Rani grunted and orgasmed over and over as I rubbed in circles and massaged her fleshy bump groaning, “So oh oh good! Yes!”
She gripped the furs frantically and held her legs stiffly in front of herself. I continued my efforts and after a few minutes, Rani’s body relaxed as she lost the ability to tense her muscles. I looked to see how she was. Her eyes were shut and her chest was covered with milk that continually leaked from her with each successive climax.
I removed my fingers and bent down and kissed her on the lips and said, “Thank you my love, I think I found it,” but Rani didn’t respond.
As soon as I finished with Rani, Aeyli and Belle literally dragged her aside and Aeyli threw herself onto her back in Rani’s place. She grabbed my hand and thrust it onto her mound and said, “Make sure that I have this spot too! I’ll try not to orgasm! Try me, please! Mark, hurry,” and she tried to push my fingers between her folds.
I slid in and felt for the spot and found it quickly and gave Aeyli the same treatment, going until she could tense her muscles no more.
When Belle sensed that I was done with Aeyli, she tried to shove Aeyli’s body to the side frantically, but Rani lay beside her and Belle couldn’t move both of them. Belle growled in frustration and tried to push the other girls off the bed. She screamed at being thwarted in her efforts to make herself available for my explorations.
I grabbed her around the waist and said, “Belle, come here! Sit on my lap,” and I pulled her onto my left knee. Belle wasn’t listening, but tried to get up and make room for herself on the bed. I reached down with my right hand and gently pushed two fingers up into Belle’s canal. At that, Belle stopped struggling and went rigid and finally looked at me, though somewhat glassy-eyed and almost uncomprehending. I reached for her G-Spot and pressed my fingers in and rubbed, triggering a sudden massive response from Belle.
Belle’s body threw itself backward and I had to catch her with my left arm around her back. At the same time, her legs flung wide, making as much room as the could for me to touch her. I couldn’t hold her in this position, so I pivoted to my left and lay her backward, awkwardly lying on top of Aeyli’s legs. It was all I could do.
I probed Belle, who began screaming uncontrollably. “Ya-ah-ah-ah-ah!”
I worried about the neighbors and if any of them would hear us. My initial fear was that they would mistake the screams for murder, but then, as I listened, I knew that if anyone overheard us that they would also hear the meaning and would probably say to themselves, “Oh, the shrine maiden is having a time with her prince. She sounds very happy indeed. How blessed she is. I wonder if he will take another mate before his first forty days are even ended? Well, no matter.”
Life on Barsoom was simpler than on Earth.
It didn’t take long for Belle to collapse; she had been orgasmic before I even touched her. That was another thing: the telepathic outcries of Aeyli and Rani had already primed her pump. I guess I wouldn’t be surprised if the hypothetical neighbor lady had felt a tremble between her legs as well, based on how loudly Belle had expressed her ‘happiness’. I laughed and thought about property values in the area going up based simply on the sexual bubble created around the House of Mark.
I laid Belle more comfortably on the bed and smiled at my circumstances. Of course, the responses and outcries of the girls had an effect on me as well, but at the moment, none of them were available to pay attention to me. I started to wonder what this girl Alexia was like and would she really want to join our family. Earth was becoming a distant memory.
I waited for the girls to wake up again and decided to go ahead and eat a bit of fruit for my breakfast. I knew that they had been expecting me to have milk for breakfast, but based on what they had just experienced, I decided to try and see if I could get through the next few hours without more sexual activity. I took two pieces of fruit and went down stairs to explore on my own.
On the lower floor was a large common living room, a kitchen, a separate dining room with a table for 12, and two more empty rooms; one probably served as food storage in the days when all 12 women lived here. In the back of the house was a small garden, but it had not been tended for some time. I looked for a place where we could practice with the swords but there wasn’t really a good area. Then I remembered the rooftop patio: that would work perfectly.
