Chain of Three

All Wrapped Up 2: Chain of Three Willa Okati All rights reserved. Copyright ©2007 Willa Okati Warning: The unauthor...

Author: Okati Willa

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All Wrapped Up 2: Chain of Three Willa Okati All rights reserved.

Copyright ©2007 Willa Okati

Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is

illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary

gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison

and a fine of $250,000.

ISBN: 978-1-59596-726-8

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Publisher:

Changeling Press LLC

PO Box 1046

Martinsburg, WV 25402-1046

www.ChangelingPress.com

Editor: Crystal Esau

Cover Artist: Bryan Keller

This e-book file contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language which some may find offensive and which is not appropriate for a young audience. Changeling Press E-Books are for sale to adults, only, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

All Wrapped Up 2: Chain of Three Willa Okati Mix two alien Marines, a human BDSM Master, and a shapeshifting Empress with a mind of her own, and what do you get? A whole lot of trouble. Dane and Julian, ex-war heroes now in the Empress’ service, hate each other. Hate, hate, hate. Problem? Julian wants Dane almost as much as he hates him. The Empress needs her ex-Marines, but they’re no good to her if they’re at each other’s throats. She thinks she has a way to tame the two by putting them together with Master Anubis, a refugee from Earth. It’s a three-way battle for dominance, and the Empress knows something she’s not telling… Note: Chain of Three follows the standalone title Chain of Thorns, but can be read by itself. This title contains elements that may be disturbing to some readers.

Chapter One “So, you’re pretending to be a human again today, are you?” Dane grunted in response. In his opinion, a stupid question didn’t deserve any kind of answer. Anyone with two, three, four or more eyes in their head or what they called a head ought to know better. Of course he’d shifted into human shape. He wasn’t stupid. The Empress hadn’t exactly ordered Her subjects to assume the images of the humans She adored and fell passionately in love with. However, anyone who wasn’t too dumb to come in out of the rain knew they’d better wear the right “uniform” unless they had an itch to annoy Her. You really, really didn’t want to annoy the Supreme Commander of a thousandplus starships and a million trained warriors. Besides, he’d decided to lounge by the pond in the garden of his new quarters that morning and tentacles had a nasty tendency to develop vicious sunburn. “Getting a tan” the earthfolk they’d rescued from their doomed planet called this practice. They’d said it was relaxing and made them look more attractive to those they wanted to mate with. No, those they wanted to fuck. If Dane was going to play human, then he’d damn well get the details right. Mating and fucking were completely different concepts. One of the new traditions most of his countrymen and women liked best when it came to playing human was the idea of fucking without having to tangle themselves up in mating. “Fuck.” An interesting word you could use in almost any sentence.

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Dane paused for a second to appreciate the amazing range of human obscenities, otherwise called “swearing,” “cursing,” or “cussin’.” They worked great when a guy didn’t really know what else to say. Speaking of which, Dane decided getting a suntan was probably a piss-poor waste of time. He couldn’t figure out why anyone would enjoy damaging the pigmentation of their skin by sitting in the sun all day, but as the earthfolk also said, what the hell? He didn’t have anything better to do. Not since he’d been “honorably” discharged from the military, sent back to their home planet for recuperation, and then… Dane shuddered. “Aww. He shivered. Izza baby boy cold?” Julian taunted in American English. Raising the middle finger of his human-shaped hand, Dane pointed it where he figured Julian would be standing. Another handy earthfolk trick, cussing with hand signals. Julian hooted. “Up yours too!” He made the suggestion in cheerful good humor. Probably purely for the sake of annoying Dane. He never took offense at anything Dane did. He treated every barb and sting like some big game. Prick. “You’re cranky today, old man. What flew up your ass?” Dane grunted again as his only answer, deciding if that wasn’t good enough for Julian he could go screw himself. Mmm. He really, really loved human profanity. So rich, depending on culture, and so satisfying. He and Julian both studied the underground lists of new phrases together to figure out what they meant, bitching at each other over who got to read first if they didn’t both have a copy. The time when Julian insisted “son of a bitch” meant the same thing as “son of a motherless goat” had resulted in a fight of amazing violence and duration. In the end, the Empress Herself gave them a tongue-lashing of Her own and sent them to their rooms to stand with their noses in the corner until they learned to behave like men, not children.

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Julian’s fault, in Dane’s opinion. Dumbass. Their Empress didn’t approve of human swearing, since most of it was too raw for Her taste. But then again, She could afford to be picky and refined, couldn’t She, sitting in Her Glass Palace up on the sacred hill? Dane felt guilty for thinking such things about his Empress, his Commander, but couldn’t make himself stop bitterly recounting the War as he’d seen it for himself. The K’thartin, a lizard-like race with a taste for attacking and pillaging other worlds, who burned their wreckages and sowed the blood-stained grounds with salt, were vicious beasts who needed to be cut down. Dane had been on board with the Imperial decision. The Empress declared War and sent Her troops out filled with dreams of glory and honor on the battlefront. A fight for justice and freedom. It all sounded fine and great when you were standing on a parade ground in your shiny new uniform. Everyone saluted, shouted and cheered for the Cause of the Empress, then. Until they knew better, and the Empress didn’t look so good anymore. She wasn’t struggling on the front lines fighting the K’thartin or standing packed in standing-room-only tight on a gunnery ship, and sure as hell hadn’t had one inch of Her delicate blue-tinged skin so much as scratched while Her people sweated, bled and died. She hadn’t been there on the day when Dane had been sent ahead as one member of a scouting team. She hadn’t gone face-to-face with a lunatic K’thartin. Probably tossed off his own ship to die. He’d lived long enough to corner Dane’s men in a suicide ambush. The K’thartin lurked in hiding -- damn the lizards, they knew how to camouflage themselves far too well -- and jumped them from behind, probably hopped up on one of the synth-drugs they used to make themselves crazy for battle as well as insane by nature. One K’thartin ought to have been no match for even a search party, but the horned, scaled lizard-man got the jump on them and possessed the strength of the

