Pax's Blues

Lady Blue Crew 2 Pax's Blues Paxton Chambers lived hand-to-mouth, doing things he despised to survive. When one of the...

Author: Hagen Lynn | Glenn Stormy

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Lady Blue Crew 2

Pax's Blues Paxton Chambers lived hand-to-mouth, doing things he despised to survive. When one of the crew members of the Lady Blue asks him to help out, Pax is quick to lend a hand. Colt Walking Cloud is a member of the Lady Blue crew. He's fast, quick, and quiet, a deadly weapon with a sniper rifle. When he discovers that the little blue man is his mate, Colt goes on the hunt. Pax can never understand what anyone is saying. He thinks his intelligence is under par. Colt takes him under his wing and shows him a life Pax never dreamed of having. When Lady Blue is infested with slug-like worms with a lethal mucus, it’s up to the crew to irradiate them. The only thing stopping them is the fact the Pax has taken a liking to them and will do whatever he can to save them, even launch the escape pod. Genre: Alternative (M/M or F/F), Science Fiction, Shape-shifter Length: 37,530 words

PAX’S BLUES Lady Blue Crew 2

Stormy Glenn and Lynn Hagen

EROTIC ROMANCE MANLOVE

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: Erotic Romance ManLove

PAX’S BLUES Copyright © 2011 by Stormy Glenn and Lynn Hagen E-book ISBN: 1-61034-783-8 First E-book Publication: September 2011 Cover design by Jinger Heaston All cover art and logo copyright © 2011 by Siren Publishing, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

PUBLISHER Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

Letter to Readers Dear Readers, If you have purchased this copy of Pax’s Blues by Stormy Glenn and Lynn Hagen from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

Regarding E-book Piracy This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book. The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment. This is Stormy Glenn’s and Lynn Hagen’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Glenn’s and Ms. Hagen’s right to earn a living from their work. Amanda Hilton, Publisher www.SirenPublishing.com www.BookStrand.com

PAX’S BLUES Lady Blue Crew 2 STORMY GLENN AND LYNN HAGEN Copyright © 2011

Chapter 1 Pax stared out of the porthole as the Lady Blue began its descent. His fingers curled around the rim of the window, watching Paktil come into view. Pax hated this part of living on a ship. He’d give anything to stay onboard, but he knew that being part of the crew, his duties didn’t always allow him this. Hell, Pax would scrub the ship from tip to retractable ramp if he could stay onboard. He really didn’t trust people, but Pax was more comfortable with the men on this ship. He at least knew them— somewhat. “We’ll be landing in a few minutes. Aren’t you excited?” Gigi, the cook on the ship, yapped eagerly around Pax. “Paktil has way more sights to see and things to do than End of the Line. I have a project I want to start, and you’re just the man to help me.” Gigi sang the last part. Pax shook his head as he groaned inwardly. He wasn’t thrilled about this, more like dreading it. Gigi seemed excited, and Pax wanted to be, he just couldn’t find it in him. The bouncing human grabbed Pax’s hand and dragged him down to the retractable ramp. When the door lowered, Pax’s nerves wound up tight, making his stomach cramp. He’d already been left behind once before and didn’t

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want a repeat performance. Not that the crew had done it on purpose, but still. It didn’t feel good to be left behind, even by accident. In fact, it downright sucked. And they were on the planet he’d accidently gotten left behind on? Was he nuts? Pax had to be to even consider leaving the ship. “Do we have to be out here long? We’re gonna get the stuff we need and come right back, right?” Pax asked as his eyes darted around at all the people walking around the largest marketplace Pax had ever laid eyes on. “Oh sure.” Gigi giggled. “We just have to get what’s on my list, and we can come right back. I promise.” Pax’s eyes rounded as Gigi unrolled a piece of paper the length of his arm. They might as well rent rooms. That list was going to take forever to fill. “What’s this project?” Pax asked. Maybe they could skip the market. “Hydroponics lab,” Gigi said proudly. Then he frowned, his lower lip curling up in disgust. “I hate that damn replicator.” “Hydroponics lab?” Pax blinked as his attention snapped back to Gigi. “Do you even know anything about growing plants?” Gigi snorted. “No.” Pax shook his head. He would never understand Gigi. The man was as nice as he could be, but he had a screw loose somewhere. Maybe Livewire could tighten it up…or replace it. “It’s a small list. We can handle it.” Gigi pointed to the items on his large list. “But we will need to get the starter kit as well.” Pax groaned. Getting everything they would need to start from scratch was going to take hours. He’d had built a hydroponics before, not on the scale Gigi was talking about, but Pax knew this wasn’t going to be a quick trip to the market. They rented a shuttle cart, filling it as they walked through the market. Pax had never seen so many expensive things in one place at the same time before.

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“Can we afford all of this?” he asked worriedly. Pax had lived on the streets before joining the crew of the Lady Blue. He wasn’t used to purchasing things he needed, let alone what he wanted. This was an odd feeling for him, and he worried that they would run out of credits before they were even halfway through their list. Gigi hummed along as they gathered the soil and seeds they would need. Pax knew they also needed the special bulbs to grow the vegetables and fruit. Starting from scratch took a lot more than just grabbing the stuff from the marketplace. “Sure, Crank and Colt are out doing a job now. We’ll replenish the credits with no problem. Besides, we still have a good amount of credits from the blast job on Beta Five.” Pax’s belly fluttered at Colt’s name. The hawk shifter always made him nervous. Pax could read mists—almost like auras—around people, telling him if they were good or bad. Colt didn’t have a mist. That worried Pax. “How’s the shopping going?” Remy, the commander of the Lady Blue, asked as he neared them. Pax liked Remy. He had an honorable blue mist. Pax knew he could trust Remy. “Peachy keen,” Gigi said as he leaned into his mate, puckering his lips for a kiss that Remy granted him. Pax glanced away. He’d never had anyone want to be near him before—until Colt. And the shifter always made him nervous. “All done, commander.” Pax gulped when he heard Colt’s deep and gravelly voice. His skin began to tingle now that he knew the man was near. There was something compelling about Colt, but hell if Pax knew what it was. Pax stole a glance in Colt’s direction, immediately wishing he hadn’t. The shifter’s sapphire-blue eyes locked onto Pax’s, and then he gave Pax a friendly smile. Pax blushed and lowered his eyes, unused to anyone paying him close attention. His fingers itched to run through Colt’s gorgeous

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black hair. Someone shoot me now, and put me out of my libidodriven misery. “Hey.” Colt smiled down at Pax, making panic rob him of a reply. Pax just nodded and hoped that Colt would accept that as a reply. He felt flustered, anxious, but strangely, not in a bad way. He didn’t feel unsafe. Pax knew part of that came from being surrounded by huge men. Remy and Colt wouldn’t let anything happen to him— well, at least Pax knew Remy wouldn’t. The jury was still out on Colt. Pax frowned as he glanced over at Colt through the fall of his hair. The man didn’t have a mist. That was so wrong. Pax had never met anyone that didn’t have an aura unless that person was dead. Pax inhaled deeply. Nope, Colt most certainly wasn’t dead. In fact, he smelled delicious. “Are you all done with your shopping, angel?” Remy asked. “Oh yeah, almost,” Gigi said holding up his list. He pointed to the last few items that had yet to be crossed off. “I still have one or two things to get.” Remy took the list and looked it over then tore it in half, handing one piece to Colt and holding on to the other piece. “Why don’t you and I get this half, and Colt and Pax can get the other items. It will cut off half our time.” Gigi beamed and wiggled in place. Pax groaned. He so did not need to be alone with Colt—really. Time spent alone with Colt was something he had been avoiding for weeks. As much as Pax wanted to be with Colt, he knew if he did, he wouldn’t be able to hide how he felt about the big man. And the scary part was that he wasn’t sure how he felt. His stomach always felt a little funny around Colt, and it was hard to breathe. The mere sight of Colt was enough to take every last breath of air from Pax’s lungs. “Want to bet on who can get their list done first?” Colt asked. A burst of laughter shot out of Pax’s mouth when Colt wiggled his eyebrows. He flushed and slapped his hand over his mouth when Colt

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looked in his direction, a lone eyebrow raised. He had giggled. How flipping embarrassing. “What are the stakes?” Remy asked with a gleam in his eyes. “What do you think, Pax?” Colt asked. “Dinner and a vid?” Pax shrugged, although the idea of curling up on the couch with Colt in the media room intrigued him right down to his toes. He loved watching the vids in the media room. He especially liked it when everyone sat and watched them on the huge couch. As big as it was, it wasn’t nearly big enough to fit them all properly. It was a great excuse to sit close to Colt. “Dinner and a vid it is,” Remy said with an air of challenge to his voice. Gigi let out a whoop loud enough to make Pax’s eyes widen, grabbed Remy’s hand and started dragging him through the marketplace. Colt chuckled and held out the list in his hand. “I haven’t got a clue where any of this stuff would be located. Any ideas?” Pax smiled as he took the list and quickly read it over. He looked up and glanced around the marketplace. “I think I have a few ideas.” “Then let’s do it. We can’t let Remy and Gigi win,” Colt teased him. “No, we can’t.” Pax gave Colt a small smile as his face heated. He’d blushed more times around the man standing next to him than he did his entire life. His hand slightly shook as he gazed over the list. “Okay, it says we need cucumber and tomato seeds.” Pax pointed his finger at Gigi’s writing. Colt leaned down to look closer, and Pax had to swallow back a moan. His hand began to shake more noticeably with Colt being so close. When Colt reached out to steady his hand, Pax thought he was going to cream his pants right there in the middle of the market. Colt’s thumb ran over the back of Pax’s hand, making Pax’s knees clack together. This was going to be torturous. “What’s your plan, little bird?”

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Pax blinked at the large hand covering his and couldn’t remember his own name. The man smelled like a shower of stars and a dozen rainbows. For the first time in his life, Pax moved a fraction of an inch closer to another man willingly. Colt didn’t move a muscle nor did he make a sound. It was as if he was letting Pax make the moves. Pax whimpered when a hand was placed on the small of his back, pushing him into Colt’s personal space. Pax was in a daze as he licked his dry lips, wondering what it would feel like to be kissed. “You’re in the middle of the road!” someone shouted. The spell shrouding Pax’s brain shattered, and the noises of the market came rushing back. Pax quickly took a step back when he noticed how close he’d been standing to the shifter. Colt cleared his throat. “The list.” Pax nodded as he panted. “Yeah, the list.” **** Colt wanted to walk over to the loudmouth and knock him on his ass. For the first time since meeting his mate, Pax seemed receptive. Too bad it was in the middle of a damn market. “We should find this stuff before we end up cooking dinner for Remy and Gigi.” Colt said the words, but in his heart he knew he wouldn’t mind spending time with Pax. For weeks the little guy had dodged him at every turn. It would be nice to be in the same room with Pax for more than a few minutes. “Okay. I still have a few ideas,” Pax said as he held the list up. “We could find someone who knows this place like the back of his hand and have him help us. How does that sound?” Colt glanced around and saw an errand boy standing by one of the stands. He lifted his arm up and waved the young man over. The kid looked weary but headed their way.

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“I’ll give you five credits if you can get what’s on this list in ten minutes,” Colt offered. The kid snorted and raked his eyes over Colt. “Five? I’ll do it for twenty and not a credit less.” “That’s more than a few of these items cost.” Colt growled at the small hustler. He knew times were hard everywhere, but what happened to doing shit honestly? Was that out of style? “Take it or leave it.” “Anok?” Pax said as he stepped around Colt. “Is that you?” Colt gave a low warning growl. He wasn’t sure how his mate knew this guy, but Pax was his. Hawk shifters were very territorial. Colt didn’t even like Pax around all these people as it was, but to have someone he knew standing so close by, someone Colt didn’t know, made his talons start to emerge. “Pax!” The short man ran to Pax, his arms outstretched for a hug. Colt stepped in front of his Pax, the young man running into his chest and falling back on his ass. “What the hell, man?” The guy climbed to his feet and dusted his ass off as he glared up at Colt. “I was trying to give my long-time friend a hug, not suck his damn tongue down my throat.” Colt growled again and clenched his fists. Pax looked at him worriedly, making Colt feel like a jerk. He’d be that and more because he didn’t want another man’s scent on his mate. He didn’t care who the guy was. “No one touches Pax without his permission.” “Huh?” Anok tilted his head to one side. “Don’t you mean without your permission?” “No, if I meant that, I would have said that. Pax belongs to himself. It’s not my right to say who can and who cannot touch him.” Colt knew it was the truth, although he seriously wished otherwise. Something had happened to Pax to make him into the timid man he was now. Colt knew to gain back who he was, Pax needed to

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be in control of his life. Colt just wanted to make sure he was standing close to help him and make sure it happened on his terms. Anok scratched his head. “But you just did.” Colt chuckled when he saw Anok’s point of view. “I did, but ultimately, the decision is up to Pax.” Anok’s neon-green-haired head tilted to the side. “You’re an odd duck, aren’t you?” “Hawk,” Colt growled. “Huh?” Anok’s eyebrows scrunched together again. “I’m a hawk, not a fucking duck!” “Yeah, yeah.” Anok waved his hand in dismissal as he turned toward Pax. “A bird is a bird is a bird. You still have feathers.” Colt growled again. He could see that Anok was not going to be his best friend. He’d strangle the guy first. Maybe he should introduce Anok to Livewire. Those two would be perfect for each other. They were both fucking nuts. “Can you find the items on our list or not?” “Since it’s Pax, I’ll do it for fifteen credits but not a credit less.” Colt rolled his eyes. Hadn’t the man already tried that? “Five now and five when you’re done.” “Deal!” Anok grabbed the list and the credits Colt held out to him then disappeared into the crowd. Colt glanced down at Pax. He was concerned with the way Pax was standing. His body posture was so stiff Colt wondered if he’d break in half. Colt laid a tentative hand on Pax’s shoulder, sighing deeply when Pax jumped and jerked away. “Are you okay, Pax?” “I’m fine, thank you.” When Pax started to walk away, Colt stepped in front of him. He reached down and grabbed Pax’s chin and raised his face. Pax’s eyes remained downcast, his thick black eyelashes brushing against his paler-than-normal blue cheeks. “Paxton, look at me please.”

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Pax slowly raised his eyes. The frightened look in them nearly broke Colt’s heart. No one, especially his mate, should have that look of fear in his eyes. Colt wanted to shout, to rage, to tear something apart. Instead, he caressed the side of Pax’s cheek as gently as he could. “I won’t let anything happen to you, little bird. You know that, right?” Colt had to know that Pax knew he was safe with him. “I’ll never let anyone hurt you.” “You don’t have an aura.” Pax’s eyes widened as if he suddenly realized what he had blurted out. “I don’t?” That was a surprise. Pax shook his head. Colt frowned. “Is that why you’re frightened of me?” Pax shrugged and quickly looked away. Colt didn’t know what to say to that. He knew next to nothing about auras, but he was pretty sure everyone was supposed to have one. Not having an aura obviously meant something meaningful to Pax. This was something Colt would have to think on. “I don’t know why I’m without an aura, but I can tell you that you’re safe with me.” Colt reluctantly released Pax’s chin, but not before running his fingers across it. Pax shivered, and Colt’s cock began to fill. He took a step back but not too far. “Is there anything you want while we’re here?” Pax looked up at Colt from beneath a fringe of black hair, his vivid blue eyes setting Colt’s heart to hammering. The hawk shifter knew in that one moment, with that one innocent and seductive glance, Pax was forever in his blood. “Nothing that I can think of.” Colt looked down at Pax’s hands as they twisted together. Dragging his gaze back up Pax’s body, Colt met the smaller man’s eyes. “If there’s anything you ever want, all you need to do is ask.” Colt drew in a ragged breath as he tore his eyes away from his mate

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before the entire market witnessed him claiming the pale blue man. It would be a close thing as it was. “Let’s head back to the ship. If your friend is trustful, he should be there in a few minutes.” “He is,” Pax said as he started walking along side of Colt. “I’ve known Anok for a while. He’s a little odd, but he’s basically a good guy.” Colt glanced at Pax out of the corner of his eye. “Do you mind if I ask how you know him?” “I…we…” “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to, Pax. I just wondered.” He wanted to know something about Pax’s life before he joined the Lady Blue. The man’s lips were closed tighter than an airlock. “We worked together for a while.” “Running errands for people?” “Something like that.” Colt snapped his eyes straight ahead when Pax gave him a guarded look. He had a pretty good idea what Pax had done before he was found by the crew of the Lady Blue, and Colt wanted to tear something apart every time he thought about it. He didn’t blame Pax in the least for his past. It wasn’t a blame thing in Colt’s book. Pax had done what he needed to do to survive. Colt just didn’t like the idea of others touching his mate. “Does Anok need a safe place to go?” Colt had to ask. If Anok was one of Pax’s friends, Colt wanted to help. No one should be forced into a life he didn’t want because he had no other choice. “Really?” Pax whispered. “You’d do that?” Colt smiled at Pax and trailed his fingers along the side of his mate’s jaw. “I’d do anything for you. Don’t you know that?” Pax’s smile was tentative, but it was there. “I suppose I could ask him.” “If that’s what you want, little bird.”

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“I’m not sure he’d agree, though.” A little frown worked its way across Pax’s forehead as he looked ahead. “Back on End of the Line, Anok liked the life we lived, the freedom to go where and when he wanted to. Although, what he’s doing here I haven’t a clue. Last time I saw Anok he was working as a runner on End of the Line.” “Well, we can leave it up to him if that’s what you want to do.” “Yeah.” Pax smiled up at Colt. “Thanks.” “You’re welcome, little bird.”

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Chapter 2 Gigi laughed as he ran to Pax and Colt. “We beat you back. Dinner is on you,” he teased and danced around. “I get a night off.” Pax rolled his eyes as Colt trailed behind him to take the groceries into the kitchen. He set aside the items for the hydroponics. He’d give those to Gigi when the man wasn’t dancing around and rubbing his victory in. Pax was feeling a little depressed at the moment, and Gigi’s bouncy attitude was grating on his nerves. He was still smarting a little from Anok refusing to go with them. He had been sure the man would want to escape the life they had lived, but Anok seemed to be perfectly happy right where he was. Pax just wasn’t sure where exactly Anok was or what he was doing. The man never did like to discuss his business, which might be why he was in such high demand. He could keep his mouth shut. “So what are we cooking, little bird?” Colt asked as he opened the packages. “I was thinking of making a dish I learned a long time ago.” Pax had been craving it a lot lately and was dying to impress everyone with it. He just was too chicken to say anything to Gigi. But now that the chore of cooking rested squarely on his shoulders for one night, he had free reign. The commander and Gigi hadn’t specified what they wanted. Colt rolled up his sleeves and walked over to the sink to wash his hands. Pax pushed the empty packages into the recycle bin before doing the same. He stood at the sink with Colt as he poured a small amount of liquid soap into his hands. Pax lathered them up as Colt began to rinse his off.

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Pax stood there stunned for a moment when Colt splashed him with water. The water dripped from Pax’s eyes as he tried to figure out why Colt had done that. Pax submerged his hands under the water and then turned to Colt, tossing the drops of water at the shifter’s head. “Oh, you wanna play?” Colt growled playfully before resting his hand under the faucet, aiming the spray at Pax’s face. Pax threw his hands up, trying his best to block the assault as he sputtered. His hair and shirt were soaking wet now. He could hear the rich laughter coming from Colt as the shifter refused to let up. Pax squealed and ran around the counter, trying his best to get away. Colt laughed, chasing him down with a bowl full of water. “It’s not over.” Where the heck had the bowl come from? Pax hadn’t even seen Colt grab and fill it. Some of the water spilt on the counter. Pax’s hands skidded against the slippery surface as he tried to grab on, rounding the counter to get away from Colt. It was impossible to grab wet chrome. Pax went down with a loud thud and an even louder grunt. He just laid there on the floor blinking up at the ceiling. “Well, that was graceful,” he murmured as he drew in a deep breath of fresh air. “Sweet hell, Pax, are you okay?” Colt shouted as he skidded to a stop next to Pax and dropped to his knees. “Do you hurt anywhere? How’s your head?” Pax squirmed as Colt began feeling up his legs. The closer Colt’s hands got to his groin, the harder he became. All of a sudden, Colt froze. Pax’s face flamed with embarrassment as he peeked up at Colt through his lashes. The man was staring right at the tent in Pax’s pants. Colt swallowed hard then glanced away, starting back in to check Pax. “Colt,” Pax said as he grabbed the man’s thick arm. “I’m fine. I just slipped in the water.”

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“Are you sure?” Pax nodded and smiled at Colt. “I’m fine.” Colt stared at Pax for another moment then got to his feet. He held his hand out to Pax. “Come on, little bird, if we don’t get started on this meal, it’ll never happen.” Pax grabbed Colt’s hand. He was amazed at the strength in the man when he was pulled right up to his feet. But just as his feet landed on the floor, they hit another patch of water. Pax yelped. Colt grabbed for them. They both went down. Pax blinked when he realized he was lying on top of Colt’s body. He could feel every delicious inch of the man’s powerful frame beneath him—especially the hard cock pressing up against his. Pax swallowed hard and closed his eyes for a moment. Keeping away from Colt was becoming harder by the second. When he opened his eyes, Colt was staring up at him. Something intense flared in Colt’s sapphire-blue eyes. Pax leaned into the hand Colt pressed against his cheek. He wouldn’t have been able to stop even if the ship was going to crash. “I’d very much like to kiss you, Paxton.” Pax opened his mouth to say no until he saw the disappointment starting to grow in Colt’s eyes. Instead, he closed his eyes and leaned forward to press his lips against Colt’s. The instant explosion of arousal that shot through Pax was enough to make his eyes snap open. Colt was watching him. He hadn’t closed his eyes. Pax pulled away just enough that he could feel Colt’s breath blowing across his face. Colt was so close Pax could see the man’s eyes start to darken. Pax didn’t protest when Colt’s hand wrapped around the back of his head and pulled him closer. He kept his eyes open as long as he could when they began to kiss, but it was so overwhelming that he couldn’t last long. Pax closed his eyes and leaned farther into the kiss. He felt Colt’s mouth open, his tongue come out and stroke across his bottom lip. Pax groaned. The feelings being ignited inside of his

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body were ones he never felt before. He was hot, achy. He wanted more. Pax opened his mouth and allowed Colt inside. The mere brush of Colt’s tongue against his sent Pax into an all-body shudder. He felt the soft caress right down to his toes. Had anyone ever kissed better? Colt’s lips were gentle, his kiss soft and undemanding. Pax could tell what control it took for Colt to be easy with him. He could feel it in the rigid muscles beneath his hands and the hard length pressing against his abdomen. Pax’s heart began to flutter wildly in his chest when Colt pulled away and looked up at him. He could see the hunger burning in Colt’s eyes and knew the man wanted to take things further. “Thank you, little bird.” Colt brushed the back of his knuckles across Pax’s face. Pax cleared his throat. It was he who should be thanking Colt. It was on the tip of Pax’s tongue to tell Colt that he’d never been kissed before, but Pax kept it to himself. His heart was already beating like a beast unleashed, and he didn’t trust anything that would come out of his mouth right now. Pax placed his hands on Colt’s chest, pushing his body up into a sitting position. Wrong move. Colt’s ramrod cock was now pressing into Pax’s ass. He heard the slight and swift intake as Colt sucked air through his teeth. “We should—” “Yeah,” Colt agreed, helping Pax up as he got to his feet. They grabbed some towels and cleaned up their mess before starting dinner. The tension was thick until Colt began to talk of how he’d really like fresh vegetables and asking a thousand questions about the dish Pax was preparing, making the mood lighter. Pax grabbed the pan from the oven, Colt taking over and carrying it out to the mess hall where everyone was seated and waiting. “Smells good, buddy,” Livewire commented as Colt placed the pan in the middle of the long table.

