Judith looked happy to see them both, but she kept peering distractedly into the corners. Finally she asked Braden, “Where’s Calder?”
Braden shrugged. “Don’t know, haven’t seen him in a while.”
“Oh,” Judith said, disappointed.
“He’s a one-shot,” Braden answered. “Now with me, it’s any time.” He gave her a you want to? look. Judith nodded, but her expression made it plain she regarded Braden as second best.
Ky laughed, surprised at how strong his voice sounded. Judith slanted him a warm glance. “If Braden and I have some fun,” she said, looking hopeful, “why don’t you join us? Aiden too.”
Ky winked at her but shook his head. “Have something else to do tonight.”
Again Judith looked disappointed. Braden growled, “Hey, what am I, chopped liver?”
“No.” Judith leaned down and kissed his cheek. “You’re lovely leftovers.”
Ky and Aiden roared with laughter, and Braden glared at them. “I’m never going to live this down. Why I put up with it, I don’t know.”
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Ky knew why he put up with it. Being with Judith wasn’t something to be tossed aside lightly, and Braden would forgive her. After he punished her a little.
Ky scraped back his chair and thunk ed down his ale. “I’ll leave you to it. Aiden?”
“Right behind you.”
As they walked through the dark streets, Ky leaned close to Aiden. “You mean it?
Right behind me?”
“Sure. If you want.”
They hadn’t kissed or touched or even talked about it while Ky was healing, Aiden saying he wanted to make sure Ky was all right first. They hadn’t heard from Brianne either. Not a word, not a glimpse.
She went home and changed her mind, Ky had grumbled. I saw the luxury she lives in,
why would she want to trade that for us? Besides, the journalists wouldn’ t leave her alone if she did.
Aiden had only shaken his head. Gods, you’ re a pessimist. Let’ s trust her.
Whatever.
Now as they entered their tiny apartment, Ky’s excitement rose. Ky knew he and Aiden would have sex, no coy will we or won’ t we? He just knew the time was right.
Ky hit the control to close the door and lock it. “Here we go. Pull down your pants, lover boy.”
Aiden was wearing a sleeveless tunic, not pants, but he went along with it. He pulled off the tunic and loincloth and stood naked in the middle of the room. His body was perfect, all raw muscle and toned skin, with a face that could stop traffic and often did.
“Damn,” Ky said in appreciation. He wrapped Aiden’s hair in his fist and pulled him forward for a kiss. “What do you want to do?”
“You’re asking me? I thought you were the Dom.”
Ky grinned. His cock was hard and dancing, and if Aiden wanted to play, well all right…
“Grab the lube and get on the sofa.”
Aiden swiped his tongue across Ky’s lips. “You’re such a sweet talker. Whispering sweet nothings in my ear.”
“You want to do this?”
“Yes, master.” Aiden laughed, his breath spicy, then went to fetch scented lube out of the cupboard. “What do you want, chocolate or butterscotch?”
Ky peeled off his clothes, his body temperature rising. “Just pick one and hurry up.”
“Sound’s like someone’s horny.”
“Your cock’s sticking out so far you could pick a lock from across the room.”
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“Thanks for the compliment.” Aiden turned around, a bottle in his hands, and looked Ky up and down, irises widening. “You’re not bad yourself.”
“Get over here.”
Ginning, Aiden came to him. Aiden squirted lube all over his hands—butterscotch, great—and rubbed it onto Ky’s cock.
Ky stood still, getting lost in the feeling. His best friend rubbing him and wanting to have sex with him. The gods bless Brianne and Dr. Laas for giving him back this joy.
“Nice and slick,” Aiden said. His eyes were filled with blue, his pheromones tingling on Ky’s skin. “Perfect.”
Ky was starting to lose coherence. “Turn around.”
Aiden knew what he wanted. He handed Ky the lube then positioned himself on the sofa, bending to rest his head on his arms. Ky trickled a line of lube across Aiden’s backside then entertained himself rubbing it in.
