“What brings you up to the bridge?”
“I came to see how you were doing. Find out if you’re willing to talk to me yet.”
Danverse began to fidget. He cut a glance over to the other crew members and back. Mac knew he didn’t want to have this conversation in front of them.
“You caught me at a bad time, is all.”
“I can understand—”
Teddy’s voice rose above everyone. “Captain?”
“What?” Danverse didn’t appreciate the interruption.
“The raiders’ ship. It’s disembarking.”
Anxious heat rose in Mac’s chest as it all began.
Danverse snapped to face Teddy. “What do you mean, disembarking? I didn’t release anything.”
“The engines are powering up.”
“Who the fuck’s on board?”
Teddy checked his screen. “Uh…it’s Sergeant Jacks.”
“Fuck! Put a docking override on it and get him back here!”
Teddy touched a series of controls at a frantic speed. An icon on his monitor flashed red, and he repeated the commands.
Danverse began to shout. “Hurry up, Teddy! Get that docking override online!”
“I can’t! They’re disabled!”
Mac stood quietly as the crew realized they had no control over the situation. Teddy and Daveth were both scrambling at their stations to complete the captain’s orders with no success. Danverse glanced over at him, his eyes narrowing in curiosity.
Danverse slammed his fist on the console. “Get them back online!”
As Danverse ground his teeth, a wave of unease rolled over Mac. It would only be moments before everything boiled over.
“Mrs. Claus! Who turned off the docking system?”
“The docking system protocols were disabled for maintenance by Mackenzie Smith’s personal override authorization, Captain Danverse.”
Mac shrank as he glared at him, both hurt and angry. Danverse’s face reddened as the veins in his neck stood out in sharp relief. Flooded with guilt, Mac struggled to keep from tearing up. His mouth clamped thin, trembling with guilt, regret, and other unfamiliar emotions.
Teddy broke in. “Captain, I have the docking systems back online. Initiating tractor override.”
“Stand down.”
Teddy spun in his chair. “What?”
“I said stand down. Let him go.”
“You can’t do that.”
“Last time I checked, I was in charge. Liam has work to do. And so do you.”
Teddy gawked at the captain, confused. Danverse stared him down, and he relented. As Teddy resumed his position, Danverse squeezed his knuckles white on the console’s edge. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he exhaled, he turned on Mac.
“My day cabin. Now.” He stalked forward and clasped the back of Mac’s neck. His hand twitched, making Mac flinch. When the door closed behind them, the pressure intensified, and then Danverse snapped his hand away.
The exasperation was thick in Danverse’s anger. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done? Do you understand the kind of danger you’ve put us all in?”
“What are you talking about?”
Danverse rounded on him. “Mac, if they trace that ship back to us, they will put all of us in prison—if they don’t kill us outright.”
“If they wanted to kill us, they would have done it by now. It’s in the boss’s hands now.” His shoulders sank in shame as his justification in aiding Liam began to fray. Somehow prison didn’t factor into his calculations.
“Why would you do something so stupid?”
He flared at the insult. “Because he asked me to!” He stepped forward, challenging Danverse’s humiliating comment. “It’s not stupid. Risky, yes, but I can’t just sit back and watch Liam melt down when there’s something that can be done.”
“It’s not risky; it’s reckless! He could be killed!”
“Killed out there making an effort, or wasting away on board?” He closed in farther as Danverse’s stare bore into him. “You can already see it happening, can’t you? Which option do you think he would want?”
Danverse’s chest rose in dominance. “That’s beside the point.”
“He needed to do something about it.”
“And he already asked me. I told him no.”
Frowning in disgust, Mac stepped back. “So you don’t want him to save Hadrian?”
“Of course, I do! But I wouldn't tell him to do something this dangerous. And I sure as hell wouldn't want him dragging the crew into it. You most of all.”
“He can do what he needs to as long as he does it your way?”
“To protect us all, yes. And as long as you’re on this ship, so will you.”
His eyes narrowed. “Or what? You’ll chain me to the wall and whip my ass until I beg you to fuck me?”
