by Ines Johnson
“Excellent,” said Sister Mychelle. “The Chamber of Arts and Culture has a wall in need of artwork. You would help us out by showing there, sir. I’d like to show your painting too, Lady Alyss.”
Both Adom and Alyss stared at Sister Mychelle, who beamed at them both. The guard went into the cell and released his wrists. Alyss was in his arms before he had time to bring the circulation back into his forearms.
“I’m sorry,” he said to her. “I shouldn’t have taken your work. I just wanted the world to see your brilliance.”
“You’re right,” she pulled away from him. “That was a stupid thing to do.”
The laugh that shook Adom’s shoulders removed any trace of coldness left by the damp cell.
“I don’t care what anyone else thinks,” Alyss said. “I only cared what you thought of it.”
Adom tangled a wayward curl at her neck around his finger. “You don’t have to marry me. I don’t want you to feel obligated to.”
“You freed me, Adom. You freed me from a life of confinement. If a contract is what I need to keep you in my life, then that’s what I’ll do.”
“I’ll never let you go again. I’ll tie you up to the bed.”
“I’d like that.”
A voice cleared behind them. The Male Voice looked away as his hand came away from his mouth. Sister Mychelle continued to gaze at them in a way Adom knew all too well. She was cataloguing their lines and shapes to later use as inspiration in her art work.
Adom smiled his gratitude at the woman before turning back to his betrothed. “Now, we just need to convince Emet.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
The door to the storefront was unlocked. Emet was certain he’d locked it this morning after he left. That meant only one thing; Adom was home. He dashed down the stairs and into the studio. It was the second time today he had to pause at a threshold. But this time, the scene before him was a welcome sight.
Adom and Alyss stood with their heads close together in conversation. Alyss was the first to see him. Emet lost his breath at the sight of her. The wound on her cheek had faded, but the markations on her arms were still dark enough for him to see. Her golden eyes looked at him with uncertainty. Emet wanted to drop to his knees and apologize, beg for her forgiveness for turning her away when she’d needed him most.
“We’re getting married.” Alyss lifted that defiant chin of hers. “We hope that you will join us. Otherwise it would be very awkward, and likely taxing, for Adom to be married to two separate individuals.”
The two figures before him both stood side by side, their feet planted in firm stances, hands entwined. A united front. He couldn’t remember why he’d insisted these two strong people needed his protection, but he would still offer it.
Emet opened his arms wide. “Come here.”
Alyss bristled at the command, but her feet carried her to him.
Emet swept her off her feet into a bear hug. “Can you ever forgive me?”
“I never blamed you for anything.” Her voice was muffled against his chest, but he heard her clearly.
“I swear to you, to both of you,” Emet looked over the top of Alyss’ head at Adom. “I will champion your every dream. And I will never again be the one to push your true desires down into the dark.”
Still inside the cocoon of his embrace, Alyss looked to Adom. She sighed theatrically. “He just ruined everything. We had a whole debate prepared, complete with charts and graphics.”
Emet planted a kiss between Alyss’ brow. “I would’ve conceded your every point, my lady.”
“What,” she grinned. “No compromise?”
“No need. There’s nothing in dispute between us.”
“As for my part,” Adom stood before the two of them. “I was simply going to tie you up until you agreed.”
Emet released Alyss and offered Adom his wrists. “If that’s what you think is best.”
Adom reached for Emet’s wrists. Emet caught sight of the angry red marks peaking from beneath his bondmate’s shirt cuffs. He grabbed Adom’s wrists. “What’s this?”
“Oh, that. I just spent a few hours in jail today.”
Emet didn’t find the joke funny. When he looked into Adom’s eyes, he saw the truth behind his words. Emet nearly lost his stomach.
“Its all over now.” Adom looped the rope around Emet’s wrists. “Alyss came to my rescue. We can talk about it later. Where have you been all day?”
“I was with Lady Angyla.” The rope against Emet’s wrists fell slack. “She won’t come after us, any of us. We’ve come to an…understanding. We can talk about that later too. I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you today. You know I would’ve come for you. I’ll always come for you.”
