by Ann Jacobs
When they entered Arik and Emerald’s private tower, four royal eunuchs rose from their prostrated positions on Arik’s order. Romulus gasped at the sight. He’d seen the four royal eunuchs before, but not when they were unclothed. “They’re…”
“My cousins. They were completely desexed, for no reason other than that they were the sons of my father’s late brother. I believe it is wrong to mutilate boys and men whose only wrongdoing was an accident of birth or circumstance.”
Romulus tore his gaze from the eunuchs and looked at Arik. “You were a younger son, as well, were you not?”
“For someone not born and raised on Obsidion, you seem to know our history well. Yes, I was a younger son, banished and hunted because, unlike my cousins, I refused to consent to being made a eunuch.
“For that, I was chased to the ends of the galaxy by mercenaries my father hired. They very nearly killed me. Only some kind primitives on the planet Westphalia saved me, nursing me back to some semblance of health. Still I was left whole sexually, for which I am grateful. The only reason I am here now as my father’s heir to the Diamond Throne is because my older brother had the misfortune of picking a fight with the wrong sky pirates and losing his life. I endured months of torture last year at the hands of the surgeons, so I can walk among my subjects and not have them run away in terror.” Arik gestured toward the eye patch he wore before turning to his cousins as though to end that thread of conversation.
“You may leave now,” he told them. “I believe my guests have seen enough of you.”
Her touch gentle and loving, Emerald rubbed a hand along the prince’s muscular thigh while he watched his cousins leave and said, “You do not owe your subjects any explanation for your edict, not even a subject who is mated with my sister. What you have ordered is right.”
“But has his highness considered what abiding by that order will do to Romulus’ and others’ business in the sex-slave trade? Not to mention what is to become of those homeless, unemployed eunuchs who may decide they no longer wish to ply their trade in the Street of Pleasure? Has Prince Arik considered what harm his order will cause to the tourist trade on Obsidion?” Garnet grasped Romulus’ forearm hard enough to draw his gaze. He found it difficult to keep from becoming obviously aroused from the simple fact of her nearness and the heat of her body touching his.
Arik stood, a compelling figure in his black court garb. “Yes, little sister, I considered it. Some loss of business may take place, that’s true. I don’t believe there will be that big a drop in the tourist trade, though. Certainly not enough to justify continuing the barbaric practices that have become ingrained in Obsidion’s society.”
“What of those like your royal cousins, who have already been altered? Would you have the surgeons attempt to make them whole?” Romulus asked.
“I doubt that’s possible, though the cyborg maker Pak Song has made strides toward such restoration. There is an Earthling named Conan who reportedly does well with a bionic cock, although at this point, bionics are not sufficiently advanced to restore fertility. But I digress.
“My intent is to see that no more boys are mutilated on this planet, and that none who have been mutilated elsewhere are brought here to service customers in sex slave parlors like yours.”
Romulus stepped forward, determined to meet his ruler without showing fear. “But your highness, the edict says eunuchs may no longer be kept as sex slaves in the emporiums. What is to become of the ones already in my employ, and in the service of other purveyors in the Street of Pleasure?”
Arik strode to the window, as though considering his response. “Tell me, Romulus, for I’m sure you know. Can your eunuchs perform as men?”
“Do you mean, can they fuck a woman? Of course, as long as they were allowed to mature fully before being cut and as long as they take the hormones they are prescribed. Some don’t. As with all sentient beings, some eunuchs want to dominate their partners sexually, while others prefer to play a submissive role. Submissive eunuchs play well with male customers whose societies forbid them from having sex with females. Dominant ones are obviously better suited to meeting the needs of female customers. The majority of eunuch sex slaves in my emporiums are submissive. There are, of course, exceptions to every rule. Occasionally one finds a eunuch with a dominant bent, just as a whole male may be sexually submissive.”
“I see.” Arik turned back to Romulus, his eye compelling Romulus to maintain contact. “Then, if the eunuchs no longer worked in the sex trade, most of them might live normal lives outside the Street of Pleasure?”
