Page 71 of Up In Flames
I chuckled and took Ara's hand. “But he's loyal, and I can't fault him for that. Come on.” I led Ara over to Agal. “I assume these soldiers are part of the Emperor's precautions?”
“That is correct, Lord Ember,” Agal said stiffly. “They will be posted outside your room as you, er, bond with the, uh,thisman.”
“His name is Aranren, and we're going to make sweet love until the Goddess' magic binds us together forever,” I drawled. Then I glanced at the soldiers. “I hope you guys are good with hearing some wild sex sounds.”
The soldiers didn't even blink. Agal, however, went red. I saw that as a success. Ara had to cough to cover his laugh.
“This way, my lords,” Agal squeaked.
Agal turned around, and the soldiers moved aside for us. Ara and I followed Agal while my lovers brought up the rear. He led us to a doorway, then waved us through. Without another word, he fled. Meanwhile, the soldiers formed a semicircle around us, facing in. My lovers joined them.
“Good luck,” Rath said, then kissed my cheek.
“You're not joining us?” I asked.
“Joining us?” Ara echoed me.
“This is a bit more complicated than a bit of magical sex,” Rath said. “Ember will bring you into our union with his love, but then we must accept you to establish links between all of us.”
“Ah, yes, I see,” Aranren murmured. “Very well.”
“We won't be joining you this time,” Rath said. “It will be difficult enough for you without us there. So, we'll wait out here.”
“Thank you, Rath.” I pulled him into a hug. Then I went to each of my lovers and hugged them.
Taroc was the only one to approach Ara. He scowled and said, “I hope when I next see you it's to welcome you into our family and celebrate the end of the war. But if it isn't, I will see you dead.”
“I understand. And I'm sorry, Lord Taroc,” Ara said.
“For what?”
“For trying to kill you.”
Taroc smirked. “That was all a part of the Goddess' plan.”
“Let's hope this is too.”
With those fateful words, I took my prisoner/lover into the Emperor's guest room to bind him to me in love and magic forever.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
I closed the door and took a deep breath. “Are you ready?”
“Yes, my love.” Ara held up his wrists. “Perhaps you could remove one manacle?”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. The two are unnecessary, as is the chain.”
“Good. That will make this easier.” I took the key out of my pocket and unlocked one manacle, watching Ara for any sign of Death retaking him. When all seemed well, I tucked the key away. Then I just stood before him. “This is so awkward.”
Ara unwrapped his outer robe and let it fall to the floor. His inner robe clung to his body in places, giving me delicious glimpses. In the case of his erection, a bit more than a glimpse.
“That took care of it,” I murmured and started flinging my clothing off.
Ara chuckled softly and undid his inner robe. My hands hovered over my trouser buttons as I watched the silk slither off his shoulders and fall, clinging to him as it went. All that was left was a thin pair of shorts. Ara stepped free of them and then came to me, the manacle dangling from his wrist.
“Fuck, why is that chain so sexy?” I whispered.
