In Case Of Emergency Break Fourth Wall (The Messenger Archive Book 3)

by DC Bastien

  "Kip, please?"

  "Don't worry," he said, fingernails scraping down over his flanks, down to his hips. "Get on the bed."

  Ithon nodded, his expression somewhat dazed. He waited until Kip moved enough to let him past, walking on slightly wobbly legs. Kip admired his ass and waited for him to sit down on the edge of the bed, clearly not sure what to do next. He looked so lost and confused that it sort of hurt. Ithon rarely let his guard down this much, rarely let anyone see him weak, and it was almost worrying as well as humbling. Kip dropped to kneel in front of him, kissing him again as his hands gently prised his legs apart. Ithon spread them willingly, letting Kip kneel closer to him.

  A palm over his crotch revealed he was interested, which helped. If he wasn't, Kip would just have kept kissing him. Either until he got interested or until they got tired of kisses and graduated to just cuddling. He knew Avery had to be feeling pretty destroyed right now, so he wanted to make him feel good about this, if nothing else.

  Ithon had thrown an arm over his face, now, his speech turned into low growls and whines and hisses as he tried to grind into that palm, into the heel of his hand. His other arm went back and into the pillows, knotting into the soft fabric and holding on as he arched like a drawn bow. Kip took mercy on him and unfastened belt and zip with his right hand, the left still kneading over his groin. When they were unfastened enough he took the waistband and belt in both hands and tugged them down to tangle around his knees.

  "Kip..."

  "Bend your knees," he instructed, waiting for him to oblige before he could (awkwardly) pull the clothes the rest of the way free. Now he was just in his open shirt and waistcoat. And boots. Still in the boots. That wouldn't do for half of what he wanted, so he summarily removed those, too.

  "You don't have to—"

  "I want to, you idiot. Now shut up already. I meant it. No matter what happened before, you belong here, now. Whenever you want to be. For as long as you want to be."

  Ithon had to be far gone, because he didn't even fight that offer this time. Instead he nodded, then pulled his heels onto the edge of the bed when Kip started biting the insides of his thighs. He ignored his cock and balls completely to begin with, stroking the backs of his legs and nibbling around the muscular inner parts of his legs. Feet locked behind his head and he dipped his head to kiss over his belly and then down to that strong, musky place between his legs. He breathed in deeply and then licked over his full balls, pulling them left and right with his tongue before letting them fall back to the centre. His cock rose valiantly above them, begging for attention it wasn't getting.

  Kip made his tongue a firm little spear, stabbing around and over his balls and then ducked his head lower. He hadn't run his tongue behind his balls before, just his fingers, so Ithon yelped and jumped when he did. A pat to his hip and the other man relaxed enough to let him do it again. He licked more firmly this time, his tongue stealing to run around over the tight ring of his hole. Ithon whined like a puppy, trying to squirm away from and into the touches all at once. A hand around his cock to stroke, trying to get his attention elsewhere but that seemed to make it worse.

  "Kip would you just... would you just fuck me please?"

  A snort and a roll of his eyes. "Alright, Mr. Greedy. You gonna toss me the lube?"

  That got him moving. Ithon rolled over onto his front to crawl up the bed, giving him a very nice view of his ass and balls on the way, and fumbled in the beside cabinet for the lube. Kip shucked off his own clothes in a rush, watching as Ithon finally took the shirt and waistcoat off, too. He grabbed at some pillows, putting them under his hips and settled onto all fours: elbows bent, ass in the air. How could he resist an offer like that?

  "You sure you—?"

  "I said fuck me. I even said please."

  "Well, you did ask nicely, I guess..." He grabbed the lube bottle and poured some onto his hand, swirling it around with his fingers until it warmed enough. He rubbed over his hole until Ithon was fisting the sheets, then slipped his middle finger in. The two either side teased over the taut skin as he fucked him carefully with that single digit.

  "Fuck."

  "We're working on it."

