Fluff slowly handed over a thin leather folder. As soon as he took it, she grabbed some food and sat nervously playing with it, watching Alburet. He opened the folder carefully, treating it as some precious object he’d been entrusted with, though he really was eager to see what she’d drawn. The first charcoal pencil drawing was of Karen standing over his unconscious form. He chuckled, then turned to the next one. Stacia, naked, lounged on one of the bedrolls. He was impressed at the skill Fluff had; she’d captured Stacia perfectly and the image radiated relaxation and contentment.
He carefully turned the page over to reveal the next one. Karen was posed on all fours slinking towards the viewer. Her muscles were clearly defined, to give a clear understanding of her strength, though her eyes told the tale that it wasn’t aggression, but lust that drove the beast towards the artist. Blinking, Alburet drank in the view, remembering Karen doing that same thing to him. The images she drew with nothing more than a charcoal pencil made Alburet wonder what she could do with different, more varied materials. His hand shook slightly as he turned the page again, to reveal Kitten or Stacia in full Infernal glory. Hip cocked to one side, hand resting on that outthrust hip, her other hand extended to the artist as if beckoning the viewer to join her. Her tail was wrapped around one leg, the tip resting on her inner thigh just short of her sex. Her wings were partially unfurled behind her as if she had just flown down from some great height. Her lips were parted, and the tip of her tongue could be seen licking one corner of her lips. The eyes revealed the nature of the Succubus, reveling in the lust she caused in all who saw her.
Alburet took a deep breath, trying to contain his reactions to the drawings though the last one almost undid him. He was about to close the folder when Stacia giggled as she put her hand out to stop him. “There be one more,” she said, her voice husky with desire.
His eyes flickered to hers, then to the other two women near him. Kitten was behind him, so he didn’t see her. Nodding, he turned to the last drawing, expecting to encounter a scene of the previous models entwined in the throes of passion. The image surprised him. The models, though naked, were lounged around a low table, nibbling on snacks and laughing. What really struck him was the easy confidence the three women obviously enjoyed, comfortable with themselves and each other. His desire subsided some, but his love for the people around him grew. His eyes traced the smiles on each of the models.
He closed the folder carefully before handing it to Fluff, “You are amazing. Your ability to draw such wonderful art is like a superpower. I am in awe of it and wish I had an innate talent of any kind that matches yours.”
Her cheeks flushed some, but not as deeply as they would have a month ago. “Really?”
“Yes. You have a talent, as do Karen and Stacia. Each of you have your own uniqueness that makes me humbled to be near all of you. Your drawing, Karen’s ability to use applied violence in such an expert manner, and Stacia’s ability to cloud someone’s mind with just a smile.”
Each of them reacted to the compliments. Karen gave him an evil grin as she caught his eye, almost as if promising him some pain later. Stacia’s eyes smoldered as his eyes met hers, the passion clear. Fluff wore a proud smile as she took the folder back from him. She set it aside and started actually eating the food on her plate. Everyone followed her example, the silence that settled over them filled with anticipation. Alburet startled a little when Kitten began to massage his shoulders. He tensed for a moment. but her talented hands soon removed that tension.
As the meal came to an end, Alburet felt relaxed as Kitten’s hands continued to knead at his muscles. “It be time, master,” Kitten whispered into his ear. “We discussed how to do this best. Do ya trust me?”
“With my life,” he replied easily.
“Do as I ask,” she told him as Stacia moved to the other side of him.
Shortly after they were in position, they stripped his boots, gloves and crown from him. As soon as his gear was removed, Karen lunged forward. She forced him to the ground, pinning his arms over his head. Her lips claimed his forcefully as the other two took his arms and began to tie his hands together. Karen leaned back, her eyes full of triumph as she looked down at him. “I am so going to enjoy this tonight,” she husked at him as she pulled his shirt off.
He was blindfolded a moment later, and the trio of women begin to strip him completely. His breathing quickened as he was being manhandled in a way he never had been before in his life. He kept thinking of Fluff sitting back, her eyes intently focused on them as her pencil sketched the scene before her.
“Ya like tha’ thought, do ya me husband?” Stacia whispered to him. “Ya never been taken by three forceful women, nor had another friend watch ya as she drew the moment. How would ya react to her tracin’ ya, with somethin’ other than her pencil?”
His breath caught in his throat, as he knew he was powerless at this moment. Even if he tried to fight, he didn’t have enough strength to free himself from the bindings. “I…” he trailed off as his mind whirled with the very image Stacia had given him. Before he could say more he felt a naked body graze against his straining flesh, which shut off the little rational thought he had left.
During the next few hours Alburet was exquisitely tormented by the women in every pleasurable way they could think of. Fluff’s continuous purring underscored everything, magnifying every sensation they forced him to feel. Eventually their attentions slowed, then stopped, finally allowing him to rest. He was a panting, boneless lump when he felt the ropes finally being untied. “You almost killed me in the most pleasant way.”
A throaty contented voice replied, “Ya are nay allowed to die on me. They be asleep now. Would ya like to sleep or would ya like to talk for a bit first, master?”
