Briar's Tale Post 1
BRIAR’S TALE
Author: Persephone 100
Characters: OC’s - mostly Briar, Briar’s POV
Beta: Thevina/Thrihyrne
Rating: NC 17
Spoilers: none
Synopsis: Briar has an experience that has a profound effect on him.
Disclaimer: All the characters, their world and all things Wraeththu belong to Storm Constantine, to whom I am very grateful.
Rain. I’ve never particularly liked it, even though sometimes a rainy day can be relaxing and give one time for retrospection but looking back on my life was something I avoided. Rain also meant I couldn’t drink my coffee on the rooftop garden. I always felt better up there where the air was fresh and I could imagine myself above all that was behind me as well as below me.
As I passively watched the trails of water trickle down the window, I sighed, thinking to myself they looked too much like tears. I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder. It was Naemien, my partner. I couldn’t call him my lover because I wasn’t in love with him, or my chesnari because I didn’t feel committed to him. He was my partner, the one I lived with, took aruna with, and the one with whom he shared the bounty of his success. He was the one I’d rooned, clawed and schemed my way up to be with. He was wealthy, powerful and strong, everything I’d thought I’d wanted. And here I was, his consort, with all the glamorous and luxurious trappings that went with that status.
He put his arm around me and kissed my cheek.
“A rainy day,” he said, “always seems to make my beautiful Briar sad and moody.”
He rubbed my back and whispered in my ear. “But no less gorgeous and desirable,” he added, kissing me on the neck.
“Well,” he said, stepping away. “I’ve got a meeting with some hara. I’ll probably be in my office and the conference room all day, but don’t concern yourself. I’ll have the serving hara bring us some sandwiches. See you at dinner, my lovely.”
I gave him a smile as he left, then continued gazing out the window. Part of my being Naemien’s partner involved my planning of all the parties and entertainment that was needed. I actually enjoyed that responsibility. I was also expected to be the perfect decoration for his arm and in his bed. He was kind to me and he was very handsome and a good lover. I enjoyed aruna with him and he never stopped telling me how much he wanted and admired me. I’d been very satisfied with our arrangement for almost seven years now, but…
Things had changed recently. I didn’t want them to but some events had made doubts creep into my psyche like vines can work their way into stone. My mind and heart had been a fortress; hard and impenetrable, able to stand all the slings and arrows aimed at it, but the vines…the insidious vines. I had no defense against the likes of them.
I shook off the thoughts for the moment and headed to my rooms to dress. I opened my closet, sarcastically amused, thinking that a family of four hara could have made it their living space, when I heard a voice. It was Lura, my personal servant.
“Good morning, tiahaar Briar,” he said with a slight bow of his head. Lura was subservient but with an air of elegance and cheerfulness. I’d liked him right away, and I don’t like many hara.
“How can I be of service today?”
“Can you make me happy?”
He looked a little shocked, his dark eyes widened in a bit of slight panic. I’m sure I confused him with my remark. I had to wonder what he was thinking.
I laughed. “Never mind, Lura. You’ve already lightened my mood.”
He looked relieved.
“You know, I don’t think I’ll even get dressed today. I’ll just stay in my dressing gown. But will you bring me a bottle of …” My mind went blank. I couldn’t think of the name of the very strong liquor I wanted him to fetch.
“Reyne, tiahaar?”
“Yes, yes that’s it. Thank you.”
Lura bowed and left.
Reyne. Just like what was falling from the sky. Why on earth had I not remembered its name? Maybe I wanted to forget.
Lura soon returned with the bottle as requested and I made myself comfortable in my large cushioned chair as he sat the bottle on the glass side table.
“That’s all for now, Lura. Thank you.”
“Very well, tiahaar.” He closed the door behind him.
I got a book and started to read but I was having so much trouble concentrating that I put it down. What was wrong with me? Why was I now questioning everything about who I was? Ever since the time after my inception I’d decided exactly who I was and who I’d be and nothing stopped me. I drank some more and then some more and finally the thoughts disappeared into the mist.
The next thing I knew, Lura was gently waking me.
“Tiahaar Briar? Tiahaar…?”
“Hmm? What is it? Something wrong?”
“No, tiahaar,” he said with an amused smile. “It’s just that it’s time to dress for dinner. Will you be dining downstairs with Naemien?”
“Oh, yes. Yes, of course. “ I answered, still groggy from my Reyne-y rainy day.
“Will you choose something for me, Lura?”
“Certainly.”
I went to splash cold water on my face and apply some cosmetics. When I returned, Lura was standing next to the bed where he’d laid out a black and purple pants outfit for me.
“That’s perfect, Lura, thank you. I won’t be needing you any more today.”
“Very well.”
At dinner, Naemien went on and on about his business dealings with the hara that day. Even though a lot of his dealings were unethical, he always told me about them. He trusted me completely.
“You’re awfully quiet tonight, my love. But I guess I haven’t given you much of a chance to get a word in. What did you do today?”
“Nothing,” I said, somewhat surprised at myself for that being the honest truth. “Absolutely nothing.”
Naemien looked amused. “Well, you’re entitled to that, my sweet.”
Later, as I sat brushing my hair before going to bed, Naemien came into my room. I smiled at him as he took the brush from me and took over. I closed my eyes. He knew I loved my hair brushed.
“Dark as a moonless night and soft as silk, “ he said. He put the brush on the vanity and whispered into my ear, “May I stay?”
