Futurity

Tyr wakes sprawled partly over his small human. He feels languid after the excesses of last night but it is time to get up and go listen to reports and see what is going on in his corner of the universe. He reluctantly opens his eyes and rises up on his elbows to study his companion.

“Good morning, sweet one.” Tyr murmurs into Harper’s ear. Harper is spread limply next to him. The bronze sheets foam around his narrow waist. Tyr lifts the sheet back. The pale flanks are marked by bruises in the shape of his hands. Tyr smiles and drops a kiss on the small of Harper’s back. Who would have thought that his little Harper could be so fiercely demanding? He draws the sheets back up, smoothing the fabric over Harper’s waist as the human mumbles a sleepy protest.

“Last night was memorable, Harper.”

Harper looks so charming. His pale skin glowing against the dark sheets. His tousled blond head buried in one of the pillows. Tyr sighs. He wishes he could stay, snuggled up against the human; that he could lay and admire Harper and gloat over memories of last night. Never had he felt so thoroughly aroused and gloriously sated. He affectionately nuzzles the pale throat and kisses the exposed nape.

A vivid blue eye opens, peers at him and closes as Harper mutters into the pillow, “Go….”

“What was that?” Tyr leans close. The remainder of the comment is inaudible even to his hearing. Harper mutters again and then subsides sleepily back into his pillow.

“Rest. I’ll be back to check on you soon.” Tyr leans down and kisses the skin near the data port. “I am very pleased with what transpired between us last night. I look forward to tonight.”

Tyr strokes Harper’s exposed back. He really should go about his duties. He will check back on Harper later. Tyr rises and heads for the closet.


&&&&


Some time later, Harper wakes again. He lies very still. He will have the big bed to himself for hours yet. Maybe after a few hours he will feel like moving. Maybe. Or maybe not, Harper thinks as he shifts slightly. His ass is one giant ache and rest of him doesn’t feel much better. He may just lie here and breathe for a while. The jack can wait.

The whole thing is sorta like drinking Sparky Cola. The first can feels wonderful. Instant bliss. The next is just as good and leaves you wanting more of the same. The third can takes the edge off but still leaves a craving for more. Next thing he knows, he has poured an entire six-pack down his throat and has a case of caffeine jitters and a vicious headache.

Last night. Damn, it had felt good. Too good. So good that he couldn’t stop urging Tyr on. After all that, that damn nanosecond Neit recovery time oughta be useful for something. The whole time, he was so enthralled with the intense pleasure and vivid sensations the he never gave a thought to what the next morning might feel like.
Maybe he can sleep the aches off. A shower alone would be good too. He smells of Tyr and sex but can’t bring himself to care. Harper closes his eyes and drifts into a light doze until an injudicious movement produces a sharp twinge of pain that wakes him again.

“Harper?” Hector’s sugared tones come from the doorway. “Are you okay? Do you want some breakfast?”

Just the thought of moving, getting up and dressing makes his muscles flinch in pained protest. Spending the day lying right here sounds better and better. “Go away.”

“What’d he say?” Janus asks as Hector retreats from the doorway.

Harper can hear the murmur of voices in the outer rooms. He tries to tune out the sounds and ease back into sleep.

Hector’s voice floats through the open door. “He just told me to leave.”

Harper sighs in exasperation as two pairs of footsteps approach the bedroom door. He can almost feel them staring at his bare back. Maybe they will go away in after they get an eyeful. Or they can stand and stare all day but he isn’t moving.

“What? Do you think he’s sick?” Janus’ voice is hushed. “He’s lying very still.”

“I don’t think he’s sick. But you go check,” Hector suggests.

“Oh no. I’m not going to be the one taking the blame for this,” Janus announces firmly. “Let’s go together.”

“Don’t you want some breakfast, Harper? You must be hungry after last night. ” Janus calls from the doorway. His voice is perniciously cheerful. “We have some Sparky if you want some.”

Gah. A morning person, no doubt. Harper twitches. Definitely he does not need more Sparky. He presses deeper into his pillow. “Go. Away.”

Harper closes his eyes as they retreat back into the outer room. He resolutely ignores the murmuring background noise as Hector and Janus talk to each other. After a time, they finally fall silent. He drifts back into a light doze.

“Harper!” Dylan’s shocked voice fills the room. At the same time bright lights flood the darkened bedroom.

Harper starts and swears at the resultant surge of pain. He squeezes his eyes shut against the light. “Go away!”

“I will not. Someone needs to be taking care of you.” There is the clink of many glass bottles rolling across the floor and pinging merrily off of each other. “And this mess. You really should get up and let someone clean up this…..ohhhhhh….Harper. Are these what I think they are?”

“Go. Away.” Harper burrows deeper into the pillow.

Dylan shakes his head and begins gathering up the numerous bottles scattered over the floor. “Really, Harper. What were you thinking?”

“Go. Away.” Harper orders.

More bottles clink as Dylan gathers up another armful and sets them on the table. “You touched his bone blades, didn’t you? After I specifically told you how dangerous that could be. Weren’t you listening?”

“Go. Away.”

“I warned you about how feral Nietzscheans can get when you do that. Goodness. It looks like you used up your entire lube supply last night. I bet you’re sore as hell.”

Harper peeks one eye open. Okay so he is as sore as hell but damn, had he had fun getting that way. He admits, “I ache all over.”

Dylan sniffs. “I can imagine. Well, get up and let’s get you in the shower.”

“I can’t move.” Harper mumbles. Well, he could if he absolutely had to. If a Magog pops through the doorway, for example. For anything less dire than a Magog, he is not moving.

“Oh my.” Dylan presses his fingers to his lips. “This won’t do. Your nanobots should have begun on most of the bruises. Let me look.”

“Don’t touch me.” Harper opens both eyes and glares at Dylan. “I don’t have nanobots.”

“My, aren’t we the touchy one this morning.” Dylan snipes but there is concern in his pale eyes under the irritation. He walks over to the doorway and beckons. “You there…yes you.”

Hector walks to the door. He glances over at Harper’s still form. “What?”

“Harper is injured. Please have Gaius come to the Archduke’s quarters.”

“Harper’s hurt? What happened?” Hector pales. He takes a step toward the bed.

Dylan indicates the lube bottles on the floor and in his hands. “What do you think happened? The Archduke happened!”

“Oh. OHHHHHHHH!” Hector grins widely and nods. “Very good, Harper!”

