The Fantasy Trove

 [tags:Consensual, blowjob, magic, mind-control]

 

Bobby makes some progress with his wives.

 

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Chapter 11

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Split Minds

 

“Let me get this straight, and stop me if I get something wrong,” Elly said, the corners of her lips curling up. “Adam tried to hit you with a baseball but can’t throw very well because he broke his right hand trying to punch you. Then you pulled Jenny to you instead of pushing her out of the way of the bad throw… You’re quite the gentleman, aren’t you? Next, she tried to push you off her but slipped on that same baseball. Then, once again, my knight-in-shining-armor husband saved her, and that’s when Adam Douchebag McGee decided to snap a few pictures. Did I miss anything?”

 

I gave my wife a wry grin as she succinctly described what’d happened. “All except for when Jenny picked up the baseball and nailed Adam in the back of the head as he tried to run away. I left before finding out how hurt he was, and Jenny went her own way.”

 

“I see…” Elly tapped one finger along her jaw as she thought. Despite the curl to her lips, I couldn’t tell if she was pleased. Was it that karma struck Adam for his continued harassment or that I wasn’t cheating on her despite what the pictures Adam posted showed? “Then tell me why you didn’t start with that information instead of trying to soften us up with this dinner.”

 

“I… well, when you came home and didn’t look angry, I thought maybe you hadn’t seen them.” My mind raced as I tried to understand my own reasoning. I should have brought it up right away. Bad news doesn’t get better with age. “I promise I wasn’t trying to hide anything from either of you. I planned to bring it up as we ate, but we never made it that far.” I looked at the table where a mouth-watering dinner lay untouched. I’d put a lot of effort into it, but it seems that was the wrong approach.

 

I’m sorry, Charlotte told me, and I could feel her contrition. There was no doubt about her sincerity in the apology.

 

Part of me genuinely wanted to blame her and take my anger out on the succubus sharing my body, but the whole thing was my idea. I’d wanted to cook my wives a decadent dinner, and I used Charlotte to help me do it. I should have known that wouldn’t go over well with Shayna.

 

Ah, I’m finally growing on you, Charlotte cooed in my head.

 

Don’t push it, I growled back at her. Just because I didn’t blame her for my current predicament didn’t mean she didn’t share some blame. Had she not hijacked my ride back to the mortal world and resided in my head, Shayna wouldn’t have her issues with me. But, of course, without Charlotte’s help, I’d still be dead. Everything would have worked out great had Charlotte stayed dead while I was reborn. I felt like shit for thinking that way, but I couldn’t help it. Of course, it didn’t help that I could feel her pained emotions from my thoughts, but at least she remained quiet.

 

Elly had a look in her brown eyes that made me think she knew I’d been conversing with Charlotte. I grimaced in an apology—since I couldn’t say anything in this house that was spying on us. “Should I try to talk to Shayna or give her more time?” I asked, feeling uncomfortable. I knew the answer but felt like I should say something.

 

“I think it’d be best if you didn’t face her for a bit,” Elly told me. “In my psych courses, they say never to go to bed angry with a loved one; however, I think this may be one to let her sleep on. I’ll explain the thing with Jenny. That may have hurt her a little extra concerning how Syrina acted earlier today. I know she can seem a little harsh, but I can’t tell you how often I’ve held her, crying, after she’s had to be especially mean. She takes her role as head cheerleader very seriously. She doesn’t like hurting people, but she’s become very good at it.”

 

“I know,” I said ruefully before I could think better of it.

 

“She went easy on you,” Elly chuckled. “Trust me. Had she really wanted to hurt you, she could have. But I think I’ve said enough. I know you’ve already put in a lot of effort, but—”

 

I cut her off before she could finish. “I’ll clean the kitchen and put this in the fridge. I think I’ve lost my appetite for now, anyway. Then I think I’ll really dig into your files.”

 

Elly nodded, then hesitated. She regarded me for a second, then closed the distance between us in a rush. I thought she was angry with me again for a bare second, but then her arms pulled me into a tight hug. I found myself holding her back as her chin rested on my shoulder. We were almost the same height, and it felt good to feel this human connection.

 

“Thank you, Bobby,” I heard her mutter before her voice lowered even more. “And thank you, Charlotte, for bringing him back to me and helping him make this dinner. I really wish we could sit and enjoy it as a family.”

 

My arms tightened around Elly under Charlotte’s control. “Thank you!” Charlotte’s voice was barely audible even to me before we stepped apart.

 

“Maybe if I get her calmed down enough, I’ll come see you tonight,” Elly said, her eyes telling me she didn’t think it would happen. “You haven’t proven it yet, but all of this is a good start.”

 

Her words warmed me, even as my heart ached, knowing that Shayna’s ice would be harder to melt.

 

Elly left down the hallway, and I turned to the cooling food. Then, as I heard Elly knocking on their bedroom door, my vision went black. I panicked for a heartbeat before I could see again. I was back in the cushion and silk tapestry-adorned room where Charlotte trapped me last night.

 

The succubus was dressed—for a wonder-of-wonders—and even in her human guise. “Before you get angry with me for bringing you here, let me explain?” She held a placating hand and waited for me to nod before continuing. “I promise I’ll release you as soon as you ask me to, but this is easier for us to have a quick conversation. Especially since I can speed time awareness up in here.”

 

“Go ahead,” I told her, warry but not having the energy to argue with her.

 

“I’ll do all the cleaning,” Charlotte said. “I’ll put the food in the fridge, and I promise to behave in all respects.”

 

“Why would you do that?” I asked, my suspicions rising. What game was she playing now? “And what am I supposed to do? Sit in here and contemplate the universe?”

 

“I would gladly do it for you,” she told me, and something in her voice and posture made me think she meant it. I couldn’t sense her emotions at the moment, but I wanted to believe her. “I also feel terrible for how things went down tonight. They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach—or his third and fourth rib. Kidding! I was hoping that it would soften up your wives as well. Without revealing too much, you’re well on your way with Elly. Shayna will be a little more complicated. I’ll help you as much as you let me, but I know I’m a significant reason she doesn’t trust you. Or rather, trust herself around you. As for what you can do, I created a space over there that you can mold to your liking. Make it whatever you please. I’ll even leave you alone whenever you’re in there. I promise no more nights like last night.”

 

Her offer was tempting. Let Charlotte clean up the dishes and the table, and I could create a little personal space.

 

“I appreciate that, but unless you can bring the file that has all of their information into here, I don’t know that I would make the most of my time here.” I still wondered if she had ulterior motives and didn’t want to give her an opportunity.

 

She gnawed on her lower lip for a moment before nodding. “Okay, but don’t be mad. I kind of already started. I’ll let you finish.” The room we were in started to go dark but returned into sharp focus. “Oh, but I have an idea about that file. If you open it and glance at each part of it, I can memorize it, and you’ll have access to it here. Then, you could spend the time difference studying it in your own portion of our shared mens mundi.”

 

Before I could respond, I found myself standing over the table, closing a baggy around the leftover rolls. The bag fell from my fingers as I tried to reorient. It felt as though I’d woken from a deep sleep. Glancing around, I could see that Charlotte hadn’t gotten far in the cleaning and set myself to it.

 

 

*    *    *    *

 

“So, basically, all I have to do is imagine something, and it’ll appear here?” I asked the succubus. We stood in a gray void, except for the doorway that led back to her space. She called it a mens mundi, which she translated as the world of the mind. Thankfully, she was dressed again in her human guise, though the tight white tank top and short shorts left little of her curves to the imagination.

