by Alana Khan
“Braxx, do you want me to stay with you until you move to a real cabin?” she asks.
He nods. “Axx, you and I won’t be together?” His brow furrows.
We’ve been together every night of our lives until we were assigned to captain different ships in the military. That is the way of Mythrian twins; the bond is so strong we don’t do well when separated. I still don’t know how our fathers pulled enough strings to get him his commission. He was as skilled as I was—he even performed slightly better than I on our exams—but he’s a silver. Silvers were never given captaincies. It’s believed they’re constitutionally incapable of command.
“There’s a large room in the abandoned wing, gem. I’ll get it cleaned and we can pull two beds in there. We’ll share a room again.” I smile at him. I feel so lucky his life was spared and I can feel my twin connection again.
“Braxxus, I’ll stay with you until you move into your cabin on one condition. No talk of angels or bondmates,” she says.
“That’s two conditions.” He flashes her a handsome smile.
“Fine, two conditions. Can you agree to that?”
“No angels. No bondmates. No fathers. No governors’ mansion. And don’t call you beautiful. All the things you don’t like to hear.” He nods his head with finality. “As you wish.”
“Are all silvers like rain-man?” she mutters under her breath, but the issue seems settled.
Chapter Six
Brianna
Braxx slept all day except when someone arrives with food. He seems to be making up for lost time and eats every bite they bring him. When he’s not eating, he’s sleeping, kind of like a baby—or a shark.
“Computer, dim lights.” I don’t want it to be completely dark in case Braxx wakes up and is disoriented. Reading isn’t helping me fall asleep, so I bring out the big guns—the snow planet’s white bears.
I’m awakened from a deep sleep by my awareness that there’s a warm body pressed to my back and an equally warm arm slung around my waist. Possibly due to some residual caveman instinct, I freeze, ordering my brain to come fully online. At first, I’m convinced it’s two months ago and it’s Axx’s powerful arm keeping me from falling out of the tiny bunk we shared. Then I realize the masculine arm belongs to Braxxus, which is even more distressing than the first thought.
Is he coming on to me without even asking? For a moment I thought he was the nicer of the two twins. Then I hear his deep, rhythmic breathing and realize he’s sound asleep. I don’t feel his engorged cock pressing against my backside; maybe he’s less like his brother than I thought.
Axxios and I didn’t share that tiny bunk for long, but during that time I certainly got used to having a warm front pressed against my back. It’s so safe and reassuring.
As I’m debating whether or not to pull out of his embrace and possibly wake him, I’m aware the instant his consciousness shifts from asleep to awake.
“Mighty forward of you, sir,” my tone is teasing and light.
His hand lifts off my body as he scoots away so swiftly I assume he’d fall off the other side of the bed if the rail wasn’t up.
“Sorry, Angel. So sorry. I didn’t mean to take liberties.”
He’s so serious—it’s endearing.
“It’s okay Braxxus, you were sleeping.”
“You’ve been nothing but kind. It was totally improper of me to—”
“It’s okay, really.” I turn to face him. At first, I’m struck by how odd it is to see Axx’s face looking out at me from silver instead of gold skin. Then I’m caught by the innocent sincerity in his blue-green eyes. “It’s okay.”
“I’d never want to hurt you or scare you. I just want to get to know you. I don’t want to think of you as my fantasy angel anymore, I want to get to know the real Brianna.”
There it is. The look. The look I would have paid my life savings, meager as it was, to receive from his brother. He’s looking at me without guile. He wants nothing from me but to get to know me.
I don’t know who’s more dangerous, the sex god who can melt my panties with one hot gaze, or his earnest brother who clearly wants to please me in other ways.
“I’d like to get to know you, too.” I smile openly at him. This twin doesn’t scare me with blatant sexuality like his brother. “What do you want to know?”
“Everything. Tell me about your home planet, your mother, your fathers—your father—it’s hard to think of a father in the singular,” he chuckles. “Tell me about your childhood and your schooling and your work, and your...did you have bondmates back on your planet? Do you miss them?”
“No bondmates, we don’t have that. One female marries one male, and I didn’t have a male.”
He smiles and nods, making no secret this pleases him greatly. I don’t share much about my childhood, it was so mundane, but I fill him in on the life I was leading when I was kidnapped.
“You touched unclothed males for money? Did none of the males in your family object?” he asks in all sincerity.
“It’s an honorable profession. It doesn’t involve sexual behavior.”
“Males disrobe for you and you touch their skin and that’s honorable?” His brow furrows in confusion.
“Do you have female physicians on Mythros?”
He nods.
“Do they touch naked men?”
He shakes his head. “Female physicians for females, males for males.”
“It’s different on Earth. It’s socially acceptable. You say you remember when I was touching you even though you were in a coma. That wasn’t sexual, was it?”
