Sci Fi Sunday - Reality Check Continues

Hello and Happy Sci Fi Sunday to you! Today we have more of Reality Check to offer you - can two men find love on a planet far far away when they appear to be so very different? Or are they more similar than they realize, at least in matters of the heart?  Don't forget to check out Sui Lynn's blog, 2 Cents, as well as our joint blog - Backdoor Divas!

As you'll recall from the last episode, Reno was supposed to come to the royal palace to pretend to court Kay's sister, Luci. But a family emergency has kept him at home, and Kay has come to find his beloved and see what the problem is.....

Reality Check

Chapter Five

Fear skitters across my spine. My Kay is here? Oh Guardian, we had an appointment. A chance to be together and I’ve blown it already. He’s a prince and certainly not the kind to take to being stood up lightly. Jaou places a reassuring hand on my shoulder.

I marshal  my thoughts into some semblance of order. “Please go check on Dorian and I’ll go talk to Kay. I’ll try and get him into my rooms before Mother sees that he’s here.”

“Are you sure, Reno?” Jaou nervously shifts from foot to foot.

“I’m sure. If she’s out there too, I’ll be sure and get you. Now go check on Dorian!” I point in the direction of the door as an incentive.

“Fine!” Jaou stomps off in high dudgeon, but I can’t worry about him right now. I’ve other concerns.

He must be here to tell me what I can do with my suit. I can feel depression setting into my soul, I can’t… I won’t let him get away. He’s just going to have to deal with my familial obligations. I mean, I know he’s a bit selfish, but surely he’ll see reason? It’s my brother’s life… I couldn’t just leave Dorian. I had to save him… Surely…

I know, I’m procrastinating. There’s no way of knowing what he’ll say unless I let him in. What choice do I have? I surely can’t leave him standing just outside my door.

I walk down the short hall and slide the door to the side in order to admit my love. The sight which meets my eyes is both terrifying and awe-inspiring at the same time. Kay’s beauty and dishevelment are all rolled up into one lovely but grimy mess. His clothing, obviously once regal and probably quite expensive, is now dirtied and rather the worse for wear. Dust streaks his face, giving it an odd off-balance appearance, but he counters it by being so glorious it’s all I can do not to wrap him in my arms and spirit him away.

“My Prince, Welcome to my home.” Without thinking of what I do, I drop to one knee quickly before him, then regain my feet.

                                                             §§§§§

Am I foolish for thinking a serious question deserves an actual answer? Or did I hallucinate seeing someone at all, and am I simply addressing my question into thin air? Or perhaps I’ve hit my head harder than I imagined, though right now I can’t actually remember doing so. Does that make me dizzy, then?  Yes, that must be it, I’m dizzy with desire. Desire to see my Reno.

As if some provident god has heard my wish, the thin-ass door, which a mere kick would send sprawling without much trouble, opens, and I see him standing before me. My first thought is thank the stars I’m in the right place. The second one is please kiss me before I die.

I stumble toward him. Stumble being the operative word, as I seem to have lost the ability to walk. My legs have suddenly gone numb, and every muscle in my body aches. I feel like a damn baby, trying to take his first steps. The point is I’m going down, even as I reach my arms toward him. “Reno! You’re here!” Then the world goes momentarily black...

                                                                     §§§§§

Sandplats!! He’s falling! I make a quick and well-coordinated grab for him even as he heads in a definite downward spiral, and gather him into my arms just before he crumples to the floor. What can have happened to my princeling! I hold him against me, relishing the sensation of having him in my arms once more. His forehead seems a bit warm, and he appears flushed... Where’s Swy? Why isn’t he looking after him? I’m going to have to have words with my prince’s bodyguard. This is most definitely conduct unbecoming, and nothing I will tolerate. Not when his personage is so important to me.  I bend down and slip an arm beneath his legs, lifting him, enfolding him into myself, holding him tight against my chest. I really do need to get him out of here before Mother sees that he’s here.

I nudge the door; it slides gently closed. I turn and dash down the corridor with my prince snuggled against my chest like the treasure he is.

“What could’ve happened to you, my Prince?” I mumble into his ear. I push the door to my rooms open with my foot, making sure they close behind me before I take a seat on the bed, my Kay in my arms. I brush back the hair from his face. Only then do I realize what he’s done since last I’ve seen him. He’s colored his tresses the most beautiful hues—violets and blues that are most becoming with his gray eyes. If they would just open…

                                                                        
“Kay, my prince...” I gently brush my lips against his. How I ache for him.

