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  “Something more than weird, I’d say,” Romy murmured with a nod at the front of Val’s pants.

  Unlike humans, Otra had little issue with sexuality. Same gender or different, multiple partners, as long as those involved were willing, they didn’t much care. So long as the sex didn’t mature into a mating with humans, most Otra tolerated more than humans ever did. Val’s family was a lot more liberal when it came to love. His father had mated a human after Val’s mother passed. And his youngest brother had recently mated a human as well. The family loved her. But Jamie wasn’t part of a corporation bent on annihilating Talson Shipping.

  He admitted to himself that what he’d learned about Rowe didn’t fit with what he knew about Chartrell Shipping’s less-than-ethical practices. But he would have rather waited to get to know her before being tied to her for a lifetime. And this startling attraction to a male… This one was different. Perhaps because of Rowe?

  The object of his thoughts stirred, the deep groan one that made Val think of sex, heat, and the need to assert dominance. Against a big fucker like Quinn, he’d have his work cut out for him.

  “What the hell am I doing here, Romy? Why Rowe Chartrell of all people?”

  “Actually, her name is Rowe Trainer.” That Romy knew about the woman didn’t surprise him. His brother knew things about people and places he shouldn’t possibly know. The suspicion that Romy had much more power than he let on once again proved true. “Her father was Otra, of the ‘Or Ryi clan. Her mother human, where she gets the Trainer name. Her father was friends with a Chartrell a few hundred years ago and named the company after him. Then he met and fell in love with her mother, a human. They were together for many years before she conceived.”

  Human and Otra procreation was a rare thing. More so if the child possessed psychei, which Rowe obviously did. He still wanted to know how she’d tied him up on the bed two weeks ago, though he couldn’t be too angry, not after she’d treated him to that sweet pussy and a killer blowjob.

  Romy sighed. “She’s half human, yeah, but she’s a lot more powerful than she looks. Have a care with her. But don’t be too careful.” Romy grinned, and his eyes lit up with a silvery sheen. “With a body like hers, you’ll have half a dozen kids, at least. And I’m not your eda. What a rip-off.”

  A surge of ownership wrapped around Val and refused to let go. Quinn didn’t bother him as much as Romy currently did. His psychei flashed, and his emotions fluctuated from desire to rage to joy and back again. “I’m so fucked.”

  “Right you are.” Romy’s eyes returned to Otra black. “Now it’s time for me to go. Damn, Val. I thought you’d hold out at least. Instead, it’s another of us down. I’m not liking my odds. At this rate, I’ll be mated by June.”

  “Hell, I’m hoping to see you get yours by May at least.” Shit. This was really happening. An iriu. He glanced again at Quinn—his eda.

  “I’ll be sure to pass the good news if Z hasn’t already had a vision and told Mom and Dad. Best of luck, Val. I have a feeling you’re going to need it.”

  5

  Val watched his brother leave, nervous, agitated, and sexually frustrated. He wouldn’t have made it to Rowe as soon as he had if his brother hadn’t had a vision of his own and carted Val’s ass to her apartment in his personal shuttle. But he couldn’t help being glad his brother had gone. He didn’t want to share this time with anyone but his eda and iriu. Territorial feelings entwined with the building lust in his body, and he rubbed at his aching cock, wishing he could let this mess go and focus on his investigation and nothing else.

  He still didn’t understand how his inquiry had degenerated into him entering The Testing. He was a year younger than Z and not at all ready to find himself a mate. His brother had been having weird dreams of his destined iriu for months before he’d actually met her. Val slept soundlessly through the night. No dreams, and no nightmare futures planned out for him.

  Quinn moaned, and Val decided to finally get some answers. He leaned down and hauled the guy over his shoulder, staggering under the weight. Only his telekinesis saved him from falling on his ass. He quickly carried Quinn into another room, what looked like the spare bedroom. Once there, he stripped Quinn down, searching for weapons, then looked around for something to restrain him.

  Val did his best to ignore Quinn’s body while he tied his wrists together over his head and knotted them with an electrical cord to a spindle in the bed frame. Probably won’t hold him, but it’ll do for now.

