Rebel (11 page)

“By participating in an orgy?” He scowled.
“I put more importance on my sexual encounters than a good meal.
Stop avoiding the question. What do we do when we get to the Cliffs
of Enarre?”

“Lutton will have to join with each of us or
we’ll all have to join together for the ceremony to be
complete.”

“I’m heterosexual. He’s not touching me. I
say we fight our way out.”

She shook her head. Ashton still didn’t
understand. “They won’t stop us if we try to leave. They’ll simply
sacrifice Lutton.”

Silence stretched between them. Ashton
looked at her, averted his gaze, then stared at her some more.
“Have you ever been with two men at once?”

She shook her head, glancing away from his
fierce expression.

“I didn’t think so.” After another long
pause, he asked, “Is it something you’ve fantasized about?”

Licking her lips, she dragged her gaze back
to his face. “For about a year after my father died I had a belated
fit of adolescent angst. I experimented with a lot of things,
including reality simulators.”

“That’s how you knew about the Pleasure
Palace. They have the best reality simulators in the sector.”

She laughed. “They have the only reality
simulators that provide the sort of experience I was after. I only
went a couple times. I…saw someone I knew really well and never
went back.”

“Hundreds of people visit the Pleasure
Palace every day. Why would—”

“My brother was one of the Pleasure Masters.
I only used the simulators, but I was taken on a tour of the
dungeons and there he was. He was masked of course, but he has a
birthmark on his thigh. I just couldn’t go back, knowing he was
there.”

“That would definitely ruin the mood.” He
held out his hand and smiled. His gaze warm and inviting. She
joined him on the pallet, curving her legs to one side. “So, you’ve
experienced the simulation of two lovers, but you’ve never—”

“The simulation progressed in stages.
That
would have happened during my fourth session.”

His dark gaze caressed her face, searching,
assessing. “If Lutton risked his life to help us, we need to help
him, but I’m sensing something else. You want to do this. The
tribal test, the moonlit ritual, all of it excites you.”

“I… It’s not like I want to… This isn’t that
much different than the simulation. We can abandon ourselves to the
pleasure, knowing we’ll never see these people again.” She took a
deep breath and rushed on. “Besides, we have no choice.”

He stroked her face, his dark eyes
glistening. “You used that excuse on the schooner. When are you
going to be honest with yourself? You want to be overwhelmed. You
want to be stimulated until you scream.”

“What do you want?” She glanced at him
through her thick lashes, uncertainty tightening her belly.

“I want to prove my worth to the tribe and
revel in the Celebration of Life.”

At sunset Ashton and Corry were ushered to
the clearing in the center of the Perrlain settlement. Despite the
balmy breeze a fire burned in a shallow pit. The fire crackled and
popped, shooting sparks into the hazy sky. Wavering light
illuminated a sea of curious faces. Lutton indicated a large mat
situated slightly apart from the others. Ashton sat in the middle
and pulled Corry down beside him, forcing Lutton to take his place
on Ashton’s other side. If Lutton noticed the possessive maneuver,
he didn’t react.

Drums throbbed in the distance, giving the
night a distinct pulse. The rhythm sped as five men emerged from a
dwelling on Ashton’s right. Their swarthy skin gleamed in the
firelight and their long black hair had been decorated with tiny
pieces of polished stone and what looked like bleached bone. With
regal features and watchful eyes, they sat across the fire pit from
Ashton and Corry.

“The man in the middle is my father,” Lutton
said. “The other four are our village elders. They are here to
observe the festivities, not participate.” A row of women exited
the dwelling on the other side of the clearing. Bare-breasted and
graceful, they knelt on a mat beside the elders. “The high
priestess and her acolytes. They will dance for you in a short
while. The one near the end, with the red flowers in her hair, is
Serena, my youngest sister.”

Ashton gazed at the young woman and
acknowledged the beauty of her face and form, but he felt nothing
more. Turning his head, he looked at Corry and tenderness swelled
within his heart. Her features might not turn heads, but her spirit
captivated him and he felt triumphant each time she graced him with
her smile.