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The tables used to be round, but with the crew growing, the commander had purchased one large table to accommodate the growing crew. Pax really liked the new table. It fit everyone without overcrowding them. “It’s something I learned how to make over the years. I hope everyone likes it.” Pax sat when Colt pulled his chair out for him. The shifter took a seat next to Pax and laid a hand on his. “If you cooked it, I’ll love it.” Pax couldn’t figure out why the praise made his heart burst with pride, but it did. Pax watched everyone dig in, biting his bottom lip as they ate. He was too nervous to touch his own plate until he knew for sure everyone liked it. “This is good.” Remy pointed his fork at his almost empty plate. “Damn, man. How’d you learn to cook like this?” Blade asked. The praises kept coming, making Pax sit in his seat, beaming with pride. Colt grabbed his glass from the table and then leaned close to Pax’s ear. “I told you they’d love it.” His neck and ears burned with the embarrassment. Pax wasn’t used to hearing compliments about anything he did. He decided he liked it. Pax picked his fork up and began to dig in, his mouth bursting as he moaned. It had been so long since the rich spices had touched his tongue that Pax began to devour his helping. “Slow down.” Colt chuckled. “It’s not going anywhere.” Pax smiled at the shifter as he did just that. His mind kept going back to his first kiss. Pax would swear he still felt Colt’s warm lips on his. They tingled with remembrance. He wanted to rub his fingers across them and maybe try for another kiss. “I got another job for us,” Remy said as he leaned forward and refilled his plate. Pax squirmed around happily, seeing how everyone was really enjoying his cooking. Maybe he could talk to Gigi about taking on

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more responsibilities in the kitchen, give Gigi a night off every once in a while. “What is it this time?” Crank asked as he picked his glass up and took a long drink. Pax paid attention to the conversation as he ate. Hopefully wherever they were going, he wouldn’t have to leave the ship. Remy stabbed at his food and shoved a forkful in his mouth, holding his finger up as he chewed. Pax watched everyone else. They were all making the pan of food disappear. This was yet another reason he loved being onboard Lady Blue. The crew all made him feel so needed and welcomed. “We have to pick up some cargo on Lost Star Three and deliver it to End of the Line.” Tank whistled low. “That’s one hell of a haul. It’ll take us weeks to get that job done. I hope the pay is good.” Remy sat back, twining his fingers behind his head. “Ten thousand credits.” Pax heard forks hitting plates as they fell from fingers, his included. Ten thousand credits? Had he ever seen that much in his entire life? Hell no! “Dayam.” Crank gasped. “Are they on the up-and-up?” Remy shrugged. “It’s someone called Imlay Jones. Krull said he was kosher. We won’t know until the job is done. Of course I demanded half upfront.” “We could get the parts our girl needs.” Livewire sounded giddy. “She needs a serious facelift.” “We can do more than that.” Remy grinned widely. “Hell, I could keep Gigi and Pax in groceries for a long while.” “Thank god,” Gigi said dramatically from beside Remy. “I’m tired of running out of what we need. Do you know what it’s like to cook a ham without a ham?” Pax stared at Gigi, wondering if the human would ever make sense to him. He felt like he needed a compass half the time to figure

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out where Gigi was going with his way of thinking. Pax knew he was the only one who never understood the man. They all got it. It was like a club or something—the we get Gigi club. Pax wasn’t a member. “What are we hauling?” Tank asked. “I don’t know,” Remy replied. “I was assured it was nothing illegal, and I made sure there was a clause in the contract that we could pull out without paying a cancelation fee if we decided we didn’t want to haul the cargo.” “Good plan,” Tank said. “So, when do we leave?” “I need at least one more day to get the lady ready for a flight that long,” Livewire said. “I’m still calibrating the pulse engines.” Remy chuckled. “I guess we leave tomorrow then.” “The day after that,” Gigi said, rather loudly. “We won the bet. We get a movie night. No work until tomorrow.” Pax bit his lips to keep his giggle from exploding from his lips when Remy rolled his eyes and hauled Gigi into his arms. Peals of laughter fell from Gigi as Remy carried him out of the mess hall and down the hallway toward the media room. “Why don’t you go watch the vid, little bird,” Colt said. “I’ll clean up these dishes.” “I’ll help,” Pax said quickly. “It will get done faster that way, and you won’t have to miss so much of the movie.” “Thank you, little bird.” Pax’s eyes widened, and he quickly looked down at his hands when he heard the rumble in Colt’s voice. It was the same voice Colt had used when he thanked him for the kiss. How was it possible for the man to have the same sexy timbre in his voice for two separate things? Pax grabbed the dishes closest to him and raced into the kitchen. He made sure no one was following him then stepped over to the pantry and into the cold storage locker. He was overheating—had to be the spices. Really.

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When he heard someone coming, Pax quickly stepped out of the cold storage locker and made his way back into the kitchen. He filled the sink with water and started scrubbing dishes. Maybe if he had his hands elbow deep in the water, no one would know the blush on his face came from embarrassment. Oh look, a pig flying outside the window. Colt chuckled and walked back into the mess hall to grab more dishes. Could his face get any redder? He was blue, for christ’s sake! Colt came back into the kitchen with the pan the food had been in full to the brim with dishes. The man knew how to use his brain and work smarter, not harder. Pax stepped aside as Colt submerged the filled pan into the sudsy water. “If you wash, I’ll rinse.” “Deal.” Pax began to scrub plate after plate, handing them off to Colt. The shifter rinsed them clean and then placed them in the drying rack. Pax’s heart skipped a beat every time Colt’s hand touched his. Pax wasn’t sure how much more of the buildup he could take. Colt may not have an aura, but he was proving to be kind and sweet. It was something Pax had never experienced before with someone he was going to have sex with. Wait! Did he just think about having sex with Colt? No, no, no. Pax couldn’t have thought that. He wasn’t good enough for Colt. Why would someone as strong and noble as the hawk shifter want a rejected soul like him? With a stern mental lecture, Pax moved a little away, careful not to touch Colt’s hand again. Pax could see the confusion on Colt’s face, but it was for the best. He wasn’t going to fool himself into thinking he was anywhere near the shifter’s standards. “Is everything okay?” Colt asked as he accepted the next dish. “Yes. Why do you ask? I’m fine, never been better.” Will you shut up, you blithering fool! Pax was getting frustrated standing next to Colt. What he wanted and what he deserved were two different things.

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Colt watched him carefully as they finished the last of the dishes. Pax grabbed a dishtowel and wiped down the surfaces while Colt rinsed the sink out. “Done,” Pax declared as he folded the towel up and laid it on the counter. “Good. Let’s go watch a movie, little bird.” “Why do you call me that?” Pax asked as he walked beside Colt. He liked the endearment. Pax just didn’t get it. It seemed he didn’t get a lot of things around here. It was becoming his theme song. “Because I’m a hawk shifter, and you’re my little bird.” Colt said it matter-of-factly, like it was no big deal, so Pax didn’t make it a big deal. He knew he was Colt’s mate, but Pax was scared shitless to let the shifter claim him. That would involve sex— something Pax wasn’t sure he was ready for. His step faltered when he walked into the media room with Colt to see that there was only room for one on the sectional sofa. All the other seats were taken by the crewmembers. Pax bit his lip as he wondered where he was going to sit. Colt strolled right in and sat down, leaving Pax to stand by the door. Pax moved into the room but remained by the wall. He wasn’t that comfortable with the crew yet to demand anyone scoot over or give him a seat. He’d only been onboard Lady Blue for a few weeks. That did not give him enough get out of my way power like Gigi seemed to have. Pax wished he was more like Gigi. The man asked for what he wanted and spoke his mind, something Pax had never been able to do. He leaned against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest as he began to watch the movie. After a while, his legs started to cramp. He glanced around the room to find Colt watching him. Pax quickly averted his eyes. The man probably thought Pax a wuss and a loser for not demanding that someone give him a seat. It just wasn’t in him.

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He jumped slightly when he felt a hand covering his. Pax looked up to see Colt staring down at him. The shifter took his hand, not saying a word as he coaxed Pax over to the sofa. Pax followed, having no choice since Colt had his hand. Not that he objected. Damn it, he was supposed to be keeping his distance, not trailing after the man like some sort of stray begging for attention. Colt took a seat, waiting for Pax to join him. The shifter didn’t indicate where he wanted Pax to sit. He glanced at Colt’s lap and entertained the idea of sitting on it, but he dropped that thought quickly. Instead, Pax sat down the carpeted floor between Colt’s legs, resting his back against the sofa. He fisted his hands in his lap when he felt Colt run his hands through Pax’s hair. This was not helping his resolve. If anything, it was making it crumble, but Pax couldn’t find it in him to pull away. Pax had no idea what the movie was about. He didn’t really care. He just hoped there was another one after this. He didn’t want to move from where he was. He didn’t want Colt to stop running his hands through his hair. It felt so good. Pax couldn’t remember the last time someone had touched him like this and not wanted something in return. Hell, he couldn’t even remember the last time someone had touched him at all. It seemed like forever. Unlike Gigi, Pax remembered his family all too well, and he knew they were bastards from word one. He wasn’t confused about why he had been on the streets before the crew of the Lady Blue found him. He knew exactly why—and he’d hate his family until his last breath for it. There were some things that just could not be forgotten. “Do you want to watch another one, little bird?” “Huh?” Pax twisted around to stare up at Colt in confusion. Colt waved his hand toward the vid-screen. “Do you want to watch another movie?”

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“It’s over?” Pax glanced around to find he and Colt were the only ones left in the media room. His eyes widened at the soft chuckle he heard behind him. Pax quickly scrambled to his feet. “We should probably get to bed.” “Or you could come sit with me, and we could watch another movie.” “I…” Pax sucked in his bottom lip and chewed on it as he wondered what Colt’s motives were. How could anyone be this nice and not want something? Everyone wanted something—even Pax. He wanted safety. He wanted someone to love him unconditionally. He wanted to be able to say no and mean it. “Come pick out a vid, little bird.” Colt held out the remote. Pax hesitated for just a moment then sat down next to Colt and grabbed the remote. He quickly flipped through the movies available until he found one he had seen before. If he faded off during this one, at least he wouldn’t look like a complete goober. The movie started. Pax watched Colt through the fall of his bangs. He smiled when Colt chuckled at something funny on the screen, frowned when Colt grumbled. Little by little, he stopped feeling afraid. **** Colt smiled when Pax leaned closer to him. He doubted his mate even knew he was doing it. Colt wasn’t blind. He knew Pax was watching him. Colt just wished he could figure Pax out. He was getting mixed signals and didn’t know how to react to that. Pax could be friendly, happy, outgoing one moment then freeze him out the next. Colt didn’t know if he was coming or going. Okay, he did. He definitely wasn’t coming—at least not with his mate. He had jerked off so many times in the last week he was surprised his wrist worked at all.

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If he didn’t figure his mate out soon, Colt was afraid he might lose control and just take him. He was that desperate to claim his mate. Only the fear that showed in Pax’s beautiful blue eyes stopped him. Colt nearly swallowed his tongue when Pax scooted the last few inches between them. A moment later, he felt Pax’s head lean against his shoulder. Colt’s heart started beating faster at having his mate so close—and there of his own free will. After a little while, Colt lifted his arm and wrapped it around Pax’s shoulders. He urged Pax’s head down to his chest then leaned back, allowing Pax to get cuddled up to him and comfortable. Colt chuckled quietly a few minutes later when Pax began to snore. He reached to the side of the couch and grabbed a small blanket, using it to cover Pax up. Then Colt lifted Pax up into his lap. Colt stared down at Pax, amazed by the beauty in the man’s features. He never thought he’d be interested in someone with blue skin, but after meeting Pax, he knew he wouldn’t have it any other way. The soft black hair that framed Pax’s face gave him an ethereal look. Add in the high cheekbones and plush lips, and Colt knew he was a goner. The movie ended but Colt had no urge to move. He leaned farther back into the couch and cradled Pax to his chest. He’d happily stay right where he was for the rest of the night if Pax stayed in his arms.

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Chapter 3 “Okay, look here. I say we need to get to the next job, and here you are, bellyaching. I’ll make a deal with you.” Livewire paced back and forth in the engineering room. He ran his hands over his hair and then turned back around, letting out a deep sigh. “If you stop giving me such attitude, I’ll make sure you have the finest men crawling all over you. You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” The propulsion system whirled but gave no indication it even heard him. Lights blinked and beeping noises were heard, but nothing changed. “Fine, be difficult.” Livewire tossed the wrench on the floor. “But just so you know, if you don’t cooperate, it’ll be your ass hitting the ground first.” He waggled a finger at the ship’s main component. “If it answers you, I’m jumping in an airlock and shooting myself out into space.” Pax chuckled as he walked through the door, Livewire hearing it swish closed behind the blue-skinned man. “She’s got personality just like everyone else. She just needs to be stroked right. Unfortunately the ship is filled with gay men, no hope there.” Livewire reached out and ran his hand down the smooth panel in front of him. “Ain’t that right, Lady Blue?” Pax giggled as Livewire flipped a switch on the wall, his finger caressing the knob like a nipple. When nothing happened, he sighed. “See what I mean?” “Nope.” Pax smiled and sat on a crate nearby. “I never see what anyone means.” Livewire smiled at his buddy. Pax was like a puppy eager for attention and a gentle touch. Too bad Colt would feed him his own

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ass if he tried the latter. Not that he wanted to. Livewire liked his men a little more dominant. “Neither do I, so you and I must think alike.” He bent at the waist and picked the wrench up that he had dropped, watching Pax. “What brings you to my neck of the woods?” Pax picked at his pants as he stared down at his feet. “Just wanted to get away for a while.” “Running again?” “Am not!” Pax argued, and then his shoulders sagged slightly, his eyes tracking around the room. “Maybe.” Livewire crossed the distance, sitting on a crate close to Pax—but not too close, he wasn’t that crazy. “Dealing with men is like baking a cake. You can put whatever you want into it, but once you shove it in the oven, it’s all up to the cake god. You get what I’m saying?” “Cake god?” Pax gasped. “There’s a cake god? How come I never heard of this god?” “No, Pax, that’s not what—” Livewire stopped and scratched his head. “You know, I actually don’t know. Maybe there is a cake god. I guess there could be, right?” Livewire grabbed his wench and swung around to the propulsion system. “I mean, you mix it all together, stick the stuff in the oven, and hope for the best, but it doesn’t always turn out right, does it? Sometimes your cake falls flat. Other times it tastes like goo. If there’s someone actually in charge of all that stuff then…” **** Pax’s head started to hurt as he listened to Livewire go on and on about some cake god. He was beginning to think that Livewire was just as nuts as the rest of them. He’d never heard of a cake god before. The mechanic turned to Pax, twirling the wrench around his index finger as he scratched his head. “I forgot. What where we just talking about?” Pax giggled at the funny man. “Cake.”

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Livewires eyes lit up. “Do we have any left? I’m fucking starving down here.” He sat back down next to Pax, leaning his back against the wall. “And a tall glass of ice-cold goat’s milk.” Pax rubbed his temples as he tried desperately to follow the conversation. Maybe he needed a compass for Livewire as well. “I think we do. I’m not really sure.” “You ever think that maybe if you stopped running, you just might get a piece of that cake? Mind you, it may not be the flavor you want, but a glass of milk always helps.” Pax had to get out of there before his brain exploded. He really liked Livewire. The man was easy to talk to, when he understood him. “I’m going to go. Thanks for the talk, I think.” “Sure, anytime, buddy. Bring me some cake when you get a chance.” Livewire turned back to the propulsion system, arguing with it again. Pax slid out, leaving the two to hash out their problems. He walked up the steps to the upper deck, needing to lie down. Gigi wouldn’t need him for a while, so he had a chance to take a nap. Pax started to walk into his room until he heard a guitar strumming. He followed the sound until he was outside Colt’s door. Pax leaned against the wall, listening to the beautiful melody. Pax jumped when he accidently hit the call button with his shoulder, alerting Colt to his presence. He could run, but that was too chicken even for him. When the door slid open, Pax stood there wringing his hands, wondering what he was going to say. “Come on in, little bird.” Colt’s voice sounded like a soft caress, making Pax’s skin hum from the baritone inflexion. Pax hesitated, wondering if this was an invitation to more than just sitting in Colt’s room. “No strings, little bird. Just spending time together.” Pax nodded at Colt’s promise as he stepped in, looking around the shifter’s room. It looked just like his. Only Colt’s room looked lived

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in whereas Pax’s room was spotless. Of course, Pax didn’t have a whole lot to create a mess with. “I was just humming out a few tunes. Have a seat.” Colt nodded to a chair sitting by the wall as the shifter sat on his bed. Pax crossed the room, sitting down and then scooting back, pulling his legs up and wrapping his arms around them. He noticed Colt’s feet were bare. Could men have sexy feet? They had to because Colt’s feet were perfect. His eyes snapped up when Colt’s fingers glided along the guitar strings. “It took a lot of credits to snag this Fender, but it was well worth it.” Colt smiled as a tune began to fill the room. Pax’s eyes widened when he recognized the song. “I know that song!” he proclaimed proudly. “Then sing it with me.” Colt began to sing, the melody making Pax think of angels without wings—as the lyrics stated. Pax found his hands fisted at his chest as he gazed at Colt with such awe that he wanted to cry. The man was starting to chip away at the wall Pax had erected around himself. Before he knew it, Pax was singing along. A smile tugged at the side of Colt’s mouth when Pax messed a few notes up. He wasn’t the best singer in the world. As a matter of fact, Pax was killing the poor song, but Colt didn’t seem to mind in the least. He kept right on singing, winking at Pax as his fingers flew over the guitar strings. Pax smiled a big-ass goofy grin as he tried his very best to stay on key. When the song ended, Colt started another one, and Pax knew this one as well! “Sing it for me, little bird,” Colt called out, laughter lacing his voice. Pax fisted his hands like a prayer at his chest as his mouth opened wider, and he sang his heart out. The smile on Colt’s face made Pax want to crawl in his lap and stay there forever. The shifter didn’t make one move on him through four songs.

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Pax was confused now. Colt seemed to want to always be near him or touching him in some way. Why wasn’t Colt trying something? Had that changed? Had Pax held out too long? Did Colt not want him anymore? Pax started to grow flustered. He bent his head and rested it on the top of his knees. He wanted to pound his head against a wall or lose a screw so he’d be as crazy as everyone else. Then, maybe, he’d understand what was going on. “What’s wrong, little bird?” Pax felt tears spring to his eyes at the gentleness in Colt’s voice. Colt was so kind and wonderful, and he was so dirty and horrible. Pax sobbed and jumped to his feet. He needed to go. He needed to get away from Colt before he begged for the man to claim him and doomed Colt to a fate Pax considered worse than death—being stuck with him. “Whoa, whoa, little bird,” Colt said as he caught Pax in his arms before Pax could reach the door. “What’s the rush? I thought we were having a good time.” “I can’t—I can’t be here,” Pax cried. “This is wrong.” “Sshhh, little bird.” Pax resisted when Colt grabbed his chin and tried to get him to look up. When Colt grabbed his head, Pax didn’t have the strength to deny the man, either physically or emotionally. “What’s wrong, Paxton?” Colt asked. “I haven’t touched you.” “I know!” Pax cried out. “Why haven’t you touched me? What did I do wrong?” **** Colt wiped at Pax’s tears, wondering why his mate went from smiling and singing to crying. He imagined he was just as confused by Pax’s behavior as Pax was confused by his. “You haven’t done anything wrong, little bird. Nothing at all.” He leaned forward and

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kissed both cheeks, removing the tears that flowed down his mate’s face. They should never be there. Colt almost fell backwards when Pax tilted his head up, brushing his lips across Colt’s. He wasn’t sure what he should do, so Colt stayed still. If Pax wanted to take this further, he’d let his mate make the decision. Pax’s hands shook as they reached out and touched Colt’s shoulders, his fingers flexing into Colt’s skin as if unsure of his moves. Colt flicked his tongue out, and Pax opened. Colt placed his hands on Pax’s hips to not only steady himself but to stop them from exploring his mate’s body. It was trembling slightly under his palms, but Pax didn’t pull away. Colt tilted his head, Pax swiping his tongue hesitantly over Colt’s teeth, as if testing and tasting. Pax inched a little closer, his breath hitching as Colt traced Pax’s lower lip with his tongue. Colt’s whole body filled with wanting, his cock straining painfully against his pants as Pax took his time discovering Colt. Pax took another step forward, his fingers curling tighter into Colt’s shoulders. Colt’s hands slid around Pax’s waist, giving just the slightest nudge, telling Pax he was okay with his mate coming even closer. Colt could feel eager affection coming from Pax, his mate starting to take control of the kiss and Colt letting him. It was as if a floodgate opened when Pax tried to climb up the front of Colt’s body. Colt lost his balance, falling backwards, taking his little bird down with him. Pax acted as though he hadn’t even noticed as he crawled up Colt’s chest. “I want my cake,” Pax whispered, his eyes glued shut. Colt hadn’t a clue what Pax was talking about and wasn’t about to stop his mate to ask. His hands skated up Pax’s side and then up Pax’s arms as he reveled in the softness of the man’s blue skin. His fingers circled around Pax’s wrists, holding on as Pax writhed on top of him.

