He ardently wished to do the same with Gabriel. The chance to learn more about the gorgeous Earther and perhaps make him a permanent part of the clan was worth the sacrifice of a stolen tryst.

  He buzzed the apartment’s announce system. Seconds later, a suspicious voice answered.

  “Who is it?”

  “Good evening, Matara. It’s Dramok Baknu.”

  “Gabriel isn’t here, and I’m not buying what you’re selling.”

  Baknu quelled a chuckle. Smart lady. He appreciated intelligence. “I’m not here to pressure you into anything. Since Gabriel isn’t home, may I talk about him with you?”

  “Why?” More suspicious than before.

  “I’m afraid my brief acquaintance with him has become more than a passing attraction. I’d appreciate your insight.”

  “About what?”

  “Whether I’m a fool to hope he’s compatible with my clan. Or if he is, how do I give him what he needs? How can I convince him he can find happiness with us?”

  He was glad he could tell her the truth, limited and coercive as it was. It was ugly to play with her eagerness for Gabriel have a better future, but Baknu had little choice. He wanted Gabriel. Iliana deserved to live in safety too, and to find love on her own terms. Kalquor was the answer, no matter how stubborn the Rossis were to recognize it. If one sibling agreed to go to the empire, the other would follow. Two birds with one stone, as a book he’d read by an Earther author had put it.

  So, limited truth and a touch of deception. If they could all benefit from his ruse, Baknu could live with dabbling in what he felt was compassionate deceit.

  Silence stretched long enough that Baknu wondered if he’d be left in the corridor to stare at the door until he gave up. Just as he was about to ask Iliana if she were still there, the door opened.

  Iliana stood with her body bladed and tense in loose clothing. Ready for a fight. At least there was no bat in sight. He bowed.

  “You really like him.” A statement rather than a question. She stared at him with black-lashed eyes of startling blue. Identical to those of her stunning brother.

  “Very much.”

  “He’s infatuated with you too.”

  “I’m thrilled to hear that.”

  Iliana’s sudden laughter startled him. “Sorry. You’re so low-key. If this is you being thrilled, I’d hate to see you feeling bored.”

  Baknu grinned. “I once raised my voice in celebration when my favorite kurble team won the world championship. I clapped too. Takat was so amazed, he stopped eating for five seconds.”

  She laughed again, her stance relaxing. She waved him into the apartment. “Do you want something to drink? I have some really good whiskey.”

  “I’ve never tried it. Thank you.”

  She bustled about in a decent-sized kitchen, grabbing a small glass and a bottle of amber liquid. She poured him a small taste.

  It reminded him of bohut, his favorite liquor. He nodded his approval. Iliana poured more into his glass and some for herself.

  They sat in what Baknu thought of as a common area. There was a small vid system and seating that was built for smaller Earther frames. He did his best to make himself comfortable on the lounger, which Iliana referred to as a sofa. She settled across from him in a chair.

  He took in the surroundings with their relaxing blue walls, white-and-blue upholstery, and the delicate decorative pieces showcased on various surfaces. “This is nice.”

  “Gabriel’s doing. He’s forever redecorating.”

  He nodded to the blouse draped over the arm of her chair. It was similar to those hanging in her shop, and he realized she’d made them. “You have an eye for fashion. A talented pair, you and your brother.”

  She waved off the compliment. “Okay. Flattery accomplished. Let’s talk.”

  He was fine with that. “Nal is a great danger to Gabriel. I read over Kisk’s research and—frankly, I’m terrified for your brother if more bounty hunters show up.”

  “I’ve been scared for him a long time. Not because of bounty hunters, but because of our own people.” Iliana swallowed a mouthful of whiskey, as if needing it for strength. “He can’t help it. Preferring men, I mean.”

  “You don’t have to convince me, Iliana.”

  “I guess I don’t, do I?” She chuckled, but the sound was sad. “If he had a choice, he’d be what Earth wants him to be. It would be safer.”

  “He’d be safe with my clan. He should be proud of who he is, no matter what anyone says.”

