Note to the editor: There are italics in this story that I'd like to be retained. Thank you!
A Message from Lana:
So, our guys have a few things to work out in this part...things always get more complicated when you start talking, am I right? Because of that, it is a longer than the previous ones, but don't worry, makeup sex is always the best. (Spoiler alert).
Also, I apologize for lying about Part 4 being the last part. Apparently, I underestimated how much people want to see a good healthy relationship, so I've decided to continue this series since now there is a whole base (if not a whole world) for the guys to discover! I hope everyone enjoys this new installment and is rooting for these boys as much as I am.
Keep an eye out for part 5, which WILL happen, even though it may take some time to fit it in with my other projects.
1. Sam
The next thing Sam knew, he and Trent were sitting in JR's office, the older man scowling at them from across the desk. He hadn't spoken to either of the young men during their awkward redressing session or the slow walk down the corridors, but Sam was nervous. It was no secret that JR was the compound's resident slut, so his dramatic reaction seemed a bit out of character.
Though...the man
had
known Sam's father, so maybe that's why it felt so awkward. He blushed at the thought. Thankfully, his dad wasn't alive to see this.
"JR I--" Sam began, casting a nervous eye at Trent. But the man held up his hand.
"Save it," he interrupted. "I've heard all the excuses. Hell I've
used
many of them, myself."
Sam swallowed hard.
Then why are we here?
He thought.
"But seriously," JR continued, "The
kitchen?
"
"C'mon, JR," Sam scoffed, even as he watched Trent blush further and look away. "I'm sure you've done it in weirder places." He gave the man a challenging stare. If he'd learned anything in his years working with JR, it was that the best defense against him was over-confidence.
"Well there was that one time on the Great Wall, overlooking the lights of Huariou..." JR began, gazing into the dimness wistfully. The he returned Sam's scowl, "But that's not the point. Point is...you got caught."
"Psh," Sam taunted, "And you haven't...?"
JR frowned, but before he could reply, a new voice sounded behind them. One Sam was none-too-happy to hear.
"JR, you'd better have a good reason why you pulled me off watch. I had to wake up Hawk and he was
not hap--"
Sam's eyes met with the woman's, and he shrank. Why did JR have to bring Mara into this? She'd taken him in as a teenage runaway and cared for him better than his own mother. And
no one
wanted to have this kind of conversation with their mother.
"Sam? Trent?" she said, tone changing and brow furrowing in concern. "Is something wrong?" She turned to JR.
"I found these two..." JR said, pushing his hands together twice and when Mara raised an eyebrow in confusion, he made a face as if he'd swallowed something sour and continued, "
Fucking...
in the kitchen."
"Okay...?" Mara frowned, but she didn't seem angry. Sam hoped that was a good sign. She looked at Sam. "Was it fun?"
"Um...what?"
Was it fun?
He wanted to shrink even more as he grew hot to his hairline and the tips of his ears.
Of course, it was fun,
but he didn't want to tell Mara that. He looked at Trent, but his friend was just hunched in on himself, refusing to stare anywhere besides his knees. "Yes?" Sam finally muttered when he realized Trent would be of no help.
"Mmm-hmm," she grunted, studying the two for a moment. "Good."
"What the hell, Mara!?" JR interjected, "You aren't nearly as appalled by this as you should be. The kitchen!"
She snorted, casting her dark gaze back over the older man. "You can't tell me you've never fucked in a kitchen," she said, "Hell, I bet you can't even tell me you've never fucked in
that
kitchen!"
"I--" JR began, "That doesn't matter. They're
kids,
Mara. You're responsible for them."
The woman chuckled, leaning against the desk which creaked under her weight. "No, JR, you're getting old. Sam, you turned eighteen a few months ago, right?"
"Seven months," Sam muttered, "And Trent's twenty."
Mara nodded, gesturing at the two of them. "See? Not kids."
"But..." JR pressed, though some of the fire had drained from his voice, "You're just going to let this slide?"
She laughed again, "Are you mad because it wasn't you who was caught balls-deep in a lover, Mr. Casanova?"
The heat in Sam's cheeks threatened to burn his face off, but it also made him smile. He hadn't seen JR this flustered in...well...ever.
JR stammered, clearly now also embarrassed. "No, it's just...they're so...young."
"Not really, JR," Mara said, the only emotion in her voice mild amusement, "How old were you when you first had sex?"
"Yeah, we're not gonna talk about that," JR said, scowl returning.
"I rest my case," Mara chuckled again, then turned to Sam, "How long's this been going on?"
"Couple weeks..." he answered reluctantly.
"A month," Trent corrected with a small triumphant smile.
"Does General Qian know?"
"I don't see how it's any of his business," Sam said, wincing at the mention of the general.
"Good," she sighed, "Make sure it stays that way. The general
will
make something his business if he thinks it endangers the mission."
"Does it?"
Mara shrugged, "Not if you don't let it." She exchanged a look with JR who seemed to have lost some of his initial fire. "But maybe be a bit more discrete," she said, with half a scowl directed at JR. "I don't really need a riled-up officer pulling me from my duties to reprimand two lust-struck young men. Got it?"