  The second finger went in just as easily as the first. He might be wound up, but Ithon was always ready to trust him with this. Always had been. It was a little tighter moving the two in, and he kissed low over his back. Ithon rocked on his hands and knees, moving with each thrust of those digits inside. When he was ready for the third he spread his legs a little wider, his shoves more blatant. Kip took the hint and slid the third finger in, spreading them inside him. He loved watching them vanish into his body, loved the sounds he made as he swallowed them whole.

  "Please." Almost begging, now, and he thought he saw the corners of his lover's eyes glistening.

  Vadim nodded, pulling his hand out. He moved to kneel between his thighs, a hand on his cock to hold it steady. A few shallow, easy rocking back and forth and then he guided just the tip inside. Even though he was more than prepared, Ithon still hissed. Kip paused at that until Ithon shook his head and shoved backwards in a silent request. Alright. One arm looped around his waist, the other on the bed for balance, he started to slide in and out of him. Ithon choked something wordless out, sinking onto his arms and just... surrendering.

  Kip went faster, faster, as fast as he could go. It didn't matter so much how it felt for him (which was pretty damn amazing anyway), it mattered to chase those tears from his eyes. Or – if he had to cry – at least turn them happy. He kissed between Ithon's shoulders and whispered that he loved him, he always had, he always would. He'd never said it before. Not... really. But he meant it, he did. Ithon nodded, not replying with words, but he didn't need to. He reached a hand below them and started to stroke himself off. His hand was jerky and fast, and Kip knew he was close. Another kiss and he put one hand over the back of his lover's neck to hold him down so he could ride him faster. Faster, harder, hardest. Ithon was all but sobbing and Kip... it hurt. It hurt in his chest and it wasn't... it...

  "I love you," he said, again. "I love you so much, you arr– arrogant man, I..."

  Nodding. Nodding, and then Ithon tensed around him with a wordless cry. He felt the shudders rocking his body and smelled the sharp scent of release. Ithon was crying openly, and Kip only needed two more thrusts to spill deep inside of him. A breath. Two. And then he rolled them forcibly onto one side, curling around him like a giant, Human-shaped blanket.

  "It's okay," he told him. "It's okay."

  But Ithon wouldn't reply.

  ***

  Chapter Twenty – Mission: Cushion

  There was no real need to be at the helm. They were moored on the Whale and Mes knew to alert her pilot when they got close enough to the Coriolis. Saidhe knew that. She knew it, and still she couldn't keep her eyelids closed. Hleen slept more than anyone else did, but she just...

  Every time she tried, she was right back in that room. Dark, vibrating and unsure where they were, or what was happening. The smell of the horrid not-food and the throbbing ache in her temple from the blow to her head. It was ridiculous, but she just didn't feel safe in her room. Out here, she could distract herself with the lights and controls, even if she wasn't going to touch any. Occasionally she pulled up reports, too head-tired to watch or read anything distracting. Maybe she should put some quiet music on, but even that felt like a step too far.

  Normally she tried to not-sleep in her chair. It was supposed to help with your sleep cycle if you kept your bed for bed, and your other places for awake. She doubted she'd ever actually fall asleep when flying, but it would be bad practice if she ever did.

  "Would you like some company?" Mes' calm voice asked.

  "I... no. I don't want to bother anyone." Biann would most likely be asleep. The Judge, too. Neither of them ever seemed to have difficulty sleeping. The Captain and the Enforcer were likely... busy. Kre might be up as Sianar barely slept, and Loap... she had no clue. But she didn't
want Kre to feel guilty about her ridiculous flashbacks because she had enough to worry about. She'd just lost her father and renounced a throne, she didn't need a cranky, sleep-deprived Hleen grouching at her.

  Then there was Loap. She didn't know how he was handling this. She didn't know if he kept remembering it and flinching, or if he was fine with it. Loap never telegraphed his mood and even less often talked about it. He could be ripping himself into two and no one would even know.

  "Loap is awake," Mes said, even more softly.

