Col. Starbuck smiled as he watched the Commander put the fear into the new recruits. Although the people of the Fleet had settled on three uninhabited Delta class planets, the military had remained based on the Galactica. To tell the truth, after so many yahrens aboard a ship, Starbuck felt almost uncomfortable on a planet. Oh, it was a nice place to visit, but home was the Galactica.
The Commander continued his speech. It was one he'd perfected over the yahrens, the one he always used the first time the new recruits screwed up.
Apollo was tense. Starbuck could tell by the rigidity of his back. As soon as he could, he'd help his lifemate get rid of that tension. He'd learned over the yahrens exactly how to ease the tension out of his lover's body so they could both enjoy making love afterward. From his vantage point, Starbuck had a clear view of Apollo's astrum. The snug-fitting blue uniform showed it off to perfection, hugging the still-firm curves tightly. Starbuck felt a twinge in his own nether regions as Apollo's muscles flexed. Even after over twenty yahrens together, Apollo could still excite him like no one else, man or woman, had ever done.
Starbuck smiled as Apollo leaned over, getting right in the face of one new recruit. The cadet was a head shorter than the Commander so Starbuck had a clear view of one of his favorite parts of his lover's body as the cadet cringed lower. Laughing softly to himself, Starbuck imagined his own response if Apollo had done that to him; he probably would have been up on charges of insubordination for kissing a superior officer.
The Commander was in rare form today though. Seldom had Starbuck seen him this angry with a bunch of new cadets. He still wasn't too sure on what they'd done to merit this dressing-down but he was enjoying the show.
Strange... After all these yahrens, Apollo meant more to him than anything. He'd give up everything, even his own life, for Apollo and think it well worth the cost. And as for the physical aspect, well, the tightness of his uniform pants gave silent testimony to that.
He took a moment to preen himself on his uniform. He'd had some changes made to his own uniform to better suit his body and show off his best points. The jacket was a tad shorter now, emphasizing his shoulders, hips and derriere. He'd taken good care of himself over the yahrens, half vanity, half for Apollo, and flattered himself that he was just as attractive as he'd been in his thirties. He and Apollo still played Triad, just for fun and to keep in shape, not competitively anymore. Part of the beauty of playing "just for fun" was that they didn't wear official uniforms anymore which made it easier to cheat by doing really juvenile things like pulling the opponents' shorts down. Not that Starbuck would actually *do* anything like that, but the opportunity was still there. And Apollo looked just as good (if not better) in a tank top and shorts as he did in a Triad uniform.
Things got very quiet as the Commander ended his tirade. Starbuck shifted to a slightly more comfortable position, easing the tension in his pants a little. He returned his attention to the unhappy looking cadets, glaring at them as much as the Commander did. It might have seemed odd for the Commander of the Fleet to address the cadet problems directly, but Apollo was a very hands-on commander; he preferred to know his subordinates as well as he could. Given the size of the new Fleet, that still wasn't difficult, but the Fleet was growing now that the colonists had begun to manufacture some new vipers. Plans for a new battlestar had already been drawn up and construction was due to begin within the yahren. It had taken almost a yahren to get all the civilians situated on their new planets, a yahren that had seen more headaches and stiff muscles for Apollo than Starbuck cared to remember. Oh well, at least he could put the knowledge so painfully gained to good use...and very shortly.
Apollo turned to his second in command. "Do you have anything to add, Colonel?"
"No sir, I think you've covered the subject quite thoroughly," he answered in a menacing tone. Anyone who really knew him would know that tone was an absolute lie; when he was most serious, Starbuck was very quiet, no bluster at all. He caught Apollo's eye for a micron, giving him a sultry look that embarrassed the Commander quite as much as Serina's "I love you" had embarrassed the Captain yahrens before. The look was returned though, until Apollo had to turn back to the cadets.
"Dismissed."
As the cadets made their hasty exits, Starbuck went up to his lifemate and renewed the sultry look.
Over his shoulder, Apollo announced to his yeoman, "I'm going to my office now and I don't want to be disturbed for any reason other than a Cylon attack."
"Yes, sir," was the quick, respectful response.
In the privacy of the office, Starbuck attacked the problem in his usual straightforward manner. "You look tired, 'Pol," Starbuck said softly.
"I am, believe me," Apollo sighed.
Starbuck put his arms around his lover's neck and kissed him slowly. The kiss lasted until the need for air superceded the need for touch. He invited the other man over to the longseat by the port holes.
"Let me help?" he asked softly.
With a grateful smile, Apollo allowed his lifemate to ease the top of his uniform off and lay down on his stomach, giving access to the tense back and shoulders.
