Martin and Daryl had spent two days in deep conversation with the CO of the base and the CEO of their construction firm. What it all boiled down to was they were getting the help they needed to get back on track. Gerald was relieved of his job. Martin felt no remorse for costing the man his career. If he’d just reported the situation as it was, then there would have been no problems. Delays were expected and understandable when dealing with these conditions.

Presently, he was standing in the middle of stacks upon stacks of supplies. He looked like a child lost in a maze as he gazed up at one pallet and checked the barcode number against the list on his tablet.

All the remaining supplies for the foundation arrived last night, at least that was the report. Martin was trying to ensure that was the case. The last thing he needed was for his guys to start pouring concrete over the rebar and laying out the second half of the foundation just to have to stop part way through because of another error.

He was about halfway through the check.

“Why don’t you have someone else do this?” James asked him from his place watching from a vantage point. Not that there were too many vantage points in this maze of crates and pallets. “You are the one in charge. Labor like this shouldn’t be your primary duty.”

“That’s where you’re wrong,” Martin smiled. James had started opening up around lunch time yesterday. The Ranger seemed intrigued by the fact Martin took such a hands-on approach to his job. “To ensure the site runs smoothly and efficiently is my job. That includes checking the supplies. I’d rather Daryl and his team place their efforts where needed, laying the foundation and getting us back on schedule. I, on the other hand, usually have hours of free time which would normally be spent in an air-conditioned office.”

“Was that a complaint or were you bragging?” James frowned.

Shrugging, Martin looked to the man and winked at him, “You decide.”

“Bragging it is,” James sighed as he folded his arms over his chest.

“You wound me,” Martin mocked injury and then returned to checking the next stack. “And here I thought you’d finally softened toward my charms.”

James looked away, not answering to his provocation. This part of him hadn’t changed. He still clammed up and often turned away from him. Martin wasn’t sure what to make of it. Part of him hoped it was a good sign, though he couldn’t help but feel things moving in a negative way. He figured by now James would at least show some development in his reactions.

Oh well. Nothing he could do about it.

Stepping back, Martin craned his head so he could see the top of this stack. Whoever piled this batch was going to get an earful. There was no reason for it to be that high. As he took another step backward, Martin’s back hit a stack of sandbags behind him and he felt it shake.

“Watch out!” James shouted just as Martin looked up in time to see the bags starting to topple over.

His mind froze, and despite years of training and safety protocol drilled into him, Martin could do nothing but stand there and wait for the heavy bags to fall on top of him. He closed his eyes, not wanting to watch his end, and he braced for the impact.

Instead of the crushing weight of several sandbags, Martin felt himself tackled to the ground with a hard body above him. “Are you okay?” James demanded.

Martin didn’t answer as he blinked up at the dark man covering his body in a protective manner.

“Martin, are you hurt?”

“That’s the first time you’ve used my first name.” Martin found himself smiling despite the fact he could’ve just died.

“What? You nearly get crushed and that’s what you’re worried about?” James gawked at him. “The hell is wrong with you?”

“Right now? Probably a light concussion from that tackle I received.”

“Oh, sorry,” James apologized as he stood and helped Martin to his feet. “It was the only way I could think to remove you in time.”

“I understand,” Martin dusted himself off before meeting James’s gaze. “You know, thank you doesn’t quite seem to cut it. You did just safe my life.”

“It’s my job,” James brushed the topic aside.

“Still,” Martin frowned and then smiled when a thought came to him. “How about this?” he said as he crowded closer to James, pressing the man against a solid stack of rebar, and kissed him.

James went ramrod straight and he didn’t even breathe as Martin glided his lips against the other’s. He licked at James’ lips, suckling the bottom lip into his own mouth for a second before he felt the other respond. It was just the slightest movement, but James kissed him back.

“Mr. Black! Lieutenant Wright! You guys okay?”

The shouting of approaching people parted them, with Martin giving James one last caress before stepping away and turning to greet the anxious workers converging on them. Daryl led the pack, and he seemed absolutely horrified as he looked at the pile of sandbags that could’ve very well have landed on Martin, if not for the heroic actions of his bodyguard.

“We’re fine, thanks to James’ quick reflexes,” Martin answered. “Though it seems I’ll need to oversee the unloading and placement of the supplies as well if this is the result.” He kept his tone light, letting the others around him know he meant no harm with his words. Accidents happened. Sandbags were meant to be stacked without toppling over like dominos, no one could’ve guessed a small bump would send the entire top two rows plummeting down on someone.

“You sure you’re okay?” Daryl asked again.

“Well, it seems my tablet didn’t survive,” Martin complained as he reached down and picked up the shattered device. “Thank god I carry a spare. I’ll just slip back to my room and grab my backup. James, can you please take me?”

“Huh?” James looked to him and Martin was floored to see heat directed back at him from those mocha brown eyes.

