the war, and all his promotions had been battlefield promotions. After the war, he’d stayed in the army and taken a position at the Training Academy. When Larz and the other men and boys had been taken, it had affected him deeply and had only strengthened his resolve to work harder and develop his skills even more so that he would be able to help find them all one day and bring them home. When he said the fighting Rasc had witnessed was only a small part of what he could do, he was only being honest. His training had been long and extensive.
“No,” Rasc replied, a little sullenly. “No questions.”
Sullen was a good look on him, actually. It made his eyes flash and his full bottom lip puff out a little, and Kylon thought for one ridiculous moment about leaning over the small space between them and biting that lip. Then pushing him back on the cot and…
From the first moment he’d laid eyes on Rasc, when they were both on Laltana, Kylon felt the pull of this overwhelming attraction, no matter how hard he tried to fight it. Not only was Rasc very good looking, with his thick, dark hair, incredible eyes, and a face that on a female might even be called pretty, but there was a strength and grace to his body that Kylon had rarely seen in other men. He had a strong will and an ugly temper, true enough, and at times he was pushy, arrogant, and downright insulting.
Despite their differences though, and despite the fact that they were totally unsuited to be together, here in this little space on this alien planet, both of them a long way from home, it seemed to Kylon that they were almost outside of time. The differences between them—and they were vast—didn’t matter quite so much. And frankly, he was glad to see him again.
Kylon grinned at Rasc and promised himself he’d take care of renewing their acquaintance again later. He’d been surprised at how much he’d missed seeing Rasc around the palace grounds once he’d gone. Kylon leaned back on his hands and looked him over. He looked good, even though he was even more unkempt than the last time he’d seen him. He needed a shave and his black, curly hair was scruffy and way too long, and his icy blue eyes were wary. He was sexy as sin.
Kylon had read his file—several times—and he understood Centarlo might have reason to be overly cautious, though it certainly didn’t explain all the things he’d done, or why he was always so much on guard, always so ready to mistrust.
Then again, Kylon’s own childhood had been almost perfect in his mind, so it was difficult for him to understand what Rasc might have gone through, virtually orphaned at the age of five, despite his previously estranged father still being in his life. He’d been forced to live with people who were borderline abusive to him. Not that it absolved him for what he’d done later on in life. Plenty of people had bad childhoods, and they didn’t turn out to be criminals. He’d need to remind himself of that fact whenever he began to harbor softer feelings for this man. He wanted him badly though, and there was no sense denying it.
“Tell me more about the Tygerian boys. They’re definitely on this island?”
“According to what my contact says. No one I’ve talked to has actually seen them.”
“Your contact—the Drex pirate, Selinias Pax. Are you sure you can trust this man?”
“I think so, yes. I have no reason to believe otherwise. What did Rhaegar Barbosa say about him?”
“Just that he was a good fighter and that he’d had a hard life, but he did finally say he’d take him back if that’s what he wanted. He’s older than he looks, from what we’ve been able to find out. Nilaniums live a long time—maybe he’s decided to try to live out his later days more peacefully.”
Centarlo lifted one shoulder. “I think he’s still mourning his husband.”
“The one he killed?”
“That was in self-defense. And I think it was an accident.”
“Mm. Well, just be careful around him until we can predict what he’ll do in any given situation. Going free can be a strong incentive, but he might find himself a better deal.”
Centarlo gave him a surprised look, and he smiled as he drew up one leg and settled himself more comfortably on the cot. “Now tell me about this Zargoff