Liam shifted his chair back. “Excuse me.” Danverse’s smile dissolved, just as Mac returned with a cold glass of fruit juice. Liam rose and began to walk over to the solitary guest.
Liam approached Hadrian, who was eating a bowl of the stew. His lips caressed the spoon as he took a bite. Hadrian even ate in a beautiful fashion. Despite his wild appearance, there was a natural elegance to his manners. Liam stopped a respectful distance away before speaking.
“Can I join you?”
Hadrian gave him a gentle smile and nod, and Liam took the seat opposite him.
Awkward moments passed in silence before Liam got up the nerve to speak again. “How are your accommodations?”
“They are much appreciated, Sergeant.” There was an artistry in the way Hadrian brought a spoon of the stew’s broth to his lips.
“Are they comfortable? And please, call me Liam.”
“Better than I had expected on a transport vessel, Liam.”
Hearing his name in the exotic man’s soft accent made Liam’s chest throb.
“Was the Link information unclear?”
Another bite of stew entered Hadrian’s open mouth.
“I did not make the reservation. It was made for me in haste, and I never had the opportunity to preview it. I assumed incorrectly.”
Liam tilted his head. “Why the rush?”
“That is a story for another time.” Hadrian smiled sadly as he took another taste of his meal.
“Do you like the stew?”
“It is magnificent.”
Liam beamed and his thoughts drifted. A memory of his mother came to mind. Her arm was wrapped around him as he ate his beloved stew at the kitchen table. She was wiping the tears from his face and kissing his head after he’d broken his arm playing with the other children. She told him over and over that it would all be all right in the end.
As Liam came back to the present, he found Hadrian studying him. The warm glow on his features somehow matched the contentment in Liam’s memories.
Liam sat upright in a rush. Realizing how closely Hadrian was scrutinizing him made him feel exposed. A voice inside urged him to tell Hadrian all about his mother and bare his soul. He wanted to tell Hadrian stories about her he hadn’t even shared with Danverse. But he hushed the voice. You don’t do that with people you’ve known for less than a day. The warmth began to fade from Hadrian’s expression.
“How are you planning on spending your time on this trip? You’ll have a lot of free hours on the way to Alpha Centauri.”
Hadrian straightened in his seat. “Do not take this the wrong way, Liam. Your attentions are strangely honorable and respectful.”
“Strangely? That’s a surprise?”
“Call it a newfound experience. You are one of the few on board whose first thought has not been some variation of throwing me down over the table and fucking me senseless.”
Liam felt himself blush at the image racing through his brain.
Hadrian appeared amused by his reaction. “I said not your first thought.”
Liam had to clear his throat to reply. “Some of the guys can get pretty rowdy, I admit. But not all of us. Not all the time.”
“My life is very complicated, Liam, and I would hate to drag you into the drama.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
“It is very unlikely.”
“Tell me what’s going on.”
Hadrian smiled bitterly at Liam and let out a tired breath. “You are a good man, Liam. Perhaps in another lifetime. Thank you for your company.” Hadrian smoothly rose from the table, leaving a crestfallen Liam behind. As Hadrian exited, he cast a glance back over his shoulder. “I can see why your mother took such special care of you.”
Hadrian’s remark stifled Liam’s urge to follow. He couldn’t actually have known what Liam was thinking? No. It must have been a coincidence.
LIAM’S MUSCLES FLEXED under the grueling exercise he forced upon himself. One repetition after another made his arms swell and heave. Sweat ran down his back, soaking his shirt as he pushed through yet another set. One last curl caused veins to bulge as his endurance failed and his arms descended under the weight. He dropped the bar to the floor, and it automatically reverted the magnetic resistance to zero. Panting from the stress, he wiped at the salt running into his eyes.
He’d lost track of how long he’d been in the gym at this late hour. The workout had only marginally alleviated his frustrations.
It had been three days since they left the station, and Danverse’s disposition had soured again. He wasn’t angry and raging, but there was a constant undertone of unhappiness to his day. Liam had tried to get him to say what was on his mind, but he was impossible to squeeze information from, as usual.
