Off World 2: Sanctuary Read online

  The host staff had cleared the room of the general public, so it was just Alex and Teddy cleaning up the bar area, while the waiters dumped the contents of their electronic pads into accounting’s central computer. Alex had learned early on that waiters were paid according to a complex formula based on an hourly rate plus commission and tips. Hours and drinks sold were all logged in their notepads, but some customers still liked to tip with cash cards and those had to be counted out the old fashioned way.

  “Here you go, Alex.”

  Busy wiping down the prep area, Alex looked up. Shae had divided up his tips, keeping the bulk for himself, dividing the rest between the bartenders and the kitchen staff. Alex took it, automatically doing the math in his head to split the money between himself and Teddy and the guys in the kitchen. “Thanks, Shae. See you tomorrow.”

  Teddy looked up from a squat as he stowed away the alcohol to throw in, “Have a good night, man.”

  “Alex?” Shae hadn’t moved, still standing on the room side of the bar.

  “Yeah?”

  “You seeing your fella tonight?” The tone was casual, but Alex knew more was coming.

  “I think so. Why?”

  “Would you do us all a favor and get fuckin’ laid, man? Please? Between you messing up orders and your new guy being a general asshole, I’m not enjoying the experience. I mean, I’m all happy for your romance and whatever, but I’ve still got a living to make here.”

  Alex put out a hand to brace himself and looked down for a moment, speechless with amazement. He hadn’t seen that one coming, not by a long shot. Too busy mooning over his ‘new guy’ and licking his lips for a little more of Sandy’s taste, no doubt. He looked up.

  “You—” obnoxious little shit, his subconscious helpfully supplied, but he couldn’t say that. He had to work here, so Alex bit his tongue. Even if it was true that Sandy was his new lover, would that really be so bad? Wasn’t he entitled to even a little happiness?

  Joe Sotheran chose that moment to sweep into the room, his new little sidekick, Nick, in tow. “About finished up here, gentlemen?” Glancing from Shae to Alex and feeling the energy bristle, Joe brightened a bit. “Problem?”

  “Not at all. We’re almost done.” Alex looked at Shae. “Aren’t we?”

  “I’m outta here.” Shae took his tip money and left, nodding deferentially in his bosses’ direction as he went.

  Joe grinned briefly in Nick’s direction and Alex wondered momentarily at the unspoken undercurrent between the two. He didn’t have time to speculate, though.

  “Alex, I’m glad I caught you. Can you spare a moment?” Joe stepped back, indicating Alex should follow him. “Teddy, would you mind finishing up, please? I need a word with Alex.”

  The corners of Teddy’s mouth tightened a bit, but he nodded as Alex came out from behind the bar and left him to finish the rest of the clean up alone.

  Joe led the way to a semi-private corner of the room, far enough to put them out of earshot of Teddy, with Nick casually bringing up the rear. Surveying the room with a self-satisfied air, Joe shoved his hands into his pants pockets, balancing lightly on the balls of his feet. “How are things going for you, Alex?”

  Alex shifted, giving himself a bit more breathing room between him and his two bosses. “It’s going all right. How’s it going for you? Business okay?”

  “Business is good.” Joe nodded, considering. “Of course, there isn’t a businessman alive who doesn’t think it couldn’t be better. Things could always be better.”

  “I guess.” Alex had no idea where this was going, but it didn’t feel right. Joe had never singled him out for a one-on-one conversation like this before. “Did you need to talk to me about something?”

  “Well, since you ask, there is something you could do for me. For us.” He glanced at Nick, to his left, that private smile making another appearance. “Alex, I’d like you to consider transferring to the talent department. What would you think about being a performer for Durty Nelly’s?”

  Alex looked from one to the other, incredulous. “A performer? No way. Absolutely no chance.”

  “No? Just like that? You don’t want any time to think it over?”

  “I don’t need time, Mr. Sotheran. My answer is no. Absolutely not.” Alex’s stomach roiled at the mere idea. His arms folded protectively across his chest, one hand going to his throat, holding his collar closed.

  Nick joined in as they double-teamed him. “You’d earn a lot more as a stage performer. Even more for private shows. Right, Joe? I noticed that you have some debts you’re trying to pay down.”

  Alex swung his gaze to focus on Nick. Did they really think that that’s all it would be to him -- another way to make a living?

  “Are you saying I’m not paying it off fast enough?” Watching their faces closely, Alex tried to guess at their motivations. “I can work more shifts. Other rooms, even, if you need it.”

  Joe’s brown eyes were full of regret. “I’m really pretty well set for bar staff right now, Alex. Nelly’s has a certain reputation to maintain, it’s true, but when it’s all said and done, bartending’s a helluva lot easier to teach someone than how to put on a top notch sex show. Wouldn’t you agree?”

  “I…” There was every chance that Alex was pissing away his only source of income, but not even the prospect of being homeless again could get him to agree. He wouldn’t even consider it. “I’m sorry, Mr. Sotheran. I can’t.”

  “Oh, well.” Joe shrugged. “I guess if you can’t, you can’t. I had to try.”

  “Why?”