“Of course,” I said, turning to share breath with him.
Naemien was a very attentive aruna partner and always left me satisfied. He had a strong rather masculine body and there wasn’t much hint of his soume side apparent, even though we switched roles in aruna on a regular basis. I found myself truly wishing that I loved him, but I didn’t. I’d never loved anyhar and probably never would. Every har I’d been with had been either a means to an end or an object of pure lust for me, nothing more. I fell asleep to the sound of Naemien’s soft breathing.
====~***~====
Darkness. Murky darkness and a musty smell. Where was I? Voices. Other hara were here, but no. We weren’t hara. I was a boy, a young boy. So were the others. All encompassing fear. Crying, weeping, fear was all around us.
Then a flood of light, a slam of a door, footsteps, ominous footsteps. Several tall beings talking to each other.
“Bring that lamp over here.”
Big heavy boots and no shirt. Who was he? What did he want?
He knelt over me, held me down with one arm and slashed my other one and his own with a knife.
Pain. Searing pain. Why was he killing me? What had I done? He held my bloodied arm with his. Why would he stop the bleeding?
Quiet. Dark again and quiet. I knew I would die.
Delirium, horrendous pain, screams and hallucinations. Why did I go to hell? Had I been so bad?
Nothingness. Finally, blessed nothingness.
Light. No pain, just weakness.
Another tall being.
“This one.” He pointed to me. “Clean him, feed him and bring him to me.”
A squeaky cot, hands all over me, grunting and laughter. Violation, one after another. “Help, help me, help me!!!”
“Briar? Briar! Wake up!”
I opened my eyes, sat up, realizing I’d been awakened in a cold sweat. Naemien turned the bedside lamp on as I tried to catch my breath. He took me into his arms, stroking my hair.
“The inception dream again?” He asked.
I nodded.
“Let me get you a drink.”
I downed it and two more gratefully.
“Okay now? Do you want to try to sleep? Want the light on?”
I nodded to the affirmative for all three and let Naemien hold me until I fell asleep.
~*===**===*~
For the next several days I hardly saw Naemien. He was busy with his business and if he was rooning, it wasn’t with me. He hadn’t come to my room. We weren’t jealous of each other and gave each other free rein to roon others to our heart’s content. I sometimes pondered about that. We’re told that hara shouldn’t be selfish with each other, but ours was a partnership of convenience so it wasn’t a matter of being unselfish, it was more a matter of indifference.
I’d always been able to avoid looking back. I did what I had to do. No regrets, no reexamination, no guilt. That was counterproductive and useless to me, and I’d never had a problem adhering to that code of mine--until now.
Just before I’d taken up with Naemien, I’d lived with a fairly successful har named Leath. He was gorgeous, ambitious, strong and streetwise. He worked for Naemien and it didn’t take him long to rise to the rank of one of his most valued employees. But once I’d been introduced to Naemien, seen his opulent dwelling unit in the sky and realized he was the har at the top, it was all over for Leath and me. I set my sights on Naemien and didn’t have any trouble getting him. I’d always been able to get what I wanted using my beauty, brains, determination and seductive skills.
When I left all the other hara I’d used on my way up, it had been no big deal. But Leath--poor Leath--had actually had the misfortune of falling in love with me. Of course that didn’t stop me. But the sight of that beautiful strong har begging me to stay, tears on his face, desperation in his eyes, still has the power to haunt me if I let it. He’s the only one I ever even gave a thought about after I’d left him.
Because he was a favored employee of Naemien’s our paths had to cross occasionally. When they did, he looked at me with a loathing I knew could only have come from my having scorned him. Sometimes I felt bad for him but that was his problem after all, wasn’t it? I didn’t tell him to fall for me did I? The fact that he abhorred me actually made me feel better.
Whenever he showed up at one of our dinners or parties, he was always alone. I also knew he lived alone and being the fucked up har that I am, I took satisfaction in the knowledge that I was irreplaceable to him. But one day that changed. He’d found two abandoned young hara - twins - in the wild and had taken them in. He brought them to a party and for the first time, I felt a twinge of jealousy; an almost alien feeling for me. I’d grown accustomed to the fact that Leath never got over me and it bothered me that two lovely young twin hara were his ’houseguests’ as he introduced them. At first I shook the feelings off and laughed at myself for even having them for a moment. But that was the first ‘vine’. It sprouted and took root and grew.
I wasn’t in love with Leath, but I didn’t want any other har to have him either. I didn’t like the way I felt. It distracted me and made me angry, so I decided to do something about it. I seduced Vasha, one of the twins. I knew he had a large crush on me and after quickly rooning him on a rooftop chaise, I showed up at Leath’s several days later to take aruna with my new young lover. The desired effect was almost immediate. Leath got angry and asked him to leave, then I showed up and had a night of aruna with Leath. I thought I’d gotten the situation back to where I wanted it but Leath threw me out, telling me he was over me and to never come back.
I was angry and vowed revenge, but I never did anything more. Later I found out Leath was in love with the other twin, Vesta. They became chesna and had twin harlings of their own. Then I heard they’d blood bonded.
For the first time in many years, I felt defeated, rejected and I had to surrender to the fact that I wasn’t invincible. A bit of a hard lesson for a har like me. So here I am in my ‘penthouse’ where I’d always aspired to be. I sighed, wondering why in the world I was feeling dissatisfied. And why now?