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Colt’s head fell back, his mouth opening to take in ragged and desperate breaths as Pax began to kiss around his jaw and then down his neck. Colt’s eyes shifted, his talons threatening to grow as Pax took what he wanted. Colt was dying to cup his mate’s ass but was afraid Pax would stop, so he lay there and enjoyed what his little bird took. Colt fought it. He strained not to, but his hips had a mind of their own and bucked up, making Pax bounce in the air. Pax pulled back, blinking down at him, and Colt cursed his wayward body. “I can’t,” Pax said the words, but he didn’t move away. “Yes, you can. Take whatever you want and need.” Pax closed his eyes as his fingers bit into Colt’s shoulders. “I’m no good for you.” Colt reached up and cupped Pax’s face, making his mate’s vivid blue eyes lock with his. “Whatever you did before, whatever you had to do, doesn’t matter. As soon as you came to me, came into my care, everything was wiped away.” “But, I used to—I…” Pax turned his head, his face turning a deep shade of red. Colt cupped Pax’s face, bringing it back around. “Talk to me, little bird.” Pax smashed his eyes closed as he covered his face with his hands. “I used to sell my body so I could eat.” Colt had a feeling that was the case. He didn’t judge Pax. Everyone did what they had to do to survive. He didn’t like the thought of other men touching his Pax, but he didn’t harbor any ill feelings toward his mate. “What did I just tell you, love?” “You don’t look at me like a whore?” Colt growled, the sound making Pax’s eyes widen. “Never refer to yourself like that. I meant what I said. Everything is wiped clean.” Pax swooped down and ravaged Colt’s mouth. He could hear frantic little whimpers escaping his little bird’s mouth. Colt rolled,

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placing Pax underneath him as his hand ran over Pax’s chest. Colt glanced up, begging with his eyes for Pax’s permission. When Pax spread his legs, Colt lost his mind. He flicked his wrist, yanking to separate the zipper and then pulled Pax’s pants from his body. Colt sat back on his heels as he skimmed his hands over Pax’s thighs, his fingertips barely touching skin as he stared at what a newborn star must look like. Pax bit his bottom lip, glancing away from Colt’s intense gaze. Colt reached over and pulled his mate’s head back, making him look him in the eyes. That would never do. “I’m going to claim you, Paxton. If this isn’t what you want, tell me now.” Pax’s eyelashes slowly lowered, making the blackness of them contradict and blend with his pale blue skin beautifully. His mate gave a slight nod. “No, baby. I need to hear you say it.” “Take me,” Pax whispered. Colt stood, staring down at Pax as he stripped free from his clothes. He knelt back between his mate’s legs, hooking his right arm under his mate’s leg and lifted it to Colt’s side, blanketing Pax’s body as he crushed his lips to his mate’s. Pax grabbed onto Colt, pulling at his hair as he rubbed his body over Colt’s, marking him, scenting him with Pax’s pre-cum. Colt sipped at Pax’s lips, their mouths barely touching as he breathed Pax in. He pulled Pax’s leg back as his hand reached behind his mate, his finger touching Pax’s most intimate place. His mate’s hips jerked, Pax moaning into his mouth before pushing back onto Colt’s finger. Colt applied the slightest pleasure, feeling the connection already taking place between them. Part of Pax’s soul was starting to merge with Colt’s, making his chest tighten with joy. Colt picked his mate up and carried him to the bed, laying Pax down gently as he climbed back between his legs. His hand slid under

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the pillow as he grabbed the lube, wetting his fingers and then tossing the bottle aside. Pax lifted his legs up, the fringes of his hair covering part of his face and creating a soft halo around Pax’s vivid blue eyes. Colt slowly pressed his finger into Pax’s ass, watching his little bird’s eyes closely. Pax pulled at Colt’s hair, rocking his ass onto Colt’s lone finger. Colt latched onto Pax’s dark-blue nipple, teasing it with his teeth as he added another finger. Pax cried out, pushing Colt’s head into his chest as he snapped his hips. Colt drank him in, his tongue swirling around the taught peak, sucking it into his mouth and creating a seal with his lips, pressing a third finger into Pax’s tight entrance. He twisted his wrists, scissoring his fingers and grazing his mate’s prostate. “Colt!” Pax fucked the air as his hips snapped quickly. Colt bit his mate’s nipple as he added a fourth finger. Pax yanked at Colt’s hair, sending shockwaves through Colt’s body. Colt released Pax’s wet and swollen nipple as he pulled his hand free. He leaned back, towering over his mate as he lubed his cock and then Pax’s hole, pushing his lubed fingers inside for good measure. “Please…I…please,” Pax begged as his body rocked the bed. His eyes had taken on a desperate look, filled with hunger and need. “Show me you want me, little bird. Offer yourself to me.” Colt barely pushed the words past his lips as he curled his fingers around his cock, waiting for his mate’s reply. Pax pulled his legs back to his chest, reached down, and pulled his beautiful mounds apart, giving Colt the most precious sight he’d ever seen. Colt tried to eat Pax with his eyes, letting his mate know how sexy and daring he looked right now. He could see his mate’s fingers slightly shaking as Colt lined his cock up and thrust deeply. “Fuck!” Colt’s head fell back to his shoulders as he cried out. His hands grabbed Pax’s legs, steadying his body and breathing deeply as

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Pax dug his fingernails into Colt’s chest, drawing a slight amount of blood to the surface. Colt fought the soul-deep need to take his mate savagely. His eyes watered as he stared down into vivid blue eyes—eyes that were looking at him with such trust that Colt’s body shook. “Claim me,” Pax whispered to him. Colt dropped to his arms as their bodies rocked to the rhythm of their combined passion. Colt’s lower lip ghosted from one shoulder to the next, his eyelashes lowering as he inhaled his mate’s scent. Pax’s hands explored his body as he thrust so deeply into his little bird that Colt swore he’d never return to his senses. Pax lifted his hips higher as Colt consumed him with his body. He leaned to the side, taking one of Pax’s hands and gripping Pax’s cock, both of them stroking his mate. Colt locked eyes with Pax, his mate’s breaths coming out in pants as they bonded for life. “Colt,” Pax whimpered. “Let me have you. Give yourself to me, Paxton.” Pax arched his back, his cock erupting as Pax cried out, his seed wondrously painting them both. Colt leaned down and licked it from his mate’s body before throwing his head back and roaring out his own release, marking his mate with his seed, filling his channel with the essence that would make Pax his forever. “You belong to me, and I belong to you,” Colt crooned into the shell of Pax’s ear. “Your life begins now. No longer is your past your future.” Pax panted as his arms wrapped around Colt’s neck, hugging Colt so tightly that his breathing was almost constricted. “One of these days I’ll understand someone on this damn ship.” Colt chuckled as he rolled to his side, draping his little bird over his chest, making small circles over Pax’s skin and savoring the feeling of finally claiming his blue-skinned beauty. Life was good.

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Chapter 4 Pax blushed when Colt winked at him. He felt giddy every time he saw Colt over the last week—giddy and excited. He’d even taken to searching Colt out. Pax knew he was getting strange looks from the rest of the crew. He just didn’t care. He liked being near Colt. When Colt gestured with his hand, Pax darted across the bridge and leaned against the bigger man. “Hey, little bird,” Colt murmured as he nuzzled the side of Pax’s head. “Hey,” Pax whispered back. “Did you know that Lost Star Three is renowned for its mineral springs?” Pax tilted his head back to look up at Colt. “Mineral springs?” “Yep.” Colt grinned. “They are supposed to rejuvenate the body and increase the libido.” Pax’s jaw dropped. He liked sex as much as the next guy—well, since Colt came along anyway—but he doubted he would be walking if Colt’s libido increased. He wasn’t sitting easily now as it was. He just wasn’t going to tell Colt that. The man seemed to get easily upset if there was something wrong with Pax. “I was thinking we could slip away and spend a little time together in the springs.” It wasn’t like Pax could deny Colt anything the man wanted. He grinned sheepishly. “Okay.” “Maybe you can convince Gigi to pack us a lunch, and we can make a day of it.”

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Pax started to warm to the idea the more Colt talked about it. The idea of spending some quality one-on-one time with Colt was better than almost anything Pax could think of. “Will we have enough time? Don’t we have to get the cargo and take it wherever it needs to go?” “Hey, Remy,” Colt called back over his shoulder, “how long are we going to be on Lost Star Three? My little bird and I want to make some plans.” Remy chuckled. “We’ve made pretty good time, so I suppose we can have a little R and R while we’re there but just one day. Once the cargo is loaded we need to get underway.” Pax’s eyes rounded when Gigi squealed and jumped into Remy’s arms. Gigi was just so…so…bouncy. Pax peered up at Colt to see if he was watching Gigi jump and bounce around. Was that something Colt liked? Colt was looking right down at him as if he didn’t even realize Gigi was in the same room. He chuckled and shook his head as Gigi’s noises got louder. “That would drive me nuts,” Colt whispered. “Gigi is cool and all, but how Remy stands that constant noise, I will never know.” “I don’t make a lot of noise, do I?” Colt winked. “You do when it counts.” Pax squeezed his eyes closed as his face heated up. He might as well be red instead of blue. He spent more time with his face flushed than he did without it. “We’ll be landing soon,” Colt whispered into Pax’s ear as his hand moved down to caress Pax’s butt. “Want to go see if we can make some noise before we land?” Pax giggled and grabbed Colt’s hand, dragging him toward the door of the bridge. He had plans for his hawk, and they didn’t involve a room full of onlookers. The lift at the other end of the corridor was looking pretty good, though. The crew quarters were just too far away.

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Pax heard Colt chuckling behind him as he pulled the man down the hallway and around the corner to the lift. He hit the button to open the door then turned and looked at his mate. “Livewire hasn’t gotten the lift working yet.” “Oh?” Pax giggled and stepped back into the small space. He grabbed Colt’s shirt and dragged the man inside then leaned past him to close the door. There wasn’t much room in the small lift, but they wouldn’t need much for what he had in mind. “I don’t suppose you have any lube on you, do you?” Colt shook his head. “Nope.” “Damn.” Pax twisted his lips together as he tried to figure out how they could fool around without lube. As he looked from the top of Colt’s head down to his boot-clad feet, sudden inspiration struck him. Pax dropped to his knees and went for the zipper on Colt’s pants. He glanced up at Colt as he pulled the big man’s hard shaft out of his pants. Colt had his hands pressed against each side of the small lift. His bottom lip was bitten between his teeth. His blue eyes, however, glowed dark with lust. Pax kept his eyes locked with Colt’s as he leaned forward and wrapped his lips around the cock in his hand. Colt’s eyes closed for a moment then snapped open again, almost as if Colt couldn’t stand to miss the show. Pax made sure that he leaned back enough that Colt could see what he was doing but not take his lips away from the cock in his mouth. He paid special attention to the slit in the top and around the edges of the mushroomed head, lavishing them with his tongue. Colt started panting softly. It gave Pax the courage to put all of his experience and knowledge into giving his mate the best blowjob of his life. He really didn’t want Colt to know exactly how much experience he had, but showing him was a bit different than telling him. “That feels so fucking good, little bird.”

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Pax grinned around the thick cock in his mouth then closed his lips around it and sucked it deep into his mouth. One thing he had never shared with Colt—he had a nonexistent gag reflex. He was able to swallow Colt’s erection until the man hit the back of his throat. “Fucking hell!” Colt groaned as his hips snapped forward. Pax moved his mouth up and down Colt’s cock, tightening his lips and stroking his tongue over the thickly veined sides. He felt Colt’s fingers clench in his hair as his body trembled. “Pax, gonna...” Pax groaned as elation filled him and sucked harder as Colt roared. Hot, salty liquid filled his mouth. Pax swallowed as much as he could then licked the rest away until Colt shuddered and pulled away. “Damn, little bird, that was—” Colt frowned when Pax started tucking him back into his pants. “What about you, little bird? What can I do for you?” Pax giggled as his face flushed. He stood to his feet and pressed his face into Colt’s chest. “Get me a napkin to clean up the mess in my pants?” Colt gaped for a moment. Then his deep, booming laughter filled the lift. Pax smiled, his embarrassment at coming in his pants sliding away under his mate’s joy. Pax glanced up into Colt’s handsome face. “So, about that napkin...” **** Crank walked into the weapons room and started taking inventory of their supplies. Remy had asked him to check and see if they were low on anything while they were on Lost Star Three so it could be replaced. From what he could immediately see, they needed charger cells for the phasers and were running low on RK05s. The Star wasn’t known for selling weapons. The place was more renowned for its medical advancements and healing powers, but there

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were a few places they could find what they needed—for the right price. Crank jotted down what they would need once they touched down on the planet. With the five-thousand-credit advancement, maybe they could get enough supplies to last them for more than just the next job. “I’m ready.” Livewire patted his front pocket. “Got my shopping list right here.” “I’m almost finished,” he said as moved away from Livewire, crossing the room to the other wall of weapon supplies. Crank had yet to figure out the mechanic, but he wasn’t in a rush to uncross the wires that must be Livewire’s brain. The guy was cool though, even if he was a little off most of the time. “You ever get a boner right before getting off on another planet?” Livewire asked as Crank continued to take stock. His lips curled up into a smile with the play on words, wondering if Livewire even realized what he had just said. “It’s thrilling. I like the rush.” Crank admitted. “Good. I thought I was a little off for feeling that way,” Livewire muttered as he walked back through the storage room and headed in the direction of engineering. Crank shook his head. The guy seriously needed to stay away from the fuel tanks. The fumes were eating his brain cells. He jogged up the stairwell, taking them three flights up to the command deck. He couldn’t wait until Livewire fixed the lift. He was in great shape, but taking the stairs all of the time wore a guy out. “I have the weapons list.” Crank held the vid-pad up in his hand as he entered the bridge. Remy nodded from his commander’s chair as Crank gave the list to Blade, who was in charge of finding the right seller to purchase the supplies. Crank glanced back when Blade gave a low whistle. “I’m aware you like to blow shit up, but two cases of explosives?” “One can never have enough weapons,” Crank said with a big smile.

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“I guess not,” Blade said as he spun his chair back around to his console. **** Pax had a death grip on Colt’s arm as the retractable ramp lowered. He really, really hated leaving the ship, but his mate had made the mineral springs sound so good that he wanted to visit them—as long as Colt’s libido didn’t multiply by ten. “You that excited, little bird?” Colt chuckled as he glanced down at Pax’s fingers trying to burrow their way under his skin with the tight hold Pax was applying. Pax blushed and loosened them slightly. Pax’s eyes widened when the ramp finally lowered. He couldn’t believe the beauty of the planet. It was like, heck, he couldn’t think of a rightful description. The plant life here was rich and lush. The city seemed to be haloed in a soft glow that illuminated the horizon. “You like it?” Pax glanced up to see Colt watching him as if trying to gauge his reaction to his first impression of Lost Star Three. “It’s absolutely gorgeous.” “Spa treatment, here I come!” Gigi declared loudly as he and Remy walked down the ramp. Okay, Remy walked. Gigi had a little skip in his step, a bounce in his heels, and an infectious giggle like a gay man discovering another man’s cock for the very first time. Pax shook his head as he smiled at his friend. Gigi was…well, Gigi, and Pax wouldn’t have him any other way. He held onto Colt as they made their way to the shuttle stands. Pax actually felt like royalty with the way Colt was treating him. Never in his life had he been to somewhere this awe-inspiring, and to be there with Colt? Pax could die right now and be happy. “We’re taking separate shuttles?” Pax asked as he climbed into the one Colt directed him to. Even the shuttles were splendorous. He

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ran his hand over the rich fabric of the seats as he stared around the inside with awe. Had he ever seen anything so magnificent? “Sorry, little bird, but I don’t think I can take the commander’s mate chatting the whole way there,” Colt said as he climbed into the back of the shuttle with Pax. Pax covered his mouth with his hand, trying his best to suppress a giggle. “Neither could I,” Pax confessed. “Don’t get me wrong. I like Gigi a whole lot”—Pax ignored Colt’s low growl as he finished his thought—“but he can be a little exhausting.” “Just don’t go liking him too much.” Pax’s eyebrows shot up as he stared at Colt. “Seriously?” “You belong to me, remember? No touching anyone else?” Pax tilted his head as he tried to figure out yet another quandary with one of the crew, his mate this time. “Why would I want to? I have you.” It made perfect sense to him. “I don’t need anybody else.” Colt’s features immediately softened, and the man reached for him. Pax eagerly went into Colt’s embrace. He may be a lot of things, but stupid wasn’t one of them. If Colt wanted to hold him, Pax was all for it. “You say the most astonishing things, little bird.” Pax blinked, bewildered by the roughness of Colt’s voice. “What did I say?” Colt tightened his grip around Pax and rested their heads together. “You just—I wish I could describe it to you, little bird, but there really are no words to describe how you make me feel.” Pax tilted his head back, a little frown worrying his forehead. “Is that good or bad?” Colt chuckled. “Oh, it’s definitely good.” “Oh.” Pax tucked his head into the side of Colt’s neck and breathed in the strong masculine scent that was uniquely his mate’s. No one ever born smelled as good as Colt did. “Okay then.” Colt chuckled again. “Okay then.”

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Pax wished he understood half of what happened around him, but he didn’t. He always felt like he was orbiting around everyone else, lost in his own little space. Maybe he was dumb or something. People just didn’t make sense to him. They talked in riddles and never said what they meant. He felt like the only sane person in a world of crazy people. “We’ll be to the mineral springs in a few minutes, Pax,” Colt said. “I called ahead and got us a private spring, just for the two of us. You know what that means, don’t you?” “No,” Pax said as he leaned back again. Colt’s eyes sparkled with mischief as he wiggled his eyebrows. “I get to have your gorgeous naked body all to myself.” Pax groaned as he tried to understand Colt’s words. “You already get my naked body all to yourself. How is this any different?” Colt roared with laughter. Pax frowned and buried his face back in Colt’s neck. He should have just kept his mouth shut. Pax tried really hard to keep it from his mate, but now Colt knew he was dumb as a rock. “Oh, you’re wonderful, Pax. I haven’t laughed this much in years.” “So glad I could help,” Pax mumbled. He squeezed his eyes shut to keep his tears at bay. His heart ached, and his head began to throb. It just wasn’t fair. He finally found someone that seemed to want him just for him, and yet Colt laughed at him. Pax tentatively reached up and wiped his eyes so that Colt wouldn’t see the tears that were about to fall. Maybe he was asking too much. He had done a lot of bad things in his life. Maybe this was all he could hope for. Colt seemed to like him. The man certainly wanted him. Maybe accepting that fact that everyone thought he was odd was all he would ever get. At least Colt wanted him around. Pax pressed his lips together and resolved to keep his feelings of inadequacy to himself.

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He would take what was being given to him and learn to push his desire for more aside. So what if Colt thought he was odd? So what if he didn’t understand everyone? So what if Colt didn’t really love him for who he was? At least he was wanted. He’d just have to remember to be what everyone wanted him to be and keep his true self hidden. Keeping his identity wasn’t worth losing Colt. **** Colt had felt the mood change in his mate and couldn’t understand for the life of him why it happened. They were having a good time in the back of the shuttle with great conversation and laughter. Hell, he even lavished his mate with compliments. So why was Pax so saddened now? They walked to the desk inside the Mineral Springs Spa, Colt taking the lead. “I have a reservation for Colt Walking Cloud and Paxton Chambers,” Colt said as he strummed his fingers on the counter. Pax stood to his left and slightly behind him, his mate’s eyes wide as he looked around at the spa. “Your room is ready, sirs. It’s right down the corridor, the last door on the left.” The concierge smiled at Colt. “Just press your thumb here.” He handed Colt a touch pad. Colt pressed his thumb onto the pad, watching information scroll down, and then a green light appeared. “You’re all set. Just press your thumb on the door panel in the corridor, and it should open for you. I hope you enjoy your treatment.” The concierge once again smiled brightly as Colt thanked him and grabbed Pax’s hand. “Come on, little bird. Let the spoiling begin.” Colt chuckled when it took twice as long to get to their room. Pax was stopping every few feet to explore one thing or another. Ohs and ahs were escaping his little bird’s lips as he touched various objects decorating the hallway

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or stared out of the large glass panels at the scenery outside. Colt had forgotten how ethereal the landscape here really was. Colt didn’t raise one complaint as his mate yanked at his hand again, wandering off to poke at a rare plant. It was refreshing to see the world through his mate’s innocent eyes. For too long Colt had looked through jaded eyes, not really seeing the beauty in things any longer. Pax was changing that for him. His mate was breathing new life into stale lungs, and Colt realized how much he loved Pax for that one small feat alone. “I’m sorry.” Pax suddenly stopped and looked up at Colt as if he just realized the shifter was attached to his hand. “I don’t mean to delay us.” “Don’t apologize, little bird. I’m having a great time.” And he was. He was speaking the god’s honest truth. Colt wouldn’t trade this small amount of time basking in Pax’s wonderment for anything in the galaxy. Pax twisted his lips up as his brows lowered. “I’ll believe you like I believe my eyes when Gigi’s ham flies outside the porthole window.” Colt roared with laughter at his mate’s indignant look. Things were definitely never dull around his little bird. He had such a different way of thinking that Colt felt like a young eyas again. Colt found himself on pins and needles, anxiously awaiting the next thing his mate would say or do. It was brilliant and fantastic the way Pax’s mind worked. “Let’s go take our dip in the springs, little bird.” Colt leaned down and kissed the tip of Pax’s pert little blue nose. Pax glanced up at him with a yeah right expression but let Colt pull him away from the plant. After what felt like hours, they stood in front of their door. Colt pressed his thumb on the wall panel, but nothing happened. He tried again, making sure to roll it slightly so the reading caught the full imprint, still nothing.

