because to them it’s minor shit and will keep us quieter. They’ll do cavity searches when we arrive and find any kind of device you try to hide.”
“Good point.” He nodded and seemed to be deep in thought for a moment. “There’s nothing we can do about that, so we’ll have to have a prearranged extraction time for Prince Larz to send in a team. Then all we have to do is wait.”
“What if you haven’t found the Tygerians by then? What if we can’t get to the extraction point? There’s so much that can go wrong with this!”
“Lower your voice. You worry too much. Every operation has its risks, and you should know that. You used to be a soldier.” Rasc gave him a blistering look that didn’t seem to faze him in the least.
“I’m surprised you ever took Larz from that slaver ship in the first place,” he continued. “Because, ooh… so risky.” He laughed, giving a mock shiver.
“Anybody ever tell you that you were a smart ass?”
Kylon gave him a slow, sexy smile. “I’m not sure what my ass has to do with this, but thank you. I think. Now, let me look at your chestbone and see if it’s any better. I don’t think you’ll be able to learn the hold I was telling you about now. You’ll still be too sore and stiff to get into a tussle with the guards.”
“I’ll be okay. Why don’t you let me worry about that?”
He leaned in closer to Rasc until his face was only inches away. “Because I’m in charge, and I decide what happens. Haven’t I made that clear enough to you yet?”
He took Rasc’s face in his hands and to Rasc’s surprise, he kissed him. Feeling the soft, voluptuous lips brush over his and then the hand on the back of his neck tighten, Rasc sighed and melted into the kiss. Kylon crushed his lips down to thoroughly taste him, as Rasc put up his one good hand to Kylon’s shirt and curled his hand around it, pulling him in closer. He slipped his tongue inside Kylon’s mouth and swept it over his as Kylon clutched him. He felt Kylon’s mouth curl into a smile. He pulled back and gazed down into Rasc’s eyes. “You like the kissing, don’t you? Larz said that humans did. I think it calms you down a bit. So later, when we have more time, I’ll get in your bed and we can kiss more. Would you like that?”
Rasc wanted to tell him to fuck off, but he found himself swallowing hard at the lump in his throat and nodding instead. “Good. Me too.” He patted Rasc’s cheek. “Now just relax and let me handle things. We got word today that a new Tygerian ambassador has arrived on Gatifrey and is making his way here, so we can go ahead with our plans. I have some messages to send to Setin and Egam tonight with this little string device you use. Setin told me about it, and it seems like a good idea. As for you, you need to rest and get better.”
Rasc opened his mouth to protest, but instead he made a soft sound that was suspiciously like a whimper as Kylon pressed his lips to his again. He knew what Kylon was doing but didn’t seem to be able to rouse any real outrage over it. In fact, he felt a little dazed by all those kisses, and let him do it for several minutes more.
Finally, he raised his head and smiled. “Now. Let me take a look at your bruise and stop trying to argue with me. And then you can lie down and take a rest while I’m busy, and we can continue this later. Meanwhile, I’m going to take care of everything, and all you have to do is trust me.”
Chapter Ten
Ryan awoke slowly, not sure where he was. His first thought was of Mikos, and he sat up quickly to search for him, but he found himself in a small room with a solid door that was almost certainly locked. He’d been lying on the floor in the bare room and his head ached abominably. At least his leg was better—just bruised and not sprained. His mouth was dry too, and he remembered then that the Gatifreyan soldiers had swarmed him before he could get off more than a few shots and jammed a needle in his arm. He was hopeful he took out at