 

“Yes, but remember that it can also change this place if your mind wanders.” She met my gaze, her blue-green eyes sparkling as if she knew I strained not to admire her ample cleavage. “I wouldn’t recommend playing any video games in here or reminiscing on that sweet frag you got during your last tournament.”

 

Her words brought to mind the sniper kill I made from across half the arena. I’d found an excellent crow’s nest and spotted a member of the other team jumping around to avoid fire. I timed my shot perfectly for a headshot, ending that round.

 

“Hey, didn’t I tell you not to let your mind wander?”

 

Blinking, I realized I was in the game, and instead of looking at a holographic screen, I wore a gillie suit and lay prone behind a sniper rifle. I was physically in the arena! Gunshots whizzed overhead, and my pulse quickened. I didn’t know if I could die in here and didn’t want to find out.

 

Closing my eyes, I concentrated on changing my surroundings. I was back in my old dorm room when I opened them again.

 

“Good, this works,” Charlotte approved. “It’s simple but familiar. It’ll be easier for you to maintain this.”

 

Considering how her space looked, with its multicolored silk tapestries and cushions, I felt embarrassed by how plain my old room looked. However, when Charlotte turned back to face me, her smile looked genuine. She hopped back and landed on Joshua’s bed, her breasts bouncing delightfully in her tight top. I know she caught me looking but thankfully didn’t call me out on it. Instead, she ran one finger along the low collar of her top while pretending to look around. I knew the action was intentional, to draw my attention back to her breasts, and I resisted the temptation. I won’t write whether I succeeded or not. However, I had to remember that despite her looks, she was a succubus. Who knew how many decades or centuries of experience she had in the art of seduction?

 

Experience she was willing to lend me in winning my wives back. Which was also why Shayna didn’t trust me.

 

I understood a bit of how the great powers felt during both cold Wars. I had a great tool in my arsenal but couldn’t use it because it would likely backfire.

 

“Go ahead and picture a book, your computer, or whatever you want at your desk with all the information you glanced over.” Charlotte looked back at me, her finger still tracing trails along her cleavage and a smirk on her full lips.

 

I ignored her look and pictured my laptop with all the information I glanced at after cleaning the kitchen. I’d spent an hour flipping through my phone, from one page to the next. I didn’t stay on a page long enough to read it, but just enough to focus. Charlotte claimed it would be enough, and I hoped this wouldn’t be some trick of hers.

 

I moved to my desk and sat down, looking at the screen. It already had the file brought up, and I flipped through it, marveling at how detailed it looked. Each woman’s file was rather significant, but there were pictures from when they were younger up until more recently. The files were broken up into chapters, and glancing at them, they ranged from physical measurements to school grades, from personal likes and dislikes to porn preferences and fetishes. There was even a whole chapter devoted to future potential that not only covered their chosen career paths and intelligence but predictions on what each woman would look like when they’re older. It made me think of an overly complicated character sheet for an RPG game.

 

Charlotte said something else, but I focused on the information before me. How had each woman had time to read my file before First Knight? They only had hours from when I swore in until the event, and they had more than one file to look through. I hadn’t been the only man there that night. If I studied just one file in-depth, it would take me a few days of my free time to go over it. Thankfully, I had the time distortion in this place, but it was still too much information.

 

And detailed to the level that made my skin crawl. There were diagrams of each woman with such fine detail that I now knew Elly had a mole removed from the base of her right glute when she was fourteen. Also, while Shayna was born with blue eyes, she’d undergone a treatment to make them brighter and bluer when she was ten.

 

I wasn’t bothered that either had work done, but there was a lot more that I’m not willing to write, even in a journal that only I’ll ever see.

 

It wasn’t until after about three hours of looking over the files that I realized there was a cheat sheet near the end. That single page contained the most pertinent information on likes, dislikes, intelligence, and preferences. I noted that porn preferences weren’t listed, but there was a reference to which page that information was on.

 

There was even a compatibility matrix that followed the cheatsheet. It detailed how well the women would mesh with different men. Mine showed high compatibility with both women, though I wasn’t the highest for each. I’ll admit in this journal that I may have gotten a little jealous seeing some of the other men that were my competition during First Knight. However, I had to remind myself that they’d left with me, not them.

 

Even though I felt like a stalker, I glanced at Elly’s interests and was surprised to see that she enjoyed topics of public sex and exhibition, as well as voyeurism.

 

Before I could glance at Shayna’s page, I was startled by a hand landing on my shoulder.

 

“Sorry, I tried getting your attention, but you were pretty focused on your studies,” Charlotte said.

 

I had to blink a few times to focus on her face, my eyes adjusting from my laptop screen to her. How different this is from last night, I thought. Then, she tried so hard to be charismatic and win me over while keeping me locked up in her area. Now she’s being demure and thoughtful. I’m not going to fall for it. “What do you want?” I wasn’t going to be rude, but I also wouldn’t be overly friendly.

 

If my tone bothered her, she didn’t show it. “Elly is knocking at your door, seeing if you’re still awake. I thought you might want to see her?”

 

The way she made that a question had me wondering what she’d seen in Elly’s mind.

 

“And you’re going to keep your promise of letting me out?” I asked, still half afraid I was her prisoner again.

 

Instead of answering, I found myself sitting on my bed in nothing but my boxers, phone in hand. Despite the hours in that mental space, I once again felt like I’d had a too-short nap. Glancing out the window, it was dark, but the clock told me only about forty-five minutes had passed since I entered my room.

 

“Bobby?” A light tapping on my door accompanied Elly’s soft voice. “Your light’s on. Are you still awake?”

 

“Yeah, sorry, um….” I trailed off, looking at my body. I didn’t remember stripping down, but that seemed like forever ago. I debated getting decent before opening my door, then remembered what I’d seen in her file. Opening the door, I went to offer her my best smile, but it stuttered and collapsed. She wasn’t wearing anything as sensual as her lingerie the night we first met. However, something about the simplicity of her garment still made my mind stumble. A white silk robe barely made it to the top of her thighs, wrapped so tightly around her that I could tell she wore something underneath, but I couldn’t quite tell what. “I… Hello,” slipped from my mouth instead of whatever smooth thing I would have said.

 

“Did I catch you at a bad time?” Elly asked me, and I couldn’t miss the glance at my groin.

 

I looked down to see that I was sporting quite the tent. What the hell? I thought, knowing I hadn’t been hard when I stood up.

 

You can thank me later, Charlotte chuckled in my mind.

 

I was about to remark that not all women were desperate enough to jump on a cock just because it was hard. Men who think that sending a woman an unsolicited dick pic, hoping it’ll make the woman horny and want them, genuinely don’t understand how women work. Unless it’s in porn… But that’s not real life. Anyway, I was about to chew the succubus out but realized Elly was waiting for me.

 

“I was studying up on your files before going to bed,” I told her, being mostly honest.

 

“I hope it’s good?” Elly started to fidget. Was she suddenly self-conscious? What had she come here for?

 

“Yeah,” I told her, finally finding my smile. “I can’t believe you completed elementary at age nine and graduated high school at fifteen! I know that must have been tough, but you’re incredible. Honestly, I struggled to get solid A’s, but you!”

 

“Um…” Elly didn’t seem to know how to take my praise. “This… This was a mistake.” She turned to walk away, but my hand shot out under Charlotte’s control and stopped her.

 

Invite her in, idiot!

 

This better not end up like the last time I tried to stop her from walking away from me, I thought to the succubus. I still remember how Elly somehow twisted and threw me onto my back from a simple wrist hold.

 

“No, please,” I said as Elly locked up under my hand. “I would enjoy your company. Please come in?”

 

She hesitated a few heart-stopping moments before I felt her shake and turn back around.

