“You are special to me. I shouldn’t have waited.”
Mac snatched his arm away. “Don’t touch me. I have work to do.” Slamming his hands on the table, he shifted his weight to press his chair back.
“Finish dinner with me, please. I want to talk about this.”
Mac’s voice went cold. “I don’t.”
The chair scraped the floor with an alarming noise as Mac stood. The movement felt very final.
“I don’t have an appetite anymore.” Mac spoke through gritted teeth as he struggled to contain himself. “Find someone else to eat with. That shouldn’t be hard for you.”
Shoulders trembling, Mac spun and strode out of the room. Danverse finally understood what other people meant about having your heart broken. The eyes of every present crew member were on him, layering the pain in his chest with humiliation. He knew he should race after Mac to convince him they were meant for each other, because he believed it, but he couldn’t. What if Mac refused him?
Chapter Eight
WHAT HAD IT been, a week since the scene in the mess hall without a word from the captain? Mac grumbled as he pulled his heavy coat tighter around himself. The raiders’ ship was bitterly cold. The environmental systems were on minimum for the time being until Mac could give them the overhaul they desperately needed. He could see his own breath as he rummaged through the computer’s mainframe. He shivered hard. He wasn’t used to these conditions. It was much nicer on the Santa Claus.
“How did seven of them fit in this place? It took us weeks to get out this far.” The security officer, Barrus, stepped through the airlock and surveyed the room in confusion, his footsteps clunking in the cabin. There were four seats on the small ship, with an open space behind for staging or other workspace. Efficient storage panels lined the wall, with a small aisle down the middle leading to facilities and mechanical rooms. A lot of the tech and materials looked to be added through crude repairs. Bulkheads were mismatched and forced to fit. It was spaceworthy, but it wasn’t pretty.
Mac tapped at the pilot’s keypad. “According to the logs, they were only in here for two days.” He strummed the pad with his fingers as long lists of code ran across the screen. His gaze flickered back and forth as he absorbed everything.
“Bullshit. How is that possible?”
Pulling up his handheld data pad, Mac compared the readouts. “It looks like the engines have faster-than-light capability. Sneaky bastards.”
“I thought only military vehicles were allowed to have warp engines.”
“Subspace Link says it’s a decommissioned Luxorian stealth craft. Model Alpha-65. Full cloaking capability. Sensor and visual camouflage.” He continued reading the endless scrolling text between the two monitors, comparing every detail. “Someone spent a lot of time and money putting this baby back together.”
“Explains how they managed to dock without us knowing.”
“That and Marley Keyes’s homemade scrambler. Once I pull the specs on all of this, I’ll update Mrs. Claus. She won’t be fooled a second time.”
“Seven heteros jammed into this place couldn’t have been too much fun. What would they do for two days?”
Mac managed to pull himself away from the tech readouts long enough to watch Barrus zip his coat up to his shivering neck. He was a large, imposing man with a shaved head that didn’t help keep him warm. It wasn’t long before Barrus was standing with his arms clenched to his sides, looking around aimlessly.
Mac pointed at the back wall. “Why don’t you start cracking those storage panels. I’ve got the mainframe. Let’s get this done. It’s too damn cold in here.”
Barrus nodded. “Ain’t that the truth.” Rubbing his arms for warmth, Barrus began opening the storage panels in the back wall. The first panel was refrigerated, filled with rations and water. The second was filled with repair tools and the ship’s medkit. “Remind me what we’re here for, again?”
Both men had received the order via Link message. Mac was still bristling that the captain hadn’t bothered to speak to him directly.
“This far out, we have salvage rights. I’m here to assess the tech, and you’re here to inventory the ship’s contents so we can see if there’s anything worth selling. It could mean a nice bonus for us. Speaking of supplies and inventories, why isn’t James doing this? This should be his job, shouldn’t it?”
Barrus paused a moment. “Because the captain won’t let James be in a small, enclosed space with you.” The response was barely audible, as if only for his own ears.
