My Wish - Time Guardians Book One (16 page)

It took moments for her to find Hari and Sami.

This must be their kitchen, she supposed, because there was an interesting blend of modern conveniences. There was a totally modern microwave—and a few antiques, including a cooking pot, which looked as if Caesar might have whipped up a stew in it, resting on a shelf.

The guys themselves lounged on stools that could have come from the most modern furniture store or Achmed's Bazaar a thousand years ago. Such was the nature of furniture. Form follows function. Alana grinned at the wayward thought.

"You are happy, love?" asked Hari as he moved towards her.

"I am clean, happy, feeling the caffeine do its job, and ready for anything," grinned Alana. "Do I get clothes yet?"

"Nope," answered Sami wickedly. "We don't dress indoors."

He was right. Both were splendidly naked, slightly aroused, and enough to make a girl cream her nonexistent knickers just from looking at them.

She sighed. "Can I see the rest of your home before we get off track and into each other?" she asked wryly.

Sami chuckled, and Hari grasped her hand.

"This way, Alana, let's satisfy your curiosity and then turn our attention to satisfying something else..." He smiled wickedly.

The vessel was surprisingly large.

The kitchen door led to a passage. Hari opened a door and said simply, "My room."

She peeked in. There was a definite touch of the austere, which suited Hari, she thought. Black and white ruled the day—a huge four-poster bed was draped in a black spread and covered with white cushions. Brass fixtures were scattered around the room and the windows at the top of Hari's wall were iridescent. The light that bounced in fractured into brilliance rather than color.

Her attention was caught by a painting—the only one on the wall—of a woman, sitting by a fountain, letting the water drip through her fingers. Light danced across her soft blonde hair and touched her beautiful breasts as she leaned over the ripples.

"Oh Hari—how lovely," she breathed, allowing her critical eye to absorb the mastery of the artist.

"Um—yeah. I like it." Noncommittal.

Alana registered his comment. Hmmm, she thought to herself. And again, hmmm.

Leaving Hari's room, they moved down the passage, passing what looked like an office or library, and into the large living area. There were comfortable, over-stuffed couches, a couple of well-used recliners, a large television and—yes—a cable box on top of it.

"We have only just learned of your DVR technology—and have secured a unit that will probably be installed when we arrive at Anyela," said Sami, waving at an unopened box, which loudly announced it contained Japanese technical equipment.

"Ah, testosterone rules," she muttered, smiling at the pride of the gender in high-tech.

She moved towards a beautiful display case—probably French, she mused, noting the elegant carvings and exquisite craftsmanship.

Proudly sitting by itself on one shelf was a glass flower.

She moved closer.

"This is truly amazing guys—what is it?"

Sami moved over to her side and opened the door to the cabinet.

"Is it Venetian? Murano maybe? Fifteenth century?" Her eyes were glued on the flower, spellbound by the light that trickled into the petals, bounced around the different shades of blue that drifted from a deep purplish-navy to a pale white blue, and then hit the vibrant yellow center.

It seemed almost alive as it rested on a swirl of flat green leaves.

"Your knowledge of such things is impressive," said Hari, moving to her side and pressing a kiss to her cheek.

"Yes, it is Venetian—early sixteenth century, actually, and commissioned for us by —by a friend. It is a Blue Lotus."

He said no more, and she glanced at him. He stared at the flower but she could tell his thoughts were elsewhere.

"I am glad you have gifts from your friends with you when you travel," she said gently, linking hands with both Hari and Sami and squeezing them.

"To judge by Sami's carpet and this flower, they care a great deal for you. Thank you for allowing me to see them."

Suddenly the room rocked a little and Alana gasped, glad that she had two strong hands to cling to.

Sami met Hari's gaze over her head.

"We're here."

Chapter 16

She stepped through a door into Paradise. Or at least what could well have passed for Paradise.

The first thing that struck her was the light. It was brilliant, very white, and reminded her of photos she'd seen of Greek islands, where the light seemed different than other places. She walked forward slowly, eyes wide, taking in her surroundings. It was nothing short of fantastic, in the real sense of the word.

