by Adam Charles
“Michael?”
Michael turned to see Joshua, one of the elders, looking at him. “It’s time?”
Joshua nodded. “Yes, the carriage is ready.”
Michael felt the people watching him, and even as they whispered their concerns, he knew they were all relieved.
They set off, and Joshua gazed out the window as they wound up the hill to the castle. “It’s a brave thing you’re doing.”
“We can’t fight the beast. It might kill again if we don’t do what it asks. It’s better that I go willingly than that some youth is dragged from his bed tonight. Or a father taken from his family.”
“Yes, it is better.” He sighed and then added, “It harmed none of the girls at least.”
“But it frightened them all half to death. I don’t frighten so easily.”
“You might when that thing tries to mount you.”
Michael took a deep breath and pushed it out slowly. “I’ve lain with men before. I won’t break.”
Joshua finally made eye contact. “If you say so.” He pointed to the castle. “There’ll be no escape. Those gates will close, and you won’t get out again unless the thing opens them for you.”
“I know that.”
Joshua shifted and lowered his voice. “Do you mean to kill it?”
Michael shook his head. “Do you go into the dark cave and lose yourself in its twists and turns to kill the bear?”
Joshua gave a shrug. “Perhaps while it sleeps.”
“And then our kingdom would be vulnerable. The conquering hordes only stay away for fear of the beast’s enchantments and strength.”
The carriage stopped, and Joshua stiffened a moment before getting out and holding the door open. The horses grew restless and tried to back up, and the driver had to jump down to hold them steady. Michael descended and looked at the castle gates.
“Go on, lad, and may the gods have mercy on you.”
“The gods allowed this creature to exist. I’m not sure I want their mercy.” He straightened his back. “I won’t be harmed, Joshua. Perhaps he’ll let me out on a leash when he comes to the village next time.”
“Don’t joke.”
Michael laughed without humor. “Who’s joking? I’ll not have my liberty if he likes me.” The gates opened as the driver got into position again.
Joshua scrambled back into the carriage, and the driver turned the horses around and took off. Michael gazed back at them a moment before entering the garden. A kind of orderly chaos greeted him. Flowers and bushes and vines of every kind wound together in great masses, multi-colored blossoms all around him. He followed the winding path to the castle door and waited. There was no knocker of any kind, only the blood-red wood before him. The beast had to know he was here, since the gates had opened and closed for him.
Michael heard footsteps on the stones behind him, and a large shadow fell over him as the door opened. Michael held his head up high and waited, staring into the castle instead of turning to look at the beast.
“Turn around so that I might have a look at you,” the beast said.
The deep voice boomed directly behind Michael, and he turned slowly. The beast was over a foot taller than him and a good bit wider as well, far more imposing than Michael had remembered. Heat poured off the creature, and Michael watched his muscular chest rise and fall.
A rumble came from the beast’s chest. “At least they listened this time. What is your name?”
“Michael.” He looked up into the beast’s eyes. “Am I permitted to know yours?”
Those yellow eyes looked amused, and the beast licked his lips, his fangs showing. “If I tell you my name, you can never leave.”
“Do you think to send me back? If I don’t please you?” Michael clasped his hands behind his back to keep his restless hands still.
The beast pressed closer. “You please me. And I will please you, if you let me.”
“I’m here to save my village and my people. I came here to stay, so you might as well tell me.”
“My name is Kyros.”
Michael shifted his stance as he turned the name over in his mind. “Is that what I’m allowed to call you?”
Kyros nodded. “How did they persuade you? Are you always so brave?”
“I volunteered.”
Kyros stood perfectly still, and then a smile curved his lips. “You came willingly to be my mate? To writhe beneath me as I sate my lust within your body?”
Michael lowered his eyes. “I didn’t think of it that way, but yes.” He lifted his gaze. “I know I’m here to be fucked.”
Kyros gestured to the door. “Then come in. You’ll need a bath.”
“I bathed before I came.”
“Yes, in that horrid sage concoction the villagers believe wards off evil.” The doors closed behind them, the candles in the hallway lighting as they walked. “I’ve had to wash every one of you. Do they not understand how keen my sense of smell is?”
“You could’ve told them not to.”
“No matter. It will give me a chance to touch you before dinner.”
Michael’s steps faltered a bit. “Touch me?”
A laugh rumbled from the beast. “Yes. I shall bathe you myself.” He leaned close. “You shall get to examine me as well. See what you’re in for.”
“You will only touch me?” Michael asked, very aware of how near Kyros was.
“Are you so eager?”
Michael flicked his glance up. “Merely curious.”
“You look at least thirty. You’re no virgin.”
“No. I’ve lain with four women and two men. One was my wife.”
“Your wife?”
“Daria. She passed away.”
“Did you leave a lover to come to me?” Kyros opened the door to a huge bathing chamber of blue and white marble. “I’m very jealous, you see. I must know.”
“No. Daria has not been dead a year yet. I have no lover.”