  "You spying on him?"

  "I do not 'spy', but I do... watch. In a helpful manner," the AI said. "His vitals show some minor distress, similar to yours. I believe he would enjoy your company."

  "I – are you just saying that?"

  "I am not."

  Saidhe looked at the panels a little longer, then sighed overly dramatically. "Okay. Ask him if he wants—?"

  "He already consented."

  "When did you ask?"

  "Not long ago. He is expecting you."

  "You're an ass at times. What if I said no?"

  "You were not going to refuse, Saidhe."

  The Hleen got up, grumbling under her breath. She traipsed the short distance to his quarters and knocked. Inside, Loap was... wow. Okay. His eyes looked almost sunken, his claws tapping nervously.

  "Hey," she said, softly.

  "Am I disturbing you?"

  Saidhe began to wonder if Mes was actually prompting her for his sake, rather than vice versa. She shook her head and ducked inside, taking the second hammock he normally used as a day seat. "Nah. All that rest in the dark messed with my sleep-cycle, you know?"

  "Surely you should therefore be resting to recover?"

  "Tried. I'll try again later."

  He nodded, and his claws started to scratch over the back of one hand again. She got up and gently pulled them apart. When he looked up at her in confusion, she pulled a string from her headscarf and placed it in his hands.

  "Tho?"

  "This one is for worrying," she said. "We carry some for... times when we feel distressed. You play with the beads, move them up and down."

  "I've never seen a Hleen do that."

  "We don't tend to do it in public. We all have strings we use for it, when we're distressed, but we tend to go somewhere private. Or we keep them in a pocket so no one can see we're playing with it out of sight."

  "I do not know why I cannot sleep." Loap didn't look at her when he said that, his forked tongue tasting the air very, very briefly. "I have tried. I know I am here, in my room. I know I am safe aboard our ship. But I cannot... I cannot relax."

  "Would it help if I took the other hammock?" she suggested. "Then you're not alone. And it doesn't matter if you don't sleep, or I don't sleep. Even if we just try to relax and maybe talk... it could help?"

  "You would... do that?"

  "Hey, I was at the helm because I couldn't sleep."

  "...that would likely not help, Tho-Saidhe."

  "No, it didn't." She kicked her feet up into the hammock, pillowing her head behind her. It wasn't the ideal kind of bed for a Hleen, but she'd slept on much, much worse.

  "You really are a good friend," he said.

  "Thank Mes. She's the one who told me to come."

  "You are both welcome," the AI told them. "And you need not worry. I am monitoring the Whale and our position."

  "Mes, you're a doll," Saidhe said, blowing a kiss to the ceiling.

  "Only for my crew."

  ***

  [Ashroe: So I got the confirmation about the hotel room.]

  [Sianor: !!!]

  [Ashroe: I mean, I'd booked and everything, but they sent me the welcome stuff.]

  [Sianor: Oh, oh, I meant to ask something.]

  [Ashroe: Shoot.]

  [Sianor: Should I pack my bathing suit?]

  [Ashroe: Whatever floats your boat.]

  [Sianor: I meant because there's a pool. And you're here before the con.]

  [Ashroe: Ohh point. Wait, do they also do like, spa treatments there?]

  [Sianor: I think so. Let me check their website again.]

  [Sianor: Yes!]

  [Ashroe: In that case: hells to the yes. We are getting backrubs.]

  [Sianor: Backrubs! I am so looking forward to that.]

  [Ashroe: And also facials. I would say manicures, but it might look weird with the cosplay.]

  [Sianor: And my boobs won't? Dude, we're going to be pretty obviously female.]

  [Ashroe: Point. Oh! They do a couples massage. We could get that.]

  [Sianor: Is it really nice to have mud on you? Isn't it, like, super drying?]

  [Ashroe: I haven't had the mud ones before, but I have had, like, scrubs and stuff. But I guess they put moisturising things in it. They don't take you into the garden and roll you around in the flower bed.]