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“Is something wrong?” Pax asked as he glanced at the pad and then at Colt. “It should open. The concierge programmed my thumbprint into the system so my thumb works like a key, but it’s not opening,” Colt said as he tried for a third time with no success. The door remained closed. “Are you using the correct thumb?” Pax asked and then curled his lips in, his eyes dropping to his feet. “Good idea, little bird.” Colt saw Pax’s head snap up with a slight smile as he released his mate’s hand and tried his other thumb. No dice. The damn door wouldn’t open. Colt couldn’t figure out what was going on, but a cold chill started to run down his spine the longer he stood there trying fruitlessly to get the damn door open. This wasn’t right. **** Blade rolled his eyes as yet another stack of supplies was set on the loading dock. Just how much crap did Gigi need anyway? At this rate, they’d run through their advance credits in a matter of hours. Gigi was a spending fiend. “Where do you want this?” another man asked as he stood there, his arms piled high with boxes. Blade grimaced and pointed to a spot at the bottom of the retractable ramp. When Tank walked down the ramp and saw the new stack of boxes, he sighed and picked them up, shaking his head as he carried them into the cargo bay. “Drop that box and you’re a dead man,” someone shouted from behind Blade. “And I don’t fix what I don’t want to.” Blade swung around to see a very tall and elegant-looking man walking onto the loading dock behind several men carrying boxes. He was pointing and glaring, gesturing to the men on where to set the boxes.

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Blade’s eyes roamed over the man’s features, noticing right away the no-nonsense stiffness in the way the stranger walked toward him. Just fucking great. A guy with a phaser stuck up his ass was something Blade had no patience for right now. His throbbing headache only reminded him that he should have gone to the mineral springs with the others instead of volunteering to get the cargo loaded. As soon as the boxes were set on the ground, the man hurried over and checked each one. He ignored the carriers who were waiting, hoping for a tip. When the man was all done checking his boxes, he walked over and nodded to Blade. “This is the Lady Blue, I assume?” “It is.” “Very good. I am Imlay Jones. I believe you were expecting me.” “I was but not until tomorrow.” “Well, time is of the essence. My cargo and I are on a tight schedule.” Imlay waved his hand at the boxes. “Please see to it that these boxes are placed in cold storage as soon as possible. Has a room been arranged for me? I’d prefer something with a bathroom attached. Crew quarters are not acceptable. Are the captain’s quarters available?” Blade blinked. Who in the hell did this guy think he was? God? “Only if you want to fight the captain for them.” And Blade would love to see this dandy take on the commander. He might even pay to see it. “Yes, well, I imagine I can discuss that with your captain.” Blade waved his hand at the men standing behind Imlay. “Aren’t you going to tip them?” Imlay frowned and glanced over his shoulder. “Why? They were paid to do a job. We had an agreed upon price. I paid them that price. Why should I pay them more?” He turned and looked back at Blade. “If they had wanted more, they should have stated so when we discussed our transaction fee.”

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Blade blinked again. Was this guy for real? He couldn’t wait for the rest of the crew to meet the man, especially Remy. As far as Blade knew, they were supposed to be transporting cargo. No one said anything about transporting passengers. “Well,” the man said as he folded his hands together in front of him, “how soon until we lift off?” Imlay’s nose turned up slightly, and Blade’s toes itched to kick the guy square on his backside. “Uh, tomorrow.” Hadn’t the man heard him in the beginning? They weren’t due to lift off until tomorrow. Just because he arrived early didn’t mean they were leaving early. The man could sit and spin as far as Blade was concerned. He wasn’t changing their schedule for anyone without Remy’s say so. “No, no, that just won’t do. I have got to get this cargo to End of the Line as soon as possible. Lives depend on this shipment, and I was assured that your ship was the fastest way there.” The doctor looked at Blade like he expected plans to change just because he said so. “Sit and spin, doc.” Blade turned and walked away. He hated doctors.

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Chapter 5 Pax’s fingernails were biting into Colt’s hand as his mate pulled him along the corridor of the Mineral Spring Spa. He had no clue what was going on, and Colt wasn’t forthcoming with the information. Pax could only run behind the hawk and trust his mate knew what he was doing. Colt pulled a com link out of his pocket and slung it onto his ear as they cut yet another corner in the large maze of corridors. “I have a feeling we need to shake this planet loose a day early. I think I’m being set up.” Pax tried to listen, but he was gasping for breath. Colt’s legs were longer, able to carry his large frame along much quicker than Pax could keep up. He could feel the burn in his calves and lungs as he ran behind Colt. Pax used his free hand to cover his mouth, stifling the scream when two very large men started toward them, phasers aimed at Pax and Colt. “Fuck,” Colt shouted as he backpedaled, shoving Pax down the closest corridor. Pax was in deep trouble now. Colt was using an all-out run, and Pax was failing to keep up, his mate practically dragging him along. He yelped when Colt bent at the knees and tossed Pax over his shoulders. Pax grabbed onto Colt’s shirt as he looked down the corridor behind them. The two men were giving chase, one stopping short and raising his phaser. “Colt,” Pax shouted in warning. “They’re about to shoot us!”

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Colt dodged left, taking another corridor and slamming the door open in front of them. Pax had to blink a few times before his eyes adjusted. They were outside now, or so he thought until he got a good look around. It was some sort of solarium. Colt dropped Pax to his feet, his index finger covering his lips to signify he wanted Pax to remain quiet. Hell, Pax wasn’t going to say a damn word. It wasn’t like he was going to wave his hands in the air and invite the armed men to join them for a cup of Barilliam tea. His mate pulled on Pax’s arm, both dropping to their knees as they crept along the foliage, keeping their heads down. “I’m in the solarium,” Pax heard Colt whisper into his com link. Pax had no clue who Colt was talking to, but he hoped whoever it was would get to them quickly before the armed men did. Pax ran his fingers over the bright-orange leaf in front of him and wondered what the beautiful plant was called. Pax mentally slapped himself and lectured his brain on staying focused. He was really starting to believe he was dumber than a box of rocks. Who would take their time to investigate plant life when two gunmen were after them? “Follow me, little bird,” Colt whispered as they moved deeper into the solarium. Pax nodded, holding his breath as he followed behind his mate. His legs were beginning to cramp in the squatting position, and he wished he could stand straight and stretch them. This only solidified Pax’s resolve to never leave the ship. There was just too much danger in walking off of the retractable ramp. Sooner or later the crew would learn what Pax already knew. Staying on the ship was safer. Pax cursed his attention span when he found himself fingering another plant. What the hell? He clipped a piece off with his fingernail and shoved it in his shirt. Maybe Gigi could find a way to make it root if they made it back to the ship in one piece. “Get down!” Colt shouted as he shoved Pax nose-first into the dirt path.

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Pax tasted the gritty soil in his mouth and spit it out. Phasers began to blast all around him as Colt shot and then ducked behind the plants. Pax could feel his body shaking convulsively as he tried to keep his head down. “Colt!” Pax shouted and got to his knees when his mate fell over, the smell of burning flesh stinging his nose. No! Colt had been shot. Pax felt the tears cascading down his face as he reached past his unconscious mate and grabbed the phaser, wondering how in the hell to use it. “There’s a big bounty on your head, mister. Why don’t you come out with your hands raised, and we might not take your lifeless body in. The bounty didn’t say anything about dead or alive,” a menacing voice called from Pax’s left. Pax swung around, the phaser clutched tightly in his hands as he aimed it toward the voice. His hands were shaking uncontrollably, but Pax was going to do whatever it took to keep Colt safe. He may not deserve the hawk shifter, but Colt wanted him, and that was good enough for Pax. Pax slammed his eyes shut and shot the phaser when he saw a man step onto his path. Pax fell on his ass. The blast kickback was stronger than he had anticipated. “You piece of shit!” the man shouted as he fell into a grouping of plants. Pax was more concerned about the foliage being hurt than the man. Pax quickly got back up, knowing there was a second man to deal with. He squeezed off another round when he saw movement. He breathed a sigh of relief when he missed. It was just Remy. “Hold your fire,” Remy shouted as he shot his phaser over Pax’s shoulder. Pax heard another scream and assumed it was the other gunman. He didn’t much care. He dropped the phaser and scrambled to Colt when Remy ran toward him.

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“He’s been shot,” Pax cried. He was trying to hold it together, trying to be brave for his mate, but it wasn’t working so well when he saw the smoldering wound in Colt’s shoulder. “Help him!” Remy grabbed Colt’s unconscious form from the ground and lifted him up, running down the dirt path and toward the exit. Pax grabbed the phaser off the ground and tore off after Remy. His heart thundered in his chest the entire way. Pax had no idea what he would do if Colt died—probably curl up and die himself. He hadn’t had that much time with Colt, but he already knew he didn’t want to live a second more than the sexy hawk shifter. The man was his entire world. This wasn’t the way it was supposed to be. Colt was the good one. He was kind and caring and sexy as hell. Pax was the one that should have been shot, not Colt. Pax got so worked up he was sobbing by the time they reached the Lady Blue. His entire body was shaking as he followed Remy onto the ship then to the middle deck where the sick bay was located. He hovered near the door when Remy carried Colt inside and laid him down on one of the medical tables. Pax covered his ears when Remy started shouting. He backed farther and farther into the corner as crewmember after crewmember came running into the room. Pax didn’t have a clue what to do. He’d just be in the way, and he knew it. Pax almost said something when a strange man came running into the room and hurried over to Colt. Pax even took a step forward, ready to tell the man to stay away from his mate, until he realized the man was a doctor and trying to treat Colt’s wounds. “Get this fucking ship off the ground!” Remy shouted. “And I want the cargo secured. Now move, damn it!” Tank flew out of the room along with Crank and Blade. Gigi bounced from foot to foot looking like he was about to pass out. He suddenly darted for the door. “I’m going to go make something for everyone to eat.”

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Pax moved farther into the corner as Gigi ran past him. He knew that Gigi could use his help, but he wasn’t about to leave the sick bay until he knew whether Colt was going to live or die. And if Colt died, there would be no reason to leave. Pax would just curl up next to his dead body and pray that the darkness took him quickly. His heart would never recover from losing Colt. Pax sank down to the floor and drew his knees up to his chest as he watched the doctor work on his mate. His muscles felt like they were locked in place. His lungs didn’t want to work. Pax could barely breathe as it was, and it was getting harder with each breath. “Please don’t die,” Pax whispered to himself. “I need you.” **** Colt groaned. His throat felt like someone was sanding it down, making it gritty and dry. His shoulder was killing him, and his head was pounding out a staccato beat. “Pax.” He croaked the name out from his fuzzy mind. “Right here, Colt. I’m right here.” Colt heard his little bird’s voice speaking to him from his right side as his hand was folded into a smaller one. That wasn’t right. His little bird sounded like he was crying. Colt tried desperately to open his eyes, but his head splintered when the bright light shone into them. “Relax,” a voice Colt didn’t recognize tried to instruct him. Colt may have felt like he’d been run over by a shuttle, but the knowledge that his mate was in the same room with a stranger penetrated the light haze his mind was swimming in. Colt’s hand shot out, his eyes remaining closed, as he pulled Pax to his side, his arms wrapping tightly around his mate. “Mine!” he growled as much as his scratchy voice would allow.

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“Yes, yours. I am well aware of that since the young man hasn’t left your side for one moment. Now please release him before I have another patient. He’s turning blue.” “He’s already blue,” Colt growled, even though it hurt his throat to do so. He loosened his grip on Pax but just enough for the man to breathe. Until he could open his eyes, Pax wasn’t going anywhere. And if the stranger tried to force his mate from his side, Colt was going to show the stranger how well a hawk shifter could fight with his eyes closed. A hand ran down his chest, the feeling making his feathers lie down flat. He was no longer ready to tear the stranger apart, although Colt wasn’t going to totally relax. “He’s the doctor, Colt. His name is Imlay,” Pax said soothingly. “Don’t eat him.” As bad as Colt’s body hurt, he began to chuckle. Leave it to his mate to make him laugh with his strange way of thinking. “I won’t, as long as he stays away from you, little bird. Remember, no one gets to touch you.” “But you,” Pax added with a sigh. Colt felt his mate’s head rest on his non-wounded shoulder, and Colt finally relaxed. “But me,” he agreed as he ran his hand over his mate’s hair. “As touching as this is, I really need to take a look to make sure your wound is healed. I’m told you are a hawk shifter, but for the life of me, I can’t figure out why you didn’t shift to heal,” Imlay said from somewhere above his head. “We always revert back to our human form when injured, doc. It’s harder to treat a hawk than it is a human.” “Then it doesn’t seem to do you much good to be a shifter, now does it?” “Are you always this cheery, or have you met the crew?” Colt asked as Pax’s fingers traced along his collarbone. The gentle touch made the hawk want to caw. He could feel himself getting hard, and

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he wanted the doc to vamoose. Colt needed to stake his claim on Pax again, and the doc did not get the privilege of witnessing it. “You’re in no shape for that, so knock it off.” Colt growled at the doctor. He blinked several times as he cracked his eyes open and looked up at the man. “Don’t tell me what I can and cannot do with my mate.” The doctor’s pristine eyebrow arched. “Fine, then bleed to death. No skin off my nose. I’m just a passenger on this hunk of junk.” Colt heard Pax whimper and turned to look at his little mate. Pax was paler than usual. His eyes were red and puffy as if he had been crying. Colt started crooning as he pulled Pax to his side. “I’m fine, little bird, nothing that a bit of rest won’t cure.” “Rest, my ass,” the doctor snorted. Colt leaned his head up and growled at the man. “Leave.” Imlay tossed his hands up in the air and spun away. “Dumbass! Don’t come crying to me when you’re dead. I won’t want to hear it then.” Colt’s head dropped back down to the pillow when he heard the sick bay doors swoosh closed. He turned his head toward Pax and nuzzled into the side of his head, inhaling the sweet scent of his mate. “Are you okay, little bird? Did you get hurt?” Colt frowned when Pax’s fingers clenched in his shirt. “Pax, answer me.” “You can’t—” Pax’s words were broken by a small sob. “You can’t leave me.” “Oh, baby, I’m not leaving you,” Colt whispered quickly. “I’m right here, little bird. I’ll be good as new as soon as I rest.” “You were shot!” Colt’s eyebrows shot up at the vehemence he heard in Pax’s tone. He never actually heard Pax shout before. He was intrigued and strangely aroused. It was hot watching his mate get pissed. When Pax struggled to get away, it was all Colt could do to hold onto the little man. He was strong, but he had been weakened by his injury. Besides, he only had the use of one arm. When Pax continued

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to struggle, Colt rolled over on top of him, resting his body on his good arm. “Knock it off.” Pax pressed his lips together and glanced away. “Look at me, little bird.” Colt waited patiently for Pax to look at him. He smiled when Pax finally did. “I’m not going anywhere, Paxton. I promise. Fate gave you to me, and I’m not going to do anything that would take you away from me. I love you.” The blue in Pax’s eyes darkened as his mouth fell open in a shocked look. “You love me?” he gasped. “But, you know what I’ve done, what I’ve been. You know what I am. You said my past was my past but… but, how can you love me knowing what I've done?” “Because you are you.” Colt couldn’t caress the side of Pax’s face like he wanted to so he leaned down and placed a small peck on his mate’s lips instead. “You make me laugh. You make me enjoy the world in a way I haven’t since I was a small child discovering life. The wonder you see in everything amazes me.” If anything, Pax’s mouth fell open even more. Colt chuckled at the stunned expression on the man’s face. He loved being able to shock his little mate, but he wished Pax wasn’t quite so shocked that he was loved. Pax should expect it, not be amazed by it. “You, my beautiful little bird, bring joy to my heart with every breath you take. You—no, no, Pax, no tears.” Colt quickly leaned up and kissed away the tears that started trickling down Pax’s blue cheeks. “No crying, little bird. I never meant to make you cry.” “But no one has ever loved me before,” Pax murmured. “Good, then I’m the only one.” Colt grinned when Pax’s eyes widened. “I like being the only love in your life. It makes me feel special.” “But you are special,” Pax said quickly. “You’re wonderful. You’re so strong and good, and you take such good care of me. My life before was horrible, and you do everything to make it better. I

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couldn’t ask for a better mate than you, and if anyone thinks you’re not special then they can kiss my ass because—” Colt claimed Pax’s lips, partly to shut the man up but partly because Pax was saying all the right words except three—the three that Colt really wanted to hear. Colt kissed Pax until he felt the man settle then slowly raised his head. Drawing on every bit of courage he had gained over the years, Colt voiced the one question he wasn’t sure he wanted an answer to. Pax’s reply could send him to heaven or drop him into the pits of hell. “Do you love me, Pax?” **** Pax sputtered as Colt’s words penetrated his brain. How could the hawk not know how he felt about him? Wasn’t it obvious to Colt how Pax felt about him? He’d lowered his defenses and let the man in, gave his mate a part of him that no one had ever possessed. Pain and sorrow were apparent in Colt’s sapphire-blue eyes as he rolled to the side of the bed. Pax couldn’t understand why his mate was suddenly so sad. Hadn’t he just told Colt how wonderful he was? Didn’t Colt believe him? “You’re hurt. You can’t get up.” Pax reached out to grab Colt’s arm, but his mate shook off his hold. Pax lay on the med-bed wondering what he had said so wrong that Colt would aggravate his injury. “You should go to your quarters, Pax,” Colt said as he sat on the side of the bed. Pax got to his hands and knees and crawled across the bed, trying to gain his mate’s attention. “Colt?” “Go, Pax,” Colt said in a deadpan tone. Pax wasn’t sure what was going on. He didn’t understand how Colt was joyous one moment and then standoffish the next, but Pax

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hadn’t opened his heart, let his defenses down, and given himself fully to this hawk shifter to be turned away and quickly dismissed. Pax climbed down and walked around the bed, standing directly in front of his mate. “If you don’t tell me what’s wrong then I can’t fix it. I may not be the smartest man on this ship, or even the best looking, but I think I should at least know why you don’t want me anymore!” Pax stabbed his index finger into the palm of his hand as he glared at his mate. He was too angry right now to care that he was speaking harshly to Colt. Pax had feelings, too, and he’d be damned if his mate could show him the galaxy and then take it back. Pax’s heart couldn’t take that. Colt’s head snapped up and then cocked to the side as he gaped at Pax. Okay, maybe that was a little too harsh. Pax gulped as he stood his ground. He was scared as hell, but he wasn’t going to back down. “What makes you think I don’t want you? And what the hell do you mean not the smartest or best looking?” “But—” Colt held his hand up, stopping Pax from speaking another word. “You are the smartest, brightest, sexiest man I have ever laid eyes on. I’m hurt because I was waiting for you to…never mind.” Pax was standing there hanging onto every word Colt was speaking to him when he finally understood something someone was saying. “You think I don’t love you?” he whispered to his mate. “Is that what you think?” Colt just shrugged his good shoulder as he stared across the room. Pax threw his body at Colt’s, hanging onto him for dear life. “I love you with everything in me, Colt,” Pax cried. He jumped back when he felt Colt wince. “I’m sorry.” His hand hovered over Colt’s injury. Colt chuckled as he clasped Pax’s hands in his. “Hearing you say that was worth it.” Pax blushed as he smiled up at his mate. “I love you,” he repeated for good measure. There was no way he’d ever let Colt go a day

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without him knowing how much happiness he’d brought to Pax. “Do you really think I’m smart and sexy?” Colt gave Pax a sexy little growl. “Come here, and I’ll show you.” Pax grinned and started to move closer when his eyes fell on the white gauze wrapped around Colt’s shoulder. Oh, he wanted to be loved on by Colt, but maybe now wasn’t the best time. “Uh, maybe we should—” “I’ll tell you what we should do,” Colt said as he hauled Pax closer then lay back against the pillows. “We should find a new and interesting way for me to claim you again.” Pax had a few ideas. As much as he didn’t want to remember anything about his life before Colt, he had learned a few things beyond blowjobs. Maybe now was the time to teach his mate just what he knew. “Lay back all the way,” Pax said as he scooted to the side of the bed. Getting Colt’s shirt off wouldn’t be a problem as the doctor had already cut it away. Pax unbuttoned Colt’s pants then moved to the bottom of the bed to pull them off. Colt’s eyes widened when Pax dropped them on the floor and started stripping his own clothes off. His usual sapphire-blue eyes were darkening, turning a deep midnight color as they filled with lust. “Damn, baby,” Colt groaned. “You are so fucking beautiful.” “I’m glad you think so.” Pax felt incredibly nervous as he stripped his clothes off and dropped them onto the floor. He’d never purposely stripped for someone or tried to be sexy, but he wanted this for Colt. He wanted to show the man how much he meant to him. Once he was naked, Pax searched the cupboards until he found a small tube of gel. It wasn’t lube, but it would work for his purposes. He carried the gel back to the bed and arched an eyebrow at Colt. “Do you want to watch or—” “Watch!” Colt shouted and then flushed fiercely.

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Pax giggled and climbed up onto the bed. He lifted his leg and straddled Colt, facing in the opposite direction. Pax’s heart thundered in his chest as he squirted a bit of gel out on his fingers. Pax dropped the tube on the bed beside him then reached back with his hand and spread the gel between his cheeks. “Fuck, little bird, that’s…that’s—” Pax shuddered as Colt grabbed his ass cheeks and pulled them apart. He was totally on display, and he knew it. Colt was leaning so close that Pax could feel the man’s breath blow out across his heated skin. Colt groaned loud and clear when Pax’s fingers moved over his hole. “Push it in, baby, fuck that beautiful ass.” Pax could feel his breathing speed up as he pressed his finger into his tight hole. He was starting to get into things, Colt’s arousal wrapping around him and filling every cell in his body until Pax thought he might explode just from the sound of the man’s voice. Pax pressed in another finger and then another, hoping he was giving Colt a good show. By the sounds of Colt’s rapid breathing and the tight grip the man had on his ass cheeks, Colt was enjoying every bit of it. Pax nearly jumped out of his skin when Colt leaned forward and gently bit his rounded ass. In all of his years, all the things he had done, no one had ever bit his ass. And damned if he didn’t want it to happen again. “Colt,” Pax groaned. He couldn’t even see his mate, and he was so aroused he thought he might pass out. “I need, little bird,” Colt panted. “How do you want to do this?” That was Pax’s cue. He pulled away from Colt and turned around, pushing the man back down onto the pillows. He wagged his finger at Colt, chastising him for exerting himself. “Stay there or I leave. You let me do all the work.” Colt grinned. “Yes, sir.”

