by Неизвестный
Hot in Space
It’s not that Kalien doesn’t like his sometimes domineering boyfriend, Damian, because he does. It’s just that he likes his friend and fellow mercenary Alana that way, too. If he wasn’t afraid that one or both of them will be out for his blood if he ever mentions it, three of them could have some fun. Then he accidentally (accidentally, he swears) gets them booted off the planet and everyone knows how boring space travel can get.
Assuming, that is, that your middleman won’t try to set you up and you won’t need to jump around the stars trying to get away from the bad guys. The job they were hired to do suddenly gets very complicated. They need to get to planet Cetriola, get there fast and preferably in one piece. That should be the end of their troubles...hopefully.
Genre: Futuristic, Ménage a Trois/Quatre, Science Fiction
Length: 22,838 words
HOT IN SPACE
Sunny Day
MENAGE AND MORE
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK
IMPRINT: Ménage and More
HOT IN SPACE
Copyright © 2010 by Sunny Day
E-book ISBN: 1-61034-013-2
First E-book Publication: November 2010
Cover design by Jinger Heaston
All cover art and logo copyright © 2010 by Siren Publishing, Inc.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
PUBLISHER
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
Letter to Readers
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HOT IN SPACE
SUNNY DAY
Copyright © 2010
Chapter 1
The bartender eyed him suspiciously as Kalien slipped on the barstool.
“Something I can get you?”
Kalien thought about it. He had plans for later that evening, but they were for later. He had time, so he might as well order something since his expected company wasn’t there yet.
“How about Aurelian juice?”
The bartender nodded. “Coming right up.”
The glass filled with slightly blue liquid, materialized in front of him in a matter of seconds. Kalien took a sip. It had a nice, crisp, slightly bitter taste to it. His raised his eyebrows, then nodded at the bartender.
The drink was good. He shouldn’t have been surprised, despite the fact that the place looked like another low dive in a crowded spaceport. After all, he was here to meet someone, and that someone was notoriously picky about her drinks.
“Haven’t seen you here before,” the bartender added in an offhanded way, busily wiping the bar.
“I haven’t been here before.”
Not that Kalien was a stranger to bars. It’s just that he usually frequented the worst ones.
“Oh?” The bartender’s tone managed to convey polite inquiry. Kalien smiled into his drink. “I’m meeting someone.”
The guy appeared to be satisfied with that. He retreated into the shadows behind the counter, and Kalien returned to his drink.
“Well, well, look who we have here.”
Kalien froze. He knew that voice and wasn’t overjoyed with hearing it again. He had promised his partner that he wouldn’t get into trouble tonight. Governor Carver took a dim view of that, and damn it, he had plans for tonight. They didn’t include a free-for-all fight and eluding a planet’s security force. With a sigh, Kalien set his drink down and turned to face his opponent.
“Not again.”
“Surprised to see me?”
Rand grinned at Kalien, showing all his teeth in a manner that he undoubtedly believed was menacing. His two friends, thugs by the looks of them, were busy leering at Kalien. Neither of them appeared to pay any attention to the bartender, who, Kalien observed from the corner of his eye, was reaching for something under the counter, and he would bet it wasn’t another wiping rag. The buzz of conversation had quieted down. He would bet that every eye in the room was trained on them, no doubt anticipating some late-night fun.
He smiled back. “I beat you last time. Why do you think this is gonna be different?”
“Ah, but your lover isn’t here this time.”
That much was true. But Rand was assuming Kalien was helpless on his own, which was decidedly not true, and Damian would probably have found them if Kalien ended up hurt. And Damian was dangerous.
“No, but I am.” The voice came from behind his back. It was silky and caressing. Kalien smiled, his muscles relaxing. He knew that voice, too.
Rand didn’t. But he wasn’t stupid enough to miss out on all that menace neatly packaged into the five-foot-ten body in its don’t-mess-with-me leather gear. It was actually a rather nice body, Kalien mused, if one were able to look past the badass attitude. Alana preferred it the other way.
Rand scowled at her.
“Who the hell are you?”
The heat on his back and the scent of hot sand, which he learned to associate with his friend, told him Alana was now standing right behind him. She nuzzled his neck, her arms wrapping around him. A gust of hot air teased his collarbone. Kalien shivered. He was pretty sure Alana hadn’t been aiming for that kind of reaction. He leaned into her, not taking his eyes off of Rand and his cohorts.
“His girlfriend.”
“Really? I thought he had a boyfriend.
