Page 28 of Clan and Crave

Sletran watched a deliciously naked Conyodclick off the com, which had buzzed for his attention a couple ofminutes after they’d made love that morning. He’d caught enough ofthe conversation his lover had had with a coworker to say, “Youhave today off, huh?”

Conyod yawned and stretched. His musclesmoved in fascinating patterns as he did so, and Sletran licked hislips despite having climaxed quite satisfyingly not too long ago.Beautiful Imdiko.

Conyod smiled at him and returned to the bed,though he sat on its edge rather than crawling under the covers tosnuggle. “Dr. Kivokan received word his nephew is graduatingtraining camp with a ton of honors next week, so he wants to attendthe ceremony. I’m the only therapist available to switch days off,so of course I said yes.” He eyed Sletran speculatively. “I wishyou didn’t have to go to your station today.”

“Me too. Hey, why don’t you come along? Ihave to be on base in an hour, but there aren’t any drillsscheduled until afternoon. I can give you a tour. You can have alook around, meet a few of my friends. Perhaps spend the night?I’ll get you home in time in the morning to make your shift.”

Conyod blinked, a hopeful smile twitching hislips. “I can stay with you?”

“Sure. I’m a squad leader, so I’m allowed theoccasional guest. I have my own private quarters.”

“We won’t be giving your troops a show,huh?”

“If that’s what you’re into, there’s apleasure club just outside the base a number of men from the baseenjoy visiting.”

Conyod laughed. “I’d love to stay tonight,but we’ll skip the public sex…for now.”

“Something to look forward to.” Sletrankissed him soundly, then dragged him to the shower to clean up.

* * * *

“Where did Tall and Terrifying find such ahot Imdiko?”

Dramok Erybet glanced in the direction hisfellow group commander Nobek Binmej was looking, then did adoubletake. He whistled low in appreciation before he could stophimself.

“You can say that again,” Binmej chuckled.“Damn, I can’t find a member of the breed to date, much less anImdiko who looks like him.”

A stunning young man, his face the open bookof Kalquor’s nurturing breed, indeed stood next to the imposingsquad leader Sletran. He had a gentle aura but was no lightweightin the physicality department by any means: broad shoulders filledhis brown jacket, and his thighs did the same for his blacktrousers. Next to the hulking Sletran he appeared small, but ifErybet subtracted the Nobek from his sightline, the Imdiko wasphysically impressive.

Erybet and Binmej watched as Sletran’s squadperformed targeting drills on the blaster range. Sletran’scompanion glanced at the Nobek often, smiling up at him in a waythat said they were a pair. Committed, maybe.

“It looks as if he has the Nobek he wants. Ohwell.” Binmej shrugged envy off and studied Erybet. “Does Sletranhave a Dramok?”

“No.”

“If they’re a package deal there, he won’twant for one long.”

“Are you hinting in an effort to matchmake?If you are, you suck at it.” Erybet tore his gaze from the civilianand laughed at his companion.

“I’m just saying, Erybet. You’re a Dramok,you have no clanmates, and you’re rising in the ranks. Could be youhave a chance to score a prize.”

“Could be I’d make a fool of myself. I thinkthat’s what you’re angling for, since you’re aware I have littleexperience with Imdikos.” He thought it typical of the brutishBinmej to refer to the rarest male breed as a “prize.” At least hisfellow commander was a good soldier. The thug, his brow boneoverhanging his eyes like a shelf, needed a saving grace of somesort.

“Same for the rest of us, especially usNobeks. Imdikos are few and far between for a soldier, except thosein the medical corps. And they’re all clanned.”

“We only see them when we’re draggedhalf-dead off the field,” Erybet agreed.

Binmej’s handheld’s alarm went off. Heglanced at it and grunted a stream of profanity as he quieted itssummons. “I have reports due this afternoon.”

“Paperwork, the bane of all Nobeks.”

“I’ll give you a week’s pay to do them forme.”

“I wouldn’t do it for a year’s salary. ThisDramok doesn’t enjoy filing either, and I have my own deadlineslooming.”

“Asshole.” Binmej glanced at Sletran’s guestagain, rubbed his crotch, and sighed. “Goodbye, eye candy. I’llmeet you in my fantasies.”

He left, and Erybet relaxed. Binmej was okayin small doses. Very small doses. It was better to watch him goingthan coming.

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