*Wyl*

Six months later

"Rise and shine, baby."

"Mmngh."

"Sorry, that excuse doesn't cut it." Click. The lights came on. Wyl Leyton moaned an unintelligible curse under his breath and rolled over to face the pillows, pulling the blanket over his head. A strong hand caressed his shoulder through the fabric, gentle and coaxing. "C'mon, sleepyhead. T's restaurant is opening today, you said you'd help him finish setting up."

"Why did I do that?" Wyl groaned.

"Because you're a nice person, maybe."

"Me? Nah. Confusing me with someone else." He pulled the blanket tighter over his head. "You go, tell him I'm dying and can't make it."

The voice erupted in a low, reverberating laugh. Wyl could feel the vibrations as his lover leaned across his back. "Are you going to make me beat you with a pillow?"

Wyl scoffed. "You won't challenge me to a pillow fight, I always win."

"Maybe," his lover agreed. "But since I need to get up and go to work, I'll have to leave you alone here while I get ready. I'll fill the tub with hot, soothing water. I'll rub soap into a lather all over my body. I'll slowly rinse it down the drain, making sure I've gotten every last bit off my skin. I'll dry off, and dress, and get breakfast. All alone. What a waste." His tone brightened from sultry to cheeky. "Sleep well!" Then he got up out of the bed and walked into the bathroom, leaving the door open.

Wyl listened in silence for a few moments as Robbie turned on the water. He was humming faintly, and seemed in a ridiculously good mood. But then, he was like this almost every morning. Just my luck to fall in love with an early riser. Especially considering how late some of their nights had been running...

Wyl smiled into his pillow. Robbie Sinclair was the best thing that had ever happened to Wyl, and he knew it. He was handsome, honest, and loving. He gave everyone he met the benefit of a doubt, a rare quality in a marshal. He was a fantastic lover, a fierce friend, and a good cook. And for some reason, he had found something to love in Wyl. All of those excellent traits meant Wyl could forgive certain things, like his predilection for waking up early and actually enjoying it. Wyl had been forced to get up early for years, but not once had he ever relished the experience.

Robbie's humming turned to singing—something French probably, that was his latest kick. Wyl could hear inviting splashing sounds. "Fuuuuuck," he sighed, then reluctantly threw off the covers, staggered to his feet and made his way into the bathroom. "Are you done being cute?" he growled, pushing back long, tangled strands of black hair.

"I can't fathom what you mean," Robbie replied with a broad smile. He was sitting in the large, circular tub, leaning back against the rim. "But I prefer the word 'enticing.' Cute seems more like a word someone would use to describe you." He waved a hand. "Get in."

Wyl walked over and slid into the hot water, wincing slightly. "You like your men boiled, I see."

"Cute and grumpy this morning." Robbie shifted around until he was beside Wyl and pulled him into an embrace. "Didn't get enough sleep last night, huh?"

"Because you're insatiable," Wyl replied with a grin.

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"You love it. Scoot forward." Wyl did and Robbie slid in behind him, rubbed some soap onto his shoulders, and began to massage in long, smooth strokes. "Do you still have tomorrow off?"

"Yeah. The shop is letting me count today as a labor day, since I'll still be working on the station."

"Then it's a good thing you got up, huh." Robbie nuzzled the back of Wyl's head.

"Not for that reason," Wyl countered. "T works me harder than the shop ever does, and I'm an incompetent cook, as you know." It was sad but true. Wyl's few previous attempts at making an edible meal had ended in blackened crustiness, excruciating spiciness and, on one memorable occasion, the oven erupting into flames. Since then he'd used some of the money he held back from paying the bond to order food for them whenever it was his turn.

Robbie ran his hands down Wyl's back and around to his abdomen. "But don't you appreciate the variety?"

Wyl stifled a groan. "I love variety...just not cooking." His pulse sped up as Robbie reached forward and cupped him in his hands. He began to harden instantly. "Oh god..." He pushed his ass back against Robbie's cock so it was wedged between his cheeks.

Robbie paused a moment to pour some of the bath oil over his hand before reaching down again and stroking Wyl's cock under the hot water. The motions were long and slow, and so much better than a shoulder massage. It was ridiculous how quickly Robbie's touch could reduce him to a quivering, whimpering, need-driven pile of flesh.

Wyl leaned his head back until it rested on his lover's shoulder, turning his face to kiss Robbie's neck. He loved feeling those hands engulf him, moving against his cock, so hot and slick. Robbie stroked faster, fisting him harder. "Wait...you..."

"Later," Robbie promised in a husky voice. "I want to feel you come in my hand." He moved his thumb up onto the head, rolling the pad around in a circle. His other arm held Wyl's body tight against him, crushing them together as his mouth found Wyl's ear. He sucked the earlobe into his mouth, then lightly bit down.

"Oh, fuck." Wyl wrapped a hand around the back of his lover's neck and pulled him even closer as he felt his orgasm start. "Robbie, now, yes..."

"Baby." The sound of that deep, sultry purring in his ear sent Wyl over the edge and he came with a gasp, the heat and pressure driving the air from his body until he was spent and lying boneless in the water, only upright thanks to Robbie's hold on him.

He caught his breath after a few minutes, just relaxing, closing his eyes and enjoying the rise and fall of Robbie's chest beneath him, and the feel of his cock tight against his ass. "Don't fall asleep again," Robbie murmured, sounding amused.

"How could I sleep with you poking me like that?" Wyl countered, forcing his eyes open. "You should let me take care of you, before you accidentally impale someone in the hallway or something."

"I'll be careful, but we both have to get going. Today's my conduct review."

Wyl's ardor began to fade immediately. "Are you serious? I thought it wasn't until next week."

"Things got moved forward. I would have mentioned it last night, but I got distracted early on." He was smiling, but Wyl could tell he was tense. He pulled out of Robbie's embrace and turned to face him.

"Who did they get to be the presiding officer?"

Robbie shrugged. "I don't know yet. Everything was adjusted. My lawyer says it shouldn't be an issue who the officer is, since the evidence of wrongdoing on Danica's part is fairly overwhelming and we had Leesie's message to go on, but I could get a reprimand for not passing the information along the proper channels. And I probably shouldn't have hijacked that ship, in retrospect."

"If you hadn't, I'd be dead." Wyl still felt cold at the memory of T being shot and the two of them nearly freezing to death before help arrived. When Danica Jessom was imprisoned and her mining operation was seized, Wyl's bond had been transferred to the station. He had just half a year left to go to finish it.

All of that was a wonderful conclusion to a shitty situation for Wyl, but it meant that Robbie was in hot water. There were interrogations, mental and physical examinations, a few counseling sessions. Soldiers weren't supposed to display such a blatant disregard for the chain of command, and despite being the ranking marshal on the station, regulations stated he had officially fucked up by not informing his regional commander first.

Fortunately it was his first official fuckup, so instead of waiting for his trial in the brig he was allowed to continue working while the case was investigated. Today was the day he would get his official review, and his commendation or punishment would be handed out.

Wyl must have looked nervous, because Robbie leaned in and kissed him softly. "Don't worry about it. I doubt anything serious will come of it. Besides," he looked Wyl up and down, "I'd say you're worth it."

"I love you."

Robbie smiled, that special, kind of silly smile that came to his face whenever Wyl said those words. "I love you too. Now soap, rinse, out. I'll try to find you for lunch."