by Ines Johnson
Chanyn nodded. "I brought it with me from my home. It’s one of the only works of nonfiction that I actually enjoyed."
Jian turned the book's cover back over. A Natural History of the Senses by Diana Ackerman, it read. There was something about running his palm over the leather cover. Pinching the thin pages with his fingers. It was sensual for his mind.
He glanced up at Chanyn. She grinned proudly, watching him. He set the book down behind her, careful of the new treasure. Then he turned back to her.
"Take your clothes off, Chanyn."
She smiled at the mention of her name. Her free hand went to the tie at her collarbone. "Aren't we going to pray? I really liked the prayer." She gave the string a pull.
Jian sank to his knees along with the fabric and began to recite the prayer.
When he ended the prayer with "Ashe," he inhaled the scent emanating from Chanyn's core. They were not touching but he sensed the tremor that passed through her body.
He opened his eyes. She stood above him. He was on his knees ready to serve. This was the way of things. This is where Jian excelled.
"Go to the bed, Chanyn"
She went, on unsteady legs. Jian watched the up and down motion of her plump behind. Like her stomach in front, the flesh at her rear rose and fell like waves. She was not slightly built, like the women of the city. Her curves were an art in and of themselves. He could trace them with his eyes for hours before giving his fingers their turn.
When she reached the bed, she turned, awaiting further instruction.
Jian, still on his knees, folded his hands in his lap in simulation of the meditative pose that prepared him for this session. "Sit down," he instructed.
She did.
"Open your legs."
Chanyn hesitated. His eyes locked on hers, and waited.
Finally, she made up her mind and slowly spread her thighs. Jian didn't look. He kept his eyes on hers while he crawled on his knees to her.
She made no sound, but he knew her breaths had sped to pants because her chest rose and fell rapidly.
His eyes still glued to hers, he said, "For today's lesson, we're going to test a theory. Did your mother teach you about theories?"
She nodded.
"I have a theory," Jian undid the sash of his robes, eyes still on hers. "I think you may be multi-orgasmic."
Chanyn's eyes flared at that.
"I'm going to test that theory now. I will test it using three tools. First, I'm going to use my mouth. Second, my hands. And then finally my shaft."
Jian freed the robes from his shoulders. Chanyn watched them fall, and then her eyes held at the area between his legs.
Jian grabbed her chin and brought her gaze back to his. "Here are the rules. You are not allowed to touch my shaft. Not with your hands and not with your mouth."
There was a slight frown that came to her lips and he saw the disappointment in her eyes. Jian had to take a breath so as not to throw her down on the bed, like a Neanderthal of the twentieth century.
Chanyn nodded her understanding and agreement. In truth, Jian felt a bit of disappointment that she didn't argue.
"This is sacred work, Chanyn. Are you ready to begin?"
For the first time, worry creased Chanyn's brow. Jian stifled the temptation to smooth her worries from her brow. Had he been too harsh in his instructions?
"Are you frightened, Chanyn?"
"No, I'm just... I do have one question?"
Jian nodded. She looked down, a bit uncomfortable. He did not let her chin go. He splayed his fingers along her cheekbone. Her skin was soft against his fingers. "You can ask me anything without fear of judgment."
Her eyes came back to his. "I've read... in my books... that the first time... hurts."
Hounds didn't have many vices outside of sweet berries. They lived simply and didn't want for much. They were taught not to boast. They were taught to tell the truth.
"It will not hurt."
Chanyn looked as though she didn't believe him.
A confident gleam lit his eyes. "I'm very well trained, Lady Chanyn. Anything that I do to you will bring pleasure, and only pleasure. This I promise you."
He held her gaze so that she felt the full weight of his vow.
She swallowed.
"Shall we begin?"
She nodded.
Jian continued to gaze into her eyes. He wanted to see the moment she gave over to his ministrations. Keeping one hand on her chin, the other sought her heat. He found her wet.
Chanyn gasped when Jian's thumb made contact with her clitoris.
