“Sounds good. Okay, I’ll leave you to it. Your order should be ready in a few minutes.”
Aaron left, and Joseph braced himself for the coming discussion. He commed Almon.
The Nobek picked up almost immediately. “Hello, Joseph. I was about to check on you. Did you buy your coffee yet?”
“Yeah. I’m still at Ibmul’s, in fact. Listen, Nesof showed up here at the eatery. Before I knew what was happening, he ordered lunch for us both.”
The silence on Almon’s end was thunderously loud.
Joseph kept his tone calm, though his heart pounded at the heavy pause. “I paid for my own meal. And I’m telling him we aren’t going to be around each other again after this.”
“He just showed up? Where you happened to be?”
Joseph hesitated. It did sound suspiciously improbable, and he hoped Almon didn’t think he’d arranged the date after telling him he had no intention of seeing Nesof at all.
Wait a damned minute. It is weird that Nesof came in when I did by chance, a day after we ran into each other in the market. Has he been watching for an opportunity to talk to me?
No. That was paranoid. Ridiculous. Nesof was protective. A good friend. No more than that. The biggest issue was making sure Almon didn’t think their encounters were beyond accidental.
“I was shocked by him popping up out of the blue. In fact, I reacted so strongly that Aaron—you know, the owner’s boyfriend?”
“I know Aaron.”
“Yeah. He asked me if the situation was okay.” When he was greeted by more silence, Joseph hastened to add, “Almon, I’m telling Nesof we can’t meet again. If he spots me out in public again, we’re not more than acquaintances who say hello. This is it, as far as reunions go without you in attendance.”
At last, Almon spoke. “All right. I want you to com me when you get home. And Joseph?”
“Yeah?”
“Make sure Nesof understands that any attempts to meet with you behind my back will result in he and I having an unpleasant chat about the matter.”
Joseph swallowed. “I’ll remind him that you and I have a serious relationship.”
“He’d better pay attention to that. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that Nesof is not to escort you home or to come into our apartment under any circumstances. Understand?”
“Of course.”
“I’ll see you this evening.” He clicked off.
Joseph slowly put his com away, his stomach churning with Almon’s obvious displeasure. Not that he blamed him one bit. Joseph had insisted he wouldn’t meet up with Nesof, yet he was dining with him after all.
If I can find the appetite to eat. I’m not feeling too hungry right now.
He took another second to gather himself then headed for the door. A moment before stepping out, a part of his exchange with Almon replayed in his mind.
He said not to bring Nesof into our apartment. Not his, not Almon’s alone. But our apartment.
Perhaps it was only a slip. Or maybe—just maybe—Almon considered it to be Joseph’s permanent residence too.
The thought was all Joseph needed to rally his strength to face Nesof. Feeling better about life again, Joseph went out to deal with his former orderly.
Chapter Eight
Joseph had to admit Nesof was his usual pleasant company during the beginning of their meal. He regaled the Earther with tales of some of the hijinks of what other patients, whom he assiduously censored the names of, had gotten up to. It was much the same as many conversations they’d had during Joseph’s stint in the facility, full of chuckles as they discussed the vagaries of the Imdiko inmates and the tricks they pulled for fun and to keep the staff on its toes.
Joseph found it difficult to seize upon an opening to tell Nesof this would be the last of such meetings. In fact, every time he opened his mouth to broach the subject, Nesof launched into another tale. It was beginning to frustrate Joseph, because he’d psyched himself up for the task ahead and was ready to pull the plug. He noted that both Aaron and Ibmul kept an eye on him and Nesof. Not that there was any reason for them to watch out for him, but he felt buttressed by their attention and unspoken support.
Finally, Nesof ran out of stories Joseph hadn’t heard yet, and the Earther was able to jump in. He had figured out the perfect opening too. “How do you like this place? Almon’s a big fan, and I have to say after this meal, I am too.”
As expected, Nesof pulled a face at the mention of Almon’s name, the reason Joseph had brought him up—along with reminding his former orderly that he had a Nobek lover already. “The food here isn’t half bad. It’s better than I anticipated from such a tiny hole in the wall. For our next lunch, we’ll have to eat at Oram’s. The ambience is much nicer, and the food is top notch.”