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Pax snorted and moved his ass up into the air. He reached down between their bodies and grabbed Colt’s cock in his hands. With his eyes glued to Colt’s, Pax slowly lowered himself onto the man’s big, fat cock, one glorious inch at a time. “Damn, how did I ever not know about this position?” Colt groaned. Pax blinked astonishment. “You’ve never done it in this position before?” “No!” Colt’s eyes closed for a moment. His hands tightened around Pax’s hips as he bottomed out inside of Pax. “Never really thought about it before.” Colt panted. “I guess I always needed to be on top, to be in charge.” “Well, that was stupid.” Pax snickered. Colt’s deep sapphire-blue eyes snapped open. “Stupid?” Pax grinned. “Yeah, stupid. You missed a lot.” To prove his point, Pax lifted his hips then let them drop, impaling himself on Colt’s cock. A broken grunt fell from Colt’s mouth, a sound Pax enjoyed so much he did it again, and then again and again. Pretty soon, he worked up a good rhythm. By the time Colt got in on the act and started thrusting up into him, Pax was panting heavily. His cock was so hard that it ached as it bobbed around. Pax planted one hand on Colt’s chest for leverage. He grabbed Colt’s good hand with the other one and brought it to his cock. “Touch me.” Pax’s eyes rolled back into his head when Colt began to stroke his hand up and down his cock, slow at first then with increasing speed. Had anything ever felt so good in his life? Well, besides being claimed by Colt? Pax was close. He could feel his balls starting to draw up close to his body. He needed Colt to come with him. Pax moved his hands and grabbed on to Colt’s nipples, gently twisting them as he moved up and down on the man’s cock.

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Colt shouted and stiffened, driving his cock so deep inside of Pax’s ass that he was almost tossed off the man’s body. Hot liquid spurted into Pax’s ass, driving him over the edge and mingling his cries of completion with Colt’s. Breathless, Pax collapsed down on top of Colt, making sure he landed on the uninjured side. He planted a couple of soft kisses on Colt’s chest then snuggled his head under the man’s chin. There wasn’t another place in the world he wanted to be other than where he was at right now. “That was fucking fantastic, little bird,” Colt murmured against the top of Pax’s head. Pax smiled at the praise and then patted Colt’s chest. “Rest.” “Can you reach the blanket without moving from where you’re at?” Pax lifted his head and looked around for the blanket Colt was talking about. He followed the direction of Colt’s fingers until he spotted a green blanket folded at the bottom of the bed. Pax grabbed it, shook it out, then spread it over the both of them. Holding the blanket to him so it wouldn’t slip, Pax curled back into Colt’s body. He placed a quick kiss on Colt’s lips then tucked his head back into its spot under Colt’s chin. Pax patted Colt’s chest again then closed his eyes. “Now, rest or I won’t show you a few other positions I know about.” “You drive a hard bargain, little bird.” Colt chuckled. Pax smiled when he heard Colt yawn. “It’s not a bargain. It’s a promise.”

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Chapter 6 Imlay opened the sick bay doors and started to walk in when he spotted the two naked men cuddled beneath a blanket on the medical bed. He shook his head as he stepped back, allowing the doors to close as he walked away. “Nasty habit,” he grumbled. Why men chose to show their affection in a physical manner was beyond him. Imlay never understood what was so special about sex that men seemed to lose their minds with lust. That’s exactly why he never bothered with it. It was a carnal act that made no sense. Imlay walked into the quarters the commander had assigned him. He guessed it would have to do. There was no literature here to feed his knowledge, nothing but mind-numbing ship manuals. It was as if the crew had used this room for storage before assigning it to him. With a handkerchief from his own pocket, Imlay began the nasty detail of wiping the cupboards and dresser off. He coughed a little, waving his hand in front of his face as dust clouds rose in the air. “They’re all animals,” he complained as his pristine white handkerchief turned an ugly shade of black. Imlay pinched it between his fingers and walked it to the trash receptacle before allowing his fingers to part company with the disgusting filth. He was already pissed that the chief of staff made him accompany the medical cargo. The least his boss could have done was let go of the purse strings and afford him better travel arrangements. “Knock, knock, doc.” One of the ship’s crewmembers chuckled as he stepped into Imlay’s quarters. “Commander wanted me to check on you, make sure you’re all settled in.”

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“I don’t need a sitter or a spy. I’m perfectly capable of settling in, thank you very much,” Imlay said over his shoulder as he unpacked his travel bag. “Do you have an assistant in that bag?” the man asked. Imlay straightened and turned around, wondering what this ridiculous man was talking about. “It’s a simple travel bag. How on Lost Star can a person fit in there?” “I was just asking if there was another medical personnel around to remove the bug from your ass.” The man began to laugh as he shook his head. “Name’s Livewire.” Imlay watched the man cross the room with his arm extended, stop midstride, and then cock his head. Imlay stiffened, wondering what the quirky man was up to. Livewire was just standing in the middle of Imlay’s room with his arm outstretched. “Is there a problem?” Livewire began to back away, shaking his head with a false grin on his face. “Nope, no problem, none whatsoever.” His arm dropped to his side as his eyes darted around the room. He chucked a thumb over his shoulder as his back hit the wall. “I’m gonna go tighten down a few bolts on my girl.” Livewire spun around and hit the wall, cursed, and then ran from the room. Imlay sighed as he shook his head. “I’ll never understand men.” **** Blade watched Livewire pace manically up and down the corridor of the lower deck. He watched the mechanic mutter a few things and then stop to look out of a porthole before taking his pacing back up again. Livewire looked agitated. “Something wrong with the ship?” Blade asked as he slowly approached. He wasn’t sure if any sudden movements were a good thing right now. Livewire’s head snapped up. He stared at Blade for a

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second and then went back to pacing. Something was definitely wrong here. “Livewire, is something wrong with the ship?” Livewire stopped pacing to stare at Blade again, his hand twitching nervously at his side. “What isn’t? And he knows about me now.” Livewire shoved his thumbnail in his mouth, chewing on it like it was a steak dinner. Blade knew the man wasn’t all there, but this was beyond even Livewire’s abnormal behavior. “Can you be a little clearer?” “Clearer, you want clearer?” Livewire tossed his hands up into the air as he started pacing again. “Pax had it right. The blue man was a brilliant thinker, and I didn’t even realize it. Running is such an excellent solution. I don’t think I like cake anymore.” “Okaaaayyy,” Blade drawled slowly as he backed away. If that was Livewire’s idea of clearer, Blade would hate to hear the man go into any in-depth explanation. Blade grabbed the railing to the steps, looked one last time at the mechanic before getting as far away as possible. The next galaxy was looking pretty damn good. **** “I’m sorry we didn’t get to enjoy our day at the spa, little bird,” Colt said as he walked Pax toward the mess hall. “Maybe next time.” “Uh-uh, nope, not happening.” Pax shook his head rapidly. His eyes were as wide as saucers. “I’m not leaving the ship again.” Colt chuckled at the vehemence in Pax’s voice. “Pax, you’ll have to leave the ship at some point. You can’t live on it forever.” Pax stopped suddenly. His dark brows drew together, and he crossed his arms over his chest. “Bet me.” “Paxton!” Colt couldn’t remember if he’d ever seen Pax act like this before. “Can’t make me leave.” Pax sounded fierce, but Colt could see his lower lip begin to tremble. Colt sighed and gathered Pax to him. “Okay, little bird, you

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don’t have to leave the ship until you’re ready. No one is going to make you do anything you don’t want to do.” Pax shuddered and pressed his face into Colt’s chest. “Nothing good ever happens when I leave the ship.” Colt dropped his head down against Pax’s. It had been over a week since he’d been shot, but Pax was still trying to deal with it. Colt had no idea how to make things easier on his mate. Things happened. People got hurt and even killed. It was a fact of life. They had a dangerous life here onboard the Lady Blue. “Want to watch a vid after dinner?” Colt asked, trying to take Pax’s mind off leaving the ship. He knew Pax loved curling up and watching movies with him on the vid-screen in the media room. They’d done it often enough. Pax sniffled and lifted his head. Colt’s heart ached to see the tears drying on Pax’s cheeks. Colt bent down and kissed each glistening tear until Pax groaned and chased his lips with his own. Colt knew he gave in too quickly to Pax’s attempt to change the mood, but he couldn’t help it. The man kissed like a dream. “Really!” A loud voice snapped from behind them. “Do you have to do that in the hallway? There are people walking here, you know.” Colt growled when he felt Pax tense. He lifted his head and turned to find Imlay standing behind him, a perturbed look on the man’s face like kissing in the hallway had insulted him in some way. “Doctor, you’re a passenger on this ship. We live here. If you don’t like us kissing in the hallway then I suggest either you don’t look or get off on the next planet. If the decision is too hard for you, I would be more than happy to escort you to an airlock.” Imlay’s jaw dropped. Colt arched an eyebrow, daring the man to say something more. He didn’t care who Imlay was. He had no right to make Pax feel bad for kissing him. This was Pax’s home. “Good day, doctor.” Colt turned back around and pushed Pax toward the mess hall doors, placing his hand in the small of Pax’s back.

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“Should you be talking to him like that?” Pax whispered. “He is a doctor.” “He’s a field medic, Pax, not a doctor.” “But you called him doctor.” “Only because I couldn’t call him a jackass.” **** Imlay scurried back to his quarters. He was ticked off that the men aboard the Lady Blue blatantly exposed their sexual desire right out in the open for all to see. Didn’t anyone believe in the privacy of their quarters anymore? He didn’t want to see kissing and humping going on in the corridors. No self-respecting man should act that way. No man should—Imlay ran into something solid, his hands instinctively reaching out to stop himself from falling. Livewire stood there stiff as a board, his eyes locked on the wall behind Imlay. Not one single muscle moved, but Imlay saw sweat trickle down the mechanic’s temple. “You should watch where you are going,” Imlay snipped at Livewire as he let the man go and took a step back. “Me?” Livewire seemed to unfreeze as soon as Imlay let him go and moved away. “Sorry my body was inconveniently blocking your progress, but I’m glad I was able to stop you from falling on your narrow-minded ass.” Imlay narrowed his eyes at the strange and rude man. “Good day, Livewire,” Imlay said as he hurried past the mechanic. Was everyone on board this ship mental? Imlay was beginning to believe he was the only sane one. “Wait!” Imlay stopped in his tracks as Livewire rushed to his side. The man kept a respectable distance, which Imlay was grateful for. Standing too close to Livewire made Imlay nervous. “Yes?”

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Livewire looked like he was reaching for whatever he wanted to say and then kicked his toe around the corridor floor. “What’s your name?” Imlay stood there slack-jawed as he stared at the mechanic. “You already know my name. What are you getting at? What kind of game are you playing?” “Your full name,” Livewire specified his want. “Oh.” Imlay was momentarily stunned. No one had ever taken the time to ask him anything personal. His whole life was one professional question after another, nothing relevant to who he was as a person. “Imlay Jones.” “Thanks.” Livewire’s face seemed to light up as he walked away. Imlay stood in the corridor staring after Livewire, wondering— Imlay wasn’t sure what he was wondering or thinking at the moment. For the first time in his life, his mind was blank. **** Pax walked into Gigi’s hydroponics room. He was amazed to see the progress of Gigi’s garden in such a short amount of time. He could already see red tomatoes growing and other strange colors sprouting up between the green leaves. “This is looking good, Gigi.” “Oh, yeah.” Gigi grinned as he looked up from watering the plants. “These little guys just needed a little love and attention. I finally understand what Livewire means about the Lady Blue. Love them, give them attention, and they grow like weeds.” “Um…” Pax’s forehead wrinkled as he frowned. “Are we going to be eating weeds? I thought we were growing vegetables.” “You’re hilarious, Pax,” Gigi snickered. Pax wasn’t trying to be funny. He was serious. If Gigi wanted weeds to grow then why hadn’t he planted weeds? He had planted

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vegetables and fruits. It just kind of made sense to plant what you wanted to grow. Pax shook his head. This was just another thing he didn’t understand. Maybe he never would. While he couldn’t ask for better friends than the crew of the Lady Blue, they were all nuttier than bed bugs, and from what Pax had heard, bed bugs were pretty crazy. “So, I was wondering if you would pick some stuff up for me when we got back to End of the Line?” “You’re not going off ship when we land?” “Nope. Colt said I could stay onboard, and that’s where I’m staying.” “Oh.” Gigi frowned for a moment then shrugged and went back to watering his green things. “Well, that’s too bad. Remy’s been telling me about this place he wants to take me. They actually have these machines you can ride on that go all the way up to the ceiling then drop you back down again. I was hoping we could go.” Pax scratched his head and started slowly backing out of the room in case Gigi came toward him. He was really beginning to wonder about the man. “Why would I want to go on something like that? Or pay for it. It’s the same sensation we get when we enter a planet’s atmosphere.” “I don’t know. I thought it might be fun.” Pax clenched his fists then unclenched them. He really didn’t want to disappoint Gigi, but come on…a machine that shot you into the air? Wasn’t that called a spaceship? “Can I think about it?” “Oh, sure.” Gigi grinned. Pax plastered a smile on his face then hurried from the room before Gigi could say anything else. He wasn’t taking any chances. Gigi could come up with some crazy schemes like catapulting them to an abandoned moon. Pax jumped and screamed when something green and slimy suddenly scampered across the floor and right over his foot. He

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quickly backed up and watched the thing slither across the floor and around the corner. “Oh, gross,” Pax said when he lifted his foot and found it covered in milky-white goo. “What is that?” Pax kicked his shoe off and lifted it in the air by the shoelace. Globs of goo dripped off his shoe and plopped onto the floor. “That’s disgusting.” Pax held his shoe as far away from his body as he could as he walked down the corridor toward his quarters. He was giving serious thought to just tossing the shoes out an airlock, but this was his only pair of shoes. “What the hell is that on your shoe?” Tank asked as he stepped out into the hallway. “Something slithered across my shoe.” Pax wrinkled his face, curling his lips back. “It was covered in this stuff.” “Something? Could you be more specific?” Pax blinked at Tank. “It was green, and it slithered. What more do you need to know?” “Actually, we might need to know a lot more.” Pax swung around to see Imlay standing behind him. The man was rubbing his chin as he stared at Pax’s shoe, a thoughtful expression on his face. “More? Why?” “If I’m not mistaken, and I hardly ever am, what you just described was an Uryclian Mucus Slug. Their mucus can be deadly when it comes into contact with other species.” “Deadly?” Pax gulped. He dropped the shoe. **** “Will you hold the light still?” Gigi whispered as he and Pax crept around the corner of the upper deck. “It’s hard to see with the beam jiggling everywhere.”

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Pax narrowed his eyes at Gigi, turning the light up to illuminate his face. “You’re only saying that because you have two shoes. Do you know what it’s like walking around with one shoe on? Walking around with one shoe isn’t fun. I can’t stop limping like one side of my body is shorter than the other. You try walking around with one shoe on, and see how you like it,” Pax whispered back. “Just hold the dang light still. If that slug thing jumps us from behind, how are we gonna see if the light is bouncing around?” Gigi was the last person in the galaxy to run out and slay a monster slug, but he had tossed and turned half the night, constantly checking under his bed. It made for one grouchy-ass man when sleep was taken out of the equation. “What are you going to do with that spatula anyway, smack it to death?” Pax whispered as they rounded another corner. Gigi rolled his eyes as he pointed his large and shiny spatula at Pax. “I don’t have access to the weapons room. This was the next best thing.” Gigi and Pax jumped when they heard something moving. Gigi listened closely for a couple of seconds, but the sound didn’t repeat. “Let’s try the kitchen. It’s bound to get hungry.” Pax nodded his head rapidly as they moved toward the mess hall. Gigi pushed the door open an inch, sticking his head inside. He yelped when Pax pushed him, making him enter the mess hall fully. Gigi glared back at Pax, who was waving him on while still standing in the corridor. “I can shine my light from here.” Pax pointed his light at Gigi. “Chicken,” Gigi huffed before turning around. He was a bigger chicken, so why was he the one who had to come in here? Gigi looked above his head and saw that the ceiling was void of slug monsters. Next he got down on his hands and knees and peered under the table. There was nothing under there. Gigi stilled when he heard a pot fall in the kitchen and hit the floor loudly. It was the middle of the night. Who could be in there in

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the middle of the night? Crewmembers could be in there in the middle of the night, but wouldn’t they turn a light on? “Pax!” Gigi snapped the blue-skinned man’s name in a loud whisper. Pax stuck his head in from the corridor, his eyes darting around. They landed on Gigi with a questioning look. Gigi pointed at the kitchen just as another pot clanged loudly, hitting the floor and bouncing a few times. Pax’s eyes rounded as he shook his head back and forth before pulling it back out into the corridor. One blue arm stuck in through the door, the light jiggling around as the arm shook. Gigi got up from the floor and walked over to the door, pulling on the arm until Pax was inside the mess hall with him. “Shouldn’t we get someone…bigger?” Pax asked as he started backing toward the door. “I want to be sure that slug thing is in there before we make a big scene. If it’s in there, we could trap it. It may fight back, but we have the upper hand. The element of surprise.” “But it’s only six inches long. How is it going to fight back?” Pax asked as he took one more step back. “It could. Are you willing to take the chance?” Gigi asked as he grabbed Pax’s unwilling hand and pulled him toward the kitchen. They both stood outside the kitchen, their ears pressed firmly against the door, listening. Pax’s eyes grew very large as the light began to shake all over the place. He gulped as he stared at Gigi. “Something just crawled across my sock.” Gigi swallowed hard and looked down just in time to see the end of something green slither under the food replicator. He grabbed Pax’s arm to keep the light from shaking all over the place then slowly pointed it over at the food replicator. Both Pax and Gigi screamed when two slimy green worms scurried out from under the food replicator and started slithering

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across the floor toward them. “Run!” Gigi shouted. They made it as far as the new extra-large table Remy had bought. Gigi climbed on top of the table then reached back for Pax. Once Pax was on the table next to him, Gigi started looking around, moving from one side of the table to the other. “Where’d they go?” “They?” Pax squeaked as his head swung around frantically. “There’s more than one?” “I saw two.” “We’re going to die.” “Just don’t get off the table, and we should be fine. I don’t think they can climb up here.” “You don’t think?” Gigi yelped and grabbed the back of his head when Pax smacked him. He looked at Pax in confusion. “What in the hell did you do that for?” “Because you got us into this freaking mess. I was happy sleeping next to my mate, and you had to come up with this harebrained idea.” Pax waved his hand around the dark room. “And look at us now.” “Well, I couldn’t sleep,” Gigi snapped. “I kept—” Gigi shuddered. “I kept thinking about one of those things getting into the room.” “Well, now we’re stuck in the mess hall, without our mates, mind you, and we’re surrounded by the damn things. Is that any better?” Gigi shrugged, grimacing. “It seemed like a good idea at the time.” “And it’s all over my freaking sock!”

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Chapter 7 Colt woke to find his mate missing. He immediately rolled out of bed and stood straight up, grabbing his pants as he headed toward the door. Why in the hell would his mate be gone in the middle of the night? All kinds of scenarios played in his mind, Colt liking none of them. He grabbed a phaser off of the table in his quarters before heading out to find his little bird. Colt saw Livewire in the media room and headed toward him “Have you seen Pax?” Livewire jumped as he grabbed his chest. “Don’t you ever scare me like that again! I thought you were the damn slug.” Colt felt incredibly confused about the man’s reaction. It was a damn bug. How the hell could it scare a grown man? Colt looked around the room and then back at Livewire. “Why are you sitting in the dark?” “My horoscope said I should,” Livewire answered a little too quickly. The mechanic jumped up from the sectional sofa and looked past Colt as if looking for someone. “Are you alone?” Colt looked over his shoulder, his eyes scanning the dark corridor. “Last time I checked.” Livewire seemed to be relieved by Colt’s words. Colt didn’t have time for Livewire and his strange ways. “Have you seen Pax?” he asked again. “Not lately. Do you want me to help you look for him?” Colt felt like the question was cocked and loaded, but two sets of eyes were better than one. “Come on.” Colt turned on his heel and headed away from the media room. He picked up his pace and began

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an all-out run when he heard Pax screaming. Colt’s heart was in his throat at the sound of fear in his little bird’s voice. “Pax!” Colt shouted as he burst through the mess hall doors. He came to a skidding halt, Livewire crashing into his back, both of them falling to the floor. “What the hell did you stop like that for?” Livewire asked as he sat up and shook his head. Colt ignored him as he watched his mate jumping around on top of the bench table, tearing at his sock. Colt pushed to his feet and ran to the table. “What’s wrong?” he asked as he tried his best to assess his mate for injury. Remy and Imlay came barreling into the mess hall, Blade and Crank close behind. “My sock!” Pax shouted as he continued to hop on one foot, his hands struggling with the other foot, pulling at his sock, trying to yank it off without touching it as much as possible. Colt grabbed his little bird and sat him on the table then he dropped to his knees. He lifted Pax’s foot up to look at the stretched out sock and wondered what all the fuss was about. “Get it off!” Pax shouted in panic. Colt quickly pulled it free and held it up to his mate. “Would you mind telling me why you’re so desperate to part with it?” Colt saw Pax cringe back and then slowly sat forward. Colt held up the sock. It was dry. There was nothing on it. He couldn’t figure out why Pax was freaking out. It was just a sock. His mate’s head slowly tilted to the side as a full-blown blush heated up Pax’s face. “Not really.” **** “We’ve got to do something about these damn worms,” Remy said as they all sat around the table later that morning. “Imlay seems

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to believe they could be Uryclian Mucus Slugs, in which case, they could be deadly. We can’t have them running all over the ship.” “I found one of the little fuckers in my shower last night,” Crank snorted. “The damn thing was soaking like he was in a mineral bath on Lost Star Three.” “Is it just my imagination, or are more of them showing up?” Colt asked as he looked around the table. “Pax and Gigi saw two in here last night.” Pax shuddered at the idea that there could be more than one of those slimy creatures. How disgusting. He squirmed until he could bury his face in Colt’s neck then breathed in the man’s strong scent. He felt like he was going to be sick. “Maybe there’s a nest of them on the ship,” Tank said. Yep, Pax was going to hurl. He covered his mouth and swallowed hard, his stomach rolling. Just the thought of those slimy creatures slithering across the floor, his sock, on every available surface was enough to send Pax over the edge. He wiggled out of Colt’s arms and went running down the hallway to the bathroom in their room. He heard heavy footsteps following him as he dropped to his knees and threw up in the toilet over and over again until there was nothing left in his stomach. “Here, little bird,” Colt said as he wiped a wet cloth over Pax’s face. A moment later, a glass of water appeared in front of him. Pax grabbed the glass and took a large gulp, rinsing his mouth before spitting the liquid out in the toilet. Once his mouth was all cleaned out, Pax handed the glass back to Colt and leaned his head back against the wall. “I really hate those damn slugs, Colt.” “I know, little bird.” “I want them gone.” Pax swallowed hard. “I don’t feel safe anymore.”