Mac ground his teeth and shook his head. “But he doesn’t mind me being alone with James’s husband?”
“You’re not my type, and he knows it. Besides, if I touched you, I’d probably have to be the captain’s bitch again, or I’d be without a job when we hit the spaceport. I’m not interested in either.”
Mac cringed at Barrus’s confession. Just one more person the captain had entertained while he sat up at night alone.
“Barrus, how do you handle James’s reputation for sleeping around?”
“I don’t care who he fucks. We both like to play around. In the end, I know who he comes home to.” Barrus shrugged. “The only night he hasn’t slept in my bed in twelve years was when he wound up in the infirmary for hitting on Hadrian Jamison.”
“Really?”
“Yep. He deserved it. I told him one of these days… Whoa.” Barrus stood still in front of the largest storage panel.
Mac moved over next to him. “Holy shit.” The space was filled to capacity with weapons. Explosives, automatic rifles, and ammunition were just a few of the items he could see with a quick glance. He even saw a large-caliber, rotary-cannon machine gun, complete with carry harness, that would be capable of shredding an area in seconds. There was enough artillery inside to lay a small siege.
“I guess we don’t have to wonder if they were going to come after the rest of us.” Barrus whistled. “It makes me a lot sorrier I shot Jamison.”
“Remind me to thank him again.” Mac stepped closer, accidentally brushing against Barrus’s arm. The large man flinched away.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, relax! I’m not with the captain!” Mac closed his eyes tightly and clenched his fists as he caught himself. “Sorry.” He stomped back to the pilot’s station, where he roughly keyed through several screens as he continued his scan of the ship’s data. Glancing over his shoulder, he found Barrus looking at him, wearing a sympathetic frown.
“It’s all right. James told me what happened in the mess hall.”
“I’m surprised he had to, the way gossip runs on the ship.” Mac grumbled as he read the data. “These security protocols are a joke.” With a few additional touches, his device began downloading all the raiders’ digital drives. He set the tech on the dashboard and leaned back in the chair, surprised at how cozy it was.
“We’re a small town. You can’t keep too many secrets.” Barrus pulled a data pad and small scanner from his coat pocket and began inventorying the weaponry.
Mac crossed his arms over his chest, and it had nothing to do with warmth. “Unless it’s from me. No one seems to have a problem with that.”
“Mac, everyone stepped aside to keep from getting in the captain’s way. He’s a great guy and I don’t want to serve under anyone else, but he’s got a wicked dominant streak.”
Mac scowled at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You mean you and he never…?”
“No.” The word came out in an endless syllable, soft with regret. Stopping his scan, Barrus shifted to face him. His shoulders dropped as he tilted his head the way people do when they feel sorry for a person. Mac hated that.
“You don’t even see it, do you? The captain’s tastes aren’t average. You need to be ready to deal with that.”
“Not average how?”
“Oh, no.” Barrus’s face went pale as his eyes widened. The clouds of breath appeared larger and more rapid. “You find that out from someone else.
I might as well fuck you as give up those kinds of details if he hasn’t told you already.”
“It doesn’t matter. He and I aren’t together.” Mac’s hand went out as if to push away the notion.
“Then you have time to find out more about him before he comes after you.”
Mac snorted and shook his head. “He’s not going to do that.”
Barrus looked him in the eye. “Are you sure about that?”
BOTH FRESHLY SHOWERED and smelling clean, Liam gave a happy hum as Hadrian pressed closer amid the sheets of the unmade bed. Liam reveled in the warmth of the touch. The metal walls of his quarters had never been this comfortable. The lights were dimmed, and the monitor on the wall was alight with an entertainment vid as they lounged, watching the story unfold.
Hadrian leaned his cheek on Liam’s shoulder. “I have to admit this is not the story I would have expected you to choose.”
“What’s wrong with the vid? You don’t like love stories?”
A grin reached the corners of Hadrian’s cheeks. “Let us say I would have expected more explosions and far more violence.”
Liam turned to face him.
