Clan Beginnings: Clan and Crave - Chapter One, Scene Four

   

Releasing May 31. Pre-order now: Amazon, Amazon UK, Nook, Apple, Kobo, Smashwords, print

 

 Getting to know each other...and liking what they find. Conyod has hope he'll finally win his warrior.

* * * *

The non-expression on Sletran’s strong features told Conyodhe’d made an impression. Schooled to hide hints of shock, it was the go-toimpassive demeanor for many Nobeks when they’d been surprised. The intensity ofhis stare was as much of a giveaway as a dropped jaw would have been.

Conyod hadn’t developed his well-muscled body solely forSletran’s benefit, but this moment, planned for the last few years, had offereda lot of motivation.

Surprise. I’m not the weak, scared boy you remember. Ittook every mote of his control to not laugh aloud in triumph.

Conyod was aware he damned near worshipped Sletran. The manhad been his idol since saving his pathetic ass as a runaway teen. The Nobek’suber-masculine yet handsome features were framed by black hair. Taller thanmost at six-feet-ten and bulging breath-stopping muscle, his appearance was as textbookNobek as the warrior breed could get.

The waiter set glasses of bohut before the men, thenhesitated. “Thanks.” Conyod’s gaze never moved from Sletran.

Completely ignoring the hopeful Dramok, Sletran leanedforward, his neutral expression breaking into a delighted grin. “Imdiko Conyod,look at you. Wow. Where’s the underweight, angsty kid I knew?”

“Gone. You didn’t think I’d stay a boy forever, did you?”Conyod sipped his drink, affecting nonchalance. “I finished school, you know. Istill have the occasional class to upgrade my certifications, but I work aninternship at the hospital here in the capital. I’m hoping they’ll hire mefulltime after I finish the required hours.”

“A psychologist saving minds from life’s abuses…a greatfield.”

“Well, I know how therapy benefitted me. I thought I’d payit forward. What about you? How are the ground forces treating you? I don’twant your typical response of ‘fine,’ which is all you ever text.”

“Sure, but it is going well. Probably not as impressive wherethe pay grade is concerned as a full-fledged psychologist.”

“Ha! My paid internship keeps me in sandwiches and littleelse. Don’t switch the conversation to me. What’s your rank now? Are yourunning the base yet?”

Sletran chuckled, seemingly unable to stop inspectingConyod. “I’m still a foot soldier, but I am in charge of my squad, second inrank to my group commander. I’ve also been put in charge of training a coupleof squads of new recruits. I hope to make group commander myself in anotheryear or two.”

“Bigger responsibilities and an imminent rise in rank?That’s great. You probably will run the whole show before you’re fifty.” Conyodwas doing his own nonstop assessment. He hadn’t shaken his infatuation forSletran despite the distance their lives had put between them…as well as theNobek’s polite but firm determination to keep a lovestruck boy’s hero worshipat bay.

Conyod was certain Sletran didn’t see him as a boy at themoment.

His assessment was proven when Sletran invited him to dinnerat a nearby restaurant after two hours of nonstop talk. Once the conversationgot going, there wasn’t an awkward pause to be found. Sletran’s past reluctanceto get closer showed no sign of its presence. At the restaurant’s low table,the Nobek slid his floor seating cushion next to Conyod’s and leaned close tohear his companion speak.

At the start, Conyod wasn’t sure what they talked about oreven what he ate. His entire being was focused on the man sitting by him,smiling as if they were the only two people in the world. His heart was alight.He’d at last arrived at the moment he’d hardly dared dream of for the past sixyears. Sletran was looking at him. Seeing him as he was, a grown man ready toclaim life, love, and enjoyment.

Their conversation floated to him. “I’m still in shock overyour appearance. Tell me your workout regimen,” Sletran invited.

Conyod felt his face warm. Had the Nobek brought up thesubject to allow him to openly ogle him? His companion did so, appreciationwritten on his features. Conyod had purposely worn his tightest clothes inhopes Sletran would like what he saw. It seemed his ruse had succeeded.

“Weights, weights, weights. I run too. I’ve also kept up onthe defensive training you taught me.”

“Really? You know, I have a side gig training Imdiko youthin the discipline. You inspired me.”

