Wrapped in Fire

by Viola Grace

  “Good. We will head in for a council session and return for lunch.”

  Hrothan nodded and smiled. “I look forward to hearing some details, but before you go... What happened during the fruit course?”

  Dorra got up, kissed Hrothan on the cheek, and then left the dining room.

  * * * *

  Hreon grinned. “She is very inventive when there is the perception of privacy. Ask Liador for the details.”

  He heard a click and blinked. “Was that the main door?”

  His grandfather smiled. “Yes, it was.”

  “Damn it!”

  Hrothan chuckled as the young overseer went striding out to catch up with his companion. He would tell him later that Mrara was on the way home for a visit with his parents.

  Chapter Eleven

  She started to fidget after an hour of council meetings. Hreon pulled her into his lap and continued his conferences.

  She curled up against him and napped through the rest of the meetings. It was probably not appropriate, but her sleep had been rather consistently tampered with the night before and the morning and in the shower.

  Dorra woke up when she was being carried back to the residence. “Is it over?”

  He pressed a kiss to her temple. “Yes, Dorra.”

  “Do you ever have a day off?”

  He chuckled. “Yes, Dorra.”

  “What do you do for fun?”

  “Art galleries, the theatre, concerts. There is a gym in the residence that I use when I need to burn off some extra energy. That does not seem to be an issue right now.”

  She snorted. “I am really embarrassed at falling asleep in the council... again.”

  “Don’t worry about it. Those that didn’t understand yesterday were educated by their elders and now know what your significance is.”

  “My significance?”

  “What a companion means to a Hmrain. Even one of my particular mix. Two of the councillors even noticed the changes in me.”

  “Changes?”

  “My eyes and I look stronger.”

  She snorted. “Horizontal push-ups overnight don’t make for a proper workout.”

  “So, you say.” He chuckled. “My body is telling me otherwise.”

  “You can’t still be hungry.”

  He shrugged. “I am craving a snack if you are offering.”

  Dorra blushed. “I wasn’t offering.”

  “What if I make a polite request?”

  She wrinkled her nose. “Then I might have to consider the pros and cons of that situation. Or, we could just play a game for it.”

  He grinned. “You would bet your body in a game?”

  “Sure. As long as I had a chance at winning some underwear.”

  He grimaced. “Fine, but we would have to set some rules.”

  “Rules for panties?”

  He nodded. “Correct. A companion needs to be accessible if their Hmrain needs them.”

  “You make it sound like it can be an emergency situation.”

  “It can be. Once a Hmrain links to a companion, there is a feedback addiction that takes place. The energy that they take from their companion is a primary building block of their power, but it takes on the aspects of addiction.”

  “Wait, so you are addicted to me? You knew this would happen, and you did it anyway?” Dorra was outraged. She poked him in the chest. “That. Was. Incredibly. Stupid.”

  He grinned and opened the door to the residence. “It was necessary for me to find a compatible companion and begin becoming all that I am capable of. The fact that my grandfather found you was just my good luck.”

  The door closed, and he carried her up the stairs and to his room. He went into a drawer and pulled out a P’cha set that he put on a table. Two chairs later and they were laying out pieces. P’cha was a little bit of chess, a lot of checkers, and a bit of Go. The fact that she played for the right to underwear was the most alien part of the entire experience.

  Once the stakes were reiterated in graphic detail, they began their game.

  She moved her pieces, took his. Engaged in strike and counterstrike until he had a handful of pieces left. To her astonishment, he began winning. Her pieces fell one after another with ridiculous ease, and when her final piece was in his palm, she knew she had lost. She also knew that Hrothan had taught him to cheat.

  He cocked his head. “I win.”

  She sighed. “You cheated.”

  He inclined his head in acknowledgement. “I did. Hrothan warned me that it was unlikely that I would be able to beat you in a fair P’cha game.”

  “So, you admit that you cheated.”

  “Ah, but I still won, so what were the stakes again? Ah yes.” He extended his hand to her.

  Dorra huffed to her feet and walked over to him. “Where would you like me, Master Hreon?”

  He paused. “Your mood has changed.”

  “When I can’t win because you cheat and I have no recourse, you will get compliance. Isn’t that what you want? Now, should I disrobe, or would you like to fuck me as is?”

  Hreon blinked and frowned. “How badly did I mess up?”

  “Pretty bad. I took Hrothan’s cheating because he was a client. Yours is worrisome. If you want to win, play better. I have spent the last two years learning how to play this game, and now, no matter how well I play, it means nothing. So, when you feel hunger, satisfy it. There is no reason for me to participate.” She looked him in the eyes. “Now, would you like me to disrobe?”

  His hands flexed on the arms of the chair, and she heard a creak. He looked at her, and she could see the wheels in his mind. “Rematch?”

  She blinked. “Seriously?”

  “Seriously. Same stakes. I will attempt to raise my game.”

  She leaned in and kissed him quickly. “Deal.”

  He wrapped his arms around her, and the kiss got intense very quickly. When she pushed her hand against his chest, she gasped and said, “The game.”

