Taking A Chance: Charity Anthology Read online

  I quickly let go of one nipple and twisted the ring in the other as I moaned low, hoping the cushions muffled me. I tightened my fist as the pleasure overtook me and hot liquid oozed over my knuckles. All my muscles flexed, and my pelvic muscles contracted hard with each pulse of my shaft that soaked my shorts.

  My heart pounded in my head, and I concentrated on slowing my breathing as my body completely relaxed into the couch. I let go of my nipple and straightened my arm so I wasn’t lying on it anymore. The low hum that had been thrumming through my body stopped. I realized then that the hum was an actual sound.

  I was drained of the previous energy, and my body was coming down from the high of the orgasm. I still hadn’t opened my eyes, letting myself float in the darkness.

  “May I cleanse you?”

  My eyes flew open, and I whipped my head around to the source of the soft voice. I wasn’t sure what I was more horrified of, the thought of Summer watching me hump the damn couch or the beautiful creature seeing my fat ass half-naked.

  Summer’s lips turned up in a small smile as he held out a cloth. Those thin, soft-looking lavender lips flattened as I stared at him. He lowered his hand and sat on the coffee table.

  “I didn’t know my morning meditation would have such an effect on you.” One side of his mouth quirked up again. “But you shouldn’t be embarrassed. It was quite pleasing to my senses.”

  I ungracefully pulled my hand out of my shorts and stuck it out of the blanket as I rolled onto my back. Summer hummed, but now it didn’t have the added vibration to it. He gently took my hand and brought it to his face. His nostrils flared just the tiniest bit as he inhaled. I wouldn’t have thought they could do that, but the movement was enough to be noticed.

  “The smell of you broke me out of my meditation, and I realized you were enjoying my humming. I endeavored to continue until you were satisfied.” His tongue slipped out from between his lips and circled around my middle finger.

  I was rendered mute as the black, oddly smooth muscle squeezed my finger as it moved from the base to the tip taking with it the evidence of how much I had enjoyed his hum. It took that evidence into Summer’s mouth, and he closed his eyes as he, judging by his facial expression, enjoyed the taste. Apparently, he wasn’t a missionary like his uncle.

  He took the same care with each of my thick digits. I wasn’t sure if he enjoyed the act or the taste, but the little noises he made sounded pleased. I took the time to admire him or, as Thadd would probably call it, gawk at his perfect body. He wore wide-legged pants that hugged his hips. The tops of his hip bones protruded out of the white fabric, making me want to lick and suck on them. He wasn’t wearing a shirt, showing off his long, very lean torso. His abdomen dipped in slightly past his ribcage making him seem underfed, but the Lomi were a desert species.

  They had a fat layer like humans but also a water layer. They could build up fat and water under their skin to survive for weeks without replenishing in the hot desert. It was remarkable, really. I didn’t know how their bodies knew when to store fat and water and when not to, but when they did, their bodies filled to double their size. It was why their muscles were lean but dense—they were stronger than they looked.

  When he was done, he wiped my hand dry with the towel he had brought in.

  “Thank you.” The tip of his tongue slowly swiped across his lips, and I wondered how it would feel against mine. His hands were soft, and he had long fingers that would feel amazing in certain places.

  “Ummm, you’re welcome?” What did one say after a near-stranger watched and apparently helped you masturbate and then cleaned you off with their tongue? “I should probably get ready and go to Drexel’s to see about your uncle.”

  “Yes. Shall I go with you?”

  “No. I’ll call my partner, and he’ll come over to keep you company. Drexel’s never closes, but the sooner in the day I can get there, the better. There’s a lull between the breakfast and lunch crowds.” I pushed to a sitting position, and my soaked, cold shorts made themselves known. I grimaced but was thankful my stomach probably covered up the embarrassment. As it was, I would have to wait a minute for my renewed arousal to go down before I stood with him right there in perfect view of my junk.

