No Quarter (Bounty, Book One) (21 page)

For the first time since Gar had met Faolan, the older man blushed. “Ah that. Well, I was just saying whatever came to mind. Figured you’re a guy, sex was the easiest thing to focus on. It’s not like I was about to run over a list of damages with you.”

He didn’t want to push things and bring up the
other
items Faolan had mentioned. Best for them both to keep the conversation on safe topics until they had time to work through exactly what it was between them.

“Speaking of the
Geilt
, how bad is my ship?”

Faolan winced. “Better than you, but still pretty beat up. It took us a bit, but we managed to get her tethered to the
Belle Kurve
and are en route to a safe port. We’ll be able to get to work on her soon enough.”

The thought of his ship damaged hurt more than his leg. He’d invested so much of his life in it, the
Geilt
had become more than simple transport. It was his home.

“I did get this out for you.” Faolan winked and dug in his pocket for a moment before pulling out an object.

“Dad’s stopwatch.” Gar took it, hands shaking.

“The safe busted open. I knew it was important, so…” Faolan shrugged.

“Thanks.” Gar swallowed, doing his best to ignore the lump forming in his throat. “Mace will probably want to see it.”

“Now you can show her yourself. It’s almost time for her to come down and take over Gar duty. I should let Doc know you’re awake too. She’ll want to examine you, make sure that thick skull of yours is in good shape.”

Faolan stood, but Gar caught his hand stopping him from leaving. “You’ll be back later?”

He knew he shouldn’t sound so pathetic and needy, his desires barely concealed. Gar was tired of doing what others wanted or what he thought was right. For once in his life he was going to reach out and take something for purely selfish reasons.

Right now, Gar wanted Faolan for as long as he could have him.

“Once I know you’re okay and your sister has had a chance to reassure herself you’re alive, I’ll be back.”

Faolan bent down and kissed Gar’s cheek.
Fuck that.
Snaking his hand around the back of Faolan’s neck, Gar directed him to his lips. The kiss was gentle, full of purpose and passion. The pain from his leg prevented his cock from responding, but Gar knew he’d have a raging hard-on when he thought back on this moment.

“I’m going to hold you to every item on that list,” he whispered against Faolan’s lips.

“Good.” Faolan threaded his fingers through Gar’s hair. “Good.”

A yawn slipped through Gar’s defenses as sleep threatened. “I’m just going to close my eyes for a bit.”

“Get some sleep and don’t let Mace wear you out when she stops by.”

“Come back when you can, Captain.”

Faolan winked before striding out the door. Gar watched as he went, drawn to the way Faolan moved, the confident stride and very firm ass. He liked that ass a bit more than he should.

The stopwatch in his hand grew warm as he clutched it tightly to his chest. Of all the things Faolan could have taken from his ship, the items easily slipped away to be sold or used at a later time, he brought the one thing the pirate knew was special to him. Kept it safe until Gar could reclaim it. Rolling over, Gar smiled. Sleep took him then, as dreams of strong hands and laugher filled his mind.

* * * * *

“I don’t care what you say, Doc. It’s not normal for a man his age to be sleeping this much.”

Gar cracked a single eye open to see Mace standing there, hands on hips, glaring at an older woman he assumed was
Doc
.

“It is perfectly normal when the man in question had a giant piece of metal sheeting fall on his body and tear his leg up.” Doc snapped Mace on the end of her nose. “And don’t think just because the captain promoted you to second-in-command you can come in here and tell me how to do my job.”

“He’s my brother.”

“He’s my patient.”

“Gods save me from the pair of you.”

“Gar!” Mace grinned, pulling him up into a crushing hug. “I didn’t know you were awake.”

“How could I sleep with you bitching and complaining?”

She smacked him hard in the shoulder. “Bastard.”

“Please no hitting my patient, Ms. Simms. Not until I’ve had a chance to look him over. How are you feeling, Mr. Stitt?”

“Leg hurts. Back hurts. Chest throbs.”

Doc tapped her finger on the computer monitor. “Good. All as it should be.”

Mace snorted. “Pain is as it should be?”

“Your brother had half a ship fall on him. He’s very fortunate he can feel anything at all and isn’t lying there paralyzed.” She typed in a few more commands and Gar was overtaken by a rush of euphoric numbness. “There we go.”

“Wow,” he said, examining the tips of his fingers, fascinated by the sudden tingle. “What was that?”

“Painkiller. Some nice drugs the captain drummed up from a Loyalist colony a few months back. Good to know they work as intended.”

“Am I going to be able to talk to him?” Mace took the chair beside his bed. Gar picked up her hand and started poking the tips of her fingers. “Or is he a drugged-out mess now?”

“Talk, but he’ll sleep again soon.”

Gar only noticed Doc had left when the
whoosh
of the door closing caught his attention. “She’s nice.”

Mace chuckled. “You’re only saying that because she gave you the good drugs.”

“She likes me.” He grinned.

“No, she likes Faolan and Faolan likes you.”

“I like Faolan.” Somewhere in the back of his mind, Gar registered what he’d said. Normally, he’d die before confessing anything remotely close to his true feelings. It didn’t matter Mace was the only family he had—Gar’s feeling were his alone. The drugs must have been stronger than he realized.

“You do?” Mace brushed the hair from his forehead, letting him feel cooler. “You just met him though.”

“I’m lonely. Faolan makes me smile.”

Mace opened her mouth to say something, snapping it shut before frowning and trying again. “So you’ve been on your own since leaving Zeten?”

Nodding, he liked the dizzy rush the motion caused. “I’m not good for anyone. Hurt you and Dad. Jason didn’t want me around. Scared I’d hurt him too.”

“You’re not scared you’re going to hurt Faolan?”

