Apprenticed to Pleasure

by Brandon Fox

  Relief and awe surged through him. His heart sang in the knowledge that Thane was aware of him in the same way. For a time he could only cling to his beloved and bask in the unqualified acceptance that filled him. But soon the caress of hands along his body reminded him of what remained to be done. He opened his eyes and saw his friends grinning at him.

  “Welcome to the brotherhood,” Nicolai said. “You’ve proven your ability to link with a lover. Now you’re going to get the world’s fastest lesson in using the art.”

  Sorel slid a hand along Ander’s spine and then cupped one of the tight mounds of his buttocks. “The bond is just the first step. You also have to use it to manipulate the kei.” He squeezed gently, teasing. “Remember how this all began? With Nicolai and me prowling for hot-blooded companions with a talent for pleasure?”

  “I’m not likely to forget.” He turned his gaze back to Thane. “But it’s so different when you feel the love too.” He pressed against the slippery body beneath him. “Completely different,” he whispered.

  Thane moved his hands to Ander’s shoulders and rolled him over. “It gets stranger yet. First we finish getting you ready.” He moved around to kneel at Ander’s side and then picked up a vial of oil. Before pouring it, he let the fingers of his right hand graze the length of Ander’s erection.

  “Sorel didn’t put oil here because the sensation is so intense. But we have a bond now. I’ll feel whatever you feel, know when to relent.” He glanced up at Nicolai. “Still, let them hold you. Sometimes it helps.”

  Despite the ominous sound of the suggestion, Ander could see the sense in it. Even the light caress of Thane’s fingers along the underside of his phallus had made him tremble. His heart raced at the thought of what it would feel like if his cock became as sensitive as the rest of his body. “Whatever you think best,” he agreed.

  Nicolai knelt at his feet and grasped his ankles. Then Ander extended his arms above his head and let Sorel hold his wrists against the edge of the leather pad. Warm air caressed his skin like feathers.

  Thane leaned over and kissed him fleetingly before opening the vial and pouring blue oil onto his palm. Then he rocked back on his heels and extended his hand over Ander’s groin. “Remember to hold the bond. It’s more important than ever now.” Lowering his hand, he wrapped his lubricated fingers around Ander’s cock.

  Ander inhaled sharply, arching his back and lifting his hips off the cushion. Muscles in his thighs and abdomen contracted and stood in hard-edged relief. Thane didn’t hesitate. Slowly, watching Ander’s face intently, he slid his hand up the shaft until his fingers reached the corona of the glans.

  “Wait! It’s too much!”

  Thane nodded. “I know, I feel it too. See?” He spread his knees apart. A pearl of fluid sagged from the end of his upthrust cock.

  Ander held his breath and found the bond, drawing on Thane’s strength to help control the sensations. As his hips dropped back to the cushion, Thane slid his fingers upward and coated the glans with oil.

  The waves of pleasure surging through him would have been irresistible but for the bond. He writhed on the cushion, held fast by Nicolai and Sorel, clinging desperately to the stability Thane offered through their link. Slick fluid oozed from his cock in steady pulses and coated Thane’s fingers.

  Thane put his hands on Ander’s chest. He pushed down, forcing Ander to focus on him.

  “Control it! You’ve done well, but we’ve only begun.”

  Ander struggled to think of something other than the pleasure. He forced himself to remember their flight from Pella and the freezing ride through dark mountains. Thane grinned as feelings poured through their bond.

  “I forgot, you’ve had good teachers. They’ve probably already shown you everything.”

  Nicolai sighed. “Sadly, there wasn’t time.” He released Ander’s ankles and ran a hand the length of Ander’s calf. “And we’re still short of it. I think you’d better start. There’s a foul presence in the kei, and it feels close.”

  Thane’s smile faded. “The fastness will shield us for a while. But if the search party follows the trail, they’ll find the door.” He regarded Ander seriously.

  “Making love while bonded is confusing at first, so we’ll make it as simple for you as possible. Open yourself to pleasure, but don’t let it overwhelm you. We’ll take care of the rest.”

  “I’m not as experienced as you, but I’m not confused about sex.”

