Semper Fi (18 page)

Kneeling beside him, Jim held up a canteen and made him drink before going to clean out the bucket. When he came back, Cal muttered, “Don’t bother. I’m just gonna puke in it again in a few minutes.”

“It’ll lessen the smell at least.”

Cal had to smile. “Christ, this ship has never stunk so badly. One clean bucket isn’t going to make a difference.”

Jim shrugged, and sure enough, the next time Cal heaved, Jim disappeared and returned with the bucket clean. When it finally seemed like the worst had passed, Cal collapsed on his rack, shivering and exhausted. “Go get some air. I’ll be fine.” His eyes flickered shut.

When he woke again some time later, a wet cloth rested on his forehead, and Jim sat on the floor by the bucket. When Cal tried to speak, only a garbled croak emerged from his parched throat. On his knees, Jim lifted the canteen, his hand gentle on the back of Cal’s head.

Cal gulped gratefully. “Really, Jim. Get topside. I’m feeling much better.”

“Okay.”

As Cal drifted off again, he was faintly aware of a fresh cloth on his forehead and a warm, comforting hand on his arm.

“Why are you smiling so much?”

Cal looked up at Sophie across the small kitchen table as he sliced into his pork chop. “I’m not.”

“Yes you are.” She tugged one of her pigtails.

Glancing at Jim, who examined his plate as if it held the secrets of the universe, Cal shrugged. “I guess I’m just happy.”
Ecstatic. Over the moon. Jubilant. Quixotic, even.

“It’s weird.”

“Sophie.” Jim frowned at her. “Don’t be rude.”

“I’m not! At least I didn’t mean to be. He wasn’t this happy at breakfast.”

Cal put down his fork. “You want to know exactly why it is I’m so cheerful tonight?” As Jim’s face blanched, Cal went on. “It’s this broccoli.” From the corner of his eye, he saw Jim exhale with a chuckle.

Sophie scrunched up her face. “Ew. I hate broccoli.”

“Well, I love it. Can’t get enough of it.” He pierced a spear with his fork and ate it with gusto. “Puts hair on your chest.”

“I don’t want hair on my chest!” She giggled.

“What little girl doesn’t want hair on her chest? Jim, can you believe this?”

Smiling, Jim shook his head. “I have to say, it’s disappointing, Sophie.”

Still giggling, Sophie lifted her plate and piled her broccoli onto Adam’s. “Goober can have all the hair.”

Adam, always willing to eat anything and everything under the sun, happily shoved a spear into his mouth before Jim could put the broccoli back on Sophie’s plate.

“Uh-uh. You’re eating your vegetables.”

Heaving a great sigh, Sophie swallowed a small bite. Cal couldn’t stop himself from laughing, and pretty soon they all did, Adam clapping his hands as chewed broccoli dribbled out of his mouth.

While Jim put Adam to bed after dinner, Cal helped Sophie with the washing up, drying the plates and cutlery as she placed them into the rack. They worked in easy silence, and Cal felt more at peace than he had in a long time. He’d been afraid Jim would freeze up and avoid him like the plague after what happened earlier that day, but he hadn’t. Cal knew Jim was still mighty confused and unsettled, but at least he was meeting Cal’s gaze.

It was like a dream, Jim saying the words Cal had wanted to hear for so long. Feeling the touch of his lips, and the weight of his body. It wasn’t all one sided after all—Jim actually did feel something for him. When Cal woke that morning, the world had been a vastly different place. Now it was alive with possibility.

“You’re doing it again.”

Cal opened the cupboard to put away the clean plates. “Am I?”

“Uh-huh.”

“I guess I’m just happy, then.”

After a long moment, Sophie asked, “Can you make Daddy happy?”

Cal choked out a nervous laugh. “What?”

Sophie pulled the plug from the drain and peered up at him seriously. “He’s hardly ever happy. Not really.”

“Well, it’s been tough, what with your mom’s accident. Tough on all of you.”

