“Here?” Sam asked. “I thought it only happened on Chizan.”
“The ceremony is performed there, but mutatis can hit you anywhere.”
“It’s bad, isn’t it?” Sam asked. “What can I do?”
“Kuno has denied himself too long.”
Sam blushed. “We…uhm…”
Taren smiled gently. “Your scent is on him, Samantha, his scent within you. I know you have loved, and recently. What I meant is that he has rejected the call of home for too long. A cat has to return to Chizan every few years or pay the price. As Kuno is now doing.”
“Didn’t he realize?” Sam asked.
“He’s got a stubborn streak a light year wide,” Kareena said.
“I’d noticed,” Sam retorted.
“Yeah, well, he hasn’t gone home ever since he and his father had that final argument. He thought being hybrid, he’d be spared the Call. Not feegling likely,“ Lenar snapped. “I told him. We all did. And he’s Ronsevaal, so of course his blood is going to burn.”
“Ronsevaal?”
“The ancient blood, the royal line of Chizan. The Ronsevaal have been kings for over four hundred years. He’s San Duran—a Prince of Chizan.”
“What can I do?” Sam asked.
“You can’t, kitten-sister.” Taren smiled gently. “I will help him.”
“Why can’t I?”
“Because you are a woman.” Taren held up his hand for silence. “Samantha, you could not endure what I must do for him.”
Sam glanced at her friends. “What are you going to do?”
“Love him,” Taren whispered.
“You mean…? You can’t.”
“Does it shock you, Samantha? You would offer yourself to him to ease his pain. Why can you not allow me this honor?”
“You’re a man.”
Taren lifted his wings and shook them in anger. “I am Avenor. I am Kuno’s clan-brother. I have the right. We have shared before.”
Sam swallowed against the shock.
“It is the felinus way, Samantha!” Kareena said. “When we are in pain, friends give comfort in the best possible way.”
“I tried to wake him.”
“He won’t. He’s put himself into a trance to deflect the mutatis and to spare you.”
“I’m tougher than I look.”
“Of course, kitten-sister, I have no doubt. But this suffering is beyond your skill to heal.”
“To hell with that, bird-brain.”
Kareena gasped. Taren grinned. “Very few humans would get away with that insult, Samantha. But do not push the point. Lenar, remove her. Kari, I need you to monitor.”
“If she’s staying, then so am I.”
“Samantha-Sharille, your presence will make it worse for him.”
She narrowed her gaze at the cat-wing. “Is that the truth?”
Taren lifted his chin, his gaze challenging. “I always speak the truth to you, clan-sister. Lenar!”
The golden-haired shifter lifted Sam up into his arms and she struggled for all she was worth. He deposited her at the far corner of the apartment. Even as she rushed forward, the shimmer screen between her and the bedroom erupted, barring her way.
She rounded on Lenar. He raised his hands in surrender. “Kari and Taren know what they’re doing, Samantha. Let them ease his pain, and when it’s done, you can go to him.”
Sam faced the bedroom. The opaque screen allowed not even a glimpse of what transpired. Not a sound.
“What are they going to do?”
“Love him.” Lenar said.
“You don’t mind?”
The shifter raised a brow. “Mind? You are so human. Kareena and Taren will share with Kuno. If you want to share with me, then fine.” He took a step towards her. She held up her hand.
“I only want John.”
“So human,” Lenar whispered.
“At least I’m not some rutting tom cat feegling the brains out of every passing pussy.”
Laughing, Lenar flung himself onto the sofa and reclined, watching her, his golden eyes glinting.
Sam paced up and down across the apartment, back and forth. Counting steps. Until she grew dizzy.
“You’ll wear a hole in the floor, kitten. Relax. It’s going to take hours. They’ll do him properly. Kari is nothing, if not thorough.”
Sam swallowed nervously. John had told her that felinus shared love with close friends, but she hadn’t realized that the sharing might extend to a ménage. The thought was disturbing. Yet, as she paused in her pacing, she remembered the time in the holo deck when she had lain between John and Hari. After her initial shock, it had seemed so natural and Harimal had been tender, loving. And now she knew Harimal loved him as a brother, the thought of loving the two brothers at the same time was…interesting. Hell, no. More than interesting. Exciting. She bit her lip. She was part of the felinus world and there were worse things in the universe than sharing love.
