Storm and Lightning began on the 13th January. Catch up here: week one, week two, week three, week four, week five, week six, week seven, week eight, week nine, week ten, week eleven, week twelve, week thirteen, week fourteen, week fifteen, week sixteen, week seventeen, week eighteen, week nineteen

On a mining colony planet a long way from Earth, bandit Jedd Lightning dreams of making enough money to get off the planet for good. When a robbery at a high-class brothel goes wrong, he meets gorgeous rentboy Storm and is instantly smitten. But Storm has a few surprises up his sleeve, and when Jedd helps him escape, he realises he might have taken on more than he can handle…

JL Merrow and Lou Harper are once again my fabulous beta readers – any remaining mistakes are my own. Lou Harper also designed my fabulous banner artwork. Check out more of her cover art here.

Okay, I apologise for how long it’s been since the last installment, but here’s a bumper one to make up for it. In fact, from now on they’re all going to be bumper ones, as I’m dedicating the next few weeks to finishing off this story. If you want a quick recap, Jedd and Storm escaped from the brothel, met a hag in the tunnels under the town, surfaced through a cellar and headed back to Jedd’s ship. Then there was sex, and Storm showed Jedd he wasn’t going to be dominated by him…

But now, on with the story:

Storm woke to the sound of muffled splashing and a pleasant tenor singing a catchy little ditty. He’d have thought it a tune intended for younglings, if he hadn’t caught a snatch of the filthy lyrics.

That had to be Jedd, right? Unless it was this Marty fellow, but he doubted Jedd was quite heroic enough to have effected a midnight rescue all by himself. Not after the fucking Storm had given him, anyway. The man shouldn’t be able to walk properly today.

Storm opened his eyes a crack, shutting them again straightaway. By the Twins, it was worse than he remembered. A struggling lumi cell lit the cramped room. This was clearly a place designed for utility, not for show. Scuffed and dented grey walls closed in on him, exposed ducting and cables ran across the ceiling, and a heap of grubby clothes carpeted the entire floor. That wasn’t really saying much, as you could probably cover a scrap of floor like that with one day’s worth of laundry, but still, didn’t this sorry excuse for a ship have a laundry chute?

Storm rubbed his temples in an attempt to ease the headache he could feel sneaking up on him. This always happened after he’d spent too long with human clients. Their emotions were way too intense to block completely, and it wore him out. What were the odds Jedd had any decent painkillers in this rustbucket? Slim to zero, unless he had contacts on the black market, perhaps. They said you could get hold of anything you wanted in some of the less salubrious parts of town. Of course, asking for meds would mean he’d have to admit his weakness to Captain Smug, and he wasn’t about to give the man more ammunition. No, he’d just have to suffer.

But when he sat up and caught a glimpse of his reflection in a dirty mirror tile, Storm remembered just why this was worth every deprivation. He could hold this shape, at least until he could find a way back to his original form. He’d been a bit taller than this, hadn’t he? And there’d been none of that wiry pelt the humans grew around their genitals. But otherwise the body was close enough. And the face? Yeah, the face was closer than it had any right to be. The bone structure was typically Jiali, and the eyes were just the right shade of green.

One could almost believe Jedd had once upon a time seen and fallen in lust with one of his race, but that was impossible, right? A Jiali would never be able to let a human see their true form, even if they wanted to. And anyway, what was to say there were any more of his people left on the planet? If they were there, they were well hidden.

Loneliness poured over him like sand.

He needed company.

 

Jedd was lounging in the saloon area of the main cabin, his booted feet up on the table and a large cup of steaming brown liquid in his hands. He looked up when Storm entered.

“Morning, Sleepy-head. Wore you out last night, did I?”

“Piss off.”

“Real charmer, aren’t you? Or maybe you just need some tea down your throat. Unless you’d rather something else.” Jedd adjusted his crotch theatrically, but it didn’t seem to be a serious suggestion. Not with the way his mouth was twitching at the corner. “Go on. There’s a pot on the stove.”

Tea. Worse yet, the thornapple tea all the humans seemed to be addicted to. The Twins knew why. Neither Jiali or Talmaki would touch the scrubby plants. “You know that stuff is poisonous, right?” Storm said, opening the galley cupboards in search of something better. Coffee, preferably.

“So are a lot of things I enjoy. Alcohol. Coffee. Oh God, what I wouldn’t do for a cup of coffee!”

“You don’t have any?”

“Have you seen how much the stuff costs? I’ve only ever had it at Yakin’s. He’s got connections in the docks. Some goes missing every few months. Just a few packets. And you know what? He never has any available to sell. If you’re a friend you might get invited for a cup, if you’re lucky.”

