by Jools Louise
Chapter One
Max awoke to find his face buried in an armpit. A sweaty, hairless armpit. While not unpleasant smelling, it had him wrinkling his nose slightly. Easing away, he inhaled the delicious aroma of masculinity which seemed to seep into his pores. A powerfully muscled arm held him firmly, anchored around his waist and pressing him against a large and very warm male chest.
Lifting his head and blinking golden eyes sleepily, he viewed the stunning array of muscles spread out before him. A virtual banquet rippled with each slow breath, just begging for him to glide his tongue over each dip and ridge. Licking his lips, his gaze drifted lower to encompass the sleek abdomen equally as devoid of hair as the rest of the torso. There was the faint sheen of golden scales just below the surface of the skin, which formed into a narrow v further south.
Hungrily, his golden gaze fixed on the loose cotton shorts which covered the masculine bulge. Even in repose, the length of the man’s cock was impressive. The cotton material was thin and did nothing to hide the shape. Max couldn’t prevent the slight whimper of desire which escaped him. He really, really wanted a taste of that thick monster.
He whimpered again as the cotton began to shift, tenting outward as the monster beneath swelled to fully engorged glory. A hand came up to cup the back of his head, tangling in the silky dark blue hair which fell in a slightly mussed wave to just below his shoulders.
Gently but firmly, the hand tipped his head and his eyes locked with a pair of beautiful violet eyes which shone like jewels. Desire mixed with a deep anguish, and Max felt his heart clench.
“Don’t.” Max whispered hoarsely, trying to pull away from the temptation. He didn’t think he could stand it if Sol rejected him again. With all that had happened, the last thing he needed was for his best friend to play games with his emotions.
The hand at his nape tightened briefly then moved, cupping his jaw. A calloused thumb rubbed gently against his cheek, the violet gaze softening slightly. Sol blinked once, and the anguish left, to leave only raw desire and a yearning which had Max tensing in anticipation.
“One night with you was never enough.” Sol spoke softly, his deep voice sending shivers of desire along Max’s spine. He closed his eyes against the memories of the night two years ago, just before he graduated from the Academy. Max remembered the same sensual scent of Sol’s skin in his nostrils and the salty taste of his skin under his tongue.
A firm hand now cupped Max’s taut butt, massaging the soft globes gently and Max shuddered at the feel of those strong fingers so close to his clenching hole. His lower half was encased in loose-weave pyjama bottoms, but the searing heat of Sol’s touch still burned like he’d been branded. Involuntarily, reacting to the stimulus, his hips moved in a dry hump against Sol’s thigh. His cock hardened to rock-hard attention.
Groaning softly, Sol tightened his grip on Max’s jaw and pulled Max up to lie prone atop his big body, his head descending to meet those soft inviting lips which parted in anticipation. Like a butterfly’s wing, Sol’s lips touched Max’s and they both sighed with pleasure. Max tasted Sol’s breath, the heated moisture a heady brew. A slick tongue explored the outer curves of Max’s plump lips. Max gave a whimper, parting his lips to invite further intimacy.
Taking advantage of the open lips, Sol swept his tongue inside. Tasting Max delicately, he made forays inside, which soon amped up into a passionate lip lock. Soon both men were panting, Max rocking steadily against Sol.
Max’s fingers began to move, sliding along the ridges and valleys of Sol’s fantastic torso. His own personal man toy that he could spend hours playing with. This time, however, he was searching for a quick release of passions pent up over many years. No way would he let Sol devastate his heart again. That’s what he told himself, anyway. Finding his target, he slid his hand over the thick wedge of aroused flesh surrounded by soft cotton.
Sol bucked against his hand and Max felt the dampness as Sol leaked pre-cum steadily from his aching cock. The vibration of a guttural grunt of pleasure quivered against Max’s lips.
“I need you,” Max whispered into Sol’s delicious mouth. “Is this what you want? If you don’t, we need to stop now. I can’t go through any more pain right now. ”
Sol gave a low growl then gasped as Max’s hand slipped beneath the waistband of the shorts and began stroking the thick cock beneath. Naturally lubricated with the pre-cum oozing from the tip, Sol was soon pumping his hips against the sensations shooting from his cock to his balls and sending every nerve ending his body possessed into zinging life.