Her eyes widened, then narrowed. "I thought you said you were going to start with your tongue."
Jian bit his lip to stop himself from bursting into laughter. "Do not contradict your teacher."
She grinned at him. Jian had his hands on the warm treasure of a woman for the first time in five years, but it was that unabashed smile that sent warmth spreading throughout his whole body. His heart pounded with want inside his chest.
Chanyn began to pant from his manipulations. He knew she would close her eyes and fall back onto the mattress soon. That she would give herself over to the feeling and get lost inside herself. But she didn't close her eyes. Her gaze stayed locked with his. She let him see everything.
He saw surprise, pleasure, ache, desperation. All of it she shared with him.
True to her word, she did not touch him. Her hands clutched the sheets. Her heels left the floor to balance on the balls of her feet. This motion tilted her hips to him. Jian's mouth watered with the desire to taste her.
Not yet. He wanted to see her fall apart first. He didn't have to wait long.
Her hips began to move involuntarily. Her eyes glazed, half closed. Still, she never broke from his gaze.
Now Jian wanted her eyes to stay open. He'd felt women's pleasure many times over, but he'd never seen it. He'd never looked into a woman's eyes as she orgasmed. He didn't realize he wanted that, until he'd nearly grasped it.
Chanyn was close. Any minute now she would close her eyes, give over to the pleasure, and Jian would be shut out.
Any minute now.
She was going to close them and shut him out... any minute now.
With a gasp Chanyn threw her head back.
"Oh, goddess," she shouted.
An instant later, her head came back up.
"Jian," she groaned his name, her eyes wide as her muscles began to convulse.
Chanyn grabbed onto his shoulders and held on. The move hit him like a meteoric impact. Jian's world shifted off its axis as shudders continued to rake Chanyn's body and still she did not take her eyes from his.
When she came back to herself, a small smile broke over her lips and a girlish giggle escaped her mouth. "That—" she began, but couldn't finish.
Jian lifted her up and tossed her back on the bed. Like a caveman, he was on her. Head buried between her thighs, mouth devouring her wet heat.
Chanyn arched off the bed, but Jian pinned her down with a hand to her chest. Instantly she began to tremble and gasp. She panted his name like a chant, intermixed with nonsensical cries of pleasure.
Jian was a man possessed as he swirled his tongue up and down her labia. Coming up for air, he did not relent on her pleasure. He slid one then a second finger inside her still quivering heat. He did not yet stroke. He stretched his body alongside hers. Legs entwined, bellies and chests touching. Jian gazed down at her face.
Chanyn was flushed. Her hands were thrown over her head. Her lips parted. Her chest heaving.
Responsive indeed.
When she realized she was being watched, she took her hands from her eyes. The orbs were pleasure glazed. Her mouth tried to work, but no sounds would come out. She raised a hand and slowly, tentatively placed it on his chest.
Her eyes asked, Is this okay?
With his free hand, Jian wiped the hair from her face, then went further and smoothed that line of worry from her brow. Deciding she'd had enough t
ime to catch her breath, he began to stroke her core. Chanyn's eyes fluttered, but still they did not shut. They stared up at him in wonder.
The feeling of fullness was becoming overwhelming to Jian. His shaft ached to enter her. His very blood ached to join with hers. He could see the pounding of his own heart in his chest by the slight twitch of her fingers as they pet its cage.
Jian got down to work. His fingers worked a soft patch of nerves at the front of her pelvis. Within a matter of moments, Chanyn was jerking, convulsing. Still her eyes did not shut. She looked at him in complete shock as she trembled and groaned once more.
Jian could take it no more. He withdrew his fingers and placed himself between her legs. Chanyn welcomed his weight by spreading her thighs wider. Jian aligned himself at her entrance and put in the tip.
Chanyn sighed. Her warm breath tickling Jian's cheek.
He reached around her to grab her rear with both hands. Eyes still locked on hers, he entered her in one thrust.
This time her eyes did close. And she screamed.
