Page 86 of Men of Fort Dale: The Complete Series

There was a pause, followed by the general clearing his throat. “Okay, well, the door is closed, and there are no recording devices here, so why don’t you share what’s on your mind?”

Christian chuckled nervously. “I was just distracted for a moment...by you.”

“By me.”

Christian winced. “I apologize. I guess being alone with you has me letting my guard down for a moment. I also blame you for being so damned good-looking.”

The corner of David’s mouth twitched. “Is that so? Then maybe we should talk about how distracting it is to walk out of my office and find you bent over.”

Christian blinked. “What? Hey! I knocked my mouse off the desk and was getting it back.”

“That changes nothing from my point of view.”

Christian ducked his head again, if only to hide the faint color that came to his cheeks. While it was a little odd to be so freely and openly flirting, it was a relief. It meant they weren’t pretending there wasn’t tension born of their sexual chemistry from the night before.

But it still didn’t answer his other question.

Christian squirmed in his seat. “I don’t...want to presume anything, sir, but...I do have a question.”

“From the sounds of it, you’re about to ask something that doesn’t require a ‘sir’ placed in front of it,” David said.

“Oh...right. Look, last night was great. I mean, hell, it was amazing. You’re a good-looking man and an amazing lover, and as a man, you’re someone I respect deeply and care about.”

David blinked slowly, a ghost of a smile on his face. “I would return the favor, but you’ve beaten me to every compliment.”

Christian grinned. “Gotta be faster.”

However, he could tell David was waiting, and Christian barreled on.

“The point is, I could...see myself enjoying something a little more...long-term.”

“I see,” David said slowly.

“And I know...what you said last night about not wanting something long-term with someone young,” Christian continued.

David held up a hand. “Before you continue, I can see where this is heading, but I have to stop you there. If I were to choose not to enter into anything long-term with you, it wouldn’t be due to a lack of maturity on your part.

I’d like to say I’ve known you long enough to state with great confidence that you possess a deep well of maturity, intelligence, and a good heart that would make you a very attractive long-term partner. ”

Christian smiled at the compliment, but he didn’t miss the catch. “I’m sensing a ‘but’ somewhere in there.”

David’s smile turned pained. “But our situation is not that simple, is it?”

No, it wasn’t. David might be able to avoid a scandal if he were dating a younger man in a perfectly reasonable, sellable relationship.

But there was no getting around the fact that a relationship between a superior and subordinate, especially when it involved a general, was blatant fraternization.

The night before had been enough to get them both into trouble.

To enter into something more would just increase the risk.

“I understand, sir,” Christian said softly, heart sinking.

“I’m not saying ‘no.’ I’m saying this situation requires.

..some thought. You’re an amazing person, Christian, and I would hate to see your life ruined, as well as my own because we didn’t think things through.

Last night was wonderful, but if we’re going to risk so much, we need to be sure it’s worth that risk,” David told him with a grimace stretching his features.

“Well, for what it’s worth, for me, it’s worth it,” Christian said.

David opened his mouth, closed it, then opened it again. “I’ll be honest. I’m not quite sure yet.”

Christian nodded, his attention back on his tablet. “Like you said, not ‘no’ but?—”

“Not what you wanted to hear,” David admitted, voice soft.

It wasn’t, not in the slightest, but Christian wouldn’t lose his mind over it. It tugged at his heart, weighing it down for the first time all day. Still, he could take comfort in not being outright denied.

Christian cleared his throat. “So, I imagine you want to discuss the finer details of the Gala on Saturday.”

David’s pale eyes searched his face before nodding. As Christian watched, the strained, almost pained expression on the general’s face faded, replaced by professional focus.

“Those from Command who accepted my invitation will arrive tomorrow at approximately 1300. We’ll need to make sure their temporary housing is up to par. We also need to ensure the catering company has confirmed the appointment,” General Winter began, looking over at his screen.

Christian nodded. “I’ve spoken with the company, but I’ll speak to them tomorrow evening to make sure everything is on track.”

“Good, I don’t want an incident like last year’s.”

“Not on my watch, sir.”

“Good. Now, a few other things have been brought to my attention. Let me pull them up.”

Christian nodded, waiting for the other man as he began to search for what he needed. It was easier to focus on the task at hand now they had settled the elephant in the room. The weight of the elephant had shifted to his heart, but at least he could focus.

So, that was something, at least.