by I. T. Lucas
Anandur shook his head. “I don’t know why you guys use the gym’s when we all live only minutes away. It’s gross.”
“I want to come home clean and smelling of cologne. Not sweat.”
“You have a valid point. Except, my Wonder likes me ragged, and since I start my workout with a clean body, I don’t stink at the end of it.”
Lifting his arm, Yamanu sniffed at his armpit. “It’s not too bad, but I’d rather come home looking and smelling fresh. You and Wonder are an old couple by now. I’m still in the courtship stage.”
Anandur grinned. “If you are still courting, you should get flowers for your lady. And a box of chocolates is always appreciated.”
Damn, he should have thought of that.
“Thanks for the advice. I need to get going.”
As he rushed toward the showers, Yamanu heard Anandur chuckle softly. Hopefully, it wasn’t because the advice he’d given was misleading.
Yamanu was rusty as hell, and he had no idea what constituted courtship these days. Six centuries ago, flowers and sweets were customary tools of seduction. Jewelry had been even better. But now? People were hooking up, not courting, and chivalry was dead.
Or just about.
Except, perhaps it was better this way. More honest. There was a clear demarcation between seeking a partner for a relationship or for sex, and the two were no longer considered one and the same. There were fewer mixed signals, and everyone knew what they were signing up for.
More or less.
Still, it was safer to show up with flowers and candy than without.
The problem was that he couldn’t buy anything in the time he had. The drive back and forth would take him at least an hour, and he had about fifty minutes left.
He needed to improvise.
As he smeared conditioner over his long hair, Yamanu went through his list of friends, trying to remember who grew flowers in their front or back yards. None of the Guardians did. Gertrude only grew herbs. Then he remembered Roni mentioning that Ruth liked to grow things in her garden. The question was whether those things were flowers.
He could stop by her place on his way home.
As for chocolates, he knew that Ella had a weakness for Godiva, so maybe she had a hidden stash she was willing to part with for a good cause.
An excellent cause.
Even after the exhausting workout, thinking about what was waiting for him at home had him sprout a flagpole. Luckily, Anandur went home to shower, and there was no one else there to make fun of him.
Not that he would have cared.
For the first time in forever, Yamanu felt truly alive. If not for the fear of hurting Mey churning in his gut, he would have shouted his happiness to the world, singing and dancing in the village square like a fool.
One day without the bloody potion and he already felt like a new man. He hadn’t realized how much that thing had been stifling his senses. Suddenly, Yamanu felt everything more acutely, from the water cascading down his back, to the soap on his skin, the smells, the sounds, everything was sharper, more alive.
It was like he’d been living on mute for all those centuries and watching the world through mud-covered lenses.
Apparently, he’d been sacrificing much more than sex for his people.
53
Mey
The table was set, the bedding was laundered and put back, and Mey was soaking in the bathroom trying to relax.
Callie had delivered everything she’d promised and then some.
Two aromatic candles were burning in the bedroom, a delicious meal was keeping warm in the oven, and a bottle of fine white wine was chilling in the fridge.
She’d even brought an elegant tablecloth, which was smart of her because all Mey had found in Yamanu and Arwel’s cabinets was a pack of paper ones.
Still, even though everything was ready and the bath was supposed to soothe her frayed nerves, the urge to chew on her nails was almost uncontrollable.
She wasn’t a virgin for goodness sake, so why was she so nervous? And it wasn’t as if she and Yamanu had dated for a long time, and she was desperate to get him in bed either.
It was about how monumental it was going to be for Yamanu. After such a long abstinence, Mey had nothing to fear as far as performance went. There was no way he would find her unsatisfactory. Heck, as long as she got excited for him, which wasn’t going to be a problem, he was going to be happy.
Or so she hoped.
With the way her stress level was climbing by the minute, when the time came to be a sex goddess, she might freeze up. Anxiety was the kryptonite of arousal.
To relax, Mey needed to meditate, but doing so in Yamanu’s home felt like an intrusion, an invasion of privacy. She might hear the echoes of private conversations between him and Arwel that were about Guardian business and hadn’t been meant for civilian ears. Especially for those of someone who wasn’t a fully-fledged citizen of the village yet.
She’d already chosen what she was going to wear. The red wrap dress had been an easy choice because Yamanu seemed to like it, and it was easy to take off. He’d already seen her in it a couple of times, but that was okay.
He wasn’t going to mind.
Besides, she hadn’t packed much, and her selection was limited. Unless she wanted to use the scarves that Callie had brought. She could fashion an outfit out of them, and then remove them one at a time while belly dancing. That was what she’d found on YouTube as far as sexy times with scarves went.
The problem was that she didn’t know how to belly dance, and what she’d tried in front of the mirror had looked pathetic. She had never been a good dancer, probably because she was too self-conscious about her height and trying to slouch so she wouldn’t tower over her partners.
Regrettably, there would be no scarf dance tonight, and it was time to get out of the bathtub and get ready.