Bowls of sliced fruit and fresh vegetables
were passed along the rows. Everyone ate with their fingers and
spoke in hushed tones, studying them with obvious curiosity. The
primitive setting had a certain charm. Sweet berry wine was poured
into carved wooden cups. The rich red liquid stained Corry’s lips
and Ashton had to kiss her.

He curved his fingers around the back of her
neck and brushed his tongue lightly over her lips. “Delicious,” he
murmured then pushed into her mouth for another taste.

After responding for only a moment, she
wiggled away. “Everyone is watching us.”

“I know, and we’re going to have to do more
than kiss before the night is through. Are you sure you don’t want
to find another way to pacify the Deity?”

She took another sip of wine. “The only
other option is to let Lutton die for saving us. I couldn’t live
with myself if I let that happen.”

“Would it help if I spoke with the
elders?”

“Not this time
Director
VinDerley.
Their customs are clear. It’s one or the other.”

“Then give me some more wine.” She held out
her cup and he shook his head. “I want to taste it on your
lips.”

Her gaze darkened as she raised the cup to
her mouth. Like most of the women there, Corry was naked to the
waist. She kept her arms in front of her as much as possible, which
made Ashton smile. The fiery part of her nature that craved this
experience was buried beneath layers of inhibitions.

He took her face between his hands and
settled his mouth over hers. She wrapped her arms around his torso
and pressed her breasts against his chest. Soft, warm and
his
. How was he going to survive watching others touch her
and seeing her give pleasure to another man or men? His tongue
stroked her lips then curled around her tongue, sliding and
caressing.

If we’re going to do this, let’s do it
together. Let me strengthen the link.

She deepened their kiss and opened her mind,
welcoming his telepathic touch. He found the fragile strands he’d
woven before and reinforced them, binding them together, making
them stronger.

“The dancing is about to begin.” Lutton’s
tone held a note of warning.

Sending warmth and affection across their
link, Ashton separated their mouths. “Here we go,” he whispered,
and she smiled. Stars, she was beautiful when she smiled.

The acolytes stood and made their way across
the clearing, forming a neat row between Ashton and the fire. One
looked slightly older than the others and she spoke to the crowd
surrounding them.

“Do you understand their language?” Corry
asked Ashton.

“No. I’m surprised Lutton was able to speak
with us.”

She leaned around him and tapped Lutton on
the knee. “How did you learn our language? And what is she
saying?”

“I attended university on d’Arrest, as is
the custom for all Perrlain chieftains. We live our lives with
different priorities. That doesn’t mean we’re ignorant or
barbaric.” He nodded toward the speaker. “She’s calling upon the
power of pleasure to burn away your worldly taint.”

“Can a person convert to your way of life or
must one be born into your tribe?” She moved closer to Ashton so
the Perrlain prince could hear her better.

“We offer shelter and seclusion for souls in
need. Sometimes they are able to refocus their spirit and return to
the world beyond, other times they’re accepted into the tribe. If
we never took in new members, our gene pool would become
corrupted.”

“True.” Ashton tossed a piece of succulent
fruit into his mouth and tried to identify the taste. Most of the
Perrlain food was unrecognizable to him.

“Are you seeking spiritual guidance?”

“No,” Corry said. “Our goals haven’t
changed.”

“Then watch the dance. Once the high
priestess senses an adequate level of sexual energy, she will
present Ashton with his team.”

“Give, receive and then share?” Ashton
asked.

“Yes. You will give then receive pleasure.
Corry’s team will be presented to her and she will do the same.
First give then receive. After that you are free to share in the
festivities in whatever way you want.”

“This is a test,” Ashton reminded him. “What
are the tribe members looking for? What makes us worthy or
not?”

“Honesty. Don’t put on a show for them. They
all know you’re not accustomed to our ways.”

The drumbeat grew louder. Tinkling bells and
trilling flutes soon drifted on the night wind. The acolytes spun
and swayed, undulating with sensual grace, then shook their hips
and shimmied their breasts.

Ashton watched the dancers for a time then
his gaze drifted to Corry. Her eyes were wide, her lips slightly
parted and her nipples had started to harden. Why was she more
affected by this than he was?

