Stephanie Vaughan

En route from Doradus Station to Bradbury City, Mars.

"Do you want to run through it one more time?"

Leaning against Sarhaan's side, Caleb's feet were tucked under him
while Sarhaan's were propped against the low table that served as
work area, footstool and even dinner table, occasionally. From
where he sat the wide expanse of Sarhaan's bare chest beckoned,
but Caleb didn't want to start anything until he was sure rehearsal
time was over.

On their way to meet with the mining guild on Mars, Sarhaan was
practicing his sales presentation. Hardly a salesman himself, still,
Caleb had had more practice with public speaking than Sarhaan had.

"No. I think I've got it." Sarhaan ruffled Caleb's hair before tugging
Caleb's head back to press a kiss there. "You're an above-average
teacher. Did anyone ever tell you that?"

"'Above average'?" Drawing back, Caleb arched a brow at Sarhaan.

"Mm-hmm. Definitely better than some I've had."

Sarhaan might like to play at sounding like a common soldier on
occasion, but Caleb wasn't fooled. They'd been together long
enough for him to recognize when he was being toyed with.

But that was okay. Two could play at that game.

"Really? Tell me about some of your other teachers."

Sarhaan pulled Caleb back against his side, his arm laying across
Caleb's shoulders, one big hand brushing idly back and forth while he
pretended to give the matter some thought. "Well... there was
Sergeant Abernathy in basic, for one. He showed me how to really
clean out my rifle. Had the most amazing voice. Deep. Beautiful.
Rumble all down your spine and straight to your... feet. 'This is my
rifle. There are many like it but this one is mine.' Oh, yeah. Cleaned
it himself, he did. My first experience having someone really go over
my weapon. I've never forgotten it."

Caleb's chest hurt and he realized he'd been holding his breath.
Hanging on Sarhaan's every word. "Yeah? And then what
happened?" Oh, man. His dick was hard, too.

"Got sent out to the southwestern territories, that's what. Lance
Corporal Santana."

"Uh-huh. Tell me about him."

"Big. Bigger then I was--back then, anyway. It was so goddamn
hot, the crazy bastard hardly ever wore clothes. Can you imagine?"
Sarhaan was ostensibly talking to Caleb, but his gaze was
unfocused and fixed on something only he could see now. Some
memory, obviously. He shook his head, his hundred tiny braids
sweeping across the tops of his shoulders. "He's probably dead of
radiation poisoning by now, but back then he was really something.
Or so I thought, anyway."

"So what happened to Corporal Santana?"

"Lance Corporal," Sarhaan corrected him, a slow smile beginning to
curve his lips. "'Call me Diego,' he said. Taught me how to conserve
bodily fluids in an arid environment. Goddamn."

Caleb's dick was throbbing nonstop now. It was like watching
Sarhaan grow up, listening to him tick off the names of old lovers,
and there was no doubt in his mind that's what Sarhaan was doing.
What must he have been like? Tall, muscular, impossibly fit. Sarhaan
had probably been the only baby in daycare with sixpack abs.

"And Erramun." A heavy, satisfied sigh eased out between Sarhaan's
full lips. "Damn near killed me, that one did. Would've died happy,
though. Fuck."

"What? What did he do? What happened?" Practically panting now,
Caleb had to know what had happened with the exotically named
long ago lover that had left such an impression on a man as
seasoned as Sarhaan.

Sarhaan didn't respond, though. Just stared off at nothing for
several long seconds, before blinking twice and smiling briefly at
Caleb. Just like that he was back, all signs of dreamy reminiscence
gone. Standing up, he reached out one hand. "So... ready to go
eat?"

"Eat? No. Not until you tell me what happened. With Erramun." Caleb
despised the jealous note that had seeped into his tone, but he
couldn't help it. "I think I deserve to know."

"That was a million years ago. Don't even worry about it."

Mouth falling open, Caleb choked on his disbelief as Sarhaan headed
for the door. "Sarhaan."

"What?"

"You're leaving? Just like that?"

"I want to go eat. I'm hungry. If you're not, you can go down later."
Shrugging, Sarhaan took a step back toward Caleb. "What's the big
deal?"

Caleb just glared.

"Ah." Sarhaan crossed the short distance between them. Shoving
one big hand through Caleb's hair, he pressed a kiss on Caleb's
mouth. Caleb wanted to resist. Tried to, but it was no use. He
melted. Within seconds he was opening his mouth to Sarhaan's kiss,
whimpering and clutching Sarhaan's waist. It was Sarhaan who
pulled away first. "Relax. Didn't I tell you that you were better than
them?"

***

© 2009, Stephanie Vaughan, Torquere Press
All Rights Reserved