Tag Mate: Part 2

 

Morning light, streaming in gently golden from the windows, tickled Jaimz toward a very relaxed and peaceful state of awareness.  That awareness came gradually to him; it was filtered with memories of other places and other times that made him feel safe and warm like the big furry pillow he sprawled across.  He tucked his hands deeply into that luxurious fur and breathed in a deep slightly musky yet nonetheless clean scent and just squirmed in pleasure.  He tilted his head and lazily blinked open a sleepy eye, taking in the vista beyond the large oval windows that marched along the entire wall.  The vista was a spectacular painting of warm hues and cool shadows stretching for as far as the eye could see.  Smiling he turned his face back into the warm fur and thought about just falling back to sleep again since it was still very early.  Then he turned his head again and really looked, not just at the vista, but at the windows that framed that sunrise vista… He bent his gaze up enough to take in the room, the bed, and the curtains that were not drawn on the window side of the bed and realized with a faint sense of confusion that he was not snuggly back at his home… That indeed, he remembered after a moment, he would probably never see his home or family again.  He turned his head back to look at the fur pillow, recognizing of course that what he lay upon, was no great soft furry pillow, but Kaiel, sprawled sound asleep on his back with his limbs crooked and bent in what ever position seemed comfortable to him.

He started to sit up, thinking that he would just slide off Kaiel without waking him that way Kaiel would never know how he had used him as a sleeping mat, but that movement unfortunately caused him to freeze in shock and stare at Kaiel in disbelief.   For in moving he realized that he and Kaiel…were physically attached, he wasn’t just sprawled across Kaiel’s body… he was hugging his rod inside too.  Shame instantly flared on his cheeks as he wondered how he could have possibly gotten into this predicament, since the very thickness of Kaiel should have alerted his body to the invasion well before the rod had seated itself inside him.  His cheeks flared even hotter still when he recalled how wet and swollen he had been immediately after his first time with Kaiel…and at that moment he suspected his own damn body had entirely betrayed him by letting that damn red serpent seek a new warm home inside him.  Furious at himself, and peeved with Kaiel as well, Jaimz still didn’t want to alert Kaiel to anything and craved desperately to extract himself before Kaiel became aware of where exactly part of him was lodged at that moment.

With that in mind he knew the easiest way was to simply lift up off the rod, and since it was very slick and very flexible and the flare was not engaged he doubted that he’d have any trouble extracting it no matter how long his body had been nursing the damned invader.  Carefully, while still watching Kaiel’s face to gage his state of slumber he moved his legs to straddle either side of Kaiel’s big body and braced himself up on his hands.  That…was a mistake, shifting like that half dragged the rod out of his rectum, and the sensation of all that slickly solid flesh tugging its way free of his yielding anus, only served to make him lose his precious balance so that instead of ending up braced on his knees where it would be a simple matter to rise above that pulsing length and free his anus of its guest, he actually fell right back onto Kaiel’s lap and in doing so was rewarded for his clumsiness by having the full length of the rod drive deep inside his gut again.  He gasped at the electric sensation and helplessly squeezed his thighs shut, which availed him nothing and only helped to make him squirm more emphatically upon that tower of rigid flesh.  He heaved and shuddered, hunching forward while a wave of incredible pleasure pulsed through his body, starting at his gut and just spreading right through him.  He stared at Kaiel, wondering how he could still be asleep during this while he quivered and moaned in shameful delight.  Of course, Kaiel’s mind might still be slumbering, but to Jaimz’ groaning shame, he soon realized that his body was very much waking up.  It was amazing to feel, even as thick and deep as the rod was, that cursed flare come to life and complete his total entrapment.  Sobbing in denial he continued to huddle there, his body curled up, his thighs so tight that it only served to make the sensation more and not less obvious…and Kaiel continued to blithely slumber while his body woke. 

Finally, with tears trickling down his cheeks and his shame absolute Jaimz knew his only recourse was to wake Kaiel up and get this morning fuck over with, for he didn’t know if the flare would recede without ejaculation and he didn’t know if he could manipulate the situation on his own… By manipulate, Jaimz meant, to start to work and gyrate his hips until he garnered the kind of relief they both needed.  He just couldn’t bring himself to do that, initiating it would mean that he liked it…and he just wasn’t ready to admit that.

Kaiel was dreaming, a wonderful dream, and even though it was a formless dream it still felt soft and silky and ever so warm.  He felt wrapped up in a grip of heat that was just extraordinary, even though on the edge of his awareness he was also conscious that he ached in a mild and inexplicable manner.

The warmth that surrounded and hugged him gradually took on form; coalescing into a being he wanted desperately but felt that he would always be one step behind.  That fawn colored hair fell in tangled coils; those sea foam eyes blinked away pools of aquamarine tears.  That petal pale skin shone like a golden pearl in the morning sun.  He looked so incredible, with his thighs gripped together and his shoulders hunched, like a vulnerable and altogether too delicious cub.  He groaned, cubs, even ones as delectable as Jaimz, were off limits, he knew that.  And yet that face did not fade away, those tearing eyes didn’t melt back into his dreams, that vulnerable and desperate position didn’t dissolve into fond memories. 

Besides, in his dreams, Kaiel did not expect to have Jaimz speaking so emphatically to him saying, “Wake up!  Kaiel Wake up!  Please…oh please wake up!”

Hearing that, and seeing Jaimz’ pale damp face and those impressive eyes of his, Kaiel realized that he was on the edge of sleep, in the place where the real world touched on the dream world, in the moment before sleep gave way to wakefulness.  He stretched and drew his legs up toward him, the dream Jaimz cried forlornly, “Don’t do that Kaiel!  WAKE UP!”

With that he sat up, coming to wakefulness in a bleary-eyed hurry, and Jaimz yelped as he fell backwards onto the bed, between his open and crooked legs.  He gaped in amazement, feeling and seeing what had Jaimz so distraught.  Jaimz squirmed, trying to push himself up on his elbows…and Kaiel barely stifled a groan at how damn good that felt.  Then Jaimz sagged back and grumped, “You got me in this mess!  Now fix it!”

Kaiel was still confused, even though he knew that he was engulfed within Jaimz’ snug body he had no idea how he had gotten there.  Of course it felt good and he followed through with Jaimz’ command by shifting forward until he was on his knees and leaning over Jaimz and had Jaimz by his hips, supporting him as he thrust for home, even as he made sure to not get tangled in the line that still connected Jaimz to his med-drip.

Jaimz groaned as he rocked his hips into Kaiel’s thrust and felt his cheeks stain with hot color again.  He wanted to cry in shame that he moved this way, matching and accommodating Kaiel’s long and powerful and yet entirely arousing thrusts.  But he couldn’t, the pleasure within the shame swept him up, captured him and carried him over the edge as he gripped at Kaiel with his thighs and clawed at his pelted shoulders with his tensed fingers and barely managed to keep from crying out for more penetration…as everything he did, guaranteed just that.  He knew that his only real protest was the soundless tears that marched along his cheekbones and soaked into his hair.

Even as he rode every minute of it, and his body rose to its own release his mind spun with shameful confusion as he wondered what was wrong with him, thinking how he could like it so much, like taking all of Kaiel within his body and still crave for more from him so that he desperately ground his hips into Kaiel’s powerful groin.  This pleasure filled him with such shame for he had never been like this before, he had never paid any interest to the men of his own world even though he had known that his was a pretty face and some men would have liked to bed him.  But he had never wanted that.  When he had first arrived and Lorz had raped him he had hurt for days and days afterward, of course Lorz had raped him again and again while he was recovering from that first brutal assault so that he had never properly healed anyway…and to make matters worse Lorz had shared him with Ham…sometimes both of them raping him in succession until he’d be half dead with the pain of such brutal penetrations.  But even after he had become used to Lorz’ brutality he had never ever enjoyed it, he had always fought and tried to run, and even though he was weaker and not nearly as fast he was quick and could dodge well enough to occasionally trip up Lorz or worse Ham, but he’d always ended up caught, always ended up with one or the other’s big rods reaming his reluctant rectum, and both Lorz and Ham were larger than Kaiel.  That realization gave him pause, made him gasp with something other than the pleasure of another wonderfully deep thrust.  Was it simply because Kaiel wasn’t quite so well endowed that he was better able to accept his full length and thickness without the horrid pain joining with Lorz had always brought?  Could that be it, had his time suffering from Tag Withdrawal actually finally healed him enough and prepared him for Kaiel? 

Unfortunately he couldn’t long think about that theory, for the pleasure swept him away again, dragging him down into the heady rush of it until he felt as if he was going to swoon for he was so dizzy and breathless with lust.  He was wet with his own release, but he barely noticed that shameful dampness as Kaiel pumped his first hot jet into his bowels and followed with a deep thrust to plow that hot wave even deeper within.  He shuddered and moaned, rocked by the next and the next wave after.  Again and again Kaiel burst inside him, spraying his innards with his ripe hot sperm, plugging him snuggly so none of that sperm could leak away and escape.  Kaiel, a very modern day cat, was bent on the primitive act of thoroughly impregnating his Tag Mate.  That was what mating was all about, procreation, but it didn’t care if the body it was trying to procreate in so completely was utterly impregnable.   Generations of Zaran ancestors had ensured that this one thing remained the same, the drive to procreate was a fundamental instinct and with or without the Tag that drive had to be met.

So Jaimz took it, every bit of what Kaiel gave him.  When it was all over except for the receding of the flare and the final withdrawal of the well-used rod, Jaimz was a quivering and trembling heap, sprawled so wantonly on Kaiel’s lap and looking so utterly and thoroughly fucked that if he had thought about his appearance at that moment he would have been ashamed all over again.  But he had gone beyond shame, though it wasn’t to far away and his mind was pretty much empty of everything except the awareness of that still rigid flare plugging his flesh…deep, very deep inside his bowels.   He was minutely aware of the moment that flare receded and he moaned expressively as that long thick length finally slid free of him….

 Jaimz couldn’t move and to be honest he didn’t want to move for everything ached and yet nothing hurt.  He felt exhausted and yet never so energized in his life for he knew that there was no way he’d fall asleep now, instead he felt like he could run and win a marathon and enjoy another good fuck at the end of it.  Even with his mind clouded with white noise, and his eyes hardly aware of seeing… that last though…reminded him of his confusion and shame…and that was when he rolled over onto his side and curled up in a fetal position while his body still shuddered and recovered from that incredible ride.  He knew that Kaiel was right there, recovering as well, but in a sense he kind of forgot about him while he thought about the unwelcome revelations he’d already had this morning…the only thing he was sure of, was that his own shame was not Kaiel’s fault.  His friend had been nothing but accommodating since they had met after Lorz’ death.

Kaiel flopped down on the bed beside Jaimz’ huddled form and eased his aching rod with one hand while muscles too long flexed now relaxed at last and retracted his near rigid length back into its sheath and deeper body recess.  He wondered at what had happened and how they had come to be joined.  It boggled his mind to think that Jaimz might have initiated it and he had to shake that thought away for he knew that Jaimz wasn’t at all ready to make that leap, maybe he never would be.  By the deep ache in his groin he recognized that his rod had been unsheathed for a rather long time, extended to the max that his muscles could flex it.  But the low-grade pain in his groin still did nothing to explain what he had awoken too.  It had been magnificent of course and so totally unanticipated, for he hadn’t expected to be called to that duty again until the 72-hour demanded it, and he was grimly prepared to accept that fate and continue to live his own life as fully as he could, knowing that he was tied to another who really didn’t want him but who literally couldn’t survive without him.

He glanced at Jaimz, worrying about his huddled and defensive position, he wanted to touch him and take away his pain, but Kaiel suspected that Jaimz would not react well to him touching him now.  Instead he asked sensitively, “Are…are you okay Jaimz?  Did I hurt you?”

He grew concerned as he waited, and leaned slightly forward.  He ears flicked helplessly back and forth and it was all he could do to control the drooping of his ruff.  “Jaimz…?”

Jaimz sighed then and whispered faintly.  “No.”

No to what though?  No he wasn’t Ok?  No he hadn’t hurt him.  Still worried he tentatively reached forward, not quite…touching Jaimz.

Jaimz sobbed breathily, “No…you didn’t hurt me.”

Relieved Kaiel leaned back, but Jaimz wasn’t done he pushed himself up with his shaking arms and looked at him in obvious confusion.  “You didn’t hurt me…”

“Jaimz?” Kaiel questioned, as he grew concerned again.

Jaimz hung his head and sobbed, “I don’t understand why it doesn’t hurt me…why don’t you hurt me Kaiel?”

Confused Kaiel shook his head and asked uneasily, “Do you want me to hurt you…? I could never…”

Jaimz laughed softly, but there was no pleasure in the laugh, “I don’t want you to hurt me Kaiel.  I just don’t understand why you don’t.”  He glanced toward Kaiel’s groin and his innocuous seeming sheath, it was still heavy and gapped slightly exposing a hint of the red fiend it sheltered, but it seemed so unthreatening and yet, “You are still large to me Kaiel.  So much bigger than me… I mean… I can’t even hide mine, you can see how puny I am… but you’re…so big….” Puny, compared to a Zaran he was puny, and unmanly and delicate and fuckable…it made him sick that amongst the Zaran people he was less then he should be.  He wondered if he had done it to himself…or if being raped repeatedly by one male and then another, who was so much bigger than him in all ways, had prepared him for this?

“I…” Kaiel began helplessly, unsure how he could reply or even if he should.

Jaimz stared at him, seeing his confusion and sighed moodily, “It’s okay Kaiel.  I really am okay.  I’m just…being stupid.”

Kaiel flicked an ear nervously, still so uncertain and finally asked, “Are you—certain?”

Jaimz smiled, it was still a little sad, but his eyes warmed.  “Yes, I am ok really.  I just don’t want it to happen again.”

It, being this morning’s wondrous fuck that had been completely unplanned and likely to never be repeated.  Kaiel felt his ears lie back and even his tail tuck up against his legs, for it shamed him that he didn’t understand what had happened and he expressed it with his heartfelt words, “I’m am so sorry about that… I don’t know… I really don’t know how it happened.” Flick, flick, flick involuntarily went his ears.

The very next moment he was surprised when Jaimz went to his knees before him and caught his flickering ears between his hands, “Stop doing that.” Jaimz muttered, smilingly.  “It wasn’t your fault anymore than it was mine.  Our bodies decided mutually that they wanted to fuck…and the hell with what our brains wanted.” He actually could look down on the reclining cat, it was a real switch because even when sitting Kaiel sat very tall.  “I think too,” he added ruefully, “that it was mostly my fault, if I hadn’t have let you in my back door…none of the rest would have happened anyhow.”

Kaiel didn’t say how unlikely it was for Jaimz’ back door, as he so quaintly put it, to have prevented his onslaught.  He knew very well that the slick, rigid and yet flexible nature of the rod made it very hard to resist and that because of the very shape, being so tapered that the immediate entry was easy, after that with the slick texture and its flexibility even as the width expanded substantially…female—or male—openings usually just yielded and stretched to accommodate.  Jaimz could not have denied the rod once it gained entrance…though he could have moved or pulled away, and that would have ended things properly then.  

Jaimz sat back down and looked at him thoughtfully, “But…”

Kaiel cocked an ear, “But what?”

Jaimz looked at the lines plugged into his wrist and said wonderingly, “I’m hungry.  I’m hungry…and I think I want a shower.  I think I want a shower mostly…and then yeah something to eat….  Isn’t that great?  I’m actually hungry.”

Kaiel smiled in response, “Then that must mean you are really better, that it worked.”

Jaimz smile faltered slightly, “Yeah, it worked.”

Kaiel sighed and said simply, “Jaimz I will promise you this…. I vow I will always follow your lead and what boundaries you set I will respect.  That is my promise.”

Jaimz looked at him for a long considering moment, then tugging at his right side ruff he murmured, “Thanks Kaiel.”

Kaiel flicked his ears with pleasure and rolled toward the edge of the bed, “Well, I will get Medic V’Ran, I guess he will have to release you.  And I will see about getting some breakfast ready for you and a fresh change of clothing to.”

Jaimz feeling shy all of a sudden cried out as Kaiel disappeared behind the edge of the curtain.  “Wait Kaiel!”

Kaiel stepped back into view, and canted his head bemusedly; Jaimz blushed, and said, “I thought that we were going to try to-to keep this…our 72-hour thing a secret.”

Kaiel smiled faintly, “Yes.”

His cheeks growing even pinker Jaimz muttered, “B-but what if someone sees you leaving my room at this time in the morning?”

Kaiel flicked an ear in acknowledgement of Jaimz’ observation.  “Not to worry.  I won’t be spotted.” Since his route had been instantly changed, Kaiel didn’t bother to go by way of the curtain again.  He did stop to pick up his discarded garments though, saying, “Guess these better go to.”  He walked toward the central window and while Jaimz was watching he pushed it open.  It pivoted partially into and partially out of the room. 

Jaimz gaped and laughed elatedly, “Do they all do that?”

Kaiel shrugged and grinned, “Pretty much, this is a very big house, remind me to show you when you feel up to it.  There are a lot of paths between rooms… there is a path between mine and yours… I will use it when we need to—meet.”

Jaimz swallowed, and nodded, saying softly, “’Kay, um…it is pretty neat though.  And Kaiel… I want to see everything!”  He called as Kaiel pivoted the window closed again and walked along the outside, Kaiel waved before he disappeared from view, and Jaimz being unfamiliar with his new home had no idea that next to his room was bit of a grotto, and on the opposite side of that grotto, was Kaiel’s sanctuary.

Left alone to his own devices he crawled to the curtained side of the bed and pushed it open.   He felt fine and was beginning to resent to pain the line was causing his wrist.  He slid off the bed…which for him was pretty high and looked over at the monitor, and after a moment of watching the steady readings he was pretty certain that he was well on the way to being completely recovered.   That thought led him back to the Tag and it indications; he remembered that he had started to feel better almost as soon as Kaiel’s first ejaculation.  Though thinking about it, and remembering how it had felt made his cheeks warm and certain areas pulse responsively, he understood that something Kaiel had released in his sperm must have been the answer to the Tag’s demand.  That thought gave him a new direction to explore, and it might be embarrassing to try and follow the direction that thought led…but if he could somehow beat the tag…then a little embarrassment was worth it, considering the alternative. 

He didn’t have to wait to long, much to his relief, for he really was getting anxious to feel clean again.  Medic V’Ran wordlessly let himself into the room.  He was a heavy set older lion, with a ponderous dignity and a gentle spirit.  His short trimmed mane and pelt were mostly gray, if it was his natural color or caused by age, Jaimz did not know.  He had a very friendly beardless face with lively and inquisitive eyes, and full cheeks framed by long and luxurious ruffs.  Today he was dressed in a violet trimmed sleeveless beige tunic and violet slacks.  Incongruously, fluffy white slippers encased his big furry feet.

“Doc.” He greeted merrily, waiting for Kang to come to him.

Kang, becoming very used to the nickname Jaimz had given him, nodded smilingly and glanced at the monitor briefly.  After a moment he was smiling more broadly and saying, “I understand that you would like a wash?”

“Uhmmm yes… I want really bad.” Jaimz said keenly.

Kang smiled affectionately at the youngling, “Then I guess I had better take that line out.”

Readily Jaimz extended his wrist, he was nearly bouncing with anticipation.  Kang chuckled, “Calm down youngling.  For the time being I’m still going to monitor you, you can get the med-cuff wet since it’s perfectly waterproof.”

Jaimz nodded, “But I do feel much better.”

Kang stroked the youngling’s cheek and acknowledged, “I know you do…but you were very sick… I may still need to manage you for a bit.  See that you get to bed and all that other stuff before you wear yourself out….”

Jaimz grinned, “I’m pretty resourceful….”

“And stubborn… knowing you, you’ll start trying to build your gate, or cure the Tag or something and forget to take care of you.  Which is why I intend to hang around until you are well and truly healed.”

Jaimz blushed then, the medic’s words reminding him of something he had been thinking about earlier.  Kang noticed the sudden blush and even as he worked at removing the line from Jaimz’ wrist he gently asked, “What is it?”

Jaimz ducked his head, purposely watching the medic at work rather than meeting his eyes, “I was… I was wondering why it didn’t hurt… I mean like it should.”

Kang winced as he eased the tape up from reddened skin, hissing softly in sympathy even though Jaimz didn’t wince at all.  He concentrated on the task at hand, but allowed himself to answer Jaimz’ question.  “Why should it have hurt?  You have been—I’m sorry to say—taking Zaran rod for long enough now for your body to adjust to it.”

Jaimz’ blush deepened, “Y-yes… maybe, but it always hurt before with—Lorz.”

Kang peeled the rest of the tape away, and took with it the internal canule where the line had been attached.  He pressed down over the bleeding and tender spot with a ready piece of gauze and answered.  “From the sounds of things Lorz abused you horrifically, why he would do that when he Tagged you seems to stink of madness to me.  Nonetheless all he did was hurt you continuously and do—as I understand—worse things as well.  That alone would have made mating with him uncomfortable.  As you would have always been afraid he was going to hurt you and you would be tense and anxious…so of course it always did hurt you.”

Jaimz interrupted, muttering, “It isn’t mating.”

“Of course it is.” Kang scoffed, “Just because your male and he’s male doesn’t change the very nature of mating.”  He peeked under the gauze and then reached for a compress bandage as he said airily, “That silliness aside, back to why it doesn’t hurt… while my dear youngling during these last few days—dare I say week almost? —Though you have been very sick you have also been healing in certain…areas, shall I say?  And when Kaiel mated with you it did not hurt like you expected it should, even though you mentally prepared yourself…your body was ready for him….”

Jaimz uttered angrily, “I don’t want it to be ready for that.  It can’t be normal!  At least when Lorz was hurting me that was normal.”

Kang looked up from placing the bandage.  “Why cub?  Why do you think the pain is normal?”

Jaimz felt tears well in his eyes, “Because he’s still so big and I’m…well look at me, I’m so damn small!”

Kang seemed puzzled as he stood there, pressing the bandage in place.  Then he sighed, “I see, you don’t just mean big in how much bigger he is than you… as all Zaran are.  You mean big by length?  What is he 12—14 inches long?”

Blushing again Jaimz nodded, “I think, I think so— It isn’t like I’ve measured it!” he exclaimed indignantly, “Even if he isn’t as l-long as Lorz or Ham…he’s still b-big and Oh God… I can’t do this!”

Kang grasped the youngling by his arms and gave him a gentle shake before he could completely panic, “Yes you can.  Tell me why this bothers you so much?”

“Because there has to be something wrong with me if it doesn’t hurt!  I’m not made like you, I’m not a female, I don’t have a passage made to accommodate that rod… but if it doesn’t hurt when it’s riding my ass then something has to be wrong with me!” Jaimz exclaimed.

Kang tsked and shook his head, “Foolish cub, remember the rod is flexible… where you curve…it curves with you.  And this,” he startled Jaimz by touching his bottom with his free hand, “Is made to accommodate that rod.  This is made for pleasure too, else you would indeed feel only pain.”

Jaimz stared at him, suddenly concerned and wondering why his hand still lingered near such a sensitive area.  Kang smiled gently, “I won’t hurt you Jaimz.”

Bravely Jaimz remained standing with Kang’s hand way to intimately close to his private places, finally he asked sullenly, “Why? Do you want to fuck me too?”

Kang chuckled, “Of course not!  But I am a medic and it is my duty to make sure that you aren’t injured.”

“I feel fine.” Jaimz insisted, “Besides…it isn’t like I’ll be lifting my tunic to let you take a look after the next 72-hour or so…”

Kang nodded, “This is true…but by that time, or the time after you will be perfectly healed and you wouldn’t have nearly died the day before…now would you?”

Jaimz sighed and muttered, “This is embarrassing.”

Kang breezily exclaimed, “Posh…what is there to be embarrassed about youngling…? Now over with you.”

Jaimz could have continued to protest, but he no longer felt any concern regarding Kang’s motives and with a few choice mutters he turned toward the bed and climbed up onto it, providing the doc with a good view of his nether region just to spite him.  Behind him, while it did make him blush all over again, Kang only chuckled.

The touching was light, very clinical even, though the bit of probing showed that he was a actually sore after all, but after a moment Kang patted his bottom and said, “Looks good, a little red and swollen… but that’s perfectly understandable after you spent to night tied to Kaiel.”

Jaimz flopped over and gasped, “You knew about that?  How?  Did Kaiel tell you?”

Kang backed up a pace and shook his head, “Of course I know about it and no Kaiel didn’t need to tell me… for I saw it.”

“You—!” Jaimz huffed, “You saw?  How?”

Kang waggled his finger in front of Jaimz’ nose and smiled, “I’ll never tell.”

Having had very little exploration of the house Jaimz had to rely on a house staffer to show him to the bathroom facility.  The bathroom proved to be exactly that, and it was huge.  There was a large tiled bath…big enough for 4 or 5 big leonine bodies to share comfortably…and to Jaimz it seemed like a small wading pool, and a shower alcove that had no door and also looked as if it could handle an entire family at once.  The bath had no other facilities, not of the sort that Jaimz was used to seeing with such a setup…but then he knew that there was a lavatory just off from his own room and he thought it likely that there were probably a few more to be found in just the family wing alone.  Only on the ship it seemed were the facilities combined, he supposed that was for space constraints.  The bathroom was quite lovely, bright and airy with potted ferns hanging from the high ceiling and braided reed throws on the floor, smooth stone benches lined the open shower stall, to hold soap, and scrubbers and brushes and likely also anybody that wished to be seated while showering.  More of the same benches sat outside the open shower holding bath towels and wraps.  Two large windows framed either side of the recessed shower and one more large…fixed window framed the inside shower wall.  He was getting used to seeing windows everywhere and starting to lose a bit of his shy modesty in front of them.  He supposed that the Zaran, being fur covered never really considered themselves nude even when they wore nothing at all, but as he let the oversized robe slip off his slight frame, Jaimz mused ruefully that when he was uncovered he was indeed quite nude.  The only saving grace was that these windows, though not facing out onto the savanna, didn’t seem to have another set of windows facing them either, even though he saw another wing of the house through them and a wondrously magical garden in a between.  He decided that even if one of those windows did look indirectly toward the shower area that the arrangement of trees and greenery would break up the show for the most part anyway.

He stepped into the shower, and as he crossed the threshold the overhead jets began to turn on.  Medic V’Ran had assured him that there were sensors in the floor tiles that would follow his movements, turning on and off different overhead and wall jets.  The water was slightly cool, but that was okay, for the morning was already proving to be warm and the day was likely to get warmer still.  For a long moment, because it just felt so good, he just stood under the jets and let the water stream over his head and body.  Once he was thoroughly soaked he began searching through the soaps for something he could use to wash his hair and body, he couldn’t yet really read Zaran so it wasn’t easy to find which soap was shampoo and which was for body fur… Of course, after he picked one of the liquid soaps that smelled like a blend cinnamon and vanilla he had to laugh, since the Zaran were a furred species they probably didn’t have a separate soap for separate body parts.  He might have to make do with one type of soap that would wash all his parts equally well.  Starting with his hair he lathered up thoroughly, and then with that same soap he washed his face and body.   He was still dripping with streams of foamy lather when a voice called his for attention from outside the shower, turning shyly away from the opening he lifted his face into the stream of water to rinse the soap away before canting his head around to see who had come.  It was a female staffer; she was standing just outside the shower, watching him.  “Yes?”

She seemed to need to shake herself back to the task at hand and with a flattening of her ears (females had no ruffs to be disturbed by embarrassment) she announced, “Kaiel Ni sent these garments for you Jaimz Ni.”

Blinking water out of his eyes Jaimz noticed the bundle of fabric she was carrying, “Uh…thank you.  Just put them on the bench please.”

She nodded and stepped from view, he continued to watch, not wanting to continue his bathing until he no longer had an audience.  She stepped back into view again as asked, “Is that all?  Do you require help with your washing?”

Feeling his cheeks heat with embarrassment he shook his head, “No…no thank you.”

She tentatively offered, “I could brush your—fur.” She didn’t know what to call his hair…fur seemed as reasonable a label as any.

Feeling a little like a bug under the looking glass he croaked, “No…no that’s fine thank you!  I don’t need any help… thank you!”

For another moment she hesitated, still looking at him, then nodding with what surely wasn’t disappointment she back up and finally turned away.  He watched until he was sure she had left the bathroom…and then he hurriedly finished washing and just as quickly wrapped a bath towel about his damp and naked body.   As he dried himself he mused about her reaction and others to him.  He noticed that the Zaran seemed to want to touch him, and he was getting somewhat used to that, but it was very disconcerting to think he might be some sort of attractive oddity to the Zaran.

Once he was fairly dry he unfolded the clothing and was surprised to find that it was a complete outfit and not a pair of coveralls as he was used to wearing.  First was a pair a silky blue slacks with a drawstring waist…and a quick inspection showed that the tail slit had been carefully sewn closed…which was a nice detail for an open tail slit just made certain areas of his body to accessible.  A matching high-necked open-sided blue tunic with black scrollwork trim finished the garment.  Since no under garment had come with the outfit he slipped into the slacks first and snugged the drawstring tight. The lightweight and silky pants were nearly the right length, which made him wonder if he was wearing a cub’s outfit.  Not that it really mattered he supposed.  He had to open the collar of the tunic to pull it over his head and then refasten the small black buttons since leaving the collar open neither felt nor looked right.  The open sides of the tunic only fastened together at the waist with black ties, leaving his upper body exposed at the sides every time he moved his arms…but at least it was an outfit and he knew that open-sided tunics were fashionable, for hadn’t Kang showed up wearing just such a tunic this morning?

A pair of cub-sized black slippers finished the outfit and Jaimz, feeling ever so much better, left the bathroom and padded back toward his room where Kang would be waiting to take him to breakfast.  

When he stepped inside the outer room, he saw that Kang was working at his Com-Pad.  Jaimz was still learning the Zaran written language, but he was starting to recognize the symbols and he new that it wouldn’t be long before he was rewriting code on his own Com-Pad.   “What are you doing?” he asked, noticing some of the chemical symbols he had already learned on the Com-Pad’s screen.

Kang didn’t turn away as he explained, “Just imputing some of the chemical combinations that you can’t stomach—literally…. This way we’ll be able to find out what foods and what combination of foods you really need to avoid.  It won’t help much yet…but soon it should give me a good listing of foods you can eat, foods you can tolerate in moderation, foods that will just make you ill and of course foods that will make you extremely sick or worse.”

“Oh….” That was interesting, and it would be good to know if what he was eating was going to disagree with him later.  As it was, right now the foods he could safely eat were somewhat limited, mind that was maybe due to his rather limited ship experience.  “I could help you with that.”

Kang smiled at him then…and then his smile widened as he said, “You look very nice youngling and that color is perfect on you.” He rose and caught Jaimz by his arm, “Yes, yes, I will appreciate your help with this.  But not now… let’s get you something to eat shall we?”

Reminded of that lack for the last few days (at least), his stomach chose that moment to grumble.  Jaimz grinned, “Okay. Maybe you are right.”

Kang snorted, “Maybe I’m right?” as he walked beside him out into the hall. 

Jaimz was busy looking around trying to understand the layout of the house, and trying to peak in through the odd open doorway or out the odd window.  The hall seemed to meander a bit, and like a stream following a course set down by nature the hall had no straight lines.  Everything was very organic, the walls curved gently below and above, doorways were long lazy arches, windows were round, oval or oblong and while there might be windows showing out into gardens or savanna here, a few paces later as the hall shifted again there would be an open space for sitting or a door leading into another room.  The one sure impression Jaimz did get was that the house was large.

“Is it…only one level?”  He couldn’t remember asking that previously and he really hadn’t been all that aware of the place while he was sick.

Kang shook his head and explained,  “In the cities and sometimes the villages, because space can be limited we tend to build up instead of out.  But the great houses are almost always single level sprawling affairs that successive generations continue to build upon or alter… though I understand that K’Lan house has not been altered in a few generations.”

Looking out another window, at another view of the morning vista Jaimz shook his head and asked, “Is it as big as it seems?”

Kang shrugged, “I suppose it can seem a bit overwhelming.  There are only four wings though each running off the central receiving room.  The family wing is where you live.  The guest wing is where I am staying.  The staffer and household wing is where the live-ins live and also where the kitchens, laundry…stuff like that can be found…and of course the formal wing.  That’s where House K’Lan holds formal events like dances, dinners, meetings and whatnot.  It is quite big…but it is actually fairly easy to find your way around.”

They walked for a while more and then entered the central receiving room.  Jaimz remembered this room…for he had collapsed in it.  He glanced out the windows, and saw a view similar to that he saw from his own window…  The vast savanna stretched out before him with herds of animals roaming around in the early morning coolness.  He wondered if what he saw this morning looked like how it might have looked when Africa was still a wild continent and before man had all but destroyed the wild places.  He had never seen Africa, even though his Gate made some of it as close as an afternoon jaunt, and as he stood there, looking out at the view, he felt a sadness as he realized that he would probably never see Africa now.  All his “meant to’s” were now dreams best left in the past.