Because you’re jaded. Fate has kicked her in
the gut more times than you can imagine and she can still find the
wonder in life.

He reached for her hand and she squeezed his
fingers without shifting her gaze from the dancers. The high
priestess pushed to her feet, standing tall and proud on the far
side of the fire pit. She told her acolytes to return to their mat
then offered further instruction in a firm, clear voice.

A man and a woman moved to stand in front of
Ashton and Corry. The woman was voluptuous and sultry-eyed, the man
sleekly muscled, his expression fierce.

“I don’t do men,” Ashton protested.

“I’m sorry for the confusion,” Lutton said.
“The high priestess must approve of what she senses in you. She has
altered the rules to your advantage. Marri is for you, and Fyn is
for Corry. The actual pleasure must be exchanged with them, but you
are allowed to assist each other, as are Fyn and Marri. This is
very generous of the high priestess. Fyn and Marri frequently find
pleasure with each other. If you allow them to guide you, this will
be over before you know it.”

Ashton helped Corry to her feet. “Do I still
go first?” he asked.

“Yes.”

Marri watched their approach through hooded
eyes. Her large breasts swayed with each deep breath. Corry matched
his advance step for step, but anxiety and anticipation surged
across their telepathic link. He lightly touched her mind, easing
her fear and encouraging her instinctive response to the sexually
charged atmosphere.

Fyn moved behind Marri and jerked her skirt
off with one forceful yank. She gasped and her breasts jiggled. Her
nipples hardened and she licked her lips. The message was clear.
Marri liked it rough. She would respond best to insistent
stimulation.

Dragging her arms to the small of her back,
Fyn thrust her breasts toward Ashton. Again the gesture required no
translation. Ashton cupped both her breasts and squeezed firmly.
Marri wiggled and twisted against Fyn’s hold, but her skin flushed
and her nipples puckered against Ashton’s palms.

Does she really enjoy being
manhandled?
Corry sounded intrigued, not appalled.

Some women can’t come unless they’re
restrained. Watch her face while I tease her nipples. Tell me what
you see.

He rolled one of Marri’s nipples while he
sucked on the other. The harder he pulled the louder she moaned, so
he allowed the tip to scrape across his teeth each time he released
the suction.

She looks sunburned or feverish. Is she
already wet?

Encouraged by Corry’s curiosity, Ashton
stroked down along Marri’s abdomen and covered her mound with his
hand. The curls at the juncture of her thighs had been trimmed and
shaved until only a small dark triangle remained.

Fyn kicked her legs apart, making more room
for Ashton’s hand. Ashton continued his assault on her nipples
while he pushed his middle finger into her slit. Her wet, warm
folds caressed his finger and lust expanded through his body. His
gut clenched and his cock jerked, hardening with alarming
speed.

She’s a beautiful woman and she’s enjoying
your touch. Your response is perfectly natural.

Corry was reassuring him? Moments before,
she had been the one in need of comfort. He released Marri’s nipple
and looked at Corry. Her gaze was fixed on the other woman’s body,
arched by Fyn’s unrelenting hold, helpless and waiting.

Do you want to touch her?

No.
She replied a bit too vehemently.
But I want you naked while you do.

With an impatient tug, he loosened the
garment wrapped around his hips and revealed his erection. He
stared into Corry’s eyes as he stroked himself from base to tip
several times.

A throaty murmur drew his attention back to
Marri. Fyn had released her arms. He was rolling and pinching her
nipples with one hand and the other held her pussy open, displaying
her cream-soaked passage and swollen clit.

Marri rested against Fyn’s chest, her arms
reaching back so she could grab his neck. Kneeling in front of her,
Ashton caught her clit between his thumb and forefinger then pushed
two fingers into her cunt. She rocked her hips. His fingers went
deeper and he pinched her clit, rolling the tender nub until she
cried out.

Fyn leaned close and whispered something
into Marri’s ear. She shook her head and tipped her pelvis so
Ashton could move more easily. He thrust into her creamy passage
while he plucked her clit again and again.