T. A. Chase

Firebird- Part Eighteen

Firebird copyright (c) 2006 TA Chase

Part Eighteen-

Vlatko locked his knees to keep from crumbling to the floor as the last drops of his come filled Rue’s mouth. His chin dropped forward and rested on his chest. He stared down at the slender man smiling back at him. His hands stroked through the blonde hair curling in the steam.

“Stand up and I’ll take care of you in the shower.” He stepped back to allow Rue room to stand up.

“No need. I came when you did.” Rue gave him a shy grin.

Vlatko pressed a gentle kiss to Rue’s mouth and helped the thief into the shower. He scrubbed his own body quickly, letting Rue touch him wherever the man wanted to put those clever hands. After rinsing off the soap, Vlatko reached for Rue. He took his time, learning every inch of the soft skin and hard muscles making up the intriguing lean body. He figured out what spots made Rue sigh and which ones made him shiver. By the time the water ran cold, Rue was bracing himself against Vlatko and moaning.

“Come on, baby. The water’s getting cold and I think you’re ready for a nap.” Vlatko shut off the water and helped Rue out of the shower.

Rue mumbled something, but Vlatko couldn’t make it out. He laughed, drying Rue off with soft strokes and light touches. He tossed the towel on to the counter and picked the thief up in his arms. Vlatko tucked Rue under the covers and kissed him on the forehead.

“Rest. I’ll get you up before dinner.”

Rue cradled Vlatko’s cheek for a moment and gave him an endearing smile. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Vlatko shut the bedroom door and wandered over to the bank of computers on the opposite wall. Typing in a code, he called up the security camera he’d installed in the bedroom. He would be able to keep an eye on the thief without staying with him. Vlatko didn’t need more than an hour or two of sleep a day. One more marvelous improvement in the genetic code of a killer.
He pulled a chair over and sat down. The computer screen next to the security one blinked on. While Rue slept, he’d have time to work on his research. Somewhere in the crowd of numbers and codes, he knew he’d find the answer to his problem.

Thirty minutes into his work, he stopped and stared at the picture of Rue. He couldn’t concentrate. There was something about the thief that drew him, even when the man was sleeping. Vlatko tugged the President’s Heart from his pocket and rubbed it with his fingers.

The I.U.M. knew what they were doing when they hired Rue to steal the jewel. Mitchov was one of the few independent planet left on the outskirts of the universe. The red stone Vlatko held was the key to their survival. How or why? He didn’t know, but without it, Mitchov would have to bend to the demands of the I.U.M. He wasn’t sure what he should do about it. If he had any sort of conscience, he’d contact Stargazer and have the man come retrieve it. Stargazer would return the stone to the rightful owners-for a price of course.

Vlatko shook his head. It wasn’t his call to make. Rue would have to decide what to do with the stone. The thief had been hired to steal it, so it was his job. Vlatko wouldn’t like it if Rue told him how to kill and he didn’t think Rue would enjoy Vlatko sticking his nose in where it didn’t belong.

He stood, heading towards the tunnel. He’d put it in the secure room. Rue would figure out how to break into it before he left, but Vlatko wasn’t worried. In truth, he didn’t keep anything of importance in the room except for a little of his money and some weapons. The room was a distraction along with the computers. All the critical information, weapons and majority of his wealth was hidden where no one-not even the best thief in the universe-could find it.

After putting the stone away, he went back to work. He needed to find the answer because time was running out and Vlatko realized he’d just found a more compelling reason to succeed than getting revenge on the I.U.M. He touched a fingertip to the screen showing Rue sleeping in his bed.

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