“It would have been if I was a gold.” He spears me with a sincere look.
“What?”
“If it had been Axxios instead of me, I can assure you he would have taken it as sexual.”
I open my mouth to debate that statement, but then snap my mouth closed, knowing he’s right. It doesn’t take much for Axx to turn any situation into a sexual one.
“Well, on Earth it’s an honorable profession.”
He nods, “On Mythros we have birantos, that’s honorable, too.”
Do I have ESP? Because I have a sinking feeling I know where this is going. “Do tell.”
“They have houses of pleasure for golds who’ve lost a mate or weren’t lucky enough to have found one.”
“You’re pissing me off. Stop.”
His brows rise in innocent bafflement.
“You’re being obtuse on purpose. I don’t touch men for money. Well, I do, but not sexually. I didn’t touch you sexually. It’s a completely different thing.”
“I understand.”
I can see by the look on his face he so totally doesn’t. But at least he’s smart enough to shut up.
“You’ve gotten your last massage from me.” My lips are pursed in anger.
“I hope not, Brianna. I don’t have a clear memory of exactly what you did, but what I remember was...wonderful. Maybe you’ll teach me and I can massage you.”
I roll my eyes. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you and Axxios were related—oh yeah, you are,” I joke.
His face becomes serious. “You don’t like Axx. Why?”
“I never said that.”
“You didn’t have to, it’s obvious whenever he’s in the room with you.”
“You’re sick, Braxxus, you’ve barely been awake for two minutes when Axx and I are together.”
“I know what’s obvious, and angels shouldn’t lie.”
Those gorgeous turquoise eyes seem to be looking all the way into my soul. It suddenly strikes me that Braxxus could be more of a threat than his brother. He’s not only handsome, but he’s capable of humor and all sorts of other, deeper emotions. I could fall for this guy, maybe I’m already tumbling for him a bit. And males from his planet don’t do things solo—it’s a family affair.
“I’m not lying,” I lie.
He yawns and his eyes dip to half-mast.
“Get some sleep. Tomorrow’s a
big day, you move into your cabin.”
“Mmm, perhaps you’ll come with me,” his words are slurring, he’s exhausted.
“I already told you I’m not that kind of girl.” Even as I say that a very explicit, XXX-rated picture of the three of us flashes in my mind. Maybe I am that kind of girl, but I’m not going to admit it.
Before I know it, his arm has snaked around my waist and his naked chest is pressed against my t-shirt covered back. His ass is jacked back away from me; there’s no rapey vibe.
“Is this okay, Angel? I just want to hug you. Nothing objectionable,” he adds.
I don’t say anything, but it’s clear I’m not objecting.
His breathing is slow and deep and rhythmic. Me? I’m wide awake. Like two 5-hour energy drinks awake. Every cell in my body is doing a happy dance. I was built to have him pressed up against me like this. Our bodies fit together perfectly. Part of me, that dirty Wanton Brie, is thinking of all the sexy things we could be doing to each other’s bodies right this minute. Her core is lubricating, clutching at itself in desire.
The other me, the uptight, prudish me, feels scandalized that I’d even think such things.
“You awake Brianna? Can’t sleep?” his deep voice rumbles in my ear.
“Nope.”
“I upset you. I’m sorry. I know you’re not a biranto, you’re nothing like that. You’re a good female. I have the utmost respect for you.”
His warm breath is ruffling the hair on the top of my head. Right now I’m wishing he had a little less respect for me. I’m wondering if his lips would feel different than his brother’s, if he would taste different. My heart has speeded up just thinking about kissing him.
“So what about you, Braxx? Did you have a female back on Mythros before you left for the war?”
The muscles in his arm tighten around my waist ever so slightly. I’ve touched a nerve. “I shouldn’t have asked,” I backtrack, “it’s none of my business.”
“That’s not the way it works. Silvers don’t...do that.”
Uh oh. “Silvers don’t do what?”
“Golds rut. Golds rut before they find their bondmate. Silvers don’t.”
“Pretend I don’t know what you’re talking about, Braxx, because I don’t.”
“We explained this yesterday. Golds have an overabundance of male hormones. They couldn’t go without rutting until they find their bondmate. Silvers...don’t.”
Is he trying to confuse me?
“Silvers don’t what?”
“Silvers don’t have those urges.”
Why is my pulse galloping in fear at this thought? Did I finally find a male who likes me only to find out he...doesn’t have those urges?
And if he doesn’t have those urges, why am I feeling soft, tender kisses pressed to the top of my head? And why is the arm pressed against my belly pulling me back further into his embrace?
He dips his head and whispers in my ear, “Don’t worry, Brianna. Everything will work out. It always does.”
