sleeping alone, but I’ve got a super early morning at the resort tomorrow. There’s a food shipment coming in I have to sort before I start cooking.”
“Oh.” Just like that, Bacoj’s rollercoaster emotions experienced a downturn.
Vax snuggled close as they paused in front of the modest building from which delicious scents eddied. “Don’t be mad.”
“I’m not mad. Just let down. I love being with you. I can’t seem to get enough of it.”
That earned him a kiss that warmed him from head to toe. Vax regarded him with what Bacoj hoped was adoration. “Same here, but I can’t burn my bridges if I’m to reclaim my job after the war. Even in these last few weeks before we ship out, I need to do my work as well as possible.”
Bacoj shoved aside the disappointment. “You’re right. If one of us slept over with the other, I could probably let you sleep, but that level of temptation is best not attempted. You’re impossible to resist.”
“Oh, you are too smooth, Bacoj.” Vax kissed him again, grinning from ear to ear.
“That’s why you’ve fallen so hard for my charms.”
They went into the restaurant, laughing and holding each other.
Chapter Six
Karil snapped to attention at the sound of the apartment’s door sliding open. He jolted to his feet, almost knocking off a small, decorative statue from the table in front of the lounger he’d splayed on. The creak of the table as he bumped it sounded loud. He held his breath, listening to hear if any shouts rose.
Nothing but the quiet muttering of conversation from the greeting room down the hall. They hadn’t heard him.
The Nobek shook his head, trying to clear it of the entrancing mists that took away all concerns. As he did so, he noticed the injector he’d used earlier, lying forgotten on the lounger cushions. He picked it up and tucked it in a pouch on his belt, congratulating himself on leaving no evidence.
For a moment, he stood still. Clouds of well-being encroached on his mind again as the voices rose and fell hypnotically in the distance. His body felt weightless to the point of disconnection. He wanted to sit back on the lounger and dive into the euphoria Elate filled him with. It wouldn’t last long, and it was a shame to waste any of the precious minutes allotted to him.
Stupid Vax. Why couldn’t he have stayed out later?
The Imdiko’s name sounding in his brain pulled Karil out of the stupor that clawed at him. Elate was insistent, trying to seduce him with its promise of too-brief pleasure. With effort, he pushed its siren song away and trudged across the gently rocking floor toward the open doorway. He tried not to shift his gaze too much, as it caused his surroundings to sway harder.
Light spilled down the hallway. Straining, he listened to the voices drifting from the greeting room. Hadn’t he heard Vax saying they couldn’t spend the night together? Why were they still talking if Bacoj was to stay in his own home?
Karil felt for his knife. He unsnapped the sheath and pulled the wickedly long blade free. Such motions had been etched into muscle memory and were simple to perform, even when high. Hopefully, cutting a man’s throat would be as easy. Respel had taken Karil off enforcement detail for the gang some months ago. The Nobek hoped the lack of practice wouldn’t be an issue.
I can do this. In fact, if Bacoj stayed the night after all, Karil could kill them both with little trouble. They were into each other to the point of being blind to all else. They’d probably hightail it straight to the sleeping room to fuck their horny little brains out. He could slaughter the Dramok after they fell asleep, then take his time with Vax before finishing him too. It wouldn’t be a problem.
His left eye stung, and he armed sweat off his forehead. Elate made a man feel pleasantly warm, but his physiology went into overdrive, pouring perspiration. Especially if he’d taken a large hit. Karil noted he was looking at the floor, nodding as the soothing effects set him drifting again. He snapped his gaze up, and the hall before him jerked violently. Karil grabbed the doorframe and barely kept his balance.
Fuck. He was wasted. He’d meant to take the bare minimum to keep from shaking. He must have miscalculated, then injected more when he became too drugged to resist the hypnotic call of peace. It was hard to strike