did so, Bacoj eyed the naked body spread on the mat. It was a shame to not do something with it. He crept up the mat, kissing his way up Vax’s inner thigh.
“I’ve never been on the seagoing cruises. They do supposedly have excellent chefs. What was your favorite dish?” Vax swatted at him without letting his tone betray how Bacoj teased. His cocks were awake and getting perkier, however. Bacoj ignored the battery and kept mouthing toward them.
He was about to enjoy a mouthful of Imdiko when another com signal went off, this time from the unit on Vax’s bedside table. Still talking to Felac, Vax checked the frequency. His face went pale, and his smile faded.
“Vax?” Bacoj whispered.
It’s him, the Imdiko mouthed.
The stalker, Nobek Karil? It was Bacoj’s turn to grab someone else’s com. Ignoring Vax’s desperate motions that insisted he hand it back, he clicked it on while rolling off the sleeping mat. He walked into the hall.
“Hello, Nobek Karil,” he snarled.
“Who—who’s this?” a gravelly voice stuttered.
“The big, nasty fucker ready to turn you inside out for bothering Vax, that’s who.” Bacoj tried to sound Nobek scary, doing a fair imitation of his father Deehur.
“Listen, shithead—” Karil began.
“You listen, you drugged-out waste of flesh. You stay away from Vax. It’s not his fault your dumbass Imdiko was so trashed that he forced Vax to defend himself. It’s not his fault you weren’t enough of a Nobek to clean your act up and insist Huk do the same. Now take your pathetic attempt at honor, shine it up nice and bright, and shove it up your junkie ass. You come anywhere near Vax again, and I promise there won’t be enough of you left for your Dramok to cremate. Got it?”
He didn’t wait for a reply. He clicked the frequency off. While he had access to Vax’s com programs, he also blocked Karil’s signal so the Nobek couldn’t harass him again.
Feeling pleased with himself, he turned back toward the sleeping room. Vax was there in the doorway, watching him with Bacoj’s com unit powered off in his hand. Apparently, the conversation with Felac had ended.
“Damn,” Vax breathed.
Bacoj fixed him with a stern glare. “‘Damn’ is right. How many times has he commed to threaten you?”
Vax fidgeted, his gaze darting away. “He hasn’t exactly threatened me. Nothing I could report to law enforcement anyway. He’s just said nasty things, such as calling me a traitor to my family, a murderer…”
Vax’s eyes abruptly filled with tears. Regret filled Bacoj to have gotten angry with him. How much guilt did Vax carry for his cousin’s death? It had to be substantial.
Bacoj gathered him in his arms and held him close, kissing his wet cheeks. He comforted him with gentle caresses, whispered that Vax was a good man, reassured the Imdiko he couldn’t have done any different but defend himself against Huk’s attack. Vax clung to him, hanging on his every word like a drowning man with a life preserver.
Bacoj carried him back to the sleeping mat. The next hour was spent doing what was in his power to make Vax feel better. That included bringing him to climax twice.
It must have worked, because Vax lay in his arms afterward, radiating contentment. “Good thing it’s my day off from Nepor,” he sighed. “You’ve worn me out.”
“Is that a complaint?” Bacoj chuckled.
“Hell no. By the way, we’re having dinner with your parent clan next week. First of the month, right? When you usually visit them?”
Bacoj groaned. “I’m sorry my mother roped you into that. She doesn’t take no for an answer.”
“Actually, I invited myself when she asked me to remind you.”
“You did?” Bacoj stared at him in surprise.
Vax grinned. “Do you want breakfast? I’m starved.” He jumped up, grabbed a robe from the closet, and left the room.
Bacoj shook his head. Dinner with his parents next week? But Vax had claimed he wouldn’t get serious with anyone. What was he up to?
* * * *
After a few days, Vax had to admit he was having the time of his life with Bacoj. The week that flashed by was a revelation. He couldn’t get enough of the Dramok’s company. He rushed home from his jobs as quickly as possible, ready to enjoy his new friend, whom he’d invited to stay each night. It was torture leaving his apartment in the morning. Just as much as he hated to leave Bacoj, he hated letting the Dramok go to his job as a mechanic and test