He didn’t have the same soothing touch Aiden did, but he knew how to ready someone for a Shareem. He gently ringed Aiden’s hole until his anal star relaxed enough for him to slide in a well-lubed finger. Aiden groaned.
“Do you think you can take me?” Ky asked.
“I am so willing to try.”
“Shareem cocks are big. Are you sure?”
“I’ve dreamed about nothing else.”
Ky slid a second finger inside and used the third to massage the opening. “We’ll take it slow.”
“Whatever you want,” Aiden mumbled, his voice thick.
A dangerous thing to promise. Ky wanted to drive into him until they were both screaming, but he knew better than to rush it. He remembered how gentle Aiden had been with him and how damn good it had felt. The least he could do was return the favor.
Ky withdrew his fingers. Aiden’s noise of disappointment turned into a sigh of joy as Ky slid three fingers inside him.
“I think I’m going to come already.”
“Hold on to it,” Ky said.
Aiden groaned again. “If your cock is anywhere near as good as this, I’m in trouble.”
“Let’s find out.”
Slowly Ky withdrew his fingers. “Relax. Think good thoughts.”
“I can’t think of anything better than this.”
Ky slowly parted Aiden’s cheeks and positioned himself. He prodded gently, just enough to get Aiden’s opening to relax again, then he slid his tip inside.
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“Beautiful,” Aiden breathed. “Simply beautiful.”
Ky rested his hands on Aiden’s hips and slowly but surely slid himself forward.
Aiden’s moan ended in a growl of pleasure.
“Better than your dreams?” Ky asked.
“Shut up and fuck me.”
“Hey, I’m the Dom around here.”
Aiden’s reply was incoherent, but Ky got the drift. He pumped very slowly, getting Aiden used to it. All the way in, all the way out. Another dribble of lube to make slipping inside a little easier.
“Sweet,” Ky said. “I love how tight you are.”
“So do I,” Aiden gurgled. “How did I ever live before this?”
Ky silently wondered that too. The pressure of Aiden squeezing him was better than any sex he’d ever had in his life. The only thing that came close to this much feeling was Brianne’s questing mouth.
The thought of her popping in to make it a threesome escalated his excitement. He began to ride in earnest, and Aiden shouted encouragement. Ky reached for his flogger and swatted Aiden lightly on the hips with it.
“Yes, yes, yes,” Aiden moaned.
Ky stung his own hands and abdomen with the flogger but he didn’t care. The tiny bite of pain was nothing to the agony the nano-computers had caused. He felt none of the pain now, not the warning tingle, not the implants eating him from the inside out.
He was free to love Aiden any way he chose.
And he would choose so many ways…
“I love you,” he said hoarsely.
“Fuck me,” Aiden replied. “Don’t stop. Don’t…aw, damn, I’m coming.”
“No, wait.” Ky reached around and pinched the base of Aiden’s cock, but it was too late. Ropes of come snaked out and coated Ky’s fingers. At the same time, Ky felt an answering surge, and everything went black as he pumped hard, releasing his seed deep inside his lover.
“Love you,” Aiden said brokenly.
Sweat poured from Ky’
s body, and he leaned into Aiden’s equally sweaty back. “I love you too, my friend. Oh fucking damn, that was good.”
* * * * *
That same night, Brianne stood in her grandmother’s study and faced down the elegant gray-haired woman who was the ruler of all Bor Narga. Brianne felt like a schoolgirl coming to confess a misdeed she’d done instead of a twenty-eight-year-old who could make her own decisions.
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“You’re going to what?” Clothilde d’Aroth sounded calm, but she was practiced at keeping her voice controlled when she really wanted to shout.
“I am moving to quarters in Pas City,” Brianne said, resolving not to twist her fingers like a child. “I plan to take rooms with two Shareem.”
“Yes, I heard about you running around the slums with Shareem. I asked Harbourgh what he meant by letting you do it.” Her eyes became steely. “He defied me, said it was your business.”
Brianne felt a guilty twinge for Harbourgh, who could have reported her a long time ago. She resolved he’d not lose anything by this.
