Tales of the Shareem - Aiden and Ky Part 6

aThatas it, my friend,a Aiden said into his ear. aLet us pleasure you for a change.a aG.o.ds.a Ky thrust forward, wondering if head ever felt this good. Brianne caught his come on her tongue, her face registering wonder at the taste of it.

Aiden lifted his fingers, wet with Kyas come, and licked them clean. aMmm. I always knew youad taste good.a Ky leaned down and hauled Brianne into his lap. She snuggled against his shoulder looking pleased with herself. He kissed her lips and Aiden joined him, lips and tongues playing in the three-way kiss theyad done the night before.

Aiden tasted too good and so did Brianne. He could get used to this.

d.a.m.n Aiden. Ky couldnat let this continue, but, oh G.o.ds, he wanted to. Brianne was finea"head do her backwards and forwards and never worry. But Aidena Why canat I tell him to back off and leave me alone? Why canat I be horrified he wants to kiss me?

Why the h.e.l.l do I have to like it so much?

If Ky didnat stop him, head pay for it and he knew it.

Aiden smiled and slanted his mouth over Kyas, his sensual tongue finding every corner of Kyas mouth. Brianne watched, lips parted, and when Aiden drew back, she put her own mouth over Kyas, copying the kiss.

Ky sat there and took it. They went back and forth, Aiden, Brianne, Aiden, Brianne, the pair of them never letting Ky come up for air.

He loved it. They went on and on until the train slowed at the outskirts of the city and he never tried to stop them.

G.o.ds help me. I am so screwed.

Chapter Seven.

Decisions.

The train jerked its way into the station, waking the dozing trio in the compartment. Brianne sat up straight, realizing she was draped over Kyas bare lap. Aiden had resumed leaning on Kyas other side, head on his shoulder.

Brianne jumped to her feet, but Aiden woke slowly, stretching his powerful limbs like one of the great predatory cats of the southern canyons.

Ky opened his eyes but didnat yawn or make any other confused moves of someone whoad fallen asleep on a public transport. He calmly pulled up and fastened his pants then watched Aiden unfold himself from the seat and take Brianneas bag down from the shelf.

Aiden handed Brianne the soft valise and grinned at her. aWhat a nice ride.a Brianneas face heated. aYes. Definitely nice.a The train b.u.mped to a halt. They heard footsteps in the corridor, the train attendant coming to make sure the highborn lady exited without mishap. The attendant was a middle-aged woman who was not happy Brianne had insisted on letting the Shareem stay in the first-cla.s.s carriage, even though Brianne had paid the difference in their tickets.

aGuess this is where we depart.a Ky got himself to his feet. The s.p.a.ce in the compartment filled quickly with two Shareem towering over her.

Brianneas heart beat faster. She knew theyad part ways here, probably for good. She wanted to explain that what had happened between them was and always would be special to her, but she could not say a word with the attendant hovering. Besides, Aiden and Ky probably didnat want to hear a woman bleating that her encounter with them had changed her life, likely forever. Women must say that to them all the time.

But she could try. She fished in her robes and drew out a plain gray plastic card. It looked innocuous, but the coded strip held pa.s.ses to her inner sanctum at the ruling familyas compound.

She handed it to Ky. aIf you need to see me for any reason give this card to my personal guards. They will let you through to my private apartments.a She pushed it into Kyas hand. aAny time, for any reason,a she babbled.

Ky took the card without changing expression. The lines around his eyes creased a moment, then he tucked the card into his tunic and walked out of the compartment without looking back.

She was surprised at the hollow feeling in her heart. She realized he meant what head said. Weare square. Weare done.

Aiden started out after Ky, then he stopped himself by grabbing the sides of the door. The attendant drew an aggrieved breath, but Aiden grinned.

aYou ever need to find us, sweetheart, you go to Judithas bar down in Pas City,a he said. aIf we arenat there, she knows how to get in touch with us.a Another wink, another devastating smile and he was gone.

The adventure was over.

Ky was in one of his I donat want to talk about anything personal moods, much to Aidenas disgust.

Aiden had completely given up on him in the last three days, his usually laidback friend growling and muttering whenever Aiden tried to talk to hima"about anything. Ky especially didnat want to talk about events in the train and overnight in Elred.

He was pretending nothing had happeneda"not the arrest, not the train, not the night in the inn, nothing. Not him asking for Aidenas touch, not Aiden stroking him until he came, not him enjoying Aidenas mouth in long and burning kisses.

a.s.shole. They couldnat pretend it all away. Aiden had hoped head at last be able to reveal his feelings for Ky, but Ky completely shut him out.