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Colt grimaced. “Okay, little bird. I’ll make sure they are gone as soon as I find them.” Pax frowned as a sudden thought filled his head. “They are drawn to water and food.” “What?” “Think about it. Except when we first saw them, every time one has been spotted it’s been near food or water. Tank’s shower, the mess hall—both places that have food or water.” Pax cocked his head to one side. “I think they are just trying to survive.” “Does that mean you don’t want me to get rid of them?” “No!” Pax snorted. “I want you to get them the hell off this ship. I just don’t think you need to kill them.” Colt chuckled as he lifted Pax into his arms and carried him back into the bedroom. He carefully laid Pax down on the bed then drew the blankets over him. Pax puckered up his lips when Colt leaned over to give him a kiss. “Okay, little bird, I’m going to get a search party together. You stay in here where it’s warm and safe.” Pax bit his lip for a moment then tried to smile. “Could you check under the bed before you leave?” Colt gaped for a moment then chuckled as he dropped to his knees. “Sure thing, little bird.” Pax pulled the blanket to his neck, wondering if the nasty things would crawl into his bed. He sat up as he tucked the edge of the blanket in tightly around his body. No slimy things were going to crawl over him. No sirree. “There’s nothing under there that I can see. Get some rest while I grab my shining armor for you.” Colt winked, and Pax once again didn’t get it. “That you can see?” Pax asked in a trembling voice. “What if there are a few in here that you didn’t see? What then? I don’t even have a spatula.” Pax bit his lip as his eyes darted around. “What if

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they crawl into bed with me?” Pax whispered as if the worm-like slugs could hear him. Pax could tell Colt was biting back a smile, and he wanted to throw a pillow at the shifter. “I’m sure you’re safe. If your theory is true, you have nothing to worry about. There’s no food or water in here.” Pax nodded, only feeling half reassured as Colt left their quarters. There may not be anything in here for the slimy things to survive off of, but Pax still kept one eye open as he slept. What if the bugs were carnivores? **** Pax crept along the corridor with a ship manual in his hands. If anything jumped out at him, he was going to whack it to death. It might be easier if he was allowed into the weapons bay, but he wasn’t. That meant he had to use what was handy. The ship manual was handy. It was also all he could find besides Colt’s boots, and Colt would kill him if he used the black leather boots to defend himself. It had been a few hours since he’d seen Colt, and Pax was worried that something bad had happened. What if those worms had attacked Colt and his mate was crying for his help at this very moment? What if— “Ahhh!” Pax screamed as he jumped back. He started swinging the manual at the large figure behind him. “Worm, worm, worm,” Pax chanted as the manual flew through the air and repeatedly hit the figure over and over again. “I’m not a damn worm,” Tank shouted as he held his arms up in a defensive gesture. The manual stilled as Pax took a closer look. Nope, not a worm. “Have you seen Colt?” Tank rubbed his arms and then pointed over his shoulder. “Engineering.”

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“About the worm thing.” Pax clutched the manual to his chest as his eyes darted around. “Uh, sorry.” “Just go find your mate before you kill half the crew,” Tank grumbled as he walked past Pax and continued down the corridor. Tank didn’t need to be so upset. He could have been a worm. Pax walked down the two flights of stairs to engineering, watching every step he took. The only things on his feet were the socks he borrowed from Gigi, so he had to be extra cautious. They were no protection against the goo, and Pax didn’t want his feet to fall off if a worm crawled over them. “Ahhh!” Pax swung the manual, whacking the figure beside him when he was grabbed. He gave his arms free reign as he defended his feet from the slime of the worm. “Damn it!” Crank yelled. “Stop hitting me.” Pax’s arms stilled as he looked at the cougar shifter. He could have been a worm. Really, he could have. “Uh, sorry.” Pax hurried down the stairs, praying he came across Colt soon. Where the heck did the worms come from? Could they have been hiding in the soil Gigi bought for his hydroponics? Pax stepped off of the stairs, his head snapping around as he looked for Colt. Tank had said he was down in engineering, but so far, nada. Pax held the manual over his shoulder, ready to swing at anything that slithered. He walked into the cargo bay, glancing around for his mate. The medical supplies that didn’t need to be in cold storage sat stacked on one side of the bay. Pax looked around the crates. “Colt?” When no one answered, Pax kept walking, heading to the far end of the cargo bay. He’d never been down here, this far back. Pax looked at all the supplies sitting to one side, walking around them until he was at the far right of the lower deck of the ship. The manual dropped from Pax’s hands as he stared at a large jar lying on its side, the discarded lip next to it. That wasn't what scared

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the hell out of Pax. No, it was the hundred little broken pearl-like eggs that made him run screaming from the cargo bay. **** Colt froze when he heard Pax screaming—again. He cocked his head to one side and listened carefully, trying to find the source of the sound. Pax had been freaking out so much lately that Colt was never sure where the little man was located. “Colt!” Colt ran for the stairs. He caught Pax in his arms as he came flying up from the lower deck. “What’s wrong, little bird?” “Worms!” Pax screeched. “Pax, we haven’t found the worms yet. Did you see another one?” “Broken glass,” Pax panted. Colt frowned. “Broken glass?” “Little white gooey eggs.” Pax shuddered. “Cargo bay!” Colt blinked when Pax pulled away and went running down the corridor with his hands in the air and screaming about an invasion of worms. He took a moment, breathing in deeply as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. He adored Pax, but no one could freak out like his mate. Colt walked over to a communication pad on the wall near the stairs and hit the button to connect him to the bridge. “Remy, I think I found the bugs’ nest. Pax saw something in the cargo bay.” Remy sighed. “I’ll be right down.” Colt knew how the commander felt. He decided to meet Remy in the cargo bay. Colt descended the stairs and walked around looking in every corner and into any sliver a worm’s nest might be located. His step faltered when he saw what Pax was talking about. Holy hell! How many live births were there? If they all survived, then they had hundreds of worms on board. Colt shuddered at the thought of just one worm, and there were more?

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“What do we have?” Remy asked as he walked into the cargo bay, a look of amusement on his face. The look dropped quickly when the commander’s eyes followed Colt’s finger. “Shit. We’re going to need an exterminator.” “Exactly.” Colt nodded in agreement. “What I don’t get is that if we have so many on board, where are they? Have you seen any?” Remy shook his head as he stared at the frightening sight. “None so far.” Both their arms shot out when the ship took a slight dip to the left. “What the hell is going on?” Remy and Colt ran from the cargo bay, down the corridor, and into the engineering room. Livewire was cursing and throwing tools at the propulsion system. “You fucking little buggers. How dare you eat my lady!” “Livewire!” Remy barked out. They waited until the mechanic stopped throwing things and turned around to look at them. “What in the hell are you doing now?” “What am I doing?” Livewire asked, incredulity dripping from his words. “I’m not the one eating Lady Blue, now am I?” Colt felt a massive headache coming on. He lifted his hands and rubbed his temples, wishing it away. “Please be a little more specific.” Colt blew out. “Specific? How can I be any more specific? The damn worms have eaten through the wires of the propulsion system. If we don’t kill our little buddies and get me some new wires, Lady Blue is going to sit on her ass for a very long time.” Massive headache, full steam ahead. Colt walked away, needing to down a stiff drink and a few aspirin. A hell of a lot of aspirin. Colt walked into sick bay, looking for the doc. He found Imlay at his computer. “I need a sedative.” Imlay sat there absorbed in his work. Colt ignored the preoccupied doctor as he walked over to the supply closet. Unlocking it, Colt reached in and grabbed a white bottle, popping the lid.

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“If you ever want to copulate again, I suggest you not take those particular pills.” Imlay said from behind him. “They have a very nasty effect on the male reproductive organ.” Colt’s hands opened wide as the pills hit the floor. He’d keep his headache, thank you very much. If there was one thing he lived for, it was copulating with Pax. A soft chuckle sounded behind him. “I thought so.” Colt rolled his eyes as he replaced the lid and shoved the bottle back into the closet. He turned to the smug doctor as a brow rose. “Mind telling me which bottle is the aspirin?” Imlay pushed Colt aside, reaching inside for the correct bottle. There was a slight smirk on his face when he held the bottle out to Colt. “If you don't know what you're doing, never go into a doctor's closet.” “And a certain doctor needs to come out of his,” Colt grumbled as he swallowed the pills but not before reading the label to make sure he was taking aspirin and only aspirin. “I heard that,” Imlay complained as he walked back over to his desk and sat down. “Good,” Colt said as he walked out of the infirmary. Now to go find Pax. With all the talk of copulating, he was fucking hornier than hell now. Besides, just on the off chance, he wanted to make sure the equipment still worked properly. Colt found his mate sitting on the mess hall table, a spatula and tongs in his hands. He frowned as he rested his hands on his hips. “Little bird, what are you doing?” “Watching for worms.” Colt glanced around at the floor then back at his mate. “I don’t see anything, Pax.” “But they’re there,” Pax said quickly. “I know they are. I’ve seen them. They’re just waiting for us to let down our guard, and then they will attack. It’s how these things work. Gigi told me. He said they’ll

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jump you from behind and beat you down like a hooker in an alleyway. Whatever that means.” Colt groaned. He so did not need Pax listening to Gigi. That had disaster written all over it. Colt walked over and ripped the spatula and tongs out of Pax’s hands. “Hey!” Pax shouted. “I need those.” “No, you don’t.” Colt reached over and grabbed Pax, tossing the smaller man over his shoulder. He carried Pax out of the mess hall and down the corridor toward their quarters. When Pax started squawking, Colt smacked him on the ass. “What’d ya do that for?” “Because I’m tired of you freaking out, Pax.” Colt stopped in front of their quarters and tapped in the code to open the door. Colt quickly closed the door and locked it once they were inside the room. Colt was in a mood, and he knew it. He needed to see Pax naked, to forget for a little while that they had slimy green worms like slugs invading the ship. He walked over to the bed and set Pax down on his feet. Pax started sputtering when Colt stripped his shirt off and tossed it through the air. Colt pushed Pax back until he fell backward and landed on the bed. Before Pax stopped bouncing, Colt was pulling his mate’s pants down his legs and tossing them over his shoulder. Colt stepped back and began stripping his own clothes off the second Pax was naked. Once they were both naked, Colt advanced on the beauty lying on the bed. “Stop!” Pax said as he held his hands up. Colt stopped instantly. Pax’s mouth dropped open. “You stopped,” he said, his voice filled with wonder. Colt frowned. “Of course I did. You told me to.” “But…” Pax rubbed his forehead when it wrinkled. “I thought you wanted to have sex?”

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“I do.” “Then why did you stop?” Colt blinked as he tried to follow Pax’s line of thought. “Because you told me to.” “But—” Realization suddenly dawned on Colt. He smiled but stayed where he was. “Pax, no matter how much I might want it, I will never force you to have sex with me. I’d hope that you wanted it, too, but if you don’t…” Colt thought his ears were going to bleed when Pax shouted and jumped up. He almost didn’t catch Pax when the little man launched himself into Colt’s arms. Colt chuckled as Pax planted little kisses all over his face and neck. “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” Pax said in between kisses. “You’re more than welcome, little bird.” Colt fell forward onto the bed, making sure his arms took the brunt of their fall as he pinned Pax beneath him. “Now, do you think we could get on to the sex part, or did you really mean no?” “Not exactly.” Pax’s eyes dropped to Colt’s neck. “You just seemed angry and I—” “Anxious, little bird, not angry.” Pax glanced up, his head cocking to one side. “Why were you anxious?” “I had a headache and went to the sick bay to get something for it. I almost took something that Imlay said could have an adverse effect on the male reproductive organ.” Colt chuckled. “I was kinda hoping to make sure the equipment was still in working order.” Pax blanched. “Get the lube!” Colt grinned and rolled to the side of the bed to get the lube out of the nightstand drawer. When he turned back, Pax was on his hands and knees, his head pressed into the pillows and his ass pointed up in the air.

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“Damn, baby,” Colt groaned. Had there ever been a more arousing sight? Colt moved over to kneel behind Pax. He stroked his hand over the man’s rounded blue ass. “You are simply beautiful, little bird.” “Yeah, yeah, I’m gorgeous,” Pax griped. “Now hurry up and make sure the equipment still works.” Colt chuckled when he popped the top on the lube, and Pax trembled. He poured some out onto his fingers then dropped the bottle beside him on the bed. Colt rubbed his fingers together to warm up the lube then leaned closer to Pax. “How’s your equipment, little bird?” A snort of laughter shot out of Pax. “Working just fine, thanks.” Colt patted Pax’s hip with his dry hand. “Roll over. Let me see.” Pax huffed but rolled over onto his back. Colt grinned then leaned down and swallowed Pax’s cock until he felt hairs tickle his nose. Pax cried out and fisted Colt’s hair as his hips bucked. As he lavished Pax’s cock, Colt pushed a finger into the man’s sweet hole. Pax continued to cry out and buck his hips as Colt worked more fingers in and out of his mate’s ass. Pax was hard as a rock and leaking pre-cum. When Pax was stretched enough to take him, Colt pulled away and moved to kneel between Pax’s thighs. He grabbed Pax’s hips and tilted the man up. Pax’s legs fell back, spreading to accommodate the new position. “Such a pretty little bird,” Colt murmured as he ran his finger over Pax’s dark-blue, puckered hole and watched it quiver for him. The need to sink into that tight opening was so overwhelming that Colt had to take a moment and breathe, or he would have come before the show was over. “Okay, little bird, here we go,” Colt said as he lined his cock up with Pax’s hole and slowly pushed forward. Pax’s silky muscles gripped his cock so tightly Colt could hardly breathe. All of the air he had taken into his lungs moments earlier left in a rush when he finally felt his balls settled against Pax’s ass.

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“More,” Pax begged. Colt hooked his arms under Pax’s legs and leaned over his mate, planting his hands on either side of Pax’s head. He started thrusting, moving faster and faster with each jab. Colt could feel the pressure building in his body almost immediately. He was too close to the edge for this to last long. Colt glanced down between their bodies to Pax’s pulsing cock. “Jerk yourself off, little bird.” Colt’s level of desire shot through the roof when Pax reached between them and grabbed his cock, stroking it furiously. Pax was panting so hard that Colt couldn’t tell if he was breathing in or breathing out. “Gonna,” Pax moaned. Colt groaned and thrust harder, faster. He could feel himself tittering on the edge of a momentous orgasm. He just needed a little bit more to toss him over to the side of bliss. “Mine,” he growled as he leaned down to lick a path across Pax’s throat. Pax tilted his head back without hesitation, giving Colt total access. Colt didn’t know if it was Pax’s automatic acceptance of him or the submissive move, but the moment he felt both, Colt’s orgasm ripped through him like a tidal wave. He roared against Pax’s neck and drove up inside the man as far as he could reach as he let himself go. He heard Pax cry out and wet liquid splashed between them as he filled Pax with his release. Colt trembled as he lifted his head to look down at Pax’s flushed face, wonder filling him that such a special man belonged just to him. Pax smiled as he opened his vivid blue eyes. “I guess the equipment works.”

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Chapter 8 Crank sat in the infirmary with the rest of the crew as doc paced back and forth, his hands clasped behind his back. “It seems the slugs can produce thirty eggs three days after copulation. If they’ve been here for weeks, then the numbers are astronomical.” “Did you call us down here for a lecture on the reproductive cycle of slugs, doc?” Crank asked as he sat back on one of the sick bay beds. He liked Imlay, even if the doc was a prude. The guy freaked out every time he caught someone making out in the corridors. It was funny as hell to Crank. Hell, he grabbed Tank and made out with him just to make Imlay squeak. Of course Tank hadn’t found it funny and tried to knock his lights out, but it was worth it. “No. Will you be patient while I explain this to all of you?” Imlay complained as he walked over to his computer. “The slug’s body is made up of mostly water, and without a full shell to cover him, his soft tissues are prone to desiccation. Slugs must generate protective mucus to survive. Now, an Uryclian Mucus Slug’s mucus is made up of toxic chemicals that are deadly to other species.” Doc leaned over his desk and punched a few things on his touch screen. Crank was going to become a patient if Imlay bored him anymore than he already was. He hated when people started talking technical mumbo jumbo that he didn’t understand. Crank kicked his foot up on the table, resting his arm over, and tried not to fall asleep. “They are hermaphrodites. They have both sex organs.” “Gross.” Gigi scrunched his face up. Imlay rolled his eyes and tapped his foot out as if waiting for everyone to give him their full attention again. He finally continued.

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“Once copulation is complete, whichever used his penis…bites it off to free themselves.” The whole room yelped and grabbed their groins, including Crank. An image of him gnarling his own cock off to get free made his gut hurt. “I feel sorry for them now.” Pax wrung his hands together as he squirmed around, his legs twisting together as if protecting his own groin. “They must hate to have sex. I’m surprised they even have sex.” “Maybe they’ll all chew their cocks off and die.” Tank roared with laughter. “Just follow the trail of missing cocks.” “People.” Imlay clapped his hands together. Crank was laughing at Tank, chuckles escaping his lips. This shit was too bizarre not to be funny. “I think I’ve found a way to neutralize and contain them.” “Does that mean you’re going to kill them?” Pax thrust his hands onto his hips as he glared at Imlay. “Because I’m protesting killing the worms. They’re already suffering enough with…ew.” The blueskinned man shuddered. “No, Pax. They will go into a kind of sleep while we collect them and then get rid of them,” Imlay said. “I have collection jars everyone can use, but please people, don’t use your bare hands. Get some tongs from the kitchen or something.” “Hey!” Gigi burst with his objection. “Stay the hell out of my kitchen. Find something else to use.” “What will you use to subdue them?” Remy asked as he leaned back against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest. He smiled at Gigi, a small chuckle escaping his lips. Crank had no clue how the commander dealt with such an exuberant mate. Gigi would drive Crank up the wall. “I’ve formulated these little white pellets. I’ll be dropping them in various places all over the ship. Please don’t pick any up if you see them. They shouldn’t be handled without protective gloves.”

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Crank shot a look at Gigi and Pax, the two most curious men on the ship. The entire room turned their heads and stared at them. “What?” Gigi and Pax asked at the same time. “Don’t pick one up, angel.” Remy warned. “Don’t even think about it, little bird. And no, we’re not keeping one as a pet before the question leaves your lips.” Colt wiggled his finger at his mate. Crank bit his lip to keep back a smile as Pax’s bottom lip jutted out in a pout. “I was only going to ask for one,” he mumbled. “Dude, that’s just gross.” Gigi shivered. “I tell you what, though. If Colt lets you, I’ll make a leash for it so you can walk the little cockless guy around.” Pax shot Gigi a glare as Crank rolled over, laughing his ass off. Tank and Blade were falling into each other laughing as Colt narrowed his eyes at Gigi. Remy just rolled his eyes. Imlay dropped down in his chair and rolled his eyes to the ceiling, muttering something about men being idiots. **** “I’m taking the shuttle to Nebular Nine to get the wires I need,” Livewire said as he walked onto the bridge. “Are you asking or telling?” Remy asked as he turned his commander chair around. Livewire shrugged. “Whichever one you pick. But we need those wires.” Livewire didn’t understand what the fuss was about. They needed the wires. What was the big deal? “Take Colt with you.” Remy said. Livewire rolled his eyes. “Seriously?” “Yes, seriously.” “You do realize that I survived just fine before you all came along, right?”