  Sprawled out on the bed, still groggy, Quinn was an intimidating picture of brawn and power. His psychei swelled and faded in time with his heartbeat, a rhythm that increased as Quinn regained consciousness. Like all Otra, he had no body hair, only the short hair on his head and his sculpted eyebrows.

  Val couldn’t help noting the clear definition of muscle that hinted Quinn was much more than an idle threat. He already knew Quinn acted as Rowe’s bodyguard. But did he occupy her bed as well?

  Another groan, and then Quinn slowly opened his eyes. He visibly tensed when he tugged at the bonds around his wrists. A glance down his body clued him in to his vulnerability. The sheer rage on his face had Val steel-hard in a heartbeat.

  Quinn yanked at his wrists and Val kept him firmly in place with a thought. No matter how hard Quinn pulled, he couldn’t budge from the force holding him down.

  He finally stilled, and Val felt him reach out and inquire with his psychei.

  “Damn telekinetic.” Quinn blinked several times. He shook his head. “I know you.” He narrowed his eyes. “Wait a minute. You’re a Talson. Not Roarke. One of the brothers who work offworld.”

  “Val.” The blunt introduction felt surprisingly intimate, and Val inhaled Quinn’s scent again, dying to know why this male turned him on.

  He’d served as Z’s eda but hadn’t felt an inkling of lust for his brother, thank God. Nor had he ever heard of a sexual relationship between eda and the male partner before.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” Quinn’s eyes flared silver, and Val locked his mind down tight. But as they stared at one another, something happened between them, an exchange of psychic power, a sense of recognition. A healthy case of lust.

  Quinn’s cock rose strong and proud, so thick. Val had the unbidden urge to lean down and taste him.

  Quinn shifted his hips, clearly uncomfortable. “You’re here for her, I can taste it.” Horrified awareness dawned. “Fuck me. You can’t be Rowe’s iriu.” He quickly looked around, worry darkening his gaze to an iron gray. “Where is she?”

  “Rowe’s safe, she’s sleeping peacefully in her bedroom.” Tied up the way she’d been not too long ago. Once again his body lit with carnal fire. The material constraining his cock and balls literally hurt, and he stripped out of his clothes without much thought behind what might happen next, only concentrating on easing himself.

  “Shit. What are you doing?” Quinn’s husky voice wasn’t lost on Val.

  “You’re Quinn Larsen ‘Or Ryi, Chartrell Shipping’s security advisor right?” Val stood with his arms crossed, his muscles no longer aching for a fight, but for something much more pleasurable.

  Quinn’s gaze locked onto Val’s erection for several seconds before shooting back up to his face. For the life of him, Val couldn’t read the man.

  “Correct. In addition to being Chartrell’s security advisor, I’m also Rowe’s personal bodyguard when needed.”

  “Doing a bang-up job there, Quinn.”

  “Fuck you. The woman’s in Selection. I was lucky to get her somewhere safe before I lost it.”

  He had the right of it. A female Otra’s Selection could be overpowering, her hormones demanding satisfaction before lessening. And if a prior bond before her heat existed, then the connection was that much more intense.

  “Selection, yeah. I figured that out when I saw your tongue down her throat.”

  Quinn flushed. “Hell. I grew up with that girl. It wasn’t like… I didn’t mean to… Fuck.” He
shot Val another considering look. “You don’t seem too upset with me about that. You should be trying to rip my head off.” He closed his eyes and swore again in their native tongue. “I’m your eda?”

  “Must be.” Val didn’t know when he’d begun to enjoy himself, but making Quinn uneasy amused him. Especially because he wasn’t the only one affected. Quinn’s cock thickened, and his slit filled. “I’ve never heard of a three-way bond, though.”

  “It won’t be.” Quinn clenched his fists, and Val had to strengthen his mental restraints to keep the male down. “I’ve known Rowe since she and my younger sister turned six. I’ve always thought of her as another annoying sibling, or at least I did until she came of age. Hell. You’ve seen her body.”

  Val’s concentration splintered when the desire in his body flared to astounding proportions. “I’ve seen more than that. I tasted that sweet pussy two weeks ago when she and I had a little talk about your company’s attempts on our ships.”

  “What?”