Danverse’s eyes bulged and his skin flushed a deep crimson. No words came out of his mouth as suffocating silence bathed the room. Mac crushed his eyes shut to hold back the brimming tears. Covering his mouth with his hand, he raked his skin with his fingers as he turned away.
Mac couldn’t stop himself from sobbing into his hand. “You’re a fucking hypocrite. You’re all pissed off over something stupid I did in the shower that meant nothing, while you’ve been involved with the boss all along.”
“That’s what you meant in the mess hall when you said you’d seen the security vids. How did you get access?”
“There’s nothing I can’t get into on this ship if I want to.”
“So you’ve been spying on me.”
“Only you. You’re the only one I gave a damn about. Every time I tried to get you to notice me, you went hot to cold and I didn’t understand. You didn’t leave me a choice. Thanks to you, no one wanted me.”
“That’s not true, Mac.”
“I broke into the security history days ago and watched your nights with Liam. It scared me at first, but I saw how you took care of him after. It’s part of who you are. I know I shouldn’t have, but I needed to know more about you and you weren’t talking to me. Look, I don’t want to talk about all the dumb shit we’ve done to each other… I feel stupid enough as it is.”
“Please tell me you didn’t help Liam to get him out of the way.”
Mac shook his head. “No. He’s my friend and I know how much he’s hurting. He needed my help. Everything else was for you.” Reaching into his satchel, he drew out a small box and placed it on the desk. It was wrapped in black satin paper with a blood-red bow. “This was supposed to be for your birthday.”
“You remembered?” Danverse’s voice was a whisper, his brow furrowed.
Tears began to fall down Mac’s cheeks. “I would do anything for you. Every day since that stupid night in the mess hall has been torture.” He sniffed hard through a sob. “I can’t stay on board and watch you live your life without me.”
He stared hard and long at Danverse, who stood dumbfounded. He waited for a response and nothing happened. Danverse’s eyes were glassy, his shoulders slumped. His slackened jaw and open mouth issued no sounds. No words.
With a sharp gasp, Mac pivoted on his heel and headed for the door. Heart pounding, he reached for the cracked control but was stopped short by Danverse gripping his wrist. The captain’s body heat warmed his back.
“You will not leave me because I’m a stupid jackass without giving me a chance to apologize.” Danverse wrapped his free arm around Mac’s chest and pulled him closer. An uncontrolled shiver ran down Mac’s spine as Danverse’s words ghosted along his ear and neck. “I waited a long time for you, Mac. I was afraid you wouldn’t accept my kinks, and I couldn’t handle the idea that you’d think I was some kind of freak. So I kept you at arm’s length, like a coward.” He tightened his grip and his voice roughened. “But losing you would be worse. I love you too much to let you go, boy. Stay. Please.”
Mac turned in his arms and locked eyes, searching for a hint of deceit. All he could s
ee was need. They both moved forward, crushing their lips together as he snaked his arms around Danverse’s neck. A forceful tongue demanded access to Mac’s mouth, which he granted without resistance. Greedy, devouring kisses were better than any words and spoken apologies. This must be heaven, pressed between the unyielding door and the hard man in front of him. When they finally parted, out of breath, Danverse stared at his lips with lidded eyes.
“You wore these clothes for me?” Danverse ran his fingertips along the open neck seam of Mac’s vest, dipping into the chest hairs.
Mac blushed. “Yes. I thought you’d like it.” He could barely speak through the lusty haze crashing to the surface.
Danverse slid his hand inside to caress Mac’s fuzzy pec and pinched a hardened nipple. “I do.” After another wet kiss, he pulled back. “Are there any other surprises for me?”
“I’m wearing the jock as requested, so I’d be ready for you.”
