by Amber Kell
“If we don’t leave now and take care of this, there might not be anyone for you to take care of. This weapon? It’s a planet killer. Do you understand now?”
“Then this is where I should be. You go save the planet, and I’ll help here. What if there are survivors? Maybe it won’t take the whole planet? Did any of that cross your mind?”
“Damn it, Mel. Don’t make me drag you off here. You’re all I have left. Please, just come with me.”
He wasn’t above begging when it came to his sister.
“I’ll come with you if you promise me something?”
“Anything.”
“When this is over, give up your ship and settle down on some planet. Get yourself off the Alliance’s radar.”
“If I make it out of this alive and not back in prison, you have yourself a deal.”
He would even lie, if that would work. No way would he give up his ship. It wouldn’t happen. He loved space too much to give it up.
“I’m not sure if you’re lying to me or not, but for now, I’ll take it. Give me a second.”
He paced around Mel’s house while he waited. He stopped in front of a picture she had hanging on the wall. It was of the four of them, Kain, Se, Mel and him, standing in front of the academy. Mel had just graduated from med school. Kain looked so young. Hell, so did he. What had happened to those men?
“I’m ready.”
Rave turned away from the memories and gathered his sister’s bags.
“Let’s get out of here. Is there anyone you have to call?”
“I did that while packing. I’m good to go.”
“Let’s go.”
His anger returned as they walked to the port. How could Kain do this again?
I thought he loved me. Why am I so stupid?
Rave should have known Kain was too good to be true. He couldn’t figure out his angle. Why tell him that the Alliance wouldn’t get involved until they had the laser then have the planet patrol after him? Someone had to have issued the warrant. No way would Rave go back to DI. He’d die first and take down as many members of the Alliance as he could.
Now, how to get back to the ship without being detected? He’d left on foot, and he couldn’t walk right up it. If he’d have taken one of the shuttle pods, he could have flown in. He’d need to send his sister and have her send Se back out with the shuttle.
Shit, once he got to the ship, how the hell would he get it out of impound? Maybe he could get back before the actually pulled the ship to the impound yard.
He turned to talk to his sister when a pod pulled alongside them.
“Get in.”
Kain sat in the pilot’s seat, and Rave wanted to turn him down, but he had his sister to think of. He gestured for her to precede him. No way could he sit beside the man and not punch him. Rave would save that for when they were alone. His anger continued to build on the ride back to the ship. Why did Kain come after him? Did he plan on taking him back to the Alliance? Why lie? It was a good thing the flight didn’t take long. His mind raced with all the possibilities. None of them good. Could he really trust Kain?
Without a word to Kain, he exited the pod as soon as it landed.
“Mel, I’m heading for the bridge. Do you remember where your room is from last time?”
“Yes, but—”
He didn’t listen for the rest. Rave couldn’t be around Kain right now. He had to figure out how to get off the planet. Hopefully, Se had a plan ready to go. It wouldn’t be the first time they’d devised an exit strategy in a tight situation.
When he walked onto the deck, Se was already pushing buttons.
“You’d better strap in, Rave. It’s about to get bumpy.”
He barely had time to sit down before the ship jerked.
“Try not to do any damage, will ya?”
“You want a go at this?”
“You’re doing great. Just be gentle.” His try at humour fell flat, his thoughts still on the betrayal. Why? That question repeated in his mind. What was Kain’s ulterior motive? Could he really gain anything from fucking Rave over? Shit, why did it have to be so hard?
“I know what you’re thinking,” Se said, without looking up from the computer.
“Stay out of my head, Se.” He followed her movements, helping with some adjustments. He worked on keeping the coms silent.
“Don’t shut him out. Not yet.”
“I said to stay out.” He paused and changed the subject. “Are we clear?” He hoped he sounded calmer. It wasn’t Se’s fault he had doubts about Kain.
“Crystal.” She continued working the control panel.
The ship jolted. Se shook her head and her fingers glided over the buttons. Rave made a few adjustments to trajectory.
