A gay story: Silver Ch. 03 Silver 3: The Monster Inside
Pelaam: June 2007.
*
The twin suns blazed their heat on the figures reclining on soft silvery sand. A cloth canopy had been set up for those whose skins were in danger of burning easily and needed the shade. A powerful male, with eyes as blue as the cloud free sky and hair the colour of both sun-baked and sea-kissed sand, smiled at the smaller form nestled at his side. Their shoulder length auburn curls were turned into myriad hues of red-gold and bronze by the suns. Even the chest hair was lit into a kaleidoscope of colour. The bigger man’s eyes devoured the enticing sight of two dusky nubs that peeked shyly from their protective nest. Uist’s smile was relaxed and stayed in place as he regarded the man who lay to the other side of his mate Sholto. Even relaxed as now, Tristam’s powerful physique was obvious and rivalled that of Uist’s own. The normally sandy blond hair had been bleached whiter and the eyes that could go from chips of ice to stormy ocean were locked on the antics of two young men that played in the warm, clear waters. Uist’s eyes moved seaward.
One young man’s dark curls were now plastered to his head and, even without the benefit of Tristam’s enhanced vision, Uist was sure he could see the deep brown eyes glow with joy. The normally honey-tinted skin was becoming a richer hue and the lithe frame radiated health and happiness. The other young male was of a similar height and willowy build, but their waist length blond tresses, almost white from the sun’s attentions, were secured in a loose plait. The very pale skin had been carefully oiled with a protective lotion and it glistened as he moved. Uist and Tristam turned simultaneously to smile at each other. The holiday was just what they had needed to relax and enjoy time together without demands from others
A sudden peal of musical laughter had their attention back to the ocean. Theophilus was now held in the arms of his husband. The powerful reptilian had swum underwater to surprise his mate. Strong, smooth, sea-green arms were around the blond’s slim waist, lifting him high as he was spun around. Rayner’s laughter could also be heard as Theophilus’ tresses came free from their binding creating a rippling waterfall of silken strands in the sunlight. Standing still, the lizard allowed the slender male in his arms to slide down his bulkier body and flicked out his tongue to taste sun and sea, love and laughter.
Rayner decided it was time to leave the lovers as Theophilus began to nuzzle at Xavier’s snout. Returning to the beach he knelt gracefully between Tristam’s purposely spread thighs.
“I think Xavier needs some time alone with Theophilus,” he smiled at the man he loved.
“I think he has a good idea,” Tristam replied reaching to stroke a soft, smooth cheek.
“Mmm, I agree,” Rayner husked leaning into the caress.
“I believe Sholto and I will take a walk into the foliage nearby,” Uist purred. “It reminds me of the jungle areas of PrideHome. He picked up a towel and slung it around his shoulders. He then tenderly stroked his lover’s cheeks until drowsy oceanic blue eyes met his own more intense gaze and a sleepy smile warmed the cat-man’s heart. “Time for a little exercise, my own,” he said softly.
“‘K,” Sholto murmured. He allowed himself to be pulled to his feet and tucked securely against a powerful body and nestled closer inhaling his mate’s clean masculine scent.
“Take care, my brothers,” Tristam said as he watched the couple meander slowly from sight.
Out in the ocean, Xavier had decided he wanted more than simple splashing in the warm waters. Watching his supple, sleek, glistening husband had aroused the reptilian. He now cradled the lithe form back-to-chest and his large, sensitive hands roamed over and caressed the smooth hairless skin of his mate’s chest. He drew circles with his fingers around the small nipples teasingly until plucking gently at them to turn them into alluring, solid pink peaks.
“Husband,” Theophilus whispered, his voice soft, melodic, submissive.
“Beloved,” Xavier replied, seductive, silky, possessive.
Carefully he reached to divest his lover of the small swimming briefs he wore. The lizard had left his own shorts on the beach before entering the sea. A strong, knowledgeable hand began to caress the shaft that rose eagerly from golden blond curls. Then the bigger male ushered Theophilus into greater depths where they needed to tread water. Xavier’s powerful thighs pressed the blond’s apart. Smooth flesh teased at his hidden opening, already slick with his own natural lubricant. Xavier’s tail slid sinuously inside as Theophilus arched and moaned in his bigger mate’s embrace. There was little need for stretching. The blond was relaxed and lubricated and Xavier could wait no longer to be sheathed in wet heat.
The reptilian’s hemipenes probed at Theophilus’ entrance as Xavier’s tail withdrew. The twin organs, slick with their own pre-come pressed insistently at the blond’s pink rosebud and then glided effortlessly to be fully sheathed in searing tightness. Xavier felt his lover try and push back on the flesh impaling him and thrust his hips forward. Mewls and soft, sweet cries spilt from the younger male as his jewel was rubbed insistently by every ebb and flow of his mate’s sexes. With a louder cry of his husband’s name, Theophilus came, his seed a cloudy haze billowing into the welcoming sea.
Xavier continued to thrust as Theophilus moaned mindlessly, lost in a sensual haze of pleasure. Xavier’s expert touch on his sex reawakened the sated organ, encouraging it to participate fully once again. Xavier’s pleasured trilling was so low and deep as to rival Uist’s purring and the younger male whimpered as he felt the vibrations throughout his sensitised body. Finally Xavier’s body ceased its insistent rocking inside his mate as a prelude to his completion. He formed his knot inside Theophilus as he felt his beloved reach his pinnacle. With a muted roar of Theophilus’ name, the lizard’s hemipenes surrendered their seed, his release pulsing deep into the willing, lithe body.
Impaled on his husband’s flesh, the warm sea cocooning them, Theophilus doubted if he would notice if they slid beneath the waves. It was a sublime feeling, being so fully filled, being unable to do nothing except accept the pleasure his mate was bestowing upon him and the blond writhed ecstatically. He felt his manhood harden again under his mate’s tender ministrations. Then his lover’s seed was inside him, wet heat searing him, and he felt voluptuously possessed by his husband. As he felt Xavier’s release inside him, it triggered his own. Theophilous went limp, finally fully satiated and he lay trustingly in his lover’s strong embrace as the reptilian’s knot slowly dissipated. For long minutes they floated, enjoying post-coital intimacy in the arms of the sea.
On the beach, Tristam and Rayner had begun to kiss and caress as soon as Uist and Sholto had disappeared from sight. Two tiny scraps of cloth that had preserved modesty had quickly been discarded in favour of intimate skin-to-skin contact and the only sounds were those of love and joy. Rayner lay beneath his bigger mate as the older man slowly left open-mouthed kisses up his dark beauty’s smooth thighs. He paused to nibble gently on the golden skinned delicacy.
“Ohh, Tristam,” Rayner sighed.
Tristam smiled as he nuzzled closer to his young husband’s need. He gazed predatorily at the column of slender rosy flesh rising from a nest of dark curls. The sunlight caught the trail of desire that had already leaked copiously and Tristam diligently lapped every trace from warm, soft skin. As he took in the red-hued head of his mate’s sex he relished the low moan of pleasure. He sucked slowly and fondled the almost hairless sac, rolling and squeezing carefully the precious orbs within.
Rayner was unable to prevent the primitive sounds of pleasure that rose from him as his mate continued his erotic torture. He looked down at the bigger body kneeling between his spread thighs and opened his legs wider, offering himself to his love. He moaned as hot wet suction worked at his erection. A slick muscle tracing the sensitive underside to then lave over the prominent vein caused Rayner’s slender hips to thrust instinctively. A strong arm stopped his movement and Rayner mewled as the older man began to suck in earnest.
Tristam released his prize to a low whine of distress from his beloved. The older man wanted them to come together and had felt how close his smaller lover had been. He moved to blanket their bodies. Their erections rubbed together to silent music performing a dance as old as time. As their bodies rocked gently Tristam nipped and sucked at the large dark discs of his lover’s aureoles before sucking each irresistible nub in turn. Rayner’s soft keening and constant writhing fractured the bigger man’s control. Drenching a thick digit with oil he reached between wide-flung legs for the tiny portal hidden within the downy declivity. He inserted his fingers carefully, stretching and coating the grasping, silken walls of the slender channel.
Removing his fingers, Tristam hooked a long slim leg over his hip as he lined up his engorged shaft with the glistening entrance to his mate’s body. He kissed Rayner passionately as he sank into searing tightness. Both men moaned as he came to rest, fully impaling his young lover, the tight sheath rippling its welcome for his hard flesh. They quickly found their rhythm, Rayner lifting his hips to meet every thrust of his big mate. Slow deep thrusts became faster and harder, striking Rayner’s sweet spot repeatedly to leave the smaller man thrashing wildly, lost in the sexual maelstrom of his lover’s making.
“I want to hear you scream my name,” Tristam purred. “Want us to lose where one of us ends and the other begins. Love you, Rayner,”
“Love you,” the younger man moaned softly.
