Salvation (3 page)

“Please, sir.”

“Now, now.
No need to beg. Take your punishment.” He was enjoying Smith’s panic. It fed the demon inside. The demon howled for more. It wanted blood.

“I—”

Larrison
closed the distance so he could whisper in the incompetent fool’s ear, “You will die. There is no doubt about that.”

He yanked Smith around and punched him in the face. The crack of the man’s head against the door was like music to his ears. Yes, this was what he lived for. Smith tried to speak again, but
Larrison
jabbed him in the throat so he could no longer talk. The whimpers would be enough. Smith speaking would simply distract him. He moved away and let Smith slump to the floor.
Time for the pretty, shiny knife.
It wasn’t his favourite, but it would work for the incompetent fool on the ground.

The handle fitted perfectly in his hand and his palm curled around it as if it was a part of his very being. When he turned back, Smith was gone, making
Larrison
smile. Good. He wanted a challenge and it looked like he would get it. Of course, there weren’t many places to hide in his office.

“Good call, Smith.
Very good indeed.
I wonder where you got to.”

Larrison
made a show of looking around the room. He tapped the knife against the desk. Tap. Tap. Tap. That sound usually made prey nervous. He tilted his head, listening for that sweet whimper. It was faint, but there. Under his desk, as he’d suspected. He went to the door.

“Open,” he requested and stepped outside. His hand halted the full close, leaving the door ajar.

The sound of footsteps racing to the door came, as expected. The scared were woefully predictable. It really had been a long time since he had a good hunt. But this one was cautious. Smith slowed and peered around the entrance.
Larrison
aimed low and stabbed Smith in the thigh. Nice and deep he twisted the knife, until he heard the high pitched squeal he wanted. His cock hardened further. Smith crumpled to the floor, allowing
Larrison
to drag him back into the room.

“Now, Smith.
How stupid do you think I am?” He stood over the prone body and unzipped his pants. Fear widened his prey’s eyes. He stroked himself, letting Smith think the worst for a moment. “Dear boy, I have no interest in you, sexually. You aren’t my type.”

Larrison
knelt down and sat on Smith’s groin. He leant back a little so he could push on the fresh wound, the smell of blood exciting him even more. He wanted to bathe in it. And maybe he would.
Later.
He had other plans for right now.

“You’re handsome, in a rugged sort of way. Let’s see what we can do about that, shall we?” He caressed Smith’s cheek with the end of the blade. Not deep enough to cut. He wanted to draw this out. Smith’s chest showed his rapid breath. The rise and fall like a hummingbird’s wings, so fast. The man might just hyperventilate.
 

He carved the skin in the shape of an L. Smith tried to scream, his chest tense with it, but nothing but wheezing sounds came out of his mouth.
Lovely.
Smith’s shoulder was next. The blade slid in as if he was cutting butter. The sucking sound of its release from Smith’s body almost made
Larrison
come right there.

It took him a minute to realise that Smith wasn’t moving. He felt for a pulse.
Nothing.

“Shit. That was very unsatisfactory, Smith. I shouldn’t be surprised—you
were
a fuck up.” He patted the man’s cheek. His cock deflated. “You ruined a perfectly good time.”

He moved off the man and headed to the shower. The blood no longer held his interest. If the man had been stronger the blood would have been worthy of a bath. A waste of time that one. The weak didn’t appeal to him.

Thoughts of Zander perked him right up. He turned on the water and stepped inside the shower. If he closed his eyes, he could imagine the good doctor was right in front of him. On his knees, where he belonged, with
Larrison’s
dick in his mouth, cutting off his air supply, the water raining around them.
Larrison
braced his palm against the wall, gripped his cock with his other hand and pumped it slowly, allowing his imagination to take over. It didn’t take him long to come. It never did when he thought of pretty boy Zander, with his lovely red hair and bright blue eyes. Too bad he’d never had a chance to put Zander through his paces. He would rectify that soon.

Larrison
towelled off and dressed. He needed to see how the search was going, but first he needed to take care of Smith. He
intercommed
his right hand man.
The gentleman who knew all his secrets.
The only one
Larrison
would never kill. It was always good to have at least one person around whom you could trust.

“Reginald.”

“Yes, sire.”

“I have a disposal I need you to take care of.”

“Right away.”

The best money he’d ever spent. He’d saved Reginald from a life that would have led to his imminent death. The man was forever grateful and would do whatever was asked, no matter how dirty the task.
Larrison
had tested him over the years, and Reginald had never failed him.

Now that he’d taken care of disposing of the body, he could go and check on Roberts. The man had better have good news, or he’d be the next one on
Larrison’s
office floor.

They would all die, every member of this crew. The only difference would be how. For most it would be a quick death, but failure…well, he hoped more of them failed. He did need his sport.

Larrison
walked out of his office, Smith no longer in his thoughts. The only thing his mind had room for was Zander.
Sweet, clumsy Zander.
Larrison
smiled. He remembered when Zander first caught his eye. It was some research facility on a backwater planet. He didn’t remember why he was there, but the moment he saw Zander everything else faded. Zander was walking the corridors and bumped into
Lar
. Usually that would anger him and he’d think of a way to ruin the other person. But something about Zander stopped him.

Lar
knew the man needed to be his. He’d sent Reginald to sweet talk Zander because
Lar
didn’t want to mess up his chances. He was too eager. Zander was polite, but too involved in his work and he’d left before
Lar
could make Zander his. That wouldn’t happen this time. Not again.

He couldn’t wait to carve his initials into the beautiful white flesh of Zander’s ass. It was nice and plump and would be his for the taking. The blood would complement the redhead’s complexion. He knew Zander could take what he wanted to dish out.

All in good time.
He whistled on the way to the captain’s deck. Life was great and about to get better as soon as Zander was in his bed.