There was color—color everywhere. Gardens spilled their blooms around her, massive trees offering shade, and smaller shrubs covered with incredibly tinted blooms. Gently guided by Hari and Sami, she moved down a stone path, feeling the warmth of the tiles caressing her bare feet.

She heard laughter ahead and the sound of water splashing. She turned and glanced at her companions, a question in her eyes.

"These are the Pleasure Gardens of Anyela," said Sami.

"This is where we spend some time in our youth and freedom, discovering the joys that giving and receiving pleasure can bring," added Hari, nodding down a path that led off to their left.

Alana followed his gaze. She saw a young couple in the dappled shade of some kind of giant palm tree, locked in an embrace that was incredibly passionate. It wasn't until the woman raised her leg to clasp the man's thigh that Alana realized he was buried deep inside as they kissed. Rocking back and forth, they moaned, completely oblivious to the world around them.

Hari encouraged Alana to move on.

"Let us allow them their pleasure, Alana-love. It is acceptable to explore the physical nature of love here, but not to treat it as a spectator sport—we try to maintain a little privacy—although..." Hari's eyebrow rose as they rounded a corner and passed an alcove containing a bench where an enthusiastic young man on his knees was devouring the pussy of a very receptive young woman.

"Perhaps things have become a little more open since we left, my brother," murmured Sami, walking her past the panting couple.

"What's
that
?" She pointed at a magnificent structure that had just become visible in the distance. "It looks like the Taj Mahal's baby brother."

Sami grinned. "That is the Temple of Time, Alana-delight. The Guardian traditionally has his quarters there, and it is also the place where the wise men of our world gather to oversee the passing of time. None have seen it except for the Guardian and the Ancients who monitor such things."

They had reached a large open area, the smooth marble tiles underfoot had given way to terracotta, and fountains were splattering luminous water droplets everywhere. A large pool—more like a lake, really—was surrounded by urns overflowing with plants in every color she could imagine and some she couldn't. People were sitting, lying, reclining, and sprawling all over the place. There were some who were dressed, some partially so, and others completely nude. They shared one thing in common, thought Alana uncomfortably. They were all gorgeous.

She sucked in her stomach, only to let it out on a gasp as she watched one lovely woman cry out and writhe in the throes of orgasm at the hands of her lover.

I'm in the middle of a real-life orgy.

No, she amended, watching a nubile young woman with delicately green-shaded skin and blue hair shed her silks and scamper into the water, followed by an amazingly erect young man with beautifully sculpted buns.
Make that Club-Med, galactic- style
.

More trees, some palms, some looking like weeping willows with huge white flowers hanging from their branches, clustered along the boundaries of the water, offering shade to those who had chosen to lie on the many floating leaves. And what leaves they were. Some were over six feet across, and about as far from a frog's lily pad as Alana could ever have guessed. These leaves were occupied by all kinds of people in just about every position of sexual ecstasy.

There were couples enjoying the simple pleasures of straightforward fucking, sending ripples across the water to others who enjoyed the rocking motion as they, in turn, found their pleasure.

Other pads held a single occupant, trailing legs in the water, while a partner's head nestled between their thighs.

"How deep is that water?" The thought of drowning while coming crossed her ever-practical mind as she watched two lovely silver beings frolic all over each other above the water and then sink with a moan beneath the surface.

"Not very, and they are all taught to swim as children," answered Sami.

"Children? You have children here?" She turned, shocked, to Hari and Sami.

"Of course we have children here."

"Not
here
, as in here..." added Hari, waving his hands at the scene of lustful sensuality before them. "This is strictly for unmated adults—a place where we can explore sex, and love, and learn about such things without restraint."

"But the rest of Anyela is a settled, productive world," said Sami. "If you look over there," he pointed to the distance, "you'll see the hillsides of the vineyards, and further on, over on the other side of those hills, are the fertile plains where we have farms. There are high mountains for enjoyment and the occasional hunt—although we do not, as a rule, eat meat here—only when the herds get out of hand."

"So marriage and family are permitted here?"

"Of course," said Sami.