Then there was Hadrian Jamison. Liam had only fleeting glimpses of the man since finding him in the mess hall. Cataloging the cargo had taken longer than planned. He didn’t understand why Hadrian was being evasive. He didn’t understand why he’d left the mess hall so suddenly. He didn’t understand why Hadrian continued to invade his thoughts. Yes, Hadrian was beautiful, but there was a quality to him that made Liam crave his presence. In the past, Liam couldn’t recall ever feeling more than an immediate and short-lived need for anyone.
Liam looked down at the weight bar and debated continuing his punishing routine, but his arms were beginning to feel like lead, and his clothing was so soaked in perspiration it was beginning to stick to him in uncomfortable places. Besides, it was late and he had duties that would no doubt come sooner than he would be happy with.
He lumbered out of the exercise room, viewing himself in the mirrors lining the walls as he walked past the weightlifting equipment and treadmills. Swollen with exertion, his body looked powerful and strong, even if he was a sweaty mess. The white sleeveless shirt and thin shorts he wore clung to him in obscene ways. The hair on his head and body was drenched and matted. Entering the locker area between the gym, lavatories, and showers, he sat on the changing bench. A shower was running in the next room as he peeled the garments from his sticky skin. Black leggings and a white shirt lay on the other end of the bench.
Liam entered the shower room and chose a nozzle a reasonable distance away from the stark room’s other occupant. He touched the pad under the showerhead, ordered the temperature and water pressure, and began washing away the day’s exertions. As he rolled his head under the steamy spray, he noticed his neighbor but, at first glance, didn’t recognize him.
The man was built. His body was covered with corded muscle that reminded Liam of a coiled spring. The water flowed over a powerful back bearing an elaborate sheet of tattoos spilling from the stranger’s left shoulder diagonally down to his right thigh, working around the firm, perfect buttocks. Another coordinating tattoo spun down the length of his left arm.
In his hand was a small shaving device. He glided it over his skin, its ultraviolet glow burning away the hairs. He stroked the razor over his chest, covering every square centimeter, and Liam nearly gasped as it moved lower and denuded the most perfect set of genitals he’d ever seen. Realizing he was staring, Liam raised his eyes to the man’s face. His head was clean-shaven and he sported a neatly trimmed goatee that looked…
It was Hadrian.
Liam was unable to look away. Hadrian went about his business, continuing to remove the hair on his buttocks and legs. A warm, pleasant swell started between Liam’s legs. Unable to stop it, he turned, hoping to hide the growing evidence of his arousal. Without so much as a glance, Hadrian seemed so engrossed in his project, Liam wondered if Hadrian knew he was there.
“Of course, I know you are there.” Hadrian’s voice echoed in the metal room, shocking Liam out of his trance.
Frozen in the awkward moment, Liam had no idea what to do. It was obvious he had been caught staring at the breathtaking man, who was now even more exotic than he’d thought before. Hadrian continued shaving without even looking in Liam’s direction.
“Th
is is quite a drastic change of appearance. What brought that on?” Liam made a desperate attempt to feel less like a voyeur as he continued to point his hard cock at the wall.
“I felt a need to change. I never liked the other look.”
“Why did you have it, then?”
Hadrian continued to face away. “My…ex liked it that way.”
Liam held back his discomfort. The flash of jealousy surprised and shamed him. “Are you trying to escape from him? Is that why you’re on board?”
Hadrian paused. “That is also a story for another lifetime.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to pry. It’s none of my business.” Liam started rambling; he couldn’t backpedal faster if he tried. An anxious heat grew in his face as his confidence degenerated into something like awkward adolescence. “Anyway, I like the new look on you.”
Hadrian gave him a sly smile. “Yes, the erection made that obvious.”
Liam blanched. His penis was fully hard, standing straight and swollen upward to his navel. Hiding it had failed, and now he looked like a sex-starved creep. He had never been so mortified.
“I’m so sorry, Hadrian. It has a mind of its own these days.” The hot water beating on his engorged member did nothing to quell its condition. Liam closed his eyes, trying to will his errant dick to go down. No such luck. If anything, the skin tightened further.
