Clan, Honor, and Empire, page 35
part #3 of Clan Beginnings Series
Flencik whispered in his ear, “I’ll be fine at work. I’ll be surrounded by all the other doctors and orderlies. When you think about it, the hospital is the one of the safest places I can be.”
Rajhir blew out a breath. He had no choice but to relent. “I guess you’re right.”
“Did you have the bay mechanic go over your shuttle?”
Rajhir looked up into his companion’s broad, handsome face. “Yes, and they’ll keep it under surveillance all night to make sure no one screws with it. Flencik, are you sure?”
Flencik kissed the tip of his nose. “I’m okay and I’ll stay okay. It’s you I’m worried about. Maybe you should stop by the psych department at the hospital for grief counseling. At least get some coping techniques for the stress. I know I certainly plan to do so.”
Rajhir considered it. After all the police interviews, the last thing he wanted to do was rehash the past two days in all their horrifying detail.
He said, “Tomorrow I’ve got to go to my parents’ home and finalize arrangements for Gegra’s funeral. But if I have time, I’ll look into it.”
“Do that. While you’re working on arrangements, I’m going to my office for a few hours.” As Rajhir opened his mouth to protest, Flencik held up a finger. “You can drop me off and pick me up. I’m only stopping in to make sure the rest of the surgical staff has all my notes and charts on the patients they’ll be operating on in my stead. I won’t return to work until you’re feeling better about your father.”
“All right. I suppose that’s sensible. Gegra wouldn’t want us to neglect duty over him.”
Flencik smiled, sad fondness filling his expression. “No, he wouldn’t.”
* * * *
The next afternoon found Breft in the hospital, stalking down the corridor towards Flencik’s office.
The young man’s thoughts raced back and forth, driving him crazy. He was being too damned pushy. No doubt coming around every day had tipped Flencik off that Breft was at the very least infatuated with him. The Imdiko probably found such attention a turn off. Maybe he even thought it was scary, like an obsessed stalker issue. Breft knew if the situation was reversed, he would view such fascination as suspicious.
Yet the Nobek knew his overwhelming interest would never turn ugly even if Flencik rejected him a hundred times over. Breft could not fathom harming the doctor. Still, he was verging on obsession. The thought of not being seeing Flencik, even if was only for a few minutes each day, made something in Breft’s heart hurt. He couldn’t stop thinking about him.
At least Breft had what he felt was a good excuse for dropping in on Flencik today. He was worried about the other man after his accident. Making discreet queries and discovering Flencik had shown up at the hospital had not surprised him. After all, what was a better way to get past trauma than work? Even when things had gone badly at the training camp or he’d been barely on his feet from an injury, keeping up with routine had always been Breft’s prescription as well.
Breft was not one to try and fool himself. Any reason to see Flencik was one he was eager to grasp. He thought maybe he’d fallen in love. He wasn’t sure such a thing could happen so fast, because he had no one to discuss intimate matters with. Perhaps if he had confided in someone, he would be told that it was only infatuation. Maybe it was.
All Breft knew for sure was that when he was around Flencik, he felt the most real and the most whole of his entire short life. He liked that feeling. He craved it down in his soul. And he despised the empty hole that yawned wide inside him when he was not in Flencik’s presence.
The sight of Flencik’s closed office door gave Breft pause. Perhaps the doctor was making his rounds or in surgery. It could be he wouldn’t see the Imdiko after all. The thought of that brought a flare of almost physical pain.
Yeah, he had it bad.
Breft took a deep breath and pressed the visitor announce button. His heart leapt with equal parts anxiety and delight when the familiar deep voice came over the speaker.
“Who is it?”
His mouth dry, the Nobek said, “Hi, Doctor. It’s Breft.”
“Open.”
The door slid open, revealing Flencik sitting behind his desk. The Imdiko smiled at him and something eased in Breft’s chest. Flencik wasn’t exasperated; on the contrary, he looked happy to see the young man.
“Hi Breft. Come on in.”
Breft hesitated. Why did this gentle Imdiko make him feel so uncertain? He had an off-balance sensation in his head suddenly.
