Chapter Fifteen

Something has been growing inside me.

It started out in my head, like an idea or the beginning of a thought. A small bud, not yet having been exposed to the proper elements to sprout.

But the more time has passed, the further these feelings have taken me, whatever this new sensation is has spread to my heart where it’s taken up roots. And now it’s almost as if my spirit is in the process of an awakening. That curiosity which used to worry me… there’s a reason for it.

There’s a reason for everything.

These are my musings during this week’s sermon. Darian talks about purpose, each of us finding our true meaning in life and how we can be our best selves for Mother. My eyes are on him the entire time, which isn’t unusual, since everyone else’s are, too. But when his occasionally find me, sitting next to an ambitious Kinsey, who again keeps trying to hold my hand, there’s something shimmering and intense buried within the blue.

He’s smart. He makes sure not to let his gaze linger on me. But still, there were one or two little smirks that graced his full lips and sent flutters to my stomach. I had to shift and look away before my cheeks flushed like a smitten little girl.

And then I peeked in Drake’s direction, where he sat beside Lauris, as usual. And the look on his face was one much more eagerly ravenous.

Dark and mystifying.

The problem with it all is that I can’t hear their thoughts. I can’t hear anyone’s. My Empyrean seems to have worn off, and it’s driving me a little crazy. It’s like they introduced me to this whole new world, gave me a taste of the most delicious fruit ever, and then ripped it from my mouth mid-chew.

It’s frustrating, but I can’t be bothered with that right now. I’m too busy trying to get some space between Kinsey and me as I wait for Head Priest to come our way. He’s making his rounds, talking to the Regnum after his sermon, and I want to say hello.

It’s completely innocent, I swear.

It has nothing to do with the fact that I haven’t stopped thinking about the way his lips feel, the way he tastes, the little grunts and gasps that escape him when he’s drunk with lust, for me.

For two days since our unnecessarily brief romp in the lounge, all I’ve thought about is what might happen the next time I saw him. I resented working the day shift, the entire time impatiently looking forward to today; his sermon and dinner service tonight.

I’m so excited, and anxious, I’m vibrating out of my skin.

Peering left, I see Darian coming my way. Our eyes meet for a moment, and it’s incredible how casual he comes off because I’m practically melting into a puddle of angst and hopefulness on the floor, and nothing’s even happened yet.

He saunters up to me, an easy curve to his lips I just want to suck like a lollipop.

“Abdiel.” His deep voice gives me the shivers, before his eyes dart right and his smile becomes more polite and less secretly rapacious. “Kinsey. Good to see you both.”

“Lovely sermon, Head Priest,” Kinsey flutters, leaning into my side. I inch away from her again and Darian subtly lifts a brow.

“Very entertaining,” I add, then flinch at my poor choice of words.

Darian’s grin widens, though he’s clearly trying to suppress it. “I’m glad to have entertained you.” His eyes twinkle right at me, and I feel like we’re the only two people on the planet. “I aim for nothing less.”

“I loved what you said about resonating in our feelings,” Kinsey chirps, breaking the little spell between Darian and me. He looks at her again and nods along while she blathers, “I’ve always thought having bad feelings was bad. Or like, when I’m upset, I don’t want to be, you know? So I wait for it to go away…”

I’ve completely tuned out what Kinsey is saying, focusing on the slopes of Darian’s lips, the slightest crease in the bottom, like a pillow of temptation just waiting to be kissed raw. When he tugs it briefly between his teeth, I snap out of my trance, eyes slinking back to his, where his gaze narrows just enough. I wish I could hear what he’s thinking…

Probably admonishing me for staring at his mouth in front of everyone, while Kinsey is rambling on and on to him. Great, and now I’m blushing.

“Very insightful, Kinsey,” Darian replies when she finally comes up for air. Then he turns back to me. “What did you think about it, Abdiel? Have you been resonating in your feelings?”

The way he’s looking at me, it’s virtually impossible not to feel like I have a spotlight shining in my face, but not in a bad way. He’s just so present, he makes you want to spill your guts to him. Not to mention, he’s looking at me like he’s remembering the exact cadence of my breaths while he kissed and touched me. The shape of my erection as it grew for him, and no one else.

Well, let’s see. Have I been resonating in my feelings?? What feelings, my King…? My pure desperation for another taste of your mouth? My ever-present ache when I think about your strong hands caressing my flesh…?

While I can’t hear him, he can certainly still hear me, and my thoughts seem to be making small stress-cracks in his composure. He clears his throat, jaw tensing just a bit, though his eyes are alit with need.

“Yes, Head Priest,” I whisper, his eyes dropping to my mouth for one brief moment. “Resonating… a lot.”

Darian parts his lips as if to say something, but before he can, a tall, unmistakable form with jet-black hair and swirling eyes steps up to our little group, placing a large hand on Darian’s shoulder, hard enough that he flinches.

“Great sermon today, brother,” Drake’s cool voice slithers beside Darian’s ear, and he straightens, the amusement falling from his lips, though he’s clearly trying to remain aloof.

Then Drake’s eyes move to me, and I swallow hard, remembering that same large hand stroking our cocks together. He quirks a brow in my direction, and I have no choice but to force my gaze to my shoes before I combust where I stand.

“Hello, Abdiel Harmony,” Drake speaks calmly, a baritone of erotic sound.

It zips a chill up my spine, and while I’d prefer not to look at him again, I have to be polite and act normal, since Kinsey’s here watching this entire interaction go down.

My eyes connect with his for the first time since I left his office that day, dripping in sexual gratification coated with shame, and I murmur, “Hi.”

“Lovely to see you again.” Drake’s eyes skate the length of my body, subtly enough that Kinsey probably doesn’t notice. But Darian definitely does.