“I’ve always wanted this.” Sol spoke softly, his voice a deep rumble. “I should never have let you go.”
Ripping aside restrictive clothing, he gripped Max’s tight ass in both hands, his lips still fused to the sexy man’s. Positioned so both naked, rock-hard cocks were firmly aligned, Sol began a slow rhythm. They rocked against each other, cocks throbbing urgently as they rubbed together with an enticing friction. Fingers teased the crease between Max’s ass cheeks, teasing his rosebud, which quivered with need. One thick finger tapped against the tight ring of muscle, then sank inside to the first knuckle.
Max went wild, biting at Sol’s lips as the pair devoured each other. Max writhed against Sol, impaling himself deeper on Sol’s finger. Slick pre-cum anointed their nether regions, lubricating them as the friction built up. The men squirmed helplessly, their passion igniting as the heat in the room rose. Sweat slicked their skin, mixing with the odours of sex, heady and addictive.
With a gasping moan from Sol and a half scream from Max, they both came in a splatter of hot semen which soaked two sets of abs. The orgasm went on and on, both men still grinding together as the last ounce of cum spurted, until with a grunt, Max collapsed against Sol’s sweaty chest in sated bliss.
“Never enough,” Sol whispered, his lips against Max’s damp forehead as the smaller man lay bonelessly sprawled across Sol’s larger frame, sighing with sated pleasure. They lay like that for some time.
“Everything’s lost, isn’t it?” Max regained some of his sensibilities finally, loving the feel of Sol beneath him and the scent of their spent passion in the air. He was not unaware of his surroundings, but for a few moments he hadn’t wanted to acknowledge the fact that he had left his home and the ruins of his former life behind. The hum of engines were a reminder that the spacecraft they had left in was now winging its way toward the outer reaches of the Hyrruld’s galaxy.
“Max…” Sol hugged Max closely, inhaling the sweet smell of a man he’d loved since they had first met as children. “Your father and your people will have justice. This war has just begun. Syrrus is merely a puppet to a more evil master.” Stroking Max’s back, he felt the man tense beneath him.
“Someone else is behind this?” Max lifted his head, golden eyes sharp as they blazed into Sol’s.
“Before Syrrus attacked, we sent our agents out to check on some intel. All but one returned. With the fierceness of the attack on Tagassi, our first priority was to get people to safety. But the more I think about it, the more I am convinced that Syrrus was merely a weapon wielded by a greater power.
Max suddenly wrenched himself away from Sol, standing naked and proud and fiercely angry in the dull grey of the spacecraft’s cabin. Despite the situation, Sol felt lust zap through him with renewed fervour at the sight of Max’s leanly muscular frame. His eyes devoured the sight of cum-soaked abs and the long, thick cock which gleamed with spent cum hanging semi-hard between his sleek thighs. The dark blue hair framed a face which was starkly beautiful as those golden eyes glowed with zeal.
“Trophus.” Max said the name flatly, not needing Sol’s nod of confirmation to know who his enemy was. Trophus Psillian was the former head of the Federation’s security force. Ousted by Max’s father over two hundred years ago, the creature was about a bad as monsters came. Ruthless and brutal in manner, he was responsible for many murders over the centuries he had been in the Federation.
He use
d torture methods banned by the Federation thousands of years past. Trophus and Max’s father Ferdinand had fought a bitter battle when those methods went too far. The death of Max’s mother had been the result. Used as leverage by Trophus to persuade Ferdinand to stop his investigation into Trophus’s crimes, she had been kidnapped and held hostage. That had been merely the start of the atrocities. Tortured and flayed alive, Max’s mother had died an agonising death at the hands of Trophus and his brutal team of thugs.
If anyone had a grudge against the Maxos Royals, it was this creature.
Sol got to his feet, towering over Max as he rubbed his hands down the smaller man’s arms.