  [Sianor: I guess. I'm such a noob.]

  [Ashroe: I will induct you in the sacred rites of being pampered.]

  [Ashroe: There will also be fluffy robes. Fluffy robes and your hair up in those towel things on your head like you're some kind of latter day Egyptian pharaoh.]

  [Sianor: You don't have the hair for that.]

  [Ashroe: Then I will put a cone on my head and construct an elaborate headdress around the cone.]

  [Sianor: Now I'm imagining you going for the scalp massage and they unwind the towels to find the cone.]

  [Ashroe: And things I kept inside the cone, too.]

  [Sianor: Like... what?]

  [Ashroe: I don't know. A small colony of bats?]

  [Sianor: Wouldn't they be uncomfortable in the cone?]

  [Ashroe: I'd make sure there was still a breathing hole. They'd be trained head-bats.]

  [Sianor: Okay. Can we also get room service?]

  [Ashroe: If we don't get a man coming up with a weird little trolley and those silver dish things then why are we even in a hotel?]

  [Sianor: That reminds me – don't ask – but Dad finished the ship!]

  [Ashroe: SHOW ME.]

  [Ashroe: *heavy breathing*]

  [Sianor: Okay... here.]

  [Ashroe: That is the cutest thing I have ever seen in my life. Wow. I mean, he's even painted it.]

  [Sianor: I spent ages on screencap sites and looking at the promotional hi-res stuff for reference. He's really particular about getting details perfect.]

  [Ashroe: You know, if he'd been born a few years later, he might well be an active fan?]

  [Sianor: He still might. I think he'd avoid places he knew I was hanging around, but I could see him getting hooked on meta and crafting stuff. He already loves watching how-to videos on making models and costumes and replicas and stuff.]

  [Ashroe: Sobs, my future father-in-law is a fanboy.]

  [Sianor: Yep!]

  [Ashroe: Kids... this is when Granddad invented a new subset to the entire fandom. Thanks to him people make scale replicas of ships and make them fly...]

  [Sianor: Fly?]

  [Ashroe: That's the next evolution. Find a way to make a lightweight shell and add it to a little toy helicopter or something. Or even just little ground based robots. And then battle them or race them or something.]

  [Sianor: Don't tempt him.]

  [Ashroe: I WANT MY FIGHTING ROBOTS. They don't have to be giant. But I want them.]

  [Sianor: My dad is going to love you.]

  [Ashroe: I am eminently loveable. I am, indeed, adorable.]

  [Sianor: You know I'm not going to sleep the entire week before you get here. And then when you do, I will likely manage to hug you and then fall asleep on you.]

  [Ashroe: Gee, thanks. Just what I want.]

  [Ashroe: I will be jet-lagged and fabulous, of course.]

  [Sianor: You are always fabulous.]

  ***

  "Last chance to change your mind," Vadim said, glancing between the two other Humans.

  "I'm not going to. I've had ten years to regret letting him get away. If this is the only way, then we do it," Ithon rep
lied.

  "And I'm a little bored of being officially dead," Peters added. "If nothing else, it's ruining my pension options."

  "We're unhooking from the Whale in three, two, one..." Saidhe let go of the clamps, firing the impulse engines very gently so as not to injure the Whale, but break from synchronous travel.

  "Alright. Judge... you want to put him in irons, or am I?"

  Ithon actually growled. "There's no need for cuffs. I'm co-operating, remember?"

  "You might change your mind and make a run for it," Kip said, rolling his eyes. "Not to mention you're a dangerous criminal. And we need to keep up the pretence."

  "Could you please keep your twisted sex games behind locked doors, Captain?" Saidhe asked.

  "It is not a sex game! We already – okay, too much information," he said, at the glower from the cheap seats. "Fine. I won't restrain the dangerous lunatic. But when he goes crazy and... and... you know, what would you even do if you lost your head?"

  "Date a mob-boss psychopath, breaking rules and ethical codes, then conceal it for ten years?"