I lifted the white rosebud and twirled it.
“Please take this token as my promise to be worthy of you.” With a smirk, I presented him the white rose. I leaned in and spoke for him alone. “May its thorns remind you that my submission doesn’t mean you can be careless in your duties.”
“Thank you for the gift of your submission. I’ll treasure it always.” Lukas tucked the rose into his lapel and helped me to my feet. His lips brushed my ear. “Brat.”
With both hands on my shoulders, he looked into my eyes, but his words rang over the crowd. “You belong to me, Ryleigh Morgan.”
“As you are mine, Sir.”
Everyone cheered as he kissed me. Thankfully, they wandered away as the kiss deepened and Lukas slid his hand up my leg. When his fingers teased my naked mound, I sighed into his mouth.
Darian embraced us and nestled his erection between my cheeks. “As much as I’d love to continue this here, they’re waiting for us at The Club.”
“Are you ready for this?” Master asked me as he pulled away.
“Yes, Sir.”
Chapter Forty-one
Ryleigh
Master Lukas led me blindfolded through The Club. He kept his arm wrapped around my shoulder as we navigated the crowd. A gentle breeze flowed over me as the swish of the curtain indicated we’d entered the Galleria.
Many people moved out of the way as we continued through the room. Whispered conversations blended into a single sound as we passed. I heard the slap of paddles striking skin and moans of both pain and pleasure as we turned into the private hallway.
Darian took my hand as Lukas slipped forward to open one of the doors. It amazed me how well the Bond helped me identify my lovers without the benefit of sight. I couldn't tell how far down the hall we traveled, but to my relief, we weren't deep enough to access the Dungeon.
My shoulders relaxed when the door closed with a soft snick. I sensed several others nearby. They remained silent as he left me standing in the middle of the carpet.
“Strip her.” Lukas directed Darian.
The blindfold stayed as my lover removed my clothing piece by piece. Darian wouldn’t submit to Lukas, but he didn’t mind assisting. This was our first public scene.
The dress fell away in wispy panels as he worked through the rows of tiny ribbons. As the material dropped, I heard the slightest intake of breath from the corner of the room. My fingers trembled as I shifted to cover my breasts.
"Don't move." Lukas commanded. My hands lowered to my sides as he stood at my back. The heat from his body increased as he wrapped around me and kissed the nape of my neck. "You're beautiful, love. Pay no attention to anything but the sound of my voice."
He moved away. The absence of his warmth caused my flesh to pebble. His fingertips trailed over the goosebumps from my shoulder down my arm, and I relaxed under his ministrations.
"Focus on my touch. Your pleasure is mine to give." He smoothed his palms over my bare stomach and the muscles rippled as his thumbs played with the top of my mound. "And mine to deny." He backed away again, leaving me bereft and aching.
Darian embraced me from behind, teasing me with gentle caresses. Lukas leaned against my chest. They enveloped me as Lukas took Darian’s mouth in a kiss, pressing me between them. Their erections twitched as their tongues intertwined and my passion rose. My urge to rip off the blindfold and join them overwhelmed me, but I knew it would be far better to wait.
Though I still heard the others in the room, I no longer cared as long as Lukas and Darian stayed with me. I trusted my Master to push my boundaries and my body. He wouldn’t let anything happen unless I wanted it.
He led me to the bed and settled me back with my knees over the edge. I tried to close my legs, conscious of the people watching, but he kept a firm grip on my thighs. "Leave them open."
My legs trembled when he released me, and they closed a few inches. He chuckled in delight as he gripped my hands and tugged me to my feet. He cradled my head in his large hand, and his lips hovered beyond reach of my own as he spoke.
"Darian, our lover doesn't wish to obey. Bring me the paddle."
He spun me around, and sat on the mattress. As he placed me ass up on his lap, I cringed. I felt my face flush in humiliation, aware whoever watched from the shadows witnessed my punishment.