  “What’s it like for Earther men who’ve gone to Kalquor?”

  Baknu wished he could reassure her better. “The numbers are so few, I can’t give you an answer on that. I can only tell you that if Gabriel became my clan’s companion—companion is how we refer to non-Kalquorian male clan members—we’d treat him well. Financially, we’re in a position so he’d have no concerns of that nature.”

  “And he’d live without fear.”

  “He’d have no reason to hide who he is on my planet. For us, it’s natural to love who we were born to love.”

  She gazed at him with a yearning that bordered on desperation. “He deserves to be happy. I doubt that he’s ever had the opportunity to be really, truly content.”

  “We’d do all in our power to give him that. You too, if we had the means to provide it.” Baknu meant it. How could he not, with her sitting there so wistful?

  “I’m not sure I’m destined for happiness. With all that’s been lost…”

  She glanced at a still vid on the table next to her chair. It was a picture of a couple and two children—a much younger Gabriel and Iliana. The family laughed with unfettered pleasure at whomever had taken the shot. Mostly. Despite his open smile, there was a haunted cast to Gabriel’s gaze.

  “How old were you?” Baknu asked.

  “Nine. Maybe ten.”

  Gabriel would have just become a teenager. Baknu had realized he felt none of the attraction for females that he did for males before adolescence. Gabriel had also known. He’d been a mere child when he’d begun to live in fear of being found out.

  “You deserve better,” he muttered to the boy in the still.

  Iliana smiled, then changed the subject. “Are you acquainted with the clan I’m supposed to race to with longing and desire?”

  Her question made him laugh, banishing the moment of darkness. “I’m not. I’ll have Kisk research them and compile information for you, if you like. They’ve sent a pre-recorded message introducing themselves to you. I’ll add it to the file Kisk puts together.”

  “Thanks. And thanks for not being the kind of asshole who abducts women on your government’s say-so.” She tossed back the rest of her whiskey.

  “I try my best to be a better sort of asshole.”

  He wasn’t sure if her hysterics were a result of his statement, the casual way he spoke it, or the alcohol she’d drunk. Maybe it was all three. At any rate, he was glad to have made her laugh.

  When she calmed, she gazed at him with bright curiosity. “I’ve been wondering.”

  “Feel free to ask me anything.”

  “How is it you speak my language so well? My understanding is Kalquorians and Earthers have had little interaction outside of our governments arguing.”

  “My fleet career takes me to many different worlds. It’s important I be informed about languages and cultures.” He finished his whiskey and wondered if Iliana had any available to sell him. It was a good drink.

  “Has working with Earthers come up often? You don’t go to our colonies. Our governments are more hostile than allies.”

  “Truth be told, I’m obsessed with learning new things. Even when they have little or no bearing on my work.”

  “Obsessed?”

  He nodded, comfortable with his peculiarities. “When we first learned about Earthers, I forced my clanmates to learn five of your languages so I could use them daily and become fluent. Then I started reading your books. Humans are fascinating in how they have so many diverse cultures, yet you’re a single species living under one ruling body. It’s become something of a hobby of mine. In the past, I studied Bi’is, Trag, and Plasius in the same way. I hold twenty certifications in various fields, which I believe are the equivalent to your university master’s degrees.”

  She gaped at him. “Wow. An overachiever, huh?”

  “I’m afraid so. Hey, did you happen to read The Purest Bride?”

  She started laughing again. “Propaganda under the guise of romance isn’t really my thing. The government turns those stories out by the gross to push their purity agenda by means of entertainment. Those tales are nowhere close to the reality of living on Earth.”

  “Good to know before I plunge into the adventures of Miss Charity Pureheart.”

  “You’re really going to read that nonsense?”

  “I can’t help myself, I’m afraid. When it comes to books, I’m the way Takat is around food. If it’s edible, he’ll eat it. If it’s written, I’ll read it.”

  “I’ll send you a bottle of whiskey to help you through.”

  They laughed together.