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crazed. Despite being a castoff, he still packed a weapon and knew how to pull the trigger. He’d slaughtered Dane’s men before they knew they were even under attack. When they were all dead, gone in seconds, the lizard-man cornered Dane. Sure enough of his victory to take time out for gloating, he’d cackled and lolled his forked tongue out and raved about the rewards his god Thar would shower down upon him. Thinking he had a chance, Dane acted fast, pulled his laser gun and aimed for the lizard’s scaly head. Damn thing saw him go for his weapon, though, and it had been even faster on the draw. Before Dane could fire his first volley the K’thartin shot three smoking holes through his left standing tentacle and howled with laughter when Dane fell. Fell, but didn’t stay down. Dane killed the K’thartin especially dead for what he’d done and used his laser gun to chop the lizard’s body into small chunks for extra payback. Didn’t turn back the clock, though, didn’t heal him in a blaze of glory. The K’thartin had used the highest setting on his own weapon. Dane’s leg tentacle was burned to a lump of useless meat. Fuck him sideways, though, if he hadn’t dragged himself back to the front lines hauling his charred limb behind him and made his sorry-ass soldiers move, fight, and kill before he’d finally bled out too much to keep standing or conscious. He’d passed out, and when he woke he was on a transport ship back home. While he sweated and swore in his medi-bunk, enduring the healing procedures without pain medications because he would not be weak enough to accept them, life as he knew it came to an end. An Admiral paid Dane a special visit via vid-link and said that while it was brave men like Dane who’d win the day, for Dane himself the War was over. Dane gritted his human-shaped teeth at the memory. He’d saved a thousand lives, acted as the driving force in a battle that would go down in history, but because his leg had been crippled he wasn’t fit to fight anymore.

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Honorable discharge. Honorable, his ass. Pissed off to the end, Dane stood instead of kneeling in the Empress’ presence when She called him to the Glass Palace to award him, in person, his medals for courage under fire and extraordinary heroism. The insult should have made Her spitting mad, which was Dane’s goal, but after gazing at him a few minutes She flickered a quick, sly grin. She’d declared that since he could no longer be an active warrior, he would now become part of… Dane shuddered again -- then sighed. So help him, despite whatever She had done, he couldn’t stop loving the Empress, no matter how hard he tried. Couldn’t stop worshipping Her when he felt as if he should hate his Commander. Julian, though, there was a different story. It was easy, and almost a relief, to hate Julian. “Looky at the little tyke, all cold without his momma. Baby wanna blankie?” Julian taunted, trying his damnedest to get a rise out of Dane. Dane snorted, refusing to turn around. He adjusted his “aviator sunglasses” and forced his left leg to relax on the soft “beach towel” he’d spread out to try and relax on. It’d been a major pisser to find out shifting shape didn’t give him two healthy limbs to stand on, but at least in this form he could stand. And if he felt like standing, he’d have gotten up and punched Julian in his own no-doubt human-shaped face. “Go away,” Dane snarled. A command in that tone of voice would have made one of his former soldiers wet their tendrils and scurry back in line. Not Julian, though, oh no. The man either couldn’t or wouldn’t take a hint, and he didn’t let orders get in his way. “Nah. More fun to be outside. Nice day.” Julian drew in a deep, overly noisy breath. “Smell that air. Mmm. Makes a man glad just to be alive, doesn’t it?” Standing up and popping Julian one was starting to sound better and better. Trouble was, Dane didn’t have the oomph to carry out his fantasy. What would be the point? Julian would sock him back, they’d fight, someone would win, they’d

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both go lick their wounds in secret, and soon as they’d healed Julian would be back playing the same old games. Better to ignore the man. Maybe this time he’d get bored and go look for something more entertaining to do. Julian didn’t generally let himself be ignored, though. Dane heard him ambling along over the severely trimmed moss-grass of their recreation garden, pad-pad-pad. Barefoot, sounded like. In a moment Dane felt the darkness of a shadow pass over his body, blocking the sun, as Julian came around to stand at the foot of his beach towel. “Feeling too good to talk to me today?” he jeered. “Been thinking about your glory days back before you were ambushed, getting all sorry for yourself about being invalided out, blah, blah, blah?” The corner of Dane’s lip lifted in a growl. “Ooh, now I’m scared. Do it again.” “Piss. Off. Go play with someone else’s head.” “Don’t want to. I’d rather play with you.” Dane opened his eyes behind his sunglasses to see Julian hunkering down at his feet. Human form, like he’d figured. Julian wore his preferred rough-hewn face, the one with a strong jaw and defiant chin. His dark hair was cut close enough to his scalp that all he had left was maybe an inch of stubble. Broad shoulders, solid chest and rippling stomach muscles. Hard, defined legs. Well over six feet tall when he stood. Handsome, oozing dark sex appeal, and he knew it. Reveled in it. Dane shook his head, amazed and disgusted at the same time. He’d been told Julian had been higher in the ranks than Dane before he himself had been commended and honorably discharged. Made Dane’s stomach turn to see a noble fighter fool around like a green yearling instead of the warrior he’d been. The cheeky, nasty grin Julian offered told Dane that Julian was in fact deliberately baiting him. Woo. Big surprise there. Julian fucking loved to drive Dane crazy. Dane suspected he lay awake nights thinking up new ways to torment him.

