured as much.”

“And if it’s too invasive, just tell me.”

David snorted softly, looking down at his hands. Anticipation sent his heart racing as he wondered if Christian was finally treading the ground they’d been dancing around.

David looked up. “The video?”

“Yeah.”

“What about it?”

“Are you...like, do you usually prefer younger guys?”

“I’ve never dated a younger man before, or at least not one that age. I find most of them physically attractive. But truth be told, they rarely have the emotional maturity I’d need in a romantic partner.”

“I guess that makes sense.”

David looked him over. “Why do you ask?”

“Would I get away with saying I was just curious?”

David laughed. “Probably not, no.”

“Would I get away with saying I’ve been thinking about what I saw in that video a lot since then and still be able to blame it on the alcohol?”

“I suppose that depends.”

Christian cocked his head. “On?”

“On whether or not you wanted me to take it seriously.”

“I’ve been thinking about it a lot. And that’s not just the alcohol talking. Well, a little, but not like...all of it.”

“Just enough to give you courage?” David asked.

“And maybe the right level of stupidity.”

David turned toward him, even more aware of how close they were.

Christian had slowly angled himself, so his upper body faced David.

Reading body language was a skill David firmly believed came with the territory of being a general or being in command.

It was important to know when a subordinate was going to be trouble, when they would be willing, and when they were calm or irritated.

It didn’t require his extensive experience to understand that Christian’s gradually opening arms, spread legs, and turned torso were an invitation.

“I kind of like the theory that it’s more courage than stupidity,” David told him.

“I guess we’ll see,” Christian said, turning his bright blue eyes on him.

Where he might have been debating with himself only moments before about whether to follow through, David found his answer as he gazed at Christian.

Without hesitation, he reached out, taking hold of Christian’s jaw and cupping it gently.

As he pulled the man closer, a small smile curled at the corner of his lips, and he heard Christian’s breath catch just moments before their lips met.

The hesitation didn’t last long, though, and David felt Christian suddenly come alive as the kiss extended for more than a few seconds.

Warm hands pushed into David’s hair as Christian pulled him even closer.

Chuckling, David parted their lips, letting his tongue dance over Christian’s and drawing a low, needy moan from the younger man.

David stroked a hand down Christian’s arm, gripping to feel the toned muscles under his skin and the warmth against his cool fingers.

Before he could do much more, he felt Christian rise from his seat.

A moment later, Christian was easing forward, sliding onto David’s lap eagerly.

Warmth and pressure landed on David’s crotch as Christian made himself comfortable, hunching forward to continue their kiss.

David wasn’t going to argue with the position, as it gave him ample opportunity to run his hands over Christian’s shoulders, down his back, and finally to cup his ass. Growling appreciatively, David squeezed it, relishing the slight groan from Christian.

Feeling more than a little greedy, David gripped the bottom of Christian’s shirt and yanked it over his head.

Christian broke the kiss, shimmying out of the shirt before pressing their lips together again.

David ran his hands up and down Christian’s sides, gripping his hips and stroking the warm skin.

Muscles rippled and danced beneath taut skin, following each of David’s light touches.

“No offense, but if this is going to continue, I’d prefer somewhere where there’s more room to get comfortable,” Christian told him.

“I think my bed will serve just fine for that,” David told him.

Christian quickly scrambled off his lap to let him up, drawing a low chuckle from David.

Despite being older, he appreciated the vitality and energy younger men approached sex with.

For all his maturity and emotional stability, Christian was no different than his peers in that regard.

He marched into the house in front of David, shirtless and utterly unaware of the gorgeous sight he made.

David stepped ahead of Christian, wrapping an arm around his waist and pushing him against the wall with a hearty shove.

Christian gasped, but his back arched, and he greedily held onto David as the distance closed between them again.

David’s hands once more roamed Christian’s body, soaking up every piece of skin he could find.

He took a moment to undo the button and zipper to the man’s jeans, giving them a shove as he held Christian against the wall.

“You’re going to have me naked before we hit the bedroom,” Christian whispered with a chuckle.

“That’s the idea.”