I continued sipping my wine until my reverie was interrupted.
“Hello, beautiful!” Naemien said, grinning as he came over, gave me a peck on the cheek and sat beside me.
“I’m sorry I’ve been so busy lately but I wanted to make sure we had dinner together this evening. Business before pleasure, you know.”
“Well, you wouldn’t be where you are if that hadn’t always been your policy.”
“True, very true. I knew you’d understand. You always do.”
==~***~==
After dinner, we sat on the lower balcony with some liqueur.
“Oh, I want to throw a party this weekend,” Naemien said. “I’ve hired quite a few new hara and I want to welcome and impress them. Does that give you enough time to plan and orchestrate everything?”
I nodded, grateful to have something to occupy my time, and more importantly, my thoughts.
“Yes, that’s plenty of time. I’ll start tomorrow.”
“Good! I know with you in charge it will be perfect as usual.”
He touched his glass to mine with a smile. “To you, my beauty.”
Naemien gave me all the information I needed to start planning the party. There would be cocktails and hors’doeuvres, dinner and partying until all hours in the clubroom afterwards. I spent the week planning and making sure everything was taken care of. It was my forte and I enjoyed it. Well, my real forte was seduction, but party planning ran a close second. I decided to decorate everything in gold and black: black tablecloths, gold flatware, plates and serving dishes, etc. I even insisted on very dim lighting of the chandeliers, with golden candlelight the means of illuminating the dining room. If Naemien wanted to impress the new hara, I’d make it happen.
The night of the party I decided to even dress in black and wear gold jewelry. I hoped it wasn’t too much, but that’s what I wanted. As I sat at my vanity applying the finishing touch, some red lip color, Naemien came into my room. He was dressed for the party, his dark hair slicked back into a short ponytail.
“You look ravishing, my sweet, as usual. Every har will be jealous of me.”
“Every har would be jealous of you without me in the mix.”
“But not AS jealous,” he said, laughing. “Well, our guests will be arriving soon. See you downstairs.”
“I’ll be right there.”
I looked at my reflection and sighed. Another party, perfectly planned and about to be perfectly executed. I just couldn’t get excited about it or anything else, it seemed. Little did I know that was about to change or what was in store for me that night.
As the guests began to arrive, I took my place beside Naemien and greeted them as they entered. It was all pretty routine, until I felt something as I took the hand of one of the guests in greeting. I looked up into the most unique light brown eyes I’d ever seen. A handsome, tawny-haired har nodded to me as he held on to my hand just enough longer than necessary for it to be meaningful. As he walked away, he glanced back at me over his shoulder with an almost imperceptible flirtatious smile. I blinked and stared, feeling butterflies in my stomach, then I became flustered. It was so unlike me! I looked around but no har seemed to notice, least of all, Naemien who was busy bullshitting with one of his flunkies. I collected myself and concentrated on the task at hand.
When no more guests appeared at the door, we began to partake of drinks and hor’deurves. I found myself searching the crowd for the golden-eyed har that had so affected me. I finally found him across the room, talking with several hara. He looked over suddenly and caught me staring. I quickly looked away, embarrassed. What was wrong with me? Usually if I was attracted to a har I walked right up to him and began turning on the charm, beginning my seduction. They would be the one to get flustered. Was I losing my touch? I quickly grabbed another glass of sparkling wine and downed it.
At dinner, the har was seated far down the large table from me, so I made conversation with the hara around me but I couldn’t help stealing glances at him. Later when we’d retired to have some after dinner drinks, I didn’t see him. I became very disappointed, thinking he’d left early. Also I chided myself for not even catching his name.
However, when we all filed into the clubroom, he was there near the raised stage talking to one of the members of the band I’d hired. I went to the bar at the side of the room and got myself a bottle of something strong and a glass. I then sat alone at one of the tables.
Naemien was in his element, laughing, showing off and generally being the brash but gracious host.
While the band was tuning up, the only har I considered even close to being a friend, Tamira, came over and sat with me for a while. When the music started, his chesnari came over and they went off to dance.
After a few drinks, I began to feel more like myself again and considered in my mind why I was so disquieted by the tawny-haired har. Maybe he’d just taken me by surprise or maybe Leath’s rejection had affected me more than I cared to admit. I had just decided to find him and ask him to dance when I looked up to see him standing right in front of me, his hand extended.
“Care to dance?” he asked smiling.
“I’d love to,” I answered, hoping I sounded cool and collected.
He placed his hands on my hips as I placed mine on his shoulders.
“I’m Andwin, by the way.”
“My name is--”
“Briar. I know,” he interrupted, grinning. “Naemien’s chesnari. I see the rumors are true.”
“Rumors? What rumors?”
“About your legendary beauty, of course.”
“I see. Well, I’m sure there are a lot of others as well. Not all of them are true, I’m sure. For instance, Naemien and I are not chesna.”
“Well, it wouldn’t matter to me if you were.”
“What does that mean?”
He laughed and didn’t give me an answer. When the music ended, I asked him to join me at my table for a drink. I ordered a glass for him and we sat down.
“Nice place you have here,” he said, downing his first glass all at once.
“We like it.”
“How long have you and Naemien been, uh…whatever you are to each other?”
“Seven years.” I knew he wanted me to elaborate but I didn’t.
“Long time,” he remarked as he poured himself a refill. “I couldn’t stay with one har that long.”