“Did I?” Conyod cast for another subject to focus on. Thelast thing he wanted to do was remind Sletran of the kid he’d been. The clingy,undernourished kid who’d been no more than an object of pity for the soldier.

“I can’t get over how you’ve changed. So confident. So…grownup.”

Conyod relaxed. “Kids do that, you know.”

“Your parents didn’t arrange a clanship for you?”

A stab of dismay caught Conyod by surprise. For an instant,it detracted from the fact Sletran was fishing for his availability.

The Nobek must have noticed something in his expression.Sympathy crossed his features. “No change on the home front, I take it.”

Conyod managed a rueful chuckle. “Tuher and Sema aren’t sobad, but they never make it a secret I should be a full partner when it comesto running the ranch. They haven’t stopped angling for me to live and work athome, where they can keep an eye on me.”

Sletran nodded. “They’re still fighting your decision to gointo psychology?”

“That’s mostly my mother and Vel. Work at the hospital’spsyche unit gives me a good reason to avoid going home often, and I take it.”He eyed his half-empty glass of bohut and thought about bolting the remainderdown. “They didn’t take full advantage of the therapy they were given. The besttraining in psychology only goes so far if the patients have no intention ofimproving.”

Sletran’s hand rubbing his back brought a bolt of electricityracing along his spine. “I’m glad you recognized it and committed to recovery.You deserve the best in life after the pain you’ve gone through.”

“I’m trying.” Conyod caught himself leaning closer and was readyto make himself stop when Sletran’s arm circled him. His heart pounding, hesettled against his companion. “I’m honestly doing well, even where my parentsare concerned.”

He fought to maintain a casual tone, as if their contact wasthe most normal thing in the universe. For most men on a date, it would havebeen, as would a night spent intimately on a first encounter. Sex toKalquorians was as natural to the process of getting acquainted as havingdrinks. 

Sletran had kept him at a distance for years, however.Conyod felt the need to proceed carefully, no matter how obvious the signalsfor a normal interaction between interested men appeared to be.

They moved on to happier topics. Soon they were laughing asConyod described his more comical patient interactions and Sletran shared the hilariousmistakes of the men he trained.

As they finished their dinner and drank the last of theirdrinks, Conyod wished the night would never end. However, now that he’d hopefullywon Sletran’s attention, he was willing to continue to play the long game towin the prize. He wouldn’t insist on instant intimacy from the only man he’dever dreamed of being in a relationship with. He refused to push Sletran awaybecause of impatience when he’d just begun to capture real interest.

I may be head over heels, but I refuse to be stupid when Ifinally have a chance.

“Conyod?”

“Hmm?” Conyod set his glass down and wondered if suggestinga walk on the nearby beach in the moonlight would be seen as too pushy.

“Would it be obnoxious of me to ask if we could spend thenight together?”

Conyod gaped. Was this actually happening? Was Sletrancoming on to him?

Fuck the beach and the moonlight. “I’d love for you stay thenight.”

* * * *

Heneeded a hero and found two. Can love rescue him again?

NobekSletran never took Imdiko Conyod’s infatuation seriously when he rescued himyears before. When Conyod shows up in his life again as a strong and successfulman instead of a traumatized victim, Sletran has to reconsider the one he oncerejected and now can’t imagine life without.

Conyod hasnever given up on the man he considers his hero. Sletran is all he’s everwanted for a clanmate, and he’s determined to win him at last. But the past refusesto be laid to rest. When Conyod convinces Sletran to see him for who he’sbecome, will who he was resurface and destroy the love they’re building?

Sletran’scommanding officer Dramok Erybet is instantly fascinated by Conyod when thesoldier brings his love on base for a visit. However, Sletran isn’t the NobekErybet feels is right for him. When he rejects the Nobek, he risks losingConyod too.

Againstthe backdrop of heartbreaking childhood tragedy, a ghost who haunts Conyod andhis grief-stricken family, and military brass determined to oust Erybet fromthe rank he’s worked so hard to reach, three men must come to terms with whothey are. When tragedy strikes, the nightmares of the past must be faced andburied once and for all. Conyod, Sletran, and Erybet must dare everything tofind redemption and hold on to each other.

 

Releasing May 31.  Pre-order now: Amazon, Amazon UK, Nook, Apple, Kobo, Smashwords, print