The moan became a scream as Tristam fisted the dark beauty’s arousal sending Rayner tumbling into completion, his seed coating his lover’s hand and their sweat-slick bodies. Intense pleasure swept through the smaller body in wave after wave. Rayner was dimly aware of the low, deep groan of his name as he felt his mate’s seed erupt into his body, his clenching channel milking his lover’s pulsating flesh. Rayner gave a soft sigh of contentment as Tristam’s weight settled over him making him feel even more loved and cherished. They traded slow sweet kisses until Tristam’s softened organ finally slipped from its harbour and the older man cradled his lover to his chest.
Between his own desire to mate and the scent of growing arousal from his chosen family, Uist was achingly hard by the time he and Sholto had moved a discreet distance from the beach. The men weren’t shy of nudity around each other, but all preferred to have privacy for lovemaking. He grinned as he found a soft, moss-covered knoll, with wide fern-like fronds above it for shade. He lay down the towel for added softness. They removed their swimwear; Uist then knelt and drew Sholto next to him. As they moved together, they began to kiss and caress. Slowly, Uist guided his smaller mate to lie down before he pulled back to stare possessively at the nude form of his young husband.
“I’m going to make you purr,” Uist promised in a low deep rasp that seemed directly connected to Sholto’s hard, leaking organ. The younger man moaned in anticipation, his body trembling with arousal.
Uist moved to part Sholto’s legs widely and lay down thrusting and rotating against Sholto’s groin. As he did, he plundered the warm wet cavern of Sholto’s mouth, his lover sucking Uist’s tongue into his own mouth to suckle. As the kiss ended, Uist growled his approval. He nipped at his mate from throat to collarbone to leave a trail of love bites. His mouth fastened over one cinnamon nub and he sucked and nipped as his fingers tugged and teased at the other to leave the younger man incoherent with need.
He hovered over the tumescent organ that lay on Sholto’s furred abdomen. His tongue licked at the pool of liquid desire. He wished he could mate endlessly with his spouse. He adored the sight, sound, taste, smell and feel of making love with the responsive young man; to fill the willing body with his flesh and his seed, possessing him in the most primal of ways. With a feral grin he enveloped Sholto’s shaft to the root, burying his face in the luxurious pubic pelt and inhaling musk and desire.
Sholto cried out and bucked into hot wet suction. He panted wetly as Uist let him thrust into his voracious maw; the young man’s pleasure spiralling outwards from deep in his groin. He felt the rumbling purr from his bigger mate causing ripples around his sensitised shaft. Sholto arched and cried out wordlessly. His hips bucked furiously as he tumbled helplessly towards his release. Finally with a wail of Uist’s name, the younger man’s cream filled his husband’s ravenous mouth, the older man swallowing all that was offered and sucking insistently to ensure not a drop was missed. As Sholto sagged bonelessly, Uist allowed the sated organ to slide from his lips. Sholto whimpered needily at the sight of his mate, kneeling between his legs, licking his lips with slow deliberate swipes of his tongue. His manhood twitched dryly in response to the intense look from Uist’s eyes which glowed burnt umber with desire.
Uist smiled predatorily as Sholto tried to spread himself wider, silently inviting the dominant male to take him. Dark amber eyes devoured the entrance to Sholto’s body that their positions now revealed to his ravenous gaze. The big man knew he would need to play his lover’s body to perfection to re-arouse Sholto after such an intense orgasm. He loved to fill his young husband as much as Sholto loved to be filled and his flesh throbbed its desire to be in his mate’s tight sheath. Oiling a single digit, Uist teased at the tightly furled rosette to soft mewls of encouragement. He circled the puckered flesh before pressing forward and growling softly at the moist heat enveloping his finger. As he slid as second inside, he laved at his mate’s furred sac and tugged gently at the hairs on sturdy inner thighs. As a third finger entered, he licked at the filling shaft and began to stroke Sholto’s prostate, causing the smaller man to buck and writhe, riding the fingers that delved deeply within his body. As Uist felt his lover push down on the questing digits and thrust up into his mouth, he knew it was time to claim that which was his. He rolled the unresisting body over and guided Sholto onto his hands and knees. He growled with gratification as his lover tried to press back onto his erect flesh. Holding the slender hips firmly, Uist pressed determinedly into the velvet channel. He continued in a controlled thrust until his sac pressed against his mate’s as they were fully joined. Keeping one strong hand on Sholto’s hip, Uist began to thrust as he reached under the smaller man to keep stroking the resurgent erection.
Sholto was reduced to incoherent whimpers, stimulated beyond the capacity for any sounds other than those of mind-fracturing pleasure. The large, thick organ that filled him so fully now dragged easily across his sweet spot with every thrust or rotation of his mate’s powerful hips. He tried to push back and meet each of the deep thrusts with a movement of his own. He hoped he conveyed with his actions what was beyond his abilities with speech. He relished the breathy growls and purrs from the cat-man, feeling incredibly powerful that it was he that could reduce the bigger male’s infamous control to dust. Sholto panted as he threw his head back and felt his lover’s teeth bite at his exposed throat. He wanted to be marked and whimpered gratefully as Uist sucked hard to brand him as his.
Uist could feel how close his lover was to completion. He gave a succession of short feral jabs to Sholto’s prostate causing the smaller man to howl and then gave a twist to his mate’s engorged flesh. His reward was rhythmic clenching around his own aching need and an outpouring of his lover’s essence over his hand. Throwing his own head back, the primal roar of completion from the older male fairly shook the ether around them. Uist blanketed his mate’s back thrusting steadily even after the last of his seed had long left his slowly softening rod. As they slowly sank to the floor, Uist heard the sound he desired; part murmur, part sigh and a sound of pure contentment, Sholto’s breath vibrated creating a unique purr of satiation. Uist grinned triumphantly.
Long moment passed as the lovers traded soft kisses and touches to convey the depths of the bond of love they shared. Although he regretted disturbing Sholto, Uist wanted to return to the greater safety of the rest of his family.
“We should return to our brothers,” Uist said to his almost comatose mate. He swept Sholto into his arms and returned to the beach.
Uist smiled at those of his family still awake. Xavier and Tristam sat, one reading from, the other tapping into, hand held computers. Both of the other alpha males glanced up at Uist’s almost silent approach and greeted him with their own smiles. Between powerful bodies lay their sleeping mates. Theophilus lay on his back, his hair casually draped over Xavier’s thighs. Rayner lay curled into his side, an arm draped over the slim waist, Tristam’s free hand caressing his tanned hip. Uist debated where to lay his precious bundle. He found himself looking into drowsy golden eyes. Wordlessly, Theophilus raised his free arm and with a smile of gratitude, Uist laid his lover at the blond’s other side. Before moving away he stroked the satin soft cheek and received a sweet smile. As Sholto was laid down, Theophilus’ arm drew him into a shared embrace. The blond’s natural sweet scent quickly enticed Sholto to move closer and he mimicked Rayner’s position, nestling into Theophilus’ side, an arm slung possessively around his waist. Within seconds gold eyes were closed again and the soft sounds of sleeping were the only ones to be heard. Uist stretched out in front of the group, the three sleeping men kept safe between their protective and possessive partners.
****
All too soon it was time to leave the stretch of private beach and return to the sumptuous hotel. There were peals of laughter from Sholto and Rayner and more discreet amusement from Uist and Tristam when it was found that although Xavier had been able to recover his shorts from the beach, Theophilus’ was now without any swimwear. Pouting adorably to many declarations of apology from his reptilian husband, the lissom blond wrapped a towel sarong-style around slender hips. Finally unable to maintain his pretended annoyance, Theophilus’ musical laughter joined that of his brothers. He peppered the snout and thick lips of his lover with kisses to assure the older male he was truly not angry. However, as a punishment to Xavier as well as to Uist and Tristam for failing to show suitable concern, Theophilus declared they could dismantle their cover and carry the beach bags. With his tinkling laughter carrying in the breeze, the three more mature males did as ordered. They laughingly agreed that the look on Theophilus’ face when realising his swimwear was lost at sea was well worth their ‘punishment’.
Back at the hotel, Theophilus wanted to return quickly to his room to dress more suitably. As the still giggling males waited by the lifts, they were shocked when another PrideHomer emerged as the doors opened. Unlike the light and dark blond of Uist, this male’s colouring was red and black, almost striped in nature and much more closely cropped. Although Uist’s eyes could take on an amber colouration, but generally looked blue, the hazel of this male’s eyes was such that they gave the impression of a shifting tawny kaleidoscope. The male was easily as well developed physically, a little taller and carried himself with an almost arrogant confidence. He broke into a wide smile, showing strong white teeth at three shocked miens.
“Whatever else I expected here it wasn’t to be greeted by three such pretty cubs,” the deep voice was between a growl and a purr and the tone coloured with amusement.
