Claimed (Imprisoned Book 3)

by Victoria Vallo

  “Some of us have had longer than others, though.” Grim gave him a pointed look and then walked along the path.

  Lots of other species mingled around them, and Duncan watched them all. Many of the aliens had children with them, and no matter the race, Duncan saw happy couples, families, and friends all enjoying their time together. He caught up to Grim and tried to take his hand. Grim looked at their joined hands a moment and then drew away.

  “Sorry,” he said, looking off into the distance.

  “After yesterday, holding my hand is too much? Really?”

  Grim kept looking ahead. “It implies an … acceptance. Kind of affection.”

  “I see.”

  In a lower voice, Grim said, “I care about you. I’d be sad if you died or were hurt or sick. But I really had no idea you saw me as anything more than a responsibility. Someone you were paid to be nice to and take care of.” He looked up then. “That’s not a criticism or anything. It’s how I thought. How I felt.”

  Duncan leaned in so they wouldn’t be overheard. “I can work with that, but I’m not going to stop touching you.”

  A slight smile spread over Grim’s lips. “Did I say I wanted you to stop?” The smile went away, and Grim quickened his pace.

  Duncan let him get a bit ahead, enjoying watching him and already planning what would happen between them later.

  ****

  Sighing, Grim lowered himself into the hot tub. They’d actually had a pretty nice day, seeing the sights and sampling quite a bit of the local food. He felt content and a little sleepy as the warm water surrounded him. He’d been surprised at how much there really was to do besides gambling. He’d enjoyed himself, though they hadn’t avoided talking about their relationship as much as Grim had hoped they would.

  He sighed again and sank down into the water more so he could rest his head on the built-in cushion behind him. Duncan was communicating with his assistant or something, and Grim had hoped sitting in the hot tub would help him think. Staring at the ceiling usually helped him focus, but right now it did nothing for him. Part of him wanted to let go and fully indulge his lust with Duncan. The other part of him, however, knew that it was more than lust to Duncan. He still found it a little strange, but he no longer thought it impossible or quite so crazy that Duncan might be in love with him. Servants were always the ones to pay the price when the line was crossed, so Duncan’s reticence made sense.

  But what if this specific chance had never come? Would Duncan ever have tried to find him? How many lovers had Duncan had over the years? Had he carried a torch all that time, or had some made him forget temporarily? Two years had passed since they’d last seen each other. Grim searched his mind, but he found no memories of ever hearing Duncan fucking someone or of anyone coming out of Duncan’s room.

  Of course, there had been so much fucking going on in his own room that Grim simply might not have noticed Duncan being with anyone. He wasn’t exactly jealous, but if Duncan was in love with him, shouldn’t he have abstained? Grim had never given love much thought. He’d imagined he might marry someone one day, but he hadn’t necessarily thought love would be his motivation. He set the timer and turned on the jets in the hot tub. Would Duncan want them to get married, or were they simply going to live together? Since Duncan had money, he might not want a marriage. Grim gazed out the side window as the bubbles relaxed him. While he still wasn’t completely sure how he felt about all of this, he knew Duncan wouldn’t actually report him to the prison officials no matter what he did. He also knew Duncan wouldn’t hurt him.

  At least he doesn’t have tentacles. Or a cock too big for me to take. The potential protector his cellmates had told him about had been a LoHulan, a partially amphibious alien easily twice Grim’s size. Eron had reassured Grim that the alien’s long, thick cock was very flexible and wouldn’t hurt a human, but Grim had still been scared. The LoHulan male—Grim had already forgotten his name—had possessed large bulging eyes and, most importantly, six tentacles in place of the two arms most humanoid races had. They’d pointed him out to Grim, and he’d strained against the bars of their cell to see. The male had looked calm and peaceful enough, but fucking any alien could always take a scary turn. Sully had tried to be kind and reassure him that odder couples had found happiness. Grim had only been able to smile and mutter something about Sully being lucky. Grim wondered now if Sully really loved Eron. He’d certainly been convincing.

