Page 22 of Coming Clean

“How long did you serve inthe Marines?” Jeremy asked.

“Eight years. For the firsttime, I was damn good at something. For a while I thought I’d stayin as long as I could, but once I was on a recon team—”

“Wow, that’s like SpecialForces, right?”

“Yeah, some of the things Isaw…” Connor shook his head, trying to send the memories away. “Thelast year of my second tour was rough.”

“How’d you end up here?”Jeremy asked.

Sabrina raised her hand.“Me. My brother and Connor were on the same recon team, so whenConnor decided not to re-up I offered him a temporary place tostay. Then his business took off and he offered me a job so I couldsave money for grad school.”

“Your brother, is he stillin the Marines?”

“Yeah,” Connor answered forSabrina, knowing it was a sore subject for her. He ran a hand overhis hair, ruffling the buzz cut that was growing out more than heliked. “Can we change the subject now?”

Jeremy nodded, watchingConnor with a soft look in his eyes. It wasn’t the kind of sympathyConnor hated, the kind that was really pity. No, Jeremy looked likehe understood. But how could he with the soft life he’d obviouslyhad?

His mother died. Hisaunt and uncle were cold. There wasn’t anyone to love him. Youcall that soft?

Fuck, I guessnot.

“So, what it’s really likebeing a professor?” Sabrina asked.

Jeremy laughed.“Frustrating. Most of the students aren’t interested in what I’mteaching, departmental politics are depressing at best, and I endup with very little time to do any research or writing of my own.But honestly, I can’t imagine doing anything else, unless I was afull time writer. Until I got this unexpected inheritance, I neverthought of that as a possibility. Now I’ve got to decide whatdirection to take.”

Sabrina’s eyes twinkled.“You could’ve gotten a sugar daddy.”

Jeremy grinned. “I wasnever that lucky.”

Something painful tightenedin Connor’s chest. He didn’t like the thought of Jeremy with someolder lover who treated him as a toy. Jeremy might look all softand effeminate but he was no toy. He’d had a sucky childhood buthe’d put himself through school and found a job in a field wherethere weren’t a lot of opportunities. He was more self-sufficientthan most people their age.

“You don’t need someasshole telling you what to do. You can make it happen if that’swhat you want.” Connor deliberately echoed Jeremy’s earlierwords.

Jeremy gave him a quizzicallook. Did he sound like an idiot? Maybe he did, but he wasn’t goingto take back what he’d said.

“Remember how you told me Icould write a book if I wanted to? You could write full time if youwanted to. You’ve got some money to get by on for a while atleast.”

Jeremy still lookedpuzzled, like he hadn’t expected Connor to suggest he follow hisheart. Connor would never admit it but he was more romantic thananyone, even Sabrina, gave him credit for.

“I guess I could. I’ve gotuntil the end of the summer to decide if I’m going back toWentworth after the holidays.”

“Do it,” Connor said inwhat Sabrina called his command voice.

Jeremy’s eyeswidened. Fuck. Was that a spark of lust?

Connor had to changepositions as his pants became uncomfortably tight. He really hopedJeremy didn’t notice. Or Sabrina.

“If I work hard enough, Ican have my book to an editor by the end of the summer.”

“I’ll check up on you tomake sure you’re keeping to that,” Connor promised. Whoa, he didn’teven know if he’d see Jeremy again. Why would he say such athing?

“Yes, sir.” Jeremy gave acrisp salute.

Connor glared in mockoffense, hoping Jeremy wouldn’t notice that the words turned himon. He hadn’t thought he was one to get off on playing drillinstructor and obedient Marine. Maybe he was wrong.

A man in a velvet jacketstepped onto the stage and asked for everyone’s attention. Connorconcentrated on eating, hoping his body would give up itsbattle-stations-ready stance if he stopped watchingJeremy.

A few minutes later, theplay began, and Jeremy scooted closer to him. “This is Theseus,Duke of Athens. He’s going to be talking to Egeus, who is upsetbecause his daughter Hermia has refused to marry the man he’schosen for her.”