Adom’s hands stilled. The knot lost all tension. Then it unraveled completely. Emet grabbed hold of Adom’s wrists, thumbing the bruises there.
“This is my worst nightmare come true. You were almost taken from me. Just like all those years ago. You were almost taken from me then before you knew I loved you. And today, you were almost taken before I had the chance to tell you I was sorry.”
“You loved me? Before…”
“Before what?” Emet frowned. “Before we left the temple? Of course I did. What did you think?”
The rope fell to the floor.
Emet’s eyes widened as he realized that Adom could’ve possibly thought otherwise. All these years? He didn’t have time to offer words. Adom’s lips crushed his, forcing all logic, all reason, all thought from Emet’s brain. He was reduced -no, not reduced. He was elevated to a bundle of feelings and sensations. Adom painted Emet’s mouth, his face, his neck with his love. Though Adom was smaller, he pinned Emet’s arms above his head so that Emet could do nothing but receive. Adom ground his hips into Emet’s groin until Emet’s dick jerked violently against his paints. And then Adom backed away. Emet nearly lunged after him in protest.
“Upstairs.”
The words made no sense to Emet as he glanced over Adom’s shoulder at the rig and drawer of ropes.
“Not tonight.” Adom blocked Emet’s view of the rig. “I intend to have you both, and the cot isn’t big enough for all three of us.”
Emet had nearly forgotten Alyss was in the room with them, his every sense had been so attuned to Adom. They made their way up the stairs and into the bedroom Adom and Emet had shared for years. Emet watched Alyss enter the room tentatively. He saw her eyes track their progress as Adom worked the buttons of Emet’s shirt.
Adom pulled the fabric over Emet’s shoulders. He trapped Emet’s forearms, gave him a shove, and Emet fell backwards onto the bed. Adom grabbed at his pant’s buckle and freed him of the garment. Emet hissed as his erection sprung free.
Adom took his time unlacing his shoes and pulling off his socks. Emet was naked from the torso down, only his arms were covered by the binding sleeves of his shirt. He tried to calm his writhing, knowing Adom would only prolong his touch the more he knew how much Emet wanted it.
But it appeared Adom was as eager as Emet tonight. He prowled up the bed, delivering kisses to the insides of Emet’s thighs as he came. Emet’s erection jerked as Adom’s mouth inched closer to the place he wanted him most.
Adom got to his destination in record time. Upon arrival, he gave Emet’s dick a long lick from root to tip. Emet’s whole upper body collapsed back on the bed. With his body bared, Adom’s mouth ensnared the length of Emet’s cock and they both groaned.
“Can I try?”
Both males stilled at the needy tone of Alyss’ voice.
Adom toyed with the head of Emet’s dick as he regarded Alyss. He crooked a finger, then rolled to the side to make room for her. Alyss stepped out of her shoes and came to kneel on the bed. Adom held Emet’s brown cock as an offering to her. She pulled her hair out of her face and leaned into Emet. Emet’s hips jerked, meeting her halfway. She gave him a tentative lick, and it felt like a punch to the gut.
She smiled up at him. “I thought it would b
e hard. It's as soft as your lips, like a kiss.” And then she kissed his cock head again and again.
Emet curled his hands into the sheets. He tried to still his hips. He didn’t want to harm her with his eagerness. A lick to his testicles sent his back arching off the bed. When Emet opened his eyes, he saw Alyss’ head bobbing up and down on his dick, while Adom’s face was buried beneath his testicles.
Emet writhed, he panted, he bucked, desperate for relief. He struggled to break free of the binds of the shirt. Adom reached behind him, knotting the shirt in his grip so that Emet could not escape. Their eyes connected. The command in Adom’s gaze stilled Emet’s struggle with the shirt.
Adom lifted Alyss’ head from Emet’s cock. Her lips glistened from her exertions and Emet’s precum. Adom licked at her upper lip, sucked on her bottom lip. He captured them both and sucked them clean.
Emet’s erection was painful as Adom reached behind Alyss to pull her dress over her head. He removed her under garments under Emet’s starving gaze and straining dick. Then he turned Alyss and positioned her over Emet’s hips. Emet’s cock pointed up to the sky.
