Sandy’s hand rode Alex’s as Alex stroked him and the pleasure was too much. Overwhelmed, he came, warm jets of jism hitting his chest as he clenched hard around Alex’s dick inside him.
Alex continued to ride him, although more slowly now. Sandy gradually pried his eyes open to watch that long torso, so beautifully furred with a surprisingly lush happy trail that led down to the darker hair of his groin. Back slightly arched, Alex’s head fell back, accenting the long line of his body; from his thighs, up his elongated chest, to the bend of his long, elegant neck.
His body undulating with each slow, luxurious snap of his hips, Alex looked dazed. Preoccupied, almost.
“Alex?”
“Mmmhmm?”
Sandy took the hand still enclosed in his own and brought it to his lips. The scent of Alex’s skin, mingled with his own, tantalized Sandy’s senses. First placing a brief kiss on Alex’s knuckles, Sandy licked at one finger. “That was amazing.” Drawing the finger into his mouth, Sandy sucked on it for a moment, smiling to himself when Alex’s head came up and his eyes opened a sliver.
“Yeah?” A small smile played about Alex’s mouth. “Want to see what else I can do?”
“Does it involve you coming and the two of us going to sleep?” As Sandy’s body came down from its high and the best post-sex lassitude he’d ever experienced settled over him, the effects of a long day began to catch up to him. He’d go all night if Alex wanted to, but what Sandy really wanted was to hold Alex in his arms and get a little rest.
Alex sobered. “Is that what you want? To go to sleep? ‘Cause I feel like I could go all night.”
“I think you already have. What time is it?”
“I don’t know. Umm… like, four maybe?”
Sandy smiled at the small wrinkle of worry that settled between Alex’s eyebrows. Smiled, until the magnitude of what they’d done sank into Sandy’s consciousness and his own worried frown appeared. “Are you okay, baby? This was a lot for you, I know.”
“I’m fine. It was great. Do you want to do it again?”
Whoa. Things were really starting to not add up in Sandy’s head. Alex’s smile was a shade too bright and, now that he didn’t have the claws of need digging into him, Sandy could focus more on Alex, on the look in his eyes and the way his body moved. It suddenly occurred to Sandy that the way Alex had been behaving was more than just a case of whistling past the graveyard.
“I definitely do, but that can wait. Do you— Can you…Can you come, do you think?”
It was gone as quickly as it came, and Sandy still wasn’t sure exactly what he’d seen, but something like -- anxiety? fear? surprise, definitely -- had raced across Alex’s face.
“Oh, sure. Absolutely. Now, right?”
Sandy’s gut twisted a little tighter with dread. “Whenever. It doesn’t matter.”
Leaning forward, Alex dropped his head a little and, eyes closing, began to move faster inside Sandy. Sandy couldn’t explain it, but he knew that Alex was going somewhere in his own head and even as Sandy wondered where that was, he wasn’t sure he could handle knowing.
Regardless, Alex’s body moved beautifully and Sandy couldn’t help reacting. He rubbed his hands up and down Alex’s forearms, where they rested alongside his body. He ran his gaze over Alex’s body, so beautiful, so perfect, so utterly Alex. Sandy lifted his head and tried to catch Alex’s mouth with his own, moaning at the pleasure of Alex’s mouth on his as Alex fucked him hard.
Stiffening suddenly, Alex flinched; he pulled away, whispering a soft “ah” into Sandy’s mouth, his hips jerking erratically as he came. When Alex’s eyes finally opened again, Sandy’s chest tightened at the guarded look in them. “How was it -- okay? Was it, I mean, did you like it?”
Sandy buried a hand in Alex’s hair, burrowing under it to rest against the warm, damp skin he found at the nape. “It was perfect, baby. You were perfect.”
***
When he woke later, Sandy’s back was chilled and he wished whoever was making that racket would stop. Turning over, he reached out with an arm, feeling for Alex in the semi-darkness.
Nothing.
Dog-tired and wanting just a little more sleep, Sandy dragged his head off the pillow, locating the source of the noise and Alex in the same spot. “Baby, what are you doing?”
Down on his knees, Alex’s head snapped up. “I’m sorry. I thought I was being quiet.”
“No, not so much. What are you doing?”
“Cleaning.” Eyes wide, chewing on his lip, Alex was the picture of guilt.
Sandy decided he must be more tired than he realized, because Alex’s answer didn’t even begin to make sense. “Cleaning? At…” Sandy searched for the clock. Locating it, things made even less sense. “…five-thirty in the morning?”
Dressed in the same threadbare sleep outfit he’d worn the first time Sandy had stayed, Alex rubbed at his nose with the back of a gloved hand. “I was too wound up to sleep and I started thinking about what a mess the bathroom is. It’s really small and you’d think it would be easier to keep clean, but it just isn’t. So, anyway, I was thinking about what a mess it is and how I didn’t want you to see it. You know? So I thought I could get things cleaned up a little and then when you woke up it’d be nice, ‘cause I didn’t want you to think I was a slob or… you know… messy, or anything.”