Romulus felt the heat of Garnet’s hand on his thigh. “I suppose they might. But the eunuchs are popular with tourists, particularly Earthling females and males from planets like Aurelion where same-sex intercourse is the norm. I shudder to think of the losses you’ll suffer in tax revenues if you go ahead with this and outlaw eunuchs from working in the emporiums.”
“You are an Aurelonian, are you not?” Emerald asked.
“Yes.”
Arik fingered his eye patch as though it irritated the scar that apparently traversed his eye socket. “Would your countrymen pass on having sex with a woman or a whole man if they were not given the choice of taking a eunuch?”
“Except for members of the royal family, Aurelonians do not take eunuch lovers. Boys are given their own personal life-companion slaves before they reach maturity, to provide them acceptable outlets for their sexual urges. The slaves are almost always submissive, and they are sterile but whole.”
When Garnet smiled at him, Romulus couldn’t help smiling back and reassuring her. “I can’t vouch for all Aurelonians, but given the choice, I would take my mate over any eunuch I’ve ever seen. Even over my life companion.”
“I had heard rumors that you keep a clone. Since we are related now, I will assume that rumor has to do with you having this life-companion slave in your house. I suggest that you present him as your brother and that he do and say nothing to make people question the story.” Arik paused, as though considering his words carefully. “It is not my intent to shut down the sex emporiums on the Street of Pleasure or pauper any of my subjects. However, I cannot condone mutilation. My edict will stand. Your eunuchs may go or stay in your employ, as they choose, for I insist you offer them their freedom. If you have treated them well, I wager many of them will want to stay.”
Romulus stood and faced his prince. He couldn’t argue with Arik’s logic, or with the rightness of the new rule. Though he couldn’t be certain, he imagined the majority of his eunuch sex slaves would opt to stay, particularly since he was even now considering what enticements he would offer to keep them on. It might not be as bad a rule as it seemed on the surface.
His only real concern was in Arik’s timing. Why had he decided to issue his edict now? Though the prince could not have known it, Romulus was well on the way to falling in love with Garnet. And Garnet had accepted him sight unseen, but only because he was a very wealthy man.
“It’s all right,” Garnet whispered as they wound their way down the tower steps and to the luxurious transporter Romulus soon might not be able to afford. “If your business suffers, we can always sell our jewels.” She shot him a dazzling smile as he slid into the transporter beside her.
He couldn’t have been more surprised or happier when his mate caught his cock ring between her teeth and licked the sensitive flesh beneath it. “It’s true, I married you for your wealth, but I love you for the way you make my cunt yearn for this. Come, take me home and fuck me until we’re too tired to fuck anymore. Then fuck me some more.”
“Gladly, my jewel.” Romulus gunned the engine of the transporter and sped them home.
Chapter Four
“If you wish, you may have your freedom,” Antonio told the comely eunuch he’d selected from the dozens on display in the showroom and brought with him to his new quarters. “If not, you will become my life companion.”
“I will be your companion. Gladly.” The tall, s
lender eunuch knelt and took Antonio’s cock between his teeth. “Mmmm,” he said when Antonio arched his hips and seated himself within his lover’s throat. His balls drew up, tickled deliciously by the warm, damp breath that bathed them in heat—he’d almost say affection.
For years now Antonio had been the willing recipient of Romulus’ seed. Now he wanted to give some of his own. “Cease or you’ll make me come, and when I do, I want my cock to be buried deep in your hot, tight ass.”
The eunuch rolled over onto his back, raising and spreading his muscular legs to reveal a long but slender half-hard cock and an inviting asshole stretched taut around a good-size butt plug. “Take me, Master. Put your hard cock up my ass and fuck me.”
“I want to know something about the man I’m about to fuck. What’s your name?” Antonio realized he had much to learn about interpersonal relationships, now that he no longer was confined to his Master’s rooms.
