by Lynn Tyler
“Actually, I focus on more modern history. I teach a class on Earth’s Second World War and another that’s more like a pop culture class…the last twenty years of our history, really.”
She watched in fascination as the men continued to feed each other. The actions seemed almost second nature to them, not at all sexual but just as intimate and just as private. “What about the two of you? Have you always been in the military?”
Kerek swallowed the bite of melon he’d been chewing and held up a shard of chicken for Thantos to eat. “We’re not actually on a military ship,” he explained as he fed Thantos the succulent piece of meat. “The King Jaron is an exploration ship.”
She giggled and chose a slice of kiwi. “The ship is named after the king that’s on board?”
Thantos laughed along with her. “Coincidence, lira. But yes, each of our kings has a star ship named after them. The High King D’Arik is also an exploration ship, and the King Nalan is a warship. But to answer your question, I studied very hard for politics. I’m one of the few Helan males that wasn’t born to be a warrior. Lucky for me, one of my fathers was quite good friends with Jaron’s father, the high king consort at the time, and he allowed me to be educated with the royal children. He even trained me to be an ambassador himself.”
Kerek was picking through the fruit and chose a small, juicy-looking blueberry and dipped it in a creamy fruit dip. He waited until Thantos had opened his mouth before popping the fruit in and licking the cream off his fingers. “I, on the other hand, was born too aggressive. A position in the military wouldn’t have been a good match for me. I have no problem following orders unless we are in some kind of danger. Then I tend to ignore orders and just kind of head into the battle without any thought to my safety. So being a communications officer on an exploration ship is an ideal position for me.”
They talked about their families, their plans for the future, and everything else that people talked about when they were getting to know each other. Finally, the questions that had been burning in her mind were too much. “Why are you feeding each other?” she blurted out.
Thantos smiled softly at Kerek and stroked his chin. “It’s just something we do to feel close. It’s incredibly intimate to feed your mate. We would feed you, too, if you’d let us.”
She warmed at the thought and wiggled a little closer to the two men. She’d pretty much made up her mind about their situation, but she wanted a little more information before she made any commitments. “So, what will the women who are going to Helan now do once they’re on the planet?”
Kerek shook his head when Thantos offered him a grape and leaned back on his elbows, stretching his long legs out so that he was sprawled across the cushions comfortably. He lowered his head to Thantos’s lap and closed his eyes while his mate started to stroke his hair. “Well, they don’t have to do anything if they don’t want to, but I know that several are taking positions in the sciences and in our education system.”
Something beeped in the background, and Kerek sighed as he rolled over and hauled himself to his feet. “Chief Kerek,” he growled into his portable vidscreen.
“Chief, there’s a situation we need you for. Is there anyone in the room with you besides Ambassador Thantos?”
“Yes,” he answered. “We’re with Kim.”
The voice stopped. Kerek looked over at her and shrugged.
Strangely hurt, she pointed the way to her bedroom. “If you close the door, we shouldn’t be able to hear you.”
He nodded and disappeared behind the door.
Thantos leaned forward and took her hand gently. “Don’t worry too much over it.”
Kim frowned, but he tugged her down to cuddle close with him. “Do you have any other questions?”
Thantos’s rich, musky scent flooded her senses, and she found it slightly hard to concentrate. “Were High King D’Arik and Consort Varin serious about allowing all humans sanctuary on Helan? Even the males and the females who don’t want to mate with Helan males?”
“Mmm-hmm,” he answered. “They’re dead serious. There are plenty of positions available on Helan since our population is so low. We need people who have all kinds of skills, and we’re able to clothe, house, and feed anyone who chooses to take us up on our offer. Our planet is big, quite a bit larger than Earth, and there’s room for whoever wants to come. Kerek was supposed to be making the announcement later today and another one in the morning, but with Consort R’oan needing him on board, I don’t know when he’ll want to make the announcement.”
