Loving Kit (Felines of Furyne Book 1) Read online

  Halor reached down to rub Kit’s erection through his kilt. “Now that you’ve had a taste of him, I have no doubt your mouth will be far too busy clamped around his cock to do much talking.”

  Kit could still taste their guest’s cream on his tongue. Sweeter than Halor’s, but just as filling, he could hardly wait to try some more. He felt light-headed again at the thought. Halor’s cream had never caused such a reaction. Kit shrugged off the memory of the room swaying around him and put it down to the excitement of the moment. “You feel desire for him, too,” Kit pointed out, purring happily at Halor’s touch.

  “I don’t deny it.”

  “Let’s hope that by touching him and giving him pleasure, we’ve given him a reason to want to stay here. I think the promise of what we can give him might be enough to convince him to linger with us a while. Even if he can’t understand what we’re saying yet, the language of the body is pretty self-explanatory.”

  “Hopefully we can get him hooked up with a universal translator after we’ve docked,” Halor said. “I’ve no idea what language he’s speaking, but if we can get him to understand us, at least it’s a start.”

  * * * *

  An hour later, they were docked at the spaceport and Kit went to fetch their guest. Deciding forcefulness would save time, he took hold of Logan’s arm and steered him down the ramp and off the ship.

  Halor secured the vessel, made sure he was suitably armed, and went to check whether their buyer had arrived. He returned a few minutes later to confirm he hadn’t. With some time to spare, they headed into the main concourse and located the translation device supply store.

  Kit maintained his firm grip on Logan’s arm, and managed to stop him from bolting the moment they entered. He wasn’t sure what had startled him, but he didn’t want him running and getting lost in the crowded port. The seller, an elderly insectoid, wasn’t anything to warrant that sort of a reaction.

  The seller greeted them with a wave of his antenna. “Welcome, welcome. I’m Zyp. What can I do for you today?”

  Halor leaned on the counter. “We have a new friend here, but we’re having a little difficulty understanding him and him us. We were hoping you might be able to assist.”

  “Oh, you’ve got yourselves a human,” Zyp said. “Such a rarity in these parts, at least until now. This is the eighth in the last cycle. But since when do the avians and felines participate in the slave trade?”

  “We don’t,” Halor snarled. “He is our guest.”

  Zyp gave him a look that wasn’t entirely agreeable. Kit could tell Halor was close to losing his temper, so he intervened.

  “I thought I was purchasing an autopilot for our ship, but instead I accidentally bought him.”

  Zyp appeared even less convinced by Kit’s explanation.

  “Can you help with the language barrier,” Halor asked, “or shall we take our business elsewhere?”

  Zyp shook his head. “No one else on this port can help you, but luckily for you, I can. Not only can I provide your guest with a brand new, top-of-the-range translation implant, I can upgrade the ones you wear to include the various languages of humans.”

  “Various languages?” Kit asked. “You mean they have more than one, like the dialects of the bird clans?”

  “Oh, yes. I’ve acquired a download from the sellers of the commandeered craft and there are many different ones on their system. Presumably this human from the ship will speak one of them or maybe even more. The second human brought here to me spoke three. It was truly fascinating to hear such distinctly different languages from the same human.”

  “As long as we can all understand each other, I don’t care whether he speaks one language or fifty,” Halor replied. “Just get us set up and we’ll be on our way.”

  Zyp pointed at the seats behind the desk. “Please sit down and I’ll start your upgrades. They can be doing that while I’m sorting out the human’s implant.”

  “His name’s Logan,” Kit said. “Or I think so.”

  “Well, I guess you’ll soon find out,” Zyp remarked.

  Kit could barely sit still as the upgrades were installed and Logan was given his implant.

  When Zyp came at Logan with the needle, Kit thought he might try to run again. He tried to reassure him with his touch, squeezing his hand, and stroking his leg, letting him know with gestures that he was safe and no one was going to hurt him.

  Logan’s implant, fully upgraded already, was installed before Kit and Halor’s updates were finished.