“I didn’t mean that Se.” He sighed. “I was talking about the planet.”
“I’m clear about that, too. Just cleared the patrol. So far, no one has given chase.”
Just as the words left her mouth, the ship jerked again and the alarm bells sounded.
Chapter Seven
“What the hell was that?” Mel questioned from the floor.
Kain turned to where Mel had fallen. He put out a hand to help her up. “My guess is we’ve been hit. Go to your room. You should be safe there.”
“What if someone is hurt? I am a doctor. Who all is on board?” She sounded worried.
“Just the four of us—you, me, Rave and Se.”
“Why such a small group?”
“It’s too complicated to get into right now. Let’s just get you safe,” his said, distracted. He wanted to make sure Rave wasn’t hurt.
They started walking away from the pod bay towards the living quarters.
“Don’t hurt him again.”
It was said so softly that he almost missed it.
“Mel, I don’t know if this matters, but I didn’t mean to hurt him the first time. I followed orders when I shouldn’t have.”
“I saw his face when the call came through about the ship being captured. I heard him too, although he doesn’t think I did. He said you lied. Don’t hurt him, Kain. That’s all I ask.”
Kain looked down at the floor. When things got screwed up, why was it his fault? His heart sank at the thought of hurting Rave again. Why couldn’t the man trust him? He ran a hand over his face. Would it always be this way? A small set back and Kain was back on the outside. Fuck!
“I want to love him, if he’ll let me, but we have a lot of past to clear up first. After New Moon is safe, I’ll make him believe me.”
She nodded and stopped at a door he assumed belonged to her room.
“Don’t make me come after you, Kain Adam Sims.”
He grinned. “I don’t want that.” His smiled disappeared. “I love him, Mel, more than anything. That’s why we’re in this mess. I listened to the wrong people.”
“Don’t do it again.” She squeezed his arm and entered the room.
Now he had to face the firing squad. If he was lucky, Rave would hit him and get it over with. Kain could deal with the violent explosion. Silence would be worse.
The ship shook again.
What is the Alliance playing at now?
He couldn’t understand why they would jump the gun on the warrant. Either someone was out of the loop, or he and Rave were being double-crossed. If that was the case, the faster they figured out what was going on, the better. He’d have to contact General Fritz. Kain didn’t want to do that, but the options were slim to none.
He entered the bridge to Se and Rave having words.
“Can you lose them?” Rave asked.
“What does it look like I’m doing here, Rave? Baking cookies? We’ll be off their radar in five…four…three…two…one.”
The Retribution shook, flattening Kain to the corridor wall. There was nothing like a good space jump to keep the heart pumping. His stomach churned, and he forced himself not to throw up. The ship quickly stabilised, and he could breathe again.
Rave must
have heard him because he turned and started towards the door where Kain stood. Kain braced himself for what would come, but Rave didn’t punch him. He got into Kain’s face, so close Kain didn’t have to strain to hear the whisper.
“You’ll be lucky if I don’t kill you before this is over. Fuck you, Kain.”
Kain would not take the blame for something the Alliance had set up. Not this time. He would fight for his man. Kain grabbed Rave’s shirt to turn the tables on him. Rave didn’t struggle as he looked at Kain with hatred in his eyes.
“Not this time,” Kain repeated aloud. “I’m not taking the blame. It wasn’t supposed to go down this way. Someone is setting us up, and I’m going to find out who. I wouldn’t screw this up. Not now, when I’m so close to getting you back. I love you, Rave. That’s never changed. You may not believe it, but I’ve been trying to protect you for two years. Yes, I did a piss-poor job and you ended up on DI. If I could change that hell for you, I would. But it’s in the past. Give me a chance. I’ll figure this out.”
The fight drained out of Rave, and he slumped against the doorway. Kain held him up.
“I can’t take much more of this, Kain. I’ve been through too much. Your word might not be enough for me. My heart wants me to jump in with both feet, but my head says to kill you now and get it over with.”
