Page 3 of Clan and Crave

“Your parents didn’t arrange a clanship foryou?”

A stab of dismay caught Conyod by surprise.For an instant, it detracted from the fact Sletran was fishing forhis availability.

The Nobek must have noticed something in hisexpression. Sympathy crossed his features. “No change on the homefront, I take it.”

Conyod managed a rueful chuckle. “Tuher andSema aren’t so bad, but they never make it a secret I should be afull partner when it comes to running the ranch. They haven’tstopped angling for me to live and work at home, where they cankeep an eye on me.”

Sletran nodded. “They’re still fighting yourdecision to go into psychology?”

“That’s mostly my mother and Vel. Work at thehospital’s psyche unit gives me a good reason to avoid going homeoften, and I take it.” He eyed his half-empty glass of bohut andthought about bolting the remainder down. “They didn’t take fulladvantage of the therapy they were given. The best training inpsychology only goes so far if the patients have no intention ofimproving.”

Sletran’s hand rubbing his back brought abolt of electricity racing along his spine. “I’m glad yourecognized it and committed to recovery. You deserve the best inlife after the pain you’ve gone through.”

“I’m trying.” Conyod caught himself leaningcloser and was ready to make himself stop when Sletran’s armcircled him. His heart pounding, he settled against his companion.“I’m honestly doing well, even where my parents are concerned.”

He fought to maintain a casual tone, as iftheir contact was the most normal thing in the universe. For mostmen on a date, it would have been, as would a night spentintimately on a first encounter. Sex to Kalquorians was as naturalto the process of getting acquainted as having drinks.

Sletran had kept him at a distance for years,however. Conyod felt the need to proceed carefully, no matter howobvious the signals for a normal interaction between interested menappeared to be.

They moved on to happier topics. Soon theywere laughing as Conyod described his more comical patientinteractions and Sletran shared the hilarious mistakes of the menhe trained.

As they finished their dinner and drank thelast of their drinks, Conyod wished the night would never end.However, now that he’d hopefully won Sletran’s attention, he waswilling to continue to play the long game to win the prize. Hewouldn’t insist on instant intimacy from the only man he’d everdreamed of being in a relationship with. He refused to push Sletranaway because of impatience when he’d just begun to capture realinterest.

I may be head over heels, but I refuse to bestupid when I finally have a chance.

“Conyod?”

“Hmm?” Conyod set his glass down and wonderedif suggesting a walk on the nearby beach in the moonlight would beseen as too pushy.

“Would it be obnoxious of me to ask if wecould spend the night together?”

Conyod gaped. Was this actually happening?Was Sletran coming on to him?

Fuck the beach and the moonlight. “I’d lovefor you stay the night.”

* * * *

They were barely in the door of Conyod’ssmall apartment when Sletran pulled him into his arms and kissedhim. It was a searching, deep kiss, the kiss Conyod had dreamed offor years.

He clung to the Nobek, his hands moving overthe back of Sletran’s casual shirt, a shirt that would have hungloose on any other man but this incredibly built warrior. He feltthe muscles flex beneath the fabric as Sletran also explored. Theirmouths moved in concert, and their tongues twined.

Every stroke sent electricity buzzing throughConyod. He sensed the world turning, turning, turning…then realizedSletran was moving him across the floor, prodding him toward thegreeting space’s small lounger.

Conyod pulled his tingling lips free.“Sleeping room?”

“Later. After staring at you all night, Ican’t wait.”

Sletran tugged Conyod’s shirt off, tossed itaside, and paused to examine him. He grabbed the smaller man by thewaist and pulled him close again. His palms ran over Conyod’s ass.“Ancestors, you’re beautiful. Are you sure you’re Imdiko Conyod,son of Clan Tuher?”

“I hope so. They keep insisting I come totheir ranch for dinner so they can boss me around.”

Sletran barked a laugh before devouring himin another heady kiss, squeezing his ass as he did so. Conyodmoaned and yielded to a rush of lust, sucking on the tongueplundering his mouth.

The next instant, he was flat on his back onthe lounger. Sletran was a blur. Conyod’s shoes flew across thesmall room, landing in the corner. His pants were gone too. TheNobek hung over him, his greedy gaze raking him.

Aroused, Sletran had a stare that could burn.Conyod swore it was lighting him on fire. He reached for the largerman.

His wrists were abruptly pinned over hishead. Sletran grinned as he traced the fingers of his free handdown Conyod’s torso and further, barely skimming the larger of theImdiko’s livid pair of cocks. He licked the wetness from hisfingertips. “You grew big and strong. Do you think you could takeme in a fight for dominance?”

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