Rubbing a hand over gritty eyes, Sandy added up the clues, not liking the direction they were leading him, but unable to come up with any alternative that made sense. “I don’t think you’re a slob, I promise. Come back to bed?”
Gaze bouncing around the tiny wash area, then the rest of the apartment, Alex got up. “Okay.” He pulled the cheap rubber gloves off his hands and, after stashing them and the scrub brush under the sink, Alex cast a final glance over his shoulder at the toilet he’d been scouring and climbed into bed.
Sandy gathered Alex to him, spreading the thin coverlet over them both and closed his eyes as Alex settled in against him. “Your feet are cold.” It was a random thought, absently voiced, but Sandy could have kicked himself when Alex immediately moved so that the offending body parts no longer touched him. “I didn’t mind. Really.”
Gradually Alex burrowed closer, his arms folded close to his sides, head tucked under Sandy’s chin. “You’re nice and warm.”
“Go to sleep, baby.” It was good having Alex in his arms, close like this. The same thing, only in a real bed with decent sheets and blankets would be even better, but for now Sandy would take what he could get.
After he’d gotten just a little more sleep, he’d figure out what to do about getting Alex off whatever drugs he’d taken.
***
“Alex. Alex, baby, I’ve got to go.”
Alex winced and pulled a pillow over his head. Even the rustling of the sheets hurt -- like his skull was too small and his brains were being squeezed out at the seams. He moaned a little, but that hurt, too, so he tried waving off the voice with one hand.
The realization that it was Sandy gradually seeped into Alex’s consciousness.
Cool fingers stroked his nape. It felt divine, even though the scraping sound still reverberated around Alex’s head. “The ship commed and I’ve gotta go. I’ll be back as soon as I can. Will you be okay?”
Speaking was out of the question and even just nodding sounded painful, so Alex formed an anemic thumbs-up sign with one hand. The bed shifted as Sandy leaned over and placed a kiss on the base of his neck, Alex ignored the reality of a gesture that shot daggers of pain through his brain because he adored the concept so much.
“Talk to you soon.” The bed shifted again and after a few seconds the apartment door closed.
Alex slid back down into the darkness.
***
“So, what was wrong with the last place?”
Alex took one look at Shae’s cute little face, with its scrunched up button nose, fall of golden red hair shimmering with the aftershocks of a head tilt, and hated him. “Because it was al
l wrong. It was too small. There was no view; it was dark and ugly. How could you not see that?”
Sipping at his coffee, Shae drummed his fingers on the little tabletop between them, probably fed up with not only Alex, but the whole venture. Apartment hunting on Doradus Station was always difficult and Alex had only reluctantly agreed to team up with Shae after succumbing to the logic that pooled resources would give them more options. If just looking for somewhere to live was any measure of how they’d do as roommates, it was probably better to just give up now, as far as Alex was concerned.
“Huh. See, I didn’t think it was all that bad. You’re not going to get much of a view with what we’re prepared to pay. Same goes for size -- we can’t afford much. But it had two rooms for sleeping, a kitchen, and a communal room. Not a bad deal, all in all.”
Shae’s delicate shrug only accentuated his petite frame. It was all Alex could do not to slap that smug little face, so he spooned more sugar into his latte and tried to not to lose it. Why had he never noticed how irritating Shae was with his northwestern accent and his ‘if only you were as cute as me’ demeanor? If the annoyance factor was this high after one four-hour stretch together, what would living with it be like? And did Alex really want Shae listening in when he and Sandy were together?
“Did you see how thin the walls were? They were practically transparent. I don’t know about you, but I’d like at least the illusion of privacy. What?”
“Nothing. Just… you’re kinda bitchy today. Something up with you?”
It didn’t help that Shae was right. “I’m just… tired. I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night.” Alex stirred his coffee, licking foam off the spoon before setting it aside.
“I’m tellin’ ya, maybe you shoulda started with something a little easier to handle. Did you ever think of that? That’s a lot of boyfriend you managed to land, pardner.”
Alex set down his coffee in mid-sip and glared. “What is it with you people? What? Do you all get together and dissect my love life for fun? Just shut up, all right?”
“Whoa. Jesus, Alex. I didn’t…” Shae was looking at him like he’d sprouted horns or something.
“Listen. I don’t think this is going to work out. I’ll see you back at work, okay?” Standing, Alex was torn between storming out and wasting a good latte. He didn’t make enough credits to feel okay about leaving a perfectly good drink. Besides, he needed the caffeine, so he chugged the rest and then left.
Alex shoved his hands in his pockets and hit the sidewalk. He felt crappy. Mad at Shae. Mad at himself. Second-guessing himself over last night.
Had it been okay?
Was Sandy pleased?
Would he hear from Sandy again?
His thoughts were spinning, circling back endlessly over last night’s events. Alex walked, head down, thoughts focused on his memories of the previous evening. Sandy’s skin was so smooth. Alex had licked those tiny nipples and held that taut flesh between his hands. So rosy brown. And so much of it. Sandy was amazing.
