Cherished by Two

by Morticia Knight

  “That’s wonderful, Chris.” Lasar’s voice was filled with excitement.

  “Yeah, I guess it’s pretty cool.”

  “No, it’s more than that.” Lasar hugged him tightly. “If you can see into others the way the Healer can, then you’ll be able to sense whether or not they can be trusted. You’ll either see their brightness, like you did with us, or you’ll see the dark of the void.”

  “You think so?” He hadn’t thought of it that way. It had been more like being mesmerized by how it had made his mates even more striking. But if I’d never seen them before, then it really would have told me they were good souls. “So, maybe the visit with the Healer was more helpful than I’d realized.”

  Nary smiled at him, the concern finally absent from his expression. “It sounds as if it was very helpful.”

  Chris sighed as he lay in the cradle of Lasar’s arms while Nary massaged his legs. The Healer might be a little weird, but Chris did like him and was grateful that he had the strange being to turn to. Even if his advice is super condensed.

  Chris relaxed under the care of his mates, their comforting touches combined with the hot water making him drowsy. His thoughts tried to stray to the images of the void, the pull toward the all-encompassing darkness, but he refused to be lured in by whatever lies it had used to poison the Nall.

  He would resist.

  Glossary

  Planet Name: Alashar

  Sub: Nasha. Means treasured and protected.

  Dom: Ahna. Means protector who leads his Nasha.

  High Commander: Rahna

  Commander: Arn

  Warrior: Saran

  The Soul Healer: Sha Sha Ar

  Slave: Orshana

  Slave Merchant: Orshana Rah

  Love (as in soul match love): Shar

  Love (non-soul match): Sharna

  Cock: Haro

  Supreme Commander (king): Nall

  Consort (male or female): Sahn

  Soul Match pardon. Can only be used one time: Hashor

  Good: Shano

  A large songbird native to Alashar: Sharlon

  The Alasharian’s most precious metal: Nor

  A bison-like animal that their leather products are made from: Basha

  Popular flower with swirling petals: Olar

  Flats or Plains: Aran

  Also available from Pride Publishing:

  Kiss of Leather: Gaining Trust

  Morticia Knight

  Excerpt

  Chapter One

  “I love you, Master.”

  Josh gazed down at David, down at his beautiful, precious sub. Almost lost to me forever. He swallowed past a lump in his throat as he stroked the sweat-dampened strands of David’s hair back from his forehead before taking his mouth in a leisurely kiss. David’s frantic breaths slowed, his rapid heartbeat calming in the aftermath of their shared orgasms. Josh tightened the grasp he had on David’s hands. He’d kept them imprisoned above David’s head while they’d fucked on the enormous bed, while he’d held his sub down as he’d plowed into him over and over.

  This cruise was the perfect idea.

  It had been a time for them to begin the process of healing the rift that’d formed in their relationship brought about by Josh’s own thoughtless actions. Ten glorious days of alone time, floating from island to island in the Caribbean and reveling in their love. It was no less than David deserved. But even more than that, he deserved a Master who put his sub before anything else, no matter what.

  Which is why there have to be even bigger changes, going forward.

  Josh placed one last kiss on the corner of David’s lips before releasing his hands and propping himself up on his elbows. David let out a low moan of protest.

  Josh chuckled lightly. “I don’t want to squash you, sweetheart.”

  “Squash me all you want.”

  David reached up to embrace Josh’s shoulders, clinging to him roughly enough that it caused a stab of shame in Josh’s heart. A sigh escaped David’s mouth as Josh’s cock slipped from his lover’s ass. Given the way David showed no signs of letting go anytime soon, Josh decided to run with it. They could worry about cleaning up later.

  “What’s going on inside that gorgeous head of yours?”

  Josh held David’s gaze. In spite of everything that had occurred between them, Josh had no doubt when it came to his ability to read his sub. When I’m paying attention, that is. Beating himself up forever wouldn’t help things, but his bad behavior was recent enough that he knew it would still take some time to fully forgive himself.

  “I love you so much.” David’s voice cracked. “And thank you again for the cruise, this has been amazing. I wish…” He cleared his throat, then glanced away.

  “You wish?”