“I’m not interrupting anything important? I can go if I’m being a pain. I just wanted to check on you after what happened yesterday,” he babbled in his sudden confusion.
Flencik waved him in, his smile growing broader. “You’re fine. I was just doing administrative stuff. Have a seat.”
Breft crossed the threshold, entering the same room as Flencik occupied, sharing space with the man who wouldn’t get out of his head. The door shut behind him. They were alone. He had the Imdiko all to himself.
Too keyed up to take the chair across from Flencik, Breft offered him a respectful bow. The Imdiko’s hair lay loose about his wide shoulders, all those curls framing the broad, handsome face that smiled at him. So big and muscular and gorgeous. Damn, Flencik looked good. Too good.
Breft was horrified as he felt himself growing hard. His youthful hormones were reacting to the attraction he felt for the Imdiko, spilling heat into his cocks. Knowing his tendency towards anger and violence when he was aroused and not able to do anything about it, Breft grimly fought his urges.
Pretending casualness, Breft said in a light tone, “You look like you aren’t suffering any ill effects from your accident.”
“No, I’m all right.” Flencik studied his face, his smile as warm as ever. Breft wanted to bask in the sweetness of the other man’s expression, but his stupid libido was sending images into his head: Flencik naked and standing over him, Flencik naked and bent over the desk, Flencik naked and on his knees before Breft, his eyes rolled up to watch as his lips parted, ready to take him in...
Breft choked out, “Great, that’s great that you’re okay. I wanted to check on you earlier, but I had stuff to do.”
He winced at the way the statement sounded. The way he’d said it, it seemed he didn’t think Flencik’s well-being was that important. He hurried to correct himself.
“I mean, I went to Global Security to apply for their training program. I thought I should do that right away, to show them how serious I am about joining.”
Flencik nodded. “Smart. That’s a big step, jumping right from camp to career building. I hear most Nobeks take a few months and enjoy being out in society.”
Breft nodded. Feeling like he had gained some solid ground, he relaxed a little. “I was hoping the administrators for the training program would see my ambition. I was even able to talk to one of the initial interviewers.”
“Excellent. How did it go?”
Breft shrugged, feeling some of the day’s earlier letdown. “Oh, nothing much to report. He confirmed they’d received all the forms I sent in, asked a few basic questions, and said they’d let me know.”
Flencik made a sympathetic sound. “That sounds pretty noncommittal.”
Breft traced a finger around the curved edge of the doctor’s desk. All at once, he felt the impossibility of his dreams. His semi-erections faded. “I know. I guess I’m stuck doing government-provided security jobs in the meantime. Like your Dramok said, government housing, government job, living on my allowance.”
Flencik frowned. “Rajhir didn’t mean anything ugly by it, Breft. He’s under a lot of strain these days.”
Breft managed a tight smile to show Flencik he hadn’t taken Rajhir’s insults to heart. “I know. I’d be pissy too if I was going through what he is. He did promise to speak to someone on my behalf, and he doesn’t strike me as a man who lies about stuff like that.”
Flencik grinned. “You are right on that account. I’m sure once some of the emotional upheaval has had time to settle, Rajhir will make good on his promise. I’ll remind him after his father’s funeral.”
“Thanks.” Breft let the Imdiko’s encouragement bolster his spirits. Maybe things could work out after all, especially if he kept helping the pair out. He didn’t mind being of assistance to Flencik.
He observed, “I’m surprised Rajhir let you come to work today. Did Global Security confirm the crash was an accident?”
Flencik shrugged. “They couldn’t confirm anything one way or the other. As for me coming to work, Rajhir and I had an involved discussion about it. I finally convinced him I would be safe here. It’s just for today, anyway. I won’t come back until after Gegra’s funeral rites.”
His expression said the ‘involved discussion’ might have been closer to a disagreement. Breft knew better than to pry however.
He said, “Sure. You probably are pretty secure with all these people around. I can see Rajhir’s point of view too, however. He worries, like any good Dramok would. You know, until I’m assigned to a detail, I can hang out and keep an eye on you, just to ease his mind a little.”