And there’s a moment of sheer wrath in the Head Priest’s eyes, which he turns on his brother. Drake simply winks at him, and Darian appears to be seething.

My throat is so dry I can barely swallow. This is so awkward.

“Well, we should be heading off.” Darian’s repose returns as he forces a smile for Kinsey. Then he aims his shimmering gaze on mine once more. “I’ll see you at dinner tonight, young servant.”

I’m unable to keep the needy smile off my face as I nod, watching Drake’s eyes sizzle while they both wander away. And I can finally breathe again.

Peeking at Kinsey, I hope she won’t remark on the obvious tension.

She simply locks her arm with mine. “The Alchemist… wow. I don’t think I’ve ever heard his voice before. It’s uber sexy.”

I can do nothing more than chuckle and shake my head as we leave the temple, heading back toward housing.

Yes… it certainly is.

I’m pleased to be able to cook tonight, and not just because I want to impress my crush.

I love cooking. It relaxes me. I know we’ve established that I live to serve and make people happy, but I also truly enjoy creating things made to nourish my family. Cooking is taking the ingredients, gifts from Mother, and turning them into something exquisite and fully necessary.

In thinking about my future, of course my love of cooking came up first. But there isn’t exactly a career to be made of that on the Expanse. I suppose I could be Head Priest’s personal chef, but that’s only assuming nothing ever happens again between us, a brutally devastating thought.

And one I don’t think will be accurate, since the moment he sets foot into the dining room tonight, his eyes are on me and no one else. As forbidden as it is for us to keep this going, I can’t ignore the elation that simmers in my blood at the thought of capturing the most unattainable man of all.

Head Priest of The Principality, Darian King, wants me. It’s almost unbelievable.

A second round of drinks are poured, salads finished and spirits lively as I bring out the first plate of dinner to Darian. Setting it in front of him, I’m ready to scurry away quick, in an attempt to hide my nerves, but his voice stops me where I stand.

“What do we have tonight?”

When I turn my eyes on his, he’s wearing a look of interest, waiting patiently to hear what I’m serving him.

Swallowing to help steady my rapping pulse, I stand up straight. “It’s a roast pork loin with blueberry balsamic glaze and um… asparagus.” My voice trails under the intensity of his gaze.

“Mmm… sounds delicious.” His brow lifts. “And what’s this?” He motions to the side I forgot to mention.

“Quinoa.” I blink at his beautiful, attentive face. “With raisins and fresh goat cheese.”

Darian looks wildly impressed. “And you made all of this, young servant?”

“Yes.” I nod, then correct myself. “Yes, sir.”

“That’s marvelous.” He grins, just for me. It lights up the world around me. “I can’t wait to taste it.”

“Enjoy,” I whisper, unable to keep from tugging my lower lip between my teeth.

A slam interrupts my swooning and everyone’s eyes dart in the direction of the doorway as Drake saunters in, oozing his usual confident indifference, as if he’s not fifteen minutes late and disrupting Head Priest’s dinner service. He plops down in his seat, a wide smile forming on his lips, aimed right at me and his brother.

“Drake,” Darian croons, amusement written on his face, though his eyes are narrowed rather suspiciously. “I didn’t expect you tonight.”

“Well, you told me to come by for dinner.” He shrugs, still smiling eerily at Head Priest, before his eyes flick right. “Apparently, Gem and Lauris miss me.”

“Oh yea, we miss you like a yeast infection,” Lauris sneers and Drake bursts out laughing while Gem gasps, throwing her hands over her mouth to hide her giggles.

“It’s a lasting impression,” Drake sighs, then turns his gaze up to me. “I’ll take it.” Wink.

I look away and hustle out of the room. And he watches me go. I can feel his eyes on my back.

Once I’m in the kitchen, I take a moment to breathe before plating Drake’s food. I can’t help noticing the look Gina’s giving me, which I try desperately to ignore while I focus on steadying my hands before I drop something.

Sucking in some more air, I let it out slowly and carry Drake’s plate to him. Setting it down in front of him, I linger just enough to hear the conversation without being obvious in my eavesdropping. If the Empyrean was still working, I could hear them two rooms away.

“Drake, we saw fire coming from the mountain the other night,” Emithel’s small, feminine voice breaks through the rest of the dinner noise. “What was it?”

Drake looks at Darian, Darian at Drake. And for a moment they share a telepathic conversation I”m just dying to hear.

I don”t know why I”m suddenly desperate to be involved in whatever business these two are attending to. I”m feeling a myriad of new things, for both of them.

The curiosity, yes, that”s a given. But also protectiveness, jealousy, a desire to help them if they need it. I”m not sure what I could ever do to help Head Priest and The Alchemist, but I”d love to try... if they would let me.

”It was just a fire.” Drake gives Emithel one of his looks. I barely know him at all, but I”m beginning to decode certain looks of his, and this one has a gaslighting vibe.

I have no idea what you”re talking about. You must be crazy. That sort of thing.

Emithel glances down at her plate, and Gem reaches out to rub her back.

”Everything is fine, Em,” Darian adds, reassuring her, with his words, but mostly his tone and the look in his eyes. She immediately seems to relax beneath his gaze.

Wow, he”s good.

”You know, sometimes we have to burn things up there, to keep it from spreading around housing or the crops,” Drake says, scooping a bite onto his fork. ”It”s contained. No worries.”

”Oh yea?” Lauris raises her brows in Drake”s direction, and he narrows his peculiar serpent-gaze. ”What about the gunshots?”

”Excuse me?” He practically hisses at her, dropping his fork.