“I had coffee every day at Tavkels.” Only a small cup, but it had been his favourite part of his morning ritual.

“Good for you. But at least here you don’t have to follow it up with a chaser of Talmaki spunk. What’s it taste like, anyway? I heard it’s pretty spicy.”

“Screw you.”

“Nah. Your turn to get screwed next.”

“You wish.” Storm eventually located a bottle of plain old H2O and popped the lid. He took a deep, plastic-tainted draught, but it eased the incipient throbbing behind his eyes. “So, you got any food onboard, or do we have to go begging for our breakfast?”

“Top cupboard behind your head. Protein bars. Any flavour you want, provided it’s Cheddar and Grape.”

“Cheddar and Grape?” Storm stared at the packet with its perplexing picture of a yellow triangle and green circles. He had no idea what cheddar was, but he seemed to remember that grapes had something to do with Earthish wine. “Was this the one they stopped making nobody wanted to buy it?”

Jedd’s expression hardened. “It’s fine. It’s nutritious and more importantly, it’s cheap. Tell you what, Princess, if you don’t like roughing it with the boys, I’ll take you straight back to your fancy whorehouse just as soon as we’ve rescued Marty.”

“I’m not going back.”

“Well I’m not having you hanging around here if all you can do is bitch about the lack of facilities. I don’t care how hot you are.”

Was he being a sulking diva? Tavkel had always told him he was, but then again, he had been a sex slave, so he’d felt he deserved the odd sulk. “Sorry,” he offered. “Not really into early mornings.”

“Call this early? I’ve been up for hours. Already checked over the engine room and got up to date on all the news feeds. You not even mentioned, you know? Think they’re trying to keep it quiet so they don’t lose trade?”

“I don’t know. Maybe.” Or maybe it had something to do with the way all trace of his people seemed to have been wiped from the datanet. But he didn’t want to go into all that with Jedd. Not on an empty stomach. Storm tore off a chunk of his protein bar, surprised to find it sweet and tangy, and actually rather palatable. “So then, what’s up first?”

“You ready for this? You look like you need a shower first. Hell, you smell like you need a shower.”

“Says the man wading through sweaty socks.”

“Laundry is a non-essential luxury. They’ll get washed when I’ve saved up enough credits.”

“Can’t you just do them in the shower or something?”

Jedd gave him a look like he was stupid. “You know how much water you get out of an Ecopod? Trust me, there’s barely enough water to wash yourself with, let alone anything else. Come on. I’ll show you.”

Jedd pointed out the controls then mercifully left—not that there was enough room for two of them to shower, anyway. Storm stood in the coffin-like space as jets of soapy liquid squirted out of the walls. He scrubbed it over himself, just as Jedd had instructed, then thumped the other button for the rinsing water. You have ten seconds of water coming, a tinny voice announced from somewhere above him. Ten… A trickle of lukewarm water began and Storm sluiced it over himself as best he could. By the time his ten seconds were up he still hadn’t made it down to his feet, and the skin between his toes felt horribly slimy. He tried pressing the rinse button again, but the voice coolly informed him he’d used up his day’s water allowance. Worse yet, there were no plush towels to rub away the soap residue, just a tatty cloth barely bigger than a pillowcase.

But he was fed, he was clean, and he was free.

For the first time since he’d woken, Storm’s lips curled in a smile.

 

Storm didn’t bother dressing after his shower. Intoxicated on freedom, he waltzed through the sliding doors into the main cabin. A bit of recreational exercise was in order, and now he was in a better mood, he fancied finding out just what Jedd tasted like.

Jedd wasn’t there. Confused, Storm headed back to the sleeping quarters, but Jedd wasn’t there either. Or in the opposite bunk room, which was cluttered with circuit boards and bits of machinery. This Marty was meant to be some tech wizard, wasn’t he? Storm twitched his nose at the disorder, but it was still better than being surrounded by honking socks. Maybe he’d sleep here tonight instead.

Although Jedd had proved a surprisingly enjoyable bed companion. Best blowjob Storm had ever received, hands down. Not many clients had given him a male form, and those that did usually preferred to have Storm being the one to service them. It was what they paid for, after all. The enthusiastic way Jedd swallowed around him had been a first. And those little noises Jedd had made, like Storm was the most delicious thing he’d ever tasted…

Desire flooded through him, but it felt unfamiliar, somehow. Storm leant back against a bulkhead, slowly stroking his growing erection. What was different about this sensation? By the twins, it was coming from inside him. Not second hand from Jedd. Felt strange. Like stepping outside after years of captivity. Sensory overload, but in a good way. Yeah, he owed to Jedd to return the whole blowjob favour.