 

Elly offered me a tremulous smile as she sat on the corner of my bed. “I hate that we have you in the guest room.” She looked down at the floor and lightly rubbed her stomach before continuing. “You’re our husband and the father of our children. I tried talking to Shayna, but she’s—”

 

“Shh,” I said softly, remembering that the house AI watched us. “I understand. I was pretty rough with you both yesterday, and she needs some time to heal.” I decided to sit next to her and took her hand in my left. She lifted her head and met my gaze again. Those incredibly intelligent brown eyes told me she understood I was talking about more than the rough sex in the shower.

 

I can’t describe how my heart warmed when she squeezed my hand back and kept holding it. It was one of those moments that seemed perfect. I wanted it to go on forever, but her head drooped, and her shoulders hunched inward.

 

“I wish there was a way we could all talk things through, without… other concerns getting in the way.” I wanted to pull her into my arms and comfort her, but I wasn’t sure she was ready for that.

 

She’s talking about being able to speak to me without the Knights eavesdropping, Charlotte informed me before I could piece it together. Try to let her know that there is a way the three of us can talk safely if she trusts me enough.

 

What if I still don’t trust you? I asked, but I brought my right hand around to lift Elly’s chin to face me. Charlotte didn’t respond to my barb, though she told me what she had in mind. “Do you trust me enough to lay with me tonight? I promise to be as much of a gentleman as you want me to be.”

 

Elly’s eyes narrowed as she thought through what I’d said before her lips curled into a wry grin. “I wore this to have plausible deniability if things didn’t go well. Sexy enough to get your attention, but not so much that it looked like I was throwing myself at you. I don’t know why I’m admitting that, but I trust myself with you, Bobby. Incubae can affect lust but not many other emotions.” The last was said in a hushed whisper.

 

“That’s good to know,” I said with a soft smile and stood up. I kept her hand in mine and offered my other to pull her to her feet. We looked into each other’s eyes for a long moment, and I enjoyed that she was nearly as tall as me.

 

Her eyes didn’t waver as she asked, “Weren’t we going to lie down together?”

 

“Sorry, I’m still trying to find my way out of your eyes,” I said in a flirty tone.

 

Elly and Charlotte both burst out laughing, ruining the moment. I haven’t heard a line that corny in a very long time!

 

“That’s sweet,” Elly said after a few awkward seconds, “but I think we should go to bed before it gets too late.”

 

I knew she was using that as an excuse—it was only nine o’clock—but their response still stung slightly.

 

I indicated the bed and let her crawl in after removing her silk robe. Underneath, she wore a matching white lace bra and panty set. They were sexy in the way that all women’s underwear were but not overtly so like lingerie typically was. I remembered an old quote that said, ‘Remember men, if she’s wearing matching bra and panties, it was her decision for sex, not yours.’

 

After plugging in my cell phone, I crawled onto the bed's left side. Once again, Elly warmed my heart as she pulled my arm around her middle. Then I remembered I was still rock hard, and there was no way Elly wasn’t aware of my manhood pressed against her rear.

 

I didn’t have time to be embarrassed or even offer an apology before I found myself in Charlotte’s side of our mens mundi.

 

“Okay, we have a few moments before Elly joins us,” Charlotte said in a rush. “That is if she can fall asleep with you snoring right in her ear.”

 

“Do I really snore that bad?” I asked, more concerned about that than the fact I was back in this gaudy place.

 

“That’s not important right now,” Charlotte snapped, though I thought it was very important. “I need to know how much you want to reveal to her before she gets here. Do we lay all our cards out on the table, or is there something you want to hold back? I can’t read minds in here, so I need to know now. Remember, once the cock’s out of the boxers, it can’t be easily put away until things are resolved.”

 

“What?” I asked, confused by her poor metaphor. “That doesn’t even… You know what? Never mind. I don’t want to keep anything from her. She already knows everything that’s in my file, anyway. The only way we’ll be able to move forward and have a proper relationship is if I don’t hide anything from her.”

 

“Are you sure?” Charlotte pressed. “I mean, the fact that you had a major crush on your eighth-grade science teacher, and had some pretty dirty thoughts about her, probably wasn’t in that file the Knights have on you.”

 

“How did you know?” I asked, shocked. I would have been wearing the pendant by eighth grade… And just how closely had she watched me as I grew up? “Actually, again, never mind. If she wants to know, then I’ll tell her. Yes, I was a perverted teenager, but almost all teenage boys are.”

 

“That’s good to know,” Elly’s voice said as the woman walked out of my side of our mind space. I felt the blood drain from my face as I wondered how much she’d heard. “So, this is a mens mundi, huh? I wondered if you would have one or not. I appreciate you not trying to trick me into thinking we were still in his room. The Persian prince’s harem parlor seems a bit much, but I like it more than that dorm room next door, considering it can be whatever you want. I’m assuming that’s your side, Bobby?”

 

“Uh, yeah,” I said, off-balance with how comfortable Elly seemed to be. “How did you…?”

 

“I pulled her in after I put you both to sleep,” Charlotte answered my unfinished question.

 

“And don’t think for a moment that I don’t know what you were doing, succubus,” Elly didn’t quite sound upset. “I do appreciate it, though.”

 

Like a newly lubed but old rusty crank, my mind took a moment to get moving again, and once it did, it took off. I realized that Charlotte must have brought both of us here but hid Elly from me as she asked her leading questions. And my wife had eavesdropped long enough to hear my response. I didn’t know whether I should be grateful that she knew I wanted to be honest or mortified that I’d admitted I was a pervert at a young age. Then something else Elly said caught my attention.

 

“You know about this place?” I asked Elly.

 

“I know the theory of it, if not the practice,” Elly said, suddenly looking uncertain. “Monsters that can feed on psychic energy pull you in and create nightmares. Well, I guess a sexual creature like her wouldn’t make nightmares. The Knights taught us in the orphanage how to recognize these places, so we wouldn’t fall into their traps.”

 

I remembered my first time here and how I thought I was losing my mind. Despite what Elly said, that was a nightmare. I wonder if my parents were honest with me, as Al’s parents were, if I would have known about that and been better prepared?

 

Then I remembered Elly’s willingness to lay next to me and realized she must have already had an idea of what Charlotte had planned. Once again, Elly’s intelligence and knowledge showed that she far outstripped me.

 

“I know you have some questions for me,” Charlotte said as she rested back on her mountain of pillows. “I agree with Bobby that we should be completely open. Ask me anything.”

 

Elly regarded Charlotte for a long moment, eyebrows drawn together in thought. “Bobby?” Elly finally asked without looking at me. “Is it true that she can’t read our minds while here?”

 

“To the best of my knowledge,” I responded. “I tried testing it, but I can’t be certain since I can’t read minds.”

 

More tense seconds passed as Elly regarded the succubus. I don’t know how Charlotte held up under the scrutiny, but she maintained eye contact the whole time. Then, just as I wondered if I should say something, I saw Elly’s lips twitch, and she finally turned to face me.

 

“Is there somewhere we can go to be alone?”

 

I pointed back towards my side and said, “Charlotte says she’s given me that space and won’t bother me in there.”

 

“I’m right here,” Charlotte said, an edge forming in her voice. “You know you can ask me.”

 

Elly turned to face the succubus again; this time, her voice was flat as she spoke. “I’m willing to accept that you are a part of my husband, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. While I know that the Paladonic Knights have a skewed view of anything not human, I also know that magical beings don’t always have our best interests at heart. I appreciate all you’ve done for my husband, and I am in your debt for helping him be resurrected, but that doesn’t mean I have to like you. I know what your kind feed on, succubus, and how you manipulate and twist things to benefit you. I will listen to my husband; thank you very much. I trust him.”