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Dane itched to knock the smirk off Julian’s face, but he’d have to get up and that’d be what Julian wanted. So he didn’t. He stayed put, knowing Julian couldn’t get a bead on his expression with his sunglasses on, and irritably wished for the man to go away. No such luck. Julian trailed all he had in the way of fingers along the arch of Dane’s foot. His hand remained damaged in human form. As the official story went, Julian had been captured and tortured. The enemy had sliced his tentacles off a bit at a time each day. He hadn’t crumbled under pressure, nor had he spilled any secrets. When he broke free, he took the intel he’d gathered from loose-lipped guards back to their fighting forces, killing more than a decent count of K’thartin on his way to safe ground. In human guise, the injuries that kept Julian from holding a weapon or running without tripping translated to ragged stumps of fingers and nubs of toes. But if he was bitter about being crippled, he didn’t let it show. He liked seeing people gasp in horror at the sight of his stubs, whereupon he’d pull up a seat and start telling War stories meant to shock and thrill his soon-captive audience. Julian, the showman. Dane, the loner. Why the Empress had insisted they be housed together, Dane didn’t know. She had a wicked sense of humor, though, and ordering an odd couple like them to live together probably entertained Her to no end. The Empress could be, as earthmen put it, a Royal Bitch. For anyone who wanted proof, Dane could point at the positions he and Julian now held in the Empress’ service. Working as… Dane shuddered. “Oh, yeah, baby, yeah,” Julian taunted. “All your muscles just rippled. Flex for me. Let me see those biceps bulge.” “Fuck. Off.” Julian’s smile turned wicked. “Rather fuck you.” “You think you’re man enough to take me on?”

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“Bring it, tough guy.” Julian stood back up and spread his arms. He beckoned Dane with the stubs of his fingers, picking the fight hard as he could. “I’ll show you who’s got the bigger balls between us two.” Enough was e-damn-nough. “You want to tussle? Fine.” Dane tore off his sunglasses and threw them to one side. He glared at Julian who was, damn it, getting his own way at last. “We set the rules first.” “We’re not on the battle lines anymore, soldier. Rules are for pussies.” “Rules. I’ll keep them simple so you can understand. Teeth, nails, punches, kicks, those are all fine. Elbows too. Anything’s game for being hit except cocks and balls.” “No problem. I don’t want my testicles knocked around, and I sure don’t want to see yours damaged.” Julian ran his tongue across his lips. “So what’s the winner get? What’s the loser pay?” “Why bother with a prize?” “Because it gives us something worth fighting for.” Julian lowered his eyelids halfway, lust blazing out at Dane. “Winner gets to fuck the loser any way he wants. Loser gets to take whatever the winner can dish out and say ‘thank you’ when it’s over.” Dane rolled his eyes. He might have figured. Julian had a fanatic’s obsession with sex and had, from the moment they’d met under the Empress’ eye, tried to entice, tempt, and trick Dane into playing carnal games. Which had put Dane completely off the idea of fucking Julian. No one told him what to do except the Empress, now, and no matter how hotly Julian shaped his body, Dane refused to back down. Didn’t have a damn thing to do with his libido. When Dane got the urge, he found anyone but Julian who happened to be handy, most of whom were love-struck with the idea of servicing a Big War Hero. They either tossed up their skirts or jerked down their pants or parted their tentacles without even being asked. Dane got plenty to keep him satisfied on his own.

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Julian might be tempting with all those muscles and his big dick, but Dane would be damned if he’d allow Julian the satisfaction of getting what he wanted. He looked Julian over from the tips of his crew cut to the ruin of his toes. The way he couldn’t help but linger for a minute over Julian’s long, thick cock annoyed him. That same cock was already starting to rise and fill with blood the way human sex organs did. So the thought of a fight got Julian all excited in more ways than one, huh? Well, hell. Dane stood with as much deadly grace as he could muster given the state of his bad leg. He shifted his balance from foot to foot, flexing his hands in and out of fists. He did plan to win, although he didn’t plan to fuck. They weren’t in the military anymore, so screw playing fair. “Let’s go,” he challenged. Julian hollered loud enough to make Dane’s ears ring and launched himself into the fray head first. Hit Dane with a jab to the gut that knocked the breath out of him and made him stagger. “Huh? Huh? Who’s big and bad now?” Julian mocked. “Thought you were supposed to be a tough guy.” Dane’s own solid jaw tightened. “I’ll show you tough,” he snarled before tackling Julian. He used his greater body mass to knock Julian flat and had him pinned in a heartbeat. Getting your opponent with his back to the ground signaled victory. “Game over.” “Game’s just beginning,” Julian countered. He rubbed his hardened cock against Dane’s leg. “Dumb, soldier, dumb. A smart fighter knows which battles to lose and which to win. I might be out for the count according to rules, but I’d call this a victory because I have you right where I want you.” “On top of you with you unable to move?” Julian gave Dane another look burning with lust. “It’s all about how you play the game.” He rocked up again. “You say you’re not interested, but I can feel how you’re lying to me and to yourself. Unless just fighting gets you hard. I don’t think so, though.

