by Ines Johnson
Chanyn held out her hand to the young man. "It's nice to meet you, Liam."
Liam looked at Chanyn's hand in utter shock.
"Whatever are you doing?" asked Merlyn, her head cocked to the side like a bird's.
Chanyn pulled her offensive hand away, cradling it to her heart. "I was greeting my soon to be cousin-in-law."
Both Merlyn and Liam stared at her. Off to the side Chanyn could see Dain grinning good-humoredly in her direction. She raised her brows high as though to say, What have I done wrong now? Though she couldn't hear it, she saw Dain's chest tremble with a chuckle. Chanyn couldn't help but note how well he looked after a couple of days rest.
"I think you might be as feral as grandmother says you are."
What did she have to lose? Chanyn leaned in conspiratorially. "I think you might be right."
Merlyn blinked, and then laughed. The sound seemed to startle her and she took a moment to collect herself. A small grin remained as she looked once more at Chanyn. With Merlyn's face relaxed she saw the family resemblance, the high cheekbones and full lips, the same brown-gold inquisitive eyes as Chanyn's reflection.
But then Merlyn's face sobered. "I hear you're being trained by a Pleasure Hound." She whispered the words Pleasure Hound as though they were some sort of obscenity.
Chanyn nodded. Merlyn stepped in closer.
"I used to know a hound," Merlyn confided. "Well he wasn't a hound when I knew him. He used to work on the estate. But then there was an... incident."
Over Merlyn's shoulder, Chanyn saw Liam bristle. His shoulders stiffened and his jaw clenched.
"He was sent away. He entered the pleasure temple sometime after that." Merlyn wouldn't meet Chanyn's eyes as she continued. "I don't suppose you know him?"
"My hound's name is Jian." Her hound. If only.
"Oh," Merlyn's face relaxed. "That's not him. In any case, good luck on your wedding night. I have heard that with a hound present it won't be as unpleasant." Merlyn ran an envious gaze over Chanyn. "It once was the accepted custom for a newly bonded triad to employ the services of a hound. Grand Mother would never allow a hound near any of her daughters. She believes males should never have any control over a female."
"Our mothers didn't love our fathers?"
Merlyn blinked, her expression uncertain as though she were trying to determine if Chanyn made a joke or stated a fact. "Oh, Chanyn,” she said finally. “You say the most peculiar things. All the women in our family had mates selected using a very scientific process. Grand Mother does a complete genealogical study to determine male intelligence and obedience. Once she finds my second mate, I'll be bonded and expected to breed. But," and now she came in closer to Chanyn, closer than custom dictated. "I have a theory that a child's gender is determined by the male sperm. All men come from women. Therefore, they contain both male and female DNA, where women only contain the female. So it should follow that it’s the man's sperm that determines the sex of the fetus. There were studies done back in the twentieth, but most of that information has been lost or destroyed. But I think I'm close to cracking the code. I hope to complete my work before Grand Mother finds me a second mate. I'm certain a pregnancy would slow me down."
Chanyn glanced again at the male at Merlyn's back. He hadn't spoken a word. He met her eyes. His dark gaze reminded Chanyn of the boar she'd slain in front of Dain and Khial. The creature had only been seeking warmth. When it found a place it thought safe, it had been gutted.
"I would like to see you again," Merlyn said, suddenly shy. "Though I don't think that Grand Mother would approve."
"You're welcome to come over at any time."
Delight shone in Merlyn's eyes. She reached out a tentative hand and patted Chanyn's shoulder in an approximation of the gesture Chanyn had done earlier.
Merlyn turned to go, but then stopped and turned back. "They're not all bad. Our family. They want what's best for us. They don't waste time with... emotions like love. Or friendship."
"I'd like to be your friend," Chanyn said. "If that's agreeable to you."
Merlyn beamed, then quickly composed herself. She turned to go. Liam regarded Chanyn with a quirk of a brow. Chanyn offered him a friendly smile, but he looked away and followed close behind Merlyn.
Dain came over to her then. "Are you ready to go, my lady?"
