Taking the book carefully, he looked at the first image. It was of him being bound by a mostly nude Stacia and Karen. The next handful were snippets of the various acts that the women had subjected him to. His body responded to the images, but he also noted the skill with which the art had been drawn. The small nuances of emotion were easily seen.
“You do amazing work, Fluff,” Alburet said as he flipped the page. His mouth hung open as the next page came into view. It was a self-portrait of Fluffball, set at an angle, holding her drawing pad. What had shocked him was the fact that the image was a nude, and that Karen was behind her looking over her shoulder. “How?”
Fluff was only the slightest bit pink as she replied. “Stacia had a mirror and suggested I do a self-portrait. Karen watched me carefully, making sure I was staying true to my own form.” She paused, her hands shaking slightly, “Do you like it?”
He looked up from the book to the beauty seated next to him, obviously anxious about his reply. “I can’t even put into words how much, Fluff. You’re an equal to Karen and Stacia in so many ways.” He gently closed the book, holding it out to her. “I’m honored you shared that with me.”
Fluff took the leather-bound book back, clutching it to her chest. “Thank you,” the words were soft, “I was afraid. You haven’t seen my full body and I worried—”
He leaned over and kissed her. With a small, surprised squeak that turned into a purr she kissed him back. They embraced as the kiss continued. When they finally pulled back enough for words, Alburet smiled. “You have no need to worry, Fluff. I’m so happy that I accepted the love around me and that you agreed to join us. Your soul is a beacon of light and that alone makes me want you to be close. The fact that you’re also a hot, gorgeous woman is just a bonus.”
Fluff and Alburet were taken a little by surprise when Karen and Stacia embraced them from either side. “Aye, we all be happy tha’ ya are with us, Fluff,” Stacia added.
“I’m stoked as well,” Karen chimed in. “I mean, Stacia is great and Alburet is a fucking stud. But you, Fluff, you are as close to the ideal woman as I could hope for. Soft, reserved, willing and yet also a fucking badass when it’s time to fight. Pushes all my buttons, I want to pull you to the floor and nibble you all night. When you’re ready for me to do so, I’m going to.”
Fluff shivered in the group embrace, “I never thought I would be surrounded by this much love.” Tears started to spill from her eyes, “Thank you all, so much.”
They all kissed her as they held her and rubbed her back, telling her with words and actions that they felt the same. Once Fluff was able to stop crying the group hug split apart. “We be having simple food again tonight,” Stacia told them. “We have a bit before our guests get here, so no need to rush. Karen, did ya have a memory specifically that ya wanted to revisit?”
“I’ll leave the choice up to you. After all, we each have areas that we excel in,” Karen told her as she reached for some of the food Stacia had set out.
“As ya wish,” Stacia added with a decided tone.
“Hmm, you took those words to heart,” Alburet chuckled as he put together a plate for himself. “We love you too, our adorable little fire kitten.”
They were just finishing up a round of cribbage after dinner when Gerald called from the front of the tent, “We’re here, is it safe to enter?”
Stacia opened the tent flap, admitting Gerald and Marysue, “Welcome back to our tent.”
“The guild’s much better off than we had been before this excursion,” Gerald told Alburet as he took a seat next to him. “Kim is amused at how well everything has gone. She says she’ll have to make a trip back to the city after this to deposit all the funds.”
“Well, that’s good, because we have no idea what taxes and such are going to be like. Are the guildies enjoying the boosted jewelry?”
“They are,” Marysue responded as she took a seat next to Gerald. “We’ve been prioritizing the healers and tanks first, as much as possible.”
“I bet their stats have doubled or more for those that’ve gotten two pieces so far,” Karen grinned as she toyed with her ring.
“Mine almost did for my primary,” Marysue added. “It’s going to be interesting to see how we hold up against things at the Keep, without the aid of the guards or mercenaries.”
“I talked with Rolland and Kim the day before we left for this adventure. They’ve cleared a keep before, though they lost a few of their party to the final death in doing so. Sadly, from what they’ve said every keep is different. So we don’t have any idea about what’s waiting for us.”
“That’s less than stellar, but we will adapt,” Gerald commented.
“Aye, but tha’ be for later. Tonight, we be walkin’ in one of Karen’s memories. Ya both still wish to do so?” Stacia asked after interrupting them.
“Yes, I’m very curious as to what this entails,” Gerald replied.
“I’m a little nervous, but I’m enthralled by the idea,” Marysue added.
“It be fine,” Stacia assured her. “Karen, iffin ya want to get yaself situated. We can strip ya after they be gone.”
“Yeah, don’t want to offend anyone,” Karen chuckled as she lay down on the bedroll. “See you guys soon.”
After Karen was comfortable Stacia went over to kneel next to her. Laying a hand on Karen’s head, she began to sing the song Alburet and Fluffball were growing accustomed to hearing. After a minute Karen’s face relaxed and her breathing evened out as sleep claimed her. “There she goes. Iffin ya will sit on either side of me. Marysue, ya be on me left, with Gerald on ya left. Touch me shoulder. Gerald, ya need to hold Marysue’s hand. Asthore, iffin ya will take me right, with Fluff on ya side. Ya also all need to touch Karen, anywhere ya feel comfortable with.”
