by Olivia Black
"Morning, pet." Gru smiled.
"Good morning."
Gru cupped Eric's face. The male leaned forward while simultaneously pulling Eric toward him and kissed him deeply. His tongue pushed its way into Eric's mouth, kissing him passionately. Eric melted into the male, and his toes curled. He reached out and grabbed the male's arms, holding tight. When he pulled back, Eric licked his lips. Gru rubbed his nose against Eric's and then pressed their foreheads together.
"I wish I could spend the day with you, but I have to go to work."
"Are you leaving Noglion?" Eric asked, trying to keep the disappointment from his voice. Gru was a starship commander. It stood to reason that he would be leaving the planet.
"No," he said. "I'm putting in a request to change jobs."
Eric nodded. He had to admit he was relieved. Eric didn't want Gru leaving him for long periods of time.
"Khaun is going to spend the day with you," Gru continued.
"Okay."
"He's going to take you out to do something fun."
Eric grinned. "Really?"
Gru nodded. "Have a good day, pet."
"You too," Eric said.
The male placed a kiss on Eric's nose before rolling out of bed. Eric stared at the male's backside, watching as he strolled out of the bedroom. With each step he took, Gru's muscles bunched and flexed. When he stepped over the threshold and disappeared from sight, Eric rolled onto his back. He sat up, kicked his legs over the side of the bed, and slid out.
Naked and barefoot, Eric walked out of his quarters and headed toward the kitchen. Khaun was standing in front of the stove, searing thinly sliced pieces of meat. The male glanced up as soon as Eric sat down on one of the barstools.
"Did you sleep well?" he asked.
Eric nodded. "I passed out."
Khaun chuckled knowingly.
The male placed a plate in front of Eric, and Eric started eating. Between bites, he asked, "What are we doing today?"
"Hovercraft riding," the male said with a grin.
Eric wasn't sure what hovercraft riding entailed, but he was willing to give it a try. He really wanted to get involved and learn as much as he could about his new home.
"You're going to love it."
"I'm sure I will," Eric agreed.
He ate quickly, shoveling the food into his mouth. Eric didn't want to waste any time since Khaun was waiting for him. When Eric was finished eating, Khaun picked up his plate and placed it in the sink. Eric slid off the barstool and rose to his feet.
"Are you ready?" Khaun asked, holding out his hand.
Eric nodded, taking the male's outstretched hand.
"Let's go."
Khaun stopped by the front door. He grabbed the leash off the hook and attached it to Eric's collar. Eric still wasn't comfortable with the leash. He stayed by the male's side as they walked down the dimly lit hallway. Khaun led Eric through a series of twists and turns. It felt as though they were moving through a maze. They took a walkway, and soon, Eric realized they were moving at an upward angle.
"Where are we going?"
"I told you, we're going hovercraft riding."
"On top of the planet?"
The male nodded. "Yeah."
Khaun led Eric into an open bay filled with different types of high-tech vehicles. From large starship to small pods, the technology appeared to be retro-futuristic, made of bronze, black iron, and gold. They walked into a large office space located in the flight bay. There was a Noglion male, standing in front of a row of chairs.
"Let's get started," the male said.
Khaun took a seat, and Eric dropped down into the chair beside him.
"Hello, human," he bowed slightly. "My name is Tauv'lf. I'm an instructor and guide. I teach Noglions and non-Noglions how to fly. I also give tours of the planet."
"I'm Eric Wilson."
The male smiled. "It is nice to meet you."
"You too."
The instructor started by going over safety information and instructions on hovercraft riding. He went into detail on the parts of a hovercraft and how to ride it properly. Eric focused on the male, listening to every word. And at the end of the presentation, Eric felt confident that he would be able to ride a hovercraft without too much difficulty.
"The human needs to wear a head covering and face mask," he said, talking directly to Khaun. "And he has to be dressed properly. Otherwise, the suns will burn his delicate skin to a crisp." Tauv'lf shook his head. "We learned that lesson the hard way."
Khaun nodded.
Tauv'lf's eyes shot back to Eric, and he asked, "Do you have any questions, human?"
Eric shook his head.