  Thane smirked. “You’ll see what I mean.” He straddled Ander again, holding himself on outstretched arms and then slowly lowering himself so their slick bodies were in full contact. As they kissed, he began to gently rub their cocks together.

  The press of skin against skin intensified the bond. Ander’s head swam as flesh slid against oily flesh. He knew he was on his back but at the same time felt himself pressing down on a warm, lean body. With a start, he realized he was sharing Thane’s sensations. His heart beat faster.

  Thane clearly sensed the surprised reaction. “Now that our bond is strong, we can use it to help control your pleasure. Just watch and feel. You’ll soon see how it’s done.”

  Ander nodded, relieved to let Thane take the lead. He suspected the feeling of being in two bodies at once would take time to get used to. But time wasn’t a luxury they could afford.

  Thane glanced at Nicolai. “He’s ready now. Guide him for me.” Raising himself to his knees and elbows, he shifted forward to give Nicolai room.

  The northerner reached forward and lifted the slippery shaft of Ander’s cock, guiding it to its mark as Thane shifted back until the glans eased into his well-oiled body.

  “Wait!” Ander knew words were unnecessary, that Thane felt everything he felt, but he couldn’t help himself. The sensation of a cock entering him was as vivid as when Nicolai had fucked him.

  Thane waited for him to adjust, then resumed his slow backward press. Inch after inch, the slick shaft slid into his body. The cock twitched, threatening to erupt, and Ander felt the twitch deep in his own flesh. Thane didn’t stop until they were fully joined. His erection pressed against Ander’s lean midriff, and Nicolai gently stroked the fine hairs on Ander’s balls, everything happening and experienced together. Almost afraid to breathe, he waited for the torrent of sensations to subside. The blissful expression on Thane’s face showed that all was being shared.

  Ander’s sensitized skin felt the ooze of fluid from Thane’s cock onto his midriff as the mage thrust in short jabs against the firm flesh. Both of them moaned at the stimulation.

  Nicolai stopped his feathery caresses and knelt behind Thane, spreading his knees and straddling Ander’s legs. “Whenever you’re ready,” he said.

  Thane straightened his arms and pulled his knees forward without allowing Ander’s cock to escape, then knelt and leaned back. Nicolai put his hands behind the mage’s broad shoulders as Thane moved to a squat above Ander.

  Thane squeezed the phallus buried to the hilt in his body. His erection thrust defiantly upward and glimmered in the reddish light. “Did you ever wonder what it feels like to be filled with that big cock of yours? Now you know.”

  Ander could only moan. He felt the full length of his own cock penetrating his body as well as the tight squeeze of Thane’s muscles around it. He would have been overwhelmed instantly without the reassurance and control pouring through his link with the mage.

  Sorel brushed hair out of Ander’s eyes. “I knew when I first saw you, and heard you making music. Your mind is strong enough to master the art.”

  Ander glanced up and caught Sorel’s confident expression. He swallowed, grateful for his friend’s encouragement, before giving a small nod.

  Thane took the nod for a signal and began to raise his body. Sorel grasped the mage’s erection as Ander’s cock emerged and continued to hold it gently as Thane lowered himself back onto the stiff shaft.

  Once Ander’s flesh was again fully sheathed, Sorel put a hand on the mage’s shoulder to keep him still.
He traced the length of Thane’s cock and roused the flesh to aching hardness. A soft golden aura began to form around Thane’s body.

  Ander panted as his cock experienced the warm squeeze of Thane’s body combined with Sorel’s teasing caresses. His heart pounded, and sweat ran down his sides.

  “A little longer,” Thane murmured. “You can do it.” He began to raise and lower himself in a slow rhythm.

  Ander writhed on the cushion, delirious with pleasure. It became impossible to remember which sensations were his, which were Thane’s. The long slide of his cock into what felt like his own body, the squeeze of Thane’s muscles, the intoxicating play of Sorel’s fingers on what seemed to be his own rigid phallus, all blurred together. Energy scintillated through him.

  Golden radiance blossomed around them, brighter than anything else in the room. He held his breath, every muscle tight, as a spinning globe of energy sprang into being above them.