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I think you’re hot for me. If you’d let go and admit you want me, life on planetside could be so much better.” Dane snarled in frustration. He bashed his forehead against Julian’s, which hurt him, but hopefully hurt Julian more. Julian yelped in pain, sure enough, but started laughing almost right away. “You missed. Aim a little lower. Smash your mouth against mine. Give me what I want.” “Not a chance in hell.” “Then why are you still on top of me? Why is your cock jumping against my leg? You want me, soldier. You know and I know. Lay down your weapons.” A devious glint lit up in Julian’s eyes. “If we were still in the military, I could order you to let me fuck you. You’d say ‘sir, yes, sir’ and present your ass like a cherry.” His eyes glittered savagely. “Want me to pull rank? Would an order make you happy? Hmm. Seems like you’re already getting the idea.” Dane realized he’d started rocking back against Julian’s groin. He stopped himself and let loose with a string of the worst curses he knew. Damn it, he’d just about fallen into Julian’s trap, and he’d die before he bent his head for the man. He ignored the fact that sliding his dick along Julian’s had felt so damn good his balls hurt, shoved himself up and away, and towered over the man still lying flat on his back in the moss-grass. “Go to hell.” “Been there, done that, came back with souvenirs.” Julian waggled one damaged hand at Dane. “Stop wasting precious time, soldier. We both know how this is going to end someday.” Dane opened his mouth to start with someday, if I go crazy, but someday is sure as fuck not today and work his way up to tearing Julian a new hole for someone to screw. He was interrupted by the garden’s vid-screen -- every room or atrium and yes, even the garden in their quarters had one -- blinking to life. One of the Empress’ advisors, an old man who stubbornly refused to take human shape, ever, no matter what the Empress had a taste for, glared at them. The codger could see Dane and Julian just as they could see him.

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“Well. Is this what the Empress’ Elite Corps do with their spare time, of which they have far too much? Lounge around like sun-loving lizard-men and fist-fight like little boys?” The advisor’s tentacles had turned crimson with anger. Sarcen, as he was called, hated both Dane and Julian and didn’t bother to hide his loathing. They’d gone off to War and come back dripping in glory, while he’d been too old to fight. Even if they were damaged now, they were still the Heroes he’d never get to be. Worse, the Empress had drafted them into Her Elite Corps, which sounded like a job worthy of a retired warrior but was, in fact, just a fancy name for Her harem of personal slaves who had better ask “how high?” when She said “jump.” A Corpsman. No soldier could come to a worse end. Dane lifted his chin and ignored Sarcen’s dripping scorn. “What do you want?” Sarcen sniffed as if the air had gone bad. “The Empress bids you both to come to the Glass Palace. She has a job for you. Thirty minutes. Get dressed in something decent and don’t be late.” The vid-screen communication shut off with a snap. Dane simmered impotently. He burned to snap old Sarcen’s prissy, petty neck about as much as he wanted to see Julian crushed under his heel, and that was saying a lot. But speaking of Julian, the man himself stretched luxuriantly against soft mossgrass, then reached down to stroke his hard, dark cock, wet at the tip. He tasted his seed, hummed with pleasure, and gave Dane a dark look full of threats and promises. “Until next time, soldier.” Dane spat at him and turned on his heel to head back into their quarters. Julian could follow or lay there until he took root for all Dane cared. He had to go see the Empress, who had a “job” for him. And if Dane had learned to dread one thing since being rendered useless for battle, it was the Empress’ idea of a “job.” If the “job” required Julian and him to work together… hell. Whatever the Empress had in mind this time, it couldn’t be good.

Chapter Two “Corpsmen,” the Empress greeted Dane and Julian with a formal nod to both in turn. By custom, She claimed no other name. If She had been known by anything else before She ascended Her throne, the knowledge was a well-kept secret and no one dared pry. Dane and Julian paid homage first in the Old Way, although they lacked the necessary tentacles for full honor, then saluted as humans did. With an effort, Dane shook off his cranky mood and adjusted his expression to one of respect. Julian, damn him, slipped as easily into Court manners as he might put on a new set of clothes. The Empress, no doubt, took precise note of both men’s actions and intentions. She missed very little from where She sat gracefully but perfectly upright on the Crystal Throne. She was dressed as always in the symbolic leather battle armor She had worn in honor of Her soldiers since declaring War. The picture of a proud, determined Battle Commander, yes, but only a blind man could miss the way Her armor fit skin-tight around Her assumed human shape, thrusting Her breasts into prominent display. The only exceptions to Her chosen form were the pale blue tint to Her skin -- no reason for it that Dane could fathom -- and the slim, elegant cobalt tentacles woven through Her long cerulean-blue hair, twining down Her arms like pet snakes, and waving gently as wings at Her back. As far as he knew, She was the only one of their race who could manage the mixed transformation -- not an easy thing at all -- and the tentacles indicated saucy, lusty temptation on display. Dane restrained a sigh. First Julian, now the Empress. Was everyone determined to rub sex in his face this day? He frowned. That didn’t sound quite right, somehow. As if he knew what Dane was thinking, Julian snickered.