"Get your pet dressed, Khaun, and then we'll go out for a ride."
Khaun rose to his feet, and Eric did, as well. The male removed Eric's leash before walking over to a wall of cubbies. Khaun placed the leash on a shelf, grabbed a pile of folded clothes, and returned to Eric's side. He helped Eric to get dressed in layers of brown-toned clothing along with a pair of boots, a leather helmet, and a pair of goggles.
When Eric was dressed, they walked out of the room. Tauv'lf strode in front of them, leading them to a row of hovercrafts. Eric was a little surprised that the bikes were hovering off the desert floor, but after leaving Earth and traveling through space to Glecerus, he realized that nothing was impossible. Eric inspected the vehicle, running his eyes over the sleek lines of the hovercraft.
"Are you ready to ride?" Khaun asked him.
Eric nodded. "Yeah." Truth be told, Eric was a little nervous, but he wasn't going to let the fear of the unknown stop him.
"Take your time to get acquainted with the hovercraft. We won't leave until you are ready."
"Okay."
Khaun sighed before adding, "Gru will kill me if you get hurt."
Eric smiled. "I'll be careful. I promise."
"Climb on," Khaun said.
"Okay."
He climbed on the hovercraft. Reaching out, Eric put his hands on the handgrips. Eric sat there for several minutes, looking at the controls before pushing a series of buttons and starting the engine. He pulled the clutch lever and brake lever, testing them. His left hand worked the clutch as his right hand pulled back on the throttle. Eric's right foot changed gears, and his left foot hovered over the foot brakes, just in case he needed to use it.
Tauv'lf revved the engine on his craft, applied some gas, and pulled the vehicle away from the group of hovercrafts. Eric took a deep breath, steadying his nerves before following after the male. Khaun maneuvered his bike, pulling beside Eric. Eric knew the male wouldn't leave his side. It gave him a bit of strength of this adventure.
Eric stopped his hovercraft in front of a large door. It didn't take long for the door to open. Made of several jointed panels, it rolled up on metal tracks, showing the outside world. A gust of scorching hot wind blew in along with dirt and sand. At this moment, Eric was grateful for the clothes. The layer of material would protect him from the elements.
"How do you feel?" Khaun asked.
Eric glanced at the male. "I'm good."
Tauv'lf drove out of the flight bay, and Eric pulled back on the throttle. His eyes widened as the hovercraft accelerated, gliding smoothly over the desert floor. It was a smooth progression as he changed gears. Riding the hovercraft sent a rush of exhilaration through Eric. It was exciting and wild and thrilling.
Since the Great War on Earth, they used horses and wagons for transportation. They didn't have any of the high-tech vehicles that the aliens possessed.
Eric glanced around, taking in the sights of Noglion. When he'd first arrived, Eric didn't really get the chance to look around. He'd never seen so much open space. The desert planet had two suns, sitting high in the sky, above the scorched surface.
The landscape was scattered with sand dunes, mountains, and canyons. And there were a lot of different types of alien plant life so he assumed that there was a water source somewhere nearby. Off in the distanc
e, Eric spotted towering bare peaks, flat-topped rock formations, and smoothly polished canyons.
As he flew over the desert floor, the wind blew against him. It was hot. It was so hot that Eric had difficulty breathing. The suns' heat burned everything it touched. But the feeling of being on the bike was freeing. For the first time in a long time, Eric felt truly alive. Eric threw his head back and shouted, laughing as he picked up speed.
A few spiny trees gave way to sand and gravel. There were vast stretches of nothing. But the scenery soon changed, giving way to plants and animal life. Little critters ran across the ground, scurrying to different shady spots.
After about a half-hour, they came across quaint little dome-shaped houses that looked like igloos made out of stucco. The homes were tanned-colored, blending into their surroundings, and spread over a wide mountain plateau.
"Who lives out here?" Eric asked, glancing over at Khaun.
Eric didn't think he would be able to survive living in the heat. As it was, Eric wasn't sure how much longer he would last riding the hovercraft. He was starting to feel dizzy and dehydrated and uncomfortable.
"Some Noglion people enjoy living off the land."
