“How the hell do you think they found us?” He turned to face Mace and could see she was wondering the same thing. “If any of the original bounty hunters were tracking us, they would have been there much sooner. No one could have spotted the Geilt from orbit, so once we’d landed there was no indication we were there. And that base had been abandoned for ages. It’s not like somebody just happened by.”
“Byron.”
Words to defend his ex-lover were in his mouth before he had time to think. “Absolutely n—”
Mace cut him off with a wave of her hand. “I don’t think he did anything intentionally. But it’s a guild safe house and he put in several codes to get things turned on. Maybe . . . maybe someone is tracking him.”
“That doesn’t make sense. Why the hell would anyone be after Byron? He said the bounty was on my head.”
“Alec, he’s the head of the guild. If even half the stories my brother told me about them are true, then he’s at more risk for assassination than either of us.”
It made sense. Of course it did. No one knew where Alec had been hiding, and it had taken Byron no small feat of detective work to locate him. And if Byron hadn’t done that—to warn Alec about the new bounty on his head—he would still be safe and sound in the middle of some guild-protected area with bodyguards and more weapons than a small army could use.
Alec had been the bait to lure Byron into the open.
“Shit.” He turned away from Mace to focus on the computer.
“It’s not your fault.”
Gods, he hated the sound of sympathy in her voice. “Yes, it is. Bry would never have allowed himself to be vulnerable if he hadn’t thought someone was trying to kill me.”
“You can’t know—”
“Mace. Please let it go.”
He knew he wasn’t being fair to her, but he had never been one to deal well with his emotions. They weren’t some nice, neat little scientific problem he could figure out with experiments and computers. They were messy and confusing, most of the time causing him more pain than he’d been able to handle.
Only during the short time he’d spent with Byron had he seemed to settle down into any kind of normalcy. Then he’d put Byron at risk, so he’d gone on the run. Now here he was, putting Byron in danger all over again.
Clearing his throat, Alec checked the computer again as Mace flew them straight for the dimension gate. The treatment they’d rigged up for the Brasillian syndrome better work. He wasn’t sure he’d be able to face either one of them again if the insane sex cravings came back.
As if reading his thoughts, Mace snorted. “Promise me you won’t try to fuck me until after we get through this thing. I’m not sure how good my multitasking skills are these days.”
He chuckled. It felt good to let some of the tension bleed away. “I promise.”
The gate drew closer as they picked up speed. Apprehension burned in his stomach like a ball of acid, worsening as they drew near.
“If this formula doesn’t work . . .” He licked his lips, considering how best to put it. “If it doesn’t work, I want you to lock me in one of the rooms. Byron is hurt and you need to fly the ship. I’ll be fine for several hours before you’d have to knock me out.”
“I don’t like the idea of doing that to you.”
“Mace, we don’t have a lot of choice. Do what you have to do to get us someplace safe. I brought this shit on myself. I’ll handle it.” He cleared his throat and made a crude jacking motion near his crotch, as if Mace needed any clarification.
She shook her head. “You’re being stubborn.”
“I’m not sure where Byron would suggest we go, but there are a couple of planets a few jumps from here we could land and get lost on. I’m sure there’s medical care we could buy. But we won’t be able to stay long. They’ll be on our trail soon.”
He could feel her looking at him, the heat from her stare enough to make his cock twitch in interest. Time and place, Alec.
“Damn it, Alec.” She let out a huff. “Screw this. I’m going to take us someplace where I can get the two of you fixed up. One I know for a fact is safe.”
“Where?”
She didn’t answer, and he was forced to watch as the dimension gate activated in front of them. He had a few seconds of panic as they got close. Byron wasn’t strapped in. The Brasillian syndrome could come back stronger. Heart racing, he closed his eyes as they flew through.
The sensation of the universe collapsing around him wasn’t one he’d ever grown used to. He’d done so little space travel in his youth, relegated to the confines of a Loyalist colony, he’d never developed the space balance many experienced travelers had.