Kang had continued on and called him as he turned to go down the right hand hall.  Shaking off his melancholy Jaimz caught up with him, surreptitiously wiping away a stray tear that Kang had thankfully not noticed. 

This new wing followed the same meandering path, and windows once again revealed the opposite wing, the inner gardens or a different vista of an entirely different view that Jaimz thought that he would explore eventually.  Good smells and low level yet familiar noises told him what this wing was before Kang had to tell him.  Kang took him into one of the big kitchens (the house apparently had two) and the cook and her staffers all stopped what they were working on to welcome them.  Jaimz was a bit surprised by the slight bows Kang received as the staffers each in turn greeted the venerable medic.  “Good Morning Medic V’Ran.”, “Good Morning Kang Ni.” They said individually, some using his title, while others, more senior staffers like the cook greeted him with his name and honorific.  Not expecting a like greeting, Jaimz was even more taken aback when those same staffers bowed to him as well and exclaimed, “Good Morning K’Lan Ni.” “Good Morning Jaimz Ni.”

Only one staffer, a young male tried to touch him, and while he was reserved to such liberations with his person…apparently the head cook was not about to allow any…for she growled, “Lan Frang…you must show proper respect to Jaimz Ni!”

Both Frang’s ragged ruff and his ears flattened with embarrassment.  Jaimz watched as the young male hurried back to his duties then turned to look at the cook in charge.  The cook was a very tall female, and actually a bit thin (compared to most Zaran’s), her long and very yellow mane was gathered back into an elaborate series of braids that she kept in place with what looked like tortoise-shell clips (though Jaimz couldn’t be sure of that since he had no idea if tortoises or Turtles could be found on Z’Rarla).  She was older then Kaiel at least, maybe by as much as twenty or more years though about that Jaimz also couldn’t be sure.  She had a long face, with maple-brown eyes and oddly she had a dusting of glittering yellow powder along her cheekbones and eyelids (or maybe not so odd, Jaimz thought, recalling that earth women also liked to make themselves up).  Her body fur was nearly blonde (so that she matched her yellow mane), and she was garbed in a long green and rose tunic dress.   

Her ears at this moment were flicked right back and she bowed even deeper to Jaimz.  “My apologies Jaimz Ni.  Frang is young and therefore stupid.”

He shrugged uncomfortably, “It was nothing.” He explained, glancing toward the still humiliated young lion.

Again her head dipped, “You are gracious.”  She placed one hand on her shallow chest (females did not have breasts like earth women – maybe that changed with pregnancy and nursing?) “I am Lan Zavalla—and that ones mother! — So if you have a special need please let me know.  I have taken special precautions for you and it is my wish that you only ever enjoy a meal I serve.”

She had already turned away when Kang took him along again, out of the kitchen and to another room, which could only be a dining room.  It was a very casual dining room that had windows on both opposite walls and a hallway leading through to what was likely the rest of the wing and the second kitchen, etc.   Jaimz saw that his lack of height had been taken into consideration and a tall chair complete with a footrest had been brought in for him…likely a cub’s chair, but if it allowed him to sit at a normal height to the tall table then he wasn’t going to complain.  There were dishes set and waiting but no food at the table…and there were four place settings at the table.  He made his own way unassisted to the table and pulled himself up into the chair, as he settled down he noticed that there was a similar chair set up a few spots down, though that chair didn’t have a foot rest, he wondered if he was intended to sit there but Kang seeing the same chair smiled, “That is for Drey most likely.”

“Drey?” Jaimz wondered, for he didn’t remember Kaiel mentioning anyone named Drey before.

Kang plumped the cushion on his seat and settled his plump posterior down with a satisfied sigh before saying, “Ah yes, a very spirited young house guest who I expect you’ll be meeting very soon…”

Indeed, as soon as Kang explained, that young houseguest made his appearance.  Like a little whirlwind the cub burst into the scene and the fact that Kaiel—who looked bemused by the cub’s energy—had followed him in, went nearly unnoticed.

“Medic Kang, the hunters got the Maram!  Isn’t that great?  Kaiel Ni was worried ‘cause he couldn’t stay last night to make sure about it, but this morning his chief Hunter told him that the Maram was dead… isn’t that great?” the cub announced, practically leaping into his chair which was beside Kang. 

“That’s wonderful.” Kang murmured, smiling warmly as he watched Kaiel head directly for Jaimz and lightly exchange a greeting by touching his shoulder.  “I guess that means your herd is safe?”

Kaiel nodded, though he still didn’t look away from Jaimz.  “Yes…I’m very relieved, the cat was sick and a menace.”

Jaimz thought that Kaiel looked great, he was dressed all in black with scrolling brown trim and he had braided two locks of his mane.  He smiled at his friend, never even thinking about his own appearance and asked, “What’s a Maram?”

It was Drey who helpfully answered though he hadn’t yet really seen Jaimz… “A Maram is a mountain cat.  They are this big—!” the cub went on to say…and then his words just stopped and every one looked at him to see him staring at Jaimz with total fascination.  Jaimz started feeling a blush warm his cheeks when the awestruck cub whispered, “So pretty….”

While everyone watched, the cub, so recently seated, now slid off his chair and padded around Medic Kang to come stand beside Jaimz and stare at him with innocent wonder.  Jaimz didn’t feel threatened by the young male, he recognized him for a cub even though he was the first actual cub he had seen so far.  The cub had a mane of shocking red and to go along with that red mane, were a pair of pale green eyes, which he knew was a rare color amongst the Zaran.  He didn’t recoil when the cub reached out to touch him, and was surprised when the cub hesitated and looked worriedly at him.

“C-can I touch you?” The cub asked ever so politely, and as no Zaran had ever asked before Jaimz said yes.  Very lightly the cub stroked the pads of his fingers along Jaimz’ bare arm, he smiled gradually and as he pulled back he exclaimed with delight, “Your so soft.”

“Drey….” Kaiel warned, his ears flicking with agitation.

But Drey was too excited by the fascinating creature he had discovered to pay any real attention to Kaiel.  “What are you?  I’ve never seen your kind before?  Why is your hide so silky?  Why don’t you have any more fur?”

Jaimz, feeling his lips twitching with amusement, answered the cub’s harmless questions.  “I’m a human.  I’m from a very far away place called Earth, and no…this is about as much ‘fur’ as I have.” He finished, ruefully tugging at his still drying hair.”  He did flinch and jerk around when a big hand stroked his hair, but it turned out to be only Kaiel, who was using his claws to comb out the tangles before they dried in permanently.  Jaimz for a very brief moment thought about telling him to stop, but then he just settled down and let Kaiel work at a knot and said nothing at all.  Kaiel moved in closer, and neither noticed the medic nodding as they verified what he was starting to suspect.

Drey, not to be outdone, chattered curiously, “Where is Earth?  Will I see more like you?  Is every Human pretty like you?  Your eyes are pretty.  Mine are green too.”

Off to the side, Kang gurgled with laughter as he watched poor yet obviously pretty Jaimz try to answer the cub’s many questions.  Jaimz sent him a scowl then looked at Kaiel for reprieve.  Kaiel reluctantly stepped back and said to Drey.   “Cub…this is K’Lan Jaimz.”

Drey stopped chattering and stared at Jaimz with very happy eyes.  “Oh, Jaimz Ni?  I’m going to assist Jaimz Ni right Kaiel Ni?” he innocently blurted out. 

Kaiel’s ears conspicuously disappeared at that revelation.

“What?” Jaimz wondered aloud, gaping at Kaiel.

Kaiel groaned and growled at Drey, “Remember I said only if Jaimz would like to take you on.”  He turned apologetically to Jaimz, “I’m sorry, I mentioned that you might take him on to help you…but I never ever said you would take him on.”

Drey laid his hand on Jaimz’ arm again, thereby attracting his attention.  “You like me right?  I’m very likeable.  And I’m smart and I learn fast and I’ll take good care of you and—.”

Jaimz smiled, “I could use an assistant I guess…Drey is it?”

Drey nodded emphatically, “Yes, Lan Drey, Jaimz Ni.”

Jaimz winced, “Just Jaimz…please.”

Kaiel’s ears were almost back to the right position though his tail was now lightly lashing.  “Drey,” He said quietly, “would you please sit down? Breakfast is sure to begin.”

“Oh, oh sure.” Drey replied, smiling once more at Jaimz before skipping back to his seat. 

Kaiel stared at the cub for a moment longer, than muttered something under his breath, which even Kang couldn’t quite catch, and sat down in the chair next to Jaimz.  He turned to Jaimz and asked, “How do you feel?”

Jaimz playfully waggled his med-cuff at him and said, “It’s been green all morning.”

Kaiel flicked his ears and smiled softly, “I’m glad.”  He looked appreciatively at Jaimz then and murmured, “You look very nice.”

For which Jaimz asked, “Where did this outfit come from?  Its nearly a perfect fit.”

Kaiel shrugged, “It used to be mine when I was younger. I wondered if any of my stuff was still around and some of the staffers found those in storage.  They are a bit out of date…but they do look nice on you.   They found a few other outfits as well, you’ll find them in your room when you head back.”

Jaimz touched the silky fabric and thought about Kaiel wearing it as a cub and said warmly, “Thank you.”

Kaiel only smiled in reply, and if he was going to say anything else that was when the servers filed in.  Four servers with four trays, while a fifth staffer followed with two pitchers.  Expertly the servers set out the trays and removed the lids, each tray contained a different assortment of food.  On one tray were meats, thinly sliced or rolled in pastry, or drooled with delicate gravy.  Another tray had an arrangement of types of fruit around a bowl of what looked like curd pudding or custard or yogurt.  The third tray contains breads, biscuits and crackers.  While the final one had an assortment of cheeses, curds in flavored vinegars and wines, steamed vegetables and something that looked like a sweet baked porridge.  The pitchers also situated by the servers contained in one a juice beverage and in the other a cold sweet tea blend.

To Drey, who had likely never seen such an assortment of food at one sitting, it was a feast… To Jaimz, who was hungry, it was just confusing to wonder what was safe to eat or not.  Kaiel nudged his arm and said, “It is all safe for you.”

Still, even knowing that it was safe to eat, he ate carefully.  Taking small portions and trying little tastes first.  He wouldn’t be eating a lot anyway, for there was no sense in putting to much food to fast into his empty stomach.

“Jaimz Ni…what do you do?” Drey asked after scarfing down a delicate meat and puff pastry roll.

It took Jaimz a moment to understand what the cub was asking.  Setting his own meat pastry aside for the moment he said, “I’m a scientist… and it Jaimz.”

Kang chortled beside him, but continued to eat from his high piled plate and made no response to Jaimz’ wondering what he found so funny.

With Drey continuing to chatter and carry the conversation pretty much himself the morning meal continued for a time uninterrupted.  Then one of the staffers entering from the hall walked up to the other side of the oval table and bowed slightly toward Medic V’Ran.

“Your pardon, Medic V’Ran…but there are newly arrived persons asking after you.” The female staffer advised.

Medic V’Ran raised an expressive set of brow ridges and muttered, “Who knows I’m here?”

Kaiel, recalling what he had told Lan Nerell, the Pride-mother of Moro village, had a sudden insight.  “Trina, these people, are they from Moro village?”

Trina bowed toward him, “Yes Kaiel Ni… the head person said that you told them to come here to see the Medic.”

Kaiel growled, “I told Nerell to send Zeyer since he was injured…” he stopped and looked at the staffer again, “Just how many of the villagers are there?”

Trina glanced up, “I think at least ten Kaiel Ni…. They came in a transport wagon.”

Kaiel scowled as he turned toward Kang.  “I’m sorry Kang Ni.  Yesterday I told Lan Nerell Pridemother of Moro Village that you were here and could treat Zeyer, the fool cub was injured when he thought to beard the maram in its own den.  I did not expect her to be sending a truck load of patients to you today.”

Kang grunted as he stood up from his plate, “No matter.  I guess I can see to these folk.  Besides young Zeyer never did show up yesterday either, so he’s probably with that mix and I guess I should at least have a look at him.”  He stretched, belched contentedly and nodded at Kaiel, “That was a very good breakfast…I thank you.” Then he turned to Jaimz and lightly touched his arm, “And you don’t over do it… remember I will be monitoring you.” With that, and feeling quite pleased with himself Kang gathered up Trina and was telling her to show the patients to his guest room as he strolled from the room.

Kaiel watched the good medic leave, then sighing he pushed his plate back and stood up too.  “Unfortunately I have work that needs to be attended too, and I might as well get started.” He too turned to Jaimz, giving him a worried look, “You will be ok won’t you?”

Jaimz flushed and asserted, “Yes…I’ll be fine Kaiel.”

Kaiel came close to touching him, and then let his hand drop as he backed away from the table.  “Ok,” he said, as he headed in the same direction as Kang, “call me if you need…anything.”

Jaimz felt his cheeks heat while he thought about the things that Kaiel seemed to be saying without actually suggesting anything at all.  To cool his cheeks he looked at the trays, with their still remaining food and knew that he was done.  He glanced at Drey, who was stuffing a last pastry into his mouth and said, “Well, it’s just you and me now.  Would you like to come to my lab?”

Drey, in the midst of licking his finger pads clean grinned and slid from his seat with alacrity.  “Oh yes.”

Jaimz used a bit more decorum to slide out of his seat and once he stood beside the cub he found that he could nearly look him directly in the eyes.  Drey was maybe all of an inch shorter than he…and he knew that wouldn’t last.  A slight noise drew his attention away from Drey, and he saw one of the staffers emerge from the kitchen.  The staffer, a young male this time—Jaimz entertained the possibility that it could be Frang—bowed toward him and asked after the meal.  Jaimz indicated the leftovers and said, “It was all delicious, thank you.”

Whether the staffer was pleased Jaimz didn’t wait to find out.  Remembering the way back to his suite Jaimz led Drey through the house and realized that Kang had be right, it was easy to get around in this huge place.

Once they arrived in his room, Drey expressed his recollection of having seen the room already and showed his interest by asking after just about every drawing and draft Jaimz had.  Jaimz spent a pleasant and restful afternoon telling Drey all about his projects and began to formulate how best to work with the friendly youngster.

Days passed, and the household settled into routine.  Jaimz was no longer bothered if anyone came in on his showers, though he still resisted any offers to help him with his bath.  He worked very well with Drey and found as a side bonus that he was finding it easier to pick up the written Zaran language while teaching Drey the English language of his home world.  He mostly saw Kaiel for meals, though sometimes in the evening Kaiel would come and lay on his bed and talk to him, but nothing else.  He saw Kang occasionally, and was just starting to think he’d miss his help with the chemical library and other matters when Kang informed him that Kaiel had asked him to stay on permanently and since he was already semi-retired that he was considering it. 

Jaimz worked on his projects as time ticked by, organizing them with Drey’s help mostly, but also with Kang once in a while too.  When Drey was off playing or seeing his new tutor for his Zaran studies (something Drey grumbled about upon hearing that he still had to have normal-if-condensed lessons while living at the main house) Jaimz worked on the Tag problem, something he didn’t want Drey to know about.  During the day of the 72-hour eve Jaimz was thinking about what was to come later that night… and he was unusually sensitive to Kaiel’s touch which made him grumpy and even more sensitive so that Kaiel decided to stay away for a while, which only made him feel more grumpy.  He knew that it was because he was approaching that magic hour and was dreading while also anticipating what was to come.  He certainly hadn’t found a cure for it yet, though he was fairly sure that Kaiel’s semen would provide the answer.  Getting that semen however was the question.

Kang had been working with him on that project and also on a project of his own, but when his moodiness threatened to spoil the day Kang picked up and left, even taking Drey with him.  Left to his own resources Jaimz fumed about his room, huffed that there was nothing wrong with him…and finally let himself out one of his windows to explore the area close to the house, he found the grotto next to his room and it was a sanctuary of meandering paths, welcoming benches and shady trees and he spent a good hour investigating it in its entirety.   That hour did him well, for he wasn’t grumpy at all when Kaiel came looking for him while he was lounging on one of those benches and gazing out over the fertile savanna.

Before Kaiel, who looked a bit winded and worried could say anything, Jaimz rocked forward passing his arms around his bent knees and murmured, “This is so beautiful Kaiel… Do you know what a treasure you have?  My people have lost this in their big cities.  Nature is so far away now that I think most of my people would be lost if they saw something as free and wild as this.”

Kaiel, who had been very worried when he couldn’t find Jaimz, wasn’t looking at the green and gold vista that was dotted with myriad herds of animals and trees and streams and lakes and hills, but rather at Jaimz who was smiling so gently.  His sea-foam green-eyes were sparkling with pleasure.  “Yes…it is lovely.” He acknowledged, though it wasn’t the savanna that held his attention.

Jaimz finally looked up at him and then he flushed slightly and said, “I drove everyone away today.  It would seem I’m not pleasant to work with right now.”  He ducked his head, “Sorry.”

Kaiel sat down beside him, and looked out at the same vista, but what he said, had nothing to do with the view.  “Today is the 72-hour.  Naturally you are thinking about it.”

Jaimz leaned against Kaiel’s big arm and simply said, “Yeah.”

Kaiel sat there for a moment, feeling Jaimz against him, and almost forgot why he had come looking for him in the first place… remembering he gasped and groaned, “My father comes home today.”

Jaimz sat away, “Oh….”

Kaiel muttered glumly, “He called just a while ago to inform me that the transport was on the way.” He looked at Jaimz and continued, “He be here in less than an hour.”

“Do…do you want me to meet him?”

Kaiel half turned toward him and rumbled, “Well you certainly can’t hide from him, you live in this house, in my bro—in the family wing.” He caught himself before he could say Lorz’ name.  But Jaimz already knew whose room he had taken over and strangely it did not bother him.

“I wasn’t thinking about hiding from him.” Jaimz stated calmly.  “But how are you going to present me?”

Kaiel hunched his shoulders, “With him, a degree of the truth is best.”

The truth was hard to get across, especially since K’Lan Terrill wasn’t interested in listening.  He stormed through the front door already yelling and only paused for a moment to take in the scene of his son with an alien at his back, before he was yelling again.

“What is this about you stealing a cub from Moro village?” He demanded, impatiently passing his travel satchel to a nearby staffer as he marched into the room.

Kaiel, his weak and soft son, looked as ever taken aback, but after a moment he replied readily enough and with a hint of rancor in his voice, “I did no such thing, I spoke with Drey’s parents and have their full cooperation.”

“Really?” Terrill scoffed, glancing past his son at the diminutive alien standing just behind him and slightly in his shadow.  The alien was an interesting subject Terrill decided, not ugly at all; in fact it was rather attractive and not all that dissimilar in appearance from his kind, being that it had a similar build (though much smaller) and attractive features that shared in the symmetry of eyes, nose and mouth…though the mouth was different, oddly shapely and soft seeming.  What was more interesting though was how that alien’s small hand lightly rested on Kaiel’s arm, where he wasn’t supposed to notice. “According to Nerell you snatched the cub from her and also denied the village any medical aid.”

Kaiel snapped, “I did not!  I offered them medical care here at the main house and they received it!  And as for the cub I already told you that I spoke with his parents.”

“Fine, fine whatever.” Terrill waved his sons answer aside and indicated the alien, “What is that?  Why is it in my house?”

That, seemed to be the signal to bring the alien forward, and Terrill got an even better look at it and decided that it was a male.  But a male who somehow managed to combine the sensuality of the young female with the youthful promise of the young male with in that slight and small body and he was indeed small, for his head didn’t even reach Kaiel’s shoulder.  Still he had remarkably pretty eyes, open and expressive and so filled with doubt at the moment that they shone like aquamarines.  And that mouth, now that he could see it better, was oddly pretty too.  He reached out to catch a strand of that light colored fur which adorned the alien’s head, and the alien flinched from him pressing right back into Kaiel as if he was seeking protection.  That surprised him, for Kaiel had never seemed one to inspire that sort of confidence.  Terrill let his hand drop and waited.

Kaiel did not disappoint (though he oft did), “Father this is K’Lan Jaimz.  Lorz’ mate.”

A boulder, coming through the door and striking him at full force could not have floored him faster.  Only his dignity and pride kept him from doing something that could prove to be an embarrassment to his family honor.   “What was that?” Terrill asked with perfect calmness.

Kaiel pushed Jaimz slightly forward, though he kept his hands steady upon his slender shoulders.  Terrill noticed that the aliens bare face was flushing with bright color, and he realized that it was Jaimz’ way of revealing his discomfort.  “Father, he was Lorz’ mate.  Lorz registered him as such and provided him with the protection of the family name.”

Still stunned, Terrill amazed himself that he was able to clearly say, “Ah…I see.” When of course he didn’t see at all.  His son?  His proud and brave son had mated with an alien?  A male alien at that?  No, no, he shook that thought aside, the alien’s gender hardly mattered…but what did matter was that he was alien, not Zaran!  What could his son have been thinking?  Then he looked at Kaiel, with his hands still on the alien’s shoulders and he wondered what his fool son was thinking in bringing the alien into his home and allowing it to use the K’Lan name.  Only his dignity kept him from denouncing the alien and his son right then.  He had to think, he needed to find out the legalities of this so-called mating, for surely cross species mating was illegal?  But why would it have ever come up before because prior to today he had never seen an alien who looked so very beddable as this one did.  He was attractive, pretty and so delicate and small that he inspired the urge to protect.  Even now, thinking that he had to get rid of the alien, he was also thinking that he was alone and in need.  But none of those confused feelings played upon his face or touched upon his tight control as he did the only honorable thing and greeted the alien.

“Welcome Jaimz, to K’Lan Pride.” He bowed slightly, and breathed in the scent of the alien.  He scented Kaiel on him…and then scoffed at the idea, since Kaiel was so close to him of course he could smell Kaiel’s scent mingled with his.  He drew back, thinking it only too credible that this creature had seduced his son and that sex had been bartered for protection.  He was quite sure that it was a sexual as well as sensual creature and that it—no he—must have intoxicated Lorz with the aphrodisiac of his body.  There was much he had to learn about this creature, for he knew nothing at all and he had heard absolutely nothing about a new alien species introducing themselves to his people (and imagine if they were all like Jaimz and they were loosed amongst the Zaran’s?  The very idea was frankly terrifying.)  “It is a pleasure to meet you.” He lied.

The creature, so charming and fresh, muttered, “Uh…sure…same to you.”

There was no title; no honorific…it was as if the creature thought he was his equal.  It rankled him but he carefully showed nothing overt.  He was trying to think how to get rid of the alien, when the alien shifted and turned toward Kaiel looking up at him with those pretty eyes of his, and he said, “I have some things I need to work on.  See you?”  Somehow there was a message in that final question, but Terrill didn’t know what it meant.  He watched his son watching the alien stroll away toward the family wing.  Well, Terrill had to admit the alien didn’t really stroll, he more like hurried slowly…but when his hips moved like that, whether he had a tail or not, strolling was definitely the right expression to use. 

Terrill looked at his son, waiting for him to stop panting after that creature.  How pathetic he thought was his son, such a good-looking young male, and yet he was weak and soft.  At least Lorz had been artfully seduced…but it looked to him that his younger son was just panting after the same thing Lorz had claimed and doing nothing to possess it.

“Tell me,” he said once Kaiel’s attention returned, “What is that…Jaimz creature?  Where did he come from?  Who are his people?  And how did he become Lorz…mate… and When?  What about the betrothal?  What did Lorz say about the betrothal when you told him?”

He noticed that Kaiel winced at mention of the betrothal, but he thought nothing of it and just waited for his son to answer his questions.

“Jaimz is a human, father.  His people are from a planet called Earth.”

“Never heard of it.” Terrill muttered, “Are there other Humans?  Surely he didn’t come alone?”

Kaiel looked thoughtful and sad for some reason.  “Jaimz is alone, stranded from his people and we don’t even know where to look to help him find them.”

Terrill scoffed, “Well he didn’t get here by magic!  So how did he come to be in our space?  How did he meet Lorz?”

Kaiel growled at him, actually growled—at him.  “I’m getting to that!  Jaimz is a scientist—.” Again Terrill scoffed, a package looking like that did not use its brain for science.  But Kaiel just scowled at him and continued as if he had never interrupted him, “Jaimz is a scientist, he developed a prototype ship called a Jump Ship which can travel great distances… but something went terribly wrong.  There was an accident and the Jump Ship jumped far beyond the range that was expected.  The ship materialized in the middle of a skirmish between our forces and the Chai.  The jump ship cabin suffered a catastrophic failure and decompressed—.”

“How then is Jaimz even alive?” Terrill demanded, interrupting.

Kaiel glared at him, “Jaimz was in the lab on the ship, trying to figure out why the jump was taking so much longer than it should.  When the cabin decompressed the lab pressure-sealed and protected him.  He was the only one to survive the accident.  Lorz found him unconscious in the wreckage and rescued him.”

So, Lorz rescued the alien, interesting and more interesting.  He was beginning to believe that the alien was indeed very clever and maybe even a scientist, and if he really could create ships that could jump great distances then maybe his being here was truly an unfortunate accident.  But that didn’t explain why Lorz would have taken him as his mate unless the Alien set out to seduce him immediately. 

“So Lorz rescued him?  But why would he take him as a mate?  That makes no sense.” Terrill growled, though of course he knew the reason why. 

Kaiel though, who truly knew the truth, who had witnessed things and seen things that made him wish his brother was alive so that he could kill him again, said hoarsely, “I agree Father, but he did take him for his mate and he did give him the K’Lan name.  I saw the documents, I spoke with the Adjucator…it is all proper and legal.”

“Huh…legal?  Lorz was obviously seduced you idiot!  That creature is designed for sex and clearly he used his sex to win protection.” Terrill growled bitterly, and then continuing on another bent entirely, he stated, “Maybe he isn’t even real?  Did you think about that?  What if he’s some kind of Chai construct placed there to confuse the issue, and now he’s found his way into one of the most powerful of Zaran Houses?  Maybe his purpose was to infiltrate our family and take down our government. Did you ever think of that?”

Kaiel was staring at him; his ears were completely pressed back.  His expression comprised of astonishment and anger.  Finally he said, with prefect serenity, “You don’t know what you’re saying father.  You have no idea what you’re saying.” He turned away and said offhandedly, as if he was speaking to a mere staffer, “You should get to know Jaimz before you accuse him of such ridiculous nonsense.”

Enraged, Terrill finally lost it, “Where do you think you’re going?  I’m not finished with you!”

Kaiel turned back toward him, his expression was mildly reproving, “But I am finished with you father.”

Terrill was left alone, and utterly amazed that his weak son had defied him so completely…and so calmly, for he hadn’t yelled nor had he stormed away (like he would have before).  Was this more of Jaimz’ influence?  He wondered and worried because he didn’t like it that Kaiel could defy him with such obvious poise.

Terrill had much to think about as he wandered deeper into his house, and none of what he thought about was good.

Kaiel sat on the bed, just watching while Jaimz paced.  It was evening and the doors were secured against unwelcome visitors.  The wall of windows looked out onto a starlit savanna of silver and shadows.  He knew what was bothering Jaimz, it was his father who bothered Jaimz, all during the evening meal Terrill had pointedly asked questions about Jaimz’ relationship with Lorz and though Kaiel and Kang both tried to keep the conversation moving away from the subject of Lorz…his father stubbornly brought it back.

Finally Jaimz spun toward him and cried fretfully, “I can’t believe I lied about Lorz for him!  My God after all that he put me through it was all I wanted to do to shout at the man who sired that monster and tell him what Lorz was really like!  God I feel filthy!” 

Feeling sympathetic Kaiel murmured soothingly, “Jaimz if you would rather wait, I understand.”

Jaimz gave him a shocked look, then suddenly shook his head, “No, no.  I’m ok really… I’d rather not wait and have to anticipate it even longer… I just can’t believe I had to lie just to protect him!  And he’s so mean to you Kaiel….”

Kaiel shrugged uncomfortably, “Yeah…well, I’m used to it.  Lorz was always the perfect son, while I was the disappointment.”

Jaimz slipped off his pants and climbed onto the bed with Kaiel.  “Well, your father is stupid too then.” He said loyally as he arranged himself across Kaiel’s plush thighs. 

Kaiel had the oil already ready and once Jaimz was waiting he withdrew his rod and oiled it thoroughly.  Jaimz carefully didn’t watch that part, nor did he make any sound as Kaiel went up onto his knees and brought Jaimz up with him.  In a moment he had positioned Jaimz onto the peak of his rod and eased his cheeks open to prevent any resistance…though there would be very little since his flare was not yet engaged and his slickly oiled length provided no resistance for that muscular ring as it stretched over him.  Jaimz did gasp and wrap his arms hard about his neck, but he still didn’t object to the rod’s intrusion.  To stretch Jaimz more gently he lifted him and lowered him over his cone shaped tip several times, stretching his anus slightly each time he lowered him.  Jaimz moaned at that and then bit his neck to stifle his moans, but that actually felt wonderful to Kaiel, so he didn’t mind in the least that Jaimz was biting him.  With his pert cheeks spread apart and his anus stretching so sweetly to enclose his rod Kaiel let Jaimz go down on him, guiding and assisting but not hurrying him as Jaimz’ own slight weight and his gyrating hips did all the work of feeding the rod into his snug hot body.  After a time, before Jaimz had settled fully upon his length, Jaimz tucked his feet under and pushed up, easing the stretching in the lift, only to lower himself again a little more, only to repeat the same motion again a moment later.

“Jaimz?  Are you okay?” He asked, stroking his back.

Jaimz released his hold on his neck and laughed shakily… “Hurts a bit…is all.”

“Are you…do you want me to stop?” he worried, his flare hadn’t engaged yet, so there was still time to release Jaimz and try again later.

Jaimz holding position again for a moment and leaning heavily against his shoulders shook his head against his neck and breathed, “No…I’m ok Kaiel.  Its just it’s been three days, so I guess I’m a little tight.” He lifted his head away from Kaiel’s shoulder, looking up into his face and whispered, “Lift me like before to help me stretch easier.”

Kaiel was amazed, but he didn’t need any further instruction.  He changed position though, so that Jaimz could rest his back, and in this position, holding Jaimz’ legs up and open he worked at stretching him…very slowly.  With each slow plunge and Jaimz answering moan, his rod stroked deeper, until he could see fulfillment so achingly close that he could taste it…and that was when they both became aware that they weren’t alone. 

The both stared in shock toward the open inner door and Kaiel’s father who stood there gaping at them in true surprise.  Clearly Terrill had not thought to find Kaiel here, though the fact that he had let himself into a locked room did not go unnoticed by Kaiel.  “Father!” He roared, “Get out!”

But after his initial surprise Terrill deliberately drew himself up and observed defensively, “So you’re fucking him after all? I guess you’re not as slow as I thought you were.”

That, was the limit that Kaiel could take, heedless even of the consequences he wrenched free, only wincing in reaction when he heard Jaimz’ cry of pain.  The only saving grace was that his flare was not engaged.  He forgot about his father, he forgot about wanting to kill his father at that moment and bent over Jaimz’ small huddled form saying anxiously, “Gods…I’m sorry Jaimz… I didn’t think.  I’m so sorry!  Please don’t be hurt badly… Gods I’m sorry.”

Jaimz was curled on his side…not moving very much and suffering as much from pain as from embarrassment.  He finally croaked, “Ouch…” and yanked at Kaiel’s pelt. “That hurt dammit.”

Kaiel hugged him with his entire body, whispering, “I’m sorry… I’m sorry.”

Beneath him, throbbing in pain, Jaimz achingly acknowledged, “I don’t know that I can finish right now Kaiel… I hurt.”

“I know, I know… I’m sorry… fa—.” He wanted to yell at his father for causing this, but Terrill was gone.  He sat up and stared toward the still open inner door.  Though he felt horribly guilty over the pain he’d unintentionally caused Jaimz, he was also filled with rage at his father for what he had said and done.  “Jaimz, I know that this is the beginning of our 72-hour and I’m sorry I hurt you… but I need to talk to my father.”

Jaimz attempted to straighten up, and thought better of it for he was rather sore, but he thoughtfully stroked Kaiel’s arm and said softly, “Go… I’ll be fine.  I’m not going anywhere for a bit.”

Kaiel smiled contritely, and he rose from the bed, “I’ll come back soon.  Even if you can’t…it will be okay.” He pulled a light cover up over Jaimz’ splendid hips for which Jaimz smiled faintly and then he was hurrying from the room and after his father.

It didn’t take long to find him, his father had returned to his own room and was in the middle of pouring himself a drink.  When Terrill saw him all he said was, “What?  Finished already?  Goodness you cubs have no stamina.”

Kaiel very softly closed the door and stepped forward.

Terrill watched him and snorted, “Look at you.  You’re completely disgraceful, parading about the house unclothed.”

Kaiel snarled softly but said nothing, he was as presentable as he was going to get for his father, and at least his rod was retracted. 