Flencik cocked an eyebrow at him. “Out of the goodness of your heart, my young Nobek friend?”
Breft’s face heated. He’d been clumsy in his attempt to find a way to stay in contact with Flencik. His obvious play for that was laughably childish. He looked like a fool with his schoolboy crush.
Before he could figure out a way to save face, Flencik stood and walked around the desk to stand before him. The Imdiko looked him over with a sharp gaze that made Breft feel even more humiliated.
In a soft voice, Flencik asked, “Why the hangdog look, Breft? Do you think I don’t appreciate your concern?”
Breft decided it was too late to pretend he wasn’t head over heels. It was time to be honest with Flencik so the Imdiko could send him away, probably for good. He readied himself for the pain that would come. Breft knew Flencik would be kind about it, but rejection was rejection.
Steeling himself for what had to happen, Breft looked Flencik right in the eye. “Rajhir is right. I don’t rate you. I’ve got no business coming around and bothering you. I’m a kid to you, with no rank, no career, nothing. Not even a parent clan. So tell me to get the hell out and stop wasting your time.”
Flencik’s expression didn’t change from its gentle set. If anything, he looked at Breft with more sweetness than before. The gaze squeezed the Nobek’s chest tight, making it an effort to breathe. No one had ever looked at him like that. He’d never met anyone who was as unremittingly kind as Flencik.
If this was love, it hurt like hell. Breft wasn’t sure he liked the emotion at all.
Flencik moved even closer to him, no doubt to soften the blow of sending Breft away with a tender touch. The nearness let Breft feel the heat of the Imdiko’s body, and passion surged once more. It was all he could do not to grab Flencik in that moment. The memory of how it had felt when they’d kissed two days ago in this office, nearly in this very spot, undid Breft’s control. He was suddenly blatantly aroused, his cocks straining at the shorts he wore and the spicy sent of need flooding the air.
Utterly humiliated because he couldn’t control his body’s responses, Breft lowered his gaze. “I’ll see you later, Flencik. Or maybe not.”
He started to walk around Flencik to get to the door. Every step was torture. His feet seemed to each weigh a ton. Every cell in his body clamored for Breft not to go. It was killing him to leave, but he was being a fool. It was better to get out while he could still claim the smallest bit of dignity.
Flencik’s hand cupping his engorged crotch stopped Breft in his tracks. All the air left his body to feel that firm and yet tender grip on his cocks, warming them, making them throb with an ecstasy that was almost painful. With a gasp, he looked up at the Imdiko.
Flencik’s voice seemed to come from a million miles away as he said, “You don’t need to go.”
The larger man leaned down to capture Breft’s mouth in a kiss. Breft gasped again, parting his lips. Flencik’s tongue dove in to taste him deeply, stroking over the soft inner flesh of his mouth. All that gorgeous sensation transported directly to the Nobek’s avid pricks, making them surge in Flencik’s grip.
Lost in elation, every conscious thought seared from his skull, Breft grabbed at the other man’s shoulders with a desperate moan. He rubbed against that wonderful hand, against the magnificent body, desperate to get as close to the Imdiko as he could.
For the few moments of that kiss, Breft fought a grim battle inside. His primal instincts shouted at him to tear Flencik’s clothes from his body, to shove him about and bend him over the desk, to mount him and feel delicious warmth enclose his demanding cocks. Yet there was another part of him, one that Breft had never detected before. This stranger to his personality was cognizant of the kindness and tenderness Flencik deserved. This was not a man to be overcome in a fight for supremacy. He was not one to be defeated and claimed as spoils of war. This new part of Breft demanded he not demonstrate an instant of violence with this person who had vanquished his heart, no matter how bizarre the constraint seemed to his Nobek nature.
It was almost a relief when Flencik broke the kiss. It allowed Breft to regain control over his rioting urges to take the big man down.
It turned out he didn’t have to. Flencik sank into the chair he’d offered Breft earlier. His stare locked on the Nobek’s eyes, Flencik tugged at the crotch seam of the younger man’s shorts. It parted open, and Breft’s cocks spilled out.