“He’s right. It is my business.”
Lady d’Aroth’s mouth firmed. “Not when you appear on every digital feed on the planet. Not when reporters are having a field day speculating what you’re doing with the Shareem. Not when the m’Aren family are threatening to sue for breach of contract for the ended engagement. What are you doing, Brianne? Experimenting with sex? With Shareem? If you’re going to do that, hire a Shareem for a week— discreetly—and then go on about your business.”
Brianne bit the inside of her cheek. She’d made a promise to herself that she’d be professional and businesslike and explain without breaking down. The problem was, it was so difficult to remain in control around Grandmother. Clothilde d’Aroth knew it, and wielded her power with precision.
“I came to tell you, because I thought I should extend that courtesy,” Brianne began. “I have started work on changing the laws that restrict Shareem. Talan d’Urvey is helping to fund the movement. Shareem have been enslaved too long.”
“Very noble of you. But they’re not slaves.”
“They may as well be. They’re restricted by laws that take away rights that even the lowest-born Bor Nargan enjoys. That’s wrong. DNAmo is no longer a threat, and these men aren’t either. They have no intention of taking over Bor Narga. They just want to be left alone.”
“You’re gullible, too.”
“Grandmother.” Brianne barely held on to her patience. “I’m going to do this. I’ve already begun. It has nothing to do with you or the d’Aroths.”
Lady d’Aroth shook her head. “Gods, you’re stubborn. Like your mother. I can see you’re determined to change the laws—which I don’t think will work, by the way—but can’t you be a do-gooder from your own office? Why make a fool of yourself moving to Pas City?”
“To prove that there’s nothing wrong with living down there. That there’s nothing wrong with Shareem. If the spotlight will be on me, it will be on me living with them and sharing their lives, not hiding in my office signing papers.”
“Oh, Brianne, you are so young…”
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“I’m not that young,” Brianne interrupted. “You were crusading for miners out in the canyons you were younger than I am now—enthusiastically. You took part in protests.”
“I remember,” she said crisply.
“And you were successful, as I mean to be. The d’Aroths caused the Shareem to live in misery, I think a d’Aroth should change that.”
Her grandmother leaned forward, as strong at eighty as she’d been at thirty. “You are a stubborn, foolish young woman, Brianne, and you do this without my blessing.
When you fall on your face—and you will—I won’t catch you.”
“I don’t expect you to.”
Brianne feared she’d tremble and stammer when she faced her grandmother today, but to her surprise a strength rose in her to make her stand as strong and firm as Clothilde d’Aroth ever did. She was not asking her grandmother’s permission to begin the enterprise, she was warning her so Lady d’Aroth wouldn’t be taken by surprise when the reporters came calling.
Not that anything ever really surprised her grandmother.
“Now that I’ve told you,” Brianne said calmly. “I am going. I came also to say goodbye.”
“Good.” Clothilde gestured briskly at her desk. “I’m busy.”
Brianne gave her a nod. “As you wish. But please remind Dranis m’Aren that he can’t sue us for breach of contract because he never signed the engagement agreement.
He had his lawyers fussing over the clauses so long that they never finished hammering out a draft.”
Her grandmother raised her head, her brows climbing. “Really? You made sure of that before you broke it off?”
“Of course I did. And my lawyers know it too.”
“I see.” Clothilde d’Aroth held her gaze, reassessing her. “Perhaps you are not such a feeble-wit after all.”
Brianne ducked her head. “Thank you, Grandmother,” she said, and departed.
* * * * *
Aiden and Ky lay tangled in sleep on the bed in Aiden’s room. They’d chosen to adjourn there because Aiden’s room was neatest— we can actually find the bed, Aiden had said.
When Ky stirred to wakefulness he found himself with his head on Aiden’s chest, Aiden’s blond hair tickling his cheek. Aiden snored. A soothing level one snore, but a snore nonetheless.
Ky yawned, wondering why he’d awakened, when he heard someone buzzing the front door. Not just buzzing it, leaning on the bell.
