Clan, Honor, and Empire, page 43
part #3 of Clan Beginnings Series
Flencik resumed walking back and forth. “Pain means nothing to Nobeks. They feed on it. Astef said that if Breft’s actions caused him to harm someone else he cared for, if Breft really hurt that person, it might force him to overcome those insane urges.”
Rajhir knew of only one person Breft could hurt that would bring about those kinds of consequences. It was also the one person Rajhir couldn’t stand to see harmed either.
He scowled up at his Imdiko. “Fuck no. I’m not letting him beat the hell out of you.”
“You wouldn’t have to. Even without you around, he manages some restraint when it comes to me. I can push him to take it further, but he’s not going to do lasting damage.” As he spoke, Flencik gave him his sweetest face, the one he used to get his way. Unfortunately for him, it was also an expression that made Rajhir quail against the idea even more.
“I’m not having it. The answer is no.”
Flencik came over and sank down on his knees before Rajhir. He looked pleadingly into the Dramok’s face. “So what do we do then? Do we wait until he’s maimed you or you’ve maimed him in defense of yourself? What if we bring a potential Matara home as we have in the past? By the ancestors, what if we find a woman we’d like to clan before Breft’s hormones settle down?”
Flencik’s words were like an icy splash of water in Rajhir’s face. His Imdiko was right. There was no way that someone with so little self-control could be allowed to enjoy a woman.
“Fuck,” Rajhir muttered.
Flencik nodded. “This time of enhanced libido could last at least another two years. It could go for more. Even the intense kind of training Global Security demands won’t eradicate all that tension Breft suffers from. We need to do something now.”
Rajhir huffed a breath. He had no argument. “I take it you have an idea?”
“A few fuzzy thoughts. You’re better at figuring these things out than I am.”
“Okay. But getting you seriously hurt is out of the question.” On that score, Rajhir would not budge.
Feeling his own injuries, the Dramok knew he had no choice but to do something before any of them was truly harmed. Even the thought of Breft being gravely wounded made something inside Rajhir squirm.
* * * *
Several days went by. Rajhir went to work as usual, and Flencik continued to recover from his exhaustion. Breft stayed home with the Imdiko, waiting to hear from Global Security on whether or not he would be accepted into their training program.
Following Flencik’s mini-breakdown, Breft had become more subdued. He didn’t fight so strenuously against Rajhir, and the injuries were kept to a minimum. However, as time went by and his impatience in waiting to hear from Global Security grew, Breft’s frustration had begun to amp up again. His clanmates knew it was only a matter of time before that tension erupted during sex.
They decided the time had come to wake him from his hormonally-driven fog. For the last few days, Rajhir had left the home as usual but returned home to eat lunch at home. Flencik and Breft drifted through their mornings as they had gotten into the habit of doing: breakfast, sex, catching up on the news around the Empire via the vid entertainment system, discussing the latest events, and sex again. Flencik let Breft dominate each time they fucked and he came away unscathed. However, each day he became a little more assertive about having control. Breft laughed at him and played along, though it was obvious it wore on his patience. Flencik had not been able to incite anything more extreme than the Nobek tying him up to thwart the Imdiko’s attempts.
The day came when Flencik was determined that was going to change. After the usual morning activities, he took a bath, luxuriating in warm, mineral-laden water. He took his time, relaxing as much as possible. It wasn’t easy. Knowing what he hoped would happen soon made his pulse speed up. So much could go wrong.
He didn’t have to look up to know Breft was there, watching him. Flencik usually found being an object of such overriding desire amusing. That there were those who found his oversized frame something to lust after amazed Flencik. He thought he was too clumsy appearing to rate such interest.
As he sat in the pool, he imagined he could feel the weight of Breft’s stare. Flencik washed himself, trying to make the action appear sensual. He soaped himself with care, rubbing his hands all over his body. It felt good. Knowing Breft watched with avid interest only made it feel better. Flencik’s cocks were semi-hard when he got to them. His quiet moan as he cleansed his pricks was no act.
He slid down into the water, letting the warmth rinse over his body. Excitement mixed with dread as he stood up and checked the time. Rajhir would be coming in soon.
