Taking A Chance: Charity Anthology Read online

  The universal translator had a tough time catching the muffled whispers of the Lomi who clung to me. It caught a “sorry” here and there and, at one point, “soft,” which made me cringe a bit. Several minutes passed, and he seemed calmer.

  He nuzzled his face into my chest, which started to feel a bit awkward, so I tried to pull back. I really didn’t want to see the mess of snot that I already felt seeping through to my skin. I pulled out a handkerchief from my back pocket as I leaned back, trying to gain some distance between us.

  The Lomi jolted back like he realized what he was doing, and his face turned an adorable darker lavender. Those enticing dark violet eyes widened. Seeing as they were already larger than one would expect, it made him seem incredibly young. I offered the cloth, which he took with the sides of his thin lips turning upward in a shy little smile. He blew his nose several times, which made an interesting honking sound. I wondered if it was due to the shape. They didn’t have rounded protruding tips or nostrils like humans did. Instead, the nostrils blended into their face making it seem flat but with a lip-type edge from the top. I figured it was an evolutionary advantage to keep sand out of it in high winds on their desert planet. The environment's influence on species evolution was so interesting.

  The Lomi offered me back the now soggy cloth. I took the edge between my fingertips and walked over to the washer we had in the office. I bent over to open the lid and threw it in, then stood and unbuttoned my shirt to add it as well. I closed the cover and pressed the start button. I straightened and smoothed out my undershirt and stepped to the replicator next to it.

  “Computer water cool.” Once the small door slid open, I took the tall glass of water and turned to face my guest once again. He clutched his bag to his chest and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. I offered the water, and he took it with a small nod.

  “Thank you.” His soft melodious voice made him appear more vulnerable.

  I went around to a compartment behind my desk and took out a clean shirt. Buttoning it as I went back, I pulled the chair in front of Thadd’s desk over and waited patiently.

  “Thank you.” He took another sip of the water and cleared his throat. “You very kind.”

  The Lomi language was beautiful. It flowed like soft lyrical music, and I wished I could hear it without the translator's interruption.

  “My uncle not here. I arrived after many days on transport. His domicile destroyed and uncle nowhere.” His hands started to shake, so he put the glass on my desk. “I call for help. Station authority come. They do not help.”

  I furrowed my brow as I tried to wade through the computerized translation and make heads or tails of it. “Did they say you had to wait another cycle?”

  He nodded. “One said he left on journey to find gods.”

  I sighed. It wasn’t unusual, unfortunately, to see a lack of tolerance. The Lomi missionaries were pacifists and were often taken advantage of. I hoped something awful didn’t happen.

  “One stayed after the other left and told me where to find you. Please, help.” Another tear escaped him, and even if I wanted to, there was no way I was going to refuse.

  “I’m happy to help in whatever way I can, but first, I need to know your name.” I gave him my best disarming smile. I wasn’t surprised the station security officer sent him my way. I had several acquaintances on the force. With some of our clientele, we had to work closely with them, and I tried to maintain good relations.

  The Lomi smiled in return and spoke something long that sounded like wind chimes blowing on a lazy wind. It took several seconds for the translation to hit my brain. “Light wind on summer’s night in desert.”

  “That’s quite the mouthful. Do you prefer something shorter?” I hedged.

  The Lomi laughed, or at least that’s what I thought based on the wide smile that accompanied the low, breathy wheezes. My brain wasn’t ready for the simultaneous impact of both arousal and humor the sound had on it.

  “Summer’s Wind,” he finally said.

  I pursed my lips in thought. “Do you mind if I call you Summer?”

  He tilted his head to the side and then straightened with a smile and a nod. “Yes, that is acceptable. Or there is a name on my identification.” He reached into his bag and brought out a small datapad.

  I took it from him and looked at the smiling picture of the Lomi seated in front of me. To my surprise, he was older than I was, but the name they had on it made me chuckle, Dessert Knight. I wasn’t sure if that was a typo or what happened.