Terrill, watching him coming closer finally growled belligerently, “What do you want?  You disgust me!  Get out.”

But Kaiel planted himself all of a few feet away from his father and loomed, “No father.  You are going to listen to me.  What you did tonight was—.”

“Perfectly within my right!  I’m master of this House!”

“Shut up!” Kaiel roared.

Terrill was surprised for the second time that day.  Kaiel was forceful, demanding. Dominant.

“Why did you go to Jaimz’ room?” Kaiel asked, calm again, though rage thrummed in his voice.

“I was going to my dead son’s room.” Terrill countered, denying any wrongdoing.

Kaiel was on him in a second and snarling into his face, “Liar!  I told you Jaimz was sleeping there!” he growled, “What was your intent father?  To catch him alone and sleeping?  Did you want to rape him like Lorz did every time he touched him?”

“That’s a lie!  I was going to Lorz’ room!  And what do you mean rape?  That creature seduced Lorz and its obvious he’s seducing you too!” Terrill rumbled belligerently, pulling back from his son.

“That’s a lie father!  I was there!  Lorz raped him and shared him with Ham and hurt him so much that it took him days to heal after Lorz died.” He stared at his hands as he snarled; “I would rip Lorz apart if I could for what he did to Jaimz.”

“You take that creature’s side against your brother?” Terrill spluttered in shocked anger, “Of course, of course you do, cause he’s totally seduced you hasn’t he?  Gods—.”

“SHUT UP!” That time there was real volume in that resounding roar.  “You know nothing!  It was Ham who fired the fatal shot that caused the catastrophic failure.  And it was Lorz who found Jaimz in the wreckage and rescued him only so that when he awoke it was to being raped by Lorz.  You don’t know how he cried and screamed and fought and bled whenever Lorz touched him.  You don’t know that Lorz gave him to Ham… you remember Ham don’t you?  Over and over again those two raped him.”

“Lies, how do you know that? That’s impossible to believe, you’re lying.”

Kaiel growled, “I know because my dear brother had to share the details with me.  He told me what he did to Jaimz, he told me in detail about raping him right after he rescued him.  He laughed when he told me…and do you know where Jaimz was while he was telling me what he had done to him?  Jaimz was in Lorz’ bed, crying because Lorz had just finished raping him right before I showed up.  And Ham was there to, and he got up and went to Jaimz and because I was too cowardly to stop him then…I left.  And they laughed at that too, while Jaimz started to scream and cry again… I heard it as I walked away.  Listened to him screaming in agony and I did nothing!”

“You’re…lying.” Terrill muttered, and yet the pain in his son’s voice was too genuine to dismiss. 

“No father,” Kaiel murmured dejectedly, “I’m not lying.  Lorz was brutal with Jaimz.  So brutal that he nearly died when Lorz did.  The only decent thing that Lorz did do was to protect Jaimz with our name… and father; I won’t let you do anything to hurt him.  Jaimz is the innocent victim in this.  He’s the one who will probably never see his people again in his lifetime; he’s the one who will spend the rest of his life on an alien planet surrounded by beasts like us.  He’s the trapped by circumstances that he can do nothing to alter.  And yet he’s brave and strong and beautiful.”

Terrill stared at his son and stated, “You love him.”

Kaiel shook himself and stepped back, he didn’t acknowledge Terrill’s claim.  “Father, you don’t know him, you are ready to condemn him on suspicion and conjecture and nothing more.  Give him a chance to change your mind.  That is all I ask.”

Terrill said nothing as his son left as quietly as he had entered.  He was surprised to find that he was still holding his glass of spirits, and that it was only half sloshed; most of the ripe contents now tracked his fur on his left side.  But that aside he had a lot to think about.  He wasn’t convinced, he still believed that Jaimz was a seducer, but Kaiel had been too honest and too raw when he talked about the rapes.  He believed that Jaimz had been raped, maybe as Kaiel had said, by his son and his son’s cub-hood friend, but that didn’t mean Jaimz hadn’t asked for it.  After all, look at what he had walked in on, his firstborn son was dead not even 10 days and Jaimz, his mate, was already getting fucked by his other son.

Oh yes, he had much to think about indeed.

Kaiel felt depleted when he let himself back into Jaimz’ room.  Remembering his cowardly behavior when he’d first met Jaimz filled him with total shame.  He thought also about his father and hoped that he’d be more willing to listen and see Jaimz and not simply judge him.  He moved into the inner room and stopped before the bed, and looking at Jaimz, whom he knew had fallen asleep, and he wondered if he was still sore.  Carefully he climbed onto the bed and tucked himself against Jaimz’ small lovely body.  Instantly Jaimz pushed back into the warmth of his pelt and snuggled up against him.   He sighed, it hurt so much to love him so and know that Jaimz just did not feel the same.  For Jaimz the 72-hour was a curse, something to just do and get over with, but for Kaiel the 72-hour was a license to touch Jaimz and love his body, as he couldn’t at any other time.  He looked forward to the 72-hour and knew that he always would.

As he lay there stroking his big fingers through Jaimz’ silky hair, he became aware of Jaimz stroking him back.  Knowing that Jaimz was awake filled him with hope and dread at the same time.  Lightly he asked, “Are you okay?”

Jaimz leaned his head back on Kaiel’s arm and murmured sleepily, “I don’t think I’m up to it right now.  I’m still a little sore.”

Kaiel caressed Jaimz’ neck and shoulder and asked, “If I could make you feel better, would you then?”

Jaimz peaked one eye open.  “How…what can you do?”

Kaiel eased away from his Tag Mate and moved down to his legs.  “Let me show you.”

Curious Jaimz didn’t protest as Kaiel parted his thighs and tucked himself between them so that Jaimz’ legs rested on Kaiel’s shoulders.  “Wha-what are you doing?” Jaimz wondered shyly when Kaiel tilted his hips up and ducked his head down.  He didn’t have to wonder long though, for something warm and wet laved over his still tender anus.  His entire body shuddered with the pleasure of it, even though his anus continued to ache.  He moaned as he looked up his body to Kaiel’s silvery eyes, watching him from between his parted legs.  Kaiel’s eyes closed, and again the warm wet pressure eased against his anus.  He squeezed his thighs about Kaiel’s head and cried out softly in shame mingled with pleasure.  Again Kaiel’s eyes opened, and again he looked at him, this time the warm pressure came with out Kaiel completely closing his eyes.  Instead those night bright eyes lowered slightly and watched how his body rocked when his tongue bathed his anus again… After another earth shattering lave with his tongue, Kaiel lifted his head almost free of Jaimz’ thighs and asked, “Is this ok?”

Jaimz could only nod and groan, which led Kaiel to lowering his head and starting again.  He stroked and circled and poked his tongue over, around and into Jaimz’ throbbing anus.  He pushed his face deep into Jaimz’ cleft, driving his tongue deep into his body, tasting him and loving him completely until Jaimz surrendered, crying “Now Kaiel… Now please Kaiel.”

He knew and he was ready, he’d been subduing his monster against the bed, but it sprang to instantaneous attention the moment he shifted his body back into the dominant position.  His flare was fully distended and he knew the width of it would hurt Jaimz again, but Jaimz didn’t seem to care as he grabbed his rod in his small hand and tried to drive it toward his throbbing anus.  Kaiel stopped him gently, though it felt great to be held in Jaimz’ hand, and took control again rather than let Jaimz hurt himself by trying to just stuff the rod inside.  He found the oil while Jaimz sulked and liberally applied it to his rod and flare, then he took his greasy fingers and pushed them gently and deeply into Jaimz’ anus.   Jaimz stopped sulking and started moaning as he spread his fingers wide in that soft yielding and hot flesh and eased that muscle as wide open as it would go.   Finally he pressed up against Jaimz’ legs, lifted his hips, used his hands the spread his sweet cheeks and guided the tip of his rod into Jaimz yielding body.  Jaimz made no sound at all, he just watched him as he pushed and withdrew once, pushed and withdrew twice…pushed and stretched his reluctant anus completely open with the third thrust.  Jaimz moaned then…not from the pain of being stretched so wide so he could accept the fully engaged flare, that had actually been kind of pleasant, but rather he moaned with the long steady plunge of Kaiel’s rod as it descended into his snug and eager body.   Then Kaiel slid back, and plunged in again, thereby setting his rhythm in motion.  He wasn’t long away from release; he’d been too long containing it in the sheets with the flare engaged for him to get more then a few strokes started before he was coming.  But Jaimz didn’t care, he wanted everything Kaiel was giving him, each lunge and each hot wave of liquid that bathed his innards.  Ten-fifteen minutes of that wild ride drove Jaimz to wanton heights of incredible pleasure and had him shaking and gasping when it was all over except for the final withdrawal of the rod.  He lay there feeling his rectum suck as that big shaft, squeeze around the still distended flare and drink up every last drop the rod could press out.  He was spent, just catching his breath, and knowing that Kaiel was the same, and like before, when the rod had retracted Jaimz did not want his Tag Mate to leave him.  That was when, when he was at his most vulnerable that Jaimz knew how much he needed him.  Once his body had recovered and his mind slept he would push that truth aside until the next 72-hour allowed him to admit it again.   Hazily Kaiel worried, “What if we tie again as we sleep?”

Jaimz, feeling that Kaiel’s rod hadn’t even completely retracted yet, yawned and turned into his arms sighing “If it does we will deal with it when we wake.”

Kaiel thought of a better idea and briefly jarred Jaimz into blearily wondering what he was doing as he laid him across his body rather then down it, but then this new position availed itself to being within easy reach of Kaiel’s fingers and Jaimz just cuddled his head on his shoulder and parted his legs and dozed off while Kaiel sleepily teased his swollen anus with his fingers.

Terrill stepped out of his room and onto the meadow grass beneath his window, as the morning sun was just starting to cast its golden light across the deep purple shadows of the savanna.  Momentarily he stood there while he thought that it would be nice to just wander in the direction of the rising sun and enjoy the breezes of the morning as the coolness of night gradually gave way to the advancing warmth of day.  He had not slept very well, because his thoughts revolved around his sons…one dead and the other alive.  And those thoughts were inevitably confused with that Jaimz creature that had somehow managed to alter both of his sons’ lives.  He had lain awake for along time thinking about Jaimz and convincing himself without too much difficulty that somehow Jaimz must be responsible for Lorz’ demise.  He had distracted Lorz, taken up too much of his attention, and left him open and vulnerable to outside forces.  For a moment he’d even entertained the thought that distraction hadn’t killed Lorz but rather betrayal in the form of his brother falling in love with his mate and conspiring to kill him.  But he hadn’t entertained that thought for too long since he just couldn’t see his surviving son having balls enough to actually take out his rival in love.  No Lorz had died in battle and it was a brave and honorable way to go, a sire couldn’t ask for a better death for his son, but it still pained him that he had not spoken with or seen his son before he’d died.

Learning the news while he was in session at the Summit had been brutal, and made all the worse because there was nothing he could have done…Lorz was dead, his remains and personal affect were being shipped home…probably sometime in the next week or so.  He could and did mourn his son’s loss without the need of his physical remains.

Still the loss was like a sharp wound, his wonderful brave son was dead…and all he had left to continue his legacy was his disappointment…his failure, his younger son. Where was that inadequate son of his now he wondered, and while looking down the length of his home he decided a walk along its walls would be as beneficial as one that would take him out into the plains.  And it might show him exactly where his useless son was and what he was up to at this hour of the morning.  Though he doubted he was up to much of anything, at least not good, even if he was awake.

Passing by his son’s bedroom showed his bed empty and suspiciously undisturbed.  He nodded, for he had already expected this.  A little further along the house was another bedroom, this one receiving the golden light of dawn, and it revealed exactly what he expected to find.  His son lay sprawled on his back in the middle of the bed with his limbs bent in total abandon.  The morning sunlight sparkled off his light gold pelt, and played off his handsome features in soft relief.   Of course he looked so utterly peaceful with one of his big arms tucked about that creature’s back.  He stepped back to the edge of the outermost window and let his eyes wander, as they will. 

The Jaimz creature lie half sprawled across Kaiel’s big body; he was lying on his belly with his head resting on Kaiel’s shoulder and his face turned toward the rising sun.   One of his long slender legs was tucked up at Kaiel’s waist while the other nested down along Kaiel’s own hip and leg and one of his slender hands was curled around Kaiel’s side while the other was stretched up and tangled in Kaiel’s mane.  Terrill could certainly see the creature’s seductive appeal and could understand why both his sons had taken to his bed; though it was true he was barely cub sized which made Terrill’s thoughts almost obscene, the alien had a shape that was out-and-out sensual.  For all that he was small he was perfectly portioned with a long tapering back, hips with just enough of a flare to make those pale pert cheeks all the more enticing, while his shoulders were just wide enough to balance out his hips.  Then added to all of that were a pair of long slender legs.  He wasn’t just short he was cub small and yet his legs were plenty long enough to match his body.  As he gazed at Jaimz he thought about all that naked skin shimmering pearly and golden in the morning light and he just thought he shouldn’t find it attractive.  There was no reason why exposed skin should be anything but ugly to him, and yet rather than being repulsed he was attracted and very enthralled with the idea of touching all that skin which he suspected felt like stroking a flower’s petal.

As he stood there, watching the sleepers being teased awake by the golden morning light, Terrill simply understood that one day he was going to fuck Jaimz, for it only seemed logical to him that he should taste what both his son’s took pleasure in. Stepping further back into the shadows he watched then as first Kaiel awoke and stretched indolently, and he saw that Kaiel’s motion woke Jaimz who stretched yawningly atop Kaiel’s big body and then pushed up so that he straddled Kaiel’s waist and lazily looked down at him.  Watching in his shadowed spot, out of direct sight of the pair he saw Kaiel drape his big hands around Jaimz’ narrow waist and he saw Kaiel slowly smile.  Jaimz said something, but with the windows closed Terrill couldn’t catch it, but whatever it was, Kaiel laughed, which made Jaimz sway languorously back and forth.  

Thinking he was maybe going to see a treat, he was a little disappointed when Kaiel rolled onto his side, spilling Jaimz onto the bed.  As both of them slipped from the bed, Kaiel bent and gathered up what looked like his discarded garments from the floor while Jaimz slipped a concealing robe over his fine winsome body.  Then as Kaiel turned toward the window, Terrill understood that he had to make a hasty retreat or risk being found out spying, for soon Kaiel had pivoted the window open and stepped out onto the meadow grass and then padded along the path to his own bedroom sanctuary.  Staring after his son Terrill realized that the pair were trying to keep their sexual liaisons a secret.   He smiled slyly as he stepped back to the window and watched as Jaimz put together the outfit he would wear today, it proved to be a nice green and gold tunic and pant ensemble that would go very well those pretty eyes. 

He had to step back quickly when Jaimz suddenly turned and stared toward his shadowy corner.  He was certain that the human couldn’t see him and yet Jaimz continued to look intently toward his hiding spot for a long time, he had to retreat again when Jaimz finally decided to investigate, and while he pressed up against the wall he heard the window sigh open on its well tended pivot shaft and the breeze wafted Jaimz’ scent to his receiving nostrils.  The same breeze carried his light voice too when he queried into the silence, “Kaiel?”

Terrill could only wonder if Jaimz’ curiosity would have brought him out into the grotto to discover him, for someone, it sounded like the medic, called him away from the window.  He waited as the window whispered closed once more and then risked moving forward to watch again as Jaimz joined the medic at the inner door and disappeared through into the other room with him.

He was surprised by the presence of the Medic, and how his son had possessed enough initiative to invite the old medic to move his practice to K’Lan Pride.  He hadn’t really had much of a chat with the good medic yet, but he did notice that he seemed very fond of both Kaiel and Jaimz.

With much more to think about then when he had started out on his walk earlier this morning Terrill resumed his meanderings.

Jaimz felt a bit embarrassed about asking the Kang to accompany him to the bathroom, but he was still feeling unsettled by whatever it was that had been watching him this morning.  Kang didn’t mind and he indicated that he needed a shower anyway so Jaimz got to share his first shower with another body and found it, different indeed.  Because the Zaran were a fur covered race soaping and lathering their bodies was quite an event which as he learned was why the bath and shower were so large, they were meant to be shared so that they could assist each other at scrubbing loose fur away and soaping all the difficult to reach places.  He didn’t have any fur to worry about but Kang lathered him up anyway and chided him if he protested that a certain area didn’t need Kang’s attention.  He reciprocated by scrubbing and soaping Kang’s thick back and shoulders, and because Kang was quite tall (8.2) he had to stand on his toe tips.  Kang laughed at his grumbles then he advised, “You should shower with Kaiel next time youngling.”

Jaimz blushed, “And have someone come in when we’re getting it on…no thank you!” he complained.

Kang snorted merrily, “I don’t mean for the 72-hour youngling.  I meant only to clean each other and also to let him touch you when you’re soaking wet.  Your skin feels spectacular right now.”

The blush only deepened as Jaimz bitterly acknowledged, “It would probably turn sexual.”

Kang nodded thoughtfully, “Ah…I see.”

Jaimz rinsed off and stepped out of the shower, “What do you see?” he mused as he dried himself with a big plush towel and picked up the green pants to step into them.  He had resigned himself to the fact that underwear just weren’t forthcoming, and besides the pants he wore were all so soft and comfortable anyway.  He snugged the drawstring waist closed and unfolded the tunic…stepping aside for Kang, who, while smelling like a cinnamon-snap cookie, emerged from the shower.  All that fur needed more than one big towel to scrub it dry, and even then Kang would be getting dressed while still slightly damp. 

Kang pulled the towel about his broad body and as he rubbed at his fur he answered Jaimz’ question.  “Sex has become part of your relationship with Kaiel.  When you think about him, even innocently, sex comes to mind.”

Jaimz blushed again and denied, “No…no it doesn’t.”

“Of course it does, otherwise you wouldn’t be coloring up so beautifully.” Kang chided, reaching for another towel. “Even if it isn’t always on your mind it doesn’t take much for sex to come to mind when the thought is coupled with Kaiel.   It’s not your fault.  Your addicted to him.”

Jaimz balked and then yelled, “But I thought that answering the 72-hour would make me less addicted.”

Kang canted his head, “No…that simply answers the Tag’s demand and lets you continue to live your life.  But you are addicted to Kaiel.  You need him like you need water.  When you touch him don’t you feel good?  Actually I’ve been thinking about writing a thesis on the Tag, using you two as anonymous subjects of course.”

Jaimz stared at him…and grumped, “Well that’s nice for you.”

Kang chuckled, “Don’t get bent out of shape.  The addiction has its benefits too, like you heal easier.  Which is likely why you survived Lorz as well as you did.”

Jaimz recoiled and he vehemently snapped, “I was not addicted to Lorz!”

Kang was left alone after Jaimz stormed out of the bathroom.  Of course Jaimz was still very sensitive about Lorz, so he understood why he’d been so upset.  Besides, he mused, with K’Lan Terrill in residence and Jaimz having to lie about his relationship with Lorz to protect Terrill’s sensibilities, Jaimz was probably having a very hard time coping.  What he needed was a distraction.

Kaiel turned off the COM and sat back, thinking about the message Heron had just delivered to him.  His assistant, while working on the Chai problem back on the Kattaf, had just been given a very big lead toward solving the Chai dispute.  The Chai wanted to talk about compromising—and they wanted to talk with him.  He was sitting there, wondering what part of his report to review first when his father entered his office.  

The big male sauntered in as if he owned the room, he didn’t announce his presence or otherwise ask to be allowed entrance…he merely strolled in and glanced idly about Kaiel’s office as if he expected something to have changed since the last time he had bothered to grace him with his superior company.

As if speaking to no one in particular he said casually, “I finished an interesting conversation with L’Teran.  It seems they want to press forth with the betrothal ceremony even though Lorz is dead.”

Reminded about that very touchy subject, Kaiel said, “Uh, father I wanted to talk to you about that—.” but Terrill interrupted him.

“I decided to let it stand.  I want grandcubs and you’re all I have left now.”

Kaiel went from shock to embarrassment to anger, “What? I get no choice in the matter?” he growled.

Terrill fixed a bland eye upon his son and said disdainfully, “I don’t recall giving Lorz a choice in the matter either.  Besides she’s of a good House and can provide you with cubs.”

“Except I don’t like her!  And Lorz did defy you over the betrothal too!” Kaiel snapped.

“Pishaw…you don’t have to like her to get cubs on her.” Terrill retorted, “Besides I already invited L’Teran Vreda and a companion to spend a few days with us so that she can get to know you better.”

“Then you entertain her!” Kaiel snarled bitterly, “For I have much more important matters to attend to.”

Terrill canted his head and smiled slyly, “Like fucking your pet?  Really, you can do that any time, and I’m sure she won’t even notice your neglect.”

Kaiel clenched his fists and told himself over and over again that this was his father and that he needed to use restraint when dealing with him… but his maligning Jaimz was just intolerable… Quietly he said, “Jaimz has nothing to do with this…and I remind you to give him a chance, Gods just a fuckin chance…” oh yes, he was starting to pick up Jaimz’ idioms just fine.  “What I have to work on is something new concerning the Chai so I doubt I’ll be able to make much time for Vreda or Jaimz.”

That caught his father’s attention.  “Ah…the Chai?  What new matter concerning the Chai?”

Kaiel didn’t have an answer yet, he would need to get Heron back on the COM and try to pin down why the Chai had suddenly suggested a compromise.   “I haven’t all the information and I have very little time to prepare for an emergency Summit session.”

“Curious.” Terrill murmured, “I haven’t been contacted yet.”

Kaiel shrugged, “You’re not with the Diplomatic Core father, and this is a diplomatic matter.”

“Pishaw…it’s an internal matter as well.” Terrill retorted airily, “Besides we spent a good quarter of the High Summit discussing the Chai problem.”

“Did you arrive at any real solution?” Kaiel casually asked, knowing full well that those old hide bound councilors would have spent most of that time arguing and little of that time actually coming up with any productive ideas.

“It’s too soon.  The Chai problem is complicated.” Terrill dismissed, “Well, since you will be working so hard to prepare for the Diplomatic Summit I suppose that I can find the means to entertain Vreda and her companion… But I still expect you to attend all the meals and set some time aside for her…I’ll let you decide what to do with that time.” He declared arrogantly and then smirking slyly, he added, “And as for your little pet…I suppose I can entertain him too… to help him pass the time so his isn’t so lonely for you.”

Kaiel gazed at his father through narrowed eyes, and said grimly, “Don’t you touch him.”

With his eyes sparkling in amusement, Terrill smirked, “I never said anything about touching him, Kaiel.  Oh my, how exceedingly crude of you.”

“Father…” Kaiel growled softly.

“Oh don’t twist your tail into a knot.” Terrill quipped, grinningly.  “I’m only joking.  I’d as soon pester a Skarll than waste time with your ugly naked pet.”

Kaiel didn’t say anything to that, but he didn’t need to, for his doubt and mistrust was evident in his watchful and guarded eyes.  Terrill smiled, thinking about all that lovely touchable skin and decided that he probably would have to pester that creature Jaimz…just for the fun of it.  “While, I have work to do as well, since you decline to do any preparation for Vreda’s visit I will have to make all the arrangements. “

“You invited her.” Kaiel calmly reminded him, not revealing even a hint of discomfiture.

Terrill snapped, “Yes, yes, its obviously too much to ask you to spare a little consideration for your betrothed.”

Kaiel just gave him a closed look and said icily, “I have work to do.”

With the slightest tip of his head to acknowledge his son’s cool composure Terrill let himself out of his son’s office.  As he stood in the hall afterwards he thought about the changes in his son and realized that if they had been actually embroiled in a contest of wills that Kaiel might have actually won that round….

As he turned away he noticed the old Medic striding ponderously toward him and he called to him, “Oh Kang Ni, I should like to talk to you about that creat—er—about Jaimz.”

The Medic stopped at the door and gave him a respectful nod, the kind that was given between peers.  It was obvious to Terrill that the Medic had come to see Kaiel, so he added, “When you can spare the time of course I just have some questions.  I’m naturally curious you see and I thought it best to speak with you, his medic.” He was even more curious as to why Jaimz had needed someone to look after him so closely.

Kang spared him a thoughtful look then glanced at his watch before musing, “Well I am going into the city to start bringing some of my things over – By the way it is very kind of you to let me convert the room next door (to mine) into a clinic – anyway I should be able to spare a moment in about half a mark.  If that works for you?”

Terrill nodded, “That will do nicely.  Until then Medic V’Ran.” He strode away as Kang was rapping his claws on the door, and waiting for Kaiel’s response.

Vreda and her cousin Zuzu were expected to arrive just after the noon meal.   He would have to arrange to have the noon meal pushed back to after their arrival.  Of course the females would need quarters and though two of the guestrooms were already spoken for there were still plenty of other very nicely appointed guestrooms that would serve nicely.  He thought that fresh flowers in each of their rooms would be nice, then amended that idea to add that displays of fresh flowers and greens in the L’Teran and K’Lan colors would be a nice tasteful touch.  He had much to do and with his son refusing to take part in getting ready for his betrothed arrival it was up to him to make sure that everything was perfect.

Kaiel was a bit impatient at being bothered again, especially after just dealing with his implacable father, but at seeing his new visitor was the good medic he relaxed.  “Kang Ni, what can I do for you?” he said as he set the ream of notes he was going through aside.

Kang lowered his ample bottom into a nearby chair and explained, “I’m heading into Chocho today.  I thought that I would start bringing my stuff over and of course I need to let my current clients know where they can find me if they choose to retain my services after I close my office.”

“Oh… would you like some help?  I can send some of the Staffers with you, unfortunately I won’t be able to come with you…I have—.”

“No, no that’s fine, I can see that you’re busy.” Kang hastened to explain, and then offhandedly he added, “Actually I was thinking about taking Jaimz with me.”

Kaiel’s reaction was instantaneous and violent.  “No!  Are you insane?  You can’t take Jaimz to the city!  He’ll be in danger!  I can’t allow it.”

Kang looked at the scattered papers, scattered by Kaiel’s violent reaction and shook his head, softly he said, “My dear cubling, you can’t keep Jaimz confined to this house either or he’ll begin to believe that he is caged.  Is that what you want?  You need to expose Jaimz to the population of Z’Rarla, so that they will grow used to him.  Keeping him hidden away will make him only more intriguing.  The staffers talk about him.  The villagers in Moro know of him.  I’m certain the city dwellers in Chocho are starting to hear about him too since the staffers and villagers mingle freely with the residents of Chocho.  You know the adage, familiarity breeds contempt?  Well secrecy propagates intrigue too!  If you keep him a mystery he will be in danger…but if you let the people of Z’Rarla know him…they will get used to him.”

“But…anything could happen to him in the city Kang Ni.  He’s so small and helpless, he could be hurt or—worse.” Kaiel fretted, for he knew that there were Zarans with less self-control, who wouldn’t be able govern themselves properly if they wanted to touch Jaimz.  For he had come to recognize that Jaimz was captivating to his people and even though his staffers were growing used to Jaimz and Jaimz felt comfortable with them, that they often stopped what they were doing to stare after him, and just as often they wanted to touch him, to stroke his hair or caress his silky skin.

Kang leaned forward and touched his shoulder, “Kaiel Ni, I won’t let anything happen to him.  I’ll bring him back safe and sound. Why I’ll even make him wear a cloak at all times just to keep him hidden from view…and furthermore I’ll bring young Drey along for company.  Your Tag Mate needs a break before he breaks.”

“Wh-what?  Why?  Is something wrong with him?”  Kaiel asked, concerned for Jaimz’ emotional stability now.

“No, no there is nothing wrong with him….  Nothing of any merit anyway.  I think his simply tense about your father.  Last night was hard on him.   And this morning he didn’t want to shower alone.  He needs a break Kaiel, and a simple change of scenery will suffice I think.”  He explained kindly.

Kaiel lowered his ears, “I didn’t know he was feeling confined.”

“He probably isn’t yet Kaiel, for there is still much to explore right here.  But you will need to let him explore beyond these walls too.  If he is going to spend the rest of his life here, he must explore what is out there and he must feel safe and comfortable while doing that.  The only way that will happen is if the people of Z’Rarla accept him as one of them.  Even if a bit of a strange one of them.” Kang concluded with a wry smile.

Kaiel scrubbed his hand through his light ruff and up into his mane, “You’re right, I’ve been so busy with—everything…. That I didn’t think about how to immerse him in our society.” He sighed and sat up straighter.  “Well, even if I am busy I can make arrangements to introduce him to Z’Rarla….” He lowered his hand and looked at Kang, asking hopefully, “What was he like in the shower?”

Kang grinned mysteriously, and said, “That you’ll have to discover on your own, youngling.  I will say that touching all that wet skin was delightful though.”

Kaiel flicked his ears then sat forward, saying, “Ok… I will let—him go with you.  But you must promise to protect him and not to let him out of your sight!”

“Of course,” Kang exclaimed airily, “my word of honor I will guard him well.” He smiled kindly then and continued, “Besides to risk him is to risk you…and I wouldn’t do that.”

Kaiel didn’t say anything to that, he knew that he was going to have to get used to letting Jaimz off his tether, and part of what he had to get used to was the fear of fatal separation.  He allowed himself to nod and then said, “Uhm, well, it would seem I have even more work to take care of now.”  Then he looked anxiously at Kang and asked, “You won’t be too long?”

Kang smiled, “I won’t be late if that is what you mean.  We will all be back to sit down to supper so your father can harass poor Jaimz about his life with darling Lorz.”

Kaiel’s ears laid fully back with that, and he snarled, “I think my father won’t bother Jaimz tonight.  I had a few words with him and straightened him out about a few—things.”

“Ah, well, that’s good.” Kang exclaimed amicably, “Anyway I have an interview with the worthy Terrill myself.  So I suppose I should go see what he wants.”

Kaiel stared after the worthy old medic and sighed, he had to admit the idea of letting Jaimz go anywhere without him was just terrifying.  And yet, they couldn’t stay tethered together for the rest of their lives.  Sometimes he was going to have to go away, and sometimes he suspected Jaimz would need to see other places or things with out him tagging along, so he was just going to have to get used to it and start letting Jaimz go on these little excursions.  As to what the medic had said, about familiarity breeding contempt…he was correct.  Though the staffers were still intrigued with Jaimz he doubted that any would think of harming him now and they worked easily with him once they worked through the initial desire to touch him.  As the medic stated, while Jaimz was a mystery he was more intriguing which made him more vulnerable.  He knew that the only way to get Jaimz quickly into the public eye was to introduce him to the public.  He supposed one sure way would be to get him on COMCAST News, which was aired by most of the Broadcast Stations of Z’Rarla.  He headed to the COM to put in the necessary call.

Jaimz accepted the cloak wordlessly and followed the quiet Medic V’Ran and the excited Drey out to the truck Kang had managed to wrangle for his trip into the city.  He wondered why the medic was so quiet, but with Drey skipping and chatting as they approached the transport he had little chance to ask. 

Kang opened the driver side door and said to Jaimz, “Put that cloak on and keep your head covered.”

Jaimz silently did as the medic suggested, though he wondered why he needed to as he climbed up into the passenger side of the transport beside Drey.  He supposed it had something to do with the fact Kang was taking him into the city of Chocho.  From his studies of the Zaran language what he had learned was that cities tended to spring up between the Pride lands of the Old Houses.  In these cities all the Houses and their lesser names congregated, here sons or daughters of Pride families came to find work, mates or to rise high enough in power to gain the title of a House without being born into one.  Medics for instance gained the Accented Honorific of their House even if they weren’t born to the High House. This was so that wherever they went and whomever they treated they would receive suitable respect and honor.  Adjucators also gained the same honorific, as did senators and councilors and ships captains.  Basically anyone who rose to a position of power gained the honorific and respect necessary for him or her to be accepted by the High houses.  However the honorific in this case was only for the individual and was not attached to his family or descendants, unless he did something extraordinary that required he or she be raised to a High House…and that was something that happened very rarely. 

Of course from his studies he had also learned that Zaran society was very different from how his had once been, even though there was a distinct separation of Classes, the Zaran people over all were a very homogenous mix.  If you belonged to a Pride (and what Zaran didn’t?) then you had all the benefits of that Pride, and the higher in Power that Pride was (such as one of the High Old Houses) the more prosperous the regular Zaran people were.  Thus all Zaran seemed to work within his or her Pride to help it prosper which ensured the comforts of normal life.  He didn’t know what he would call this kind of society…maybe a cooperative communal?  These people truly believed that by pulling together everyone would benefit.  Of course there were individuals with in these communities that went their own way and succeeded or failed on their own, but these individuals were actually rare…since those that succeeded generally were those that founded a new House, and how often were new Houses founded?  Not very often if his studies were to be believed.  The last new House to be founded had been over two hundred years ago.  A high House or an Old House was something else completely.  To be born into a High House was like being born into royalty. These proud Old Houses almost never mated outside of other proud Old Houses.  Their family pedigrees could be traced back to the ancestor who founded their very line.  And the Lineages were closely observed to ensure that the sons and daughters of those Houses produced only the most intelligent, beautiful, and remarkable offspring.  