The two of them decided to go to neutral ground on the afternoon of the third daya"Judithas bar.

As usual, Judith tended bar in sloppy breeches and shirt, her hair twisted in a simple knot. Judith worked her b.u.t.t off to keep this business going, and she made it known that Shareem were always welcome here.

Aiden, like every other Shareem in Pas City, had a soft spot for Judith. She was always up for s.e.xual games, from Aidenas sensual ma.s.sages to Kyas full-blown bondage. She liked threesomes and foursomes and any other somes she could manage. Shead screw until she pa.s.sed out in exhaustion, then wake up in the morning and do it again. And say thank you.

Aiden wanted to see her happy with a permanent lover, one who appreciated her, but Judith was fiercely independent. The last time Aiden suggested she look for a special someone, shead asked in irritation why she should let a normal human male ruin her life.

Head backed off, and Judith had smiled and changed the subject. A bad breakup, maybe? Aiden speculated later to Ky.

Ky snorted. Look at her choices. She likes Shareem, and only the rare ones like Rees and Rio have taken lifemates. The human men of Pas City are weaklings. Sheas better off hanging out with us.

Aw, come on, Aiden continued, half joking. Donat you believe in happily ever after?

No.

Glancing sideways at Ky, who lifted a gla.s.s of ale to his lips, Aiden could tell he still had no use for happily ever after. Not even when it stared him in the face.

b.u.t.thead.

aWhereave you two been lately?a Braden moved to them from the bar. He patted Judith on the backside as he pa.s.sed her, and Judith sent him a smoldering look.

Ky acknowledged Bradenas arrival with a curt nod then fixed his gaze on the silent digital on the other side of the room, ignoring them.

aHome,a Aiden said as their friend sat down. aBored.a aNo kidding? I thought you were holed up having some great mnage. I was hurt you didnat invite me.a aNothing more exciting than digital reruns the last few days,a Aiden said, giving Ky another sideways look. aWhat have you been doing?a Bradenas blue eyes twinkled. aHaving a mnage of my own with two lovely ladies, and at one point, sharing with one of the lovely ladiesa footmen. Orchestrated s.e.x in a ballroom. It was fun.a Aiden turned his gla.s.s on the table. aYouall get yourself arrested if you arenat careful,a he said with good humor.

aHey, Iam discretion itself.a Aiden laughed. aDiscretion? You once had s.e.x in a theater balcony. I ought to know, I was sitting next to you. Couldnat hear the whole second act.a aIt was dark, and it gave you a hard-on. Besides, it was an acrobatic circus. You didnat need to hear anything.a aI liked the music. If it hadnat taken me so d.a.m.n long to get the tickets, Iad have been out of there.a Shareem were only allowed at the live theater if they sat in the highest balcony out of sight and only on nights when important people wouldnat attend. The joy of being Shareem, Aiden reflected.

Braden started to say something flip, then his expression changed to one of guarded surprise. aWell, holy s.h.i.t.a Aiden felt a presence behind him. He turned around and looked upa"and up and upa"at a huge black-leather-covered man whose face was swathed in sun-blocking cloths. He slowly removed his sun goggles, the blue of his eyes glinting as he took in the three at the table.

aCalder,a Aiden said, nodding a greeting.

aHe comes out of his cave,a Braden said. aHave a seat, my friend. Or are you going to stand there until Judith faints in ecstasy?a Judith had gone perfectly still in the act of clearing a table, her gaze riveted to the leather outline of Calderas tall body and the fall of black hair that reached his a.s.s. Calder moved past Braden to take the seat in the shadow of the corner.

Aiden tried not to stare at the reclusive Shareema"he didnat want to poke into Calderas private h.e.l.la"but it was hard not to look. Calder rarely emerged from his lavish and expensive apartments and never, ever without covering every inch of his body first.

As Calder sat down, he unwound his face-covering cloths, keeping a fold over his left cheek. The right side of his face was fine, but what Aiden could see of the left was a maze of scars and puckered skin.

It didnat look too bad, Aiden reflected, but then he was viewing only what Calder was willing to show. His body had burned basically to death at DNAmo, and that couldnat have been pretty.

