by Kate Hill
Tamanna’s heart pounded so hard for a moment she thought she might faint. She pushed away from him, walked to the bed, and sat. “Chand can never be free again?”
“Only if you love me. If you don’t --”
She lifted her gaze to his. “I love you, Kabir, but part of me is angry. Why did you lie?”
“I thought if I told you, you would either try to force our love or refuse to see me for fear of trapping Chand in the netherworld. Either way, the priests reign would continue.” He knelt at her feet and took her hands. His hands had suddenly gone quite cold. Desperation shone in his eyes. “Please forgive me, Tamanna, but I had to try to stop this bloodthirsty deception.”
“I do forgive you.” She brushed his lips with hers.
“Tamanna,” he whispered, rising slightly and deepening the kiss.
It was over. She would never feel Chand’s arms around her again. Never hold or kiss him. Never --
Kabir’s tongue slipped into her mouth and though a hurt, grieving part of her didn’t want to respond, another part couldn’t seem to resist him.
With the utmost gentleness, Kabir caressed her face. He broke the kiss and held her gaze with affection and sorrow that matched her own.
“Kabir,” she murmured and tightened her arms around him, kissing him with all the pent up passion she felt.
“I need to feel you, Tamanna,” he murmured. “I need --”
“Yes, Kabir. Yes,” she said breathlessly, covering his face with kisses. He lifted her in his arms and carried her to the bed where he fell upon her with tender yet hungry kisses. His lips trailed across her forehead, over her cheeks, and down her neck.
Tamanna closed her eyes and breathed deeply. Her fingers entwined in his short, soft hair while he slipped her tunic down her torso, baring her breasts to his lips and tongue. He took one of her nipples into his mouth and sucked, then swept his tongue over it with wet, gentle strokes.
She whimpered with need and allowed the wonderful sensations to wash over her body.
While Chand had been a commanding, passionate lover, Kabir was tender and asking. His hands, now warmed by desire, moved over her almost reverently. Each kiss, every stroke of his tongue and tug of his lips, promised sweet fulfillment.
“Tamanna,” he breathed, parting her thighs and kneeling between her legs. She opened her eyes halfway and gazed at him, waiting for him to continue. “Tamanna, I want to kiss your luscious flesh and give you pleasure with my tongue. May I?”
“Yes, oh, yes!”
Without further hesitation, he lowered his face to her soft mound and covered her sensitive nub with his lips. Desperate for release, Tamanna writhed and shifted her hips against his stroking tongue and tugging lips.
Kabir’s large hands held her hips while he lapped and sucked.
Tingling from head to toe, Tamanna wove her fingers through his hair, allowing herself to surrender completely.
With a cry of ultimate fulfillment, she came, quivering and throbbing. Kabir covered her and thrust deeply.
“Oh, Kabir! Yes, my love,” she cried, clinging to him, her hips rising to meet his every desperate thrust.
“Tamanna, please,” he gasped against her lips, then kissed her, his tongue thrusting into her mouth in time with his cock.
Her second orgasm overcame her more quickly than she imagined possible. She clung to him in a haze of passion, feeling him surge into her and shout her name in ecstasy.
In the space of a heartbeat, Kabir and Tamanna found themselves removed from her chamber and standing in the center of a large golden room. A powerfully muscled man with smooth ebony skin stared at them from where he sat on a jade throne at the back of the room.
“Approach,” he spoke in a thundering voice.
“Who are you?” Tamanna asked.
A slow smile spread across his face. “A mortal who dares question a god. I can see why you caught my son’s interest. I am Ailesh, the God of Gods.”
Tamanna’s heart pounded and a glance at Kabir revealed that his face had gone pale. They approached the throne and knelt before it.
The god continued, “You have brought about the end of the priests’ ritual and have earned the right to freedom. When you return to the world, you and the other women will be free, Tamanna. You all will be given the wealth you were promised to enjoy the rest of your lives in luxury. Kabir, you will no longer be connected to Chand and will begin to age and die as a mortal man.”
Tamanna and Kabir exchanged glances. She sensed a common question burning between them and asked, “What about Chand, My Lord?”
“He is condemned to spend eternity in the netherworld.”
“Forgive me, My Lord, but hasn’t he been punished long enough?” Kabir asked.
“You wish to see his freedom restored?” asked the great god. “There is one way, but to do it, you must all sacrifice, yet you will also gain much.”
“What must we do?” Tamanna asked.
“Rather than die, you will remain immortal, Kabir. Ah,” Ailesh smiled, “this appeals to you. In spite of your quest for justice, you enjoyed immortality.”
“I enjoy freedom to live as I wish more.”
“You will, with the exception that you will continue to play host to Chand and allow him to enter the heavens and the mortal world through your body -- at times that are convenient to you both, of course.”
“The priests --”
“Will no longer have any control over either of you. The body and soul sharing will be by mutual agreement.”
“What about me?” Tamanna asked.
“You must agree to love them both.”
“I already do.”
“Kabir, you are willing to share her with the Lust God, or will you condemn him to an eternity in the netherworld?”
A hint of jealousy flashed across Kabir’s face, then he shook his head and closed his eyes, his fists clenched. “I can’t do it to him. I can’t leave him in exile. Though I hate to admit it, he’s part of me now.”