The scream was not one of pain. The impact and angle of the thrust wrenched another orgasm from her. He felt her clutching all around his shaft. If he hadn't been wearing the ring he would have spilled inside her.
He'd never before thought of implanting his seed in a woman. He couldn't have those thoughts now. He had a job to do. A job he was doing splendidly, at the moment. Again, much of the credit had to go to Chanyn. She was beyond his wildest predictions. That was her third orgasm. Never had he been with a woman so responsive.
She was just returning to consciousness. Her breathing slowing. Her fingers trembling on his chest. Her legs closed around his back letting him know she would take more.
She gazed at him. Her fingers snaked up behind his neck. She pulled him down. Ready to give her the closeness that women often needed after orgasm, Jian went willingly.
When something wet and warm met his lips, at first Jian wasn't sure what to think. It was the most pleasant sensation he'd ever felt. Just as pleasant as when Chanyn had put her lips on his—
Jian gasped. Chanyn was kissing him. He'd never been kissed by a woman before.
The gasp opened his mouth and she tentatively slipped her tongue in.
His shaft was buried in a woman and now his tongue. Jian knew he should pull away, but the sensation was the most pleasurable of his life. His body would not listen to his mind. Or perhaps his mind was on board. In either case, as Chanyn stroked him with her tongue, Jian began to stroke her with his shaft.
Jian never even dreamed of such a thing. Kissing a woman. Becoming a hound had been a lucky accident. Most men never touched a woman, much less joined with them. And kissing one? The intimate experience was only reserved for bonded triads, and not always. To be sure, men kissed each other in the act of sex. Jian had always enjoyed the practice with his male partners. But just as there was something different when Chanyn had taken his shaft into her mouth, there was again something different now that his mouth was joined with a woman's.
Jian felt as though it was a small piece of heaven.
He also felt that he was in serious trouble.
Jian brought Chanyn to climax twice more before she began to doze off. As her eyes were now closed, he stared at her for long moments, holding her in the cradle of his arms. It was an ancient prescription for the aftercare of sex. Most modern women didn't care for it. Instead, they were ready to go off and tend to the pressing matters of the world after their carnal lessons. Jian knew Chanyn would want it. In truth, he needed it himself. Though he hadn't climaxed once, his body felt the effects of their time together. So he held her tightly, and closed his eyes momentarily to all the thoughts and feelings that demanded to be worked out in that instant.
When next Jian opened his eyes, the sun was kissing his cheek. With dread, he realized he'd spent the night.
Entirely unprofessional.
He and Chanyn were wrapped around each other, a tangle of arms and limbs with her head nestled into his chest. There would be no way of not waking her up. He began extracting himself from her as gently as he could.
When her eyes opened, she smiled at him. Now out of bed, Jian turned away and reached for his robes. He heard the rustle of sheets as she sat up.
"I've done something wrong again, haven't I?"
Jian opened his mouth to deny it, but he wouldn't lie to her. He didn't want to cast dispersion on the gift of the kisses she'd given him. So he told a different truth. "It was unprofessional of me to impose on you for the night, my lady."
She looked relieved. "Oh, I didn't mind."
Jian arranged his robes over his naked body. "In any case, I'll be taking my leave."
"But I'll see you again? Tonight?"
The eagerness in her eyes nearly did him in. "You truly do not need much training, Lady Chanyn. You are quite prepared for your bondmates."
Chanyn's face fell. She worried the sheets with her hands, a crease settled between her brows once more. Jian felt the urge to go and relieve her of the sheets. To kiss the worry from each finger. To smooth the crease of her forehead.
He stayed rooted where he was.
"I've been thinking," she began and then paused. Glancing at him, then away. "Dain is really nice. He's been so good to me. He arranged... this," she motioned between Jian and herself, "so that I would know what I was getting into before entering a triad with a bonded pair."
Chanyn straightened her shoulders, blanket clutched to her breasts, eyes square on his. "Dain said it was my choice who I wanted to mate with."