"Indeed they are," added Hari."In fact, the Sages of our land must have families, and have established themselves as productive members of Anyelan society before they are allowed to become Ancients and join the Monitors of Time."

Alana turned her attention back to the crowd that was frolicking around her. The women wore colorful versions of her own clothing that Sami and Hari had created for her before they left the vessel. At least, the ones who were wearing clothes did.

A scrap of silk sat low on the hips, and a matching vest was loosely tied between the breasts—nothing that could interfere with access to the important pleasure points of a woman's body, thought Alana, her own growing warm at the idea.

The men were even more simply clad—a straight skirt wrapped around lean hips and across a flat torso, falling to mid thigh. Cool, comfortable, and vaguely Roman in appearance, it also seemed ready to fall off when necessary, and certainly allowed the excitement of the wearer to show through—several that Alana could see were tented in a very impressive fashion, as their owners became increasingly aroused.

"Hmmm. This place has potential," she murmured, more to herself than anyone else.

"Excuse me, Alana-love..." Hari grabbed her firmly by the elbow and led her away from the scene of naked decadence and towards a side grotto. His hands slipped under her vest and caressed her breast.

"Remember who brought you, sweet delight." He nipped her neck playfully.

Sami brought her face around and kissed her long and hard. "Don't forget
us
, Alana," he whispered huskily.

"As if I could," she breathed, holding them both tight to her body for a second and enjoying the warmth of their flesh against hers.

Hari stopped them in front of a large gong. "It is time," he said. "We must let the Guardian know we have returned with our special guest."

Holding Alana's hand, and putting his other hand firmly on her buttocks, Sami moved her to one side as Hari reached for the mallet hanging down beside the gong.

He struck a resounding blow and she winced slightly as the ringing tone billowed around them.

He moved to stand on her other side, drawing her arm through his in a strangely formal way.

The ringing of the gong had brought a new level to the noise of chatter and laughter, and within moments, the three of them were surrounded by smiling faces calling welcome and greetings. The tension she had felt from her guys drained away, and Hari and Sami were soon surrounded by their people. She noticed the look of awe on many a face as they bid welcome to the travelers—obviously the two Genies had spoken the truth when they announced that they were the best at what they do.

The chatter increased in volume, accompanied by much laughter and good-natured teasing. Alana stood back, glad to be able to have a moment to watch this homecoming for the two men she had grown to love so much.

She noticed two women hesitating in the crowd, yet both with eyes fixed on the tall genies as they laughed and kissed and clapped hands on bare shoulders.

One, a petite beauty, with blue eyes and sun streaked ash-brown hair, said something to the other, only to be met with a fierce shake of the head. Touching her shoulder, the blue-eyed lovely moved forward with purpose. She gasped as she recognized her blonde companion—it was the woman from Hari's painting.

"Greetings, Honored Sami, we give thanks at your safe return," said a quiet voice, as the vivid eyes of this beautiful woman gazed at Sami.

Paling, Sami held out his hand. "It is good to see you here, Debalhi, you are still... still unmated then?"

"I have found no one to bring me pleasure, Sami, not for many turns of the moons now." Neither she nor Sami seemed to realize that they were still firmly clasping hands.

"My father has several new and fine rugs, you might wish to visit his shop before you leave again—perhaps there might be something you would like..." Her voice petered out as Sami's blue gaze devoured her, passing over her breasts like a hot flame and making her nipples stand out through the pale yellow silk of her vest.

Alana quirked a mental eyebrow, surprised to see such naked emotion on Sami's face—he who had merrily sucked her clit and shouted out his climax to the world was clinging onto one woman's hand like it was his life preserver.

Hmm.

Emboldened by her friend's success, the other woman drew a breath and approached Hari. "Welcome home, Hari," she said.

Hari's face betrayed none of his feelings, but his eyes—oh yes, thought Alana, that's where they show. Burning with unvoiced passion, Hari stared long and hard at the woman before him. "It is good to be home, Pemalina," he said, voice husky. Then he placed his hands on her shoulders and drew her close, just brushing her lips with his.