Rite Men for Maya

by Zenobia Renquist

  “I don’t want to talk about it.” She yanked on her hand but he didn’t let her go. “Release me.”

  “Why are you ashamed of your merman blood?” Tam asked.

  “I’m not.” She yanked on her hand again with the same result as before. “Why do you care if I wear my tail or my legs? Or are you saying I’m not pretty unless I’m wearing my tail?”

  “You are beautiful and distracting in either form.” Kessen pulled her closer to him.

  She turned her face away rather than look into his eyes. “Whatever. Glad we had this talk. Now let me go.”

  Kessen released her. “Why do you disdain us?”

  “Why are you hounding me?”

  “What do you mean why?” Tam asked, as though that were the stupidest question she could have asked.

  She said, “Exactly what I said. Why? I’m sorry if I ruined the rite. I didn’t mean to.”

  “You didn’t ruin anything,” Kessen said.

  “Good. Life is happy. Nice chatting with you. Goodbye.”

  Again she tried to wake herself, and again she was stopped. Tam enveloped her in a tight hug. “Now, now. We came all this way and you’re leaving so soon?”

  Kessen laid his hand on Tam’s shoulder. “Tam, don’t tease her. She’s confused.”

  “I know that,” Tam snapped.

  Maya struggled against Tam’s hold but it was a losing battle. She stopped fighting with an exasperated sigh. “I’m not confused about anything. You two had your fun. Yet again, I’ve made my parents angry. I’d just like to forget the whole thing.”

  “Again?” both men asked in unison.

  She bit out, “None of your business.”

  Kessen pulled Tam’s arms apart and pushed the man away so Maya was free. “If we’ve made relations between you and your parents bad, then we’d like the chance to fix it. Simply tell us what was done.”

  She debated keeping her mouth shut. Except the men had maneuvered her away from the rocks. She’d lost her means of getting out of the dream. And, dream time moved differently from real time. A few days could pass within the dream, but it would only be a few minutes in the real world. That meant she couldn’t wait them out.

  Crossing her arms, she said, “My parents were in the crowd at the rite.”

  “Ah, they didn’t like us teasing you,” Tam said. “It’s always fun to tease until the one under assault is a loved one.”

  “I don’t know if…” She shook her head. “I haven’t spoken to them. My doctor has me on water rest, so I’m stuck at my house.”

  “Water rest?” Kessen asked, concern etching his features. He started to touch her but pulled back before making the contact.

  Some part of Maya had wanted to feel his touch. She might have even let him hold her since she wanted to be comforted. She couldn’t welcome comfort from Kessen but deny Tam.

  “One of the rooms of my house has a… oh, why don’t I just show you?” She closed her eyes and concentrated.

  The scenery shimmered, and suddenly all three floated in the pool in her house. “This is my house. I live down the beach from my parents. This is the pool room.” She waved her hand around her. “It’s my second bedroom. One room has a bed and this, obviously, has an aboveground pool. I’m sleeping here now.”

  “A fish tank,” Tam said with disdain.

  “It’s not a fish tank. It’s a way for me to wear my tail while I’m sleeping.”

  “You could sleep in the ocean and achieve the same effect.”

  “No one asked you to comment on my life. If you don’t like it, get out.” She pointed to the door.

  Kessen enveloped her hand in his and kissed her fingers. “You said your doctor has you on water rest. Does that mean you hurt yourself?”

  She let him hold her hand, but it wasn’t comfort that she felt. Her body hummed to life, and she became very aware that Kessen and Tam flanked her. Why did they still affect her? The rite was over. “I shifted too quickly and pulled some muscles. Sleeping in my tail will help speed along the healing process.”

  Kessen asked, “But you’ll be all right?”

  “Yes. No major damage from my moment of stupidity. At least, none to my body. I’ll have to contact my parents eventually.” She deflated, slouching against the edge of the pool. “My human life is near perfect. Why does everything go wrong when I try to have a merman life, as well?”

  Kessen stroked his thumb over her knuckles and gave her a soft smile when she looked at him. She couldn’t hold his gaze without imagining him moving his thumb and other fingers over different parts of her body.