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Remy arched an eyebrow. “You do realize that this is my ship, and I say who works on it and who doesn’t, right?” “Fine, I’ll go find my babysitter,” Livewire grumbled as he walked off of the bridge. He loved working on the Lady Blue, but sometimes the crew was a little hard to handle. Was it any wonder he preferred the ship to real live people? Livewire walked down the stairs to the next level down and went in search of Colt. He checked the mess hall and then kitchen but found them both empty. Walking back out of the mess hall, Livewire ran smack into the doctor. Livewire’s eyes widened, and he quickly scampered backwards. “Sorry,” he said as he tried to run around the man. “Ah, Livewire, is it?” Imlay said. “Just the man I was looking for.” Livewire stopped and blinked then turned to look at the doctor in surprise. “You were looking for me?” His heart started beating faster. What if the doctor finally felt the connection? This one-sided shit was driving him mad. It was bad enough he didn’t know how to handle this thing between them. It was worse now than when he was going at it alone. “Yes,” Imlay replied. “I have need of some items, and I was informed by the commander that you would be making a trip to Nebular Nine.” Livewire sighed as his heart sank. “Yeah.” “Could I avail upon you to pick me up a few items?” Imlay held out a small vidpad. “I have the list right here.” Livewire pressed his lips together and took the vidpad from Imlay. “I’ll see what I can do,” he said right before he turned and walked away. He almost wished he didn’t have to go to Nebular Nine just so he could shove the vidpad back in the doctor’s hand. How a man that gorgeous couldn’t like sex was beyond Livewire. His heart felt heavy as he continued his search for Colt. Sometimes he wondered why he even tried. It was clear that nothing

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would ever develop between him and the good doctor. Imlay was even weirder than Pax and Gigi. “Oh, hey, Colt,” Livewire called out when he spotted the man he was looking for coming out of his quarters. “Remy wants you to accompany me in the shuttle to Nebular Nine. I have a list of things that need to be picked up before we’re out of range.” “Nebular Nine?” Colt frowned. “Is that really a good idea? Our reception the last time we went there wasn’t that good.” “Dude, we need these wires, or Lady Blue is going to throw a shoe.” “Let me get my guns.” **** Colt didn’t like the idea of going back to Nebular Nine considering Borjan might still be there, but what choice did he have? Livewire had made Lady Blue purr since he had been onboard. If Livewire said they needed wires, they’d get wires. “Buckle up, Livewire. We’re coming in.” Colt quickly checked his phasers then brought the ship in for a landing at the most populated port. With any luck, no one would recognize them in a crowded marketplace. Livewire could get what they needed, and they could leave before any shit happened. Before Livewire could bolt from the shuttle, Colt reached out and grabbed his arm. “Whoa, slow down, cowboy. I’m here to watch you, remember? That’s going to be really hard to do if you go running off without me.” “Colt, seriously, I don’t need a babysitter.” “Livewire, I’m not here to babysit you. I’m here to protect you. You’re a member of the Lady Blue now. That means we back each other up.” “Oh, well.” Livewire scratched his chin. “I suppose if you put it like that…”

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Colt chuckled and walked toward the hatch. “Just stay close, Livewire.” “Yep, yep.” Colt shook his head as he walked off the shuttle and secured the door behind him. He trailed after Livewire, keeping his hand on his gun and his eyes on the crowd. Livewire flittered from stall to stall in the marketplace, getting whatever it was he needed. Colt was pretty sure Livewire picked up a few items that weren’t on the man’s list but whatever. He had plans to do the very same thing. He wanted to find a gift for Pax, something special. Colt stopped when he spotted the perfect gift. “Hey, Livewire, come back here.” Colt gestured with his hand for Livewire but kept his eyes on the prize he had found. “What’s up, man?” “I want to get Pax something special.” Colt pointed. “What do you think of that?” “I think you’d better talk to Remy first.” Livewire laughed. Colt’s eyes widened as he turned to look at Livewire. He hadn’t thought of that. Technically, the Lady Blue was Remy’s ship even though the rest of them lived there and had for a very long time. Maybe he should ask the commander? Colt hit his com link. “Hey, Remy, I found a gift for Pax that I would like to get, but I thought I would pass it by you first.” “What is it?” Colt shucked at the deep sigh he heard in Remy’s voice. “Well…” “Spit it out, Colt.” Remy sounded impatient. “I have a feeling we’re all going to be involved in this gift you’re giving your mate.” Colt ran his hand over his head before sighing deeply. “There are two, so Gigi would get one as well.” “Stop stalling and spill,” Remy growled low over the com link, making Colt’s ear drum vibrate. Colt pulled the com link away from his ear, fearing the commander would make it burst. Once the growling subsided, Colt

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placed it back on his ear. He discussed his plan with Remy, and they finally came to an agreement. It took some fancy finagling, but Colt got the commander to agree. Colt quickly made his purchase before running after Livewire. The man couldn’t seem to stay stationary for too long. The mechanic was ten stalls down already. “Wait the hell up,” Colt shouted as he ran down the line of vendors. A few other things caught his eye, but Colt was pretty sure Pax was going to show his appreciation all night long for the gift in his arms. “I swear I wasn’t going far, Dad.” Livewire grunted. “Those wires aren’t that easy to find. They don’t come prepackaged with a stamp of approval, you know. I have to hunt down individual pieces.” Livewire glanced down at Colt’s hands. “Are those what I think they are?” “They’re pretty obvious.” Colt rolled his eyes at Livewire. “Just finish getting what you need so we can get out of here.” Livewire waved him off as he walked down to the next stand. Colt was wondering how he would defend them if need be with his hands full. He prayed everything went smoothly and they made it out of here incident free. “There is someone watching us,” Livewire said from the side of his mouth. “Act casual.” Colt looked around like he was checking out the next stand over. He saw a very large man looking at a vidpad and then up at them. Recognition gleamed in his eyes as he started toward Colt and Livewire. “I hope you have what you need because we have to hit the trail,” Colt said as he and Livewire backed away and then spun around, trying their best to get lost in the crowd of the market. Colt wasn’t sure what was going on, but his gut was screaming to haul ass back to the ship. Colt handed one of the gifts off to Livewire as he grabbed his phaser from its holster. Livewire slung the bag of his purchases over

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his shoulder as he carried Colt’s gift. They rounded a few more stands, finding themselves in a back alleyway. “Fuck,” Colt snapped as he looked around. The only way out was the way they had come. They had no choice but to fight. Colt was cool with that. He raised his phaser, waiting for the one who was following them to appear. He didn’t have to wait long. The large man grinned evilly at them when he saw Colt and Livewire’s predicament. “There’s no running, boys. I’ll be able to collect that bounty with no problem now.” “You can take me in when I agree to have my cock chewed off during sex,” Livewire spat at the man. The stranger tilted his head to the side as if trying to figure Livewire out. “Don’t bother. It’ll only give you a headache,” Colt said as he kept the phaser aimed at the bounty hunter’s head. “It’d be a shame to kill them.” The stranger nodded his head toward Colt’s arm. “Why don’t you put them down before I subdue you both?” “That cocky, are you? Why don’t you come get me?” Colt taunted as he took a step back, giving himself enough room to maneuver around. He was getting tired of the chatting. Colt had a mate to surprise, and this asshole wasn’t going to get in his way. “Do I look that stupid to you?” the stranger asked. “I’m not coming in there. You’ll have to come out sooner or later. I can wait.” Colt was really getting impatient here. If one person recognized him, then he had no doubt a few more did as well. Soon, more men would come to the alley to try and collect their prize. “I say you turn your back and let us walk before I show you how a slug has sex. By the way, you’ll do the fucking,” Livewire said from behind Colt. “You’re a sick fuck. I don’t do guys. And what the hell does slugs have to do with this?” the stranger asked as he kept his gun aimed at Colt.

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“Nothing but this.” Livewire pulled a phaser from his waist and shot it in under a second, the stranger hitting the ground with a loud thud. Colt stood there stunned for a moment before heading toward the mouth of the alleyway. He wasn’t about to stick around to see if the guy got up. “I told you I didn’t need a damn babysitter,” Livewire boasted as he ran alongside Colt. “I guess not.” Colt chuckled as he grabbed his gift back from the mechanic. He balanced both in his arms as they made their way back toward their shuttle. Colt hoped no one knew it was theirs. If they did, a welcoming committee would be waiting for them. “I hope those damn things were worth it,” Livewire said to Colt but cooed at Colt’s arms. “They are cute though.” “Shut the hell up, and get us off of this fucking planet,” Colt growled as they entered the shuttle. He sat down in his seat, buckling in before cradling his special gift in his arms as they headed back to the Lady Blue. He breathed a sigh of relief when they left the planet’s atmosphere, and the hull of the Lady Blue came into sight. He turned to look at Livewire, his curiosity about the man growing by the second. “So, how’d you learn to shoot like that?” “Westerns.” Colt’s eyebrows shot up. “Excuse me?” “Westerns,” Livewire repeated. “You know, those old movies from earth where they have shootouts at high noon?” “Uh…” Colt was confused. “No.” Livewire rolled his eyes. “I’ll show you one on vid night. I have a ton of them.” “And this is where you learned to shoot?” “Well, it’s where I got the idea anyway.” Livewire snickered. “I learned to shoot on Paktil. An old friend of mine scrounged up a

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phaser, and we took turns shooting at targets until we got really good at it.” “Huh.” Livewire grinned. “Told ya I didn’t need no stinking babysitter.”

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Chapter 9 Pax tried to look like he wasn’t bouncing from foot to foot when he heard the shuttle dock with the ship. But it was hard to wait for the shuttle to finish docking and the airlock to engage. He was so excited. Colt had left before he had woken up, going off to Nebular Nine with Livewire. Remy explained to him several different times the need for Colt to accompany Livewire and guard him. The last time, Remy had growled and ordered him off the bridge. He wasn’t allowed back until Colt returned. And now Colt was back. Pax stood on tiptoe and peered through the small window that looked into the airlock located between the main part of the ship and the shuttle bay. He could see Colt and Livewire through the front window of the shuttle, shutting everything down. The two men disappeared from view. A moment later, they appeared around the side of the shuttle and started walking toward the airlock. Pax waved when Colt glanced up. Colt chuckled and said something to Livewire. Pax wished he could read lips because whatever Colt said made Livewire laugh. When Livewire looked toward him and waved, Pax waved back. He hated the time it took for them to get into the airlock, pressurize it, and then come out the other side. Pax knew it only took a few minutes, but it felt like forever. “You left me sleeping!” Pax shouted the moment the door opened. He started to throw himself into Colt’s arms when the man suddenly held his hand up. It was only then that Pax noticed the blanket cradled in Colt’s arm. “What—”

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“Go get Gigi and Remy for me, and I’ll explain.” Pax frowned but did as Colt said—sort of. He tilted his head back over his shoulder and shouted for Remy and Gigi. “I could have done that, Pax.” Pax shrugged. He was still mad at Colt for leaving him this morning without saying good-bye first. He planted one hand on his hip and shook the other one at Colt. “You shouldn’t leave without saying good-bye. You never know what might happen. What if someone tried to kill you and I never got to see you again? We never would have gotten to say good-bye.” A chill ran down Pax’s spine when Colt blanched. “What?” “Nothing, little bird.” “I don’t believe you.” Pax crossed his arms over his chest and firmed up his jaw. “You’re lying to me.” “No, I’m not lying to you, Pax. This just isn’t the time to discuss it. We need to wait for everyone to be here before I explain.” Pax narrowed his eyes then tilted his head sideways. He kept his eyes on Colt as he shouted for the rest of the crew. If Colt wanted everyone there before he explained things, so be it. Pax would insure everyone was there. “Paxton!” “What?” Colt sighed deeply. Pax smiled when he heard several sets of footsteps running down the corridor. He crossed his arms back over his chest and started tapping his foot. Colt was not going to get out of this with a pretty smile. Not this time. Pax was going to stand firm. He wanted Colt to really understand how upset he was about the man leaving without saying anything. “What is all the shouting about?” Remy asked when he stopped next to Pax. Pax just pointed at Colt. “He has something to explain to all of us.”

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“Oh?” Remy’s eyebrow arched. Pax frowned at the strange look that crossed Remy’s face when he looked at the blanket bunched in Colt’s arms. He turned just in time to see Colt nod. “What’s going on?” he asked. “Let’s go to the media room where we can all sit and talk,” Colt said. Pax started to get a queasy feeling in his stomach. Something had happened down on Nebular Nine. He just knew it. Pax looked Colt up and down, searching for any sign of injury, but he didn’t see anything out of place. “Come on, little bird, let’s go to the media room.” Pax wrung his hands together as he followed behind Colt. He hated secrets, especially when he wasn’t in on them. “Are you hurt?” “No, I’m fine.” Pax frowned. “Were you hurt?” “Pax, I’m fine.” Colt glanced over his shoulder. “There isn’t a scratch on me. This isn’t a bad thing, little bird, I promise.” “But—” Colt stopped suddenly at the bottom of the stairs leading to the crew quarters. He turned and cupped his hand around the side of Pax’s face. “And I’m sorry for not waking you up before I left. It won’t happen again.” “Okay.” Pax could see the truth in Colt’s eyes. His mate wasn’t trying to hurt his feelings or be rude. As long as Colt kept his promise, Pax would let it go. If he didn’t, well, they still had icky slimy worms on the ship. Pax still felt like something huge was about to happen as he sat down next Colt on the large couch. He twisted his fingers around each other as he waited. Pax wasn’t good at waiting. Even he knew that. He got antsy easily. “What happened?” he blurted out once everyone was sitting. He flushed when Colt raised an eyebrow at him and glanced down at his

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hands. Pax didn’t understand why he felt like he was in trouble. He wasn’t the one that had something happen to him. “When Livewire and I were planet side, we discovered that we were being followed. We took care of the problem, but it seems that even though Drake is dead, the bounty on our heads has not been lifted.” “I knew it!” Pax snapped as he jumped to his feet. “Pax, sit!” Pax sat. He blinked up at Colt in confusion. He couldn’t remember the man ever talking to him in that chastising tone of voice. “He’s not a puppy, Colt,” Gigi said. Pax opened his mouth to thank Gigi when Colt interrupted him. “No, but this is.” Pax swung around to see Colt kneeling on the floor. He was setting the blanket in his arms down on the floor then peeling the edges back to reveal two small puppies, one brown and one black. Gigi squealed and dove across the floor to grab the brown puppy up in his arms. Pax just stared as Gigi cradled the small thing to his chest. “Pax?” Colt held out his hand. “Don’t you want to come see them?” “It’s a puppy,” Pax whispered. Colt chuckled. “Yes, it is. It’s also for you, little bird.” Remy cleared his throat. “Well,” Colt said, “one of them is for you. The other one is for Gigi.” “Me?” Gigi and Pax both said at the same time. “Colt saw them down on the planet. He wanted to get one for Pax,” Remy said as he stroked his hand over the back of Gigi’s neck. “He called me and I asked him to get one for you. I remember you saying how you’d always wanted one.” Pax watched Gigi hold one of the puppies tight to his chest as he launched himself into Remy’s arms. Gigi was kissing Remy all over

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the face. The puppy was yipping and licking Gigi all over the face, too. Goodness, the thing was just as bouncy as Gigi. Pax glanced back at the other puppy. It was just sitting there, his head bowed slightly as he looked around. He was trembling as if he was afraid. Pax’s heart went out to the little guy. He knew what it was like to be in new surroundings and not know anyone. Pax pushed himself off the couch and crawled across the floor to sit next to Colt. He picked up the puppy and cradled him to his chest. It was only as he held him that Pax realized the puppy was so small, he fit into the palm of his hand. “He’s just a baby,” Pax whispered. “Here, you might need this.” Colt held out a vivid blue collar that didn’t look like it would even fit around Pax’s wrist. “Blue?” Pax asked as he took it. “It reminded me of your eyes.” Okay, Colt was so totally forgiven. Pax tilted his head back to look up at Colt. “Thank you.” Colt smiled. “You’re welcome, little bird.” **** Colt smiled as he watched Pax cradle the small black puppy in his arms. He had no idea when he purchased the two puppies that their personalities would match so closely to their owners’. Gigi’s little brown puppy was wiggling and yipping and chasing his tail. Pax’s little black puppy just curled up in Pax’s arms and slept. They were the perfect puppies for the perfect mates. “So,” Remy said, “tell me about this issue you had down on Nebular Nine.” Colt lifted Pax and his dog into his arms and sat back on the couch. He could see the others looking at him with curiosity and just a bit of amusement when Pax curled right into his chest and went to sleep, the puppy sleeping peacefully on Pax’s chest.

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“There really isn’t much to tell,” Colt said. “Livewire saw someone watching us. He had a vidpad in his hands. I suspect he was looking at pictures of us because the guy suddenly started in our direction. Of course, we tried to lose him but found ourselves at the end of a dead-end alley.” “So, he was definitely looking for you then?” Tank asked. “There’s no way you could be mistaken?” “Oh no, he was looking for us, all right. He even said he planned to collect the bounty on our asses whether we were dead or alive.” “What did you do?” Remy asked. Colt waved his hand at Livewire. “'Mr. I Don’t Need a Babysitter' over there shot the fucker.” Livewire’s face flushed when everyone turned to look at him. “I didn’t want to be late getting back. And besides, no one gets to look under my lady’s skirt but me. I saw how she looked when left up to you guys.” “So you shot him?” Tank asked. “Believe me, Tank,” Colt said, “it was either shoot him or let him shoot us. He wasn’t planning on taking us back alive.” “So, there’s still a bounty out on us, huh?” Crank said more than asked. Colt nodded. “Looks that way.” “That’s going to make getting any jobs a lot more interesting.” Colt glanced over at Remy, surprised that the man was taking the news so easily. “Yeah, it might.” “Guess we’ll just have to be a little more careful who we do business with then.” Colt blinked. “That might be a good idea.” “Then I suggest we get the doctor to where he is going then start looking around for a computer expert. From here on out, I want every job researched before we agree to anything. No one, and I mean no one, is to leave the ship without being fully armed, and I’d prefer if

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none of you went anywhere by yourselves. We have strength in numbers. We need to watch each other’s backs.” “Yes, Commander,” they all answered. “I’d also like it if we kept the off-ship expeditions to a minimum if we could. The less exposure we have the less chance of someone trying to collect the bounty on our heads.” Remy reached over and tapped Gigi on the dome. “That specifically pertains to you, angel. No leaving the ship until I say otherwise.” “Remy—” “No, Gigi,” Remy said sternly. “I need you somewhere safe.” “Fine,” Gigi grumbled and went back to playing with his puppy. “If there’s anything you need, just make a list. I’ll see that you get it.” Colt couldn’t wait to have the same conversation with Pax. He didn’t think he’d have as much trouble keeping Pax onboard as Remy would have with Gigi. Pax didn’t like leaving the ship. That worked perfectly for Colt. “Why a computer expert, Remy?” Gigi asked as he glanced up at his mate. “The Federation of United Planets has a database with records on everyone within several systems, specifically the Turok System, the Andromeda System, and the Galaxias System. If you were born in any of those three systems, there’s bound to be a record of you in that database. If we have a computer expert then we might be able to tap into those records.” Gigi’s forehead wrinkled for a moment then he laughed. “Oh, you mean like a computer hacker.” “Yes, angel, a computer hacker.” Remy grinned. “But we call them computer experts, not hackers. Computer hacking is illegal.” “Cool.” “I’m so glad you approve.” Remy chuckled then stood to his feet. “Come on, angel, let’s go to the kitchen and get your little puppy something to eat. I imagine he’s pretty hungry right about now.”

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“What do puppies eat?” Gigi asked as he climbed to his feet. “I don’t want to give Bob anything that might make him sick.” Remy’s eyebrows shot up. “Bob?” “Yes, Bob.” Gigi held the puppy up so they were face-to-face as he walked out of the media room. “Doesn’t he look like a Bob to you?” Remy rolled his eyes as he started to follow after Gigi. He glanced back over his shoulder and stared at everyone. “Bob?” he mouthed, his eyes wide, then turned to follow after his mate. Colt started to chuckle. Crank followed right after him, then Tank and Blade and finally Livewire. Pretty soon, the entire room was roaring with laughter. “Bob? Gigi is naming his puppy Bob?” Colt couldn’t wait to find out what Pax called his puppy. It was bound to be entertaining. **** “You see those?” Pax knelt down and pointed to a pellet the doctor had dropped for the slugs. “You can never, never, never, never eat one of those. No sniffing, licking, or eating them. Not even a teeny tiny taste. They are very, very, very, very bad for you. Understand, Hercules?” Pax stared at the little puppy with a stern face, as if conveying to the puppy how grave the situation was. The puppy gave one small lick to Pax’s chin before pulling back. Hercules? Colt chuckled as he watched Pax lecture the puppy once more before standing. “And you are not allowed to go anywhere without letting me know first.” He wiggled his finger at Hercules but glared at Colt. “I said I was sorry, little bird,” Colt groaned. “I promise never to do it again. Hercules and I will always check in with you first before going off on any hairy missions.”

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Pax cocked his head as his fingers played over the puppy’s fur. Hercules seemed content to stay in Pax’s arms forever if his pet parent just kept right on rubbing him that way. “What does hairy have to do with it? I just want you to say goodbye.” Colt walked over to his mate, cupped his face, and then locked eyes with the man who made him look at life through innocent and wondrous eyes. “I’ll never say good-bye to you, little bird.” “But you said—” Colt laid a finger on Pax’s lips to quiet him. When Pax hushed, Colt went on. “I’ll never say good-bye to you, little bird. But I’ll always tell you that I’ll be back. Because I’ll always be back, Pax, no matter what happens, I will always return to you.” Pax held Hercules close, his eyes brimming with tears. “That’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.” Colt cursed when he saw the tears. His little bird wasn’t supposed to cry. This was a happy moment, there should be smiles and lots and lots of thank-yous. “Hercules, huh?” This seemed to do the trick. The tears stopped, and Pax held the puppy up in the air, staring him right in his little eyes. “Yep, because he may be small, but he’s got strength in him. I can see his mist. It’s gold.” Colt had wondered about the whole mist thing. “You still can’t see mine?” he inquired. Pax lowered Hercules and cradled him in his arms, petting the puppy down his soft-looking coat. “No.” “No matter. You already know what kind of person I am.” Colt wiggled his brows as he led Pax back to their quarters. “A pervert.” Pax giggled as he trailed behind Colt. When Colt gave his mate a hurt look, Pax giggled even more. “Okay, a sex fiend, a sex god, a very horny hawk shifter.”

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“Horny for you.” Colt mentally rolled his eyes at how corny he sounded. Only Pax could bring out the softer, more romantic side of him. Colt shook his head. He was such a goober when it came to Pax. “What are you doing?” Pax demanded when Colt began to strip. “Uh, getting naked?” Wasn’t it obvious? It seemed pretty damn obvious to him. Colt hesitated. He never stopped to think that maybe Pax wasn’t in the mood. It would totally suck, but he’d back off if his mate wasn’t. Pax covered Hercules’s ears as he whispered, “We can’t have sex in front of our puppy. We’ll traumatize him. He’s way too young to learn about sex.” Pax glared at Colt as he bounced the puppy gently in his arms. Colt stood there stunned. He wasn’t quite sure what to say to that. He wanted a night of many appreciative blowjobs, fucking, and plenty of cuddling. Colt hadn’t anticipated this reaction. Think, damn it! Colt racked his brain for a solution. He almost laughed out loud when he thought of one. Grabbing his com link from his pants, Colt slung it onto his ear. “Yeah?” “I need a babysitter, or more precisely, a puppysitter.” Colt crossed his fingers…and toes. Livewire chuckled in his ear. “Why? Did the little blue guy read you the riot act? Serves you right, Dad.” Colt pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling desperate. “Are you gonna puppysit Hercules or not?” He really didn’t have time for Livewire’s bullshit. He wanted some ass, and the mechanic was going to watch Hercules. “Sure, should I pick the little fellow up, or will he be driving to my quarters for a night of board games and scary movies?” Colt was rethinking Livewire as his choice. Would Hercules be safe? Images of wild parties and alcohol played through Colt’s mind. He could just see Hercules and Livewire out cruising for guys. “Never mind.”