“It’s rare to see PrideHomers offworld,” Sholto ventured. He found himself the object of an almost yellow-eyed stare. He felt a blush stain his cheeks as the flatter nose of the stranger flared to scent him.
“It would seem I’m not the only PrideHomer here,” he rasped.
“Sholto is mated to a PrideHomer,” Rayner supplied, “And Uist is Protector to Theophilus and me.”
The large male rubbed absently at his throat before gripping Sholto’s shoulder.
Sholto, I am Lachlan,” he announced and preformed the same greeting to the other two men. His eyes raked over Theophilus after his greeting. His smile widened as two protective humans interjected their bodies between himself and his fascination.
“Theophilus is mated, as am I,” Rayner said jutting out his jaw pugnaciously, taking on his husband’s role as leader and protector of the small group.
“Yet your friend cannot be unaware of his beauty, little cub,” Lachlan rumbled, his eyes continuing to drink in the attractive male. He wasn’t usually given to find males appealing, but this was a rare specimen indeed. However, if he were truthful, the two humans were of an almost equal attraction. “A man may surely look.” He took in the pink stain to the exquisite cheeks and wondered at the man who had managed to ensnare such a prize.
“As long as he makes no attempt to try and take that which belongs to another,” Xavier said smoothly as he came to wrap a reassuring arm around his younger mate.
Lachlan’s eyes widened as he took in the powerful reptilian. Of all the partners that had crossed his mind, a lizard mate hadn’t featured. He saw the love in the golden eyes as the blond looked at his lover. He felt a flicker of anger at his own lack of mate. Then he was looking at the other two men. Uist and another male whose look gave him a frisson down his spine. Although appearing human, Lachlan sensed something of PrideHome about him. He watched as the dark human was pulled to his side, the gesture almost identical to that of Uist with Sholto. A gesture of both reassurance and possession and one Lachlan knew well.
“Lachlan,” Uist’s voice was little more than a controlled snarl. The normal PrideHome greeting of rubbing cheeks was conspicuous by its absence. The tension in the air became almost palpable and Uist gripped Sholto so tightly that the smaller man winced in pain. Uist’s focus was so intense on the newcomer, he barely registered the tiny movement designed to try and release his hold slightly. Uist instinctively scented his lover, seeking the normal reassurance of the beloved bouquet. A low growl of dissatisfaction issued forth instead. Something of Sholto’s scent was wrong. Although unsure quite what it was, Uist suddenly found himself needing to take his mate to their room and to reclaim that which was his. He was unaware of the concerned glances from his family at the continued aggression he displayed.
“No challenge, Uist,” Lachlan said holding up his hands, palms outward.
The gesture seemed open and submissive, but Tristam wasn’t so sure. From his genetically enhanced senses, Tristam could hear the accelerated heartbeat, one denoting excitement. The pheromones he could scent were a mix of exhilaration and pleasure. Lachlan was enjoying this encounter.
Striding forward, Uist left his stunned family, pulling Sholto into the lift. As it rose to their floor, the bigger male continued growling softly, unable to find comfort in his mate’s scent. His hands roamed imperiously over the slighter form and Sholto made no attempt to resist. He could see his husband was deeply troubled in some way and wanted only to provide clearly needed comfort. Uist found himself becoming more feral as he pulled the unresisting form to their room and pushed him roughly inside. The need to claim and mate was nearly overwhelming. Sholto was almost tossed onto the bed and pulled to his hands and knees. His swimwear torn from his body, he yelped as two fingers scissored forcefully inside his already sensitive channel. Barely able to obey the civilised portion of his brain demanding he use the oil to slick his throbbing erection, Uist plunged inside tight, wet heat and rode his young mate hard and fast.
A frantic pumping of Sholto’s shaft had the smaller man groaning with a mixture of pleasure and pain at the almost careless treatment. He’d never been taken this roughly before. He jolted forward barely able to remain on all fours as Uist rammed into him. Tears began to form and blur his vision, this wasn’t lovemaking. Uist drove into him again and again before Sholto felt the big man’s release inside him and the bellow that accompanied Uist’s climax. Sholto shuddered his own release but it was with little pleasure. He found himself crushed tight to Uist’s body as the older man stretched out, his tears falling silently. He was unaware of those that fell from Uist’s eyes as realisation set in, awareness replacing the primal need to mate.
“I’m sorry, my own,” Uist husked as his tears eventually ceased. He turned Sholto carefully and cradled the young man to his chest. “I’m so very sorry, please forgive me?”
Sholto gazed into the stricken eyes. He didn’t think he’d ever seen his lover look so unsure. He buried his face into the broad chest.
“Of course. You didn’t intend to hurt me did you?” he asked. As the vehement shake of the head he added, “I love you. But are you able to tell me why?” He was stunned to feel the slow shake.
“Lachlan and I trained together and his presence has unnerved me almost from the start. I was the better scholar, the better student of the disciplines, the better warrior and can link to our antiquity. Lachlan was always well received despite poor marks, little skill, lacking even in the grace and power of a true warrior. He is strong and competent, but no more. One of my mentors saw the effects he had on me and insisted that, as Lachlan’s grades were consistently lower, he be sent to another academy. After he’d gone, things returned to normal. Even his tutors seemed surprised with themselves that they had treated him so leniently. I last heard he had graduated, but left our world. Apparently PrideHome was too restrictive and he wanted to see the universe. Once he was gone I put him from my mind.”
“Till he showed up today,” Sholto murmured.
“Yes, my love,” Uist whispered nuzzling into auburn curls. He gave another disgruntled growl. “I felt an overwhelming need to mate with you as though our relationship was some way in jeopardy. But no matter what I should have had better control. I cared little for your pleasure, you who I love more than life itself.”
“You’re still unsettled,” Sholto husked. “Shower with me. Perhaps Lachlan’s scent lingers on me.”
The two men showered quickly and efficiently, wanting the comfort of lying together. Sliding beneath cool sheets, Uist wrapped protectively around his mate.
“I love you, Sholto,” he whispered. This time his mate’s beloved scent was a balm to his senses.
“I love you, too. Always,” Sholto vowed.
Cocooned in love, the exhausted men slept.
****
All seemed back to normal that evening as the group ate together. Uist was particularly concerned for Sholto’s comfort, but his family simply accepted his solicitous attentions equitably. The sudden low growl took everyone by surprise and they glanced up to see what had caused Uist’s anger.
The man approaching their table was immediately recognisable to Rayner and Sholto from their cultural and linguistic studies. The man had many titles: scientist, adventurer, explorer and was regarded as a very rich, opinionated and intelligent man. However, he was also renowned for his inability to keep an assistant beyond one ‘adventure’. Some had left, tight-lipped, others returned injured to be cared for at their employer’s expense. Both of these rumoured to have received bounteous levels of payment at the cessation of service. The last category was for those who never returned and whose family were duly compensated. Yet the man’s reputation was legend and there were those who would still volunteer to join him on an expedition. He had been out of the public eye for some time, but he seemed in excellent health as he reached the group. Standing a little shorter than Uist or Tristam, the power and confidence he emitted seemed to add inches to his stature. Straight silver-grey hair reached his shoulders and his green eyes held intelligence as well as something indefinable as he looked at the seated group.
“Tristam, I believe,” he said addressing the blond.
“Professor Denthor,” Tristam countered with an incline of his head.
“Ah, my reputation precedes me as yours does you,” he said amicably, his eyes sweeping across the others at the table. “Jameson said I would find you here. A holiday I believe. He thought you might be … receptive to my proposition.”
“Indeed?” Tristam replied. He, no more than any of his family, betrayed the thought that Jameson would tell nobody where they were without having spoken to them first. Their Papa was as protective of them as any father and had wanted his sons to relax following their recent ordeals. If Denthor had spoken to Jameson, he hadn’t conveyed his intent to seek out the group.
“I intend to track and film a panthursa,” Denthor continued as though suggesting a day’s trip to the park for a picnic.
“Suicidal venture,” Uist growled succinctly.
Tristam agreed. Panthursas were the largest predator on a small, remote and relatively recently discovered jungle-world that had no developed, sentient life. They stood between seven and eight feet tall and weighed over three hundred pounds. They travelled swiftly on four legs but were able to walk on two. They had immense claws and a maw full of sharp teeth and could scent blood with a similarity to sharks on Earth. The knowledge of them came from one found dead from apparent old age and the remnants of the first team of explorers from the world. Only half of whom returned. Planets like the panthursa home world were only visited for study purposes, no one would attempt to claim or develop it. However, the beast was a natural killing machine and students tended to keep as much distance from them as possible. It was deemed immoral and illegal to try and capture any creature for study. Denthor’s tracking method was the only one considered permissible.