 

I felt just as stunned as Charlotte looked. Despite Elly’s level tone, there was no mistaking the rebuke in her words. Before either of us could respond, Elly turned and walked back to the other room.

 

“Go after her, idiot!” Charlotte hissed. I didn’t know if she was hurt or angry, but I decided her words offered some solid advice.

 

The atmosphere palpably changed when I crossed the threshold. From Charlotte’s silks and cushions to my dull dorm room, I decided I liked my area more despite the simplicity. However, when I stepped in, I couldn’t see Elly. There weren’t a lot of places she could be hiding, so I jumped nearly out of my skin as I heard the door slam behind me. Spinning around, I saw Elly give me a sheepish grin before rushing into me. Her arms pulled me tight against her. I found myself hugging her back as her chin rested on my shoulder.

 

“I know how we can kill Charlotte and get her out of you,” Elly said, ruining the moment. “I don’t think she knows I know, or she would have stopped me from getting you alone.”

 

“I…” I trailed off, thinking through what she just told me. I would have jumped at the opportunity only a week ago. Hell, I still wanted her gone, but to kill Charlotte? That seemed a little extreme, especially since I was alive, thanks to her. I decided to listen to Elly’s plan before committing. “How?”

 

“Believe it or not, an exorcism will work,” Elly whispered. Her breath sliding across my ear sent goosebumps down my spine, but I focused on what she said. “I made some discreet inquiries, and I know of a priest that will do the exorcism. It seems like this isn’t the first time a Knight resurrected with a passenger, and it also goes a long way to explaining why they’re keeping such a close eye on you. They’ve done it before. The hard part is getting you set up where it can occur without her knowing.”

 

“That’s going to be difficult,” I said, swallowing hard. “Even if she genuinely can’t read our minds in here, she’ll know something is up after we wake up. She has full access to my memories when we’re awake.” Which I now realized was how she knew about my thoughts concerning my 8^th-grade teacher. I’m glad no one else will ever read this and see how dense I can be.

 

I heard and felt Elly chuckle in my arms. “I figured as much. I’m acting as a distraction while the priests get set up around the house. All I have to do is wake up and give them the signal.”

 

“Why don’t they just get started?” I asked, then another thought occurred to me. “Or will it hurt you if you’re in here when they begin?”

 

“Thank you for worrying about me,” Elly said, then pressed her lips against my cheek. “But I wanted to ensure it’s what you wanted before we started. If you resisted, it would cause you harm. It might even kill you again, but it would definitely kill her.”

 

I pulled Elly tighter into my arms as I thought fast. Yes, I wanted to get rid of Charlotte in my head, but I didn’t want her dead. Was I willing to do it anyway? The thought of freedom within my own skull was tempting. Very tempting! And Shayna would trust me again. I could get my life back on track! Well, as much as I can while still working for the Knights. All it would take was sacrificing Charlotte.

 

Charlotte… The demon saved my life. She claimed that all she wanted was to help and protect me. I knew some of her motivations were selfish, but I started to see another side as I thought through things. She’d proven that she could take over my body at any point. I was powerless to stop her. Yet, she left me in control most often. Sure, she trapped me in here for what felt like days, but other than her stories, she hadn’t tortured me.

 

This might be my only chance, though. After that, my body wouldn’t be normal. But, I’d still have my extra strength, endurance, and whatever else the Knights put into making this shell for my soul. They might even watch over me less, allowing me more freedom. But if they discovered that I hadn’t gone through with this, they’d surely have me killed. And I could win Shayna back. Then, finally, she’d be able to trust herself around me.

 

I could only come to one conclusion.

 

“You’re going to hate me,” I said, unable to meet Elly’s eyes and looking off to the side as I stepped away from her. “I want her gone. I want to be as normal as I can be. I want to be a man that can make you and Shayna happy.”

 

“But…?” Elly asked when I paused to gather my thoughts.

 

“I don’t know if I can find the right words to express this,” I told her, still trying to think. “I want her gone. But she saved my life. She’s given up her freedom to allow me to have more than I would have if she hadn’t helped me get resurrected. She… She doesn’t deserve to die just so I can be happy.”

 

There was a long pause, and I couldn’t bring myself to look at Elly. I knew the condemnation and hatred I would find there if I did. I thought I was a strong man, but that was more than I could handle right then.

 

“I see,” her voice lacked almost all emotion as she spoke. “Are you sure?”

 

I nodded and swallowed the lump that tried to form in my throat. “Even though I know it means losing you, and I know I should hate and want her dead just because of what she is… But I can’t. I can’t kill her just because it’ll make my life easier. Before I died, I would have said yes in a heartbeat. Back then, I hated all those freaks. But now? Now I don’t know. I’ve gotten to know her. I know what she is, but she hasn’t hurt me. Hell, it was thanks to her that I could stop in the shower from hurting you and Shayna even worse. I’m sorry.”

 

I finally found the courage to look at Elly and wasn’t prepared for what I saw. My beautiful wife’s cheeks were wet with tears. I felt like the worst monster to ever exist. My heart wrenched, knowing that I was causing her such pain. Of course, I knew she liked me before this, but how much so if my refusal to be free of Charlotte caused her this much heartache?

 

I saw Elly’s lips move, but I couldn’t hear her. My heart felt like it was beating out a dubstep rhythm in my throat. Yet, despite feeling worse than the lowest piece of trash at the bottom of a sewage tank, I forced myself to continue looking at her. I deserved this pain for being too weak.

 

“I-I’m sorry….” I had to swallow before I could speak again. “I didn’t hear that.”

 

I expected to see hatred or disgust in her eyes, but instead, I saw a fierce determination. This time when she spoke, I understood her words, but they didn’t make sense. I knew what they were supposed to mean, but in this context, I was confused. I had to repeatedly play them back over in my head just to be sure I’d heard her right.

 

“I love you.”

 

Three simple words, yet so complex.

 

“You… what?” I asked. How could she love me? She’d gone through all that trouble to give me freedom, and I rejected it. Hell, I was essentially rejecting her!

 

“I love you,” Elly repeated, and I noticed her lips tremble at the confession. “I’m sorry, Bobby, but I have a confession.”

 

A confession? Hadn’t she already just confessed the most confusing thing in the world? She didn’t speak until I nodded at her. I couldn’t trust my voice right then.

 

“There aren’t priests waiting to cleanse you of the succubus. I made all of that up.” She must have seen the baffled look on my face as she rushed on with the rest of her confession, and as she spoke, I found myself reeling more and more. I knew Elly’s intelligence level was off the charts, but even then, I’d underestimated her. “When we were still out there, I tested Charlotte to see if she could read our minds. I hadn’t planned on doing so before coming in, and I didn’t let my thoughts betray that it was a test. If she could read our minds, she would have reacted, but she didn’t.

 

“Then, after we came here, I had to test if she was really giving us our privacy. I lied about the priests. I made the whole thing up on the spot. I can’t be one-hundred percent certain, but I’m pretty sure she would have come in to stop us if she watched us.”

 

“Okay,” I said, not liking what I was hearing but still very confused. “But you said—”

 

“I know. I’m getting there,” Elly cut me off with a soft smile and softer words. “I honestly expected you to jump on the opportunity. I know how you feel about all the magical creatures. What they’re calling the Lydonese, now. I felt terrible for lying, but I had to be confident we were alone. I had to know! But when you turned me down, I saw in your eyes how much you cared about Shayna and me…. When I saw the compassion you had for a being I knew you hated, I couldn’t help the swell of emotion that hit me. I don’t think you know just how special you are, Bobby Brody.”

