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

emotions to the best of my abilities. Still, this makes no qualitative sense to me. By my estimation you two are rivals."

"We were." Jaspir tentatively reached out and then took her fingers in his own. "But we realized our goal is the same. It doesn't make sense to fight someone with a common goal. So we became partners."

"Partners? In what endeavor?"

"Your happiness," Jaspir answered. "My greatest wish is for you to be happy, and well-pleased."

"Then why do I feel deceived?"

Liam stepped forward. "I wasn't trying to deceive you. I was trying to learn how to please you. Jaspir was teaching me."

"Why couldn't you simply tell me that?" asked Merlyn.

"Why couldn't you tell me that you went to see him?" Liam responded.

Merlyn dipped her chin, averting her gaze.

"You've never looked past my calculations, Merlyn. I thought if I could make you feel the way he makes you feel then you would see me, that you would want me."

"I do see you, Liam."

Liam shook his head. "I've been in your life, right behind you for the last ten years and you've never seen me. Not until I kissed you."

"Why are you here now?" Jaspir's eyes leveled accusations at Liam. "You must have done something wrong."

"I did what you said—"

"Tell me," Jaspir said to Merlyn.

"He kissed me," she said. "Just the same as you did. But then his hands went... lower."

"Tell me what his hands did down low."

"Jaspir..." Merlyn looked away.

"Tell me."

"He pressed them between my thighs."

"Soft or hard?"

"Hard," she said the word with a hint of distaste.

"And you didn't like that?"

Merlyn shook her head.

Jaspir puzzled. He'd been certain she'd need a firm hand.

"The fabric of my dress hurt me."

"Oh," dawning cleared for Jaspir.

"What did I do wrong?" Liam asked.

"You left her clothes on." Jaspir looked between the two. Merlyn and Liam stood apart. Liam tucked his hands behind his elbows. Merlyn's fingers clutched at her loose dress. "This time you'll take her clothes off."

Both Liam and Merlyn stared. Neither of them moved. They both stood stiffly, uncertain of their own bodies.

"Merlyn." Jaspir reached for her once more. This time she hesitated. "Liam came to me and presented a problem that required scientific inquiry."

Her eyebrows quirked. "What was his problem statement?"

He had her now. "You." Jaspir said. "He wanted to understand why you had harbored feelings for me so many years after we saw each other, and to see if he could replicate those feelings for himself."

Merlyn glanced at Liam who swallowed and didn't quite meet her eyes.

Jaspir continued outlaying his methodology in the language that they both understood. "Liam hypothesized that he could gain your feelings if he observed me. Together, we designed a study of three trials. In the first trial, I taught him how to kiss you. Those results were positive, yes?"

Merlyn nodded.

"In the second trial, I tried to teach him how to touch you. But it appears some of the data was misinterpreted. I'd like to give him better instructions on the procedure, so that we have a successful outcome. Will you help us?"

Jaspir watched the expressions cross Merlyn's face. He felt certain she wouldn't be able to resist the scientific experiment aspect of his proposed seduction.

"What do you need me to do?" she asked.

"Go to the bed," Jaspir commanded.

Merlyn looked over her shoulder at the bed. Then she turned back and looked between Jaspir and Liam. Finally, she slipped off her shoes and sat on the bed. "In the first trial, early this morning, Liam kissed me first," she said. "Does that make a difference to the data?"

Jaspir grinned. "Liam."

Liam tore his gaze from Merlyn to peer at Jaspir. Jaspir inclined his head towards Merlyn. Liam went over and knelt before her. He took her head in his hands. Something passed between the two. Jaspir waited for jealousy to consume him, but it never came.

Liam's mouth met Merlyn's and her eyes fluttered closed.

"Remove her gown, Liam."

It took Liam a moment to relinquish Merlyn's mouth. He reached for the buttons at her bodice. One by one, he popped them open. Merlyn's eyes were owl wide, her breath trembled, but she didn't stop him. With the last button opened, Liam pushed the sleeves off her shoulders.

Merlyn sat before them, her brown skin gleaming, interrupted only by two angular pieces of white cotton; a bra and panties. Liam appeared unsure of what to do next.

Jaspir stepped up to his back and leaned towards his ear. "Reach behind her, you'll feel a clasp. Undo it."

Liam did as he was told. When the bra was unleashed, he pulled the fabric off to reveal two mounds of perfect breasts with dark nipples. Both men inhaled at the sight.

"Rub your thumbs over her nipples," Jaspir said. "But do it lightly."

"Earlier you said to be firm with her," Liam said.

"Not right now."

And so Liam did. Merlyn's eyes closed, her head fell back.

"That's it," Jaspir encouraged. "Light circles."

Merlyn put out a hand to Liam's chest, but it wasn't to stop him. It was to steady herself.

"How do you feel, my love?" Jaspir asked.

Merlyn's eyes were pleasure-glazed when they found Jaspir. "The sensations are overwhelming. I feel warm and throbbing all over."

"Then the procedure is working. Lay her down on the bed," Jaspir said.

Liam lifted Merlyn in his arms and stretched her out on the bed. He laid her down gently. For a moment both men stood above her and stared down, mouths watering at the succulent feast spread out before them.

"Take off her panties."

With shaky fingers, Liam complied. In an instant, the scent of her filled the room and Jaspir had to swallow several times, each swallow making his dick impossibly harder.

"Spread your thighs, Merlyn."

Merlyn pressed her thighs together. "I feel the need for friction."

"We'll relieve it, I promise."

Merlyn hesitated for the briefest of seconds before complying. Both Liam and Jaspir groaned when she did. She was glistening there. Liam knelt before her. Jaspir rounded to Liam's back so he could get a better view.

He leaned into Liam's ear, his front pressed to the other man's back.