“Let me comfort you, Samantha.” Lenar’s purr washed over her. The damn cat had moved so stealthily, she hadn’t known he was behind her until his hot breath teased her nape.
“I can’t,” she whispered.
His hands cupped her shoulders and drew her back against him. His fingers traced up and down her arms. He kissed the groove of her neck.
Sam turned and put her hand to his cheek. He pushed his face into her palm and smiled.
“I’m fond of you, Len. Truly. It’s just that I can’t use you.”
He smiled. “There is no talk of being used, Samantha. The hurt you have, I can soothe.”
She kissed him gently and pushed away. “Thank you, but not this time.” Sam faced the screen. “What are they doing to him?”
“You want a blow by blow description?”
Despite herself, Sam laughed. “No, just an abridged version. Kari was going to monitor, what’s that mean?”
“Kareena is a very skilled monitor. She’ll gauge John’s reflexes, his needs. She’ll link with Taren and Kuno.”
“Link…that’s a polite term.”
“Oh, she’s not going to fuck Kuno. No, that’s Taren’s privilege. Kari’ll control the passion, monitor it, make sure that none of them are engulfed by it. But if Kuno wants it both ways, then Kari will oblige. Only,” Lenar paused. “Only, I sense that Kuno won’t have her. He wants you. Only you, Samantha, and that’s his strength and his weakness—at this time.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Once you’ve experienced mutatis, you’ll understand.”
“Have you?” Sam asked. “Had mutatis?”
“Of course, with Kari. I was sixteen, she was fourteen. It hit us both early. Age of consent on Chizan is fourteen, Sam, so I didn’t steal her from the cradle.” Lenar grinned. “Actually, it was Kari who did the stealing. Single-minded, is my kitten. She set her sights on me and I was feegled before I knew it.”
“I think you protest your innocence too much.” She smiled. “My name is Samantha and I exist for Kuno, only for him. The felinus pledge isn’t a hollow saying for me, Len.”
He inclined his head. “The pledge is the essence of all that is felinus, Samantha. We reserve it for our mates. But we also give pleasure to ease pain, for those who are friends or kin. If you are intent on suffering alone, then that’s your choice.” He sniffed disdainfully. “Humans can be so masochistic.”
* * * *
The screen dissolved four hours later and Kareena slowly walked from the bedroom. She fell, exhausted, into Lenar’s waiting arms.
Sam saw Kareena safely settled on the sofa with Lenar and then haltingly entered the bedroom.
John was awake, reclining on his right elbow, facing Taren who sat on the edge of the bed. Sam saw John’s fingers laced with Taren’s. A look between the men spoke of love and of deeper things, hidden, private. Sam felt a tinge of envy and regret. Regret that others had soothed John and not her.
Taren stood up and Sam saw his trembling. It took a moment for her to realize he w
as naked. The swirling feather and knives tattoos covered all his body, highlighting contours and muscles. He was lethal. Capital ‘L’ lethal.
She hesitated. “Am I intruding?”
“Kitten-mine!” John said. He held out his hand. “You can intrude nowhere. You are welcome everywhere.”
“Not in this room for some time.”
Taren sighed. “She is so human.”
“That’s why I love her,” John said.
Sam halted in front of Taren and before her courage failed her, she stretched up and kissed the assassin full on the mouth. “Thank you.”
“The pleasure was all mine,” John said.
Sam frowned. “You had no pleasure, Taren?”
“Not much.” He grimaced and flexed his shoulders. “He fought me. And I have his teeth and nail marks where you don’t want to know.”
The intense silence in that room spoke of battles and pain and surrender. Sam glanced between the men. In Taren’s eyes she saw shadows and hurt.
She touched his wrist with her fingers and felt his trembling. He edged backwards. “Don’t, Samantha!”
“I’m sorry. I’ve offended you.”