  “I think I’ll stick to Summer if that’s okay with you?” He nodded, the same smile still on his face. “And my name is Tekken McAllister. You can call me Tekken.”

  Summer crinkled his nose and repeated my name under his breath. It came out more like Tekon, which I was fine with, but he said it again, changing the tone slightly so instead of it sounding like a deep gong at the end, it was softer. I wasn’t sure what the translator was making my name into for him. But he didn’t seem to dislike it as he repeated it a few more times with his head lowered, clearly talking to himself rather than me.

  “Well, let’s go check out your uncle’s quarters. What’s your uncle’s name? Do you know how long he’s been missing?” I figured it was easier to just jump in than let him linger over my name. I didn’t mind that he got it slightly wrong. It was cute, actually.

  Summer shook his head sadly. “No, I do not know. I not speak to him since I boarded last transport. His name is Scalding Sand in short.”

  “Have you been by the Lomi temple? Your uncle was a missionary, right?” I exited the office and waited for Summer before I locked it. I noticed that Kryton’s shop was dark.

  Summer shook his head again. “Yes, he serves the gods, but I did not know where the temple was.”

  “Okay, that’s not a problem. We’re not too far away. We’ll stop by there first. Maybe someone there knows where your uncle is.”

  Summer seemed hopeful once again, and I lead him down the street to the main thoroughfare.

  The station was designed like a small planet with rings. The core was command central and ball-shaped. The first ring was the habitat ring where everyone lived. The next ring was agriculture. The hydroponics, water reclamation, and waste reallocation all stayed on that ring. I know it seems weird to have it all together, but much of the station's waste was recycled. The ring beyond that was the commercial ring with a level purely devoted to the vast number of religions that set up shop there. The last ring was for docking ships and cargo.

  We needed to go up a few floors, so I headed toward the nearest lift. Summer stayed close to me as we navigated down the thoroughfare. Despite the late hour, there was still quite a bit of traffic on this level. Summer looked around, but it wasn’t in wonderment like I thought he would, but in caution like I was doing too. He kept his bag close to his chest and made sure he was within touching distance of me.

  We got to the lift, and the doors opened with our proximity. We walked in and they closed. “Temple level,” I ordered, and the lift ascended. When we stepped out, Summer visibly relaxed. The floor was quiet, even with the people walking around. It wasn’t as busy as the level my office was on, but there were enough people to notice.

  I tapped on the directory in front of the lift and looked for the Lomi temple. Luckily, we weren’t too far. I turned right and walked determinedly around the curve. Once we got outside the temple, Summer raised his hand for me to wait.

  “I will go in and talk to priests. They will not like an unbeliever on the holy grounds.” He looked apologetic, and I nodded in understanding. He bowed his head and passed through the doors that opened at his presence.

  I took the opportunity to tap my comm band and call Thadd. A muffled “What?” sounded in my ear from the other half of the comm unit. “What happened to the hot date you had?”

  More mumbling accompanied by grunts carried through. “I just called to let you know that your favorite ambassador is coming in four days, and I have a new case.”

  “Fuck…” Thadd groaned.

  “Not right now.” I knew he was talking about the ambassador, but we teased each other about everything.

  “Then when?” he whined playfully.

  “When you’re ugly enough to make me look good.” I stuck out my tongue even though I knew he couldn’t see me.

  “So, when I’m dead?” he groused.

  “Yeah, about then.” We had many variations of this conversation, but it never got old.

  Thadd laughed softly in his deep voice that I’ve seen seduce many persons. “What’s the new case?”

  “A missing Lomi missionary.”

  “Are they sure he just didn’t move on in his journey?”

  “Pretty sure, but I’m at the temple now with his nephew who came into the office tonight asking for our help.”

  Thadd snorted. “A Lomi in distress, huh?”

  “Well, he is pretty. Too pretty for me, of course.”

  “Self-deprecation looks good on no one, Tek.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, yeah, anyway, I got the information we needed tonight to close out the Trabi case.”

  “She cheating?”

  “Oh yeah. Her wife is not going to be happy.”