“Wouldn’t that depend on the har?” I said with my most seductive smile. “Besides, like most hara, we certainly aren’t exclusive.”
“Well, that’s good to know.”
I decided to change the subject.
“In what capacity has Naemien hired you?”
“Courier,” he replied, downing his second glass in one gulp. He gave me a wily smile and added, “For now.”
I smiled back. “So you’re ambitious.”
He leaned closer. “Very.”
He swilled down a third glass and said, “Come on. Dance with me.”
We positioned ourselves as before but soon he slid his hand down to my backside. I gave him a “look.” He gave me a lustful half-smile. I pressed myself against him and laid my head on his shoulder. He held me tighter and nuzzled my ear.
“Briar,” he whispered. “I think you’re my kind of har.”
“And what kind might that be?”
“Gorgeous, available and willing.”
We laughed together. He was really turning me on.
“I hear you have a rooftop garden with an amazing view of the city,” he said brushing the hair out of my eyes and looking into them. “Would you show it to me?”
“Gladly. Follow me.”
He grabbed the bottle of liquor and we headed for the roof. I took him back through the dining room to the stairway. Once on the roof, I led him to the railing to look over Metrarkka. There below us were the myriad lights of the large city and above us were twinkling stars and a silver half moon.
“Wow! It’s beautiful,” he enthused, swilling from the bottle and offering it to me.
“Yes, it is.”
He took the bottle from me, sat it down and gazing lustfully into my eyes, he pulled me to him and pressed his lips to mine. Soon we began kissing more passionately which led to our sharing breath, the silken feel of his tongue on mine. He showed me black swirling clouds with lightening flashing between them and dark rough waters. I sent him images of my desire from deep within me.
“Mmmm, you’re myrrh and black roses,” he murmured, pulling us together at the hips and kissing my throat. I was overwhelmed with my need for him: his scent, the feel of his lips on my skin, and the hardness of his ouana-lim against me. I felt weak in the knees as I became soume and managed breathlessly, “Come to my room.”
I led him down the spiral staircase that went from the rooftop directly to my rooms. Once we were inside I turned on a small lamp and locked the door. I walked back toward him as he stood next to the bed. I removed my top and began to undo his shirt that laced up the front. When we were half undressed, he grabbed me into an embrace and once again we shared breath. Afterward, I stepped back and removed my pants. He looked me up and down with awed approval and a decidedly feral look in his eye.
“Gods, I’ve never seen a more beautiful har,” he said, admiration clearly evident in his tone.
I slowly moved back to him and with my lips to his, undid his pants. As I touched him, he moaned and kissed me more fervently. I peeled his skintight pants down and he stepped out of them. He laid me back on the bed and began to kiss and nip my neck. When he flowered in my hands, I rolled us over, quickly positioning myself above him and placed him inside me. As I slowly sank down on him, I felt pleasured shivers slither up my spine and all through me. I couldn’t help my noises as we moved together. As I placed my hands on either side of him my eyes fluttered closed as all I could feel was the luscious sensation of his ouana-lim inside me awakening all my sikras. Soon I felt the ecstatic spasms of release pulse through my body and as they began to subside, I heard him gasp and felt his ouana-lim throbbing inside me.
I collapsed on top of him and we both lay there catching our breath and coming back to ourselves.
Finally, I moved off him and lay beside him, my head on his chest. He leafed his fingers through my hair and over my back as our bodies cooled.
“You’re really something,” he said.
“You’re not bad yourself,” I replied, chuckling.
“You got anything to drink?” he asked.
“I’ll get it,” I said as I got up. First I went into my bathroom and cleaned myself a bit, then as I went to retrieve a bottle on the side table, I threw him a clean towel. He watched as I came back to bed with the bottle.
“I could look at you all day,” he remarked.
“How about all night?” I queried, smiling.
“That, too,” he answered, after taking a huge gulp of Reyne.
We shared the bottle and in a short while he placed it on the bedside table. I lay next to him and began to run my thumb and then my lips and tongue over his nipple.
“Mmmm,” he purred. “How did you know that one roon with you wouldn’t be enough for me?”
“Just a guess, I…”
He silenced me with his mouth on mine and we set off on another arunic romp, with me being ouana. After our second time, we both fell asleep.
At some point in the night I was awakened by the sound of Andwin getting dressed. I was a little disappointed.
“You’re leaving?”
“Yes, I think I’d better. Not that you aren’t tempting,” he said with a roguish smile.
“I meant it when I told you Naemien and I aren’t at all exclusive with each other.”
“I know, but I don’t think it would do for me to show up at his breakfast table with you. After all, he just hired me.”
I heaved a sigh. “As you like,” I said, uncovering myself and gazing lustfully into his eyes. “Are you sure you want to go?” I asked in what I hoped was my sexiest voice.
“Gods! Don’t do this to me!”
“Do what?” I rolled over and gave him a coquettish smile.
“Auugghh!” He exclaimed as he ripped off his pants and shirt and pounced on me. After yet another delectable bout of aruna, he got up and got dressed again.
“I really have to go this time!”
“Alright, I guess I understand ,” I said, giving him a teasing smile.
After he was dressed, he knelt on the bed, kissed me and said, “We really must do this again sometime. Sometime soon.”
“Yes, we must.”
He left quickly after that, giving me a smile over his shoulder just before he closed the door behind him.
