Bedknobs and beanstalks, p.18
Bedknobs and Beanstalks, page 18
Karan frowned. He hated to see Tir so sad. How to make him smile? He poured him another drink. “To your eyes!"
Tir froze with the cup halfway to his mouth. “What?"
I will see that smile on your face again. “To your beautiful green eyes.” Karan toasted him.
Tir chuckled.
Well, that's promising. Karan poured them another round, mind racing. “And here's to your magnificent body—tail and all—that I've had the pleasure of observing.” His voice slurred. He gulped down the liquor and it burned a path down to his belly.
"My body?” Tir laughed out loud. His laughter rang like a great bell and made Karan feel warm and happy.
"Your body, your face...” Karan swallowed hard. “And here's to your smile, Tir. You should smile more often."
Tir's eyes were wide. His grip on the cup turned white. Then he did smile, that open smile that made Karan's heart flip over.
Karan rubbed his face. His head felt heavy. He tipped the last drop into his mouth, dropped the cup to the table and pulled the merman towards the cot.
"C'mon,” he slurred. “Sleep."
"S’ not evening yet.” Tir licked the rim of his cup. He could barely keep his eyes open.
"No matter. C'mon."
Karan managed to half drag, half push the merman onto the cot and crashed next to him, legs tangling with the long tail, his arms going around the merman's strong torso. He felt cool arms embrace him, and he smiled as sleep came over him.
* * * *
Karan woke to cool breath on his back, a steady heartbeat and hard muscles shifting against his shoulder blades.
He blinked. An arm draped over his ribs, heavy. Light from the window fell, golden, on the low table with the two empty cups.
Just how long had he slept?
Karan groaned and sat up. His head pounded and his stomach churned. He'd never drunk so much before.
He turned to Tir. The merman threw an arm over his eyes and rolled over. Blue hair fell on pale, broad shoulders.
Karan licked his lips, struggling to ignore his body's reaction to the sight, and got out of bed.
He set about to making a broth with what was left of the fish.
Daylight faded. Night came. The fire leaped in the hearth.
Sounds from the cot made Karan turn. Tir stared at him, face flickering in the dance of the flames. He looked tired and sad and plain gorgeous.
Karan closed his gaping mouth and gestured to the bubbling pot. “Dinner."
He made as if to turn back to the fire, but Tir stretched his body and Karan found he couldn't take his eyes off the merman. In that soft light, Tir worked his way down from the cot, muscles of his chest and arms bunching and rolling, his tail balancing for his acrobatic descent to the floor. He dragged himself closer to the hearth and his expression shifted from sadness to curiosity.
He sniffed. “Soup?"
"Fish soup. What else?"
"Merman soup.” Tir winked.
Karan's shoulders sagged. “I'm sorry for what you heard me say. You're...different."
"Cursed.” Tir curled up by the fire. “That is what I am."
Karan couldn't understand how such a strange creature could stir such strong emotions in him. What am I feeling? It was hard to spell it out; he had never felt like that before.
He reached out to twine his fingers in Tir's long hair, tugging gently.
The merman raised his face, eyebrows lifted, and caught Karan's hand. “Karan?"
Karan pulled his hand away. “Let's eat."
Tir stirred the soup in his bowl and stared into the flames. He pushed the bowl away, his soup untouched.
"Not good?” Karan didn't feel hungry, but forced himself to eat more.
"It is excellent.” Tir gave a tight smile. “I am sorry."
"For what?"
"For forcing my presence on you.” His tail moved sinuously on the floor. “It is the mermen's way, you see, to ask for a favor in return for help. I wanted to live like a mortal again. I did not think of your feelings."
Karan let his spoon drop in what was left of the soup. The merman's skin glowed in the firelight. The iridescent scales of his tail flashed, and his green eyes sparkled like jewels.
Karan leaned towards him, entranced. “I'm not sorry."
"You are not?” Tir blinked twice.
Karan wrapped his arms around the merman and kissed those parted lips.
Cool and soft, they tasted of rainwater and spice. Karan thrust his tongue into the merman's mouth, wanting to taste more. His arms tightened around the powerful back, feeling muscles glide beneath the skin. Tir's arms rose to Karan's shoulders, grasping them lightly, then more tightly as the kiss deepened.