  The water started feeling warmer than it had a moment before. She looked down quickly. Their tails shimmered beneath the water -- one rainbow, one dark blue, and hers of turquoise. “I guess it’s not as bad as the first time. You two aren’t mad that I’m half human like my ex-boyfriend.”

  “Oh yeah? Tell us about that idiot,” Tam said.

  “He’s not an idiot.”

  “Why are you defending him?”

  “I’m not. I meant to say he’s an asshole, not an idiot.” She sighed, becoming exasperated just thinking about it. “He tricked me. He passed himself off as human when we first met. He’d gotten a transition amulet from somewhere so he could visit the land, presumably to find a human girlfriend. That’s my guess since he got pissed when he found out I was a half. Laev, that’s his name, got over it and I thought that was it.”

  Kessen said, “It had only begun. I heard about Laev’s trial. I didn’t realize you were the accused.”

  Tam looked between them. “What trial?”

  Maya said, “He talked me into wearing the amulet. He said I should feel it and tell him how it differed from my normal tail. I was an idiot for going along with him in the first place. I only had it on for a minute when his father and several of his friends appeared out of nowhere and dragged me before the magistrate. I was accused of illegally having the transition amulet and as passing myself for a full blood.” She shook her head. “It was a huge mess. My father was called before the court and made to pay reparations. He was so upset with me. My father, I mean.”

  Tam put a finger under her chin and turned her so she looked at him. “I can guarantee you that I don’t care that you’re half human. I’m part myself.”

  “You are?”

  He nodded. “My maternal great-grandmother.”

  Kessen said, “I don’t care, either. My father may, but his opinion means little to me.”

  Maya turned away from Tam so she could look at Kessen. “Your father?”

  “He’s old-fashioned and stubborn.”

  Tam lifted away from the edge of the pool so he could see around Maya, confronting Kessen. His look was serious and a bit angry. “Kessen, tell me your father’s problem with me isn’t my human blood.”

  Kessen looked down.

  “That’s what it is? This whole time?”

  Kessen nodded.

  Tam cursed. “Well, to Hades with him, then. I was good enough to be named a chosen twice. If the gods’ blessing isn’t enough to make him happy then nothing will be.” He settled against the pool’s edge once more, bumping Maya’s side. After a moment of silence, he said, “This pool isn’t half bad. The water feels good.”

  “It’s a heated saline mixture with medicinal herbs. It makes my tail and hair shiny and kills off most of the parasites I pick up swimming around in the ocean.” Maya skimmed her hand over the water’s surface.

  Tam made an appreciative noise. “Makes me want to visit the real thing.”

  “Not going to happen.”

  “What’s the harm? We’re here now.”

  “This is a dream.”

  “Ah. In that case…” Tam turned her and pressed his lips to hers.

  She didn’t fight him. Like she’d said, it was just a dream. Despite her parents’ upset and her embarrassment, she wanted to feel Tam and Kessen inside of her once more. In a dream setting, she could write the encounter off as a fantas
y.

  Kessen’s fingers brushed her anal slit. He whispered, “Do you intend to join with us again?”

  “Oh, yes,” Maya said, pulling away from Tam’s kiss.

  “Are you sure?” Tam asked. He pressed his fingers past her genital slit and buried them deep inside of her.

  “Please.”

  “Is that a yes?” He beckoned.

  Maya writhed between the two men. She tried to answer, but Kessen’s fingers entered her rear. All that left her lips was a satisfied squeak.

  Kessen said, “We won’t let you leave us this time if you say yes.”

  Why did his threat sound so promising to her ears? She reached behind herself and quested for his genital slit with her fingers. No sooner did she find it than his full, hot erection burst into her hand. The cream of his self-lubrication made her hand slick.

  She massaged him, pulling him closer until his front was flush with her back.

  “Say it,” Tam rasped.

  “Yes. Yes. Please.”

  Kessen kissed her shoulder. “It’s not in my nature to make a lady beg.” He removed his fingers, clasped his hand with hers, and buried his thick shaft deep inside of her rear.