                                                                         §§§§§

I hear his voice: it’s him, it’s Reno. I know I’m not imagining that. It’s his arms that hold me, his lap I’m resting so very comfortably in that I almost—but not quite—forget my aches and pains, the ones I’ve gained on my tortuous journey. A journey I shall most certainly have to tell him about in great lengths.

I make the effort to open my eyes, even though I feel that to do so might lead to a blinding headache, but no, it’s alright. Reno’s here. He’s here, but he looks so worried. Why? Is something wrong? Please don’t let anything be wrong.

His kiss. It’s his kiss I feel, how wonderful his lips, they give me life.

“I waited for you,” I murmur, my tongue feeling thick in my mouth for some reason. “You were supposed to come, to court me. I mean Luci. But you didn’t... and I was afraid...” I’ve never admitted fear to anyone in my life before, and yet I spill my heart’s contents as easily as a news reader might slip out the scandals of the day—without hesitation. I trust him, I love him, what else is there to say? “I was afraid you’d.... changed your mind.”

There. I’ve just admitted my biggest fear to Reno. Bared my soul to him. And right now, I just want to curl up against him, and never move. Ever.

                                                                §§§§§

He must have some story to tell, and I want to hear all the details but my first thoughts are to apologize to him for being so lacking , in manners and in punctuality, and in anything else I’m guilty of by not appearing when I was scheduled to be there for him.“I’m so sorry, Kay. I meant to be there... We meant to be there. But you see we’ve run into a bit of an emergency. My brother’s been hurt. Jaou and I were needed to help resuscitate him. Jaou’s in the garden with Dorian now.” I tremble slightly, not from fear of losing my brother... but from the proximity of this hot sexy man I’m holding in my arms. I want nothing more than to ravish his lips but he’s so delicate, I don’t want to hurt him. I lean in and gently kiss him, moaning into his open mouth as I slip my tongue between his lips, tasting my princeling.

It feels like it’s been forever since I last sampled those lips and tasted his sweet hot mouth. “If it wasn’t for my brother being at death’s door, I’d have been at your side, I swear it. Now tell me, my beauty, what has befallen you since last we met? Why do I find you here and in this alarming condition? And where is that miserable Swy?”

 What do you think of Reality Check so far? What would you like to see happen? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear from you!

Have a great week and we'll see you next week!

Until next time, take care!

♥ Julie

Sci Fi Sunday - Reality Check Continues

Another Sunday, another edition of Sci Fi Sunday from Sui Lynn and myself! This week we present you with another chapter of Reality Check. As you may recall from previously, Reno and Kay think they have a great solution to an otherwise insoluble problem. Can they make it work?  Enjoy finding out!

Reality Check

I stride with confidence, Swyddogh just behind me, into the throne room, which is also used as the reception room on days such as these. Already petitioners form a line to see my parents, waiting their turn to plead their case in one form or another. Clemency, leniency, munificence—everyone wants something from the King and Queen, that’s just a given. There is an order to the process, one that prevents chaos from ensuing. Nothing worse than chaos on an empty stomach.  But these have nothing to do with me, I’ve a mission all my own. I fix my smile upon my face, fix my arguments firmly in my mind, and make my way toward….

Oh great slithering bandicoots, there is something worse, and it stands before me now. Oily, greasy, and obsequious—in other words, Orm Schlangeleben, fucking vizier. I should’ve expected it, where’s my head? Oh yes, with Reno.

Never mind. I don’t intend to let him get to me. Not today. I’m feeling too good, my heart is full of Fellaxxian love songs, and Reno’s image fills my brain. I’ve a purpose in my life, a reason for being. Outside of my usual one, that is, which is simply because I’m me. But that’s beside the point.

Luci has yet to arrive; that’s a good thing. I think we can accomplish more without her bratty presence. She has this annoying habit of sticking in her opinion when it’s least wanted. Like ever. Seriously, women just need to shut the hell up most of the time, and… and do womanly things. Whatever. No, I don’t mean my mother. She’d wallop me good if she ever heard me say that. I’m not that dumb. Do I look that dumb? Forget I asked.

I approach my parents upon their royal thrones, make my usual filial bow of obeisance—no sense in pissing them off by being rebellious when I haven’t even gotten what I want yet. I can play the game with the best of them. Don’t forget who you’re dealing with here—Crown Prince Cailean, and none other.

“Good morning Mother, Father,” I greet them. Most kings and queens, at least in my experience, are content to hold their offspring at arm’s length, eyeball them now and then, pat them on the back, fund their higher education, and their extravagant lifestyles, and generally keep themselves aloof from most parental contact.

Not my parents.