Harper grimaces at the Nietzschean. “Go. Away.”

“Bring Gaius. Tell him that Harper is going to need healing nanobots so he’ll need to prepare for an injection.” Dylan glances back at Harper and whispers, “or two.”

“Janus will retrieve Gaius. I’ll stay here.” Hector smiles and shakes his head as he eyes the lube bottles littering the floor.

“Whatever. You’ll need to help me pick up and refill these bottles.” Dylan instructs.

Hector asks, “What’s the hurry?”

Dylan glares at Hector. “The Archduke had a glorious time last night from the looks of it. Do you think he’ll go an entire day before checking back on his companion?”

“I don’t suppose so.”

“And what do you think the first thing on his mind will be when he sees Harper?” Dylan asks tartly.

“I get your point. Where’re the refill canisters?”

“They should have arrived with the items we bought on the planet.” Dylan walks over to the bed. “Wake up, Harper. Gaius should be here any moment.”

“Unnnnnhhhh.” Harper groans. He burrows back into the pillow. “I just want to lie here and be left alone.”

“No. That won’t do. You’re going to have to get cleaned up so the Archduke won’t be disappointed when he returns.”

That information finally caught his interest. Harper looks up. “Where is he?”

“Probably on the command deck right now…but he’ll be back to check on you soon.” Dylan taps his foot. He sighs. “Where is Gaius?”

“What have you done to the kludge this time?” Gaius asks wearily as he follows Janus into the bedroom.

“They didn’t do anything. It was the Archduke.” Dylan picks up one of the scattered lube bottles and waves it at Gaius.

Gaius looks around the room at the scattered bottles, the rumpled bed and the bruises beginning to darken on Harper’s pale body. His nose wrinkles at the scent of sex. “Oh dear. I see. The Archduke must have been in a rutting frenzy.”

“I would say so, yes.” Dylan sniffs disdainfully. He gathers up lube bottles and sets them neatly on the table.

Gaius moves to the bed and stands sternly over to Harper’s prone form. “Young man. Have a care with the skin of the boneblades in the future. Is that understood?”

“Yeah.” Harper mumbles. His blue eyes are wicked and unrepentant at he looks over his shoulder at the healer.

“Now, Harper.” Gaius sighs. “Can you tell me where you hurt?”

“Everywhere. Hey!” Harper protests as Gaius whips the covering sheets down, exposing him to the room. He attempts to grabs for the covers only to subside with a pained noise as the movement sets off a cascade of aches.

Gaius raises his eyebrows at the prominent handprints vividly marking Harper’s ass. “I see. I’m glad you called me to come down. He can barely move.”

“You’re kidding me, right.” Harper sighs. He’d like to see ole Gaius move after a night like last night. He bet no one else in the room would be feeling any too lively either. “I can’t even feel my body.”

“You’ve only yourself to blame.” Gaius injects nanobots into Harper’s hip. “There. Give those a few minutes and you should be able to move about. Your first order of business should be a shower.”

“Gotcha.” Harper tentatively wiggles his shoulders. He is already beginning to feel better. Better enough that a shower sounds doable. Maybe even some breakfast afterward. He’ll need the energy later.

“If you insist on provoking the Archduke you might want to get more lubricant.” Gaius adds as he walks out of the room.

Harper rises up on his elbows and glares after Gaius. How had the healer known what he was thinking about?

Dylan looks at Harper and shakes his head. “Oh no sense in getting indignant. I told you to be careful. But you didn’t want to listen to me. I can barely take Gaheris when he’s his usual ardent self…but when his boneblades are involved…well, I just endure as best I can.”

Harper pulls the sheet up and wraps it around his hips. He rolls over onto his back, staring at Dylan with wide eyes. “Endure? You mean you don’t enjoy it?”

“Certainly not.” Dylan sets a filled lube bottle down with a sharp clink. “Some things one must be willing to do for one’s Nietzschean. But I don’t enjoy…that…in the least.”

Harper sits up gingerly. There is only a mild twinge of pain now. He smiles with smug satisfaction at memories of last night. “I thought it was a rush!”

“What?!” Dylan exclaims. He turns to stare at Harper. His eyes are wide and shocked. “You enjoyed it? You’re as big a slut as the rest of that group in the Stable.”

“What did you say?” Harper frowns.

“I…I said that this is a pretty big table for these quarters.” Dylan hedges. “You really enjoyed having the Archduke…there?”

“Oh yeah. Bigger kick than Sparky Cola.” Harper grins, perching on the edge of the bed. “You mean all that talk about ‘My Gaheris’ this and ‘My Gaheris’ that and you don’t enjoy what you do with him?”

Dylan plops down on the foot of the bed. “Truthfully?”

“Yeah. Spill.”

“I prefer using my mouth to anything else. I mean…Gaheris can be…brutal when he takes my…” Dylan’s voice drops to a whisper. “…ass.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing.” Harper can’t stop the wide gleeful grin from spreading over his face.

“Isn’t it? All that poking and prodding and thrusting and grunting….so barbaric.” Dylan shakes his head. “I just lie back and think of all the shopping I will do when he’s done.”

Harper looks at Dylan in disbelief. Last night had been amazing. He loved the thick, hard glide of Tyr inside him. The feral intensity of Tyr’s arousal after the play with his bone blades. The hot suction of Tyr’s mouth on his dataport. He already wants it again. Harper sighs in longing. A smirk curls his lips. “I thought it was…”

Dylan gasps. “You wanton thing! Your other self didn’t enjoy it either. He was just so meek that he let the Archduke use him as he saw fit. The poor dear could barely walk sometimes after the Archduke had bedded him. I can’t believe you think it’s enjoyable.”

“Maybe he was gentle with me.” Harper offers with a shrug. He doesn’t care as long as Tyr does it again. Soon.

Dylan looks meaningfully at the empty bottles lined up on the table. “No. You’re just a sick one. I can’t believe I’m even having this discussion with you. And you had me give you all that advice about not gagging. You probably enjoyed that as well.”

Harper considers. That will never be one of his favorite things but he could get used to it as a kind of pit stop on the way to where he really wants to go. “Actually it wasn’t so bad after the first three times.”

“THREE times?!” Dylan exclaims. “Oh dear. I hope the Archduke doesn’t discuss this with Gaheris. If he does…Gaheris may expect me to perform as you do.”

“So I guess that would be a bad thing too, huh?” Harper snarks.