Recalling his studies, and that very subject Jaimz idly wondered where K’Lan House had gone so wrong to produce a monster like Lorz?  Still, he supposed Kaiel was a fair compensation and a more than worthy progenitor for the continuation of that line when he decided it was necessary.  Thinking about that made him sigh…for it also made him realize that he was jealous.  That made him want to hang his head in shame and cry, for he no longer really recognized who he was any more.

“A problem Jaimz?” Asked Kang, carefully keeping his sharp eyes on the dirt road leading out of the Pride lands.  He wasn’t used to steering such a boxy vehicle and though he was thankful for its storage capacity he would have much preferred a small van or other such transport.

Jaimz jerked his head toward the medic in surprise and blushed fiercely at being caught seeming to be in a sulk.  “Uhm…no.” he murmured, “I was just thinking about something.”

He went to push the hood of the cloak back but Kang shook his head, “You should keep it up.”

Frowning Jaimz again did as he was told, but this time he asked why he had to.

Kang chanced looking toward him; even with the cloak pulled up it merely framed Jaimz arresting face and accentuated those aquamarine eyes.  “Because you are a stranger in a strange place and until your face is a bit better known it would be much safer if you remain anonymous.”  He turned back to face the road again.

Jaimz scoffed, “I don’t see how my face will get better known if I hide it.”

Kang chuckled, “Well, as to that, I think that Kaiel is working on a solution for that.”

Jaimz looked at him, and simply said, “Oh.”

Drey listening to the adults (though one was his height and very pretty) chimed in. “I could wear a cloak too, then Jaimz Ni will be even more anonymous.”

Kang smiled wryly.  “That’s actually a good idea.  Unfortunately I only thought to bring the one cloak.”

Drey shrugged and patted Jaimz’ arm and since Jaimz didn’t seem to mind Drey touched him fairly often.  “Are you excited about seeing the city Jaimz Ni?”

Jaimz smiled at the youngster and said, “Sure.” Then he added lightly, “and it is just Jaimz.”

Kang chuckled.  Every time Drey attached the honorific to Jaimz’ name Jaimz always corrected him.  Maybe one day he would succeed.

After a time of driving in companionable silence Jaimz’ thoughts returned to his concerns when they had first started this trip.  Turning toward the medic he asked, “When we started out you seemed bothered by something Doc.  Is everything ok?”

Kang glanced at him, but he said nothing as he continued to drive, though now on a paved road which made the going much smoother.  Kang nodded after a time, “Yes everything is ok…but, Jaimz should you ever find yourself alone with Terrill Ni…find any excuse to leave.”

“Uh….” Jaimz just stared at him in confusion, his few encounters with the elder K’Lan were not the best memories for his memoirs but he hadn’t got the impression that Kaiel’s father would harm him. “Ok.”

“Good,” Kang said succinctly, “you just remember what I said.” He was back to concentrating on the drive, but he allowed for a slight distraction as he remembered his conversation with K’Lan Terrill.  It had been revealing to say the least; the Head of House K’Lan had first wanted confirmation on whether or not Lorz had really raped Jaimz.  Since Kang hadn’t actually witnessed those events he was unable to confirm that, though he certainly believed Jaimz was telling the truth.  Next he had wanted to know how long he had known Jaimz, if he had known Jaimz when he was on the Kattaf with Lorz.  Having met Jaimz on the third day after Lorz’ death, Kang had told him that counting in the first day he’d known Jaimz and Kaiel as well for only eight days.  Terrill had asked some questions about Jaimz’ reputed scientific ability, expressing some doubt that Jaimz was any sort of genius.  But Kang had the impression that Terrill wasn’t really interested in Jaimz’ remarkable mind anyway.  When the questioning moved to wondering what was the true relationship between Jaimz and Kaiel he had avoided telling him about the Tag Mating simply because the cubs wanted to keep that concealed for as long as they could.  The last though, when the questions turned to musings about Jaimz sexuality and his obvious capacity to mate with Zaran males, had sent alarm bells jangling throughout the Kang’s old brain.

Gradually signs of civilization began to show up, a single house out on a spread of land here, a small community of homes there, a refilling station for vehicles that ran on grain fuels, petrol or hydro electricity.   The closer toward Chocho they drove the more frequently they saw signs of habitation, and of course there were more vehicles on the road or sometimes passing through the air, though personal air transports were rare it was believed that one day all transportation would be from the air, even over Z’Rarla’s vast seas.  Finally the scattered signs gave way to clear indications as Kang drove into the outskirts of the city. 

Jaimz sat forward to stare as they crested the hill above the city…it was situated on the lowlands by a sparkling sea.  And when he saw the skyscrapers reaching toward the azure sky he felt his eyes tingle…for it didn’t look so unlike the cities of home.  The city of Chocho seemed to sparkle in the sunlight, though he knew it was because of the Zaran love for large windows that looked out onto spectacular views, he still thought the city seemed beautiful.  Somehow he had been expecting something like a large villa; maybe a multi-level villa since Kang had said that in cities Zaran’s tended to build up. But as they drove into the city he saw skyscrapers, apartment buildings, storefronts, business and Government buildings intermingled with parks and green spaces and waterways.  There were streets, alleys, paths and bridges.  And Zarans were everywhere, walking along tree lined paths, riding conveyances that looked remarkably like bicycles and scooters, chatting with friends, buying things from the stores…busy going to or leaving some place.  And there was traffic, though not as heavy as Jaimz would have expected for the size of the city…and there was noise, but surprisingly there was very little stink and no obvious sign of pollution.  Everything really did seem to sparkle.   “Its just like the cities back home.” He observed huskily.

Drey rocked on the seat saying excitedly, “You should see the waterfront parks and beaches, and the Market, and the shopping district and the…”

“Drey…” Kang tried to interrupt.

“Oh can we go to the Market?  Can we Kang Ni?  It would be so cool to see the Market, I haven’t seen it for a whole year.” Drey continued excitedly, his light green eyes bright with anticipation.

Kang shook his gray head, “Not this time cub.  Maybe another time.”

Drey sagged back glumly, then shrugged and recovered with cub-like aplomb, “Oh well, there’s other stuff for us to see.”

Kang chuckled, “Cub the only thing you are going to see is my home and office and the back of this truck as you help me load some of my stuff for the move to K’Lan Pride.”

Drey sulked momentarily and then he asked, “And Jaimz Ni too?  Will he be helping?”

Kang nodded as he turned down a street, “Yes but he’ll be packing I think.”

Jaimz sighed, understanding that meant he wouldn’t be going outside much once he was at the medic’s home.

Kang’s home with its attached medical practice proved to be in a moderately tall building with other such arrangements, this building was a working building where the residents also happened to make their homes.   His office was closed up and had been ever since he’d been called out to K’Lan pride to look after Jaimz.  Attached to his office were two examining and treatment rooms and also a small clinic with four private rooms where he could look after patients needing more than stitches and a prescription but not requiring to full services of a med center.  His home was on the second level and could be reached through two areas from the medical and also had its own entrance on second level.   Looking around at the layout of the clinic, Jaimz thought that the one being built at the main house would be similar though it would have only two private beds and one large ward with eight more beds.  He also knew that one of Kang’s two nurses was moving to the Main house to continue her service with him but that his receptionist (and second nurse) was not moving and that a member of K’Lan Pride would be hired as his receptionist and eventual medical assistant since Kang was already screening applicants. 

Kang spent a while looking around his clinic where he’d been for the better part of his life and felt a little regret that he was leaving it, but glancing toward Jaimz who had found one of the stairways leading up to the second level, he decided that the move was worth it, even if he was going to be semi retired he figured he was still going to be very busy at K’Lan Pride looking after his new patients as well as helping Jaimz work on the Tag problem and doing his own experiments as well.  Yes, he thought as Jaimz’ curiosity led him upstairs; his new life was going to be every bit as interesting as his old life had been.

The first thing one saw when reaching the top floor was the view, the large windows had an almost unobstructed view of the sea.  Jaimz lowered his hood as he walked over to take in that view, passing his hands through his hair to shake out the flatness the hood had caused.  He gazed out at the spectacular vista and wondered how the doc could give up such a view while he unclasped the cloak and started to push it back off his shoulders.  Only before he had the cloak off a pair of hands lightly clamped down on his shoulders and Kang’s voice chided him.  “There are apartments with a perfectly good view into my home.  And if they can see into my house they can see you, pretty cub.  Please leave the cloak on.” He advised kindly, as he resettled the hood back over Jaimz’ light-brown fawn-colored hair.

Jaimz scowled but finally shrugged, “Well since I’m here and I can’t even see anything what is it you would like me to do?”

Kang told him, and he got to work gathering up pictures and mementos of Kang’s life, carefully wrapping them and placing them in the box Kang had provided.  From appearances it would seem that Kang had enjoyed a good life, he’d had a mate once, though now long dead as Kang had sadly informed him when he asked, and cubs, though now long grown and busy with their own lives.  He also had grandcubs too though he rarely saw them as they lived in another city with their mother, his elder daughter.  He hadn’t really thought about Kang having a mate and cubs and grandcubs, though it seemed likely that he should have had a normal life.  To him, Kang just seemed like a grand old lion, and someone that he was adopting into his life as his friend and mentor. 

Smiling he wrapped up a ceramic handprint—complete with claw indents—that looked like it had been made by a cub and set it in the box beside the rest of Kang’s fond memories.  He was reaching for another object when a commotion made him look over his shoulder.  It was too much noise for Drey to make on his own, and even if he was with Kang it was still a good deal of noise for the pair to make.  To his surprise and distress it was neither Kang nor Drey who thumped up the stairs from the floor below.  Instead there were three young males, maybe around Kaiel’s age, though one of them had a scruffier ruff then the other two, indicating that he was probably the youngest.   They looked like school hoodlums, complete with gang jackets and bandanas, though he doubted that the matching jackets or bandanas had the same meaning as they would have centuries ago on Earth.  For all he knew they could have been members of a sports team, or they could all work at the same job…or anything for that matter, the one thing he knew was that he didn’t know why they were here or who they were.  Hoping that they hadn’t seen him he moved behind on of the big chairs and carefully observed them to see what they were going to do.  After all maybe Kang had corralled them into helping with his move. 

The trio looked around the big airy room, then one of them went off into another room and came back seconds later shrugging his shoulders and shaking his head.  The three split up then to search the other rooms and Jaimz pretty much surmised that they hadn’t come at Kang’s suggestion.  Those three were here for another reason.  Remembering standing in front of the window with his head uncovered he had a sudden realization that maybe it hadn’t been such a wise move on his part.

He watched nervously as one of the three moved toward the windows, and thus closer to him.  He shifted silently, trying to use the big chair to block the other’s view of him.  His cloak like the chair was white, so maybe if he were lucky the lion wouldn’t notice him and if he was really lucky Kang or Drey would show up and scare them all off.  At least he hoped the three would be scared off, for he certainly didn’t wish for Kang or Drey to be harmed by them.

He knew that something had caught the male’s attention when he suddenly turned to look directly at him while he crouched beside the chair.  It was probably his heartbeat, if he could hear it in his own ears, so probably could the strange male.

Knowing he was caught Jaimz stood up and nervously faced the lion.  His encounters with strange male Zarans wasn’t all that good he recalled, thinking back to the first Zaran male he had met….  He’d met his very first Zaran male when he had awoken to the experience of being besieged with incredible agony as Lorz raped him for the first time.   Just thinking about that, and knowing he was alone with one and soon to be three Zaran males, made he start to shake deep in his bones.  Frightened and trying not to show it he moved back a step as the big cat stalked softly toward him.  He was big too at nearly three or four inches taller than Kaiel he must top 8 feet at least.   His scruffy mane was a solid ruddy brown and his nose pad and thin lips were also brown.  He had reddish yellow eyes and a long narrow face with a white scar in the hide of his left cheek.  His ruddy ruff was not in fully yet, but it still accentuated his cheekbones.  He had a bit of a muzzle too, denoting a northern heritage.  When the stranger extended his hand probably to grab the cloak’s hood Jaimz gasped and jumped back, and slammed right into another of the Trio.

He spun away trying to keep the two—no, the three, he saw with apprehension as the last one came out of the kitchen—in view at all times.  “What do you want?” he heard himself say in a shaking voice.

“He’s scared,” one of them observed to the others, that one tried to be soothing as he said, “Don’t be afraid.  We just want to look at you.”

“Y-you shouldn’t be in here.” Jaimz pointed out as he backed toward the window.  “You should leave, Medic V’Ran will be back soon.”

“That old male?  He was all the way downstairs and heading outside when we came up, and he never saw us either.” Observed the ruddy maned male, advancing on Jaimz again. 

Jaimz stopped when his back hit the window, he looked behind him while wondering if the window was on a pivot system, but there was no deck or ledge for him…just a very long and fatal fall.  He looked back at the three as they circled him, staring from one to another with what he knew had to be very frightened eyes.

The scruffy ruffed youngster murmured.  “He sure is small.  Like a cub, small.”

“You sure he’s a he?  Looks like a little female under that cloak.”

Jaimz pressed back but he had nowhere to go, they blocked him from the front and sides and the window was at his back.  “Don’t touch me,” he warned fearfully as he tried to dodge the ruddy maned male’s hand.  The male was not successfully warned off and the hood ended up being pushed back.

The three stared at his face, seeing his alienness in his smooth pale skin, his curved and bowed lips, his long lashed exotic eyes and his crop of light fawn-colored hair which fell in slightly flattened waves to his shoulders. 

Three pairs of hands started to touch him while he gasped fearfully and pleaded for them to not touch him.   They ran their big fingers through his hair, and lightly caressed his smooth cheeks even as tears trickled down them.  One was intrigued with the shape of his lips and kept rubbing his finger over them and between them…that one worried Jaimz more than the other two, for he had a gleam in his amber eyes that wasn’t just curiosity.  That male was all blonde and quite the Adonis though in Jaimz’ eyes he wasn’t nearly as beautiful as Kaiel.  The ruddy maned male slithered his hand between Jaimz’ body and the window and announced amazedly, “He don’t got a tail,” even as Jaimz jumped at his touch.

The Adonis smirked, “I’m still not convinced he is a he.  Look at that pretty little body.”

The youngest, ogling Jaimz with childish curiosity while stroking Jaimz’ bare arm asked, “What is he?”

The ruddy maned one nodded after a moment, “I’ve been hearing rumors about some new alien, he was supposed to be on the Kattaf, but I also heard that maybe he’d been brought here… I heard maybe the alien was staying at K’Lan Pride.”

The Adonis chortled, “Of course that Old House would keep him.  They’d want the prestige of being able to claim him.  If indeed that is what he is.  If indeed he is a he at all.”  He leaned in close, bending so that his blond cheek was almost pressed against Jaimz’ who whimpered as he tried to push away.  “Why don’t we find out if he’s a he?” The Adonis murmured sotto voce into the delicate shell of Jaimz’ ear.

“Ahhhh….” Jaimz moaned in terror as his tunic was lifted and the pants drawstring was pulled loose.  As big fingers thrust inside the gapping material and closed over his fragile flesh he shuddered and started to collapse.  

“What’s this?” Kang’s voice rang across the room.  Instantly the three released Jaimz, letting him finish collapsing to his knees.  “Helpers?  How thoughtful of you younglings.”

Jaimz huddled shaking against the window while he pulled his loosened pants back up and tugged the drawstring savagely tight.  He was crying and he couldn’t make the tears stop flowing while Kang directed his three new helpers to take this or that item downstairs to the landing.

Once Kang was sure that the three were gone he went over to Jaimz and murmured, “Well, this excursion didn’t go quite like I intended,” as he drew the shuddering human against his big soft body.  “Are you okay?  Did they hurt you?”

Jaimz huddled in the medic’s safe embrace and sobbed, “No…but…I couldn’t make them l-leave me alone.”  He scrubbed at his wet eyes and drew in a ragged breath, “God I don’t understand why…why….”

“Its because you’re beautiful Jaimz.  You’re simply beautiful, but you’re also mysterious and strange which seems to bring out the worst behavior in my people.” Kang explained, while he soothingly stroked Jaimz silky hair as the young human gradually calmed down.  He hadn’t seen it all when he’d walked in upon the little tableau, but that blond male had been all together too close Jaimz and was likely the main reason Jaimz had seemed to collapse.  Thinking that Jaimz might be at his limit for the day he kindly asked, “Do you want to go home now Jaimz?  I can finish this another day.”

Jaimz caught his big arm in a tremulously tight grip, and shook his head as he said, “I-I won’t go outside or anything…but I want to stay with you.”

Yes, Kang thought, this experience had definitely frightened Jaimz and he knew that it had been comparably harmless when compared to some of his earlier experiences.  “Ok.  That’s fine.”

Jaimz kept his cloak on, and pulled the rim of the hood forward to keep his face well in the shadows.  He was with either Drey or Kang all the time, except when he waited in the lobby for one or the other to go out to the truck and back.  He remained fairly quiet though Drey did get him to laugh a few times (especially since the cub didn’t know what had happened earlier).  He carried and lifted as much as he could but his smaller frame and build, slighter then even Drey, meant that he tired faster. 

On the drive back to K’Lan Pride, Jaimz sat next to Kang and leaned against his side as he slumbered.  Kang drove along in silence; for even Drey had been tired out enough from carrying and stowing things that he was now snoring softly against the passenger side window.  The trip seemed to take longer, and maybe since the truck was loaded he was being a bit more careful in the steering…but at any rate both cubs were still asleep when he pulled up in front of K’Lan house.

Nonetheless once the vehicle had rumbled to a stop Jaimz blinked sleepily and lifted his head to look around while Drey stretched and yawned mightily.  Needlessly Kang said, “Were back.”

Back, where Kaiel was.  Where he was safe if he was with Kaiel.  Suddenly Jaimz wanted to find Kaiel very badly and did not even bother to snatch off the cloak as he ran into the house.  Drey, thinking Jaimz had something fun for him to do followed immediately behind.  Jaimz was heading directly for Kaiel’s room, but he barely made the family wing when he literally ran into someone that was just suddenly there.  He bounced back and went down onto his seat, gasping for breath. 

When he lifted his head he saw an ivory pelted female with an ivory white mane in which she had pulled the sides back from her face to show off her high cheekbones and the full fan of her expressive snowy ears.  She was dressed in a long open sided high-necked and silver-trimmed blue tunic dress, and she had blue eyes.  He was dazed enough by smacking into her that all he could think about for a moment was that if green eyes were rare, how rare than was blue?  Or do the blue eyes go with that light ivory coloring?  He also noticed that while her chest was flat, from her slender shoulders to her curved hips, to those long ivory legs which the open sided tunic showed off she left no doubt that she was female. 

She had not been stunned by the impact that had knocked him down though it had taken her a moment to collect herself as she stood above him.  Finally she exclaimed imperiously, “What is this?  What are two impudent cublings doing running wild in the halls of K’Lan House and knocking into people?”  She hadn’t really seen him yet, as it happened the cloak’s hood had actually further sheltered his face, and with Drey skipping anxiously around and with his own small size to confuse her, she simply took him for another cub deserving of a dressing down. 

Jaimz started to apologize, anything to get by her and move on to finding Kaiel.  But then, as he stood up, he noticed the second female who was standing behind the first, this one had the same ivory pelt as the other but instead of having an ivory mane hers was a deep rich red that he could only think of as burgundy, also her eyes were back to the more normal amber tones of the Zaran.  She was also dressed more conservatively in a short green tunic and pale tan pants (apparently not a matched set).  Looking at them both he knew them for strangers, they were neither staffers nor villagers.  He Wondered who they were and what they were doing in his way and more importantly where they had come from.  He sullenly lowered his head, still wanting to keep his face hidden and muttered an apology for his impudence, as the blue-eyed female had labeled him. 

First because he didn’t know who she was so he couldn’t give her the proper honorific, second he was to weary to care about that stupid bit of politeness anyway, but that lack seemed to bring out the worst in the female, for she stepped forward, grabbed his arm, stuck a out a foot and tripped him.  Had he really been a cub her pettiness would have been intolerable!  The other female indicated just such an impression as she scolded the first. 

The ivory bitch scoffed, “He was rude to me.  Now he’ll learn not to be rude to me again.”

“Jaimz Ni!” Drey cried as he hurried to help Jaimz to his feet.  His actions, though good in spirit, unfortunately caused the hood to fall back and exposed Jaimz’ alien face. 

Jaimz had been frightened and mauled to many times in one day to stand another stranger touching him, which was exactly what the blue-eyed cat did when she got over her initial shock at seeming him.  Mind, maybe if she had just touched him he wouldn’t have reacted so horrifically, but she didn’t just touch him.  She looked at him with unreserved interest, like the cat that had just caught the canary out of its cage, and then bent down to snatch him up…right off his feet.  He screamed.  He couldn’t help it as he yelled in utter terror, “Don’t touch me!”

Suddenly there were more people in the hall, pouring in from everywhere.  Jaimz heard Kang’s voice, and Drey’s.  But he also saw faces unfamiliar and strange, and with his day, being as bad as it was proving to be it was just too much for him to take.  He screamed again, just threw back his head and howled in utter hopelessness.  The female holding him was quite shocked by his reaction, but she was in for a greater shock moments later.

Kaiel had heard the disturbance; he’d heard the yelling and he’d recognized the voice.  Stepping out of his office Kaiel came into a congregation in the hall where the press of bodies and voices was nearly overwhelming, but just one voice and one body in the press drew him like a lodestone.  “What is going on here?” he roared, cutting into the noise and striding forward he pushed at Vreda causing her to stumble and in stumbling she released Jaimz.  Jaimz didn’t even touch the floor; he went directly from hanging in Vreda’s unwelcome grasp to clinging to Kaiel with his entire body.

The moment Kaiel’s scent enwrapped him, and his pelt enveloped him, and those big arms embraced him Jaimz grew quiet though he still seemed as if he wanted to climb right inside Kaiel’s big body and hide there while he softly sobbed “Kaiel, Kaiel,” over and over again in great body-shuddering breaths.  With everyone staring at him, some aware of how much he cared for Jaimz, while others like Vreda were just stunned and shocked, Kaiel turned away and went back into his room, softly closing the door, and everyone else away.

Kang stared after the closed door and caught Drey’s arm as the cub stalked toward the ivory pelted female who had helped to traumatize Jaimz.  Drey twisted toward him and scowling fiercely he snarled, “She had no right—.”

Kang sensing that the female wouldn’t put up with any wise mouthed cub’s antics shushed the cub sternly and said, “Go to your room for now Drey.  I’m sure dinner will be called soon.  So go clean up and get ready.”

Stubbornly the cub continued to scowl at him and send ugly looks toward the female, who fortunately didn’t seem to be aware of the irate cub’s glares.  He gave the cub a push in the general direction of the guest wing and added a light tap to his bottom for emphasis and issued a direct and stern “Go!”  Drey went, but the cub still continued to send the ivory cat ugly looks as long as he was able…and since the guest wing was just on the opposite side of the receiving room, he was able to do so for a while.

The rest of the crowd was dispersing now, though he noticed that the ivory white female and another female who looked close enough to the first to be kin to her remained where they were.  The ivory white female had an extremely stunned look on her lovely face but as he watched he saw her expression twist into one of contempt and anger.  He feared she was going to do something seriously reckless, which any sort of interruption of Kaiel and Jaimz at this moment would likely be, but he needn’t have worried for the other female had the good sense to take the first by the hand and lead her away from Kaiel’s door just as the female started to get verbally irate.  When the pair had moved out of the crowd, with the red maned female talking rapidly but soothingly to the ivory-maned one, their departure revealed another face in the dispersing crowd, Terrill, who was casting a look of utter disgust at the closed door.

Kang looked at him, then at the door, and knowing that he was the only distraction the pair would allow he approached that door and let himself in.  He spared a glance for Terrill as he passed, and it was a look the said exactly what he thought and how far he would go to defend that pair.  Terrill must have seen something, for his face blanked, but Kang didn’t linger to gloat, instead he softly closed the door and continued on through to the inner chamber.

The room was cast in light afternoon shadows, but he didn’t need good light to see the pair sitting on the bed.  Well actually Kaiel was sitting on the bed, while Jaimz was kneeling on his lap with his arms wrapped around his neck and simply clinging to him with his entire shaking body.  Kaiel looked up when he came in though he kept stroking Jaimz’ hair in an attempt to calm him.  His eyes were bright with concern and anger, concern for his Tag Mate, anger for how he’d found him.  “What happened?” a simple question, and yet loaded with trouble.

Kang gave a simple answer, “He’s had a really bad day.” A bland understatement if he did say so himself.

Kaiel just stared at him for a moment, perhaps waiting for him to say more, but Kang chose to remain silent on the subject for now, because Jaimz didn’t need to hear his voice just yet.  Then Kaiel returned his attention fully to his distraught Tag Mate.  Kang found a chair and slumped down in it and promptly closed his eyes; he’d be ready to talk with Kaiel when Jaimz was ready.

Kaiel caressed Jaimz’ back and wondered what had happened to him, but other than those first desperate utterances of his name he hadn’t been able to get Jaimz to talk to him.  All Jaimz wanted to do right now was cling to him, pressed so tight against him that it seemed like he wanted to merge into him.  Jaimz shuddered still, in fact his entire body just shook but he felt neither cool nor hot, so he wasn’t ill, he was just distressed to his bones.  All Kaiel’s concerns and upsets of the day were as nothing compared to the concerns and upsets of the small being that quivered against him.  But he wanted desperately for Jaimz to tell him what was wrong, for just feeling his distress was exhausting.  Finally he shifted and stretched out on his bed, Jaimz of course went with him, and with Kaiel being on his back, Jaimz didn’t need to hold onto him so hard to still cling to him.  He felt Jaimz’ hands relax their grip and then reposition to hug him around his ribs.  Kaiel sighed softly and slid his hand under the cloak Jaimz was still wearing to stroke his back again, after a moment he needed to touch his skin, and since Jaimz wasn’t wearing an open-sided tunic today he moved his hand down, and then up under the tunic’s hem until his hand was lying directly on Jaimz bare skin.  Lightly he stroked that satiny petal skin and gradually he felt Jaimz grow calmer.  His other hand he kept in Jaimz’ hair, stroking his fingers through the silky locks.  

That was how he stayed until Jaimz’ head moved under his hand and then after a moment he continued stroking his hair even though Jaimz was watching him now.  Jaimz was quieter but his slender body still shuddered with the occasional shaky breath and tears still coursed down his cheeks.  After a moment he brought his hand down and lightly brushed the tears off Jaimz’ damp eyelashes, Jaimz blinked slowly, clearing the remaining tears away from his eyes and then heaved a deep shuddering sigh as his distress finally began to fade.  Kaiel smiled softly, wiping his damp cheeks and asked warmly, “Are you ok now?”

Jaimz gave a shaky nod and slowly sat up to straddle his big body, which seemed to be one of his favorite positions.  With Jaimz it was like having a cub sitting on his belly, which was hardly a hindrance at all.  He lazily draped his big hands loosely about Jaimz hips, which were so slim that he could easily span them with his fingers (he could probably interlock his fingers if he wanted to).  Jaimz, who was still letting out the occasional breathy sob, moved his own small hands under Kaiel’s tunic to just above the waist of his pants where he curled his fingers into his pelt.  This seemed to calm him down yet again for with that bit of pelt captured by his small fingers his breathing became easier.  Kaiel wanted to touch bare skin, but he didn’t want to lift his hands from Jaimz’ hips, so he did the next best thing, he undid the drawstring holding Jaimz’ pants up, and with the drawstring loosened, the pants fell open, revealing plenty of bare skin for Kaiel to touch, he didn’t even worry about Kang, who seemed to be slumbering in the nearby chair, as he slid his fingers back over those now bare hips.  Besides Jaimz was still wearing his tunic which hung to the top of his thighs anyway, and more than that he was still wearing the cloak which covered him nearly entirely except for his head, since the hood had fallen back.

Jaimz rolled his hips slightly forward and leaned into Kaiel, and then he looked down at him with such intense eyes that seemed to be asking for something that Kaiel couldn’t dare ask aloud.  Jaimz loosed his fingers from his pelt, only to start to undo his button fronted tunic right to the high neck.  Silently, wordlessly Jaimz pushed the unbuttoned tunic open and ran his fingers through his pelt, tracing the hard muscles that lay just beneath that soft pelt which helped shape Kaiel’s beautiful body.  Kaiel shivered with pleasure as Jaimz’ fingers strolled lower, following the central line of fur to where it swirled around his navel and then farther down still until Jaimz’ fingers rubbed at his belly just above the line of his pants.  Again Jaimz rolled his hips, and again his hands moved up to trace the path all over again, but this time his fingers lingered where his pelt swirled into little peaks on his chest.  Kaiel rocked his own hips as those exploring fingers sunk into the fur and discovered sensitive little nubs hidden beneath.  He moaned softly…and then groaned outright when Jaimz leaned over and pressed the tip of his tongue into that swirl in his pelt to actually lick his nipple.   Then Jaimz arched back keening softly and slumped forward against him again.  Kaiel felt Jaimz heave another shaky sigh, and he knew that Jaimz was still okay, though he wondered what that last bit had been about.

With his hands resting on Jaimz’ pert and silkily bare bottom Kaiel chanced a little exploration.  When stroking his finger between Jaimz’ cheek only garnered stillness from Jaimz he risked a bit more exploration.  Skirting that oh so intriguing pucker he knew so well, he let his hand stroke down between Jaimz’ legs, pushing the pants bottom even further down.  Jaimz was so smooth and silky there too, that even touching his small velvety balls felt amazing.  Jaimz’ response to his touch was to tilt his exquisite hips up and spread his thighs even wider apart.  Emboldened Kaiel enclosed his big hand over Jaimz’ soft and not so soft genitals and gently began to squeeze and tug at the diminutive length of Jaimz’ penis.  Jaimz hissed softly and breathlessly murmured, “…Kaiel….”

That was enough for Kaiel; he rolled up, carrying the surprised Jaimz over onto his back while he went to his knees before him.  Jaimz gave him a wondering look, but Kaiel had no intension of fucking yet…at least not right now, even though he peeled Jaimz’ loose pants right off and dumped them on the floor.  No, as much as he would love to sink his rod deep inside Jaimz body, this time he would do something for Jaimz alone.  His hand returned to Jaimz’ penis as once again he began to squeeze and tug at it.  His skin there was as delicate as the rest of his body, and intriguing in its loose softness over the swelling hardness.   As he worked though the looseness of the skin firmed up as the length of him expanded as if filling the looseness up from the inside.  That which had started nearly soft became hard in his hand and even swelled at the tip where the blood engorged crown pressed free of its delicate sheath of soft skin.  Kaiel lifted his eyes to look at Jaimz’ face, to see his Tag Mate with his eyes squeezed shut and his upper teeth chewing desperately upon his sensual bottom lip.  He wanted Jaimz to watch him, he wanted those beautiful sea foam green-eyes to be fixed upon him, he got his wish when he lowered his head and licked that throbbing tip, tasting another flavor of Jaimz.  He kept his own eyes open, and he watched Jaimz watching him with those amazing eyes of his.

It wasn’t enough to lick Jaimz’ penis, though he bathed the entire length with his tongue many times, no, he needed so much more of Jaimz…he wanted Jaimz inside him as he opened his mouth and sucked him in.   Jaimz groaned and rocked his hips, so Kaiel suckled him from base to tip, which only made Jaimz’ hips gyrate more.  He smiled around his mouthful as Jaimz panted and groaned and gyrated for him, while all along he watched him with those eyes of his.  He opened and bent Jaimz’ legs, gaining easy access to that which lay between.  While he nursed, licked, laved, and gently scraped (with his teeth) he teased Jaimz’ tight velvety ball sack and moved his fingers farther down to massage his throbbing anus.  Jaimz panted and gasped while his body squirmed responsively as all his pleasure channels awakened.  As Kaiel’s fingers stroked his anus Jaimz pushed against him, encouraging his fingers to want to ease into that swelling pucker.  While Kaiel continued to nurse his penis, he watched Jaimz eyes and his expressive face, as he pushed one long and thick finger inside his body.

Jaimz, who had taken more than a finger’s thickness inside his body, sighed, “oooh,” and rolled his hips firmly into Kaiel’s hand, seeking more fullness.  Kaiel obliged, easing a second finger in beside the first and teasingly stretching Jaimz’ tender anus wider.  He continued to nurse at Jaimz’ throbbing penis to while he introduced finger number three into that warm snugness.  There was a bit of pain now, as those three fingers nearly echoed the thickness of his rod, but his pushed the forth finger in, to Jaimz sobs and moans of both mingled pleasure and pain.  He was careful now, because his four fingers together were wider than his rod and they didn’t yield at all so Jaimz’ snug flesh had to stretch to accommodate them.  It did hurt, and Jaimz squeezed his thighs shut…but with Kaiel’s head in the way Jaimz couldn’t actually close his legs so he simply pressed them tightly together around Kaiel, but even though the stretching hurt the tugging and nursing at his penis distracted him constantly from that pain, until all the sucking at his penis and pumping at his anus melded together to bring Jaimz to a shattering orgasm.