“Let’s listen to your heart.” Kain tried to grin, but failed. He took Rave’s lips instead, a gentle brush of mouth against mouth.
“Okay, guys. Enough kissy, huggy stuff. Let’s get this figured out before someone dies.”
Kain stepped away from Rave. “I have to get in touch with General Fritz to find out why the plan changed and on whose orders. This whole mission is his baby.”
“Why would I want to contact the man responsible for my trip to DI?”
“Because, if we are getting set up, Fritz can lead us to the person trying to fuck us over.”
He could tell Rave didn’t want to agree, but he did.
“Computer, authorise Kain Sims for coms and ship security.”
“Voice print activated.”
Rave waved for him to answer the ship’s computer.
“Kain Sims,” Kain said.
“Voice print accepted. Please confirm.”
“Kain Sims,” he repeated.
“Eye scan initiated.”
Kain leaned over the monitor and placed his eye on the scanner.
“Scan complete and entered into the system. Welcome, Kain Sims.”
“You’re cleared into the ship’s systems. Now make the damn call, and let’s finish this. Se, how close are we to Seid II?”
“We should be there in under five hours,” she answered.
Kain went to the coms and got to work. He wanted this over just as badly as Rave. Maybe even more.
Rave focused on Se, trying to block out Kain’s movements. “What planets are close by and safe enough to drop off Mel?”
Rave hoped his renewed faith in Kain would hold. If they stood a chance, he would have to forgive some of the past. He was beginning to see that Kain was just as much of a victim in this whole mess as he was. Se interrupted his inner musings.
“We have some friends on Cooper Prime. Rock might take her in.”
“He owes us a favour. See if he’ll meet us in orbit. I’ll go talk to Mel.”
Rock was a good man. Rave had met him shortly after his stay on DI. With Rock’s help, he’d purchased Retribution. Along the way, they’d become friends. Rock wanted more, but Rave hadn’t had anything to give, and by the time he had, Rock had meant too much to him to become a causal fuck.
Rave looked back at Kain. The man spoke quietly into the coms. Rave couldn’t make out what Kain said, but it didn’t matter. He had to trust the man.
He left the bridge and headed to his sister’s room.
“Mel, can I come in?”
“Sure thing.” Rave heard through the door as it slid open.
Mel looked comfortable sitting on the couch. The room looked the same as his only smaller. He really did love this ship.
“Sorry about the bumpy ride.”
“Tell me what this is about, and I’ll forgive you.”
He sat beside Mel on the couch. “I told you a little.”
“We have a time, I’m sure. Now, tell me the rest.”
“Okay, here goes. This whole thing is because of the Alliance. They faked my crime and sent me to that damn prison planet as a cover for a mission I knew nothing about. Jump to now and Kain is back as part of the ‘cover’. For some unknown reason, they thought it would be a bright idea for me to ‘kidnap’ Kain before picking up a weapon that can kill planets. It has something to do with the Royalists, And I really don’t care anymore. I want this over.”
She hugged him, and he let her. Her comfort wrapped around him.
“Do you still love him?”
Rave knew who she meant, but he didn’t know if he really wanted to answer. If he kept it to himself, it couldn’t hurt him, right? Still, he gave in.
“God, yes, Mel. I shouldn’t. Not after what happened, but I do. I’m so angry with him. Logically, I know he isn’t to blame. That the Alliance is behind it all.”
“He looks like shit. Maybe you should give him a break.”
Her spot-on observation caused him to laugh, an honest to goodness laugh. It felt good. His sister had a way of cutting to the chase, and she was right, he needed to give Kain a break. He broke the hug and stood up.
“Thanks for that, it felt nice to laugh. Now, on to serious business. Someone issued a warrant for the kidnapping. It wasn’t supposed to go down this way. Kain is trying to figure out what’s going on, and I need to get you off the ship. I want you safe.”