~~``***to be continued***``~~
Author: Persephone 100
Characters: OC’s - mostly Briar, Briar’s POV
Beta: Thevina/Thrihyrne
Rating: NC 17
Spoilers: none
Synopsis: Briar has an experience that has a profound effect on him.
Disclaimer: All the characters, their world and all things Wraeththu belong to Storm Constantine, to whom I am very grateful.
Rain. I’ve never particularly liked it, even though sometimes a rainy day can be relaxing and give one time for retrospection but looking back on my life was something I avoided. Rain also meant I couldn’t drink my coffee on the rooftop garden. I always felt better up there where the air was fresh and I could imagine myself above all that was behind me as well as below me.
As I passively watched the trails of water trickle down the window, I sighed, thinking to myself they looked too much like tears. I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder. It was Naemien, my partner. I couldn’t call him my lover because I wasn’t in love with him, or my chesnari because I didn’t feel committed to him. He was my partner, the one I lived with, took aruna with, and the one with whom he shared the bounty of his success. He was the one I’d rooned, clawed and schemed my way up to be with. He was wealthy, powerful and strong, everything I’d thought I’d wanted. And here I was, his consort, with all the glamorous and luxurious trappings that went with that status.
He put his arm around me and kissed my cheek.
“A rainy day,” he said, “always seems to make my beautiful Briar sad and moody.”
He rubbed my back and whispered in my ear. “But no less gorgeous and desirable,” he added, kissing me on the neck.
“Well,” he said, stepping away. “I’ve got a meeting with some hara. I’ll probably be in my office and the conference room all day, but don’t concern yourself. I’ll have the serving hara bring us some sandwiches. See you at dinner, my lovely.”
I gave him a smile as he left, then continued gazing out the window. Part of my being Naemien’s partner involved my planning of all the parties and entertainment that was needed. I actually enjoyed that responsibility. I was also expected to be the perfect decoration for his arm and in his bed. He was kind to me and he was very handsome and a good lover. I enjoyed aruna with him and he never stopped telling me how much he wanted and admired me. I’d been very satisfied with our arrangement for almost seven years now, but…
Things had changed recently. I didn’t want them to but some events had made doubts creep into my psyche like vines can work their way into stone. My mind and heart had been a fortress; hard and impenetrable, able to stand all the slings and arrows aimed at it, but the vines…the insidious vines. I had no defense against the likes of them.
I shook off the thoughts for the moment and headed to my rooms to dress. I opened my closet, sarcastically amused, thinking that a family of four hara could have made it their living space, when I heard a voice. It was Lura, my personal servant.
“Good morning, tiahaar Briar,” he said with a slight bow of his head. Lura was subservient but with an air of elegance and cheerfulness. I’d liked him right away, and I don’t like many hara.
“How can I be of service today?”
“Can you make me happy?”
He looked a little shocked, his dark eyes widened in a bit of slight panic. I’m sure I confused him with my remark. I had to wonder what he was thinking.
I laughed. “Never mind, Lura. You’ve already lightened my mood.”
He looked relieved.
“You know, I don’t think I’ll even get dressed today. I’ll just stay in my dressing gown. But will you bring me a bottle of …” My mind went blank. I couldn’t think of the name of the very strong liquor I wanted him to fetch.
“Reyne, tiahaar?”
“Yes, yes that’s it. Thank you.”
Lura bowed and left.
Reyne. Just like what was falling from the sky. Why on earth had I not remembered its name? Maybe I wanted to forget.
Lura soon returned with the bottle as requested and I made myself comfortable in my large cushioned chair as he sat the bottle on the glass side table.
“That’s all for now, Lura. Thank you.”
“Very well, tiahaar.” He closed the door behind him.
I got a book and started to read but I was having so much trouble concentrating that I put it down. What was wrong with me? Why was I now questioning everything about who I was? Ever since the time after my inception I’d decided exactly who I was and who I’d be and nothing stopped me. I drank some more and then some more and finally the thoughts disappeared into the mist.
The next thing I knew, Lura was gently waking me.
“Tiahaar Briar? Tiahaar…?”
“Hmm? What is it? Something wrong?”
“No, tiahaar,” he said with an amused smile. “It’s just that it’s time to dress for dinner. Will you be dining downstairs with Naemien?”
“Oh, yes. Yes, of course. “ I answered, still groggy from my Reyne-y rainy day.
“Will you choose something for me, Lura?”
“Certainly.”
I went to splash cold water on my face and apply some cosmetics. When I returned, Lura was standing next to the bed where he’d laid out a black and purple pants outfit for me.
“That’s perfect, Lura, thank you. I won’t be needing you any more today.”
“Very well.”
At dinner, Naemien went on and on about his business dealings with the hara that day. Even though a lot of his dealings were unethical, he always told me about them. He trusted me completely.
“You’re awfully quiet tonight, my love. But I guess I haven’t given you much of a chance to get a word in. What did you do today?”
“Nothing,” I said, somewhat surprised at myself for that being the honest truth. “Absolutely nothing.”
Naemien looked amused. “Well, you’re entitled to that, my sweet.”
Later, as I sat brushing my hair before going to bed, Naemien came into my room. I smiled at him as he took the brush from me and took over. I closed my eyes. He knew I loved my hair brushed.
“Dark as a moonless night and soft as silk, “ he said. He put the brush on the vanity and whispered into my ear, “May I stay?”