”Alright,” Darian barks, quietly yet commanding enough that everyone immediately goes still. “That’s quite enough of this conversation. We”ve talked about this, Lauris.” He aims a darkening gaze at her, which says he’s not to be argued with. ”The gunshots are training practice for the Tribe. The fires are to get rid of excess debris and animal remains we can”t use.” He folds his hands on the table and sits back, looking around at the rest of them slowly. ”Any more questions?”

Everyone is silent for what feels like minutes, before they all shake their heads and agree, whispering, no, sir, like kids who were just scolded by Daddy. It”s as fascinating as it is arousing, and I feel like I”m going to burst by the time dinner is over.

Slinking out of the room, I lean up against the wall, my head spinning.

The rest of the meal goes in a much lighter direction, the conversation staying casual as Drake laughs with Darian and teases the girls. He doesn”t come around often, but when he does, it”s like a very important piece of the equation is set back in. While an often tense presence, one that works to stir people up on occasion, Drake seems comfortable anywhere that Darian is.

As much as Drake isolates himself, living miles away from the rest of us, up on the mountain, keeping his distance from the Regnum other than the Tribe and his chemists, it”s still clear he enjoys being with the family. I”m interested in his dynamic with Darian. They appear to have such a deep love for one another... It’s hard to comprehend why they wouldn”t want to make it more.

I doubt people would really disapprove that much. And even if they did, would it be a big deal? I mean, I can”t imagine a world I’d want to live in where people don”t approve of who I love, out in the open.

Once everyone”s done eating, Darian excuses himself, and Drake stays at the table, though his eyes follow his brother, lingering on the direction he disappeared into. The wives get up and mull about, going to the sitting room for drinks, or upstairs to their rooms. Drake gets up last, and he wanders to the hallway between the dining room, which leads to the rest of the house.

As I’m cleaning up, I can see him watching me from the hall. No one else seems to notice him, or they don”t care. But it”s very distracting; him just watching me, staring with those rippled eyes. The fact that I can”t hear what he”s thinking stresses me out more and more as I clean, until eventually I can”t take it anymore.

When we”re finished, about to dig into our own dinner, which is usually my favorite part of the night, I excuse myself to go to the restroom, though I”m really going to find Drake. I wander the corridor, looking into each room, but I can”t find him anywhere. I”m about to give up and head back for dinner when I hear a whisper from the study. A psst I”m sure is meant for me.

Stepping into the room, I find Drake standing there with a glass of liquor, sipping slowly, eyeing me over the rim.

”Hey there, little mouse,” he says on a breath, like he”s been expecting me. Was he watching me looking for him?

”Hi.” I wander farther into the room, making sure to keep my distance. I don”t know why I”m still so wary around him, but he makes me crazy nervous, in a very different way from Darian. The silence between us stretches until I decide to speak just to fill it. ”I”m glad you came to dinner tonight.”

”Are you?” He cocks a brow, swirling the liquor in his glass, around and around and around... It”s hypnotizing.

Blinking hard, I shake myself out of it. ”Yea. It seems everyone was happy to have you join.”

He lets out a little scoff, eyes falling away. ”It sure seems that way, doesn”t it?”

”Well, yea,” I reply with sincerity, and they dart back up to mine. ”They set a place for you every night.”

”I know,” he mumbles, almost petulantly.

I squint at him. ”Then why don”t you show up more?”

His jaw clenches as he sets his glass down, stalking up to me, so fast I back into the wall. “You certainly have a lot of advice to give, little mouse.”

He towers over me, leaning in so close I can smell the scotch on his breath, and the rest of him... sweet and sort of musky, like fire and the evergreens that surround us.

”I just call it like I see it.” I puff my chest a bit.

I”m not sure where I”m getting any of this confidence, but I think he loves the cat-and-mouse game, and I don”t want to play into whatever he”s doing, especially if he plans to put me between him and Darian.

I refuse to do that. I won’t be a wedge between anyone.

That said, I”m dying to see Darian again tonight, and I”m also stiffening up in my pants from the current closeness of his brother, so who the hell knows what I”m doing anymore.

”Well... you don”t call it like you hear it, hmm?” He grins, inching over my lips. ”You can”t hear me right now... And it”s driving you crazy.”

His tongue lashes out to catch my lip, and I shiver, pulling away. The last thing I need is Darian walking in right now, thinking I chose the Serpent and his mind games over my King.

”You could fix that, couldn”t you?” I burn him with a fiery glare. He shrugs. ”Give me more Empyrean.”

He eyes me for a moment, sliding his index finger up my chest, then throat, tipping my chin upward before humming, ”Mmm... nah. I”m good.”

”You”re an asshole,” I seethe, jerking away from him again, this time walking away.

”Never claimed I wasn‘t.” He follows behind me. ”Where are you going, little mouse? It was just getting fun.”

”I”m going to find Darian,” I mutter, leaving the study and heading in the lounge”s direction to see if he”s there. ”You just admitted you have nothing for me... Nothing but games.”

”I never said I had nothing for you,” he rasps, and I stop walking, turning over my shoulder. ”I suppose you could have more Empyrean...” I face him fully, folding my arms over my chest. ”But I can”t just give it to you.”

I pause for a moment, my confidence wavering. ”What would you want for it...?”

He reaches out and wraps his long fingers around my forearm, tugging me closer to him. I have no choice but to go. My body just moves to him, on its own, like an instinct.

He places his hands on my hips, holding me close, almost as if we”re slow dancing. My gaze darts around, nervous that someone will see.

”Remember what we were talking about in my office?” He tilts his face down to my ear. ”You wanted to give me something... Wanted me to teach you...”

My dick stirs significantly between us. I”m afraid he might feel it.

I wanted him to teach me how to suck dick...

I can”t help but whimper, leaning into him. ”I can”t now.”

