Pirate (LGBT - Sci-Fi - Romantic)

Chapter Twenty Four

Author's Note: I figure you wouldn't be reading this far if you had a problem with man x man sex, but don't read any further if you do!

Chapter Twenty Four 

The next day, Mars had to spend at least a few hours with his crew, checking that everything was running smoothly and that they had no unwelcome pursuers. Connell occupied himself in Mars' quarters. It would have caused too many problems for him to wander freely around the ship. He and Mars had an unspoken agreement that he would keep everything he saw to himself but he could hardly expect the crew to believe that. 

It was actually quite pleasant being able to sit and catch up on some reading. Nick had given him access to his own console unit so he had plenty to choose from. There was an information folder labelled "Personal" on the unit which he studiously avoided browsing, tantalising though it was. What could Mars possibly keep in there? It was like Bluebeard's room, now that he had seen it, he couldn't stop thinking what might be inside. He managed to restrain himself until Mars was called away again just before dinner. He'd just have a quick peek, after all if it was really private, it would be encrypted. 

He got a shock when the first thing he saw was his own face, smiling. Mars must have kept it from their last trip together in the old Avata, he recognised the setting in the background. He wondered if Mars had kept any pictures of him from when he was tied naked to his bed. The very possibility made him feel slightly sick and he hastily exited that particular file, opening another at random. He sat staring at it without absorbing what he was seeing for several minutes while he got himself back under control. 

When he read it, it didn't make sense. He made himself take a deep breath and read the file in front of him again. No! It couldn't be true, there must be some mistake. Not Nick, he was too young, too fit. He read the file again. Then he spent half an hour searching for more information. 

When Nick came in an hour later, Connell was just putting their meals on the table, the console unit dark in sleep mode. "I waited for you," he said with a bright smile. 

Nick could tell straight away he'd been browsing where he shouldn't. He wondered how on Earth he'd made it as a successful undercover agent, maybe he just knew him too well. Connell kept sneaking worried looks at him when he thought he wouldn't notice. Damn, now he felt guilty.  

He had vacillated for hours, he knew he should encrypt the report, but he hadn't. And now Conn had read it. He hadn't planned for Conn to see it, he told himself, not really, it had just been chance, fate even. If he asked about it he would tell him the truth, he would. He wasn't sure which way Conn would handle things, whether he'd come right out and ask him to his face or else say nothing, waiting until he was told, assuming that he would tell him if he wanted him to know. It could go either way. Tomorrow, I'll tell him everything tomorrow, Mars promised silently.  

They played another couple of games after dinner, both more subdued than usual as they were each occupied with their own thoughts. Conn couldn't stop thinking about the report he had read and what it meant. He would have to return to Bast soon, either tomorrow or the day after and he would probably never see Nick again. Tonight could be their last time alone together, if he left tomorrow. 

A plan was forming in his head but he wasn't sure if he could go through with it. He kept worrying at the idea, back and forth, round and round, all the while he was playing the game in front of him. He was hardly surprised when he lost the game. 

"I think we should put this away, and have a glass of rum or two instead," said Mars. "Neither of us is concentrating properly. I can't think of anything except that you have to go soon, tomorrow I suppose if we can find somewhere safe to drop you off. I really don't want you to go, but I know you have to." 

They had a couple of drinks and made rather stilted conversation, neither man saying what was uppermost in his mind. 

"Time to call it a night," said Mars eventually, half disappointed that nothing had eventuated from his little strategy, half relieved. He gave Conn a brief hug and went into his cabin. "We'll talk more tomorrow. Sleep tight!" 

Mars was just on the edge of dropping off to sleep when he heard a faint knock at his door. So, Connell had finally decided to confront him about the report, he thought with a sigh. 

"Hang on," he called. "I'll just put something on." Hurriedly he grabbed his sleeping shorts from under the bed and pulled them on, before going to the door. "Do you want to come in?" he asked with a hopeful leer. "Or shall I come out there?"  

He was already stepping into the living room, pulling the door shut behind him when Conn answered. "Your room is fine." He walked past him, back into Mars' cabin. 

Mars followed him, wide eyed with uncertainty. "Are you alright? What's wrong?" Why was Conn in his cabin? 

Connell turned to face him with a curiously determined expression. He put his hands on his shoulders. "I was wondering, seeing it's likely we won't see each other again, if we uh," he stopped and cleared his throat. "If we might spend the night together. If you want to, I mean." 

Mars stared at him in shock. Was Conn serious? Surreptitiously he pinched himself, nope, he wasn't dreaming. This was far more than he had ever dared to hope for, Conn actually wanted to spend the night with him. That meant ... more than kissing surely? God he was shallow, Conn was fighting his nature to make this offer and all he could think about was the sex. 

He didn't ask 'why'. He knew exactly why he was doing this, he just hadn't expected he would actually do it. He knew full well he should tell Conn the truth, but ... He looked at the man he had fantasised over all year, standing in front of him, a lock of hair falling into his eyes, his face full of nervous determination, his strong lithe body naked to the waist showing two flat brown nipples, the waistband of his red boxers low on his hips ... and knew nothing short of having his hands and feet held over a burning fire would make him tell the truth and send Conn away. 

He swallowed. A last shred of decency he hadn't known he possessed blurted out, "Are you sure?" 

Connell nodded, then said confusingly, "Yes. No. I think so. Just, don't even think about touching my ass!" he added as Mars pulled him firmly into his arms, ruthlessly pushing the worm of guilt aside, plenty of time to feel guilty after Conn had gone back to Mitra. There was no way in a million years he was letting this opportunity slip past.  

"Wouldn't dream of it!" lied Mars, bringing his hand, which had just been about to slip down the back of Connell's boxers, back to his waist. "How about we start with a kiss and take it from there?"  

He would play it really simply, thought Mars, nothing too fancy that would scare Conn off. 

Connell shut his eyes as Mars covered his mouth with his own. He opened his lips and took Nick's tongue inside. He could tell Nick was trying to hold back but he could already feel his hard arousal against his stomach as Nick's tongue thrust into his mouth with increasing fervour. He could feel Nick actually trembling with excitement before he pulled them both down onto his bed, Connell held tightly in his arms, mouths locked together. He jumped like a startled deer when Nick slipped his hand inside his boxers, cupping him with his hand, gently squeezing and stroking, trying to arouse him. 

Then Nick took Connell's hand and drew it inside his sleeping shorts, wrapping his fingers around his own hard length. For a second Conn froze, he couldn't do this after all. 

He tried to relax, Nick was dying for god's sake, surely he could give him one night, it wasn't going to kill him. 

Nick groaned aloud as Conn took a firmer grip and began to pull.