“Kitten-sister.” He shook his head. “I’m pretty wired at the moment and you touching me…” He shook his head again.
“Wired?” she demanded and saw John and Taren exchange glances, a smile passing between them. “What? Ah, I see.” Sam didn’t need an explanation. One look at Taren and she knew all she needed. “You channeled away some of John’s frustration. It’s in you, I can see it. You can’t walk around like that.”
John laughed. “He’ll go and feegle in the cyber-net.”
Sam raised a brow. “You like simulation?”
“I’m a long way from home, Samantha. Sometimes it’s necessary.”
“And you find it satisfying?” She glanced at John. “Have you?”
“Once. I hated it. Gave me a goddamn headache for three days after I withdrew.”
The double entendre made Sam smile. Then she sobered. Taren had comforted John, at great cost to himself. He was hurting. What sort of person let a friend suffer alone? In that moment she understood the felinus world, their humanity. The irony hit her. Humans, so proud of their humanity and their superiority over all, would turn away in fear or disgust, or in jealousy, not sharing a lover because of their own inadequacies.
Am I human or am I felinus?
Sam held out her hand to Taren. “I…I’m flesh and blood, not some cyber-replicant. Let me ease your pain.”
“I can’t, Samantha.”
His rejection was like cold water hurled in her face. She swallowed down hard.
“Samantha, you do me much honor,” John said.
“The honor would be all mine,” Taren replied. “But I must refuse. Taking an assassin as a lover at any time is no easy thing.” He bent down and kissed her lips.
“You taste of John,” she said, tracing her nail over his wrist.
“I can taste of a lot of things, Samantha.” He kissed her again.
When he lifted his head, Sam saw fire in his eyes and severity, the resolve battling with desire.
“Kuno?” Taren whispered, his voice hoarse, his gaze upon his clan-brother.
“It would be my honor. You are too hyper to walk out of here. You need soothing and not some feegling in cyberspace.”
“Sam,” Taren said.
She smiled. Rarely did Taren use her shortened name. “May I touch my clan-brother?”
He spread his arms wide. “If you so desire.”
She reached out and stroked one of his wings. Beneath her fingers she felt his heat, his shivering. The fur on his wings was like the most expensive velvet, mottled with his colors--cinnamon streaked with black. She swept her fingers back and forth, marveling at the texture.
Taren shuddered and swore.
John laughed. “Still say no, brother-mine?”
Sam’s caresses deepened and Taren leaned into her touch.
“We never allow strangers to touch our wings,” Taren said. “Generations ago, we were hunted for our wings, to have them fashioned into garments and expensive trinkets. To lose our wings is to lose our honor, our life.” He smiled. “You have a gentle touch. It pleases me.”
“Come here, Sammi,” John whispered. She turned and saw him lying spread eagled on the bed, his cock rigid. His smile was pure predatory male. Her throat constricted as her inner muscles cramped with desire. John ran a hand down his body., skimming low across his stomach, down his left thigh. “Let me soothe you, kitten-mine.”
Sam edged closer, crawled across the bed and lay face first over his body. She pressed her mouth into the groove of his neck and lapped, then bit. Laughing, he lifted off the mattress.
The bed dipped again and Sam swallowed nervously as she felt Taren’s weight carefully settle over her, his body wedged between her spread thighs. His breath tickled her nape and he bit gently, then sucked.
Sam moved her head and captured John’s mouth with her own. His tongue probed and she answered with her own lap.
“Ahh…”
“When I kissed you, clan-brother-mine, you didn’t say that for me,” Taren said. “You told me to fuck off.” His laughter vibrated through Sam’s body. “Lucky for you, I did not listen.” His tongue tip swirled over Sam’s neck, as his fingers sought the softness of her folds.
Sam shivered. “Ahh,” she whispered.
“You like this, kitten-sister? Some more, then.” Taren’s fingers stroked. His touch was firmer than John’s. Kuno tended to tease, building up the pleasure with the pressure; Taren was full-on at the outset. Or, perhaps he was too wired to take time with preliminaries. Straight to the heart; her heart. He was an assassin in every sense of the word.
