Free Striker by Lexi Ander

then licked and sucked, moaning loud against Dargon's skin.
    The orgasm he had been staving off tore through him, startling a roar out of him with Zeus’s yell coming after his. For long minutes, he buried his head in the nape of Zeus’s neck, the both of them breathing in great, bellowing breaths. Zeus’s legs stayed wrapped around his hips, holding him in place. He had no intention of going anywhere soon.
    A warm chuckle brushed against his ear. "The two of you are going to be the death of me. I swear every time is better, more somehow."
    "It is the circle of the Trine." Dargon rose to his elbows as Alpha moved up his chest to his place at Dargon's collarbone. "We feed off each other. Fear, anger, joy, desire. They are all much more powerful with our link. We will have to learn to temper ourselves so that we are not overwhelmed, possibly endangering ourselves and others in non-secure environments."
    Dargon understood Alpha's concern but—"We have not had such problems before."
    " You and I have been together for years and have had time to adjust to what we sense in each other. By the time we left Hedisa, we had achieved a balance. Zeus brings out strong emotions in both of us and in adding him to our bond, everything we feel is heightened. Until he settles, we will have to teach him how to temper what he senses."
    Zeus’s frown deepened. "So we are empathic? I … is it my … I am sorry."
    "No, this is not your fault and no, technically we are not empathic. The psi-healer, Madux, he is an empath. He senses what everyone is feeling at once, all the time. On the other hand, we are keyed only to each other. The affinity we feel does not go beyond our circle. There is always a transition period when entering an Alpha Trine."
    Wanting to wipe the concern from his expression, Dargon nuzzled Zeus’s cheek affectionately.
    "We will encounter tense situations, Dargon. I cannot protect you if I am emotionally compromised."
    Dargon chuckled as Zeus began to harden again. "We have time to balance out. But first, before we give in to our desires again, we need to return to our quarters."
    Despite his attempt at distraction, he read the concern in Zeus’s expression even as his lover grinned back at him.

CHAPTER FIVE
    The detour to Qestaire ate up five standard days. Evading the psi-tracker had taken more time than originally anticipated. Zeus spent his time evaluating the Oethra 7 and making what improvements he could. He enhanced the shields and added more power to the vertical thrust. Being a Tradeline 3.2 modified long-range scout ship, it was altered to pass as a merchant vessel, if enough power was available, and the vertical thrust would allow the Oethra 7 to land upright in gravitational environments.
    With permission from Azaes, he and Otho salvaged parts from The Gorgon's supply of extra shuttles taken from the failed boarding party. Otho's small size and agility was particularly useful, as it allowed him to squeeze into spaces Zeus could not reach. The activity took Zeus’s mind off of the impending visit to Qestaire. He had reluctantly agreed to Dargon's and Alpha's presence within the landing party. With the added complication of heightened emotions, he quickly learned to filter and stamp down on his trepidation and worry over their welfare. The negotiations had to go well. He needed to convince the Feteine to ally with them before they entered Valespian space. He could not bumble the meeting because he felt snarly.
    As Zeus lay under the exhaust tube installing a new panel, Otho crouched near his feet ready to hand over any tool he requested. At twelve summers old, Otho was a little over middle-aged for a L'Eema. Zeus could see Otho's legs, the short, black fur exposed below the knee-length breeches. The prehensile tail curled around Otho's left ankle.
    "What will you do once the mission is over?" Zeus asked to break the silence.
    "I have been experimenting, creating different types of explosives and incineration