The merman's body slid against Karan like water, caressing him. The tail slipped between Karan's legs and rose behind him to touch his back, making him shiver. He felt his nipples stiffen, his cock harden. He moaned into Tir's mouth. The merman's tail continued to rub between his legs through the cloth, against his crotch, sending pleasure to pool in his belly. Karan pulled back, panting.
The merman's face was full of wonder and his eyes glittered. Did he feel desire like Karan did? He had no genitals; the front of his torso where it merged into the shiny tail was flat and smooth. He was unexplored territory. What would give him pleasure?
Karan stroked along the small of Tir's back, until his fingers met cold scales. Tir's tail moved against Karan's groin, and sparks ignited his vision. He was so hard he felt about to explode.
The merman smiled.
"You're beautiful,” Karan whispered, and Tir's eyes widened a fraction. Then that naughty tail moved faster between Karan's legs, pushing against his aching cock, stroking his balls, pressing into the crack of his ass, and Karan cried out, coming in long shudders that sent him against the merman's chest. Tir's strong arms held him as he rocked against the tail. The pleasure intensified, made him sob for breath, then ebbed.
"Oh God.” Karan inhaled the fresh scent of the merman's skin and kissed his shoulder. “Your turn."
"My turn?” Tir stared at him unblinking. “What do you mean?"
Karan set his jaw. “I want to give you pleasure too. Tell me how. There must be a way."
Tir opened and closed his mouth several times, making Karan grin.
"Where, Tir?"
The merman shook his head. “Only the human part of my body feels pleasure."
Karan smiled and pushed the merman down to the floor. “Let me try."
He lowered himself and suckled on Tir's neck, biting and nuzzling. As Tir writhed beneath him, gasping breathlessly, Karan pressed his lips behind the merman's ear, inhaling the fresh scent of water there, and lightly bit and sucked on the small earlobe.
When his hands moved over Tir's chest, he found the small nipples erect. He pinched them and Tir groaned. Karan bent his head to lick and suck at each nipple in turn, his hands caressing Tir's flanks, moving down his flat stomach. He stroked and molded the cool flesh, and Tir arched his neck, moaning. His tail thrashed on the floor. Karan kissed a trail up to the merman's jaw, and followed its line up to the merman's temple, blowing into his ear. He licked the shell of the ear and tugged with his teeth at the earlobe. He tangled his hands in the blue mane and pulled Tir against him, feeling the strong body writhe.
Karan grew aroused again and his cock pressed against the laces of his leggings, begging to be freed. Tir's hands found the bulge and squeezed it. Karan grunted, turning Tir's head to kiss him again, long and deep.
Tir's hands loosened Karan's laces and Karan's control. He gasped when his cock sprang free to rub against the merman's belly.
"Karan...” Tir's whisper was full of his own need.
"Stay with me, Tir, don't ever go back to the water.” Karan pressed his lips to the merman's throat as a feeling of tenderness mingled with desire. “I think I love you."
A gust of wind twisted the flames in the hearth and a flash of lightning cast the hut in white light.
Karan's heart jumped in fear, and he fell back.
Tir threw his head back and let out a high-pitched, deafening wail that went on and on, finally ending with a deep moan.
"Tir, are you all right?"
Karan reached out to him, then recoiled. The merman's tail twisted and contorted and the pale green scales faded from the skin, turning into muted white.
Dear God, what's happening?
The tail split in two, separating like liquid mud. Tir's fingers dug into the floor and he keened. Long legs began to form and the very tip of his tail transformed into feet.
Joy made Karan's head swim. He's turning into a mortal man!
Between Tir's legs appeared evidence of his maleness. Karan gazed at the revealed cock and balls and licked his lips. He forced himself to look away, to focus on Tir's face. The tips of his blue hair turned jet black. Color wove its way up until it touched his face.
Like in my dream. Karan drew closer again. Only even more handsome.
Tir groaned again as his legs became more defined. His muscled calves twitched, his knees bent, his toes curled. He blinked, dazed. His arms wobbled. Then he looked down at himself and frowned. His jaw sagged. His eyes glittered. “Karan..."