“But will he agree to this?” Tamanna asked. “You know how stubborn he is.”
“He’ll agree,” Kabir stated. “He wants his freedom even more than his pride.”
“I must speak with Chand now,” Ailesh stated, clapping his hands once.
In a motion too quick for mortal eyes to see, Kabir became Chand.
Her heart pounding with apprehension and arousal, Tamanna stared at the Lust God. He was as beautiful as she remembered -- four powerful arms, flashing golden eyes, and a handsome, arrogant face she had dreamed of for weeks.
“You have heard our discussion,” Ailesh stated.
“I am still condemned, Father,” Chand raged. “I am still a slave to --”
“Silence!” Ailesh roared. “You foolish boy! I offer you the means to a free life once again. The mortal man and woman love you enough to share their lives with you. Have you learned nothing during your exile?”
Chand’s teeth clenched visibly and he swallowed hard, his hands curled into fists. He turned to Tamanna and she stepped forward, touching his chest, feeling his heart thump fast against her palm.
“Chand, please,” she whispered. “I love you very much.”
“And you love Kabir.”
“Yes.”
“If I agree, there is one final step to this arrangement.” Chand held her gaze. “I must make you immortal.”
Repulsion coiled inside her. “By taking your blood and becoming a creature like the priests? How can you ask that of me, Chand?”
“Don’t be a fool, Tamanna,” he snapped. “I would never condemn you to that half life. When the blood of a god is freely given as an expression of love, instead of becoming a demonic parasite, the recipient becomes a god as well, with all the powers and privileges we enjoy. Is that not right, Father?”
Tamanna turned to Ailesh who nodded solemnly.
“Do you accept my terms?” Chand asked her.
His terms. She and Kabir were offering him freedom, but he was st
ipulating terms. She could have laughed at the familiar arrogance she had learned to adore.
In truth, the decision didn’t require much thought. The idea of becoming a goddess, of spending eternity with the men she loved more than anything, was almost too wonderful to comprehend.
“Yes, Chand. I agree.”
He reached for her, wrapping his arms around her and covering her mouth in a kiss so long and deep that she nearly lost consciousness. While still floating in a gasping haze of pleasure, she tasted a rich, sweet liquid on her tongue and knew it was Chand’s blood.
She lapped and sucked at the small wounds his fangs had made in his lip. Her eyes closed, she clung to him tightly as her mortality fell away, replaced by power she had never imagined.
Epilogue
Centuries Later
The Heavens
The sun-warmed grass felt wonderful beneath Kabir’s bare feet as he and Tamanna strolled in the field behind Ailesh’s palace. They had stopped living in the temple long ago, though they still visited the mortal world often throughout the year. Most of their time was spent at the heavenly palace where Tamanna served on the deities’ council.
“You look especially lovely today,” Kabir said, stroking his hand through Tamanna’s waist-length black hair.
“Thank you.” She smiled, pausing to stand on tiptoe and kiss him.
Yes, she is lovely, Chand’s voice echoed in Kabir’s mind. You have enjoyed that loveliness for over two weeks.
Chand, just one more day, Kabir replied.
You have had enough days! I want to be with her and will wait not a moment longer.
Kabir slowly broke the kiss and raised his eyes. He was being rather selfish and Chand had been unusually patient. There was no point in pushing his luck.
“What’s wrong?” Tamanna asked, reaching up to stroke his face.
“Chand misses you.”
Tamanna smiled and cast her eyes down. Whenever she refused to meet his gaze he knew it meant she missed the Lust God as well but feared insulting Kabir by admitting it.
While their strange three-way relationship usually went along smoothly, Kabir couldn’t help feeling a hint of jealousy at times. He knew Tamanna loved him and Chand equally, but --
I am not afraid to admit my envy, boy. Right now I’m beside myself with jealousy and I want to see my woman now!
“Our woman,” Kabir said through clenched teeth.
“Excuse me?” Tamanna demanded.
“He says you’re his woman. I merely corrected him by saying you are our woman.”
Tamanna tilted her head slightly, her eyes bright with annoyance. “You’re both wrong. I’m my own woman. Now, once you two boys have settled your differences, I’ll be waiting for Chand in our room. When my time with him is over, Kabir, you and I will…” She looped her arms around his neck and kissed him, her tongue slipping between his lips and teasing him.
He tightened his grip on her, but she slipped away and headed toward the palace, tossing a flirtatious glance over her shoulder.
I have been patient long enough, Kabir. I am coming. Now.
Sighing, Kabir closed his eyes. Within seconds, he was floating in the dark haze of Chand’s mind.
The Lust God opened his eyes and flexed his four hands. His chest expanded with a deep breath of warm spring air and he couldn’t control the eager pounding of his heart.
Enjoy yourself, Chand, but remember, she’s mine, too.
I’m sure you will not allow me to forget, Kabir. Now be gone and leave me in peace for a few short hours.
Kabir’s inner voice disappeared and Chand smiled slightly. In truth, the boy wasn’t so bad. Sometimes he even enjoyed their conversations, but not today. Today Tamanna waited, and he needed to fulfill her every lustful expectation.
The End
Kate Hill
Kate Hill’s fiction and poetry have appeared in publications both on and off the Internet. When she’s not writing, Kate enjoys reading, working out, and spending time with her family. Visit her online at http://www.kate-hill.com.