“Indeed.”


&&&&


Rhade watches covertly as the Archduke leans back in the conference room, reading the last report. Everyone else has been dismissed. He had been dreading this meeting after all the reports of the Archduke’s foul temper seeped through the ship yesterday. He’d expected to come in for his share of it this morning since it had been his suggestion that Harper and Dylan go shopping together. It was hardly his fault that Harper’s keepers had not kept a closer eye on the kludge. He had cornered them yesterday and with a stern lecture regarding their carelessness. He’d even added a few bruises to the ones that the Archduke had left.

He sighs as the door hisses open and Elssbett stalks in, her short skirt swishing sharply around her thighs. Couldn’t she have waited a few more minutes until he is out of the meeting?

“Brother! I have been waiting to meet with you all morning.”

Tyr continues reading the report as if nothing happened.

Elssbett slaps her hands down on the table and leans forward. She moderates her tone with obvious effort. “Brother, I would know the progress of my negotiations.”

“We are negotiating still.” Tyr does not look up from the report.

“That’s similar to what you said the last time. Has there been no progress?”

“There has been enough.” Tyr drops the last report on top of the pile of other reports. He studies Elssbett. “Never fear, sister. I want to see you married off to Charlemagne as much as you do.”

“Good.” Elssbett straightens. Her dark eyes narrow thoughtfully. “And how is your little kludge? I heard that he was taken ill yesterday while on the planet. And that Gaius was summoned to his bedside this morning.”

“Harper is coming along. His response to…treatment is…most satisfactory.”

Rhade glances sharply over at Tyr at the throaty way the Archduke’s voice deepened on the last two words. If Harper was still ill this morning, ill enough to need Gaius, why is Tyr so content and calm? He will have to seek out Gaius and demand a report.

“Good.” Elssbett swishes out.

“Harper is ill? I’m sorry to hear that.” Rhade watches closely for a reaction.

A slow smug smile spreads over Tyr’s full lips. “I suspect that he is sore this morning rather than ill. Harper was…magnificent last night. The scent of his arousal was quite…intoxicating.”

Oh-ho. So that’s why Tyr is in a good mood. But why is he in such an unusually good mood this morning? What had Harper done and how could the kludge be motivated to do it again. Frequently. Rhade raises an inquiring eyebrow and leans closer. “What did he do?”

The smug smile deepens. “He brought me off three times, one right after the other, with his mouth and then…”

Three times! Rhade’s dark eyes widen. In a row? Dylan is in better health than the Archduke’s kludge yet always claimed to need a break between bouts. “And then?”

“Harper was most demanding…insatiable. As if he could not have enough of me. He just would not leave my bone blades alone. The skin is still sensitive this morning. I could not bear to have the gauntlets touch the bases.” Tyr strokes the bare, sinewy length of his forearm.

“Insatiable?” Rhade asks with fascination and a trace of envy.

“Oh yes. I’d expend myself only to feel him still writhing under me begging for more.”

“He actually touched your blades…voluntarily?”

“Not just touched. He nipped the skin with his sharp little teeth.” Tyr shivers with remembered pleasure. “It was quite…stimulating.”

“I can imagine.” Rhade glances at Tyr’s bare forearms.

Tyr smiles. “The best part was his eagerness to participate…the joyful way Harper welcomed all we did last night.”

Rhade frowns. “What do you mean? Your little kludge enjoyed your taking of him?”

“Yes. He received as much pleasure from our repeated couplings as I.” Tyr caresses his forearms. “He truly is a treasure.”

“I…envy you.” Rhade admits.

Tyr frowns. “Why? Does your kludge not bring you pleasure?”

“I achieve release…but there is no joy in it.” Rhade reluctantly admits.

“Then perhaps it is time to find a more…accommodating companion.” Tyr suggests.

“Perhaps…I’ll think on it.”

“You do that.” Tyr pushes to his feet. “I better go check on Harper and make sure that he did not injure himself in his enthusiasm.”

Huh. Rhade frowns. When was the last time that Dylan touched his bone blades? It’s been almost six months since he bribed Dylan to do it last. Tonight, then, he thinks as he touches the leather gauntlet covering his forearm. Tonight, he will insist upon it. If Dylan complies then he may keep him. If not…well, there were several in the Stable that had attracted Rhade’s interest.


&&&&


Tyr walks in his quarters and freezes, staring. Harper is draped across the big couch. He is propped up on his elbows, reading. Muscles flex and shift under the pale skin of his bare torso. Black leather covers his legs. His ass is bare except for the tiny, silver chains that drape provocatively over the muscular curves. Tyr swallows as he stares at his vivid purple handprints marking the pale skin. He finally tears his stare away from Harper and glances at Janus and Hector. “You. Outside.”

“Hey, big guy.” Harper looks up at Tyr.

Tyr walks over to the couch. He kneels beside it. “Harper, how are you feeling?”

“Almost good as new.” Harper pushes up on his knees. The blue eyes are full of bold invitation. “Don’t I get a kiss?”

Tyr leans forward as the pale, strong arms settle around his throat. He brushes his lips lightly over Harper’s. “Are you certain that you are well?”

“I’ve never been better.” Harper nips sharply at Tyr’s lips. “Now, kiss me.”

Tyr parts his lips, sinking into the human’s mouth. He opens his mouth wider as Harper’s tongue presses inside, establishing a provocative rhythm of stroking over his own tongue. Tyr moans and presses closer. He must not allow this to go too far. Gaius had warned him against taking Harper again too soon. Harper’s strong hands knead pleasantly over his shoulders for a while before sliding down to stroke his biceps and…Tyr pulls back abruptly before the human’s hands can move lower. “Harper. You must not.”

“Why not?” Harper asks softly as he slides off the couch, pressing Tyr back onto the thick bronze rug. His fingers make short work of the fastenings on Tyr’s gold leather vest, spreading the leather. His mouth and hands move persuasively over the bare skin.

Tyr gasps as Harper wiggles against his rapidly swelling shaft. “Gaius said that we must not just yet.”

Harper kisses his way up the strong line of Tyr’s throat. “Those nanobots were great. I’m all healed.”

“Gaius said…” Tyr begins breathlessly as Harper presses insistently against him

Harper nibbles at Tyr’s full lips. “Shhhh….Gaius isn’t here is he? I’m not going to tell him…are you?”

Tyr strokes his hands down the human’s back. “No.”

