Squared Away (Out of Uniform 5)

“Okay.” Mark stretched out next to him. “Gotta warn you though, I’m bushed. Apologies if I fall asleep mid conversation.”

“That’s okay.” You can sleep here. That was one bridge they still hadn’t crossed that Isaiah would really like to—snuggling up with Mark all night sounded better than a dessert buffet, but he needed Mark to be okay with the idea and wasn’t going to press. Reaching out, he ran a hand over Mark’s hair. It was military short again and felt fuzzy against his palm. “How are the new recruits?”

“Eager.” Mark groaned. “I had to use my medic skills three times, and it’s only day one. But they’ll get there. Saw a few who will likely ring out, but there’s some who will make it.”

Setting the tablet aside, Isaiah rolled so he could rub Mark’s shoulders. “They’re lucky to have you as an instructor.”

“Only if I keep them safe and get them in shape.” Mark arched into his touch. “That feels good. I swear I’m going to be in better shape than the candidates by the end.”

“More muscles?” Isaiah leered at him. “Such a hardship.”

Instead of getting embarrassed like he sometimes did, Mark laughed. “I’ll happily be your eye candy, I guess. But it’s more about function. Gotta get these guys so they can meet the demands of the job.”

“As long as you’re mine.” Isaiah dropped a kiss on his neck, meaning the words more than Mark would ever know.

“Did you make the pecan bars in the fridge? I’ll be whatever you want, you keep those around.” Mark smiled at him. His joking mood was nice to see, but part of Isaiah wished he’d seen how seriously Isaiah had meant that he wanted Mark to be his.

“Aunt Louise and Aunt Cecily visited again. They brought the bars, but I’ll tell them you liked them.”

“How’s Cecily doing?” Mark turned serious again.

“About as well as can be expected, I guess.” Isaiah sighed. His aunt seemed older now, more fragile, and he worried about her. Losing Cal had been hard on all of them, but her loss was just unfathomable. Isaiah really wasn’t sure how to make things easier on her. “I think being around the kids is good for her, so I’m going to try to visit more.”

“That sounds like a good plan.” Mark groaned as Isaiah kept up the shoulder rub. “Did the aunts pretty much raise you? I know your dad traveled a lot...”

“Yeah.” This wasn’t Isaiah’s favorite subject to talk about. “I was around Daphne’s age when my mom died. Malaria. She was a professor like Dad. After she died, Dad threw himself even more into work and Aunt Cecily came to live with us. Don’t know where I’d be without her.”

Mark rolled, reversing their positions so that he was hugging Isaiah from behind. He always seemed to know exactly when Isaiah most needed a hug. “I’m sorry. I was so much older when mine died, and it still sucked. Can’t imagine how hard it was for you. Do you remember her at all?”

“Not really,” Isaiah admitted, letting his head fall back on Mark’s shoulder. This was nice. “Just vague stuff. Like I can remember bits and pieces of when they took me with them to Florida to a conference. We went to Disney World. Or I’ll remember a song she’d hum. Sometimes I forget until something jogs my mind, like a book the girls own that reminds me of one she’d read.”

“Is that how it’ll be for Daph, you think?”

“Probably.” Isaiah sighed. “That’s what the counselor says. All the pictures we have will help—I don’t have nearly so many of my mom. And all we can really do is what Aunt Cecily did—try to fill the spaces with as many good memories as possible, give her the best childhood we can.”

“Yeah.” Mark buried his face in Isaiah’s hair for several long moments. “That’s what I want to do. Like we should get them stuff from the Easter bunny. And there’s an egg hunt this Saturday. I’m off so we should go.”

“Sure.” Isaiah forced the word out. He wanted that so much—making Easter baskets together, doing outings. Like a real family. The five of them.

“We’re lucky to have you.” Mark kissed his cheek, further dismantling the safeguards Isaiah had on his heart.

“Back at you,” Isaiah said, throat thick. He turned so he could kiss Mark on the mouth. He made it a fast peck, let Mark be the one to chase his mouth for a longer, softer kiss. Mark was seriously the best kisser Isaiah had ever met because he really took his time, no rush as he leisurely explored Isaiah’s mouth before doing the lip sucking thing that never failed to drive Isaiah wild.

“Mmm.” Mark gave a happy sigh. “I was daydreaming about that all day. Missed you.”

“Missed you too.” Yup. For real, Isaiah’s heart was never recovering from this man.