* * * *

“So what makes you so special that someone would plant a tracker on your person?” Se asked the question, but Rock wanted to know the answer as well.

“I’m nobody. I was commissioned to find a cure for a pox that showed up on Vega Delta.
Nothing extraordinary.
It’s basically a nuisance. It isn’t like I’m working on a weapon or something that could take out a planet, or heck—even the Grey Death. Not that I think anyone would want to stop that from being cured.” Zander shrugged and looked embarrassed. It was kind of cute, but Rock didn’t have time for that. Ship first. He needed to keep everyone safe. Rave and
Kain
would fillet him alive if anything happened to Se. Not that he’d blame
Se’s
cousin and his partner. He would rather die than have Se get hurt.

“Do you know who blew up the ship you were on? Were there any clues?” Rock knew there had to be a reason. Something the doctor wasn’t telling them.

“The captain came over the speakers and asked everyone to head to their emergency pods. I gathered a few things and made my way to mine. I was to share it with three other passengers. No one showed up. Things started to explode so I hopped in and took off. You pretty much know the rest.” Zander bit his lip. “I don’t have any secrets.”

“Well, if it wasn’t for something you were working
on,
do you have any personal enemies? Someone that would want to hurt you?” Se drew closer to Zander as she spoke.

Rock liked seeing them there, side by side. Her darker colouring complemented Zander’s fair skin. What he wouldn’t do to see the two kiss. Her dark hair would look wonderful wrapped around Zander’s fist. Rock shifted. He wanted to be near them both. God, it had been so long since he’d craved two lovers but something about these two called to him.

Ship first. Come on man, concentrate.

Zander looked down at his hands, as if he was concentrating on his answers.
“Not that I know of.
I usually keep to myself.” The man seemed a bit ashamed of his words. Rock didn’t like that look on his face. What he wouldn’t do to wipe it off there for good.

“We’re going to Cooper Prime. It’s where I live. Maybe we can figure this out there. You should be thinking of anything you’ve worked on that someone might want. Or anybody you’ve pissed off.” Rock wanted them both in his home. The thought was irrational, but he didn’t give a flying fuck.

“Should we call in Rave and
Kain
?” Se looked worried.

“Not yet. Let them enjoy their time together, they deserve the break. They haven’t been back together that long and I don’t want to
interrupted
them. We might have to involve them later. But I hope not. They do have connections that I don’t.” And he didn’t want them around yet. Not until he convinced the two in front of him to become his lovers. His friend Rave would give him shit, but Rock didn’t know how
Se’s
cousin,
Kain
, would take her having two lovers. He had enough to worry about without adding more people to the situation.

“This might seem of out the blue but are you two…” Zander cleared his throat, “are you…” he waved a hand between Rock and Se, “a couple?” he ended with a squawk.

Se looked over at him and Rock winked.

“Ah…no?”

Rock laughed, “You sound so sure of that, Se.”

“Shut up. I didn’t hear you rushing to answer.” She was cute when she pouted. It looked better than the scowl she’d been wearing recently.

She had a point. He punched in the coordinates and set the autopilot, before moving towards Zander. He pulled Se along with him. He got so close his chest pressed against Zander’s. Rock answered, “No. We aren’t.”

“I told
Kain
and Rave you were gay, but they said, ‘No Se. Just talk to him. You’ll see’.” She tried to wiggle her hand free of Rock’s hold, but he wasn’t letting go.

“Yet,” Rock whispered. “I was going to say, ‘yet’. You didn’t let me finish, Se.”

“So, you aren’t gay?” Se sounded relieved and unsure at the same time.

“What’s with the labels, Se?” Rock teased, now that he knew for sure she wanted him.

Zander must be attracted to at least one of them to have brought up the subject of couples. Glad for the intro, Rock took one of Zander’s hands and one of
Se’s
. He pressed the two together over his rock hard cock, closing his eyes at the feel of both of them. This could go very wrong or very right. He was hoping for the latter. God he wanted them both in his bed.

Rock’s eyes flew open in disappointment when Zander tugged his hand away. He held in the whimper the brush of fingers over his dick had caused. If he was being rejected, no way was he giving away how good it felt to be touched by Zander.

“I—what—um—” Zander put his hands behind his back but Rock could see that Zander was as affected as he was, so why had he moved away?

“Rock—” Se looked unsure and her gaze kept going back and forth between him and Zander.

“Listen. I’m attracted to you both. Hell, if I had my way we’d all be naked in one of the bunks having fun until we reached Cooper. The thought of watching you two touch and kiss has me so turned on I could come right now.” He paused to see if they were still with him. Se had a beautiful blush going. As a matter of fact, so did Zander. Man, they were hot. “It’s okay if you don’t like guys, Zander. I’m not going to jump all over you. I can keep my distance. No harm, no foul.” Rock held up his hands and shrugged.

“That’s not…How do I…? Well, damn.” Zander was obviously flustered. “Sorry, I mean, darn. I—”

“Forget I said anything. Se, you have the bridge.”

Rock walked away.
So much for spontaneity.
He should have waited more than an hour to try to get into Zander’s pants. Talk about smooth. He’d get the man to safety and forget this whole thing. And after that clusterfuck, Se would probably be trying to get away from him at warp speed, too.

Fresh from Rave’s rejection, he hadn’t approached Se initially because he’d wanted to make sure he was attracted to her, not just a warm body. No way would she settle for being a rebound, and he wouldn’t want that for her. He was happy that
Kain
was back in Rave’s life and that they’d made their peace, but it had left him feeling lonely. And Se was like family—he didn’t want to hurt her over a casual fuck. Over the months he’d got to know her better, and that had made the attraction deeper, but he’d still been gun-shy.