Her Majesty nodded. “She’ll be able to break free, Alitus. Once she’s completely out of contact with you, it’ll wear off. Sempervians are never truly addicted once they stop using a drug.” She lifted one shoulder in an elegant shrug. “Or a behavior.”
“So are you not really addicted to me?”
“That’s different. No Better has ever affected me the way you do, Alitus. I don’t understand why.”
“Hello?” Lady Erryq gazed up at him, eager and waiting. “A little attention, here?”
Smiling, Alitus reached down to guide himself to her opening. Her warm wetness against his fingers made him even hotter. “You are so beautiful, Lady Erryq. I’m sorry for not giving you exactly what you wanted right away.” Alitus thrust into her all at once.
Erryq cried out at the sweet invasion and pulled her knees up and back to take him deeper. Seeing her open so wide, with her legs spread beneath him shot tingles up and down his spine.
Oh … so good.He tilted back his head. When Alitus set one hand above Erryq’s curls and stroked her clit with his thumb, Destoiya leaned in closer and kissed him. She left his mouth and moved to lie beside Erryq. Taking the red-head in her arms, the empress drew her close and kissed her.
Alitus almost came just from the sight of them kissing. Destoiya bent over Erryq’s body and cupped a hand around one of her full breasts to bring it to her mouth. She sucked on the nipple, using her tongue all the way around it.
Alitus groaned. “So hot. You two.” Hard to speak with lust filling his mind.
Pistoning in and out of Erryq, he savored the sight of these two hot women in his bed. Erryq lifted her hands to Destoiya’s breasts and played with the rigid nipples, twisting and pulling them. The empress arched her back with pleasure and set a hand beneath one breast, offering it to Erryq.
At that moment, Erryq wriggled beneath him and Alitus lost all his cool reserve. He shot into her like a schoolboy on a first date. As he came down from the incredible high, Destoiya put him firmly in his place.
Shoving him backward onto the bed, she crawled over between his legs and took his wet shaft in hand, ready to go down on him. “Let’s get this cock of yours back up, lover boy. I want a good, hot ride.”
*
Lying in the middle of his bed afterward, Alitus held one woman on either shoulder. Destoiya tickled her fingers across his chest; Erryq stroked his belly. Each of them had one of their legs over one of his. He wouldn’t be getting out of bed anytime soon. That much was obvious.
“I don’t suppose either of you are sleepy?” Alitus laughed once he’d said it. “I know. Dumb question. Sempervians never tire.”
“He really is adorable, Rheyn,” Erryq said. “I have to agree with that. And he’s caught on quick about Sempervian sex.”
Alitus pressed a kiss against Erryq’s forehead. “You talk about me as if I’m not here.”
“Girl talk, lovey.” She set a hand on his chin and turned his face toward hers. “Rheyn and I always compare lovers.”
“I see.” He grinned. “I hope I measure up favorably.”
“Among the finest, darling.” Destoiya cupped a hand around his jaw and turned him back toward her. The silver and steel in her eyes had softened to the rich glow of pewter. “You’re in a class by yourself.”
“Coming from you, Majesty, that’s a huge compliment.”
She chuckled and he felt her laugh through his contact with her all along his side. At times like this, when she was happy and cuddly, she seemed so much more a real flesh and blood woman than a paragon he could never reach. Now, in his bed, the first layer of lust satisfied, she was a woman he could spend his life with, toiling beside her at whatever task she chose.
“What is it?” She gazed into his eyes, lifting herself on one elbow. “You went all melancholy there for a moment.”
“Nothing.” He lowered his lashes. “Thinking how much I love you.”
She traced his mouth with the tip of her finger, making him meet her eyes once more. Hers were filled with satisfied pride. “You’re so precious to me, Alitus. I love you.”
He kissed her fingertips.
“You asked very few questions about Erryq’s change, my love. Why is that?”
He turned toward Erryq, who was also propped on one hand, watching him. “You said you were Sempervian. I know your people have different abilities, but I don’t really know what they are. I assume the others don’t change the way you do.” He frowned slightly, turning back to Destoiya. “Why, were there questions you wanted me to ask?”
She shook her head. Sitting up, she folded her legs beneath her. “You see, Erryq? I told you he was perfect. Few questions, straight to the point.”
Alitus blinked. “Perfect?”
“Now you’ve done it.” Erryq smiled. “He’s going to get the big head for sure. There’ll be no living with him.” She told Alitus, “Rheyn told me you were perfect and that you’d be able to sate me. She bet me money you could.”
He turned back to Destoiya. “Is this true?”
“Does that offend you, love?”
He took his time answering. What did he feel? He let out a deep breath. “No. I am yours to command, after all.”
“Yours to command.” Destoiya closed her eyes. “I love the sound of that.”
“Maybe he is perfect, Rheyn.” Erryq smiled down at him. “But he’ll still have to be tested.”
The way they both looked at him made the hair on the back of his neck stand up. He squirmed in the bed. “Tested how? And for what?”