When he shook his head, Gar did it a bit too fast, causing his stomach to flip in a nauseous spin. “He’s…no, won’t hurt him.”

“Okay, settle down.” Mace cooed at him, rubbing the back of his hand and forearm until Gar’s panic began to subside. “Sorry, big brother. I guess those drugs are stronger than the Doc gave them credit.”

Sighing, Gar turned until he could hug Mace’s arm. “Missed you, Macie.”

“I missed you too, Gar. Get some rest.”

“Don’t be mad at me,” he muttered before drifting off to sleep without hearing her response.

* * * * *

Gar woke up alone. With his mind clear of drugs, the ache from his body was strong, but manageable. Surprised he’d been left on his own, he pushed himself to a sitting position high enough not to choke on the water he greedily gulped. His memories of the past little while were fuzzy. Vague recollections of Faolan and Mace bled together until he wasn’t sure if they were all true or manufactured fantasies.

Gods, he wasn’t even sure of the date.

Reaching over, he tried to press the computer display, but only managed to knock over his water glass. “Shit.”

It was at that moment Faolan chose to walk into the room. “What the hell are you doing?”

“Wanted to see what the star date is. Guess I’m still not coordinated.”

“Well, you’re certainly more coherent than the last time I saw you. Turns out there was a bit of a truth serum mixed in with the pain meds. Fun people, those Loyalists.”

Foggy recollection of a conversation with Mace crept up to the forefront of his mind. “I hope you didn’t take advantage, Wolf.”

Faolan grinned. “I would never dream of it. Though I have to admit you were quite the conversationalist. My cock was stiff and sore from listening to that accent of yours.”

Gar groaned and buried his face in his hands. “I hate you.”

“If by hate you mean you can’t get enough of my big hands and tight ass, then I hate you too.”

Gar began to chuckle, only to have it turn into a full-out laugh that was quickly joined by Faolan. “And to answer your earlier question, you’ve been in my med bay for just over a week.”

All amusement fell away from Gar. “Gods.”

Faolan’s gaze roamed over Gar’s body, the white medical shirt doing very little to conceal his chest. “I was scared you weren’t going to get out of bed again. Doc checked your latest scans and she thinks you’ll be able to be moved to private quarters later today if you are up for it.”

Something in the way Faolan spoke grabbed Gar’s attention. “Do you have spare quarters?”

“We do, but they’re not very big.” Faolan sat on the edge of the bed and smoothed down the blanket bunched around Gar’s waist. “Of course, my quarters would be ideal for you until the
Geilt
is livable again.”

Stunned didn’t do Gar’s feelings justice. “You want me to live in your quarters?”

“Just until you are back on your feet. Don’t get any ideas about this being a permanent arrangement, hunter.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Gar wasn’t about to tell him how relieved he was. The idea of going back to a solitary existence terrified him. The bonus being he’d have more opportunity to spend getting to know Faolan.

“Good.” Faolan shifted his hand so it rested on Gar’s thigh.

The bandage covering his wound itched as the skin graft below healed. Gar scratched through the coverings, wishing he was completely healed. His fingers brushed Faolan’s, pulling a gasp from both of them. The look in Faolan’s eyes sent a shiver through Gar’s body, straight to his cock.

“Today?” He entwined his fingers with Faolan’s.

“Right now if you want. I can pull some strings. I know the captain.”

“I hear he’s a bastard.”

“Only to people who’ve pissed him off.”

Gar bit his lower lip. “Are you sure you want to do this? Have me around all the time?”

“It’s just until you are back on your feet.” He squeezed Gar’s thigh gently. “I mean, I know you’d do the same for me.”

“Yeah, of course. It really shouldn’t be very long at all.”

“Nope, you’ll be walking around being a pain in the ass in no time.”

“And it will be a good chance for us to work out a plan for you to sell the stone.”

Faolan stood, grinning. “See, I knew this was a great idea. I’ll let Doc know.”

“Fantastic.” Gar’s cheeks ached from the strain of his smile.

He wanted nothing more than to be closer to Faolan, to have the opportunity to learn everything there was to know about the pirate. His blood hummed as it raced through his body, the promise of happiness within his reach. All he had to do was not screw it up.

He could do that. He hoped.

Chapter Fourteen

“This was a mistake.”

Gar swung his legs over the side of the bed and tried to escape Faolan’s grasp before he was mothered to death. If the week in the med bay had been a haze of want and half memories, the following week in Faolan’s quarters was the crystal-clear realization of how different they really were.

He’d tried to relax and let Faolan look after his needs, but he wasn’t used to having every detail of his life managed for him. Gods, he wasn’t a child in need of care. He’d survived the worst situation imaginable and come out the other side stronger for the experience. Maybe Faolan’s care and constant touches were a byproduct of the older man’s own loneliness, something he tried his hardest to hide from others.

It was more than apparent to Gar.

“I told you not to push yourself as hard as you were.” Faolan sighed on his way to snatch a glass of Terrin brandy. Hating himself a little, Gar couldn’t help staring at the roll of muscles as Faolan swallowed the drink down. “Doc only gave you the all clear a few days ago. You can’t expect us to find you something you can do right away. Plus, you’re getting stronger every day. Why not sit back and rest up?”

He’d honestly tried to make it work between them…whatever the hell it was. Lust for sure, but Gar knew something else was trying to build. He wasn’t about to put a label on it, as nothing good would come of it. Separation would give him the perspective necessary to figure out his feelings and exactly what he wanted to do about them.

“I’m not talking about working on your ship.” Gar didn’t want to have this conversation. Not after everything Faolan had done to help him. Squeezing his knees as hard as his injury would allow, Gar fought to keep his voice even. “I’m talking about me staying here with you.”

The hollow echo of the glass being set down heavily on the table filled the room. “What?”