The moment had come. Joseph straightened in his chair and looked Nesof in the eye with a contrite expression. His fists were clenched under the table to channel his anxiety, hanging on to his reason.
Nesof has no authority over me.
“I’m sorry, Nesof. There can’t be a next time. I’m involved with Almon. Seriously involved.”
A flash of anger passed over the Nobek’s expression, swiftly replaced by concern. “I’m your friend, Joseph. Why shouldn’t friends meet?”
“Almon thinks of me as a clanmate. You’re well aware of the Kalquorian code in that respect—Nobeks are weirded out when their clanmates meet up with other Nobeks, unless they’re present. And you and Almon don’t get along with each other, so I can’t imagine you hanging out with us.”
“I like Almon fine. He’s done right by you.” Nesof’s frown deepened, and suspicion narrowed his gaze. “Except this policy of isolating you from your friends—well, that worries me. You do realize that it’s the mark of an abuser?”
Joseph stared at him, shocked he’d suggest such an idea. “Almon would never hurt me.”
“Perhaps. I’d advise you to think long and hard about this, Joseph. You’re a sweet person who has been through a lot. You’ve made mistakes before on who to trust. How can you be certain you’re not making the same mistake with Almon?”
Joseph floundered, trying to put into words what he knew in his soul: Almon was the perfect man for him.
Nesof nodded, as if he’d scored a point. “You haven’t been very wise when it comes to putting your faith in the best people. And whatever else Almon has told you, you are not clanmates. He has no reason to drive a wedge between you and me and what we’ve built over the past years.”
There is no you and me. The thought helped Joseph pull himself together. “I’m sorry, but I disagree. I respect my relationship with Almon, and I won’t do anything to hurt him.”
He expected the anger to return. For Nesof to argue. Instead, the other man sighed and gave Joseph a pitying look. “If you’re sure. But swear to me that if you consider yourself the least bit threatened, you’ll get in contact. I’m here for you. I’ll always be here for you.”
“Thank you. I am grateful for all you’ve done. And I’m sorry this is ending on such a sour note.”
“If it’s ending. Somehow, I sense that you and I are far from done.” Nesof’s smirk was confident, and he shoved a mouthful of the pilchok special in his mouth. He chewed it with near-violence, however, which Joseph took as a sign of his disgust with the situation.
Joseph’s appetite had fled entirely. After a few minutes, he said his goodbyes and wished Nesof well. Then he hurried to Almon’s apartment as fast as he could walk.
* * * *
Joseph paced the greeting room as he waited for Almon to come home. Only that morning, he’d seen the Nobek off to his job, his head filled with the certainty that life was too good to be true. Maybe he’d been correct. The message he’d sent to his lover, that he’d returned to the apartment alone following lunch, had been received with a terse text response of Good. Otherwise, he’d heard not another word from Almon.
On the exact minute the Nobek had claimed he’d be in from work,
the door opened and he entered. Almon stopped to discover Joseph waiting for him. They stared at each other for a few tense seconds.
Joseph’s first inclination was to go to Almon and embrace him. But with the Nobek giving no clue as to his mood at that moment, he was half-afraid to. He managed a weak smile instead. “Hi, honey. You’re home.”
“I’m home.” The set of Almon’s shoulders eased slightly. “Did you notice that I got your message?”
“Short, sweet, and to the point.”
“I suppose it was. Work was nonstop today. I was stuck following Dramok Guherf to meeting after meeting, with no breaks between to com you. In fact, I left straight from the last meeting to get here.”
To make certain you’re okay. It was unspoken, but Joseph was cheered to believe that Almon had been thinking it. “It sounds as if you had a busy day. I’m glad you’re back.”
“How did Nesof act when you told him you wouldn’t be seeing him again?” Straight to the point again and spoken quickly, as if Almon was about to burst from concern.