  Some humans my age had issues with their sex drive. I most certainly did not. It was one of those things that made my body’s defects a double-edged sword. I’d had an extremely high sex drive since I was a kid. Fortunately for me, the sex toy industry was alive and very well off. While my hands and arms had a challenging time keeping up with my sex drive as I got older, toys did not. I trusted that my guest hadn’t gone snooping in my bedroom.

  Summer stood and moved to put the towel in the washing unit in the kitchen area. I took the opportunity to stand and not watch how his ass moved in those pants. I quickly moved to the bedroom and pulled out clean underclothes before shutting myself in the bathroom. I groaned as my mind wouldn’t relinquish its hold on the image of Summer licking my fingers.

  I stood in my closet after a quick shower, trying to decide what to wear. I had sent a quick message to Thadd when I got out asking him to come over. I skimmed over my selection of suits. Going during the day didn’t mean the dress code had lessened. I chose a dark maroon suit with grey pinstripes.

  “That color is good on you.” Summer’s soft voice came from behind me. I pulled out the jacket and pants and laid them out on my bed. Summer had switched from his native language to Universal this morning. But even in Universal, his words had a harmonic lilt to them.

  “Thadd, my partner, should be here soon. He’ll make sure you stay safe while I’m gone.”

  “I apologize for last night.”

  I stopped on my way back to the closet and turned back to face Summer. “There’s nothing to apologize for.”

  “I have seen violence before. It made me sad to witness such indifference, and it had been a long day of travel. I was excited to see my uncle after many years, and to discover his home that way was difficult.”

  “No one should see violence.”

  “Sometimes violence is necessary, but indifference should never be.”

  “Some people are assholes.”

  Summer did that weird wheezing laugh that was growing on me.

  “I am happy that one person was not.”

  I smiled softly. “Me too.” I turned back to my closet. “When did you see violence?”

  “In the court of the emperor. I am a royal chronicler.”

  I took a dark grey shirt out that matched the stripes on the suit.

  “I bet that’s interesting and also boring.” I snorted out a light laugh.

  He matched my smile. “Yes. I have done it many years, and now I travel.”

  “Are you a missionary now?” I put on the shirt and started buttoning it.

  “No. Never. I will always chronicle.”

  “So, you’ll just travel and write what you see?”

  “Yes, and send back to the emperor. I have been traveling for many years.”

  I put my pants on and tucked my shirt in. “Always alone?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do you get lonely?”

  Summer looked up in thought. “Sometimes. There are always new people, new places, new experiences. We are a lonely people.” He paused and crinkled his nose. “No, not lonely. Lone?”

  “Solitary?” I offered.

  “Yes. Solitary.”

  I nodded. “So, it would be unusual for your uncle to seek out companionship even if it’s not sexual?”

  “Yes and no. But the way he looked in that image was not a priest seeking companionship but rather a Lomi seeking romantic love with another being, not the gods.”

  “I understand. I hope I can find the other person in that photo.”

  Summer stood and placed his hands on my shoulders. “May the sun light your path through the darkness as you seek the way through the storm.”

  He released me and strode out of the room. I watched his back with a weird feeling in my chest. I shook my head with a sigh and got back to getting dressed.

  Drexel’s was the type of place that was high end on the surface but if you looked past that, you’d see it for the dive that it was. I nodded to the doorman as the double doors hissed open. You can put a Kilraxon in a suit but even with his batlike wings tucked in close to his body, the suit didn’t hide how intimidating they can be. That particular Kilraxon was a softy once you got past his scales, sharp bone ridges, and claws. Narek and I had coffee and a game of chess now and then when Drexel wasn’t keeping him busy.

  The gravely deep voice of one of the bar’s singers floated through the air accompanied by the piano he played. He must have been new because I didn’t recognize him. The poles were empty for now, but I saw a few regular dancers flitting through the tables flirting with customers. It was close to lunch, and I still hadn’t eaten yet. I grabbed a seat at a high table toward the back perpendicular to the bar.

