ARC 7-Cursed Fates-48 (Patreon)
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After the demonstration of my abilities, Rolly volunteers to entertain the crowd with an impromptu show. An impressive display, Iâm sure, but I only catch glimpses. My attention is absorbed by the ladies of the Temple.
Shake mostly, who also ignores the show in favor of watching me. She sits to my left, on one end of the couch weâve monopolized, a large arm thrown over the back of the furniture as she lounges into the plush cushions.
Cloud sits on my other side, leaning into me and adding her own opinions to our conversation when she feels like it. Mostly, my friend leans into me. I canât tell if itâs a simple demand for skinship or sheâs trying to push me into her compatriot, the two of them working together to get closer to me like wolves cooperating to bring down prey too difficult for them to handle alone.
Mouse-tail, who has yet to introduce herself, leans against the arm of couch, watching Rollyâs show, her tail casually wrapped around Shakeâs neck. The jumpy woman constantly makes contact with the larger woman, just like a small animal seeking shelter from a bigger, stronger member of the pack.
The way Shake doesnât react to the thin tail caressing her or the small touches on her shoulders and the side of her face tells me that itâs common place but thereâs nothing suggestive about them. At least not overtly. Makes me wonder what the big womanâs role as a leader entails. Affection like they display is rarely associated with a figure of authority.
Ruby, the last of the ladies from the Temple, is seated next to Cloud. Or rather, sheâs half-seated, doing her best impersonation of an eager puppy as she tries to climb onto Alanaâs lap. I think I was her original target, but Cloud got in her way. Afterwards, fox ears went back to pestering Alana, something sheâs been doing for a while.
From what Iâve picked up from their conversation, she likes Alanaâs smell. At first, I thought she was smelling me, which she is, but she also likes Alanaâs actual scent. Some nonsense about earth and vanilla. Completely ridiculous. Underneath me, fragrant soap, and the other scents clinging to her, she smells of sunshine, like sheets dried in the summer sun, mixed with a musky scent all animals, including people, have, everyone having their own distinct variation that makes them identifiable. Whatever nose Rubyâs using is defective. She should have a word with her melder.
I enjoy our conversation, both for what it is and what it covers. In-between discussing building a body from creatures out of this world, the five of us, six when Alana deigns to do more than push aside Ruby when she gets a little too handsy, hold a secret conversation. One without words but spoken with certain looks, lingering touches, and proximity. Iâm pretty sure that eventually, someoneâs going to come right out and say what weâre all hinting at, the ladies of the Temple arenât exactly shy and I threw out my shame months ago, but for now, weâre enjoying the tension brought on by expectation.
Five women, huh. Thatâs an orgy, anyway you look at it. A fantasy most people have, Iâm sure. I wonât believe anyone that says otherwise. Several attractive women, or men for those with that kind of taste, in one bed. A feast for the eyes and ears. A riot of sensations.
Itâs amazing enough what a single pair of hands can do. I canât imagine what five pairs can do working together. The room filled with a whole chorus of moans, lusty voices singing together like a theater choir. The smell of sex so thick I can taste it in-between tasting them. Ugh. The fluttering in my stomach imagining it is almost painful.
I donât know why the thought excites me so much. Truthfully, as much as I admire women, I am perfectly content with my wives, one pending. If Kierra or Alana told me that they never wanted me to so much as breathe on another woman, Iâd be satisfied. I fully believe Iâm capable of loving more than one person romantically but even if I fell for another woman, I wouldnât pursue another relationship if it ruined what I have now.
However, Iâm lucky enough to be married to ladies as perverted as I am, even if Alana is still in a bit of denial. They donât mind so I indulge. I indulge in carnal pleasures but not to get off. My sex life isnât lacking at home in any way. Itâs about how it makes me feel.
Being desired isâŠwell. And there is no desire quite like being lusted after. Nothing asâŠprimal. If a woman invited me to dinner to discuss the finer points of a summoning circle, Iâd be flattered, sure, but someone like Cloud staring at me with a look that makes it easy to imagine her ripping my pants off is something else. Just like the Herbanacle, it warms me up with a pleasant heat that I want to soak in like itâs a warm bath, letting it seep deep into my bones. I donât think Iâll ever tire of it.
Iâm eager to get to the main event but I wonât rush anything. Itâs interesting, watching the way Shake guides the others, holding them at bay until sheâs good and ready to make her move. Something about that easy confidence that says she knows exactly where the night is going and is fine taking her time getting there is making me melt a little on the inside.
Sheâs in the middle of discussing some of her duties within the Sanctuary, when something grabs my attention. Yulia squeezes into the opposite end of the couch and her sister, glass in hand. Judging from the flush in her cheeks, it isnât her first drink, but it might need to be her last. She must be drunk to be so forward with Alana, who immediately frowns.
âYou look comfortable,â Yulia says teasingly, smiling at Ruby who is halfway sprawled over Alanaâs chest. To my amusement, Ruby looks at her curiously for a moment before turning away, pushing against Alanaâs hand as she tries to nuzzle my future wifeâs modest chest. âI didnât take you for such a social animal.â
Alana groans. âWas that supposed to be a joke? If it was, itâs terrible.â
âOh, it was a little funny.â
âMaybe a little offensive. Not funny.â Ruby opens her mouth, likely to say sheâs not offended, nothing delights a member of the Temple more than being compared to their brethren, but Alana shushes her by covering her mouth with a hand.
âI was wondering if youâd like to take a walk in the garden with me.â
âIâm watching the show.â
âYouâre not.â
âBecause you keep talking.â
The northern rose sighs and takes a long gulp of her drink. With a soft coo, Bell appears at her feet when Yulia empties her glass and hands her another drink. Yulia takes it with a soft word of thanks, taking a smaller sip as the imp scampers off. âYou can be a titan of a bitch sometimes, Ally.â
The insult brings me up short, ruining my attempts to listen in on their conversation discretely as I turn all the way around, jaw dropped. Itâs not just that she insulted Alana. Itâs the way she did it.
Till now, sheâs always, hm, I donât know the right word for it. Simpered? Begged? I canât imagine the Yulia desperate to reconnect with her sister speaking to Alana with a harsh tone. And her tone is definitely harsh, thick with annoyance and frustration.
Alana seems just as surprised, looking at her sister with wide eyes and parted lips. Of course, the surprise only lasts for a moment. As the insulted party, offense quickly overcomes every other emotion and she glares at her sister. ââŠwhat are you doing?â
âWhat you want. You always think Iâm speaking in riddles, trying to pull peopleâs strings. Hiding behind a smile, right?â
âAre you saying you donât?â
âI would say that I am considerate enough to choose my words carefully and that there is nothing wrong with expressing yourself in a way that doesnât hurt peopleâs feelings or ruins your reputation. You are the only person Iâve ever met who canât appreciate that. So, here we are.â
Yulia raises a hand in a mocking gesture of surrender. âI bow to your wishes, dear sister, and will spar with you, throwing words like knives. Hopefully, now, we can make some progress.â