As everyone moved into the spots she had asked them to take, Stacia kept her eyes closed. Once hands had settled on her shoulders, she spoke again. “We be goin’ to watch the last conversation Karen had with her Da’. It will be emotional for her and mayhap for ya. Ya can nay interfere with the scene, and try to nay upset Karen, either.” She began to sing again, drawing them all into the dream.
Gerald and Marysue blinked at finding themselves standing in a greyed-out room. An older man lay in a large bed, a younger Karen seated next to it. “Wow, this looks lifelike,” Gerald commented.
“That is because it is,” Karen added with a shaky voice as she took in the scene. “My last conversation with him?”
“Aye, ya do nay recall it all clearly, and it would be good iffin ya do,” Stacia told her.
“Okay,” Karen’s voice firmed up as Fluff gripped her hand. Giving Fluff a smile in thanks, she turned back to watch her memory as the scene gained color and began to move.
“Karen,” Joseph said just as the scene came to life, his once powerful voice a horse whisper now. “I don’t have many days left, and there is something I need to get off my chest.”
The Karen sitting beside the bed bit her lower lip, her eyes wet. “You have years left, dad. I’ve been keeping the dojo running for you, so once you’re back on your feet you can take over again.”
“I’ve raised you to be more pragmatic than that, Karen,” Joseph tried to make his voice stern, but it came out more of a wheeze. “Now listen to me, girl. I have not been a good father—”.
“That’s not true, you—” Karen interrupted him before she was cut off in turn.
“Be quiet and let me speak, damn it,” Joseph huffed before coughing roughly. “My body’s been shot since the heart attack and getting worse these last few years. I wanted a son, as we both well know. I refused to accept that you were a girl when you were younger and pushed you into the things I wanted a son to do. You excelled, at all of them, but I wanted more. I loved you, but I didn’t let you be you. I hurt you even more by refusing to do what your mom always wanted me to do, which was treat you as my daughter and not my son.”
Karen went to speak but sat back instead, her face a
twisted mess of pain. Her lip quivered and she had to bite it to stay silent as tears began to spill down her cheeks.
Joseph coughed again, his whole body shaking. “Wipe them tears, I didn’t raise you to cry like a girl. Where was I?” He trailed off for a second before he nodded as he got his thoughts back in order. “I treated you harshly when we moved here. You started rebelling against me, and I started to fear you’d pull away from me. When I found you and that girl in your room, I reacted badly. I’ve come to regret my actions that day. I know you went behind my back on that point a few times. Which is fine, I shouldn’t have done what I did. But you scared me, you were becoming the willful teen I always feared.”
Reaching out, she took his hand, “I’m sorry about the way I acted at the time.”
“I’m not done yet, please wait,” Joseph wheezed. “I have one request for you and I have no right to ask it of you. Please, find a man I would accept. Even if you dally with other women, find a man and marry him. I won’t be around to see it, but it is the one thing I really want. I want to know my little girl has found a man that will protect her and keep her happy.”
“I will,” Karen sniffled as she squeezed his hand. “I won’t settle for just anyone. I will make sure they can challenge me and make them earn it. If I do find a man like that, I’ll go after him and force him to acknowledge me.”
“You can do whatever you want with the dojo, all I want is for you to marry a strong man,” Joseph panted.
“I’ll keep the dojo running,” Karen sniffled as she tried to stop crying.
“Good. Now go for a bit, I need to sleep,” his words went blurry and slurred at the end. He began to snore after a moment, his chest barely moving as he slept.
Karen sat there for a few minutes, her face twisting through a myriad of emotions. Love, pain, anger, back to love, and finally sadness as she held her father’s hand. Once she was able to stifle her tears she got to her feet, leaning down to kiss his head before she left the room. The scene froze and greyed out again.
Karen was blank faced as she watched the scene, “He died two days later. Mom carried on for a bit, but soon followed him. It was like all the life went out of her.”
“Ya forgot tha’ he told ya it was okay to sell the dojo,” Stacia commented softly. “It has been botherin’ ya tha’ ya did. Ya also had issue about me and Alburet marryin’, as ya had secretly hoped he was goin’ to be the one ya promised ya Da’ to find.”
Karen’s lips quivered for a moment, her mask starting to crack, “Yes. When Al turned away from me I was thinking of maybe just taking a few months away, by going to the Philippines. But Fluff was here and I was interested in her, so I didn’t. When I found out about the long test it seemed ideal, I could stay longer and hope for things to work out. But I had to settle what to do with the dojo first, so I sold it. I have a good retirement plan in place and the funds to keep me secure for many years. Now, with what we’re talking about here, I find myself hoping that I can do what he asked.”
Alburet went past Gerald and Marysue, who stood there with wide eyes. He pulled Karen into a tight hug, “You are a wonderful woman. I am sorry for the pain I caused you, but I hope to make up for it now.”