As I went back into the house, all three girls came down the stairs together and greeted me with a kiss. They asked if I had found the spot that I was looking for and joked that it didn’t matter what I was looking for, that I had found buried treasure regardless.
The girls had brought the sack of fruit down and we went to the kitchen and ate. I convinced Belle to forgo learning about sex in chairs until later. I think she was happy to wait, still reeling a bit from earlier. When asked about plans for the day, we decided to visit Alexia and talk about furniture orders and I suggested that I wanted to talk to Narhu about the house.
When we were done, the girls bounced out of their seats and headed for the door; I was the one to remind them to put on their belts.
Chapter 19 Call the Carpenters
Out in the street, people greeted us warmly. Many of them had seen us at the meeting, and the rest had started to hear about it. We decided that the first stop would be at the builder’s.
Narhu was warm, but ill at ease. When we had settled our greetings, he said, “Mark Jensen, last night I was a fool and you saved my life. You say you won’t hold it against me. I hope that can be the truth. I will do whatever is in my power to do for you.”
I clasped his arm and said, “Narhu, I said what I said. You are my first friend in Tranna if you’ll have me.”
He smiled and said, “Then that’s the end of the matter. I’m grateful. Truth be told, my mate rebuked me quite sharply. She went so far as to say, ‘If he kills you because of your foolishness, I’ll go with him and not mourn you for an instant!’ I know that she loves me, but it was a fair rebuke. Now, why have you come today? Name what you need from me and it will be my gift.”
I said, “Narhu, I am here because they say that you’re the best builder in Tranna. But I’m not asking for any gift from you but friendship. I’ll pay what’s fair.”
Narhu said, “Mark, they didn’t tell you the whole story. I’m the only builder in Tranna! As to gifts and payments, you have already made me a more wealthy man. I will hire 16 more workers because of you, and they will make a good wage. The council has discussed the renovations for the building to be called the Academy of Tranna. It’s a great thing for my business. Come here.” He pulled me close and whispered, “When my wife heard about it she said, ‘I hope that you’re still alive this evening. I feel like you should have milk for dinner!’ My friend, please let me live!” and he laughed and clapped me on the back.
Then in a voice that we could all hear again, “Now, what is it you want? Let me guess! Let’s see, the House of Mark has fallen on hard times at the decline of the Shrine Maidens of Tranna and now needs renovation, the same as the academy. Is that why you are here?”
I said, “It is. Just like you say. I think it’s a fine house and I’m very happy for it, but I suspect that a fine builder can make it even better and more comfortable for myself and these fair princesses. What do you say? Will you have time and energy for it? I can pay for more workers if you need them.”
Narhu smiled and said, “Mark, we will renovate your house from top to bottom! New lamps, new floors, new siding, new fixtures. I’ll bring running water and a shower if it needs it. A new oven for cooking and new shelves for storage. The garden will be a place of beauty and the rooftop will be a palace for your afternoons. You will entertain as a captain of Tranna. We won’t boast about it, but your humble shack in the low quarter will surpass the council members houses in high quarter. I won’t even suggest that you move to the high quarter because the homes are overpriced and not as well built. Mark, my friend, we will begin a renovation of the entire neighborhood and guests will be proud to be allowed to visit
.”
I said, “Narhu, stop! You honor me too much. Let’s make it a nice home, not the envy of the entire planet the way that you’re describing it. I can pay what you ask. I’ll let Aeyli approve any details. When can you start? And how long will you take to do what you have in mind?”
Narhu said, “I started already. Plans are being drawn at this very moment. I started in my mind last night at the meeting. We started in reality when my draftsman arrived this morning. There are several skilled men in Tranna who’ve had no work, and all of them came to me this morning to ask about work on the Academy hall. And every one of them asked me in secret to allow them to work on the House of Mark for no wages 20% of the time. My regular workers did the same, all unknown to the others. I have 26 men and women asking to work on whatever you need. And the weaver has already asked me to allow them to make curtains and new mattresses and seat cushions for your house. You made a big impression last night. It’s more fun than we’ve had in a long time.”