Kyros smiled again, his eyes raking up and down Michael. “From this night on you will.” He waved his hand, and steaming water poured from several mounted, silver lion’s heads. A sunken tub lined with blue marble took up half the room. It filled quickly, and Kyros fixed his gaze on Michael.
“Undress. Let me see you.”
Michael obeyed, feeling warm under the scrutiny. He made himself keep his hands at his sides when he was done. Kyros approached and walked around him, not touching yet.
“You look strong. You must work outside.”
“I was a woodcutter. I also worked the farms when I was needed.”
One clawed hand slid gently down his back and then cupped his ass. The claws weren’t sharp, but they were hard, and Michael knew they could cause pain if Kyros wanted to do so.
“Get in the water,” Kyros said, giving Michael a little pat on the ass.
Michael did so and turned to look back at him. Kyros unlaced his breeches before pulling his boots off. His cock sprang out right away, long and thick. It was furless, dark red and erect. The wide head was wet, and it had to be at least ten inches long. Kyros gave it a few strokes, watching Michael. Then he shed his breeches and stepped into the water. He took up soap and a cloth and moved over to Michael.
“Dunk yourself well, then sit up in the recess so I can clean you.”
“I could clean myself,” Michael said. “Am I not below you?”
A deep chuckle filled the room. “You will be, though not in the way you mean. I will always enjoy doing this.”
Michael went below the water and held his breath a few moments. He popped back up and moved to the recess, lifting himself out of the water and wiping his face. The soap Kyros used smelled of berries, and he lathered it all over Michael.
He had no memory of ever being washed by anyone else, and he kept his eyes downcast. The intimacy confused him. He knew this creature would be fucking him often, but he hadn’t imagined their interactions beyond that. Kyros was thorough, and he pulled Michael forward. His legs dangled i
nto the water on either side of Kyros’s body as Kyros ran the soapy cloth between his ass cheeks. His cock had grown hard under the beast’s touch, and it bobbed just inches from Kyros’s chest.
“I didn’t think you would grow hard the first time we touched.” Kyros wrapped the cloth around Michael’s shaft and pumped. “Will you come for me?”
“My cock is in your hand. I believe you’re in control.”
Kyros finished cleaning him and then backed away, urging Michael to rinse himself in the water.
“You truly have no reservations?” Kyros asked as Michael rinsed himself.
“I didn’t say that. I’m simply resigned to my station here.”
Kyros drew him close. “Your station, as you call it, is to be my mate.” He leaned in to kiss Michael.
Michael stiffened and flinched a bit, and Kyros paused. “You don’t wish to kiss me?”
“Is any of this about what I wish?” Michael asked.
Kyros back away again. “Do you fear I’ll hurt you?”
“Your fangs look sharp. Your claws could shred me. And I’ve never taken a cock as big as yours.”
“But do you fear I’ll harm you on purpose?”
Michael swallowed. “I suppose not. You said you want a mate. If something happens to me, you’ll have to find a new one.” After a moment, he added, “You didn’t harm the girls, even though you rejected them. I saw scratches on a few.”
Instead of responding to that statement, Kyros asked, “Do you find me repulsive?”
Michael decided to be honest. “I find you different. You are not truly a beast, but you’re not truly a man either. I’m wondering what it will be like.”
“It could be exquisite, if you don’t resist.”
“You’ll take me tonight?”
Kyros nodded. “After dinner, you’ll come to my bed.”
“How can I resist? I know what I’m here for.”
Coming close again, Kyros tilted his head. “You’re resigned, yet not exactly submissive. Your mouth says you won’t fight, but I’m not sure I believe that.”
“I’ll let you fuck me. I won’t fight.”
“So you’ll merely tolerate my touch?”
“Stop choosing my words for me. I don’t wish to anger you.”
Kyros moved and hoisted himself up to sit on the edge. “Then come here and pleasure me.” He crooked one clawed finger at Michael. “Lick me. Suck me until I come. I want to paint you with my semen, the first of many claimings.”
Michael came forward, face to face with the large cock. He’d sucked cock before, even liked it a little, and he licked the head, gazing up at Kyros. Michael had come here to do his duty, so he might as well get used to this. He suckled the head, and Kyros thrust his hips forward. The musk coming off the beast made him ache. Michael ran his tongue along the underside as he sucked. Those large, clawed hands took hold of his face and held him still. A growl met his ears, and Michael looked up to see yellow eyes boring into him as his mouth was slowly fucked. He held to the creature’s thighs to steady himself. He could feel the hard muscles tensing beneath his fingers.
Kyros pushed to the back of his throat, only half his shaft in Michael’s mouth. He pulled one hand away and fondled his balls, which looked heavy with seed. He made Michael quicken his pace. Soon the head entered Michael’s throat, and he panicked a little, wondering how rough Kyros might be with him. But then the beast withdrew. Kyros rubbed his cock over Michael’s lips and commenced jerking himself off. He still held Michael in place.