Queen Kærlighed and King Liefde have these strange ideas about raising their children, one that favors interaction. I suppose I should be grateful; it’s probably made me the spoiled little princeling that I am today. No, that’s not my opinion, but I’ve heard it said about me, when people think I’m not paying attention. Some people are actually under the delusion that I’m some sort of an idiot. I’m sure they really mean idiot savant. I’m not sure if I like that word much better. Words. I know it’s two words, don’t tell me.

Alright, I’ll admit it, I do love my parents. There, I said it. Maybe Liusaidh too. When she’s not being incredibly bratty. Sometimes their hands-on methods are very beneficial to me. When they aren’t suffocating. Let’s hope today is one of those times.

As I was saying, my parents belong to the hug a child every day organization. No, it’s not a real group, that’s sarcasm on my part. As I reach their dais, they stand to meet me. My mother hugs me, then my father hugs me. Then we have a group hug. I glare at Swy, as if daring him to step closer, but he’s smart enough to maintain just the proper distance between himself and us, thus avoiding the dreaded hug.

When I manage to separate myself from them, I smooth down my skirt, and announce, “I would like a private audience if I may. Now.” Just in case they think I’m wanting to be put on the schedule somewhere, let there be no mistake that I mean at this very moment. I don’t intend to wait.

As if to illustrate the gravity of my intentions, I signal to Swy. “Tell the people to come back in an hour or so. And close the hall.” He nods gravely. I half hold my breath, but I hear no objections from my parents, so all must be well.

Unfortunately, Orm hasn’t taken the hint, and he’s giving me the evil vizier eye. I don’t press the point, for now. Perhaps I can think of some way to turn his presence to my advantage. We’ll see.

Of course I have a throne too. I’m the Prince, aren’t I? Luci has one too. I take my seat beside my parents, feeling a bit of one-upmanship because I know that Orm cannot sit in our presence. Score one for my side.

“Is there something you wished to discuss with us?” Father asks.

“Does it have to do with your university studies?” That from my mother.

“Yes. And no,” I answer them both. “Actually, it’s about Luci’s courtship by the… native….” I try to put my usual disdain into that one word, although I don’t actually feel it any more. Not after meeting Reno. My attitude seems to have turned itself inside out. Where once I wouldn’t deign to touch the hem of one of their garments, now I dream of touching a whole lot more than that. Well, of one native in particular. Reno.

Of course I don’t want them to know that, it’d spoil everything.

“What do you mean—”

“The arrangements have been made, permission has been given for Princess Liusaidh to be courted by Renophoatien Sameeleon—“

Two voices speaking at one time. My father. And him. The greasy odious one. I turn my attention to my father, ignoring the oily vizier.

“I understand that permission has been given, Father, and I’ve a proposal to make regarding that very thing. I wish to see that everything is done properly, and Luci is properly chaperoned during her courtship with… what was his name? Reno something? With him.” There, I think I’ve covered myself pretty well, and given no indication of just how familiar I really am with Reno’s name. Or how familiar I wish to become with his body.

My father seems to be smirking at me now. What does he find so amusing? I huff a bit, turning to Swy, who immediately pulls out my mirror so that I may admire myself. Every hair in place, beautiful as ever. I nod to him and he quickly stashes it away once more.

“And how do you propose to do that?” Father asks. My mother’s wearing the same sappy smile he is, what’s with them? I’m beginning to think they’ve hit the happy juice a little early today. Very early.

“I’ve decided I shall offer myself as a chaperone. In fact, I’ll go farther than that. I’ll actually go to the native’s home and make all the arrangements. And I shall make sure that Luci is well looked after.”

“Oh you will, will you?”

“Yes, Mother, I will.” Why is this so hard to understand? Is no one else as concerned for my sister’s honor as I am? So maybe my concerns are a little lower, and are all aimed toward Reno. Minor difference.

Are they going to give me trouble? I feel a slight tremor of panic threaten to overtake me at the idea that I might fail, that they will approve of my idea of chaperonage but disapprove of me, appoint someone else in my place. And then we’ll be sunk indeed. And I’ll simply die….

“I think that’s an excellent idea, Kay.” My father again. Oh praise the stars, he approves. I begin to breathe again. Of course I show no indication that I was ever perturbed or disturbed in any way. I’m a prince, after all. And a damned good one at that.

My stomach is rumbling again. Normally, I’d listen to its less than dulcet tones and make some attempt to appease it, but I’m in a hurry. I want to see Reno. Very badly. I shall simply have him feed me there, once I arrive. I can’t believe that I’ve actually chosen to forego food. Who am I today?

I’ll tell you who I am—I’m a young prince in love.

Just thinking about Reno gives me pause, and I feel the same sappy smile my parents are wearing creep over my face. That means it’s time to go, before I give myself away in some manner.

