No Way Back (3 page)

“Throw the dirt in here,” he said over his shoulder, patting the sling he’d made. “We can’t throw it outside the pit or it might draw attention to us.”

Drum tried not to stare at the lightly defined muscles in Jake’s back and arms, a difficult task considering how those muscles flexed as he worked. And his ass was damn near perfect, tight with a fair amount of meat to nibble and lick. His cock twitched when he thought about running his hands up Jake’s broad back and squeezing his shoulders in a silent request for him to bend over so he could sink into Jake’s tight hole. While Jake had his back to him, Drum reached beneath his loincloth and stroked himself. He hadn’t hidden his erection since he jumped into this pit. He wasn’t going to start now. His arousal would make him work faster. He couldn’t wait to get Jake into the safety zone where he could take his time exploring Jake’s mind and body. He wanted to discover his likes and dislikes, taste him, skim his fingers through his hair, trace the contours of his muscles, and of course, stroke his cock into a stiff, erect shaft. Then he’d take him, starting the transformation process with long, swift strokes inside Jake’s tight ass.

Oh, yeees
. The firm pulls on his cock drew heat all around his balls. With regret, he dropped his hand before he got carried away with the pleasure of masturbating, and started digging.

As much as it would speed up the process, the two of them couldn’t work side by side at the bottom of the pit, so Drum told Jake to clear the partially blocked opening at the top of the pit. “The Tygess --Wallabusk killers --have an innate fear of depths, so they stay clear of open holes.”

“The Wallabusks can’t reach in and tear off the door?”

“No. Their tentacles are useless on the flat surface of the door.”

Jake ripped a hunk of tangled vines out of the way. It took more effort than time to uncover the hatch. Dirt scraped through the top hinges as Drum pushed the thick metal door in and latched it open on the inside. The low entry required him to wiggle through on his belly. This zone must’ve been closed for quite awhile. The stale air was barely breathable. Using the sunlight from outside to see into the dim space, he reached into the bin inside the doorway and activated several light sticks. Once inside, he crawled across the dirt floor to the air regenerator panel and punched in the temperature to High Cool. A warm breeze wafted through the small space. Since the drinking water continually cycled through the mini tower, it always tasted fresh, but he tested it anyway. After all the running and digging he’d done, the water refreshed him. At the back of the room, he sat down with crossed legs facing the door and called out to Jake. “Come in!”

As expected, Jake didn’t look very happy with the accommodations. He threw his sack in before he crawled inside. “Fuck, it’s small in here.”

Slightly longer than Jake’s frame when he stretched his arms out in front of him and tall enough for an average Alishon male to sit but not stand, the space was designed for utility, not comfort. Balanced on the balls of his feet, Jake reached over his head and placed his hand flat on the concrete ceiling. “I’ll go nuts in here for three moons.”

“It will suffice.”

“It’s stuffy as hell.”

“Leave the hatch open for a minute. It will cool down quickly.” Drum filled a narrow bottle with water and handed it to Jake. “Any other complaints?”

Jake made a face at the dirt floor but said nothing. He braced his back against the longer wall adjacent to Drum and sat with his arms slung around his folded legs, the water bottle dangling from his fingertips. Drum let him grow accustomed to the space. A far-off animal cry reminded him to close the door, but just as he was about to get up to take care of it, Jake stretched his long legs out in front of him, across Drum’s path. The toe of his boot tapped the opposite wall. After a brief examination of the pale aqua liquid in his drinking container, he swirled the contents and sipped. “Aah. Good water.” His raised his bottle in a salute.

Once again Drum stared, mesmerized, watching Jake’s throat work as he guzzled down his drink.
Mm. Bring those wet lips over here. I’ve got
something for you to suck down
. His loincloth tented over an erection which seemed to build and retreat in a maddening cycle.

“I guess we have to share?” Jake held up the empty bottle.

“Yes.” Were humans germophobes? He couldn’t remember. “I am sorry. The zones were designed for one.”

Jake wiped the mouth of the empty bottle on his athletic shirt before passing it over. “No problem.” For the briefest moment, his gaze dropped to Drum’s crotch.

Drum used the distraction to brush his fingertips over Jake’s hand when he handed off the bottle. Did Jake notice?

