Ky liked this particular one because it provided a swift sting without truly hurting or leaving a mark. He also had fun tracing patterns with its tip around Brianne’s buttocks while she wriggled and pleaded with Aiden as he finished tying her up.
Aiden laughed at her pleas and stepped back to let Ky do his thing. When Ky was done, Aiden would soothe her with oils and she’d feel plenty good. So good in fact that she’d likely beg to be punished and maybe deliberately disobey so he’d do it again.
You’re still thinking this will go on after today.
She might want to do good works and change life for Shareem, but that didn’t mean she wanted two Shareem lovers living with her in the ruling family’s compound.
The crop whistled through the air and smacked right across her ass. Brianne squealed and jumped but she smiled a little as though thinking that’s not so bad.
Punish her, his instincts screamed. Make her obey you.
He spanked her four more times, then lowered the crop. Aiden looked at him in mild surprise.
That’s all she can take. She’s new at this.
The level three inside Ky snorted. You’re never this soft on a sub. If they agree to submit to you, they take what you give them.
This one’s different.
The level three inside made a noise of derision. Oh please.
Aiden slid his hand across Brianne’s backside as Brianne turned her head and looked up at Ky. Her eyes were soft, her face relaxed, and she smiled.
“Your ass is so pretty and red,” Aiden said, going into his soothing routine. He kissed her backside, lips touching where the crop had fallen. “I’ll make you all better now.”
Chapter Eleven
Revelations
Ky dressed in the outer room, Aiden having carried the oiled, calmed, almost cooing Brianne off to a private room where she could sleep. She’d murmured she didn’t need to rest, but she was new at this and Aiden cajoled her as they went off together.
Ky let Aiden take over because he knew that if he saw Brianne snuggled up on the bed, her hair mussed, her eyes heavy, he’d thrust open her legs and drive into her before he could stop himself. He wanted her. And he wanted Aiden right there beside him when he took her. Best leave them alone.
Rio came in, dressed and yawning. “That was fun.”
Ky laced up his leggings, still shirtless. “Did you stay the whole time?”
“Most of it, until you started the spanking. Then I felt the need to take Nella aside and do a little punishing of my own. Rees and Talan have disappeared, so they’re probably down for the count.”
“As long as you were entertained.”
Rio laughed. “Cut the crap. You two enjoyed the hell out of it.” He stopped laughing and gave Ky an odd look. “I’m glad to see you and Aiden—you know—have worked things out.”
Ky stopped in the act of picking up his leather tunic. “Worked things out?”
“You know, between the two of you.” Rio looked uncomfortable. “I mean, you were kissing each other. I thought you and Aiden, um, got together.”
“He told you, did he?” A thread of anger worked through him. He hadn’t released, and the frustration of not finishing with Brianne coupled with Aiden blabbing to Rio pissed him off dangerously. “About me letting him bring me off?”
Rio looked surprised. “No.”
Well, shit. “He didn’t give you the whole story at Judith’s?”
“At Judith’s? You mean today? No, he told me a long time ago, before I left for Ariel.”
That had been months and months ago. But Ky hadn’t let Aiden touch him or kiss him until a couple of days earlier, when they’d met Brianne. But Rio obviously knew…
“Wait a minute, what did he tell you?”
Rio shifted from foot to foot. “That he had the hots for you. I thought he was crazy, but he was dead serious. And then when I saw you in there, I just figured…” He shrugged.
“The hots for me?” Ky stared at him.
“Yeah. I don’t know why, you’re pretty ugly, but hey, it’s a matter of taste.” His teasing died. “He didn’t tell you?”
“No.”
Rio made a face. “Oh crap, I blew it.”
“Let me get this straight. He told you—a long time ago—that he was thinking about sex with me?”
“Yep. I thought it was bizarre, but he kind of convinced me it wasn’t.”
“And how many people did you tell?”
Rio looked offended. “None. Not even Rees. That’s the kind of shit that can get a Shareem terminated.”