"I knew you were tight, but I didn't realize it was *this* bad, Apollo," Starbuck said in dismay when he felt the knotted muscles under his hands. He grabbed for the flavored oil that he'd stashed long ago for moments such as this and set to working out the knots. When Apollo had begun to relax a little, Starbuck began to use his mouth to help. He licked and nipped a particularly tight muscle, letting the heat from his mouth assist in his efforts. Apollo moaned; as his back and shoulder muscles began to relax under Starbuck's ministrations, another part of his anatomy began to tense up.
Starbuck smiled at the sound and continued his efforts. He was glad he'd discovered the flavored oils a few yahrens ago.
The masseur shifted his attention a bit lower. His lifemate moved so he could undo the fastenings of his pants; they were beginning to get uncomfortable anyway. He lay on his back, knowing what the next stage of the massage would bring. Starbuck started the massage again, this time from the bottom up. He removed Apollo's boots and then his pants. Each foot he lavished with attention, watching with satisfaction as the tension oozed out. With a devilish smile, he tickled one foot gently, causing his lover to jump. The smile grew more tender when Apollo looked down at him. Eyes locked, Starbuck began to kiss each toe, using his hands to massage the instep as he did so. Apollo began to be even more grateful that his pants were already off; they would be getting downright painful by now if they'd still been on. There was something very erotic about the loving gesture.
The massage moved up from Apollo's feet to his calves, then to his thighs, again using his mouth to supplement the actions of his hands. The moist heat was very effective. By the time he reached the dark hair at Apollo's groin, his lover was moaning softly.
Before things went any further, Starbuck looked up at his lifemate; his head was thrown back, his eyes closed, mouth slightly open as if in anticipation of a kiss. Not wanting to disappoint, he moved up and kissed those warm, soft lips.
Apollo's eyes opened lazily as he felt something he shouldn't have. "You're still dressed," he noted with dissatisfaction.
"Not for much longer, lover." Starbuck pulled back just enough so that Apollo could watch him undress. It was part of their ritual that had developed over the yahrens, the massage to help unwind, then a mini-striptease to heighten the eroticism of the moment. Somehow they had never tired of it. Learning about each other's preferences had been fun, but there was something to be said for knowing how to please the person you loved most. By the time he finished stripping, both of them were anticipating the next step.
"Now there's just one problem," Starbuck teased. "Top or bottom?"
In answer Apollo smiled and lifted his legs to his chest.
"That answers *that* question." Starbuck settled himself between his lifemate's legs. After so many yahrens as lovers, neither of them needed much preparation, but Starbuck loved the taste of Apollo's astrum. He rimmed his lover for a few centons before grabbing the oil once again, this time applying it to Apollo's anus.
He thrust right in until he felt Apollo's pubic hair tickle his balls. Apollo smiled and moaned his pleasure. Starbuck cradled his lover's head as he began thrusting in earnest, kissing him tenderly.
The combination of the rough sex and gentle affection never failed to excite Apollo even more. Apollo pulled him in closer, thrusting back as hard as he could. With a knowing grin, Apollo began to massage Starbuck's head, twining his fingers in the soft, silky hair. It was darker than it had been when they were younger, but Apollo loved the combination of the dark hair and blue eyes. Those eyes hadn't lost their sparkle in over twenty yahrens.
When Apollo began the head rub, Starbuck snuggled into the caress and moaned. Few things aroused him more and Apollo knew it. He surrendered himself to the sensations and thrust harder up into his lover. Feeling himself coming close to the edge, he redoubled his attention to the kiss that hadn't broken the whole time they'd been making love. With a low cry of pleasure, he spurted his seed into his lover, feeling Apollo come moments after.
They finally broke the kiss. Starbuck rested his head on Apollo's forehead, sated and content. The darker man held him close, exhausted from the combination of emotional stress and physical release.
"Thank you," Apollo murmured softly. "I needed that."
"I know," Starbuck answered with a grin.
"There are some advantages to having the same lover for over twenty yahrens."
"I was just thinking that myself." He sighed as his softened cock slipped out of his lover.
"They've been good yahrens, haven't they?"
"Yeah. I love you."
"Love you too," Apollo said, stifling a yawn.
"I was going to suggest that you take a nap, but it looks like you beat me to it," he teased, rising off the longseat reluctantly.
"I'd rather sleep in our quarters. Don't think I'd make it there though."
"Sleep, love. I'll let your yeoman know that you're not to be disturbed for any reason. I'll handle any problems that come up."
"Thanks." Apollo was already half asleep as Starbuck spread a blanket over him.
"I love you."
Apollo smiled as he dozed off.