  Looking at Nick again, Joe’s expression grew even more neutral, if that was possible. “There have been certain… inquiries, on your behalf. You must know you’re very popular with Nelly’s clientele.”

  As a matter of fact, Alex didn’t know any such thing. The conversation was getting weirder by the minute. “What kind of inquiries?”

  Joe shrugged. “It has been communicated to me by,” again the hesitation, “…certain parties that should you ever become available, your time and talents would be very much sought after.”

  Alex was stunned. So much so that his mouth actually fell open for an instant. “Certain parties? Like who?”

  “Oh, I couldn’t say, of course. Privacy concerns and all that; I’m sure you understand. Besides which, you’re not interested.” Visibly changing focus, Joe turned to Nick. “I think we’re all done here. Care to go back and look at the numbers again? The basics are fairly simple, but learning some of the nuances takes a bit of practice.”

  “Sure. Sounds good.” Nick smiled and clasped his hands behind his back as he and Joe wandered off, leaving Alex standing frozen, mind racing. Someone had seen him? Maybe even been watching him. But who? It was creepy. God, it was…

  “Hey, Alex, you about done here? I saw the big boss leave and— Are you okay?” Sandy walked in, looking like a safe, peaceful island in the middle of a stormy sea.

  “Huh? Oh, yeah, sure. Um, just let me…” Alex looked around, hastily trying to pull himself together.

  Sandy came close, forcing Alex to look up to meet Sandy’s gaze. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  Alex tried to swallow. “Uh-huh.”

  “How about a kiss, then? I’m supposed to be your boyfriend, remember?”

  “Oh, yeah. Right.” He nodded.

  “Okay, I’m going to kiss you. I should probably grab your ass a little, too. Okay?”

  Sandy was standing closer now, his voice a soft rumble only Alex could hear and a tiny spark of heat began to burn low in Alex’s groin. Still clutching his own shirt, Alex’s field of vision was completely filled by Sandy now, big and dark and somehow reassuring instead of scary. “Yeah. That’d… all right.”

  “Good.” Another half-step closer and the heat from Sandy’s big body began to seep through Alex’s clothes. A hand slipped in behind Alex’s head, fingers weaving into his hair as Sandy lowered his head. Dark eyes, warm like melted chocolate, were so close A
lex was mesmerized -- drawn irresistibly by their magnetic pull. “Close your eyes, dummy. Try to look like you’re enjoying it.”

  Sandy’s lips were so close they brushed Alex’s as they murmured, his warm breath malty from the ale he’d been drinking. One big hand curved around Alex’s butt, nearly spanning it, and Alex’s heart, already beating hard, pounded harder. First licking gently at Alex’s mouth, Sandy brushed a light, playful kiss over it next, took Alex’s upper lip between his teeth and drew back, using only the lightest of pressure.

  Sandy played.

  Not harsh. Never demanding. Instead, almost carelessly, Sandy let his mouth tangle with Alex’s, lips and teeth and tongue sampling Alex’s as Alex stood disorientated.

  The hand on Alex’s ass swept in slow circles, as though committing the shape to memory in exquisite detail. Alex tried to keep some space between their bodies, but Sandy seemed to have other ideas and kept nudging Alex closer, the hard length of Sandy’s cock pressing into Alex’s belly.

  “G’night, you two. Lights on or off?”

  Alex pulled away, panting, trying to focus on Teddy, who stood expectantly next to the lighting control panel nearest the door. Looking from Teddy back to Sandy, Alex sucked in his breath at the look on Sandy’s face.

  Eyes slumberous. Breathing rapid. Tongue slipping out to taste his own wet lips.

  Pure lust.

  Panic fluttered in Alex’s breast, until the sudden realization hit him: Sandy was acting. It was all for show -- for Teddy. As the fear receded, admiration took its place. Not only was Sandy an expert strategist, but he would do anything for a friend.

  “Suit yourself. I’ll see you tomorrow, Alex.” Tired of waiting, Teddy shrugged and left.

  As Alex called a ‘See you’ after Teddy, Sandy raised his head. “C’mon, baby, let’s use your place. It’s closer.”

  Chapter 5

  Sandy was hard.

  His balls ached.

  His body was revved up and ready to go. Sandy wanted sex and he wanted it with the man whose fingers kept sliding out from under his as they climbed the stairs.

  He wasn’t going to get it, though -- and what’s more, he knew it.

  Still, Sandy kept reaching for Alex’s hand every time it slipped out of his as Alex led the way to his room upstairs.

  The fluid cut of Alex’s pants pulled taut alternately over the round curves of his butt and the long length of his thighs as they climbed the stairs, giving Sandy an eye-level visual of what he’d just had his hand on. Sweet. He might be guilty of trying to create a not entirely truthful impression of himself as Alex’s boyfriend, but one thing Sandy didn’t have to fake was his sincere appreciation of that stunning backside.