“He was hurt. He acted as if he didn’t understand why it was happening.” Joseph had debated all afternoon whether or not to share Nesof’s hints that Almon might abuse him. His policy of absolute truth dictated he should—but he worried Almon would become so pissed off, he’d insist on a confrontation with the orderly. With pride and jealousy on the line, it wasn’t hard to imagine the Nobeks coming to blows, and Joseph was determined that wouldn’t happen.
He kept that part of the conversation a secret, experiencing a twinge of guilt that he wasn’t being up front with Almon on everything after all. But how could he, when emotions were running high? “Long story short, it’s done. I made my wishes clear, and Nesof agreed to respect them.”
“He should have been respecting them before this. He has no business chasing another Nobek’s lover.” Almon moved marched past, his eyes sparking with the anger Joseph had hoped to avoid. He went into the kitchen and rummaged through the cooler. He tossed a pre-packaged dinner on the counter. “What do you plan to eat tonight?”
Joseph went into the kitchen and put a hand on the Nobek’s arm. “Please don’t be mad. You mentioned yourself that the situation concerning male Earthers and the lack of formal clanning confuses a lot of people. And I hadn’t explained the situation to him yet, so he was bound to not understand where the boundaries were. I’m sure that’s all this was. Now Nesof understands to keep his distance, and that I want him to keep his distance. Okay?”
Almon’s lips tightened into a straight line. Joseph could hear his teeth grinding. Then he relaxed and gave him a contrite look. “I’m not mad. Fine, maybe I am, but not at you.”
“And not at Nesof?”
“I guess not.” He said it grudgingly, reluctantly. When Joseph gave him a pointed gaze, Almon huffed. “Okay, I should be aggravated at the situation, not who’s involved in it. And the situation is a pain in the ass. It’s frustrating to think I’ll have to constantly fend off other men who find you attractive.”
Joseph saw an opening to help Almon ease down. He jumped on it. “It’s the price we must pay for my incredible appeal. I can’t help being irresistible, but I’ll do my best to tone it down. How’s this?” He bent over the counter, sticking his ass out as far as he could. He gazed over his shoulder at Almon and licked his lips suggestively.
Almon stared at him for a beat then burst into belly laughs at the display. “You evil bastard.”
Joseph laughed with him, delighted the joke had paid off. With Almon relaxing, he moved into his waiting arms. At last, he was able to kiss his lover and greet him properly after a difficult day.
Though a slight smile remained, Almon grew serious again. “You are beautiful, and others can’t help but notice you. There must be some way to deal with this better than I have been.”
“Maybe there’s a support group out there? We can’t be the only men facing these kinds of problems. And who knows what other issues we’ll come across?”
Almon rolled his eyes. “If there is such a group, it’ll be full of Imdikos. It’s a great idea, but Nobeks aren’t big on talking about our feelings to strangers. I’m an old warrior, used to action, not words. For you, I’d try, but in all honesty, I can’t imagine baring myself to anyone else in such a fashion.”
Nesof’s earlier unwarranted comment, about Almon trying to isolate Joseph, whispered insidiously in his head. No, the orderly had been wrong. Dead wrong.
Another suggestion occurred to him. “Okay, so maybe I could find a group of Earther guys for me to talk to without you. I can’t be the only one traumatized by my former government’s attitude towards homosexuality. Or I could speak to that Aaron guy and trade notes on how he’s adjusted. He could be a help to me. He seemed nice.”
Almon considered. Joseph was delighted when he began to nod slowly. “Both of those options sound as if they might be helpful to you. I’ve kept my distance from Aaron out of respect to Imdiko Ibmul and his clan, but the boy has always struck me as a decent kid. And maybe your therapist knows of a group you could join as well. I’d trust Adna’s recommendations. “
Though Joseph hadn’t doubted Almon for a second, he was elated at the refutation of Nesof’s concerns. He rewarded his sweetheart with another kiss, which grew in intensity almost immediately.
“Strike that pose again. Lean over the counter and stick your ass out.”
“Do I get a spanking?” Joseph asked, beaming with hopeful anticipation as he assumed the position.
Almon rubbed his ass, considering. “I’m still somewhat cranky about the bullshit that Nesof tried to pull. Maybe this isn’t the best time for me to hand out discipline.”