  “She claimed no knowledge of the incidents.” He frowned. “And in retrospect, I’m starting to believe her. I was close to tracking down more information on Keilor, her cousin, and then this.” He pointed to his cock. “I can’t think of anything but how good she tasted. How perfect it was with her lips wrapped round me.”

  Quinn’s face flushed. “You and Rowe?” He closed his eyes and muttered something under his breath. Then he opened his eyes, and Val wasn’t surprised to see them completely silver. “No wonder the woman’s been so unnerved lately. She’s as jumpy as a scalded cat. Because of you.”

  “Because of me.” The satisfaction her unrest afforded made him hungry to have her again. He needed ease. A glance at Quinn showed the male in the same state.

  “Look Talson—”

  “Val.”

  “Val.” Quinn took a deep breath then let it out. “I fucking hurt. You’re doing this to me. We’re connected, so I know how much you want Rowe.”

  “But why this—with you?” Val gripped himself tight and couldn’t stop himself from pumping his cock while Quinn watched. “Because I sure as hell never wanted a man before. But I want you. In you,” he growled, the image making him angry, hungry, and frustrated.

  Quinn grinned, surprising him. “Well. This might be more fun than I’d thought.”

  Val had the feeling Quinn knew more than he’d said. “What aren’t you telling me?”

  Quinn raised his chin and beckoned Val over. “Come here and I’ll share.”

  Val frowned but leaned closer to hear Quinn’s whispered words.

  “My psychei’s a little different than yours.” He licked the shell of Val’s ear, and Val’s entire system went haywire.

  He jerked back to see Quinn’s sly satisfaction. “What the fuck did you just do?” A spark of fire lit his body, ending at his balls. The sensation was like a giant roll of pleasure exploding inside him, and Val was a breath from coming.

  “It may not be telekinesis, but it has its uses.”

  “I— What?” Val’s psychei pushed out in defense, battling the seductive lure of Quinn’s energy.

  “It’s called temptation, Val. Rowe controls minds. I control bodies, but I need touch. Let me touch you again.”

  Quinn wanted to fuck him. Val could feel it.

  “Oh yeah. I want to do a lot to you,” Quinn said. The mental pathway between them opened as if it had always existed. “And then I want to take it to Rowe, to lap up that sweet pussy while you fuck her ass.”

  “Dammit. How are you doing this?” Val could communicate telepathically with his family and his brothers’ new mates. But typically other Otra had to be invited to join the private mental pathways between and among clans. Yet Quinn stepped in as if he belonged there.

  Val didn’t like the notion and knew he needed to reassert control. Rowe was his, and if Quinn wanted any part of it, eda or not, he’d bow to Val. Here and now.

  “Fuck. That’s hot. You’re strong, Val. A lot stronger than I thought.” Quinn arched up as Val tightened his mental hold all over Quinn’s body. He intentionally stroked along Quinn’s cock, gripping tight enough to cause a bite of pain. Apparently the big guy liked it, because his breathing grew rougher, faster.

  And Val wanted more.

  He’d never done a guy, never thought to. But he had to show Quinn the pecking order, that Quinn belonged on the bottom. “Spread your legs.” Excitement spurred him, the need to control this larger, aggressive male. The female belongs to me. My iriu. And my eda needs to know his place.

  “Doing this for Rowe and you,” Quinn whispered and spread his legs, his cock flush against his belly, thick and hard. “Just this once.”

  Val couldn’t think. He didn’t figure on the technical aspects of the taking. He only knew he needed to come, to spread his scent and his seed over the male. So that when Quinn fucked Rowe, it would be as an extension of Val, with no threat to claim Rowe as his own.

  He gripped himself and positioned his cockhead at Quinn’s hole, using his mind to tilt Quinn’s hips and spread his legs wide for better angle of penetration. Then he pushed. Lights flashed behind his lids as the pleasure overwhelmed him. He’d nearly seated himself fully before he stopped, shocked.

  Panting, he said, “Shit. You’re hot. And slick. How’s that possible?” He felt bad he hadn’t thought to lube up. He hadn’t thought about anything when he’d thrust forward.

  “I’m not like the others,” Quinn teased, his voice rough, his cock like iron between them. “More, Val. I need to feel it deep—ah!”

