Jadi lifted his head, eyes fierce. “No. No more fucking waiting, Dagan. No more.” He rose to his knees to strip his tunic off.
The sight of him halfway to naked took Dagan’s breath away and he couldn’t resist touching, reaching down to haul Jadi up over him, lifting his head to meet those damp, flushed lips in a hot kiss that rocked them both. Jadi let out a frantic whimper, the sound both searingly sexy and heart-clenchingly endearing at the same time. A second later another whimper got squelched and Dagan knew Jadi wasn’t going to let him see the softness that might be there otherwise. Sex, just sex, was what he’d said. Dagan wrapped his arms around the young man and rolled them, spreading Jadi beneath him and reaching between them to fumble with the opening of Jadi’s pants. If that was what Jadi wanted, that was what he’d get.
Once Dagan had the pants open, Jadi helped him out by shoving them down long legs, kicking a bit to dislodge his boots and the tangled material of his pants. Then he was naked and Dagan broke the kiss, needing to see him.
He pushed himself up on his hands and let his eyes drink their fill. Jadi had no shame, arms stretched above his head and a sly little smile curving his lips as Dagan admired him. And fuck, there was a lot to admire.
Dagan’s fingers traced a winding path down over Jadi’s torso, his abdomen. His body was a study in slim strength. Long, whip-strong muscles without any bulk, and the way they rippled as Jadi moved and arched under Dagan’s touch was like liquid power under his skin. His cock lay hard and flush against his lower abdomen, twitching under Dagan’s gaze, the tip glistening.
Before Dagan could even think about it, he groaned and slid down to give Jadi a little taste of his own medicine. The prince let out a shout of surprised pleasure as Dagan took all he had, down to the root, then drew off with a long, hard suck. Jadi’s hands in his hair urged him on and Dagan grinned up at him before beginning a fast, deep rhythm on Jadi’s cock.
Jadi’s flavor was uncommon, like everything else about him. Salt, a hint of spice and under it all a sort of sweet tang that lingered on the tongue. Dagan would taste him for hours, he was sure, and would be able to recall the exact flavor for maybe forever.
He hoped so.
He didn’t have long to savor it, though, because it wasn’t a minute later that Jadi began tugging on Dagan’s hair and Dagan reluctantly released his lover’s cock in order to follow the wordless demand. Jadi drew him up, one arm winding around Dagan’s neck as their lips met and their tongues tangled in an unwinnable battle. Dagan reached blindly to the small table beside the bed and yanked open the drawer. His hand sought for several seconds before finally snagging on the small tub he was looking for.
Dagan knelt up, one hand on Jadi’s cock, stroking him as he reached back one-handed to yank his boots free. They and his pants ended up in a heap on the floor as Dagan bent over Jadi, lips seeking his tight nipples.
“Fuck, Dagan, shit...” Jadi gasped, arching with eyes squeezed shut as Dagan nipped and sucked the sensitive nubs, tongue flicking while his hands were busy urging Jadi’s thighs wide and lubing both himself and Jadi with the slippery mixture from the tub. When he sank one finger into Jadi, the prince hissed in pleasure, dilated eyes flying open and pinning Dagan with a heated gaze. He pushed up on to his elbows and lifted his hips before driving them back down, circling tightly, working himself on Dagan’s finger.
Dagan’s mouth went dry as he watched Jadi. He was extraordinarily beautiful in a way most men weren’t. Small but fierce, wild but in control, with skin like silk while trying to pretend his heart was of stone. Little liar.
Jadi stole Dagan’s thoughts with a fluid twist of his hips, clenching around his finger. “More,” he murmured and Dagan gave it to him, sinking a second finger inside. The way Jadi’s mouth opened and his head tipped back was breathtaking. Dagan simply had to lean in and drag his tongue the length of Jadi’s long, slender throat as it arched so beautifully. Their lips met briefly, breaths mingling in harsh pants as Jadi fucked himself on Dagan’s thrusting fingers.
“Dagan.” That single word was full of meaning—Hold me. Touch me. Give me more.
Dagan slid his free arm around Jadi’s waist, pulling him up more, bodies pressed together as his fingers and Jadi’s hips continued to work in frantic unison. “Got you, Jadi. Fuck, you’re amazing.” He buried his face in Jadi’s neck, nuzzling the damp flesh and rapid pulse.