“Xander. I was an Earthling until I ran afoul of the laws there. Once they castrated me, I decided to come here and sell myself as a sex slave. Becoming a drone didn’t appeal to me at all.” He grinned, showing strong white teeth. “I can tell by your coloring that you hail from Aurelion.”
“Yes.” Antonio laid Xander’s legs over his shoulders, bending as he did to tongue-fuck his mouth. He licked the eunuch’s incredibly soft lips, loving the taste of his own arousal, the slickness of the lubrication there. For a long time he just enjoyed the closeness, the feel of Xander’s firm, muscular body beneath him, the press of a half-hard cock against his chest. A sensation of warmth, of rightness surrounded them. “You feel good, Xander. Do I excite you?”
“Yes, Master.”
Antonio’s cock swelled with anticipation when he removed the butt plug and positioned himself against the other’s stretched-out sphincter. “Relax. I’m going to fuck you now. Mmm. You feel incredibly good.”
Antonio sank his cock into the tight, hot passage, imagining that he was doing this while Romulus plumbed his own ass, the way he had the other night. Oh gods, it felt exquisite to be buried to the balls in this snug, dark cavern. Xander moaned, using his hands to open his ass cheeks wider as though begging for more, for everything Antonio had to offer.
Tighter than a woman’s cunt, Xander’s ass was the perfect receptacle. Antonio strained to hold back. He didn’t want to come too soon because then it would be over and he desperately wanted the feelings to last. “Oh yeah.” The way Xander tightened around his cock felt better than anything in Antonio’s memory. “Do you like the way my cock feels in your ass?”
“Gods yes, Master. Please fuck me harder. Make me come.”
Antonio leaned back, almost withdrew. He reached down and jacked Xander’s cock. Then he sank his cock in to the balls and concentrated on the sensations—heat and tightness and the incredible softness of his lover’s cock head against his fingers.
When Antonio finally let go and came deep in his lover’s ass, he knew he’d come home. Much later they lay in bed, Xander’s back nestled in the curve of Antonio’s hips, his cock tucked between Xander’s legs while Antonio kept one hand curved loosely about his lover’s now flaccid cock.
* * * * *
The next morning Romulus called Antonio into his chamber. When the slave appeared with the lover he’d been ordered to find, Romulus smiled with satisfaction.
“I see you followed my advice, little brother.” It wouldn’t do for them to slip, though Romulus still thought of Antonio as his life companion, and it felt strange to see him looking fondly at the young Earthling eunuch he’d selected to warm his bed.
“Yes, Master. This is Xander. I offered him his freedom, but he chose to stay with me.” Antonio reached down and stroked the heart-shaped patch on the eunuch’s upper thigh.
“We must offer all the eunuch sex slaves their freedom. Emerald and I want you to help us think of enticements we can offer that will make them want to stay.” Romulus nodded to his mate, who stood and moved to the window.
“My suggestion is to offer them a pleasant place to live, good food and free time to pursue their own interests. My father does that with the house slaves—it helps keep them content. He also gives them a few credits each month to use for their own pleasure,” she said. “I think that may be why they don’t rebel or try to run away.”
“That sounds like a good start, brother.” Antonio took a seat, not on the bed but on the chaise, as though he accepted that their relationship had changed. Xander knelt at Antonio’s feet, clarifying their relationship. “How about also giving them a choice as to which customers they want to service?”
All that sounded to Romulus as if it could become a very expensive proposition. “I suppose the sex slaves could earn their credits by taking on customers they consider repulsive. I’m not certain about giving them an actual choice as to whom they offer services. I have no problem with upgrading their quarters and increasing their time off, those costs can be recouped easily by raising prices.
“I could let them earn more credits and give them choices as to the hormones they take by making them use some of their credits to pay for the ones they want. And we could close the emporiums one day a week—different days for each of the emporiums, thus sending business to the ones of our facilities that remain open.” Other sex-slave traders wouldn’t have that advantage, as no one owned as many sex-slave establishments as Romulus.
Emerald came over and sat down, placing her hand on his thigh. “It will work, Master. I’m sure of it. You will be offering the same benefits to the female sex slaves, won’t you?”
