Desire After Dark: Lords of Pleasure (15 page)

The Moirae. The apportioners of life.

Clotho was the spinner, the one who spun the delicate thread of a new life from her distaff to her spindle. Blond and serene, she tipped her head to look at Odin, and he blinked from the brightness of her light.

Lachesis, the allotter, with hair to match the flames before her, measured each thread of life and thus determined how long
each person’s portion would be. This made her much feared and sought after, by those who dared to bargain for more.

And finally, Atropos, or Aisa as some called her. She was the Fate who decided the manner in which each person would die. When the person’s time was done, she cut the thread of life with her shears. This understandably made the raven-haired beauty the most feared and reviled of the three companions.

The very gods were afraid of them. Even Clotho, who could decide not to spin the thread of life in the first place, leaving would-be parents lost and heartbroken. Odin couldn’t believe he’d forgotten—even for one second—what these females were capable of.

“You may approach,” Clotho told him in a deceptively gentle voice. “And you may sit.”

He didn’t mistake it for a request. Wasting no time, he walked to the circle and planted his ass between her and Lachesis. He didn’t have to state his business, as the allotter did that for him.

“You’re here to discuss your Valkyrie, Kassandra, and her defiance of our edict regarding the vampire Luc Fontaine.”

“Yes.” He nodded respectfully and waited.

“Never has a Valkyrie shirked her duty,” Aisa said coldly. “She has ignored the will of the Moirae and flouted the rules of the gods. There is only one way to right the wrong she has committed.”

“Only one?” he ventured to ask. “Surely there is another—”

“You wish to bargain with us?” Clotho interrupted.

This was dangerous territory. He fought not to appear nervous.

“I’d never presume to do that.”

“I thought not,” Aisa said. Her lips curved into a slow smile, and her eyes glinted wickedly. “Perhaps there
is
another way.”

With that, she slipped her robe from her shoulders. The other two did the same and their skin gleamed golden in the flickering light, full breasts pert and rosy tipped. Mesmerized, he could only watch as they moved to surround him. He did not possess the will to resist as they divested him of his clothing. As his breeches were lowered, his cock sprang forth, proud and eager, the purplish tip leaking.

Three sets of hands pressed him down, and three mouths began to lick his balls and shaft. “Sweet gods,” he breathed. When was the last time they’d had a male visitor? If their attentions were any clue, it had been a long, lonely winter.

Aisa straddled him, lowering herself onto his cock. As his rod pierced her core, he hissed at the wonderful clasp of her silken heat squeezing him. Holding her hips, he pumped, establishing a steady rhythm as she bounced above him.

A tendril of trepidation wormed its way into his heart as he considered what he was actually doing:
I’m screwing the Fates.

Was there caution to heed from that very real play on words?

Probably so.

That didn’t stop him from laving Clotho’s pussy when she sat on his face. He ate her sweetness with gusto while Lachesis kissed his chest and tweaked his nipples. It was as close to heaven as he’d ever get, and he selfishly took. Damn the price.

All too soon, his orgasm loomed. It washed over him like an ocean swell, and he exploded, spasming along with Aisa. Clotho found her release as well, and he swallowed her honey, thinking it was the finest ambrosia. He was spent, but not finished.

The other two moved off him, and he pushed Lachesis onto her back, parting her legs. “I wouldn’t leave you wanting, beauty.”

From the corner of his eye, he caught the approving looks exchanged by the other two females and knew he’d done the right thing. If he’d failed to attend to one of them, his selfishness would’ve cost him even more.

Putting that from his mind, he cupped the redhead’s ass and brought her to his mouth. Worming his tongue between the folds of her pussy, he fucked her slowly, until she was writhing, yanking at his long hair.

With a chuckle, he gave in and fastened his mouth to her, sucking with voracious enthusiasm. In moments she cried out, hips bucking, her delicious essence flooding his taste buds. Exquisite.

Carefully he lowered her bottom and helped her sit up. In the silence that followed, the females began to don their robes once more, and Odin took that as his hint to get dressed. Quickly he did, then took his place by the fire once more to await their judgment.

They looked around the circle at one another, communicating without words. Clotho nodded, spun a new thread from her fingertips, and handed it to Lachesis. The redhead measured a very short length and laid it aside. Then Clotho spun another. This time the thread was much longer. Lachesis laid it beside the first and looked to Aisa.

The third Moirae raised her gaze to Odin’s, her expression impassive. “These new threads belong to the Valkyrie and the vampire—and these are their futures as they’ve been altered by her actions. I don’t think I have to tell you which of them now holds the shorter thread.”

Emotion tightened his throat. Sadness. Anger.

“I thought there was another way!”

“There is. Listen closely, ruler of Valhalla,” Aisa said, “or else
miss this second chance the Fates have granted to your favored warrior.”

Odin hung on their every word. And when they’d finished, his heart wept for Kassandra.

And the painful choices she had yet to face.

K
assandra found Serena fussing with the furniture in the large entertainment room they used for their big parties.

“Parties” was a rather tame word for their full-scale adult gatherings their immortal friends and acquaintances clamored to attend. Their eagerness was probably because of the various delectable treats on offer for their guests’ enjoyment—and that wasn’t in reference to food and drink, though there was always plenty of both.