In complete silence Judith set a full gla.s.s of ale in front of Calder. He gave her a quiet nod of thanks without looking at her. Judith lingered a moment, then when Calder drank the ale without making eye contact, she glided away, looking both dazed and disappointed.

aJudith likes Shareem,a Braden said.

aDoes she?a Calderas voice was deep and harsh, like it had been broken.

aBet shead like a go in that pleasure palace of yours.a aShe can apply,a Calder said.

aI canat afford it.a Judith moved back to the table and eyed Calder wistfully. aBesides, the waiting list is so long.a aYou have a waiting list?a Aiden asked, interested.

aHe does,a Braden answered for him. aAnd a consent form. A lady has to double-sign it, agreeing to let him do anything he wants for as long as sheas with him.a as.h.i.t.a Aiden glanced at the large, silent man. Head seen Ky get pretty heavy into the level three stuff, but Aiden had never sensed the air of menace he was getting from Calder. aWhat do you do in there?a as.e.x.a Calder lifted his ale and sipped it.

aWeare Shareem, we like hearing about s.e.x,a Aiden prompted.

Calder gave a slight shake of his head and drank more ale.

aHe doesnat like to talk about it,a Braden explained. aNo matter how much you beg. Even his best friend doesnat know.a aCruel,a Aiden grinned.

Calder shot him a look that was almost amused. Almost. aYouall live.a aYeah,a Aiden agreed. aIn boredom.a He gave Ky another look, but Ky hadnat looked away from the digital, which was playing a news feed.

Calderas eyes shifted from Aiden to Ky and back again. A gleam of knowledge rested in his blue eyes, and his eyebrows rose the slightest bit.

Aiden met his gaze without defensiveness. Calder gave him a your-secret-is-safe-with-me look and returned to his ale.

Judith sighed. aWell, anyway, your drinks are on me. And youare welcome here any time, Calder.a She leaned down and touched his black-gloved hand. aAnd I mean any time.a Calder flicked his gaze to Judith, a muscle on the unmarred side of his face moving. He slid his fingers along Judithas then released her. She turned away, a little smile on her lips, her eyes heavy like shead had an o.r.g.a.s.m.

aWhy do I feel like the rest of us just vanished?a Braden asked.

aBecause heas s.e.xier than you, Braden,a Judith called over her shoulder.

aThanks, Iall remember that.a Judith winked and sauntered away, curved hips swaying.

Beside Aiden, Ky went rigid, absorbed in whatever was on the holo screen on the other side of the room. Aiden followed his gaze to the screen and froze.

The beautiful face of Brianne daAroth appeared in close-up, standing behind a podium giving a speech he couldnat hear. The picture of her face shrank and shifted to the top of the screen while two women commentators discussed what shead just said.

Aiden rose and moved closer. aHey, Judith, turn that up.a Judith obliged with the flick of a b.u.t.ton behind the bar. The commentatorsa voices swam into hearing range.

aado you think will be the implications of this decision?a aWell, the daAroth family wants to continue its dynasty and expects even the most distant branch to produce children.a aDranis maAren had much to offer genetically. Sheall be hard-pressed to find another male with as good a background.a aWhat do you think prompted Lady daAroth to break off the engagement? It seemed to come out of the blue.a aSources say that she spent a night in the desert a few days ago meditating. Perhaps she was meditating on the question of her marriage.a aWhatever the catalyst, the long-antic.i.p.ated wedding of Brianne daAroth and Dranis maAren is off. Brianneas grandmother, the matriarch of the family, is not pleased. There is a question of whether Brianne will be restricted in any way for making this decision.a Aiden felt Ky hulking behind him, his breath harsh in his ear. aWhat the h.e.l.l did she do that for?a She met you, Aiden wanted to say, but kept his mouth shut.

Braden called across the room. aIsnat that the daAroth woman who threw your b.u.t.ts in jail?a aYes,a Ky said grimly.

aSheas gorgeous. I donat blame you for drooling over her.a aWe did more than drool,a Aiden said.

Braden broke into a grin. aMystery of broken engagement solved. She had some Shareem, it spoiled her for ordinary men.a Ky growled. aI need to talk to her.a aWant me to come with?a Aiden asked.

Ky shook his head. aYouare too nice to her. Iam going to make her talk to me.a He tapped his pocket that always carried his whip. aAnd I mean make her.a Aiden looked at him in faint alarm, but kept his voice light. aAnd you wonat let me watch? Youall make me jealous.a Kyas lips drew back, anger rolling off him in waves. The forced indifference head worn the past three days fell away, and he looked at Aiden in pure rage. aGive it a rest, Aiden.a Aidenas irritation mounted. Head kept silent for the sake of maintaining their friendship, but Kyas att.i.tude cut and hurt. af.u.c.k you.a Ky glared at him then turned on his heel and strode for the bright sunshine outside, leaving Aiden behind in the dim bar, breathing hard.

Aiden wasnat certain how long he stood watching the door through which Ky had departed. The intensity of his own anger surprised him, but then again, he had cause. Head been wanting Ky for some time now, and their intimate play had given him hopea And now Ky was saying effectively, It never happened.