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He nudged Aiden. “Someone’s at the door.”
Aiden broke his snore, mumbled and went back to sleep. Ky hauled himself from the bed, wrapped a sheet around his middle and made his way to the front room.
He opened the door to find Brianne standing there with about twenty suitcases and a tall man with salt-and-pepper hair behind her.
“Hello,” she said.
“Hello.” His gaze shifted to the man and he felt a bite of jealousy. “Who’s that?”
“Harbourgh, my bodyguard. I rented the empty apartment two doors down for him so he can keep reporters and crazies away from us.”
“Reporters and crazies?” Ky must still be asleep. Was Brianne really here, smelling so good, a mass of luggage around her?
“I’m afraid so. I’m a public person and what I’ve decided to do will attract attention. They’ll get tired of me before long, but until then we’ll need Harbourgh.”
Ky’s sheet slipped but he caught it before it bared more than one hip. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“You asked me to stay. So here I am.”
Ky looked into beautiful brown eyes a man could drown in. He saw her determination, a strength that any level three Shareem could admire. Behind that, he sensed worry that they’d forgotten about their offer, that they hadn’t really wanted her, that they’d reject her.
As if he could ever send this woman from his side.
Ky hauled her against him for a kiss. He’d have dropped the sheet and screwed her right there if not for the Harbourgh person still in the doorway glaring at them.
Brianne clung to Ky, closing her eyes in relief. “Thank you.”
“I wasn’t going to push you away.” He kissed her again. “Welcome home.”
She stepped away and wiped her eyes. “Where’s Aiden?”
“Snoring. You’d think that with all the genetic engineering they’d come up with a snore-free Shareem.”
Brianne burst out laughing. Harbourgh, who probably never laughed, began dragging Brianne’s bags inside. Ky helped him, wondering where they were going to put all her stuff. They wasn’t exactly a lot of room here—when Ky traveled all he took was a toothbrush.
Harbourgh left for his quarters, after emphasizing to Brianne that she should call him any time— a
nd I mean any time—she needed him. With a final warning glare at Ky, he departed.
“He’s just doing his job,” Brianne said. “He’s been guarding me forever and he doesn’t trust anyone. But he’ll ensure we have privacy.”
“Good.” Ky leaned down and danced his tongue over her lips, loving the taste of her. “We’ll need it.”
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The door to Aiden’s room opened, and Aiden appeared, stark naked, in its frame.
His blond hair was tousled, his eyes twinkled and his cock looked happy to see Brianne.
He was the most gorgeous thing Ky had ever beheld.
“Hey, Brianne,” he said in his low Shareem voice. “We’re having sex. Want some?”
Ky dropped the sheet. He was erect and needy, his body heating, and Brianne’s scent and her nearness was driving him crazy.
Brianne laughed then screeched as Ky snatched her up over his shoulder. He ran past Aiden into the bedroom, grabbing Aiden’s cock on the way and hauling him in after them.
* * * * *
Ky couldn’t have been happier. He lay on Aiden’s bed, his thighs spread while Aiden lay between them and took Ky in his mouth. Brianne knelt above Ky and he busily delved his tongue deep into her.
Aiden had a masterful technique, using his lips and tongue and teeth to make Ky harder and harder, his balls rising tight. Aiden paused in his ministrations to slide a ring around Ky’s cock, not that he needed it to stand straight up. But he let Aiden play.
Brianne’s pussy was sweet. A narrow line of dark curls twisted against her opening, the result of the shaving at the level three haven. Ky dipped his tongue inside her opening, licking her honey, then tickled her clit, moving faster and faster until her hips rocked and sighs dragged from her mouth.
He knew how she felt. He rocked his own hips, up and up into Aiden’s talented mouth. His balls squeezed, knowing his come would release soon.
Ky and Brianne would climax, and then it would be Aiden’s turn for pleasure. Ky smiled as he kissed Brianne’s clit. He had plans for his friend, already imagining Aiden’s shouts of pleasure.
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