Ready to go to her wedding night. With her husbands, and her hound.
Chanyn hadn't seen Jian since the night he held her after she professed her love for him. Chanyn had said the words out loud, but Jian hadn't. He hadn't needed to. His heart was in every look, every touch, every kiss.
He'd held her all night, neither of them needing any further physical connection than lying in each other's embrace. In the morning he'd waited for her to awaken before kissing her lightly, like she were the most precious thing in the world, and then leaving.
The next two days had been a blur of preparations for the ceremony, followed by quiet evenings sitting with Dain, and sometimes Khial, as Dain recovered.
Now Chanyn took her husband's hand as they left the bonding temple and returned home to consummate the bond. Khial trailed behind them.
Chapter Five
Three small gems winked back at Khial in mockery when he looked down at the band on his finger. There was his family stone, the sapphire. The stone meant loyalty to family and healthy relationships. Khial clenched his fists so he wouldn't wrench the lie off his finger. The band bit into his hand.
His thumb traced over the ruby. The feel of Dain's stone instantly calmed him. The red stone was a promise that Khial never felt necessary to publicize. Between the lie, and the promise, sat the sparkling diamond that represented their wife.
Khial was married. To the man he'd pledged his life to as a boy, and to a woman he barely knew as a man.
The last two days he and Chanyn had been cordial. Their goals were in alignment, with each nursing Dain back to health. Thumbing their noses at his weak organ, willing Dain's heart to keep beating just as his mother and fathers had kept it beating with only the force of their love. Khial believed that he and Chanyn could do the same for him.
Today, Dain looked the picture of health. A perspiring picture of health. An anxious picture of health. A slightly trembling picture of health.
"You don't have to do this," Khial said.
Dain wiped the sweat from his brow with a clenched fist and thrust up his chin. Khial sighed at the stubbornness of his mate, his husband. He sighed to keep from laughing. The action brought to mind a young Dain fearful of jumping off a cliff into a stream of water.
"You don't have to do this," Khial had yelled up at him then, while he tread water below the cliff.
The younger Dain had thrust his chin out in the same way as his older self. He'd taken a deep breath, and jumped. At the bottom, in the cool water, the two had laughed and splashed each other. It had been a high jump and not the best of dares for a sickly child. But Khial knew that if Dain had hurt himself on the fall, he would have been right there to catch him. Khial would always be there to catch Dain.
They stood before the marital suite once occupied by Dain's parents. They'd never used this room. Dain's rooms were large enough to suite them both. But, now that there were three of them...
Dain reached out a hand to Khial's shoulder. "You have been a part of my family for as long as I can remember. Just as my parents embraced you, I need you to embrace her. She is a part of our family now."
Khial looked into those green eyes that he woke up to every morning, and the last thing he saw before he went to sleep each night. Dain was healthy. He would stay healthy. Khial had to admit that part of Dain's recovery was due to Chanyn. With her second pair of hands added to his, Dain recovered in half the time. That fact should have made Khial bitter, but it didn't. It couldn't, when he looked into Dain's healthy, determined face. Khial felt nothing but gratitude for Chanyn's care and help.
"I'll embrace her as family," Khial acquiesced, "but not as anything else."<
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Khial passed in front of Dain, anxious to get this night over. He was not enthused about watching his lover make love to another person. At least that's what he told himself. His dick, on the other hand, throbbed at the thoughts he refused to have about the ordeal. He refused to remember Chanyn's glistening skin, her chocolate dipped nipples, her parted lips...
Khial turned the handle.
On the other side of the door, Chanyn sat on the bed, fully clothed, though the silk covering her was scant. Alongside her sat the monk. When Khial opened the door, he spied their entwined hands, heads bent together in an intimate conversation. At Khial's entrance, the monk's fingers loosened on Chanyn's, but as his eyes connected with Khial's, Khial saw the monk change his mind. He re-clasped his hands with Chanyn's and brought them both to standing. They looked like a united front.
For a moment, Khial wondered if the monk was going to go back on his word. Were they about to tell Khial and Dain that they were running away together?
Dain came in behind Khial.