I make my bows, and prepare to gracefully exit the room, and instruct Swy to see about transport to Reno’s house as quickly as humanly possible. Then the worst thing I can possibly imagine occurs—my sister walks into the room. She’s obviously not aware of the meaning of a closed door. Oh oh, she’s got that look in her eyes, the one that generally spells trouble for me. What is she up to now?

I’ve my back turned toward my parents, facing Luci, as I frantically try to signal to her to turn back, to stay away, and to generally get the hell out of here before she does something to spoil what I’ve just done. Without giving away the game, which took a great deal of finesse on my part.

She’s either blind, or oblivious, or both, barreling toward us with all the grace of a three-footed jintjant in heat. What do I have to do to get that damn girl’s attention?

Oh no, she’s opening her mouth, what is she doing?

“I have something to say,” she proclaims, as she gets too close for comfort—in other words, within earshot of our parents. “About this courtship thing, I want to….”

How very badly I wish to strangle my sister at this moment!

§§§§

How, how could I have… Of all the men at the reception, why’d I have to attract the most pompous of them all? His Highness Prince Cailean. I’ve gone and done it now, stirred the interest of the wrong royal and gotten my brother in as deeply as I am in the bargain. We’ve disobeyed our Mother, and our tribal leader, the First Mother. Which idea disturbs me the most—that I’ve attracted Kay, or that I’m attracted to Kay?

 I’m lying,  as I have all night long, staring blankly up at the ceiling. I try to sleep, but every time I close my eyes I see him—I can still feel him in my arms. Damn, he fits so nicely within my embrace. I shake my head and sigh. The Guardian has risen above the horizon. It’s early yet,  but I need to talk to Jaou. We’ve plans to make. If we’re to continue with this betrayal of our people, we need to be united before our parents, and especially our Mother.

I drag myself from my sleeping pallet, the soft rich soil having done nothing to ease my rest or my mood. I chose to sleep in my soil pallet instead of on a human mattress, which seems to be the current trend among our people. I’d hoped that the Earth Mother would grant me the respite that the mattress did not, but it mattered little where I lay my head as I still got no actual sleep.

I desire only Kay. My thoughts are filled with nothing but him. How beautifully annoying.

Jaou and I need to talk. We need to come up with a plan to fix things before our carefully built house of cards tumbles down around us. I step into my private bathing area and rinse my body in the shower. The cool water runs in trickles down my body; they feel refreshing against my fevered skin as visions of the handsome Kay float through my memory. I reach down and stroke my erection; my tender petals are tightly wrapped about my cock and haven’t opened. They won’t, of course, until I’m actually able to claim him—my chosen, my princeling, my Kay. How those very words tingle in my brain. My desire hardens and the need I have for him is almost painful, in an exquisite sort of way. I stroke my shaft and its sensitive petals, giving the three glans of the head a little twist as visions of my soon-to-be-lover dance through my mind. I can still smell him on my body; the cool water enhances his scent slightly before it rinses it away. My movements become more frantic, as I pant—the thought of his beautiful eyes, those long legs wrapped about my waist, and the wonder of his wood within my grasp… I moan as my seed splashes across the cool tiles. I lean forward, resting my forehead on my arm. The desire is no less, but the urgency presses less significantly against my libido, enough so I can safely seek out my brother and not be a cause for embarrassment, if  I’m seen. It wouldn’t do to walk around my family home in human dress, just to hide my enflamed state from them.

I emerge from the waters of the shower and I’m drying my skin when I hear the knock on my bedroom door.

“Enter,” I call from the bathing area as I finish my morning routine.

“Reno?” Jaou calls as he comes in and looks around.

“I’ll be right out. Make yourself comfortable. I was just about to come to you.” I chuckle as Jaou sits heavily on the made bed in the middle of the room.

“Couldn’t sleep?” Jaou asks.

“Slept in my earth pallet, not that it mattered… No, I didn’t sleep well.  How about you?”

“Not a bit. All I could think of was how sweet she smelled and …” Jaou sighs

“Shhh… You know better than that. It’s not like the walls here are made of stone like the castle,” I fairly snap at Jaou.

“I know but… Reno, what are we going to do?”

“I’ll go to Father one more time and beg him to speak to Mother. I can’t believe they’d force this on us. I’ll tell him that we all got along well enough but that there isn’t any attraction between us and see if it makes any difference.” I step from the bathing area back into my room to see Jaou lying back on the bed, his head in his hands.