”And why is that, little mouse?” His breath warms my ear, and my cock jerks again.

I answer him with only one word... ”Darian.”

Drake pulls back and his eyes become much more severe. There”s heat in them, sure, but it”s momentarily doused with rage. It sort of scares the shit out of me.

But before I can try to duck away and run for my life, he sucks in a quiet breath, letting it out slowly, a new, much more wicked grin covering his lips. ”What if we go see if brother dearest wants to play, too?”

My heart stops. Seriously, I think I died for a second.

I”m just staring up at him blankly, half expecting him to laugh it off as a joke. But he doesn”t. He”s fully serious, I can see it painted on his face.

As hard as my dick is at the idea of being with both of them, I shake my head a little. ”I”m not sure he would want that...”

”You think you know what my brother wants more than I do?” He growls in my face, bringing the fear back again.

I”m about to shit myself. This dude is terrifying.

”N-no,” I stutter. ”I just meant, I”m not sure how... that would work.”

“Well, little mouse.” He smirks, grabbing me by the arm, hard enough that I might have bruises. ”Why don”t we go find out, hm?”

I can”t even speak because he”s dragging me up the hall toward the door to the lounge. He knocks, a quick tap tap tap with his pale knuckles, all the while watching me closely, no doubt reading my every thought. And this time, it doesn”t feel sexy. I”m on high alert.

My dick is still hard, though. Make no mistake about it... I think the fear is turning me on even more, which is alarming. I might have some serious problems.

Darian answers the door, seeing Drake first, raising a curious brow. Until his eyes drop to me. And then he looks partially excited, partially enraged. It”s a strange combination, but if anyone could pull it off, it would be him.

”I brought dessert.” Drake lets go of my arm and brushes past Darian into the room, making a beeline for the crystal decanter on the desk.

Leaving him, my gaze comes up to Darian, who pulls me into the room, closing and locking the door fast.

”Abdiel,” he breathes my name, sounding like he”s relieved to see me. It gives my chest some serious burn. ”I”m so happy to see you.” He shows me a small smile, but it disappears fast, his angry glare bouncing over to Drake quickly. ”What, uh... What are you two doing together?”

”We”re not doing anything together.” My words jump. ”I was asking him about Empyrean, and he brought me to you. I mean, I wanted to see you.” Pausing to collect my thoughts, my cheeks heat beneath his gaze. ”Of course, I”ve been dying to see you.”

Darian”s lips curve and part, enough for me to see his tongue touch his top teeth. He leans in closer, cupping my jaw with his strong hand. ”Have you been dying to see me, young prince?”

I nod slowly, losing all cognizance as his mouth eases over mine. His lips capture my lower, sucking in a gentle kiss that has me going cross-eyed. I purr into his mouth, and he groans back, pressing his tongue in to meet mine. I missed this...

I fucking missed this so bad I barely even realized how much until right in this moment, with him giving me life through his kiss. Breathing a rebirth into my lungs.

Darian pulls away while I”m still clutching his shirt, clearing his throat and heaving in a breath. When my eyes reopen, I witness him glance over at Drake, who”s leaning up against the desk, sipping his drink and glaring at us.

Right now, I don’t know that his thoughts would be entirely positive.

”You two are so sweet together,” he says, like a gun shooting a fuzzy bullet. I don’t know whether to feel wounded or complimented.

Darian moves farther into the room, and I sort of follow him, though not trying to come off as the eager puppy I feel like. ”Drake... what kind of nonsense are you trying to pull here? Because whatever it is, I”d prefer if you left Abdiel out of it.”

”I”m not pulling anything, your highness.” Drake smirks. ”The boy wants more Empyrean. I can”t just give it to him... If I don”t do that for you, I certainly won”t be doing it for this kid I barely know.”

”You knew me enough to put your hand on my dick,” I mumble, and when they both turn their fiery glares at me, I press my lips together and glance at my shoes. Whoops. That just came out.

“No, actually... the kid has a point.” Drake sets down his glass and steps closer to the bed that separates us. ”We”ve all entered into this sort of... web together. Like it or not, the three of us here in this room are the only people on the planet who have used Empyrean. That binds us, you know it does.” His eyes are on Darian.

I peek at Darian, and although he looks like he wants to argue it, he concedes, his head doing a brief nod.

”Okay, so then what would you suggest?” Darian sighs. ”I can”t deny someone”s Ecdysis, especially once it”s already started.”

”Such a diplomatic king.” Drake grins, his eyes shimmering at his brother before they snap to me. ”Mother has given him to us for his sexual awakening.”

”She did?” I burst into their conversation, even though it”s about me. I should definitely have a say.

Drake is giving me those eyes, so I turn to Darian, knowing Drake could just be fucking with me. But if Darian agrees, then I know it”s legit.

He exhales and nods again. ”You told me you were...” His eyes dart to Drake for a moment before he lowers his voice. ”Waiting for me. I believe it could be a sign from Mother that you wound up here with me.” Drake clears his throat, to which Darian rolls his eyes. ”With us.”

I don”t know what to think about this. But because my hormones are raging, the first thing out of my mouth is, ”So what would we do... together?”

Apparently, that”s Drake”s cue, and he waltzes over to the bed, taking a seat on the edge. His eyes are on his brother for the most part, but then he peers at me and licks his lip. ”Come here, little mouse.”

I can’t help but give my Head Priest a quick peek before I make a move. He doesn’t speak a word, but his eyes seem to say, go ahead, though I can’t be entirely certain. Which reminds me…

I step over to where Drake is seated, and looking down at him, I ask, “May I have Empyrean first?”