“Good.” Harper pulls Tyr’s hands down and cups them around his ass. He kisses Tyr aggressively. “There now. That’s all yours if you want it. Do you?”

Tyr snatches for the dissipating shreds of his control. His hands spread possessively over the pale curves that gave him such intense pleasure last night. The lure of it is almost irresistible but he is determined that no harm will come to Harper. If the human will not exercise some control he must. “You know I do, Harper. It’s too soon after last night. I won’t damage you.”

Harper bites Tyr’s earlobe and whispers, “I’ve been thinking about having you buried deep inside me all day.”

Tyr trembles with the passion that the idea inspires. His hands tighten around Harper’s ass then he forces himself to release the cool curves. “No…no I won’t harm you. We must wait.”

“I don’t want to wait.” Harper insists. He claims Tyr’s mouth in a long, through kiss.

“No, Harper. I won’t take you.” Tyr tries to sit up but Harper wraps tenaciously around him. Tyr moans and yields as Harper pulls his head down for another long kiss.

“Then what if I take you?” Harper whispers against Tyr’s parted lips. His blue eyes sparkle with a lascivious dare.

Tyr stares up at Harper. The suggestion is outrageous…shocking…intriguing. After watching the human writhe in sensual demand beneath him last night, he had been curious about how it felt to be taken like that; if being taken was as profound a pleasure as taking. “I’ve never allowed…”

“There’s always a first time.” Harper kisses him softly, coaxingly. “It will feel good…for both of us.”

Tyr returns the kisses eagerly. If he did this, he could have the delight of Harper’s touch and not harm the human. There is something so erotic about the image of Harper moving over and within him. He wants to watch Harper take him. His body tightens fiercely at the idea. “I don’t know, Harper…”

“You were my first. It’s only fitting that I should be yours.” Harper caresses the hard biceps. His hand slides slowly down the length of Tyr’s arms. His fingers ease closer and closer to the bases of the bone blades.

“Harper.” Tyr shivers with anticipation. The thought of Harper doing…that...to him is so exciting. He knows already exactly how he wants it.

Harper kisses Tyr deeply then whispers. “It will be our secret. You’ll love it. I promise. Do you believe me?”

Tyr throws his head back at the sensual circling of Harper’s fingers around and around the tender skin at the base of his bone blades. Tyr gasps. “Yes!”

Harper grins, flashing his dimples. He rises to his knees.

“Harper.” Tyr nuzzles the human’s chest. His hands clench around Harper’s ass. “I…want to…watch.”

“You want to watch me take you?” Harper smiles, slow and wicked. The ornate downward tilting mirror on the wall opposite the couch catches his eye. He likes the idea of Tyr watching while he takes his pleasure with him. “Alright.”

Harper rises to his feet. He unlaces the fastenings on his pants, taking his time, making Tyr wait. He finally slides the flap open, revealing the hard length of his rosy shaft. Harper allows his pants to fall to the floor. He stands in front of Tyr languidly caressing his shaft as the Nietzschean watches with hungry eyes. Harper commands, “Take off your pants.”

Tyr rolls to his feet and quickly yanks his leather pants off, tossing them carelessly over the couch. His darkly swollen shaft quivers with the intensity of his arousal. His voice is breathless. “How will you have me?”

Harper steps closer and raises Tyr’s forearm to his lips. He licks and sucks the sensitive skin, making Tyr shudder and swell harder. Harper lifts his head and orders, “On your knees.”

Tyr sinks to his knees and leans forward on his hands. He watches in the mirror as Harper retrieves a bottle of lube from beneath the couch cushions. What will it feel like? His breath quickens as he watches Harper. The human kneels behind, slowly stroking the creamy lube over his shaft, making it glisten ruddily. The blue eyes are dark and slumberous as Harper meets his stare in the mirror.

The pale fingers disappear into his cleft. Tyr trembles as the lube is stroked over him. A finger slides within. Tyr moans softly, arching back. The sensation is pleasing. Adding to his pleasure is the intent, avid look on the human’s face as Harper slides a second and third finger within. Tyr pleads huskily, “More.”

“You look so hot like that, Tyr.” Harper glides his hand over the hard muscles of Tyr’s back, sweeping the long braids forward over the big man’s shoulder. Harper licks his lips. He swells hotter, admiring the powerful body, waiting submissively, eagerly for him. He kisses the smooth skin of Tyr’s back. Harper slowly moves his fingers, brushing ever so lightly over the sweet spot.

“Yes.” Tyr moans, pressing back.

“You like that?” Harper asks, slowly sliding his fingers out.

“Yesssss.”

Harper sets the thick head of his shaft against Tyr. He thrusts forward, sinking deeply and voluptuously into the tight heat. Tyr arches back with a hoarse cry, impaling himself drawing Harper more deeply still. Harper slides a hand beneath, gathering up the rich, plush length of dark shaft and stroking with the rhythm of his thrusts. Oh, yeah. Filling Tyr’s ass is just as good as receiving a fanny full of Tyr. No losers either way. Harper groans as he pushes into the tight sheath. He presses his mouth to the damp skin of Tyr’s back. Harper lays his cheek on Tyr’s hot back. He looks in the mirror meeting Tyr’s smoldering gaze. “You’re so hot, Tyr...so tight. I want to stay inside you.”

“Yes.” Tyr growls. He admires Harper’s pale flesh covering his dark…the strong hand caressing his length in time with the hard thrusts. He wants this to go on and on. Tyr spreads his thighs wider in wanton welcome. “Stay.”


&&&&

Dylan looks up as Gaheris Rhade walks into their quarters. He tosses his long brown hair over his shoulder. There’s something different about Gaheris. Something about the hot, dark and determined look in the black eyes makes Dylan feel uneasy. Has he done something to make Gaheris mad? But what? He’s been very good. He’s always good. Someone else must have done something.

Dylan rises slowly from his chair. Oh! Gaheris is holding something behind his back. A surprise! He’s bought a gift. How wonderful. It’s been ages since Gaheris bought something just for fun. Dylan’s beginning smile wavers around the edges and his pale eyes widen with dismay. Uh oh. The last time Gaheris brought a gift he’d wanted Dylan to….ewwww..

“Good evening, Gaheris.” Dylan’s voice is wary.

Rhade moves further into the room. “Good evening, sweet one.”