Adom tilted Alyss’ head back for a kiss as he guided her body down and onto Emet’s cock. Emet clenched his hands into fists as her tight heat surrounded him. Her hands came to rest on his chest, her eyes squeezed shut, lips parted as she took him. Meanwhile, Adom smiled from over her shoulder. He placed his hands on her hips. When he pulled her up, Emet was ready tear his shirt apart to get his hands on her. But no sooner than the thought entered his mind did Adom guide Alyss down in a circular motion over his dick. They all groaned.
With just that one stroke, tension gathered in Emet’s balls. He would not last long. The smug smile on Adom’s face told Emet that his bondmate was well aware of his predicament. Emet ignored the conceited bastard and focused instead on Alyss. If he would explode soon, he was determined to take her with him.
Emet reached out his tongue and caught a nipple in his mouth. A shudder went through Alyss and she dug her nails into his chest. It was a bad move since the pinpricks of her nails reminded him of the rope’s bite. Emet came even closer to climax.
He tilted his hips up on her every descent. He pumped everything into her as he suckled and laved at her breasts. His orgasm demanded release, but when he looked at Alyss face, he saw a pleasurable frustration.
Why wasn’t she coming?
He angled his hips so that his dick met the patch of nerves at the front of her core. Adom’s fingers circled her clitoris. And her breasts received their due attention as well. She should have gone over moments ago. But the tense pleasure remained.
He glanced at Adom and saw he was frowning, likely wondering the same thing too. Then Adom inhaled sharply and the dawn of understanding lit his face. He removed his hands from Alyss clit. He caught both of her arms behind her back and pulled. Emet saw the tension in her arms just as he heard her guttural cry of release.
Alyss’ head went back, her mouth opened in ecstasy. Her inner muscles clenched against Emet. He could hold back no longer. He came with a mighty roar. He heard a ripping sound; his shirt being torn down the middle as his hands came free to catch Alyss as she fell into his chest. Adom released her arms and both she and Emet collapsed back onto the bed.
It took Emet a few moments to open his eyes, and when he did, he saw that Adom towered over them. He undid his trousers and brought Alyss’ ass to him. Emet felt Adom enter her core from behind, felt Adom’s balls slap against his own as he drove into Alyss.
Alyss clutched at Emet’s chest as Adom pumped into her. She panted with an open mouth. Her teeth sunk into Emet’s pecks. Emet decided he liked the biting. When he saw the frustration mix with her pleasure once more, he knew what to do. Emet grabbed at her arms and held them behind her back until she came again.
When Alyss came down from her high, Adom pulled her off Emet. He flipped her over and onto the bed. He pulled her thighs to him by her knees and pumped again. Emet watched his lover move in and out of Alyss’ core. His lips watered and he rose onto his elbow for a closer look at the two. He leaned down, reaching his tongue out to Alyss’ clitoris, also getting a mouthful of Adom’s cock. Emet laved at Alyss’ clit and Adom’s balls until they both came so hard the bed shook.
With a few final jerks, Adom collapsed onto the bed. Emet reached over and gathered the man he loved to him. He nuzzled into his neck. He planted soft, butterfly kisses on his brow. He slid his lips over Adom’s sated smile.
“Should I…should I go to my room?”
Emet glanced over at Alyss. “I’d like to see you try to walk after that.”
“I’m just glad she didn’t pass out,” drawled Adom.
“No you’re not,” said Emet.
Adom chuckled. “You’re right. Give me a minute, Alyss, and I’ll make you see stars.” Adom turned and gathered Alyss into his arms. His threat was mute as he fell asleep a minute later.
Emet rose and stretched out on the other side of Alyss’ body, making a cocoon of warmth around her. Emet looked down at Alyss who ran a hand across Adom’s sleeping face. She looked up into Emet’s eyes. Her own golden eyes brimmed full of trust and acceptance. Emet hoped his showed her his love and devotion.
He reached over and planted a small kiss at her temple. “Welcome home,” he said.
The Shower
a Pleasure Rites story
Chapter One
“I think it would be perfect for you.”