“I know. It can’t happen, it was programmed out of us.” Ky pulled on his tunic, his heart thumping. “Let me set you straight. Aiden doesn’t love me, and we’re not together.”
“Yeah, well, I know what I saw in there. He had his mouth on you.”
“That’s because of Brianne. She—I don’t know, she makes everything go away, you know what I mean? I never know what I’m really doing, I’m lost in the pleasure.”
Rio looked at him narrowly. “Whatever you say.”
“Swear to the gods. But keep it to yourself, all right?”
“As long as you don’t want to kiss me.”
Ky shook his head, not remotely interested. “Hell, no.”
Rio let out a breath of relief. “Fine then.” He clapped Ky on the shoulder. “Good luck, my friend.”
He walked out of the room whistling, likely anticipating getting back with his redheaded princess. Ky remained alone for a few moments, digesting what Rio had let slip.
Aiden wanted him. Aiden the tall Shareem with the beautiful eyes and pleasing touch wanted him.
No.
The word cut through him like a whip.
It is forbidden.
He’s my friend.
More memories poured through his head, searing pain, another Shareem with lips like fire, a lonely white room, crushing grief when they told Ky what had happened. It should have worked, they’d said. It should have worked without harm.
Fuck off! Ky had screamed. He’d launched himself at the terrified scientist, who ran away, calling for restraints.
A slamming door, more loneliness. Grief.
Ky gasped, coming to himself. He was no longer at DNAmo, he was in a level three pleasure palace surrounded by Shareem enjoying themselves without limitations. In another room, Brianne would be sleeping with Aiden watching over her, both of them alive and well.
He gathered up his things and left the room, heading for the grav tube. At the top, he barely acknowledged another Shareem and a blindfolded lady coming in for some fun, walking past them into the night.
The air had cooled a little, but not much, Bor Narga always like an oven. The street held more activity than it did during the day, now that the sun wasn’t blasting full strength. Ky walked slowly through crowds of people who were enjoying the night, thoughts swirling in his brain.
I can’t do this, it will kill me.
Brianne was beautiful, he could focus on her. She might think tonight was a one-off, but he planned to insinuate himself into her life. He’d seduced her once, he would do it again.
If he couldn’t have Aiden, he would relieve himself with Brianne. He loved touching her hair, bunching it in his fists, letting the rich brown curls fall across his skin. He could get lost in that and forget all about the complicated mess inside him.
He stopped in the middle of the street, realization hitting him like a load of steel beams.
“Oh no,” he said out loud. “No, I can’t be that stupid.”
People milled around him, looking sideways at a leather-clad Shareem talking to himself. He stood out already, being taller and larger than everyone else, not to mention the bondage master clothing and long tangled hair. Now he was staring into space while his life crumbled around him.
“You all right?” a hesitant male voice said.
Ky looked around at a vendor whose stall he’d stopped in front of. The man was selling cheap trinkets, necklaces a
nd earrings a working woman would give to her man or vice versa. The vendor straightened, putting on his salesman’s face. “Best in the system. Two credits for this brooch? Your lady will love it.”
Ky closed his fist around the man’s shirtfront and lifted him up. “Tell me, do I look stupid to you?”
The man spluttered. “Of course not. For you, one credit.”
“What? No, not the jewelry. It’s crap. You ever fallen in love?”
“Um, well, yes.”
“Did you feel stupid? I mean utterly, boneheaded, brain-dead stupid?”
The man paused a moment, then nodded fervently. “Oh, yes. You should have seen what I—”
Ky released him, thumping him back to his feet and patting the shirtfront back into place. “I was afraid of that.”
The vendor cleared his throat. “Are you saying you are now in the state we call lovelorn? For that, I have much better things. I only bring them out for discerning customers, like yourself. A little more pricey, but worth it for your lady.” He began rummaging behind the stall.
“I don’t want any of your junk,” Ky said. His eye fell on a pin in the shape of a salamander, flashing and glittering with colored glass. “How much is that?”
“Ah—you have taste…”
“I’ll give you a credit for it.”