Uh oh. That’s the saccharine tone Gaheris uses when he wants a little something extra. “How was your meeting with the Archduke?” Dylan casually takes a step back. His gaze flickers over the thick bulge filling the front of Gaheris’s pants. Oh, dear. Oh, dear. Had the Archduke mentioned that slut Harper?

“Informative. Very informative.” Rhade stalks closer. His black eyes are intent and predatory. “Tell me, Dylan. Do you enjoy what we do?”

“What are you talking about, Gaheris?” Dylan laughs weakly.

Rhade moves closer. “Do you enjoy it when we are intimate?”

Dylan backs away with a weak smile. “I bet you’re hungry. Let me get you something to eat.”

“I have what I want right here.” Rhade wraps his hands in the loose brown hair and pulls Dylan down for a hard, punishing kiss.

“Gaheris!” Dylan gasps as he comes up for air. Oh, dear. Oh, dear. They had been talking about Harper. He just knew it. Oh, what is he going to do? “My….what brought this on?”

“It’s been a long time since we’ve laid together, Dylan.” Rhade grabs the front of the human’s white silk shirt and yanks. Buttons ping off the walls. Rhade yanks the white silk shirt off Dylan and tosses it aside. “It has been too long since you gave me your mouth…your ass.”

Dylan squeaks in alarm. It is never a good sign when Gaheris takes to ripping clothes off him. He backs quickly away. “Well, you’ve been busy and I know how important it is for you to get your rest.”

“I brought you something special from Madame Caresse that you’ve been talking about.” Rhade opens a small gold box and holds it out.

“Did you?” Dylan takes a step closer, peeking over the edge of the box. Nestling against black and gold tissue paper is a support thong but not like any that he has seen before. It’s white with a clever design of glittering gold, white and blue beads embroidered over the front. Almost involuntarily his hand reaches out.

Rhade sets it on the table before Dylan can touch it. “You know what you have to do.”

“Oh Gaheris. I want to…I do. But I think I’m catching a cold.” Dylan coughs delicately. He would give up his mouth for the thong. Even equal that slut Harper’s three times in a row for it but he fears that Gaheris wants something else.

“That’s alright.” Rhade herds Dylan into the bedroom. “I know something else you can do for me.”

“What?” Dylan is afraid he knows. He stares apprehensively at Gaheris’ quivering boneblades. Damn that Harper!

“I will have your ass, my sweet.”

“Uh…um…Gaheris. I…I…” Dylan watches in horror as Gaheris removes the gauntlets and tosses them away. Oh no…oh no…not the boneblades. He backs into the wall, his eyes wide with dread.

“You’ll not deny me tonight.” Gaheris pulls Dylan to him and stares in his eyes. “Now get yourself in the bed and be ready for me when I get there. Am I understood?”

“Yes Gaheris.” Dylan strips quickly and gets on the bed. Thank goodness, he filled all the lube bottles just this morning. He looks away as Gaheris quickly strips.

Gaheris kneels on the bed next to Dylan and growls. He is already thick and hard. He orders hoarsely, “Look at me, Dylan. Touch me. Prepare me to take you.”

Dylan reluctantly opens a lube bottle and thickly coats the shaft. He lies back with a resigned sigh and spreads his legs. He closes his eyes and turns his head away. His eyes pop open as Gaheris grabs a handful of his hair and pulls his head back. “What?”

“Not like that. Don’t turn your face away as if you can’t stand the sight of me!”

“I meant no offense, Gaheris.” Dylan whines.

“On your knees,” Gaheris orders sternly.

Dylan’s eyes round in dismay. Oh, dear. He hates it the most that way. All that sordid, endless grunting and prodding and moaning and…fluids. Ewwww. His nose wrinkles in distaste. That slut Harper is so sick to actually like something like that. Respectable companions simply endured and thought about other things. “On…on my knees?”

Dylan reluctantly turns onto his face under Gaheris’ urgent hands. He stiffens as he feels Gaheris spreading lube down his cleft and spreading his cheeks apart. He tenses as he feels Gaheris’ long fingers push into him and spread him open.

“That’s right. Be a good boy, Dylan. You know I like it when you’re good.” Gaheris caresses a bare cheek. He removes his fingers slowly and replaces them with the wide head of his shaft.

“Yes, Gaheris.” Dylan responds meekly.

“Spread your knees.” Gaheris commands breathlessly as he presses against Dylan. “Wider.”

“Gaheris…” Dylan assumes the position as ordered. He forces himself to relax as Gaheris shoves into him. Oh, dear. It’s been so long since last time. He’d forgotten how large Gaheris is.

Dylan sighs and stares at the wall as Gaheris moves over him, moaning and clutching at him. Oh. How awful. How disgusting. All that prodding and poking. Grunting and groaning. Really. How could anyone possibly like this? It just can’t be over soon enough. As soon as Gaheris is done, he’ll go take a nice long soak in that new bubble bath that he bought on his last shopping trip. It should be just the thing to make him feel all fresh and clean again. If Gaheris just doesn’t make him touch the bone blades, this should be over before much longer.

“Tell me you want more, Dylan. Tell me you love this.” Rhade gasps.

What madness is this? Gaheris wants him to pretend to like this? Has he gone mad? Dylan sighs. “I love this.” He mutters tonelessly.

Rhade smacks Dylan’s ass with one large hand. “Again! And sound like you mean it this time.”

“Oh, Gaheris!” Dylan exclaims. “I love this!”

“That’s it. Oh...yes. Now…lick the base of my blades.” Gaheris places his arm next to Dylan’s face.

Dylan opens his mouth and barely flicks his tongue over the skin. Gaheris climaxes with a shout. Yuck. Dylan grimaces. Now, if Gaheris will just move away, he can have that bubble bath.

Gaheris stirs, “The Archduke said that when Harper bit the base of his bone blades, the sensation was incredible.”

Oh, dear. That damn slut! Harper. Dylan clamps his mouth shut and stares at the wall. He is not going to do anything so perverted unless Gaheris orders him to.

“Bite me,” Gaheris grabs a handful of Dylan’s hair and demands hoarsely.

Maybe if he bit Gaheris hard, it would put him off. Dylan bites down.

Gaheris swells thicker and harder than before and begins thrusting vigorously. “Yessssssssss. Perfect. Like that. Oh yes. Harper! Oh so good. Oh Harper! Harper!” Gaheris moans. “Bite me…again.”

Gaheris called out Harper’s name. Dylan gasps. How could he do that? Why would he? Oh, dear. Damn that slut Harper.