Braxxus
One day ago, everyone I knew thought I was going to die. One day ago, I didn’t even know I was alive. And now here I am, pressed against my bondmate. I’ve dreamed of her, this female, as far back as I can remember. I’m completely attracted to her, more than attracted, attached. But she doesn’t know me, and really, I don’t know her. And she fears me. It has something to do with Axx and she won’t tell me. I wonder if he will.
All I know is even though my back is throbbing in pain, my body feels more alive than it ever has.
Chapter Seven
Axxios
My arms are laden with sumra for the three of us, as well as some fatty breakfast meat that Maddie prepared. I’ll admit, I had three slices before I left the dining hall; it was delicious. I’ve left a dozen pieces for Braxx, it will help him put on some weight.
I shoulder my way into medbay and freeze. Braxx is lying pressed to Brianna’s back, his arm around her waist. The same way I used to lie with her when we were prisoners in our cell. I’m instantly hard thinking about the incredible way it felt to sink into her plush body, even as I have a pang of...I don’t know what feeling it is. I’m not supposed to have feelings. Why does my chest hurt to see my twin so close to Brianna when I’m not even allowed to call her Brie?
He thinks she’s an angel...our angel. Of course he does, I knew he would. How could he not? She’s the exact image of the angel on our ceiling. The one we fantasized about when we were kids. The one we imagined would be our bondmate. The one he sketched and painted hundreds of times. The one I’ve masturbated to since I got my first erection.
What if she is our bondmate but I’ve dracked it up beyond repair?
Brianna
Ridiculous. Why do I feel guilty that Axxios barged in and found Braxxus and me spooning in bed? Axx has no claim on me. Besides, his brother doesn’t “have those urges.” Crap, why does that thought make my stomach lurch?
“Breakfast,” Axx announces, then distributes food to his brother and me as soon as we’re sitting up. He puts a plate piled high with some gross, glistening breakfast meat patties on Braxx’s lap. “Eat up, gem. You need to put on some weight.”
“Are you sure these are edible?” Braxx asks as he stares at the meat, his mouth pulled down at the corners.
“Let’s just say that if I wasn’t concerned about putting some weight on you I would have eaten half of them in the hallway on the way here.”
Braxx takes one small bite, then practically inhales the rest of the patty. “Want some, Angel?” He forks a fresh one and offers it to me.
“They look awful, I’ll stick with the sumra. Eat fast. We’ve got company coming.” Great timing, because at that moment Petra barges through the medbay door.
“I’m here for the hair emergency,” she says with a laugh. She holds up her shears and rapidly scissors it.
I’d contacted her last night and asked her to come this morning. Braxx’s shoulder-length hair fell out in patches from his malnutrition and lack of hygiene. It’s as though he’s been through a nuclear holocaust. It makes him look sick and pathetic.
Petra sweeps over to his bed, dumps her tools on the bedside table and focuses her total concentration on Braxx’s head. “Definitely an emergency,” she says as she frowns, inches her head closer to get a better look, and tousles his hair with her fingers.
Braxx is now sliding his hand through his hair. He hasn’t been out of bed since he’s been on board. He certainly hasn’t looked in a mirror.
“I didn’t know there was such a thing as a hair emergency.” His eyebrows have risen high on his forehead.
“Don’t worry, you’re in capable hands,” I reassure him.
“I’ve got you covered, B.” Petra motions for me and Axxios to back away from the bed then grabs a clean flat sheet and ties it around Braxxus's neck to catch falling hair. “Glad you’re back among the living. We were all worried about you. I’m Petra.”
“Greetings and salutations.” Braxxus lowers his head in an attempt at a bow.
Petra is the prettiest of all the Earth women on the ship. If there is such a thing as reincarnation, and if I could put in an order for my next body, it would be hers. She’s five feet, zero inches and petite without being skinny. She’s perfectly in proportion, except for her breasts which are huge on her tiny frame.
She works out a lot and does amazing gymnastic routines on a rope she’s rigged to the high ceiling in the gym. Her face is pretty, although I liked her hair better when it was brown. Her long hair is dyed platinum at the moment.
I glance at Braxxus, wondering where his eyes might be focused, since Petra’s giant boobs are inches from his face as she leans to get a better view of the top of his head. He’s looking expectantly at her face, waiting for her pronouncement.
“I’d hoped you had enough hair to salvage so I could style what was left, but that’s not gonna happen. The best I can suggest is a skull trim.”
Braxx blanches and pulls
back against his pillows. I have no idea how that came across in the subdural translators we all wear, but by the look on his face, I think he’s imagining decapitation.
His fear isn’t lost on Petra. “Don’t worry, big guy. No handsome silver males will be harmed in the process of this haircut.” Her laugh is deep and genuine. Having been on the same tiny ship with her for several months, I know she isn’t flirting. She’s in a serious relationship with Shadow.