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The Empress arched one perfect blue eyebrow. “You find something to be amusing, Corpsman? Please, share the joke.” “My apologies, Empress. There’s no joke to be shared in polite company.” Julian bowed with the elegant precision of a man who’d been nobly born and raised in Court. Which he had been, while Dane had farmers as his ancestors. Yet another reason to hate the man. “In polite company?” the Empress echoed. “I wonder what you would say if we were equals, you and I?” Julian sparkled with impish humor. “We would no doubt have an interesting conversation then, Your Majesty.” Witty, witty. Dane stood silently, folding his arms over his chest and biting back a scowl. Let the nobles tease each other. See if he cared. He was a Corpsman and would uphold what little dignity he had left. “You appear solemn today, Dane, while your compatriot is in fine fettle. Do your injuries pain you?” The question stung and was probably meant to. Again, Empress occasionally equaled Royal Bitch. “I am in no pain, Majesty. Thank You for Your concern.” “Hmm.” The Empress’ dainty eyebrow remained quirked. “We seem to have started on the wrong foot. Let Me welcome you again. More, allow Me to invite you to sit down by My side.” She gestured for two small but opulent chairs to be carried in and placed before the Crystal Throne. Julian bowed a second time and sat smoothly. Dane tried to do the same, but his damned leg seized up and he collapsed rudely as a peasant instead. Julian didn’t snigger out loud, but he did smirk, making sure Dane saw his expression. Dane’s jaw hardened and his hands clenched into fists. The Empress cleared Her throat, clearly not amused. “Must I remind you that Corpsmen are also gentlemen, and required to behave so in My presence? Julian, cease your taunting. Dane, control your impulse to quick anger. Both are ill-fitting for members of My Elite.”

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“My apologies, Empress,” Julian cut in smoothly, leaving Dane to nod and echo him in second place. Damn the man! “Your advisor, Sarcen, informed us You had a job we would be suited for.” Dane couldn’t stop the corner of his lip from curling. “Julian and I together. If I may be direct, what is Your command?” “Direct, indeed.” The Empress looked amused. “I am in a mood to indulge your curiosity without the formalities of Court taking precedence.” She clapped Her leathergloved hands together, the synthetic hide molded so tightly to each finger that Her hands were lovelier than they would be bared. “Bring in Our guest, if you please. Use the Guards if they are needed, but fetch him at once.” Dane sat up a little straighter despite the twinging in his leg. Interesting. Who would this guest be? A renegade, a rogue, an enemy warrior? Looking at the Empress, Dane knew She wouldn’t given them any clues or further warning. She wanted to see their honest first impressions. They didn’t have to wait long. A hard-faced Guard dressed in ill-fitting Palace regalia emerged from the servant’s entrance and strode into the Throne Room. He bowed roughly to his Empress. “Himself is right behind me, Majesty, as You commanded through Sarcen.” “Sarcen, yes. He is stubborn and defiant and may prove a problem I must address in the future. For the moment I find his darksome mood a match for the pair I see before Me, which is why I chose him to deliver My message.” “And it is our pleasure to obey You.” “Is it, truly? Then I am pleased. You, Guard, you may have the afternoon free to do whatever you wish, and so may any others who assisted you in this task. Corpsmen, direct your attention to the door through which My Guard arrived.” It was an order. Dane obeyed automatically, while Julian, he sensed, turned his head purely for the sake of nosy interest. Two more Guards entered, each with a heavy iron chain in hand. Behind them, cuffed to the chains, walked a human man. A genuine human, so far as Dane could tell, his appearance no disguise or costume.

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And what a man! Tall for his species, though he would only reach Dane’s shoulders in the imposing form Dane had built for himself. He might be Julian’s height, around six feet. Strong, but in the way of a great running cat, lithe and sinewy, his muscles sleek and molded to perfection. The Empress had allowed him a modesty wrap around his genitals, but Dane found himself imagining how equally attractive they would be. Appealing? Oh, yes, appealing. Dane would have wanted the Earthman if he hadn’t been worried about what the massive bastard would do to his balls if he didn’t want the same thing. Hell, he felt his cock perking up with interest despite knowing better. A glance at Julian told him his companion and enemy entertained similar thoughts. His eyes had glazed over with lust as he drank in the man standing before him. Dane could not help taking a second look, himself. The Black man walked proud with his head, shaven bald and gleaming, held high, his eyes raised in disrespectful scorn, an expression of great pride on his face. He was dark as the night sky, exotic and intriguing. And either very brave or very stupid, given the way he glanced scornfully at the Empress. She didn’t seem to take offense. In fact, She smiled faintly. “Far too pretty to waste outside of My sphere of influence, isn’t he? Corpsmen, may it please you to meet the human known as Anubis. He is to be your job, or rather your responsibility, from this point forward.” Anubis turned with unnatural smoothness to face Dane and Julian. The look he gave them was first measuring, and then disdainful, as if they didn’t measure up to his standards -- whatever those might be. Something about this human put Dane immediately on his guard. Not only his pride, no. He saw fathomless depths in Anubis’ eyes and tensed in anticipation of the trouble sure to come.