Flencik climbed the three steps that led up from the sunken bathing basin. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Breft standing there, waiting. The Nobek was already naked. Once again, his raging hormones had taken control. Flencik thought he could feel the desperate desire radiating from his clanmate.
He stood at the edge of the bathing pool, dripping on the stone floor. He let Breft have a good, long look at his glistening body. Flencik took no pleasure in it now. He hated what he was about to do and not because it could lead to him getting injured. He hated it because he would turn Breft from being a protector into someone to be protected from.
“I need.” The Nobek’s voice was strangled as he approached Flencik.
Flencik smiled at him, letting Breft see how much he adored him and hoping it would make up for what was to come. “Poor Breft. Youth is a brute to our people, especially those of your breed.”
Then he did what he thought would be utterly unforgivable. Flencik patted the bunched muscle of Breft’s shoulder and then let his hand slip down. His fingers closed around Breft’s larger penis to give it a firm tug. He released his shuddering clanmate and stepped away.
“I'm not in the mood. You have to provide your own release this time.”
Breft stared at him for a moment, his expression unbelieving. He reached for Flencik, his face working. The brutal need he displayed, bordering on anguish, was heart wrenching.
Flencik’s smile now felt like an ugly mask to the Imdiko. He managed to keep it on as he backed towards the sleeping room. “I'm tired, Breft. I'm worn out from keeping up with you.”
Feeling as if he’d just kicked a baby, Flencik turned his back on the Nobek. He walked into the sleeping room.
He’d no sooner stepped over the threshold when Breft started bumping into him. The Nobek was following so closely that they couldn’t help but touch. His skin was fever-hot against Flencik’s, but he didn’t grab onto the other man. Breft still fought for some semblance of restraint.
“You are the Imdiko.” The tremor in Breft’s voice almost made Flencik give in, but then the Nobek’s tone turned harsh. “You must take care of my needs. That is your duty as my caregiving clanmate.”
He drew as close as possible and pulled at Flencik. Breft’s front met the Imdiko’s back. He pressed his slick and ready cocks at the cleft of Flencik’s buttocks.
Flencik turned around and grabbed Breft by the shoulders. He shoved the other man away. In a warning voice, he said, “I've given you satisfaction twice today already. You'll have to take care of it yourself.”
He turned away again, putting his back to Breft. For the first time since they’d become lovers, Flencik denied him. He once more headed towards the sleeping mat where his clothing was laid out, waiting for him.
The moan that rose behind Flencik was awful, like that of a dying man. Before the Imdiko could react to it, Breft attacked, knocking him down. In an instant, the floor was rising to greet him.
Flencik fell heavily to the soft rug-covered surface. Breft was on top of him, panting and growling. It was exactly what the Imdiko had intended to happen, but panic filled him anyway. He thrashed and bucked, fighting to get away from his clanmate.
Flencik had struggled with Breft before, but only in a half-hearted way. For one thing, he had never learned anything of fighting, not even self-defense. For another, he knew it was pointless to physically battle a fully trained Nobek even if he had some knowledge of combat. Flencik had felt the need to nurture the younger man who was being tormented by a body still climbing out of adolescence. Flencik’s urges for control had been sublimated by his greater need to take care of Breft.
However, this was not about sex or making Breft submit to the Imdiko’s desires. This was a lesson that needed to be learned so that Breft could be the Nobek his clan required. Knowing this, Flencik had no choice but to flail, kick, and punch as best he could. He had to drive Breft out of his skull with lust and fury, to make him lose enough control that he would inflict some damage.
Flencik had more going against his efforts than a lack of fighting skill. He was facedown on the floor, and Breft wasn’t giving him any opportunity to turn over. He had to content himself with trying to shake Breft loose, to not allow him to shove his cock in Flencik’s ass as the Nobek was attempting to do.
The effort, while no doubt pathetic, had the wanted result. Breft went wild as Flencik fought him with all he had. The Imdiko had managed to drive his clanmate beyond conscience, pushing him to the brink of madness. Aroused and infuriated, not a good mixture for any Kalquorian male of any age or breed, Breft unleashed a barrage of punches against Flencik’s back.