“Not that I think you’ll fail, Alitus,” Destoiya assured him, “but it was Erryq’s job to read you and discover your biggest fear. Then make you live through it.”
“Wait…” He disentangled his legs from theirs, pushed himself up and leaned back against the headboard. “Read me? How?”
Erryq sat up as well, hands folded in her lap. The two women were still nude, yet they sat across from him in bed with as much aplomb as if fully dressed.
“I’m a Dreamweaver, Alitus. When you sleep or daydream, I can read what you’re thinking. Once I understand how your mind works, I can create dreams for you or make you desire certain things. I can also physically change my body to become whatever you want to see.”
Create dreams for me …He turned that thought over in his mind, examining it. “You’re saying that because I dreamed about…” He paused a moment, going over Destoiya’s words earlier to bring the name to mind, “—Pietas, that he was related to my biggest fear.”
“Yes.” Erryq brought up her knees and wrapped her arms around them. “You desired him.”
“I did not!” He pulled the covers up over his legs. It wouldn’t reach any higher than his knees.
Destoiya had pressed her hands together and was tapping them against her mouth, studying him.
“Your Majesty, I swear, I did no such thing.”
She stared at him. “Go on, Erryq.”
“At first, I thought you were afraid of Pietas himself. He’d choked you badly that time he came here. It rankled you that you couldn’t control him with your pheromones. When I put on the façade of Pietas and attacked you again, I read your thoughts and desires. You became erect when he forced you up against the wall.”
“No, I didn’t, I—uh, ok. Yeah, I did.” He rubbed his brow. “But that had nothing to do with being choked.”
“Ah, but it did. I was just telling Rheyn that…”
“No.” Alitus turned to Destoiya. “I promise you that isn’t true, Majesty. You remember, you rescued me from being raped by several male Praetorian.” He told Erryq, “Ask her. They had dragged me into a classroom and had me bent over one of the desks with my pants down. She stopped it. I was terrified, Erryq. I would never want to experience that again. I didnot desire Pietas.”
Erryq and Her Majesty exchanged glances. “It’s all right, Alitus.” Destoiya touched his arm. “I believe you.”
He sucked in a deep breath.Finally.
“
However…”
Alitus stiffened at her tone.
“Since you do admit to being afraid of sex with another man, I think that will have to be your test.”
“Wh-what do you mean?”
“I mean, love, that you will have sex with a man of my choosing. If you are able to do as asked, then you will have passed your loyalty test. My brother will not allow me to have aChosen who cannot pass. If you want to be truly mine, you will have to complete his test.”
A cold, hard fist settled in the pit of his stomach. More disturbing, the beginnings of an erection stroked its way through his cock and drew his balls up close. He folded his hands over himself.
Oh, God. What man is she talking about? Please not a Praetorian. Too many bad memories. And not—no, please not Rudolf Brakovsky.He shivered.If I have to fuck a Jade I’m going to puke.
“Well, Alitus?” The woman he loved waited for his answer. “Do you agree to be tested? Or will this be good-bye?”
“Good-bye? What…”
“If you cannot pass the test, then you will no longer be considered trustworthy.” She studied her hands. “I will have no choice but to send you away.”
Chapter Twenty-One
TarthCity, Thomas Gabriel Stadium Grand Opening
Sumertsag 50
“Welcome to Opening Day at Gabriel Stadium,” blared the loudspeakers in the main languages of the Tarthian Empire. Alitus swallowed against the nervous flutter in his stomach. He walked behind Her Majesty and Lady Erryq as they made their way into the owner’s box, midway up above the Tarthian Fists dugout. Next to him, her android bodyguard kept pace easily, his leggy stride slow. Prentice glanced down at him and winked.
People on the sidelines fanned themselves and sipped iced drinks. Because of his veil, Alitus did not feel the heat that oppressed everyone else.Small advantage, I guess.
Once they reached the cool haven of the private box, Destoiya made a hand motion, freeing him to remove his veil. Alitus pulled it off and tousled his hair into place, but did not remove his gloves.
Luc Saint-Cyr greeted them himself. The man was an icon on Tarth. The wealthiest person in the empire and one of the Conqueror’s staunchest allies, he nevertheless had two “adopted sons” who were rebels, one of them none other than Khyff Antonello. Alitus shook his head.Will I never be free of this guy’s influence?
Destoiya must have noticed his reaction because she queried him with her eyes. He gave a faint shake of his head in response.Everything’s fine.
Except it wasn’t.
Before the day was out, he’d have to engage in sex not only with Sempervian Luc Saint-Cyr, but also his human life-partner andChosen , Wulf Gabriel. Alitus shook hands with Saint-Cyr.
Hard to look the man in the eye; he always wore black lenses that completely covered the whites. When Saint-Cyr cocked his head to one side, Alitus swallowed, fighting the immediate impression that some giant bird of prey stalked him. Saint-Cyr was six feet, five inches tradestandard, a good five inches taller than he. His brilliant smile flashed, the white stark against his black skin.
