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

Right. His hands. Not his mouth.

"Liam?"

"Mmmmh?"

She felt the vibration more than heard the sound. "Where were you all morning?"

Liam's hand loosened on her neck. "It doesn't matter."

Merlyn jerked her head back. "Did you even come home last night?"

Liam sighed, hanging his head. He looked as though he were about to answer her, but then his eyes caught on something on her desk.

"Are those the results from Curie 144?"

Merlyn turned her head to peer down. Their bodies were still pressed together. "Yes," she answered.

"All girls?"

"All girls."

"So it worked," he said. "The gender selection and the insemination?"

Merlyn nodded.

Liam took a step back, but didn't release her. "How do you feel about that?"

"It's what we've been working towards all these years. Understanding gene dominance, and now gender selection. We couldn't have done it without your math."

"That's not what I meant, my lady. What do you think about the artificial insemination procedure?"

"It will certainly make my Mother and Grand Mother happy."

Liam nodded. "And it will get you the notoriety that you deserve."

Merlyn mimicked Liam's nod.

"Are you interested in having the insemination procedure... between us?" Liam asked. "Or..." He let his sentence trail off, but Merlyn understood its direction.

She felt her skin heat. She knew Liam couldn't see her thoughts but she felt exposed. She'd never considered whether Liam might want her in that way. She'd never thought of Liam in that way.

Before.

"Because I'd rather not have the procedure... between us." Liam's thumb was on her lip again.

"Oh?"

"Did you like it when I kissed you, Merlyn?"

"Yes. Yes, I liked it very much."

Liam's hand was around her nape now. This time firm. She could barely move it on her own, but she didn't struggle. The idea of resistance never entered her mind. Liam having control of her head was the most natural thing in the world.

Liam tilted her nape back so she looked directly into his eyes. "Would you like me to do it again?"

His words gave her a choice, but his eyes and his hand did not. His lips were on her before she could answer. Still soft, but hotter than before. His tongue touched every corner of her mouth, turning her knees into the consistency of berry jam. Merlyn fell into him. Sparks ignited across her brain. She was sure a brain scan would show fireworks. But still, something niggled at her that she was missing the point.

Liam's hands traveled down her sides. He pressed her back to the desk. Heat pooled between Merlyn's legs. She was aching for more and it seemed Liam could tell. His hand went to the apex of her thighs, to the center of her need. He pressed his thumb there. Hard.

"Ouch."

"Sorry." Liam said against her mouth. He adjusted the angle of his finger and tried again.

"Ouch." This time Merlyn pulled away.

Liam backed up, looking utterly confused. "I don't know what I did wrong. I did everything he said."

"Everything who said?"

Liam froze.

The synapses of Merlyn's brain fired one last shot. This time Merlyn was paying attention. She knew exactly where Liam had been the previous night.

14

The storefront looked unassuming, just as the men inside wanted it to. The sign above the board read Adom's Leaf. In the store windows were an array of female mannequins in colorful, artfully draped dresses. As always, there were no customers in sight. Women paid no attention or coin to males' designs on their clothing.

Jaspir spied the store's namesake through the glass door. His dark head bent over parchment. Adom looked up when he heard the bell over the door ring.

"If it isn't the prodigal, himself." Adom came around the counter and embraced Jaspir.

"Hello, my brother." Jaspir returned the embrace.

"I didn't realize it was your day off," Adom said.

"I'll be having many more days off," said Jaspir. "I've terminated my contract."

"I thought you were a year off from saving enough."

"I'll have enough funds by the end of the week. I've already signed the land contract."

"This is great news, Jaspir."

Jaspir and Adom had trained in the pleasure temple as youths, along with Jian and Adom's bondmate, Emet.

Adom had an artistic nature. He didn't see the world the same as his other three brothers. He was often caught drawing depictions of the Goddess in his prayer books. When Adom learned of Jaspir's gardening and grafting abilities, the two developed an even closer friendship. Adom felt the agricultural endeavor was an art form; joining together two things that did not originally exist that way.

Jian was the eldest of the four trainees and his interests were clearly spiritual. That didn't deter the deep friendship Jaspir developed with the male. He always sought Jian's counsel whenever anything troubled him.

Emet, on the other hand, was the brother Jaspir always approached when he was ready for a debate. Emet loved to argue with the monks about the factual basis of their spiritual practices.

"But how have raised the funds so soon?" Adom's face turned sour. "Tell me you haven't sold your soul to some elderly matriarch.

"I haven't. When I leave, it will be as a free man, just like you and Emet. It’s actually Emet that I came to speak with. It has to do with his work for the Male Voice."

"Since when have you been interested in politics or men's rights?"

"Since last night when I learned that men's basic rights may be taken out of our hands... or out of our pants, as it were."

Without another word, Adom led Jaspir to the back of the storefront to Emet's office.

When Jaspir opened his door later that afternoon he saw Liam. The guilty expression on his face confused Jaspir until he saw who stood behind Liam.

"Ah," Jaspir closed the door behind him. "So we've been caught."

"I don't understand this." Merlyn had her arms crossed about her shoulders. Jaspir was sure she aimed for anger in her facial expression, but instead it came across as a pout. Jaspir hid his smile. Merlyn didn't like ambiguous data.

"I've looked at it from different angles," she said. "I've factored in