“Not at all,” Denthor’s voice cut into Tristam’s musings. “They, like anything unstudied, are simply an unmeasured quantity. Study leads to knowledge and knowledge to power. It’s time we knew more of these beasts. We can have no fear of what we know and understand.”
“It is an unrivalled killing machine on the world it inhabits. Stun guns have no effect on its neurological system. Once it scents the blood of its prey, nothing deters it from hunting it down,” Uist continued. He had made as much of a study of these beasts as possible. PrideHome scientists had wondered if these beasts would one day become sentient.
“I have been offered a considerable purse,” Denthor persisted showing Tristam a card. The blond raised an eyebrow but remained silent as he passed it to his family and then returned it to Denthor. “I have no need of additional wealth,” Denthor’s voice dropped to a conspiratorial murmur. “The purse is yours for the use of your ship and a couple of your crew to accompany me to the planet. For me the acquisition of knowledge is the most valuable of rewards. As I have had access to all the information garnered on these beasts, I have managed to devise a special stun gun that will ensure we are protected. A simple and temporary senselessness and consequent disorientation to enable us to make our escape if needed. However, I’m certain such measures will be unnecessary.”
“I will need some time to discuss your proposal with my team,” Tristam said, as it seemed Denthor was standing awaiting an immediate response.
“Excellent,” the older man said clapping his hands. He clearly seemed assured that his offer would be accepted. He handed Tristam a slip of paper with his room number inscribed upon it. “I look forward to hearing from you soon.”
The group watched as he walked away and then turned their attention to Tristam.
“Imagine the charities that could benefit from such a contribution,” Rayner said softly.
“I would need to establish with Denthor that we are not his employees and that we would have the full and final say over safety. He obeys us or we don’t go.” Tristam looked at his family. “Would any say ‘no’ because of the danger?” he asked.
“I think he is over-simplistic. He cannot have tried his weapon on a live subject. His opinion of himself is incredibly high. We must ensure we are in control not a glory-seeker.” Xavier spoke calmly and firmly.
“It remains a foolhardy venture,” Uist opined. “However, the good we could do with the figure he showed us makes me reluctant to vote against.”
Tristam looked at Theophilus and Sholto who nodded their agreement.
“Then I will leave Denthor to wait overnight and tell him tomorrow that we take him provided he abides by our decisions in all things, especially safety.”
****
In their room, Xavier made slow sweet love with his beautiful husband. Theophilus had been both tired and somewhat shocked by the events of earlier in the day and his mate had insisted the blond shower and sleep before their meal. Now he was enjoying taking his lover to rapture. His tail thrust desultorily into Theophilus’ pink portal, the younger male’s arousal ensuring he was both open and lubricated. The talented tip of his tail flicked and rubbed at his husband’s hidden gem. One large, smooth hand stroked over his lover’s hairless chest, pausing to pinch and roll at reddened nubs that peaked eagerly for his attentions. His other hand rolled the hairless sac between wide-flung legs. His tongue was wrapped around his mate’s smooth shaft. He was both squeezing rhythmically and slowly stroking up and down with his long, ridged, agile muscle. His rewards for his diligent ministrations were sweet cries and soft mewls, arching and writhing and intermittent declarations of love and joy from the mammalian male he brought slowly to the precipice of elation. Xavier’s only regret was that from his angle, bent over his husband, he was unable to fully see the look of rapture on Theophilus’ face as liquid bliss flowed into Xavier’s mouth. He trilled low and deep, the vibrations encouraging more of the bittersweet nectar to which he was addicted to pulse into his yearning maw. Finally the blond went limp, the hand caressing at Xavier’s aural depressions and frill dropping as though of a weight Theophilus could no longer bear.
Xavier moved to lie alongside his love, drawing back his lips in his unique smile at the look of ecstasy that still lingered on his husband’s face. He nuzzled at the glistening and swollen lips and Theophilus’ mouth opened immediately to grant entry. The blond moaned as he tasted himself on Xavier’s tongue.
“Thank you, my husband,” he murmured, as the kiss broke apart to leave him panting softly.
“It is I that should thank you,” Xavier whispered, “for the gift of your love as well as the sharing of your body.”
“You are my love, the other half of my soul,” Theophilus whispered, pressing tender kisses to Xavier’s snout.
“As you are mine,” Xavier vowed.
Theophilus gazed into his mate’s eyes.
“Do you wish to love me?” he asked.
“I always love you, beautiful,” Xavier husked. “But tonight I wished only to bring you joy. I am quite content.”
“I love you,” Theophilus sighed as he nestled close to his husband’s powerful body.
“Love you,” Xavier promised as he stroked warm, soft skin, encouraging his tired lover to sleep. The reptilian relaxed as he listened to Theophilus’ breathing, allowing the rhythmic cadence to lull him to his own needed repose.
****
The trip to the panthursas home world would take several days, especially since Tristam insisted in stopping at Earth on the way to meet with Jameson, having alerted their Papa of what had transpired. From that meeting, he had established that Denthor had made no mention to their Papa of the trip he intended making. Instead he had suggested he was looking for a suitable beneficiary of his purse and knowing the charity work Tristam and his team did, had thought them likely candidates. Jameson added that many eminent scientists, from whom he had made discreet enquiries, had little time for Denthor and his reputation was quite tarnished. His recent books had sold poorly and few called upon him for his scientific input. More than one that Jameson had spoken to had thought this venture was little short of a highly dangerous publicity stunt to revive a flagging career.
There was also one more element to Denthor’s presence on Silver that gave Tristam cause for concern. Denthor had mentioned he would have a travelling companion, although Tristam’s definition was bodyguard: Lachlan. As a consequence of the other PrideHomer’s presence on Silver, Uist was particularly unsettled. Even he was beginning to feel on edge, something shared with Xavier, although their mates seemed unaffected by the tension except in regards to worry for their husbands.
Things took a turn for the worse on the second day out.
Tristam sat in the command chair on the Silver’s bridge. Rayner sat at his normal position, checking communications and keeping informed from the ship’s Artificial Intelligence of anything that was happening in or around where they would be. To the left of Tristam sat Theophilus who was handling navigation. Lachlan had walked around the bridge expressing an interest in everything and then simply gazing out at the star-dusted space ahead. He had done nothing to alert Tristam until Theophilus’ exasperated voice reached his sensitive ears.
“Will you please desist from standing so close to me? I do not desire you to crowd me so.”
“You let the others this close to you, pretty cub,” Lachlan replied, a hint of amusement in his rumbling tones.
Tristam turned to see the way Lachlan was purposely invading the smaller male’s space.
“*They* are my family, *you* are not,” Theophilus replied emphatically.
Tristam was about to react when Uist powered past him. Tristam hadn’t heard the big cat-man arrive, but it was obvious Uist had seen and heard the exchange. However, to Tristam’s horrified gaze, Uist shoved Lachlan away and yanked Theophilus to his feet, pulling the smaller man to his chest.
“Mine,” was uttered in a low feral growl before Uist bit hard at Theophilus’ shoulder. The blond gave a yelp of pain as red began to seep through the thin fabric of his tunic.
“Lachlan, return to your room!” Tristam ordered. “Rayner take charge of the bridge, call Sholto if need be.” He turned Theophilus to view the damage as the blond stood stunned, still in Uist’s embrace. “Follow me!” Tristam ordered to Uist who looked every bit as shocked as Theophilus.
Tristam ushered his family towards the sickbay. Uist now clung desperately to Theophilus, the cat-man begging for forgiveness in a constant litany. In his turn the blond held just as tightly, trying to soothe the agitated male with soft melodic crooning. Tristam caught the still shocked golden orbs and tried to convey his own reassurance through an arm that reached around them both. As they entered the medical facility, Xavier looked up in surprise.
“What is it?” he asked, unsure of who needed his attention.
“My fault, all my fault,” Uist said mournfully as his hand hovered over the injury to Theophilus’ shoulder.
“It was an accident,” the slender male insisted as his eyes moved from his husband to his chosen brothers. “It is nothing.”
“Go remove your tunic, beloved,” Xavier said softly realising something was greatly amiss. “You can begin cleansing and I will join you in a moment.” He gave his unique smile as the defensive posture in his young husband eased.
“Accident,” Theophilus insisted as he kissed Uist’s cheek before obeying his mate.
“I will speak to you later,” Tristam whispered into one of Xavier’s aural depressions, although fairly certain that his second-in-command wasn’t aware of what was going on around him. He received a nod of understanding from the lizard as Tristam ushered Uist from the room. He was, however, then frustrated to find he could elicit nothing from the other male to explain the ferocity of his brother’s actions. Uist was incapable of explaining himself. All he could say was he had perceived Lachlan to be a threat to Theophilus and had effectively staked his claim to the blond in an extremely primal way for which he would also seek Xavier’s pardon. Tristam watched the bowed head of the cat-man as Uist walked away. He intended to discuss the events with Xavier, but not when he was tending to his hurt mate. Tristam sighed. He hoped nothing else could go wrong.