Jian's eyes widened as he came to understand the meaning behind her words. She was opening her mouth to speak again.
"And I just don't feel for him the way I—"
"Lady Chanyn, if I may." He bowed, stalling for time against the protesting beats of his heart. "You should not make any decisions directly after sex. Orgasms can cloud your judgment."
He chanced a look at her. He watched in slow motion as her shoulders slumped and her face fell.
"Oh," her voice was so small. "I see."
She avoided his eyes. After a night of gazing into them openly, Jian felt the weight of the loss.
"It has been my pleasure to serve you, Lady Chanyn." Jian bowed, and turned away from her. Sash in hand, he hesitated at the door. Wondering if there were manservants waiting on the other side to carry him bodily down the stairs and then toss him out the door.
But when he opened the door, he found the hall empty. He made his way down the stairs and was nearly to the front door when a voice called him.
"Brother Jian, Lord Dain would like to see you," said a manservant.
Jian took a moment to gather himself, and then turned and marched down the hall as though to his own execution. When he arrived at Lord Dain's office, he saw Lord Khial leaning against a window gazing out. Lord Dain stood very close to the man, nuzzling the side of his face. Lord Khial stubbornly ignored the affection and Lord Dain sighed. Lord Dain must have sensed Jian because he turned towards the door.
Jian steeled himself for an explosive confrontation.
He was met with a friendly smile.
Lord Dain motioned Jian to a chair before his desk. Jian moved tentatively into the room and took the proffered seat. Lord Dain sat in his high back chair and steepled his fingers. Lord Khial remained with his gaze fixed out the window.
"And how is our lady?"
Jian blinked. There was no accusation or disapproval in Lord Dain's tone. He seemed genuinely curious as though a Pleasure Hound sleeping over were the most natural thing in the world.
"She's... well," Jian said. Then seeing an out, he continued. "In fact, I wanted to talk with you about her progress."
Lord Dain nodded encouragingly for Jian to continue.
"She has exceeded my expectations."
Lord Dain smiled at this, as though a proud parent pleased by a child's progress.
"There's not much more I can teach her in the way of orgasm. I believe s
he is ready for the two of you."
At this, Lord Khial whipped his head around to Jian and glared. Jian blinked at the bitterness in the man's glare. He remembered Chanyn saying she didn't think the male liked her. A sudden protective instinct swept through Jian. But he reminded himself that Chanyn was not his responsibility. The temple and the hounds were.
Jian turned his attention to Lord Dain.
"I believe my work here is done," said Jian. He rose to leave.
Lord Dain's smile morphed into a frown. He inhaled deeply and then sighed.
"Brother Jian, would you please have a seat?" Lord Dain waited until Jian took his seat before speaking. "We're very pleased with your work with Lady Chanyn. But we still require your help."
Lord Dain spared a glance over his shoulder at his mate. Lord Khial refused to meet his eyes and glared out the window. Jian couldn't fathom what this was all about, but he was sure he wasn't going to like it. He simply wanted to leave this house and return to the sanctity of the temple. With the money he made, he might be able to turn things around. And so long as word of the ring mishap, and the overnight stay mishap, didn't get out, perhaps the temple might acquire another client or two.
The thought of training more women left a lump in Jian's stomach where only moments ago it had burned for Chanyn. Last night with Chanyn had been the most intense experience of his life. He knew that anything after would pale in comparison. The very thought of an after left him cold.
"I'm in need of an heir."
Jian whipped his head to Lord Dain.
"Lady Chanyn has accepted... our proposal. Neither Lord Khial, nor I, have ever been with a woman and we'd like you to forgo training and move directly to conception."
Jian couldn't help but notice that Lord Dain continued to use the word we though Lord Khial's posture screamed his distaste.
"We know that when conception is attempted under the hand of a Pleasure Hound," Lord Dain continued, "the success rate is always positive. And that the conception of female children is also at a high rate with the assistance of a hound. That is why we hired you. We need to conceive rather quickly, and we need your help."