Breathless, Karan scooted forward and placed his hands on Tir's thigh.
I can't believe it!
The words stuck in his throat. The flesh beneath his fingers was warm. Looking up, he saw Tir's cheeks color.
Karan smiled. “Tir, the curse's been lifted."
Tir's chest heaved. His lips trembled. “Come here."
Karan scooted closer, searching Tir's face for any sign of pain. But Tir caught the sides of Karan's face and kissed him. Now Tir tasted sweet like honey, and Karan felt himself hardening again.
Only now Tir hardened too. His cock reared and poked Karan in the hip.
"I much prefer this new tail.” Karan winked. “God, you're beautiful!"
He straddled Tir and kissed him again. He tasted so good.
Tir moaned when his erection rubbed against Karan's. Breathless, Tir rocked against him. “Undress. Now."
Surprised, Karan rose off him to comply. He pushed down his leggings and stepped out of them. Wrapping his fingers around his shaft, he stroked himself, biting his lip at the waves of pleasure.
Would Tir stay with him now? Who had he been before the curse?
Tir stood on unsteady legs, and stepped up to Karan, sending his thoughts to a stuttering stop. He pushed Karan back until he fell on the cot. Tir straddled his hips, erection jutting out, long dark hair framing his face.
Breathtaking. A whirlwind of emotions engulfed Karan: desire, awe, affection.
Tir leaned over him. “You are gorgeous, Karan. I have watched you for days and nights on your boat, pulling the nets, rowing. I could not stop looking."
Neither could I. "Tell me what you need."
Tir licked his lips. “You. To touch me."
Karan pulled Tir onto the bed and rolled him onto his back. “I would have begged for that."
He ran his hands over Tir's chest, then down to his groin. Tir observed his every move, panting, his hardness trembling against his belly. Karan caressed his balls, making Tir moan, stroked the cleft of his ass, then bent and took the big cock into his mouth.
Tir's moans filled Karan's ears as he sucked and pulled. He swirled his tongue around the hard rod of flesh, tasting him. Tir's hands fisted in his hair, holding tight, as if he was afraid to fall.
Fall, Tir. Fall into pleasure.
The hard body beneath Karan tensed and the hands in his hair tightened almost painfully, and Tir yelled, hips bucking, coming in hot, bitter spurts inside Karan's mouth. Karan grabbed Tir's rocking hips and pushed them down. The thick shaft in his mouth still spasmed.
He released it and drew back. Tir's face glowed. His cheeks were tinted with pink.
"I think you liked that,” said Karan.
"Yes."
Tir's throaty voice made Karan even harder, and his erection throbbed between his legs. “Last night I dreamed,” Karan gasped when Tir reached out and touched it, “that you did this to me, that you took me in your mouth."
"I did."
Karan looked up, startled. “You did?"
Tir grinned and stroked him harder. Karan bit back a groan. He knelt, leaning back on his hands. Tir bent over him, his cool hair tickling his legs, and took him into his hot mouth.
Karan nearly sobbed at the unbelievable pleasure. Tir pressed his lips around him, licked and sucked until Karan's balls tightened and pulled closer to his body. Karan's arms shook, his hips rolled, his pulse roared. He felt it begin, the deep contracting in his gut, the desire burning its way to his cock, and he cried out as orgasm hit him, rolling waves of exquisite pleasure. He rode them, pushing into Tir's mouth, his back arching, his buttocks clenching. He blinked the stars from his eyes.
Gasping for breath, he pulled Tir down to lie with him and wrapped his arms around him. Tir smiled and Karan smoothed back a strand of dark hair from his face.
God, what a smile!
He traced Tir's lips with his forefinger. “You're not a fisherman like me. You're from the upper class. I can hear it in the way you speak, I see it in the way you move. Who are you, really?"
Tir's eyes were bright. “I am the Duke of Kerrigan castle and the lands around it."
Karan's stomach dropped. A nobleman. He forced back the question that he needed to ask and asked another instead. “What happened to you? Why were you cursed?"
"I tried to force someone to love me.” Tir looked away from Karan. “I thought I could buy love, or take it by force if I wanted it. I thought the world was mine.” He rubbed his chest. “I might have never been punished for it, but the young man's mother was a witch, and she cursed me so."