I said, “Narhu, really, I’m not a great man. I don’t deserve this!”
My new friend laughed and said, “It has nothing to do with you being a great man. It’s because people are happy. My mate thinks that I will drink milk, not because of who you are, but because she’s happy; because of how you being here brings us hope. Dorel said that more children would be born. My mate would love a child in her womb. Who knows if it will happen? But today, no man will take your money. If they did, it would appear back on your doorstep by evening. Trust me, we are not getting the short end of this arrangement.”
I laughed and said, “I think it’s too much, but if you say it’s your own choice and not an obligation or a payment, then I accept it gratefully.”
Narhu said, “Good. It’s settled. Come back this afternoon and we’ll discuss what I want to do for you. Oh, and thank you for choosing not to kill me.”
I laughed and said, “Thank you for choosing not to die!”
We laughed again and he girls and I left his place. Next Aeyli took us to the woodworker. The owner was a man named Oshen.
He greeted us and said, “My friends, what can I do for you? First let me say how much I enjoyed the meeting last night. If all meetings were as exciting as that, I would go to every one. And before a word is spoken, your money is no good here,. Not for at least 40 days. Ask what you want and you will have one of my finest workers for your needs for at least one month and I won’t hear any negotiations. Say it and it’s done for you.”
Rani blurted out, “We want Alexia!”
Oshen was visibly surprised at how directly Rani said who she wanted rather than what we wanted to have built for us.
He said, “Oh. Yes, well, then you shall have Alexia. She is a fine craftsman. I have others who…”
Rani shook her head and Oshen continued, “…but Alexia is very good. Um, perhaps my finest. But…well, I guess you know her. Alexia! Come here!” he shouted.
The girl came from a back room nearby. She wore a protective apron over her breasts and her front, and as she came, her eyes were down and she brushed wood chips from her front. It was surprisingly attractive to me: a sturdy apron and a naked beauty behind it. Without looking up, she undid the tie that held it at the back and pulled it over her head and shook out her hair and hung the apron on a hook and turned to face us.
I was instantly enthralled. The girl was at least six foot-two inches tall. She was more muscular than the girls of my house and her hair was very long; and very blond. Her legs and thighs showed firm muscles, and so did her stomach, arms, and even her neck. The woman’s breasts were about the same size as Rani’s, but she stood six inches taller, and two inches taller than me. I couldn’t help but immediately think about how a ruby anklet would look on her.
She was standing beside Oshen before she ever looked up. And when she did, I fell in love.
My gosh, if I were a woman of Barsoom, my milk would have come in that instant. Her face was beautiful and the look she had, before she saw who stood before her, was deep and hinted at a very intense and quiet personality. I guessed that she spent a lot of time alone and thought deeply with no one to share those thoughts with.
The girls looked at me and Aeyli whispered, “You see now? Three and no more, indeed.”
Alexia raised her eyes and when she saw the four of us, she smiled. She smiled as much at the girls as she did at me, but with me there seemed a little shyness in her gaze.
Oshen said, “Alexia, our new friend needs a woodworker, and they have requested you specifically. In fact, they seem to be most insistent that it be you and no one else. If you are willing, I’d ask you to make whatever they ask. I’ll pay you your normal wage…plus 10%, for at least 40 days, and then you will be back to your normal duties.”
Then he looked at Rani and saw something in her eyes and said, “Or not. We will see. What do you say? Will you work on their projects?”
Alexia gazed at me and waited. Finally she said, “I will go with them. It will be at least 40 days. It will be easiest if I take my tools and work at the House of Mark. I will come back if I need anything; or I will send for it and you can have it delivered to me.”
Without another word, Alexia turned and took her apron from the hook and disappeared into the work room again.
Oshen said, “Friend Mark, she’s a very fine craftsman, but she’s an odd girl. Um, if she doesn’t work out, send word and I’ll send someone else.”
