No Remedy

by Christine d'Abo

  Byron set a slow but even pace, and glanced over at Alec. Their eager voyeur matched his own strokes to Byron’s. Even from across the room, Byron could see the tip of Alec’s cock leaking pre-cum at a generous pace.

  “Look at you.” Byron’s whisper was harsh in the space between them. “All hard and ready to fucking blow. I’d bet you’d come all over your hand right now if I told you to. Wouldn’t you, Alec?”

  He didn’t have to do any other prodding to get Alec to nod.

  “Yes.”

  “Good boy. She’s so wet. I bet you can hear my hand pumping into her.” Byron smacked Mace’s ass hard. “Don’t move, Mace.”

  “Bry, please.” Mace bucked her hips, practically forcing her mound into his nose. “Let me come.”

  “No.” Another smack. “I’m not done with my fun. The two of you will come and run back off to your lab and leave me alone. So no, you’re not allowed to come. Yet.”

  Not one to punish himself, Byron leaned in and sucked her clit into his mouth again. When she tightened around his fingers, he pressed harder against the front wall. Cream flowed down his hand and along his wrist. Gods, she was ready.

  Without giving her any warning, Byron rose to his feet, letting her leg fall to the ground with a thump, and held her against the wall. Capturing her mouth in a searing kiss, he yanked open his pants and shoved them down just enough to get his cock out.

  “I’m going to fuck you, baby. I’m going to pound into your sweet cunt until you’re screaming. And once you’ve come, I’m going to pull out and come all over you. Then if Alec boy is very lucky, I’ll let him come too.”

  “Stop fucking talking and get on with it,” Alec bit out.

  Byron knew when not to push his luck. Instead, he lifted Mace up, cupping her ass with his hands, and impaled her on his shaft. Grinding his teeth to keep from crying out at the perfection of her tightness, he slammed into her at an unrelenting pace.

  Mace dug her nails into the back of his neck and shoulder, trying to match his rhythm. With her every downward thrust, he was taken deeper into her body. If she kept that up, he wouldn’t last long at all.

  He knew it wouldn’t take much to push Mace over the edge, not after all his teasing. Shifting so his body pinned her still, he reached down and pressed her clit with his thumb, circling her tip after every thrust.

  “You’re gorgeous and you don’t even realize it. Do you?” He buried his face against her neck, letting her hair caress his skin. “Every man who’s ever met you has wanted to fuck you, and I doubt you even noticed.”

  She shook her head, rolling it back and forth against the wall.

  “It’s true. Even Alec wanted to fuck you.” Byron pulled back and was rewarded by the sight of Alec down on his knees, panting hard, his hand flying over his cock. Byron increased the pace of his thrusts once more, not bothering to hold himself in check any longer. “If I gave him the word, he’d walk over here and take you right now. But I won’t. I want you to come now. Right now.”

  Mace tensed, her face contorted, and a scream escaped her as she came. Byron felt every flutter of her muscles around his cock, drawing his orgasm to the point of inevitability. Letting her legs go, he pulled out, stroked his cock twice, and shot cum across her stomach. The pleasure was so intense, his body froze for a moment, then relaxed all at once. He collapsed against Mace with a muted groan, pinning her to the wall as they both panted.

  “Wow,” she whispered.

  “Yeah.” Byron turned his attention back to Alec, whose hand was practically a blur as it moved over his shaft. How Alec had kept himself from coming, Byron hadn’t a clue. He was clearly desperate.

  “Come for me, Alec.”

  Almost before the sound of Byron’s voice died on the air, Alec threw back his head and screamed. Moments later he slumped to the ground, an exhausted, sticky mess. The look on his face was one of utter contentment.

  When his knees began to quiver from the strain of keeping upright, Byron shifted Mace around until he was able to slide down to the floor, arranging her so she sat cradled on his lap, facing Alec.