Drake reaches for my hand, linking our fingers gently to give me a hard yank, causing me to stumble forward. The fastest reaction I have is to straddle his hips on the bed, which must be what he wanted because he holds onto my lower back to keep me there.

“Not until after.” He takes hold of my jaw, tugging my face to his. “Remember how desperately you wanted to kiss me that day in my office?”

Swallowing a hard lump of guilt, I tilt in Darian’s direction. I really don’t like the look on his face. He seems hurt, and I need to let him know I always wanted him to be my first kiss. But Drake pulls me back to him.

“I’ll tell you when to look at your King,” he murmurs. “For now, I asked you a question.”

Hesitantly, I nod. “Yes, I remember.”

“Well, now I want it,” he says with his eyes on my mouth. “You’ve had your first kiss with my brother, and now I want my taste.”

Watching his face, I realize I want it, too. Even if it feels disloyal to Darian, I can’t help my attraction to Drake. It’s not the same, but it’s there; its own beast.

Leaning in closer to his lips, I hear a soft gasp. I feel it dancing over my lips, and it gives me a surge of confidence. Draping my fingers around the nape of his neck, they slide up into his silky black hair, shorter at the sides and longer on top.

“Are you desperate for it?” I purr, and he grins, a motion which tastes uncharacteristically sweet.

“I’ve only ever been desperate for one person,” he rumbles, and I notice his eyes go to his brother. But then he takes my face in his hands and kisses me, abruptly and hungrily, yet somehow soft all the same. I groan, to which he croons in my mouth, “You might be the only exception to that fact, little mouse.”

Drake kisses so differently than Darian. Harder and wilder, yes, but also, there’s a dedication in his kiss. As if he’s figuring out the best way to do it, to ensure I’m kissed properly. Licking my lip before offering a small bite, allowing my tongue to graze his first, dipping his head to the opposite direction of mine.

He’s a technical kisser, and I can’t help how utterly hypnotic it is. My head is spinning.

Leaning back on the bed, he lies down and brings me with him, our kisses dousing the surrounding air with heat. His hand runs gently down my back, voyaging a trail to reach my ass. But he doesn’t stop. In fact, his hand slips right inside my pants.

“Alright that’s enough,” Darian growls, his voice startling me.

I jump, pulling back in guilt, though when I glance down at Drake’s face, for once he isn’t smirking. He looks turned the fuck on and almost awestruck. For me…

“I never agreed to sit back and watch this,” Darian snarls from right behind me, the vibration of his jealousy hitting my back. It sends a chill over my skin and blood pumping to my cock.

“I never said you had to sit back and watch this.” Drake lifts my shirt up. I follow his lead and take it off, tossing it. I can hear Darian hum from behind me, so I lean back, just a bit, until I feel him, strong and urgent, pressing into me.

“My sweet, innocent prince,” he whispers in my ear, his fingers gliding around to my front, tracing the lines of my pectoral muscles. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to… you realize that, right?”

“Stop projecting, brother.” Drake runs his hands up my abs until their fingers meet in the middle, locking together over me. “You want to play with us both, don’t you, little mouse?”

“Yes,” the word rushes out. “So badly.”

“Good.” Drake aims his hooded eyes behind me. “Will you please undress him, your majesty?”

I feel Darian’s pause of trepidation, but he gives up with a hum. “With pleasure.”

Darian’s hands travel down to the waist of my jeans, where he unbuttons and unzips, all the while skimming his lips on the nape of my neck. It feels so good already, I can’t focus on anything other than the sensation.

So when Drake tugs me forward and kisses my lips, I’m startled at first. But I sink back into kissing him right away, because it feels phenomenal.

While we kiss, Darian removes my boots, then he tugs my pants off, with my boxers, until I’m stark naked lying on top of The Alchemist with his tongue in my mouth.

I’m insecure as hell, even though I’m comfortable with my body. I’m a humble guy, but I know my body looks good, and I like liking that fact. But still, right now, with both of them fully dressed and me fully naked, I feel a flush of humility creeping all over me.

“Abdiel,” Darian breathes in my ear, kneeling with his crotch on my ass, hovering over me on the bed so that I’m sandwiched between him and Drake, “You have a beautiful body.” He nips my earlobe until I gasp in Drake’s mouth. “Absolutely perfectly delicious.”

“Do you want us to get undressed with you, little mouse?” Drake whispers in between kisses, almost as if he physically can’t stop for one second. It’s mesmerizing, especially after the rejection I felt in his office when he wouldn’t kiss me.

“God, yes.” I shiver when Darian’s lips trail my shoulders, dropping kisses all over my bare back.

Drake looks behind me again, which means he’s looking at Darian. I feel Darian removing his shirt, then his pants, and turn over my shoulder to watch, impatient because I need to see this. I’ve yet to get a close-up look at his dick and it haunts my dreams. In a good way.

Darian chuckles. “Eager, my prince?” I nod, overzealously. “Then you do it.”

Crawling off Drake, I turn, sitting with my ass between his parted thighs while I finish unzipping Darian’s pants, pushing them, with his boxers, down over his impressive length.

Seriously, seeing it up close and personal like this is a completely different story. It’s massive. Probably the same length as Drake’s, though certainly thicker, with a fat, shiny head like a crown of flesh I want nothing more than to lick and lick while he whimpers my name.

“Fuck, Abdiel…” Darian reaches for my hair. “You are killing me with your thoughts…”

“Uh, yea,” Drake rasps from behind me, tugging off his own shirt. “Me, too. My dick is going to break, it’s smashing so hard in these pants.”

I turn over my shoulder to Drake. “Then take him out so we can play.”

Drake’s eyes light up as he looks at Darian. And they both say, “You created a monster,” at the same time, which makes me laugh.