  Maya bucked back against him with a satisfied sound. Was it the dream that made the sensation so acute and pleasurable? She didn’t care.

  Tam continued fingering her front as he played his tongue over both of her nipples.

  She cupped his head. “Tam, I want you inside of me.”

  Was that her? Did she just say that?

  “Such sweet words from such succulent lips.” Tam kissed her. “Alas, my fingers are all you deserve.”

  “Why are you teasing me?”

  “That is the way of dreams, to tease and torment. Reality is for fulfillment.” His fingers retreated and he spread her wide so his tongue could take their place. He traced little shapes, then flicked at her clit.

  It was ecstasy, but she wanted him inside of her along with Kessen. She tried again. “Tam, please.”

  He straightened and stared into her eyes.

  Like she’d done with Kessen, she freed Tam’s cock and pumped her hand up and down its length, hoping to entice Tam. He moved his hips in rhythm with her hand but his lopsided grin said that little bit of play wouldn’t do anything for him.

  “Stop, Tam. Now is not the time to tease,” Kessen said in a rough voice. He clutched Maya’s hips and slammed home as his release swept over him. He grunted, then relaxed, kissing her neck and shoulders.

  “You’re right,” Tam said. He positioned himself at Maya’s pussy.

  * * *

  A ringing noise jerked Maya out of her dream. It startled her so badly that she jerked her tail, which sent a wave of water cascading over the edge of the pool.

  It took her a moment to realize the sound was her phone. She picked up the receiver. “Hello,” she croaked.

  “Oh, Maya, did I wake you?”

  “Margaret?”

  “Yes. I woke you up, didn’t I? I’m sorry, sweetie. I was just checking on you. I’d heard you’d be out for the week because of an accident during your vacation. What happened? Are you all right?”

  Maya struggled to regain full consciousness. She didn’t normally have this much trouble waking up, but then she didn’t normally have fully interactive sex dreams. “I’m fine. Just a few pulled muscles. Nothing a little bed rest won’t cure.”

  “Should I stop by?”

  “No. I’m fine.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “Positive.”

  “Okay, then. I’ll call you again tomorrow, sweetie. Get some rest. You sound horrible.”

  Maya hung up the phone and sank back into the water. A thought made her resurface and turn the ringer off. She loved Margaret -- the woman was her closest human friend -- but the lady was a busybody with the worst timing. And Margaret didn’t know about Maya’s heritage.

  Allowing Margaret to drop by would mean Maya would have to trade her tail for her legs, lock her second bedroom door, and play full human until Margaret got bored and left. And that could be hours.

  Maya looked at the clock. Speaking of hours… she’d been in dreamland with Tam and Kessen for almost six. Being jarred from a shared dream so abruptly would be disorienting to all parties. She doubted they’d be able to meet again that night even if she did get back to sleep.

  A rueful smile curved her lips. “Serves Tam right, anyway. That’s what he gets for trying to be cute.”

  Chapter Five

  “I can’t get used to this.” Tam lifted one foot and then the other.

  Maya leaned against the edge of the pool with her arms folded, smirking. “Never tried legs before?”

  “Never a need,” Kessen said, pacing a few steps away from the pool.

  Both men were steadier than they would be if they were wearing legs for the first time in the real world. That was the fun of dreams. The laws of gravity didn’t apply. Kessen and Tam looked as though they had been using legs as long as Maya.

  She asked, “Not even in your dreams?”

  Kessen shook his head. “No inclination.”

  “As a kid,” Tam said, “but that was long ago. I only did it then because of my grandmother. We shared dreams of walking along the beaches like she used to do with her mother in real time.”

  “Sounds nice.” Maya climbed out of the pool, trading her tail for legs in a matter of seconds rather than waiting for the muscles and bones to reform. Another perk of being in a dream world. “Would you care to take a stroll now?”

  Tam moved to her and circled his arms around her waist. “I would rather see your other bedroom. We’ve visited your dreams for an entire week and have only seen this room.”