He blinked as the blindfold was taken from his eyes. The lantern in the tent was dimmed, shedding just enough light to see by. “We should talk, my fire kitten.”
Stacia slid into the bedroll with him, their bedding a little separated from where Fluff and Karen slept. Kitten slipped in on his other side, both of them gently holding him as he collected his thoughts. After a few minutes, he finally started to speak. “What you have asked me to consider… I’ve thought about it over the last few weeks. It’s been hard to reconcile my upbringing, with what this world finds acceptable. You have brought me such joy and happiness over the short time we’ve known each other. It seems longer but, thinking about it, I know it hasn’t been. In that time, you’ve scrambled my brain, pleasantly to be sure, but you drive me to want to keep you happy.”
“Nay as much as ya make me happy, me love,” Stacia interrupted him briefly.
With a smile, he went on, “Before we were married I was thrilled when you joyfully accepted Karen into our budding relationship. I didn’t think it would last, as polyamory is a difficult thing to handle even for those who walk that road. She seemed willing, even joyful to join us. I wondered how long such bliss could last, or even if it should last. Then we married, suddenly, happily, but that kicked in what I was raised to believe, about what marriage meant. To love only the person you married and no other. So I set aside those happy moments, to fully embrace our union. I didn’t even consider what that would mean for Karen, which is horrible. I should have considered it.”
“It hurt her,” Stacia murmured. “She felt only happiness for us, until she was told no. Then tha’ happiness turned to ash in her mouth. She had already come to care for us both, more than she had thought she would. When I talked to her later, she came to understand and was willin’ to step back.”
“I did a horrible thing to a dear friend. I know that now. I also hurt Fluff some, as I know now. I was content because I had you, and thought that was enough. Then you made me acknowledge that I still had feelings for them and was forcefully setting them aside. You gently nudged me, to consider setting my old views aside and embrace new ideas. That started an internal struggle that I’ve been dealing with since. The memory of my father telling me to follow m
y heart nudged me to consider what you were telling me again. When you tricked me—” he shushed her, “tricked me with a promise. Then bringing Karen back into our bed. That increased the conflict I felt, as the joy you were making me acknowledge was difficult to deal with.”
“I just want ya to have as much joy as ya can,” Stacia cut in, refusing to be silenced this time.
He gave her a look, asking her with his eyes to let him speak without interruption. “Then we were helping you as you helped Fluff. She makes me want to protect her. I wanted to slit that sick fuck’s throat for what he put her through. She tugs at my heart in such a different way than you or Karen. I want to hold her close, comfort her, and make her happy and safe. Since my transformation I’ve started to feel their emotions, almost as if their feelings are worn on their sleeves for me to see. The desire for what you’ve been pushing me towards has become stronger during this trip. The small bits of teasing, the banter, waking up with all of us happily cuddling, all of that has been shredding the last of my reservations. And that brings us to tonight.” He took another moment to compose his thoughts.
“It was far from my normal comfort zone, but I could feel how much Fluff wanted, and maybe even needed this. I won’t lie, it was exhilarating to be toyed with by three very strong women while a shy one looked on. So, I give up. I yield to your wishes and my own desires that I have tried to ignore. If Karen wishes to join us on a permanent basis, I will welcome her.”
“What of Fluff?” Stacia pressed him as she gently kissed his chest.
“I will honestly say, I have thought about what that would be like. But, until she is ready, and you agree she’s ready, I won’t do anything with her. Not like I do with you and Karen. I fear that I might hurt her or cause further mental distress if I did anything. She is always welcome to be with us, even if things never progress further then her just being the closest of friends.” He stopped talking and silently dismissed Kitten, turning to pull Stacia tightly to him. “I pray that this is the right thing to do. You tell me it is, and I trust you.”
“I will be lettin’ them know when they wake, master. Thank ya for listenin’ to ya own heart. I will safeguard Fluff’s mind and heart for ya. It mayhap be sooner than ya think, as her and Karen have already begun to explore thin’s on their own.” She embraced him just as tightly as she kissed his neck, “Ya need ya sleep now, me heart. Sleep, and I be wakin’ ya when it be time.”
“Goodnight, my lovely fire kitten,” Alburet murmured as he felt sleep rise up to claim him.
He wasn’t sure how long he’d slept, and didn’t recall any dreams. He became aware of a gentle but intent kiss upon his cheek. He was also aware of a whisker tickling his nose. Opening his eyes, he saw Fluffball kneeling beside him. His eyes found hers, and as their eyes met he felt an understanding come to him. He couldn’t describe it, but it was close to tasting the color yellow, or hearing the color blue. He could feel, in that strange way, Fluff’s tumultuous emotional state.
“Morning, Fluff,” he spoke in a gentle tone. “Are you okay?”
Fluff didn’t pull back far, only shifting just enough that her lips left his cheek. Her eyes held a hodgepodge of emotions all mixed together. With the new ability, presumably from his race change, that had been steadily getting stronger, he could see every emotion that she felt. It had been dim before, but this morning her emotions were clear to him.
“Is it true?” Fluff asked her voice a mix of hope and fear. “Did Stacia mean it?”
