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Tobin watched Kelly s slow retreat to the window and kept an eye on the
rounded curve of his ass as Kelly studied the stars sliding past. The lines
of his back were smooth, the backs of his thighs taut with his tense
pacing.
What happened a while back, what s happened since, I haven t done
in a long time, Kelly revealed. I haven t been in a relationship in a long
time, by my own choice. The last one ended badly.
Tobin drew his knees to his chest and studied Kelly s profile. I
surmised enough. I promise you, I ll never hurt you.
Really? You took me away from my family. Nothing hurts more than
that.
Tobin knew to expect that. It seemed nothing he could say would
soothe Kelly, but he refused to give up on the baker.
What we did, Tobin ventured, what L wan did to you, I know you
enjoyed.
I did, Kelly confessed.
You stay, and that is your life. You make people happy with your
cooking, and I ll make you happy in every other sense.
Kelly turned slightly toward Tobin with a mild scowl. You d let me
fuck other men on this ship?
Do you want to fuck other men on this ship?
-51-
Leigh Ellwood
I don t know what I want, Kelly admitted, and turned away again.
Looking at you doesn t help, because I can t read you. You say you want
me to be happy, but I have to wonder just how willing you are.
Tobin sighed. Kelly did have a point. The idea of a relationship was
new to him as well. With past partners, sharing others hadn t been an
issue, for Tobin hadn t felt as strongly for any of his former lovers as he
did now for Kelly.
Damn. Kelly s deep sigh broke through Tobin s thoughts. I really
need to be in my kitchen. I think better when I m working. I m more
decisive in my element. Kelly flexed his fingers; the manic twitching set
Tobin on edge. I need to get my hands in something.
I have an idea, Tobin teased. I know how you can exercise your
brain, and those fingers.
I ll bet.
Five steps took Tobin across the room where he circled his arms
around Kelly s waist. Stay, he whispered. What discriminations you
encountered, the hardships and heartbreak, don t exist here.
Why do I get the feeling I m not going to have much control of my
life, regardless of the freedoms you claim I ll have here? Kelly sounded
skeptical, but Tobin felt buoyed by the baker s wry smile.
As long as you have my heart, you have more power than you
realize. To say nothing of his cock. Tobin would only fuck Kelly now, and
accept only Kelly s cock. If the baker wanted to indulge in more oral play
with L wan and Wren, or even fuck one of them, fine. Tobin would save
his best for the one he loved the best.
Despite the free nature of Vectran social culture, he hoped Kelly
would one day concede to similar behavior.
Kelly snorted. You barely know me.
-52-
Taste This
Tobin kissed his neck. I know enough. By the gods, but this man
tested him. Can I show you something? I really do know of a way to help
you, and surprisingly it has nothing to do with sex. Not now, anyway, he
added with a chuckle.
Can I have something to wear, please? Kelly rubbed the raised flesh
on his arms. I m no prude, but I m not quite comfortable being
completely free like everybody else here.
Okay, okay. Tobin held up his hands in mock surrender. Wear
whatever you feel comfortable with. In fact, you might want to have
something on where we re going.
Kelly followed Tobin across the room to where his clothes were neatly
pressed and folded in a closet. Where exactly are we going?
A place I know you ll like. A place I hope will influence you to stay.
-53-
Leigh Ellwood
Chapter Six
Holy crap.
Tobin hadn t been kidding. Kelly did like this place. No, he loved this
place. Maybe he did die, and now stood in his own personal heaven.
Ever see a kitchen like this on Earth? Tobin gestured a wide arc
introduction to Kelly s new workspace.
Not outside of EPCOT Center. Kelly knew he looked silly, gawking at
the high-tech, futuristic appliances, but he didn t care. Christmas came
early, would come every day, so long as he stood here.
If only he could be certain the appliances he saw and admired
corresponded to their Earth counterparts. If he could successfully
negotiate what he thought was the oven he would be ecstatic. No, he
would be the next thing beyond ecstatic. If a word didn t exist for the
feeling, he d invent one.
You ll find everything here is simple to use, Tobin said. Kelly tried
not to react with uncertainty. If he didn t blow up the ship trying to boil
water, he would be happy.
In fact, Tobin continued, with many of these devices the cooking
process takes less time like it would on Earth, so you might find the first
few dishes you create may burn.
I d think altitude plays a factor as well, Kelly murmured. If cakes
can rise too quickly and implode at ten thousand feet, I don t want to
think about what could happen in space. They d see the result from
-54-
Taste This
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