He hoped in vain.
The next day Sholto came to the bridge to monitor communications. Tristam could see the normally ebullient young human was tired and drawn and clearly upset although said nothing. He gasped at the furious response to a gentle enquiry as to his health from Theophilus. He saw the shock and sorrow in the golden eyes and the depth of remorse in oceanic orbs.
“Sorry, Theophilus, I’m so sorry,” Sholto muttered rising to his feet and backing to the bridge doors. “I can’t stay here, Tristam,” he said turning anguished eyes to the man who was both commander and brother.
Sholto rushed from the bridge and went to engineering. He felt the hairs on his neck rise, but before he could react a large male body had powered him to the floor. The cat-man’s ravenous mouth plundered his ruthlessly, a tongue thrusting inside to possess and claim. As he was kissed breathless, strong hands tore at the cloth barrier to his nudity, exposing him to a famished amber gaze. Sholto tried to speak, to try and communicate, but to no avail. The lack of air as he was kissed and kissed again caused a grey mist to descend and robbed him even further of the ability to resist. Insistent, slick fingers pushed inside him as his mouth was ravished. They teased at his sweet spot causing his arousal to rise as a prelude to long thick flesh breaching his body. He moaned into the demanding mouth as powerful hips drove a rock-hard shaft into his quivering sheath at a punishing pace. Within moments, hot essence flowed into him and a roar echoed throughout the chamber.
“MINE,” Uist bellowed as he came into Sholto’s body. Almost immediately, awareness of his actions swamped the cat-man and he pulled out of Sholto’s body to a hiss of discomfort from his mate. “Sorry, mine. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry.”
“No, Uist, please,” Sholto sobbed as his mate vanished. His untouched erection deflated as his husband ran from him and Sholto knew he could no longer deal with this alone. He tried futilely to pull the remnants of his suit together as he crawled to a ship’s intercom and called Tristam.
Within minutes strong comforting arms wrapped around him, to carry him from the chamber. He sat, cradled in Tristam’s lap, with Rayner hovering anxiously a few feet away. Sholto haltingly explained that from the first day aboard Silver, Uist had avoided him after taking him as roughly in their quarters as he had after their meeting with Lachlan. How he had not returned to their room. How upset and frightened Sholto had become.
“I don’t understand,” he sobbed. “Does he still love me?”
“Of course he does,” Tristam said emphatically. There was no possibility that Uist had fallen out of love with his mate. There was something else; the same something that had him and Xavier edgy, but for which he had no name. He hoped the reptilian would be able to supply answers soon. However, his first priority was to see to Sholto, his second to locate Uist.
“Rayner, take Sholto to our room. I’ll find Uist.”
Rayner led the distraught man to the room he shared with his husband and sat Sholto on the bed. He removed the tattered remnants of Sholto’s clothing. He believed it would hinder the smaller man’s recovery as it would serve as a reminder of the incident. He tenderly stroked the long auburn tresses from Sholto’s tear-stained face.
“Would you like Theophilus here, too?” he asked and was horrified at the renewed tears.
“I was horrible to him, Rayner,” Sholto cried. “He’ll hate me.”
Deciding their blond brother would not hold on to any kind of anger, especially in the view of Sholto’s obvious distress, Rayner called the bridge. Within moments two dark heads lifted as the blond entered. Theophilous hadn’t hesitated beyond securing the bridge so only one of his family could enter it and leaving the ship’s AI to pilot the craft. Concern for his beloved brother his priority. Without a word, the blond simply wrapped his arms around his brother as Sholto sobbed further apologies. Rayner sat and watched as Theophilus crooned melodically and rocked the upset younger man.
“It is all right, my brother,” he whispered. “I love you.”
“Love you, Theophilus, you too, Rayner,” Sholto added tearfully as he raised an arm and then gave a watery smile as Rayner joined in the hug.
Slowly the trio sank to the bed; Sholto holding tightly to the slender blond, his head to Theophilus’ chest, Rayner pressed against Sholto’s back. Sholto felt loved and comforted and began to relax for the first time in nearly four days. Their arms and legs unconsciously entwined and the three slipped into sleep.
Uist was on his knees; his head bowed awaiting the punishment he deserved from the powerful male standing before him. He had injured a much-loved brother, one he had sworn to protect. He had hurt his young husband, more than once. He was a danger to the young men he loved and who were under his Protectorate. He would accept whatever punishment Tristam deemed appropriate and would then request he be placed in solitary confinement until they could establish what was wrong with him. He started as a gentle hand rested on his shoulder.
“Come with me, Uist,” Tristam said softly. “Let us see if Xavier has any answers to this situation.”
The two men walked slowly to the sickbay, Uist’s shoulder slumped with a mixture of sadness and shame. Tristam silent, not wanting to raise Uist’s hopes until certain of what Xavier would say.
Xavier looked with concern as they entered his sickbay.
“I am a danger to our young ones,” Uist said disconsolately.
“Come here,” Xavier replied. He produced a hypodermic and gave the puzzled cat-man an injection. He waited a moment or two. “Scent Tristam,” he ordered softly.
Uist frowned but obeyed the command. He scented at the junction of neck and shoulder, just where his own musk glands were situated. His body lost much of his tenseness as the scenting gave him the comfort it normally engendered. He gave a guttural whimper and pressed closer, relishing in the familiar scent, the strange unease passing. He lifted his head and gazed at Xavier with awe.
“How?” he asked.
“Your sense of smell is greater than Tristam’s. Mine is nearly as acute, but mammalian pheromones affect me less, unless they are those of my mate. I have become sensitised to Theophilus’, but would be less likely to react to those of another mammal. That seemed, therefore, to be the most likely way in which you could be badly affected with Tristam and I only marginally discomfited. I have had AI perform a ship’s scan down to molecular level and confirmed my hypothesis. The problems you have been suffering from are pheromones at a subliminal level. You are picking them up subconsciously and reacting to them.
“What pheromones?” Uist asked.
“Arousal. More specifically, Lachlan’s arousal.”
Uist gave a low dangerous growl, but was stayed by Tristam’s hand on his shoulder.
“Can we demonstrate he has done this deliberately?” Tristam asked.
“I know of no PrideHomer able to do this at such a microscopic level,” Xavier replied. He tilted his head at Uist and received a shake of the cat-man’s shaggy head. “That’s not to say it isn’t deliberate,” Xavier added. “The greatest concentrations are on our husbands. He has touched all of us, except you, Uist, yet there are no pheromones on Tristam, Denthor or myself.”
“When I scented Sholto, it made me more unsettled instead of less and I wanted to take him to make him mine. I knew I’d been rough and was afraid I’d be such again, so I tried to keep away from him,” Uist said.
“By distancing yourself, you desired him more and the subliminal scent of another male’s arousal on those you love, especially your own mate, drove you to a primal mating frenzy,” Xavier added.
“So when Uist became aware of his actions because his scent overwhelmed Lachlan’s, the circle began again?” Tristam sought confirmation from the reptilian scientist.
The lizard nodded.
“I still betrayed Sholto’s trust. I took what was not offered…” Uist began.
“Did Sholto ever try and stop you? Did he fight you? Or did he accept you needed him but then try and get you to talk to him?” Tristam said. “Your biggest hurt to him was here,” the blond said gently as he placed a hand over Uist’s heart. “He doesn’t understand and his heart aches. Go to him, Uist. Let him know what’s happened and show him how much you love him.”
Uist groaned as he realised the truth of Tristam’s words. He had been so consumed with his shame; he’d run from his lover. What must have gone through Sholto’s mind to have been roughly taken and then left?
“Let us all seek out our mates and assure them of our love,” Xavier said gently. “You will need to come back for further injections to keep your system from recognising Lachlan’s pheromones, Uist” he added as they moved as one.
****
Three powerful males stood in silent awe at the tableau before them. Their mates lay sleeping in Tristam’s bed and looked completely angelic. Tristam saw the look in Uist’s eyes and reached out through his psychic bond to gently awaken his personal sleeping beauty. He smiled as drowsy, dark eyes opened and Rayner carefully disentangled himself to drape at Tristam’s side. The movement, as light as it was awoke the lissom blond and he gave an incandescent smile at the nod from his husband. He nuzzled at Sholto’s temple.
“Sholto, your husband needs you,” he whispered.
Sleepy blue eyes opened and saw the look of love and yearning in his mate’s eyes. The haunted look was gone.
“Please,” Uist begged hoarsely and was rewarded by Sholto reaching wordlessly for him. He choked back a cry as he scooped the smaller man to hug tightly as slim arms wrapped desperately around his neck. He gave a soul-deep moan as he scented his beloved and there was no taint marring Sholto’s natural fragrance. He heard the soft whimper of need and gave a purr at the burgeoning arousal from the small body.
