“Let me have her,” he said. Red withdrew from her in a gentle motion, and Kepp drew her to him. She collapsed onto his chest. Her head lay against his, her glorious hair splayed about his shoulders. He caressed her back and her buttocks with his fingertips. A fine sheen of sweat covered her velvety skin, and Kepp couldn’t resist. He licked her, wanting to taste the salt of her, inhaling the sweet musk of her body.
The woman’s legs rested across his thighs, his cock pressed against her belly. Although he tried to restrain himself, he gave in to his desire and pulled her higher, sliding his erect penis through her wet warmth. He was surprised and pleased when her hips moved against him in response. Her teeth nibbled a delicate path along the sensitive tendons of his neck, driving him wild. His friends had stretched out on either side of them, the heat of their bodies washing over him, and he was aware of their presence. But as he felt her tongue taste his skin, the same way he’d tasted her, it seemed to Kepp as if only two people occupied the bed. He was one, the woman who lay sprawled atop him, the other. Now was not the time to hold back. Despite her body’s initial resistance to the size of his erection, he entered her in one smooth motion. He’d waited his turn. He hadn’t been the first, but, by God, he would be the last.
His deep thrust had her moaning with pleasure. Kepp groaned in response. He wanted nothing more than to flip the woman over so he could spread her wide and pound into her, but he held back. Wat and Red had already taken her, and he worried about the bruises on her back. No way in hell would he do anything to hurt her.
“Kiss me, Tanner,” she whispered in his ear. “Kiss me as if we are the only two people in this world.”
So she feels the same thing I do.
Her soft, sweet lips brushed along his jaw as her hips met his, thrust for thrust.
“Kiss me,” she sighed, her breath warm against his mouth.
Kepp’s hands slid along her rib cage, and he lifted her with gentle pressure so that her breasts with their erect nipples swept over his chest. He brought her mouth to his, biting her love-swollen lower lip, forcing her to open for him. His tongue plundered her warm, willing mouth, tasting her sweetness. He swallowed her ragged cries before they could escape those luscious lips.
Kepp’s focus was all on the woman. Nevertheless, he felt Wat step between their legs, and he knew his friend wanted to take her again, to share her, to fuck that succulent ass of hers. Kepp tore his mouth from hers.
“No,” he growled at the man. “Not now. She’s mine.”
“My finger, at least,” Wat begged. “Give me that much.”
The woman in his arms whimpered, and he thrust up, deep and hard, as if to emphasize his ownership of her body, at least for now. But Wat would add to her pleasure and, above all, Kepp wanted this woman pleasured.
“Anything but a finger, and I cut it off.”
“Yes, captain.”
Kepp heard Wat suck on his finger, and in another moment, he felt the woman jerk in his arms as she impaled herself even deeper on his cock. She gave a little squeak. Good lord in heaven. Holy fuck. Kepp half expected the top of his head to explode. Maybe both heads. Her body gloved him like tight, hot, wet satin. He could feel the pressure of Wat’s finger pressed against his cock, and if his ears were still working right, it sounded like both his friends were jacking off. He knew they’d come on her back or her ass. The thought didn’t bother him. On the contrary, it turned him on even more. He understood their aching need for the woman he held in his arms as she rocked her hips up and down, riding him like she rode a horse, a big fucking horse.
The pace of her breathing increased. Hearing her moan once more, Kepp lifted her higher, his hands under her breasts, his thumbs rasping over her sensitive nipples. He took her mouth again to stifle his roar as he pressed up, hips rising high, burying himself inside her. As his orgasm began, he could feel her inner muscles tremble and contract around him. Her hands gripped his hair, her tongue sucked his, and she came in complete silence, milking him for all she was worth, milking him dry. Kepp had never come so hard in his entire life. As she fell over him, he heard Wat and Red grunt with their nearly simultaneous release, and the two collapsed back onto the bed, one on either side of him.