Romulus sighed. “I hadn’t planned to, my lovely one. The prince’s edict applies only to eunuchs, not all sex slaves.”
When he saw Emerald’s beautiful lips purse into a pout, he figured he was lost, but he had to give it one more try. “Think of it this way, Emerald. A female sex slave costs as much to feed, clothe and house as a eunuch, but she brings in less than half the revenue.”
“But it wouldn’t be fair!” Standing, Emerald stared him down while Antonio obviously suppressed an urge to laugh out loud. “You could always try new marketing schemes to popularize the females—maybe even advertisements as far away as Earth and Mars.”
He might as well give in. His mate had him on this. “I suppose you have a point. It would cause discord in the living quarters if I gave one group the advantage over another. Antonio, I want you to tell the managers and set a schedule for me to talk with the slaves tomorrow at each of the establishments.”
“Yes, Master.” Antonio’s mouth curved in a grin. “I mean brother. Since I found Xander, I believe I will do quite well in this new position. I hope you have similar good luck with the lady Emerald.”
* * * * *
“They must be dreaming.” The next night Garnet peered into Antonio’s darkened sleeping chamber, listening to the slow, steady breathing of Antonio and the sex slave he’d chosen. The two seemed well matched, as matched as she was with Romulus. He stood behind her now, his rigid cock nudging the jewel-encrusted plug in her ass.
“It’s our bedtime, too,” he murmured, his voice low and suggestive.
“Oh yes, Master.”
“You don’t mind if I can’t always give you the beautiful things you wanted so much? If I’m not always known as the man of gold?” Back in their bedchamber, Romulus divested her of the fabulous jewels he’d put on her earlier, leaving her naked but for the rings that dangled from her nipples, and the brand-new dangle for her clit ring that he’d had placed there before they went to plead his case to Prince Arik.
“It went well today, didn’t it, Master?”
“So far only three eunuch slaves have asked for their freedom. Most of them seem enthusiastic about the prospect of better housing, less work and more time to pursue their own interests. We shall see, though, as time passes.”
“I doubt you need to fear the poorhouse. From all I’ve heard, your emporiums are the finest in the Street of Pleasure. And sex sells. With or without the
eunuchs, business should continue to thrive.”
Romulus smiled. “I hope you are right, my love, for I want to give you everything you’ve ever dreamed about. I want to fulfill your every fantasy.”
His skin glowed golden in the twilight, alien but so beautiful she wanted nothing at the moment but to touch it, feel its warm smoothness against her own heated body. “You can give of yourself, Master mine. That’s what I want most. I wish you would do it now.”
She loved the way his eyes glowed when he became aroused. His rigid cock beckoned her eyes, her hands, her mouth. “Go ahead,” he said, his voice hoarse with need, “take me as you will.”
“Oh, yes. I will take you…consume you.” Dropping to her knees, Garnet stroked his long, narrow feet, his muscular calves and thighs. Everywhere she touched him, she felt his heat, his barely leashed lust. When she cupped his sac, he let out an anguished groan. “Hush. Let me mate with you as you mated with me.”
She had none of the fragrant incense that had perfumed the altar where she’d lain, a passive gift to her Master, her king of the Street of Pleasure. She didn’t need it, not now, as she made slow, sweet love to Romulus, her beloved mate.
The perfume came from him and her, and from the fragrant garden outside their open window. Gods in the heavens, but he made her hot, hotter than she’d ever dreamed she could be. She licked and stroked his magnificent cock, sampling the drop of lubrication that glistened around the ring at its tip. Salty—slightly bitter—yet a part of him she yearned to take and nourish within her body not just now but forever.
She cupped his tight ass cheeks then traced around his anus with a finger. “Did Antonio ever take you this way?”
“No. Never. You can use a strap-on, though, if it would give you pleasure…”
Would it? Garnet ringed his anus with one finger, remembering the pain and the pleasure when Romulus had claimed her tight rear passage for the first time. “What I want to know is whether it would give you pleasure.”