  It was odd how peaceful, almost normal, this felt to him. Sure, he and Alec had shared lovers in the past, but with Mace it was different. She was practically a buffer for the tension that had risen since their arrival. As much as he would be able to start things up with Alec once they’d solved whatever issues he had, Byron wasn’t an idiot. It was going to take a lot more than a few quick fucks to fix what had gone wrong.

  Alec finally opened his eyes again, a half smirk on his lips. “Well, that was a bit unexpected.”

  Mace chuckled as she adjusted her head on Byron’s shoulder. “We more than needed the break.”

  “That’s what I’m here for, kids. Useless with the science crap, but more than able to screw the tension out of you.”

  “Don’t.” Alec shook his head, stretching his legs out to their full length but not bothering to tuck his cock back in his pants. “You’re more than a bounty hunter, bodyguard, or a convenience fuck. I hate it when you do that.” The last was little more than a mutter.

  Byron knew he shouldn’t antagonize Alec, especially since he was trying to win the other man over—but this was another old argument. Tipping Mace’s head back so she could see him, he rolled his eyes for effect. “Alec’s of the impression I’ve got more in my head than I do.”

  “Who’s saying you don’t?” She scrunched her face in what Byron was sure she meant as a scowl; it came across as more of a pout. “I very much doubt anyone can be the head of the guild without having a certain degree of intelligence.”

  “You’re as bad as Alec.” Pushing her gently aside, he stood and fixed his clothing. “What I do is completely different from what the two of you can do. No comparison.”

  Alec snorted. “Byron, you know that—”

  “How’s that antidote coming along?” He knew he was close to yelling, but he wasn’t in the mood to have his life put under a microscope at the moment. “Any closer to saving Mace’s friend?”

  Mace stiffened as Alec’s gaze darted between the two of them. She got up and quickly gathered her clothing. “We were getting closer, but there are still some issues with cellular degradation.”

  “That’s what I came to tell you.” Alec followed suit and tucked his now soft cock away. “I think I might have discovered a way to boost the potency of the compound without damaging either the cell structure or causing genetic decay.”

  Byron let them chatter as they exited from the room. It was funny how quickly he felt the emptiness return, even after some of the best sex he’d had in years. Still, despite what Alec thought, he’d never really had much of a place in that world beyond, except being the brawn.

  He was so wrapped up in his own head, he nearly missed the sensor alert blinking on the computer in the side alcove.

  Frowning, he strode over to the machine and checked the readings. “Did either of you go out the side exit to the collapsed section of the compound?”

  Mace was by his side, leaning over to scrutinize the monitor. “I sure as hell didn’t. I thought you said the base was empty.”

  “It is. Was.” A surge of protectiveness flooded him, mixing dangerously with his lingering anger. “You two stay here. I’ll go take care of our unexpected guest.”

  “Bry, don’t be a fool.” Alec was already reaching for the blaster Mace had found for him on the Geilt. “We’re all here, we can all look.”

  Sure, take that away from me too. “You two just keep working on that cure. I want to get us out of here as quickly as possible.” Mace opened her mouth to join the argument, but he silenced her with a kiss. “Keep on your toes.”

  He bolted out the door, trying not to look behind him. He pulled his blaster as he turned the corner to the long service corridor, looking down when it snagged on the holster. There was a noise followed by shouting. He didn’t realize he’d been shot until the scent of burned flesh hit him. His vision blurred as he stumbled backw
ard, falling to the floor.

  Mace had her blaster in hand and pushed past Alec before he had a chance to register the sound of weapon fire. Every instinct he had was screaming at him to follow her. Byron was out there—alone. Gods only knew what they were facing, and if Byron was pinned down, Mace might need his help.

  But one look at the computer reminded Alec that the data took precedent. They were under attack, and he had no idea if they would have to leave the base—or ever be able to return if so. Jumping to the computer station, he started downloading the details of his latest experiment onto his data crystal. He’d be damned if he’d lose everything they’d worked so hard for because of a bunch of trigger-happy bounty hunters.

  How the hell had the hunters found them anyway?

  Another volley of blaster fire echoed in the hall, sounding dangerously close. “Come on, come on, come on,” he muttered.

