RET by Jessica E. Subject has released! Read Chapter One of the final Kaddim Brothers story now!

I'm excited to announce that the third (and final) book in my Kaddim Brothers series has released! I knew exactly what was going to happen in this story while writing the first two, and I'm happy that you can finally know, too.

There is a lot of fun things happening this month to celebrate the release of RET. If you subscribe to my newsletter, you probably already know, but if not, be sure to come back to visit my blog to find out!

To start, I'm going to share the first chapter of RET with you. Enjoy!

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RET (Kaddim Brothers book three)
by Jessica E. Subject

Chapter One

Ret

Roll. Fake left. Dip. Dart.

It was the maneuver I’d discussed with Ilam right before we climbed into our jets for the final race on Tanva. One we hadn’t practiced to avoid the constant surveillance of our team. The rest of ORIXA helped to block with me during the race, keeping the five of us spread out among the top fifteen racers. But I needed Ilam to complete the maneuver, take the lead, and secure our first-place finish.

I rolled right, blocking a member of Team Fury from getting ahead of me. There was no way the rookie leader was going to displace me. Only my own teammates were allowed to do that. I took a quick glance at my radar to see where Ilam was, whether he’d managed to reach his planned position. If not, I had to hope we had enough points with the place standings we held, as the finish line was not far ahead.

At first, I didn’t see him at all. Then, I saw his nose pull ahead from under me. Yes!

I warded off another attempt to take my lead from our competition, allowing Ilam to blast across the finish line in first place. Stars, he really was the best racer in the circuit.

When I initially left my home planet to become a space racer, I never expected an omega to be flying on my team. They usually fawned over space racers rather than wanting to be one. Yet, the first time I’d seen Ilam fly back on Orez, I knew he had talent. And I wanted him on my team before anyone else found him.

Once we landed on the tarmac, we exited our jets then gathered together in a huddle.

“Great flying, G.” With our arms around each other, I called out our celebratory cheer. “Twins, you’re always fast and hard. And, Little Lam, it’s always great to have you by my side.” Though I recited the same words after each race, I meant them every time. I truly raced with the best team in the circuit.

“All the time with our fearless leader,” my teammates chorused. Their response changed every time, so I never knew what I’d hear. Sometimes it was flattering, and other times they liked to incite me, but I knew it was lighthearted fun. Plus, they understood they’d get all the badgering back during the next practice.

After I gave each member a quick, one-armed hug, our manager wrangled us all onto the hovercart that drove us to the media room for photos and questions.

As the team’s leader, I usually received the most questions. But when asked about the secret to our win, I pulled Ilam over to stand beside me. With my hand on his shoulder, I beamed with pride. “This guy right here is our secret. He’s talented and absolutely fearless.”

“But what about the rest of your team?” a reporter asked from the rear.

I chuckled. If I didn’t have my other teammates to my right, I would have believed it one of them who’d asked the question. “They’re great and all fly well together. I wouldn’t want to live, train, or fly with any other group of racers.”

After a few more pictures, the majority of the media left. A handful of our fellow racers came in to congratulate us, but nowhere near as many as before planetary governments sponsored teams. The comradery between racers and teams had changed significantly since then. ORIXA was one of the last few teams managed by a racing firm with corporate sponsors from all over the universe. And the governments were pushing the Universal Space Racer Association to no longer allow such teams. I think they simply wanted their teams to win. Yet, until they trained harder, and spent money on better quality jets, they didn’t stand a chance.

On the way to our accommodations, we stopped at a local eatery and picked up a couple japis to share.

I wrapped an arm around Ilam’s shoulders as we headed inside to eat and change. “Come out with us tonight. I want to buy you a drink. Several, if you want. I want to celebrate you.”

“Nah, it’s not my thing.” He shrunk into himself like he did every time I asked him to come out with us. If he was shy, I would have understood. But he never had any problems talking to the media or fans after a race. I was beginning to take his refusals personally.

“C’mon. You don’t have to stay all night. One drink. I’ll even take you home myself before going out again.” Though I would prefer for him to spend the whole night out, having fun.

He stopped, and, for a moment, I thought he might agree to my newest proposal. “I can’t.” He twisted away from me to open the door to our dorm ahead of everyone. “I’m sorry, but I can’t.”

Well, stars. I guess I had to celebrate on my own, then. Xac and Qé always spent most of the night on the dance floor. And Genj would leave after one drink to call his family on Eurebly before going to bed.

I quickly ate then changed into an outfit my youngest brother, Vawn, had designed for me. The shirt was pieces of black mesh that were randomly sewn together. Not something I would have bought myself, but it worked. The pants were blue and tight, having caught the attention of many of my previous bed mates. It was time to see if they still held that power.

Once I was ready, I left our accommodations for the club, not waiting for anyone else. It’s not as if I would spend any time with them anyway. They would all abandon me sooner or later. I was going to have fun on my own. Without my teammates.

At the club, the music pounded and the lights flashed. Bodies gyrated on the dance floor, appearing to move as one massive wave. I set my sights on a table at the rear, making sure to pass several groups of fans who were likely rehearsing the lines they’d use to hit on a space racer. I’d heard so many that I never paid attention to their words. Only their lips as they spoke. Made me wonder what they’d feel like pressed to mine, against my skin, around my cock. What would the being look like when they screamed my name as I fucked them to orgasm? Because that’s all I could give. One night. Nothing more. And that satisfied most of them. I’d never met anyone who made me want to commit to more than that anyway. And I doubted I ever would.