A wolfish grin paired itself with Danverse’s rising brow as the memory came clear. Diving forward, he attacked Mac’s neck and shoulder with biting kisses, making Mac moan. His eyes closed as he clutched at Danverse’s head, trying to drive him harder for more. Danverse wrapped his muscled arms tighter around his waist while he sucked and bit until Mac’s feet left the ground, sandals dropping one by one to the floor. When he finally bumped into the edge of the desk, Mac’s eyes opened and his bare feet found the ground once again.
Danverse’s gaze was needy and forceful as he reached down and stripped open Mac’s breeches. A happy hiss blew through his teeth when he was greeted by a red jockstrap, tented obscenely by Mac’s aroused flesh. The touch of his strong hand kneading the hardened organ through the fabric was almost too much.
Mac gasped. “Please. I love you so much, Marc. Make me yours. Now.”
Danverse nodded, eyes lidded, and spun Mac at the waist, bending him over the desk. There was no fight in him as Danverse’s heated hands opened his backside. Then his world changed when Danverse’s thick, writhing tongue snaked inside him. Mac’s eyes attempted to roll to the back of his skull. He nearly cried out in protest when the pleasure stopped.
Danverse pressed his body against Mac and whispered in his ear. “You’re already wet. You came here to get me to claim you, didn’t you?” A clothing-covered erection settled between his buttocks. So sensitive in anticipation, he could almost feel every ridge and vein against his exposed bottom.
“You’re goddamn right I did.”
Danverse’s chuckle, along with the sound of his buckle coming undone, echoed in the room. Mac fought off the urge to come as soon as he felt the touch of the searing, blunt cockhead prodding at his opening. Silky and solid at the same time. Danverse enveloped Mac’s torso with his strong arms. Mac whimpered as he tried to push back, but Danverse held him from moving.
“Stay still. This is mine.” Danverse tightened his grip as his mouth returned to Mac’s neck. Biting down, Danverse breached him at a gradual, steady pace, the bite’s intensity distracting Mac from the pain of the entry. Mac huffed, trying to press back to make the penetration deeper, but to no avail. This was completely at Danverse’s speed, and the slow burn was driving Mac out of his mind. He sighed in satisfaction once Danverse’s hips crushed his backside, his cock as deep as it could reach.
Danverse’s words were raspy and sharp. “I’ve waited too long for you, boy. This first time is going to be hard and fast. Hang on.”
He barely had time to nod before Danverse pulled back and slammed into him. A harsh rhythm ensued and he held onto the desk as Danverse’s cock beat the hell out of the spot inside him that turned his brain to mush. Wordless noises filled the room as he lost control. His rushing orgasm soaked his jockstrap’s pouch, and he gave a haggard shout in time with each thrust. Danverse’s thrusts became erratic and he rammed home full force, one last time, bottoming out. Mac could feel the heat and warmth flooding inside him with each animalistic grunt and pulse.
Both men were panting as Danverse’s weight pressed him into the desk. Stroking the side of Mac’s head, Danverse kissed the trails of sweat along his temples. Mac shifted slightly.
Danverse gasped and tried to nudge himself deeper still. “Don’t move. I want to stay inside you as long as I can. Are you all right? I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
“Trust me. I’m okay.” Completely sated, he couldn’t hold back the grin. There were no random thoughts colliding in his brain. No clashing noise of ideas. Just simple, clean bliss.
Eventually, Danverse softened enough to slip out, and he lifted Mac to his feet, and then helped Mac straighten his hair and clothing before they’d have to be seen. Neither one could stop smiling, and both kept glancing away like schoolchildren caught crushing on each other.
“I can’t believe you’re finally mine.” Danverse stroked Mac’s face with a look of wonder and disbelief. “I have so much I want to teach you.”
“Like what?” Mac ran a finger in circles over Danverse’s chest.
“Like who’s in charge.” Danverse raised an eyebrow. He found the favorite spot for his brawny hand, along the back of Mac’s neck. Mac couldn’t help the shudder that chased down his spine. “Someone needs a lesson after being involved in vehicle theft with another crew member. That’s a punishable offense.”
He looked up at Danverse. The pressure of Danverse’s hand was already reigniting his arousal. The power of youth.