“I love you,” Sholto whispered.
“I love you, mine. Let me show you how much.” He smiled at the tiny nod and then at his family before striding from the room.
As Uist left he heard Tristam and Xavier begin to explain what had happened, but all Uist cared about at that moment was the sweet smelling, trusting, precious bundle in his arms. As he entered their room, he laid his naked lover on their bed. The smaller man was half hard, but his eyes still held a residue of apprehension.
“Let me love you?” he pleaded. He needed to explain to his lover, but felt they needed to connect on a physical level first.
“Please love me,” Sholto begged.
Uist stroked at Sholto’s inner legs and inclined his head. Slowly, the lightly furred limbs parted and the bigger man knelt reverently between them. He bent and took his mate’s mouth in a gentle exploration. He licked the full lips and darted his tongue into the warm wet cavern beyond to taste his lover’s unique sweetness. He kissed down Sholto’s throat to root through the soft fur of his young mate’s chest. Locating one irresistible cinnamon nub with his teeth, he teased the other with gentle fingers. The tender cries of pleasure from Sholto were all the more joyous to Uist’s ears for having been absent during the rougher mating. Reluctantly abandoning the aching peaks, he licked his way down the furred abdomen to sweep desultorily across the small pool of liquid desire, swallowing his lover’s tribute to his lovemaking. He slid lower and touched the inner thighs.
Sholto’s eyes still held a fragment of apprehension and Uist could understand why. Even in the dimness of their quarters, the cat-man was able to see the slight swelling and superficial bruising around his mate’s entrance. With butterfly lightness, Uist kissed the small opening and let his tongue lave in a slow circle. As Sholto’s moaning intensified, Uist felt the smaller man try and take the slick muscle deeper and pushed his tongue inside the velvet channel. Uist’s purr of pleasure vibrated though Sholto’s body and the younger man writhed and mewled.
“Want you, Uist, Please,” Sholto begged.
Uist had no intention of entering his mate until Xavier had healed Sholto. Instead he swung round and straddled Sholto’s chest, his arousal pointing to the younger man’s mouth. He yowled as Sholto’s wet heat engulfed his sensitive flesh, sucking and licking with a passion that matched Uist’s but that the cat-man had striven to keep under firm control. His mate’s tongue probing insistently inside the slit on his engorged arousal fractured that control. Purring deeply, he engulfed Sholto to the root, inhaling his mate’s sweet smelling musk as he stroked the skin between furred sac and hidden entrance. The action caused Sholto to buck upwards and Uist growled his approval as hard flesh pumped in and out of his eager mouth. A muffled wail heralded the outpouring of his mate’s sexual nectar and Uist swallowed it all voraciously. As he devoured the last precious drop, he could no longer deny his own completion and his hot seed flooded Sholto. He felt the smaller man swallow repeatedly before he was finally sated.
As Sholto panted, trying to catch his breath, Uist moved to cradle his lover to his chest. He petted at the golden-brown curls and in a quiet voice began to explain recent events as Sholto nested closely.
Back in their quarters, Tristam and Rayner also sought to reaffirm their physical connection. They had abstained from anything beyond mutual touching due to Tristam’s edginess. Now that the reason was established, Tristam reigned in his sense of smell, so that the subliminal odour was eliminated. Instead he focused on bringing pleasure to Rayner and himself. His dark beauty lay widespread beneath him, sable curls whipping unrestrained as Rayner thrashed in throes of passion. Tristam suckled on one coffee-coloured nipple and then the other, whilst three of his fingers were buried deep in molten heat. Rayner writhed and mewled incoherently at the pleasure that seared him. Tristam made certain his fingers repeatedly caressed Rayner’s jewel until his mate was riding him and almost at his pinnacle. Tristam grinned savagely at the whine of distress as he withdrew his fingers and sent a psychic caress to soothe his lover as he re-positioned their bodies.
“I want you riding me, my love,” he crooned, “but not my fingers.”
Rayner panted harshly as he straddled the bigger body. He swept the oil over the large, thick organ jutting proudly from his mate’s nest of red-gold fur. He reached behind himself to press the broad head of Tristam’s sex at his prepared entrance. Both men groaned in harmony as Rayner bore down slowly and the first inch of Tristam’s rod breached the smaller man. Incrementally, inch-by-inch, Rayner took Tristam inside him, the bigger man resisting his body’s demands to thrust upwards into the tight, slick heat. Finally Rayner’s weight settled on Tristam’s groin and the younger man began to rotate his hips. Gradually he progressed to undulations and then a shallow rise and fall.
Tristam’s eyes took on a feral glow. As Rayner dropped on to his shaft he began to thrust upwards burying himself deeper in the quivering sheath that grasped him so tightly. His thrusts increased in time with Rayner’s movements until the young man was riding his husband hard and fast. Rayner’s head tossed to and fro as he lost himself in sexual abandon. Each movement up and down the flesh impaling him struck his sweet spot, his mate’s hand stroked his own arousal and the psychic tendrils of love and passion wrapped them in an ever-spiralling ecstasy.
With a bellow of Rayner’s name, Tristam gripped his lover’s hips hard and pulled him down as he simultaneously thrust upwards. His release erupted into the rippling scabbard sending pulse after pulse of wet heat into the slender channel. At the feeling of his mate’s seed in his body, Rayner threw back his head and screamed as his own climax thundered unrestrained throughout his body. Tristam licked greedily as drops of liquid passion anointed him as high as his chin. As Rayner convulsed on Tristam’s shaft, the spasms within the slender form milked the older man’s erection ruthlessly to leave both men fully satiated. Uncaring of the seed cooling on his muscular torso, Tristam tenderly eased the spent young man off his softening shaft and curled his body possessively around him. Rayner craned for the kiss he craved and which Tristam was only too willing to provide and then settled snuggling back against the big, warm body.
“I love you,” he murmured.
“Love you, angel,” Tristam avowed.
****
The suspicion that Lachlan may have been purposefully spraying his pheromones seemed borne out by the other PrideHomer’s surprise that Uist was unaffected by his presence as everyone met. Denthor had gathered them together as he wanted to outline his proposals for what would happen once they were on the planet.
“Lachlan will accompany me along with a couple of your crew,” he addressed Tristam. “We will have my stun guns and I will have recording equipment,” the scientist said enthusiastically. “Ideally we will get footage of the panthursa chasing down prey, which would be both exciting as well as valuable footage.” Denthor looked at the two young dark males and the blond. He’d already spoken to them and each of the three had been prepared to accompany him.
“I don’t think I’m quite up to making one of the team,” Sholto said. He still hadn’t fully recovered from the recent strain.
“Rayner and I are willing to accompany you,” Theophilus confirmed.
“If you go then I go,” Uist growled menacingly. “I will not leave you without your own Protector.”
Tristam and Xavier nodded. With the injections from the reptilian, there was no adverse reaction by Uist to Lachlan and he was the best suited to jungle terrain.
“Well then,” Denthor grinned, “all that’s left is for me to collect my gear and down we go.”
The group made the landing in their shuttle without incident and they left it to take in the beauty of the world around them. The visor worn by the scientist was a complex mix of digital recorder and binoculars picking up all the man saw, both near and far. After a few minutes, they heard a disgruntled huff from Denthor.
“I need to return to the shuttle. Stay here, Lachlan,” He instructed the bigger PrideHomer. “I’ll be gone just a couple of minutes.”
On his return, they moved deeper into lush foliage, Denthor taking digital recordings as they walked. Rayner smiled at the look of delight on Theophilus’ face as he examined the local flora. The blond had demonstrated a keen interest in botany, as well as healing, that Xavier had been quick to encourage. They all stopped suddenly as a fearsome cry rent the air.
“It would appear we have been scented,” said Denthor. “I’m glad it has been so quick. I rather thought a group of this size would attract the attention of one quite rapidly.” Denthor adjusted the visor he wore to focus on the distance, but the location of the beast remained elusive. “I think a more direct stimulation is now called for,” Denthor muttered as he rummaged in his clothing.
Rayner’s pained cry had the others whirling in shock. Denthor was re-sheathing a large knife as Rayner held tightly to his shoulder from where blood fell freely, the scientist held his gun in his free hand. Lachlan and Uist had both drawn their weapons, Theophilus moving to hold his injured brother.
“You have a choice, Lachlan,” Denthor said smiling. “Continue in my employ or become panthursa fodder.”
“Consider this my resignation,” the cat-man tried to discharge his gun, but nothing happened.