His face stoic, Jake leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes. He raised one knee and rested his forearm on it, effectively hiding any telltale signs of his attraction to Drum. If Jake had any evidence to hide. His roommate ran so hot and cold, he wasn’t sure what was going through his mind or how it was affecting his body.

He couldn’t press Jake too hard, too fast. But he wanted to. Stars above, he wanted to. If he could just figure out a way -A high-pitched squeal and thumping came from the pit. Drum sprang to his hands and knees.

“What the --” Jake scrambled to a crouched position at the same time, blocking Drum. He tore through his sack, probably looking for his laser pistol.

Drum lunged for the door, trying to shove Jake out of the way. A small Tygess twisted off its back and onto six paws right outside the door. Shaken by its fall, the creature lunged inside the safety zone, its forest green fur raised over its spine and the three horns on its head aimed straight at Jake’s thigh. It was a baby, but its sharp teeth could strip a large chunk out of a man’s flesh.

Jake cried out in surprise, then shock when it leapt at him. The tips of the horns grazed his stomach as he jerked back. He kicked out at it and its claws scraped down his bare legs. It screamed in a high-pitched cry and charged again, this time baring its pointy teeth.

Drum slammed Jake back against the air control panel out of harm’s way, but not fast enough. The creature snapped its jaws at Jake’s ankle. Blood spurted across the dirt floor.

Enraged, Drum grabbed the jagged horns and twisted. A loud pop resonated in the small space and the Tygess lay dead at his feet, its neck twisted at an unnatural angle.

Jake struggled for air.

“Are you all right?” Drum gaped at the blood seeping around Jake’s fingers where he held his ankle.

“The boot took the brunt of the bite.” He lifted his hand to show the chunk missing from the top of his boot and the raw carnage beneath.

“Shut the damn door,” he hissed.

Drum climbed over him, slammed the hatch shut and locked it. From the slender pouch hanging from his thigh, he withdrew a combination anesthesia and antibiotic strip. “Take off your boot.”

Jake already had the buckles unsnapped. He grunted as he pulled the heavy boot away from his ankle. Before he’d pulled it completely off, Drum slapped the wide med strip over the mauled skin. His heart pounded in his chest. “My fault… my fault.” He shook his head in self-loathing as he wiped another pad over the deep scratches on Jake’s legs. Blood stained his shirt, too. With his fingertips on the hem, he looked up at Jake for permission to lift his shirt up. Jake slid the white fabric up over his hard belly. Three small gouges oozed dark red blood. Anguish stabbed Drum in the gut. “Sorry, Jake.” His hands shook while he dabbed at the puncture wounds. Blood seemed to be smearing everywhere.

Jake grabbed his hands and turned his palms up. “The horns sliced your hands open.”

As soon as he said it, the pain registered in Drum’s mind.
That stings like
the fiery thorns of Chalow
. “Minor scratches. Ignore them.”

Now Jake shook his head. He lifted the pad off his stomach and dabbed it on one palm, then the other. “You saved my life.”

“I nearly got you killed! I meant to shut the door…”

“Forget it.” With a feather touch, Jake smoothed the cooling pad over Drum’s palms. “Whatever this med is, it’s working great.” He flipped the bloody cloth over and held it against the deepest cut. Drum watched the scratches in his hands slowly close as the medicine worked its magic. “Crushed
papisodi
.” At Jake’s curious glance, he smiled.

“A type of beetle.” Jake’s slow grin lit Drum’s insides all the way to his toes. “If you don’t have a
papisodi
sample in your pack, I’ll find you one.”

“Thanks.” He gazed into Drum’s eyes.

The warmth in that look nearly rocked Drum back on his heels.
Thanks
. Such a simple word and yet so profound.

Things were looking up.

“I have to get this carcass out of here before its mother comes looking for it, or worse, the rest of the pack. Hand me your laser pistol.” Balanced on his knees, Drum shouldered the heavy beast and held out one hand for the gun, hoping Jake trusted him enough to give it to him. “Scavengers aren’t particular about their meals. While I’m gone, keep that pad on your ankle.”

“Where are you going?” Concern laced the edges of Jake’s eyes. He handed him the gun without a qualm, which truly surprised Drum.

“I’ll be right outside the pit.” He held up Jake’s pistol. “I’m going to flash cook us a meal.”

“Are you crazy? You won’t have time to do that.”

“Yes, I will. I am a superior provider. You will see, Jake.”