&&&&

The next morning, Gaius storms into the Archduke’s quarters. He glares first at Janus and then at Hector. “What is it now? What have you done to the kludge now?”

Janus shakes his head. “It wasn’t us.”

Hector looks away from Gaius’ furious eyes. He waves toward the bedroom. “Check in there.”

“Was it the Archduke again?” Gaius sighs loudly in exasperation. “I gave the Archduke specific orders not to take the kludge until he was healed. I can’t keep repairing the little human.”

“It’s not Harper.” Janus shakes his head.

“What do you mean it’s not Harper? Who is it?” Gaius hurries toward the bedroom, alarmed at the idea that the Archduke might have met with some misfortune. He lurches to a stop next to the bed.

The Archduke is sprawled facedown across the wide bed. The covers are pushed down to his waist. Bite marks and passion marks cover his muscular back. His eyes are closed and a satisfied smile curves his lips. The little human, Harper is perched at the head of the bed, stroking the Archduke’s long hair. Harper has a decidedly smug and contented air. The blue eyes brim with wicked glee.

Gaius looks from the Archduke to Harper. What happened? The human seems fine but the Archduke is lying very still. He steps closer to the bed. His foot taps something and he looks down just in time to see a familiar glass bottle roll away under the bed to set off a whole series of cheerful clinking noises.

“Hey, doc.” Harper smiles brightly. He continues to stroke and caress the long braids.

“What have you done?” Gaius demands, staring suspiciously at the human.

Harper shrugs. He glances at his lover’s serene face then back at the healer. “Followed your orders.”

Gaius waves a hand around indicating all the bottles. His tone is rough with exasperation. “How is all this following my orders? I warned the Archduke not to take you until you were healed.”

“He didn’t.” Harper grins. His eyes are bright with mischief as he waits for Gaius to figure it out.

“Then what are all these….” Gaius stares at the bottles littering the floor then he raises his gaze in disbelief to Harper. “You didn’t?”

“Oh yeah…I did. Many, many times.” Harper sighs with contentment. He strokes the long braids off to one side and presses a gentle kiss on Tyr’s shoulder.

“You foolish boy. You mean to tell me you claimed the Archduke as your mate?” Gaius demands sternly.

“Is that what I did?” Harper kisses the smooth skin again. “And here, I thought I was just fucking him.”

“Don’t be a smartass.” Gaius snipes. He walks over to stand next to the bed, carefully avoiding the glass bottles scattered around the floor. He gives Harper an impatient look. “Move away so I can have a look at him.”

“No.” Harper stares back. He smoothes a protective hand over Tyr’s muscled back.

“What?” Gaius glances uneasily at the Archduke’s deceptively still form. He cannot believe that a kludge just refused to obey his order but the Archduke is neither sleeping nor unaware of what is going on. Shoving the annoying human away would be a bad choice of action. Very bad.

“I’m not moving.” Harper fills his hands again with the soft braids, allowing them to run through his fingers. The ominous glint in his eyes darkens. “I’m not leaving you alone with him.”

“Don’t be foolish, boy. Move out of my way,” Gaius orders in his sternest tones.

“No.” Harper looks down at Tyr’s face. “I promised that I would stay with him until he woke up. I’m not leaving until he does.”

Gaius sighs. Humans. As if there is the remotest chance of the Archduke sleeping through any of this. “Very well.”

Harper leans forward, he kisses Tyr’s cheek. “Tyr? Tyr. Wake up. Gaius is here.”

Tyr opens one dark eye and glares at Gaius. It felt so nice to lie there with Harper stroking his hair and kissing his shoulder and murmuring soft words in his ear. He is reluctant to have the moment interrupted despite his delight at Harper’s determination to stay with him. “What?”

“How are you feeling this morning?” Gaius asks carefully.

Tyr shrugs then groans at the ripple of pain. He closes his eye and burrows back into his pillow. “I ache.”

Harper leans forward and nips Tyr’s earlobe. His voice is layered with both mischief and sympathy. “I know exactly how you feel, big guy.”

Gaius injects Tyr with nanobots. “I don’t know what I’m going to do with all of you. I just came from Captain Rhade’s quarters. His kludge is in bad shape. I’ll have to keep him in medical until he heals. Now you two.” Gaius shakes his head. “I may have to insist that you stay in separate quarters if you’re not going to do as I ask.”

Tyr growls. His eyes open and focus with menace on Gaius. “That’s not going to happen.”

“We did as you asked.” Harper adds as Gaius walks toward the bedroom door. “You told Tyr not to take me. He didn’t”

Gaius stops in the doorway and surveys the used bottles. He snorts. “If you keep this up we’ll have to devote a whole cargo bay to lubricant.”

Harper looks down at Tyr and tenderly strokes his hair back. “Are you okay?”

Tyr rolls over and looks up at Harper. He smiles as he caresses Harper’s cheek. “I’ll be fine.”

Harper leans closer and brushes a kiss over the lush lips. “You were amazing last night. I couldn’t get enough of you.”

“Nor I, you.” Tyr grips the human’s nape and pulls him closer, deepening the tender kiss.

Harper reluctantly raises his head. His fingers trace the lines of Tyr’s beard. “I guess I should head down to medical and check on Dylan.”

Tyr pulls Harper back down for another long kiss before releasing him. “I enjoyed the pleasures we shared, Harper.”

“Oh, yeah. Niet booty is the best.” Harper grins as he slides off the big bed.

&&&&

Harper swaggers into medical with Janus trailing behind him. He stops short, staring. Dylan is lying face down on a biobed with his ass elevated. A white sheet drapes over Dylan, covering him from the waist down. Red scratches etch his back and purple red bite marks bruise his shoulders. The long brown hair is swept forward, concealing Dylan’s face.

Harper raises his eyebrows. Whoa. Ole Rhade must have been very enthusiastic last night. He grins thinking of the passion marks that he left on Tyr’s back and the look on Gaius’s face when the healer saw them. Harper moves closer. “Hey, Dylan.”

Dylan starts at the voice. He groans as the sudden movement jars him. Dylan pushes his hair back, revealing a split lip and a bright purple bruise under his left eye. Three shallow scratches start at his cheekbone and continue down his throat. Dylan glares at Harper. “You!”

“What happened to you?” Harper pulls up a chair and sits down at eye level with Dylan.