She twisted a lock of hair around her finger and leaned against him. “Are you considering taking up the offer to teach humans on Helan?”
Thantos wrapped an arm around her shoulder so that her full weight was resting against his chest. “I’m not sure. If D’Arik had brought up the position a few weeks ago, Kerek and I would have been back on our way Helan with the next available ship. Now I’m not sure what we’re going to do.”
Hope dared to flare in her chest. “What would stop you from leaving?”
He tugged on the ends of her hair, seeming playful and serious all at once. “You,” he said simply. “Of course, we might not have a choice. D’Arik could order us to come home.”
Her heart dropped. She hadn’t even thought about the fact that her men could be called home at any time.
Her men.
Kerek emerged, frowning so hard lines were carved into his handsome face. Thantos didn’t move, but he did stiffen. “When?” he asked.
“Starting the day after tomorrow,” Kerek replied.
She wasn’t used to being totally confused when her men were talking, and she mourned the loss of her connection with them. “What’s going on?”
“Our intelligence has confirmed that the Jedans have become aware of Earth and have set a direct course. Our warships will make it here and be in position before the Jedans, but High King D’Arik wants us to step up the voluntary evacuation.” Kerek ran his hand through his hair, looking at once concerned and harassed.
Thantos’s arm tightened around her. “The high king wants Kerek to announce the plans immediately and begin the evacuation within forty eight hours.”
Kneeling in front of them, Kerek took her hand and pressed it to his chest, right over his heart. It pounded steadily under her palm, and she flexed her fingers into his heavy pecs. “There’s more, my lira. Thantos and I have been recalled home. I’m to be head of palace communications, and Thantos is to continue his classes on Helan for the human men and women who will be joining us but have not yet mated.”
“You’re leaving?” she whispered.
“We have no choice, Kim. It is our hope that you’ll decide to come with us, but we understand if you don’t want to.”
She opened her mouth to agree to come with them, only to have Kerek place one finger over her lips. “Don’t make your decision yet. Coming with us would mean you leaving your family, your friends, and your career…gods, it means leaving everything you know. And once I begin my post as the head of palace communications, we will not be leaving the planet very often, let alone traveling such a long distance to visit your home planet. Consider your decision very carefully.”
Her eyes misted over, and the tear that fell tickled her cheek. She wiped it away but nodded.
Thantos kissed her forehead and struggled to his feet. “We need to go, but we’ll be hailing you on the vidscreen soon.” He paused and cocked his head. “Look, I don’t want to pressure you, but I need you to know that…well…I’m in love with you. And it’s not anything to do with pheromones or hormones or bonds. It’s all you.”
He kissed her softly, pulling back only to stare into her eyes.
She stared back, getting lost in those beautiful green eyes. Kerek elbowed his way in front of Thantos and cupped her face with both hands. “I’m not good with romance, but I want you to know I feel the same way.” He kissed her, too, his lips sliding over hers passionately.
It was the kind of k
iss one never forgot. The desperation with which he took her mouth rocked her to her core. It told her everything that Kerek couldn’t seem to put into words. It was the kind of kiss that told her that he would walk through the depths of hell for her. Hell, it was the kind of kiss that told her he would do absolutely everything in his power to make sure she knew he loved her.
And it was exactly what she needed. Thantos had been wearing his heart of his sleeve almost since the moment they’d met. She’d known that Thantos truly wanted her in his life, understood that from the second he’d walked in tonight, he’d wanted her to become their mate again.
Kerek was really good at hiding his emotions, and while she knew he wanted her as their mate, she hadn’t been sure if he wanted it for himself or for his mate.
Their lips clung together until Kerek finally pulled away. “Please,” he whispered against her lips.
She heard the plea for what it was and pressed her fingers to her swollen lips. Nodding, she stepped back and let the two men move past her to the door.
Kerek marched out of the door without another look back, his head held high, back ramrod straight. Her poor, strong male was fiercely determined to remain in control of his emotions.