“I know. But…” She dried her hands, a crease between her brows.

“But what?”

“I don’t think he’s ever really been happy for as long as I can remember.”

Struggling for something to say, Cal brushed a stray curl from her forehead. Finally he settled on the truth. “I’m going to do everything I can to make your dad happy.”

“Thank you.” Then she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his waist. “I’m glad you’re here, Uncle Cal.”

He had to swallow hard over the sudden lump in his throat. Pressing a kiss to the top of her head, he hugged her back. “Me too.”

Before long it was time for Sophie to go to bed as well, and Cal paced around the living room, the sounds of Jim reading a story floating downstairs from time to time. He poured himself a whiskey and went outside to wander by the paddock, inhaling a cigarette and playing with Finnigan. The dog soon ran off into the trees, barking at a threat either real or imagined—Cal wasn’t sure which.

After his third cigarette, he went back inside. Standing at the bottom of the stairs, Cal listened. All was quiet. The wood seemed to creak more loudly than before as he climbed upstairs, and his breath stuttered when he saw Jim’s closed door.

He listened for any sounds from the children down the hall, and heard none through the partially open door. Steeling himself, he went to Jim’s room, his knock barely more than a scratch. The door swung open a moment later. Jim still wore his jeans and white undershirt. After a tense moment, he stepped aside.

Cal closed the door behind him, the scrape of wood echoing in the silence. The lock sliding home seemed as loud as a gunshot. “I waited for you outside,” he whispered.

“I shouldn’t leave the kids alone.”

Cal didn’t point out that they’d gone outside in the evenings plenty of times, and the children had been just fine. “Sure. Okay.”

“We can’t…” Jim waved his hand between them. “Not here.” Jim hurried to the door, brushing Cal aside. He listened intently, his shoulders high.

As Jim turned, Cal stepped close, lifting his finger to Jim’s lips. “Shh. It’s okay.” He kissed him softly. “We just have to be quiet. They’re fast asleep by now.”

Jim’s body was rigid from head to toe. “We shouldn’t.”

Cal pressed kisses to Jim’s neck, one hand skimming up under his undershirt. “Just relax,” he murmured.

Inch by inch, Jim unclenched. Cal took his time, kissing and caressing, teasing and coaxing until Jim dragged his undershirt over his head, breath coming in shallow gasps as he tugged Cal closer. Cal bent and took one of Jim’s nipples into his mouth, flicking it with his tongue before grazing it with his teeth.

Jim’s harsh moan filled the air, and he froze. Chuckling, Cal kissed him again before covering Jim’s mouth with his hand. “Shh.”

As he went back to Jim’s chest, licking and sucking, his other hand drifting lower with light caresses, Jim’s forceful exhalations tickled Cal’s palm. When he lowered the zipper on Jim’s jeans, Jim arched his hips, his cock tenting his drawers. Cal took his hand away from Jim’s mouth and kissed him deeply, sucking his tongue.

Then he dropped slowly to his knees. Jim actually
whimpered
, and Cal glanced up, smiling wickedly. He felt powerful. He’d waited years for this, and he was going to make Jim fly apart. Make him come so hard. Show him how good it could be.

He kissed Jim’s flat belly as he pulled his drawers and jeans down. Jim lifted his feet one at a time, and Cal tossed the clothing aside. Jim’s cock stood up, flushed red and already leaking. When Cal tasted a salty drop on his tongue, Jim swallowed a low groan, his hands tightening into fists. Cal licked along the underside of the shaft, his hands moving to Jim’s hips. He knew Jim likely wouldn’t last tonight, but he wanted to make the most of it.

For so long, Cal had fantasized about how Jim would feel and taste in his mouth. As he sucked the head of Jim’s cock between his lips, he had to muffle his own groan of pure pleasure, sparks skittering up his spine. Breathing deeply through his nose, he took in more, reveling in the musky scent.