The monk released one of Chanyn's hands and bowed to both Dain and Khial. "Greetings, my lords, and felicitations on your bonding."
Khial followed Dain's eyes to the entwined hands of their wife and the monk, but Dain didn't say anything about it. "Thank you Brother Jian. Is our lady prepared?"
After his grand speech just a moment ago, Khial heard the nervousness return to Dain's voice. Khial glanced over at Chanyn. He saw a tremble in her free hand. It appeared the only two people in the room who weren't trembling or nervous were Khial and the monk.
"We are ready, my lord," the monk spoke for Chanyn. "Will you join us in prayer?" The monk reached a hand towards Dain. Dain stepped up and took it.
They all looked expectantly at Khial. He looked at the circle of people: the man he loved, his wife, and the man she loved.
"I won't be joining in," said Khial. He went to the window, turning his back to the whole affair. The joke was on him. He could clearly see them all in the glass' reflection. Khial stood on the outside looking in as Dain and Chanyn clasped hands with the monk and closed the circle.
The monk began his prayer.
"Maternal Goddess, I seek your presence as I align myself with one of your sacred daughters.
I offer my body as a vessel of your will and your grace.
The desire of my heart is pure and known to you.
I wish to please your daughter and garner your favor.
The miracle that pleases a woman and creates life is of your design, Divine Goddess.
With great anticipation, I align all of the energy systems of my body, my soul, and my mind with you.
I give thanks in advance for your blessings of this experience and know that I walk in the light of your sun and the fertility of your earth.
Ashe."
"Ashe," intoned Chanyn and Dain.
They stood silently, eyes closed, heads bowed in meditation. Then the monk took Chanyn's hand and moved her towards the bed. The monk's back was to Dain so he couldn't see the questioning look he gave Chanyn. From the reflection of the glass, Khial saw Chanyn answer the monk with a trusting nod.
The monk pulled the ties of her gown and the material fell to the ground. Khial heard Dain gasp. Khial had seen Chanyn before, but still his fingers gripped the windowsill as he beheld her once more. She'd been sitting the last time Khial saw her so he hadn't seen how perfectly proportioned she was. Large breasts, small waist, flaring hips and the triangle of curls below her navel. Khial had to swallow many times. His dick throbbed, begging him to turn around.
Khial closed his eyes and heard the bed creak indicating Chanyn climbed aboard.
"No, no," came the monk's gentle voice. "Do not disrobe just yet, my lord. We must prepare her."
"I thought you said she was ready?" Dain's voice was husky.
"I said she is prepared, my lord. We have to make her ready. A man may become aroused in an instant. That is not so with a woman. Come, let me show you."
Khial's senses were so aware that he heard Dain move closer to the bed. A moment later, he heard Chanyn's small sigh.
"You're doing very well, my lord," encouraged the monk. "Only, a woman needs a slower, lighter touch. Like this."
Chanyn let out something between a groan and a sigh. Khial could take it no longer. He opened his eyes and gaped at the reflection in the window.
Chanyn lay on the bed, Dain and the monk on either side of her, their hands gliding over her body. Khial saw Chanyn undulating under their touch. He clenched his hands once more.
The monk's eyes roamed over and caught Khial's eyes in the glass. The monk held Khial there as he continued moving his hands over Chanyn's body. Khial looked away from the monk's eyes and followed his hands as they went over Chanyn's breasts. Then Khial's eyes went back to the monk. The monk still looked at Khial's reflection in the window. He said nothing, his face a mask of serenity.
"Now you may disrobe, my lord."
Khial's hand slipped off the window ledge from all the sweat gathered on his palm. The monk tore his gaze from Khial and his eyes landed on Dain. It had to be Khial's imagination. The monk did not just smirk at Khial before turning his serene face to Dain.
Dain straightened, his fingers trembling once more.
Dain made quick work of his clothes and then stood before both Chanyn and the monk in all his naked glory. The throbbing of Khial's dick became nearly unbearable now.