  Grim sat there a long time, enjoying the heat and the bubbling water around him. When the jets shut themselves off, he wiped at the sweat on his face and shifted his position a little. Something tickled his collarbone. At first, he’d thought it was sweat, but then that little electric tingle began. Duncan had left his body and come to tease him again. Grim remained still and pretended not to notice. If he admitted that he liked this a lot, it would give Duncan even more power. That might not be so bad down the road, but right now, Grim wanted to keep as much control as he could, even if it was mostly a losing battle. Duncan was touching him with both hands now, and Grim arched his hips a bit. He opened his eyes and gazed up at the ceiling as Duncan’s hands caressed up and down his chest. The tingling of electricity that came with the almost ghostly touch made the entire experience even more erotic.

  Grim let a sigh slip from his lips when one hand wrapped around his cock. Duncan pumped him slowly, the touch much too gentle. “More,” Grim whispered, “you sneaky bastard.”

  Grim heard Duncan chuckling in his mind just before he felt a mouth close around his cock. His eyes went wide as he whimpered. The sensation was like nothing he’d ever experienced before. He could still feel the warm water around his member, but he also felt the strength and friction of a mouth sucking him greedily. Then there was nothing. He knew too much would wear Duncan out, and he wanted the real thing anyway, no matter how fun their play was. Grim leaned back on the headrest, panting and looking around the room as he waited for Duncan to wake up and come join him.

  Duncan came into the room moments later, naked and hard, his fingers working his own cock. He approached the edge of the hot tub and pumped his shaft close to Grim’s face. “Sneaky bastard, am I?”

  Grim nodded slowly before lowering his gaze to the cock before him. “The past is … whatever it is. I’ll either fall for you or I won’t. I’ll be with you. No other promises.” He glanced up. “Deal?”

  “You’re making a deal with me?” Duncan stared down at him with lust-filled eyes. “You think you have the power to do that?”

  Grim flicked his tongue out to lap at Duncan’s tip. “My only offer.”

  Duncan took hold of Grim’s head and fed his cock into Grim’s mouth. “Consider this my acceptance.”

  Grim suckled slowly as Duncan slid in and out of his mouth while holding Grim’s head to control his movements. Grim allowed it, loving the possessive touch. He kept his ministrations as light and teasing as possible, enjoying the sounds Duncan began to make in his lust and frustration. Soon the man drew back, watching Grim closely, and gripped his balls. His tip leaked, and the look on his face said he’d narrowly avoided coming. Grim licked his lips as he thought about watching Duncan erupt then and there.

  Grim moved over in the water to make room for Duncan. He had never had this much power over another—and he loved it. “Get in with me. I’ll ride you this time.”

  Duncan obeyed and immediately pulled Grim over to him. Duncan kissed him with that same hunger again, and Grim stared into his eyes when they parted. Instead of voicing any of the things running through his head, Grim straddled Duncan and pulled him into another kiss. Grim pressed against Duncan so his own cock was trapped between their bodies, and he moaned when their lips parted. He could feel Duncan’s cock rubbing against his ass as he continued to masturbate himself against Duncan’s chest.

  Duncan looked down and watched the head of Grim’s cock as it poked up out of the water on each upstroke. “You’re beautiful,” Duncan said before capturing Grim’s cock in his hand and
pumping it.

  Despite the need filling his body, Grim went still and pushed Duncan’s hand off his cock. “I know what’s bothering me so much,” Grim said, lowering himself onto Duncan’s lap and putting both hands on his shoulders. “About all of this.”

  “Hell of a time to figure it out,” Duncan said with a grunt. But then his expression softened and he ran his fingers through Grim’s hair as he asked, “What is it?”

  “Would you ever have come for me? You say you love me but … you never did anything.”

  Duncan had the decency to look ashamed. “I thought my love was unrequited. That it would continue to be so. So I was a coward and just gave up.”

  Grim caressed Duncan’s shoulders and chest as he moved back and forth to rub Duncan’s cock against his ass. Duncan watched him, looking both aroused and confused. Grim steadied himself with one hand and reached back to guide Duncan’s cock into his ass. He managed it after a few moments of fumbling. “Were any of them this good? Did they feel like this?”