Khial shrugged his shoulders. Not the best move as he shoveled more food onto Chanyn’s plate. A red potato took the opportunity to leap off the tines of his fork. It landed with a splat onto Chanyn’s empty plate where it rested for barely a second before she picked it up and plopped it into her mouth.
Khial watched Chanyn slide her fingers out of her plump lips. She closed her eyes and moaned, licking her thumb and forefinger in turn.
Khial slid the choice slice of meat and greens that hadn’t dared the leap onto her plate. He sat forward at the edge of his seat and tracked the movement of her tongue. Her lips made wave-like motions; the lower lip dipped to the left while the upper lip rose to the right. Her pink tongue broke the surface once more to lick at the corner of her mouth. Khial shifted in his seat.
Chanyn opened her eyes, then rolled them when she saw Khial place another slice of meat onto her plate. She picked up her fork, the bonding band on her left hand twinkled as she speared a vegetable. “Music is your passion, Khi. What an honor to be able to share it with others.”
“The last time I was at a shelter I used my hands to defend myself, not make music.”
Two months ago, Khial had abandoned his new wife and the unborn child whose diet currently occupied his thoughts. He wound up inside a shelter where he stuck out like a sore thumb. His fine clothes and highborn manner made him a target to the discarded boys and street thugs inside.
“Sister Seryah was quite taken with your skill.”
Chanyn had roped Khial into playing at the city’s Hall of Records a few days ago. In attendance was Lady Seryah of the Sisterhood’s Chamber of Arts and Culture. She approached Khial after his playing and told him about a new bill that recently passed in the Sisterhood. The bill aimed to provide arts education to the city’s discarded youths.
“And the boys at the shelter will love you,” Chanyn insisted.
Love? Khial snorted, sitting back in his chair. Khial was a poor judge of that phenomenon. When he studied Chanyn’s heart-shaped face, he saw certainty. Another phenomenon he’d never quite grasped. “How can you be so sure?”
Chanyn shrugged. “Because I have faith in you.”
Khial grimaced. He laid down the knife and fork with a clatter and crossed his arms over his chest. “Faith is a belief without any empirical evidence.”
“You sound like Merlyn.”
Khial was coming to like Chanyn’s cousin. Like Khial, Lady Merlyn grew up in a household where the scientific method reigned. There was no room or tolerance for things
that could not be quantified. Merlyn had the methodical mind of Khial’s mother. But unlike his mother, there was warmth in Merlyn’s golden eyes. The same warm glow as he saw in Chanyn’s eyes.
“There’s no way to know if those boys will accept me,” Khial said.
Unlike Dain, his dearly departed soulmate and the father of Chanyn’s child, Khial was never the first in line to try new things. He preferred the road much traveled; crossing the sturdy bridge, rather than taking a leap into the unknown.
“Faith,” Chanyn said, “is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.”
“You sound like Jian.”
Chanyn smiled at that, her eyes going dreamy at the mention of their bondmate. Khial looked away.
Chanyn and Jian were in love. Khial may not be an expert on the matter, but he didn’t have to be with those two. Birds sang every time Chanyn and Jian looked at each other. Khial wasn’t exaggerating. The three of them had been out walking in the gardens one day. When Jian and Chanyn turned to each other, a chorus of birds cried their song.
Khial didn’t mind having a front row seat to Chanyn and Jian’s love affair. He was thankful to be included. He would be lost without them.
Khial looked to the clock on the wall. Jian was running late, again. He’d been late every night this week, arriving well after dinner was over and Chanyn had gone off to bed. Each night, for the past five nights, Khial had left Chanyn at the bottom of the staircase. He’d watch her go up, wishing he could follow behind and take a seat at the edge of her bed. But each night he’d faltered on the step.
“You have confidence in your abilities?” Chanyn said.
Khial turned back to her. “The strings I know. Without looking, my fingers know how far to jump and where to land in order to achieve each note. I don’t know that I could explain that sense of knowing to another person.”
Chanyn swallowed another bite of meat. “Well, I still think you’d be brilliant at it.” She smiled at him, her liquid gold eyes twinkling.