The monk slid behind Chanyn, sitting her up and cradling her in his arms. Khial saw him smile down at her, the look both supportive and an acknowledgement of love. It was that exchange, and not the fact that his bond mate and wife stood naked preparing to couple, that made Khial feel like a voyeur. He nearly looked away, but when Dain climbed on the bed and between Chanyn's thighs, Khial had had enough.
He turned around.
Dain had his dick in hand. He slowly approached Chanyn who had her legs spread. Khial saw the dark pink of her. He swallowed, fingertips still gripping the windowsill behind him.
"Enter her as slowly as possible," the monk instructed.
Dain nodded, focused exclusively on his target. Lining himself up, he began to push. The head of Dain's dick disappeared and his eyes went wide.
"Slowly," said the monk. "The first time can be..."
While the monk searched for an adjective, Dain gave another push. His mouth gaped open. His dick disappeared inside Chanyn.
Chanyn stiffened.
Dain let out a guttural roar as his body began to jerk.
The monk found the adjective to describe Dain's new experience. "...overwhelming."
It took Dain a moment to recover. Chanyn and the monk waited patiently. The monk stroked Chanyn's arm and back. Chanyn patted Dain on his shoulders. Finally, Dain regained sense and withdrew from her. Chanyn winced as he did so.
Dain looked horrified. "I'm so sorry, Chanyn." He came up to kneeling, his dick soft after the overwhelming impact.
Chanyn folded her legs away from him. "You didn't hurt me."
Dain looked away, shamefaced. "Well, at least it’s done now."
"No," said the monk as he continued to stroke Chanyn's arm. "It is not."
Both Khial and Dain gaped at the monk.
"She needs to experience orgasm in order for conception, particularly for the conception of a female child."
Dain looked down at his dick, limp and lazy.
"Lord Khial?"
It took Khial a moment to remember that that was his name.
"Would you help your bond mate?" The monk cocked his head in Dain's direction.
Khial looked from the monk to Dain. "Help him?"
"Yes," the monk answered patiently. "He needs to achieve another erection."
Slowly the words and their meaning became clear to Khial. With a stiff arm, he pushed himself away from the windowsill. The first step felt as though he were going off a cliff. Khial kept his eyes on Dain. On shaky legs, he let go of the ledge and made his way down the cliff towards h
is lover.
Chapter Six
Jian observed Lord Khial perform a death march to the bed, his face shell-shocked at Jian's request to rouse his bond mate for a second go. In truth, it would have been easier if Lord Khial were a willing partner; the man was certainly able at the moment. That erection Jian spied between his legs must be killing him.
Lord Khial arrived at the other side of the bed. He stood before Lord Dain, unsure what to do next. Finally, Lord Dain reached up to him.
"You know that I love you, Khi. You don't doubt that."
Lord Khial glanced at Chanyn, who was curled up in Jian's arms watching the exchange. Jian told her that the first time with her husbands might go this way. She had been prepared. Lord Dain did well at getting her ready, though Jian knew that it would not have happened without his instruction. It was largely Jian's touch that Chanyn responded to.
Jian expected to feel jealousy, bitterness, at the evening’s events. But neither sinful emotion reared within him. He knew his actions tonight would secure the future of the woman who held his heart. He would have stood in front of a brute squad to ensure her happiness. Instead, he got to orchestrate her pleasure.
He saw that Lord Dain did indeed care for Chanyn. He believed that Lord Khial would never harm her. Once Lord Khial's grief at the loss of Lord Dain left him, he would protect Chanyn and their child. The display in the hall the other week hadn't fooled Jian. The young lord carried a tender spot for Chanyn, even if he wasn’t ready to admit it to himself.
Lord Khial's eyes lifted to Chanyn. Jian saw some silent agreement pass between them. Whatever Lord Khial saw there decided him. He nodded to Lord Dain and then sank to his knees.
The two men kissed, tentatively. Jian was certain neither of them had ever had an audience to their lovemaking before. He turned his attention back to Chanyn and brought her head around.
"Hi," he said, mimicking her greeting from the other day.
"Hi."
They looked at each other for a moment, each grinning.
"This time," Jian said, "I promise you pleasure."
