"I wasn't going to jail," Tyler protested. "I was going to be Commander Donavan's personal..." he paused, than grinned, "slave."

His grandfather made an irritated sound in his throat. "I'm not getting any younger, Tyler. Your father is..."

he choked, "dead. Someone has to carry on after I'm retired."

"Recruit Sanderson. He's been working for you for the last thirty years. He deserves to run Ruby Miracle."

"You're the legal heir, Tyler. You will run the company. And from now on," he raised a finger at him, "you will come in at a decent hour."

Tyler's eyes widened. "I'm an adult man. I won't be subjected to a curfew!"

His grandfather stood up. "You will do as I say or by G.o.d, I will have you locked up."

Tyler narrowed his eyes. Without another word, he headed for the door. He paused for a minute and turned around. "You may run everyone else's life, but you're not going to run mine."

He didn't wait to hear his grandfather's response.

The phone woke Bryce out of a dead sleep. It had been a crazy night out there last night, what with everyone wanting to celebrate their yearly bonus. By the time all the reports were done, it was ten in the morning.

He clicked on the phone and tried to focus on the image in front of his eyes.

It was Jack Rose. Oh G.o.d, what did he want?

"Commander," he said briskly, looking as if he were about to murder someone, "my grandson is out of control. He won't listen to reason. I want you to pick him up, take him to that room and don't let him out until he listens to reason."

Bryce yawned. Stretching, he threw his long legs over the bed and sat up.

"Looks like you just got out of bed, Donavan," Rose clipped with disapproval.

"Actually, I just got into bed," Bryce returned, pushing some of his black hair out of his eyes. "Now, what's the problem?" He was beginning to feel like some head doctor. What in h.e.l.l did he know about these things? "I said, pick him up!"

"For what?"

"Make it up, I don't care. I don't want him running with those freaks he calls his friends. I want him to grow up, take some responsibility for his future."

"I'll do what I can. He's bound to do something stupid sooner or later. But, Rose, I can't babysit him twenty four-seven. I have a police force to run."

"Smart will a.s.sume his duties for as long as it takes."

Bryce sighed. "Sir, I really don't think that...."

"I don't pay you to think, Commander!" He barked at him. "Just do it."

Bryce opened his mouth, than closed it. As always, the infamous Jack Rose had simply vanished, severing the connection.

s.h.i.t. Why in h.e.l.l couldn't Rose handle his own family troubles? He hadn't heard a peep from Tyler Rose since he'd hauled his a.s.s into the Sky Station. Even though he had to have his mommy come and rescue him, he thought that he'd learned his lesson. Apparently not.

He was in the shower when he heard the doorbell sound. He swore. d.a.m.n. Was he to get no peace at all?

Wrapping a towel around his waist, he walked out into the tiny living room area. He hadn't pushed the bed back up into the wall yet, his sheets were tangled, lying half on the floor.

He opened the door only to see Captain Smart standing there. He opened his mouth, and then ran his gaze over his sculptured muscles, before he found the voice to speak.

"What is it?" he demanded.

"I...well...you weren't answering your phone. Can I come in?" he inquired, curiously eyeing the rumpled bed.

He flung open the door. "Why in h.e.l.l not?"

Smart walked in, closing the door behind him.

"Well?" he asked, placing both hands on his hips.

"Ah...well, it's about Jack Rose, Sir. He called me today. He says you will be busy on a.s.signment and..."

"Does he now?" Bryce's eyes sparkled with anger.

"I think we need to go over a few things before you...I mean, maybe we can do our weekend together before you have to go. When will you be leaving?"

"I'm not going anywhere yet," he replied. "Was it necessary to tell me this now? Couldn't it have waited until I got to work?"

He ran his gaze over him again. "Sentra must really miss you," he drawled.

Here we go again, Bryce thought, mentally rolling his eyes.

Smart took a step towards him. "You must know that I want you."

Bryce met his gaze. "Captain, we've had this discussion before."

"No one has to know," he began to undo the b.u.t.tons on his uniform. "What with your new a.s.signment, we may not get another chance."

Bryce held up a hand. "Okay, that's enough."

He looked up at him with the smile like a panther. "Come on, Commander; don't tell me you're a virgin."

Bryce's eyes widened.