Jim tangled his fingers in Cal’s hair, and Cal glanced up. With eyes closed and lips parted, Jim panted silently. His skin was flushed all over, and he was the most beautiful thing Cal had ever seen. Cal kept his gaze up as he licked and sucked, one hand moving to stroke the sensitive skin behind Jim’s balls, which were tight and heavy.

Jim’s cock throbbed in Cal’s mouth, making his own dick ache. He increased his tempo, using strong suction and teasing with his tongue. Caressing Jim’s balls in his palm, he watched Jim’s breath hitch, his whole body seizing. Jim tugged on Cal’s head, but Cal stayed latched onto his cock, swallowing deeply as Jim came with a strangled moan.

He milked every last drop as he stroked Jim’s trembling thighs. Panting, Jim leaned back against the door, his eyes closed. Cal’s cock strained against his fly, and he got to his feet and kissed Jim, slipping his tongue between his lips.

Eyes snapping open, Jim tore his mouth away, one hand pressing roughly against Cal’s chest. He swiped the other across his lips, grimacing. “I can…taste it.”

Cal smiled uneasily. “Well, I know. I can taste it too.”

“I tried to warn you so you wouldn’t have to.” Jim wiped at his mouth again.

“But I wanted to.” Jesus, he’d only dreamt of it for years.

“You really…like that?”

Cal tried to ignore the hot prickles of something akin to shame. “I really do. You seemed to like being on the receiving end.”

“I…yes. I just…” Jim reached for his discarded drawers and tugged them on.

“What?” Cal took a deep breath, telling himself to be patient.

“I don’t know.” Jim ran a hand through his hair before gesturing to Cal’s crotch. “I should…you’re…”

“Nah.” Cal forced a smile. “It’s been a long day. I think we should both hit the hay.” At Jim’s sharp look he added, “Separately. I need to have a shower anyway. ’Night.” He turned the doorknob.

“Cal.”

He waited.

“I don’t know how to feel. This is all new.”

Cal looked back, and this time his smile was real. “I know. We’ll figure it out.”

Jim nodded and closed the door behind him. Cal tiptoed to the bathroom and turned the shower on, making the water as cold as he could stand it.

When Cal came down for breakfast, Jim said good morning as usual, but kept his eyes on his cereal. Adam babbled happily and Sophie told them about the book report she was writing. As she ran the water for the dishes, Jim cleared his throat.

“Cal, do you think you can drive to Buffalo today? I ordered some new chemicals to spray on the trees. Pesticide, it’s called. They say it’ll get rid of the maggot flies. Maggots ruined nearly a quarter of the crop last year. Anyway, I need to pick it up and it’s a six-hour drive.”

Cal’s laugh was forced. “Trying to get rid of me already, huh?”

“No! Of course not.” Jim glanced at the children by the sink and gave Cal a warning look. “I asked him if he could deliver, but it would take weeks. He’s got a backlog of orders, but if I go pick it up myself, he’ll make an exception. It would really help me out if you went.”

“Hey, you’re the boss. Whatever you need.” Cal told himself it didn’t mean anything. “When did you talk to him?”

“A few days ago. I wasn’t sure about trying it, but I’ve made up my mind. I’d go, but I don’t want to leave the children overnight. It’s too much to drive in one day.”

“How much am I picking up? Think it’ll fit in the Caddy’s trunk?” Cal tried to tell himself it was just business—that Jim wasn’t pushing him away.

“Should do. You can take the truck though. Don’t want to mess up your car.”

“No, it’s fine. It’ll be good to put some miles on her. Brush off the cobwebs. I’ll get going.” He pushed his chair back and swallowed the last of his coffee.

“You don’t have to rush off.”

Cal ignored him with a wave of his hand and said goodbye to Adam and Sophie before going upstairs and quickly throwing a change of clothes into an overnight bag. He strode out to the car, trying not to let the hurt get the better of him and failing miserably. He fished out his keys.