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Would he attack? If he fought, what would the Empress do? Intervene, or sit back to see who was the stronger, Her Corpsmen or this lone human? “Our responsibility?” Julian asked. “If it pleases You, Empress, may I ask what You specifically mean by the command?” Dane kicked himself for not being the one to ask that question. He’d been too caught up in wonder at Anubis to stay sharply focused on their Empress. “I also would like to know if it suits You to tell us.” “There; I knew you only had to dust off your manners. My command is simple. Anubis is now yours to care for and protect.” “Is he to be a new servant?” Julian asked. Anubis shot him a fierce glare. “No. Anubis will not submit to being any person’s servant, and you should remember how I feel about the battlefield slavery of humans.” The Empress clicked Her tongue in disapproval. “He is not to be set to work of any sort, but to be housed in all luxury and left to his own entertainments.” Dane would have accepted the order as She had given it, but Julian, true to his nature, pushed and pushed. “You used the word ‘submit,’ Majesty. Are we to take it that others have tried and failed to gain his obedience or cooperation?” “Exactly so.” The Empress inclined Her head. “When his last caretaker attempted to beat Anubis for disrespect, Anubis rose up and caused the man severe damage. His caretaker brought the matter to My attention, demanding the right to kill Anubis as payment for his injuries. I did not choose to grant his request. Instead, I took Anubis as My guest, to learn what I might from him. He intrigues Me.” All humans intrigue you, Dane wanted to say, but didn’t. Probably too much. The presence of humans and their stores of knowledge fascinated the Empress from Her first meeting with refugees. She had been one of the first to assume human form so they would be less frightened. The Empress could be kind. However, She’d liked Her new shape well enough not to return to the old.

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More, She had once been a “He,” their Emperor, until the day when that Emperor had selected a scholar-human as His personal pet to question as much as it pleased Him. The scholar had been finishing a doctoral thesis on Women’s History. When quizzed, the solid woman with short-cropped hair dyed a peculiar shade of cherry-red filled the Emperor’s head with descriptions of human females named Cleopatra, Joan of Arc, Delilah, Jezebel, Bathsheba, Queens Elizabeth the First and Second, Margaret Thatcher, Gertrude Stein… well, the end result had been the Emperor’s change into Empress. She had also taken that scholar as a lover for a time, first for the novelty and then out of what appeared to be genuine fondness. After they parted ways on amicable terms and the woman was given a position among the Court academics, that was when the Empress tightened Her leathers and became as powerful a sexual being as She was a Commander. The highest honor a man or woman could aspire to was becoming Her servant in passion. This just wasn’t the world Dane had grown up in, and sometimes he despaired. He had gotten used to addressing his Commander as Empress and She and Her, and even falsely remembered the Empress declaring War instead of an Emperor, but when he took the time to think properly the sight of Her in Her female form still gave him a mild shock. Naturally, the Empress picked up on the subtle twitch in Dane’s expression and asked, teasing as a sister, “I still surprise you? Tell Me, Dane, as if I could not see with My own eyes, do you still enjoy the ‘war movies’ brought to us by the humans? What have you seen recently?” “The Bridge on the River Kwai, Empress,” Dane replied stiffly. “Also Top Gun, Apocalypse Now, and Casablanca.” “I have seen these, myself, and often wonder if Apocalypse Now should be ordered as required viewing. You realized, of course, you resemble a ‘Marine’ in your looks and bearing?” Dane nodded grudgingly.

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“Then if you can change to please yourself, why should I not alter My appearance to suit My Own whim?” There was nothing to say in return. The Empress smirked, then returned to the matter in hand. Anubis, who regarded them with eyes like chips of cold, hard obsidian. “Behold your new charge. Do you have no questions, Corpsmen?” Dane spoke forthrightly, still embarrassed over his implied insult to the Empress’ chosen form. “None I can think of, Majesty.” Which was true. She had given him a command. He would carry out Her orders. What else did he need to know? Julian, on the other hand, naturally wasn’t satisfied without hearing more. “Several matters of curiosity pass through my thoughts, Empress. If I may speak them aloud?” The Empress nodded, Her expression both tolerant and amused. It would appear She knew something they didn’t, but wouldn’t speak a word unless Julian’s questions required those answers. “Go ahead, Corpsman. You may question Me freely.” “First, a simple question that may require a complex answer. What is this man’s history?” “Incisive,” the Empress approved. “I will tell you what I know, and what My forces have told Me, but there is little to share. Anubis does not answer questions, and proved surprisingly resistant to a mindscan. I am given to understand it took six of the strongest Guards to hold him down for the procedure.” “Six, Empress? Is he so strong, then?” “He can be, when it suits him. A fascinating man. As I said, we gleaned only a little, and what little we did learn confuses Me.” “Will You tell us what perplexes You, Majesty?” The Empress lifted one elegant shoulder in a human gesture. “I share what you need to know, Corpsman, and I deem you need only to know the man’s history. You asked with a lack of specificity, if you will recall.” Dane choked down a rude laugh. That ought to jab a hole in Julian’s hide.