  I unbuttoned my jacket as a familiar young man sauntered up to me with a bright smile. There was a hook on the wall near the table, and I put my jacket there as Ivey got closer. I reflexively tugged the ends of my vest, making sure it didn’t hike up over my stomach, and I smoothed out my tie that was held by the vest.

  “Long time no see Mr. Tekken.” Ivey was a little shorter than me, petite, and wearing tiny shorts and a t-shirt that left nothing to the imagination. I pulled the boy into a tight hug, and he wrapped his arms around my neck and tucked his head into my neck. He smelled like coconut, alcohol, and sweat. It wasn’t horrible, just the hazards of his job. I probably got some glitter on me from the hug, but I didn’t mind. I was simply happy Ivey wasn’t too skinny like he had been in the past. It meant Drexel wasn’t being a total asshole these days, which
didn’t bode well if the rumors were true.

  I finally let Ivey go, and he stepped back. “You’re looking mighty fine, Mr. Tekken. What can I get you?”

  I scrutinized Ivey’s face and finally settled on his eyes. He seemed off. There was a spark missing from them that didn’t sit right with me, and he never used to call me mister before. “You doing okay, Ivey? Not working too hard?”

  His smile dipped just a fraction, and then his face pulled tight as he smiled wider. “Nah, I’m great. It’s just been a long night, and I’m almost off finally. You want some breakfast or lunch?”

  I knew that whatever was wrong, he couldn’t talk about it here. I didn’t push. I kissed him on the cheek before sitting on the high stool. “Yeah, let me have a veggie omelet with some porcine bacon and sausage.”

  “You got it, Mr. Tekken. You want some of that miltonberry juice you like too?”

  “Please. How much longer do you have?”

  Ivey looked at his comm band. “Another hour.”

  “Tell Manny I’ll pay double for your last hour and then order you something to eat and keep me company.” I made my order sound a little harsh, but if I didn’t, Ivey wouldn’t do it, and asking him to join me was a waste of time. It wasn’t that he didn’t like my company the complete opposite, in fact, but we both knew that appearances were everything here. If he looked too eager to be with me, then Manny would be a dick about it. Manny was Drexel’s right hand man and took too much pleasure in being an asshole to the employees.

  Ivey’s smile faltered, and he inclined his head. “As you wish, Mr. Tekken.”

  He walked to the back, and I sat on the backed stool with my back to the wall. The song playing finished with a flourish of the piano keys, and I clapped with everyone else. I hadn’t been paying attention to it while I observed the room. The place was maybe a third full and with most people in groups of two or more. A few single people were sitting and eating, minding their own business.

  It wasn’t long before Ivey was back carrying a tray laden with a few plates and glasses. It appeared that Manny was agreeable today. My stomach grumbled as the smells of the cooked meat came closer. I adjusted my seat to face the table, and Ivey started putting the plates down. He put the tray on the table behind him, and then he slid into the seat across from me.

  I picked up the datapad he placed on the table and looked over the charges before putting my thumb to the screen and authorizing them. Manny charged me triple the regular hourly rate. I wasn’t going to complain, and he knew it. The bastard. I put it off to the side and pushed my irritation aside.

  The wonderful thing about replicated food was that all the harmful stuff wasn’t in it. I felt no guilt in picking up the crispy strip of meat and chopping it in half. I moaned at the salty flavor.

  “You know I got something else you can moan around if you like, Mr. Tekken.” Ah, there was a little peek at the usually flirty and bratty Ivey I knew.

  I shook my head with a smile and swallowed. “You couldn’t handle my mouth on you, brat. Now, eat your breakfast.”

  Ivey smiled and dug into the stack of pancakes he had in front of him. I popped the other half of the bacon strip in my mouth and then poured the small container of syrup that Ivey remembered onto my omelet. I had no idea what real bacon tasted like. I’ve had real fruit and vegetables because we grow those here and other places I’ve lived. Those things usually aren’t scarce, but meat and dairy products were. Some fish were readily available since they could be transported live in tanks and smaller animals weren’t too hard, but the larger ones were the issue. But with technology readily available throughout the Alliance, it wasn’t that big of a deal since it could all be replicated.