Recalling what his race change had mentioned about affecting emotions, he focused on her and attempted to calm her. He suppressed the fear, worry and angst she felt, while also trying to increase her hope. “If she said that I’ve accepted what she’s been asking me for, then yes. I would be thrilled if you would consider staying with us. Even if only as close friends. I find that I care deeply for you and want you close by my side. I won’t do anything with you in the ways I have with them,” he paused as the emotional balance shifted.
Face falling Fluff went to pull away from him, her feelings of inadequacy, self-loathing and depression spiking. “I understand…”
Alburet stopped her from moving away, reaching up carefully to touch her face. He locked his eyes on hers again, reading the pain and sadness reflected there. “I won’t do anything with you until you are ready,” he said firmly. “When you and Stacia are certain that you’re ready, then I will welcome you with open arms. I know you’ve dealt with pain and suffering, and all I want is to protect you and give you as much happiness as I can. I care for you deeply, a little differently than I do for Karen or Stacia, but just as strongly. If you still feel the way you did when you drew us last night, then when she says you’re okay and I won’t hurt you, I will give myself to you.”
Tears started to fall, her emotions shifting again as joy and acceptance surged to the forefront. “You mean it?”
He wrapped her in his arms, pulling her against his chest. “Yes. I mean it, without any reservations, Fluff. You’re a beautiful person, your heart is so pure and big. I just want to hold you and keep you safe from all harm. Even harm I might inflict on you accidently.” He tweaked her emotions again, sliding the fear away from her while increasing her joy. He briefly wondered if he should be tampering with her emotions, before setting that question aside for later.
As he held her, his eyes tracked off to the side where Karen sat. Her emotional turmoil was just as erratic as Fluff’s had been. “Karen, I’m deeply sorry. I hope one day you will forgive me for the pain I caused you by being an idiot. I never wanted to hurt you, but I now know I did. I will do my best to atone for that hurt. I consider you a dear friend. I will accept anything you think will right the balance.”
“She was telling the truth, then?” Karen asked again even though he had already told Fluff.
“Karen, I ask you if you would be willing to form a union with me and Stacia. Possibly one that will include Fluff in time, if she wishes it,” Alburet paused as Fluff nodded her head against his chest. “I don’t deserve you, for what I’ve done, but I would count myself lucky if you agree.”
“You won’t try to change how we act? You won’t try to keep me like Stacia is kept? You’ll push me, fight me, and demand that I earn everything?” Karen asked the questions straight faced.
Alburet could still feel her emotional state as his new ability seemed to have finally come to full effect. He didn’t touch her emotions, instead replying to her with as much honest sincerity as he could. “No, I don’t want anything to change except us being able to love each other as a whole. I would never try to keep you like her, you’re different than she is. I’ll spar with you, and I’ll stand my ground and make you fight and earn everything you want. I won’t just agree with you or give in. You don’t want me to change any more than I would want you to. Will you say yes?”
Karen tensed and Alburet knew she was hoping that he was being truthful with her. She wanted to believe him, but she’d had similar promises made—and broken—before. As she sat there trying to settle her own mind Stacia came back into the tent with a tray of food.
“Ya say aye, Karen. He means it as much as I do, ya know tha’ in ya heart. We nay be like ya last relationship in any way. It be ya choice, and iffin ya wish to take time to decide we will be here waitin’ for ya.” Stacia sat next to Karen, setting the tray down in front of them. “Fluff, what he told ya be the truth as well. If ya wish, we can tackle a bad memory tonight. It mayhap help ya down ya road a bit faster.”
“Please,” Fluff replied as she gently disengaged herself from Alburet’s arms and sat up. “I want to be with all three of you.” Her eyes turned to Karen, “This is what we both wanted isn’t it?”
Karen bowed her head, “Yes, it is. I’m just afraid that he’ll push us away again.”
“I promise, Karen, I won’t willingly hurt either of you again.”
Her head raised an instant before she pounced at him, knocking him flat as she smothered him with passionate ki
sses. Alburet accepted her fervor, returning it in kind as his hands roamed her body. A cough brought them out of their passionate embrace after a minute or two.
“Good, ya accept then?” Stacia asked as she set out breakfast for them.
Eyes smoldering as she looked into his own heated eyes, Karen nodded. “Gods, yes. Thank you.” She kissed him once more, this time a slow, lingering kiss that communicated her joy. His joy matched hers as the kiss went on, their tongues lightly dueling.
“Will he do that with me someday?” Fluff asked Stacia as she accepted a plate from the Succubus.
“Aye. Nay today and most likely nay tonight, but soon, Fluff,” Stacia said as she basked in the pure love that permeated everyone in the tent. Her own heart sang with joy as she gazed at her husband, glad he was accepting the ways of the Dark Lord.
Alburet
Half-Blood Infernal Summoner
Level 50
Strength: 105 (100)
Agility: 105 (100)
Constitution: 30
Intelligence: 170 (140)
Wisdom: 485 (280)
Charisma: 135 (100)
Health: 2,800
Mana: 7,350
Playing For Keeps (Alpha World Book 4) Page 17
