Page 5 of Matthew

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Matt bit his lips together to keep from laughing. They were in the housing complex’s confusing corridor, a few feet from Clan Avir’s door, and Kom was already pulling his clothes off. His tank top went first, displaying a torso crisscrossed with scars. They enhanced his muscular build. A couple steps later, the Nobek paused long enough to pull off a slip-on shoe. Another step, and the second shoe was in his prosthetic hand.

“Kom.” If Avir was rebuking him, it was lost in the chuckles rolling from his lips.

The handsome clan leader wore a crisp shirt. His well-cut trousers were neatly pressed. He looked every inch the successful business executive, even on his day off. Matt had been impressed with Avir from the moment he’d set eyes on him.

“I’ll keep the shorts on until I’m inside.” The door to the clan’s home opened before Kom, and he took a step. “I’m inside.” Shorts flew at Avir’s face. Displaying amusement, the Dramok snatched them out of the air and gestured to Matt and Masok to precede him.

Matt had never been to the clan’s home. He hadn’t been to Kalquor until that day. TheRoguehad kept busy carrying cargo between planets, colonies, and space stations, but rarely had it scored shipments to Kalquor. Most of its work had been supplying Earth II, created for the displaced people of Matt’s shattered world.

He was curious about how wealthy Kalquorians lived, but he had to acknowledge Kom’s incredible physique first. How could he not? Kom, though possibly too scarred and craggy for most to consider handsome, was gorgeous to Matt. He couldn’t get his fill of looking at the man.

One side of the Nobek’s lips lifted in acknowledgment of Matt’s appreciation, and secret fire lit in his eyes. It was the sort of heat that said they’d appreciate a hell of a lot more of each other as soon as possible.

Warmth in his groin warned Matt. It was no longer just the two of them, and he hadn’t attempted any intimacies with Avir and Masok yet. He reluctantly pulled his gaze from Kom to take in his surroundings.

He gaped. They lived in no mere apartment. It was a palace.

Everything was shiny. The polished floor appeared to be inlaid marble, beige with dark blue rectangles, sectioning off a pair of non-identical but complementary conversation areas, as did the leaf-cutout divider. Inside the rectangles, thick rugs with matching abstract designs invited bare feet.

Overhead, chandeliers hung over each area. The closest was a swirl of intersecting circular patterns, gleaming a mellow gold in the soft light. The second was a design similar to what Matt had seen in pictures of mansions on Earth, golden arms dripping crystals and pinpoints of light.

Huge vid-windows adorned by taupe draperies beamed in views of the pink-sanded beach and green-tinged ocean. They rightly took the place of paintings or photos, leaving the partitions of white walls bare. The wall on the end closest to Matt boasted a massive fireplace of rounded white rocks. A bar with sparkling mirrors and glassware twinkled at the opposite end.

An ivory sectional lounger, easily capable of seating half a dozen, curled around a sleek table on one side of the divider. A chocolate twin paired with a pair of metal and carved wood tables on the other. Various flowering plants dotted the area, adding splashes of stunning color to the regal space.

Matt’s heart slammed into overdrive. He was to live here?

“I guess it’s a little luxurious compared to theRogue?” Avir’s tone was teasing. He beamed proudly to have impressed Matt.

“It’s beautiful,” he croaked. His gaze once again swept over the greeting room, where the clan would entertain guests. He noted the length and width of the drapes, the lushness of a potted tree and how much room there was between it and the wall. The loungers sat several inches off the ground on sturdy legs…room for someone his size to crawl under and hide.

Searching for areas to retreat was second nature. While he recognized he was doing so, Matt didn’t deny the urge. He’d be okay with Kom’s clan, he knew it for a fact, but it was good to be aware of where the nooks and crannies were if the need arose.

“Your suite won’t be quite so overwhelming.” The Nobek’s voice roused him from his scrutiny of the room and its options for asylum.

Hissuite?

Matt recalled himself and realized Avir’s and Masok’s warm gazes had grown concerned. Kom looked resigned. Matt hurriedly slapped on a smile he hoped said “wow” instead of the desperate urge to find safety. He shoved aside the sick feeling he had no business moving into such a manor to live with such a wonderful clan.

“Amazing. Are you sure you aren’t royalty? A king or queen would be at home in this room.”

Avir relaxed, his strong, handsome features brightening as he chuckled. “It’s meant to impress. We’ve made a lot of important deals here with compatible business leaders and clients.”

“How many businesses do you own?” Matt flailed for stable ground, mundane conversation. Anything to slow the rapid thudding of his heart.

“We have seven, which seems to be the limit on how much two men can successfully oversee and still manage a little downtime.”

“If we weren’t so hands-on, we could own more. I think we’re doing enough,” Masok agreed. “We invest in a number of companies, however, so we’re well-diversified.”

Seven successful companies. Matt’s mind boggled.

“Let’s have a look at your rooms. I hope you won’t be let down after seeing the greeting room. They’re nowhere near as fancy,” Masok urged, his voice betraying excitement. “And there’s plenty of opportunity for you to make them your own. In fact, if you want to toss everything in the trash and start from scratch, don’t be shy.”

Breathing was becoming an effort, but Matt kept his smile in place. “I don’t need much. You could have put me on a closet shelf, and it would have been plenty. I fit in most small spaces.”

He earned a round of laughter. He noticed Kom’s sounded forced. The Nobek had noticed Matt was struggling.

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