“There is nothing to be ashamed of, Liam. It is as impressive as you are.” From the corner of Liam’s eye, he watched as Hadrian turned off his shower, palmed the razor, and began to leave.
“If this life were different, Liam, I think I would like to know you better. But it is not. I am truly sorry about that.” Hadrian sounded sad. Liam lowered his head, feeling juvenile and stupid.
“Do not worry. Someone will be along shortly to take care of you.” Hadrian hesitated for a moment and then exited the room.
“Shit.” Liam buried his head even farther under the spray. An overwhelming urge to pound his head against the hull came over him.
What was it about this man that made him so crazy? He hadn't thrown a rigid cock without being touched first since he was a teen. Ever. Now he’d done it twice in as many days over the same man, who hadn’t done anything more than talk to him politely. Okay, he’d been ogling Hadrian like a horny schoolboy, but it had been a long time since he couldn’t trust his dick to behave.
And Hadrian pointed it out. How embarrassing was that? And it still refused to go down!
Liam wondered if the day could get any odder.
“Nice rod, boss!” Mac had his usual toothy grin as he chose the nozzle next to Liam. Liam closed his eyes again in a sad attempt to hide. “Was that Hadrian Jamison?” Mac turned on the water and began soaping his compact body.
“Yes, it was.”
“Damn. No wonder you’re all boned up.”
Liam couldn’t stop from deadpanning out of embarrassment. “Thanks for noticing, Mac. You can just fucking shoot me now.”
Liam returned to his shower and lathered himself head to toe. Having spent his time gawking at Hadrian, he had neglected his task. On a mission, he lathered every muscle and crevice diligently, rinsing away the grime, but his erection refused to flag.
“Um, boss?” Mac’s voice was unusually timid.
“Yeah?”
“Um…if you want, uh…I could take care of that for you.” Mac’s cheeks flushed as he continued scrubbing soap through his fuzzy chest and stomach, keeping his gaze down and forward. Liam noticed how Mac’s cock was also swelling.
“I thought you were seeing the supply officer.”
Mac snorted. “You’re listening to too much gossip. First, you know James’s husband is on the ship with us.”
“True. Not that I think he minds.”
“Second, I’m not into a threesome with him and Barrus, and two bottoms bumping pussies doesn’t a relationship make. We had a stupid hookup once, over a year ago, and some of the guys are still talking about it like it was yesterday. I haven’t been with anyone since.”
“Oh.”
“I don’t know about you, but I could use some human contact right about now.” Mac’s soft, pleading tone was not lost on Liam.
“I’m not sure, Mac.” Liam’s protest lacked conviction as he stared at the swollen length pointing out from Mac’s hairy thighs.
“I don’t want to marry you, boss. I just want to help out a friend. I can tell you’re ready to burst. I’m not like a lot of the guys here. I don’t do stuff like this very often, or ever these days. But, you know what they say, if you can’t have the one you want…”
“I don’t know…”
“It’s not like this place hasn’t seen this before.”
Liam knew it was true. With a crew of thirty men in space for weeks at a time, the ship sometimes resembled a floating bathhouse. More than once, he had heard stories of the shower room becoming a mass of wet, interlocked bodies. The captain knew about it but didn’t try to stop it. At times, he seemed to encourage it. Liam had joined the men on one occasion, but he didn’t make a habit of it. He wasn’t a prude, but ultimately, he was interested in something more private and bond-forming.
Liam gasped as Mac’s rough hand encircled his flesh. He reached for the wall to steady himself. One stroke and the glans was already soaked and slippery, and it wasn’t from the water.
“Damn, boss. You’re not gonna last long.” Mac dropped to his knees, never releasing his grip on Liam. He aimed the purple organ to his lips, ran a heavy, flattened tongue around the head to swipe away the juice, and slid the pole down his heated throat.