Karan pulled the dark head to him, to rest against his heart. “You paid for it. Now it's done."
"She said I would be cursed forever because nobody would ever want me."
Karan wove his fingers in Tir's hair. “I want you.” And now you've made me love you, and you'll leave me to go back to your kind. “So you're going back, right? To your castle. How long has it been? Will you be all right?"
Tir pulled away from him. “Karan, will you stay with me?"
"Stay?” Karan's pulse roared. “Stay where?"
"With me, in my castle.” Tir caught Karan's hand. “As my companion and mate.” He squeezed it. “If you want."
Karan's mind froze. “And my mother?"
Tir laughed.
The sound calmed Karan, quieted his pounding heart. “Can she join us, too?"
Tir pushed Karan onto his back and bent over him, wearing that smile that had won Karan's heart. “Yes. Anything you want. Make this a happy ending.” He winked. “Both for me and for my tale."
Karan chuckled. “I'll do my best to keep your tail happy.” He closed his eyes, content. “And the rest of you."
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About the Authors
"I want to work with words!” That's been Lenore Black's ambition since she learned how to read. After trying out publishing and public relations, she took up a career as an advertising copy writer. Now, she's happy to add “fiction writer” to the resume. Lenore lives in Brooklyn and spends the time commuting on the subway daydreaming about men who love each other...and sometimes about the Yankees winning the World Series. Visit Lenore's Web site at lenorejblack.livejournal.com
S.J. Frost resides with her family on a mini-ranch with several spoiled pets, including some very special horses. Her short stories have been featured in the erotic and romance anthologies, Surfer Boys, Girls on Top, and Best Gay Romance 2007 Edition, all published by Cleis Press, Ultimate Gay Erotica 2008 and Best Gay Love Stories: Summer Flings, both published by Alyson Books, and Honey Flava, published by Atria Books. Her debut novel, Conquest, is to be published through MLR Press. Please feel welcome to visit her at www.sjfrost.com.
Mina Kelly lives in the historic city of York, where she gets paid to play with swords and cook from medieval recipes. She writes whenever circumstances gang up on her and has a special fondness for things that go bump in the night. She's had several short stories published under this name and others, and hopes to branch out into something longer soon. More info can be found at significantkinks.solelyfictional.org
Kilt Kilpatrick is the pen name of an Irish author sometimes called “the Ferris Bueller of San Francisco.” When he's not writing sexy stories for Ravenous Romance, he is a nonfiction writer, public speaker, Bay Area event organizer, and, somewhat oxymoronically, a biblical historian and atheist activist. He is linguistically promiscuous; he is conversant in Irish Gaelic and bits and pieces of about two dozen other languages, including Welsh, Breton, Hungarian, Japanese, Arabic, American Sign Language, Cherokee, Klingon, and Elvish. He loves reading, movies, dancing, and sex, and has been a saber fencer for over 25 years. He lives in San Francisco with his steady girlfriend and number-one fencing partner, Inara LaVey; also a writer. And yes, he does wear kilts. If you know anybody like that, it's probably him.
Mercy Loomis graduated from college one class short of an accidental certificate in folklore. She has a bachelor's degree in psychology, but don't hold that against her. Her favorite pastimes include practicing Urban Krav Maga, playing Rock Band, and studying ancient history. See what she's up to at mercyloomis.blogspot.com.
EM Lynley works in the wine industry, though she'd rather be writing hot, sexy man-on-man action. She spent ten years as an economist and financial analyst, including a year as a White House staff economist—but only because all the intern positions were filled. Tired of boring herself and others with dry business reports and articles, her creative muse is back and naughtier than ever. She has lived and worked in London, Tokyo, and Washington, D.C., but the San Francisco Bay Area is home for now. Visit her online at www.emlynley.com
Jay Di Meo is a world traveler and culture lover. She speaks five languages and has lived in several countries in Europe and Central America. Stories are her best friends, and her characters often confess their woes and secrets to her in dreams. Her interests include archaeology and mythology, folklore, and fantastic literature. Since she loves men, her writing includes as many hot boys as possible every time.