Jadi let out a shaky laugh, one long leg slinking around Dagan’s hip. Dagan could almost feel him frantically building the wall back up between them where, perhaps, it’d crumbled a bit. “Then quit playing with me and fuck me.” He shuddered and met Dagan’s eyes. “Now, Dagan.”
It was the look on Jadi’s face that did it. Dagan could sooner forget his own name than refuse him.
He withdrew his fingers, then settled back on his heels and drew Jadi to straddle his thighs so they sat chest to chest, Jadi’s eyes on his as Dagan reached under him and guided his cock against the other man’s entrance. They both shuddered as he rubbed the slippery head back and forth, and Dagan had to remind himself he could not simply pin his prince to the mattress and fuck him until he screamed. Even if Jadi would allow it, Dagan wouldn’t.
Instead he met Jadi’s eyes and slowly eased inside him. He got about an inch and a half or so before Jadi rolled his eyes and simply drove his hips down, taking Dagan to the hilt in one move.
“Fuuuck!” he snarled, his hand reaching up to fist in Jadi’s hair, the inky curls twining around his fingers as if to hold him close. Their gazes clashed for a split second, a short wordless battle as both struggled to win the upper hand. In the end, neither could truly claim it as, seconds ticking by, both moved at the same instant and the kiss that resulted was explosive. Dagan shifted abruptly, pinning Jadi back onto the mattress as he began to thrust.
That was exactly what Jadi wanted, clearly, because the young man clung to him, moving with him, his sounds needy and frantic as their bodies strained together in slick, rough movements. When the kiss broke, Jadi’s head tipped back and he let out sharp little cries with every thrust, interspersed with harsh, demanding growls when Dagan would slow just slightly.
“Dagan...Dagan...” The connection was powerful, whether Jadi wanted to admit it or not. He could almost feel the pleasure Jadi was feeling and it, in turn, swelled his own to nearly unbearable limits. “More...”
God, Dagan wasn’t even sure what more he could possibly give, but if Jadi wanted it, then Dagan would die trying to give it to him. He pulled out just long enough to shift Jadi over to his hands and knees, reaching one hand up to clasp his shoulder as he drove back into him. Jadi let out a strangled cry of pleasure and reached back to dig his fingers into Dagan’s hip, pulling him closer.
They stayed that way for a brief moment before the fucking began again and it was harder, rougher, more desperate for completion than before. Dagan groaned, forehead to Jadi’s sweat-damp back as he thrust.
“Jadikira, I can’t...” He couldn’t what? Dagan didn’t even know. Stop? Handle it? Wait much longer? All of the above, maybe.
Jadi understood, though, because he dug his fingertips into Dagan’s hip as if to say he was there with him. At least Dagan hoped that was what he was saying, because there with him or not, the end was coming fast and Dagan could no more stop it than he could stop the sun from rising.
Then Jadi let go of his hip and reached down to stroke his own cock. Dagan couldn’t see it, as he pressed his lips against Jadi’s nape, but he could feel the rapid stroking motion and the visual it gave him was breathtaking. Someday, Jadi was going to touch himself for the sole purpose of allowing him to watch. Dagan’s orgasm surged even closer and he was determined Jadi would be right there with him when it came.
To that end, Dagan shifted the angle of his thrusts, seeking out the spot that would make Jadi go wild. Several thrusts later, Jadi bucked under him with a cry b
efore sagging a bit, ass tilting up to him. Dagan grinned to himself, teeth scraping his lover’s nape. Found it.
Dagan maintained that angle, hands braced on either side of Jadi, chest to Jadi’s back. “Come with me, Jadikira.”
Jadi tilted his head back against Dagan’s shoulder, turning slightly to give his jaw a bite. “Almost...” His voice was a moan as their lips met.
Dagan kissed him back while he reached one hand under Jadi and closed on his cock, their fingers tangling there. Jadi bucked under him, moaning into the kiss as they stroked him together. It wasn’t more than half a minute later that Jadi tore his mouth away, panting hard.
“Now, for Christ’s sake, Dagan, now!”
