“Let’s listen to your heart.” Kain tried to grin, but failed. He took Rave’s lips instead, a gentle brush of mouth against mouth.
“Okay, guys. Enough kissy, huggy stuff. Let’s get this figured out before someone dies.”
Kain stepped away from Rave. “I have to get in touch with General Fritz to find out why the plan changed and on whose orders. This whole mission is his baby.”
“Why would I want to contact the man responsible for my trip to DI?”
“Because, if we are getting set up, Fritz can lead us to the person trying to fuck us over.”
He could tell Rave didn’t want to agree, but he did.
“Computer, authorise Kain Sims for coms and ship security.”
“Voice print activated.”
Rave waved for him to answer the ship’s computer.
“Kain Sims,” Kain said.
“Voice print accepted. Please confirm.”
“Kain Sims,” he repeated.
“Eye scan initiated.”
Kain leaned over the monitor and placed his eye on the scanner.
“Scan complete and entered into the system. Welcome, Kain Sims.”
“You’re cleared into the ship’s systems. Now make the damn call, and let’s finish this. Se, how close are we to Seid II?”
“We should be there in under five hours,” she answered.
Kain went to the coms and got to work. He wanted this over just as badly as Rave. Maybe even more.
Rave focused on Se, trying to block out Kain’s movements. “What planets are close by and safe enough to drop off Mel?”
Rave hoped his renewed faith in Kain would hold. If they stood a chance, he would have to forgive some of the past. He was beginning to see that Kain was just as much of a victim in this whole mess as he was. Se interrupted his inner musings.
“We have some friends on Cooper Prime. Rock might take her in.”
“He owes us a favour. See if he’ll meet us in orbit. I’ll go talk to Mel.”
Rock was a good man. Rave had met him shortly after his stay on DI. With Rock’s help, he’d purchased
Retribution
. Along the way, they’d become friends. Rock wanted more, but Rave hadn’t had anything to give, and by the time he had, Rock had meant too much to him to become a causal fuck.
Rave looked back at Kain. The man spoke quietly into the coms. Rave couldn’t make out what Kain said, but it didn’t matter. He had to trust the man.
He left the bridge and headed to his sister’s room.
“Mel, can I come in?”
“Sure thing.” Rave heard through the door as it slid open.
Mel looked comfortable sitting on the couch. The room looked the same as his only smaller. He really did love this ship.
“Sorry about the bumpy ride.”
“Tell me what this is about, and I’ll forgive you.”
He sat beside Mel on the couch. “I told you a little.”
“We have a time, I’m sure. Now, tell me the rest.”
“Okay, here goes. This whole thing is because of the Alliance. They faked my crime and sent me to that damn prison planet as a cover for a mission I knew nothing about. Jump to now and Kain is back as part of the ‘cover’. For some unknown reason, they thought it would be a bright idea for me to ‘kidnap’ Kain before picking up a weapon that can kill planets. It has something to do with the Royalists, And I really don’t care anymore. I want this over.”
She hugged him, and he let her. Her comfort wrapped around him.
“Do you still love him?”
Rave knew who she meant, but he didn’t know if he really wanted to answer. If he kept it to himself, it couldn’t hurt him, right? Still, he gave in.
“God, yes, Mel. I shouldn’t. Not after what happened, but I do. I’m so angry with him. Logically, I know he isn’t to blame. That the Alliance is behind it all.”
“He looks like shit. Maybe you should give him a break.”
Her spot-on observation caused him to laugh, an honest to goodness laugh. It felt good. His sister had a way of cutting to the chase, and she was right, he needed to give Kain a break. He broke the hug and stood up.
“Thanks for that, it felt nice to laugh. Now, on to serious business. Someone issued a warrant for the kidnapping. It wasn’t supposed to go down this way. Kain is trying to figure out what’s going on, and I need to get you off the ship. I want you safe.”
“Rave—”
“No, sis. You have to do this for me. I won’t be able to focus if I think you’re in danger. I have a friend, Rock, on Cooper Prime. He’ll protect you, and my mind will be at ease. I’ll handle this then have you back home in no time. Deal?”
He stuck out his hand, relief setting in when she took it.
“I’ll do this for you because I love you, but I expect you to visit more. No more showing up only when things are bad.”
