Jude knows he isn’t relationship material. The entire population of Mars made it abundantly clear he’s damaged goods, and he agrees. His issues are why he works a remote job flying around the galaxy prospecting for metals, and why he ruthlessly quashes any feelings for Cal, his surveying partner.<br><br>Cal has been looking for an opening to suggest he and Jude could be more than friendly coworkers. When they crash on a tundra planet, the men have a lot of free time, and they put it to good use having sex. It’s fun, but Cal wants Jude as a boyfriend, not a friend with benefits.<br><br>Marooned on a hostile world, with Jude’s demons rearing their heads, Cal’s first task is to keep the two of them alive. His second is to convince Jude that, no matter how much he’s suffered, romance can still be in the cards.

Snowed In: Jude and Cal

He was looking forward to a real shower when they made their supply run. Most stations allowed for seven or eight uninterrupted minutes of water flow, positively luxurious compared to Cal’s norm.


Following his usual efficient if not enjoyable shower, he shaved, pulled on underwear and pants, and then went to the bedroom area for his shirt, the same as he did every day. It was all very routine, until he turned around, shirt in hand, and saw the frankly appreciative glance Jude wasn’t quite fast enough to hide.


The look was a game changer, even if Jude promptly buried himself in his latest book. Cal wasn’t about to waste this golden opportunity.


Leaving the shirt off, he said, “Hey, if you want to ogle me, go right ahead.”


Jude’s ears got pink in a way Cal had never seen, and for a long minute the other man didn’t reply. At last he said, “So this isn’t going to be some workplace sexual harassment fiasco?”


“It’s not harassment if it’s welcome.”


Chapter 11