Flencik winced at the thudding blows, knowing he’d be bruised for at least a week. There was no way he would endure the humiliation of letting another doctor treat such marks. It wasn’t his own humiliation he guarded against though; his thoughts were for only Breft and how the Nobek would feel about others knowing he’d hurt his Imdiko.
Flencik rose up on hands and knees. With a wild cry, Breft shoved him back down and managed to kick the bigger man’s thighs apart. Then the wet, heavy rod of the Nobek’s prick was at Flencik’s anus, shoving to get in.
“Breft, stop!”
Flencik yelled not because he thought Breft would heed his cry. No, his clanmate was beyond that ability now. However, the Nobek would remember Flencik had cried out against this. He would remember taking Flencik against his will.
With a groan, Breft pushed inside Flencik. He did so roughly, and the Imdiko hissed with pain. Thank the ancestors they’d made love earlier today and Flencik was still stretched; otherwise the harsh pounding he received would have caused tearing.
Flencik hoped Breft had done enough damage for his purposes. The Imdiko’s body ached too much now to continue fighting. He lay still on the floor as Breft thrust over and over, driving desperately for the rescue of release. When it was over, the Nobek’s sanity would return. His remorse would no doubt be incredible, but Rajhir and Flencik would be there to guide him past that initial round of guilt.
Where is Rajhir, anyway? I thought he’d be here by now.
Breft groaned almost continuously, closing in on his end. His cock massaged Flencik’s prostate as it whipped back and forth. Despite all the rest of what had happened, warmth seeped into the Imdiko’s cocks.
Great. Hard-ons are the last thing I need when I’m trying to make Breft understand he needs to get himself under better control.
Flencik could feel the Nobek straining for orgasm. It happened all at once, driving primitive cries from Breft. Flencik sighed. This part was almost over. Now the really hard part would commence.
Yet Rajhir still hadn’t come home.
Breft collapsed on top of Flencik with a final groan. They lay there, Flencik flat on his belly on the floor, the Nobek blanketing him. Neither moved for some time. Flencik let the minutes roll by, waiting for the fog of climax to fade for Breft. He listened for the sound of an opening door, signaling Rajhir had come home.
Their Dramok had still not put in an appearance when Breft began to stir. He pushed himself up off Flencik’s back. There was a pause so silent that the Imdiko thought Breft wasn’t even breathing. And then...
Breft wailed. He sounded like a wounded and cornered animal. He flung himself away from Flencik all at once.
The Imdiko lifted his head and peered through still-wet curls to see Breft staring at him with horror. Okay, that was a good start. The Nobek recognized he had gone too far this time, exactly what Flencik had hoped for.
The Imdiko lumbered to his feet. His breath caught as dozens of aches and pains announced themselves with every movement. He was sure he hadn’t taken nearly the damage Rajhir and Breft tended to deal each other, but damn, it hurt. However he didn’t feel as if there was serious damage done.
Flencik rose to his full height and stared at Breft. He had planned to give his new clanmate a look of reproach, something to speak of his displeasure with the situation. However, the stricken expression on the Nobek’s face wouldn’t let Flencik carry through with it. Breft looked devastated. Destroyed. There was no other way to describe it.
In fact, Breft looked so emotionally annihilated that Flencik wanted to go to him, wrap his arms around the younger man, and tell him it was all right. He wanted to reassure the Nobek that no real lasting hurt had been inflicted. It was difficult to remind himself that he had to be firm. Thinking of all the injuries Breft and Rajhir had dealt each other in the past few days allowed Flencik to school his face to be blank.
If his damned cocks would stop being hard, that would be even better. However, Flencik didn’t have any way of making them behave. Stupid libido, he thought. Young Nobeks had not cornered the market on lack of control.
Breft’s horrified expression helped Flencik ignore his traitorous pricks. The Nobek stared at Flencik, and something in his wide purple eyes shattered.
In the hoarse whisper of a damned man, Breft said, “Flencik ... no ... my Imdiko ... Flencik...”
