Havoc by Linda Gayle

fingers through his thick hair, combing it back from his forehead. “It'll all work out. Have faith. So we're on for tomorrow?” He turned glassy eyes on her.
    She looked at Elion, who scowled, then at Kels and said, “Yes, I suppose we are. Are you all right?"
    "Never better. But take my advice.” He giggled and jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “Keep your head out of the cooker. Unless you've been chemically sterilized, I think it's a bit of overkill."
    Canto pressed thumb and forefinger against his eyelids and sighed audibly. “Captain Havoc, whatever will I do with you?"
    "Well, anything but fuck me, ‘cause, brother, my balls are drained."
    Elion dug his fingers into Kels's biceps. “I think it's time for you to sleep it off, Captain."
    The members of the triad, chatting and mopping sweat from their bodies with white towels, strolled by, and Kels raised a hand in drunken salutation. “Great job, you guys. And gal."
    They all waved back and went on their way down another mysterious corridor. Kels, still grinning, said, “Nice people. Really, really wonderful people."
    Elion closed his eyes tight, appearing to gather his patience. Decidedly sympathetic, Canto patted Sayal's shoulder. “Very well, my dear, I suppose we'll see you tomorrow. Do you have any questions for me?"
    Too many. They would take hours. It was probably better if she didn't know the answers and just discovered them as they went. “No, thank you. You've been very kind."
    He bent in a slight bow. “I look forward to your performance."
    Elion said, “Can you tell me how to get out? I'm afraid if I ask him, we'll end up chasing that triad through the corridors."
    Canto said, “Of course. Take two rights, then a left. Look for the red door, go through that, follow the green hallway to another door, and it will take you out to the lobby."
    Sayal hoped Elion remembered that. He got Kels into gear, and they started toward the exit. She was about to ask if she should take his other arm, when Kels slung it around her shoulders and pulled her tight against his side. “How was the scan, princess?"
    "It was tolerable.” The deep humming of the scanner and the pulsing lights had propelled her memory back to being under her creator's probes as he had examined her for imperfections. She shook off the dread bringing prickles to her skin. “So what happened to you?"
    He never stopped grinning. “Something wonderful."
    Elion peered around his front at her. “He got his damned head caught in a neurotransmitter and took the impact of three simultaneous orgasms full on.” He hitched Kels's arm over his shoulders and slid his hand around his captain's back. “It'll take him hours to come down from this. I hope he'll be ready for the jarouk game. Otherwise—"
    "'Course I'll be ready.” With both of them trapped beneath his strong arms, he pulled them hard against him. “I wouldn't let down my two favorite people."
    "Kels, you're strangling me.” Elion twisted until Kels had loosened his affectionate death hold and shoved open another door with his boot. They'd navigated several twists and turns in the hallway and now, finally, broke into the lobby. Sayal took a deep breath of the filtered air, which at least did not smell of sex.
    Kels had begun humming quietly. Elion disentangled himself and patted the captain's cheeks. “Kels. Kels, listen to me. You need to go lie down now and sleep off this fog, or you'll be in no shape for tonight. Do you hear me?"
    Kels stared at him, eyes heavy-lidded. He leaned forward, and Sayal held her breath, for it was apparent he was going to kiss Elion, but Elion put firm hands on his chest and pushed Kels back. “Pah, Captain. Quit that nonsense. Straighten up."
    Kels sulked. “You're feeling bossy today."
    Elion looked to her. “Sayal, talk some sense into him, please."
    She might be able to help, a little. She held Kels's wrist near the pulse point and tried to open their bond subtly, so that Elion wouldn't