  * * * *

  Moans filled the empty kitchen. Gabriel drew on Takat’s larger sex as it drove against his tongue, swallowing pre-cum as fast as it spat into his mouth. Kisk sucked Gabriel, taking him deep down his throat, engulfing him in wet warmth. Takat stroked the Nobek’s primary, making Kisk growl so his excitement vibrated Gabriel’s swollen length. The scent of spicy alien arousal was blanket-thick over them, adding to Gabriel’s excitement.

  Kisk’s slick finger entered his ass, and he jerked. Takat’s grip on the back of Gabriel’s skull held him in place for his slow thrusts as Kisk pushed into his virgin hole. When the Nobek stroked a sensitive spot within, sending violent heat into Gabriel’s shaft, the Earther cried out against the Imdiko’s driving flesh.

  Takat groaned. His primary jerked against Gabriel’s tongue. Sweet-spicy-salty cream erupted, jetting down his throat. Takat was climaxing, filling Gabriel’s mouth with hot cum.

  The Imdiko stroked Gabriel’s throat, and the young man reflexively swallowed the alien’s seed. He kept swallowing as the prick continued to pulse, as his own balls tightened in warning. Kisk stroked that magic spot within again, and a molten river unfurled, shooting through Gabriel’s loins, emptying with ecstatic jolts into the Nobek’s demanding mouth. Gabriel screamed between gulps of alien spend.

  Kisk massaged the place he’d found in Gabriel’s ass and sucked his cock until the writhing human was depleted. By then, Takat was also done, murmuring encouragement to the moaning Earther.

  “Hurry,” Kisk growled, shoving his clanmate aside and pushing Takat’s grip from his shaft. Gabriel closed his eyes as the Nobek’s cock nudged between his lips. Kisk managed one thrust before erupting. Gabriel gagged and swallowed the flood frantically.

  “So fucking gorgeous,” Takat sighed, kneading the Earther’s buttocks. “You make me want to spend forever with you, beautiful Gabriel.”

  Forever. As he suckled Kisk’s throbbing length, claiming every drop of the man’s spend, Gabriel tried to imagine an existence in which such encounters happened as a matter of course. A life in which giving himself to Takat, Kisk, and Baknu was normal.

  “Sweet, wonderful, perfect boy,” Kisk groaned, his fingers trailing through Gabriel’s hair as his shaft offered a last pulse. “Ours, if you would have us.”

  If only he could.

  * * * *

  It was a quiet morning in the shop. Gabriel straightened stock that didn’t need straightening on the well-organized shelves. After the day before, after the Kalquorians, he needed to keep busy, to keep his tangled feelings at bay. To keep clear of Iliana, who sat at the back of the shop sewing.

  What if she figured out what he’d done? She’d been accepting of who he was since he’d confessed it to her, but that was when his attractions had been more theoretical than real. Now that he’d actually experienced other men—had been jerked and sucked off by other men, after he’d sucked their cocks and swallowed their cum—would her tolerance remain intact? Or would she be disgusted?

  Fortunately, throughout the morning and lunch, she’d seemed preoccupied with her own thoughts. Too preoccupied, now that he considered how quiet she’d been. Her expression spoke of calm but intent deliberation. It had nothing to do with her work, since Iliana had attained sewing expertise that rarely demanded more than the most casual regard. She was pondering something weighty.

  I should ask her what’s up.

  He couldn’t bring himself to do so. He felt too exposed. He was afraid that if she studied him, she’d figure what he’d done with the Kalquorians.

  How could she miss the change? Even now, as scared as he was to be discovered, he couldn’t help but see Baknu leaning over him as he worked Gabriel’s cock. Of Takat keeping him in place as he fucked his mouth. Of Kisk enveloping his shaft in warmth until passion erupted in fiery bursts of exaltation.

  He couldn’t let any of it happen again. It hurt to realize what it was he couldn’t have now that he’d had a hint of it. Yet contemplating his sister reminded Gabriel of where his loyalty belonged. He couldn’t leave Iliana on her own to face the dangers that stalked young, beautiful women like her. He couldn’t allow her to give up whatever life she could carve for herself just so he could run off with a clan.