“It won’t matter. I’ve already approached him this morning, while he was doing his Guardian salutations in the garden. I told him that the Prince seemed to be attracted to you and although the Princess was cordial, that I wouldn’t expect any declarations to be made.” Jaou’s hands thumped to his sides on the mattress.

“What did he say?” I catch my breath as I sit beside my brother. From the dismal discouraged look on his face, I already know the answer, of course.

“He told me to stay out of it and be a good chaperone, guard the family’s honor and keep you in sight. That you know your place and will do as the First Mother bids and mate with the female.”

“Smatherrats!” My head falls forward into my hands, my hair hiding my eyes as well as the shame of my overwrought emotions from my brother. “Then we go with Kay’s plan and for the time being we play the game. I’ll approach the First Mother and ask what our next step in courtship is expected to be. You’ve been named chaperone so you might as well come with. I apologize now brother, if I seem forward with your chosen, but I may have to touch her to make this game realistic. I’ve no desire for her, I assure you. I only want Kay. Just so you know.”

“I know brother. I know…” Jaou’s voice sounds tired. And our game has barely begun.

We’re both startled from our reveries by the sound of shouting in the hallway. Together we bolt for the door. The commotion comes from the front of the house. Someone has arrived. For a moment I think it might be Kay, but from the distraught screaming of Mother and the keening sound of Father in distress, I know that can’t be the case.

Jaou and I burst through the front door to see two men leading a horse. Behind the horse, upon a litter our brother Dorianianetah lies unconscious, cradled between the poles in a layer of soil. His color’s grey, none of the natural green of our people’s natural pallor can be seen in his skin. If not for the faint rise and fall of his breathing, I’d have thought he was gone from this world.

“What’s going on here!” I ask the two men—they look almost as sickly as my brother. I run forward and take my brother’s hand as Jaou takes the reins of the horse;  it’s begun to spook as a direct result of my father’s 

keening.

“We were in the wastes,” one man replies. “Dorian decided he wanted to try and find out what was at the center, see what was creating the wastes. I told him not to. I tried to convince him it was a bad idea, but he refused to listen to reason,” The telling of this awful tale seems to draw the last of the man’s energy from him. When I look up from my brother to him, I realize the man is my little brother’s best friend, Thom. Only he looks so much older than his few years, that I almost didn’t recognize him.

“My brother can be very stubborn, Thom. You know that,” I try to sooth him as I lace my fingers with my brother’s, sending him as much restorative energy as I can, before Mother shoves me unceremoniously away.

“You will lose your coloring. I’ll do it!” she snaps, lacing her own fingers with her son’s, pouring her energy into him. I bite my tongue, knowing that Dorian’s body would’ve accepted the energy from me—his brother and another male—easier than from the body of a female, even that of his mother. But I can’t disobey her.

“Thom, what happened next?” I ask since Mother’s concentrating on healing Dorian.

“We waited for him for two days, but when he didn’t show last evening, Zeph and I went in after him and found him unconscious on the ground. Everything around him was dead. The very plant life about him sacrificed to keep him alive.” Thom starts to waver on his feet. Zeph, his older brother wraps an arm around him and braces him.

“We put him in a litter and headed home. When we were clear of the wastes we put clean soil around him and bared as much of his skin to the guardian as we could, hoping it would help purify him. We gave him an energy infusion, but we’re almost as contaminated as he is.” Zeph shakes his head, exhaustion flooding him.

I watch Jaou unhitch the horse from the litter and help Zeph put Thom atop the horse, then climb behind him. “I’m going to take them home,” Jaou says. “They need help. I’ll make sure they get to their families.”

“Yes, thank you, Jaou,” Mother offers my brother a grateful smile. “Reno, I’m sorry I snapped at you. Will you assist me and your father to get Dorian to the gardens? We’ll see to his energy infusion, but he’ll do better with you there also. The light of the Guardian will refresh your colors as well.”

“Yes Mother, as you wish.” I scoop my brother up in my arms and run for the garden before she can protest the skin to skin contact and the energy I send to my baby brother, without her permission.

to be continued

Thanks for stopping by! What do you think of Kay and Reno so far? Want to see the sweet faces that inspired them? You got it!

Here's Reno!

And here's Kay!  

We'd love to hear what you think of our two hotties!

Come back next week for another episode!

Until next time, take care!

♥ Julie and Sui

Sci Fi Sunday - Reality Check Continues

Good morning and welcome to another edition of Sci Fi Sunday! Today we have another excerpt from our continuing saga of the planet known as Reality Check, and our heroes, Reno and Kay. Sui Lynn and I hope that you're enjoying this weekly feature, and our story - feel free to comment!