  Josh had to voice the question, even if he was certain he already knew the answer. Communicating, and no longer hiding their feelings from each other, was imperative to their future as a couple.

  Josh stopped David as he was about to answer. “I need you to look at me, boy.”

  David met his gaze, his expression uncertain. “It’s not easy for me to tell you what I want. I got so used to… Well, you know.”

  Josh fought back his own shame again. It wasn’t about him at the moment. “I know. And I’m still working through breaking the awful habits I formed by disregarding you, but we’ll work on it together, right? We’re not alone in this relationship, we have each other. That’s the only thing we need to remember, that we’re a team.”

  David’s smile lit up his face. “Yeah. I like that, a team.”

  Josh gently rolled to the side. David didn’t completely let go, but let his hand travel from Josh’s shoulder to around his neck. Josh wasn’t ready to pull David close yet. For what still needed to be discussed before their vacation was over, he wanted to maintain eye contact.

  “So, bearing that in mind, what was it you wanted to say?”

  David blinked a few times as if trying to bring his thoughts back to the surface. “Oh, right. I don’t want to sound ungrateful, though.” He drew his eyebrows together, forming a deep crease between them. David had always deferred to him within their D/s dynamic, even from the beginning. It was why, when David had used his safeword to put their relationship on pause, Josh had been so surprised, so utterly devastated.

  Lesson learned.

  “Let’s hear it, boy. I’ve never viewed you as ungrateful and you know that.”

  David pressed his lips together before answering. “Okay. I was going to say that I wish this wasn’t our last night before the ship docks. Because after this we’ll be headed back home and back to everything else.”

  Josh nodded. He’d anticipated all along that David would likely experience sadness when their romantic getaway had reached its conclusion. Josh was surprised by how down he was about it too, since all along it had been intended as a gift to David. It made what he was about to say all the more poignant.

  “I agree. I wish that, too.”

  David’s eyes widened. “You do?”

  “God, yes.” Josh placed a light kiss on David’s lips before pulling back to continue. “This has been one of the best times I’ve ever had with you and a part of me wishes it would go on forever. Yet, there’s another part of me that understands that if we were to have it like this all the time, the specialness of it would be lost. And what I really desire for us is to anticipate each new day together with joy—no matter where we are.” Josh cleared his throat, ready to bring his sub in on a very important decision that would drastically affect their lives. “That’s why, when we get back to LA, I’m going to let Gavin and Derek know that I’d like to bring in another partner at Kiss of Leather so that I no longer have to spend as much time there.”

  David’s mouth fell open, his eyes like saucers. “Oh no, oh my God. I didn’t mean to mess everything up, for you to give up a part of your dream business!”

  David’s agitated response was stronger than he’d expected. Josh cupped David�
��s cheek. “Hey, sweetheart. It’s okay. I’ve thought about this more than you can imagine. You haven’t messed anything up and I’m not completely letting go of Kiss of Leather either. I’d just like to split my share with someone else so that I can focus more on my life with you.”

  David’s lower lip trembled. Okay, wasn’t expecting that.

  “I’m sorry. I know how much you love the club, how hard you’ve worked on it for so long.”

  “David,” Josh lowered his voice until it was almost a whisper. “Do you know how much I love you? We both know I fucked up, that I behaved as if the club was more important than anything else and I almost lost the best thing that’s ever happened to me because of it. The resentment you told me you can’t help but have about Kiss of Leather because of all that happened?” Josh let out a small snort. “Well, guess what. I have it too.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Seriously.” Josh pulled David to him for a hug. Their chests touched, David’s smooth skin warm against his own, his heartbeat rapid as if excited by Josh’s declaration, or perhaps nervousness. Either way, he’d verify that his sub was handling the changes in their lives every step of the way.

  Josh loosened his hold then rested his head on the pillow to lock gazes with David again. There was just enough light seeping through the crack they’d left in the bathroom door to see the glimmer in David’s eyes. Josh reached over to repeatedly brush David’s hair back from his face. The gesture was soothing to Josh and he hoped it was for David too.

  “So,” Josh kept his voice soft to underscore the fact that everything was absolutely fine. “I’d like to start fresh with everything. Our relationship with each other and our relationship with the club.”

  David furrowed his brow. “Our relationship with the club? How do you mean?”

