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

waters of a dam, crashing against a barrier, near ready to burst, but unable to move forward.

"Or you could speed up," Jaspir said. But he didn't. "Do you see how good this pressure feels, Liam? This is what you do to her clitoris. Every time."

Jaspir's fingers stopped moving. His thumb simply kept the pressure at the divot of his cock head. Liam's eyes flew open. Jaspir smiled. It wasn't a smirk. It was knowing, prideful even. Liam had the urge to lean down and kiss the man.

"Do you understand?"

Liam nodded once more.

"You've done well, Liam. I can see you're clear on this lesson. And for that you get a reward."

Jaspir added his other hand to Liam's cock. With that hand he began to stroke up and down. With the other hand he made quick circles of Liam's cock head. The pleasure was nearly unbearable. Liam came almost instantly. He came and came. His orgasm seeming to last forever. He pumped his hips higher, faster, harder. Jaspir met him stroke for stroke, wringing every bit of pleasure from him until all Liam saw was blackness.

The last thing Liam remembered before falling back onto the soft mattress and being covered in warm sheets was Jaspir's voice.

"You will tell me about it next time, won't you Liam?"

13

Merlyn stared at the test results on her handheld. She should feel elated. This was what she'd always dreamed of; making a groundbreaking discovery that would please her Mother and Grand Mother, gaining notoriety in the world for her work.

She stood near the window in her lab. Another cloudless day allowed the sun to shine brightly on her handheld. The results were conclusive. Curie 144 was two days pregnant. Two days was enough to detect the gender hormones. The mouse was pregnant with four babies. All girls. Merlyn should run and tell her Mother the good news.

She looked down at Curie 144 who was separated from her mate, Hawking 193. The two cages sat side by side, only glass separating them. The two kept clawing at the cage, not understanding the barrier between them.

Merlyn turned and looked behind her at the empty desk. Where was Liam? He was always there. She couldn't remember a day when he wasn't sitting behind her, handing her a culture, or providing her with the calculations necessary for her work.

Merlyn turned back, reaching for the petals of her plant. The sun's rays had moved from the plant's usual spot and Merlyn wanted to be sure it got its share of attention. But the plant wasn't there. Her plant was in the closet, wallowing alone in the darkness.

Merlyn got up and went to the closet. When she opened the doors she was first hit with an array of colors from Alyss' discarded paintings. Then she saw her plant. Its petals drooped, it was nearly gone. Merlyn's hands stuttered for only one moment before grabbing it and cradling it in her arms.

She stepped out of the closet and came face to face with Liam.

The two stared at each other. Liam, who normally looked so put together and unruffled, looked disheveled. His shirt was wrinkled, as though he'd picked it up off the floor and put it on. His pants were without a belt. His red hair was ruffled as though he'd only swept his hand through it instead of brushing it into its normal style. His face had a glow about it. His lips looked swollen.

"Where have you been?" Merlyn asked.

Liam opened his mouth to speak, but then his eyes traveled to the plant in her arms.

Merlyn had the instinct to hide it behind her back. "It's dying."

"Do you want to save it?"

"I..."

Liam sighed. He put his hands out.

Merlyn hesitated, but finally she gave him the plant.

Liam took it and walked into Alyss' closet. He ruffled around in there for a moment before emerging with a bag of crystals and an empty paint can. He went over to his workstation. Merlyn followed behind.

Liam emptied the crystals into the can and then carefully, gingerly, put the wilted plant into the mixture. "Crystals are good conductors of moisture. They'll keep the plant going for a while, but it needs to be planted somewhere permanent, somewhere its roots can reach out without obstruction and grow freely."

"I know."

"So, why did you put it in the closet?" Liam didn't look at her. He tucked the roots of the plant into the can. His fingers worked gently even though she saw the tension in his shoulders and jaw.

"I knew I couldn't keep it contained. I thought it was time to let it go."

Liam chanced a look at her. "I don't mind if you keep it."

Merlyn frowned. "I thought you hated it."

Liam reached for a paper towel and wiped his hands of the dirt from the plants roots. "I thought I hated it, too."

He reached out his hand. Merlyn noted the dirt that remained under his fingertips. Debris under the nails was always hard to clear. They both wore gloves when handling materials. But Liam hadn't reached for the gloves before handling the plant. The dark specs reminded Merlyn of Jaspir's hands from when he was a child.

Liam reached up and rubbed a thumb over her lower lip. His soft touch lulled her into the warm depths of her dreams.

"I thought I hated it, too," he repeated. "But if it makes you happy, then I'll accept its presence in our lives."

Liam's hand snaked around Merlyn's neck. He leaned in close. Merlyn didn't hesitate to allow him complete control of her head.

"We'll be bonded in less than a month. When we have our own home, we can plant it in our gardens. Would you like that, Merlyn?"

Merlyn took a deep breath to satisfy her panting lungs and racing heart. Liam didn't wait for an answer. He nibbled at her bottom lip. It all felt so familiar.

Merlyn closed her eyes.

Soft.

Warm.

Merlyn inhaled and caught the scent of earth on Liam's tongue. Her brain sparked. Liam smelled of Jaspir.

But —no. He'd just had