  Thane threw his head back and lifted his arms high overhead. Roaring filled Ander’s ears. Then Thane arched his back, letting Nicolai support him as he sank down on Ander’s cock. Sorel’s fingers tightened around the mage’s erection and stroked it.

  A blast of pleasure ripped through Ander, more intense than anything he had ever felt, as he and Thane fueled and shared each other’s orgasms. His hips bucked as semen flooded deep inside Thane while the mage’s seed fountained across Ander’s chest and splattered his face. Again and again their cocks spasmed as overwhelming sensations echoed back and forth between them.

  As their climaxes subsided, Thane clenched his hands into fists and directed his arms toward the medallion dangling from the nearby tripod. The globe of energy above them pulsed and then connected with the medallion like a sunbeam cutting through a smoke-filled room. The medallion came to life, the red gemstone at its center glowing brilliantly.

  Thane fell forward against Ander’s torso. They clung to each other as they caught their breath. At last Thane shifted forward enough to dislodge the softening cock from his body and rolled onto his side.

  “Today you’ve proven yourself,” he said softly. He used the back of his hand to wipe come from Ander’s face, his touch a caress.

  “Whether your efforts can save us is a different question,” Nicolai reminded them. “Listen.”

  Faintly, muffled by the rumble of the waterfall, they heard shouts filtering through the ventilation holes. Thane sat up and listened intently. “They’ve found the trail!” He jumped up and began dressing. Ander followed quickly, glancing at the thick door. “Do you think they know we’re here? Maybe they’re just scouting the whole area.”

  “If they’ve found the trail, they’ll find the fastness,” Thane said. “You can be sure they’ll be thorough. Their sorcerer knows the importance of what they’ve discovered. The zamindar will collect his head if we escape.”

  “Where does that passage go?” Ander asked, pointing at the tunnel entrance at the back of the chamber. A heavy thud against the fastness door made him jump.

  Thane hesitated and then appeared to reach a decision. “It leads to a secret exit in the forest. But leaving won’t solve our problem. If we don’t stop the search party now, everything is lost.”

  Sorel nodded. “The fastness is at a nexus in the kei. Our power will decrease if we leave. I know what you’re thinking, and I agree. This is the best place to make our stand.” Excited shouts drifted through the ventilation holes, and the barred door reverberated from sharp blows.

  Thane’s expression was deadly serious, striking in such a young face. “Ander? Nicolai? We’ll have just one chance if we stay here.”

  “One chance is better than no chance,” Nicolai declared.

  “Do it here,” Ander agreed. The pounding on the door grew furious. “The sooner the better,” he added.

  Thane lifted the medallion off the tripod and examined it closely. Rosy light from its gemstone bathed his face. After picking up his knife, he settled on the cushion and beckoned the others to join him.

  As soon as they were all seated in a tight circle, Thane curled the fingers of his empty hand into his palm. In a blink, the containers of glowing mist around the room went dark. The only light came from the hot coals in the braziers and the radiant medallion.

  “The device is still tuned to men from Pella,” Thane told Ander. “But you won’t need Nicolai and Sorel to shield you now that we’re bonded. Your anima and mine are intertwined.” He picked up his knife and adjusted the medallion’s small mechanism. Low-pitched humming blended with the vibration from the waterfall. Satisfied, he hung the medallion around his neck.

  Ander saw the others close their eyes and followed their lead. He tried to clear his mind of all thoughts, especially the alarming hammering on the door, to concentrate on his bond with Thane. In a few seconds, he found the vibrant spark that he now recognized as the core of his beloved. Through it, he also felt the strong presence of Nicolai and Sorel. Then Thane embarked on his journey into the kei, and all else was swept away.

  Colors and shapes raced through Ander’s mind. Surreal landscapes, oceans of energy, and vortices of light spun around him. Forces tugged at his body, and the strong sense of movement made him giddy. The only way to survive was by clinging to the essences of his friends. He fought down panic and tried to lend what strength he could to the bond, though he felt as powerless as a goat being tumbled down a mountain by an avalanche.