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The Empress frowned at Dane before moving on. “Anubis. Rescued from Earth before the K’thartin destroyed that planet. While in the holding cells of the carrier ship, he displayed no interest in others taken with him. He took only enough food and water to survive. When the warriors on that ship selected who would be given what job, they saw his strength and decided he should be a warrior.” “May I assume this was a mistake?” “You may, and you would be correct. Anubis will not fight. Given a weapon, he throws it to the ground and stands silently as battle rages around him. Peculiarly, he was never hurt.” The Empress returned Her attention to Anubis himself, who betrayed absolutely nothing in his expression. They spoke American English, which Dane decided Anubis spoke as his native tongue, but he stood as if he heard and comprehended nothing. “What became of him then?” “Anubis was returned to our planet to serve in the gardens which provide our military with food. Again, whether given shovel or shears or rake, he threw them down and would not be moved.” Dane found himself less and less in favor of taking on the Empress’ decreed task. Orders were orders, though, weren’t they? Nothing he could do. He’d have to make the best of things. Eyeing Anubis, Dane hoped the man would let himself be led into quarters and stay there. The Empress continued. “When those who owned him after the farmers brought Anubis to me in a fit of frustration, I chose to keep him in My retinue to study him. I desired to understand his thoughts, but as I repeat Myself, the scan revealed almost nothing. He will not speak to Me. I am, however, given to understand he will only answer to the title of Master Anubis. It does not suit Me to call him My Master, and it does not suit him to call Me Empress, so we call each other nothing at all.” “A knotty problem, Empress,” Julian murmured. He sounded fascinated as the Empress Herself. “And now?”

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“Simple enough. After consideration, I choose to remand him to your custody. Provide him with all luxury and see to his comfort. Be certain he does not run away. Beyond that, it will now be your job to placate Anubis and tease his story from him. You may use whatever means you deem necessary except for violence unless he threatens your lives.” “Yes, Majesty.” “Remember that although I study the humans with great interest I deem them an intelligent, sentient species. I would have them treated as such, with respect, even after the novelty of having them among us has passed. I believe this will be quite a challenge for many. Thus, Anubis is not only your charge, but your testing ground. If you all survive, you will be rewarded.” Dane jerked upright. “Majesty?” “What, did you think I would merely have you keep watch, or less? Have you grown lazy in your retirement from the militia, Dane?” His cheeks colored in the annoying way of humans. Dane lowered his eyes in respect. “No, Empress, I remain Your willing Corpsman. Your orders are my joy to fulfill.” “Of course they are.” The Empress’ voice was dry. “I like a challenge, and thus you do as well. You are bored as a member of the Elite, Dane. No, do not lie. You need something to conquer. Julian, who I know well is a rogue of high degree, requires a focus besides causing mischief. You will do as I have commanded, and you will succeed.” “Yes, Majesty.” “As it pleases you, Majesty.” “Good,” the Empress purred. “I chose well when I selected the pair of you for My Corps. Yes, yes, I know you would rather be back on the front lines, or Dane would, at least. I need your minds here more than your bodies there. You are not foolish men.” Dane’s chest swelled with pride at the Empress’ praise. “In all ways, I obey. I will do as You request with Anubis, and bring You back the information You require.”

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“And I,” Julian put in. “I too.” “So you have said. Let us see how you begin.” The Empress waved at Her Guards, still standing patiently with the ends of Anubis’ chains gripped in their hands. Dane had completely forgotten they were there. The Empress and Anubis were nearly equal forces of nature, eclipsing everything else around them. “Release him.” The Guards hid their initial reactions of surprise and doubt behind a hasty salute. Keys were produced and locks opened. Anubis stood free, but did not move except to rub his chafed wrists and turn, very slowly, to fix the Guards with a dark look. It was a look which promised revenge, but only when it pleased Anubis to act. Until then, they could rest uneasily in their beds, tossing and turning with dread and wonder. “Now, Dane, and now, Julian. See if you can entice Anubis to follow you back to your home. We did find out he prefers the company of men,” She added slyly. “Perhaps he will find you enticing enough to go without a fight.” Dane let that remark pass, although if he weren’t embarrassed he might have stopped to appreciate the possibilities. He stood. “You heard the Empress,” he said sternly, taking the risk of seizing Anubis by his upper arm. “Move.” Anubis turned his eyes on Dane. Dane, who had faced battlefields full of shrieking enemy warriors, flinched at the mastery and power in Anubis’ look. He couldn’t tell what was going through the man’s mind, but he had an uneasy feeling Anubis looked directly into Dane’s thoughts and disdained them. “Let me try.” Julian shouldered forward. He faced Anubis, careless of the man’s scorn as he was at Dane’s usual grouchiness. “It’s here or there, you know. Chains or relative freedom. Up to you, of course, but I know what I’d rather do.” Anubis’ expression flickered briefly. After a long moment he nodded and, not waiting for Dane and Julian to lead the way, strode toward the back of the hall, heading out into the open world. “I suggest you follow him,” the Empress said, amusement rich in Her voice. “It would hardly do for the prisoner to escape his keepers.”