 

“But…” I thought fast, trying to gather my thoughts. “Don’t you want her dead and gone also?”

 

Elly closed the distance I put between us and slipped her arms around my neck. Her fingers gripped the hair at the back of my head and forced me to look at her. “This is probably the only place I can admit this. Despite owing the Knights for taking care of me after my parents kicked me out, I don’t believe all of their propaganda.”

 

“They kicked you out?” I asked, shocked. I knew she’d grown up in an orphanage run by the Paladonic Knights, but I hadn’t known why she was there. I hadn’t made it that far into her file yet.

 

“That’s another story and not important now,” she told me. I couldn’t help but marvel at the strength she must have to put something like that in the past. “What I want you to understand—though even Shayna doesn’t fully know—is that I know that not all magical creatures are evil. I was seven and all alone. A dryad found me and gave me food and a place to rest. She made sure other humans found me and took care of me. Well, by that, I mean they took me to an orphanage, though I doubt they knew it was run by the Paladonic Knights. I didn’t even know that until I was old enough to be interested in sex, and then I was given a choice. Continue to have them care for and educate me, or end up back on the street. I think you know what I chose.”

 

“That’s a lot to take in,” I admitted, head still swirling with the rapid change in topics.

 

“I know,” Elly admitted. “And I know you’re probably upset with me for manipulating things, but I had to be sure we were alone. I knew I liked and cared for you, but until a moment ago, I didn’t know how much. Or maybe your actions were enough to push me over the brink. It’s crazy, but the spell they used to make me love you was intense. Hot and fiery. This love is softer, and yet I feel it far more potent. I love you, Bobby, and even if you can’t say it back—”

 

I stopped her by pressing my lips against hers. It didn’t start passionate, but I felt her arms tighten around my neck after a moment. A few seconds after that, her lips parted, and I took that as an invitation. However, when my tongue ventured out, she pulled away.

 

I spoke as she caught her breath. “I love you.” My words were firm, despite having known her for such a short time. I know I still have much more of her to know, and I’ll admit here that her intelligence intimidates me. However, despite all that, I could see her warmth and caring side. I knew, without knowing how I knew, that I wasn’t willing to give her up. I understood what she meant by a soft yet potent love. I didn’t appreciate her lying and manipulating me, but I understood her motivations.

 

Her brilliant brown eyes regarded me for long, tense moments before speaking. “Do you really mean it? Will you still love me in the morning?”

 

“Why wouldn’t I?” I asked, once again confused.

 

Elly’s Cheshire grin split her lips, and her eyes sparkled as she answered my question. “Because, my dear husband, I intend to ensure that love and not lust drives you to say those words.”

 

“How do you—Oh!” I was caught off guard as Elly again closed the distance and slipped her hand into my shorts.

 

“By draining you of every ounce of seed I can before we wake up,” she told me while pushing me back toward my old bed. “Once I know lust doesn’t tinge your words and thoughts, I’ll believe you.”

 

My legs hit the bed, and I fell back, chuckling. “And how do you know that won’t make me love you more?” I asked.

 

Elly straddled my waist and placed her hands on my cheeks, looking deep into my eyes. “Shut up and kiss me.”

 

That was a command I was all too willing to follow. This time it was her tongue that slipped out to meet mine. Our lips and mouths danced and moved in counterpoint to one another as her hips ground down hard against my manhood. Between her skill at kissing and the feeling of her body pressed against mine, I spent long moments lost in bliss. Then, just as I grew uncomfortable—constricted by my clothing—I remembered that all of this was technically taking place in my head.

 

Elly squealed, and I moaned as our clothes vanished, and I suddenly found myself seated deep within my wife’s snug canal.

 

“No!” Elly pushed herself off me with mind-jarring speed.

 

“What’s wrong?” I asked, suddenly worried I’d made a mistake. Wasn’t this what she’d wanted? Or had she wanted to drain me in other ways?

 

“Nothing,” Elly panted as she crawled back between my legs. “I just wanted to taste you again before we went all the way.”

 

“Really?” My stupid mouth asked before my brain could stop it. Then, because I’d already spoken, my mouth went right on talking. “I thought most women hated giving head, and now that you’re no longer controlled by the spell, I—”

 

“Oh, I don’t have to if you don’t want me to,” Elly cut me off. “But I do enjoy it, and I’ll even admit that you taste better since coming back from Utah.”

 

“Nope! No, I’m more than happy to let you,” I said, finally getting my mouth to say what I wanted. “In fact, I’d be more than thrilled to return the favor simultaneously.”

 

Elly didn’t answer with words, but her hungry grin, followed by turning around and pressing her dripping slit against my lips, was answer enough.

 

“You know,” she said as I tasted her sweet petals and felt her slender fingers wrap around my girth, “I agree that many women don’t like doing this. However, I think that’s either because they don’t know what they’re doing or they don’t like how intimate this is. I’d even argue that it’s more personal than full intercourse.”

 

Her hand slid up and down my shaft as she talked. Part of me wanted her to take me in her mouth, and part of me enjoyed the teasing way she spoke.

 

“Our mouths, so close to each other’s most sensitive parts….” I felt her hot breath tease along my head as she tightened her grip on me. “Tasting each other with our lips—” her lips brushed my tender tip. “the taste on my tongue as I savor my juices on you….” Another moan slipped from my throat as her tongue moved from my base to the top. “Or my throat stretching around your girth.”

 

My toes curled as she finally took me between her lips and kept going. I sensed her hesitation for just a moment as I bumped the back of her throat, but then she pressed forward, and I forgot that I was supposed to be returning the favor. A quick wiggle of her small behind followed by mashing her slit against my face reminded me as she growled around my meat.

 

I snaked my arms around her pert rear and used my fingers to spread her petals wide. I used every trick I knew with my tongue, licking along and around her slit and drinking in her delicious taste, to nibbling on her clit and making her legs twitch. This close, I could see the scar where she’d had the mole removed from her right cheek, which somehow made me appreciate her more. As if that one imperfection in her otherwise perfect physique made her even more beautiful and unique.

 

Elly’s hips gyrated, making it harder to concentrate on one spot, which also let me know she was close. But unfortunately, she also redoubled her efforts on me, and I realized she was trying to get me off just as much as I was with her. So I slipped the middle fingers on each hand into her, alternating one then the other.

 

In retaliation, she began fondling my scrotum while also tilting her head side-to-side while moving up and down my length.

 

That was it. I was done and grunted as my hips thrust involuntarily, and I unloaded down her throat. Waves of bliss coursed through my body, and I tightened my hold on her as though for dear life as I came. Then, somewhere in my haze, I realized she was cumming at the same time, but I didn’t have the mental capacity to do more than note the phenomenon.

 

As my soul reentered my body, I realized my face was wetter than before, and Elly’s head rested on my thigh as she panted. With a quick thought, I rolled us over and spun around until we were face-to-face.

 

Her brown eyes sparkled as I grinned down at her. “That was incredible, but I hope you’re not done yet,” I said and leaned down to nuzzle her neck.

 

“Don’t you need a couple moments to recharge?” Elly asked with a giggle before it turned into a long groan.

 

I slid easily into her depths in one smooth movement. “Not in here, I don’t,” I said as I nipped lightly at where her neck met her shoulder. “Besides, I thought you planned on draining me of all my lustful desires for you. But, I must admit, it will take a lot to drain me of all of it. You’re too-damned amazing!”

 

I felt her hands press against my shoulders, and I lifted up to look back into her grinning gaze. We held that for a moment, each of us enjoying the completeness of our connection before she reached up and pulled my head down to hers.