  Val surged, unable to keep still. It felt odd, awkward yet arousing to feel Quinn’s balls against his belly with each push. “So tight. Need you…to know this…” He punctuated his thrusts with words, ramming harder and faster, the need to control and contain his psychei manipulating everything. “She’s mine. My fucking iriu. And you’re mine until I say we’re through.”

  Quinn grunted with each shove, his face contorted in pleasured agony as Val fucked him. The male’s power grew, threading through Val’s as their energy entwined, recognizing and accepting each other, until both men could feel the truth in the other. The affection Quinn had for Rowe mixed with the sheer need Val had for his mate. The confusion, the tension, the uncertainty faded as if it had never existed. Val rocked into Quinn in a frenzy, his balls throbbing, his cock near to bursting.

  Quinn yanked hard at his arms, his muscles bulging with each tug. Yet he couldn’t get free, worked over by a warrior in his own right. “Oh fuck. Yes, fuck me. Oh yeah, Val. Grind me, man. Harder.” Quinn swore and arched into Val. And then he shouted.

  Warmth slid between them, Quinn’s climax making their bellies slick. The friction undid him, as did the release of Quinn’s aggression. The Otra’s willing submission flooded Val’s energy like a spark to tinder, and Val came hard on a yell, pouring his energy and cum into Quinn. He shook from the force of it.

  Moments became minutes as they remained joined. Their breathing calmed, but parts of them remained tense. Val started. “Oh fuck. You’re still hard. I’m still hard.” He flexed and pulled out, no longer desiring Quinn, but someone softer, smaller. Prettier.

  “There you go.” Quinn sighed and thrust his hips up, brushing his cock along Val. “If you weren’t her iriu, I’d fuck you until you couldn’t walk.” The electric promise in his eyes made Val edgy all over again. “I like men. A lot. You’re lucky you’re not my iriu,” Quinn teased, seeming not at all upset about this turn of events. “I’d fuck you blind. You’re sexy. But then, so is Rowe.”

  Val blinked, shocked at all that had happened. But mention of Rowe had his blood humming and his psychei searching. To his disappointment, she had yet to wake.

  “She’s sleeping.” Quinn nodded. “Selection is going to be hard on her. The human half of her needs to conserve her strength. Because once we come inside her, once we really get started, she’s going to tap you like you can’t believe.”

  Val eased his hold off Quinn’s arm
s. The minute he did, Quinn burned through the cord holding his wrists tied in an instant. The large man sat up and dragged Val with him into the bathroom.

  “Hey.”

  “Shut up.” Quinn turned on the warmth of solar rays and cleansed them both, paying close attention to Val’s erection.

  Val wondered. “How do you know about Rowe and her Selection? If she’s half human, her time can’t be predictable.”

  “My mother’s a healer. She’s made a study of Rowe and others like her, Otra with mixed blood. Seriously, Rowe is like my sister in every aspect except this. The sexual need is very new.” Quinn frowned. “I think maybe she feels comfortable with me, so she drew me into her bonding. Because it’s not like you and I had any ties before today. My being your eda had to come through her.”

  Most eda and iriu males were bound together through friendship or association. It was a rare thing for strangers to grow close during a mating. Yet Val could feel his affection for Quinn growing. Through Quinn, Rowe would be made fertile, able to carry Val’s children…

  “Shit.” Val closed his eyes and slumped against the shower wall, glad at least that the area was big enough to accommodate him, Quinn, and a few more grown men. Rowe obviously liked her luxuries. “I almost feel like I know you now. But Rowe… Who the hell is she? Why can I want her this much when I don’t even know her? Fuck. At least Z had a dream girl. Mine might be the death of me.”

  “Huh?”

  Val opened his eyes to explain his brother’s bonding and found himself looking down at the top of Quinn’s head. “I, ah, Quinn?”

  Then Quinn put his mouth over Val’s cock, and Val forgot everything he meant to say.

  6

  Hours later, they sat together eating a huge meal at Rowe’s table. Val didn’t like that Rowe had yet to wake, but Quinn said to let her sleep. To his surprise, Val trusted Quinn. On a deeper level, he knew the male wanted only the best for Rowe. Whereas before Val had been annoyed and frustrated, his intimacies with Quinn alleviated some of his suspicion and worry over the pairing.