Every thought told him Mac was not the man to be playing with. As attractive as he found the short, hairy bulldog kneeling before him, this was not who he wanted sucking off his overheated organ. Frustration made his mind drift, and he pictured Hadrian’s soft lips pursed around his shaft. Liam imagined Hadrian’s startling ice-blue eyes looking into his own, making that connection, while the power and restrained strength of his chiseled physique danced under Liam’s hands. Liam caressed his willing servant’s head with his free hand as he gave rein to his inner beast.
Liam’s mouth dropped open, uncontrolled noises escaping him while he watched Mac work his cock. Mac grunted in a happy cadence as he swallowed the fat piece of flesh over and over while stroking his own turgid member. There was nothing subtle about his craft. One hand slid up and down the shaft as it disappeared into his greedy mouth, while his hungry tongue ran firm, wet pressure along the entire length with each movement. He was obviously trying to finish Liam hard and fast.
Mac was about to get his wish. Liam’s arousal was already skating along his breaking point, and the tech’s enthusiastic feasting pushed him over the edge. A groan echoed with each burst into Mac’s mouth as he pulled back, keeping the swollen head firmly against his tongue. After the initial surge, Mac swallowed down to the base, holding Liam’s cock down his throat. Seconds later, his own self-choked moan matched the explosion firing streaks over Liam’s leg all the way up to his hip. A long time passed before either man’s breathing returned to something resembling normal.
With careful slowness, the men extracted themselves as Mac wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Thanks, boss. I needed that.”
“We probably shouldn’t have done that.” Liam turned and faced the wall as pangs of guilt crept in along the edges, staining the moment.
“This hasn’t changed anything, boss. We just helped each other out. That’s all.”
“All right.” Liam wasn’t sure.
“It won’t hurt my feelings if you were thinking of someone else.” Mac’s voice became small and vulnerable. “I was.”
Liam looked over and saw the hint of heartache on Mac’s face as he ran his head under the shower. Heavy streams of water flowed down his shoulders and back, and Mac took a silent, deep breath, his composure seeming to fray. Liam knew the signs all too well. The welling in Mac’s eyes as he chewed his bottom lip. He was pretty sure he k
new who had Mac’s heart. Hopefully, he would be worthy of it.
“Shit, this was stupid.” Mac squeezed his eyes closed. “Of all people, you’re the last one I should be blowing in the shower.”
“Don’t punish yourself over it, Mac. I think we both needed the distraction.”
“This ship’s too small. I don’t want to start any gossip. No one needs to know.” He opened his eyes wide to face Liam. “Don’t even tell the cap’n, okay? It’s not a big deal, but I’d rather he not know.”
“No problem.” Liam placed a comforting hand on Mac’s shoulder. He could feel the underlying tremor and knew how close Mac’s emotions were to the surface.
“Thank you.” Mac raised his face into the deluge as if to wash away the evidence of his near outburst. Liam wanted to wrap his arms around him. He understood the humiliation, but knew Mac would break if he did. Instead, Liam ran a paternal hand over Mac’s neck and head in the same soothing manner Danverse did when Liam was overcome.
Mac’s eyes closed at the contact, and his tremors began to abate.
“Looks like I’m going to need to re-shower. For fuck’s sake, you painted my leg!” Liam chuckled as he looked down at the wild, spattered streaks coating his muscled limb. Dropping his hand, Liam moved back to the actual shower he had neglected.
Mac’s laugh was sheepish. “I was a little pent up.”
“Welcome to the club.”
Chapter Four
HADRIAN JAMISON WAS running from someone. Liam was sure of it.
One—a hastily crafted stellar voyage with minimal possessions. Two—a radical change in appearance. Three—evasive behavior. Four—counterfeit personal data. An elementary school student could add those numbers together.
Alone in his quarters, Liam was clad in only a rust-colored T-shirt with a retro spaceship imprinted across the chest and his favorite black jock, his preferred lounging outfit in his private hours. The T-shirt stretched tightly around his torso, its fabric buttery soft with wear, the once-vibrant color washed out over time. With a drink in hand, he padded barefoot over to the vidscreen mounted on the wall.
The Luxorian Fugitive Page 5