“Trophus is truly evil and more powerful than he has ever been. He uses black magicks and has thousands of slaves to do his bidding. He’s decimated whole communities for the slightest infraction. You cannot go up against him until you get together a force of equal or greater size and strength.” Sol knew what Max was thinking, the gleam of blood lust was strong in those golden eyes. He shook the man.
“Your Majesty, we have to be smarter than he is. We will finish him, but we need to gather our forces and regain our strength.” Sol stared at Max, watching as his friend dropped his gaze and closed his eyes.
“You know I hate it when you call me ‘Your Majesty’!” Max said the words with a grimace, glaring at Sol in such a way that the dragon knave couldn’t help but smirk.
Releasing Max, the larger man took a step back, running his gaze over Max’s sexy form. He gave a mocking half bow, before raising a brow at Max’s irritated expression.
“Would ‘sire’ be okay?” He asked the question with studied innocence, smiling fully at Max’s frustrated growl.
“You know you’re the only one who can get away with sassing me?” Max gave Sol a haughty look, the effect ruined as his stomach gave a rumbling growl.
“Does His Magnificence require feeding?” Sol gave a grunt at the sudden punch to his belly.
“I need a shower and then a meal, knave!” Max retorted, giving Sol’s slightly plumped cock a teasing tug before looking around for the bathing cubicle. Finding the doorway he gave a haughty twitch of his hips as he sauntered away, leaving Sol staring hungrily after his sleek ass.
“Bathe me, knave!” Max commanded, flicking hair across his back as he entered the shower cubicle, then yelped as Sol leapt toward him in a stunning burst of speed.
The shower took a lot longer than usual as two horny men fondled and thoroughly cleansed each other. Mealtime came much later.
Chapter Two:
Mated
Sol sighed to himself as he watched Max and his five dragon knaves—Raven, Jayde, Indigo, Ochre, and Shimmer—together. His Majesty, King Ferdinand Augustus Maxos III, had just finished gorging himself on two helpings of stew, laughing a little at Raven’s dry humour.
He was scared.
This latest act of treason by Syrrus and Trophus showed just how far they were prepared to go to steal power. Murdering Max’s father, his mother, too. Now the decimation of the city and castle. No matter how far they travelled within their solar system, Trophus was bound to find them. Sol tried to think of some way to keep his lover safe. It was an impossible task. Trophus was determined to wipe out any trace of the Maxos line. Unless they found a way to completely disappear, Max would always have crosshairs aimed right at him. It was only a matter of time before the trigger was pulled and Max became the latest casualty.
The ship rocked suddenly, violently. Sol snarled in fury. There were no earthquakes in space. Their battleship had been fired upon. Trophus must have been lying in wait. The man was no fool after all. He would know they would head for Sol’s home planet.
A second explosion and lights flickered.
“Max, we need to get out of here. Jayde, evasive manoeuvres. Raven…you know what to do.”
Sol gave the commands, sending the dragon knaves to their tasks. Escape pods may have to be deployed, a last resort. Trophus’s ships would blast them into a million pieces.
“Sol, you know what we need to do.” Max stared at Sol, who shook his head.
“No! It’s too dangerous. The last time you tried it, you nearly died. I won’t let you!” Sol yelled the last part, his control on his temper fraying.
“Try what?” Shimmer asked curiously, looking from one to the other with a raised brow.
“I can create a rip in the Dimensional Tapestry. I can move us from this dimension to another.”
Shimmer’s eyes widened even further. He blinked once, his vivid orange gaze flashing.
“The Dimensional Tapestry? That’s never been done before.” Shimmer looked like he was thinking hard. “How difficult would it be?”
“No! It’s too dangerous! We’ll find another way.” Sol glared at Max who stood there looking all regal and kingly.
“In case you haven’t noticed, we don’t have too many options,” Max stated calmly. “Do you really think Trophus will stop hunting me? In order to get to me, he’ll attack every friend I have. He’ll go after your families, just to get back at me. Do you want that? I’m dead for certain if we try and fight right now. Once he knows I’m no longer in the system, he’ll have to stop. He has mages, so he’ll know what I’ve done, and know I’m no longer in reach. He does not have the same power to do what needs to be done. He has a thousand ships and tens of thousands of troops. There’s seven of us. We need to leave here. I can do this.” Max’s golden stare locked with Sol’s violet one.