“Of course,” I said, turning to share breath with him.
Naemien was a very attentive aruna partner and always left me satisfied. He had a strong rather masculine body and there wasn’t much hint of his soume side apparent, even though we switched roles in aruna on a regular basis. I found myself truly wishing that I loved him, but I didn’t. I’d never loved anyhar and probably never would. Every har I’d been with had been either a means to an end or an object of pure lust for me, nothing more. I fell asleep to the sound of Naemien’s soft breathing.
====~***~====
Darkness. Murky darkness and a musty smell. Where was I? Voices. Other hara were here, but no. We weren’t hara. I was a boy, a young boy. So were the others. All encompassing fear. Crying, weeping, fear was all around us.
Then a flood of light, a slam of a door, footsteps, ominous footsteps. Several tall beings talking to each other.
“Bring that lamp over here.”
Big heavy boots and no shirt. Who was he? What did he want?
He knelt over me, held me down with one arm and slashed my other one and his own with a knife.
Pain. Searing pain. Why was he killing me? What had I done? He held my bloodied arm with his. Why would he stop the bleeding?
Quiet. Dark again and quiet. I knew I would die.
Delirium, horrendous pain, screams and hallucinations. Why did I go to hell? Had I been so bad?
Nothingness. Finally, blessed nothingness.
Light. No pain, just weakness.
Another tall being.
“This one.” He pointed to me. “Clean him, feed him and bring him to me.”
A squeaky cot, hands all over me, grunting and laughter. Violation, one after another. “Help, help me, help me!!!”
“Briar? Briar! Wake up!”
I opened my eyes, sat up, realizing I’d been awakened in a cold sweat. Naemien turned the bedside lamp on as I tried to catch my breath. He took me into his arms, stroking my hair.
“The inception dream again?” He asked.
I nodded.
“Let me get you a drink.”
I downed it and two more gratefully.
“Okay now? Do you want to try to sleep? Want the light on?”
I nodded to the affirmative for all three and let Naemien hold me until I fell asleep.
~*===**===*~
For the next several days I hardly saw Naemien. He was busy with his business and if he was rooning, it wasn’t with me. He hadn’t come to my room. We weren’t jealous of each other and gave each other free rein to roon others to our heart’s content. I sometimes pondered about that. We’re told that hara shouldn’t be selfish with each other, but ours was a partnership of convenience so it wasn’t a matter of being unselfish, it was more a matter of indifference.
I’d always been able to avoid looking back. I did what I had to do. No regrets, no reexamination, no guilt. That was counterproductive and useless to me, and I’d never had a problem adhering to that code of mine--until now.
Just before I’d taken up with Naemien, I’d lived with a fairly successful har named Leath. He was gorgeous, ambitious, strong and streetwise. He worked for Naemien and it didn’t take him long to rise to the rank of one of his most valued employees. But once I’d been introduced to Naemien, seen his opulent dwelling unit in the sky and realized he was the har at the top, it was all over for Leath and me. I set my sights on Naemien and didn’t have any trouble getting him. I’d always been able to get what I wanted using my beauty, brains, determination and seductive skills.
When I left all the other hara I’d used on my way up, it had been no big deal. But Leath--poor Leath--had actually had the misfortune of falling in love with me. Of course that didn’t stop me. But the sight of that beautiful strong har begging me to stay, tears on his face, desperation in his eyes, still has the power to haunt me if I let it. He’s the only one I ever even gave a thought about after I’d left him.
Because he was a favored employee of Naemien’s our paths had to cross occasionally. When they did, he looked at me with a loathing I knew could only have come from my having scorned him. Sometimes I felt bad for him but that was his problem after all, wasn’t it? I didn’t tell him to fall for me did I? The fact that he abhorred me actually made me feel better.
Whenever he showed up at one of our dinners or parties, he was always alone. I also knew he lived alone and being the fucked up har that I am, I took satisfaction in the knowledge that I was irreplaceable to him. But one day that changed. He’d found two abandoned young hara - twins - in the wild and had taken them in. He brought them to a party and for the first time, I felt a twinge of jealousy; an almost alien feeling for me. I’d grown accustomed to the fact that Leath never got over me and it bothered me that two lovely young twin hara were his ’houseguests’ as he introduced them. At first I shook the feelings off and laughed at myself for even having them for a moment. But that was the first ‘vine’. It sprouted and took root and grew.
I wasn’t in love with Leath, but I didn’t want any other har to have him either. I didn’t like the way I felt. It distracted me and made me angry, so I decided to do something about it. I seduced Vasha, one of the twins. I knew he had a large crush on me and after quickly rooning him on a rooftop chaise, I showed up at Leath’s several days later to take aruna with my new young lover. The desired effect was almost immediate. Leath got angry and asked him to leave, then I showed up and had a night of aruna with Leath. I thought I’d gotten the situation back to where I wanted it but Leath threw me out, telling me he was over me and to never come back.
I was angry and vowed revenge, but I never did anything more. Later I found out Leath was in love with the other twin, Vesta. They became chesna and had twin harlings of their own. Then I heard they’d blood bonded.
For the first time in many years, I felt defeated, rejected and I had to surrender to the fact that I wasn’t invincible. A bit of a hard lesson for a har like me. So here I am in my ‘penthouse’ where I’d always aspired to be. I sighed, wondering why in the world I was feeling dissatisfied. And why now?