Darian approached, and Master shifted toward him to accept the instrument. When the curtained alcove rustled, I tensed in anticipation and dread. He spread my legs, making sure to expose me to those observing. I knew they’d see every inch of my pussy from this angle, which he intended.
I relaxed when I realized it flattered me, knowing they wanted to watch. Their participation no longer discomfited me. After all, they’d already seen everything.
He rubbed the leather over my flesh, first caressing one cheek and then the other. He stroked my bottom over and over until I stopped flinching every time he moved. When I least expected it, he spanked me.
Hard.
Tears pricked my eyes as his hand smoothed over the tender skin. In quick succession, he smacked each side and soothed the area in between strikes with gentle fingers. I lost count of the pops, and slipped into subspace. My ass burned, but it wasn’t painful, and I looked forward to the moments when he caressed the wound.
"I think she's ready to behave now." Lukas announced.
Darian lifted me and set me on the bed, knees over the edge once again. He stepped back, and my thighs stayed wide open. I heard the quickening of breath and a slight rustle of fabric as my viewers responded to the display.
The blindfold allowed me to experience the rush of knowing my body turned them on, without making me feel embarrassed. Not seeing who watched made it interesting. Darian slid behind my back as he helped me recline against him.
His erection pressed into my spine and I resisted the urge to rub myself on it.
Several watchers sighed as his fingertips trailed over my breasts, working the flesh until my nipples puckered. Lukas leaned over me, and metal chimed as he pinched the peaks. I muffled a protest as he attached something to each nub.
A cold slender chain connected the buds and rested on my bare stomach. I wanted to see what he’d done but I didn’t dare take off the mask. The pinch intensified to a burn, matching the pain on my backside.
The sensation became intense, but not unbearable.
Lukas rewarded my silence with his tongue, circling the clamps as he took the tips into his mouth. “I knew you’d look beautiful in the nipple clamps, love.”
A murmur came from the corner, and I flushed with heat. Darian nuzzled my neck, nipping with his teeth as a low growl of agreement escaped his lips. My pussy creamed; a reaction which made our watchers moan.
Lukas hovered over me, still clothed, and kissed me. My arousal built as Darian kneaded my breasts, shifting the chain with his movements. Every tug went straight to my clit. By the time Lukas released me, I neared orgasm.
"You’ll not come until I give you permission. Understood?"
I moaned a little as I nodded. Knowing he expected a verbal answer, I whispered, "Yes, Sir."
Lukas hummed in approval as he peppered kisses from my throat to my mons. I held my breath as he paused, wanting nothing more than to beg for his touch. The observers responded with increased rustling and sharp breaths. Their actions excited me further as Master let the anticipation between us build.
At last, his mouth descended, and he kissed my nether lips. He exhaled over the engorged flesh, sending cool ripples between my legs as his tongue lapped the nectar there. I felt him smile against me as his hands ran up my thighs.
He parted my folds in a slow, long stroke, and I sighed. Darian nibbled my earlobe as Lukas worked my nub with deep strokes. I heard the rustle of clothing from the corner as my watchers pleasured themselves, and I focused on their excitement.
He pushed me to the brink of orgasm again, but stopped before I found release. Darian nudged me forward and positioned me on all fours. I faced
the edge of the mattress. Lukas stripped as Darian stroked my ass. He traced the red marks I knew tinted my skin from the paddle.
Darian's erection brushed my damp curls as Lukas guided me to his cock. I opened and sucked the length of him into my mouth. Darian dipped the head of his shaft into my core. As Lukas slid between my lips, I swirled my tongue around the mushroomed tip. I tried to take him all the way, but lacked the leverage.
I lost myself to the sensations of both cocks, one at each end. My lovers caressed my back and hair, whispering loving nothings between moans. We took our time until Darian thrust to the hilt, pushing Lukas deeper into my throat.
The sudden motion knocked the chain back and forth, tugging my sensitive nipples as it swayed against my stomach. We all moaned, delighting in our mutual pleasure, amplified by the Bond. Lukas claimed my mouth in earnest as Darian matched his pace from behind.
