11. Chapter 11

Chapter 11

T he following days passed in a blur for Maura; so many formal functions, so much chatting . The times that she got to spend alone with Anatolius were what made it all bearable. She was self-aware enough to know she was beginning to have feelings for him, but he had told her that night in the garden that he'd always dreamt of finding his Chosen. She couldn't take that chance away from him. She also couldn't live at the bottom of the sea.

Every day was filled with official activities and stolen moments with Anatolius, and every night Maura fell asleep alone and awoke to an empty room. She asked Ana one day where exactly he was sleeping, and he gestured to the pool. He had been shifting to sleep sitting up in the tub. Maura thought it was both very sweet and respectful, and highly ridiculous. She had told him he could sleep on the other side of the bed, but he had insisted on not invading her space just for the sake of appearances.

Maura thought back on her time in Vathós as Galana helped her into a beautiful white silk wrap. The fabric caught the light and looked for all the world like a pearl. Anatolius arrived shortly after, and they walked together to the banquet hall. Maura was surprised they hadn't had a formal dinner before tonight, but most evenings had been rather quiet.

They entered the hall, and the sight before them was overwhelming.. Rather than the usual white light, orbs in all the shades of a sunset dotted the hall, casting it in balmy shades of orange, pink, and purple. One long table ran the length of the hall, and beautiful arrangements of coral and shells and deep green kelp adorned the center. Siren nobles gathered in small groups around the hall, talking and laughing and sipping from delicate shells.

Anatolius led Maura to the far end of the table and pulled out a seat for her before taking his place to her left. Once they were seated, the rest of the nobles took their cue and made their way to their seats as well.

The kings were the last to arrive, walking arm-in-arm across the hall to the head of the table. Maura was surprised to see that the nobles didn't stand; they simply inclined their heads in acknowledgment as the kings passed. Maura had spent a bit of time with the kings during her time here, and similar to her first meeting with them, they both seemed kind and genuine and happy for their son. Knowing how their deception would hurt them weighed more on her with every day that passed.

When the kings reached their seats next to Maura, Demitrios gave her shoulder a comforting squeeze. Xander took his place at his husband's right hand, and Cornelia sat opposite Anatolius. Demetrios cleared his throat, and the hall fell completely quiet save for the distant singing of the sirens in the city below.

"Welcome, friends. We are here, as you well know, to celebrate the union of two of the old gods' Chosen. We rejoice that they have found their partner, their friend, their soul-deep love. May their union bring joy and understanding in abundance." With that, the king raised his glass in a toast, and all the sirens present followed suit. Maura took a delicate sip from her shell as well, the bubbly tang of some sort of wine dancing across her tongue.

"Maura, Anatolius, would you like to kiss your Chosen to bring good fortune to your union?" The king's eyes crinkled as he smiled at them. This was all real to them, and Maura was suddenly struck with a deep pang of sadness that it wasn't real for her.

Maura felt the now familiar warmth of Anatolius' hand on her arm and she looked up into his face to find a flurry of emotion. His brows pinched with a hint of the worry he must be feeling, but his cheeks were flushed a lovely dark blue. His eyes flicked down to her mouth for a split second. She gave him an almost imperceptible nod, and he bent toward her.

Their lips met, a gentle touch, and Maura's whole world shifted on its axis. Kissing Ana…felt like home.

After a long moment, Maura sat back, and the gathered sirens erupted in cheers and applause. Ana was the only thing Maura could look at, though. She saw all of the longing and fear she felt mirrored in Ana's face.

Xander clearing his throat and broke the spell enough that Maura was able to face forward again and focus on what was happening around her. She glanced up to see the crown princess, Cornelia, eyeing her and Anatolius from across the table. Ana said his sister had agreed to help with her escape next week, and Maura was grateful. The look she was giving them now, though—Maura had a feeling Cornelia saw the true secret Maura was keeping.

The rest of the banquet passed in a blur. All Maura could think about was that kiss, and how much more she wanted. She wanted Anatolius; she wanted to touch him and be close to him and spend time with him. She didn't want this to be a ruse anymore. But it was. She was not his Chosen.

Maura's unsettled thoughts still plagued her as Ana walked her back to their room late that night. When she stepped inside and he turned to go, she reached out to catch his wrist.

"Will you stay?" He must have read all of the emotion behind her words, because his face softened and he gave her a small smile.

"You only ever need ask," he said softly.

Maura pulled him inside her room, and they stared at each other for a moment before Maura decided to take a risk. She stepped closer to him, went up on her toes, and kissed him. Not a soft peck this time, but a kiss as desperate as she was.

Ana didn't hesitate—his arms immediately wrapped around her waist, and he kissed her back like he'd just been waiting for permission. The thin silk of Maura's dress was the only thing between them as their bodies pressed together.

Ana deepened their kiss, stroking her tongue with his, gently at first, but growing more insistent. He moaned when she matched the strokes of his tongue, and her hands explored the muscled planes of his back.

Maura pressed her hips against Ana's thighs and pulled back in surprise at the hardness against her stomach. She glanced down between them to see not one, but two hard cocks protruding from the slit between Anatolius' legs. They glistened with some sort of natural lubricant, and delicate ridges that almost looked like tiny fins spanned the length of both.

"I'm sorry, it's very hard to maintain my control around you, Maura," Ana said quietly.

"Don't be sorry. Can I…" She trailed off. Summoning every ounce of boldness she possessed, she made herself continue. "I'd like to touch you, Ana, is that alright?"