When his brain began to function again, Kepp pulled out of her, taking care to keep his movements slow and easy. He knew she might be sore, and the last thing he wanted to do was add to that. Her body released him with reluctance, and he heard the tiniest whimper escape her throat as he withdrew. Kepp scooted up in the bed, carrying the woman with him. Red and Wat joined them, and the four slid under the quilts, chilly now that the sweat began to cool on their bodies.
The woman came to him, curling her body against his without hesitation as though she belonged there. Kepp pressed her head into the hollow of his shoulder, caressing her thick hair with a gentle hand. Wat lay on his back on one side of Kepp, his arms folded behind his head, while Red stretched his long body on the other side of the woman, draping himself over her like a blanket.
When their breathing had resumed its normal rhythm and their hearts had slowed to steady thumps, Kepp lifted his head and cupped the woman’s chin with his hand. He brought her mouth to his. With a motion that was both lazy and enticing, he rubbed his lips over hers and pressed the tip of his tongue against her teeth. He lay back down with a satisfied sigh. Now, he decided, was the perfect time to begin.
“Tell me, princess, how did Regnan steal you, and why does the son of a bitch call you his wife?”
* * * *
Lira lay against the man, sated, her mind drifting, thoughts hazy. The pleasure pavilions had not prepared her for the raw intensity of the real thing, the bonding with three chosen consorts. Every nerve ending in her body still tingled with excitement and arousal. It was as if these men had turned on a switch inside her, one that could only be turned off by death.
For the first time in two months, she felt safe and protected, and her heart filled with hope. These men would die to keep her from Regnan and Speth and men of their ilk. She felt it in her bones. They were men of courage and honor. She opened her mouth to ask them how they came to be assigned to protect her when Tanner Kepp, the one who seemed to be the master of them all, spoke up. His words made it clear he knew who she was, so it followed that all three men must know the truth. If they knew and they’d taken her with full knowledge of her identity in their minds and hearts, then that meant they would accept their roles. Whether they realized it or not, they had become her official, legal consorts according to the constitution of Zhinshu.
Lira lifted herself on an elbow and rested her head on her hand. Her other hand played with the hairs on Tanner’s broad chest, smiling at the goose bumps that rose beneath her fingertips. She reached across his body to touch Wat and then swung her arm behind her to include Red.
“I am not Regnan’s wife.” She tried to keep some of the venom from her voice. “I am his prisoner. He forced me here, tried to make me accept him as consort. He wanted a child so he could control both nations. Only a child conceived with consent of the heir to the throne can rule.” She willed herself to be calm. “Regnan tells me it must be this way so Battarq can rule both nations. He claims he acts in the general’s interests.”
“But now, because of what we’ve done, Regnan can never have me, and Speth can no longer beat me to try to force me into submission. I am bonded tonight, to the three of you. My body is my pledge. I belong to all of you.” Lira raised a hand. “It is the way of my people.”
All three men bolted upright.
“I tried to tell you, Captain,” said Red with a snort. “If the heir to the throne of Zhinshu willingly and deliberately takes three men to bed with her at once, they become her legal consorts.”
“And you didn’t think to stop us?” Tanner’s voice sounded incredulous. He reached across her to give Red a shove. “We’re loyal soldiers of Kuhbak.”
Red gave another snort in response and fell back onto the bed.
From the
other side of the captain, Wat spoke up.
“Guess we’re married loyal soldiers of Kuhbak.” He laughed. “Hold me, Captain.”
“Damn it, woman,” Tanner grabbed her by the shoulders and gave her a shake, “you tricked us.”
Lira winced at the pain she felt from her injuries, but mostly from his words. The man seemed to realize what he was doing because he released her.
“I did not trick you,” she countered, anger in her voice. “And you, Captain Kepp, are not thinking clearly. As my consorts, you are under my protection. Speth and these other men,” she swept an arm towards the door, “they are already dead. They are dead and buried. My Zealots will see to that, but you three will be spared. Even as loyal soldiers of Kuhbak, you will be honored above all others. I want to end this war of attrition. The three of you can help me do that.”
“Besides,” she softened her tone, “by Red’s own admission, he was aware of the law. He could have spoken up. And it did not seem to me as if any one of you was an unwilling participant. I showed you just how much I trust you. I would never have stepped through that doorway if I had any doubts about your honor.”