The first couple finished with a soft moan. It drove me over the edge as the pressure built in my clit. Darian pumped harder as my inner walls tightened around him.
“Make her come.” Lukas commanded.
No longer in sync, they fucked me with increased fervor until Darian shouted his release. He continued pumping as he found my bundle of nerves and pinched. My orgasm hit hard and I trembled as he held my hips to keep me still.
“Fuck.” Lukas came, and he pulled out seconds later so I could breathe.
The couples in the corner concluded soon after, making little erotic sounds, and it brought a smile to my lips. Darian tucked me into his arms as Lukas removed the clamps and used a warm towel to wipe me clean. By the time Lukas joined us on the bed, the watchers left the room. In the dark silence, he took off the blindfold. I would never know who observed tonight.
But I looked forward to doing this and so much more with my lovers for the rest of our long lives.
Epilogue
Darian
I loved watching Lia in her element. She wasn’t aware I arrived, or she chose not to acknowledge me yet. After her initial disappointment, she’d jumped into her role cataloging and organizing the vast collection Thane amassed.
I didn’t know what half this stuff used to do, or if it worked. Only a handful of artifacts from Intara still functioned. Some acted up on occasion, rendering them almost useless. Both sides of the war on Earth stopped using them millennia ago when several weapons malfunctioned and killed thousands.
Multiple territories had been lost due to malfunctioning Intaran technology. The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, along with countless other settlements, fell victim to friendly fire. The Library at Alexandria disappeared when the energy core disrupted an experiment. No one knows what happened to Atlantis.
Few risked killing themselves and their allies in such pointless slaughter anymore.
Add in Thane’s stubborn refusal to leap into the twenty-first century, and this is what you got. An accumulation of dusty objects in an underground bunker, floating around in an inter-dimensional space pocket. I’d seen Indiana Jones, and though the crates here weren’t organized, they seemed to stretch on forever.
But Ryleigh loved her new assignment.
When she selected a piece, Lukas identified it by memory or Psychometry, and I brought her the relevant books. Then Lia documented and photographed it, and entered the data in her computer. I carried tomes and boxes back and forth and tried to stay out of the way. They worked well together, and they included me in their discoveries.
“Are you going to watch me all day?”
She hadn’t looked up from her work. Since the moment she discovered Atlantis was a real Intaran lost city, she’d been inseparable from her research. Several of the artifacts dated to the same period. I shook my head as I approached and she straightened her spine with a pop.
“When’s the last time you took a break?” I massaged her shoulders.
She blinked at me and gave me a rueful smile. “When’s the last time you came down here?”
I tugged her into my arms with a sigh. She melted into my embrace and pulled me into a kiss. Fifteen minutes later, Lukas’ voice echoed at the entrance.
We broke apart, and Lia scowled at me. During our activities, I’d lifted her onto her table, and her pens and papers toppled everywhere. The laptop perched near the edge of the desk, and the box containing her current artifact spilled over the pages.
“Sorry.” I wasn’t sorry, and we both knew it.
She poked me in the chest. Hard.
“Having fun without me?” Lukas smiled at us. He helped her reorganize the mess using a method the two of them understood.
Stepping back, I tripped over the container with the latest artifacts. After righting the wooden crate, I looked to make sure I hadn’t disturbed the display protecting the Stones. We possessed three now, nestled in the soft protective lining of a climate controlled museum case.
One of them glowed.
“Hey, guys?” I leaned closer. As attuned as we were to each other, they’d moved to my side before I thought to call out.
“What the hell did you do to it?” Lia demanded.
“Nothing.” I protested. “Look, it’s changing.”
As we all bent over the cabinet, it erupted in light. When she lifted her hand toward it, glyphs appeared in the air around the Stone, written in Ancient Intaran. I tapped the glass, eager to touch the device.
“I’d wonder what Stephan did to make it respond, but this isn’t the relic we took from his lab.” Lukas pointed. “Look, they all bear subtle differences. Thane’s family owned this one for eons.”