Aiden couldnat even punish Ky by going after another Shareem, because it wasnat another Shareem he wanted, it was Ky.

Why did I have to fall for a complete jacka.s.s?

Braden came up behind him and draped an arm over his shoulder. aYou look like you could use a dip in cold water, my friend. Hit the baths?a Aiden tried to pull himself together. aSure.a Nice soothing water, maybe a ma.s.sage, maybe a willing voyeur whoad agree to a plain old-fashioned f.u.c.k.

He stopped the thought, realization pouring over him. The only lady his imagination had him touching and spreading was Brianne.

h.e.l.l.

His heart beat faster as he pictured her lying beneath him, her body scented with the oils head rubbed on her. Her eyes would be heavy with desire, her p.u.s.s.y moist for him, her lips curved into a smile.

His wayward imagination put Ky into the scene, Ky angling his c.o.c.k to fit Aidenas mouth while Aiden f.u.c.ked Brianne.

d.a.m.n it. He had to quit wanting what he couldnat have. Stupid to think Ky would go for anything so satisfying as a relationship and that Brianne would want two Shareem s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g up her life more than they already had.

He needed to be like Bradena"s.e.x and more s.e.x, as long as the ladyas willing. Or Caldera"give them what they crave deep inside themselves and then never see them again.

Rees had given in to his heart and was bound now to a sweet-faced lady called Talan. And Rio, the b.a.s.t.a.r.d, had married a princess on Ariel, far away from the rocky heat of Bor Narga. Lucky Shareem.

Aiden would ask Rio if he could come to Ariel. The princess was trying to allow Shareem to immigrate there unilaterally, but the wheels of government were slow even on enlightened Ariel. Aiden could blast off Bor Narga and leave the complications of being Shareem behind. Those complications included Ky and the heartache that had started inside him.

If Braden noticed Aidenas whirling thoughts, he made no sign. aLetas go. Coming, Calder?a Calder, in the shadows, shook his head and glanced at Judith.

aI see,a Braden said. aHey, we know when weare superfluous. After you, Aiden.a Braden was trying to ease the tension he sensed with his Shareem abilities, Aiden knew, but it wasnat working. Still fuming, Aiden fell into step with him as they turned to the hot streets, leaving the cool bar behind.

Judith cleared tables as customers drifted away to their evening meals. As the sun set, dimming the street outside, the bar grew quieter and her nervousness increased.

Calder remained in the shadows, nursing his ale, shaking his head ever so slightly when she offered him more. He did nothing frightening, yet he radiated a danger she didnat understand.

What would it be like to be with him?

Shead heard ladies in the bar talk of it. They called him The Beast and agreed that an experience with him was like no other, but they were frustratingly vague about the details. If Judith asked point-blank, the lady would grow quiet and maybe give a little shiver.

Judith understood the shivering. While she enjoyed bantering with Braden, she couldnat imagine teasing this dark, silent man whose hard blue eyes took in every move she made.

As the last customer waved and said good evening, Judith plucked up her courage. Her customers would return after supper and her bar would be full again until the small hours of the morning.

She approached the table, cloth in hand, and started to wipe it down. aAnything else?a she asked lightly. aAle? Wine? f.e.l.l.a.t.i.o?a Calderas ma.s.sive hand fell on her wrist like a manacle. aClose the bar.a aWhy?a Her voice shook. aYouare leaving?a aNo, Iam staying.a aOh.a She swallowed, straightening slowly until he took his hand from hers. aI told you I canat afford you.a aYou canat afford to come to me. So weall stay here.a Her heart beat in strange, b.u.mping strokes. aWhy would you do that?a aYou are kind to Shareem. I can appreciate that.a Their gazes met, his hard and blue. She felt her nipples tingle, liquid pool in her quim. aWhy do I get the feeling I should say no?a aYou may say no, and I will go. If you say yes, you allow me to do whatever I wish to you for a period of two hours. After that I will go and not touch you again.a Judith exhaled slowly, her mind turning over what he might mean by whatever I wish. aAnd in those two hours, I can ask you to stop, or I can say a safety word?a He slowly shook his head, the cloths that half covered his face moving. aNo safety words, no stopping.a She clenched the dishcloth, her nails digging into her palms. Shead done many things with Shareem, from sensual stroking to hardcore bondage. Shead acted as a slave and on one occasion let five Shareem have her one after the other.

But in every encounter, even the most exotic, shead known in her heart that her Shareem would never hurt her. They gave her pleasure and demanded nothing in return. She trusted them.