The man looked affronted. “It’s worth three.”
“Take it or leave it.” He dropped a credit strip drained of all but one credit and took up the brooch.
It reminded him of Aiden, fierce colors and that good-humored twinkle in his eye. It also made him think of Brianne, her curving shape and her beauty.
I’ve lost my mind and it’s going to kill me.
“Ident card.”
The hard-voiced command snapped Ky out of his reverie. He closed his hand around the salamander pin and looked down at a woman in scruffy gray holding a handheld.
She wasn’t a bad-looking woman, with sleek dark hair wound in a bun, an oval face and almond-shaped brown eyes. But she’d hidden her body under the loose coveralls and hardened her face by pulling her mouth severely down.
“I’m Ky, and I’m going home.”
She frowned, clearly not knowing what to do when a Shareem didn’t instantly produce his card. They were required to provide their identification on demand—Ky didn’t know why, it was bloody obvious they were Shareem.
“Ident card,” she repeated.
To humor her, he produced a strip of plastic and shoved it in the handheld. Her fingers trembled as she punched in codes and studied the readout.
“You new at this?” he asked.
“It’s temporary.” She tried to keep her voice hard, but she didn’t quite have the edge. “Until my promotion at the Ministry of Non-Human Life Forms.”
“Uh-huh. Why did you ident me?”
“What?” She blinked and looked up at him. Clearly they had told her Shareem would obey without question.
“Why did you ask for my ident?” He took the strip back from her, hiding amusement when she very carefully didn’t touch him.
Her gaze darted to the vendor, who’d turned to entice another customer. “I thought there was some trouble.”
“No trouble.” Ky smiled, turning on full Shareem power, which caused her to step back. “I was buying a gift.” He opened his hand to reveal the glittering brooch.
The patroller was woman enough to let her gaze linger on the pretty thing before she remembered to be severe. “Well, don’t let it happen again.”
Ky laughed, letting the sound grate into the night. “I won’t. He’s a robber. What’s your name?”
“Name?”
He deliberately moved her collar as though looking for a name tag. Patrollers didn’t wear them, but women who worked warehouse jobs did. He cast Shareem pheromones over her, giving her the full dose, and her eyes softened.
No, she didn’t look bad at all. If he hadn’t just realized he was in love with Aiden and Brianne at the same time, he might have tried a little fun with her. But he wanted to be with both Aiden and Brianne until he died—which might be sooner than he liked.
“Lacy,” she said breathlessly. “I don’t know why I told you that.”
“I do.” He released her. “Be nice to Shareem, Lacy, before your promotion. We’re sweethearts.”
She relaxed enough to smile, so easily succumbing to his power. “I’ll keep it in mind.”
“Good.” Ky gave another laugh, patted her backside and strolled away.
* * * * *
“You love him,” Brianne whispered.
“Mmm?” Aiden rose up on his elbow and looked down at Brianne in the darkness.
When he’d carried her here her limbs had felt mushy and limp. Now after a short sleep she’d awakened incredibly rested and refreshed.
“You love him,” she repeated.
Aiden flashed his handsome smile, then went somber. “Yeah, I do.”
“Tell him.”
“What?”
Brianne ran her hand along his strong arm, catching on the chain around his biceps. “I have tonight to be with you. I’ve enjoyed every second of it. Tomorrow I’ll go back to being Brianne d’Aroth—I have so many meetings scheduled.” She laughed a little as she ran her fingers around the black chain, fingers finding each cool link. Breaking it off with Dranis had caused hiccups in every level of her household and she’d spend the whole day smoothing things out.
“I’d like to think when I’m back in my ‘glittering palace’ as Ky calls it, that you two at least have each other. Grab onto your happiness with him and don’t let it go.”
Aiden had gone still during her speech. His eyes shone in the darkness, his Shareem touch on her face soothing. “You won’t get away from us that easily,” he said in seductive tones.