Drake shimmies out from under me and removes his pants while I gaze up at Darian, standing before me like the King he is. He slopes down to grab my face, kissing me slow and sweet. Feeling Drake behind me, his erection pressing into my lower back, I purr into Darian’s mouth.

This is insane. Up until a couple weeks ago, I never even thought I was interested in men sexually. And now I’m with two of them, at the same time. And I’m nervous about what this could mean, yet my excitement is raw and fierce. I want desperately whatever pleasure the three of us can make together.

“You’re not taking his virginity,” Darian growls in my mouth, breaking our kiss to glare at his brother over my shoulder.

“Calm down, King.” Drake reaches around me to hold Darian’s face. “I can’t be anyone’s first… again.” I witness Darian swallowing. “That said, he’s a virgin. He won’t know his preferred position until he tries them all.”

Electricity ripples through me. From what I saw when I spied that day, I know Darian loves to be fucked. That much is clear. And I would really love to be the one fucking him.

But then… would I want to be fucked by Drake? What would that be like?

“Abdiel,” Drake rumbles. “We need to focus, or I won’t be able to help what I do to you.”

“Sorry…” I whisper, liking the sound of that more than I probably should.

“Drake…” Darian calls softly, “His cock looks so damn mouthwatering.” Glancing up at him, I realize his eyes are stuck on my dick, and he’s practically drooling.

Drake presses his lips to my ear. “Would you like to try our King’s mouth? He has a God-given talent for sucking dick, and that’s definitely not an insult.”

I’m quaking, my heart hammering in my chest as Darian falls to his knees, pushing my thighs apart. “B-but… I want to try next.”

Drake licks the shell of my ear while our Head Priest runs his hands up my thighs, possessively, eyeing my cock like he’s about to devour it. “Mmm… little mouse, I want to stuff both of our juicy cocks in your throat at once.”

“Fuck…” My head drops back to lean on Drake while Darian bows to me, swirling his warm, wet tongue over the tip of my dick. “Fuuuck…” I whine, my erection pulsing between Darian’s parted lips.

“God, you taste so good, my prince,” Darian breathes, sucking again until my toes curl. “I need more of that delicious cum, baby.”

“I’m not gonna last…” I whimper, and Drake chuckles in my ear, holding me close to him from behind, cupping my pecs and circling my nipples with his fingers.

“No, you won’t.” He grinds his erection even harder into my back. “I told you, he’s good. Even when trying to hold out, he gets me off in like five minutes. Been practicing on me for years…”

“Fuck you, Serpent,” Darian huffs in between licking lines up and down my erection.

Drake snickers again while Darian sinks his plush lips over my cock, taking me slow and deep until my crown hits the back of his throat. He doesn’t even gag.

“Lord have mercy,” I whisper uncontrollably, reaching behind me to grab Drake’s dick, because I have to do something.

“Mmm… You are a needy thing.” Drake thrusts into my fist. But then he backs away, leaving me going out of my mind from the feeling of Head Priest’s mouth on my cock. “Let us worship you first, little mouse.”

He moves around to my side and tugs my face to his, sewing deep passion with his kiss while Darian’s cheeks hollow and he sucks me good. I can’t get over the feeling. It’s unlike anything I could have dreamt up; his warm tongue cradling the underside of my cock while his mouth fucks me, taking me so deep my balls tap on his chin.

I know I’ve been blessed. My dick isn’t short by any means, yet Darian is throating it like it’s no big deal. It’s miraculous.

At the same time, Drake moves his kisses down my jaw and neck, hands caressing everywhere while his soft lips find my nipple. He sucks it between them, and I jerk, my cock flinching in Darian’s mouth until he groans. The vibration feels fantastic. Drake flicks my nipple with his tongue, now pebbled and wet with his saliva, then nips it, causing my hips to buck, surging my dick deeper.

“Throat that big virgin cock, Dar,” Drake snarls in that wickedly erotic tone of his, trailing his lips over to my other nipple. Darian moans on my dick again, and my eyes roll back in my skull out of pure euphoria.

These two are like sex machines. I’m so close to coming already…

Drake worships my nipples, licking all over my chest, tracing the curves of muscle with his tongue, sucking and biting everywhere until my flesh is damp with sweat, my eyelids wanting to droop, though I force them open. I can’t miss the sight of Darian’s sumptuous mane of hair, head bobbing between my legs while he sucks me silly.

Drake moves his mouth lower, kissing down my abs, nipping the V-shaped muscles in my pelvis, slithering until he’s on his knees next to his brother.

Darian pops off my dick and turns his eyes on Drake, the sparkling crystal beneath lazy lids drunk with lust. Drake moves in slowly, pressing his lips to his brother’s, kissing slow, gentle. It’s such a sexy thing to watch, the two of them with all their history, kissing sensually with my erection standing up right by their faces. I can’t help but hold both of their heads, one in each palm while they make out, panting and practically climbing on each other.

When they pull apart, my dick is leaking, hungry for either of them, or both. They gaze at each other for a moment before turning their fiery eyes on my erection. And then they move in, simultaneously, mirroring one another as their lips lower to my cock. Their tongues swirl on the head, coming together, lapping it like candy while my eyes fall shut.

“Fuck… oh my God…” I’m shaking. My balls are already drawn up so tight I could erupt in their faces at any second.

“I think he likes it,” Drake growls, and Darian nods, their eyes staying together while they lick and lick and lick, coming in to suck my head at the same time, practically kissing with my dick in the middle.

It’s unbelievable. There’s no way this is my first time getting a blowjob… with these two manifested fantasies. I must have died and gone to heaven.

They keep going, keep sucking me, together and then separate. Darian will take me deep in his throat while Drake licks lines around the base, and then Drake will suck me into his mouth while Darian kisses my balls.