“Rave—”
“No, sis. You have to do this for me. I won’t be able to focus if I think you’re in danger. I have a friend, Rock, on Cooper Prime. He’ll protect you, and my mind will be at ease. I’ll handle this then have you back home in no time. Deal?”
He stuck out his hand, relief setting in when she took it.
“I’ll do this for you because I love you, but I expect you to visit more. No more showing up only when things are bad.”
“After this is settled, we’ll have a date. We should be there in about an hour. Rest for a bit, okay?”
He turned to leave, but she stopped him.
“Oh, and make sure Kain is with you,” she said.
He bowed his head and closed his eyes. Would they even still be together by then or would he push Kain away for more imagined betrayals. He wanted nothing more than to have things back to they way they used to be, but that couldn’t happen. Things were too different now. He nodded once before leaving. Loving someone shouldn’t be this hard.
Rave knew he should go back to Kain and Se, but his body told him it was time to take a break. The emotional strain of being around Kain drained him. Being at war with himself sucked. He took the coward’s way out and paged Se from his room.
A couple of seconds later, Se came over the com.
“What’s up?”
“Did Rock agree to pick up Mel?”
“Yes, he’ll dock on our ship in one hour. Where are you?”
“My quarters. I’ll be back in time to see Mel off. Computer, end communications.”
Rave lay down on his bed and closed his eyes, but he couldn’t get the image of Kain to go away. Not the present day Kain, but the one he’d first met. God, they’d been young and so naïve, believing everything the Alliance fed them. He snorted at himself.
His eyes opened when a knock sounded at his door. He should have expected it.
“Enter.”
And there he was. Neither of them spoke as Kain stepped inside and the door closed behind him. Rave let his heart win this round. He stood and slipped off his boots while Kain watched. His shirt came off next, followed closely by his pants then he stood before Kain, naked and fully erect.
Kain’s gaze travelled up and down his body, and he licked his lips
. He followed Rave’s lead and slowly undressed. His clothes drop behind him as came forward. He stopped in front of Rave, and Rave opened his arms.
“Are you sure?” Kain sounded hesitant.
“I can’t forget it all, but right now, I need you. Make me forget. Love me like you used to.”
“I never stopped,” Kain stated as he went into Rave’s arms.
Kain’s lips hovered over his. Their breath mingled, and Rave couldn’t stand to wait anymore. He grabbed Kain’s head with both hands and pressed their mouths together. The kiss started slow, and they savoured each other. Rave didn’t want it to end, but he broke the kiss so he could move to the bed. Kain used to feel incredible inside him, and he wanted that again.
“No more dancing around this. I want you inside me. Get the lube. Please.”
“Baby, you don’t have to beg. I want in as much as you want me there. I’ve been dreaming of this moment for—”
“No. No talking. Action. Make me forget.” Rave ended on a whisper. He didn’t wait, he grabbed the lube himself. Before tossing the bottle to Kain, he drizzled the cold liquid over his opening, preparing for his lover.
Kain groaned. “That is so fucking sexy.” He moved over Rave, settling the weight of his lower body and pressing down.
Rave tensed. He couldn’t do this. It was too much. He wriggled out from under Kain.
“Hey. Where are you going?” Kain asked.
“Change of plans.”
“I don’t understand.”
Rave closed his eyes for a second, shutting out Kain’s puzzled look. He didn’t want to talk about his problems. He pushed Kain down on the bed and went for his cock. Maybe giving him a blowjob would stop the questions Rave didn’t have answers for.
He wrapped his lips tightly around Kain’s cock, swallowing him down to the root. He’d always loved the way Kain tasted. The sounds coming from his lover turned him on, and he hummed his pleasure. Kain groaned louder.
“God, yes. More, Rave.”
Rave didn’t disappoint. He added a finger to his mouth, getting it good and wet before he rimmed Kain’s ass and slowly entering his lover. Kain thrashed on the bed, as if he couldn’t decide if he wanted to fuck Rave’s mouth or finger.
Rave closed his eyes, losing himself in the sensations.