A waiter arrived at the table the moment I sat down. “You’re Ret? From ORIXA?”

I nodded, wondering who had sent them over already.

They pointed to a group of giggling Dawlivers, all of them with full lips and luscious curves. It was going to be a fun night. “Those women would like to buy you a drink. What would you like?”

I winked over at them. “A sofalray would be wonderful. Thank you.” Might as well start the night strong.

None of the group came to sit with me while I waited for the waiter to return. Strange, as I expected at least one of them to take a seat. Preferably on my lap.

When my drink arrived, I raised the glass to thank the ladies. Then I downed the whole thing and signaled the waiter for another.

Beside me, a chair scraped across the floor, and I turned as a Tanvanian male sat down on it. Not at all who I expected to join me, but I wouldn’t complain. He was gorgeous but in an adorable way, with big, round eyes and full cheeks. He reminded me of someone, but I couldn’t quite place who.

“You’re Ret Kaddim, right? Leader of ORIXA?”

“I am.” Resting my arms on the table, I focused all my attention on him. “And you are?”

He ran his fingers down my arm, igniting a spark of interest. “Someone who would love to find out for myself if your reputation is true.”

I couldn’t help my smirk. “And what reputation would that be?” It varied depending on whom they heard it from.

His hand somehow slipped down to my lap as he winked. “That you’re rather large and know how to use your equipment.”

Ah, that reputation. Well, that was a new way of wording it. Usually those who approached me were a little more blunt. I rested my hand over his. “You won’t be disappointed. But, I need a name first.”

His confidence slipped away for a brief moment before he shimmied forward to sit on the edge of his chair. “Melach. My name is Melach. Are you really—?”

I tugged on his hand, wanting him closer. “How badly do you want to find out?”

When he stood, I guided him over to sit on my lap.

“You won’t hurt me, will you?”

Stars, what did he mean by that? What else had he heard? “I can’t give you any more than one night, if that’s what you mean. And getting off on another’s pain is not my thing.”

“So, what will I get?” He ran his fingertips down the side of my face.

Nudging his chin forward, I kissed his soft lips. “One night of pleasure. One you’ll never forget.”

He leaned back and chuckled with a hint of nervousness. “A little overconfident, are we?”

I shrugged. “You were the one who approached me because of what you’d heard from others.”

Tilting his head to the side, he adjusted himself on my lap. “Okay, where do we do this?”

This guy was cute. Very inexperienced but brave nonetheless. “Wherever you want. Your place, my place, in a dark corner somewhere….”

“Oh.” His face paled slightly. “I thought you would take me to a hotel room.”

I chuckled. “This isn’t a holo-movie. I’m a space racer who’ll be leaving this planet in the morning. Take it or leave it.”

He didn’t leave but cupped my face before kissing me.

I wrapped an arm around his waist, holding him closer. Immediately, I craved more. Between kisses, I heard his breathy gasps and quiet moans. He would be quite the treat.

Holding the back of his head, I lined my tongue along his lips. He opened to me as he ground hard across my lap. I took our kiss deep, getting to know how well he could use his tongue. Not as inexperienced as I’d first believed. And strangely familiar. Like I already knew him. I needed him closer. We were kissing at an awkward angle, and there was too much space between us.

I pulled away, ready to move him, have him straddle my lap. Be chest to chest, groin to groin, until I was ready to take him somewhere else. Only it was no longer the young Tanvanian on my lap when I looked into his eyes, but Ilam.

I pushed him off and jumped up. I’d wanted my teammate to come with me to the club for a drink. Not that. He was an omega, but I’d never thought of him like that. Never. Not once. What was wrong with me?

“What was that for?”

I stared at Ilam. Though it wasn’t really him. It was the Tanvanian who’d hit on me. I couldn’t remember his name. But I realized who he’d reminded me of from the beginning. Stars, had I really been thinking of my youngest teammate when I’d been kissing this guy?

​I stood, shoving my chair behind me. What in the universe had just happened? Had I had too much to drink already? Or not enough? Leaving the young man to pick himself up, I stumbled over to the farthest end of the bar. A dark corner where I hoped to be left alone. I needed to clear my head. Gesturing to the bartender, I ordered a shot of kadov. After slamming that one down, I ordered another. And several more after that. I needed to get him out of my head.

BLURB:

Ret Kaddim has the perfect life. He’s a space racer, the leader of the most popular team across the universe. Always planning, practicing, and racing, he has no time for a relationship, but finds plenty of willing partners who agree to his one-night-only rule. Because there is no way he wants to end up in a relationship and stuck with a family like his younger brothers. He’s having too much fun for that.

Ilam Nairan always dreamed of becoming a space racer. And thanks to a chance encounter with a retired racer, he is now living that dream. Far away from the mated and pregnant omega life his parents wanted him to have, he loves everything about his life. It’s perfect.

But one night can change everything. Especially when too much alcohol is involved. Can these two teammates survive the resulting media storm? What will it mean for their careers? The future of the team? And for them?

Ret is a sweet with knotty heat mm non-shifter mpreg sci-fi romance featuring an alpha space racer and an omega space racer who both believe they’ll always be single, snarky but loveable teammates, lots of space racing, endearing family members, an adorable baby, and a guaranteed happily ever after. If you enjoy teammates realizing they have feelings for each other, and all the obstacles those bring, be sure to download Ret today!

RET is available in ebook and paperback

Amazon US

Books2Read Universal link