Reality Check

I feel as if I’m about to lose my ever-loving princely mind. I’ve never in my life felt anything quite like this before, although I’m not sure where this submissiveness is coming from. My royal ego is screaming who ordered this nonsense, but I tell it hush, staring into those beautiful golden eyes, losing myself in them. So beautiful.

He kisses me ever so gently, and sweeps me up into his arms, and I know this has never happened to me before. I’ve always been the one to be in charge, to call the shots. But there is just something about this Reno that’s getting to me. He’s careful to hold the back of my skirt closed in order to prevent a draft. Our lips remain locked, as we head off to paradise and… and what the blazes is this? My sister and her escort have suddenly arrived, pushing their way through the branches, joining us under the tree.

I’m not quite sure which of them is the most surprised, Luci or the brother. He looks at Reno and demands, “Where do you think you’re going and in all the guardian’s hells what are you doing?

Before he can say a word, my sister has opened her big mouth, and proceeds to really embarrass me.  “Kay, I knew that you… I mean, I’ve always known that you … prefer men… but knowing it and seeing it are like two different things, and omigosh, that is just so incredibly sexy.” She takes a breath, and I watch as she swallows—hopefully her tongue—but no such luck. “What are you…  I mean where are you….” She gets tangled in her words, then gives up. “Oh good lord, stop that for a minute and help get me out of this predicament!” Then the child stamps her foot.

Reno looks at me. “What, does it run in the family?” I can’t help but blush.

Okay, I have to think, have to think, have to think, but my head is just swimming so much it’s hard. The more my sister talks, the more that I feel reality set in and I wriggle in Reno’s arms so much that I suddenly find myself on the ground. A rather indelicate “Oomph” escapes my lips, nothing more.

Reno drops to his knees besides me. Oh dear, I’m actually in the grass, aren’t I? He’s apologizing to me for dropping me, I wish I were still in his arms.

Reno’s brother is yelling now. “What are you going to tell Mother? She’s going to have your ass for this… and mine too!”

Luci feels the need to speak, apparently, did no one ever tell her that women should be seen and not heard? “Oh why is life so horrible?” she wails in her overly dramatic fashion. “Look, no offense to you,” she addresses Reno directly, “but I don’t want to marry you. It’s again… against my… um, principles of virginity.”

My jaw drops to the ground—which at this point isn’t all that far—but I pull myself together and recover my aplomb, rather admirably if I do say so myself. Let’s just take a breath here, shall we? I turn my attention to Reno, where I’ve wanted it to be this entire time, and I nuzzle his neck lightly, inhaling his delightfully sensuous fragrance.

Suddenly, as if from nowhere, a thick arm encircles Reno’s lovely throat, and a deep voice warns, “Back away from the Prince, very slowly. Perhaps I shall let you live.” It’s a newcomer to the party. Swyddogh, of course. Where the hell has he been?

Things begin to move in slow motion, as Reno grabs Swy’s arm, shielding my body with his own, and his brother grabs for his dagger. But it’s not there. Reno slowly rises, then throws an elbow back into his assailant’s ribs and with a lurch he throws my bodyguard over both our heads. He ends up lying before me, on his back, looking up into my eyes, as Reno smugly comments, “If this is the best you’ve got, your highness, you need better.”

His brother grabs for Reno’s arm. “We’d better be going. That’s his bodyguard you just assaulted, Reno. Plus we need to discuss what the hell we’re going to do.”

At the same time, both Luci and I cry out, “NOOOOOOOOOO!” Panic stricken, I  gaze up into Reno’s lovely eyes and comment regretfully, “I’ve got better, I was going to show you.”  I feel like both Luci and I are coming undone. I hope someone here has a calm head, ‘cause it’s not us.

The brother—what is his blasted name?—throws up his hands. “Okay, everybody calm down. We can’t talk about this here and Prince Cailean, you need to do something about this guy that’s growling at us. Is there someplace we can all go, somewhere away from the crowd?

Humph. Peasant. I give him one of my superior prince looks. “That, for your information, is my bodyguard and valet, Swyddogh. Where I go he goes. Well, within reason.” I whisper this last to Reno, as if to reassure him that there will not be three in the pleasure bed. “We may go inside, there are rooms in the palace where we will not be disturbed. Swy will make sure of that.”

Swyddogh nods, but I notice he gives Reno a wary look. Reno nods back, and now we’re all headed toward the palace. Reno gently helps me to my feet.  He wraps his arm around my waist, and kisses my temple; I lean against him, so very drawn to him that I would be inside his skin if I could, but the best I can manage at this moment is to be by his side. “So what are we going to tell them, my prince? I want you… I’m assuming you want me. But where do we go from  here, my beautiful princeling?”

