body. Nothing had ever been so perfect.
A wave of devotion washed over Bacoj, and he peeked at the dark head he rested his cheek against. Devotion was followed by a surge of protectiveness as he recalled the night before. Opening the door’s desperate summons, Vax bursting in and leaping into Bacoj’s arms, babbling in fear…it had been heartbreaking to see him so terrified.
Something steady, something strong had risen in Bacoj at that moment. A sense of responsibility for another’s welfare had asserted itself. He’d moved decisively to make sure his lover wasn’t injured badly—other than a scratch, he hadn’t been—then he’d taken Vax straight to law enforcement.
There had been an instant of wanting to race to Vax’s apartment in the hopes of confronting Karil. Rage had pricked at Bacoj’s iron control, had begged him to find the vile Nobek and beat him bloody. Yet better sense had held firm.
I did what was right. I took care of my Vax. I have to continue to do so, to keep him safe. To make sure he realizes he can rely on me.
There was no doubt in Bacoj’s mind that he wanted Vax for his clanmate, not after last night. In the wake of what had happened, he’d discovered how much the Imdiko meant to him. Love, pure and uncompromising, had announced itself. Bacoj bowed to that with no hesitation.
The moment I think he’s ready, I’ll ask him to clan.
Vax had been ready the night before, but he’d been in the wrong frame of mind to make such a momentous decision. Bacoj felt his responsibility to the Imdiko keenly, and that meant not taking advantage of a moment of weakness, no matter how tempting it had been. Vax had to want to live with Bacoj, every second of every day, with every fiber of his being, before any such promise was made. He had to ache for a permanent union, the way Bacoj did.
Working on the same supply transport together might solidify such a relationship, but Bacoj craved the opportunity for them to spend real time as a couple, without the distractions of work or others, to make his case.
Investigator Yas had mentioned the wisdom of Vax getting out of town until the authorities caught Karil. Dramok Respel could be a danger to the Imdiko as well. Needing to guarantee his lover’s safety added pressure to their deepening affair. What if Bacoj could kill two birds with one stone? He could court Vax and keep him out of harm’s way if they left the area.
Or—maybe the planet. Bacoj had money saved, funds earmarked for engineering school. Since he wouldn’t be pursuing his studies in the foreseeable future, he could afford to splurge a little on a getaway. Nothing too outrageous. There were always deals to be had on the planet Dantovon, which offered low overnight accommodation rates in order to lure tourists to spend big money on entertainment and gambling. If they didn’t lose their better sense, Bacoj was certain he could swing such a holiday. That shouldn’t be a problem; Vax was cautious with his funds, and Bacoj wasn’t worried about his own ability to stick to a budget.
The idea excited him. The change of scenery alone would be worthwhile. He could show Vax some fun, get him away from Huk’s treacherous clanmates, and allow them a real chance to know each other. The more Bacoj thought about it, the more he was sure it was the correct course to take. He decided he’d start researching the options that day.
* * * *
That evening, Bacoj accepted a glass of bohut from Nobek Ondeg, he of wiry graying hair kept tied back. Matara Udi raised her drink, and the rest relaxing in the seating area followed suit.
“To these brave young men, soon to fly off to adventure.”
Ondeg swallowed the contents of his glass and grinned at his son and Bacoj. “Try not to have too much fun out there, saving the empire from those crazy aliens.”
“We’ll do our best to keep the groceries out of enemy hands.”
Clan Batris laughed at Bacoj’s joke. The young Dramok had been in Vax’s parent clan’s spacious but comfortable greeting room for less than fifteen minutes, but he knew he liked them already.
It was easy to see from whom Vax had inherited his somewhat delicate features. Udi’s face and build were daintier than most Kalquorian women, and her gentle nature was in line with her appearance. Her smile was as bright and open as her son’s, her personality