”
Rand’s tone was nasty, and he looked smug, no doubt hoping to make some trouble for Kalien. Kalien winced. He wasn’t good at diffusing situations. That was more Damian’s forte. Kalien arched his eyebrow at Rand, trying to look casual, but stayed ready. This confrontation wasn’t over yet, and it could turn ugly in a moment.
Alana’s hand came to rest on his thigh suggestively. It didn’t help Kalien’s concentration any. Alana was putting on the show.
“He does. I have them both,” she purred, plastering herself all over Kalien.
Rand’s smile slipped then all the color drained from his face, and he backed up a step. Alana must have smiled, baring her teeth. She had once said to Kalien, “Nothing like a mouthful of fangs to make a man change his opinion.” And she meant it in more ways than one. Privately, Kalien thought her taste in men sucked. Kalien had more than one erotic dream featuring those fangs nibbling at his skin.
Shaking his head, he turned around to face her. Rand and his friends were hastily backing away from the scene. Alana seated herself on the stool next to him and waved to the bartender.
“You are incorrigible.”
“Thanks. I try,” she said in a dry voice. The soft gray leather she wore molded to her body like a second skin. Kalien watched it tighten when she leaned over to pick up her drinks.
“Why do you always get in this kind of situation? Where someone is hell-bent on thrashing you?”
Kalien gave a sheepish shrug.
“It’s a talent.”
“And it’s one you have in abundance. Try to curb it a little, will you? I like this place. I don’t want to end up banned from it.”
She sipped at her drink and sighed in appreciation. The bartender winked at her. Kalien rolled his eyes. It was not like she was one to talk. They had met in a tavern when some idiots concluded that Alana was a safe target to pick. Needless to say, Alana quickly disabused them of that notion. Kalien watched with stunned disbelief then with growing respect as she wiped the floor with them. He joined her for a drink. Alana was wary at first, but she thawed quickly. As she had said, she had to admire the balls of a man who would flirt with a woman who just beat the hell out of two bigger and stronger males.
Like he and Damian, Alana was a mercenary. A rather good and dangerous one, actually. They found out they had quite a lot of shared interests. For instance, they both adored the same so-called Ginsaku plays. Kalien loved them. Damian was totally uninterested in them, which was why he and Alana usually ended up going to them together.
Now they were meeting whenever they happened to be in the same spaceport at the same time. Alana was the one who called him for this one, actually. She had tickets for a play at one of their favorite theaters.
Alana was Andraxi, one of the most infamous predatory races. Half-Andraxi, actually. She never said what the other half was, although Kalien had his suspicions. She had a long, lean body, with pale, milky skin and shoulder-length hair that was an unusual gray color. She was Andraxi trained, which meant that even Kalien couldn’t always beat her in a fight. Why she wasn’t with Andraxi Fleet was another question altogether. She had once confessed to Kalien that she needed to prove herself. She was only half-Andraxi, and they considered every other race below them. They didn’t think she could possibly be as good as they. Alana set out to prove they were wrong.
Alana took another swallow of her drink, licking her lips when she was done, her fangs peeking out beneath full lips. They weren’t so noticeable, being smaller than the usual Andraxi’s, probably because of her mixed blood. Kalien had many fantasies about those fangs nipping on his skin. He sighed, bringing his glass to his lips. Admittedly, he had the hots for Alana for an awfully long time. Hell, who could blame him? He let out a long-suffering sigh. He didn’t know who would kill him first if he acted on that impulse, she or Damian. For Kalien, sex wasn’t complicated. It was supposed to be fun. He certainly wouldn’t mind having them both at the same time. He shifted to accommodate the growing length between his legs. He was painfully hard in seconds, just thinking about Alana covered only with Damian’s deep red hair. He hastily swallowed his drink. No need to go there now.
“I see that Damian let you go alone.”
Alana was always polite enough to include his partner in whatever invitation she sent his way.
Kalien bristled. “You say that like I need a babysitter.”
He could have sworn she was laughing at him. “Occasionally, you do. Witness what almost happened tonight.”
“That wasn’t my fault!”
Kalien hesitated before murmuring in his drink, “And he knew I was going to meet with you.”
In other words, Damian did think he needed a babysitter. Damian also wasn’t exactly pleased to hear whom he was meeting. Kalien wouldn’t have risked his relationship with a lie like that, but he never actually got around to telling his lover how he felt about Alana, which was good since Damian and Alana hadn’t really hit it off. Actually, they were usually at each other’s throats, which was why he didn’t pressure Damian into accompanying him tonight.
Somewhat wistfully, he stared at his drink. He was probably never going to act on those fantasies of his. His brain knew it. His cock, though, refused to receive the message.