His brain felt like it was being taken apart molecule by molecule and thrust back together out of order. His lungs compressed and his cock stiffened as the rush of the universe flowed around them.
Then they were free, and he sucked in a deep breath.
His head buzzed and his lungs itched as his body righted itself. He waited for the burning lust to hit him, the pulsing uncontrollable desire low in his body to spread like lightning through the rest of him.
It didn’t come. His face felt warm, his bones ached slightly, his head still spun a bit . . . but that was all.
“Alec?”
He opened his eyes to see Mace’s hand hovering a few inches above his arm. Heat from her body prickled at his skin, and he knew the cure hadn’t been completely successful. He fought back a sudden sharp impulse to rip her clothing off and fuck her right there over the back of the chair.
Closing his eyes again, he took several deep breaths to try to regain his control. He eventually opened them again and smiled at her concerned expression.
“You’re safe.”
She frowned. “It didn’t work, did it?”
“It was enough to let me stay in my right mind. We’ll be fine until I can get somewhere and work on it properly.”
He wanted to laugh when Mace’s gaze slipped down to his prominent erection.
“Are you going to be able to handle two more jumps?”
“Just swing by the nearest pleasure planet on the way and I’ll be good.”
Mace rolled her eyes and keyed something into the com unit. She waited, flying the ship in a lazy pitch and roll through the sector they’d arrived in. From what Alec could see, there was nothing here—wherever here was.
The computer chirped at them in a tone he’d never heard before. Mace frowned as she checked the readings.
“It’s going to take us an hour before the jump drive is ready to go again. I’m getting our new coordinates now. Why don’t you check on Byron?”
Shit. He was on his feet and out into the main room before she could say anything else.
Byron had pulled himself over to the couch but hadn’t managed to get on top. He sat with his back propped against the base, panting. Alec’s erection softened at the glassy look of pain in the other man’s eyes. He’d forgotten him—even if it was only for a second. He’d forgotten that Byron was injured and in pain not five meters from him.
Carefully he knelt beside Byron, grimacing at the smoldering, bleeding hole in his shoulder.
“We get away?” Byron’s words were a low slur.
“Yeah. Mace is taking us someplace safe. We have about an hour before the next jump.”
“Don’t know . . . how they found us.”
This wasn’t the time to be presenting him with any theories. “We’ll figure it out.”
“Mace . . .”
“I trust her to get us somewhere we won’t get killed. Right now I need to get this wound cleaned up. Let me get a med kit.”
Byron reached up and ran his thumb along the back of Alec’s wrist. “’M okay.”
“You’re not, you stubborn ass.”
It took a bit of searching, but Alec found the med kit tucked away in a storage compartment under one of the couch cushions. He was back at Byron’s side ripping the remains of his shirt away within minutes
.
The skin was black and peeled where the laser blast had connected. The muscle beneath was clearly damaged. Gods, Byron was going to lose some range of motion. As gently as he could, Alec began to spray the damaged area with antiseptic. At least the numbing agent would make things less painful.
He also pressed an injector filled with painkiller to Byron’s neck. The effect was obviously immediate, as Byron finally relaxed, letting out a soft sigh.
“Could have used that first.”
“You’re lucky I gave it to you at all.” Alec knew his lingering anger was unreasonable. But he didn’t want to believe Byron’s life was in danger because of him again. That someone had used him as a means to draw Byron from safety. “You’re more trouble than you’re worth some days.”
Byron stilled Alec’s hands with a simple touch. Alec finally made eye contact with him, and despite his words, he knew he’d missed Byron more than he’d ever be able to admit.
“What’s wrong?” Byron frowned. “While it hurts like hell, this isn’t going to kill me. So why are you so upset?”
Alec’s heart pounded. He looked away and bit his bottom lip, hoping the pain would help clear his head. “Mace and I think the attackers are after you, not me.”