  “Thousands of years and PIs are still catching cheaters.” I could see Thadd shaking his head like he did every time.

  I shrugged. “It pays the bills.”

  “My fine ass pays the bills.”

  “Pssht! That fine ass just gets you in trouble.” I laughed as I turned back around in my paced circuit. Summer was waiting for me, looking very tired and not like he had found any information on his uncle. “I gotta go. I’ll talk to you later.”

  “Okay. If you need help with the missing person's cas
e, hit me up. I’m free till the ambassador gets in.”

  “I will. Good night.” I clicked off and gave Summer a small smile. “Sorry, was just catching my partner up on things. What did they say?”

  “Said he left early today to prepare for my arrival not expected back for several days. Alarmed that he wasn’t anywhere found and didn’t know where he could be.” Summer sighed heavily, and his shoulders slumped.

  “Well, let’s go take a look at his quarters and see if there are any clues there.” Summer nodded slowly, and we walked to the nearest tube station.

  Six tube tunnels linked the rings together like old-fashioned spokes on a wheel. We didn’t have to wait long for a car to arrive, and then we zipped through to the inner ring. Summer stared out of the car window. It was quite a sight to behold since the tubes were clear. It felt like you were flying through space, and the lights of the station twinkled all around you.

  Once we got to the habitat ring, Summer input the dwelling number into the computer panel near the tube entrance. We needed to go down a few floors, and then it wasn’t too far from there.

  Summer had been quiet the whole way, and I didn’t feel the need to fill the air between us. I hated small talk, and the silence didn’t feel awkward. I also liked that he let the silence stand. He was probably just exhausted at this point, or maybe he was like me. I hoped for the latter.

  We exited the lift, and Summer slowed as we got closer to his uncle’s quarters. When we got to the door, Summer pressed his hand to the entry panel, and the door slid open. It seemed that his uncle had had time to get Summer set up to stay with him properly. Summer stayed back as I poked my head in.

  The light was still on, and I stepped through. What little furnishing there was had been tossed around. Books were scattered and torn. The mattress was turned over and slashed through. They were obviously looking for something. Clothes were strewn about, drawers were turned out, and the floor was littered with broken bits.

  “Is this how you found it when you arrived?” I glanced back over my shoulder to Summer who was still in the doorway.

  “Yes. It is horrible.”

  “I suppose you don’t know whether anything is missing, do you?”

  He shook his head sadly.

  I stepped carefully around the bits and pieces, looking for anything out of the ordinary, something that didn’t fit with a man devoted to his faith. I squatted and picked up a book that was splayed open and closed it properly. I reached farther and picked up another one. As I did, a small photo slipped out. I closed the book and picked up the photo from the floor.

  No one usually had photos anymore, but then again, most people didn’t have books either. These looked like well-worn religious books, which wasn’t too surprising. In the photo was a Lomi who I assumed was Summer’s uncle and a Crelan. The photo was close up; their heads pressed together and smiles on their faces. I couldn’t tell the gender of the Crelan, but what I could see was the wall behind them, which I knew very well.

  The photo had been taken inside Drexel’s. A bar owned by you got it, Drexel, a Dhalnolian who was a pain in my ass. My knees creaked as I straightened, and I showed Summer the photo with a wince.

  “Is this your uncle?” I walked back over to him.

  He took the photo from me. “Yes, that is him.”

  “Do you recognize the Crelan with him? Did he ever talk to you about maybe a romantic interest?”

  “No, and all priests take vows of celibacy. He should not have been at a place like this.” Summer’s brow crinkled not in disgust as I would have thought but more of concern.

  “Well, I know where this place is. I can go there tomorrow. Do you have somewhere you can stay? I don’t think it’s safe for you here.”

  “No. I can stay here. I should clean it up for my uncle.” Summer stepped in finally and walked to a small suitcase in the corner.

  “I can’t let you stay here by yourself. It really isn’t safe. Come on. You can stay with me. I’d feel better.” I stood in the doorway and gestured for him to go first.