Mac prayed Danverse could keep up, but doubted he needed to. “Any chance of a bribe with services rendered for a lessened sentence?”
Danverse answered with a dirty grin. “I think we can both have fun and still teach you some discipline. I have a feeling you’ll respond well to it.”
Chapter Eleven
“YOU CANNOT BE serious, Leo.”
“I’m afraid so, pet.”
“I have never killed a man without cause. You cannot ask me to do this.”
“Hadrian, you have no choice. Everything is already in motion. Phillip will ultimately discover my hand in your escape and torture me for revenge.”
“Then I will not leave.”
“Then he’ll know I tried to free you and torture me regardless. Are you going to allow that to happen?”
“That is not fair.”
“No, it’s not. But neither is this situation. I will no longer sit back and watch this sick game play out.”
“Why now, Leo? Why, after all this time?”
“Let’s just say the time is right, pet. It’s time for you to run. It’s time for you to be the person you always should have been.”
“What am I supposed to do?”
“Run. Take this.”
“What is this?”
“This holo pack will explain everything in more detail, but now you have to go.”
“But only if I end your life.”
“Yes.”
“That is murder.”
“No. You will be doing me a service. Once Phillip knows what I’ve done, he will show no mercy in trying to discover your whereabouts. I will not risk the chance of betraying you.”
“Father will not—”
“Yes, Hadrian, he will. Don’t lie to yourself. You know better. I am not a man with the fortitude for his brand of persuasion. You know this.”
“But, Leo…”
“But, nothing. Time is precious. You must fly, pet. Live your life, but end mine first.”
“Leo…”
“You know I’m right. No. No tears. Go now. Just make it quick, please.”
“Forgive me, Leo.”
“DO IT!”
Hadrian awoke with a start, facedown on the rug. Wet salt stained his cheeks and soaked the fibers beneath him as his hands clenched open and closed against his will.
“I failed you, Leo. Please forgive me.”
With a wince, Hadrian lifted himself off the floor and onto his knees. The guards had been especially harsh with him on the trip back to Luxoria and Father had turned a blind eye. Further proof the man saw him as
nothing more than a possession, a favorite plaything at best. He would heal quickly, but he refused to look at the bruising hidden under his clothing. It’s not as if he could blame the guards’ hatred. He’d killed three or four of them in the cargo bay before Donovan’s command filled him with blinding pain, shutting him down.
Hadrian didn’t feel sorry in the least.
When they’d struck Liam, he couldn’t hear him anymore. The sound of Liam filled him anywhere and everywhere since they had joined, and at that moment, it was replaced by shocking silence. They had killed him for no reason. Horror had buried its ugly claws in his chest and tore his self-control into tatters. Every one of the soldiers had expected a killing machine—he’d heard the overlapping fears—and by damn, they had gotten one. He couldn’t believe he’d nearly killed Captain Danverse as well.
New tears slipped down his face. No other man had ever piqued his genuine interest, and now Liam was gone. Once he had seen the doctor on Alpha Centauri, he’d planned on following Liam to whatever corner of the universe could keep them both.
Now…now it was too late.
He scrubbed the moisture from his face with tense hands. The cleansing breaths sounded like a wild animal’s hiss through gritted teeth. Neither years of discipline by combat masters nor battles in the arena had brought him to tears since he was a child. Now he struggled to restrain the bleeding in his chest that came from no physical wound. He was in foreign territory.
Unfortunately, the room he was in was all too familiar.
Sumptuous carpet lined the floor in reds and golds. Gray-striped wall coverings hid the construction materials behind them, softening their appearance. In stark contrast to the décor, metal doors, one at each end of the long wall, served as the only entrances. Doors on the two shorter walls connected to his lavatory and closet, and the opposite wall was filled with floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing the city skyline. The ground could not be seen from this height. The bed was thick and luxurious, with ornate posts running to the ceiling. All the furniture was exquisite, with no expense spared for Father’s favorite. The spacious room was an exercise in opulence. Despite this, it was still a prison.
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