Byron’s mouth snapped shut.
“We think they were looking for your codes. When you activated the safe house, they were alerted to our location. We think they put the bounty on me because it was the one thing that might bring you out from under guild protection.”
When Byron said nothing, Alec went back to work on his shoulder. He was able to clean up most of the mess and secure a bandage over the wound before his hands started to shake.
Sitting back on his heels, he let his gaze take in Byron’s body. He’d been purposely avoiding anything akin to emotional intimacy with Byron, scared of where it would take them. Now that he knew he was the instrument others had chosen for Byron’s downfall, he hated himself a little bit more. Felt even less worth somebody’s time or attention.
“Boys, we’re going to be ready to make another jump soon. You might want to finish what you’re doing and strap in.”
Mace and Byron. He shivered at the memories of the three of them in bed, and back at the safe house. He’d gone from not wanting anyone to being obsessed with two people. Despite the gore he’d been cleaning up, his cock was semihard again. Another jump wouldn’t be impossible, but it wouldn’t make things any easier.
“You okay?” Byron made no move to touch him. “Did the stuff work?”
Alec shrugged, no longer able to lie. “Mostly. It will be harder for me to control it with every jump we take.”
“Then we need to get where we’re going fast so I can take care of you.”
He grimaced and shook his head. “Bry, you don’t have to—”
Byron slapped the floor with his hand. “Let’s get something straight right now. You’re mine. You’ve always belonged to me. I will take care of you whether you want me to or not. So get your ass into the cockpit and go do something useful for Mace, because once we’re safe, you and I are going to have a nice long talk.”
Swallowing past the lump in his throat, Alec nodded. “Yes, sir.”
Without looking back, he made his way to Mace, knowing without a doubt he was screwed.
Mace was not one for prayer. There had only been a few significant times in her life when she’d indulged the need, using the words her mother had taught her as a child. As they sat there floating in space, waiting for the Belle Kurve to show up, she started reciting those words in her head.
Alec sat beside her, still strapped into the chair. He hadn’t moved since the completion of their second jump. Sweat covered his face and neck. He wasn’t as bad as he had been during the jumps away from Naveeo, but clearly they’d done something wrong when they’d created the treatment for the Brasillian syndrome.
Doc would be able to help. At the very least they’d have a proper facility to work with. Then they could continue to develop the antidote for Faolan. Gods, she needed to see him again. Gar too.
“How much longer?” Alec’s voice made her jump. It felt like forever since he’d spoken.
She checked the computer. “Not long. We should be getting a signal from them soon. Are you okay?”
He nodded. “I will be. It’s not as bad as before, but I’ll need another dose of the stuff once we get to your ship’s med bay.”
“We weren’t thinking. We should have made extra just in case something like this happened.” She knew she hadn’t been thinking straight when she’d helped him develop the supposed cure. Normal procedure was to make backup doses of whatever compound they were developing. Even in the lab, it was always better to have extra than not enough. This time she’d been so angry, so focused on getting Alec healed, that she hadn’t paid attention to procedure. She’d made obvious, avoidable mistakes. No excusing that.
“There wasn’t time.” He reached out and squeezed her hand. “It’s not your fault in any way. You’re in charge on the Geilt, but I’m supposed to be in charge in the lab. It was my responsibility to do things right, but I wanted to get better so we could start again on the ryana antidote. I cut corners. It’s a bad habit of mine.”
The computer let out a three-tone pulse, letting Mace know the Belle Kurve had entered the sector. The tightness in her chest, neck, and shoulders lessened, letting her breathe easily again.
Alec wiped his hand down his face. “Is that them?”
She could tell he was nervous about going on board. Not that she blamed him in the least. Coming face-to-face with a man he was indirectly responsible for poisoning must be a terrifying prospect. Especially when the man was a notorious pirate captain.