My urge to be with Reno is very strong, I find that I’m unable and unwilling to separate from him. This passion is overruling every bit of judgment I possess, although some might say that isn’t very much, but those people are just jealous. This is an unusual position that I find myself in. Never before with the other men I have been with have I found myself in this position. I’ve always called the shots, always made the rules. But now I feel like I’m up in a tree, waiting for a large bird to carry me away—in other words, I have no idea what to do. “I do want to be with you,” I admit to him with unaccustomed candor, surprising even myself. “We have to… that is, we will… do something to ensure that we can be together.” I feel more sure of myself, even as I speak. “Yes, we shall be together.”

I think to glance at my sister and his brother. They seem rather cozy. Too cozy maybe. But perhaps that might work out to our advantage.

Reno gives me a bemused glance.  “I can see those wheels turning.” I smile enigmatically.

We enter the palace through a less used entrance, and down a hall, around a corner and into the library, Reno leading the way. Swy takes up a position just outside the door, once we enter the room. A large wooden desk sits in the middle of the room, while along each wall are floor to ceiling book shelves; our privacy is ensured by the complete lack of  windows. Good thinking on Reno’s part. He leads me to the desk and leans against it, pulling me in between his thighs. Luci and whatshisname take a seat on the leather sofa across from the desk, my sister sitting far too close for my taste.

“What are you thinking?” Reno whispers to me.

I glare at the two on the sofa, but return my attention and focus it upon Reno. “Well, I was thinking that my parents have given permission for you to court my sister, is that not so?”

Reno nods.

“So,” I continue, “there’ll be no problem with you coming to the palace on a regular basis. To see my sister.” Although I emphasize sister, I mean me, of course. “My sister cannot possibly see you without a chaperone. It wouldn’t be proper to do so. Therefore, I shall be her chaperone. And you must have one as well, in order to preserve propriety. Perhaps your brother?” I think he’s beginning to get a feel for the scheme now. I mark a trail along his jaw with my lips, losing myself in the moment. I hear my sister giggling, but I choose to ignore her.

“Mmm, you have a devious mind, I like that. Okay, so I come and visit, bringing Jaou with me. We do whatever it is we have planned in the eyes of your parents and then each go on our own ways?” I hear Reno’s moan as those kisses send shivers through his body that I can feel, and I suspect are responsible for making his cock stand up tall and proud as well.

.
“That’s brilliant,” the brother pipes up.  Jaou, I have to try to remember that. “As long as it’s okay with you, Luci. I wouldn’t dream of overstepping myself. I would be most honored to be able to spend time with one as lovely as you.” Oh brother.

I dart a glance at my sister, she’s blushing.

“I would be very  happy  to spend time with someone as handsome as you, Jaou.” She gives me a look, sees my unhappy scowl, and quickly attempts to forestall anything on my part.  “Knock it off, Kay! I’m not a child anymore! I grew up while you were away at school!”

I guess she did. A lot has happened in four years. Hell, a lot has happened here, in just a very short time. I feel as though my whole life has been turned upside down, but in a very pleasant way.

I continue to kiss Reno, the soft flesh beneath his chin, and down his neck. My hand seems to have a mind of its own; it tries to insinuate itself beneath Reno’s skirt. It’s probably just as well that we’re not in a really good position to do this, since there are witnesses in the room, one of whom is my baby sister.

“I think that’s a wonderful plan,” he agrees.

No one asks the obvious question—if a wedding date is set, what then? That seems too distant an eventuality to worry about at the moment. For right now, these arrangements are more than satisfactory.

§§§§§

“Of course it’s a wonderful plan, my princeling, you thought of it,” I tease him, whispering my taunts into his ear, for him alone to hear. “But it’s such a beautiful mind to hide such deviousness.”

“So everything is settled then, yes?” Jaou asks. “We have a plan. So who’s going to make nice with the crowd?”

As if he isn’t listening to anyone but me, my sweet prince whispers to me, “When will I be able to have you?” He touches me, mesmerized by me, his fingers trailing through the layers and multicolor of my hair. I know part of it’s the pheromones but not all. Not all.

“You know I don’t want to leave, I want to stay, but there’s no way we can do this tonight. We’ll come back soon. Maybe we can arrange to go riding in the country, or on a picnic? Would you like that, my little princeling? Then I’ll have you all to myself.” I kiss his temple, and each eye, and then the tip of his perky little nose, before I settle on devouring his lips. I nibble hungrily at his lower lip until I hear a small whimper escape them.

“Picnic and riding,” my brother affirms, “Yes, that sounds good. We can make that work.”

“You like that, my princeling?” I ask again.

