Saturday, May 15, 2021

On Sale Now - Clan Companions: Gabriel - The Second Scene

 


 On sale now!

Amazon, Amazon UK, Nook, Smashwords, Kobo, and in print.

Here's the second scene from the book, immediately after Clan Baknu's first encounter with Gabriel:

As he led his clan along the shopping deck’s concourse, Dramok Baknu let his surroundings wash over him. The hum of shoppers’ hover carts, the whir of winged aliens flying overhead, conversations in multiple tongues, the brightly flashing window vids of various stores hawking their wares…all a fuzzy background to the lasting mind’s-eye image of a lovely male face with startling blue eyes, framed by carelessly styled hair as black as his own. A young man whose mere appearance had shook him with the force of thunder.

Gabriel.

Kisk’s deep voice startled Baknu from the spell the Earther had cast. “The order is to get her by any means possible.”

“We’re not abducting the girl. We agreed, right, my Dramok?” Takat had framed it as a question, but it was a demand. Spoken through a mouthful of whatever the Imdiko snacked on.

“The Royal Council, Imperial Clan, or whoever gave the order can fuck themselves in an open airlock all the way to Trag and Bi’is before I stoop to kidnapping.” Baknu snorted at the idea.

Kisk grinned, his naturally feral features more dangerous for the expression. “My attitude towards politicians in general. That can’t be legal, according to our charter with the Galactic Council of Planets. Kidnapping Earthers. Ha! It’s a joke.”

“The boy, on the other hand…whew. I’d commit felonies for a night with him. Don’t ask me what I’d do for more than one night.” Takat licked his lips at the thought.

“Sex with other men is a felony, according to his world. I bet he’s never been with anyone.” A delicious shiver raced down Baknu’s spine. Gabriel had exhibited naked desire, mixed with a compelling lack of hope at their offer. The sudden vision of proving to the boy he could give in to his cravings, of holding him close, of watching him crumble as his longings were fulfilled—

“An innocent. Imagine being his first,” Takat breathed. For once, he wasn’t eyeing the food kiosks they passed like a desperate lover.

“Trust me, I’m imagining it.” Kisk barked laughter, his spicy-sweet arousal scent the strongest of the trio.

“We all are.” Baknu’s voice was quiet as he considered Gabriel. The situation with Iliana, though he refused to consider hauling her to Kalquor against her will, demanded careful musing as well.

Takat was more impatient. “We have to convince the sister it’s in her best interests to go to Kalquor. Even if it’s just to evaluate her options. If she’ll go, Gabriel will tag along.”

Baknu made a noncommittal noise. Takat knew as well as he did that if Iliana went to Kalquor, she’d be unable to leave the empire afterward. Earth wouldn’t forgive such a transgression. Her own people would hunt her like an animal.

He weighed possible scenarios that would lure the woman to accept the empire’s offer, simultaneously admiring the attributes he’d noted Gabriel possessed. Such a beautiful young man, his well-tailored clothing hinting at the trim physique they covered. The tough façade he’d confronted them with when he’d thought his sister was in danger had fallen apart quickly. In its place had risen sweetness, vulnerability, and longing. The wistful yearning with which Gabriel had gazed at him sent a pang through Baknu’s heart. He had the outrageous urge to fix all that was wrong in the Earther’s life.

The sensible Dramok had never believed in love at first sight. Lust…sure, that was a given. Natural. Lust had been the sole initial drive when it had come to getting acquainted with his clanmates. Love had happened in its due course once the base urges had been satisfied, allowing him to contemplate the personalities beyond the delicious bodies he was eager to fuck.

But Gabriel…he incited more than a mere urge to bury cocks in mouth and ass. Gabriel pulled at Baknu in areas besides his groin, without benefit of more than a few minutes’ conversation.

“We’ll have to work them from both sides. There’s a sense of two against the cosmos with that pair. They won’t go to Kalquor for themselves, but they’d do it for each other.” Baknu’s deliberations had arrived at that simple declaration.

Kisk nodded in agreement. “He’ll defend her, she’ll defend him. I got that too.”

“If she’s convinced it’s to Gabriel’s benefit to go to Kalquor, Iliana will relent.”

“And if he feels she’ll be safer with a clan, he’ll try to sway her on our behalf,” Takat added with enthusiasm.

“Kisk—”

“Find out all I can about both. Learn what might convince them to come with us.”

“Right.”

Takat brought up a separate concern. “Earther males don’t get a free ride on Kalquor as the women do. We’re talking about a commitment to the boy.”

Baknu had already thought about that. The soft pull in his chest suggested keeping Gabriel would be a choice he was willing to make, but reality said he might not be right for the captain’s clan. “Another clan or a single man will want him if he isn’t right for us. With those eyes? That face?” Along with that desperate, hungry aura that begs men to feed him everything he’s been denied.

“And all the rest,” Kisk growled softly.

“If it comes down to it, his sister could claim family hardship. She could insist she needs him close. That’s a point worth making when it comes to convincing her to go, that she can require her suitors see to Gabriel’s living expenses on Kalquor.”

“Financial security for him as well as herself. Good bait to dangle.” Takat’s glance was significant.

“For her, yes. I’d prefer the boy choose us based on other things.” Though Baknu’s Dramok father had played the wealth game and won highly ranking clanmates he adored in the end, it wasn’t the captain’s practice.

“Gabriel’s spectacular,” Takat sighed, wistful as they reached the hectic dock where their freighter was being unloaded. “I hope he’ll think the same of us.”

“Let’s find out.” Baknu’s mission to collect Iliana, distasteful at the start, had taken on a promising glow.

Now on sale. Amazon, Amazon UK, Nook, Smashwords, Kobo, and in print.

After fleeing Earth’s Mercy Colony six years before, Gabriel Rossi and his sister Iliana have carved out a decent life on a remote Adraf space station. Each avoids contact with other humans as much as possible. Gabriel’s life is adequate, but he yearns to be free to love as he was born to.

Clan Baknu has been tasked with convincing Iliana to return to Kalquor with them to join a clan. But when Baknu, Takat, and Kisk meet her stunning older brother, they’re eager to claim an Earther companion of their own.

Though Gabriel falls for the three men on sight, his priority is Iliana, who’s less than enthralled about joining a Kalquorian clan. Worse still, a sadistic slave trader is determined to claim Gabriel for purposes too terrible to imagine.

Clan Baknu pulls out all the stops to convince the Rossis that they can find love and happiness among the Kalquorians. They dare death to keep Gabriel out of the grasp of a murderous crime lord, who won’t stop until the Earther is his. Yet their greatest challenge is showing Gabriel dreams can come true…if he’ll accept their love.

Now on sale. Amazon, Amazon UK, Nook, Smashwords, Kobo, and in print.

 

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