Thantos, on the other hand, paused in the doorway and looked back, his anguish at leaving her etched into his expression. He pressed his fist to his heart and nodded once at her before following Kerek down the hall.
She closed the door behind them and glanced around at her apartment. It was filled with photos, art, books, and papers she still needed to grade from last semester. All the pieces of her life.
She picked up a photo of her parents, who’d passed away in a car accident when she’d been in her early twenties, and clutched it to her chest.
She already knew what her decision was. Now she just had to figure out how to tell Kerek and Thantos.
Chapter 15
The response to his announcement had nearly been overwhelming. Kerek looked at the list and noticed another dozen or so names. Hundreds had signed up to take part in the voluntary evacuation to Helan. Entire families, single parents with their children, and single males and females. They’d even had an entire orphanage sign up to have the children evacuated.
It would be a tight fit, but the additional ships they’d needed for the evacuation had arrived, and they would be able to take everyone who’d signed up with the first wave of ships.
The first of their warships had also arrived and were in place.
Thantos walked into the room, his eyes glazed and bloodshot. He’d been working almost nonstop to organize the evacuation. The logistics of the whole thing had been a nightmare, and his poor mate hadn’t gotten more than two hours of sleep at a time in the last two days. “Come here, talan. Let me hold you for a while.”
His exhausted lover crossed the room and practically fell into his arms. Kerek cradled him close, stroking back his red hair. “Any word from Kim?” Thantos mumbled against Kerek’s chest.
“Yes,” Kerek replied, still stroking Thantos’s hair. “We’re to meet with her at her apartment shortly, if you have the time.”
Thantos sat back and blinked. “For Kim, I’ll make the time.”
Kerek smiled. “I knew you would, which was why I already agreed to the meeting. Have you found guardians for the orphans yet?”
“Yes. It was the easiest part of my job, actually. There are several mated males who are looking forward to being fathers. Most pairs have taken at least two of the children.”
There had been no doubt on anyone’s mind that the human children would be welcomed on Helan, but it warmed Kerek’s heart to know just how easily his fellow Helans were accepting the kids.
Thantos nuzzled into Kerek’s arms again. “Do I have time for a shower?”
“Don’t you need to eat?” he said instead. He frowned as Thantos stood and stretched his long body. It had only been two days, but Thantos seemed to have lost weight already. Or maybe it was just the dark circles emphasizing the hollowed eyes.
Thantos shot him a tired smile and shook his head. “I’m not hungry. Besides, there will be plenty of time for me to eat tomorrow when we’re on our way back to Helan. I want to be clean for when we meet Kim.”
Normally, Kerek would have vetoed the idea and forced Thantos to eat, but he did have a point. Besides, maybe he and Thantos could enjoy the water shower one last time before they had to spend months on the ship with only sonic showers.
He slipped into the bathroom behind his mate and shed his clothes. Pushing back the shower curtain, he stepped into the stall and was instantly enveloped by clouds of steam and the scent of crisp, clean man.
Thantos stood with his back to him, holding his heavy erection with one hand, the other arm propping him up against the slick wall. “Thought you’d start without me, talan?” he said, kissing Thantos’s shoulder and snaking his hand around Thantos’s waist and pushing his hand off his cock.
“Nope, just killing time until you figured out that I wanted you to join me.”
“Oh, that’s nice,” Kerek murmured. “This will be even better.” He wrapped his fingers around Thantos’s long, hard cock and gave it a firm tug.
Moaning, Thantos reached behind with his now free arm and hooked it around Kerek’s neck. Kerek let himself be tugged down until their mouths met in an awkward kiss.
Kerek growled and maneuvered Thantos around so that his back was against the cold tile wall. He pushed his hips against Thantos’s pelvis, wiggling around until their cocks were pressed together, sandwiched between their abs.
Gods, it had been forever since they’d rubbed off against each other. Their pricks slid together, their paths eased by the both the hot water and the even hotter fluid leaking from the tips of both of their pricks.