 

I knew she wanted to kiss, but after blowing my load in there, I wasn’t eager to taste myself. I’m not homophobic, and I have tasted my spend before; I’m not afraid to admit it here in the privacy of my journal. It’s a turn-off for me, even though her swallowing my seed was a turn-on.

 

“Relax,” she laughed, and that laughter caused her to tighten around my rod. “You’re not the only one who knows how to manipulate things here. I’m not trying to snowball you, but I want to feel your lips against mine as my pussy swallows your delicious cock.”

 

It wasn’t the dirtiest talk I’d ever heard, but hearing those words from my innocent-looking wife sent a jolt of passion through me.

 

I pressed my mouth hard against hers as I thrust my hips forcefully, driving deep into her velvety and welcoming embrace. All I tasted was her sweet breath as our tongues entwined. Again and again, I used my core strength to slip my hips back before driving hard back into her as we made out.

 

I was the first to break the kiss. Not because I needed to breathe but because she felt too damned good as I did my best to drill her into the mattress. Even so soon after my last climax, so had me on the edge.

 

My wonderfully intelligent wife must have sensed my dilemma and understood that I was trying to last. “It’s okay. Fill me up, Bobby. It turns me on to know that I make you feel that good.”

 

Even though I knew I could keep going after an orgasm, I wasn’t ready to give in. I glanced around my old dorm room and realized it really was a dumb place to choose as my personal space. But, if it could be anything within my imagination, why not make it more fun?

 

Elly gasped as we floated up from the bed, weightless. Glittering stars surrounded us, and despite the low light, we were still quite visible to one another. A comet floated lazily in the distance, its ice tail visible behind it, stretching far into the distance.

 

“This is beautiful,” Elly said as she pulled me into a powerful hug. We held each other for a time, floating in the empty-looking expanse of space. It was long enough that I no longer felt ready to blow. “Hold on, you finally read my file! When did you have time for that?”

 

“I’ve only had time to skim your file. Time works differently here,” I admitted. “But you’re not the only person who wants to go to space. So while this might not be real, and I’m certain a real astronaut would take issue with us being in the vacuum of the cosmos without any protection, I thought this might be fun.”

 

“No protection, huh?” Elly giggled and used her floor muscles to squeeze my length still inside her. “I thought you realized by now that we’re way past the point of needing protection.”

 

I couldn’t help but join in her laughter.

 

Many hours later, filled with passionate bouts of love-making interspersed with occasional heart-to-heart conversations, Elly finally drained me of the last of my lusts. The scenery changed more than once, including a public setting filled with faceless people to hit that fetish for Elly. I honestly don’t think there is a pill available or a spell capable of getting me to rise again any time soon.

 

“How much longer do you think we have in here?” Elly asked as her head rested on my chest.

 

“I was in here for what felt like days last night,” I told her. My left hand trailed up and down the smooth skin of her back as we lay there. The room no longer resembled my old dorm space, nor the emptiness of space. Instead, we now luxuriated in a spacious area that Elly claimed looked like an expensive hotel suite. The room seemed too opulent for me, with its king-sized canopy bed, two bedrooms, kitchen, and bathroom that was more than twice the size of my dorm room.

 

“Days? Do you realize how much we could get accomplished in here?” Elly lifted her head, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she looked at me. “No more cram sessions before tests… Of course, we’d have to actually get accurate information. I wonder if this would have the same issue where you’re dreaming and think you’re looking at the clock, and it says you still have hours before the alarm goes off, but you really only have minutes… And then—”

 

“Okay, okay,” I chuckled, shaking my head and pulling her back down to rest on me. “Charlotte can memorize anything she sees and would be able to get us replicas of our school books. It’s how I’ve managed to start looking at your files. However, it might change the books if we start to remember things wrong.”

 

“This is still amazing, though.” Elly’s arms tightened around me, and I found her excitement contagious. “I’m sure if we.. work… Bobby?”

 

Without any warning, Elly’s comfortable warmth vanished from my grasp as she faded away. Fearing something had happened to her, I rushed back from the suite to Charlotte’s side of our shared mental space.

 

“What did you do to her?” I demanded as soon as I saw the succubus lounging on her pile of cushions. She was back in her demon form, which served to put me even more on edge.

 

“Good morning to you, too,” the woman said with a tired groan. “And you’re welcome for everything, by the way. I’m so glad you appreciate my efforts to let you fuck her for hours.”

 

“Appreciate?” I spat as I tried to understand her attitude. “You kept me here for days the other night and didn’t seem to care. Also, how do you know what we were doing? I thought you couldn’t see into my side.”

 

Charlotte heaved a dramatic sigh before pushing herself up and floating over to me. She didn’t use her leathery wings but floated all the same. She waited until her face was inches from mine before speaking in a soft voice. “I can’t see in there. I can’t hear in there. That place is entirely within your portion of our mind. However, the amount of sexual energy that the two of you put out overflowed your area and saturated mine. I would have to be dead for the third time not to have known what you were doing.”

 

I’d held my ground until this point, feeling her breath as she spoke. Her breath smelled of mint and vanilla. But as the import of what she said sunk in, I realized something. “You’re not exhausted; you’re drunk!”

 

“A little of both, actually,” she swayed in the air a bit as she lazily gazed at me. “It’s not difficult for me to pull someone else in here. However, I had to speed up not only your perception but hers as well. If not for all those orgasms you both had, your time would have ended some time ago. But instead, they allowed me to keep going. Then, you come in here treating me like a monster. I may be a succubus, but I have feelings, you know. I’m no more evil than you are for breathing air.”

 

“You’re not exactly innocent,” I told her. But, despite my words, I was starting to feel sympathetic towards her, and that made me want to dig my heels in deeper. “You’ve lied and tricked people into getting your… your what? Sex is like food to you? Alcohol? Air? You can’t breathe without it? How many people have you hurt to get that next breath?”

 

“I’ve hurt no one!” Charlotte snapped, and her feet landed on the floor as she glared at me. “I have never hurt you or anyone else to get what I need. On the contrary, I bring joy and bliss. Well, except for those that enjoy BDSM, but that still gives them pleasure. So why do you hate me so much?”

 

“I don’t… hate you,” I said as I thought over her words. I realized that while I didn’t trust her, that didn’t mean I hated her. “How can you say you didn’t hurt anyone? You told me that you were responsible for my blurse. That it was you each time, trying to seduce me but going home with one of my friends.”

 

“That’s right,” Charlotte nodded with a wide, lazy grin. “And I promise every single one of them had a great time. Well, actually, it wasn’t always me. I couldn’t make it a few times, so I sent one of my employees. But that doesn’t mean they had anything less than a fantastic night that they’ll never forget.”

 

“That’s the problem,” I told her. “You didn’t hear Tina lament that she’d never find another woman as amazing as the one she met that night. And Joey…” I shuddered for a moment but drove on. “He knows I’m not gay, but the way he went on and on about the man he hooked up with… He cried. He actually cried! And let’s talk about your brothel for a moment. How many married men and women went there? How many marriages do you think were ruined because they got more satisfaction there than they could from their spouse? I’m sure you knew which were married since you could read their minds.”

 

Charlotte looked humbled for a moment as she refused to meet my gaze. “Joey wasn’t my doing. I already told you that. And it’s not my fault that married men and women came to my business to get something they couldn’t get at home. Do you blame the fast-food restaurant for giving a man a hamburger when his wife can’t cook at home? I didn’t make them come to my business. I simply provided a safe space for them to get what they needed. And I’ll have you know that more than a few of their marriages were saved because of my establishment.”

 

“Saved?” I scoffed, unable to believe her.

