...Damien gave Vic a nod and walked toward his assigned office. He was all too aware of Vic right behind him. Any second now he expected Vic’s hand molding around his ass, or snapping around his waist and yanking him against his body, cock tucked into the cleft of his ass. He swallowed against the rush, but couldn’t force his erection to subside. If anything, the barely perceptible heat from Vic’s body, coupled with his scent, doubled Damien’s predicament.

His office was the standard setup, a duplicate of thousands of others across the military—desk, computer and printer, bookshelves, two chairs for visitors, wall locker for his uniforms so he could come to work in civilian attire and have his PT gear on hand. The exception was the brand new brown leather executive chair. Damien couldn’t resist a caress—soft, supple. The scent curled into his veins.

“Very nice.” The words came on their own. He felt his cheeks heat up and waited with breath held for Vic to make some comment about his obsession with leather. Silence prevailed. It annoyed him all the more.

Setting his worn briefcase on the desk, Damien stood behind it, but he refused to sit down, refused to put himself into a position subservient to Vic. Doing so smacked of too many other things, too many other wants too long unfulfilled.

“So…what do you have for me?” He hated the way his words kept coming out. “What’s to sign?” He reached for the folder.

Vic placed it on the glass-topped desk and flipped it open. “Standard stuff. Pens are in your top desk drawer.”

Everything was highlighted and tagged where Damien needed to sign. More of the same old stuff. He had no choice but to sit in order to review and sign the pages. If only his hand would quit shaking. Had Vic noticed the hard-on swelling his trousers? Did Damien dare look to see if Vic sported one, too?

The chair sighed as he sank into it. It sounded too much like his own sigh whenever Vic slid his cock deep inside his ass. Damien grappled for something to put distance between his feelings and this man. Something to erase the image of himself staring up at Vic with a flogger in his hand ready to give Damien everything he needed. Anything…

“Have a seat, Gunny. This could take a while.” He kept his gaze locked on the stack of paperwork, not on the man easing into the chair opposite him. “I understand you were recently promoted. Pretty young to be a gunnery sergeant.”

“Right place, right time, took advantage of opportunities. And, with all due respect, sir…you’re pretty old to be a captain.”

The dig hit its intended target. They both knew it was a lie. Rank didn’t come easy, whether you were officer or enlisted.

Damien scribbled his signature again and flipped to the next page. “How’s your wife?” The question came out as a sneer. He couldn’t help it. Hurt soured his stomach and left an acidic taste in his mouth.

“Happily married to the man of her dreams,” Vic replied. “Yours?”

From the periphery of his vision, Damien saw Vic’s eyebrow quirk. “Moved on to bigger and better things and took my two kids with her.”

“Two kids, huh? How’d that happen? She siphon the cum out of one of your condoms?”

Damien’s head snapped up. Rage boiled from his eyes.

Vic was already on his feet and heading for the door. “I’m sure you don’t need me up your ass while you sign all that. The corporal will be in soon to get you started on your computer. I’ll get the folder from you later…sir.”