* * *

James resisted the urge to reach up and press his fingers to his lips. He could still feel Martin’s kiss heating him up even as the man’s warmth faded from his body like the caress of a forgotten ghost. What in the hell had the man done to him? Why the fuck had he kissed him?

“Take me back to my apartment,” Martin repeated. He seemed to be watching him rather closely.

“Right,” James nodded, trying to pull himself out of the odd funk he’d fallen into at the sensation of another human being so close to him. “Let’s go.”

Martin said nothing as he fell into step beside James and followed him out to the Rover. He did give Daryl instructions to have some men clean up the fallen sandbags, but that was it. In the Rover James fought to not look at Martin, or more particularly, his lips.

What had possessed the man to kiss him? And as a form of thanks?

Yes, it was nice and certainly felt like more than just a simple thank you. Still, James couldn’t help but feel a small amount of trepidation. Martin had proven to be a serious and hard worker, but he was a flirt through and through. Hell, several times he’d caught the man chatting up other rangers, soldiers, and civilian workers with an obvious lusty leer in his eyes.

The kiss meant nothing. Martin was just doling out physical affection where he saw fit.

Again, James found himself wondering if this part of his personality was the very reason Martin found himself all the way out here, at the far corner of the galaxy. Surely the man was too qualified to be doing such a dangerous job.

“James, where are you taking me?” Martin asked, looking behind him.

Drawing himself from his thoughts, James cursed himself as he realized he’d just driven right past the civilian dormitories. Making a U-turn, he brought the Rover around and parked it in front of the building. “Sorry,” he said.

“No harm, no foul,” Martin smiled easily as he climbed out of the vehicle.

As always, James followed him, though this time he stood in front of Martin at the elevator. He didn’t want the man to see his face as they rode up.

Despite his hesitations and assumptions, James did find himself drawn to Martin. The man was interesting, he’d give him that. Martin was honest in his words, though a bit shifty with his actions. It made for a refreshing combination.

Exiting the elevator, James followed Martin to his room and, again doing something different, continued inside with him.

“Everything okay?” Martin asked upon realizing James had entered behind him.

James made sure the door closed before meeting Martin’s gaze again. “Why did you kiss me?”

Martin’s eyes widened a fraction before he smiled. “Because, I wanted to. Why? Did you like it? Want me to do it again?” he asked, stepping forward and crowding James against the door. “I liked it, and want to do it again,” Martin admitted, his voice husky as he brushed his nose against James’.

It was like a fire was lit inside him and James didn’t know what to do to keep from being consumed. He wanted to let Martin kiss him again, but he feared what would happen if the man touched him. Just the small glancing touches of his nose and hands seemed to be enough to spark desire in his body.

“James,” Martin practically moaned his name before he felt those soft lips pressed against his own chapped ones again.

Unlike back at the construction site, when Martin’s lips caressed his own, James responded. His arms wrapped around Martin and pulled him flush against his body. He used his superior strength to pivot them around, and push Martin against the door. The man trembled in his grasp as he slid a leg between James’ and pressed his thigh against his awakening cock.

Taking the offensive, James thrust his tongue into Martin’s mouth and explored the warm cavern. He twirled around Martin’s tongue, drawing it out and enjoying the play as the other man fought for control.

Both men scrambled for the upper hand, neither willing to give an inch as the kiss turned more and more heated. James pressed against Martin’s leg, and slid his own against the other man’s cock. The delicious moan that vibrated from Martin made James’ erection throb.

It had been so long since he’d been with anyone that James was sure he could come from just this if it kept up. He had no intentions of stopping it either.

When Martin’s hand slid beneath his shirt, pulling it free of his waistband, and his fingers played along his abs, James groaned. He didn’t know what he’d been expecting from the man, but he hadn’t imagined such a delicate touch from a man that worked construction. Martin’s hand traveled up to his chest and massaged along his pecs before he felt him pinch his nipples.

Groaning, James pushed his leg harder against Martin’s straining cock, enjoying the feel of the man rubbing against him.

They were quickly forgetting themselves as they sought to make the other submit first.

James was just considering reaching into Martin’s pants when the first shock bombarded the apartments. Next a siren cried out all around the base.

Instantly James snapped back to reality and pushed Martin toward his room, which would also act as a bomb shelter. “Get inside and don’t come out!” James instructed.

“What about you?” Martin made a grab for his hand, but James shook it off as he reached for his firearm.

“I’ll be fine. Now, get in there,” James shoved him inside and slammed the door behind him.

Racing to the window, James looked up to the dome and felt his heart sink at the sight of a crack spider webbing across the first outer shell. The dome protecting the base and connected city had three separate layers. The outer layer, inner layer, and the final layer closest to them. The first, outer layer acted as protection from the extreme weather and attacks. The second layer was climate control. Using outside elements and altering them in the center air pocket was how they controlled their artificial climate within the dome. The two first layers together provided an airlock around the entire area. The third was the green zone and was the habitable part of the dome.

As James watched he spotted three ships dart past his line of sight. His eyes narrowed. They were Xythandrian ships.