Tanner rubbed his jaw.
“You’re right about one thing, you didn’t force us.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” said Red, his hand vanishing beneath the quilts. “I’m feelin’ a might coerced right now. I think it’s the way you smell.” He turned Lira around and kissed her. “Like sex on a stick. You up for another go-round, wife?”
Despite her anger, Lira found it impossible to stifle her grin.
“Get off her, Red.” Tanner shoved him aside, his irritation obvious. “We need to talk about this before we get in any deeper.”
“I don’t know,” said Wat, “I can get it in pretty deep. I’m up for more if you are.”
“This isn’t a joke.”
From the way his muscles tensed behind her, Lira knew she’d pushed the captain too far. She needed to diffuse the situation.
“Captain Kepp, please, I beg you to listen to me for a moment.” She reached for him, scooting up on her knees so that she knelt by his side. “I was brought here against my will. For two months, I’ve searched for a way out or for a way to contact my people. Until you three arrived yesterday, I had no hope of escape. When you,” she brushed the captain’s shoulder with her fingertips, “knocked Mr. Speth through my door, I knew you were the ones I had prayed for. The possibility was plain to see. As plain as the nose on your face.”
“That was lust you saw, pure and simple,” Tanner commented, his voice dry as toast.
“Well, if lust binds you to me and you help me escape, lust will have to be enough. There is always a beginning, Tanner Kepp. Once you begin with the heir to the throne of Zhinshu, you cannot turn back. I’ll answer any questions you may have, and then, if we have time, I’d like to bathe. I’m a bit, um, sticky.” A corner of her mouth turned up.
“You’d like to bathe with us?” asked Red. He sounded curious.
“Yes.”
“Why?” Tanner asked. Lira heard the distrust in his voice, and it stung.
“I can’t bathe in my own quarters at this time of night. The guards would become suspicious, and in truth, it would be a relief to bathe without prying eyes. And there is another reason.”
Wat leaned over and took her nipple into his mouth. His tongue was gentle but persistent. When he finished, he leaned back and touched her wet skin. Red scooted close and watched with interest. Lira noticed that Tanner tried not to.
“Nice,” Wat commented, his thumb rolling over the puckered, wet tip. Lira caught her breath. “What’s the other reason?” he asked.
“I think I know this.” Red spoke for her as his fingers slid into the soft wetness between her legs. “You need to,” Lira heard the man swallow hard, “bond with all three of us at once, don’t you? And I’m guessing you think it would be easier in that sunken tub in there. Am I right?”
Lira inclined her head. That seemed to be about all she could do. As his fingers worked magic, her voice refused to work at all.
Wat climbed over everyone and headed into the bathroom.
“Wait,” ordered Tanner, “we have questions.”
“Sorry, captain, bath first, questions later.” Lira heard Wat flip on the water as the captain cursed under his breath.
“Look, Kepp,” began Red, “we’re already in this up to our necks, and I say we might as well come clean, so to speak.” Lira could just barely make out his grin in the dark. “You want to sit here on the sidelines? She needs all three of us right now. We can sort everything out later after we get her back to her own people.”
“Be honest, Red.” Tanner’s voice sounded harsh to Lira’s ears. His hand reached for her arm, and he held her on the bed. “You just want to fuck her again.”
“Doesn’t take a genius to figure that out, Kepp, but you gotta give me some credit here. I want more than that. She’s right, you know. If the three of us rescue her, we can stop this war before it begins. Maybe prevent hostilities in the future. Maybe I was the only one, but I knew what I was getting into when she offered herself.”
“There’s a lot to consider,” replied Tanner, talking over Lira’s head. “Depends on how deep this goes. If Battarq is involved…”
Lira turned her eyes on Tanner, her voice indignant, “If your general is not involved, I’ll eat my veil. Regnan has told me over and over again that Battarq,” she spat the name, “holds my little sister, and he will beat her if I don’t comply with his wishes. I’m desperate to secure her freedom.”
“Your sister?” asked Tanner.