 

“Yes, saved. Thank you very much.” Charlotte met my eyes then, and I could see the determination in her gaze. “I won’t claim it fixed every marriage or that it didn’t ruin some. Every relationship is unique. In some cases, the fact that they could get what their partner refused to offer let them stay with that partner. I sold sex, not love. And any client that started to fall in love was gently guided away. We aren’t cruel.”

 

I stared at the succubus when she started chuckling. “In fact, there was this one married couple that came in—separately, of course, and without the other’s knowledge. Both were subs in the bedroom, and neither was good at being dominant. They were madly in love, and their only issue was being unable to fully satisfy their partner. My team scratched that itch for them, dominating them in the ways that best pleased their bodies. Their oldest just graduated high school last year.”

 

“What’s your point?” I asked, wondering where she was going with her story.

 

The smirk that crossed her lips was filled with conceit. “My point is that they first came to my business almost sixteen years ago. And before you ask, yes, their children are entirely theirs. They never cheated outside of my brothel. And not every visit resulted in sex. If not for what I offered them, they would have divorced with a young child. But instead, they stayed married and even had two more kids.

 

“I’m not saying every marriage can grow stronger by such means,” she continued. “I know how you feel about cheating, even though Megan didn’t knowingly cheat on you. But you can’t assume that your morals or point of view should apply to everyone. Do you know how many people would look down on you or shun you because you have two wives?”

 

“I didn’t exactly choose that,” I snapped back. “But this isn’t about me. It’s about… About…” I trailed off, trying to gather my thoughts.

 

“It’s about me being a succubus. And you cannot look past that to see that I’m also a person.” Charlotte filled in for me. “I’m not perfect, Bobby. And I have to say, I’m getting tired of you treating me like a monster when I’ve done nothing to deserve it. I’ve watched over and protected you for years at your father’s request. Don’t give me that look. I know how you feel about him, but you didn’t know him. Not the real Bernard Brody. But that’s not the point.”

 

Charlotte’s chest lifted and fell with a deep sigh before she continued. “Look, I’m tired and don’t want to fight with you anymore. You’re a good kid, but you have some hangups stopping you from being a great man. Go away now, and let me rest.”

 

“Don’t—” I started to say, but I found myself alone in my bedroom. This isn’t over, I thought to Charlotte as I glanced at the clock just in time for the alarm to go off.

 

Despite how incredible my night was, I couldn’t get Charlotte’s words out of my mind as I prepared to face the day. I dressed to get in a quick workout, then headed for the kitchen. I found Elly there, making coffee. She stood in only a sports bra and matching white panties.

 

“Morning, handsome,” my beautiful wife greeted me. “I just barely started the coffee. Sit down, and I’ll start making you some breakfast.”

 

“You don’t have to do that,” I said as I stepped up behind her, wrapped my arms around her waist, and kissed her neck. I could already feel my mood getting better. “I’m sorry we didn’t get as much time as I hoped.”

 

“Shh,” Elly hushed me under her breath. Then, louder, she said, “It was nice to sleep in your arms all night. I can’t remember the last time I slept that deeply.”

 

You’d better appreciate it, bitch, because I know what you tried to do! Charlotte sounded upset but still very tired.

 

I remembered that we were probably being monitored and hugged her tighter. “It was a pretty good night,” I said while choosing my words carefully. And you should keep in mind that I decided not to hurt you, I added to Charlotte. That seemed to mollify her.

 

“Well, at least now I know why our bed was so cold,” a new voice broke in.

 

Despite myself, I jumped away from Elly as though we were caught doing something wrong. I turned to face Shayna, unsure what to say, but she didn’t look upset or angry. She looked bored.

 

“Morning, love,” Elly said and softly kissed Shayna’s lips. “Coffee will be done in a bit. I’ll make breakfast today. Unless you walked out here dressed like that, intending to be breakfast?”

 

I took a better look at my other wife and realized she was dressed in a black lace nightgown that left very little to the imagination. It complimented her dark skin nicely, and I felt myself rising to the occasion, despite how drained Elly made me in that mind space. Shayna’s blue eyes regarded me for a moment without a shred of embarrassment before shaking her head.

 

“Not this morning,” she told me. I noticed her eyes dart down to my bulge before returning to meet my gaze and locking there. “Besides, Elly, you know how I am before I’ve had my coffee. I can’t trust anything I’m feeling.”

 

I grimaced but had nothing to say against that. I knew what she really meant.

 

“Bobby is receiving a call from Consul Willmont.” The words sounded over invisible speakers, making us all jump.

 

“Damned house AI!” I muttered as I ran back to my room to grab my phone. “Hello?” I asked as soon as I opened it.

 

“Why did I have to ping your house to get you to answer your damned phone?” Consul Willmont shouted at me.

 

“I didn’t have my phone on me,” I told him, feeling defensive. “Besides, I just got up. Haven’t even had my coffee yet. What can I do for you, Sir?” The last part I added because I realized my tone was getting annoyed, and I couldn’t afford to upset him. Like it or not, my life was in the hands of the Paladonic Knights. If they knew about Charlotte, my days would be numbered.

 

“Get your coffee, and then get your ass over to my house right away,” Willmont snapped, unhappy with my response. “At least Initiate—fuck—I mean, Carpenter Mckay had the decency to answer the first time I called. What are you still doing on the phone? Get in here, now!”

 

A click told me he’d hung up, and I stared at my old phone for a few seconds. Consul Willmont kept throwing me off. One moment he’d be upset, then next, he acted like we were old friends. I hadn’t seen him this upset, though, and wondered what had happened. He didn’t know about Charlotte, did he?

 

“Will you do me a favor and make me a cup to go?” I asked Elly as I poked my head into the kitchen.

 

“He seemed pretty upset,” Shayna said as she followed me. “Everything okay?” Had she been listening outside my door?

 

I opened my mouth to answer, but the doorbell rang. Not that I knew what I’d tell her anyway.

 

I suspected who it was and quickly detoured to answer the door. “Hey, Al,” I said as I greeted him. “Let me get dressed, and then I’ll be ready to go.”

 

“Hey, buddy!” Al greeted me with too much cheer. “Good morning, Shayna. I hope Bobby’s been treating you right?”

 

“He’s been a perfect gentleman,” Shayna responded with just as much cheer, though her back was to him. Either she was a great actor, or something about me getting called in like this put her in a good mood. The fact that she was barely dressed and Alfred was checking her out didn’t even phase her.

 

Don’t do that! Charlotte chided me. She’s distraught for you. Despite what Shayna said to Al, she thinks you’ve been too much of a gentleman. She’s just hiding her nerves. Though she is enjoying that jealous look on your face right now. She’s not interested in the ginger.

 

“Any idea what this is about?” I called over my shoulder to get Al’s attention and noticed that Shayna was still following me.

 

“Mmm, that coffee smells delicious, Elly. Mind if I get a top off? Jolene made me some, but I’ve almost finished it,” Al said before answering my question. “He didn’t tell me much other than to get to his house ASAP. I got the impression it’s an important mission, but that’s only a guess. Though it’s a bit odd, going to his house instead of the office. I figured you might not know where that was, so I stopped by to pick you up. I wonder if we’re going to hunt down some vampires or slay some werewolves? Hey, do you think a werewolf pelt would make a good throw rug?”

 

I tuned the ginger man out as I started stripping off my workout clothes. I stood in front of my closet, wondering what to wear, then recalled that Al was in a t-shirt and denim shorts. Finally, deciding that I didn’t want to stand out, I made my decision.

 

“You be careful,” I heard Shayna murmur as I pulled a shirt over my head. “I know… I know things are a little strained, but I expect you to return to us unchanged this time.” Her voice remained a whisper as she spoke, but I still heard every word.