  “So, how much is this going to cost?” Halor asked.

  Logan gaped at him and said something, though Kit had no idea what. He tapped Logan on the arm to get his attention. “We’re getting upgrades so we can understand you, too. It should be done soon.”

  Logan nodded and smiled.

  Halor sorted out the payment with Zyp, and a short while later, they were all able to converse without any difficulty.

  “I’ve got so much to ask you both,” Logan said as they left the store. “You can’t imagine what it’s like not being able to communicate with anyone.”

  “We’ve wanted to talk to you pretty badly, too,” Kit said. “Is your name really Logan?” The name came easier to his lips now he could speak it in his own tongue.

  “Yes, it is—Logan McRae—though I don’t think I got yours or your boyfriend’s at all. It all just sounded like squawks and meows from this side.”

  “Well, I’m Kit, and the grumpy one over there is Halor.”

  “Kit,” Logan repeated. “Well, that sounds very apt, considering all your cat-like features. What sort of species are you guys?”

  “Well, I’m a feline and Halor is a hawk—one of many, many avian clans.”

  “It’s strange, because we have birds and cats on the planet I come from, but they don’t look anything like you two.”

  “What do they look like?”

  “Well, they’re a lot smaller, for one thing. Our cats walk on four legs, not two.”

  “Our ancestors used to walk on four legs,” Kit said. “But we evolved many centuries ago.”

  “So I see,” Logan replied with a grin. “Cats on Earth wouldn’t have been quite so friendly with birds, either. Normally they catch and eat them.”

  Kit gaped at him in horror. “They what?”

  “They chase birds, though they don’t always catch them, since most birds have the sense to fly off when there are cats on the prowl.”

  “I would never eat another living creature,” Kit said. “I only eat cream.”

  “Cream?” Logan moaned quietly. “Oh, I could just kill for a coffee with cream.”

  “What’s coffee?” Kit asked. “I’ve never heard of that.”

  “Just a drink to help me wake up in the mornings,” Logan replied. “So, tell me how I ended up on your ship.”

  Kit cringed. “That’s my fault. I thought I was buying an autopilot system for our ship. Well, technically, Halor owns it, but I’ve been travelling with him for a while now, so it seems like ours.”

  “You’re rambling,” Halor interrupted. “What Kit is trying to say is that he thought he was buying an autopilot, but he purchased you instead. We don’t quite know how.”

  “I’m a pilot,” Logan said. “I’m guessing something was lost in translation at this sale. But what I don’t understand is why anyone was selling me at all. I was in cryogenic stasis for the journey to our new home. I expected to wake on the same ship I went into stasis on, surrounded by my crew and the medics.”

  Halor directed Logan to a nearby alcove of seats out of the way of the crowds. “Your ship was apprehended for violating restricted space. Everything on board was put up for auction to the highest bidder, including, apparently, all the souls on board.”

  “But there were thousands of us,” Logan whispered. “Do you know where they might be now?”

  Kit couldn’t meet Logan’s eyes. “Most were probably sold as slaves. Their owners will keep them in stasis until they’re n
eeded for whatever work they want them to do. Some—those who have made their way here, like the ones Zyp mentioned—may have private owners who will treat them better—or worse—depending on what they wanted them for. I’m so sorry.”

  “Is that what I am?” Logan asked. “A private slave? A sex slave?”

  “No!” Kit climbed onto his lap and hugged him. “Never. We don’t keep slaves, not for any reason. You have to believe me. Please don’t ever think we’d hold you against your will.”

  Halor patted Logan’s shoulder. “We would like you to stay with us, travel with us, be a part of our nest, but the choice is yours.”

  “Please join us,” Kit whispered, rubbing up against Logan and purring desperately.

  “Come here,” Halor said, easing Kit away from Logan. “No man can concentrate with you climbing all over him. You’re too delightful a distraction.”

  Kit curled up at Halor’s side, nuzzling his neck.