Kaiel closed his eyes as he drank Jaimz in, he slowly withdrew each finger from inside as he dragged out every last drop of Jaimz’ warm and salty juice.  Then he drew up from the spent and trembling Jaimz, while licking the last taste of him off his lips.  Jaimz looked so amazing as he sprawled gasping on his back with his legs bent up and fallen wide apart.  His chest heaved within the confining tunic, he was partially tangled in the white cloak and he was deliciously bare from his hips down.  He looked as if he was ready for some serious loving or better still as if he’d just had some serious loving, he looked so wanton and sensual that it was all Kaiel could do to calm himself and quiet his beast before this came to be about his needs and not Jaimz’.

He leaned over Jaimz and whispered, “Thank you.”

Jaimz nodded, smiling tremulously and murmured in reply, “That was wonderful.”

Their forgotten audience chose that precise moment to applaud them with gentle delight, “That was quite lovely and more than my heart can take at my terrible old age.”

Jaimz froze, and a blush crept up his cheeks though his smile only faltered slightly and turned rueful instead.

Kaiel choked back a ragged laugh and bent over Jaimz to rest his forehead against his.  He couldn’t believe he had so completely forgotten the old medic.  The last time he’d remembered him, before things had gone totally sexual, Kang had seemed asleep.  Now the old male was grinning at them and his eyes were twinkling with fond amusement.  Embarrassed and amused at the same time, he turned his head to look at the medic and groused with a slight smile, “You could have made a noise or something.”

Kang gave him a truly surprised look and then chortled richly; “Now why would I have done that?  I wouldn’t have seen such a grand display.”  He grinned cheekily as his ruff puffed out, and added, “I think you just added another ten years to my life.  Ah life is all about the precious moments.”

Kaiel casually straightened Jaimz’ tunic so that he was decently covered and moved away from him while quipping, “I never thought you were such a voyeur Kang Ni.”

Kang just grinned and shrugged his ample shoulders, watching as the pair rearranged themselves so that they faced him, though he noticed with hooded interest that Jaimz was content to sit against Kaiel and lean into his side while Kaiel draped his big arm around him.  He knew part of that was Jaimz’ trauma of the day being a still fresh memory, but he also suspected that Jaimz was simply adjusting to his situation, resigning himself to a role where he was the dominated even though he seemed to indicate when he could be dominated.

Kaiel smiled tenderly at Jaimz and then asked, “Now that we have all seemed to settle down.  Could someone please tell me what happened?”

Kang huffed unenthusiastically, “Well, I should say I fumbled things today.  Bringing Jaimz out with me was not a good idea.”

Jaimz however immediately exclaimed, “No…that isn’t so Doc!  I was glad for it!  It was wonderful to see different things and places and I want to do it again….  It’s just I will have to be more careful, and not…do anything reckless.”

Kaiel frowned as he looked from the medic to Jaimz and back again.  “What exactly did occur?”

Kang sighed regretfully, “Well you see, three young males slipped by me while I was down stairs loading some of my stuff—I’d left Jaimz to wrapping my personal things in my apartment—any way…those three accosted Jaimz and gave him a bad fright.”

Jaimz hastened to explain, “They didn’t hurt me though!” after a moment as he felt Kaiel relax again, he murmured vaguely, “It’s just…I don’t understand why this shit happens to me.”

Kaiel knew, but he made no reply, since he was sure that Jaimz wasn’t seeking external answers to his musings anyway.  Instead he pushed beyond to irritating thought of those three males scaring Jaimz to what he had witnessed when he’d found him.  “And what exactly happened in the hall?”

Jaimz grew angry in the recollection and ground out, “She was reprehensible!  Sure I ran into her, but it was me that fell!  And when I apologized she tripped me!  I mean what if I really was a cub?  Adults don’t go around tripping kids Goddammit!  ‘Course when I fell the second time and Drey tried to help me up the cloak’s hood fell back and I guess she saw my face for suddenly she just picked me up—the fuckin Amazon—and well…the rest you know.” He blushed with the conclusion of his explanation and primly decided to adjust the hem of his tunic again.

“But why did you run into her in the first place?” Kaiel wondered softly.

Jaimz leaned forward, pressing his hands into the coverlet as he stared down at seemingly nothing.  Whisperingly he said, “I was coming to you.  I—I needed to feel your touch—I needed to feel safe again.” He bent his face away so Kaiel couldn’t see the hint of tears that shimmered in his eyes again.  Not that it mattered, for Kaiel just pulled him back around to him and hugged him.  Jaimz sighed deeply, relaxing into Kaiel’s comforting embrace as he rested his head against his big shoulder.  He didn’t even care that the coolness of air touching his bottom meant he was flashing the good medic…he just didn’t care right now.

From somewhere behind him, Kang’s kindly voice concluded today’s tale.  “Like I said Kaiel.  Jaimz had a bad day…. What with first thing this morning and then in Chocho and finally just a short time ago.  Those things just accumulated one on top of the other until he broke.”

Kaiel tensed though for something in the medic’s statement was still unknown to him.  “What happened first thing this morning?”

Jaimz slid down against his body and looked up at him.  “Probably nothing.  I’m just paranoid I guess.”

Kaiel just cocked one expressive ear and waited for a better answer.  Jaimz sighed and muttered; “I thought someone was watching me after you left this morning…from outside.  But when I checked there was no one there.”  He shrugged uncomfortably and absently swirled his fingers in Kaiel’s exposed pelt, before continuing.  “I’m just not used to having to deal with such big windows and…well all that view.” He glanced up again, “Sometimes I feel a bit exposed.”

Kang chose that moment to lighten the mood, “Well your are exposed and it is a sweet little bottom too!”

Kaiel started to laugh, while Jaimz, reminded once again of his bared bottom primly tugged the tunic back down to cover him once more.  He also sent a scathing look at Kang, who just snorted and nearly fell out of his chair laughing.  Since both males were laughing with great abandon Jaimz slid from the bed, picked up his discarded pants and said icily, “I have better things to do if you two idiots are going to carry on like that.”

Dinner, when it was called two full marks later, proved to be an uncomfortable event.  The females were, not surprisingly, seated at the table and obviously guests of the house.  The blue-eyed cat was named L’Teran Vreda and while the other with the rich red mane and warm amber eyes was her cousin Teran Zuzu.  The meal was a fussy affair complete with many meat dishes that were cooked in sauces or had bowls of dipping sauces on the side.  Because of his intolerance to many foods a special tray of select items had been prepared for Jaimz, which Terrill benevolently guaranteed, were safe for him.  That was fine, though he hadn’t expected Terrill to act kindly toward him, and he was suspicious that it was just an act.  He of course was introduced to the females, Vreda, who had been watching him slyly was merely curious about his relation with Kaiel, to which he made no reply.  The second female, Zuzu was gracious in her greeting and curious about who, what, and where he came from.

Speaking with Zuzu was pleasant he found, she was smart as well as compassionate and showed sincere sympathy when he softly spoke about his crew, dead now for over three months.

Of course Vreda wasn’t as compassionate and scoffed at the idea that the ship and crew had been his, she practically called him a cub and said that it was obvious that he was too young to have such responsibility.

Trying not to rise to her bait he replied coolly, “The Jump Ship was my design and the crew worked for me.  My age or lack thereof is immaterial.”

Before she could say anything to dispute him Zuzu asked, “What must it have been like to find out that you were so far from your home and that maybe—you might never be able to return?”

It hurt, thinking about it, even more so because now that he was tied to Kaiel the likelihood of ever returning to earth to live, even if he did find it again, was remote to impossible.  He looked down at his plate and whispered, “It—was—terrifying.”

Kaiel, glancing worriedly at him, explained in the silence afterwards, “Our Astronomers and Diplomats are trying to locate his home world.  So far the Astronomers haven’t found the solar system he describes and the Diplomats haven’t had any luck yet with their Other World Allies.  Only the Hasbet have replied as of yet, and that was to say that they will contact their other allies.”

Jaimz sighed sadly, “Chances are my ship jumped farther than any one ever expected it too.” He looked at Kaiel and smiling forlornly said, “For all we know I could have jumped to another galaxy altogether.”

Vreda snorted derisively, “Is that even possible?  Travel between galaxies is far to distant…why it even takes sometimes years to just travel across some of the larger systems.”

Jaimz glared at her and snapped, “I used my Gate technology when I designed the Jump Ship.  The whole idea of the Jump ship was so that we could eventually travel beyond our galaxy to our nearest neighbor.  My Gate technology has turned months or years of travel into days or weeks… so yeah… that was my goal.” 

Vreda thankfully was silent for a moment, but Zuzu was intrigued enough to ask, “These Gate things?  How do they work?”

Jaimz was happy to explain the mechanism of Gate Travel, both for outer space and inner space…as in land based Gates.  He spoke enthusiastically about Gates that used energy to attract and repel vessels along there course and how the vessels, either trains on Earth, or Space ships travel inside gravity streams, which protected them from the sheer speed of the travel and prevented the vessels from being literally shaken apart, which was one of the factors in how fast a vessel could travel.  The Gravity stream protected the vessel because the vessel was merely sailing along in the current of that stream.   Gate Travel was exceedingly smooth and so extremely fast that a four day trip to the moon now took all of an hour, and that included to time it took to be ferried through Earth’s atmosphere and also the time it required to Taxi to the surface of the moon.  The one thing he hadn’t been able to work out was how to build a Gate on Earth that could safely pass thru the atmosphere and connect up properly with the orbital Gate.  That was one of the projects he had put on hold to build his Jump Ship Prototype.  Thinking about that shelved project reminded him of other projects he was planning or even just dreaming about before the Jump Ship project had pretty much taken up all his time. 

As soon as he finished his description, Drey decided that was a perfect moment to interject his own observations.  He had been sourly watching Vreda from the onset of the meal, just waiting for his moment to jab at her since he was still unhappy with how she had been toward Jaimz earlier in the day.  “Yeah Jaimz is real smart …his first Gate was built when he was fifteen… That’s only three years older than me!”  He crowed proudly, “You should see his lab too.  It’s full of all these neat drawings and notes and things that I’m learning how to read.  He’s learning to read Zaran way faster than I’m learning his letters and numbers.”

Jaimz felt his cheeks warm and murmured softly, “That’s because the English language is complicated.”  He peered thoughtfully at a choice of meats on the tray, and decided that the tender slice of what looked like roast beef was worth trying.

Drey spluttered incredulously, “But it’s only 26 symbols and 10 numbers.”

“Yes, however the combinations to form words and sentences and number units is—infinite.”  He tasted the meat, and found it had a bold strong flavor, like and unlike beef, more gamy and bloody flavored even though the meat was well cooked.  While thinking whether he liked the taste or not he continued his conversation with Drey.  “The Zaran language might have one symbol to describe an entire word or even a sentence, and by grouping two or more symbols will change the meaning of words and sentences—so, even though you have many hundreds of symbols and combinations of symbols they were fairly easy to memorize once I recognized the patterns.  Unfortunately there are no obvious patterns with the alphabet.  I’m also starting to work on a Zaran/Earth dictionary of your words—since I probably have a lifetime to prepare it and get it ready before my people and yours make contact.”

“You do speak our language—amazingly well.” Zuzu observed, “Who was your teacher?”

His teacher?  He nearly dropped his Nobi Sticks (like chopsticks), as images of his teacher were conjured up.  He had never thought of himself being taught anything other than how to get through the brutality and the rapes he suffered at the hands of Lorz and his friend Ham.  He had merely learned by listening for patterns and made word associations and logical assumptions from that.  Fortunately he was saved from having to answer when Kaiel speared a slice of moist red meat from his tray and dropped it neatly on his plate.

“You should try this Sanat meat.  It really is delicious.” Kaiel advised smilingly.

Jaimz, grateful for the interruption that had saved him from a painful discourse, smiled in reply.

Vreda though, who had observed the entire little scene with amused contempt, couldn’t help driving in a cruel barb as she purred sweetly, “Are you going to start feeding him too?”

“Hey!”  Drey instantly reacted, he was still not happy with the female, no not one bit.

But Kaiel, who spoke calmly over the cub’s protest, said, “That does not concern you.”

For a moment the light pelted female just stared back at him, as if astonished that he would dare to oppose her, then her lips twisted into a sly smile, “Really?  How can you say that Kaiel Ni?  I think it should matter very much to me what is going on beneath this roof, especially once I come to live under it.”

Kaiel growled softly, “Whether you ever reside at K’Lan Pride or not is beside the point.  What is between Jaimz and myself is none of your Fuckin business.” His voice rose by increments so that by the time he concluded his warning he was roaring.

Well, that was a sure indication that there was something between them, Jaimz thought ruefully as he felt his cheeks grow warm with embarrassment.

Vreda however wasn’t good at taking a warning; for she smirked, “Nonsense It is my business for when we are formally Betrothed, everything inside K’Lan Pride will matter to me—including any reputation you may gain by being unseemly protective of your—pet.” She gestured dismissively toward Jaimz.

However, Jaimz had stopped seeing or hearing at the word Betrothed when it had been uttered in relation to Kaiel.   He was pretty certain that all the blood had drained away from his face around the same time he lost his appetite and all interest in his meal.  He recalled talking to Kang about just this subject before he had accepted Kaiel as his replacement Tag Mate.  There was no reason why Kaiel couldn’t have a normal relationship with one of his own kind—after all he only had to be with him every 72 hours to keep the Tag at bay—he suddenly felt sick just thinking about it.

Vreda was still speaking, “Of course I realize that K’Lan has offered Jaimz Ni their protection, but I see no need for you to be ever so close to him.  I will not be dishonored by you K’Lan Kaiel—as my mate I will demand that you always conduct yourself with complete Honor and avoid involving yourself in any sordid—activities.” She couldn’t possibly know what kind of relationship Jaimz and Kaiel had, but by the way she hinted and suggested it seemed to indicate some inside knowledge or extremely good guess work.

Kaiel was about to blast into her when Jaimz pushed back from the table and excused himself.  When Kang rose and Kaiel pushed away from the table and even young Drey jumped out of his chair, Jaimz hastened to say, “Please!  Don’t leave on my account.  I just have an upset stomach.  Please finish you dinners.”  Glancing at Kang, and avoiding Kaiel’s searching eyes, he added, “And I will take something for my stomach, Doc.”

Terrill frowned compassionately—no doubt an act, Jaimz thought suspiciously—as he said, “Something must have slipped pass the Cook.  My profound apologies Jaimz.”

Jaimz glanced at him, and seeing his slightly snide smile, he smiled and nodded back, knowing full well that they were both sharing a perfect moment where each knew the other was lying.

Kaiel moved as Jaimz did, saying, “Jaimz?”

Jaimz threw up his hand and snapped, “Don’t!” that was all, but he used the same tone he would on dog—and it only made him more angry to see Kaiel’s ears fold back in response.  He clenched his fists then spun and marched from the dining room as quickly as he could with out appearing that he was in a hurry.

Kaiel stood stunned after Jaimz had left, stunned more by Jaimz’ anger than by the tone of his voice, he understood that Jaimz was upset at having heard the news this way, it definitely wasn’t how he had planned to warn him about his possible betrothal to that vicious cat.

Vreda was smirking and acting as if she had just won a contest.  Kaiel looking at her was filled with such anger that he had no sense really of what he was doing as he slammed his fisted into the dinner table…disturbing place settings and the guests as he roared, “No matter whom I finally take to Mate I will not abandon Jaimz!”  He glared from Vreda to his father, just to ensure that Terrill realized he was speaking to both of them.  Then, while still growling, he lunged away from the table to follow after Jaimz.

After a moment of stunned silence Vreda sniffed disdainfully and said, “How rude!  He is more considerate of that Pet than he is of me!  Why he wouldn’t even see me this afternoon when I asked him to show me the formal gardens—but the moment that creature set up a ruckus he was right there all concerned and worried!  It’s just not natural I say!”

Kang stared across at the female who had managed to actually take his enjoyment in eating away and once again he silently crossed another mark off against her.

Drey, with fierce cubling loyalty, rose to his teachers defense, “Jaimz is not a Pet!  He’s smarter than you!  He’s smarter than every one in the whole wor—.”

Gently Kang laid his hand on the cub’s tense arm and said lightly, “That will do cub.”

Drey jerked toward him, his mouth working to continue his rant, but finally he sullenly subsided and nodded politely at Kang, though his ears continued to flick with his aggravation and finally he muttered, “May I be excused please?  Dinner isn’t sitting well with me either.”

Once the cub had left, after nodding politely to everyone but Vreda who received a fierce scowl, Kang waited for the explosion.  It wasn’t long in coming.  “How rude!  Terrill Ni I have been completely dishonored!  That cub!  Who is that cub to act so rudely toward me!  I won’t allow it, I demand he be punished!”

Kang sighed, he doubted that Terrill would order any such punishment of the cub, he didn’t seem to be that sort of male, but nonetheless the female’s attitude was utterly irritating.  He sent Terrill a look that he knew the younger male could read clearly, a look that asked, just what are you thinking?  Then he rose from the table, taking his half eaten dinner with him and excused himself as well.  He gave the three still remaining carefully measured nods, to Zuzu who had been profoundly embarrassed by her cousin’s attitude he gave a measure more of respect, he didn’t yet know what to make of her, she had been carefully silent and observant throughout the entire uncomfortable exchange, so that his opinion of her was not yet formed.

But before he had stepped far from the table he paused, taking in Vreda and Terrill both with a disapproving look, “You should know—that which is between Kaiel and Jaimz is complicated.  I feel that neither of you will likely ever understand.”  He left them then, knowing that his words would only raise Vreda’s ire, but it would leave Terrill wondering what he meant by—complicated.  He knew that Terrill knew Jaimz had been very sick, indeed the staffers marveled at how on one day Jaimz had seemed ready to die and how on the very next day he was sitting to breakfast and looking ever so happy and content.  But he didn’t know why, for not even the staffers knew about the Tag that had been masked during the night of Jaimz’ extraordinary recovery.

With plate in hand Kang sauntered from the dining room, leaving the three to stew in their own thoughts.  Of the three, only Zuzu was the true wildcard, for he didn’t know what to make of her yet.

Jaimz did not go directly back to his suite for he knew that Kaiel would look for him there and he needed some time to think.     He felt a bit ashamed at the tone of voice he had taken with Kaiel—but finding out that way had surprised him. 

As he thought about Vreda’s callous announcement of the pending betrothal he told himself that it was the way he had found out that bothered him, and not the fact that Kaiel was going to be betrothed that bothered him.  After all, why should he care either way?  He only needed Kaiel once every 72 hours to tame the Tag Addiction.  Let Kaiel have a regular family to keep him busy the rest of the time and that way without any walking eight foot tall distractions around he could get back to work on his projects, not the least was finding a cure for the Tag Addiction.

He headed from the inner garden, which was between the family wing and the staffer wing.  This was where more of the kitchen gardens could be found, as well as gardens for contemplation, solitude and to pass the time.  He followed paths that meandered along babbling streams and crossed arched bridges that led into green grottos.  He tried to think about his projects—his land gates and orbital gates.  He wondered why the Jump Ship had gone so far off course, and he still wanted to see his ship’s data because it would be easier to use the sensor data that it had recorded rather than doing everything by guessing, even if they were educated guesses.  All he really had of that data record was a memory that the sensors had recorded a massive power surge right when his Jump Ship had entered the Jump stream.  So knowing that the power surge was likely one of the reasons for the accident he had a start point to work with, but that still didn’t explain how the ship had ended up here—when he didn’t really know where here was by the star charts—nor why his ship hadn’t disintegrated during the accident.  Wasting time with Kaiel wasn’t helping him to solve any of the puzzles that he was currently working on.

Still, he sighed, if he kept telling himself that Kaiel was merely a distraction maybe he would start to believe it.  Kaiel was his friend, that was all and there was nothing between them except for the necessity of answering the 72-hour.

He should be happy—no relieved—for Kaiel and celebrate his friend’s pending marriage—though he doubted it would be a very happy one since Vreda was a real bitch.  No maybe his problem with this pending marriage wasn’t so much the marriage even, but rather the choice of spouse for Kaiel?  Maybe had the female been different, even like the quiet Zuzu he wouldn’t even have been upset at all?

However, when he heard light footsteps approaching from behind, he still frowned in irritation and it was an effort to keep his voice light when he said.  “Surely dinner isn’t over already?”

Under a tree of dark green leaves with masses of pick blossoms Kaiel paused, the tree framed him perfectly and only served to make his pale golden pelt even more rich in tone.  “I was concerned about you.”

Jaimz leaned back on the bench he was sitting on and looked up through the tree canopy at the bits of azure sky he could see.  “Really?  Well as you can see—I’m fine.”

“I see—that you didn’t return to your room.” Kaiel noted carefully.

Jaimz smirked, “I thought this way that it would take you longer to track me down.  Nice job sniffing my out Simba.”  Oh yeah, he was still very annoyed.

Kaiel’s ears flicked back—he recognized the insult if not the reference—but he relaxed his ears and murmured, “I’m sorry.  I didn’t think that Vreda would have just come out and said it that way.”

Jaimz shrugged and said, “Well it would have been nice to be forewarned.  But it isn’t like it matters to me.”

Kaiel stiffened and growled, “Liar.”

Now Jaimz looked at him coolly and enquired icily, “Why should I care?  If you marry her or not it your funeral and it has nothing to do with me either way.”  After a moment he added, “Good luck with that by the way, I personally think she’s a real pill.”

Kaiel snarled, “I can hear by your voice that you do care either way—and I have no intention of Mating with her!  My father invited her here, I didn’t and the less I see of her the better.”

Jaimz laughed cruelly, “Poor you.  You are so put upon.  Me, I need you every 72 hours, and now you have another demanding mate sniffing after you.  Must be nice to be so popular.”

“Don’t talk like that!  I don’t put up with you!  I never put up with you!  What we need—what we have—is important, it’s—.”

“It’s okay Kaiel.” Jaimz interrupted, “Really it’s okay.  It’s better this way.  I was starting to forget myself.  Get your mate—have your cubs—leave me alone.  Just—leave—me—alone.”

Kaiel flinched as if Jaimz had hit him, and then he asked bitterly, “Why does this bother you so much?  I am my father’s only son.  I need to continue our legacy or the title will pass to another after I’m gone.  It isn’t that I want too—and certainly not with Vreda!  But one day I must take a mate and sire cubs!  Surely you understand how important it is to my house?  Surely you can’t fault me for doing my duty?”

Jaimz found himself growing tenser with every word Kaiel said, and when Kaiel was done, he simply snapped, “But it’s always been duty with you Kaiel!  You saved me out of duty!  You come to my bed out of duty!  Why should anything ever be different with you?  You are so damn principled that it was a joke for Vreda to even suggest that you could ever be less than honorable.  I said I don’t care!  Why should it matter to me?  Go take your damn wife—go have your damn cubs—and leave me alone!  I don’t need you!  I’ve never needed you!  If it weren’t for the fuckin 72-hour I wouldn’t want anything to do with you!  So go on—just leave me alone!”

Kaiel stood so tense that he was actually shaking while he stood looking down at a furious Jaimz.  Those words had felt like stabbing knife wounds, ripping at his heart, but he also knew that Jaimz was aching and hurting too.  Jaimz day of upsets had simply been topped with the last stunner to make Jaimz feel utterly vulnerable and defenseless.   He told himself to calm down, that Jaimz was the upset one here and that he could be the patient one here.  “You don’t mean that.” He chided while stepping forward to touch Jaimz since he knew that in simply touching him he would start healing the hurts.

But Jaimz didn’t want to be soothed, he recoiled and snapped, “Don’t touch me!  Don’t you listen?  Are you deaf?  I said leave me alone!”

Kaiel pulled back his hand as if stung and he glared at Jaimz as he growled, “Fine!  Be that way!”  And then he spun around and stomped away from him.  And when you weighed well over three hundred pounds and were not trying to be quiet it was fairly easy to make quite a bit of noise.

Jaimz listened until he heard nothing—at least nothing related to Kaiel—and once the natural sounds and rhythms of the garden were restored he nodded to himself.  It was better this way, Kaiel was his friend and that was enough.  They could still be friends and do the 72-hour, but there was no need for more emotional ties than he already had.

Still, he felt very lonely as he went back into the house to return to his own suite.

Once back in his room he let himself forget his unhappy encounter with Kaiel by immersing himself in his work.  He was working on a paper model of the Gate—with all its intricate pieces to be meticulously fit together when his door opened, there was no rapping of claws or enquiring voice to ask for entry—the door just opened.  Still feeling defensive, and half believing it would be Kaiel to try and sooth things over, he reacted immediately, “I told you to leave me al—.” Then he stopped himself short when he saw whom it was that had intruded upon his privacy.  He quickly recovered and muttered, “What are you doing here?”

Vreda, the pretty cat, lounged in the doorway.  She knew she looked terrific with all that ivory fur and braided ivory mane and those icy blue eyes rimmed with the same dark gray as her delicate nose pad and wide thin lips.  She had changed for dinner into a sleek fitted indigo tunic dress which though sleeveless was not open sided, and yet the slits that ran from mid thigh to ankle still managed to show of those long shapely legs of hers.

She smiled as she ambled into the room and though she said nothing to him she did spend a few good moments looking over each project table and board.  She carefully touched things, closely examined the precise drawings and measurements of the revised drawings and rifled through the notes, which he, Drey and Kang were laboriously converting to Zaran script.  Most of the text she had no hope of reading for they were still in his native language but she still spent a few minutes perusing the notes which had been converted and she would purse her lips or beetle her brow when ever she came across anything she could understand to a point. 

After a moment she set the notes away and turned to look at him and asked, “Can you really do this?  Build these Gates to make travel across Z’Rarla and through Space faster?”

Jaimz nodded, though he refrained from saying anything as he was hoping that she would leave now that she had seen everything of interest apparently.  He was very glad that at least the Tag information was safely locked away on Kang’s Com-Pad, for he didn’t want to try to explain why he was researching that.

However she idly stroked her hand over one of the tables and lightly touched one of the paper models he had put together of the bullet like train the land based Gates used.  She smiled indolently and murmured, “Very clever, if this works Z’Rarla will shrink then?”

He sighed and replied this time; “It will simply make it easier to get places.  The Gates would link the major Cities and Space Ports, and probably the Pride Houses if they wish it.”

She moved around behind him then.  Taking in his Jump Ship project, which he had sketched out meticulously on the Board.  The project was complete with careful notes and observations in both Zaran and Earth symbols.  He didn’t bother to watch her, because he kept hoping that if he showed no interest in what she was doing that she would leave him alone.

However when she came to stand directly behind him he found himself tensing even though he tried to stay relaxed.  She murmured, “If this is for real and you really can do as you claim, the you will advance Z’Rarla’s Technology far beyond that of our alleys.” She sighed, and he tried not to flinch when her hand came down to lightly touch his hair, “I suppose that having you belong to K’Lan house will only add Prestige to K’Lan Pride.”

At that he angrily shook her off and snapped, “I don’t belong to K’Lan house or anyone else!  I’m not property.”

She chuckled richly, “Of course your not property in the sense that you are a Slave or anything like that.  I merely meant that you are tied to K’Lan House.  Why K’Lan has even given you the particular honor of using the K’Lan name (she knew nothing yet about the mating contract).” She smiled and reached out to stroke his hair again.

He shifted away from her and growled, “I have work to do.”

She smirked, “You don’t like me do you Jaimz?”

He hesitated, but rather than tell the truth, he hedged, “I really don’t know you well.”

“Ah…so you can be polite when you need to be.” She chuckled, following him as he moved away from her.

“I’m not the one who tripped me!”  He retorted fiercely.

She shrugged unconcernedly, and said, “That was ill mannered of me.”

Jaimz couldn’t help twisting in the barb, “I suspect that you are always Ill mannered.  Had I been a cub what you did would have been reprehensible.”

She chortled, “But you are not a cub for all of your small stature and delicate build.”

With the table between them he snapped, “Yeah, but you didn’t know that when you tripped me.”

She shrugged an expressive shoulder and murmured as she watched him, “Why do you run from me Jaimz Ni?”

Jaimz scowled, “Because you keep trying to touch me!”

She laughed softly, “That is your fault Pet.  If you were only ugly and not so very fascinating I wouldn’t want to touch you.  But as it is…I think that you are more than touched by Kaiel—are you not little one?”

He felt his cheeks warm, which only made her smile stretch even more.  She canted her head and gave him a long thoughtful look, “How…do you manage it?  I assume you take him in the manner of males together?”

“Shut up!  You don’t know what you’re talking about!”  Jaimz insisted shakily.

She snorted inelegantly, “I can smell him all over you so there’s no need to lie to me.”

He shuddered, then drew himself up and scowlingly said, “Yeah well I don’t fuckin care what you believe.  I have work to do—please leave!”

She smirked, “Kaiel said that same word.  I don’t know what it means but I think it must be something offensive?”

He smiled in return, though there was nothing friendly in his smile, “Really?  Here’s another one for you.  Get the Fuck out of here!”

However she remained unmoved and in fact seemed all the more amused by him.  Instead she started around the table again while he stubbornly stood his ground while she said, “I can see why you hold Kaiel’s interest and probably others as well.  You really are—quite pretty pet.”

“Shut up!  Don’t call me Pet!  Bitch!”

She merely smiled, “It would be easy to take you Pet.”  

“And do what with me?” he snapped bitterly.

She smiled slowly, “Surely you can guess.  You’re so pretty—I would like to touch you all over—see everything there is about you.  Delve your mysteries.  Plumb your depths.”

He paled, for obviously her choice of words had a double meaning.  Softly, trying to keep his temper he said, “Please leave Vreda.”

Her lips twisted into something ugly, “I don’t have to listen to you.  I could take you so easily.  You could try to run but you know you could never escape me.  And so long as Kaiel continues to delve your intriguing mysteries I will be sure to follow suit.”  She had him now, he didn’t even move away from her as one big hand caught him lightly and drew him closer while the other stroked along his cheek.  He stared at her with concern mingled with something that even he could not name.  He hated her, she was as foul as any one could be and she was threatening him too…but he was also intrigued in spite of himself.

She smiled, tucking her fingers into his hair and tilting his head back.  She exposed the long bare line of his throat and murmured, “It would be so easy to bite out that sweet white throat and have your life spill into me… but that would be a waste now wouldn’t it…”

He pushed against her grip then, resisting what she was trying to do.  “Let me go.  Don’t touch me.”

“Why?  Are you frightened little one?  What is there to be afraid of?  I wouldn’t hurt you, all you have to do…is cooperate.”  She purred, drawing her hand back down from his hair and over his cheek until she was touching his lips with the edge of her extended claw.  “So pretty.” She murmured, pushing that claw between his lips, “So soft and delicate and so…curvy.”

He pulled back for her, it hurt, so he knew that she had cut the inside of his mouth with her claw, but he wanted to be free of her.  “God what is the matter with you PEOPLE!”  He hissed, jumping desperately away from her, “Why the hell do you always want to touch and maul me!  WHY?”  He suddenly wanted to huddle in on himself and howl, but he resisted and yelled instead.  “Don’t Fuckin touch me ever again!  Get out of my room!  GET OUT!”

She seemed surprised once again by his reaction, but he didn’t care, he just wanted her away from him, he wanted everyone away from him.  A scraping at his door spun him around, and there he saw to his immense distress that the door was open, it had been open all along.  Standing there, looking ever so uncertain was Zuzu.  He relaxed, and looked toward Vreda.  “I have work to do.”

Vreda just scowled at him, looking rather peeved, but finally she nodded and smiled toward Zuzu, “Ah, you found me Zuzu Dear.  I was having the most interesting conversation with Jaimz here.”

Very properly Zuzu dipped her burgundy maned head and said, “Good Evening Jaimz Ni.”  Then she took in Vreda and said, “We were going to walk in the formal gardens with Terrill Ni, remember?”

Vreda pursed her lips, and said wonderingly, “Is it that time already?”

Zuzu merely nodded her head and Vreda moved toward her, ever graceful and lovely.  Then she turned and smiled, saying to Jaimz. “We will talk again, Pet.”  With that pleasant warning she strolled out of the room and Jaimz—finally alone—sagged into the nearest chair as his body was over taken with the shakes.

“Help me God.” He whispered scrubbing his fingers anxiously through his hair.  He was definitely in trouble with her. 

His first thought was Kaiel, if he went to Kaiel he knew that he would feel better and that everything would just not seem so bad, it was always that way with Kaiel.  But then he sagged even more deeply into the chair.  For he had been the one to build the wall that now rose between them, and he wasn’t yet ready to think about tearing it down.  He had to have some distance; he needed some space else he forgot who and what he was. 