“I’m coming with you.” To Jake’s credit, he didn’t wince when he shuffled onto his knees, ready to crawl out. The healing pad fell off his ankle into the dirt.

“No.” Drum put down the pistol so he could pick up the pad. “This,” he said, shaking the dirt from the moist cloth and turning it over to the clean side, “is more important for you.”

Jake grumbled and snatched it from his hand. Without the pad, his wound must ache horribly.

Taking a chance, Drum smoothed his hand past Jake’s temple into his hair. “Wait for me here. I won’t be gone long.”

Jake tilted his head away from Drum’s hand, slowly, never taking his eyes off Drum’s face.

Oh, yes. Progress.

The sound of shuffling outside of the hatch made the hair on Jake’s arms stand up. He crouched inside the shelter, his fist tightening around a thick stick he’d taken from the pit and sharpened. If another alien creature attacked him or Drum, he’d shove the lance down its throat. A series of thumps vibrated the hatch door. “Open up,” Drum said in a muffled voice.

Jake rushed to let his new friend in, his heart pounding hard in his chest.

“Are you all right?” He raised his weapon at the dark green fur under Drum’s arm.

Drum grinned and handed him a long spear skewered with several brown slabs of steaming meat. “Dinner.”

Jake slammed the hatch closed behind them. “Hey, you didn’t even ask how I like my meat cooked,” he teased, amazed at how fast Drum had skinned, cut, and cooked the wild beast.

Drum looked up at him with a look of chagrin.

“I’m kidding. It looks great.” It even smelled appetizing. “It
is
edible, right?”

“Best natural protein on the planet.” Drum slid a chunk of meat off his spear and stuck it on the point of Jake’s stick. “How is your ankle?”

“Fine.” The wound looked raw and disgusting but the med pad kept the pain at a minimum. He drew the end of his stick up to his mouth and bit off a small piece of meat. “Mm. You’re hired.”

Drum looked at him quizzically.

“That’s an expression that means you’ve done something well and you’re invited to do it again and again.”

Dimples popped into Drum’s cheeks when he smiled. Jake shook his head at himself. Why in the world did he think Drum looked
cute
? He felt like a damn teenager with his first crush. Crazy!

Avoiding eye contact, he sat and ate his food. Drum crouched next to his knee, between him and the hatch door, with the laser pistol at his side. It seemed neither one of them intended to get caught off guard by feral animals again.

The carnivores on this planet were the scariest creatures he’d ever encountered. Mosquitoes, killer bees, and fire ants, although potentially dangerous, made sense to him. Even familiar predators like wild cats, snakes, sharks, and humans didn’t raise his hackles like the strange animals here that attacked without provocation.

Thank goodness Drum knew how to deal with them.

Yes, thank goodness for the good-looking hunk of masculinity who seemed determined to protect and care for him. How odd was that? No male, human or otherwise, had ever taken such an interest in him. It wasn’t simply hospitality, which Jake usually encountered when he first met a friendly alien species. Sexual awareness bubbled between them. The attraction was downright unnerving.

Every time he looked at Drum’s crotch, Drum seemed to have an erection. The bulge beneath the loincloth flattered Jake in an unfamiliar way. Maybe it only
seemed
like Drum was attracted to him. Maybe his cock was so huge, even in a flaccid state he tented the cloth. Jake had a ridiculous urge to lift the flap up to check it out.

If Drum did have a hard-on, what would he do? Lick it?

The thought of running his tongue up Drum’s dick was… interesting. Would it be smooth like the rest of his skin? Would it taste salty like human skin? His pulse skipped. What would it be like arousing Drum to sexual completion? He’d never understood the appeal of kneeling before another man and worshiping his cock. Now he wondered if it might be a big ego boost to watch a male lover give himself over to you, knowing you controlled how fast and how hard he came. That much power had to be a heady experience.

Jake cleared his head of the lurid thoughts giving him an erection. This small space made him loony. He had no sexual interest in Drum. Boredom triggered his wild imagination.

So why did he keep glancing at Drum’s crotch?

Disgusted, he picked the last bite off his stick and shoved it into his mouth.

Thirsty again, he slid his butt over to the water tank, keeping his leg extended so he didn’t bump his wound, and filled their bottle. He couldn’t remember if Drum had a chance to drink anything or not, so he slipped back to his spot and handed the bottle to him first. After a quick swig, Drum handed it back.