  Gradually he became aware of Thane’s controlled thoughts, his assured efforts to manipulate the kei. Vaguely, he sensed dim smudges of color and knew with uncanny certainty that they were soldiers from the garrison at Pella. Muscles in his shoulders tensed as Thane called on the medallion’s reservoir of power like a warrior lifting a heavy sword. The mage released the energy, deftly warping the fabric of the kei to direct it toward the zamindar’s soldiers.

  Searing pain stabbed at Ander’s heart. He choked and fell forward, thinking that his bond with Thane had failed to protect him. Then he opened his eyes and saw his companions. Their surprise and pain matched his own.

  Thane drew a shuddering breath. “At last I understand.” He drew a shaking hand across his forehead. “What the leech does.”

  “What?” Ander asked, bewildered. “The leech is in Fochelis. We saw it.”

  “The zamindar’s sorcerers can tap its power through the kei. That’s what we felt. It would have killed me if our bond hadn’t dispersed the power.”

  Hammering at the door had abated during the magical exchange but now resumed full force. Splintering wood could be heard from the other side.

  Sorel’s face was ashen. “The sorcerer somehow used the leech to shield the soldiers? They’re protected by its stored power? There’s no way we can overcome that.” He glanced at the door, his expression grim. “We underestimated this sorcerer. Whatever happens, we can’t let them take us. He’d learn too much. It would be better to die now.”

  Ander met Thane’s gaze and was shocked by the sadness there. Despair resonated along their bond like a funeral bell. The resurgence of Thane’s grief threatened to overwhelm him. Then he remembered their aborted plan to go to Fochelis, to take the fight to the zamindar.

  He leaned forward and grabbed Thane’s hand. “Are you saying you can feel the leech through the kei even here, a day’s ride from Fochelis?”

  Thane nodded glumly. “I felt it, yes. Black as death, reeking of pain. The sorcerer carries a link that bridges the distance.”

  “Don’t we have a link too?” Ander asked urgently. “We were going to attack the machine in Fochelis. How were you going to do it?”

  Thane blinked, his face coming alive again. “After finding the leech in the kei, I’d tune the medallion to it using a fragment of the crystal you and Nicolai retrieved. Then we could use the medallion to feed the leech’s power back on itself, destroying it.”

  “Maybe we don’t need to go to Fochelis,” Ander said, tense with excitement. “If that sorcerer’s presence is letting you find the leech from he
re, why can’t you attack it from here?”

  Nicolai pounded a fist into the cushion. “I say we try! Now, before that damn door gives out!”

  Thane was already rummaging through his satchel. In moments he produced a small silver box. He threw the lid away and dumped the contents onto the cushion before them. Slivers of the zamindar’s crystal shimmered like needles on the black leather. Wasting no time on words, he made the necessary adjustments to the medallion. Excited shouts from beyond the door spurred him on. In moments it was ready.

  “Our last chance,” Thane said as he hung the device around his neck. “I don’t know what we’ll encounter when we try this. Whatever happens, I’m glad we’ll be together.”

  Ander nodded, overcome by the yearning he felt through his bond. Whether it originated with him or Thane was impossible to tell; they shared it as fully as they had shared their bodies a few minutes before.

  This time the dive into the kei was like a plunge into freezing water. As soon as Ander closed his eyes and felt his bond with Thane, he could sense their goal. A vortex of pain and death, it seemed to loom above them like a monster escaped from nightmares. He knew the sorcerer must be very near. Then he gasped as Thane led them into the heart of the maelstrom.

  Heat pulsing against Ander’s chest mirrored the blazing gemstone in the medallion around Thane’s neck. The device’s vibrations soared to a penetrating shriek as Thane sought the zamindar’s sorcerer in the kei, looking for the link with the leech. In moments he found it.

  The sorcerer felt their presence as soon as Thane found him. His shield glimmered in the kei like oil on water, but this time the medallion was attuned to the leech. Energy coursed through the medallion and flowed back through the sorcerer. From the sorcerer it flowed to the men protected by the shield and back to the leech itself. More power surged through the loop, howling like the souls of the machine’s victims.