“What happened to me? You can sit there and act all innocent like you don’t know.” Dylan hisses viciously. “YOU! You happened to me you little slut!”

“What are you talking about?” Harper asks.

Dylan tries to shift his position and winces. “My ass may never be the same. He was brutal.”

“Rhade? You can’t be talking about your ‘dear Gaheris’.” Harper chuckles.

Dylan glares at Harper. “Oh you think it’s funny, do you? Well, I’m not a slut like you. I have a more delicate constitution. I don’t go around giving my….ass like some sort of kludge prostitute. I’m a professional companion. I make sure that Gaheris is comfortable and well cared for. I don’t have to do more than be beautiful and listen to him. I’m not supposed to have to perform like some sort of Stable WHORE!”

“Dylan! Please just calm down and tell me what happened?” Harper holds a hand up to stop the tirade.

“What…so you can laugh?” Dylan sniffs.

“No. You’re the closest thing I have to a friend. I just want to know what happened to you.” Harper scoots his chair closer. He doesn’t want to miss a word of this.

Dylan purses his lips primly. “Well, Gaheris came home last night with a gift for me. I knew it meant that he expected certain…favors. I was all prepared to do a little with my mouth. But, oh no! He’d talked to the Archduke about you. The Archduke, it appears, is quite taken with your…expertise…and he couldn’t stop talking about how fabulous you were and how you bit the skin near his blades and how you kept begging for it and how you were the best thing since…forever! How he can’t live without you.”

“Really? Tyr thinks I’m great?” Harper can’t hold back a delighted grin.

“Oh, it always has to be about you doesn’t it?” Dylan hisses. “Well, Mr. Slut Muffin, this isn’t about you ! I’m the one in medical with his ass in the air because I won’t be able to sit for a week!”

“Oh, yeah…right.” Harper sobers as he studies Dylan’s face. “Um. How’d you get the scratches on your face?”

Dylan touches one of the scratches and winces. “When I bit the boneblade skin…I bit a little harder than I intended…and…um…Gaheris’ climax was so intense that he forgot where he was. He was flailing around like a madman.”

“Is that how you got the shiner too?”

“Shiner?” Dylan looks confused.

Harper indicates the bruise below Dylan’s eye. “This.”

“Oh…yes.” Dylan touches his cheek gingerly. His lips thin into a resentful line. “And it’s all your fault. You just had to make the Archduke happy didn’t you?”

“Well, that’s what you all have been telling me I’m supposed to do. ‘Make the Archduke happy’, ‘Give the Archduke what he needs’.” Harper mimics. He rolls his eyes. “Then when I do, you get all bent out of shape. Make up your frickin’ mind.”

“Don’t get huffy with me.” Dylan snipes.

“So how long are you going to be in here, really?” Harper asks, his tone gentling.

Dylan sighs. “Gaius will probably let me go home tomorrow. I would rather stay here than have to go back and have Gaheris rape me again.”

“He didn’t rape you.”

“No…but he was not very nice. He kept spanking me…I’ve got bruises on my ass cheeks from it...and a couple times he said your name.” Dylan glowers at Harper.

“MY name?!” Harper stiffens in outrage. What a jerk. From the look in Dylan’s pale eyes, Dylan is far more offended by that lapse on Rhade’s part than what Rhade actually did to him. “Why the hell would he be doing that?”

“I think…” Dylan sniffs. “He wants you.”

Harper snorts. He wouldn’t have Rhade if the man came gift wrapped on a silver platter. Dylan need have no worries on that score. “Well, that’s just too bad. I’m a one Niet kludge.”

Dylan sighs with relief. There is still a trace of doubt in his eyes. “You don’t want Gaheris?”

“God, no!” Harper shakes his head. Like he would want anyone but Tyr now. “I have enough on my plate with Tyr.”

“Good.” Dylan relaxes on the biobed. “I might not mind going back tomorrow, then. Gaheris will probably bring me all kinds of nice things to make up for this.”

“You thought I’d want your Nietzschean? Please. Give me a little credit.”

Dylan looks over at Harper. “Harper. Tell me honestly. Is my face very bad? Am I still beautiful? Will I have scars?”

“I’m sure Gaius will fix you up good as new.”

“Let me see a mirror.” Dylan demands in suspicious tones.

“No. I think you’d better wait ‘til some of the swelling goes down.”

“It is bad, isn’t it?” Dylan touches his face.

“No…just wait a day ‘til the nanobots do their work.” Harper stands. “Well, I need to get back. I’ll check on you tomorrow.”

&&&&


Harper looks up eagerly as the door hisses open. Is Tyr back early? He tosses the flexi aside and stands up. He sees a dark woman standing in the doorway, looking around with a scowl. Who the hell is she to come marching in like that? “Hey lady, what are you doing?”

“Out of my way, kludge.” She stalks in, walking right past him like he does not exist. Her black hair is piled loosely on top of her head and she wears a short red leather skirt with a matching silk shirt and ankle boots. Harper stares after her. Who the hell is she?

He glances around at his guards. Hector and Janus are just standing there with expressionless faces, watching. Harper demands, “Who is that bitch?”

“The Archduke’s sister.” Janus gives him a warning look.

Oh, no wonder the woman looks vaguely familiar. He saw her once before at dinner when he first came here. Tyr’s sister, the kludge hater that Dylan had warned him about. What’s her name? Harper frowns. “Oh, Elssbett. She’s the reason I’m here, right?”

Hector nods. His eyes are cold and watchful on Elssbett’s back.

Elssbett struts into Tyr’s bedroom. “This place is a mess. Someone should clean it up.” Her high heeled boots tap-tap impatiently across the floor. “What are all these little bottles doing everywhere?”

Harper hears a clink-clink-clink of glass bottles and a thud like something heavy fell. A grin spreads across his face. Darn. What a shame that he hadn’t gotten around to picking up all the bottles yet. He must have missed a bottle or two or four. At the edge of his vision, he can see Janus and Hector fighting smirks off their faces.

“Problem?” Harper asks as Elssbett staggers out to lean against the doorway. One of her boots is missing its heel. She yanks the boot off and throws it across the room. Her other boot follows it.

Her short skirt is askew and her hair is falling down one side of her face. She snarls. “Are you laughing at me, kludge?”

Harper makes no attempt to hide his grin. “If the boot fits…”

“Just because you’re my brother’s little fuck toy does not make you immune to my wrath.” Elssbett’s dark eyes glitter furiously at she stares at him.