I’m shivering as my climax approaches, gasps and pants bursting from my lips while my head spins.

“Come for us, Abdiel,” Drake commands. I watch closely as they jerk each other off while sucking me, Darian’s fist around Drake’s erection and Drake’s palm cradling Darian’s. “We want to taste you.”

“Come in my mouth, sweet prince,” Darian releases a hoarse command, then slides down to suck me vigorously while Drake drops his face into his brother’s lap, sucking Darian until he cries on my cock.

It’s the hottest thing I could ever imagine, and it immediately sets me off. My orgasm flows into Darian’s throat, and Drake comes up to catch the tail end, Darian forcing himself away so Drake can suck out the rest, which he does. It physically feels like he’s pulling the cum out of my cock.

I’m trying to keep my voice down, but it’s hard when I’m experiencing a pleasure unrivaled by anything I could have dreamt up. My moans revolve between the walls, breathlessly singing praises for them both while my chest flutters, not enough air in the room.

“Mmm… delicious.” Drake pulls Darian to his lips, and they kiss with my cum in their mouths while I gasp for air.

I’m all fuzzy, sweat-kissed skin buzzing and lips quivering as they crawl back up onto the bed next to me. They each hold me on one side, kissing my neck and jaw and shoulders all over.

“How was that, my precious prince?” Darian pulls my lips to his, kissing me sweetly while Drake sucks on my pulse.

“I never… I can’t… fuck…” I croak, and they both chuckle.

“Sounds like he had fun,” Drake rumbles.

And everything about them, their deep voices, their hot bodies and beautiful features, their similarities and differences and just how fucking amazing it feels, this apparent sexual awakening, gives me a second wind.

I sit up and run my hand down to Darian’s erection, reaching my other hand out for Drake’s. “I want to try. Please… You said I could.”

They share a look. But I’m too impatient, and I want so much. I feel like I could do this all night, and all day. Forever.

I want so much more.

“Prince Abdiel.” Darian runs his fingers through my hair. “You want to make me and my brother come?”

“Yes.” I nod. “I want to try… sucking dick.” My face flushes crimson. I can’t believe I’m saying these words.

But apparently, they like it because they both groan, Darian shuddering with his hands all over me, Drake with his own erection in his fist.

Darian slants his head toward Drake. “Lean over his lap and take his dick in your mouth.”

I do as he says, no hesitation, moving my mouth to Drake’s long cock, pale pink with a blushed round tip. It’s very pretty. I like looking at it, and so I press a kiss on the head. Drake shivers.

“Yes, little mouse…” he grunts, holding my jaw. “You like to tease with those pouty lips, don’t you?”

Peeking up at him, I keep our eyes connected while I suck on the head, tasting the salt of his arousal. I really love it, and it fuels me to take more, sliding my mouth over his inches, the way they did to me.

I feel like a wanton sex creature, and it’s driving me wild; having these two much older men enjoy me like this…

Because deep down, in my most honest place, I feel kind of like a slut, and I like it.

Maybe because I know I’m not. But acting like one in this moment, in the privacy of this room, gives me the most thrilling sense of power. They’re mine. Both of them, even if only in secret.

Sucking harder on Drake’s big cock, I take it slow, trying to go as steadily as I can with him lurching into the back of my throat. It taps, and I gag a little, but Drake seems to like it because his eyes close and he groans. Darian rubs my ass and thighs, grinding his length into me, the feeling of which sets me ablaze.

My watering eyes stay on Drake’s while I suck him, deeper still, struggling to breathe in between gobbling him as best I can. The look he’s giving me is enough to fill my erection once more, thickening it between my legs. Writhing into the bed while I bob, I gaze up at his snake eyes, filled with flames of need, strands of dark hair hanging in his face while he bites his lip.

“Take him before I fucking come down his throat,” Drake growls to his brother, pulling away from my desperate suction.

Blinking up at him, he turns me around to face Darian. My breathing is heavy, pulse thudding so hard I can hear blood rushing in my ears. I’m barely even aware of what’s happening, I’m frenzied with lust. High on it.

“Hi, beautiful prince.” Darian trails his fingers along my jaw, kissing my lower lip softly before pushing my face down. “Give me those sweet lips. Please, baby.”

“Darian,” I whimper, kissing down the cut-up lines of his abs and his V before latching onto the fat head of his cock.

“Oh my God… his mouth is perfect,” Darian groans, fingers threading in my hair.

“Right?” Drake’s voice is hoarse as he bends over my back, pressing kisses down my spine.

Wasting no time taking Darian into my mouth, I suck hard, hollowing my cheeks and giving him everything I have. Treasuring his cock, going slow and doing him sensually because I just love it so much.

I’ve dreamt about this, and I want to make him feel every ounce of pleasure he deserves.

My eyes stay on his, as they did with Drake, and he bites his lip, guiding my mouth with his hand in my hair, gently tugging with enough pain to throb my erection. My jaw is sore from his thickness, saliva dribbling from my mouth because I don’t have time to swallow. But it works well like this.

I’m amazed at how fast this is coming to me. I’m just doing what they did to me, or at least trying, and as hard as it is to stay focused, I love watching them come apart for me.

Darian is crumbling; my King. The Head Priest is falling the fuck apart because of my mouth.

Since I can’t tell him the dirty things I want to, because my mouth is occupied, I tell him in my mind, knowing he’ll hear. I want to drink your cum, my King. I want to make you feel so good… I want to suck on your big cock all day every day… Please, Darian. Come in my mouth.

“Abdiel… fuck fuck fuck… You’re driving me insane.” His lashes flutter, eyes falling shut.

“The virgin’s thoughts are crazier than mine,” Drake purrs from behind me, and it occurs to me that I can feel his warm breath on my ass.