Eric arched a brow. It seemed impossible to live under these conditions. "Why on top of a mountainous plateau rather than in the shade of the valley?"
Khaun grinned. "Rain," he simply said.
Eric had to admit that he was intrigued. Even though Noglion was a desert planet, the people seemed to have access to a lot of water. Rain. Did that mean that Noglion had a rainy season? Did it rain enough to flood the valley? Is that why the dome-shaped homes were built on top of the mountain?
Chapter Fourteen
Khaun rode his hovercraft by Eric's side. He watched the young man closely, looking for any signs of distress. If anything happened to Eric, Khaun knew that Gru would remove his hide with a sharp blade. At first, Eric looked apprehensive, but after a little while, the young man relaxed and started to get comfortable on the hovercraft. Eyes wide behind the goggles, he turned his head side to side, looking at Noglion with interest.
If Finn saw Eric, Khaun knew his brother wouldn't be able to deny his desires for the human. Eric was irresistible. Khaun was trying to work out a plan. He needed to get Eric in the same room with Finn without it looking like a set-up. The conditions had to be perfect. Otherwise, Finn might not be friendly, and it could ruin any future relationship he might have with Eric.
Shaking his head, Khaun pushed thoughts of Finn away. There was plenty of time to figure it out later. For now, Khaun needed to stay focused on Eric. This was their alone time, and he hoped to build a strong bond with the young man.
Tauv'lf slowed down, pulling his hovercraft beside Khaun's. "We should head back," he said. "Humans don't do well when exposed to these conditions for too long. The heat isn't good for them."
Khaun nodded in understanding.
Tauv'lf was a trained instructor and guide. Through his job, Tauv'lf had experience with humans. And his younger brother, Dhikk, was a doctor. Khaun trusted the male.
He didn't want to do anything that might hurt Eric. Gru told him that their pet was fragile. Khaun needed to be careful. He needed to make sure that Eric stayed safe while in his care. If anything happened to Eric, Khaun would never forgive himself.
Tauv'lf took the lead, turning them around, and they headed back to the flight bay.
Khaun pressed the brakes when they reached the closed door. Several secure locks disengaged, and the doors slid open, granting them entrance into the bay. Lifting his foot off the brake, the hovercraft slowly eased inside the flight bay. Once all their vehicles had cleared the door, it closed behind them and the locks engaged once more. Khaun parked his bike, cut the engine, and climbed off.
He glanced at his pet. Eric stumbled, almost falling to the ground. Khaun reacted quickly. Rushing to the human's side, he reached out and caught the young man, wrapping his arm around Eric's waist to keep him upright.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
Eric blinked several times. He appeared dazed but nodded.
"It's the heat," Tauv'lf said. The male grabbed a bottle of liquid and handed it to Khaun. "He should drink this. It will stabilize the electrolytes in his body."
Khaun removed the lid and lifting the bottle to Eric's lips, tipped it back, forcing the contents into the young man's mouth. Eric drank in big gulps, downing the liquid.
"Humans really can't stand the heat, can they?"
Tauv'lf shook his head. "They aren't strong enough to be above ground for long periods of time. Their bodies can't handle the extreme weather that we have here on Noglion."
When Eric was finished drinking the electrolyte-infused beverage, Khaun helped the young man back to Tauv'lf's office. He stripped Eric, removing the dust-covered clothing, and dropped the material to the floor. Once Eric was naked, Khaun reattached the leash to the collar. Khaun wrapped one arm behind Eric's back and hooked his other arm behind the young man's knees. He lifted Eric up into his arms, cradling the human against his chest.
Khaun strode out of the office. He gave a nod of thanks to Tauv'lf before leaving the flight deck. Khaun kept a firm hold on his pet as he headed back home. It didn't take long for Eric's breathing to slow and change, signaling that he'd fallen asleep.
Glancing down at the young man, Khaun smiled. The hovercraft ride combined with the heat must've exhausted the human. When he got home, Khaun lifted his hand and pressed it against the wall. The door slid open. Khaun stepped over the threshold. He strode over to the sitting area and sat down.