For a time longer he worked or tried to, but the urge to go to Kaiel was so strong that finally he decided his only choice was to go to bed and try to sleep.  He certainly wasn’t accomplishing anything by working and letting himself become distracted with other thoughts, not if his wrecked model Gate was any indication.  He sighed as he picked up the ruined pieces of paper that he had damaged with his clumsiness and dumped them in a wastebasket, knowing that he would have to start fresh tomorrow.  Everything would look better tomorrow he told himself as he locked his outer door, walked through into his inner room and locked that door too.

Getting ready for bed was an abstracted affair, he didn’t even noticed that he mixed a satiny red sleep-tunic with silky blue sleep-shorts, nor did he feel the cool chill of the fabric as it brushed over his body.  He was actually getting very used to wearing silky fabrics anyway as he had no other in his growing wardrobe.   Kaiel liked to dress him it seemed, for right after he had found those outfits for him he had sent for a tailor to come measure him and make him an assortment of clothing, though underwear somehow still seemed to be missing for the garments.  He touched one of the outfits, idly thinking about Kaiel…and then he slowly frowned and stepped away, while shaking his head at his revolving thoughts.

Before heading for his desolate and lonely bed he also ensured that all the windows were securely latched, he was still nervous about the feeling of having been watched early this morning.  Besides it wasn’t like there was a big chain link fence to keep the predators away either, he told himself, and if the windows could swing one way they could swing another and let something in.  That was what he told himself anyway, he didn’t wonder if Kaiel had a key or some other way of getting in, for he wasn’t expecting Kaiel even though his bed looked so uninviting.

He cursed himself softly and marched to his bed and yanked back the covers; he had a lot, even plush warm fleeces too, for he found that without a furry body to snuggle up to the nights could be rather cool.  As he climbed into his bed he told himself that it wasn’t like he hadn’t slept alone before, Kaiel only came during the 72-hour, but sometimes he also came as he was getting ready for bed and they would talk, go over the troubles and upsets of the day, help each other find solutions or answers and just generally share a quiet moment with each other that had no sexual strings attached.  He pulled up the covers as he snuggled down into the bed, and he realized that he missed that part of their relationship, he wondered if Kaiel would ever come visit him outside of the 72-hour or would he respect the wall that Jaimz had built and do exactly as he said he would…”I will only ever follow your lead.”

He signed and turned his face into the pillow where Kaiel’s scent still lingered and he knew that he would have to fix what he had done.  He wanted Kaiel—his friend—back, the sex was beside the point, for they had no choice, but the friendship that was growing between them was real and theirs and he didn’t want to loose it.  He made his decision and gradually he fell to sleep.

Morning light found Jaimz a restive sleeper, for he was tangled up in his bedding and he ached all over though he didn’t feel sick or anything like that.  He just hadn’t slept well and he had the strangest sense that someone had been watching him again while he was sleeping.  He shook that feeling off, for that would be twice in a row and surely that was too coincidental. 

He got up instead and prepared to face the day, his first thought as he padded into the hall to go to breakfast was how was he going to mend the breech he has placed between himself and Kaiel?  Breakfast though found him in unsatisfactory company for Kaiel was not there and apparently was not expected to show up and neither were Drey or Kang.  With only Zuzu as a wildcard at the table he decided to take a breakfast tray back to his room and get to work.  

For a moment as he stood outside his room with his tray he thought about going to the next room where Kaiel was and proposing that they have breakfast together, however he shook that thought aside and turned into his room.  He knew he was being a coward for avoiding Kaiel but he thought for certain that Kaiel was still angry with him and besides he just wasn’t ready to let Kaiel see him pining for his company.

He immersed himself instead in his work and nibbled at his breakfast in the meantime, working made him happy and it helped him think of new ideas that were worth exploring.  Of course it wasn’t long before he heard a familiar scratching and claw rapping at the door that announced Drey.  Since the cub had taken on the role as assistant that rapping and scratching was all the warning he received as Drey let himself into the lab. 

Drey smiled and nodded at him, and then seeing his breakfast tray, his smile broadened even more, “Didn’t want another upset stomach did you Jaimz Ni?”

He simply smiled in reply and popped another piece of fruit into his mouth.

Drey announced then, “Kang Ni isn’t coming right now, he is working on getting his clinic set up.  He’s having workmen knock out some walls—it’s really funny.  A Sheki is already here talking about balance and order, and Terrill Ni is nearly pulling out his fur at all the dust and damage this old house is taking.” The cub finished with an uproarious laugh.

Jaimz smiled again, he hadn’t really expected Kang so early for he knew that the medic wanted to get things ready for business as soon as possible.  He thought it was a decent thing for Terrill to even allow the clinic to be built right in the house.  He kept munching as he waited for Drey to come see what he was working on and to ask what he would be learning today.  Last night, after Vreda and before bed he had worked on common Zaran phrases and idioms that actually translated fairly well over into the English counterparts.  He had rewritten the Zaran phrases slightly so that they would make sense to his people if they ever heard or read them.

He set Drey to working on the translations—explaining the differences from the Zaran to the English idiom so that Drey would understand why he had changed them and then he returned to his own project of translating more of his notes to Zaran symbols.  Eventually he would have a staff that would need to be able to work with his notes, so he needed to make sure that they would be able to understand what he wanted—since once the actual machining began mistakes could be costly or fatale.

As he and Drey worked companionably there came another scratching at the door.  Since the door was open it was easy to see that it was Zuzu who stood diffidently in the doorway.

He invited her in and they spoke for a moment about inconsequential things, the niceties of the day more or less, then after a bit she indicated that she would like to see the house and wondered if he was interested in going with her.  For a moment he wondered if Vreda had sent her, but he doubted that Zuzu would actually take part in anything she considered dishonorable or manipulative.  He agreed to go with her, as much of the house was still new to him anyway and together they walked, exploring where they could…and simply talking.  Zuzu proved to be pleasant company and a good conversationalist; also, refreshingly, she seemed perfectly content to keep her hands to herself.  She did ask him questions though, ones that were related to the accident and with how he was coping with being so far from his home and everything.  He sensed that her questions were being asked out of simple curiosity tinged with genuine sympathy, so he was content to share that information with her.

They wandered freely, undisturbed by anyone (though staffers were often seen, busily working or fetching or doing whatever they did, and they would greet them both politely before moving one.  Since his recovery the staffers had started to treat him like one of the family and used the same easy casualness with him as he had observed with Kaiel—though not with Terrill, who demanded formality at all times).  When they stopped by Kang’s place to check on the racket going on, Zuzu had a very pleasant chat with the old cat.  He noticed as Kang and Zuzu spoke that she was shy about talking of her self and her ears would flick whenever anyone addressed her directly.  He wondered (not for the first time today) why Zuzu had come with Vreda when obviously the two were completely different.

Finally, having seen everything that they could see they headed back toward his lab and that was when he saw Kaiel heading toward his own room with a late breakfast tray of his own.  It was strange how good it felt to just see Kaiel even though he was nervous about how Kaiel would be toward him after his outburst last evening.

But as always when Kaiel noticed them coming up on his tail he turned and was ever polite as he nodded and greeted him lightly, “Good Morning Jaimz.  Did you sleep well?”  He did frown faintly at seeing the dark shadows under Jaimz’ sea-foam green eyes.

Jaimz didn’t want to tell him that he hadn’t slept well, so he murmured that he had slept all right and asked the same of Kaiel, to which Kaiel replied that he had slept well.  With the Zaran they didn’t give signs of tiredness or illness away to closely, unless the rimming around the eyes, or the nose pad or lips looked a little pale, of which Kaiel’s did not.

Kaiel than nodded to Zuzu and said softly, “It is nice to see you again Zuzu Ni.”  To which Zuzu looked embarrassed and pleased at once.

Then before Jaimz could say anything else Kaiel excused himself by saying he had a lot of work to do and he returned to his room.  He softly closed the door and every distraction out, including Jaimz.

Jaimz felt disheartened but he couldn’t help notice that there seemed to be something more than a one-time meeting between Kaiel and Zuzu.  So he asked if she had met Kaiel sometime before.  Zuzu was still waffling between pleasure and embarrassment but eventually she was able to explain, “I worked with him a few times in the diplomatic core.  But I never thought that he would remember me personally.”

Jaimz smiled when he realized that Zuzu harbored a secret affection for Kaiel and he wondered why she hadn’t been offered for Kaiel, because he thought that he could come to like her very much.  He was certain of this when she expressed an interest in his work and asked if she could help him while she was staying at the House for the next couple of days.  She also told him that she would inquire after his people from the ship and see if the World Council would allow them to be honorably buried with all due respect for their personal customs here on Z’Rarla.   He was genuinely touched by her offer, for he had often wondered what had become of his crews remains after the accident…it had been difficult to think on them during his time with Lorz, but now that he wasn’t in the same situation he often thought of them.  All he knew for certain was that his crew was dead, he didn’t however know if they were in fact intact or if there was any bodies at all to be found.  He didn’t really know what the condition of his ship was; he only knew that the cabin had suffered a catastrophic decompression, which would have killed them instantly if not painlessly.  He also knew that for what ever reason the Chai had agreed to leave the ship alone for the time being and that area of space where the ship had jumped into was at this time considered a No-Go-Zone, he didn’t however know why that was the case.

After a time Zuzu left to rejoin her cousin for a while (it was her duty as her companion) and Drey was off doing his Zaran studies with his tutor so Jaimz absconded with Kang’s Com-Pad and decided to spend some time working on the Tag problem.  Thinking about the Tag, and what his body seemed to need to make it to the next 72-hour he recalled his musing that there was something in Kaiel’s semen that answered the Tag’s demands, and thinking about that, led him to making his next decision though he was unsure of how to go about following through on that decision.  Part of it was easy, he simply helped himself to one of Kang’s sterile specimen containers and it wasn’t to hard to make himself understood, though Kang did laugh when he told he what he was going to try to do.  However Kang also soberly assured him that he would analyze the sample once he had it and check to see if there were any anomalies in it that would answer the Tag’s need.  The next part wasn’t so easy…he was very shy about how to request the specimen.  The first thing he had to do though was disturb Kaiel.

Of course once Kaiel let him in the big cat immediately went back to work—he seemed vague and distracted even while he was speaking to someone over the COM.  Glancing at the display viewer he saw that the individual Kaiel was speaking with was his assistant Heron.

Kaiel barely nodded at him, though he seemed to think nothing of telling him to sit anywhere or of touching him lightly on his cheek.  That touch made him feel a bit better but he was still embarrassed about what he needed to ask of Kaiel, so he opted to interrupt the conversation for a moment.

“Kaiel, I need to talk to you.  It will only take a moment.”

Kaiel hesitated briefly then asked Heron to hold for a second then he led Jaimz into his inner suite.

Jaimz wasn’t sure how to ask, so instead he thrust the specimen container at Kaiel and though Kaiel did take it, he looked understandably baffled too.  All Jaimz was able to say was, “Fill it.”

Kaiel gave him a perfectly mystified look, and asked, “With what?”

Jaimz felt his cheeks heat, which made him only more embarrassed, which made his cheeks warm up even more but he finally was able to say, “Remember?  I’m working on the Tag Withdrawal Syndrome—so I need a-a specimen of your—of your—.”

Kaiel just stood there, holding the specimen jar and waiting while Jaimz grew more flustered with every second.  To make matters worse, the more uncomfortable Jaimz got the wider Kaiel’s smile stretched, until he was displaying a good amount of white teeth—some of them rather sharp.

Jaimz almost felt like stamping his feet in a temper tantrum, however to do so would get him nothing and would have been foolish and childish, of which he was neither—most of the time—so he restrained himself and tried to speak as calmly as he could, “I need a sample of your semen for analysis.”

Kaiel’s grin faltered but didn’t fade altogether, as he finally chuckled, “I really don’t think I can spare the time right now for that.”

Jaimz blushed and hastened to say, “It doesn’t have to be right now, but soon?  So that I can find out what’s in it that I need?”

Kaiel sighed, “I can’t promise soon though maybe tonight if I have a little time we can work on it.”

Jaimz lowered his eyes and said carefully, “I don’t remember saying that I would participate in this.  Surely you can d-do it yourself?”

Kaiel’s brow lowered into an annoyed frown, “You think that I knock myself off just whenever I want Jaimz?  You know full well what is involved in this.  If you want that sample, you can help me get it damn you!”

Jaimz flinched, and muttered, “You’re not being fair.”

Kaiel grasped his arm and gave him a quick shake.  “I’m not being fair?  You are the one that said you didn’t need me!  I’m trying to be patient with you Jaimz…I know that this is hard for you.  I know that you struggle with this 72-hour curse, and I know that you want to hate what happens between us!  But I’m not the unfair one here!  I try my best to respect your boundaries but you do nothing to respect mine!”  He violently hurled the specimen container across the room and then he flung Jaimz aside.  Even then Kaiel was careful to control his full strength so that Jaimz didn’t fall or stumble too hard, but that he was furious was clear.  He stormed toward the door but before he stepped back out into his office he turned and snarled, “Don’t try my patience Jaimz!  Don’t ask for such things of me and then offer me nothing in return!”

Jaimz stood stunned for a minute than ran after him, yelling, “Yes, you’re aren’t being fair Kaiel!  I’m thinking about what is good for both of us and all you can think about is whether you get a little play out of it!”

Kaiel spun and tossed up his hand in the perfect stop pose…he had learned it from Jaimz.  “Don’t!  All I ever think about is what’s best for you!  So don’t you dare say that all I think about is what I get out of it!  Don’t you dare!

Jaimz blushed, thinking about Kaiel’s words and realizing how much he had hurt him, he felt something just shatter inside as Kaiel turned away from him again, and he just couldn’t bare for Kaiel to stay angry at him anymore.  “Please!  Please don’t be mad!” he cried as he flung himself at Kaiel’s back, wrapping his arms around his waist and pressing himself into his back.  “I sorry!  Yesterday was such a bad day and I-I don’t want to lose my friend!  Please Kaiel?”

Kaiel just stopped and stood there, while feeling Jaimz arms around him, and feeling Jaimz’ small shuddering body pressed against his back, and hearing the tremulous tone of his voice he just stopped.   He tipped his head back and wondered why he couldn’t stay angry at this changeable being that had become such a part of his life in so short a period of time.  And yet, he knew that he couldn’t hold his anger with Jaimz even as he eased himself around in Jaimz’ embrace and lowered himself so that Jaimz could lean easily into his shoulders.  He tucked his face into Jaimz’ neck and he wondered softly, “Why can’t I stay angry at you?”

Gradually Jaimz quieted, he hadn’t actually cried, though Kaiel suspected that there would be tears in Jaimz’ lovely eyes even if they hadn’t escaped to track his smooth cheeks.  Jaimz had his chin on his shoulder, but he turned slightly so that his cheek rested against Kaiel’s, then he murmured, “I-I’m sorry Kaiel.  I know I ask too much of you sometimes.  But yesterday was so bad Kaiel and I shouldn’t have taken it out on you, but…I really don’t like Vreda.”

Kaiel laughed softly, so that his entire body vibrated and it felt so good that Jaimz just rode the vibration.  “I don’t like her either.  And I am trying to do everything I can do to get out of this betrothal; the problem is I don’t see a way out yet.  My father’s stupid wording of the contract ties me no matter how hard I try to unravel the knots.”  He sighed, which ruffled Jaimz’ silky hair, “And of course I have the Chai conference coming up—.”  He pulled back then, just enough to see Jaimz’ face.  “I will have to go to the conference the morning after next… Basically right after the 72-hour.”

Jaimz looked into his golden eyes and mused, “That should be ok.”

Kaiel leaned his forehead down against Jaimz’ and said, “These conferences can run for five days Jaimz.  That’s longer than the 72-hour, and sometimes they have been known to run as long as an eight of days what with all the debating and offers and counter offers put on the table.”

Jaimz cast his eyes up in a worried glance, “But that’s too long. Doc can give us meds to extend the time between the 72-hour.  But its so painful toward the end of the second cycle that you wouldn’t be able to function Kaiel.”

Kaiel nodded somberly, “I know, I have been thinking about that, if it looks like the time will go over the five days will you come to the Capital City? Will you come to Rydani?”

It was now Jaimz’ turn to pull back slightly, his last experience in a city hadn’t been the best as he recalled, and it had spawned this whole conflict between him and Kaiel, but looking at him, looking at his quiet and waiting golden eyes he knew that Kaiel would need to be at his best for the conference if he was to help settle the Chai situation peacefully.  He touched Kaiel’s chest and nodded, “Doc can bring me.  It will be a little excursion.”

Kaiel let him go then, though his hand lingered for a long slow moment as it brushed along his cheek.  “I don’t know that it will be much of an excursion, I’ll be so busy in the conference and the hours can run late into the night…it will likely be an unmitigated nightmare.  But I thank you.”

Jaimz followed him and said softly, “If we feed the 72-hour on the morning you have to leave that will give you a tiny bit of a window too….”

Again Kaiel touched his cheek, “If that is what you want.  And…about the sample I will try—.”

Jaimz blushed, “Forget about it, we can do that later.”

Kaiel noticed his use of the plural we, but he said nothing about it.  Instead he took Jaimz’ hand and drew him into the office, “I do have to try to figure out what is going on with the Chai though.  I have been working with Heron to see if we can come up with something, but he’s still on ship.  In fact he’ll be late coming to the conference since the transport doesn’t even arrive until Luna (the first day of the eight day week cycle—Luna was in four days), he might not even make it before the conference wraps up.”

Jaimz didn’t understand something and said so, even as Kaiel went to the Com and signaled that he was back.  “Why you don’t just fly Heron back here if you need to work with him and have his help at the conference?  Doesn’t K’Lan have the power to swing an emergency transport?”

Kaiel looked truly shocked, and even though Heron was coming back on line, he said, “It would be wrong to use my House name that way.”

“Hey?  What?” Heron asked from thousands of miles away in space.

“Nothing I’m just talking to Jaimz.” Kaiel said offhandedly.

Jaimz leaned over so that he could see the screen and smiled at Heron, as he recalled the young assistant had never showed any interest in touching him either.  “I was saying to Kaiel why doesn’t he swing an emergency transport to get you down here sooner.”  He turned to Kaiel and continued, “It makes sense doesn’t it?  You can’t really work with this distance between you and you need his assistance at the conference?  You have the power so why don’t you use it?”

Kaiel stared at him, and slowly murmured, “I never thought to use it that way.”  He glanced back at the screen and said, “Do you think you can be ready to depart in…two days?  You’ll still be late for the first day of the conference…but I could surely use your help.”

Heron’s light brown eyes widened, and then he nodded, “I can be ready, I’ve been working around the Chai’s logic in calling this conference and why they want to compromise…over what?  But I’ve also been busy dealing with your brother’s personal effects… but I can be ready of course.  Should you try to have Lorz remains and effects returned on the same transport?”

Kaiel was quiet for a moment, then as he thought about it, that he was going to pull rank to have his assistant shipped to the conference he supposed he could also make his father happy and bring Lorz home early, “Yes, I will arrange it.  Uh…Heron, sorry, I just called you back and everything, but if I’m going to arrange this flight I better get on it now.  I’ll call you back at the 2^nd mark after the noon break and we’ll discuss the Chai matter again.  There has to be some reason behind their sudden decision to compromise.”

“Ok Kaiel, I’ll continue working on everything at my end and see if I can dig anything new up by then… talk to you later.”

Kaiel sighed and leaned back into the chair that he had somehow just found.  He stared at the blank COM for a long moment before saying; “I’ve really never tried to use the power that is rightfully mine.”

Jaimz stood at his side and said, “You need his help now Kaiel, not later.  Besides, sometimes you have to remind people of what you have or they conveniently forget and think that they can walk all over you,” he smiled, “figuratively speaking, I didn’t mean you specifically.”

Kaiel wrapped a big arm about him and pulled him close, and then he asked, “Are we ok again Jaimz?”

Jaimz leaned over him and sighed, “I think so, though I’m still…working on it.”

Kaiel chuckled, and muttered softly, “Brat.”  Then he sighed and released Jaimz, gently pushing him back, “I really need to get working on this new idea you gave me.”

Jaimz smirked as he replied cheekily, “Glad I could help.”

Kaiel was already talking to himself, muttering, “I have to call Heron back in less than three marks…I have to contact someone with authority to send a rapid transport out to the Kattaf…hmmm, my father might be able to help with that…and…”

Jaimz smilingly turned and walked away from the male, he felt better and more at peace with himself.  Things were not perfect yet, but life wasn’t perfect, however it was better right now and that was all that really mattered.  And then Kaiel yelped, Jaimz spun back to him, concerned that something had happened, but Kaiel was staring at him.  And then just as suddenly Kaiel groaned and smacked himself up along side his head in the classic—How could I have been so stupid—reaction.

“What?  What’s the matter?” Jaimz wondered worriedly.

Kaiel scrubbed at his mane and shook his head, “I totally forgot.” He muttered dazedly.

“What?”

Kaiel looked at him.  “Yesterday I arranged for you to be interviewed by the local COM CAST News Crew.  I meant to tell you yesterday-- but you know what happened there….  I told them to come at 2^nd mark after the noon break…today.”

Jaimz just stared at him, and Kaiel’s ears tipped down as he wondered if springing another surprise (after Vreda’s surprise) on him was going to push him over the edge once again.  But Jaimz nodded after a moment and smiled ruefully, “Well at least I did get some warning even if it is a bit short.  After lunch you say?  Then I have time to get ready…no problem.”

Kaiel sighed in silent relief, and then said; “I told them to treat you with utmost respect and to not try to touch you.  They are to only ask you questions about who you are, where you are from…stuff like that.”

Jaimz smiled again, “Okay… I can handle it.” 

Kaiel watched as Jaimz opened the outer door, and then he called out, “Let’s have lunch together okay?”

Again, the fleeting smile and those bright eyes warmed his heart.  He sighed as Jaimz left his sight, and gradually relaxed back into the chair.  Then he started to smile, recalling Jaimz’ unease over the whole specimen sample thing, he started to chuckle as he recalled Jaimz’ face after he suggested that Jaimz could help him collect the sample, and then finally he was laughing as he remembered how wonderful it felt when Jaimz ran to him.  He didn’t have time to waste; nonetheless he let himself laugh as relief spread throughout his entire system.

***

A short time later Lunch proved to be a fun time of laughter and joking as Jaimz brought Kang, Drey and Zuzu with him.  Kaiel laughed at seeing them all with their trays and smiled conspiratorially at Jaimz as he observed, “We abandoned my father to Vreda’s tender mercies.”

Jaimz grinned back, though he said with perfect innocence, and when he used his eyes that effectively one just had to believe in his innocence, “But we all came separately.  This was completely unplanned, wasn’t it?” he said, looking at the rest of the conspirators.

Even Zuzu shared a nervous laugh though she did wonder aloud if she shouldn’t be with her cousin and Terrill Ni.  It took a bit of talking but finally she decided to stay with them and share in the easy conversation and the good company.

Afterwards once lunch had broke up and near everyone had returned to his or her own plans or whatever they were up to, Kaiel spoke with Kang about his eminent problem with the conference length.  Kang nodded with understanding but scolded him that he couldn’t allow himself to go to long with out answering the Tag or he would be incapacitated.  Kaiel explained that he had asked Jaimz to come to Rydani if it looked like the conference was going to go on for too long. 

Kang muttered that it was dangerous to even be apart, because what if something happened to the other?  But he promised to prepare the required medications to control the first stages of the Tag Withdrawal and he said that he would bring Jaimz if Kaiel called.

Then recalling Jaimz’ interview Kaiel put in another request, he looked worriedly at the male who was rapidly becoming his friend despite the gap in their ages and he asked needlessly, “Could you…if you would…could you be there to watch and make sure no one from the COM CAST News tries to take liberties with him?”

Kang just smiled, “Of course.  They probably won’t even notice me but I will be there, don’t you worry.”

***

As scheduled the news crew arrived on time, and Terrill blustered because he hadn’t been forewarned about them, but he let it pass though once again he wondered at his son, who it seemed was changing before his eyes.  Just before the noon break he had spent a heated half hour with Kaiel arguing over his reputed necessity of having his assistant meet him at the conference as soon as possible.  And the strange thing was, Kaiel had won his case and he had called in a favor that would see Var Heron shipped to Z’Rarla in a short number of days.  

A senior staffer led them to Jaimz where he waited in his lab.  There were four on the crew, the lights and camera crew and the interviewer.  Jaimz greeted them warmly, surprising each by boldly shaking their hands…thereby letting them touch him while he was in total control, he hoped that would suffice.  They were of course a bit stunned by his appearance, but they had heard the rumors and were forewarned by Kaiel too, so as the professionals they were they quickly set up and got down to the business of the interview.  If they noticed Kang, off in a corner, sitting in a comfortable chair with his Com-Pad on his lap, they made no comment.  The interviewer was a female, she had a dark tawny mane and light tawny pelt, and she also had dark eyes, darkly rimmed, as well as a dark nose pad and lips.  She was, rather arresting.

She sat opposite him and turned on the audio device, explaining, “We will tape and record you Jaimz Ni for both Audio and Video broadcasts… please be comfortable and if at any time you feel you need to stop the interview please feel free to do so.”  She smiled into the video recorder and said, “This is A’Aska Wren from the affiliated ChoCho COM CAST News and I have a very special guest with me today.  Now I will explain some that I know and then we will talk to him and learn his sad and yet inspiring story.”  She smiled as she looked at him, thinking that the rumors were right, he was a very attractive alien and she knew that the ratings for this interview would be very high.  “Now many of you have heard the rumors about a new alien that has recently visited us.  The rumors are true.  He is here on Z’Rarla presently under the care of K’Lan Pride, but before that he resided on the battleship Kattaf, but other than that we know little about him.  So let us ask him shall we?”

Now the video recorder shifted, and first there was a close up of his attractive face then the cameraman pulled back for a more representative view of the alien.

“First,” Wren began, “Let us start with your name?”

Jaimz smiled, “My name is Jaimz Ryordan Gingko.”

She chided, “Isn’t it true that you have been adopted into K’Lan House though?”

Jaimz smiled ruefully, “Yeah, my Zaran name is K’Lan no Gingko Jaimz Ryordan… it’s a bit of a mouthful.”

She smiled, and leaned forward, “So tell us Jaimz Ni?  What are you?  Where are you from?  Are you alone?”

Jaimz leaned back and said, “Well I’m a human.  I’m from the Planet Earth, which is the third planet from my solar system’s sun.  I live in a 9-planet system in a galaxy my people call the Milky Way, that’s because sometimes in the night sky there is this filmy veil crossing the heavens and…well I’m a long way from home I think.  Yes I am alone.” 

Wren was silent for a moment than gently asked, “Isn’t it true though that you weren’t alone originally?”

He looked up at her, and felt the pain of his crews loss as he murmured, “My crew died in a-an accident right after my prototype ship completed its jump.  The only reason I survived is because I was in the ship’s lab trying to understand what had gone wrong with the jump.  When the accident occurred the lab pressure sealed and kept me alive.  When I awoke later…I found out that my entire crew was dead.”  Of course he had experienced other far more horrendous things that had pushed his crew to the back of his memory for a time.

“It must have been so frightening, to find yourself so far from you world, and alone amongst strangers.” Wren murmured sympathetically.

He sighed tremulously, and explained, “At first…it was frightening, I felt very confused and lost, but then I met Kaiel, and I’ve made more friends and it’s getting much easier now.”

She smiled and continued, “What do you miss most about your world?”

He smiled sadly, “I miss my parents of course.  I will probably never see them again.”

Wren had been expecting some sort of description of his home world, but his fondly smiling expression made this sidetrack worth pursuing.  “Tell us of them.”

His smile widened, “Well my mother Megan Gingko is a bit of a wild child and a real free spirit.  She quite scandalized my Grandparents—that is my father’s parents—when they found out how she had spelled my name.  Of course my father James is about as straight laced as they come, but he can never gainsay my Mom.  I—wonder how they are?  What are they doing?  My grandparents died a few years back so I don’t miss them so much…but I would like—I hope that maybe I will see my parents again one day.”

Wren nodded, she was quite taken with the alien, for he presented himself so beautifully with out even trying.  His smiling face looked very good on the screen, and the shimmer of tears that sparkled in his green eyes when he spoke about his parents was simply…endearing.   To try and lift his spirits for he still seemed sad to her despite his lovely smile, she changed the subject.  “Tell me a little about your people.  Are you indicative of your people or…?”

Jaimz laughed, “Oh no, I’m not the standard for my people.  My people come in different shapes, sizes, creeds and colors.  We are very diverse.” He smilingly indicated his small frame, “Though in height I’m actually in the above average category.   Your Zaran are much taller than my people.  The females of my species are even smaller, on average six or seven inches shorter than I am.”  He chuckled and shook his head again, “Of course we do have some taller humans, and most of those are on our Basketball teams.  That’s one of the international games that are played throughout my world.   However they are the exception and not the rule, so in height I guess I’m a reasonable meter for my people, but otherwise no, I’m not indicative of my people.”

Wren was quiet again for a few moments, just watching him and wondering what it must be like for him to be so far from his home.  How sad it must be for him.  Finally she glanced about his lab and indicated to her crew that they should take a broad view of the room as she launched in the next phase of her interview.  “K’Lan Kaiel indicated that you are working on several projects designed to hopefully help you rediscover your home world.  Could you tell us about some of these projects?”

He stood up and gracefully offered his hand, offering to lead her around the room and personally show her the projects he was busy with.  She didn’t hesitate for more than a moment.  “Sure, I’ll start with the Gate projects.  There are actually two different kinds of Gates, though they are based on the same technology.”  He swept his arm out to indicate one of the tables and project boards.  “Originally I thought I would be able to reconstruct the first land based Gate in about a year, and the first Orbital Gate soon after.  It only takes a year to build a Gate back at home, and with several crews working at once a lot of Gates can be erected in a single year.  Unfortunately I didn’t take into consideration that there are no Gate Factories here, and that there will have to be substantial retooling, as well as the creation of new equipment to build these Gates…so I’m now planning on two years before we even start construction of the first Gates but the delay is acceptable because its is much better to be sure that everything is right then to just go ahead and maybe find out that things are seriously not ok.”

“And what will these Gates do?  K’Lan Kaiel mentioned that they will make traveling across Z’Rarla as well as through space much faster?”

Jaimz retained his hold on her hand as he lovingly described how the Gates functioned.  “Well, think about how long it takes to travel…oh just for reference one thousand miles?  On my world to travel that distance by Jet once took—oh I guess—about 3 hours or so, and by vehicle a good eight to ten hours or longer and usually you would want a break in between.  With Gate technology a trip like that is finished in about 30 minutes…not including the delay time for boarding and unloading.   Traveling by Gate is very smooth and incredibly fast…. You see I figured out that if the vessel could travel buffered by the gravity stream that it would be protected from the sheers and pressure that high speeds can put on vessels, thereby preventing breakup of the vessel and of course death of people.  My Gates safety record has been excellent ever since they went into use.”

“A thousand miles in just 30 minutes?  That incredible.” Wren breathed, following him to the next display. 

Jaimz shrugged, “That’s nothing, I purposely controlled the speed of land based Gate travel so that people could enjoy the scenery a bit… it only takes about that long to travel from Earth to our nearest colony on the Moon which is about 239000 times that distance.  You see in space you just have to make sure that there isn’t anything interfering with the gravity stream or something crossing the vehicle’s path and I can pretty much allow the vessel to travel at the streams top speed, which is incredibly fast.  The Gates actually work a bit like magnets, attracting and repelling, and because there is no friction—.” He shrugged, and then he grinned, “The speed of travel is astronomical.”

She noticed his fully illustrated Jump Ship diagram and asked him, “This is what caused the accident which brought you to Z’Rarla, isn’t it?”

Jaimz looked at the diagram and again a sad smile touched his ship, “No, the prototype worked perfectly, it certainly made the jump—it just went farther then I had ever expected it too.” He touched the cabin area of the drawing, “No something else went wrong, something that powered the jump beyond the settings I had programmed it for.  I guess it was lucky we didn’t all die in transit….” He shrugged uncomfortably, because his crew had died almost as soon as the jump was successfully completed.

She read his sorrow again, and once more knew to pull him out of it by having him describe what his Jump Ship was.  He spoke easily and eloquently as he set into the description of how the Jump Ship worked.  “Well first,” he murmured as he placed two small dots at each end of a piece of paper and then drew a thin line between those two dots. “The proper name for my Jump Ship is actually SFJS or Space Fold Jump Ship…because it doesn’t just jump from place to place.” He folded the paper so the two dots came together, “The Jump ship causes an attraction between two spots like these dots and it sort of folds the space between…” He used the pencil he had used to draw the dots to pierce the paper where the dots connected and he continued, “like this.”