 

I recalled Charlotte’s words a moment ago, and even though I stood in only a pair of boxers and my shirt, I stepped close to her. Shayna’s blue eyes widened in alarm, but a nudge from my internal succubus told me I was on the right track. “I’m not done proving myself to you,” I proclaimed in a soft but firm tone. “Until I do, I’m not leaving this world.” Then my arms moved of their own accord, pulling the short and petite woman into my embrace. Her eyelids fluttered as she looked up at me, shock and desire written plane across her face.

 

As I felt her arms move to slip around me, I planted a quick kiss on her forehead and stepped away.

 

I watched the confusion of my mixed signals cross her face before I turned to grab my shorts and put them on. I hate to admit it, but it felt good to give her mixed signals for once. I’m not one for playing games, and I immediately felt guilty about it but didn’t say anything besides, “There will be more once you trust me.”

 

“You ready to go?” Al greeted me after sipping from his thermos and admiring Elly’s backside.

 

“Yeah,” I said as I walked up to Elly—blocking his view—and pulled her into a tight hug. “Let’s see what kind of trouble we can get into today.”

 

*    *    *    *

 

1072 A.D.

 

Ardin couldn’t stifle his moan as he emptied himself across his owner’s extensive back.

 

“Oh, I know how bad you want to fill me up, Ardin,” his owner cooed at him in her accented voice as she used one finger to swipe up some of his seed and bring it to her lips. “Yum. But you know that can never happen. You can never put a baby in me, no matter how bad you might want it. No matter how much you make me cum on that wonderful cock of yours, you’ll never convince me to let you fill my womb with your potent seed.”

 

“Yes, Mistress,” Ardin said, his voice devoid of emotions in her language. Any other response would get him whipped. He hated her. Hated her with all the passion his beaten and tattered soul could produce. But that hate wasn’t enough to quell his body’s reaction to stimulation. He remembered the tender way the other slave woman treated him, even while he was held down. He’d never admit it to anyone, but she was better at giving pleasure than his rotund mistress. Not that he’d been able to enjoy the other slave a second time.

 

Cursing his weakness, Ardin forced those thoughts away. He was a married man, and none of this was proper. But he had no choice.

 

“Hmm,” the mistress hummed to herself as she stood and wrapped a thin gown around her robust body. “I’m not convinced. It’s good that Zeus endowed you with that beast and good looks because he didn’t put much of a brain in you.” She still spoke to him in his native language, though he’d been learning this new tongue for the last few weeks. She pointed to the urn filled with scented oils, and he brought it to her.

 

“Yes, Mistress,” Ardin replied again, this time attempting to put emotion into his voice as she rubbed the fragrant oils over her folds and rolls. He didn’t want to get whipped for another infraction. But, switched or not, she’d call for him again tonight and then in the morning for her pleasure. She was insatiable, and Ardin was powerless to stop her. Ardin’s own ardor was just as intense—if not for his owner specifically. The first few times he’d tried to resist, she’d had him beaten into unconsciousness, only to awaken to her riding his bloody body.

 

He despised her for what she made him do, but he loathed himself for not being able to stop her.

 

If he ignored the forced copulations, the beatings, and being away from his family and friends, this would be a good life. He was well fed and cleaned. He slept in a comfortable bed when not seeing to his mistress’s needs. Even his wounds from the beatings were well cared for and bandaged. The arrow wound in his shoulder was but a scar now.

 

But he couldn’t ignore what was missing in his life and within his heart. Every day he prayed to God for release and to be able to return to his loving wife.

 

He got a release every day—multiple times per day, but not the one he craved.

 

A fellow slave entered and spoke to their owner. Ardin only understood a couple words, “guest” and “now.” His mistress reveled in showing off her opulence. Ardin knew his duties, and instead of retreating to his small corner of the massive home, he moved to the side of her bed and stood there like a good, naked slave.

 

As the guest arrived, he kept his head down, but as soon as he spoke, Ardin’s head snapped up. It was the merchant! The one who Ardin was supposed to protect!

 

Tears of joy stung his eyes to know that the merchant had survived despite his cowardice. He wanted to call out and ask how the man survived, but they didn’t know enough of each other’s language, and Ardin didn’t want to be beaten for misbehaving.

 

The merchant didn’t even look at him as he approached Ardin’s mistress. Instead, he spoke some more, something about a “gift” for her. Ardin prayed that the merchant would look at him. Perhaps if the merchant knew that he was okay, he’d be able to talk to the mistress and allow him to go free. But if he moved or caused a scene, he’d end up whimpering and bleeding on the floor once more. His mistress was kind when happy and brutal when upset.

 

Then Ardin’s heart went cold. He felt his bones turn to ice as the merchant pulled something from his robes and presented it to the mistress.

 

It was Venita’s wedding gift to him. The pendant with the seashell design had a new silver chain, but Ardin would recognize the medallion anywhere.

 

How did the merchant have that? The merchant seemed particularly healthy and happy. Despite what he wanted to believe, the only answer Ardin could come up with was that the merchant was in on the attack. It would explain why he was willing to hire someone with no experience fighting. And why he agreed to help Ardin after seeing that very pendant and making him keep it hidden.

 

Ardin kept his head down, even as he shook and seethed at the betrayal. He’d blamed himself for running away, but this merchant had cheated him out of his freedom.

 

He waited and watched, staying silent like a good slave. It took all of his willpower not to scream when the merchant placed the chain around his mistress’s thick neck. That was Ardin’s pendant, given to him by his wife. A wife he’d betrayed many times each day over the last few weeks, but his heart still belonged to Venita. And now this cow had the temerity to wear that?

 

Somehow, by the grace of God, Ardin hid his anger. His patience was rewarded when he heard the merchant mention “Athena’s temple.” Could he really be that close? His luck didn’t seem that great, but perhaps it was turning around.

 

Lost in thought, Ardin missed when the merchant stripped off his clothes and his mistress removed her thin gown. Despite the extensive pleasing the woman received from Ardin only a short time ago, she laughed as the merchant joined her on the bed.

 

Ardin felt pride at seeing how small the merchant was and shame for feeling that pride. To make matters worse, Ardin found himself thickening with arousal as their moans filled the room. Was he so weak that even this turned him on now? Was he so pathetic that being cucked by this betrayer made him rise?

 

Disgusted with himself and hating the copulating couple, Ardin snapped. While the two rolled and fucked, Ardin moved to the closest brazier. His shoulder was mostly healed from the arrow, but he didn’t let that stop him. Lifting the burning metal in his bare hands, Ardin dumped it onto the bed and the two wicked pagans.

 

The flame caught the bedding faster than Ardin expected, and he had to back away for a moment. His mistress rolled off the bed and tried to run, even as her hair and skin burned, the oils she so lovingly rubbed into her skin turning her into a fireball.

 

Even with his fingers curled in pain from his burns by the brazier, Ardin recalled his property. Dashing for his dying mistress, he snatched the pendant and snapped the chain. It was also hot, but he didn’t care as he ran for where he knew he could get some clothes.

 

Athena's temple was in this town if he understood enough of the merchant’s speech. All he had to do was find it while not being discovered as a runaway slave and murderer.

 

 

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From the Author

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Whelp, it looks like Bobby is off on another adventure. Hopefully, this one ends up better than his last. But, I will say that he will have his hands full as he makes new discoveries.

 And as for poor Ardin… How much further will he fall from his faith before he’s finally reunited with his wife?

 I know this chapter came hot on the heels of the last, but I had a fair bit of free time. I hope you all enjoyed!

Shayna

Elly

Bobby

Ardin