  Sandy’d known for a while that Alex rented a small efficiency apartment on the second floor of Nelly’s and it looked like tonight he was finally going to see the inside of it. What Sandy hadn’t counted on, though, was how getting his hands on Alex -- even for just the brief taste he’d had downstairs -- had gotten him more wound up than he’d figured. He might not be the brightest guy on the team, but even he could see that Alex was nowhere near ready for what Sandy’d been imagining. That didn’t keep his body from clamoring, though. What he wouldn’t give for this little exercise to be what they were pretending it was…

  Stopping in front of a plain white door with a number four on it, Alex swiped his security card, his gaze catching Sandy’s for an instant before he walked in and stood aside for Sandy to follow. As soon as they were both through, Sandy closed the door hard, falling back against it with his full weight. The door shuddered under Sandy’s weight and Alex took a step back, watching Sandy with big, uncertain eyes.

  “We couldn’t wait to be alone and I’m kissing you hard,” Sandy whispered. Closing his eyes, he groaned and moved against the door, making sure it vibrated beneath his weight.

  “What are you—”

  “Sssh!” Sandy cut Alex off, motioning him closer at the same time. Alex hesitated briefly before approaching. Using the toneless whisper that had been a combat necessity in his Marine days, Sandy spelled out what he had in mind. “Make a little noise. We’re supposed to be having a good time in here.”

  Catching on, Alex relaxed a little and even smiled as he moved closer. Joining Sandy in leaning on the door, Alex grinned and let out a moan so realistic it nearly brought Sandy to his knees. “Oh, Sandy.”

  Oh, Sandy.

  Oh, fuck -- he was in trouble.

  Serious trouble.

  He couldn’t do this. Already close, already so hard he could drive titanium rivets with his dick, Sandy couldn’t take Alex standing this close, moaning in his ear.

  “Sandy. Oh, baby, do it. Do it to me, now. Please.”

  The breathy panting that followed had Sandy closing his eyes and banging his head on the door. He had just enough ironic detachment left to appreciate the fact that it worked for the act they were putting on; irony didn’t do shit to distract Sandy from the tightness of his pants, though. Forcing his eyes open a crack, Sandy was just in time to see Alex raise an arm, almost as if he was going to—

  Sandy blocked Alex’s hand centimeters before it connected with his crotch.

  “Don’t.”

  Alex’s grin faded. “Why not?”

  Painfully aware of his situation, Sandy jerked his head in the direction of the room and away from the door. There wasn’t much room to retreat into. Just a small table and chair set barely big enough to sip a cup of coffee at, a tiny hygiene area, a reconst’ unit, and… a bed.

  The bed was out.

  Completely unsafe, uh-uh, no way.

  “Sit there.”

  Giving Alex a little shove toward the bed, Sandy picked a spot on the floor a meter or so away and sat down.

  “Sandy,” Alex landed on the bed with a bounce and turned. “I can take care of it for you. It’s no big deal.”

  Sandy tried not to glare; tried not to take it personally. But, damn it, it was personal.

  “It should be a big deal, Alex. It’s a big deal to me. It’s my dick and I get to say who touches it -- and why. It’s not a transaction and you don’t get me off as a way to say thanks, got it?”

  “But…” Confusion and hurt flickered over Alex's face. "But what if I wanted to?"

  His dick and balls -- already lobbying hard that they had no problem being a transaction, in fact, it was okie dokie, A-OK with them -- surged at Alex's plaintive question.

  “Wanted to why, though?”

  Alex shrugged a shoulder. “I don’t know. Because you’ve been nice. You’re helping me out. It doesn’t cost me anything and if it makes you happy, then that’s okay.”

  Considering where they were, the kind of place Alex worked, and where Sandy had been spending most of his nights lately, this was going to sound a little odd. Sandy knew from experience that telling people what they ought to do was a waste of breath, but here he went anyway, trying. “Don’t do it unless it makes you happy, too, Alex. It’s too important.”

  Those big eyes stared at him. Sandy wanted to fall into them, pull Alex in around him and never climb out again. “But what if I just want to be nice? What if it’s someone I like?”

  “Alex.” This was hard. Poor guy, he was so screwed up by what he’d been through. How to reach him without making him feel ignorant or like some kind of freak? “They took you so young. You didn’t have a chance to work through any of this like a normal human being, did you?”

  “Work through what? You need to get off -- I want to help you with it. What’s so hard about that, except that you won’t let me help?”

  “Because sex should be more than that. It should be about two people who care about each other.”

  Something flickered behind Alex’s eyes and his mouth took on a firmer line. “Like with you and Aaron, you mean? That must mean that you and Aaron really care about each other.”

  Crap. He hadn’t thought anyone had noticed, least of all Alex. How to explain dabbling in sex with hired com
panions?

  “That was… an experiment. An experiment that didn’t work out.”

  “What, you didn’t get off?” Alex was justifiably skeptical; Nelly’s staff was nothing if not competent. Professional.

  “Whether or not I got off isn’t the point.”

  “It’s not? Since when? Did you ask for your money back or not?”

  “No. I didn’t.” Arms folded across his chest, gaze that wouldn’t meet Sandy’s… That might even be a quivering lip he saw, thrust out so bravely against the world. “That’s not the right question though, Alex. The question should be, did I go back again? Did it buy me what I was looking for? The answers are ‘no’ and ‘no.’ I tried it and it didn’t give me what I wanted.”