No, their guests delighted in the pleasures of the flesh the sisters so generously provided for their indulgence. The body slaves were on spectacular display in outfits that hid little, and they were instructed to see to the guests’ every desire. As the evening went on, clothing and what scant inhibitions each visitor possessed were shed, and some would disappear to other rooms. More still would remain in the main entertainment room, having sex in full view of others, or playing voyeur.

Whatever their taste, all left totally satisfied, and eager to return in the future.

“Are we having another party?” She stopped to watch her sister move a lamp from one table to another. “No one will care about the décor, you know.”

“We are. And they’ll notice the details, at least when they first arrive. The women always do, noses stuck in the air, inspecting all the flaws.”

“It’s all in your head. Nobody notices anything except what sorts of amusements have been provided for the evening. Beyond finding a hot, willing partner, they couldn’t care less.”

“Be that as it may, the palace will look fabulous.”

“Right before everyone gets drunk and trashes it.”

Serena straightened from fluffing a pair of pillows and frowned at her. “What’s your problem?”

“Nothing.”

“Since when is it a crime to want things to look nice?”

“It’s not, sorry.”

“You haven’t been the same since that
vampire
came to stay.”

“You say that like he’s an ogre,” she pointed out testily. “He’s a worthy male and…” Damn, she really wasn’t ready to reveal what Luc was to her, and now she’d piqued Serena’s curiosity. “He’s fitting in very well here.”

Her sister narrowed her eyes. “I’ll say. Taking right to it like Cupid to his bow. Haven’t you set any boundaries for him?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” she asked sharply.

“Don’t ask me. Find your vampire if you want the answer.”

“You’re the one who brought it up.” Kass rolled her eyes. “Whatever. So, when’s the party?”

“In three nights. Which reminds me—go visit Lucinda and buy something new to wear. Your wardrobe is getting old and drab.”

“Old? Gods, you’re such a bitch,” she griped, scowling. “At least I don’t have to throw a party just to get some action.”

“Hey! Now that was just uncalled for.”

Kass grinned. “An eye for an eye. And you can get someone else to help you decorate this time. I’m on strike. Ta!”

Turning on her heel, Kass walked out, leaving her sister to rearrange to her heart’s content. No doubt she’d drive all the servants nuts before the palace was done to her satisfaction. Kass didn’t care as long as they left her out of the preparations.

And her clothing was not old, dammit.

As she made her way upstairs, Serena’s comment niggled at her brain. What had she meant by Luc taking to this life
like Cupid to his bow
? Why would Kass question his boundaries? She assumed Serena meant sexually, but that didn’t make sense. They were all very open in that regard. Even the servants and body slaves were permitted to play among themselves as long as their other duties were fulfilled. They could even take mates.

Puzzling over the matter, she stepped onto the wide landing. At the end of the hallway was an open sitting area graced by floor-to-ceiling windows. For no reason in particular, she walked to the windows and stood looking out over the pool and surrounding grounds. It was then that she saw.

An unexpected and very unwelcome spurt of jealous rage spread through her like a fever. Considering the lifestyle she’d introduced to her vampire upon his arrival, and her reinforcement each day since, her feelings weren’t fair. But reason fled, and she stood rooted to the spot.

And she watched the scene unfold.

Luc waded around in the pool, relishing the cool water on his heated skin. Though vampires wouldn’t exactly poof into ash if they stepped into the sun, he didn’t indulge often. He wasn’t any more immune to sunburn than a human would be, and in fact was more susceptible. But today he would enjoy and not worry too much.

He’d been splashing for just a few minutes when a lovely female emerged from the palace and strode toward the pool, her gait light and carefree. Long dark hair cascaded over her petite shoulders and tumbled to kiss her delectable little ass. Her small, pert breasts thrust upward, water lapping at the dusky nipples as she waded into the pool.

Saints, he could watch this one for hours and not become bored. His fangs lengthened, and hunger hit him in the gut—both kinds. He hadn’t taken blood since before last night’s scene with Kass and Legion, and he was famished. Fortunately, his solution was wading a few feet away, sending him looks that he was surprised didn’t boil the water.

“Maya,” he said. “Did I recall your name correctly?”

“You did, my lord,” she replied in a husky voice.

“I’m simply Luc. I’m not nearly as stuffy as my older brothers.” He smiled, and she returned it.

“Fine, then Luc it is. Do you mind my asking how long you’ve known my mistress?”

“I’ve only known Kass for a few days, though it seems much longer.” When her eyes widened at the perceived insult, he laughed. “No, no. I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant that I felt this sense of connection with your mistress right away, as though we’d known each other for a long time.”

Maya’s relief was visible. “Oh. That’s good, then. But she’s your mistress, too.”

“Not exactly,” he muttered, then shook his head. “Never mind that.”

“You look…somewhat distressed. Are you well, Luc?”

“Yeah, just hungry. I didn’t realize how much until you joined me, and damn. You smell so good.” It was true. Her scent didn’t call to him the way Kass’s did, like that of a mate, but there was no denying the fact that she appealed to his vampire nature. Every facet of it.

“Thank you.” She dipped her head. But the look she gave him under her dark lashes said she was no innocent. “Do you need me to serve you, my lo—I mean, Luc?”

Backing toward the shallow end, he reached the edge of the pool and hoisted himself to sit on it, feet dangling in the water. His desire grew, and his cock lengthened and filled as he leaned back. It hardened until it rested against his tight stomach, every cell in his body on alert. The musk of her arousal drifted to him, and he beckoned with one finger.