  “One of the things that soured you to Kiss of Leather was the fact that you weren’t included, and you know what? I can’t believe I never realized how eloquent you are. At the grand opening, you did a fantastic job hosting the night, making all the introductions. I was thinking that we could work on theme nights and putting together special demonstrations.” Josh ran his fingers through David’s brown hair as he smiled at the thought of them working alongside each other. “Maybe do a few of our own. What do you think?”

  “I…” David swallowed. “Wow. Yeah, that’d be cool. And you really think I did a good job?”

  “Hmm.” Josh scrunched up his face as if in deep contemplation. “No, not good. I do believe I said fantastic.” He nodded against the soft bedding. “Yes. That was definitely it, fantastic.”

  David grinned wide and Josh’s heart filled with his love for him. He’d do anything to see David happy, for him to never experience emotional pain at Josh’s hand again.

  “Okay, I’d love to.” David’s voice was breathless. “Can we start planning as soon as we get back? Did you have an idea what you want to do next? We haven’t done any public demonstrations in a super long time.” David sucked in a quick breath. “What about the wrapping we learned at the BDSM convention in San Francisco?”

  “Mmm.” Josh pulled David close again, his boy’s enthusiasm reviving his own, but in a much more physical way. “That all sounds wonderful. But first…” Josh dragged his tongue up the side of David’s neck, eliciting a desperate gasp from his sub in response. “I want the love of my life all to myself.”

  Josh rolled David under him, his cock firming back up as he slid it against David’s growing length. Their passion built slowly this time. Josh reveled in every touch, kiss and thrust until they both cried out in ecstasy, together.

  For always.

  Order your copy here

  About the Author

  Morticia Knight spends most of her nights writing about men loving men forever after.

  If there happens to be some friendly bondage or floggings involved, she doesn’t begrudge her characters whatever their filthy little heart’s desire. Even though she’s been crafting her naughty tales for more years than she’d like to share – her adventures as a published author began in 2011.

  Once upon a time she was the lead singer in an indie rock band that toured the West Coast and charted on U.S. college radio. She currently resides on the northern Oregon coast and when she’s not fantasizing about hot men she takes walks along the ocean and annoys the local Karaoke bar patrons.

  Email: morticiaknight@gmail.com

  Morticia loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author biography at http://www.pride-publishing.com.

  Also by Morticia Knight

  A Spirit of Love

  Uniform Encounters: Set Ablaze

  Uniform Encounters: Arresting Behavior

  Uniform Encounters: Lust Emergency

  Uniform Encounters: Guarded Desires

  Uniform Encounters: Secret Fire

  Uniform Encounters: Dangerous Wish

  Gin and Jazz: Hollywood Bound

  Gin and Jazz: Razzle Dazzle

  Gin and Jazz: Tarnished Glitter

  Gin and Jazz: Starring Role

  Gin and Jazz: Studio Orders

  Gin and Jazz: Casting Call

  Gin and Jazz: Play Acting

  Sin City Uniforms: All Fired Up

  Sin City Uniforms: Copping an Attitude

  Sin City Uniforms: Justice Prevails

  Sin City Uniforms: Held Hostage

  Sin City Uniforms: Negotiating Love

  Sin City Uniforms: Searching for Shelter

  Sin City Uniforms: Strip Search

  The Hampton Road Club: Hesitant Heart

  The Hampton Road Club: The Rules of Love

  The Hampton Road Club: The Fear of Surrender

  The Hampton Road Club: Mastering Love

  The Hampton Road Club: Begging to Serve

  Kiss of Leather: Building Bonds

  Kiss of Leather: Safe Limits

  Kiss of Leather: Bondage Rescue

  Kiss of Leather: Grand Opening

  Kiss of Leather: Gaining Trust

  Clandestine Classics: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

  Clandestine Classics: The Fall of the House of Usher

  All Together Now: The Perfect Third

  Hard Riders: Biking Bad

  Semper Fidelis: Safe Shores

  Aim High: Venetian Skies

  Racing Hearts: Racing for Home

  His Rules: Strict Consequences

  What’s his Passion? Rockin’ the Alternative

  What’s his Passion?: Rockin’ it Forever