Stepping out of the water, Mey wrapped herself in a fluffy bath sheet and walked over to the vanity. Her hair wasn’t overly long, but it was thick, and it took a long time to blow-dry. The good thing was that no styling was needed unless she decided to pin it up in some interesting way.
Nah, that was only going to interfere.
Without the potion stifling his desire, Yamanu might not even have the patience to eat dinner first.
He was probably going to attack her like a hungry beast.
Mey smiled. It would actually be best if Yamanu walked in, lifted her up, and took her to bed. There would be no time for an awkward conversation or for the anxiety to build up.
Perhaps she should wait for him with nothing on but the towel wrapped around her body. That would send a clear message. But then all her efforts to make this evening special would be wasted.
What would it be?
A romantic dinner and hopefully a conversation that would be about love and commitment and future plans, or a full-frontal assault and wild sex?
Frankly, she wasn’t sure which one she preferred.
Leave it up to Yamanu and see what happens. That was the best and least stressful approach. If the decision was out of her hands, she had nothing to get anxious about.
Just like she used to do before an important test in school, Mey thought about everything she had done to prepare. If she had done everything she could and there was nothing further she could have done, then there was no reason to keep on stressing. From that point on, it was up to luck or fate or the teacher’s whims.
As her mother always said, “You do the best you possibly can, and then give yourself a reward for a job well done. The rest doesn’t matter. The only one you need to please is you.”
Yeah, but what if she did the best she could, and it wasn’t enough?
To accept failure after putting up the best effort wasn’t easy. Especially when so much was riding on it.
Don’t be silly, she said to the mirror. It’s only sex, and as long as you don’t freeze up, it’s going to be okay.
Satisfying a man who had gone wi
thout for centuries was going to be easy. The big question was whether she was going to live up to six hundred years' worth of expectations.
No pressure.
54
Yamanu
Armed with a lovely bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates, Yamanu ambled toward his home.
The village was an amazing community, and he was thankful to be part of it. Ruth had cut down for him some of her prize roses without batting an eyelash, tied a red ribbon around the stems, and wished him good luck. Ella had given him her last unopened box and told him that she was going to keep her fingers crossed for Mey’s successful transition.
Everyone assumed that this was the special occasion he was preparing for, and since it was part of it, Yamanu had no problem with letting them think that.
Other than Annani, Kian, and Merlin, no one knew about his long abstinence, and hopefully, no one was ever going to find out. Once it was known that his powers were gone, there might be some questions, but he wasn’t going to worry about it now.
Who knew? Maybe the Fates would indeed be merciful and let him keep them?
On some level, he didn’t want that. How stupid would he feel if he discovered that he had been sacrificing his joy in life for nothing?
Not for nothing.
He’d been rewarded in the best possible way. Giving up six and a half centuries of meaningless sex for a truelove mate was a no-brainer. If the Fates had appeared to him back then and offered him this bargain, he would have taken it even without the added bonus of getting superpowers.
Love with a lifelong companion was worth every sacrifice.
That was it, that was the missing piece in the tapestry of his destiny.
He realized that it had all been worth it and that even if he didn’t lose his powers once he no longer abstained, he hadn’t been an idiot for not testing it sooner.
What a difference a change in perspective made. One small shift in the way he thought about things had changed his entire outlook on life.
No longer dreading a future as an ordinary Guardian, one who’d left his clan unprotected for his own selfish reasons, Yamanu suddenly felt lighter. With a spring in his step and a grin on his face, he strode toward his home with renewed confidence.
Everything was going to work out fine.
Just as Mey had told him, all he needed to do was to think about how much he loved her, and there was no chance he was going to hurt her. He was going to treat this evening as proper courtship, and not make it just about sex.
He’d waited six and a half centuries, he could wait a few more hours, and if the beast bared his fangs, Yamanu was going to beat it into submission.
Mey wanted to make it a memorable event, and he was going to make sure it was. He was going to be patient, not assume anything, and once they got intimate, he was going to be careful and treat her like his precious queen.
Not only tonight but for the rest of their very long lives.
Upon reaching his front door, Yamanu stopped, and instead of just walking in, he knocked.
A man holding a bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates shouldn’t just walk in on his lady love. He should be invited first.
Silly?
Maybe.
But after doubting himself for way too long, Yamanu was back to trusting his instincts, and they told him to knock and wait for Mey to open the door.
He didn’t have to wait long. By the fast-paced clicking sound, he knew that Mey had put on her high heels, and it made him happy that she’d dressed up for him.
He wondered what else she had done in preparation.
As she threw the door open, he dipped his head. “Good evening, my lady Mey. You look resplendent.”
A nervous giggle escaped her throat, but she responded in kind, executing a beautiful curtsy. “Good evening, my lord Yamanu. You look more handsome than ever. And I see that you came bearing gifts.”
“Flowers and chocolates for my beautiful lady.” He handed her both and then leaned to kiss her cheek. “Careful with the roses. There might be still a few thorns left.”