  “Alec!”

  His body froze at the panicked note in Mace’s voice. Oh gods, please let them be okay. The computer beeped its completion, and he snatched the crystal away and shoved it deep into his pocket. Grabbing his own blaster, he raced through the door.

  “Mace?” A light cover of smoke filled the hall; the sound of blaster fire was louder out here. “Where are you?”

  “Go left!”

  It took him only a matter of seconds before he knew he’d reached the center of the fight. Mace was across the open hallway, crouched low and firing down the hall at the attackers. She acknowledged him with a quick glance before letting loose another torrent of fire.

  Lifting his blaster, Alec ran through the steps Byron had taught him years ago. Deep breath, focus on movement beyond the blaster beams. Don’t hesitate to shoot first.

  Byron.

  “Where’s Bry?” He called out before sliding past the safety of the corner to unleash a series of blasts.

  He nearly froze when Mace moved to the side enough to reveal Byron’s body, slumped against the wall. His heart must have stopped for a few beats, because when it started up again, the rapid rhythm almost made him pass out.

  “Bry?” There was no way he could have heard Alec over the shouts of their attackers or the noise from their weapons.

  “Get over here.” Mace only gave him half a second to acknowledge her before she stood up and laid down cover fire.

  He bolted across the opening, the heat from the lasers so close the hairs on his skin curled. He returned fire as he passed, not bothering to check if he was actually hitting anything. Nearly running Mace over, he fell to the floor on the other side of Byron, checking out his wounds.

  “Not dead,” Byron slurred, wincing as Alec tore open his shirt at the shoulder where the blaster had hit.

  A cursory look told Alec his stubborn-assed lover would live to annoy him another day. “We need to get out of here and back to the Geilt. Can you move?”

  Mace pulled on Byron’s good arm, looping it around her neck. “Can or not, we have to go now.”

  Alec supported Byron’s other side, and they raced as fast as they could down the hall toward a security blast door—the even better-hidden back door to the complex, that led out into the recesses of a natural cavern in the mountainside. Alec let Byron and Mace go first before securing the door behind them. The computer beeped, but the ubiquitous silt and mud hadn’t been cleared from this entrance, and the locks didn’t fully engage.

  “Shit.” He tried again with no better result. “This won’t hold them for long.”

  “We won’t need it,” Mace said over her shoulder as she continued to haul Byron down the rough, narrow passage between two rock faces. The rock was damp and reflective, and there was just enough daylight filtering in from the cavern’s distant opening that they could make their way without a flashlight. “The Geilt is just down here.”

  Alec took up Byron’s other arm, and they increased their pace. “Pray they don’t have someone guarding it.”

  “Who the hell are they? They don’t look like guild hunters.” Mace kept looking back, her blaster still in hand. “And how did they find us here?”

  “Not guild,” Byron ground out. His teeth were clenched, and his body shook in their hold. “Freelancers.”

  Oh, that is very bad. Freelancers were less interested in negotiations and credits and more concerned with kills. They were all in serious danger if Mace wasn’t able to get them out of here on the ship. “Did you recognize any of them, Bry?”

  “More important,” Mace demanded in a harsh whisper, “why the hell are they after us? You said this base wasn’t known by anyone.”

  Byron stumbled and groaned. “Shoot now. Talk later.”

  Alec wasn’t sure if the chuckle that popped out of him was one of panic or because the entire situation was beyond ludicrous. Either way, Byron glared at him while Mace rolled her eyes and shushed them both.

  They slowed their approach as they rounded a set of stalactites into the widest part of the cavern, then crept as quietly as they could along one wall toward the opening where the Geilt lay beyond. Three men and a four-legged beast that looked like a pumped-up ragnate dog were pounding on the hull. Mace chuckled when they tried to attach what looked like a bomb and the ship let out a low level EMP blast. The device landed on the ground with a loud thunk, followed by a series of curses from the men.

  “They won’t be able to do anything to the ship,” she murmured with a smile. “Gar made sure she had the best defenses credits can buy.”