  We ate in comfortable silence and judging by the fact that Ivey wasn’t inhaling his food, he had been eating regularly. That made me feel mildly better about his situation, but I still wished he weren’t tied to Drexel as he was. Thadd had tried to buy out Ivey’s contract with Drexel last year, and it went badly. Badly enough that Thadd refused to come here again, not even to check on Ivey. I tried to come every few months, but life was busy, and it was hard seeing someone you couldn’t help. It was selfish but true.

  I watched him as I ate. He knew I wasn’t big on talking and eating at the same time, so his attention was on his food. His body relaxed, and his guard came down just a little. He seemed tired and not just physically. I washed down my mouthful with a swallow of the tart juice I loved so much.

  I twisted around and reached into my jacket's inner pocket and took out the photo of Summer’s uncle. Ivey’s head raised as I moved. He smiled genuinely this time. My heart ached to see someone who was just starting their life be resigned and defeated.

  I pushed the photo across the table. “Have you seen either of these people? I’m looking for the Lomi.” I tapped on it above the head of Summer’s uncle.

  Ivey dragged the photo closer with a nod. “Yeah, that’s Kitty Divine. I don’t know the name of the Lomi, but I’ve seen him here a few times.”

  “When was the last time you saw him?”

  “It’s been a while, maybe a few weeks. I’ve been on the late-night early morning shift all month, though.” He sipped his water and leaned an elbow on the table, still looking at the photo.

  “How about Kitty?”

  “She’s a performer here. Fairly new. She’s only been here a few months. I haven’t seen her in a few days. She usually works the early evening crowd. Manny would know more about her schedule.”

  “Do you know if she’s contracted to Drexel?”

  Ivey fidgeted in his seat at the mention of the contracts. His eyes darted to the side, but no one was near us. “I don’t think so, but you know how it is here.” His voice lowered, and he leaned closer. “It doesn’t matter, contract or not, if you work for Drexel, you’re Drexel’s.”

  He leaned back, and I reached over to pick up the photo. “Do you know where she’s staying?”

  “Not in the employee housing. That’s all I know.” Ivey looked at his comm band nervously. We still had about thirty minutes.

  “Finish your breakfast.” I smiled and nodded toward his plate that was still half full. I wasn’t done yet either since I was taking my time. I couldn’t go early; they’d just make him spend the time with someone else, and I couldn’t do that to him.

  “Are you still not allowed to leave?” I asked in a hushed tone. Ivey stiffened, and he shook his head slightly. “You know I’m always there if you need.” Ivey nodded slightly but didn’t look up.

  We spent the rest of the time talking about books. He was an avid reader. We both loved some of the same authors, and we talked about the latest releases. Ivey’s mood had turned around, and he was smiling and laughing like the man I knew.

  Our time was up way too soon, and I regretted leaving him there. I hugged him close as I said my farewells and slipped one of the rings I had been wearing to him. It wasn’t much, but he’d be able to trade it for a few things.

  I exited the bar with a heavy heart. Ivey might not have had much to say, but it was what he didn’t say that was the loudest. I didn’t look back as the doors hissed closed behind me.

  “Tekken?”

  I stopped at my name and looked back at Narek. “I’m sorry. Have a good day, Narek.”

  “I’m off in a few. How about we meet up for that rematch I owe you? Say around the thirteenth hour at our usual café?”

  I was confused because we hadn’t played in a long time, but I smiled like I knew exactly what he was talking about. “Yeah, I’m not doing anything later. It’ll be fun to let you win again,” I teased.

  Narek made this gravely sound in his throat that indicated he was laughing. I waved and walked down the corridor nonchalantly.

  I sat in the tube back to the habitat ring and thought about what I had learned. Most of the staff at Drexel’s were under contract. This made them no better than indentured servants, and Drexel extended contracts at whim. There were many ways someone became contracted to him, none of them good. The contracts were legal on the surface and looked on the up and up as work contracts with the business providing food and shelter in exchange for lower wages.