“Do you want to watch something else?”
Hadrian crawled over Liam, placing him on his back. “I am not really watching the vid.” A need began to rise in Liam as he watched Hadrian lick his lips, fixated on Liam’s mouth. Achingly slow, he lowered his head until Liam whimpered at the resulting kiss. Liam wrapped his arms around Hadrian as they shared a lazy, loving moment. When Hadrian pulled away, Liam couldn’t stop looking into his sparkling eyes.
“Hadrian, what happens when we get to Alpha Centauri?” Liam unconsciously tightened his grip as a wave of fear sparked in his chest.
“I am not sure. I have a man I need to meet with. Once my business is done, I am free.”
“What kind of business?” Liam stiffened in jealousy. The way Hadrian tensed, he had to have noticed.
Hadrian reached up and stroked Liam’s cheek. “It is not like that, Liam. I am meeting a doctor.”
“Are you sick?”
“Not exactly.” Hadrian’s voice dropped as his brow furrowed.
“What do you mean?”
“I cannot tell you all of the details. I do not understand much of what is happening, myself.”
“That makes no sense.”
Hadrian sighed. “Liam, you have to understand. I have not been in control of my own life since I was a child. I have been nothing more than a slave for years, and I cannot go back to that life.”
“You are running from someone—your ex—aren’t you?”
Hadrian nodded. “Father will come after me if he finds out where I’ve gone.”
“Your father is your ex?” Liam’s eyes went wide in alarm.
“He is not actually my father. He simply likes the title.”
“Why did you need to run?”
“Because I can no longer be his possession. I no longer wish to fight and pleasure others for his profit.” Hadrian’s frustration grew, bordering on anger.
Liam paused as he processed the words and the shock set in.
“You’re not exaggerating. You really have been a slave, haven’t you? How long has he been whoring you out?”
Hadrian rolled away and sat at the edge of the bed, staring at nothing, his shoulders sagging. Liam tried to tone down his reaction. If there was one thing he understood, it was shame.
“Since he collected me from the orphanage. I was still a child. I wasn’t the only one.” It was little more than a murmur.
The new outrage in Liam’s chest burst forward before he could stop it. “How can he get away with this?”
“He is very powerful and connected, and the Adonirati have no legal rights on Luxoria. We are property.” Hadrian’s sorrow tempered Liam’s offense. He had been suspicious that Hadrian suffered some form of abuse in the past, but hearing it out loud was more difficult than he’d expected. Swallowing down his discomfort, he lowered his voice to a more sympathetic volume.
“How did you get away?”
“A friend sacrificed a great deal for me. I owe him a debt I can’t repay.”
Liam crawled to Hadrian and turned him by his chin to look into his eyes. “How can I help?”
“Get me to Alpha Centauri. Once I am there, Father will have no ability to retrieve me. It will all come to an end.”
“What about us?” Liam held his breath as he waited for the answer. Anguish welled inside of him as he feared the worst possible response.
Hadrian climbed up and held Liam’s head between his warm hands.
“I need you, Liam.”
Liam couldn’t help but stare into Hadrian’s eyes as they bore into his own.
“I do not even understand how compelled I am to be near you. No matter what happens, I will find a way back to you. I will not live without you.” Pressing his mouth to Liam’s, Hadrian worked to convince him.
THE TIME DISPLAY turned over from 24:00 to 00:01 hours in Danverse’s quarters. He took a deep drink of his whiskey and placed the empty glass on the desk. With a flick of his fingers, it skidded across the surface until it hit the wall with a small thud.
“Well, that was a great fortieth birthday. I should do this more often.”
He knew he shouldn’t be resentful. It wasn’t as if he’d announced his birthday, but it would have been nice if anyone had noticed. Liam was besotted with Hadrian Jamison, so it wasn’t surprising he’d forgotten. Danverse just wished he hadn’t.