  He picked up the case and stopped in front of me. “Thank you, Tekken McAllister. You have done me a great kindness.” He bowed his head, which was a little awkward since he was much taller than me, but I appreciated the gesture.

  “Come on. I know you have to be tired, and please just call me Tekken.” I smiled as best I could with my exhaustion setting in. “I don’t live too far from here.”

  We walked down the hall to the lift. Several floors and five minutes later, I palmed open the door to my quarters. It wasn’t much, but it was bigger than the one we were just in. It had an enclosed bedroom for one and an intact couch that was mercifully comfortable.

  Summer stopped inside the door and it hissed shut behind him.

  “I know it’s not much but it's comfortable. You can have my room, and I’ll take the couch.” I sat on the couch to unlace my boots.

  “No, I cannot take your bed. I sleep there.” Summer pointed to the couch. The couch that was definitely not long enough for him, my bed would barely work for him. Thankfully, I liked big beds.

  I shook my head. “No, you won’t fit, and you’ll just hurt yourself.” I pulled my boots off and stood again. I put my hand on his wrist and led him toward my bedroom. “My bedroom is here, and through there is the bathroom. I’m sorry, but I only have a sonic shower. Please, make yourself at home.”

  I took his suitcase out of his hands and put it next to the bed. “Please.” I gestured for him to sit. “It’s late, and I know you’re tired.”

  Summer reluctantly came farther into the room and sat, bouncing a little on the bed. “Thank you, Tekken.” He smiled softly and I nodded.

  “If you need anything, I’ll be out there.” I opened the closet next to the bathroom and pulled down an extra blanket from the top shelf. “Sleep well, Summer.” I exited the room and tapped the button to close the bedroom door.

  I put the blanket on the couch and stripped down to my undershirt and boy shorts. Thadd liked to tease me about them because he thought I was too old to wear something called that, but they were comfortable, and that’s all I cared about. It’s not like I was showing them off to anyone anymore.

  I settled on the couch and pulled the blanket around me. “Computer, dim lights.” The lights lowered just enough to see after my eyes adjusted. I didn’t like sleeping in complete darkness or silence either, but I didn’t want to disturb my guest.

  I didn’t normally take complete strangers into my home, but there was something about Summer. I was comfortable around him, and that wasn’t something that happened very often. I also didn’t want to examine it too closely. I’ll find out what happened to his uncle, and then he’ll be out of my life again.

  A strange sadness followed me into sleep at the thought of Summer not being a part of my life.

  My face was smooshed into the back of my couch. I had no idea what time it was, and I was sure I should get up, but I didn’t want to. Once I opened my eyes, I’d have to face reality. Reality wasn’t so bad, but right now, in the warmth of the blanket and the darkness of my eyelids, reality was anything I wanted it to be.

  My body lamented the disruption to my nightly routine. Maybe I would have been horny even if I had masturbated the night before. That wouldn’t have been unusual, but this morning my body buzzed and tingled. The tight flesh of my nipples brushed against the fabric of my shirt twisted around my body. I normally slept sans clothing, but I didn’t want to scare my guest with the sight of my nakedness.

  My knee was bent, and I was mostly on my stomach. The front of my shorts was wet, and the fabric clung to my sensitive skin. I contracted just my pelvic muscles, held them for several seconds, and then released and contracted them again. I preferred to do this type of exercise with a big fat dildo in my ass, but I’d have to settle for without.

  Each contraction made the soft fabric of my shorts rub against my length. I held each one as long as I could. The length progressively shortening. The slight movements built up fast. I tried to keep my breathing even, but I huffed into the couch cushion. I flipped the hand I was laying on over and hooked my finger through the titanium nipple ring and twisted it. The delicious sting shot through the center of my body, causing my shaft to pulse.

  I was close now. I shoved my other hand into my shorts and circled my thumb and forefinger around the underside of my head. I was hard enough that my foreskin had pulled back taut, but I tried to push forward as I enclosed my hand around the shaft. Keeping tight pressure around the underside of my head, I thrust into my fist, popping my head through that tight circle over and over.