He’d actually…It was a little scary to even remember it, but… he’d held Sandy’s hips between his hands and pushed inside.
How incredible.
The feeling had been— Alex closed his eyes for a moment, recalling the exact sensation as he’d eased inside. He’d been held snug by hot, tight walls. Not since… not since Liam.
Sandy had been different, though.
Just the fact of it being Sandy had made it profoundly different. Nothing bad could happen to him when he was with Sandy. And the fact that it was Sandy urging him on, coaxing him in, was… it was kind of… kind of hot.
How funny that he had to search to identify the feeling.
Thinking about it now, Alex got a little tingle and rubbed his dick surreptitiously through his pants pocket. Passing his fingers over the tip, he got a little thrill that reminded him of Sandy. It was nothing like being held in Sandy’s arms, though.
The man was so big.
Alex was tall, but Sandy was taller. Taller and about three times as wide. And thick. God, his thighs were huge, heavy with muscle, and just a little crinkly hair. Alex had wrapped his arms around them and—
“Alex. Hey. What’s up, man?”
Blinking, Alex pulled up and tried to focus. “Kai. Hey, yourself.”
Tall, lean, dangerous-looking Kai Xuwicha -- XO and second in command of the Vigilant -- stood directly in Alex’s path.
“What are you doing up and around this time of day?” Kai’s smile was always a little wry. Like laughing was a luxury he couldn’t quite afford.
“Now that’s not nice. I don’t know who’s been spreading those rumors, but—”
“Alex, you forget who you’re talking to. I know you, doll. We go way back.”
“Yeah. Right. I forgot.” Alex’s smile faded. Kai was right -- he did know Alex.
“So. Where you headed?”
Kai didn’t budge, so Alex stepped to the side. “Back to my place. I think I’ll try to get a nap in before work tonight. I’m still a little wiped.”
“Yeah? You out for…? What are you out for?” Kai tilted his head, looking about as harmless as a curious cat. Pure panther was more like it.
Alex shrugged. “Oh, just thought I’d see about getting my own place. It’s starting to feel a little cramped at Nelly’s.”
Smiling, Kai didn’t look at all smug or knowing and Alex could have kissed him for it. “Yeah. I can imagine. Find anything?”
“No. Everything’s so expensive. Anything I could afford I didn’t want and everything I wanted was way out of my price range.”
“That’s too bad.” Turning, Kai fell in beside Alex. “Headed this way? Want some company?”
“Sure.” They walked, Alex realizing only belatedly that the path they followed led to both Nelly’s and the team’s office in the business district. “Have you seen Sandy this morning?” Oh, crap. Alex wanted to kick himself, but the words had slipped out without his conscious permission.
Alex didn’t like Kai’s roll of the eyes.
“Yeah, poor guy.”
“What’s the matter? Is he okay? He’s not sick—?”
“Nah. Just up to his ass in alligators.” Shaking his head, Alex peered at Kai, trying to understand. “He’s been working on the water system. Had this big overhaul underway, thought he had it all under control when he… well, I guess he was with you last night?”
Alex nodded, biting his lip. This didn’t sound good.
Kai sighed. “So, it has some problems. It would have been good if Sandy’d been on board last night -- he might have caught the problem in time. But, he wasn’t and he didn’t. It’s not the end of the world; he just has to start all over from scratch, basically. He’s not going to be a happy camper ‘til that thing’s up and running. Mainly because the whole ship’s dependent on it and Sarhaan and everyone else’s going to be breathing down his neck ‘til it’s fixed.”
Mulling the problem over, Alex wished he had more of his brain to work with. Everything felt like mush inside his head when he tried to use it. “Is he in trouble?” Alex chanced a look at Kai, walking silently beside him, and wished he hadn’t. Kai didn’t look happy.
“Well, he and Sarhaan have seen happier times together, definitely.”
Wincing, Alex confessed instantly. “It’s my fault. He was with me. I shouldn’t have let him stay. Tell them it’s my fault.”
“Sandy’s a big boy. If that’s what he had his mind set on, you couldn’t have stopped him.” The side of Kai’s mouth kicked up in a small smile. “Don’t worry about it, Alex. Sandy’ll get it fixed and he’ll be back before you know it.”
Not at all sure he believed Kai, Alex looked down and watched the sidewalk disappear under his feet as he walked. “I hope so.”
Chapter 12
“So. How’s it coming?”
Sandy looked up. He gave Sarhaan credit for not giving him more shit than absolutely necessary and this time Sandy appreciated it even more than
usual. He glanced around the room -- dining hall was too dignified a term for the communal eating area -- and swallowed the last mouthful of ale in his glass before answering. “It’s coming.”
Pulling out a chair, Sarhaan turned it around and straddled it, propping his elbows on the seatback. He sat looking for several seconds before picking a piece of lint off his sleeve and glancing up casually. “Catching a break before you go back?”
Sandy thought about it and nodded. “Pretty much.” He looked at his old friend and decided to let the undercurrents go unaddressed for the moment.
Off World 2: Sanctuary Page 13