John ran his fingers through Sam’s hair and then moved slightly, angling, and Sam saw him stroke Taren’s hair, the tips of his wings.
“Ahh,” Taren groaned.
She felt John move and one of his legs flung over the back of Taren’s thighs, his heel resting against the back of her knee, holding them both close. John kissed her again and Taren pressed his lips to her cheek, the two men fondling and kissing, breathing cat pheromones over her. Her blood thudded against her temples.
John’s hand eased beneath her to rest at her juncture. He ran a nail over her clit while one of Taren’s fingers delved into her. They worked together to bring her to arousal. She shuddered and quelled the storm, holding it inside, waiting for them to join her.
Sam felt Taren lift her and John eased into her, filling her in one upwards thrust. Taren’s finger stroked between them, applying pressure to one of the pleasure-meridians. Sam groaned as Taren loved her with his finger and John loved her with his body. A hand sought another meridian—was it John or Taren? Awareness focused on the pleasure and as the first ripple raced out to engulf her, Sam felt the probing of Taren’s body and then the shock of him entering her from behind. He paused. John paused.
Kitten-mine? John soothed.
Kitten-sister? Taren whispered.
And before she could stop it, an image escaped from her mind, a memory of Andy and what he had done to her…
The man below her tensed, the man above her mentally reeled, his body easing away.
No! Her mind commanded, as she reached behind to hold Taren to her.
This is the human-monster you told me about, Kuno? Taren demanded. It is a pity he is dead, else I would take great delight in peeling the flesh from his bones, a knife lick at a time.
Sam shuddered at the words, the image, then with shame. You told him, John?
He saw it when we linked.
There is no shame, Samantha. What has been done to you is unforgivable. Not your fault. Taren gently eased into her, halting, allowing her time to accustom herself to his size.
John wedged his hand between Sam and Taren, pressed one of her favorite meridians—at the base of her spine and at the same time, Sam felt him lift a finger to tease Taren. The cat-wing gro
aned. Mind-linked with Taren, Sam also groaned, felt his pleasure at John’s touch, as Taren felt her pleasure at John’s touch.
I feel you, Kuno. Separated, but joined within Samantha.
Yeah, like you. Hot and hard.
Slowly, in tandem, the men moved, beginning a slow, gentle loving rhythm. For a moment the pressure, almost a pain was too much. Then, another stroke of their fingers against her pleasure points took the discomfort away, replacing it with…
Ohhhh. She squeezed her eyelids shut.
Moments later, Sam felt herself lifted sideways and settled against the bed, John in front of her, Taren behind. John’s thigh rested over her hip, across to Taren.
They rode her, thrust for thrust, John kissing, Taren, then lathing her neck with his tongue and teeth.
Sam caught Taren’s frustration, his deep need. He had been away from home too long, missed his mate with a hunger and loneliness that was beyond words. As John thrust, she bore down against Taren, taking him deep inside. Taren’s shock washed over her—that she would do that for him.
You are clan-brother. It is my pleasure, my honor.
Kuno!
I told you she was special. John’s love, the starlight, washed over them both.
Sam gasped. She felt herself lifted, not in body, but in mind and spirit. She was flying through the cosmos, through fields of pulsing stars. Flying. Soaring. As if to give emphasis to her thoughts, she heard the rush of air beneath her arms, felt the caress of starfire across her skin. Taren flew and she shared, as John shared, flying in tandem with the Avenor.
Suns exploded around them and Sam found herself plummeting down a glowing tunnel of starlight. The pleasure was too much. She screamed. She heard John’s pleasure-scream then Taren’s. Felt their climax in the warmth spreading through her body. But neither man halted, their loving continued unabated, deepening, almost plundering and as John’s orgasm spilled into her, so did Taren’s and she bathed the men with her own essence. John’s starlight washed over her, through her as Taren flew with her across the infinite.
It was too much. Sam wept. Their love soothed. Then she fainted.
Kitten-mine? John’s mind-whisper touched her.
“She’s coming back,” said Taren. Sam felt his fingers stroking her temple.
Starlight Passion Page 2