  Halor sighed contentedly. “Kit is quite tactile, as you may have noticed. He can’t help it. It’s a trait of his kind. If you stay with us, you’ll get used to it and even come to enjoy it.”

  Logan stared out at the crowded spaceport. Kit tried to see it from his point of view—all these strange creatures walking around on a great hulk of metal in the middle of nowhere. He wouldn’t blame the human if he had a total meltdown right about now.

  “Can I ask you both a question?” Logan finally said after several long minutes of silence.

  “Of course,” Halor said. “We’ll both answer as best we can.”

  “Earlier, back on the ship, why did you both…you know?”

  “Pleasure you?” Kit suggested.

  “Yes. Why did you do that?”

  Kit purred in his ear. “Didn’t you like what we did?”

  “You know I did,” Logan replied. “But why did you do it—and why then?”

  “I wasn’t sure if we would get another chance,” Kit said. “And I wanted to touch you so badly. I could almost taste your arousal.”

  “And you?” Logan turned to Halor.

  “Kit wanted you,” Halor explained, “but he would never take the first step without my permission. He also fears rejection. So, I made the first move, knowing he would follow. Like Kit, I too felt desire for you.”

  Logan nodded slowly. “I suppose it was pretty obvious I felt something for you two, as well.”

  “Oh yes,” Kit purred, reaching out to touch Logan’s groin through his kilt, only to have Halor pull his hand back before he reached his target.

  “Behave,” Halor scolded. “Logan needs to decide what he intends to do now, and he doesn’t need you distracting him.”

  “I have no idea what I’m going to do,” Logan replied immediately. “This is all so much to take in.”

  “Maybe you could stay with us until you decide,” Kit suggested eagerly.

  “Logan might want to stay here and see if any more of his own people turn up. Zyp did say there have been others,” Halor reminded him. “He won’t have much chance of finding them if he comes with us.”

  Kit tried to quash his disappointment and a twinge of resentment at Halor giving voice to Kit’s own fears.

  “We could try to find some work on the main trade routes?” Kit suggested. “Keep our ears open for news of any company that’s suddenly a lot more productive than it was before.”

  “And do what?” Halor asked. “Launch a rescue mission? The three of us against what would be an army? Kit, be reasonable.”

  “I have to try to find our other ships,” Logan said.

  “Others?” Kit asked.

  “There are three of them,” Logan explained. “I was on the first, but the other two will be following behind. If the Mercury fell afoul of violating restricted space, the others are going to be on the same route and will be taken under the same laws.”

  Halor nodded thoughtfully. “Are there many humans on the other two vessels?”

  “Yes,” Logan replied. “Enough that my people could try to organise a proper rescue mission of the rest of my crew.”

  “We’ll help,” Kit promised. “Won’t we, Halor?”

  Halor sighed. “As if you’d give me any other choice. Come on. Let’s see if we can consult the charts and find out which direction Logan’s ships are coming from. We can try and intercept the first before it gets to the restricted zone.”

  Kit kissed Halor soundly on the lips. “Then it’s settled. Logan comes with us and we’re going to find his people.”

  “If Logan wants our help,” Halor said.

  Logan smiled. “You know far more about this place than I do. Whether I want your help or not, I definitely need it.”

  “And perhaps we can all get to know each other better on the way to your people,” Kit suggested.

  Halor rolled his eyes. “You’ll have to excuse him, Logan. He’s under the mistaken impression that he’s irresistible.”

  Logan laughed and ruffled Kit’s fur. “He’s a feline, and on Earth my people used to worship cats. I suspect most of the furry menaces were simply biding their time until they regained their position of rulers of mankind.”

  “Did you just call me a menace?” Kit asked with a pout.

  “You are a menace,” Halor replied, “but a lovable one. Now, come on. Let’s go pick up some food for Logan before the vendor closes for the night. He didn’t like my seeds and the rest of the fruit will be going to our buyer.”

  “And I can’t live on cream alone,” Logan said.

  “Only felines can,” Halor replied. “And this greedy specimen drains my supply on a daily basis.”