What’s more, he wanted to.

Storm strode back through the main cabin and pushed the release switch for the cockpit door. There Jedd was, lounging in the captain’s chair and speaking into his comms badge, looking hotter than anyone had the right to in such a stupid hat. Jedd looked up at him and raised an eyebrow.

“All right,” Jedd continued, his gaze running up and down Storm’s naked body like fingertips. “Yep. We’ll be there in thirty. Oh, and he’s about your size. Maybe a couple of inches taller and narrower. Trim around the waist and hips. Yeah, yeah. You always blame it on your glands. Face it, Yakin, you’re just a greedy bastard.”

What was going on? A chill ran down Storm’s spine. Why would Jedd need to give this Yakin his physical details? He wasn’t about to sell Storm out, was he? But no, that was ridiculous. No point telling someone what he was like, because he’d look different for them anyway. And Jedd wasn’t a slave trader. Storm would never have gone with him if he’d been that kind of man. He’d have been able to sense the callousness lurking beneath the surface, just like he had with the men who’d captured him.

Jedd had no hold over him, which was why when Storm sank to the floor between Jedd’s outstretched legs, it felt right. Nothing submissive about this. Not when he was doing it of his own free will. He placed his hands on Jedd’s thighs, massaging the hard muscles beneath the khaki fabric. Jedd’s eyes grew darker and he shifted his position.

Storm bent down to lick the seam of his crotch. Jedd’s hand landed on his head, gripping his curls and holding him still, their eyes locked. Jedd’s emotions flickered at the edge of Storm’s consciousness. Nothing strong enough to overpower him, but he detected a thread of lust, and something else. Something effervescent. Was this amusement? As if to confirm it, Jedd’s mouth twitched into a smile and his eyes crinkled up.

“Yep, he’s trouble all right. Like you wouldn’t believe … Okay … You do that … Okay. See you in thirty.”

Jedd pressed his comms badge to cut off the call. “That was Yakin,” he said. “We need to go see him before noon.”

Storm gave a noncommittal hum and shook off Jedd’s grip on his hair before falling face first into his lap.

“What are you up to?” Jedd pulled back on Storm’s hair again, forcing him away from the musky sweet man smell.

“What does it look like?” Storm mumbled.

“Wasting time? I mean, I know I’m irresistible and all, but like I said, we need to get to Yakin’s. Someone spent all morning in bed, so we need to head off pronto.”

“Won’t take long,” Storm promised. “I’m a pro.”

“Not anymore you’re not. Come on.” Jedd lifted Storm’s chin. “Plenty of time for that later. Go put some clothes on. And your red cape. You’re going to need it. It’s a two mile walk.”

Storm sighed. More walking. His feet still hurt from the previous day. He eyed Jedd’s booted feet. “You got a spare pair of them for me?”

“I don’t know. Boots are pricey. What happens if someone touches you and you turn into a hulking miner? You going to burst right through them?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never worn footwear before.”

“You’ve never… God, you wouldn’t last five minutes out there without me, would you?”

It should have sounded arrogant, should have made him bristle, but Jedd’s voice was so soft, his eyes so tender, all opposition dried up in Storm’s throat. “I won’t let anyone touch me except you.” He reached out to cup Jedd’s jaw, surprised to see the man’s Adam’s apple working.

“Okay. Then go and get yourself ready, or I’ll be the one bursting out of my clothing if I have to look at your naked tush any longer.”

Storm smiled, stood and gave a little wriggle for Jedd’s benefit, pleased to sense him struggle to keep a lid on the lust sweeping over him. He could feel Jedd’s gaze like a caress, warming him even as he strode back through the main cabin to where he’d left his pack.

A man who could turn him down. He’d never encountered one before, but instead of feeling rejected, his spirit soared. Maybe there really could be a place for him. Somewhere where he wasn’t just a sexual commodity. Somewhere he was valued.

Of course, that could all go to shit when this Marty guy came back. If he ever did. The enormity of the task before them battered his mind. Not only did they have to best one of the most powerful Talmaki politicians on the planet, but they had to pull one over on the most vicious human too.

Yes. Jedd was right. Maybe there wasn’t time for sex after all.

***

Will Storm burst out of his boots? And just what are they going to find at Yakin’s? Find out in next Friday in another thrilling installment of Storm and Lightning!

Storm and Lightning – © Josephine Myles, 2012. No part of this serial fiction may be reproduced elsewhere without prior permission of the author. Thank you!