I pause for a moment, with his lips on my cheeks, pressing gentle kisses all over my flesh. Then he takes my ass in his hands and spreads me open.

My eyes widen as I gape up at Darian with his cock nudging the back of my throat. He lets out a soft, sexy chuckle, hand gripping my neck.

“You wanna feel something really nice, Prince Gorgeous?” His eyes flit from mine to his brother, whose mouth is now in my ass.

Dead serious. Drake’s lips are sneaking into my crack. And then I feel a long swipe of his tongue… over my asshole.

Groaning out loud on Darian’s cock, my eyes droop while I try to focus on sucking, but it’s such a foreign feeling. It tickles, but like… in a very good way.

“Sweet sweet virgin ass,” Drake mumbles into me from behind, licking and sucking my hole, pushing his tongue in. God, his tongue is so long… “Relax your muscles so I can stick it all in, little mouse.”

I try to relax, slurping on Darian’s thickness while a tongue slides into my ass.

“Ummff…” I slump forward, unable to hold myself up anymore. But Darian keeps me in place, thrusting his cock in and out of my lips, alternating between watching me and what his brother is doing.

Drake’s tongue feathers again and again, sliding down to the space in between my ass and balls, really just eating me alive until more cum leaks from my cock onto the bed.

I’m swept up into a cloud of the naughtiest, filthiest pleasure I could ever imagine. I can barely feel anything but mischievous needy greediness; a yearning that turns me into a sexual plaything.

Wrapping my fist around Darian’s balls, I tug on them while he fucks my mouth, and Drake eats my ass.

“I’m gonna come, my prince,” Darian gasps, our eyes meeting while he keeps himself deep in my throat. “Swallow my cum, please, baby…”

I nod, preparing to take his load in my mouth. And when he snaps, he groans the sexiest noise I’ve ever heard, stroking my face while his huge dick pulses out salty liquid. There’s a lot. It fills my mouth, and I swallow and swallow, sucking him at the same time to get as much as possible.

Because he’s my King, and this is how I bow to him.

While Darian is coming in my mouth, purring my name over and over, Drake is plunging his tongue into my asshole, while jerking himself off. I can hear it, feel it.

“Abdiel,” Darian breathes, lifting me off his cock and shifting me. “It’s Drake’s turn.”

“Yes… please.” My voice is gone, raspy as hell, but it doesn’t matter. I spin back to face Drake, angling over him to take his dick in my mouth again.

I suck him gently while he pushes up to me, thrusting and thrusting, only a few times before he grunts, “Fuck, shit… I’m coming. Drink me down, baby.”

More cum bursts into my mouth, and I swallow it. It’s a lot and some spills over my lip. But I keep sucking for him, taking it all.

And somehow, without anything else touching my cock, I have another orgasm. Groaning on Drake’s dick, cum shoots out onto the bed, all over my abs.

By the time Drake pulls me off him, I have no idea where I am anymore. I could be on another planet for all I know; somewhere far from here, cruising the solar system.

My mind is a blizzard of static. I can’t feel my limbs. I feel nothing but endless peace.

I’ve been used up like a slutty little servant. Like a sexy toy, made to get my masters off. And I’ve never been happier, never felt more complete in all my existence.

When I come to, all the lights are out in the lounge and I’m lying in the big bed, beneath the softest comforter I’ve ever felt. My eyelids flutter, and I nuzzle into some warm skin which smells fantastic. I know right away that it’s Darian. His skin is so soft, covering hard muscles where my head rests on his wide chest, moving up and down with calm breaths.

I lift my face to find him asleep. Shifting, I turn, looking around for Drake. I spot him across the room, dressed and smoking what appears to be a rolled joint. I blink at him, and he just stares, watching us in the studious way he does with those snake eyes.

“You should come to bed,” I speak quietly, knowing it’s not really my place to request such a thing.

But we’ve gone through something together, the three of us. I don’t like the idea of him just leaving…

He’s quiet for a moment, his eyes momentarily severe, though he blinks slowly and exhales, visibly dropping his shield, just enough. “I don’t think I can…”

“Of course, you can,” I tell him. “I would like for you to be here. And I know he would,” I refer to Darian.

Drake puts the joint out by squeezing it between his fingers. I gape at him as he wanders over to the bed, relief swimming through me at the idea that he might come to sleep with us. It’s such an interesting notion…

I want to be with Darian. Now that we’ve been through what we have, I can admit to myself that I’ve been in love with him for a while. But after tonight, I don’t think we would ever make sense without Drake. And that’s a problem.

Because Drake seems to be the most emotionally distant person ever.

I know Darian is madly in love with him. Being with them together like this, seeing them together that night I watched… It’s clear. It will never go away. And I have my own feelings for Drake, separate from what I feel for Darian.

It’s complex and confusing, and I’m instantly wondering what the hell I’ve gotten myself into.

Drake sits on the edge of the bed and removes a vial from his pocket. Gulping, I realize what’s happening as he reaches into the drawer of the nightstand, pulling out a packaged syringe.

He’s giving me Empyrean. Because I asked for it…

He thinks this is all he’s good for? Like a drug pusher?

“I don’t need it,” I assure him. “I would rather you just stay.”

He narrows his gaze at me. “That doesn’t even make sense.”

“Yes, it does,” I argue. “This isn’t all you are, Drake.”

He blinks, then purses his lips, opening up the needle, sticking it into the vial. He goes through the process, this time squeezing my bicep himself with his left hand while his right injects me.

All the breath leaves my lungs while the drugs enter my veins. And once he lets go of my arm, I’m seeing things much differently.

Drake is Empyrean… whether he wants to be or not.