Before Kay can reply either in the affirmative or otherwise, a snort is heard coming from the direction of the couch. A very unladylike snort, especially for a princess. All heads turn toward her, and Kay glowers.

“Kay ride? Make me laugh!” She snorts again. “I don’t think he knows one end of a horse from the other.” She continues to giggle, while my prince grows redder and redder, attempting to hide his face against my chest. I find it cute, although I suspect what his sister has said to be the truth, hence his embarrassment.

“You don’t ride? Never?” I give my brother a dismayed look. How can someone live in this world and not know how to ride a horse? Vehicles have become scarce in recent years as it has become ever harder to get parts with which to repair them. Horses, bicycles and carriages have become the primary mode of transportation. How can my little princeling not know how to ride?  “Well, if you truly don’t know, I guess I’ll just have to teach you.”

Now it’s Jaou’s turn to snort. “You teach? Yeah, right. Remember when you tried to teach me how to ride a bike last year. You damn near got me killed telling me to ride alongside of the river. You never told me how to stop. I damn near went off the cliff into the water.”

“But I like my little princeling,” I counter snarkily. “You were just being a pain in the ass. You’d been asking me for months, harping at me every time I turned around, begging me to teach you.”

Having lost this argument with me, my brother turns to the girl who sits beside him. “Do you ride, Luci?” Suddenly, he sounds shy. What’s up with that? I’ll have to give him shit for that. Except then he’d probably kid me about Kay. Maybe not such a good idea.

Luci offers him a demure yet provocative smile. “I ride very well, thank you.” Her tone leaves little doubt as to what she thinks of her brother’s lack of equestrianship. “I would love to ride with you, Jaou, and show you how well I ride.”

Kay begins to squawk, his feathers having been ruffled. “I don’t think I like the sound of that,  young lady!”

She sticks her tongue out at him, and links her arm inside of Jaou’s, snuggling closer to him, perhaps partially with the intention of pissing her brother off, but most apparently because of an attraction to my brother. Her flirting and wanton looks melt my concerns for my brother’s feelings in this scheme.

I see surprise on my brother’s face, and I suspect he’s feeling rather on top of the world as he draws her hand to his lips for a light kiss. Then he leans over and gently brushes his lips across her hair, chastely. He clutches her arm to his chest. “I’m glad you ride so well. We’ll be able to show these two how it’s done.” He chuckles, taking pleasure at Kay’s reddening face. I shall have to chastise him for that, later.

“Don’t worry, I’m an excellent teacher,” I whisper into Kay’s ear reassuringly. My tongue outlines the outer edge of that same ear, I feel Kay’s breathing catch at my touch. “I’m sure you’ll be riding soon… and not just horses.”

Kay’s face goes from embarrassed red to plumb purple at Jaou’s apparent familiarity with his sister. He makes a move as if to spring at him, but I hold him back with my arms. I soothe him, petting and nuzzling into his hair until he’s calm and makes no further attempt to jump on Jaou. He continues to glance hostilely at Jaou, in his best haughty prince manner. I’m getting used to it; he means no harm, really. And he’s so pretty when he feels powerful.

“Now, little princeling,” I soothe him, “he meant nothing by it… but I did.” I run my hand over his chest, grazing a pert nipple under the fabric, which elicits a hiss from Kay. “I wish we didn’t have to….” Voices outside the door interrupt and four heads swivel towards the door.

There are two voices. One is belligerent, while the other refuses to budge, until at last the first voice recedes into the distance, and Kay’s man pops his head through the door.

“Begging  your pardon, your highness, but one of Princess Liusaidh’s so-called suitors is nosing about, seeking her highness. Perhaps it would be best if no one was found here. Better safe than sorry.”

Kay sighs, but he does not disagree. “Very well,” he says, “we’ll be right out. He turns to me, and the look he gives me is very soulful, as if he is pouring out his heart to me. “I must see you again. Soon,” he pleads. My heart aches to have to leave and I can’t imagine how I’m going to find the strength to let him move away from me.

I card through his short dark hair, and look deeply into those soft silver eyes, which can be soft as down one moment, and hard as steel the next. “I need to see you too,” I assure him. “We’ll be together… soon.”  I lean in and Kay turns in my arms, and now we are chest to chest, our lips locked together in a soul touching kiss. As if we are trying to pass a wealth of feelings and assurances between us in a short moment of time. When we look up, Jaou and Luci have risen from the sofa and are gazing into one another’s eyes with a longing only matched by our own. With a reluctant sigh, we approach them.

I offer Princess Liusaidh my arm. “Shall we?”

“Let the farce begin,” Jaou says softly.

to be continued

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