  It left an aching hole to join the others within his heart, but he’d learned to live with that painful hollowness. A few tears shed in the privacy of his lonely bed, and he’d be fine again. Losing his parents had been far worse than refusing a relationship that might not have worked out anyway.

  “We need to talk.”

  Gabriel jerked to find Iliana had somehow appeared at his side. He lurched a step, putting distance between them. Despite a thorough shower that morning, he was positive he could still smell the Kalquorians on himself. Could she?

  “Okay?” he managed as a half-smile curled Iliana’s lips.

  Her humor over having startled him disappeared as quickly as it had arrived. “Dramok Baknu is convinced you’re in danger.”

  “We went over this already after they dropped in yesterday.” Only yesterday? So much had happened since. It seemed their last visit to the store had been an eternity ago.

  “I talked to him again. Last night, after you left. I assume you went on one of your insomnia walks?”

  “I—I just wandered around. I had a lot on my mind.” Gabriel scowled. “You met up with Baknu?”

  “He dropped by the apartment.”

  “You let him in? Did anyone see? Iliana, he could have snatched you away!” Fear and worry over various scenarios sent Gabriel’s voice rising with accusation, though she wasn’t to blame.

  He’d left her alone to be accosted by Baknu. As danger showed up at their very door, Gabriel had been sucking Kalquorian cocks with the abandon of a freewheeling Plasian.

  Iliana scowled, taking his tone as an indictment against her. “I can defend myself.”

  “The way I could with the bat? You saw how effective that was against them.”

  “Calm down, okay? I’m here, aren’t I? Besides, Baknu’s for real about refusing to kidnap me. He’s also determined to protect you.”

  Gabriel’s concern was swiftly changing to anger. “He’s playing us against each other. I bet I know exactly what his plan is. He wants to convince me to escape to Kalquor, realizing you’ll be tempted to go with me. Failing that, he uses this situation with Nal to scare you into going to Kalquor so I’ll follow. It’s a ruse.”

  She patted his arm, as if to calm a cranky child. “Probably. But only partly. I’ve asked him to find out all he can about the clan who won me as if I were some door prize. He promised he’d do so, with no strings attached.”

  “You can’t be considering this.”

  “Why not? Maybe I’ll find my happily ever after. Even if I don’t, and I end up mooching off his clan for an eternity, Baknu’s sincere.”

  “We don’t know that.” Though his heart shouted otherwise.

  “I’m certain he isn’t bullshitting about you being at risk. Those Kalqs might have scared off the Aksukt, but Nal will send more. Gabriel, you’re in real trouble.” Tears threatened.

  “You are not living on Kalquor for my sake.” His fists clenched, Gabriel headed for the door.

  “Where are you going?”

  “To have a word with Baknu about playing games with my sister.” For making you cry. And for dangling the life I can’t have like bait.

  Gabriel stormed through the deck, heading for the in-house transport that would take him to the freighter where he could confront the scheming Dramok and his clan.

  They’d played him, and he’d fallen for it. He swore they’d regret manipulating him and Iliana.

  Chapter Seven

  “How dare you pull such a stunt!”

  Gabriel had barely set foot in Baknu’s office when he started yelling at the assembled clan. He was glad Takat and Kisk happened to be in the room with their Dramok. It allowed him to tell the whole bunch off at once.

  Kisk gazed at him with equal parts confusion and concern. Takat paused chewing whatever he was eating to stare.

  Baknu merely stood behind his desk and glanced at the startled Nobek security guard who’d escorted Gabriel through the freighter. “Dismissed.”

  “Sir.” The guard bowed and backed out, watching avidly until the door closed in his face.

  Only then did Baknu’s gaze meet Gabriel’s. Strangely enough, the Dramok’s regard was warm, as if Gabriel had come in with smiles rather than furious.

  “I take it you don’t approve of my conversation with your sister?” Baknu’s gentle expression was an affectionate embrace from several feet away.

  His ready admission threw Gabriel for an instant, but he had a full head of steam and plowed on. “Sending these two after me to keep me distracted while you try to get in her head? That’s low.”