I said, “No, Alexia is perfect for what we need right now. Thank you for making her available for us to help us renovate the house. It’s very generous of you.”
Oshen said, “Oh thank you. As with most of the craftsmen in town, I will have resources to hire several more workers to refit the Academy. Take her for as long as you desire her and I’ll send what materials she needs.”
I laughed to myself at the ‘take her for as long as you desire her’ comment. I could imagine my desire might soon build to where I wanted to ‘take her’ for as long as she would let me. A few days ago, and even somewhat this morning, I had been adamant that I would never love more than one mate. But now, it seemed perfectly natural, and unthinkable that this new woman would not be part of our lives. I could just feel it. Like some telepathic voice from the universe was telling me that it had already happened.
Alexia returned carrying a bag of tools and simply stood in front of me and waited. We said goodbye to Oshen and went out of the shop and Alexia followed quietly.
Aeyli whispered to me, “Mark, I am very happy about the look in your eyes. You understand better now, don’t you. Remember, this time it has to be done by steps and I will guide you. As Oshen told you, she’s a wonderful girl, but odd. There is no one like her.”
We decided to head back home and get Alexia settled before we did anything else. We walked mostly in silence, but Rani and Belle clung to my arms happily and Aeyli walked behind and talked quietly with Alexia and I didn’t hear what they said.
The village was fairly small and it took only about 20 minutes to walk from the house to the center where the market was. Nothing was more than a 40 minute walk. It was pleasant and we arrived in about 15 minutes, the wood shop being closer than the market.
I say about 20 minutes, but I realized that I didn’t have any way to know and should probably stop guessing. The days on Barsoom were different than on Earth and without a watch, I really had no idea how long things took. And it didn’t matter at all. We walked for a little while and before we got tired or bored, we got where we were going. That was really all that I knew. I could tell if the sun had moved, and it gave some indication of the time of day, but not in 20 minute increments.
When we arrived at the house, we went in and Alexia stood near the door waiting. Aeyli came and whispered, “Mark, she waits for you. Give her instructions.”
I looked at Alexia and smiled as warmly as I could and said, “Alexia, welcome to our home, I’m glad that you have chosen…to come. I would like you to make yourself at home here. Aeyli, Rani
, and Belle, all speak very highly of you.” Then I added, “They have convinced me that they love you. We just have some small projects that we thought that it would be nice to have done to make the house more comfortable. I have a few in mind, but I don’t even know what all we’ll ask you to do.”
She said, “I will do what you ask of me. May I call you Mark?”
She spoke in almost a monotone. Not quite, but almost. The weirdest thing was that even her telepathic communication was almost devoid of emotional content. It was disconcerting enough for me, but to people who were used to always knowing exactly what other people meant when they spoke, it must have been really unnerving. Yes, they would think that this girl was very odd. But I found it weirdly exciting. I was falling in love by the second. Aeyli was right. And that she wanted to be more familiar and call me Mark thrilled me for some reason. Actually, I knew the reason. I just didn’t think that I could admit it. The fact was that I really wanted her to like me.
I smiled and said, “Yes, please do! That will be very nice. Alexia, I can’t tell you how happy that will make me.”
She looked at me and said, “Mark, do you want me to stay here? While I work for you? Do you want me to sleep and eat with you?”
I thought, sleep with me? Oh do I ever. Wait, slow down. What’s wrong with me. We haven’t even hardly been introduced. What was I thinking?
I said, “Alexia, that’s up to you. If you’d like that, I’d be very happy to have you stay.”
I want to add, ‘and sleep with us’, but if I did, she’d know exactly what I meant and there’d be no way to claim a misunderstanding. Wait, when she said ‘sleep with you’, what did she mean? Because she was devoid of emotional content, there was no way for me, or anyone else, to know! But if I said it, she’d know exactly what was on my mind. I wasn’t myself right now. Aeyli had warned me about taking things in steps. I thought that the proper step was probably to ask her to marry me and run outside the gate or whatever and make it happen.
The Start of Time Page 16