Dagan growled, balls tightening almost painfully as his orgasm struck. Then, instantly, the pressure eased and there was only mind-blowing pleasure as he emptied himself into Jadi even as Jadi spilled over their stroking hands.
They lay panting together for a long moment before Dagan gently withdrew. He didn’t move away, though, cheek against Jadi’s shoulder, eyes closed, not willing to face reality just yet.
He expected Jadi to bolt immediately, but amazingly enough, he stayed, catching his breath. He reached up to shove his hair out of his face, but otherwise he didn’t move either. How long they lay like that, Dagan didn’t know. What he did know was that this changed things. This changed everything. Whether for good or bad remained to be seen.
Chapter Eight
Something pinged in the distance. Jeret stirred, shifting to sit up but a heavy arm held him in place. Immediately, he was wide-awake as everything about the day before—and the night before—came rushing into his mind. He bit his lip, glancing back over his shoulder as he slowly eased out from under Dagan’s arm. He didn’t get halfway to sitting before those sharp, ink-black eyes flew open.
“Going somewhere?”
Before Jeret could answer, the ping happened again and Dagan frowned. Jeret gestured. “Yeah, that. What is it?” He didn’t recognize the sound.
“Comm.” Dagan sat up, tossed back the blanket and climbed over Jeret and out of bed. Naked as you please and unashamed as he strode out of the cabin.
Jeret grabbed his pants, yanking them on, and followed. He tried not to ogle, but he really didn’t think he could be blamed when a man that looked like Dagan was just waltzing around without a stitch of clothing on. He bit his lip and stood a bit back as Dagan leaned over the comm. “Is something wrong?”
Dagan shook his head. “No, it’s a message from the Ansata.”
Jeret forgot all about naked Dagan as he came closer, gesturing. “Play it!” Dagan gave him a quelling look, but hit the button. The message was scrambled, and Jeret urged Dagan aside in order to fiddle with the keys for a minute. “There, we’re set.”
The message was short, letting them know Torin and Rain had made the delivery and were on their way back to Hadrian space. Jeret’s program had worked to an extent, providing confirmation of the traitor and the planned coup. Shengo’s records included some communications with other crime bosses indicating Shengo was soon going to have unrestricted and sole access to the gradium supply.
Jeret scowled as the message ended. “Fuck. Whoever it is must have made a deal with Shengo. In exchange for helping the traitor fence the gradium in order to fund the takeover, Shengo gets himself an exclusive arrangement to be the middleman for the rest of the In-Between. If they want gradium, they’re going to have to go through Shengo.”
Dagan raked his hands through his hair. “And we still have no idea who it is.”
Jeret’s gaze flicked downward, then jerked back up to Dagan’s face. “Christ, Dagan, could you put some damn clothes on?”
Dagan’s answer was a wicked smile. “Why? Distracted, Highness?”
“You wish.”
“I got my wish last night.” Dagan slapped Jeret on the ass as he brushed past him. “Fine, I’ll put on some clothes, you put on your thinking cap. We have to figure out our next move.”
Next move. Right. Jeret tore his gaze away from Dagan’s retreating—unutterably gorgeous and naked—backside and plopped down in the pilot’s chair. He folded his legs under him and chewed at the side of his thumbnail. Now what?
It was hard to think strategy when he still ached in that delicious, pleasant way. It was like he could still feel Dagan in him. Hell, he wouldn’t mind really feeling Dagan in him again. He pushed those thoughts out of his mind. There wasn’t time for a morning fuck. Besides, sex didn’t change anything. They were stuck in a highly volatile situation together, counting on each other to stay alive. It was bound to foster some intimate feelings. But it didn’t mean things had really changed.
Dagan still wanted his life back and in order to have that, Jeret would have to give up his. And that just wasn’t going to happen. So he’d just have to keep this attraction thing under control. That was all. Easy peasy, like Rain always said.
Dagan came back out sporting a pair of tight leather-worked pants and tugging on a T-shirt that was just as snug. For some reason the sight made Jeret unjustifiably annoyed.
“Christ, don’t you have any clothes that fit?”
Dagan gave him an amused look. “Christ, don’t you do anything but complain first thing in the morning?”