  “I thought we had switched games, but fine. Kick my ass.”

  She blinked and kissed him softly. “I will.”

  They sat down and reset the board, and both of them were vibrating with tension as the game went faster and faster. It was a fairly even game until the last twelve pieces on the board.

  She focused on moving her pieces along the edges of the blocks and bit her lip as she didn’t meet his gaze but kept her eyes aimed at the board. The Hmrain were good at hypnosis at close range, which is how the cheating was so easy. She didn’t see him make the moves because he didn’t want her to.

  When she captured the last of his pieces, she slumped back in relief. “Thanks for a proper game.”

  He nodded. “Explain to the dress shop what you are looking for, and they will have the items made.”

  She blinked. “How do I pay for them?”

  He held out his hand to her and pulled her toward him. She got up and moved into his lap. He touched the icon on her skirt. “It is registered to my accounts. Once you make your purchases, they will be paid for at the end of the month.”

  “This thing?” she tapped the icon.

  “Yes.”

  “So, they have to scan it?” she took his hand and set his fingers on the icon.

  He frowned in confusion, but there was a spark in his eyes. “No, they will register it to you the moment you walk through the door.”

  “Ah. That is probably for the best. Now, do you have to be with me when I do this?”

  He grumbled. “No. You have been introduced. That is sufficient.”

  She turned in his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. “You know, there are bonuses to being a good loser.”

  She pulled his head down to hers and kissed him. He smiled slightly. “Are there?”

  “Ah, you disagree. Should I try and convince you or just head down for lunch?”

  He nuzzled her cheek. “Convince me.”

 
She kissed him, slid his hand under her top, and she straddled his lap. “You entertain yourself; I will do the convincing.”

  “Deal.” He deepened the kiss and slid his hand between her thighs. “You are wet and hot.”

  She shivered. “Yeah, I like winning.”

  He slid his fingers into her, and she slowly rode his hand. He murmured, “I am beginning to see the appeal of being a good loser.”

  “Good because I am very good at P’cha.” She nipped his lip.

  He slid his hands between them and freed himself. She groaned as he gripped her hips to slide her onto him. She panted and gave him sharp, nipping kisses as he took up space inside her. Hreon loosened her top and bent her back, exposing her breasts to him. He moved her on him while his mouth drove her crazy. She moaned and sighed, gripping his arm with hers for balance until he took her wrists and held them behind her while he slowly drove into her. The pleasure built slowly, but when it released, she let out a choked cry as her body flexed around him, clasping him tightly. He shuddered, and she heard his low grunt as he flexed inside her.

  Dorra was held against him, and his head was pressed to her breasts. He turned his head and licked at her left breast. He murmured, “That was unexpected.”

  She was still suspended with his hands behind her, and she flinched when she felt an aftershock, and he flexed in response.

  He slowly pulled her upright and kissed her. She asked, “What was unexpected?”

  “Are you receptive right now?”

  She frowned and did some math, blushing. “Probably. I wasn’t really thinking about that when we... uh... started this. Why?”

  He smiled. “No particular reason. Care to go for lunch?”

  She nodded. “Just one thing. Well, two, actually.”

  “What things?”

  “The first is that I need a quick shower without you in it, and the second is that you are going to have to let go of my arms.”

  He sighed. “I like having control of you, but I suppose this isn’t practical.”

  She wiggled her wrists in his grip. “And yet, here we are.”

  He kissed her and then let her go.

  She pushed up and off him and paused. “What’s that?”

  “Didn’t they have that class on your world?”

  She blinked. “Yeah, but every other time we have done this, you haven’t...”

  “Something changed.” He kissed her lips, her cheek, her forehead.

  She could feel the trail of cum snaking down her inner thigh. She grabbed a shower and checked her reflection on the way out. Her eyes were shining, and her cheeks glowed. Her hair needed tidying, but she looked extremely awake.

  She clawed her hair into a low knot at the base of her skull and went to find Hreon. He was gone. Dorra shrugged and headed downstairs. It seemed that he hadn’t waited for her.

  She walked into the dining room, and Hrothan was there, chatting with Ymara. “Hreon isn’t here?”

  Hrothan shook his head. “He is on a call to his mother. She was... concerned... when I mentioned that he had found a companion.”

  Ymara brought her a cup of tea and a hot salad covered in shreds of meat with wedges of bread next to the plate on a small board. “Can I start?”

  Ymara waved her on. “Go ahead. He will be down when he is down.”

  Hrothan moved from his seat to sit across from her. “There is something different about you today.”

  Dorra picked up the one bit of cutlery she had to worry about. “I don’t have my hair braided?”

  She flicked a glance at him, and his eyes were flaring with metallic gold. She jumped when he was looking at her with the part of him that was Hmrain.

  “Put that look away, General. I don’t need to be taken apart on the cellular level.” She took a bite out of the bread.

  He blinked and laughed. “So, when can I expect a great grandchild?”

  She flicked him a look. “Aren’t you dying?”

  Ymara gasped, and she ate more of the bread.