A lube bottle crashes against the wall, barely missing him. Oh, well, at least it was an empty one. Harper raises a supercilious eyebrow. “Your aim is off. But thanks for playing.”

Elssbett stalks over to him. She yanks her skirt back into place. “Where is my brother?”

“Out.”

She backhands him hard. “Does that jog your memory?”

Harper takes a step back with the force of the blow. There is a second of shocked numbness then the spreading flood of pain. He can taste blood in his mouth; feel the warmth of it trickling down his chin. His eyes flare with rage but Janus and Hector step in front of him, blocking his view of her. “That bitch just hit me!”

“Harper, step back.” Janus warns.

“You let that bitch hit me. What kind of bodyguards are you?” Harper rages at the broad back in front him.

“What do you think that you are doing?” Elssbett sneers at the two guards. “You think that you can stop me from doing anything I want. If I want to beat the useless kludge into a bloody pulp, you two lumps of genetic worthlessness can’t stop me. Step aside!”

Janus does not move. “We can’t allow you to harm the Archduke’s kludge, Lady.”

“Oh, really? And how are you going to stop me?” Elssbett shoves her hair back.

Harper hears a dull thud and sees Janus’s head snap back as Elssbett punches him. She pivots and Janus sidesteps just in time to avoid a kick to his groin. Hector slides into place in front of Harper, taking a hard knee to his ribs.

“Why are you guys letting her kick your asses? Deck her!” Harper watches in puzzlement.

Janus grabs Harper and pushes him toward the bedroom. “Go. Lock yourself in there.”

Harper darts into the bedroom and locks the door. He can heard the dull thuds and smacks of blows in the outer room. He tosses clothes aside and grabs the jack. He slides it into his port and swims into the data stream. Damn, he has missed this. Where is Tyr? He should be able to…Andromeda’s image towers among the streams of information.

She snatches him out and stares at him. “What are you doing in my mind? I don’t recognize you.”

“Rommie…I’m Harper. The new Harper. The one from the other universe. I was your…the Andromeda’s engineer in that universe.” Harper stares at her with longing. She looks exactly the same except she is wearing Nietzschean style leathers and long hair.

She frowns, “What are you doing here? You don’t have permission to be here.”

“Please, Rommie, I have to find Tyr. He needs to come to his quarters now. There’s something bad going on. His sister is attacking everyone. If you won’t let me talk to him, tell him, please.”

A remote expression covers her face for a second. She blinks and looks at him. “I have noted and informed the Archduke of the disturbance. He is on his way.”

“Thank you.” Harper grins. His eyes brighten hopefully. “Can I come see you again? I could tell you about the other Andromeda. I miss her. I miss this.”

She stares at him with cool dark eyes then nods. “You may come here again. Now, go.”

Harper blinks and finds himself standing in the bedroom again. He sighs and slides the jack out. He drops it in a drawer and walks over the bedroom door to listen. He can hear voices.

“Lady Elssbett, we cannot allow you to harm the kludge.” Janus sounds reassuringly determined. Good ol’ Janus.

“I’ll have you executed!” Elssbett shrieks.

“The Archduke will be furious if anything happens to him.” Hector is doing his usual sweetly reasonable tones.

“My brother can find another. They’re not that hard to find.” Elssbett again…the bitch.

Harper scowls at the door. Yeah, Tyr probably can find another one and he does not like the idea one bit. Tyr is all his and staying that way. He hears the dull smack of blows and Elssbett snarls. Then a sudden silence.

Harper grins at the sharp crack of Tyr’s furious voice. “What is going on here?!”

He can hear immediate murmur of Janus and Hector’s voices. The shrill snap of Elssbett. Then Tyr’s voice again in poisonously soft tones.

There is a soft tap on the door, followed by Tyr’s voice. “Harper, open the door.”

Harper unlocks the door and steps out. Tyr cups Harper’s chin, tilting his head to the side. He gently touches the skin around the swelling blue-black bruise on Harper’s cheek. His gaze slides quickly over Harper, checking for other injuries.

Harper spots Elssbett standing on the other side of the room with her hands on her hips. He trades glares with her. Harper looks quickly around and sees Janus and Hector standing on his side of the room. They are both bruised and banged up looking. Harper flinches as Tyr’s fingertips ghost over the bruise.

“Sister. Is this your handiwork?” Tyr growls. He stares coldly at her. His bone blades flutter restlessly next to Harper’s face.

“I don’t remember hitting the boy. He must have gotten in my way.” Elssbett sneers at Harper then looks away.

Harper brushes a reassuring kiss over Tyr’s wrist, reclaiming his lover’s attention. “I’m okay. Hector and Janus stopped her from doing more to me.”

“I am sorry that you were hurt, Harper.” Tyr pulls Harper close and bends to drops a kiss on the human’s forehead. He straightens and turns to face his sister. “You will not strike Harper again.”

“Your little bed warmer is more important than your own sister?” Elssbett huffs. She gives Harper a venomous look as she shoves her hair back.

“Elssbett. I won’t have this discussion with you again.” Tyr warns in a dangerously soft voice.

Tyr draws Harper protectively against him, stroking the spiky blonde hair. He looks at Janus and Hector. “You have my standing orders to protect Harper. No matter who attacks him. If my sister strikes him, treat her like anyone else who threatens him.”

Harper smirks as he watches the evil grins spreading over Hector and Janus’s faces as they stare with anticipation at Elssbett. Already he is seeing the payback potential here, especially with Elssbett’s uncontrolled temper. It shouldn’t take much effort to bait the bitch into trying to attack him again. Or maybe he can do something better.

Elssbett gives the two big guards an uneasy look before turning disbelieving eyes on Tyr. “Brother. You can’t mean that. We’re family.”

“You are only my half-sister Elssbett.” Tyr runs a cold, considering stare over her. “I am sure of my father’s genetic worth but it seems that of your mother may be suspect.”

“How dare you!” Elssbett hisses. Her eyes glow with renewed fury.

“Stay away from my quarters and stay away from Harper.” Tyr glances at Janus and Hector. “Get her out of here.”

Elssbett glares at the two guards and stomps toward the door as they head toward her.

Harper cuddles close against Tyr’s side as he watches Elssbett stomping toward the door. Things would be much more peaceful and safer that vicious tempered, human hater gone. He’ll have to think about finding just the right place for Elssbett.

TBC