Khaun held Eric on his lap. He stared down at the human, watching him sleep. He looked so peaceful that Khaun didn't want to accidentally wake him by laying him down on his bed. Khaun sat in the main living area, reclined back with Eric cradled in his arms.
He took the opportunity to study the young man closely. Khaun stared down at the young man cuddled against his chest. Eric was beautiful with his golden-colored curls fanning out around his face. Reaching out a shaky hand, Khaun carefully ran a fingertip over the young man's cheek, across his plump lips, and down his chin and neck. Eric was soft, softer than anything Khaun had ever touched before.
He's mine. He's my pet. Khaun still couldn't believe it. The beautiful human in his arms belonged to him.
His gaze dropped lower, his eyes looking over every curve and dip. Eric's body was lean, yet muscular. Khaun's eyes zeroed in on the muscles on either side of the young man's groin, which formed a "V" and dipped down to his soft cock, tucked neatly between his thighs. Khaun licked his lips. He hadn't tasted his human pet, not yet anyway.
Khaun sighed. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes, resting as he held his pet.
An hour or two later, the front door slid open. Khaun lifted his head and watched as his brother Gru stepped over the threshold. As soon as the other male saw Khaun holding Eric, he strode over. A look of concern marked the male's brow. Gru dropped down to his knees. He reached out, petting Eric's head.
"Is he okay?"
"We went hovercraft riding today," Khaun told him, his voice barely a whisper.
He glanced up, taking his eyes off their human pet. "Did he get hurt?"
Khaun shook his head. "When we returned from the ride, Eric was disoriented. Tauv'lf said that humans can't be exposed to the heat for long periods of time. But don't worry. He drank something to help with his electrolytes and fell asleep on the way home. I was going to put him in bed, but I didn't want to wake him. Besides"--he smiled--"I like holding him."
"We have to be careful with our pet, Khaun. He's fragile. It's our responsibility to make sure he stays safe."
Khaun nodded. Compared to Noglions, humans were fragile.
"I was going to suggest that we go out tonight, but it might be better to stay home."
"Let's take Eric out."
Gru shot him a pointed look. "Do you really think that's a good idea?"
Again, Khaun nodded.
He didn't
want to wrap Eric up in layers of blankets or keep him locked inside their home. That wouldn't be fair to their pet. The look on Eric's face while they were out riding told Khaun that the young man liked adventure and needed excitement to thrive.
Gru sighed. He pushed Eric's hair off his forehead and placed kisses on the young man's lips, the tip of his nose, and both cheeks. Their human pet moaned. He arched his back and shifted. Lifting his balled fists, the human rubbed his eyes.
"How are you feeling, pet?" Gru asked, the tone of his voice low.
Eric yawned. "I'm good."
"Did you have fun with Khaun today?"
He nodded. "Uh-huh."
The young man sat up, but he didn't move from Khaun's lap. Instead, the human merely adjusted his position and reclined back against Khaun's chest. Khaun wrapped his arms around Eric, holding the young man. He moved his hands, petting and caressing his skin as Eric and Gru talked.
"Would you like to go out tonight? Dinner and a game of kokboru?"
"Kokboru?" Eric said, confusion evident in his voice. "Are you talking dirty to me?"
Gru chuckled. The male placed another kiss on Eric's lips before rising to his feet in one smooth motion. "Kokboru is a popular sporting event here on Noglion. Why don't you take a bath? We'll leave when you are ready."
Eric nodded his head, and the strands of hair tickled Khaun's chest. Gru held out his hand to Eric, but Khaun refused to let the human go. Keeping Eric in his arms, Khaun stood up.
"I'll take him to the bathing chamber."
Gru nodded.
Without another word, Khaun strode across their shared living quarters, heading toward the bathroom. He didn't bother removing his loincloth. Instead, Khaun took the stairs, wading through the warm water and took a seat on the bench. Khaun enjoyed having Eric close. Now that he knew what it felt like, Khaun couldn't imagine letting go.
Eric groaned. "The water feels so good."
They fell into a comfortable silence, neither of them filling the empty space with meaningless words. After several minutes, Eric turned and looked up at him.
"I've been wondering...how does a desert planet like Noglion have easy access to water?" Eric asked.