“I can make this entire ship disappear. I know I can.” Max was practically begging Sol now, gripping his strong hands and willing him to agree.
“I’ve heard about this procedure. It requires the life force of five dragons to complete it. It’s very dangerous.” Ochre spoke quietly.
“We’re dead if we stay here,” Raven returned, frowning. “Someone disabled the life pods. They’re not operational.”
Sol stared at the black-clad warrior. The knave was the largest of the crew, nearly seven and a half feet tall, with shoulders which stretched forever. His slate-grey eyes gleamed against his tanned skin. Raven never lied. If he said the pods were broken, they were broken.
“I need all of us to complete the ritual, Sol. Let me at least try.” Max begged again, pleading with his eyes.
“I’m in.” Raven decided, nodding. One by one the others repeated Raven’s promise. Jayde had been included in the conversation via telepathy and replied in kind, adding to the consensus.
Sol’s shoulders drooped and he closed his eyes. He was not afraid for himself. He was a warrior and used to fighting bloody battles. He was terrified for Max and his crew. He’d practically grown up with these men. It would cripple him if something happened to them. Another more violent explosion shook the ship.
Grimly, Sol raised his head, straightened his shoulders and opened his eyes. Locking eyes with each of the dragon knaves, he saw the truth in their gazes. They were out of options.
“I need you to stand in a circle. Hold hands and focus on the tapestry.” Max hugged Sol briefly. He waited until all six warriors positioned themselves. “Whatever happens, don’t let go of each other.”
Max gave them all a weak smile, closed his eyes and raised his hands.
The Dimensional Tapestry was a barrier which separated dimensions within time and space. Travel between dimensions required a huge amount of effort and skill to open a portal. Max had been practicing for several months to manipulate it. His heritage included the inheritance of many powerful Magicks. Being fairly young, he was unfamiliar with some. This particular one, however, had been passed on by his father on his deathbed.
“When all hope is lost, you must open a portal. Escape, take your knaves with you. Then return and deliver justice.” His father had whispered the words then transferred all his powers to his son. It had been the last thing he had done before he died. Max would do this.
Focussing completely, tuning out everything but the feel of his dragon knaves’ life energy, Max found
the thread of each knave, tugging slightly and then gripping the slender tendrils like they were reins. Power began to pulse around the ship. Max could feel its force rippling through every fibre, every molecule. Manipulating the threads, he surrounded the ship, weaving tendrils around the entire ship and each member of its crew.
He began to chant, his words resonating in the air. He felt a ripple of energy surround him, felt the shudder of the ship before everything faded abruptly to black.
* * * *
“Max. Wake up.” Sol’s voice penetrated Max’s sluggish brain.
Max moaned, his head thumping and every molecule of his body aching.
“Hey! Your Majesty! Quit faking and wake up!” The voice became more insistent.
Max snarled, baring his teeth. He hated that title.
“Fuck you.”
A chuckle reached his ears. “You first, lover.”
Max groaned again, prying his eyes open reluctantly.
Sol’s brilliant violet gaze met his and he grumbled beneath his breath. Bloody dragons! Couldn’t Sol see he was quite happy lying here?
“Your Majesty, with all due respect, I think you need to see this.”
That sounded like Raven’s voice. Crap. Raven always sounded so serious. And if he said something needed to be seen… Crap.
With much grumbling and creaking of aching joints, Max sat up. Eyes at half-mast, he didn’t immediately take much notice of his surroundings. With a curse, a blink of astonishment, and a swift return of energy he got to his feet.
“I think it worked.” Sol grinned at Max, golden hair gleaming in a rope which fell across one broad shoulder down his chest to his navel.
Max blinked again.
Instead of a fleet of battle ships firing in unison on their stricken ship, he saw a completely different vista. A planet, its surface swirling with blues and greens drew closer. Their ship’s viewing screen captured the sight in all its glory.