What is he thinking about right now? Is he seeing me naked?Alitus shivered.
“Welcome to Gabriel Stadium.” Saint-Cyr put his arm around Wulf Gabriel’s shoulders. “You’ve met Wulf, I believe.”
“Yes, I have.” Alitus shook hands with the man. Saint-Cyr and Wulf were often at palace functions.
At thirty-five, Wulf was in his prime. Fit, tanned, impeccably dressed in a business-style navy-blue suit. His dynamic good looks made him the perfect trophy for a man like Saint-Cyr. Wulf had once made his living as the highest-paid model in the empire and still looked the part. Destoiya had told him they had a love match. Seeing them together, it seemed so.
“Nice to see you again, Wulf.” Amazed his voice wasn’t shaky, Alitus smiled. “Must be nice, having a stadium named after you.”
Saint-Cyr laughed and hugged Wulf against his side. “He asked me to buy him the Fists once. Can you imagine what it would cost to own the most successful sports franchise in the empire? I think I got off easy with just a stadium on Tarth.”
“Don’t listen to him. This was all his idea.” Wulf punched Saint-Cyr playfully. “He said he had ‘a little gift for our fifth anniversary.’ I had no idea the stadium he’d been building was to honor my father.” He hung an arm around Alitus’ shoulders. “Come on, let’s go outside and play while the adults talk.”
Alitus caught Destoiya’s approving nod over his shoulder as Wulf led him away.
The owner’s box had an unhampered view of the stadium below. Ruckball had multi-level playing fields to take full advantage of the anti-gravity sections built into the ground. A cross between traditional human football, soccer, and Tyran wrestling, the sport was played in three dimensions.
Alitus followed Wulf onto the overhanging deck outside the owner’s box and leaned on the railing. “Wow. This place is huge.”
“I’ll say. Your voice echoes even in the bathrooms.”
They both laughed.
People filled the stadium with noise. On the turf below, a marching band played rousing music. The crowd cheered when the song ended and the band began anew. Spotlights skimmed across the sea of people and out across the playing field. Horns tooted. The air smelled faintly of peanuts and popcorn.
Alitus inhaled the scent. “Mmm, that smells good.”
“You want some popcorn, Alitus?”
“No, thank—Yes.” He always ate what his staff put in front of him or dined with Her Majesty at court functions. Why not eat something he liked just for the pleasure of it? “I believe I would. Thank you.”
Wulf returned inside and came back with two bags, one for each of them. “I like mine with butter. Hope you don’t mind. I put some on yours, too.”
“I haven’t had this since I was a boy.” Alitus started to reach into the bag, stopped and handed it back to Wulf. “Mind holding this while I take off my gloves?”
“No sweat.” Wulf tossed his hair. “You don’t have to wear those at work, do you?”
“Afraid so.” He stuffed the gloves into a pocket. “The veil, too.”
“No shit?”
Wulf’s colorful language made Alitus smile. He took back the popcorn. “Thanks. Do you always say what you mean?”
“Oh, hell yeah. Why waste time pretending? If you want something, go for it. Got to admit, that’s one thing I learned from Luc that’s worth keeping.” Wulf popped a kernel of corn into the air and caught it with his mouth. “Catch.” He tossed one at Alitus, but it went over the railing and into the crowd below. “Whoops!”
They both leaned over to see where it landed. The white kernel sat in a woman’s hair directly below them. When she reached up to pat her head, they both jerked their heads back.
Wide brown eyes met Alitus’ startled ones and both men burst into laughter.
Alitus picked up a handful of popcorn. “How many people does this place hold?”
Wulf leaned a hip against the railing. “About a hundred-thousand. Destine Pietan Stadium holds sixty-five thousand, so this has a much larger capacity. Since that stadium is built not far from there, we can take advantage of all the usual transportation lines people would use for a game or concert.”
“Its overall design is incredible. The outside doesn’t do it justice though. This place is incredible.”
Wulf smiled. “I think you just used ‘incredible’ twice in like two seconds.” He tossed up more popcorn and ate it.
“Is it any wonder?” Alitus said with his mouth full. He set a hand in front of his lips. Wulf’s carefree attitude was likely to get him in trouble. “Sorry. Is it true ruckball players bounce off the ceiling?” He craned his neck for a better view. The overhead was painted flat black.
“No one’s ever done that yet, but in this stadium it might happen.” Wulf wadded up the empty bag and tossed it across the balcony, right into a recycler. He dusted off his hands and seated himself in one of the arena-type seats on t
he balcony.
“I’ve never been to a ruckball game before.” Alitus sat beside him. Back inside, Destoiya, Erryq and Saint-Cyr had their heads together and were laughing over some private joke.Hope it’s not me.
“Never?” Wulf touched him on the arm, bringing his attention back to the field. “Do you watch the game?”
“I sort of tried to. I have a Tyran servant who loves ruckball so I got him to coach me on it a little, but…” He shrugged. “I’m afraid I’m hopeless when it comes to sports. I don’t have time to get out much except for workouts and such.”
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