  “Maybe with Logan on board we can start stocking up a little, so I have some for my excursions?” Kit suggested. “I think I might like Logan’s cream even more than yours.”

  Logan gave them an odd stare. “Why do I get the feeling I’m missing something important here? Why would my being on board increase your supply of milk?”

  “Not milk,” Kit amended. “Cream.”

  “Milk, cream,” Logan said. “I’m not a cow or a goat. I don’t have udders or anything.”

  Kit cocked his head to one side. “I don’t know what a cow or goat is—or udders, for that matter. Perhaps we call them something different.”

  “Perhaps we call cream something different, too,” Logan replied. “What exactly are you talking about when you say you live on cream?”

  “Cream,” Kit repeated. “You know—the cream we produce when we climax.”

  Logan stared at him with a look Kit was starting to recognise as disbelief. “Are you talking about semen?”

  “Maybe,” Kit said. “What’s that?”

  Logan gestured to his groin. “You know, semen, spunk, cum. There are loads of names for it. So many that I guess the translation devices are a little confused about which to pick so that we’re on the same page.”

  “Cream,” Kit whispered, licking his lips. “It is used to help create life, and for us felines, to sustain it.”

  “Now I understand why you kept going down on Halor all the time. You were feeding.” Logan said, shaking his head in apparent wonder. “A species that survives by drinking spunk. Wow.”

  “Cream,” Kit corrected. “And are you saying you’d rather I didn’t?”

  Kit could barely contain his disappointment. The brief taste he had enjoyed earlier had only increased his appetite for more of the same.

  Logan smiled. “I’ve sucked plenty of cocks in my life, and most of the time I’ve swallowed. If you need my cream then you’re welcome to it.”

  Kit hooked his arm through Logan’s and curled into his side. “Thank you. I can hardly wait until we return to the ship.”

  “Do try to restrain yourself,” Halor remarked. “I’m not paying another fine for public indecency if we get caught again.”

  “It wasn’t my fault some prudish insectoid insisted on a no feeding policy within sight of his store.”

  Halor rolled his eyes. “Maybe not, but you wer
e the one facing the No Feeding Felines sign, not me.”

  “True,” Kit agreed, chuckling delightedly.

  “Then you don’t usually feed in front of other people?” Logan asked.

  “Feeding, yes, but the rest, no,” Halor replied.

  “You mean the hand jobs?”

  “Yes,” Halor said. “Felines often feed in public, and Kit has on many occasions. The rest, however, we generally keep private.”

  “Then why did you do more in front of me on the ship?” Logan questioned.

  Kit rubbed up against him. “Did we embarrass you?”

  “A little.”

  “I’m sorry. I just wanted to see whether you wanted us, and the best way of doing that was to try to arouse you by giving you a show.”

  “Well, it definitely worked,” Logan replied.

  “I’m very glad to hear it, though I didn’t need the confirmation.”

  Logan stared at him for a second and his face grew steadily redder as Kit’s meaning registered. Kit chuckled. He could tell their human companion was going to be fun.

  * * * *

  It took longer to get back to Halor’s ship than they’d originally expected. Not only did they have to stop for supplies, but they’d also ended up returning to Zyp’s store to persuade him to sell them a copy of the database he had obtained from the Mercury. Zyp had been reluctant at first but had eventually agreed to transfer a copy to Halor’s ship, for a price. Logan had no idea about the currency they used, but from the grimace on Halor’s face, he guessed he owed his hosts a great deal of money for their trouble.

  “I don’t know how I’m ever going to repay you for all this,” Logan said as Kit taught him how to operate the on-board ship computer.

  “Repay?” Kit asked. “What do you mean?”

  “Halor has had to pay for the translation equipment, a copy of my database, food, clothing… It all mounts up.”

  “There’s no need to repay anything,” Halor said, popping up behind them from the hatch.

  “But it must have cost you a fortune,” Logan argued.

  Kit smiled. “A fortune to you and me, perhaps.”

  Logan caught his meaning quickly, which was confirmed by Halor before he could say a word.