I continued sipping my wine until my reverie was interrupted.
“Hello, beautiful!” Naemien said, grinning as he came over, gave me a peck on the cheek and sat beside me.
“I’m sorry I’ve been so busy lately but I wanted to make sure we had dinner together this evening. Business before pleasure, you know.”
“Well, you wouldn’t be where you are if that hadn’t always been your policy.”
“True, very true. I knew you’d understand. You always do.”
==~***~==
After dinner, we sat on the lower balcony with some liqueur.
“Oh, I want to throw a party this weekend,” Naemien said. “I’ve hired quite a few new hara and I want to welcome and impress them. Does that give you enough time to plan and orchestrate everything?”
I nodded, grateful to have something to occupy my time, and more importantly, my thoughts.
“Yes, that’s plenty of time. I’ll start tomorrow.”
“Good! I know with you in charge it will be perfect as usual.”
He touched his glass to mine with a smile. “To you, my beauty.”
Naemien gave me all the information I needed to start planning the party. There would be cocktails and hors’doeuvres, dinner and partying until all hours in the clubroom afterwards. I spent the week planning and making sure everything was taken care of. It was my forte and I enjoyed it. Well, my real forte was seduction, but party planning ran a close second. I decided to decorate everything in gold and black: black tablecloths, gold flatware, plates and serving dishes, etc. I even insisted on very dim lighting of the chandeliers, with golden candlelight the means of illuminating the dining room. If Naemien wanted to impress the new hara, I’d make it happen.
The night of the party I decided to even dress in black and wear gold jewelry. I hoped it wasn’t too much, but that’s what I wanted. As I sat at my vanity applying the finishing touch, some red lip color, Naemien came into my room. He was dressed for the party, his dark hair slicked back into a short ponytail.
“You look ravishing, my sweet, as usual. Every har will be jealous of me.”
“Every har would be jealous of you without me in the mix.”
“But not AS jealous,” he said, laughing. “Well, our guests will be arriving soon. See you downstairs.”
“I’ll be right there.”
I looked at my reflection and sighed. Another party, perfectly planned and about to be perfectly executed. I just couldn’t get excited about it or anything else, it seemed. Little did I know that was about to change or what was in store for me that night.
As the guests began to arrive, I took my place beside Naemien and greeted them as they entered. It was all pretty routine, until I felt something as I took the hand of one of the guests in greeting. I looked up into the most unique light brown eyes I’d ever seen. A handsome, tawny-haired har nodded to me as he held on to my hand just enough longer than necessary for it to be meaningful. As he walked away, he glanced back at me over his shoulder with an almost imperceptible flirtatious smile. I blinked and stared, feeling butterflies in my stomach, then I became flustered. It was so unlike me! I looked around but no har seemed to notice, least of all, Naemien who was busy bullshitting with one of his flunkies. I collected myself and concentrated on the task at hand.
When no more guests appeared at the door, we began to partake of drinks and hor’deurves. I found myself searching the crowd for the golden-eyed har that had so affected me. I finally found him across the room, talking with several hara. He looked over suddenly and caught me staring. I quickly looked away, embarrassed. What was wrong with me? Usually if I was attracted to a har I walked right up to him and began turning on the charm, beginning my seduction. They would be the one to get flustered. Was I losing my touch? I quickly grabbed another glass of sparkling wine and downed it.
At dinner, the har was seated far down the large table from me, so I made conversation with the hara around me but I couldn’t help stealing glances at him. Later when we’d retired to have some after dinner drinks, I didn’t see him. I became very disappointed, thinking he’d left early. Also I chided myself for not even catching his name.
However, when we all filed into the clubroom, he was there near the raised stage talking to one of the members of the band I’d hired. I went to the bar at the side of the room and got myself a bottle of something strong and a glass. I then sat alone at one of the tables.
Naemien was in his element, laughing, showing off and generally being the brash but gracious host.
While the band was tuning up, the only har I considered even close to being a friend, Tamira, came over and sat with me for a while. When the music started, his chesnari came over and they went off to dance.
After a few drinks, I began to feel more like myself again and considered in my mind why I was so disquieted by the tawny-haired har. Maybe he’d just taken me by surprise or maybe Leath’s rejection had affected me more than I cared to admit. I had just decided to find him and ask him to dance when I looked up to see him standing right in front of me, his hand extended.
“Care to dance?” he asked smiling.
“I’d love to,” I answered, hoping I sounded cool and collected.
He placed his hands on my hips as I placed mine on his shoulders.
“I’m Andwin, by the way.”
“My name is--”
“Briar. I know,” he interrupted, grinning. “Naemien’s chesnari. I see the rumors are true.”
“Rumors? What rumors?”
“About your legendary beauty, of course.”
“I see. Well, I’m sure there are a lot of others as well. Not all of them are true, I’m sure. For instance, Naemien and I are not chesna.”
“Well, it wouldn’t matter to me if you were.”
“What does that mean?”
He laughed and didn’t give me an answer. When the music ended, I asked him to join me at my table for a drink. I ordered a glass for him and we sat down.
“Nice place you have here,” he said, downing his first glass all at once.
“We like it.”
“How long have you and Naemien been, uh…whatever you are to each other?”
“Seven years.” I knew he wanted me to elaborate but I didn’t.
“Long time,” he remarked as he poured himself a refill. “I couldn’t stay with one har that long.”