The scent of spicy arousal betrayed him. Joseph seized on that, pushing for what excited him. “Almon, you’d never go too far. Besides, if I told you to stop, you would. I trust you.”
The Nobek paused to gather Joseph in his arms. “You don’t know what it means to me to hear you say that.”
“Imagine what it means for me to be able to tell someone for the first time in my life.” All at once, his eyes stung with unshed tears.
Almon kissed him long and lingeringly, with all the love his breed never spoke of. Once more, Joseph’s existence felt too good to be true.
A minute later, his pants were puddled around his ankles. Almon’s first swat landed on his bare ass with a satisfying clapping sound, setting his flesh aflame. Joseph squealed and arched upward, a jolt of passion filling his cock. Again and again, the Nobek’s palm slapped his rump, turning him hot and eager and hard.
“Look at my boy dance,” the bigger man chuckled, pressing his hand between Joseph’s shoulder blades to keep him pinned in place. “I’m not sure your toes are even touching the floor.”
The spanking was firm and thorough, leaving the Earther roasting before Almon stepped behind him, opening the crotch of his trousers to free his cocks. With a satisfied groan, he pushed inside Joseph, his groin snugging up tight against his sore ass.
Joseph moaned in answer, delighting in the stretching to accommodate his lover, in the fiery ache of his spanked flesh, in being united with his Nobek in the most profound manner possible.
“Who are you?” Almon demanded as he thrust steadily into his tight channel.
“Your boy.” Joseph clenched around him, responding to the delicious sensation of the Nobek rubbing his prostate.
“Who am I?”
“My Nobek.”
“What is your Nobek doing to you, boy?”
“My Nobek is fucking me.” He gasped as Almon made him say the words. His cock pulsed with every shove the other man made into his hole. His balls were heavy and tightening.
“Tell me how it feels to have my cock in your ass.”
“It hurts a little—you’re so big. But I like the way it feels, especially when you move against my cumspot.”
“Keep talking. Talk about me fucking you.”
“It’s good to have my Nobek inside me. To have y
ou take me when you feel like it. To have your cock filling my hole. To know you’re going to come inside me.”
Joseph gripped the edge of the counter, his knuckles whitening. Talking dirty while Almon pumped into him was bringing him close to his own end. The endless friction against his hotspot poured lava into his balls, pushing it into his shaft.
“You want me to fuck you hard, don’t you? To pound your tight ass. To flood you with my cum, so that it pours out of your hole.”
“Yes. Yes, please.”
“Yes, please, what?”
“Please, my Nobek. Please fuck me hard until you come inside me.”
He cried out as Almon battered his ass, his hips hammering fast. The pressure in his balls and cock grew explosive, until he couldn’t stop the tide rising, racing to escape.
“I’m coming! I’m coming!”
A powerful grip wrapped around his cock. Two forceful tugs, and Joseph’s world went white in a blinding rush of ecstasy. Elation poured from him, escaping in violent jolts that would have sent him to the floor had he not been pinned in place by his lover.
The world was just returning when Almon groaned. The thick length within Joseph jerked, streaming warmth into him. It was indeed a flood, the hot, sticky wetness running out to streak down his thighs.
“My boy,” Almon sighed, his weight settling on Joseph’s back as his cock continued to pulse.
“My Nobek.”
Chapter Nine
Returning to the psychiatric center was like slipping on an old, comfortable shoe. Joseph wondered whether he should be concerned or comforted by the sensation of familiarity, the sense he was where he belonged. Maybe after he’d been out for a greater stretch, it would lose that level of habitual ease.
He doubted he’d have felt as at ease in his former ward. Dr. Adna’s office was a sometimes-place, a safe spot, however. It was where the former Captain Joseph Walker hadn’t needed to keep an eye out for trouble if Nesof wasn’t around to watch his back. Better still, it had that professional office air, where a man could pretend he was there because he had shown up under his own direction, and not because a court had ordered him to. Adna had treated him with respect at all times, the way Joseph imagined shrinks on Earth would have behaved toward paying clients who sought therapy.
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