"Yes," Ana's voice came out as a gasped plea, as if he'd been waiting to answer her question for a long time. Maura reached out her hand to brush her fingers against Ana's top cock and he shuddered. She ran the pad of her finger down its slick length, enjoying the feel of the ridges that spanned its length. She wanted to feel it inside her.

Growing more confident, she wrapped her hand around his length and stroked once. Ana moaned in pleasure and caught her wrist gently in his hand.

"Do you want me to touch you too, Maura?" He asked, his eyes alight with desire.

"I do, yes," she answered. Gods help her, she wanted it more than anything.

Before she knew what was happening, Ana had bent and scooped her up in his arms. He carried her the short distance to the bed and laid her down amongst the cushions.

"Is this alright?" he asked as he began to unfasten the brooch keeping her dress in place.

"Yes," she answered, holding her breath as he unwrapped the silk. The way it slid against her skin, against her hardened nipples, was torture and bliss all at once.

"Gods, Maura, you're so beautiful," Ana breathed as he stared down at her bare before him. He touched her face first in a soft caress before his hands drifted to her collarbone. His fingers were gentle as he traced along it before continuing his exploration. He cupped her breasts for a moment before he ran his hands down her sides, fingers pressing into the soft expanse of her rounded stomach. "Every inch of you is perfect," he whispered.

Maura thought she might simply perish. She had expected him to be passionate—she had not expected to be worshiped.

Their eyes met as he gently pushed her knees apart. "Is this what you want, Maura?"

She nodded.

He spread her legs further and groaned as he looked at her. After a moment, he gently swiped a finger across her opening; she could feel how wet she was already.

He began to gently explore her, as if they had all the time in the world. He watched her closely, observing every reaction, every inhale and facial expression. He worked her clit until he found exactly the right spot that had that telltale tightness building in her lower back. Maura had never been able to orgasm with a partner before; the men and women she had been with hadn't had the patience to figure her out, but it seemed Ana had no qualms about taking the time she needed.

He kept stroking the spot that felt so good, his pressure consistent, until every thought left Maura's mind. She had never been one to cry out as she came, but she did then as her pleasure crested. He stroked her through her release, and then he was there, kissing her neck, his hands caressing her sides.

"Gods, Maura, you're so perfect," he said into her ear. All Maura could think about was how badly she wanted his cock inside her.

"Please, Ana," she moaned.

"Please what, darling?"

"Please take me, I want your cock buried in my cunt."

"Filthy words from these perfect lips," he said, kissing her. "I'll give you everything you want, love."

Maura didn't have time to process what he'd just called her before she felt the slickness of his cocks against her opening. The bottom one pushed in while the top one slid against her clit. She cried out in pleasure, eyes locked with Ana's above her. His brow was furrowed in pleasure and it was the most beautiful sight she'd ever seen.

He worked himself into her slowly, the slickness of his cock easing the stretch until he was seated fully inside her. He paused then, closing his eyes in pleasure. "Fuck, Maura."

His words sent a thrill down her spine and her inner walls clenched around him. He began moving then–not the full in-and-out thrusts that she had experienced with other partners, but a deep, grinding, rocking motion. The way his hips moved was a revelation, so fluid and controlled.

His lower cock rubbed the spot on her inner wall that had her orgasm building again. Maura raked her nails gently down his back, and Ana grunted in response, increasing the pressure of his hips against hers.

"Maura, I'm sorry I'm not going to last," he said, his voice strained. She was beyond words, but she didn't mind—she wasn't going to last either.

He kept his rhythm steady, and Maura focused on the sensations in her body, toes going numb as her orgasm inched closer. One final stroke sent her over the edge, but this time, she felt herself…clamping down in intense pulses of pleasure.

Ana's eyes closed again and he whimpered, "Oh fuck, Maura, what…"

The sensation of her orgasm continued to roll through her, and the feel of Anatolius' cock inside her became tighter and tighter. Through her haze of pleasure, a word flashed through Maura's mind. She knew what was happening. The rare Tuanadair mate bond was all but a fable back in Beitar, but she could not name what she was experiencing with any other word; he was her Còmhanam.

"Ana I'm so sorry, it will end after a few minutes," Maura said, trying to keep her voice even.

"Don't apologize, I…" Ana's word cut off, and he moaned as he came. His top cock painted the soft curve of her belly with his release just as his lower one filled her. Maura cried out in pleasure at the sensations that overwhelmed her, and she pulled Ana to her to kiss him deeply. His arms wrapped around her, cradling her body to his, and they lay like that, riding out the waves of pleasure.

After long moments, Ana pulled back. There was resistance as he pulled out of her, which only solidified Maura's theory of what had just happened. She was very glad that Anatolius' cocks were so well lubricated; she suspected if they weren't, he wouldn't have been able to pull out at all for quite a while. Perhaps the sirens’ Chosen was the same as the Còmhanam? Maybe this could all be real and they could find a way to stay together. Maura’s heart filled with a dangerous emotion–hope.

Without a word, Ana scooped her up and walked them over to her pool. The hot water felt divine on her sensitive skin. He sank down into the water, and a flash of magic had his beautiful tail filling the space. His cocks were still hard, protruding from a slit on his tail that was usually invisible.

He cradled Maura to him and sighed, kissing her hair.

Maura's mind churned with what this meant, what she should do—but exhaustion won out, and she fell asleep in Anatolius' arms.