Arms wrapping around him in return, Karen’s mask broke. “Asshole. I’ll forgive you eventually. Besides, Fluff will be with us, so maybe it was best this way. The people I want to spend time with are going to be with me now.”
“As long as you’ll have me,” Fluff added as she hugged Karen from behind.
Turning in their embrace, Karen faced Fluff. Her head dipped so they could kiss, a soft gentle kiss of acceptance and love.
As the kiss lingered, Gerald coughed, “So, this is the memory. It felt like we were really there, like it was real.”
“I’m shocked at what this could mean for people,” Marysue added, her eyes wide with hope. “Maybe Sarah…”
Gerald took her hand, quickly interrupting her, “We can find out from Alvin Brouch, after our six months. If your dad hasn’t moved on it before then.”
“Of course.”
A moment later the group was back in the tent, kneeling next to a sleeping Karen. “Tha’ be the dream walkin’ a Succubus can do, iffin the person be willin’,” Stacia told them.
Gerald got to his feet, extending a hand to Marysue, “It was different. You’ve given us much to think upon. Thank you for allowing us to share this. Let Karen know we are thankful as well, when she wakes.”
“We will,” Fluff replied as she gently brushed Karen’s hair away from her face. “Sleep well.”
“We will,” Marysue agreed. “Might we join you again at some point?”
“Tha’ will depend on the person whose memory it be,” Stacia told her. “Iffin Karen is fine with where she be, tha’ would free me for a night once or so a week to maybe help you with memories of ya own.”
“No!” Gerald cut in loudly. He coughed once, looking away from the raised brows of the group. “I mean, no, thank you. We would need time to consider your offer. Mary, we’ll look into this more after the six months.”
Marysue looked down, “Sorry, I didn’t think.” Raising her head, she had a brittle smile in place, “He is right, we’ll think on the offer. We should be going, goodnight.” They left quickly, Alburet showing them out the door.
Coming back after tying the tent flaps closed, he found the others stripping Karen. Chuckling, he stripped off his own clothing, putting on his pajamas before he got into the bedrolls with a naked Karen, Stacia, and a pajamay-wearing Fluff. “Well, we are a strange group, but we seem to mesh well together.”
“I think so,” Stacia added, her arm around Alburet’s chest.
“I’m very thankful as well,” Fluff said softly, her arm around Karen, with Alburet’s arm over her waist.
“Sleep well, me darlin’ family,” Stacia finally added after a moment of silence. After a few minutes she began to hum her lullaby, easing Alburet and Fluff to sleep before she joined them in slumber.
Alburet
Half-Blood Infernal Summoner
Level 58
Strength: 121 (116)
Agility: 121 (116)
Constitution: 50 (20)
Intelligence: 186 (156)
Wisdom: 637 (392)
Charisma: 151 (116)
Health: 3,400
Mana: 9,270
Spells:
Demon Skin- Rank 6
Demonic Retribution- Rank 6
Summon Imp
Fire Blast- Rank 6
Sap Strength- Rank 5
Demonic Haze- Rank 5
Summon Improved Destroyer
Demonic Vitality- Rank 5
Fire Burst- Rank 5
Summon Improved Succubus
Abilities:
Personal Spells
Flame Weapon
Copy
Infernal Upgrade: (Succubus- Ally)
(7 Upgrades to be selected)
Racial Abilities:
Cast spells without verbal components
Physical damage reduction 25%
Magical damage reduction 10%
Influence emotions
Fire resistance 50%
Reputation gains at half value
Chapter Twenty-four
Contented purring woke Alburet the next morning. A warm arm tightened on his chest as he stirred, his lips quirking up as he was snuggled back into Stacia’s naked form. He blinked as he realized that Fluff wasn’t right in front of him. As he became aware of that, he spotted her and Karen a little bit off to the side. Fluff was leaning over Karen, kissing her tenderly. Alburet’s eyebrows rose.
“I think tonight we can maybe go a little further,” Fluff was saying softly. “If you go slowly with me.”
“Of course I will, Fluff,” Karen replied as she stroked the Lunari’s back. “I’ll stop at any point you’re uncomfortable, just tell me. I never want to hurt you in any way. Are you sure you want to do it tonight?”
“We can do it af
ter Al goes to sleep, after his memory tonight. Stacia won’t join in unless I ask and I’m not ready for her yet, either. She’ll watch, but I think that will be okay.” Fluff paused, leaning in to exchange another tender kiss. “I never thought I would do any of this. I had secretly hoped, but never thought it would happen.”
“Well, I’m pretty thrilled that you’ve chosen me. I kind of wanted you entangled with me after the second day I knew you. You were so reserved and timid, which honestly is something I really like in the women I get with. I love the fact that you’re becoming more confident as well, and goodness knows you are beautiful.” Her head turned a touch so she could look at Alburet, “Don’t you agree, Al?”
Fluff went still, her head barely turning as she became aware of his gaze. “I agree with Karen. I’ll give you time alone if you want that. Or you can do like you’re planning and just wait for me to be unconscious,” Alburet told them.
Fluff took a deep breath. “I don’t mean to exclude you. It’s just—”
Playing For Keeps (Alpha World Book 4) Page 24
