Read Human After All for Free Online

Instead, he came to Jaymes and made his proposal, apologizing for any air of tawdriness. Unless Cade Londean was a very skilled actor, he genuinely respected Jaymes as a person. Even if the T-bred hadn’t been under the compulsion of the mechemical, he would have wanted to do as Vale’s patron requested.
    “I have my doubts about the Deputy President’s ability to relax, but I’m willing to try and divert him, sir.”
    “He may not even take the bait,” Cade said. “But this is the first time I’ve seen him show the slightest interest in… diversion.”
    “I’ll do my best,” Jaymes said. “You’ll make the introduction?”
    “A pleasure. My thanks, Jaymes.”
    “And mine to you for the way you take care of Vale.”
    “I love him,” Londean said. “And I can only say it aloud to someone like you…. Sorry, that sounded terribly condescending.”
    “I’m not offended.”
    “Perhaps you should be, but that’s a discussion for another time. Shall we?”
     
     
    “I CANNOT believe the Deep is with our Prince right now,” Valens said as he obligingly raised his arms.
    Cade Londean pulled the synsilq singlet over Valens’s head, leaving the Companion completely bare. Caught, as always, by the T-bred’s sheer physical beauty, the Speaker let his eyes rove where they would. No matter how many times Cade saw Valens naked, the sight never failed to awe him. If the young man had nothing more than his astonishing good looks, he would have snared Cade’s fancy, but Valens had so much more to offer than his smooth, sculpted body. It was the Companion’s innate sweetness, his willingness to give the benefit of the doubt, to believe the best of all around him until proven wrong that had won Cade’s heart. More than anything, he wished he could make a marriage merger with Valens, but even if he bought the T-bred’s contract and Valens were granted Citizenship, there were still many legal battles to be fought before the union would be approved. And, of course, Cade would be fighting his family every step of the way. It was better for now that Valens Waukeen remain a Companion, under the protection of Gentren, while Cade worked on changing the laws that kept them from having a legal bond. It was better this way; they had both agreed, but it did not ease the guilt that shaded Cade’s pleasure in Valens’s company.
    “I’m sorry,” Cade said. “Did you ask me a question?”
    Valens rolled his eyes. “Let some of the blood flow back up to your brain,” he suggested.
    Cade grinned. “I love you.”
    “I love you too.” Valens put his arms around Cade. “And you know I adore your romantic streak, but we haven’t much time. Do you think we could just fuck without the trappings?” The Companion paused as Cade’s expression changed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. It’s just that I want you so much. I truly don’t think of our love as trappings .”
    “I believe you,” Cade said. “But my heart stopped for a second. I know how… vivid a Scenario can be to a Companion.”
    “This is real,” Valens said, pressing his mouth to Cade’s in a kiss as fierce as it was tender.
    Cade’s arms tightened around Valens with equal passion, fingertips sinking into the hard muscles of the young man’s back as their tongues slid together. “I was thinking about our future,” he said when their lips parted.
    “Cade,” Valens groaned. “For once, leave your conscience at the bedside.”
    “When I say the future, I mean fifteen minutes from now, when I expect to be licking the sweat from your collarbones while basking in the afterglow of a truly epic orgasm.”
    “Fifteen minutes? You call that epic ?”
    “You said we haven’t much time.” Cade unfastened his trousers and pushed them down.
    Valens looked down at Cade’s crotch. “You certainly aren’t wasting any.”
    “You know how undressing you affects me,” Cade said as he backed Valens up to the synswade-upholstered vanity.
    “The