  Dorra asked, “Are you gasping for the pregnancy or the death comment because Hrothan has been telling me he is dying for two years, and it is a really weak pickup game. I am not pregnant yet, but I might be in a few days.” She stabbed her salad. “Or, maybe not at all. Who knows?”

  Ymara chuckled. “It was the death comment. Few would state something like that so baldly.”

  Hrothan was still staring at her. “There is something else. Didn’t he have you earlier?”

  She blushed and mumbled. “Why is it your business?”

  “Because I am pretty sure that I know what I was listening to, but you don’t seem to have depleted your energy.”

  “Oh, I had a nap during the council. I will be fine until tonight.” She waved her earlier fatigue away.

  He blinked. “So, three hours replenished you?”

  “Yeah. I have learned to get by on minimal sleep since I got out here.” She waved her fork in a wide arc. “What does rest have to do with it?”

  Hrothan sat with his teacup and sipped. “Well, given the amount of power he is displaying, you should be dead. You shouldn’t be able to keep giving him that power. You should have run dry by now.”

  “I am not really giving him anything. It just kind of... happens. I wasn’t even supposed to be Hmrain compatible anyway.” She gnawed her way through the salad.

  Ymara came over and touched her shoulder. “Are you really with child?”

  “No. Not yet. The egg and sperm might have made contact, but it is going to be a few days before the blessed event attaches itself to my body.” She finished her meal and set the fork down.

  Hrothan smiled. “I believe that is a record for a companion to a mate. Congratulations.”

  “Thank you. Well, if I am done with lunch, I am going to head to the shop to collect on a debt.”

  Hrothan frowned. “Should you be on your own? Does Hreon know?”

  “He said I could go on my own. So, I know the way. I will go on my own and do some shopping.”

  Hrothan stood. “I am coming with you.”

  She sighed. “Fine. But you can’t die until we get back to the residence. You are too heavy to drag.”

  He grinned and came around to offer his arm. “I promise that I won’t die until I get back to the residence.”

  She nodded. “Good. There is absolutely no part of my outfit that is load-bearing.”

  He chuckled, and they went out shopping.

  Chapter Twelve

  Once she managed to explain what she needed to the shop’s seamstress, she created a sample that Dorra confirmed as suitable, and when the seamstress was satisfied with the fit, she promised that she would get right on the assignment.

  Hrothan looked at the clothing selection while she talked, and when she was done, he looked at her. “Isn’t there an outfit here that you would like? You are wearing the same style over and over. It might get boring.”

  “Dude, I am just trying to keep up with Master Hreon. I can worry about the wardrobe later. For now, I just wanted to get something to stop my thighs from sliding together.”

  “Aw. You aren’t fun. Why not something like this?” He held up a series of ribbons.

  “I don’t know if I could even get into that, let alone wear it.”

  The shop hostess smiled and came forward. “You need a dresser for that one. Do you have a dresser?”

  She shrugged. “No. I barely need to get undressed in this outfit.”

  The hostess chuckled. “Well, can I show you items that are similarly easy for means of access?”

  “You can show me, but since Hreon has to be seen with me, I am going to leave that up to him. I will ask you to compile a list.”

  She grinned. “A list?”

  “Sure. The criteria are pretty simple. It has to be easy to apply and remove, has both access and coverage, and not flash groin when a person is seated or carried.”

 
“Oh. Right. Can I write that down?”

  “Of course. Oh, and I have to be able to put the household icon on it.”

  “Right.” She got a tablet, and they started wandering the shop, looking at clothing and choosing fabrics and textures. The basic designs that she favoured were easy and reasonably priced until the slippery silks and gauzy chiffon styles were selected. The hostess showed some more formal outfits in case of elegant meetings in the capitol or concerts or anything else.

  “Those are all lovely, but I don’t need them. Feel free to put them on the list.”

  Hrothan chuckled. “Send the list to the overseer and copy me on it. I am interested to see what you come up with.”

  The hostess smiled shyly. “I would be happy to go over it with you, General.”

  Dorra chuckled. “Why don’t I leave you two to discuss my wardrobe? I will head back to the residence.”

  Hrothan paused. “Will you be all right?”

  “Sure. I can see it from here.”

  “Go straight home.”

  She beckoned him down and kissed his cheek. “Yes, Mom.”

  He growled, and she turned and headed out of the shop.

  She enjoyed the feeling of being alone for a few minutes until two aliens glanced at her and began to follow.

  “What is a bright thing like you doing in a place like this?” He was a Vreegal based on his pale green skin and elegant features.

  Her pulse picked up as she caught his friend taking up a position on the other side. “I live here.”

  “You aren’t a Hellaz.”

  “No. I am not.”

  “Are you a bondservant?” Greenie trailed knuckles over her arm. She moved to one side, but the other male was there.

  “No. I am a companion and breeder.”

  He chuckled. “Ah, so you are used to working on your back. Would you be interested in spending an hour with us for suitable compensation?”

  She came to a complete halt, and they were a few steps away before they paused. “No. I am definitely not interested.”

  “Perhaps we can persuade you. To develop some interest. I have been told I am very persuasive.”

  She shook her head. “No. That would be unwise.”