Serves Alec right . . . but please don’t let Faolan and Gar kill him. Part of her was still furious at him for what he’d done. For not seeing the dangerous potential of his deadly creations. But more and more she was coming to accept that he wasn’t the monster she’d always imagined the poison’s maker to be.
Alec moved to pull his hand away, but she stopped him. She gave his fingers a gentle squeeze, then reached up with her free hand and cupped his cheek.
“They’ll blame you at first. To be honest, my brother will probably try to kill you. But everyone on that ship trusts me. If I tell them you’re a good man who will help us find a way to make Faolan better, then they’ll listen.”
“I don’t think I would be so generous. I’m a mass murderer.”
She couldn’t handle knowing Alec thought of himself that way. Leaning awkwardly over the chairs, she kissed him. He didn’t respond, forcing her to increase the pressure on his lips. Finally he gave way, letting her slip her tongue in to tease and taste him.
Lust flared between them, and she felt her pussy grow wet with anticipation. Alec’s response was explosive. Reaching down, he cupped her ass with both his hands and tried to pull her over to him. Their positions and the lack of space between the chairs didn’t allow her to straddle him, so instead she reached between his legs to cup his cock. Gods, he was hard as stone and pulsing in her hand.
Alec groaned, thrusting up against her as the computer let out another signal. She broke the kiss but didn’t move away from him. “Shit, the Belle Kurve is looking for a response.”
“Don’t care.” He surged forward and bit down on her neck.
She gasped, squeezed his cock, and let her eyes roll back in her head. “No . . . time.”
Alec licked the hypersensitive spot on her skin and moaned. “Don’t think I can stop. Not now.”
Gods, she’d gone and done it. She knew he was close to the edge of his control. Byron was injured in the other room, unable to do anything to help. With the Belle Kurve nearly on top of them, the last thing they needed was for Alec to lose it in front of Gar and Faolan.
“Mace . . .” Alec fumbled with her vest, fingers seeking skin. She could feel the heat rolling off him as his temperature rose. “Help.”
Fuck it. Standing as bes
t she could, she got behind his chair and spun it around. Dropping to her knees, she yanked his belt open and tore at the buttons holding his pants closed.
“I’m going to give you the best blowjob you’ve ever had.” Her fingers shook as she grabbed the top of his open pants and began to tug. “Up.”
He lifted his hips and did his best to help her. He was gulping large lungfuls of air and his cock was leaking pre-cum. Mace pulled his pants down just far enough to give her access to his balls and ass.
The scent of his arousal was nearly overwhelming. The warmth from his cock inches from her face made her mouth water and her cunt tingle with longing. No time for that, but later she’d take advantage of her bed back on the Belle Kurve and fuck him until she couldn’t see straight. If Byron was up for it, she’d probably fuck him too.
Another beep from the computer was the prod she needed to move. Without any preamble, she took Alec into her mouth, sliding halfway down the length of his shaft. He groaned and placed a hand on the back of her head, encouraging her.
Not about to let him control her, she slid up, her teeth grazing the underside of his cock until only the tip was in her mouth. She circled his head, lapping at the bitter fluid before increasing the suction and sliding down even lower.
The hand on the back of her head held her still, and for a second she thought Alec wanted her to stop. It wasn’t until she heard Byron’s chuckle that she realized why Alec was reacting.
“I thought I smelled sex.”
Abandoning Alec’s cock, she turned to face him. Byron’s wound was now bandaged, and he’d used what was left of his shirt as a makeshift sling. Even wounded and exhausted, he was an impressive sight. She leaned forward enough to allow her nipples to graze the seat edge as she moved. Using her teeth once again, she kept her gaze locked on Byron as she started a steady rhythm on Alec.
“Is she as good as she looks, Alec?”
Alec bucked his hips in response.
“Easy now. You don’t want to hurt the poor girl.” Byron shifted so he was leaning back against the wall. “Mace, I want you to reach up and tug his balls. Not too hard. That’s it. Hear him? Our boy likes a bit of pain with his pleasure.”
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