Mey looked surprised by the gentle peck, but pleasantly so. “They are beautiful. Where did you get them?”
Yamanu felt very proud of himself for acting like a gentleman and not letting his animal urges take over. Not bad for a guy who’d waited for this moment for centuries.
You are a vain bastard. He shook his head. Annani was right about that.
As he followed Mey inside, he could hardly recognize his own house. Where had she gotten all of the decorations, and a white tablecloth that wasn’t made from paper?
“I got the roses from a friend with a garden,” he said. “How about you? Where did all this come from?” He waved a hand at the beautifully set table, and the silk-covered cushions.
The welcoming committee had brought a few simple ones, a throw blanket, and Dalhu had donated a couple of his landscapes, but Mey had somehow embellished on that.
She smiled. “From a very resourceful friend who enlisted the help of other friends.”
55
Mey
Yamanu looked amazing. His long hair was gathered in the back with a tie, he was freshly shaved and smelled as good as he looked.
He was also on his best behavior. A perfect gentleman with impeccable manners who was as far from the hungry beast she’d expected as could be.
It was a relief.
As much as the idea of facing the beast had excited her, deep down Mey knew that it wasn’t what she wanted. Not for their first time, anyway. Perhaps that was the reason she’d been so anxious.
This evening was about love and companionship as much as it was about sex.
Nowadays, sex was a cheap commodity that was readily available. Love and commitment were the rare finds that should be nurtured and cherished above all.
Given the circumstances, perhaps it wasn’t true for Yamanu, but it was for her. Well, that wasn’t a hundred percent true either, since in her case she needed the sex to transition, and without transitioning, there would be no love and commitment. So, the two were intertwined.
“I hope you are hungry.” She put the flowers in a tall beer glass, which was the only container she could find for them.
“I am, and the salmon smells delicious.”
She smiled. “I keep forgetting how good your sense of smell is. I might have guessed it was fish, but not which kind.”
“Can I help bring things to the table?” He followed her into the kitchen.
“In fact, you can. Callie brought this enormous tray with everything already arranged on it, and it’s heavy.” She handed him the oven mittens. “By the way, I was surprised to find these. I thought you guys were impervious to hot ovens.”
He put the mittens on. “We can heal fast, but that doesn’t mean that injuries and burns don’t hurt. I’d rather avoid pain if I can.”
He lifted the platter and brought it to the table, setting it carefully on the marble cutting board she’d put in the middle.
“Thank you for making this evening special,” Yamanu said as he pulled out a chair for her.
“I couldn’t have done any of it without Callie’s help.”
Yamanu glanced at the couch. “Did she also bring those beautiful cushion covers?”
Mey chuckled. “Those are silk scarves that I wrapped around them and tied in the back. Callie had different ideas in mind when she brought them.”
He cocked a brow. “Oh, yeah? Like what?”
To hide her embarrassment, Mey got busy loading Yamanu’s plate. Did he know about the games Callie and Brundar played? But even if he did, talking about their friends’ sex life seemed inappropriate.
“She said I can get creative with those and suggested that I look for ideas on YouTube.” Perhaps he would let it go at that.
“Did you find anything interesting? I mean other than decorating ideas.”
She loaded her own plate. “There was something about a scarf dance, but it was too elaborate for me.�
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He poured them both wine and lifted his glass. “To us.”
“To us,” Mey repeated as they clinked glasses.
It was such a loaded salute, and it encompassed everything, starting with her transition, which their future depended on.
Suddenly, her anxiety came back full force. What if she wasn’t a Dormant?
None of the immortals she’d met so far had ever heard about abilities like hers and Jin’s. And if none of the descendants of the gods exhibited anything like it, then chances were that she and Jin were not dormant carriers of their genes.
“What’s wrong?” Yamanu put his fork down and reached for her hand.
Mey shook her head. She’d always wanted to have a man who got her, who was attuned to her, but perhaps it wasn’t such a good thing. There was no hiding from Yamanu. He either smelled or sensed every change in her mood.
“Talk to me, Mey. Are you nervous because of what I’ve told you about the uncontrollable beast? If you are, don’t be. I have him under control.” He smiled. “You were right. My love for you will never let me harm you.” He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. “You will always be my queen.”
“That’s not it at all. I meant it when I said that I trust you. I was just thinking that Jin's and my abilities are not shared by any of your people. Which might mean that we are not carriers of the godly genes. We are something different.”
“Like what?” He smiled. “As far as we know, we are the only divergent humanoid species on the planet.” He shook his head. “Or the other way around. We are probably the original, and humans are the divergence, but that’s beside the point. You and Jin are either human or dormant. There is no third option. And since I’ve never heard of any humans who can do what you two can, I believe that you are Dormants.”
Mey wasn’t convinced that he was right. “What if there are others like you but different who are hiding among the human population? Your people and the Doomers are proof that it’s possible.”