“I thought you might prove to have morals and I was correct. I’m afraid the only working weapon here is mine,” Denthor said conversationally. “In addition, I have disabled the shuttle so it won’t take off, nor can you use shuttle to ship communications. It’s just us and the panthursa. Or rather,” he added as a bloodcurdling shriek sounded, nearer than the last cry, “you and the panthursa.” He ascended a tree and peered down at the group watching their reactions. “I will, of course, re-edit what I film. I will capture your tragic demises and escape by the same fortune that has always dogged my footsteps.”
“It will be coming after me,” Rayner said. “You don’t all need to be endangered.”
“I will not leave you, now move, my brother,” Theophilus insisted as he pulled Rayner into a run. Lachlan and Uist both glowered at Denthor through the dense foliage.
“We will survive,” Uist growled furiously.
“And then we will come for you,” Lachlan vowed.
“Run, little kittens, run,” Denthor laughed.
Theophilus was urging Rayner to where he could see rock above the trees.
“They cannot climb, my brother,” he said. “Once we are high enough we can await our rescue.”
“Tristam won’t take long,” Rayner panted. “He felt my pain even before I reached out to him.”
The four crashed through foliage into a clearing and quickly assessed the rock face before them. It was quite sheer for eight to ten feet and then more outcrops for hand and foot holds were apparent. Rayner viewed it with a heavy heart. His mountain scaling skills were poor even when he wasn’t disabled with an injured shoulder.
“I will go ahead,” Theophilus said reaching to hold onto the rock where Rayner would swear nothing existed. “I will pull Rayner if you can push him,” he said to the cat-men.
Not for the first time, Rayner rued his lack of climbing skills. Effectively, Uist and Lachlan lifted him for Theophilus to hold until they climbed a little higher and repeated the process. The inhuman shrieks were nearing rapidly and Rayner could feel his heart begin to thunder.
“Panic is our enemy, little one,” Uist growled. “Remain calm, I will not allow it to harm you or our brother.”
“Nor will I,” Lachlan added. “I swear by my standing as a PrideHome Warrior that if by life or death I can protect you I will.”
“Keep going,” Theophilus commanded to the cat-men, his eyes fixed on the beast surging through into the clearing. “I will distract the creature.”
Not giving either of the bigger men an opportunity to argue, he moved sideways away from the group. He pulled out his knife and, gritting his teeth, drew the blade against his forearm, shaking the limb as his blood flowed. His strategy worked.
Almost too well.
The huge body swung its attention away from the group to the single prey. The unknown creatures had a scent he did not recognise and his curiosity had been piqued, but then the scent of blood had reached him. This blood sang a song he knew not and was of a sweetness that proved irresistible. All prey ran, but few succeeded in escaping him. The upward ground was not of the kind he could walk on and he roared his anger. Then a different smell had assailed him; another new song and even sweeter scented than the first. This one would not escape him. He drew back his body and sprung, claws extended to catch at the prey’s lower limbs.
Theophilus gasped as sharp claws raked his heel. If he’d been a fraction slower, they would have imbedded in his calf and he would be panthursa food. He ignored the burning sensation and locked his eyes on the safety of the ledge and what appeared to be a cave mouth his family and Lachlan had reached. It was sufficiently high to avoid even leaps by the creature and wide enough for them all. He ignored the small shelf just above him. He began to move towards them. As he moved higher, a laser cut into the rock above him. He heard the cries of denial from his family as his fingers scrabbled desperately for a hold as he slid down unforgiving stone. He gave a grunt of pain as the foot already injured by the panthursa’s claws wedged into rock and then his fingers tightened onto a barely there handhold and his right foot found purchase. He didn’t try to move, allowing his body to settle and tried to breathe calmly.
“Well done, Theophilus,” Denthor’s hated voice rang from the sanctuary of the trees opposite the small mountain. “How long do you think you can maintain that hold?”
“Long enough,” Theophilus muttered determinedly.
“Theophilus,” Uist’s voice reached his ears. “If we distract Denthor…”
“No, Uist, do not endanger yourselves for me,” Theophilus said quickly. “My left foot is caught in the rock, I cannot move. Once I lack strength enough to hold myself against the rock I will fall, but my foot will remain trapped.” He sighed, not wanting to continue. He didn’t need to, it was obvious. If he lost his grip and remained jammed in the rock by his foot, his ankle would snap, he would be upside down and the distance between him and the panthursa would be reduced by over seven feet. More than close enough for the beast to jump and be able to reach him.
“We cannot await Tristam arriving,” Uist said. “We don’t know how long Theophilus can hold or if Denthor will allow him to remain in safety. I will morph and take on the beast. That should prove enough of a distraction for this madman.”
“I will go with you,” Lachlan said. “I may not be able to morph, but I am strong.”
“Lachlan, whilst Uist changes bind my shoulder tightly. I will get across to Theophilus. If I can hold him till the others arrive…”
“It is done,” Lachlan growled. He tore his tunic to provide the binding Rayner needed and then prepared himself mentally for the challenge ahead.
Denthor watched fascinated as Uist’s shape shifted. There had always been rumours about PrideHomers and their secret abilities. He rubbed his hands gleefully. Things were turning out even more profitably than he’d anticipated. He spared a quick glance to where Rayner was edging towards the trapped blond. Theophilus was going nowhere, except into waiting panthursa jaws. He decided to ignore what Rayner was doing in favour of the battle before him.
Theophilus heard savage sounds and angled his head to see the ledge that had once held his family was now empty. Slender hands caught his wrists in a determined grip and he twisted slightly to see Rayner’s pale face looking down from the small shelf he’d ignored earlier.
“Try to hold on Theophilus,” Rayner begged. “Tristam is coming, he’s very close. Please try to hold on.”
“I promise I will try,” Theophilus vowed. He tried to ignore the aches in his shoulders, the throbbing of his ankle and the creeping numbness in his fingers. Instead he focused on the look of love and concern in expressive chocolate orbs and held on tight.
****
Tristam, Xavier and Sholto crashed into the clearing; their guns raised, and witnessed another battle between the beast of PrideHome’s past, Lachlan and the panthursa. Three sets of teeth and claws raked and slashed before the two sides broke apart again to glare balefully at each other. Lachlan was clearly near exhaustion and Uist was showing signs that he had been injured. As the three men brought their guns to bear on the great beast, twin cries of fear reached Tristam’s ears as a laser shot struck at the mountainside. Looking upward they saw Rayner and Theophilus and Tristam’s gasp was echoed by Xavier’s
“Drop your weapons or your boys will die,” Denthor’s voice came behind them.
Sholto watched Tristam to see which tree the big blond identified as where Denthor was hidden.
“Theophilus’ foot is trapped,” Rayner’s frightened voice reached Tristam’s sensitive ears. “I’m sorry. I was so focussed on keeping hold of him I didn’t hear you approach.”
Tristam flung his gun away and the others copied his action. The loss of his husband and the husband of the man at his side was not acceptable. They would have to find another way to defeat both the beast and the clearly insane adversary hiding in the trees.
“I’ll see if I can reach them, Tristam,” Sholto’s voice whispered. “Denthor won’t be concerned with me climbing the mountain as I’m no danger.”
Tristam nodded and he and Xavier slowly walked to join Uist and Lachlan.
Denthor watched the group split. He grinned like a spoilt child. Sholto would be of little use in a battle against the panthursa, but to watch Tristam and the reptilian would be fascinating. Let the boy join the others. He was particularly interested in the beast Uist had become. That would prove a profitable area of study. He watched avidly as Tristam clearly began to issue orders and rally his men. Denthor hugged himself with excitement. This had turned out so much better than expected.
Sholto was as talented as Uist and Theophilus when it came to climbing. He ascended quickly to reach his stricken brothers. He braced himself behind Theophilus, but it was almost immediately apparent he could do nothing to free the blond. Instead he took Theophilus’ knife and crawled up alongside an exhausted Rayner. He cut strips of material from his tunic.
“This is going to hurt, Rayner,” he warned, “but I think you are both at the last of your endurance. This is all I can think of.”
“Do it,” Rayner said through gritted teeth. “I will not lose him now.”
Moving swiftly, Sholto bound the two slender men together at their wrists. It was only just in time, the blond’s finger’s finally unable to support his weight any longer. “I am going to take care of Denthor,” Sholto hissed angrily. He edged away from his brothers and with an agile leap, moved from mountain to tree and vanished from sight.
On the ground, Tristam had his men ready for another attack by the panthursa. As the great beast roared its fury, the four men answered it with a bellow of their own. As they converged, Lachlan’s claws managed to rake above the beast’s eyes, sending blood to impair its vision. Uist’s larger claws finally penetrated through the dense fur of the panthursa’s shoulder, weakening one front limb. Xavier’s tail lashed at the creature’s hind limbs, but was unable to take it down. But it was now wounded and more wary and moved back a little from the group.