“After this is settled, we’ll have a date. We should be there in about an hour. Rest for a bit, okay?”
He turned to leave, but she stopped him.
“Oh, and make sure Kain is with you,” she said.
He bowed his head and closed his eyes. Would they even still be together by then or would he push Kain away for more imagined betrayals. He wanted nothing more than to have things back to they way they used to be, but that couldn’t happen. Things were too different now. He nodded once before leaving. Loving someone shouldn’t be this hard.
Rave knew he should go back to Kain and Se, but his body told him it was time to take a break. The emotional strain of being around Kain drained him. Being at war with himself sucked. He took the coward’s way out and paged Se from his room.
A couple of seconds later, Se came over the com.
“What’s up?”
“Did Rock agree to pick up Mel?”
“Yes, he’ll dock on our ship in one hour. Where are you?”
“My quarters. I’ll be back in time to see Mel off. Computer, end communications.”
Rave lay down on his bed and closed his eyes, but he couldn’t get the image of Kain to go away. Not the present day Kain, but the one he’d first met. God, they’d been young and so naïve, believing everything the Alliance fed them. He snorted at himself.
His eyes opened when a knock sounded at his door. He should have expected it.
“Enter.”
And there he was. Neither of them spoke as Kain stepped inside and the door closed behind him. Rave let his heart win this round. He stood and slipped off his boots while Kain watched. His shirt came off next, followed closely by his pants then he stood before Kain, naked and fully erect.
Kain’s gaze travelled up and down his body, and he licked his lips. He followed Rave’s lead and slowly undressed. His clothes drop behind him as came forward. He stopped in front of Rave, and Rave opened his arms.
“Are you sure?” Kain sounded hesitant.
“I can’t forget it all, but right now, I need you. Make me forget. Love me like you used to.”
“I never stopped,” Kain stated as he went into Rave’s arms.
Kain’s lips hovered over his. Their breath mingled, and Rave couldn’t stand to wait anymore. He grabbed Kain’s head with both hands and pressed their mouths together. The kiss started slow, and they savoured each other. Rave didn’t want it to end, but he broke the kiss so he could move to the bed. Kain used to feel incredible inside him, and he wanted that again.
“No more dancing around this. I want you inside me. Get the lube. Please.”
“Baby, you don’t have to beg. I want in as much as you want me there. I’ve been dreaming of this moment for—”
“No. No talking. Action. Make me forget.” Rave ended on a whisper. He didn’t wait, he grabbed the lube himself. Before tossing the bottle to Kain, he drizzled the cold liquid over his opening, preparing for his lover.
Kain groaned. “That is so fucking sexy.” He moved over Rave, settling the weight of his lower body and pressing down.
Rave tensed. He couldn’t do this. It was too much. He wriggled out from under Kain.
“Hey. Where are you going?” Kain asked.
“Change of plans.”
“I don’t understand.”
Rave closed his eyes for a second, shutting out Kain’s puzzled look. He didn’t want to talk about his problems. He pushed Kain down on the bed and went for his cock. Maybe giving him a blowjob would stop the questions Rave didn’t have answers for.
He wrapped his lips tightly around Kain’s cock, swallowing him down to the root. He’d always loved the way Kain tasted. The sounds coming from his lover turned him on, and he hummed his pleasure. Kain groaned louder.
“God, yes. More, Rave.”
Rave didn’t disappoint. He added a finger to his mouth, getting it good and wet before he rimmed Kain’s ass and slowly entering his lover. Kain thrashed on the bed, as if he couldn’t decide if he wanted to fuck Rave’s mouth or finger.
Rave closed his eyes, losing himself in the sensations.
Kain tapped his shoulder, and he looked up.
“Turn,” He panted.
He backed off Kain’s cock. “What?”
“I want to taste you, too.”
Understanding came in a rush. Rave scrambled to get his dick in Kain’s mouth. The only sounds in the room were moans and groans as the two men showered attention on each other. A familiar sensation settled in Rave’s balls. His cock throbbed, and before he could warn Kain, he shot warm liquid into the man’s mouth. It must have triggered Kain because Rave soon had salty goodness coating his throat. The two collapsed, and Rave moved to settle beside Kain and pull him close. Their breathing synchronised and slowed as they drifted to sleep.
