"Prude," he said, smiling.
I leaned down and whispered in his ear, "Slut."
He shivered.
My tongue darted in and out as I nibbled at his neck and down the length of his chest. Not breaking contact, I slipped out of my own clothes.
With his hands on my hips, he turned us both over. His body weight pinned me. "Let me take the lead, at least for tonight…"
He put both my arms above my head, pinning them down with only one of his. "Let me in, Kaitlyn."
I spread my legs. He didn't hesitate. I bit my lip, holding in my moan, until he was all the way in. He bent his head to my ear and began whispering. It was a foreign language; I couldn't comprehend anything he was saying. But it had a rhythm to it. Sounds rolled off his tongue effortlessly, and the low hum of his voice was mesmerizing. Something in my memory flashed. Men in grass skirts, doing groin thrusts back and forth in time to drums.
"A warrior's challenge," I whispered.
"What?" he asked.
"Nothing…keep going," I murmured. The pain was a welcome distraction. I was on the precipice of a nightmare.
He pulled back, just slightly, then pressed in. I held my breath, trying to concentrate on his foreign words. I lost myself in their tune. His chant washed through me, penetrating deeper, encouraging me to give myself to him.
He moved faster, and I raised my hips to meet him.
"Now," he said. I almost missed his switch to English. "Do it now."
I nodded, losing myself in his words again. As his whispers started to die off, I focused in on them, grabbing hold and refusing to let go - like I was stealing his breath. As he climaxed, I absorbed the energy. Ten seconds, then I released him. His body collapsed over me in an impossible weight.
He heaved in deep, slow breaths. Even with my help, he barely managed to roll himself off me.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
He nodded his head, grimacing at the movement.
"Should I get Natasha now?" My mouth turned down at the thought of running to another woman to fix what I had just done.
"No." He licked his lips, laying his head back down on the pillow. "Wait till morning, just…" He drifted off.
"Just stand watch." I finished the sentence for him. I kissed him on the forehead, stood, and stretched out my arms. I walked over to the windows, where my backpack was laying, and retrieved the Chalice. I sat cross-legged on the floor, staring at my wrapped package. I sighed – I wasn't in the mood for Cato. "Let's just get this over with."
Chapter 51
A Threesome
I was there before I knew it. The route was familiar to me now, and with the high I was riding, the netherworld bent to my will easily. Cato and Ted stood, waiting for me, the remaining men behind them.
"You've been gone awhile," Ted said.
"I've been busy." I walked toward them on firm ground.
"You've found Shawn," Cato concluded. "And you've found more power."
"Yes to both." I stopped in front of them. No need to divulge details. "Shawn is releasing the Shades in the Athame, as I am doing here. How will that affect his power?"
"He will be missing the knowledge they could otherwise provide. But his power will become more pure and controlled. He will be able to wield Akasha." Cato held nothing back.
I craned my neck, looking at the faces of the group of men. They looked anxious, but they would have to wait. "Before, with me, Shawn used The Great Rite to steal my energy. Is that partly what tainted his power?"
Cato flinched. "I'm sure of it."
"So if I used The Great Rite – would it do the same to me?"
Ted answered this time, shaking his head, "Not if both, or…" He cleared his throat, face going red. "All parties are willing."
I couldn't resist, "You mean like a threesome?"
The word 'threesome' echoed in the open space. Cato and Ted shifted on their feet, suddenly avoiding my gaze. A few snickers floated up from the group of men behind them, and some glares. I think I even saw one in the back crossing himself.
I stepped forward, Cato and Ted parting to give me way. "Don't worry." I glanced at Cato, "I'm not that desperate for power…yet." I continued to the group of men. "Step forward if you wish to move on – step aside if you wish to stay."
They hesitated, seeking guidance in each other's eyes. Finally, one brave soul stepped forward. More than half followed suit. Less than a dozen moved away.
I looked at the palms of my hands, already glowing in anticipation.
Would this one burn?
I chose the already injured hand. Burn marks on the palm, recovering dog bite on the wrist. Without warning, I flung my arm. Power burst out in a wide arc, from one end of the group to the other.