“Open your mouth,” Kyros growled.
Michael did, and seconds later, thick ropes of cum shot out. They landed in his mouth and across his face and chest. Michael licked his lips and swallowed, a little shaky after watching Kyros make himself come. Kyros leaned over and cleaned the cum from Michael’s face with his tongue. The rough muscle felt strange working over his skin, yet his cock ached as Kyros did this.
“Are you still hard?” Kyros asked. “Did my touch and the taste of me arouse you?”
Michael couldn’t lie, as the beast would simply pull him out of the water and call him on it. “Yes, I’m hard.”
Kyros tilted his head. “Get out of the water.”
Michael obeyed, and Kyros eyed his cock. Then he lifted his gaze. “Get dressed again. Your pleasure will come later.” He threw Michael a towel.
Michael looked down as he dried himself. “Is that an order?”
Kyros rose and came over to Michael. “Are you saying you wish to come?”
“I’m aching from the way you used me. The taste of cum in my mouth.” He needed to come and hoped to entice the beast into sucking him or stroking him.
Kyros smiled. “I like that, so I wish to keep you aching.” He bent to lick Michael’s neck. “You’ll not come by your own hand unless I allow it. Your pleasure, and your seed, are mine.”
Michael realized he’d fallen into a trap. The beast meant to tame him by controlling his pleasure, making him needy and then denying him. “If that is your command.”
Kyros studied him. “Why did you volunteer to come here?”
“To save my people. To prevent you from coming down and kidnapping some unwilling male.”
“So that makes you willing?”
“Resigned. Adamant. Yes, willing, I suppose. I did not wish to see more pain and sorrow rain down from this castle.”
Kyros moved in to kiss him again, but he stopped before their lips touched. Michael stared at him. He’d made himself stay still and not pull away this time, unsure when punishments might begin when he resisted.
Kyros backed off. “I’m not sure I believe you did this for others.”
Michael blinked, uncertain. “You think I craved this? That I lay in bed at night fantasizing about being taken by a beast?”
“Never said that.”
“Then what are you saying?”
Kyros didn’t answer. He retrieved his own clothes and said, “Get dressed. I’ll show you to your room.”
Michael did so quickly and then followed Kyros, still naked and with droplets of water in his fur. The creature didn’t seem to care about the water dripping on the colorful carpets or the fine marble. The exterior of the castle was gray and gloomy, yet the inside was bright and shining like a fine palace. The room they came to was lavish. The dark wood furniture was fine and well made, the upholstery and bed hangings a rich green. Large windows let in plenty of light, and the rich wood paneling shone in the sun. “All this is mine?”
“Yes.” Kyros pointed to a door. “My room is through there. You should have your own retreat, but you’ll sleep with me when I wish it, which will be most nights.”
Michael went to the window to gaze out. “Yes, of course.”
“Did you expect less than this?”
Michael turned around. “I had no idea what to expect. I’d not have been surprised to be chained to your bed.”
“Yet you came.”
Michael sighed. “What choice did I have?”
“A volunteer always has a choice.”
Michael looked out the window again. “A life of drudgery. Fear and worry.”
“Ah, so there it is. You’re willing to fuck the beast to live in the castle.”
Scowling, Michael whipped around. “I won’t be mocked. I had less to lose than others, so I made the sacrifice. I’ll not be laughed at by a beast.”
Kyros advanced on him, pinning him to the wall. “You’ll be and do what I say.” He backed off and pointed to a wardrobe. “Dress as you wish and come down to dinner when the clock strikes seven. Once you’ve eaten, you will come back to my bed and be claimed properly.” Kyros stalked to the door and slammed it behind him.
Michael’s heart pounded. Why am I here? What do I want? His erection had faded, but that little display of force had brought it back. He rubbed himself through his pants, but then he stopped. Kyros had great powers, often having intimate knowledge of happenings in the village despite rarely leaving his castle, and he
’d said Michael was not to come by his own hand. Michael knew that, somehow, the beast would know if he disobeyed. He cursed under his breath, not understanding his arousal in the first place. He turned to the wardrobe to find something to wear, peeling the leather off again and wondering what dinner would be like. He’d come here for a purpose, and he’d see it through, no matter what the strange beast did to him.
Read on for a taste of His Omega (Changes, Book 1):
Mace dried the dishes as fast as he could, but he had a little trouble keeping up. It was obvious Noah had done the housework for his brother. After their tour, Noah had even found things to clean that Mace had missed completely the night before.
“I like cleaning,” Noah said as he seemed to slow down. “My brother didn’t make me. I lived in his house and figured I had to pull my weight.”
“You can do whatever you like, but don’t be afraid to ask me to help.”
Noah handed him the last glass. “All right.”
Mace put the glass on the shelf and then put away the few things he’d had to set in the drying rack in order to keep up. “What would you like to do this evening?”
“I don’t know. I usually read.”
“You can do that.”