Jeret gestured to the console. “Fine, enough griping on both our parts. What about this message? What are we going to do?”
Dagan leaned his hip against the console, arms crossed across his broad chest. Why did he have to be so gorgeous? The dark shadow of stubble on his jaw was enough to drive Jeret crazy. He wanted to know what it’d feel like abrading his skin as Dagan kissed him senseless. It took a few seconds for him to realize Dagan was talking and he hurried to catch up.
“...need to find proof. We don’t have anything without proof of who’s behind the coup and that there even is one. We can’t exactly waltz up to the castle and ask to see your dad without proof to back up what are, let’s face it, pretty outrageous claims.”
Jeret stretched his arms back behind his head as he thought. He caught Dagan’s gaze wandering over his chest and was gratified to know he wasn’t the only one distracted this morning. “Well, let’s think about this logically.”
“Okay...” Dagan let the word trail off, giving Jeret an expectant look.
“Well, it all comes down to the gradium, doesn’t it?” As soon as the thought entered his mind, it was like a meteor once it hit the atmosphere—barreling to its final conclusion. “We need to start where the whole thing begins, and that’s with the gradium. The mines. If there’s smuggling going on, and we know there is, it’s gonna start there.”
“Good point. Alright, so we have to get into the gradium mines. There’s the slight problem of, you know, we can’t exactly go wandering around asking questions. We’re trying not to get found out here.”
Jeret scowled. “I know that. I just don’t have that part of the plan yet. I came up with the mines bit, you figure out how to get us in there, genius. You’re the big, bad bounty hunter.”
“And you’re the notorious space pirate.”
Jeret couldn’t help the grin. “Am I really notorious?”
“Oh good Christ, Jadi. Focus.” Dagan did look a little amused, though, and Jeret tried not to think about how warm that made him inside.
“Fine, fine. Think. Well, I could try to hack in?”
“No good. Security is rock solid when it comes to the mines, Jadi. You know that. And I’m sure it’s only gotten stronger since you left. If they’re tipped off they might go to ground and put the whole thing on hold for who knows how long. They can’t know someone’s on to them.”
“True.” He let out a frustrated sigh. “Fuck, I don’t know. I’m drawing a damn blank, Dagan.” He pushed to his feet. “I need food. I can’t think on an empty stomach.”
Dagan snorted. “You always did eat enough for three. How you stay so skinny is beyond me.”
Jeret tossed a smirk over his shoulder as he headed for the open bay door. “Well, I have this new workout plan involving lots and lots of nightly exercise.” He didn’t see Dagan’s reaction, but the low growl behind him sent a shiver down his spine.
He poked at the limited provisions and settled on some reconstituted eggs and what might pass for breakfast cakes if he could manage to make the batter sweet enough. Dagan exited the ship as Jeret began to mix things up, coming over to sit at the counter and watch. It was a little distracting, but at the same time gratifying to be the focus of all that very intent attention.
“I suppose you want some?” Jeret glanced over his shoulder, stirring the eggs into the pot.
Dagan shrugged, sitting down. “Do you intend on sentencing me to my own cooking for the entire time we’re here? Because I might not make it.”
“You know, you could learn to cook. It’s not some ‘for girls only’ thing. Cookie is the best cook ever and he’s totally not a girl.”
“You idolize him. Or is it more than that?”
He nearly choked. “Are you kidding me? I already told you, it’s not like that at all! Cookie’s my best friend. Who happens to be head over heels in love with Neith. But even if he weren’t, no. Maybe once upon a time when I first showed up. He’s big and kind of—” Jeret cut off. He was not going to admit that his early crush on Cookie had had more to do with his physical resemblance to Dagan than anything else. “Whatever, he’s my friend and that’s all. But yeah, I do kinda idolize him. Everybody should be half the man he is. Give you the shirt off his back, Cookie would.”
Dagan grinned. “I’d give you mine but you’d probably start complaining about my lack of clothes.”
“Idiot.” Jeret smiled, though. He’d expected things to be tenser between them, but it was as if they’d come to some sort of unspoken truce for the moment. Neither was going to get what they wanted right this minute, so there was no point in a constant fight. The contradicting goals were still there, under the surface, but deep enough to be ignored. For now, at least.
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