Chapter Eight
Kain bolted out of bed.
Why am I always falling asleep with Rave?
He shook his head and looked around, trying to find out what had woken him. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary until he glanced back at the bed. Rave tossed and turned. He mumbled something, but Kain couldn’t make it out.
Could this be one of the nightmares Se had told him about? Should he wake Rave or would it make matters worse? Kain was tired of being kicked out of Rave’s room, and he wanted to avoid that. They’d made some progress. He knew it and didn’t want to backtrack.
When he’d come to Rave’s room earlier, it had been to tell him what the General had said, but once Rave’s clothes had come off, Kain had needed to have the man.
“Rave.” Kain knelt on the bed, taking things slow. “Rave?” He tried again when Rave didn’t wake. “Rave, wake up, baby.”
“What—”
“Shh…it’s okay. I think you were having a dream. You awake now?”
Even in the dark, Kain could make out Rave’s hand as it moved over his face and traced his lips. Kain wanted to reach out, but he feared Rave wasn’t completely awake.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to crash on you,” Rave said.
“I slipped under myself.” He heard the grin in his own voice.
“How long?”
“I’m not sure. It couldn’t have been too long. Rock isn’t here yet, at least Se hasn’t contacted you. I don’t think so, anyway.”
“Good, good.”
“I want you to know that I didn’t come here for this. I stopped by your room to tell you about my talk with the General.” He settled next to Rave and pulled the man into his arms.
“Damn. I hate to say it, but I forgot you were making that call.”
“I’m glad you did. I want
us
to be more important than the Alliance. I think we both deserve it.”
“At this point, I’m all for saying, ‘fuck the Alliance
and
the Royalists’.”
“I agree.”
Rave sighed, “Tell me about the call.”
“I have the name of the person who issued the warrant. The general wasn’t aware of the situation and thinks the man went rogue on them. Seth Davidson, ring any bells for you?”
“No. You?”
“It sounds familiar, but I’m not sure,” Kain replied. He wished it would come to him.
“Computer, search for Seth Davidson, Alliance Commander.”
“Searching,” the mechanical voice responded.
“I’m not sure how long the search will take, but I should head to the bridge and relieve Se.” Rave sounded reluctant to leave, but duty called.
Kain hugged Rave to him before getting out of bed. “We should clean up first. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to see Se smelling like sex. She’d never let us hear the end of it.”
“Great idea. Maybe we should conserve water. I’m not sure how much we have stored.”
Kain smiled when Rave winked at him. Here was the Rave he remembered, the carefree man who’d always worn a grin.
Rave tugged on his hand and led him to the shower. That was something else he remembered, a shower on the day before all hell had broken loose. They’d just made love that day and had taken an afternoon to themselves. Whenever he had bad days, he thought of the last time they were together.
“What are you thinking about?”
Rave’s voice brought him out of the past.
“Nothing.” He followed Rave into the shower and let the water wash his troubles away.
Rave closed his eyes when Kain’s hands wandered over his body. Why did he feel as if his happiness wouldn’t last? His gut told him something bad hovered on the horizon. He shook it off and enjoyed the moment.
Se’s voice broke through his musings. “Rave, Rock is here and docking.”
“Thanks, Se. I’ll be right there.”
He waited for the computer to click off the coms before talking to Kain.
“You can stay here if you want. Or, you can come to the bridge.”
“You take care of Mel. I’ll monitor the search for Davidson.”
Rave nodded and pulled Kain to him for a kiss before stepping from the shower. He didn’t take long to dress, and he was on the bridge minutes later.
Rock looked the same. The man never changed. If Rave’s heart had been in it, he would have taken up the man on his offer of sex. The timing always seemed wrong for the two. Rock was so different from Kain. He was tall and muscular, rough looking with tattoos, and long dark hair he pulled back to keep out of the way—most gay men’s wet dream.
Rave caught Se looking at Rock with lust in her eyes. So, Se had a thing for Rock. He wondered why she’d never said anything before. He’d have to remember to ask Se about it later.
“Rock! I’m glad you’re here.”
The big bear of a man turned and pulled Rave into a hug, lifting him off the floor. Rave laughed. Not many men could pick him up like that.
“You called. I’m here.” Rock sounded matter of fact as he put Rave down.