  Duncan closed his eyes a moment. “No.” He opened them again. “Never. None of them.” He ran his hands over Grim’s ass and hips. “Even my fantasies about you were better … than most of them.” He thrust high and deep, making them both gasp.

  “Then here’s something … we need to get straight, as you put it.” Grim moved up and down, the pleasure beginning to come despite the burn of the large cock spreading his hole wide. “I’m still your master.”

  Duncan chuckled. “Oh, you little brat.” He squeezed Grim’s ass cheeks, hard, and then wrapped his arms around Grim. “You think so?”

  “I know so.” He gazed down at Duncan and nipped at his lips. “If you could see your face. You’re the one who belongs to me.”

  Duncan tightened his grip and thrust up harder. “Perhaps a power struggle would be fun.”

  “I like it this way.” Grim was so close, and he tightened his channel around Duncan as the other man’s cock head finally nudged at his prostate.

  But then he was tossed backward into the water. He sputtered and soon found himself bent facedown over the side of the hot tub, his ass raised up out of the water. Duncan had his arms pinned behind his back with one hand, and Grim panted in astonishment as he tried to orient himself.

  And then the blows began to hit his ass.

  Grim sighed. He hadn’t planned this at all. Yet he yielded. He’d always loved being spanked, though he had no idea why. He pushed aside his plans for Duncan. Fun as it would’ve been to ride Duncan mercilessly, Grim didn’t want this to stop. He sucked on his lower lip as he turned his head to look at Duncan.

  “Bastard,” Grim whispered.

  “Maybe so. I spent enough years watching you fuck and be fucked to know just how to please you.” He leaned down and bit Grim’s neck playfully. “You’re mine.”

  Grim didn’t reply, closing his eyes as Duncan switched from a steady rhythm to an unpredictable one. This change only served to make every blow more sensual. When Grim’s ass burned with the heat of the spanking, and his cock ached with the need to come, Duncan finally stopped. He let go of Grim and knelt behind him, kissing and biting his ass before spreading him for a thorough rimming.

  Grim moaned as Duncan’s tongue went deep. “Guess it was silly … not to hold your hand, huh?”

  Duncan moaned against his hole and then slid two fingers into him. “Damn right it was.”

  And then Duncan’s cock was inside him. They both moaned and cried out as they came together and moved as one. Grim’s orgasm was just within reach, and he cried out when he felt Duncan coming into him. They both moved frantically, and Duncan’s fingers wrapping around him finally sent him over. Duncan pumped his cum from him and then pulled him down into the water again.

  They kissed and fondled each other, so lost in the moment that the jets startled them both when they came back on based on the timer Grim had activated. They laughed as they settled in the middle of the hot tub, and when they gazed at each other once more, Grim leaned in and brought their lips together. As they devoured each other, Grim finally agreed with Duncan on one point. For now, at least, they didn’t need to talk about anything.

  Chapter Four

  Duncan frowned as he walked into the courtyard and looked at all of his messages again. He’d left Grim sleeping in their bed upstairs and wanted to get back before his lover woke up.

  Lover. Duncan kept saying that word to himself over and over, unable to get enough of it. After six days together, they truly had become lovers. Grim had stopped pulling away from his touch, and they slept in each other’s arms at night. Grim didn’t express his feelings verbally, but he seemed to be warming to Duncan and the idea of them being together long term. The younger man still had one wall up, but Duncan knew he could get through it eventually. Whenever Duncan used the word love, Grim would look away. He would change the subject or find a reason to leave the room. His skepticism about Duncan actually being in love with him was the last obstacle.

  Also, even though Duncan hadn’t asked for an emotional commitment, Grim still hadn’t given a clear answer about coming to live with Duncan. He’d said he would stay with Duncan as long as they were involved, but he hadn’t committed to considering Duncan’s home his own. He’d asked about the planet Duncan lived on, but he hadn’t said anything about moving in. Typically, he nodded when Duncan told him he would be welcome. Duncan thought Grim was purposely being careful about not giving a verbal reply that Duncan could then hold him to. Or argue with.