Breft cried out to see his pricks inches from Flencik’s face. His knees damned near buckled when the Imdiko stroked the pair from bases to tips in his fists. His pulse pounded so hard through the lengths that it was as if his heart had split in two and taken up residence in the organs. Every throb sent a deep ache into his loins.
Flencik smiled up at him. “Easy, Breft. I’ve got you.”
The Nobek gripped his shoulders, unable to contain the bruising force he knew was in his grip. Every breath seemed to shriek from his tight throat.
He moaned, “Flencik ... it hurts.”
Through the roar of need, he heard the doctor’s reply. “I know. I remember being your age. They say it’s even worse for Nobeks. Just relax and let it go. It’s all right.”
Keeping one hand on Breft’s primary dick, Flencik wrapped the other arm around his ass, capturing the Nobek. Breft’s warrior mentality rose as the band of iron tightened about him.
No. He must not be trapped. He had to fight for dominance.
Before Breft could start to struggle, Flencik’s mouth enveloped his larger cock. The Imdiko sucked him in deep, taking Breft right up to the groin. Wet heat enclosed the Nobek’s prick, sending a thunderbolt of pleasure reverberating through his gut.
Flencik’s hand gripped the secondary organ, which felt filled with molten lava. Mouth and hand stroked over Breft, and he felt the swelling stream of release flowing into his primary cock. The sensation drove him up on his toes.
Climax was already on its way, shoving from the smaller cock into the larger, casting a fiery trail through the two pricks. Yet Breft was also aware of being controlled, held fast by Flencik. The primitive part of his brain shouted he must fight to prove he was the stronger man, faster and smarter and unable to be contained. Still, the newfound piece of careful personality murmured that it was Flencik doing this. Flencik did not want to overcome Breft. Flencik did not want to force or dominate him. Flencik only wanted to make him feel good with serving his most demanding needs. He was taking care of Breft, obeying his own nature that complemented instead of competed.
In the end, it felt good to let someone soothe the ravening animal that so often tried to steal Breft’s good sense. When the flow escaped in shattering bursts of ecstasy, Breft forgot all about striving for dominion. The steady pull of the mouth sucking on him and the feeling of a raspy tongue stroking his straining flesh took all the fight out of the Nobek.
He shuddered in the circle of Flencik’s arm, surrendering every precious drop to the Imdiko’s tender demand. Flencik drained him until Breft’s knees unhinged and he began to sink to the floor.
Chuckling, Flencik swapped places with him, standing and lowering Breft to the chair. The Nobek blinked up at the calm, sweet face hovering above. He’d never seen anything so wonderful.
He was definitely in love. There was no doubt about it.
It took a few moments for Breft to re-assemble his thoughts. Flencik’s long tunic hid the crotch of his pants, but the Nobek caught the scent of arousal. He licked his lips.
“May I return the favor, Imdiko?” he asked in a thick voice.
Flencik beamed, and it made Breft feel better than even orgasm had. “I would be grateful for it.”
Breft was not used to servicing other men without being forced into it by losing a fight of dominance. Flencik deserved his care, however. That and so much more.
Nobeks did not speak of love to other men. Having to declare feelings rather than being able to demonstrate them was an insult and a sign of weakness. In absence of the opportunity to defend Flencik to the death, Breft would have to resort to other means to let the Imdiko know how deeply he had been touched by him. For now, that meant making Flencik as satisfied as he’d been.
Breft got busy fulfilling his beloved’s needs.
Chapter 24
After dropping Flencik off at the hospital, Rajhir flew straight to his parents’ home. His throat closed when he landed his shuttle next to Gegra’s in the hollowed tree that served as a bay. The thought that his father would never pilot the vehicle again brought pain anew, pain that left him feeling crippled for several minutes.
At last he mustered the strength to climb the steps up to his parents’ home. He entered the abode without announcement, as he always did. The greeting room was dressed for the formal occasion of Gegra’s funeral reception. Spotlessly clean, it had a sparkling glass bar area, a small stage for musicians to lend background music as well as serve as an area for speeches, and conversation areas scattered throughout. The color scheme of sea green and sand pink, borrowed from the seashore, was repeated in the fine artwork that graced the walls.