“Why is it doing whatever it’s doing now?” She whispered. “Is it dangerous?”
He shook his head. “I’d have to consult with someone a little more familiar with primitive text, but the symbols I recognize seem to be directions. It shouldn’t malfunction, as it only acts as an interface for the Portal. The maker constructed the Stones to last millennia without failing, and these are well preserved.”
I stepped back to give them room.
Lia pouted. “What made it stop?”
Curious, I returned, and it lit up again. The closer we got, the clearer the script became. We experimented for a few minutes, testing to see if any of us could back away. It worked with all three of us near, and did nothing when we separated.
“Why would this one glow, and not the rest? Does this mean the others are broken?” She asked.
“No, it’s common for our artifacts to function for certain individuals or bloodlines. I doubt those are dysfunctional.” Lukas muttered. He slipped into full investigative mode.
“Then why would it work when the three of us are near?” I wondered. “Besides, you’ve handled the Stones, and groups of scientists studied them for years. If it was this simple, we’d have discovered the secret to their operation long before this.”
He looked at me, puzzled.
Lia stroked the case, and awe filled her voice. “But the three of us haven’t crowded this close to the Stone before. Not all at once. Mimi said things like our Bond happen for a reason. Triads were considered sacred on Intara. Could the maker have anticipated our unusual relationship so many millennia ago?”
She looked from the Stones to the two of us in wonder. Even I admitted the prospect seemed a little daunting, but it wasn’t beyond the abilities of our kind. Lukas stepped away from the display.
“Let’s get someone here to decode the symbols. With Stephan’s satellite data, we know the location of the last two. Finding them was always a priority, but now we can activate them.”
He walked back to the entrance at a fast clip, already in ‘command’ mode. She leaned against my side, and we stared at the dormant relic. I kissed her forehead as her excitement fed mine. “This changes everything.”
Go Back
Moon Borne
A Halcyon Romance
by Rachael Slate
Copyright © 2015 by Rachael Slate
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce, distribute, or transmit t
his book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.
First Edition October 2015
Edited by Kelley Heckart
ISBN 978-0-9947648-9-8
Hold strong, youngling.
She’ll either enslave his heart…or tear it out.
As an Amazon warrior, a slave is the last thing Kyme would ever willingly become. At least before the slaver Arsenius threatens her sisters. To protect them, she agrees to be his captive and plans to slit his throat the moment she gets the chance. Though she’s determined to hate Arsenius, the unexpected kindness of his touch and the growing passion between them stay her knife. He’s a man so dangerous she just might dare to trust him.
He’s endured every torture, except the one that could actually break him.
For Arsenius, his mission was simple—capture and deliver one of the fiercest Amazon warriors, Kyme. In exchange, he’ll receive the location of the sister he’s spent years searching for. But Kyme’s selfless dedication to the goddess Artemis entrances him. Her pure existence is so different from his dark past and the bleak life he now leads. When Kyme becomes master and his heart the slave, nothing will stop Arsenius from failing his mission.
Sometimes, the surest path to freedom is forged in ecstasy…
Possessing Kyme as his slave isn’t enough. Arsenius wants more. When the gods intervene, they’ll risk more than their duty to the past to be together…Yet never has surrender been so sweet.
Moon
When the Olympian gods overthrew the Titans, they divided the rule of the world. Zeus proclaimed himself Supreme Ruler and governed the skies. Poseidon claimed the oceans. The Underworld, and the souls of the dead, fell to Hades. All were content with the arrangement.
Until Hades met Persephone.
Their forbidden love blasted through Mt. Olympus, initiating a cataclysmic rift between the gods. The unbalance in the heavens nearly shattered the fragile human world below. In punishment, Zeus cursed Persephone. Nine months of each year, she would remain by her mother’s side, tending to the human harvests. The other three months were hers to spend with her husband, Hades, in the Underworld.
Beyond The Veil: A Paranormal & Magical Romance Boxed Set Page 147