Page 21 of Gemini Christmas
Vasili pulls in a slow breath of this heady aroma. “I suppose we’ll see then, just how trusting you’re prepared to be when Krampus wields his whip. Won’t we?”
Zara’s teal brows draw together in a furrow. She pivots to shoot the villain a look of warning. “Trust is a two-way street, bad boy. Don’t let this Krampus fantasy go to your head, okay?”
Somewhat to my own surprise, I find I am smiling.
“Pray do not trouble yourself, my bride,” I tell her. “You and Ash and Ronin will ensure that our Krampus does not… abuse his privilege.”
My faith in my consorts—especially those three—is absolute, and that faith threads audibly through my tone.
The subtle hum of tension in the room softens to a whisper of anticipation.
For once, at least, I seem to have said the right words. Slowly I am learning to be with this queen and her harem.
To speak first and act first as a lover rather than a king.
“Well, fuck.” Zara wiggles into position and slips an arm around both of us. “Gotta admit, Your Radiance, you’ve definitely surprised me—in a really good way. If the two of you fucking are gonna be my Christmas gift, I can’t wait to unwrap you.”
Her shift in posture brings me face to face withhim.
Vasili.
My ally. My love. My rival.
His gaze traces the slash of the eyepatch that hides my deformity. My missing eye. That ismyhidden wound. Despite all my intentions, my shoulders stiffen and my chin rises. Yet the tips of my pointed ears are tingling.
Ears are erogenous zones for the Fae.
Green eyes wide and wondering behind his spectacles, Neo tucks up trustingly next to Vasili. Without breaking my stare, Vasili wraps a possessive arm around the boy to claim him.
“I’m not surprised at all,” Neo pipes up stoutly. “He’s always really gentle and nice with me—aren’t you, Zephyr? And he’s been extra tender with you while you’re pregnant, babe. He doesn’t need to swing a flogger to feel good.”
The residual tension eases from my shoulders. I grin at my young defender until my own fangs show, and relish the sweet blush that spreads over his face. “Indeed I do not, sweet boy.”
Neo’s own smile blooms on his earnest face. Even his ears turn pink with blushing.
Zara still seems to be pondering the concept of me—the most unyielding of all her lovers—yielding anything at all to Vasili in our bed. Now she licks her lips and wades gamely in. “Yeah, but… whip or no whip, you’re…”
“Avirgin.” Vasili pounces on the word hovering on her lush lips and savors the syllables like vintage wine. “That’s what our little queen’s trying to say.”
My own lips part in confusion. I massage the empty socket under the tight slash of my eyepatch as though this act will aid my hearing.
Vasili sighs over my confusion like I’m the village idiot. Still, patiently (for him), he elaborates.
“Lucius bends for me. I bend…veryoccasionally, when he asks nicely… for Max. And everyone else in our polycule bends for me and all the alphas—and some for Zara when she’s in a pegging mood.”
Zara and Neo both grin at this. Neo is one of those mates she pegs.
“You’re the only one who doesn’t bend for anyone,” Vasili finishes pointedly. “Your Transcendence.”
“Ah.” I adjust the eyepatch over my empty socket and apply myself to his question. “Well, even so, I’m hardly a virgin, in that or any other way. Kindly recall that Ronin and I… exchanged favors… before the Beltane fire the night we declared our love.”
A shadow darkens the kitchen door. Ronin himself, come to listen as I tell our tale, amber eyes glowing like twin suns while he idly dries a wineglass.
‘‘‘Twas years before I met the rest of you,” I resume, appreciating the sinuous strength showcased by the distressed denim clinging to Ronin’s thighs and the bulge of his manhood—prominent even from here. “Ronin was an insolent boy and I was barely a man, but it was Midsummer Night in Wales, where the ancient rites are yet practiced. So I had him, and he had me.”
“Best night of my fucking life,” Ronin says huskily. “At that point. Both virgins that night, weren’t we, love?”
“Indeed we were.” My own voice warms and thickens with the memory. For we surrendered more than our bodies that night. I gave him my heart and claimed his in exchange.