Smart removed his shirt, revealing a smooth taut torso with diamond hard nipples.

Standing directly in front of him now, his gaze moved to the towel. "I want to see you naked," he whispered, reaching around to release his long blond hair from its ponytail.

The last time he had s.e.x, was on Sentra, over three weeks ago. It had been with two other soldiers, and it had been hot. As tempting as it might be, under no circ.u.mstances was he going to have s.e.x with Captain Smart. Every instinct in his body told him it would be a bad move.

The Captain's hands were on his chest and he was pushing him up against the wall. He reached for the towel. Bryce caught his hand. He realised that his breathing was a little laboured. He was beginning to get to him. He said, "No," loud enough to startle him.

Bryce released his hand. "We already had this discussion. Captain, I'm not going to sleep with you. And if you make this kind of advance to me again, I'll have you up on report."

Smart stiffened, and then began to put his shirt back on. When he looked up at him, his eyes were dark with fury. "You know that everyone at work is calling you an ice G.o.d." "Really?" he laughed. "That's interesting."

"Maybe you're not man enough for someone like me," he spat.

"Maybe not," he replied. He folded his arms across his chest and waited.

He met his gaze. "You will pay for this, Commander. I will make sure of it."

Bryce narrowed his dark eyes. "Are you threatening me, Captain?"

"No," he shook his head, trapping his hair into a ponytail again, "I'm promising you. I'm well connected."

"Really?" he lifted an eyebrow.

"Jack Rose is my G.o.dfather," he told him.

He took a breath. That wasn't good.

He issued him a smug smile. "When the timing's right," he told him, "I'll not only get what I want, but I'll have you on your knees."

He laughed. "It takes a lot to get me on my knees."

He marched out the door, slamming it behind him.

Lovely, he thought. That was all he needed. He sighed and began to get dressed.

ONE ENCHANTED EVENING

Tyler had slept most of the afternoon, so when the evening arrived, he was ready to go. He called Ryan and Pete and told them to meet him at the Manbar.

He took a shower, taking his time soaping himself. He put the discussion with his grandfather today out of his mind. Tonight, he didn't want to think about anything but having fun.

Once out of the shower, he called Ethan on his personal phone. "Ethan," he said into the phone, "I need to talk to you. Can you please come to my room?"

Ethan was there in seconds, looking like an anxious puppy.

Tyler had slid into a pair of black second skin pants. He left two of the snaps undone.

"Close the door, Ethan," he said, running a hand through his damp curly hair.

Ethan cleared his throat and closed the door.

"Lock it," Tyler said.

He turned around and clicked the lock.

"I'm having some problems putting on the rouge. I thought that maybe you could help me."

Ethan's jaw dropped.

He wasn't a bad looking guy. He was slender and about five nine in height, and no more than thirty, with auburn hair and green eyes. He was no swinger though, dressed conservatively in a light blue Ruby Miracle pant suit.

Tyler motioned to him.

He came forward tentatively.

Tyler handed him the container of rouge. "Here, put it on my nipples, will you?"

Ethan dipped his finger in the pot. His hands were shaking.

Tyler smiled at him. "I'll lie on the bed. Will that help?"

Ethan mumbled something, following Tyler to the bed.

"Rub it in good," he said as he got onto the bed.

Ethan began to delicately dap on the rouge.

Tyler tried not to laugh as he spread it well past the nipple onto his chest.

"That's very good, Ethan," he cooed, closing his eyes. "Feels good. Do them both at the same time."

Ethan's two thumbs began to ma.s.sage his nipples. Tyler could hear his breathing coming fast and heavy.

"You know, my grandfather is trying to keep me prisoner in here and if I go out tonight, he will know." "That's not right, Tyler." He was practically moaning. He began to twist his nipples now, smudging the rouge as he did.

Tyler licked his lips. "Nice," he said to Ethan. "Keep it up. Twist them harder."

He began to roll each nipple between his finger and thumb, and then tug on them, pinching hard.

"Ooh," Tyler said, feeling his c.o.c.k twitch. He looked up at Ethan, then down at his groin. "Do you want to play with it?" he whispered.

Ethan's eyes were glazed over. He continued to play with his now swollen nipples. "Yes, please."

"On one condition," Tyler said, reaching down to undo another snap on his pants.