“Breft.” The Imdiko realized that the plan may have worked too well. With rising panic he saw Breft crumbling before his eyes. The Nobek had no idea the situation wasn’t entirely his fault. He blamed himself for all of it, and it was obvious that guilt could demolish him. In a panic, Flencik reached for him.
Breft jerked back, screaming. It was the most awful sound Flencik had ever heard; a high-pitched shriek that spoke of bottomless grief. It verged on madness.
“No!” the Nobek cried. Before Flencik could reach him, Breft flung himself across the sleeping mat. The bed’s surface was huge, but he somehow managed to get to the other side in a single leap, something that Flencik was sure was physically impossible.
Breft slammed his palm against the wall on that side of the room. The action opened a closet where he had temporarily stored his few personal belongings. Once his private room was furnished and ready for use, Breft’s things would be moved there. For now, the Nobek’s half dozen articles of clothing and scant possessions were in this small closet where Rajhir kept binds and cords.
Breft shoved past the suspended shorts, pants, tops, and a formsuit to get at the shelf in the back of the closet. His movements were jerky, like those of a marionette. An instant later he emerged with something that gleamed in the sunlight coming from the arched opening to the room’s balcony.
He held a long-bladed knife in his hand.
Flencik wasn’t sure when he’d started to run at Breft. At the sight of that wicked blade, the handle of which the Nobek gripped in both hands and pointed at his gut, all thought ceased.
He crashed into Breft, knocking his clanmate face first to the floor. Flencik heard him gasp as the air was driven from his body and the Nobek’s arms flung wide to catch himself, but the knife remained in Breft’s white-knuckled grip. Flencik didn’t wait to see if he’d managed to knock some sense into the other man’s head along with knocking him to the ground. He jumped on Breft instead, using his weight to keep him flat on the floor. He also grabbed the Nobek’s wrists, fighting to hold him down as a howling Breft strained to move.
Flencik yelled at the top of his lungs to be heard over the maniacal cries. “Breft! Stop it!”
For a wonder, the Nobek managed to form coherent sentences, though the words chilled Flencik to the bone. “Release me! I've hurt my Imdiko! I've betrayed my clan! I must die!”
Past the shattering screams, Flencik heard the sound he’d been praying for: the home’s door opening down the hall. Rajhir had finally come, thank the ancestors. Flencik knew he wouldn’t be able to hold the desperately writhing Breft much longer.
The sound of quick steps thudding towards the room told Flencik Rajhir was already running, drawn by Breft’s cries. Flencik couldn’t stop from shouting anyway. “Rajhir, help me!”
A dark blur shot into the room. Then long, elegant fingers were in front of Flencik’s face, tangling a handful of Breft’s black waves to yank the Nobek’s head back. Breft’s startled eyes met Rajhir’s stern glare, and he ceased yelling.
In a voice that seemed forged from steel, Rajhir said, “Stop fighting and drop your blade.”
Breft’s hand sprang open, and his knife clattered to the floor. Rajhir kicked it away, out of lunging distance.
Flencik felt weak from relief. He’d never expected Breft to react the way he had. It shook him to realize how devoted the Nobek was to him, to the point of taking his own life.
Rajhir gave Flencik a hand up. Flencik saw how he glanced at his back and the way his jaw tightened. The Dramok didn’t comment on his injuries, however. Instead he nodded at Breft. Between the two of them, they got the shaking Nobek to his feet.
Breft bowed his head, refusing to look at them. His face was twisted in torment. Flencik moved as if to touch him, but Rajhir jerked his head in warning. His heart aching, Flencik made himself hold back. At least Breft wasn’t trying to kill himself anymore.
Rajhir said, “Breft, look at me.”
Breft’s head snapped up. That Rajhir was able to exercise that much control over their tempestuous clanmate helped ease Flencik’s worries even more. He found the ability to smile. It was going to be all right.
Breft gaped at the Imdiko’s expression. Shocked, he could only manage one word. “What—?”
“Sit down,” Rajhir commanded, pointing to the nearby circle of seating cushions. “We will talk of what has happened.”