He set the paper down, “Of course it doesn’t really work like that, because Space doesn’t fold, but it’s almost like…the Jump Ship rips a hole in space at one point and exits at the other point.  So instead of traveling to…you travel through.  It’s incredibly fast and it really is like—one second you are in one place, and then the next you are—somewhere else.  The Jump ship worked absolutely perfectly, I used the Gate signatures to key my points of entry and exit and it was jumping between the farthest distance Gates because all the previous jumps had been keyed to short distance Gates.  We entered the jump perfectly…but after 3.07 minutes—which was already over the expected exit time—I realized that something was seriously wrong.  We didn’t exit from the jump for over 19.45 minutes, which was way over the expected Jump duration.”  He turned toward an astronomical chart that had been hung on his wall; it was of all the known charted space of Z’Rarla and her Allies and some of there allies. 

He sighed as he looked at the chart with all its star systems and said forlornly, “I have no idea where I am….  I mean logically I know where I am, but just not in relation to my own solar system.”

She stood behind him, looking at the same chart and recognized how huge the known area was, and she wondered, if his system wasn’t on that chart then how long would it take to find it?  But she asked instead, “What do you think happened?” he was so young, and yet clearly his intelligence was astounding.

Jaimz turned away from the chart and looked up at her, “The only thing I know right now is that the ship’s sensors recorded a huge power surge when we entered the jump.  I can at this time only make an educated guess that this power surge had something to do with why my ship remained in the jump for so long…but it doesn’t explain what attracted my ship so that it exited in this system.  Somehow the course was reset and that shouldn’t have happened, and logically the Ship should have registered an error and exited the Jump…it didn’t.  I—I need to review the data from my ship so that I can learn what went wrong…but until that space is no longer in dispute…I have no choice except to keep making educated guesses.”

“That’s…incredible.” Wren murmured, watching him for another long moment as he returned to his Jump Ship diagram.  She knew she needed to draw him away from the mystery of the accident though, so she asked, “What is your favorite things about Z’Rarla?”

He turned back to face her, “My favorite thing?  Well,” he touched his silk tunic, “I like the clothing.” He smiled, “I haven’t really seen very much of Z’Rarla yet.  I was pretty ill when Kaiel brought me home and I’ve only really been up and around for…four or five full days now I guess?  But I did see Chocho city yesterday and it looked very lovely.  I would like to explore a market and look at things and see the seas and the ocean, there is lots of things I would like to do…” he looked intently into the video recorded and said, “I know that I’m different from you, but I would like to be able to enjoy your world.  I may never see my own world again in my lifetime and I think I would like to adopt Z’Rarla as my new home even though I still plan to search for my home system and my people.  Will you let me?  Will the people of Z’Rarla allow me to adopt your home as my own?”

Wren smiled, “I will.” Her crew echoed her and she knew that she wouldn’t edit their voices from the audio track.  She gave the signal that would start wrap up and said, “You are welcome Jaimz Ni, K’Lan Jaimz of K’Lan Pride.  You are very welcome.”  The recorder faded around his small hand, enclosed within her larger one and the interview was complete.  She smiled again, “It truly was a pleasure Jaimz Ni, and you have extremely good presence so I think it likely you will mesmerize the audience.”

He nodded, “Thank you Wren Ni, you made it easy to share.” He canted his head then and asked softly, “So how much will be edited out?”

She laughed, “Oh, I think very little.  Your personal history is intriguing.  The technology you bring is fascinating.  And your tragedy is real.  I can’t imagine that I will edit much from it, except maybe if it runs to long…How long was the interview anyway Kel Ni?”  She suddenly asked one of her crew.

The crewman, who had been managing one of the lights, replied even as he stowed his equipment, “About 13 minutes Wren Ni.”

She smiled and turned back to Jaimz, “I think that I will not need to edit much.  I hope that you will watch the COM CAST News at 1^st mark after the dinner break tonight?”

After a few more moments of casual conversation the News Crew took there leave of Jaimz and Jaimz find out that he was actually tired out as he slumped down into a nearby chair.  He glanced toward Kang, who had been unobtrusively working all along and said smilingly, “Well that wasn’t so bad.”

Kang returned his smile and said, “You did very well youngling, very well.”

The next day dawned bright and clear, Jaimz had slept well even though he had slept quite virtuously alone.  Knowing that Kaiel and he had fixed their spat had made sleeping the night before much easier.  Kaiel had also slept reasonably well but with everything he was working on he had gone to bed late and was up early, it looked as if today would be the same kind of mad rush day and he knew that he didn’t even have the 72-hour to look forward to at its conclusion since Jaimz thought it would be better if they answered the Tag demand in the morning before he had to leave for the conference. 

Kaiel was not really looking forward to the conference; he wanted to be armed with knowledge enough to understand the Chai’s motivation, but so far he had come up with nothing and Heron hadn’t been able to find anything either.  First thing he buzzed Heron, he didn’t even bother to get himself any breakfast for Jaimz would be coming by with a tray in a little while.  When Heron came on-line he looked tired and frazzled and Kaiel suffered a bit of guilt at knowing he was working his assistant so hard.

He looked at him sheepishly and asked, “Did you sleep at all?”

Heron blinked at him owlishly and then to make Kaiel feel even worse he yawned into the screen and absently scratched at his cheek.  “I think I went to sleep…sometime.”  He rolled his shoulders then and said, “But there is still a lot of work and I’m no closer to finding out why the Chai changed their minds, still I have found some interesting stuff in your brother’s personal effects; A Sheki’s Guide to Pastoral Balance, written by the great mystic Sheki E’Dra Zale.  A Thesis on Past Lives by some Medic named K’Tal.  An Akibu Life-Mating contract.   The Personal Logs and Memoirs of a Battle Captain by T’Rayaz Trevan, and—as you can see, a lot of weird stuff.”

Kaiel rubbed his eyes and sighed, “Well just box it all up so my father can through it on his own…I really don’t have time to go over the entire inventory of my late brothers interests.”

Heron nodded, “I’ve already got most of his effects boxed and ready to go, it just seemed odd to me, he never seemed to be one of the great thinkers to me….” He folded his ears back and said softly, “I’m sorry, I know that he was your brother.”

Kaiel shook his head, “My brother and I hardly had a brotherly relationship…don’t worry about it.  Now lets get back to the Chai situation.  Has there been any odd behavior from them in the last little while which might give a clue as to what they are up too?”

Heron shook his head, “I don’t know, I suppose I could check and see if there has been any reports of odd Chai activity…”

But Kaiel was thinking about something else and after a moment he interrupted Heron to ask mildly, “Did you say an Akibu Life-Mating Contract?”

“Uh…” Heron stared at him, momentarily confused by the change in subject.  “Yeah…I did.”

“Did you happen to take a look at the contract?” Kaiel asked lightly.

Heron shook his head, “Nah, I just started to unroll it to see what it was, once I saw that it was an Akibu Contract I let it go.  Why?”

“Can you find that contract again?  I need to see what, if anything, it says.” He honestly didn’t know what to expect, but he felt a little bit of hope well up inside even so.  Heron hurried to find the contract (though he obviously didn’t know what Kaiel was looking for from it).  Alone with his thoughts for the moment Kaiel thought about the Akibu Life-Mating Contracts, Life-Mating was another Zaran custom that had long been out of practice, now mating contracts were for 5 or 10 years and maybe they were renewed, or maybe they weren’t.  With the Akibu Life-Mating there was no dissolving of the contract, it was for life, just as the title stated.  The Akibu, oddly enough belonged to the faith surrounding the War God Z’Ullan, and they considered Life-Mating to be an ever-fought battle to sustain stability in the midst of chaos.  It was the very nature of the Life-Mating that made it so unpopular, for no one these days wanted to be tied to one individual for the rest of his or her lives.  And yet there was also no Mate taking contract more respected then the Akibu Life-Mating contract.

“I got it.” Heron gaspingly exclaimed as he returned to the COM screen.  He had obviously raced to Lorz’ room to retrieve the document and return so quickly.  With out waiting for prompting he untied the red ribbon which kept the document bound and fully unrolled it, his gasp when he began to read the details was significant and told Kaiel much even before Heron spoke that something important was about to be divulged.

“You won’t believe this,” Heron stated, he sounded incredulous himself, and he was actually reading the document.  “It seems that your brother, actually Life-Mated with Jaimz Ni—I wonder if Jaimz Ni even knows?  And…uh…Kaiel Ni…you need to see the wording of this contract…Lorz Ni has named you as the inheritor of the contract.”

If Kaiel hadn’t already been sitting down, he would have needed to at Heron’s announcement.  He lowered his face into his hands and digested this newest bit of information.  Finding out that Lorz had Life-Mated to Jaimz might be of some assistance to him regarding the potential betrothal he was now threatened with, but finding out he was the inheritor of the contract actually made him feel a bit dizzy.  It was true that of all the Mating Contracts available, only the Akibu contract actually allowed the spouses to name substitute spouses in the event one of them died.  That Lorz would have taken this step and actually named him in the contract was completely unexpected.

Finally he raised his head and asked hoarsely, “What is the stated date of the contract?”

Heron told him, and soon Kaiel was smiling again.  For the Life-Mating had taken place before the Betrothal was proposed, which made the Betrothal actually invalid.  There were a lot of unwritten provisos and clauses included in an Akibu Contract.  He would have to read up on them now that he found himself unknowingly locked into one, but first he requested that Heron send him a facsimile of the contract, and he only urged Heron to be all the faster when Heron spluttered that sending an image over such a great distance would tie up the lines for at least 10 minutes.   He told Heron before he got started that he was going to let Heron off the hook for a while, though he still wanted him to check into whether or not the Chai had been doing anything unusual in the last little while.  Heron seemed surprised and baffled by Kaiel’s sudden change in attitude, but Kaiel couldn’t worry about his assistant right then, for he had to make arrangements to see the family’s Adjucator immediately.   Still with the lines tied up while waiting for the copy to arrive there was nothing that he could do to contact Adjucator J’Lari.

While he was still waiting for the image to download a familiar rapping came from the door, since Jaimz didn’t have claws he had to rap with his knuckles, the sound that made was distinct and unmistakable, but also rather solid sounding…and Kaiel mused that if his knuckles weren’t fur covered that he would produce a similarly solid sound too.  He grinned though and bounded up, crossing quickly to the door and flung it open.  Before Jaimz, who looked utterly sumptuous in a turquoise button-fronted vest and matching pants, could even greet him, he’d grabbed the tray he carried with one hand, and hooked his arm around Jaimz with the other and laughingly spun both around.  Jaimz, who had no idea what was going on, just clung to him and shared his laughter though there was some obvious puzzlement in those terrific sea-foam green eyes of his.

Still retaining his hold on the breakfast tray he grinningly set Jaimz back on his feet and even steadied him when he swayed dizzily for a second.  He set the tray down then and popped off the lid, to peruse the contents beneath.  Instantly he chose a flaky meat and gravy pastry and popped the whole thing into his mouth, where it promptly melted into an explosion of rich creamy flavor.  Jaimz was watching him and still looked bemused if his partial smile was any indication.  Kaiel thought that when Jaimz wore a smile like that, which curved his lips just so, that his mouth simply looked amazing…but then, Jaimz was pretty amazing anyway, he thought with a grin as he snatched another delicate and flaky pastry from the tray.

“Eat—Eat before I scarf down all the best things!” he laughingly directed, indicating the rapidly diminishing selection.

Jaimz gave him a perfectly bemused smile and then helped himself to the last of the pastries.  As he delicately nibbled on it, and Kaiel stared in complete fascination at his mouth while he did, which of course caused him to faintly blush when Jaimz realized where Kaiel was looking, Jaimz asked—and managed to avoid dwelling on where Kaiel was looking altogether—smilingly, “You seem very happy today?  Did something good happen?”

Kaiel couldn’t help it; he reached over the table and the tray and dragged Jaimz toward him once again.  Jaimz yelped, and held his half eaten pastry away (protecting it probably) as Kaiel pulled him into his embrace again, and spun him around once more.  Jaimz laughed warningly, “You’ll make me dizzy Kaiel!”

Kaiel chuckled against his neck and laughed freely, “I’m already dizzy, so why not you too?”

Jaimz, being held rather high could actually look down on Kaiel and queried laughingly, “What happened?  Tell me.”

Kaiel grinned, and exclaimed, “You just saved me Jaimz.”

Bewildered, Jaimz raised an expressive brow and asked smilingly, “I did?  How did I do that?”

Kaiel set him down again and instead said, “Eat your breakfast.”

“Kaiel?”

“Ah-ah, don’t worry I will tell you all about it after I come back.”

Jaimz canted his head, “You mean after the conference?”

Kaiel snorted and searched out another item to eat, “No, after I come back from seeing Adjucator J’Lari today.”  He popped the meaty morsel into his mouth, and then recalling the still downloading image he went to check on it, the device signaled the item was downloaded just as he arrived to check.  He sent it to the documenter and while Jaimz watched him curiously he called up Adjucator J’Lari on the COM.

After a few moments of trying to talk with the Adjucator and getting nowhere with the older male Kaiel finally uttered, “My family paid a large retainer for your services.  I’m quite sure another Adjucator would be very happy to take on my family’s retainer and arrange to see me at my request with little difficulty.”

That silenced the sour faced Adjucator, and after a moment he managed to say, “That—won’t be necessary.  I can arrange to see you this afternoon say around the 1^st mark after—.” Indeed, he knew fully well that Kaiel was next in line to the powerful K’Lan Pride Title…and J’Lari Vree was fully aware that his retainer with the K’Lan family was substantial and highly desirable, and for another Adjucator to take it would be quite the coup.

Kaiel interrupted him; “I can be in Chocho in half an hour…no strike that I want to finish breakfast, so in one hour I will be in Chocho.  I will see you then.”

Adjucator J’Lari stared at him, then he muttered, “This is highly irregular Kaiel Ni…however, I will shift my appointments around an and fit you in.” 

With that, Kaiel could afford to be gracious, and he nodded his head as he said, “Thank you Adjucator J’Lari, I assure you that it will be well worth your time.”  And since to an Adjucator time was money that assured J’Lari Vree’s interest.

He cut the contact and turned back to face Jaimz, who was still watching him with curious interest, he smiled and cocked an quizzical ear, “What?”

Jaimz smiled in return and while choosing a piece of fruit he observed softly, “You’re very—forceful this morning.”

Kaiel stretched hugely and grinned, “I feel great.” He actually growled the last part. 

Jaimz laughed softly, and remarked slyly, “I can see that.”

Kaiel glanced down his body, and noted the slight bulge in his sleep shorts, he then grinned cheekily back at Jaimz—who blushed beautifully—as he replied mischievously, “No time for that type of play this morning.”

Jaimz looked at him with mingled surprise…and with something else in his eyes…of what Kaiel wasn’t quite sure, but he surely would have liked for it to been disappointment that he read.  Not that it mattered, he thought with genuine regret, for he really didn’t have time to indulge, because in having forced the good (if rather sour) Adjucator to rearrange his schedule for him, he certainly couldn’t risking standing him up now. 

He sat to scarf down a few more choice pieces, Jaimz had gathered a very nice breakfast tray, but he knew that he wouldn’t be able to enjoy it all, or Jaimz’ company for to much longer, because he still had to get dressed.  Just as suddenly as he sat, he was back on his feet and reaching his hand toward Jaimz, saying, “Help me find the right outfit to impress the Adjucator with, Jaimz.”

He didn’t need to ask twice, and Jaimz didn’t seem to mind taking his hand either, which made him feel very happy as he enclosed that small hand within his great paw (in comparison only, for his hand, despite the fur, was every bit as hand-like as Jaimz’ was) and led Jaimz through into his inner suite.

Jaimz glanced toward the bed, and recalled what they had done in it yesterday, while unknown to them, Kang had been happily observing.  Remembering caused a fresh blush to warm his cheeks, and he soon was cussing his skin, which so easily revealed his emotions when Kaiel chided him teasingly, “It must be anticipation that has you blushing like that.” 

Jaimz glared at him, for which Kaiel merely grinned and shrugged, it was true that both of them were more sensitive today anyway, since they had entered the cusp of the 72-hour.  Jaimz was beginning to notice that even as much as 12 hours before his internal clock began to chime that it was time to do it that his skin and other areas were very responsive to stimulation, and thinking about that made him want to blush again, though he chose to ignore the slight warming of his cheeks this time.  He hoped that in time he would be able to control his blush response, for he knew that he gave far too much away, but as of yet…he simply blushed with aggravating ease.  He didn’t remember being prone to blushing before Kaiel; even with Lorz he hadn’t been prone to blushing, crying yes, screaming yes, but blushing no.  He shook that thought aside, for he really didn’t like thinking about how it had been with Lorz, the pain and the humiliation was still to fresh.

Kaiel was already at his wardrobe with the curtains flung wide open and he was skimming through the choices of matching and non-matching tunics, vests, blouses and pants.  Jaimz only watched him for a moment, as Kaiel pulled out an item, held it up against himself, looked toward Jaimz and just as promptly dropped the outfit to try something else.  Jaimz chuckled and stepped forward as he picked up the discarded outfit, “You shouldn’t be making more work for the staffers than necessary.” He chided gently as he reached up and replaced to outfit back onto the rack. 

Kaiel had another outfit and turned toward him, “Then help me choose.” He insisted, for which Jaimz was already starting to do.

The wardrobe here was tall, after all if was meant to accommodate the average Zaran height, of which Kaiel was on the lower edge of that average at 7’9”.  However Jaimz wasn’t so short that he couldn’t go through the outfits and pull one or two together for Kaiel. 

In the end Kaiel was dressed in a simple unrelieved black vest and well fitting breeches complete with tall black boots—usually Zaran’s went around in sandals or bare feet, but once in a while they wore formal wear like shoes and boots—actually in any branch of the military service foot wear was required nearly at all times.  The black looked stunning against his pale gold pelt and of course it merely emphasized his extraordinary build, of course the black wasn’t as severe as it first appeared, for on closer examination, and what had attracted to Jaimz in the first place was that the Vest and pants actually was an etched black on black combination.  The etching only showed when light hitting from different angles illuminated different areas of the outfit, revealing delicate patterns and whorls.   Kaiel looked fabulous, and very mature and professional that sometimes it was hard to remember that they were actually the same age and that both of them were still young enough to not be taken seriously be older adults.  Jaimz thought ruefully about his own smooth cheeks and knew that he would likely have a much harder time of it for the rest of his life and not for the first time he regretted the vain and stupid idea that had made him decide to have his facial and body hair repressed rather than bother with the tedious task of shaving (or getting a furry back in older life). 

As he was thinking about his smooth cheeks and the foolish idea, which would keep his cheeks forever smooth, Kaiel suddenly, startlingly, cupped his face and stroked his finger pads over those same cheeks.  He looked up into Kaiel’s intense golden eyes wonderingly and he couldn’t deny that no matter how hard he wanted to stay to the 72-hour schedule and keep his life outside of that schedule somewhat uncomplicated he was already incredibly responsive to Kaiel’s touch.  With worry likely clear in his eyes he waited for Kaiel to do whatever it was that he seemed driven to do.  He felt himself starting to blush again when Kaiel’s thumb pad gently scudded upon his bottom lip…and he swallowed nervously when Kaiel’s eyes lowered to follow the tracing of his thumb.  He knew that his mouth fascinated the Zaran.  Zaran lips were very straight, and not even the females had bowed curves.  In comparison his own mouth was very shapely, something he would never have even thought about before meeting a leonine Zaran, a people who had evolved from a lion like ancestor to humanoid structure and build but still retain much of the cat within their faces.

“Kaiel….” he murmured, hoping to distract his friend and shift his interest away from his mouth.

Kaiel did lift his gaze momentarily and reveal eyes that were as bright as new pennies.  But his gaze lowered again and Jaimz responded helplessly to the touch of his gaze once more on his mouth.  Kaiel tipped his head up and once again raised his eyes, and then very, very tentatively he said, “Jaimz…I want to kiss you.”

A tremor shivered through Jaimz’ body.  “Kaiel…I—.” He couldn’t say that he couldn’t.  He couldn’t take away the brightness and hope from Kaiel’s warm eyes.  Besides it was just a kiss, he had done—far worse with Kaiel.

Even though he couldn’t seem to say it, Kaiel seemed to know anyway that he was willing.  The touch of Kaiel’s lips at first was very light, and curious, for Jaimz didn’t know what to expect since his lips were more like the flesh that rimmed the eyes and formed the nose pad around the nostrils and even the finger or toe/palm or sole pads of the hands and feet then that of the soft and delicate flesh of human lips, but the feeling was not unpleasant at all Jaimz thought, ever the scientist as he analyzed sheer sensation.  Soon though, the scientist in Jaimz was lost in sensation alone, as velvety-fleshed lips caressed and explored his own to distraction.  Jaimz shivered and fluttered his hands along Kaiel’s arms, before sinking his fingers into that soft pelt which so wondrously disguised all that hard muscle beneath.  He heard a soft breathy sound that he didn’t even recognize as his own as he softened into the kiss, and he rose up onto his tiptoes as the kiss deepened.

When Kaiel pulled away, Jaimz didn’t feel relief, but rather regret, which only made his cheeks brighten again as the conflict of what he was, and what he was doing, struggled up inside him again.  Kaiel stepped back from him and for a moment he looked quite stunned, fortunately for Jaimz’ sake he didn’t make any light comment referring to the kiss they had shared, though he did once again run his thumb over the full curve of Jaimz’ bottom lip.  He finally drew in a ragged breath and gave himself a little shake to clear his senses and then he said roughly, though softly, “I have to go,” he gave a last gentle squeeze to Jaimz’ shoulder as he stepped away, “I will tell you all about it once I return.”

Jaimz followed him out, watching and thinking as Kaiel strode down the hall and out of sight.  He felt strange after sharing the kiss, not excited exactly, and yet tingling all over at the same time.  He wanted to attribute his response to being on the cusp of the 72-hour, but he couldn’t simply explain every pleasurable encounter he had with Kaiel by blaming it on the 72-hour.  He blushed just thinking about the other day and Kaiel and the pleasure he’d had with Kaiel that had nothing at all to do with the 72-hour…and he turned not toward his own suite, where Drey was probably already working, to wander instead to Kang’s suite where the old medic was still working on setting up his clinic.   He needed answers and he thought that Kang might be the only one to provide them.

Even meeting Terrill in the receiving room between wings proved to be unsettling, for all Terrill did was touch his arm and Jaimz felt a responsive tingle sparkle along his spine.  He looked with dismay upon the senior K’Lan and hurriedly excused himself before the older male had time to do more then give him a good morning greeting, which he flung over his shoulder as he half ran toward Kang’s suite.

Once he arrived he saw that things had changed quite a bit since just yesterday.  Now Kang had an inner and outer room and the outer room was divided into an bright open area for his help staff—it was amazing that in just one day the outer room looked complete, even to include a sunroof with a shade that the staff could pull if the sun was too hot upon them and a hall leading to two smaller rooms, one that was Kang’s office while the other, slightly larger actually was his client room.  At the end of the hall was another door, which he knew led into the clinic and from the sounds of things the workers were still going full out in there.  At the receiving desk actually sat a small Zaran female, she was maybe only a foot taller then he, short even for a female, she was a blond Zaran from her mane to her pelt and had a very pretty round face and a slightly plump body complete with, surprisingly, small breasts.  Her mane was trimmed short and tended toward a bit of curl and her black-rimmed brown eyes were heavily lashed with blond fringe.  She had a bit of a muzzle denoting some northern ancestry, but her nose pad was positively small and delicate.  She just looked so cute that for a moment Jaimz forgot why he was worried.  This was Kang’s devoted assistant nurse and acting receptionist, the one that had stayed on with him when he had shifted his office to K’Lan pride.  

“Uh…hi.” He said, actually blushing when she looked at him with those pretty eyes.

They had not yet met, but it was obvious from her reaction that Kang had told her about him for she smiled brightly and said excitedly, “Jaimz Ni?  You are Jaimz Ni right?” Was there another Alien around who could possibly be?  “I’m so happy to meet you!  Kang Ni has told me much about you…” she sobered then and canted her head slightly, “He told me about…that too, but you can be sure I will keep it secret as promised!”

Jaimz wondered why Kang would have told her about the 72-hour but he figured that as his assistant he had probably enlisted her help in researching the Tag. 

“Is…Kang Ni available?” he needed to see him, and thinking about why made him feel even more anxious for answers.

She smiled, “Kang Ni is seeing a patient, one of the workers was injured earlier, but he said that his door will always be open to you or Kaiel Ni.  You can go and wait in his inner suite and I will let him know that you are here.” She gestured toward the door behind the reception area that obviously led to Kang’s private sanctuary.  As he passed by the desk, she very lightly reached out and touched his hand, that was all, nothing more not a grope or a stroke, simply a way of drawing his attention.  “My name is Lan no Zayad Rica.” 

The no meant that she was like him, either adopted or mated into the K’Lan pride, though he had been mated into the High House while she into one of the lower houses within the Pride.  In a way that kind of made them like family and he was happy to say so, for which her ears folded back in embarrassed pleasure.  It was then, as he took in her plumpness and her developing breasts that he realized that she might be with cub and he risked asking, for which her ears perked forward and her smiling face confirmed his suspicion before her words ever did.  She stroked her rounded belly and said fondly, “Our first cub.  My mate and I are very excited.”

Feeling somewhat more relaxed after talking with Rica he went in to the inner suite wait for Kang.

It didn’t take long for J’Lari Vree to go over the document and gauge the seriousness of the situation.  He glanced up at his young Adjucant (client) and pursed his lips.  “I will have to wait until I have the original copy in hand before I can proceed and I will most likely need to speak with Akibu—.” He glanced at the signature on the contract facsimile, “R’Fram Merrim about the full legalities of this contract…but as it stands now it does appear as if the betrothal between K’Lan and L’Teran is invalid.”

Kaiel sighed and relaxed, for once the betrothal contract was declared void he would be free of L’Teran Vreda and he would be able to, at his own pace, pursue a mate that Jaimz would find more agreeable.  Still Adjucator J’Lari was not through yet.

The older male, with his sour features and observant eyes, leaned back in his chair and said blandly, “Of course the ramifications of this contract for you is—shall I say—unfortunate.”

Kaiel flicked his ear forward, “Why?”

“This older style mating contract is nearly impossible to dissolve,” J’Lari Vree stated slickly, “and to be named as the inheritor of the contract means that you automatically inherited the deceased’s spouse.  It’s an old and barbaric practice, which only the Akibu would still perform.  I haven’t seen a mate taken in this manner in my entire lifetime; though my father did mention dealing with one such when he was younger.  He was not able to break the contract either even though the two people were extremely unhappy.  I have no idea what became of them…perhaps they were able to petition the Most High Akibu into dissolving the contract?”  Then he concluded his explanation with a half smile, a touch slyly.  “But what I am trying to say is that your brother has managed to bind you to that alien.”

Kaiel rose and leaned his hands on the Adjucator’s desk, which kept them neatly separated.  “You don’t seem to understand Adjucator J’Lari…I have no intention of trying to break the contract.”

At that, those small unfriendly eyes widened with shock, but before he could sputter any response Kaiel extended his hand and said, “I thank you for looking this matter over for me, as soon as I have the original I will courier it to you for safekeeping and though I will be in a Closed Conference I am sure that you will be able to deal with the originators of the betrothal contract and conclude it satisfactorily.”

J’Lari Vree had no choice except to accept the young male’s hand gracefully and allow the meeting to conclude.  He noticed that the young male very lightly extended his claws into the firmness of the grasp and Vree who had not previously thought much of the younger son of K’Lan Pride revised his opinion as he now thought that K’Lan Kaiel had more than enough determination and confidence to carry K’Lan Pride upon his powerful young shoulders. 

Kang sent his first patient off with a warning to keep his bandage clean and dry for the next couple of days.  The young male had slipped when they were taking out the pivot windows at the front of the clinic and ended up slicing his arm open as a result.  After shaving the fur and stitching and dressing the wound he certainly didn’t want his efforts to be wasted by any foolishness that could result in an infection.  He had told the male to take four days off from the job as it was and informed his supervisor as well, so he would see.

He left his things where they were for Rica would clean up and put everything away since she was much better at it and scolded him if he didn’t fold the bandaging up just so…he smiled fondly, Rica had been with him for five years, and he had even been honored to accept the role of Acting Sire for her Mating Ceremony.  Recalling what Rica had told him while he had been dealing with his patient he made his way into his inner suite wondering why Jaimz wanted to see him.  Not that he minded the younglings company, for he was extremely fond of him.  But Rica had indicated that Jaimz had seemed anxious when he had first arrived, so he knew that this wasn’t just a simple visit, but rather another attack of conscious.

It took him a minute to find where Jaimz was, and when he did he simply joined him in watching the workers tear out the front wall of the clinic.  The plan was to put in an entire bank of doors that could be opened fully onto a patio where his patients could convalesce and enjoy the sunshine or moonlight as needed.   Outside his own suite he still retained the pivot windows and he planned to keep that but on the short meadow grass he had set up a grouping of wicker chairs, lounges and a low table where he could take his ease.

They were distant enough from the noise of the work crew not to be to disturbed, and also distant enough to not be overheard which should assuage Jaimz’ peculiar shyness.  He called in for Rica to send a staffer with refreshments for them (he didn’t expect Rica to do it, for she was busy with her own task of setting up her reception area—as well as tidying up after him) and settled in to see what Jaimz was looking for.

Jaimz started by saying lightly, “I think I’m going to like Rica very much.  She’s cute.”

Kang nodded, indeed Rica was cute, and for a Zaran she was also rather short at just around seven feet tall, still quite a bit taller than Jaimz, but not so tall that he felt overwhelmed.  “Yes,” he acknowledged, “Rica is pretty special.”

He leaned into the back of the lounger and observed Jaimz, the youngling as always looked exquisite which of course was part of his problem for he didn’t understand what a pleasure it was just in looking at him.  Of course he was surprised that Jaimz was so appealing to his eyes, but to the rest of his senses he had no trouble determining why Jaimz was frequently accosted.  Emotionally Jaimz stimulated the urge to protect.  Visually he stimulated the urge to mate (which understandably Jaimz didn’t understand).  Physically by touch and smell he unfortunately reinforced that urge.  During his short but growing association with Jaimz the one thing he had detected, though not mentioned was that Jaimz’ scent, though faint and often washed away with the clean smell of soap, was very similar to that of a young female at her first flush of sensual adulthood.  Jaimz probably wouldn’t be finding himself being bothered if he was butt ugly and his skin was not so fascinating, but his fresh scent definitely played a part in his troubles, and of course since it was a natural part of him there was nothing he could do about it so he wouldn’t be telling him and simply providing him with yet something else to worry about.

As he waited for Jaimz to find the courage he needed to talk to him he looked out over the savanna, like Jaimz and Kaiel his suite also looked out over the same savanna though the view of course was slightly different.  From where he was sitting he could easily watch the long-necked Jennets browsing in the low scrub Ara bushes.  The Ara had tiny dark green succulent leaves amid literally thousands of tiny thorns, and yet the dexterous lips of the Jennet had no problem stripping those tiny leaves.  The Jennet was a pretty creature with a short sand-colored hide that on its shoulders and chest were covered with large angular brown spots, it also had a short furry tail which it flicked to keep away the flies, a short brush-like mane that began at its forehead and went all the way down the back of its neck, there were also had brown stripes around the lower portion of each leg and it had cloven hooves.  It was the Jennet’s face that made it really pretty, it had a small head with a delicate muzzle and big heavily fringed eyes outlined in dark brown that formed into deep teardrops on either side of its muzzle. The Jennet was a favorite meat animal, but this was the Jennet’s foaling season so they wouldn’t be hunted for a few more months yet, even though Jennet foal meat was a delicacy.

Jaimz also looking out toward the small herd of Jennet grazing in the Ara scrub bushes said lightly, “They remind me a bit of horses and gazelles somehow combined together.”  He looked at Kang, “Do Zaran ride any animal?  For work or pleasure?  Racing?  Stuff like that?”

Kang shook his head, “No, we never felt the need I suppose since we are strong and can run so fast anyway.” He smirked and patted his ample tummy, before continuing.  “Your people have a riding animal I suppose?”

“Horses…pretty much… although not so much anymore.  It used to be that Horses were the only real way to get around or do anything before the advent of technology, and then they were simply relegated to pleasure riding and racing…or glue factories I guess.”  Jaimz winced at the last bit.

Kang pursed his lips, and said, “How sad, your people seem to do a lot of things that we wouldn’t even consider.  Every animal has its time; we hunt when the time is right, and leave the animal alone when the time is wrong.  Every animal has its own season and we respect that.”

Jaimz felt his cheeks warm as he acknowledged, “My people made a lot of mistakes it is true, and by the time they wised up it was too late to save many species of fauna and flora…but they are learning and protecting what we—they—still have.”

Kang nodded, “Well that is good, when we finally do meet with your people hopefully we will be able to help them husband their fauna and flora—as you put it—better.  Everything to their season.”

Kang looked up at the sky, such a rich azure blue and said, “Such a lovely day it is cubling.”