“Yes, my sister, the Lady Meme.”
“Fuck.”
“Double fuck,” Red added.
“What?” she demanded. “What about my sister? Has she been harmed?” Lira grabbed Tanner by his broad shoulders. “Tell me. You must tell me.”
Tanner held her hands and pulled her against his chest.
“They didn’t take your sister,” he whispered, brushing the hair from her face with a gentle hand. “They took you and only you.”
Tears filled Lira’s eyes. “Then Meme is safe? She’s safe at home?”
“Yes.”
“Praise the Gods. Praise the Gods, Tanner Kepp. My little sister is safe.”
Wat sat down on the bed. “The water’s ready.”
Lira heard his words, but she was too choked up to move a muscle.
“Give us a minute,” said Red. All three men wrapped their arms and even their legs around her, cocooning her in a warm, tender, full body embrace. Lira had held back two months worth of tears., Curled against Tanner’s chest, with Wat and Red on each side, she let them flow. Violent sobs shook her. It wasn’t until she felt herself lifted in careful arms and lowered into a pool of steaming water that she became aware of her surroundings.
Tanner supported her, soothing her heart with the sweet words he spoke in his deep, husky voice, while Wat and Red soothed her body. Their gentle hands lathered every inch of her with scented soap as if rinsing away the foul stench of captivity. The strained muscles in her body began to relax. Lira rested her head on Tanner’s shoulder, her breathing slow and even. The men’s voices faded, becoming indistinct murmurs. She gave herself over to their tender, loving care.
* * * *
All three men stood waist deep in the steaming hot pool, an emergency pack light switched on and dimmed by towels in a corner, their eyes fixed on the woman dozing in Kepp’s strong arms.
“If we begin,” Red spoke, keeping his voice soft, “there’s no going back.”
Wat ran a dripping hand through his equally wet hair. “If we commit to her, will we be traitors to our own country?”
“Regnan’s the traitor,” growled Kepp, “not us, and I’m pretty sure General Battarq knows it. The one thing we can’t do is leave her here at the mercy of Regnan and his merry band of sadists. Why else did Battarq send us? I’m just not sure about the rest of it.”
“The
consort part, you mean?” asked Wat.
“Yeah,” said Kepp, “the consort part. For one thing, I’ve never been into sharing.”
Red snorted. “First time for me, too. This is the first time I’ve done anything like this. Not that I haven’t fantasized…”
Kepp rolled his eyes. “You put your mouth on me, Red, you’re dead meat.”
“I don’t know,” Wat flashed a toothy grin at both his friends, “I might give it some consideration. I mean, this is a first for me too.”
“Yeah, well, you’ll consider just about anything if it gets you off,” commented Kepp.
Wat crossed his arms. “That’s not entirely true,” he replied, his tone good-natured. “Ya’ll might think I slept through every lecture on the royals of Zhinshu, but I was wide-awake when they showed the vids on the subject of the three consorts. I know what we’d be getting ourselves into. That’s why I’m asking if we’d be considered traitors.”
Kepp looked down at the woman in his arms. He repositioned her, shifting her just enough so that she was cradled against his chest. He knew in his heart he wanted to possess her, but possessing her meant sharing her body and her life with Red and Wat. Kepp wondered if he could do that. He reminded himself that actions spoke louder than words. He’d already shared her. He’d taken her without hesitation the first time, knowing full well that he was taking a Royal Princess of Zhinshu, and he didn’t regret it. Quite the opposite, he’d never been so fucking turned on in his entire life.
Red’s voice interrupted his thoughts. “Captain, it’s your call.”
“She took a big risk in coming to us. For all she knew, we’d treat her the same as that bastard, Speth, or worse.”
“Maybe she figures this is the only way we’ll help her escape,” said Red.
Wat spoke up. “I would have helped her anyway.”
“We all would have helped her,” said Kepp. “No, she wanted to bind us to her, and I’d say she succeeded. If memory serves, it’s the duty of the three consorts to protect every child born to the heir as their own. It occur to anyone to grab a condom?”
Barrett, Julia Rachel - One Four All (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 5