  Alec peered around the edge of the opening as best he could, not wanting to risk being spotted. “We still have to get past them.”

  “I’ll take the two on the right, you aim for the mutt.” Mace slipped free from Byron, taking an extra moment to press her second blaster into his hand. “Alec, you’ll have to get him to the ship. Bry, think you’ll be able to help?”

  “Just point me in the right direction and I’ll take them down.”

  Alec knew better than to argue with Byron. “Point and shoot. Got it.”

  “Give me a three-second head start, then come out firing. Ready, boys?”

  Gods help me. “All set.”

  Byron reached out and caught her shoulder in a squeeze. “Don’t get yourself killed. Your brother will never forgive me if you do.”

  “Are you kidding? He’d find a way to bring me back just to bitch me out. I plan on getting back to him in one piece to avoid that.” Before either of them could react, Mace leaned in and placed a quick kiss to each of their mouths. “Here we go.” She sucked in a deep breath, winked at them, and with a final rakish grin, ran out into the clearing.

  One. Alec adjusted his hold on Byron, watching as the wind whipped up around Mace, tossing her short hair madly around her face as she opened fire on the unsuspecting men.

  Two. Byron lifted his blaster and adjusted his stance. Alec saw Byron’s wound was now bleeding, despite the cauterizing nature of the blast. It was going to take him quite a few treatments to get fixed up again. Mace better know a good doctor.

  Byron shifted closer, squeezing Alec’s side with his hand.

  Three.

  They moved as one, Alec barely needing to haul Byron along. The smell of burning ozone trailed in Mace’s wake as she cleared the way for them. If he’d had time, Alec would have appreciated the picture she made, face contorted in a scream as she sliced through the increasing number of guards.

  Three more attackers had come from the front of the ship, forcing Alec to redirect his aim. Mace had reached the Geilt and was quickly releasing the security lock. The hatch slid open and she jumped inside, covering them while they ran as fast as Byron could manage.

  Alec landed on the ship’s floor in a heap, Byron under his body, and was forced to duck his head down as Mace jumped over him on the way to the cockpit. “Why am I always running for my life with you two?” The hatch slid up behind her, blocking out the furious faces and shouts of their pursuers.

  Byron chuckled, shaking Alec. “Go help.”

  “You need me more
.”

  “Won’t matter if they blow us up. Go.”

  Growling, he rolled away, ran for the cockpit, and threw himself into the copilot’s seat when he got there. “What do you need me to do?”

  “It’s just like an atmospheric shuttle. You’ve driven those planetside. Except we’re going to pop into deep space. Put the commands into the computer when I read them out. Okay?”

  He knew little about ships, but a computer was a computer. His hands seemed to know what to do on instinct. He set the computer to warm up while the Geilt blasted off and began a rough, fast climb against gravity’s pull. He heard Byron groan from the other room when the ship pushed up through the atmosphere with a hard shudder.

  He knew he shouldn’t react. Hell, he was still pissed off at Byron, but he’d let himself get distracted by the wild escape from Naveeo, then by the damn Brasillian syndrome. Then by sex and a bunch of useless emotions, plain and simple, no way to blame it on anything but his own weakness. The same weakness he’d always had where Byron was concerned. If he’d been thinking even a little bit, he would have turned around back on the planet and run screaming to the nearest Loyalist enforcer building. It would have been less harmful to his psyche if he had.

  “Alec!” Mace slapped the top of his thigh. “Here and now. You can brood once we’re safely away from these assholes.”

  “I wasn’t brooding.”

  “You’re always brooding. At least now I know why.”

  He bit down hard on his tongue and hoped it was enough to keep himself in check. A little pain always went a long way toward helping him focus. “Coordinates?”

  “Theta, gamma, one. Zero, zero, delta. Go!”

  The ship kicked forward, breaking the last of the upper atmosphere and settling into the silence of space. Surprisingly, there weren’t any ships waiting for them, only the ghostly asteroids dancing together. It would have been beautiful under any other circumstances.