  “Only because I figured you wouldn’t care to see it. Either of you.” She glanced at Kessen.

  “I admit to curiosity.” Kessen reached out and trailed his fingers up her spine. “I’d like to feel how humans have sex and not become entangled with one another.”

  Maya gave him a coy smile. “Getting tangled up is the fun part.”

  Tam squeezed her waist. “By all means. Let’s make a knot of ourselves.”

  “This way.” Maya took Tam and Kessen’s hands and led them out of the pool room.

  She could have just changed the scenery with a thought, but decided to be a little mundane and walk there. Besides, the men were wearing legs for the first time. She wanted to give them a little workout.

  They reached her room, and she willed the door to open. The bed contained within was much bigger than her actual bed. She didn’t mention that fact.

  “Very nice,” Tam said. “It’s like one of the stages at the rite.”

  “Minus a very annoying and distracting backdrop,” Kessen grumbled.

  Maya nodded. “That backdrop was a little overdone.”

  “Blame Tam. His friends did it.”

  Tam reached around Maya and stroked Kessen’s cheek. “I thought you forgave me for that, lover.”

  “Forgiven. Not forgotten.”

  “Ah, but we had so much fun that day. You didn’t seem to mind the backdrop once I started touching you.” Tam moved his hand down Kessen’s chest, over his stomach, and then curled his fingers around Kessen’s cock. “I’m sure I can make you forget again.”

  Maya watched in avid fascination as Tam stroked Kessen over and over. Each stroke drew Kessen ever closer to Tam until the only thing keeping them apart was Maya. She didn’t mind being sandwiched between them. She even added her hand to Tam’s, rolling Kessen’s sack around in her hand.

  “This is unfair,” Kessen gritted out.

  Tam chuckled. “No. This --” He reached behind Kessen and pushed his fingers deep into the man’s asshole -- “is unfair.”

  Kessen could only make a small sound of appreciation before Maya pulled him down to her waiting lips.

  Tam made a thinking noise. “Ah.”

  Maya broke her kiss with Kessen and looked back at him. “Ah?”

 
Tam kissed her shoulder. “Put your leg on Kessen’s hip.” He released Kessen’s cock as she obeyed him.

  “Like this?” She moved, and Tam sandwiched her further, pressing her against Kessen.

  Tam smoothed his hand down her rear, between her legs, and started stroking Kessen’s cock again. This time, Tam pressed the hard member against Maya’s center with each stroke.

  Kessen moved his hips, rubbing his cock against her pussy again. That made Maya pant. Now she was the one being teased, not that she minded.

  “I think I like having legs,” Tam said. “A tail would never allow us such a position.”

  “There are many others.” Maya reached back and captured Tam’s need.

  “No more teasing.” Kessen pulled away, dragging Maya with him. He took her to the bed and pushed her against it.

  Maya laughed at his urgency. She scooted toward the headboard as Kessen crawled forward. He kept his head low and his gaze glued between her legs. She drew her fingers over her wet flesh. His hungry gaze followed.

  She opened her legs, and then spread her lower lips.

  All it took was a crooked finger for Kessen to bridge the distance between them face first. He delved his tongue deep inside of her and made a sound of satisfaction that echoed her own.

  Maya threw her head back, circling her hips against Kessen’s mouth. He jerked and then moaned. She looked behind him and saw Tam had buried himself deep within Kessen’s rear. As much as Maya wanted to watch Tam and Kessen together, the feel of Kessen’s mouth on her was her only focus.

  He swirled his warm, wet tongue deep inside of her, only to pull out and tickle the tip over her clit. It was enough to have her calling his name as she folded her legs around his shoulders to keep him close.

  “Night on Bald Mountain” started playing in the background.

  “That doesn’t sound like mood music.” Tam stilled his motions.

  Kessen lifted his head from between Maya’s legs. He cocked his head to the side. “You’re right. It doesn’t.”

  Maya fell out of her euphoric state in a matter of seconds. She groaned as a sense of dread fell over her like the proverbial wet blanket. “It’s my phone.”