  Duncan found a bench to sit on and initiated a call to his assistant Oron. He hadn’t touched base in two days and couldn’t put it off any longer. His next idea was to offer Grim his own room. Since Grim had no money and nowhere to go, surely he wouldn’t turn that down. As usual, Oron answered right away.

  “I take it things are going well?” Oron said.

  “Yes, very well. Brief me on what’s been happening. It sounds like the whole crew’s a bit off their game at the moment.”

  Oron gave him more details on each of the matters he’d already sent messages about. When Oron was done, Duncan said, “Give Luc more funds in his expense account, say twenty percent more. Tell Rayya this is her last chance to complete a job without injuring someone. And tell Kit he can borrow my old ship if, and only if, he can be back within two weeks.”

  “I’ll see to it. Will you be returning on schedule?”

  “I think so. Have a separate room readied for Grim, just in case. I’m having some trouble getting him to commit to anything long term.” He gazed around the quiet little courtyard. “Any more issues with his family?”

  “No. I relayed your message to a member of the household staff, and his mother became quite upset, though she didn’t respond personally until yesterday. She said we would regret this. I replied after a brief pause and said, ‘If you say so,’ which of course made her even angrier. She terminated the call. I doubt it matters, but I did inform security around the operations compound, and I’ve also had your personal team patrol your home a bit more regularly.”

  “She only knows what planet we’re on. She’d have to put forth more effort to really find me. I’m not worried, but keep the extra security in place for the time being.” What could she really do, come and lecture them while staring daggers across the room at them? Duncan couldn’t recall any memories of the woman doing anything more than yelling or downing an alcoholic beverage while admiring her rings.

  “I’ll see to all of this and let you know if there are any problems,” Oron said. “Would you like the room across from yours prepared for Grim? There are only a few boxes in there.”

  “Yes, that sounds fine. But I’m hoping we won’t need it.”

  “It has only been a week. You’ve been waiting a long time, sir, but…”

  “I know, I know. I sprung all of this on him when he was already in s stressful situation.” He paused as a woman walked by. “No more contact from Fenn?”

  “No. I’d say he’s given up.”
/>
  “Good. Thanks.”

  “Of course.”

  They signed off, and Duncan slid his communicator back into his pocket. Fenn had been his last lover, a lad of about twenty who had looked remarkably like Grim. Everything had fallen apart about six months ago when Duncan had called the man by the wrong name during sex. It had only been the second time they’d slept together, and Fenn had been first hurt and then very, very determined to make Duncan move past his unrequited love, a common theme among the men Duncan had tried to forget Grim with. That determination had slowly turned to vitriol. The last contact had come in the middle of the night, Fenn drunk and cursing Duncan and saying he hoped they never saw each other again. Duncan certainly hoped so as well. Not only would it be awkward but also Grim would never let Duncan live it down once he saw the resemblance between himself and Fenn.

  Duncan glanced up at the windows of the hotel before standing up and stretching. He had the perfect plan for waking Grim up, and he didn’t want to have to wait until tomorrow to do it.

  ****

  Grim moaned as he clutched at his head. His wrist hurt as well, and he saw blood on his arm. His eyes refused to focus at first but eventually he saw a small wound in his wrist. Why had his tracking device been removed? Panic made his stomach turn flips. He lay on a bunk in a cell. The cell had old-fashioned bars like the prison on Vaharis 6, but based on the beeping sounds he seemed to be on a ship, albeit an older model. He sat up quickly and went to the bars.

  “Hello? Where am I?” Grim called. Where was Duncan? What was going on? He’d fallen asleep after lunch but had no memory of anything else since then.

  Nearly ten minutes later, a heavily tattooed human wearing only leather pants and heavy boots came down the hall to stand in front of his cell.

  “You’re awake. How’s your head?” The man grinned at him, as if he enjoyed the idea of Grim being in pain.

  “It hurts. Where am I?”

  “On my ship. Getting ready to take off.” He moved closer to the bars. “Your family needs you back.”