“Wouldn’t that depend on the har?” I said with my most seductive smile. “Besides, like most hara, we certainly aren’t exclusive.”
“Well, that’s good to know.”
I decided to change the subject.
“In what capacity has Naemien hired you?”
“Courier,” he replied, downing his second glass in one gulp. He gave me a wily smile and added, “For now.”
I smiled back. “So you’re ambitious.”
He leaned closer. “Very.”
He swilled down a third glass and said, “Come on. Dance with me.”
We positioned ourselves as before but soon he slid his hand down to my backside. I gave him a “look.” He gave me a lustful half-smile. I pressed myself against him and laid my head on his shoulder. He held me tighter and nuzzled my ear.
“Briar,” he whispered. “I think you’re my kind of har.”
“And what kind might that be?”
“Gorgeous, available and willing.”
We laughed together. He was really turning me on.
“I hear you have a rooftop garden with an amazing view of the city,” he said brushing the hair out of my eyes and looking into them. “Would you show it to me?”
“Gladly. Follow me.”
He grabbed the bottle of liquor and we headed for the roof. I took him back through the dining room to the stairway. Once on the roof, I led him to the railing to look over Metrarkka. There below us were the myriad lights of the large city and above us were twinkling stars and a silver half moon.
“Wow! It’s beautiful,” he enthused, swilling from the bottle and offering it to me.
“Yes, it is.”
He took the bottle from me, sat it down and gazing lustfully into my eyes, he pulled me to him and pressed his lips to mine. Soon we began kissing more passionately which led to our sharing breath, the silken feel of his tongue on mine. He showed me black swirling clouds with lightening flashing between them and dark rough waters. I sent him images of my desire from deep within me.
“Mmmm, you’re myrrh and black roses,” he murmured, pulling us together at the hips and kissing my throat. I was overwhelmed with my need for him: his scent, the feel of his lips on my skin, and the hardness of his ouana-lim against me. I felt weak in the knees as I became soume and managed breathlessly, “Come to my room.”
I led him down the spiral staircase that went from the rooftop directly to my rooms. Once we were inside I turned on a small lamp and locked the door. I walked back toward him as he stood next to the bed. I removed my top and began to undo his shirt that laced up the front. When we were half undressed, he grabbed me into an embrace and once again we shared breath. Afterward, I stepped back and removed my pants. He looked me up and down with awed approval and a decidedly feral look in his eye.
“Gods, I’ve never seen a more beautiful har,” he said, admiration clearly evident in his tone.
I slowly moved back to him and with my lips to his, undid his pants. As I touched him, he moaned and kissed me more fervently. I peeled his skintight pants down and he stepped out of them. He laid me back on the bed and began to kiss and nip my neck. When he flowered in my hands, I rolled us over, quickly positioning myself above him and placed him inside me. As I slowly sank down on him, I felt pleasured shivers slither up my spine and all through me. I couldn’t help my noises as we moved together. As I placed my hands on either side of him my eyes fluttered closed as all I could feel was the luscious sensation of his ouana-lim inside me awakening all my sikras. Soon I felt the ecstatic spasms of release pulse through my body and as they began to subside, I heard him gasp and felt his ouana-lim throbbing inside me.
I collapsed on top of him and we both lay there catching our breath and coming back to ourselves.
Finally, I moved off him and lay beside him, my head on his chest. He leafed his fingers through my hair and over my back as our bodies cooled.
“You’re really something,” he said.
“You’re not bad yourself,” I replied, chuckling.
“You got anything to drink?” he asked.
“I’ll get it,” I said as I got up. First I went into my bathroom and cleaned myself a bit, then as I went to retrieve a bottle on the side table, I threw him a clean towel. He watched as I came back to bed with the bottle.
“I could look at you all day,” he remarked.
“How about all night?” I queried, smiling.
“That, too,” he answered, after taking a huge gulp of Reyne.
We shared the bottle and in a short while he placed it on the bedside table. I lay next to him and began to run my thumb and then my lips and tongue over his nipple.
“Mmmm,” he purred. “How did you know that one roon with you wouldn’t be enough for me?”
“Just a guess, I…”
He silenced me with his mouth on mine and we set off on another arunic romp, with me being ouana. After our second time, we both fell asleep.
At some point in the night I was awakened by the sound of Andwin getting dressed. I was a little disappointed.
“You’re leaving?”
“Yes, I think I’d better. Not that you aren’t tempting,” he said with a roguish smile.
“I meant it when I told you Naemien and I aren’t at all exclusive with each other.”
“I know, but I don’t think it would do for me to show up at his breakfast table with you. After all, he just hired me.”
I heaved a sigh. “As you like,” I said, uncovering myself and gazing lustfully into his eyes. “Are you sure you want to go?” I asked in what I hoped was my sexiest voice.
“Gods! Don’t do this to me!”
“Do what?” I rolled over and gave him a coquettish smile.
“Auugghh!” He exclaimed as he ripped off his pants and shirt and pounced on me. After yet another delectable bout of aruna, he got up and got dressed again.
“I really have to go this time!”
“Alright, I guess I understand ,” I said, giving him a teasing smile.
After he was dressed, he knelt on the bed, kissed me and said, “We really must do this again sometime. Sometime soon.”
“Yes, we must.”
He left quickly after that, giving me a smile over his shoulder just before he closed the door behind him.
~~``***to be continued***``~~