Carnal Rites by Ines Johnson (learn to read books .TXT) 📕

the lips tried to anticipate his next move, each time failing to predict it.

"Lesson three, make her chase you. Once you—"

The lips cut him off. The lips Jaspir had thought so small covered his own and tried to devour him. For unpracticed lips they were warm and wanton. Perhaps Liam could please Merlyn after all. But first, he had to pay attention.

Jaspir used the hand still at the nape of Liam's neck to yank him away. Liam groaned at the loss, his chest panting, his eyes hooded.

"Are you listening, Liam?"

Liam blinked once, twice. By the third blink, he'd recovered himself and yanked away from Jaspir's hold, embarrassment clear on his face. "All right," Liam said. "You've made your point."

"I don't think I have."

Liam clenched his jaw.

"Show me what you've learned."

Liam's eyes whipped to Jaspir's. Jaspir placed his hands in his lap and waited.

Slowly Liam raised his hands. They grazed Jaspir's chin. The soft, un-callused fingers reminding Jaspir of a woman's gentle touch. Before Jaspir could process the softness, Liam's fingers tangled in his hair and wrenched Jaspir's head back.

Jaspir barely held back his moan of pleasure. He liked it rough from time to time, but that would not do for Lady Merlyn. "Not that firm. She's more delicate than I am. Just enough to let her know that you're in control."

Liam loosened his grip a fraction. He looked to Jaspir for approval. Jaspir recognized the spark of need in the other male's eyes. How this man lived ten years under Merlyn's roof and never stole a single kiss was a true mystery to Jaspir.

"Good," Jaspir nodded.

The spark in Liam's eyes ignited into the smallest of flames before he dipped his head and put his mouth to Jaspir's throat. Liam's movements were unpracticed and hesitant, but the heat of his mouth sent a message to Jaspir's dick. Jaspir focused on his breaths instead of the heat climbing across his hips.

There was no way he'd be turned on by this soft-hand, unpracticed, First, virgin.

Liam nibbled at Jaspir's lip now, his hunger making up for his lack of skill. Jaspir knew desire. He understood wanting something that he thought was off limits to him. Jaspir softened and turned his head into the kiss.

For a moment, Jaspir allowed Liam to claim him. Allowed him to taste that thing that he could never possess. To pretend for just a moment that it could be this way; that they could be together always. That they could live on a land away from society and everything tearing them apart. To live in a small cottage surrounded by impossible flowers of red, purple and green.

The kiss turned brutal as both men fought to stake their claim. Until finally, Jaspir gave a tug of Liam's hair, pulling them apart. Both men stared at the other, panting, eyes clear, realization dawning that neither held the object of their desire.

"That'll be all for today's lessons."

It took a moment, but finally Liam rose. "When do I—" He stopped and cleared his throat. "When do I come back for our second appointment?"

Jaspir turned to him, his face a mask of unconcern. "Pick any day you'd like. I've cleared my entire schedule just for you."

9

All the way home, Liam couldn't stop touching his lips. He was certain that they were swollen, that they told everyone on the streets what he had been doing. He was also having trouble walking. His cock was ramrod hard in his pants. He hopped into his conveyance and adjusted himself in the seat. Liam hissed as his hand grazed his stiff cock. He turned the air conditioning on full blast, taking deep breaths until his erection began to cool off and go down.

He was truthful when he'd told Jaspir he'd never been attracted to a man. He'd always been concerned about how he'd manage a triad bond having no sexual desire for another male. As he drove, Liam looked at the men walking down the street. Some had their arms around each other. Others pulled one another into a dark corner for an embrace. The sight of these displays of affection didn't make him uncomfortable, it was the norm of society. But neither had these displays ever aroused or interested him. He'd always thought of himself as heterosexual, an outdated label from the twentieth century, but one he'd always held to.

Another label Liam held to; scientist. And scientists did not believe in magic. But that label, too, felt as though it were slipping through his fingers this evening. Liam passed by the Temple of the Pleasure Hounds. He'd never put much into the beliefs of the hounds, but now he wondered if they were not monks, but magi.

Merlyn's cousin, Lady Chanyn, had married a hound, a feat unheard of. For ten years, Merlyn could not stop thinking of a single kiss from one who was selected for their ranks. And now, long moments after their encounter, Liam felt the heat of Jaspir's lips on his own.

Liam's hand continued to rub against his lower lip until he pulled up to the house. He pulled his car around back and parked alongside the manservants' conveyances. Liam disembarked from the car and went in through a side entrance. He took a hallway which led him directly to the lab.

When he went into the lab, she was there. Her back was to him. She was bent over her workbench like always. Looking into the microscope, adjusting the lens with one hand, making notes with the other hand. He hadn't expected her to be back at work after spending time with Jaspir. Liam's body felt heavy, full of unnamable feelings that begged for quantifying. He had no interest in numbers at present. He had the urge to go to her, to test the expensive lesson he'd just learned.

He paused in the doorway. As always she failed to note his absence or his—

"Liam," she turned. "You're back."

Liam let the door shut behind him. "You noticed I was gone?"

Merlyn cocked her head, a globe