“We should go, then.” Alana nodded at the bartender, not bothering to put credits on the counter, which probably meant they knew her here. The alien just nodded, his gaze encompassing Kalien, too. He slid off his seat, ready to follow her.
“Lead on.”
Chapter 2
“That play was awesome.”
Once the show was over, they both headed back to the spaceport, where both their ships resided. It was an interesting play, and they had both enjoyed the evening so much that neither of them was willing to call it a night. They decided to have a drink, but Alana refused to follow him to another bar. Kalien winced and offered a compromise, which was why they were now sitting in the living chambers of Kalien’s and Damian’s ship, Red Star.
Alana stretched with fluid, catlike movements, settling herself more comfortably on the couch. She pushed a stray lock of hair back behind her ear and eyed her half-filled glass. In the dim light of the room, it looked golden and translucent.
“Yeah, thanks for going out with me.”
“Are you kidding?” Kalien flopped down on the couch next to her. “I enjoyed that. God, I can’t possibly go to sleep right now.”
“Me, either. Do you think...” Her voice trailed off.
“Hmm?” Kalien turned his head to see what was wrong.
Damian was leaning on the doorframe, a big, menacing presence. Kalien blinked. It looked like his partner was pissed off big time. The trouble was he didn’t know what caused this. Damian wasn’t in the best mood when he left, but certainly it wasn’t this black.
“Damian,” he said, surprise obvious in his tone.
“I see you two are enjoying yourselves.” He sounded sullen. He ignored Kalien totally, instead crossing his gaze with Alana’s.
“Something like that.” Alana raised one pale eyebrow at him. “Want to join us?” Her voice was awfully sweet.
His good mood evaporating, Kalien sighed. Great. Fucking great. Did they always have to bait each other this way?
Damian slowly removed himself from the frame and crossed into the room. “Why not?”
That was surprising. He expected Damian to exchange a couple of scathing retorts with Alana and go away.
What was not so surprising, Kalien noted with annoyance, was that Damian went to stand just behind him. He pushed his hand into Kalien’s open collar and started massaging his neck.
Alana leaned back into the couch, watching them both intently. Her lips paused on the rim of her glass.
Suddenly uncomfortable, Kalien shifted.
“Stop that.”
“Why? Think your friend would mind?”
Damian’s grip tightened until it became painful. Frowning, Kalien tried to get away, but Damian was having none
of it.
“I mind,” Kalien hissed through clenched teeth.
Damian was still staring at Alana.
“Do you really?” He eased over the couch to kiss Kalien. His fingers clawed at Kalien’s skin until his head tipped and his mouth opened under Damian’s. There was nothing gentle or loving in that kiss. Kalien moaned into Damian’s mouth, desire punching into his belly. He jerked back, pulling out from Damian’s grip.
“I said stop it, and I meant it.”
He glanced at Alana, but his friend appeared unperturbed.
“You are jealous.”
Damian snorted, leaning on the back of the couch.
“What, are you going to tell me you don’t want to fuck him?”
Kalien’s cheeks heated in embarrassment.
Alana gave him a thoughtful once-over. She pursed her lips. “You are right about that. I certainly do.”
Kalien’s head snapped up. She did?
“But,” Alana continued, seemingly unaware of his reaction and still smiling, “I also want to fuck you, too, and watch you two fucking each other.”
Kalien’s mouth went suddenly dry. After the erotic images that were plaguing him off and on during the whole evening, that one sentence was enough to kick his arousal into overdrive. Alana had never said something like that. They are both mine. That was what she had said in the bar to Rand while practically groping him in front of everyone. But that was just to make Rand back down. Wasn’t it? Or had she really thought that?
Next to him, Damian moved a little, drawing his attention. His jaw dropped in shock.
His lover’s breathing was slightly accelerated, and his fingers were digging into the couch’s back cover. It wasn’t that obvious for someone who didn’t know him well. Damian prided himself on his self-control, his every movement carefully executed. His lips curved in a wicked smile. Now who would have thought that?
“Hey,” he said in a soft voice. Damian turned his head to look at him. Kalien rose on his knees so he could put one hand on the back of his neck, pulling him close enough for a kiss. Their breaths mingled. He inhaled Damian’s scent before crushing his mouth against Damian’s. He didn’t hurry, though, letting himself linger on those sweet lips. His tongue slipped in, exploring Damian’s mouth. It was a familiar taste, one that never failed to make him want for more. However, this time he was acutely aware of Alana’s presence next to them. He savored the kiss, prolonging it deliberately.