Brianne touched his lips, stilling his words. “No games right now. I’ll go, you and Ky will move on. I’ll always remember you and hold you in my heart. But tell him. Promise me?”
Aiden let out his breath. He captured her hand and brought it to his lips. “Anything to please a lady.” He kissed her fingers. “I promise.”
He smiled his devastating smile and told her to roll over. The games hadn’t finished, he showed her, not by a long shot.
* * * * *
Ky waited a long time for Aiden to return home that night. He watched three dramas digitally piped into their holo pic tube and couldn’t remember a thing about any of them.
At last, as dawn broke Aiden strolled in, humming a tune in his throat. Ky keyed off the digital and sat in silence. He wanted to ask Aiden a hundred questions, and now he couldn’t think of a word to say.
The drawbacks of being male, came the thought. Women would have hashed it all out by now. Males sit around wondering how to start.
“Nice night,” Aiden said. He flopped down on the sofa, moving a growing pile of Ky’s laundry, and draped one leg over the frayed arm. His thighs spread invitingly. “Why’d you leave? Brianne and I played a little more, and I know she wanted you there.” He threaded his hands behind his head. “What a sweetie.”
“I had to go.”
Before he did something stupid. He might have gone to Brianne in his frustration and taken her at level three. That would have been a complete disaster and would have landed himself back in the jail at Senoda waiting for termination, and possibly Aiden too.
No, he’d gone out and bought her an asinine present from a vendor, a gaudy brooch she’d probably wrinkle her rich-girl nose at. Shareem like Eland had it easy—he and Jeanne always knew when their master-slave games ended and didn’t feel bound by emotion.
Must be nice.
Ky was still hot and hard from need and from the revelation of his true feelings, and three hours of boring digitals hadn’t changed that.
“Brianne get home all right?” he asked gruffly.
“Yes. She was hurt you weren’t there to say goodnight. So she told me to say goodnight for her.”
Aiden hauled himself off
his sofa and dropped next to Ky on the other one. His Shareem warmth poured over Ky, making Ky’s already miserable cock dance and ache.
“I can still smell her scent on me,” Aiden said, his voice a satisfied growl. He licked Ky’s ear and when Ky turned his head Aiden slanted a soft kiss across his lips. “Good night.”
Ky drew away, breathing hard, aroused as hell. “You told Rio.”
Aiden looked blank. “Told Rio what?”
Ky stood up and folded his arms, painfully aware that his cock was pressing hard against his pants. “You told Rio you wanted me. Gods, I feel stupid even saying that. You told him a long time ago, before he left for Ariel.”
Aiden froze. “He told you? Shit, see if I send him a birthday card.”
“It’s true then? He wasn’t making it up to be a pain in the ass?”
“No, he is a pain in the ass, but he wasn’t making it up.” Aiden’s eyes held wariness.
“You can’t,” Ky began.
“How can I not?” Aiden got off the sofa and looked Ky straight in the eye. “You’re my best friend, we went through hell together, I would have died if not for you. I don’t pant after every Shareem who walks by, but when I see you in nothing but thigh boots I get a huge hard-on. All right? Now you know. Live with it.”
“You should have told me. I would have left.”
“I know. That’s why I didn’t tell you.”
They eyed each other, Aiden’s blue eyes shutting Ky out, the handsome perfection of his face impregnable.
“You’ve been kissing me,” Ky said. “And touching me. That hasn’t been slop-over pheromones from Brianne?”
Aiden’s expression softened, his Shareem chemistry trying to distract him from difficult emotion. “What a sweet woman she’s turned out to be. I’m glad now she had me arrested…”
Ky grasped Aiden’s face in one hand. “Focus. It wasn’t just because of Brianne that you started feeling me up?”
“No, I did it because you asked me to. I remember you sitting on the bed in the inn at Elred begging for my hand.”
“I remember that too.”
“So what was your reason?”
Ky folded his arms over his chest again, as though wanting to hug the discomfort away. “I wanted you to touch me. I wanted you.”
Tales of the Shareem 04 - Aiden and Ty Page 13