Lieutenant Lee Mallory spends his time off duty playing video games. There isn't much else to do while stationed on the USS Nova out in deep space. Unfortunately, a run in with his commanding officer, Jonan Thomas, strips him -- and everyone else onboard -- of their gaming privileges. Thomas has had it in for Lee from day one, when they got off on the wrong foot. Now, banned from using the game server in the rec room, Lee sneaks online in his quarters after hours, looking to play. That's where he meets a fellow gamer onboard who's interested in a different kind of game. As much as Lee wants to hook up, though, he can't afford to get into any more trouble. Can Lee take command -- in the game and in the bedroom -- without further aggravating his CO?

Commanding Officer Thomas

Thomas blinks in surprise, then his smile returns. “That’s what I’m talking about.”


“We’re done talking.” Before Lee can think it through—and possibly scare himself out of doing it—he leans in and covers Thomas’s mouth with his.


There’s a moment of resistance, Thomas’s lips firm beneath his, then Thomas relaxes and lets Lee takeover.


Lee can’t let himself think of the man before him as his CO, or even Thomas. JoTho sounds silly, but Joeworks. Not that Lee says it out loud; he really is done talking. He barks out a short, clipped word, an order really, using a drill sergeant voice he didn’t even know he had in him.


Chapter 12