Rafe, as usual, sat at his desk, his golden eyes narrowed as they stared at Drekk without welcome. Drekk glanced to Rafe’s right, aware his lack of greeting had more to do with Erin’s state of undress than any real hostility on Drekk’s behalf.
“Drekk?”
He smiled at the scantily clad woman. Erin wore a black skirt that barely covered her ass. Her shirt was unbuttoned to her navel. Golden skin glittered with arousal as she nervously stepped away from Rafe. Still, she glowed with happiness, and Drekk couldn’t fault Rafe for wanting to keep her all to himself. The woman had beauty and brains, and a fierce love for the man she’d claimed with her whole heart.
“Erin. You look wonderful.” He leaned down to kiss her cheek, aware the action would annoy Rafe to no end.
“You need something, Drekk?” Rafe growled.
“Just wanted to double-check the status of our next job.” Drekk sat in an antique Elaran arm chair.
“Make yourself comfortable,” Rafe muttered, then began an hour-long discussion on what their next project entailed—exposing a detailed scam involving crooked peacemakers and illegal mining from the Cortami caves in barbarian lands. “But the mining ring isn’t going anywhere. Like I told you before, we’re clear for a solid week.”
“Good. I can use the break.” As can Ryen. “So what’s the story on your brother?”
“Which one?” Rafe snorted. “Gar has a lead on Sernal, finally. The ass doesn’t want my help, so I’m not going to interfere. Yet.”
Drekk wondered at Rafe’s calm. Sernal, Rafe’s oldest brother, had been missing for several days. The second oldest, Gar, was after him. And Gar on his own, without someone to rein him in, was never a good idea. “You’re letting Gar take charge of Sernal’s rescue?”
“We still don’t know it’s a rescue,” Erin added, circling behind Rafe. She twined her arms around his neck and leaned close. “Gar only said he’d found Sernal and would soon bring him home.”
“Have I told you how glad I am that I don’t have brothers?” Drekk chuckled.
“Speaking of brothers...” Erin stared, waiting.
“He’s doing better.” Since I forced him to ease up. Drekk crossed his legs recalling such ‘ease’. Who knew Ryen had such a talented mouth?
“He wasn’t the last time I saw him.” Erin frowned. “Ryen looked pissed off, more agitated than usual. He needs me to help him.”
“He’s not ready to see you yet. Your brother is a stubborn, arrogant ass. He has no concept of what the phrase ‘I need help’ means, and he gets a thrill from bugging the crap out of me.”
“He likes you.” Rafe grinned. “I say that with surety because you’re not dead yet.”
“Rafe.”
“Erin.” Rafe shook his head. “You know I’m right. Ryen’s a lot calmer around Drekk than he is around the rest of us. Besides, Drekk’s dealt with this kind of situation before. Let him help your brother.”
Erin studied him for a moment, then sighed. “Alright. But I want you to bring him by soon. Please?”
Drekk nodded. “I will. I promise.”
“Erin, why don’t you give Drekk and me a chance to talk,” Rafe suggested. “Go wait for me in the bedroom and take off your clothes. Make sure you’re nice and wet for me.” Erin flushed. “Not in front of Drekk,” she rebuked in a low voice.
Drekk didn’t know why she felt embarrassed. Not long ago he’d watched her and Rafe engage in some delightful carnality that made him long to share the same...with Ryen. He could all too easily imagine taking Ryen’s virgin ass, of wrapping his fist around that monstrous cock and watching it explode.
“Do it now.” Rafe’s order had the desired effect. Erin glared at her mate before turning on her heel. Despite her glower, arousal wafted around her. The natural submissive in Erin responded to the dominance in her mate. Drekk couldn’t help wondering if Ryen would ever respond in kind.
“That scent goes straight to your head,” Drekk murmured as she flounced from the room.
“It does. She’s not happy with me, so she’ll make me pay. I love it when she makes me pay.” Rafe grinned, and Drekk grinned with him. “Now tell me what the hell is really going on with Ryen.”
“Like I told Erin—”
“Please. After five years, I know you a little better than that. Is Ryen as bad off as I think he is?”
“Not now.” The orgasm and the amount of seed he’d swallowed had healed much of his pain and rage. How long that would last was anyone’s guess. “He needs time to relearn.”
“Relearn what?”
“How to respond to others without violence. Even when he spent time with Anin, he was always poised to protect her. The man was bred to fight.”
“Which makes him perfect to work with us. Imagine the two of you working for Cheltam. I’ll be the talk of the town.”
“Braggart. You already are. No one can take their eyes off Erin. I do believe her Creators took the best of every Nebite pleasurer in existence to Create her. Every male in the System wants her.”
Rafe took his measure, testing him. “But not you.”
“Why, because my last lover was male? I’m not discriminating about gender when it comes to relationships. Rafe, Erin is a walking wet dream.” Drekk continued as though Rafe’s anger weren’t a palpable thing. Damn, the Mardu was fun to rile. “As entertaining as I find your jealousy, no, I don’t want her. I find myself interested in her male counterpart. Ryen is every bit as beautiful as she is. He’s just...harder.”
“Really?” Rafe smirked.
“That’s not what I meant.” Though come to think of it, Ryen had been deliciously solid.
“I meant he’s harder to get to know.”
“You just make sure you can handle him. I won’t have you or Erin hurt by an uncontrollable warmonger.” Rafe sobered. “If it comes to it, I’ll take care of the situation.” Drekk knew he meant it. “Don’t worry. I’ve been around enough of my kind to know when to stop. Ryen is far from that edge.” Or so Drekk hoped. “I’m going to take the next few days to work some intense therapy with him. You have no idea what they did to him in there.”
“Erin told me some of what she went through. She said Ryen suffered ten times worse.
After seeing what he did to those assholes at the labs, I can readily believe it.” Rafe grimaced.
“Help him, but be careful. I’ve gotten used to that ugly face of yours. I don’t want to break in a new enforcer.”
“You still owe me from the last job we did. I’m not going anywhere until I’m paid in full, Cheltam. Now go take care of your woman before she brings half the city down on your bedroom. Her pheromones are all over the place.” Drekk stood sporting a hard-on. “Unless you don’t want her, because I’d be happy to—”
“Get the hell gone.” Rafe cursed and stormed from the room. “Erin,” Drekk heard him yell. “Tone it down before I smack that ass bright red. And if you don’t want to be punished all night, I suggest you be waiting for me on your hands and knees.”
“Ah, true love.” Drekk chuckled and let himself out the front door, eager to return to the male he considered his responsibility.
In the rover heading home, he pondered his troubled housemate. The drugs Ryen had ingested would wear off in a few hours. How would Ryen behave then? He wouldn’t remember what Drekk had done. From what Ryen had told him about his psychotic Handler, Drekk knew it was for the best.
Synster, that homophobic prick, had tortured Ryen repeatedly for four years. The physical and emotional abuse had forced Ryen to shut down, letting his anger build. That constant rage needed an outlet, one provided by the labs in the forms of warfare and orgiastic repast. Considering what Drekk knew about Ryen’s appetites, it was no wonder the male had a hard time releasing that inner rage.