Closer. He had to get closer. Kerek wedged one hand between Thantos and the shower wall and gripped one firm butt cheek, massaging and squeezing and using his hold to quicken the pace. He slipped the other hand behind Thantos’s head to cradle the scalp and protect Thantos’s head from cracking on the solid tile wall.
Thantos forced his hand between their bodies and snuggled both of their hard cocks in his fist, jacking them off frantically.
Dropping his head, Kerek latched his lips on to the amazingly sensitive patch of skin right behind Thantos’s right ear. He sucked hard, tasting that metallic edge on his tongue that told him he’d sucked the blood right to the surface of Thantos’s skin. There would be a red mark left behind, a mark that would fill Kerek with pride every time Thantos’s hair would swing back, exposing it for anyone to see.
“More,” Thantos demanded, tightening his fist.
Yeah. More. Kerek began pumping his hips, forcing their cocks together faster and faster until Thantos’s eyes closed, and he arched the tendons in his neck, popping as he fought for his orgasm.
It was rough, forceful, passionate, and everything they needed. Heat splashed against his stomach as Thantos cried out.
Gods, Thantos was beautiful in his pleasure. He grunted as his own orgasm raced up on him, spraying seed between the two of them with the force of a jet.
He had to lock his knees in order to keep himself upright. Pressing his chest against Thantos’s and feeling his mate’s heart beating steadily against his helped. “No matter what Kim’s decision is, we’re going to be okay, right?”
Shit, he sounded like a pussy, for lack of a better word. But if you couldn’t be a pussy with your own mate, then who could you be a pussy with?
Thantos didn’t laugh at him, just as Kerek knew he wouldn’t. Instead, he wrapped his arms around Kerek’s ribs and squeezed weakly. Kerek had to smile, realizing the lack of enthusiasm in the hug was due to the fact that his mate had been thoroughly fucked out. “Yes, my talan, we’ll be fine. But let’s hope that Kim has good news for us, yes?”
Kerek nodded and kissed Thantos’s shoulder as he sent a prayer to the gods above.
They stayed in the water until it cooled, and Thantos began t
o shiver. They dried off and dressed, now ready to face whatever Kim might decide. “What time are we leaving to meet with Kim?”
Kerek glanced at the clock on the wall and grimaced. “Five minutes ago?”
Thantos grinned and tugged on his hand. “Let’s get moving then. I have a need to see our Kim.”
Our Kim. Kerek fervently hoped that they would be able to call her that for the rest of their lives.
* * * *
Kim threw the door open before the men could even knock. Nerves were clawing at her stomach, and she’d come pretty close to losing her last meal. Only the fact that she didn’t want to have bad breath saved her from actually getting friendly with the toilet. She’d rinsed her mouth with Listerine anyway, just to be sure. “Hi,” she greeted them, feeling unaccountably shy.
Kerek nodded at her, looking grim and stressed. “Is everything okay?” she asked.
Thantos grabbed her hand and flipped it over to kiss the inside of her wrist. It seemed to be his signature move, and she loved it. “Don’t worry about Kerek, lira. He’s just nervous.”
Kerek? Nervous? “What’s he so nervous over?”
Thantos smiled at her a little and squeezed her hand before letting it go. “We’re both a little nervous over your decision, that’s all.”
She waited until they were both seated on her crappy couch that had been left behind by the previous occupant of her apartment. They looked huge and yummy and the red plaid material of the saggy couch made a perfect backdrop for the two handsome men. Then again, the two men would make any backdrop look perfect.
“So, um…” Suddenly the words that had seemed so sure in her mind got tangled around her tongue, so she settled on small talk for the moment. “Are you guys leaving on the first ship back with the first of the evacuees?”
“We are,” Kerek answered shortly. He seemed angry, but she really didn’t blame him. She knew from her brief connection with him that he disliked not being in control, and he was certainly not in control of this particular situation.