“Excellent, gentlemen,” Denthor’s disembodied voice floated down. “However, I do rather think four on one is too many for my panthursa. I hope to make a study of the primal beast Uist has become so he may remain. My choice was between my disloyal bodyguard and the reptilian as I think I’d like to see you battle the beast, Tristam. But then a battle between a powerful mammal and a determined lizard is equally appealing. Decisions, decisions…”
A scream cut off any further taunts and the scientist fell from the tree to land heavily in front of Tristam. Denthor gazed in shock at the knife protruding from his sternum and reached slowly to pull it free. He saw the look on Tristam’s face as the blond stepped further away from him and he started to turn, a second scream on his lips. The scream was cut short as the panthursa crushed his skull with one massive swipe.
Tristam and the beast locked eyes. The panthursa scented the prey he had taken down. It was like the first new song, but not so sweet, certainly not as sweet at that which had remained so alluringly just out of his reach. However, he’d never been challenged for prey before, nor had he been hurt before. He issued a roar and waited. This time, none came back. His head swung back toward the mountain and low growls reached his ears. So be it. Turning back, the beast’s jaws clamped in his prey and he rose to his full height, lifting then carrying the carcass with ease.
As it vanished from sight, Sholto dropped from the tree, a look of grim satisfaction on his face.
“Sometimes the real monster is the one that hides inside,” he said looking at the destroyed visor laying crushed in the grass.
“Take care of Uist,” Tristam said to Xavier. “I need to get to Rayner and Theophilus.”
“I will go with you,” Lachlan huffed.
The two youthful men were unconscious by the time they were reached. With Sholto’s assistance, Tristam and Lachlan were able to free Theophilus’ foot, both wincing at the sight of the bone that had penetrated through pale skin. As frail as the blond looked, he had an inner strength that rivalled any of that of the three alpha males aboard Silver. Silently both men acknowledged his feat of endurance. Carefully the injured men were carried to Xavier who began to treat them immediately. Tristam was pleased to see Uist had transformed back and now lay recovering from both the shape-shift and the attack. Sholto dropped to sit on the floor and cradled his husband’s head in his lap. As he did, Lachlan dropped to his knees, in the same submissive pose Uist had adopted earlier aboard Silver, before Tristam and the couple.
“I am truly sorry for my behaviour aboard your ship and for the unsettling effect it had on Uist,” Lachlan said. “I am willing to accept any punishment you deem fitting, Uist,” he added meeting the blue gaze of the other PrideHomer.
“I am unable to offer you forgiveness, not for the effect your actions had on me, but for the hurt it caused to those I love. However, you helped me protect those that needed it when it mattered and upheld the Warrior code. As such I do not need to see you punished.”
“Let’s just return to Silver,” Tristam said. “Let’s get our hurt ones home and we can discuss things when safe.”
****
Once safely ensconced aboard Silver, Tristam left Rayner and Theophilus to rest and heal under the watchful eye of Xavier. He had seen an exhausted Uist be ushered by a protective Sholto towards their quarters and smiled tiredly at the memory as he entered the ship’s bridge. He had also sent Lachlan to rest, not wanting to deal with the other man at that time. He would make a report to their Papa, knowing the older man would be waiting for information. He had Xavier’s promise that as soon as Rayner began to waken he would be called; although it was more likely their psychic link would alert him of his young husband’s return to consciousness. He settled himself in the command chair and issued his instructions to the ships AI.
In their quarters, Sholto lovingly stripped his larger mate. The powerful body was bruised, scraped and scratched, but considering the size of the beast he had challenged, Uist was comparatively unscathed. Sholto carefully anointed the worst of the hurts with a soothing, healing salve, the others he intended to give more personal attention. Straddling his lover, Sholto kissed each mark he found from jaw to well-defined pectorals. Here he paused in his mission to pay homage to pink-brown nubs that peaked eagerly under his ministrations and he suckled contently for a moment or two. Reluctantly abandoning the pebbled nipples, he kissed downwards and across the well-defined six-pack that now had several jagged scratches marring the perfect physique. Scuttling to the base of their bed, Sholto began his tender kissing from Uist’s feet up to the crease of groin and thigh. His husband’s arousal lay hard across his stomach. A silver pool indicated the level of his desire, as did the harsh, ragged breathing from the bigger man. As Sholto laved across the furred sac, Uist bent his legs and spread them for his lover. Kneeling between the wide-flung limbs, Sholto bent low and began to lick at the entrance to Uist’s body. Low, soft purrs of pleasure emanated from the cat-man and Sholto applied himself diligently to his mate’s needs alternating swipes across the musky aperture with short stabbing thrusts inside. A sharp tug to his hair brought the younger man out of his own haze of pleasure and he gazed into burning amber eyes.
As much as Uist was enjoying being pleasured, the older man wanted to pleasure his mate. It took several tugs to Sholto’s curls before his lover looked up and Uist felt seared by the look of love in sapphire eyes that had darkened to resemble smouldering jet. Uist rolled their bodies to loom large over his smaller husband. He nipped at the exposed throat, growling his approval as Sholto bared more to the dominant male. Uist suckled hard, Sholto would bear at least one mark of possession when they arose from sleep. He nuzzled at his mate’s furred chest, sucking at one irresistible nub then the other until Sholto writhed and mewled beneath him.
“Please, Uist,” he begged. “Don’t tease. I need you, I want you, take me.”
Uist’s nostrils flared as he took in the heady scent of his aroused and needy mate. His primitive side silently bellowed its approval. Uist roared aloud as Sholto slid his arms under his knees spreading himself wide, offering himself to the alpha male in a gesture of deliberate vulnerability and conscious submission. The cat-man had every intention of claiming his lover; his beautiful, intelligent, brave young lover. Uist’s head dropped and his tongue thrust powerfully into Sholto’s body, the unexpected move causing the smaller man to scream and then pant wetly. As Uist moved from wetting, tasting and teasing the tiny puckered opening, Sholto whined his distress and then mewled pleasurably as two slick digits slid into his aching void.
As his fingers delved and possessed, Uist’s lips and teeth explored and enjoyed. They tasted the sweat-damp throat, feasted on juicy cinnamon nubs, licked at liquid passion pooling at the furred abdomen before finally sucking slowly at the engorged head of Sholto’s sex to a low guttural moan. Uist’s tongue probed insistently at the tiny slit to encourage more of the salty-sweet milk. As much as Uist wanted to drink more than just the enticing elixir of Sholto’s pre-come, the older man knew they were both too tired for extended loveplay. He reached for their oil and, slicking a third finger, quickly and carefully ensured Sholto was ready to be entered. He draped the younger man’s calves over his shoulders and surged forward in a carefully measured thrust. His mouth swallowed his mate’s cry as the tight muscle was breached and hard, thick flesh burrowed into searing velvet heat. Almost immediately, Uist sent up a hard fast pace, repeatedly pounding his lover’s sweet spot and relishing the way the smaller man thrashed in sexual abandon.
Lips met, teeth clashed and tongues duelled in a battle neither man could lose. As Sholto panted and gasped between kisses, his bigger mate nipped and sucked at his throat, shoulder and collarbone to leave more marks of passion and possession. Sholto relished the yowl from his lover as he began to tighten and relax his internal muscles trying to drive Uist to completion. He issued his own ululation as a knowledgeable hand reached between their sweat-slick bodies and began to fist his needy flesh hard and fast. They groaned and panted as they each pushed the other closer and closer to their destination and, with a synchronised howl; they both came with an explosive intensity. Sholto moaned wantonly as his lover’s liquid heat flooded his body, filling him with the physical evidence of his love. He could hear and feel Uist’s purrs in his ear as his clenching channel milked every drop of Uist’s precious seed. He felt his own completion pulse repeatedly hot and wet between them until both were fully satiated.
Uist carefully rolled their bodies to ensure he didn’t crush his replete mate, but made no attempt to withdraw from the intimate connection. Within seconds of his climax, Sholto was sleeping soundly Uist still buried within him and the cat-man simply held his precious bundle safe and close until he too slipped into a healing rest.
****
On the bridge, Lachlan came to join Tristam.
“I wish to apologise to you, Tristam,” Lachlan finally said breaking the silence between them. “I have used my ability to sway and to unnerve in ways unbefitting of a true PrideHome Warrior. Uist has shown his right to call himself Warrior in thought, in spirit and in deed. To have hoped for his forgiveness was too much, but that he didn’t even call for my punishment was more than I was entitled to expect. It is my intention to return to PrideHome. I hope to re-enter an academy and re-study to be a Warrior and if I don’t make it on my merits, then so be it.”
“That sounds like an admirable intention, Lachlan,” Tristam nodded. “I accept your apology in the spirit in which it is offered. Uist is not the type to bear a grudge. Once he is certain of your genuine regret, he, too, will be more accepting.”
Lachlan nodded silently as no further words were needed. Both men faced the star-dusted expanse that stretched before them as Silver sailed silently to her next adventure.