With slow fingers, he stroked the metal necklace that lay against his skin. Small square links made up the chain, with a single blood-red crystal running horizontal with the length, completing the masculine design. He’d worn it constantly since the scene in the mess hall. It had been his gift from Mac the previous year. Due to the length and timing of their runs, Mac would have had to buy the necklace far in advance to have it ready for his birthday. He should have paid closer attention back then or at least stopped being so stupid. Now it was his only connection to Mac, and he wasn’t willing to take it off.
He stared at his empty bed. He’d hoped Mac would bring the salvage report to him, to set the stage for them to talk. It was the reason he’d sent Mac the order to inventory the raiders’ craft in the first place. It could have waited until they were in port. Unfortunately, it didn’t work.
He wanted to apologize. Never in all his years had he wanted to fall on his knees and beg forgiveness. Never had he felt willing to appear weak for another man. For Mac, he would consider it.
Just the opportunity to lick his eager mouth would be worth debasing himself. To feel him writhe under his oral ministrations, begging to come, would be heaven. He imagined what it would feel like to peel Mac’s clothing off and bite the flesh of his rounded ass before claiming him in a sweaty, dripping rut.
He growled at himself. He should have gone after Mac when he’d walked away in the mess hall. Now that he’d waited, he no doubt looked guilty or uninterested. He had been so close. Mac had been his until James showed up with his congratulations. And he couldn’t even really be angry with James. There was no way James could have known how much damage he’d done. All the blame ultimately lay within himself.
He leaned back in his chair, looking up at the ceiling. The loneliness had become stronger these days as the reality of Liam drifting away settled in. He’d known it would happen eventually, just not so soon or so suddenly. Who knew it would only take one devastatingly attractive passenger? Liam’s absence made his isolation so much more obvious.
He looked at the empty bed again. Mac should be there, exhausted and recovering, waiting for him to come and claim him again. Grinding his teeth in frustration, Danverse came to a decision. He needed his boy.
“Mrs. Claus, where can I find MacKenzie Smith?”
“MacKenzie Smith is in his quarters, Captain Danverse.”
Danverse sat his elbow on the armrest and chewed on his knuckle. The mere thought of being near Mac was arousi
ng him, but he had no idea if Mac would accept him. It would crush him if he was rejected again.
But he couldn’t live without knowing the answer.
Raising the necklace to his lips, he brushed a hopeful kiss to it. He stood and stepped into a pair of shorts and pulled a T-shirt over his head. With a hurried shuffle, he was slipping a pair of sandals onto his feet on his way to the door when Mrs. Claus interrupted him.
“Captain Danverse. You’re receiving a voice com from Corporal Childers.”
“Put it through. Childers. What is it?”
“Captain, we’re being approached and hailed.”
Danverse stopped moving and stood up straight. “By who?”
“A military-class cruiser from the Luxorian government.”
“Fuck!” He ran a hand through his hair as he let out an exasperated breath. With a final look back at the bed, he could barely contain his anger. “I’ll be right there.”
LIAM’S ARMS GAVE out, hands sliding forward until his sweating body was flat on the mattress. Hadrian stayed atop him, riding his back, cock buried deep. Liam could feel the cooling wet spot underneath him, but he didn’t care. If Hadrian kept sexing him like this, he could die a very happy man.
“You are far too healthy to die from intercourse, my hardy sergeant.”
Liam began to laugh. Hadrian tongued and kissed the perspiration from his neck and shoulders. He was in heaven and couldn’t prevent himself from purring.
“You have exactly three hours to stop what you’re doing.”
“I could stop right now if it is too much for you.”
Liam could imagine the grin as Hadrian began to pull away. He grabbed his arms and settled him closer still.
“Stay where you are. This is perfect.” Liam couldn’t stop his satisfied smile. “I want it to be like this forever.”
The sheets had never been so luxurious in such a shambles. The scent of sweat and musk permeated the room, heightened by shared body heat. Soft kisses caressed Liam’s head and neck as he held Hadrian tighter and poured every ounce of emotion into this intimate evening. Everything was perfect.
The Luxorian Fugitive Page 12