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“I’ll do it. Stop your bellyaching. I’m on my way.” The com link beeped its disconnection as Colt stared at Pax, praying Livewire knew what he was doing and that his little bird wouldn’t string him up by his balls for this one. “We have a sitter, little bird. He’s on his way.” Pax eyed Colt as he petted the puppy. “Who?” “Livewire?” Colt studied Pax’s face for his reaction. When his mate’s face lit up and he nodded, Colt let out a whoosh of relieved air from his lungs. One problem solved. Colt met Livewire at the door a few minutes later when the man buzzed the intercom to their quarters. He was anxious to get Livewire and the dog gone so he could attack his mate. But he should have known it wouldn’t be that easy. “Okay,” Pax said as he handed Hercules over to Livewire, “remember, no scary movies. It’ll give him nightmares. And no sweets after nine o’clock. It will make him bounce off the walls. He also needs to be taken potty at least once every two hours.” “Anything else I need to know, Dad?” “Don’t let him talk to any strange puppies.” “Strange?” Livewire’s eyebrows shot up. “Have you met the crew? They don’t get much stranger than them.” “But they’re not strangers, Uncle Livewire. They’re family.” Colt stifled a chuckle as Livewire blinked at Pax. “Okay, if you say so, Pax,” Livewire finally replied. “Anything else?” “Here, you’re going to need these.” Pax held out a small bag of doggie treats. “Don’t give him too many before dinner, or he won’t eat it.” Livewire rolled his eyes when Pax leaned in and made kissy noises with Hercules. He walked back toward the door, stopping besides Colt to glare at him. “You so owe me for this.” Colt just rolled his eyes and pushed Livewire out of the room, closing the door behind the man. He turned around and leaned back

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against the door. His eyes widened when he spotted Pax stripping his clothes off. Colt grinned and rubbed his hands together. “Now, about that sexgod thing…”

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Chapter 10 “This is called a propulsion system.” Livewire pointed to the large machine in front of him. “She usually talks, but the cockless worms ate her wires. But don’t worry, Uncle Livewire plans to get her back to singing again.” He rubbed Hercules’s head as he pulled a small snack from his pocket and fed it to the puppy. “Don’t tell Pax I used the word cockless. He may not be so understanding that guys just have to be guys, you know?” “Is everything all right?” Livewire stiffened when he heard Imlay’s voice from behind him. The doctor was the last person he expected to see down in engineering. “Cargo bay is the other way,” he said without turning around. “I’m well aware of where part of my shipment is being kept.” Livewire growled. That hoity-toity tone was really starting to work on his nerves. Couldn’t the doc let his damn hair down and be like everyone else? What did he have against laughing and simple conversation? “Never find your mate,” Livewire whispered to Hercules. “It’s not all it’s cracked up to be. Trust me.” “Are you talking to your abdomen?” Imlay asked when he stopped behind Livewire. “No, I was talking to Goliath, my cock,” Livewire purposefully teased Imlay. He knew, just like everyone else aboard this ship, that Imlay was against sex, which is what aggravated him the most. Who didn’t love two hot and sweaty guys rolling around tightening each other’s bolts?

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Livewire heard Imlay harrumph behind him. He smiled down at Hercules and winked. “Now if you’ll excuse me. My cock and I have a date with the media room and the vid-screen. It’s going to be a fun filled night of sweaty cowboys and popcorn for us.” He kept his front away from Imlay so he couldn’t see the pup as he walked out of engineering. Let the doc analyze that one. “You’re not really going to…to…to masturbate in the media room, are you?” Imlay sounded shocked. Livewire chuckled as he climbed the stairs, not giving the guy an answer. He walked Hercules to the media room and started his favorite western on the large screen as he and Hercules got comfortable. Livewire damned near swallowed his tongue when he saw Imlay from the corner of his eye trying to hide beside the doorway. His head was peeking out slightly as he watched Livewire. Maybe there was some hope after all, he thought as he and Hercules settled in for a night of movie watching. **** Pax groaned as he felt Colt’s cock slide into his ass. His fingers curled, fisting a handful of bedsheets as his mate lifted his hips higher. Pax spread his legs apart, giving Colt enough room to fuck him properly. “Mine,” Colt murmured softly as he pulled back and then thrust into Pax’s ass. It gave Pax a thrill to hear that word. Colt could never say it enough in Pax’s opinion. “Uh-huh.” Pax’s forehead rolled back and forth over the sheets as an arm wrapped around him. His skin felt like tiny electrical explosions were set off when Colt began to lay kisses across his back. His mate was attentive and gorgeous, giving Pax the full package. He gasped when Colt hooked an arm under Pax’s leg and lifted it, thrusting harder into his body. Pax had to put all of his weight onto

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his own arms but felt Colt holding him up with the arm wrapped around his chest. Pax undulated, begging with his body and soft cries, for whatever Colt would give him. A tremble crashed over Pax when Colt nipped at his shoulder. “Bite me.” Colt teased him instead. He lapped at Pax’s skin as the hand lying on his chest pinched at his nipple, sending even more shockwaves throughout his body. Pax groaned. “My little bird like that?” Colt’s deep and sultry voice whispered across the shell of his ear. “Yes,” Pax hissed when Colt tweaked it again. Soft dry lips traveled down his spine and then trekked back up, a tongue following in its wake. Pax reached under his body to grab his cock, but Colt nipped his ear. “Don’t touch it.” Pax whimpered. “I’ll take care of that as soon as I’m done with this.” Colt thrust into Pax’s ass on the last word, making Pax cry out. Colt had never been this slow and torturous before. Pax loved and hated it all in one. “Make me come,” Pax pleaded with a trembling voice. “Soon, little bird, soon,” Colt promised as he quickened his hips, grazing over Pax’s kill zone over and over again. He was going to come, whether Colt wanted him to wait or not. Pax’s cock had a mind of its own right now, and the thorough way Colt was fucking him was going to send Pax over the edge very soon. “You better not come, little bird. Not yet.” A warning teased in his ear. Pax bit his bottom lip to stave off his orgasm as Colt pistoned into his ass, growling low in his throat. His mate went rigid and then shouted as hot spurts shot into Pax’s ass. Pax let out a squeal when Colt pulled free, flipped him onto his back, and then swallowed him down to the root. Pax grabbed hair as he bucked and fucked Colt’s mouth. His mate didn’t have to suck him off long. Pax had already been close to the edge as it was. Just a little

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tongue play and Pax was fucking Colt’s mouth like there was no tomorrow as his orgasm ripped through him, sending him spiraling down into the abyss of sated pleasure. “Now that was a very proper thank-you.” Colt chuckled as he released Pax’s cock from between his swollen lips. Pax snorted as he threw his arm over his eyes, trying his best to get his breathing under control. “That felt more like you were thanking me.” “Maybe I was, little bird,” Colt said as the stretched out beside him. Pax lifted his arm and eyed his mate. “Why would you be thanking me? You’re the one who bought me such a great gift.” Pax wasn’t following along. He struggled to understand why the hawk shifter would be thanking him and why his mate looked at him with such loving adoration in his beautiful blue eyes. It didn’t make sense. “Maybe I’m thanking you for giving me a whole new outlook on life.” Colt nuzzled him as Pax rolled over and cuddled next to him. “Then I guess we both have something to be thankful for.” Pax giggled as Colt cupped his ass and pulled him in closer. “That we do, little bird.” Pax sighed before closing his eyes and drifting off into a light sleep. No matter what Colt said, Pax was the thankful one. **** “Come back here, Bob!” Gigi shouted as he chased his puppy down the corridor. He’d swear the little bugger was laughing at him as he scampered down the corridor. “Damn it, Bob, if Remy finds out you took his favorite shirt, he’ll cook both of our asses.” Gigi loved having his new pup, but there were just some areas of taking care of a pet that he hadn’t been prepared for. All of the dogs he’d ever heard about were well trained. They were not terrors on paws.

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“Bob!” Gigi shouted as the little brown puppy tore around a corner in the corridor. Gigi gave chase, running around the corner and right into Pax. They both fell back and landed on their butts. “Ouch,” Pax groaned as he reached down and rubbed his ass. “What’s the hurry?” “Bob took off with Remy’s favorite shirt.” Pax quickly glanced around. “Where’d he go?” “You didn’t see him?” Panic filled Gigi’s voice. “He was just here. He ran around the corner then I ran around the corner, and there you were.” Pax shook his head. “He didn’t come my way.” “We have to find him!” Pax sat forward and got on his hands and knees. He started crawling around, looking everywhere. Gigi got on his hands and knees and started looking as well. Bob couldn’t have gotten far. They were in the storage area of the middle deck. Except for the sick bay, the storage area was the only place left that Bob could have gone. Even Gigi couldn’t get through the airlock into the cargo bay. Remy had changed the code. “He’s got to be here somewhere,” Pax said. “I mean, how far could the little guy have gone?” Gigi shrugged as he looked around the edge of a crate of Trillian silk. “He’s pretty small, Pax. He could be hiding anywhere.” Gigi was really starting to grow concerned. He hadn’t seen Bob or even heard him. He was a puppy. They made puppy noises. They didn’t just disappear. “Ugh,” Pax groaned. Gigi’s head snapped up. “Did you find Bob?” “I found something.” Gigi felt the blood drain from his face when Pax held up his hand and started shaking it, trying to get the white slimy goo off. “Oh my god,” Gigi whispered. “The worms got you. You’ve been gooed.”

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Pax stilled. His face turned pasty white. His jaw dropped open as he turned to look at Gigi. “Am I going to die?” “Not if I can help it,” Gigi said as he jumped to his feet. He grabbed Pax’s arm and started dragging him across the slick floor towards sick bay. “No one on this damn ship understands me the way you do. Damned if I’m going to lose my best friend because of some dumb ass slimy bug!” “Oh, that’s….that’s…” Pax started to wobble. “I don’t feel so good.” “Imlay!” Gigi screamed at the top of his lungs as Pax started to collapse onto the floor. “Help! Pax got slimed!” Imlay ran out of sick bay and grabbed Pax as the blue man fell to the floor. The doctor half carried, half drug Pax back into the infirmary, laying him on one of the beds. Gigi bounced from foot to foot as he watched the doctor begin an IV and then proceeded to scan Pax’s entire body. “Can you save him?” Gigi asked as he ran to the bottom of the bed and stared down at his best buddy. Pax’s eyes were closed, and he looked very pale. “I’m trying, Gigi. What I need you to do is let the commander know what happened. And Colt.” Gigi shook his head rapidly. “Oh no. I’m not going to be the one to tell the hawk about Pax. Have you seen how protective and possessive he is? No thanks.” Imlay continued working, ignoring Gigi. His eyes grew large when Imlay began to strip Pax down. Okay, maybe he needed to leave. Gigi ran out of the sick bay and down the corridor. “Colt!” He would just point to the infirmary and let Colt see for himself. ****

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The crew stood anxiously outside of sick bay, waiting to hear what was going on with Pax. Imlay had refused to let Colt in until Pax was stabilized. Colt wanted to rip something apart as he paced up and down the corridor. “Those damn slugs have got to go. I don’t care what it takes,” Colt growled as he ran his hand over Hercules’s head. His mate had been terrified of those damn things, and now he was in sick bay fighting for his life. “I’ve contacted someone on Beta Five who can take care of the problem,” Remy commented as he leaned against the hull. “Are you sure we should be contacting anyone while we have a bounty on our head?” Tank asked. “Right about now I don’t trust anyone.” “Get him on this ship,” Colt snapped. “I don’t care what it takes or who we have to pay off, those slugs are going down.” “Agreed,” Remy said as he pulled Gigi into his arms. Colt wanted to yell at them to stop acting mated until he had his little bird back in his arms, but he knew it was anger and fear driving him now. No one could blame him, and Colt didn’t care if they did. His mate was lying just beyond those doors probably looking for him. They all stood to attention when Imlay opened the door. “You can come in, Colt.” Colt handed Hercules off to Livewire and followed the doctor in. He gasped when he saw Pax sitting on the bed smiling at him. Colt had images of Pax barely clinging to life, gasping to breath, and possibly with white foam coming out of his mouth. He wasn’t expecting his mate to be giggling and holding his hand up. “What’s going on?” Colt asked as he stepped over to the bed and pulled Pax up into his arms. Colt held him so tightly that Pax was smacking at his arms. “Can’t breathe.” Colt chuckled as he eased his hold but didn’t let go. “I thought you were slimed.”

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This time Imlay was the one to smile. “White lithium grease. Pax just stuck his hand in white lithium grease. He wasn’t slimed.” Colt wasn’t sure what shocked him more, the fact that it was a false alarm or seeing the doctor smile. Had he ever seen the man crack more than a sneer? It almost made the doctor seem human— almost. Pax pulled on Colt’s shirt. “Did Gigi find Bob?” Colt leaned down and cupped Pax’s face, relief and joy surging through him. “Actually, Bob found Gigi. Everyone is waiting outside in the corridor to see you.” “Hercules!” Pax jumped from the bed and ran from sick bay. Colt’s eyes trailed after his mate. “Should he be out of bed, doc?” “He’s fine. Like I said, it was just white lithium grease. Besides needing a good bath, the stuff won’t harm him.” Colt let out a relieved breath and turned to Imlay. “Thanks, doc.” “Think nothing of it.” Imlay glanced toward the door. “It was the least I could do. The guy kind of grows on you after a while, doesn’t he?” “He does.” Colt chuckled. “Yes, well.” Imlay looked back at Colt and clasped his hands together in front of him. “If you don’t mind, I need to get the sick bay back in order. You never know when we might need it, and I like it to be in tip-top shape.” “Can I help?” “No, no, go play with your mate.” Imlay smiled again. “I’m quite used to this type of work.” “Are you sure?” Colt only volunteered because it was the right thing to do. He actually wanted to do exactly what the doctor suggested. The need to hold Pax in his arms was like a knot in his gut. “I’m sure.” Imlay waved his hand. “Now go before I change my mind.” Colt wasn’t stupid. He ran. Outside the sick bay, Pax and Gigi sat on the floor playing with their puppies. The rest of the crew stood

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around smiling down at the pair. Some sat in chairs, others leaned against walls. All of them surrounded the two smallest members of their crew, putting them in a circle of protection. Colt sighed as happiness welled up inside of him. He leaned against the wall right outside the sick bay doors and watched Pax and Gigi play right along with everyone else. They were all spellbound by the two men and their love of life. They had brought something to the Lady Blue that made the crew better men. Colt looked up and gazed around at the other unmated members of the Lady Blue. He could only hope that Blade, Crank, and Tank found mates that made them as happy as Pax had made him. **** Remy stood in the corridor with a stern look on his face and glared at Gigi and Pax. Pax didn’t like it when the commander glared at him, so he paid close attention. “I don’t want you bugging the exterminator we shuttled in. Do I make myself clear, men?” Gigi saluted Remy while Pax just nodded. “We understand.” “Good. I trust you two can manage to stay out of trouble while our worm problem is handled.” “We will.” Gigi said, but Pax could see Gigi’s fingers crossed behind his back. Pax had to bite back the giggle. It wouldn’t do any good for Remy to get mad and lock them in their rooms. Where was the fun in that? They watched the commander take the stairs to the command deck, both watching to make sure he was gone. Pax grabbed Gigi’s hand and raced down the corridor to the cargo bay. “Are you sure he’s in here?” Pax rolled his eyes at Gigi. “I saw him come in here with my own two eyes.”

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“Hey, it could be worse.” Gigi snorted. “Did you see that guy back on Nebular Nine? He had four eyes.” Gigi shuddered. “Gross.” Pax laughed. “Yeah, but it would be so much easier to stay out of trouble if we had four eyes. We could use two to see what we were doing and two to watch out for Remy and Colt.” “Oh, I didn’t think of that.” Gigi suddenly giggled and patted Pax’s arm. “Just think of what we could do with six or eight eyes.” “We need more mates to even things out.” Pax was pretty sure whatever mates they found to join the crew could be convinced to help him and Gigi keep the crew jumping. The Lady Blue was a great place to live, but the guys didn’t know how to have fun. They needed their quiet little lives shaken up a bit. Gigi’s eyes twinkled. “Just what do you have in mind?” “I want to see how those slugs are caught. We have to make sure the exterminator doesn’t just squash them.” Pax pounded his fist onto his palm. “They’ve suffered enough with losing their—” Pax shuddered. “As long as we don’t get caught.” Gigi snickered. They both knew half the fun was in trying not to get caught. “There he is,” Gigi whispered as they spotted a…man? Pax blinked and then blinked again. The man was closer to an amber color and had the flattest head Pax had ever seen. He had an urge to sit Hercules on top of it to see if he would stay put. “Come on,” Pax said as they walked up to the amber-colored man. “Whatcha doing?” Pax asked the exterminator. Gigi and Pax jumped back when the man turned around to face them. Did he really have two noses? Really? Pax had an urge to reach out and poke one of them, or both, to see if they were real. “I exterminate. I do.” Pax turned slowly to Gigi with his mouth slightly open. He looked back at the guy. “You aren’t going to kill the worms, are you?” “I exterminate, I do.”

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Gigi snorted. “Where the hell did Remy find this one, Rejects-RUs?” Pax smacked at Gigi’s arm. “Be nice. He’s here to help the little cockless guys find a new home. Besides, at least he’s interesting.” “How? He only says four words!” “I exterminate, I do.” Pax rolled his eyes. He could see now that this was going to be so much fun. They followed the amber guy around, watching him pull slugs from every hiding place imaginable on the ship. And even some unimaginable places. The exterminator was filling up what looked like a large glass container. Pax bent at the waist and stuck his nose against the glass, watching one of the slugs looking at him with pleading eyes. He felt horrible for making them find another home. The slugs were homeless now. It was a feeling Pax knew firsthand. “Where are you going to take them?” Gigi rolled his eyes as the exterminator repeated his four words. Pax sighed as they continued to follow the slug-napper around. He waved at the jar, seeing how hopeless the slugs looked as all two hundred of them stared back at him. “What’s he going to do with them?” Pax whispered. He was getting desperate. He knew the little guys had to go, but it seemed so cruel to just dump them somewhere. They needed a home, someplace where they could be safe and eat each other to their hearts’ content. “As long as he gets them off the ship,” Gigi said, “I don’t care.” “But—” Pax shrugged and gave Gigi his most pitiful pout. “What if he kills them? They haven’t really hurt anyone, just made things kind of messy. They’re just trying to find a home like we were before we found the Lady Blue.” Gigi stared at the jar of bugs for a moment then his lower lip started to quiver. Big fat tears began to fill his eyes then roll down his cheeks. He hiccupped as he wiped at his cheeks. “What if they have mates like we do?” Gigi whispered.

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Pax felt his own tears well in his eyes. “We can’t let them be killed.” “But what do we do with them?” Pax frowned. He really didn’t have a clue. What did you do with two hundred slimy slug-like worms? “Escape pod?” Gigi’s eyebrows shot up for a moment then a slow, mischievous grin began to spread across his lips. “You get the jar to the escape pod. I’ll get food and water from the kitchen.” Pax nodded. “And get a blanket in case they get cold.” “I’ll meet you at the escape pod,” Gigi said before racing down the corridor. Pax watched Gigi until he disappeared then turned back to the exterminator. He kept a close eye on the guy as he inched forward and grabbed the jar of slugs. The jar was heavy, and he almost dropped it until he got a better grip on it. Keeping his eyes on the slug-napper, Pax slowly backed out of the cargo bay. Once he reached the entrance, Pax turned and ran for the escape pods on the command deck. He knew he needed to be careful once he reached the top floor of the ship. Remy and Tank were on the bridge, and they could easily hear him if he made too much noise. Pax crept up the stairs to the top level and watched the doorway leading into the bridge. He could hear Remy and Tank talking. He froze when Remy walked past the doorway. Once Remy disappeared from sight, Pax tore around the corner and ran down the corridor to the escape pods located next to the shuttle bay. He set the jar of slugs on the floor and paced back and forth as he waited for Gigi, wringing his hands and jumping at every little sound. What in the hell was the man doing? Cooking a five course meal to send off with the little guys? Pax was pretty sure they wouldn’t care as long as the food was edible. When he heard footsteps, Pax peered around the corner, relief flooding him when he saw Gigi sneaking down the corridor. “Did you get it?” he asked when Gigi reached him.

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Gigi nodded and held out the items in his hands. “I wasn’t sure what exactly to get, so I got a little of everything.” Pax frowned as he looked down at the items in Gigi’s hands. “I don’t think they will need a can opener for those cans, Gigi. No thumbs.” “Oh, right.” Gigi set the can opener and the cans of food down on the floor. “The rest of this stuff is in boxes. Do you think we should dump it out on the floor of the escape pod?” “Not really. They might eat it too fast if we do that. Let’s just put it in the pod. I’m sure if they get hungry enough they will find a way inside the boxes.” He hoped. “We’re gonna have to be quick about this,” Gigi said as he gestured to the escape pod. “Ten seconds after the door is open on the escape pod, the countdown begins. It’s broadcast all over the ship. It won’t take the crew long to get to us after that.” “Okay, then we’ll do it all at once. You open the door. I’ll dump the slugs into the escape pod. You put the food and water inside and—” “And the blanket.” “And the blanket.” Pax laughed quietly. “And then I’ll shut the door, and you hit the button to jettison the pod. Got it?” “Uh…” Pax rolled his eyes. “Just be quick, and make sure you don’t get stuck in the escape pod.” Gigi nodded. “Ready?” Gigi nodded then shook his head then nodded again. “Just open the door, Gigi.” Gigi opened the door. Pax grabbed the jar and unscrewed the lid. He quickly dumped the slugs onto the floor of the escape pod. Gigi tossed the food and water inside, then the blanket. Pax saw Gigi leave the jar behind as well. Good thinking. Pax jumped back, and Gigi

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slammed the door closed. Together, they both reached for the jettison button. As soon as they hit the button, the escape pod disengaged and blasted off into space. Pax glanced up when he heard the computer announcing over the entire ship that an escape pod had been launched. He heard the sound of feet running toward them. Pax grabbed Gigi’s arm and started pulling him toward the stairs. “Run!” They both made it to the stairs and down one flight before they heard Remy and Colt shouting for their mates to be found. We’re right here, Pax sung in his head with a gleam in his eyes. Gigi and Pax high-fived each other on a job well done. Pax tucked his hands under his arms and smiled at his best buddy. Together, they could rule Lady Blue, hands down. “Let’s get going before they find us and shoot us out of an airlock.” Gigi grabbed Pax’s arm as they ran down to their quarters to cover their asses and pretend like they had no clue what was going on. Life was good on The Lady Blue.

THE END WWW.STORMYGLENN.COM WWW.LYNNHAGEN.COM

ABOUT THE AUTHORS Stormy believes the only thing sexier than a man in cowboy boots is two or three men in cowboy boots. She also believes in love at first sight, soul Mates, true love, and happy endings. Stormy lives in the great Northwest region of the USA, with her gorgeous husband and soul Mate, six very active teenagers, two boxer/collie puppies, one old biddy cat, and one fish. You can usually find her cuddled in bed with a book in her hand and a puppy in her lap, or on her laptop, creating the next sexy man for one of her stories. Stormy welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website at www.stormyglenn.com Lynn Hagen loves writing about the somewhat flawed, but lovable. She also loves a hero who can see past all the rough edges to find the shining diamond of a beautiful heart. You can find her on any given day curled up with her laptop and a cup of hot java, letting the next set of characters tell their story.

Also by Lynn Hagen and Stormy Glenn Siren Classic ManLove: Lady Blue Crew 1: End of the Line

For all other titles, please visit www.bookstrand.com/stormy-glenn www.bookstrand.com/lynn-hagen

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

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