For which Jaimz only gave his non-responsive “Mmmm…” reply.  The kind of reply he usually made when he was thinking about something else.  Kang glanced toward him and asked gently, “What is bothering you, youngling?”

Jaimz glanced at him and licked his lips nervously before saying, “Terrill barely touched me in the receiving room and I-I felt as if everything was electrified in my body… and with Kaiel it’s even worse… why?”

Kang got down to the business of discussing Jaimz’ addiction.  “Today you have entered the cusp of the 72-hour.  Though you are still hours off from the actual need to answer the Tag demand, your body is in its way preparing you for later.  You already know that you are highly sensitive to touch during this time, so when Terrill touched you your body reacted accordingly.” He held up his hand to stop Jaimz’ protest and continued, “I know what you are going to say youngling, that with Lorz you didn’t go through this.  Cub, Lorz perverted the whole meaning of the Tag by constantly hurting you.  He didn’t need to hurt you and I doubt we will ever find out why he was determined to keep hurting you…but nonetheless you would have felt pleasure with Lorz and your body would have anticipated answering the Tag just as it does now with Kaiel.”

Jaimz shook his head and tears sparkled suspiciously in his green eyes.  “But—it’s all wrong.  I’m a male, it just isn’t right to respond that way to another male.”

Kang observed him closely and then ventured gently, “I think this is your culture speaking Jaimz.  They have screwed with your mind as much as Lorz screwed with your body.”

Jaimz gasped, and blushed profusely but he didn’t deny it, “My people believe that copulation is only to produce young.  Two males can not produce young so being together—intimately—is frowned upon.”

“But does it not happen at all amongst your culture?  Surely it must, since you are so receptive you can not be alone amongst your people.”

Jaimz shook his head and denied hoarsely, “I am not receptive!  I have no choice!” then still blushing fiercely he said hesitantly, “It does happen in my culture.  There are males and females who only choose the same and though my people have grown more—tolerant—there are still those who think that it is just morally wrong and depraved.”

Kang leaned forward, “And do you think that because your body needs Kaiel that you are morally wrong and depraved?”

Jaimz glanced away, and said softly, with an aching roughness in his silky voice, “Before Lorz—did what he did to me, I was never interested in males.  Never.  I knew that I was attractive and that even men liked me—that way.  But I wasn’t interested.  After Lorz…and Ham…and it was so painful, always so painful I thought for certain that I could never be—that way.  But,” he lowered his head; “the day before with Kaiel I let him…I let him, do that to me….” He blushed just thinking about Kaiel’s mouth around his cock, “and today…I let him kiss me.  Neither of those things happened because of the 72-hour so I can’t blame them on it!”

Kang sighed, indeed Jaimz’ culture had messed him up.  “Cubling, first with today, you can pretty much blame any indulgences upon the 72-hour.  So the fact that you kissed him,” at Jaimz’ ready protest he waved his hand and amended, “He kissed you, fine…can be blamed on your addiction.  You have to remember that you are addicted to Kaiel.  You really can’t help it and you can’t wean yourself off him either…it’s quite impossible.”

Jaimz’ face contorted, “It’s still wrong!  I can’t be addicted to a person, I just can’t be!” even though he knew that he was.  “And what about the other day? Even if the 72-hour can be blamed for the kiss…there was no excuse for that!”

“You were overwrought, exhausted, afraid and extremely traumatized….”

“So then every time I get like that it’s an excuse to climb into Kaiel’s bed and let him do what ever he wants?” Jaimz asked bitterly.

“Or to do what ever you want.” Kang gently amended, “Youngling you don’t know, and probably I should have told you, but I wanted to let you alone for awhile.  Nonetheless you and Kaiel—resonate.”

Jaimz just looked at him and frowned, he was a scientist, and he knew what it meant to resonate.  It meant that he was starting to echo Kaiel and Kaiel was starting to echo him… spiritually it meant that they were starting to become one being that just happened to have two bodies.  He scoffed at this ridiculous notion; he didn’t believe that there was one person meant for him alone, and certainly not an alien person who also happened to be male. 

Kang leaned forward, “Let me ask you something youngling.”  He frowned slightly, and said, “If you were female and the same species as Kaiel do you think that you might possibly be falling in love with him?”

Jaimz gasped, and stared at him, for a long moment he was perfectly silent then he evaded the question by saying, “But I’m not so the question is irrelevant.”

Kang muttered, “I said IF…if your were female.”

Jaimz looked at him again and finally replied, “I like Kaiel…I do like him….  He’s my friend.  But I don’t really know him very well yet.  I mean I’ve only known him for…such a short time.”  And yet, sometimes it felt like he’d known him forever…it was very strange.

“And yet you trust him implicitly.” Kang observed. 

Jaimz shivered, and bowed his head saying idly, “Am I just supposed to give in then?  Stop fighting this, give up trying to beat the Tag and everything it represents?”

Kang reached over and squeezed his shoulder affectionately, “Cubling.  That is only for you to say.  I do think though, if you continue to fight and doubt the rightness of this, that you will only hurt yourself and Kaiel too, because whether you like it or not, he is as tied to you as you are to him.”

Jaimz smirked with a touch of ironic bitterness, “Yeah but he isn’t addicted to me.”

Kang chuckled, “Cubling, just because the Tag works differently with him, doesn’t mean that he doesn’t suffer his own kind of addiction where you are concerned.”

With that Jaimz simply blushed and looked away.  Kang gazed at his fine profile and recalled how his face had contorted with pleasure and bliss the other day and thought that no matter what his species, Jaimz couldn’t help being beautiful.

“Well have I helped you through this crisis or not?” Kang wondered.

Jaimz sighed and smiled at him before saying, “I seem to burden you with a lot of my problems Doc.”

“I don’t mind though.  I like you youngling.  I think that you are pretty special yourself.  And I also think that Kaiel is pretty terrific.” He smiled fondly and continued,  “There will be difficulties for you, but Kaiel will help you with them and I will answer your questions as they come up, and I will continue to help you with the Tag until you either break it…or give in to it.”

Jaimz looked at him for a long moment, then nodded as he rose to his feet.  He turned back toward the savanna just as a breeze lifted his hair and swirled it all around his face.  He brushed a strand out of his mouth and smiled, “It did help me to talk with you Doc.  Sometimes I think I’ve adopted you as a surrogate parent.”  With that offhand comment Jaimz headed across the meadow grass, not to go directly back into the house, but rather to cross along the outside of the house to his own suite.

Kang watched the young human walk away, proud to admit that he was happy to act in the place of Jaimz’ missing parents.  He noticed how the workers watched Jaimz though none made any untoward move in his direction.  The entire household and all workers brought in from out side had been carefully warned about Jaimz and told that they were to treat him with respect and honor at all times.  So they knew that Jaimz was not to be bothered, but his beauty was still arresting and still drew their eyes as long as they were allowed to look, and since even the older supervisor looked, the workers had a few leisurely moments to enjoy observing that very good looking if somewhat visually confusing male, and then he had to chuckle, for he didn’t think Jaimz had any idea that how he walked, with that long gliding stroll of his, was actually quite alluring.

Still after a moment Kang returned to other darker thoughts, worried by Jaimz’ own emotional hang-ups regarding his relationship with Kaiel.  And it was definitely a relationship, though still new and strained, he suspected that it would only grow more solid in the coming seasons and years.

Kaiel was definitely in a good mood as the day advanced toward evening.  He had a strange sense of anticipation and fretfulness, even though he knew tonight he wouldn’t be seeing Jaimz despite the fact that sometime after dark the 72-hour would arise.  He was okay with that and prepared to take a few tablets to stave of the mild headache he would get from the early stages of the Tag denied.  He had already seen Kang and everything he would need to get through the worst of the Tag Withdrawal Syndrome if the conference went over the expected five days was already packed, including a warning wrist cuff and prepared auto-injections that he just had to press against his arm to self administer.

He was waiting on Heron to return from an enquiry of his own that he was on and he was also waiting on Jaimz to come see him, since he had promised to fill him in on what had made him so happy this morning, and was still keeping him so happy this afternoon…although that kiss certainly had helped with his mood too.  He smiled broadly and thought about kissing Jaimz and more, but then he shook that thought aside for he still had work to do although it was getting close to crunch time now and soon whether he was armed with the necessary information or not he would have the leave for the conference.  

He glanced up as the solid rapping at his open door announced Jaimz’ arrival and he smilingly said for him to come in.  Jaimz strolled in, still looking delectable in the same turquoise outfit that he’d been wearing earlier in the day.  He said, “I thought Drey was never going to stop asking questions.  He must have watched yesterday’s interview over and over again.  He wanted to know every story about my parents, where my favorite place on Earth was—.” He stopped with a wry smile and shook his head, “I thought it would never end.”

Kaiel casually slid his arm about Jaimz’ waist and was rewarded by having Jaimz contentedly lean against him.  “That’s because he’s seriously fascinated with you.” He gave him a toothy grin and warned, “I’m going to have to watch him as he gets older, cause I’m pretty sure he’s in cubling love for you.”

“Hah…very funny!” Jaimz snorted, though as usual his cheeks glowed a warm pink.  “I think he just wants to pick my brain for all the information he can get out of me.” The he turned so that he was basically chest-to-chest with Kaiel and asked with a sly smile, “So what was it exactly that I helped you with this morning?”

Kaiel spent a moment looking at Jaimz’ month, and grinning even wider when Jaimz’ cheeks grew even brighter, but finally he explained, “My brother, as much as you hate him, did me a favor.  His Akibu Mating Contract with you was dated prior to the drawing up of the Betrothal between K’Lan and L’Teran, basically what he did made the betrothal invalid and now all that should be required is for the betrothal to be formally voided.”

Jaimz pursed his lips thoughtfully, “Well that is good, but what is an Akibu Mating Contract?”

Here Kaiel knew he needed to tread carefully, for he didn’t want to end up with an upset Jaimz again.  “Well, you remember how on his Death Testament he listed you as his legal mate?” at Jaimz’ slight nod he continued, “Well, until we actually found the contract that proved it there was some question as to how he could legally call you such.   I mean he could have just as easily tried to call you his property or something like that, even though Slavery has been outlawed on Z’Rarla for over 10 generations.” He frowned just thinking about Jaimz being enslaved and then hurried on, “Any way, this morning Heron showed me the actual contract Lorz had drawn up.  It was an Akibu Life-Mating Contract, which is one of Z’Rarla’s oldest and most respected mating contracts.”

Jaimz frowned, “I can’t remember….” He grew silent after a moment and then nodded, “Oh wait, I remember something.  There was this time, not to long after Lorz first took me that this other male came into the cabin.  I was…scared, because Lorz had already let Ham have me…and I thought….” He shivered momentarily and then gradually felt better as Kaiel, looking utterly furious, soothed his back.  “But, this other male argued with Lorz.  I didn’t really understand to well then so I didn’t know what was happening.  But after a while Lorz managed to talk him around, I’m pretty sure that is what he did….  And then things got really weird…and well unpleasant too.  This male, threw dirt on me, and he cut Lorz palm and smeared the blood on me too… or now that I know your symbols better maybe he wrote on me.  He painted blood patterns on Lorz to and threw dirt on him also.  And then he used Lorz blood mixed it with some ink and wrote on a piece of paper…or something.  Lorz signed it…and he nearly broke my arm making me sign it too…for which this male…this Akibu maybe? Yelled at him.  But then…he stayed and watched Lorz—rape me.” He finished, sounding confused that the male would have yelled at Lorz for forcing him to sign…but not for raping him.  “Why would he have allowed that if he was a priest?”

Kaiel, was furious enough to thrash the Akibu, but controlling himself he explained, “The Akibu think differently then most Zaran’s do, they aren’t peaceful priests of preach love and respect and all that…the Akibu serve the War God, Z’Ullan, so for them everything is about conflict and chaos…including mating.  Did he actually stay through the whole…act?”

Jaimz leaned his head against Kaiel’s chest and said, “I don’t remember…I don’t think so.”

“Then probably he had no idea that Lorz was raping you.  He might have assumed that it…hurt you at the start and that crying might have been natural for you…and if he didn’t stay beyond ensuring the consummation of the contract he maybe wouldn’t know that crying and screaming is not natural for you.” He didn’t notice Jaimz’ blush that time, but he was definitely correct, for Jaimz neither cried nor screamed with him…at least not from pain.  He continued, “And it wasn’t dirt he threw at you…it was the ashes of Z’Ullan. Or more correctly the ashes of Akibu who have joined with Z’Ullan.”

“Yuk.” Jaimz exclaimed, “You mean he tossed the ashes of dead people on me?  Yuk!”

Kaiel chuckled, “The Akibu are a very secular, strange and rigid group.  I do wonder though what Lorz could have offered as proof that you two were supposed to mate for life, since you couldn’t really understand and therefore speak for yourself, he would have had to speak for you and convince the Akibu that you wanted to be with him.”

Jaimz blushed, “Maybe the fact that I was naked and had just been—fucked—by Lorz had something to do with it?”

Kaiel leaned back and looked down at him and said slyly, “Well you do look very convincing when you’re that way.”

Jaimz decided that he simply wouldn’t talk to him for the rest of the evening.  Kaiel laughed and bent to nuzzle his neck while saying, “There is no way for you to spoil my mood today… but if you want to leave I’ll let you…. I still have a ton of work to do before I leave for the conference tomorrow.”  With that he let Jaimz out of his embrace…with a bold pat to his pert bottom.

Jaimz didn’t know whether to laugh or frown at Kaiel.  But he thought that maybe he would return to his own suite and work on one of his own projects and let Kaiel get back to work on his, since he sort of knew that he was a distraction.  It was a bit disquieting to realize that he was a distraction; it made him want to smile at the same time it made him want to shake his head.  He thought about Kang and what he had said, about how he was letting his upbringing interfere with his emotional health—or whatever.

As he was heading for the door and Kaiel was heading for the COM though, it suddenly chimed and Heron came on-line abruptly.  “Kaiel Ni?  Kaiel Ni are you there?  We have a situation!” the assistant exclaimed with agitated worry.

Jaimz was curious so he turned to see as Kaiel hastened to the COM.  “I’m here Heron.”

“Thank you!” Heron breathed, “Oh thank you!  I worried that I would miss you.  Something big is going down.  I asked the captain if any unusual activity by the Chai had been recorded.  And when he hedged I knew that something had happened.  So I pestered until he told me.  Kaiel Ni the Chai were onboard Jaimz’ Ni ship.  They were onboard his ship for nearly twenty minutes they estimate before a Zaran patrol scared them off.  And…anyway this afternoon the Kattaf and the Zagar took up position near Jaimz’ Ni ship…and when they did two Chai battle cruiser’s showed up and took position opposite them.  It’s very tense up here, but no one has started shooting yet….  In fact the Chai are saying that they will not fire, that they are merely protecting what they consider partially their rights until the Agreement is drawn up.  The Agreement between them and us.  The one they want you to preside over.”

Kaiel looked at Jaimz, and Jaimz stared back at him in puzzlement before saying, “What do they want with my ship?”

Kaiel realized, and knew that Jaimz did too at that same instant, and together they breathed, “Jump technology.”  Until yesterdays interview the World Council had paid little notice to Jaimz’ presence or his intelligence, however after the interview they had taken notice and began to think about all the alien technology in the ship and inside Jaimz’ head.  They had moved to secure the ship today, and maybe only acerbated the situation because of it.  Kaiel knew, as he looked at Jaimz, why the Chai were suddenly ready to compromise.  They must have been able to download some of the ship’s data records and realizing the potential in that ship they decided that a compromise could be of value to them if it allowed them to gain new technology.

Kaiel didn’t know what to think though he was sure that this matter had turned into something disquieting.  He didn’t like the implications and he didn’t like how Jaimz was involved in it, for he was certain that Jaimz was involved.  He wondered if the interview had given the Chai even more to think about than they had acquired when they had raided the ship for information.  He was so busy with Heron, gathering information that he didn’t even notice when Jaimz quietly left him.

He worked until his head and eyes just ached and he knew by Heron’s jaw cracking yawns that his assistant was utterly exhausted.  Thinking about how tired Heron was reminded his body that he needed to sleep which also reminded him that the head ache he had might not be solely related to work overload.  He was already into the 72-hour by at least a couple of hours, and the Tag denied was a bitter companion.  Finally he remembered his manners and said to Heron, “I’m sorry…and you have an early transport to catch too.  Go to bed Heron.  I will see you as soon as possible at the conference.”

Exhausted, his assistant stumbled through saying Sleep Well, and then the connection was severed.  Kaiel wasn’t even sure which of them had disconnected first and as he slumped back into the chair he knew it didn’t even matter.  He scrubbed a tired hand through his mane, and yawned hugely as he pushed to his feet, for a moment he wobbled until he regained his footing, he had been sitting for what seemed hours and hours.  He didn’t even remember if he’d eaten dinner, then seeing a half empty tray nearby he recalled that sometime this evening someone had remembered him and sent a tray.

Having regained his footing he made for his bedroom, he needed to sleep if he was going to be able to perform tomorrow morning…in more ways than one.  He pushed open the door and wandered toward his bed, and as he reached to pull down the light covers he stopped, his hand frozen above the coverlet.  For his bed was not empty.  He just stood and stared for a moment, to confused and sleepy to fully comprehend that Jaimz was snuggled up in the center of his bed.  He shook his head, but the apparition didn’t go away, in truth Jaimz seemed more real and solid by the second.  Just seeing him was lifting his tiredness as if lifting a veil.  He shed his well-worn garments, and then lifting the edge of the bedding he climbed in under the covers.   Before he had even lain down Jaimz snuggled into his side and tucked his head against his shoulder.  He settled down, with Jaimz against him and stared up at the ceiling, wondering if he was so tired that he had actually fallen asleep in the chair and was actually dreaming.

Jaimz disabused him of that notion however when he murmured, “I thought you were never coming to bed.”

Kaiel shivered as Jaimz began to leisurely trail his fingers through his belly pelt, but he was able to reply, “I thought—I thought we weren’t going to answer the Tag demand until morning?”

At that Jaimz lifted his head and gave him an amused look, “This is our 72-hour Kaiel.  I’m not going to suffer with even a little headache if I don’t have too.”

Kaiel tipped his head back as he smilingly realized that he had misunderstood.  Jaimz had never actually said they wouldn’t have the normal 72-hour, what he had said was that it would be easier on Kaiel if they did it before he had to leave so that he (well both of them) would have a little extra time before the next 72-hour hit.  He was aware when Jaimz’ fingers moved lightly lower, brushing against his thigh, fluttering hesitantly across the mouth of his pouch, he did nothing though, for he knew that Jaimz still had a difficult time with this and if he was willing to explore even a little bit on his own he wasn’t going to do anything to distract or worse, upset him.

For a time those fingers just moved lightly over his pelt, trailing through the fur, brushing it back, following little whorls and ridges and he just enjoyed the sensation of his Tag Mate freely touching him.  Nevertheless when those curious fingers returned to stroke wonderingly over the full length of his heavy pouch and then seek even lower into the densely protective barrier of fur there…he couldn’t help but gasp softly.   Small warm fingers found his scrotum and very tentatively they explored the fullness found there, he shifted carefully but even as those fingers moved away…he waited, hoping and sighed softly when they returned to explore him again.  He tipped his head down and looked toward Jaimz and Jaimz was looking up at him.  His eyes warm with interest and his expression was one of peaceful waiting.  Even in the night shadowed room he could still see the faint brightness of color that stained Jaimz’ cheeks, so he knew that on some level where Jaimz was exploring did bother him…but it pleased him that Jaimz was willing to explore despite his mild discomfort. 

He moaned softly when Jaimz’ fingers moved up the length of his heavy pouch once again, and upon reaching the slit his rod crown slid out to greet him…again Jaimz hesitated.  He continued to simply watch his face as Jaimz was with him, but then at the same instant Jaimz’ eyelashes fluttered down to hide his eyes as his fingers brushed against him, and then slid around him.  He groaned as his rod slid forth between Jaimz guiding fingers…those fingers, strolled up and down his growing length explored his slickness, his sleek texture, his expanding thickness and even the softly ruffled edge of the relaxed flare.  He moaned and rocked his hips as those warm silky fingers encircled around his cone shaped crown and then staying circled moved along his length until his thickness eased those fingers apart.  He looked down at Jaimz as he explored him, watching as Jaimz shifted his position so that he could see for himself what he was touching and exploring.  He stroked his hand along the curve of Jaimz’ spine, feeling a responsive shiver, and an answering stroke that once again took in the entire length of him, including his pouch. 

He said nothing, neither did he stop stroking his back, when Jaimz pushed up into a half reclined position and turned to face him.  He looked into those intense and needy eyes and knew that the moment was now, but he didn’t take control away from Jaimz, he rather waited to see if Jaimz would give it too him or if he still wanted to be the leader of the moment.  He continued to watch in silence as Jaimz moved across him, straddling him momentarily before sliding nearly off until only his calf and foot still rested on his belly as he stretched for something beside the bed.  Kaiel admired Jaimz sleek, slender and excited body with his eyes, and finally, as Jaimz returned, and straddled his midriff once again, he risked wrapping his big hands around Jaimz’ narrow waist, marveling at the slimness of this body beneath his hands.  Jaimz smiled down at him, and he murmured teasingly, “Let me….” He said nothing more…but he waved his hand before Kaiel’s eyes, showing the tube of oil he had retrieved for them.  Kaiel drew in a ragged breath as he released his light hold on Jaimz and Jaimz slid off and around him, though as before one leg stayed crooked up over his belly. 

Fingers dripping with oil once again bravely touched his length and it was all he could do to let the other keep control while he moaned and rocked his hips and waited for this sweet, teasing agony to give him release.  He felt his flare start to stir and his hissed a soft warning, “Please…Jaimz, my flare will hurt you.”

Jaimz tenderly oiled the lifting flare and he stated softly, “But I can take it even then.”

He squeezed his eyes shut and groaned helplessly, “You torture me….”

To which Jaimz simply laughed softly, and moved to straddle him again, but this time he murmured, “Help me.” He opened wondering eyes, to see Jaimz trying to balance and seat himself upon the rigid rod, but his length and Jaimz’ slight size made this step somewhat awkward for him.  He had a choice, he could hold his rod steady for Jaimz and let Jaimz guide himself by touch upon it, or he could lift Jaimz onto it.  He chose to steady himself and allow Jaimz find him with his body.   He groaned when he felt Jaimz close around him, and Jaimz’ own answering moan echoed him.  He grasped Jaimz’ hips then, to steady and help him as his slight weight drove his long oiled length deep inside.  The barely engaged flare was no problem at all as the hot velvety snugness quickly gobbled that up, but as more length and expanding thickness filled him up and his body stretched to an aching protest Jaimz simply leaned forward on hands and knees above Kaiel and slowed the progress to rock his hips and by drawing the oiled rod in and out of his body he was able to gradually stretch to accommodate more of the rod’s thickness. 

Jaimz whimpered and gasped breathily with each accomplished stroke, he tried his best to control how quickly he went down on the rod, to prevent serious discomfort.  He was aware of course of Kaiel’s hands kneading his hips and buttocks as they also helped to support him and he half craved to reach fruition so that Kaiel could touch him in other places that also felt so good.   He realized then, that he wanted and needed Kaiel to finish for him, he needed and wanted Kaiel’s powerful hips to finish driving his length inside his body and he was happy to give up control, he had done enough, he had bravely started it on his own, he didn’t need to finish too.  He just stopped and leaned completely forward until he was resting on Kaiel’s body, with his own body throbbing around the fullness of Kaiel and he curled his fingers into Kaiel’s pelt and breathed, “Kaiel….”

Oddly enough Kaiel didn’t need confirmation or further encouragement.  He rolled forward in one smooth motion until he was sitting up with Jaimz supported between his raised knees.  Jaimz panted breathily as this new position only repeated what he had been doing, except that he was completely supported and Kaiel’s guiding hands were now controlling his descent.  He moaned and shuddered with pleasure as Kaiel lifted him clear of the peak, with the flare still not fully engaged it was possible, and then he squirmed and laughed looking up at Kaiel as his Tag Mate helped himself to some more oil, and lovingly applied it to his already greasy anus.  He then arched back gasping and crying softly as he opened around that rod again, he felt it filling him slowly fitting itself deeply within his hot snugness until, finally, he sat throbbing and aroused upon the apex of Kaiel’s powerful thighs.  Kaiel bent then to meet him smaller mate in a lip-locking feed where Jaimz gasped and shuddered, especially when he pulled him up toward him and nearly allowed his rod to escape him again. Kaiel only laughed softly against Jaimz’ tender lips, as with his hands kneading his firm rounded buttocks he simply drove him back down over his length again.  Jaimz cried breathily against his mouth and Kaiel felt the pleasure of his mate’s small fingers clenching fiercely into the hard flesh of his shoulders, even with out claws and even with fur to cover them, he knew that Jaimz was marking him…and he loved it.  He released Jaimz’ gasping mouth to bend lower, dragging his lips and tongue over his arched neck, along his smooth slender shoulder, he gently scraped the back of his neck and the joint of muscle there where Jaimz’ long neck merged into his back and shoulders and there he gently, ever so gently bit down.  He was so careful, he knew how delicate Jaimz was, but he still broke the skin ever so slightly and licked the wound and tasted the iron rich and salty sweetness of him. 

Jaimz moaned and shuddered, arching his long sleek body into the pleasure of Kaiel’s tender bite and wrapping his arms tightly around Kaiel’s powerful neck as he cried shakily, “Oh…Kaiel please….” Kaiel licked the slight wound one last time and uncurled from around his small mate, as he felt his body shudder and rock responsively in his first release.  He felt the warm sticky wetness seep into his fur and eased Kaiel back from him so that his tremulous and shuddering mate, still so thoroughly wrapped around his rod, now sprawled against his knees.  Kaiel enjoyed just a moment of gazing at that beautiful sweat slicked body and admired the finer ripple of muscles that defined his graceful shape.  He gently, ever so tenderly thumbed Jaimz’ not quite flaccid penis and while stroking it he bent forward effortlessly and dragged his tongue up from Jaimz’ chest, along his throat, and then he had his mouth captured again.  Jaimz didn’t need to wonder how he could be so flexible, he was a cat after all, and his flexible spine and his bigger body allowed him to reach in ways that Jaimz could never have experienced with his own kind, had he been so inclined.  No, Jaimz didn’t wonder as he dragged his fingers through Kaiel’s golden mane and pulled his head back to hiss demandingly. “Fuck me already!”

Kaiel laughed at his Tag Mate’s desperate command, and he deliberately teased him some more.  Licking him, nibbling on his graceful throat, gently pulling at his shaft as it firmed responsively in his velvety fist.  As Jaimz squirmed and became more emphatic about what he wanted Kaiel only dragged the pleasure out more until finally Jaimz howled as he grabbed his mane again, this time pulling him back while he cried pleadingly, “Please!  Please Kaiel fuck me!”

He looked so pretty, and so desperate that Kaiel could only comply with his sweet command.  Once again, he rolled forward, pulling Jaimz against him to support him, pulling his legs up and around him until he was in a position of full control and Jaimz lay splayed before him on the bed with his hands tugging at his arms and shoulders and his hips rolling in eager anticipation.  Because the love play had taken a while, he was cautious in thrusting forward again, easing in slowly and feeling how Jaimz received him stroke by deliberate stroke.   Once he was well seated again and now that his flare was fully engaged, he pulled back to the hood of the flare and thrust forward again, faster, deeper as Jaimz squirmed and arched and cried out in unmistakable delight as he was pleasured inside and out.  Again Kaiel bent over him, arching his supple back so that Jaimz could wrap his arms around his shoulders and still pull his fingers through his mane while he once again reclaimed that sweet and swollen mouth. 

He felt it building, that sweet wild release that gathered in his gut and thrust all its explosive strength into the first hot liquid burst to spill within Jaimz’ massaging passage.  Jaimz gasped and arched back exposing that entire length of throat for Kaiel to bite down on.  It was primal, almost violent, even savage as he thrust and thrust, stabbing deep inside with each wave of liquid, but Jaimz clung to him panting and gasping and crying through it all, loving every moment of it as his own body shuddered to orgasm and released again.

Then, as always the moment of calm came when the final jet was launched and the flare remained solidly in place, trapping any fluid from trickling back for another few moments even as the pair collapsed panting and quivering as gradually they cooled down.  Kaiel lay partially on Jaimz, though most of his weight he still automatically supported away for that smaller frame.  He was in no hurry to separate yet so he simply lay, nearly on his side, with one leg over Jaimz to facilitate a comfortable position while they were still joined as one.  He breathed in deeply, drawing in the tangy scent of his gently gasping mate who lay alongside him, with his legs still bent and open and both arms draped lazily over his head.  Kaiel watched small runnels of sweat trickle into a pool just above Jaimz’ navel, and finally, after watching that silvery pool ripple with each shuddering breath, he leaned forward and licked it up.  Jaimz gasped, first because it had felt nice and secondly because Kaiel’s motion allowed his rod to slink free, though it remained still fully extended.  Kaiel rolled onto his hands and knees above Jaimz and even as he allowed his muscles to relax to retract his rod, he lowered his head and upper body…and he started to very leisurely lick every trace of that sweet salty sweat off Jaimz’ body.  

Before long, Jaimz, who had been winding down, was instead gasping, shuddering and squirming, and laughing helplessly as Kaiel tickled him all over with his tongue, they were likely headed for a second round when Jaimz suddenly gasped for an entirely different reason.  Kaiel froze, hearing a touch of alarm in that gasp, but before he could even react Jaimz had sat up around him, with Kaiel’s head, rather conveniently in his lap, and had Kaiel not been interested in what had alarmed Jaimz he would have taken direct interest in the semi firm flesh he found waiting so achingly close to his mouth.  But curiosity had him rolling off Jaimz’ lap and looking around at him to see him staring, not with fear, but bafflement at one of the big pivot windows.  He looked to where Jaimz was staring, but he saw nothing, so he turned back to Jaimz and asked softly, “What’s the matter?”

Jaimz hesitated a moment then sighed and shook his head, as he said, “Nothing.  I thought I saw someone standing outside the window…but there’s nobody there.  I think I’m seeing things.”

Kaiel could have made nothing of it, after all Jaimz said that what he thought he saw wasn’t there after all, but instead he rolled out of bed and padded lightly over to the window and pivoted it open, he wasn’t surprised that it was open, since Jaimz had to have gotten in somehow and he didn’t bother to lock any of his windows anyway…he even liked to sleep with them open during the hottest nights of summer (still some distance away – though to Jaimz the hottest nights of Summer would feel like a cool spring night to his bare skin…it was all that fur which made Kaiel so warm and acted like a nice hot fur blanket for Jaimz too).  He stepped outside onto the meadow grass and sniffed about, there were scents in the air that he recognized and some of them were not very old, but having two scents right on top of each other told him that it was unlikely that either had been here at the same time and that they had probably simply passed by.   He checked around both outside walls of his suite, on one side was the grotto that separated his and Jaimz’ suites, and on the other side was another shallower grotto which if he walked that way would take him to his father’s suite and other unused suites in the family wing.  Seeing and sensing nothing he returned to his room and after closing the window he returned to the bed. 

Jaimz crawled onto his lap as soon as he returned, and leaned against him as he continued to look out over the night-shadowed savanna beyond.  “You must think I jump at shadows.” He muttered, twisting his fingers absently in the fur on Kaiel’s chest.

Kaiel smiled, “These windows are probably very unusual to you… and being uncovered as they are… you can’t help feel but a little exposed.”

Jaimz smirked slyly, “Well, if there are any voyeurs out there they must be getting quite an eyeful.”

Kaiel laughed softly and bent down to kiss the top of Jaimz’ head.  “I could have screens placed over both yours and my windows if you like?”

For a while Jaimz just sat there, content to lean against him and hear his heart beat and feel his luxurious fur through his fingers, but finally he smilingly said, “No…I think I’m starting to like them… let them look if they want.”

Kaiel muffled a laugh and fell back onto his bed, taking Jaimz along with a loud oomph!   Jaimz laughed and shifted around until he lay tucked into his side with his head settled against his shoulder.  For a while Kaiel just lay there, enjoying the feel of that slim small body curled against him then he wondered aloud, “Will you stay the night?”

Jaimz didn’t even lift his head; instead he stretched his arm across Kaiel’s chest and tucked his fingers into his plush pelt and murmured softly, “Yes….”

Kaiel lay there, feeling Jaimz grow more relaxed as he slipped into sleep, he knew by his breathing that Jaimz was off and dreaming and he smiled, gently stroking his hand over Jaimz’ outstretched arm.  He whispered softly to Jaimz’ sleeping ears… “I want to keep you forever Jaimz.”

The reply he received was Jaimz cuddling more into his embrace, and a softly sighed, “Mmmmm.” But he had already learned that response usually could be interpreted as…yes.  So gazing beyond his sleeping mate and up at the starry canopy above the plains, he soon followed Jaimz into peaceful slumber.

End P2….