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Dane looked at Her in despair, at Julian with loathing, and at Anubis with a sense that he was getting in far, far over his head. “Yes, Majesty. If You will pardon us, Majesty?” She chuckled, waving Her tentacles at them in a shockingly wanton display. “Go, go. This should prove most interesting.” Dane went, went, barely beating Julian to the lead in their chase after Anubis. Interesting, eh? Interesting, his newly tanned ass. This wouldn’t be interesting. This would be what humans called Hell. “I do wish Corpsman Dane and Corpsman Julian would go ahead and copulate already,” he heard the Empress sigh to Herself. “It would put them in such better moods.” Dane’s face grew hot to the tips of his hair. Damnation! So this was his reward for fighting the War; this was the life he had to lead now? Do it or die. Wonderful. Swearing to himself, Dane followed Anubis out, wondering what would happen next.

Chapter Three Walking a few paces behind Anubis, who walked behind Dane as if letting the big ox lead him should have been considered a big honor, Julian copped an eyeful of both men’s deliciously tight asses and managed, just barely, to keep himself from rubbing his hands together and cackling out loud. He’d thought living with Dane was fun? That driving the cranky buzzard crazy had been a delight? That things couldn’t get any better? Now, they had. Julian couldn’t wait to see what would happen when they tried to get Anubis settled in. Dane would huff and puff and throw his appreciatively solid weight around. Anubis would stare at Dane as if he were a bug Anubis entertained thoughts about squashing underfoot. Dane would get truly pissed off and try to physically force Anubis. Good deal, getting to touch Anubis’ succulent dark skin, but Dane wouldn’t appreciate the opportunity the way he should. No, he’d be all clenched fists, gritting his teeth. If Julian had felt suicidal, he’d have offered to try manhandling Anubis for sheer fun. He’d rather stay in one piece, though, so he decided he’d satisfy himself by watching. And possibly providing a running commentary on what Dane was doing wrong. Now that could be entertaining. The problem, as Julian saw it, was after being honorably discharged from fighting in the War, he’d had absolutely nothing worthwhile to do. The Empress’ offer to make him part of Her Elite Corps gave him a title to throw around, but he’d known from the start being a Corpsman was more or less nothing more than a title, and the job basically waiting around until She needed a hand with some little trifle or another.

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For a few weeks, Julian had rested and relaxed because he figured he’d damned well earned a little downtime after being tortured. He still had nightmares about the K’thartin’s laser saw. Brrr. When he’d been all rested up, though, Julian found himself out-and-out bored. And when he got bored, he got mischievous, a little something not even hardened militia officers had been able to train out of him. A tiny, impish taste for fun which opened the gateway through which he could pass and be the man he’d once ached to be. Not a soldier, not a warrior, but a pure hedonist, one who spent his life in pursuit of pleasure. Not just gaming and fucking and fighting for the sake of fighting, though. Julian had bigger dreams. He wanted the thrill he knew would come with the power to dominate every man, woman and child he came across. Not to hurt them, no, but just to let them know he was in charge now. He’d manage the feat someday, he knew he would. Sometimes he caught himself wondering what the Empress would think. Then he’d remember and realized She probably already knew, and hadn’t stopped him yet. He probably entertained Her. Not a big deal. Even when he stepped into his lesser throne, he’d still honor Her as Empress, their supreme power and the closest thing his species had to a “god.” She knew, all right, and unless he made a grab for Her throne, She’d indulge his ambitions, which suited Julian just fine. Case in point -- his dogged campaign to rattle Dane until he snapped. Broken beyond taking a swing and bowing his head to his new superior. Giving Julian what he wanted, up to and including and especially sex. Sex was his one weakness in dealing with Dane. He wanted the massive man’s hands groping his ass and wrapped around his cock. Burned to see Dane down on his knees, thigh muscles bulging, taking Julian’s dick into his mouth and groaning with pleasure. He sizzled at the thought of ordering Dane to get down, turn, and present, pushing his ass in the air. Of shoving his swollen cock into Dane’s cherry hole, making

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him scream first in pain, and then in shocked wonder at how good being fucked up the ass could feel. Julian knew. He’d been on the receiving end plenty of times before he decided he’d rather take position on top. And when the new fashion for playing human came around, Julian had jumped in with both feet. As he’d suspected from the way he saw humans writhing and humping, their phalluses were much more sensitive than his species’ natural genitals. It had been one of the first things Julian deliberately researched. He was male, after all, and checking out your package was what men did. Natural instinct. Enjoying the pleasures of exploring what his new cock was capable of and dreaming about Dane gave Julian plenty of jerk-off material, which had been, at the time, one of the few ways he could make the endless hours go by. He didn’t go otherwise celibate, of course. Plenty of willing men and women around to scratch his itch. Dane used the same people, demanding to be serviced by whoever was closest when he had the urge, but he didn’t know a single thing about how to please a partner, the muscle-bound twit. When those same men and women came to Julian’s bed, he made sure they got their fun in before he took his own. Driving someone insane with pleasure got him hotter than a bonfire. Besides, anticipation made the inevitable conquest so, so much better. Sex was, Julian figured, the surest road to gaining the power he wanted. While Dane wasted his time reading up on swear words so he could “cuss like a Marine,” Julian studied the sexual literature that had been saved from Earth before its destruction. The Kama Sutra, the Joy of Sex, Playboy, Playgirl, Hustler… those and dozens like them. Julian knew how to win a person’s loyalty by making them feel loved and cherished, especially in bed. Capture a person’s affection, and they would follow you anywhere. They would surrender free will for another chance at the bliss he’d let them taste.

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His supporters were small in number -- Julian had stamina, but a man could only do so much a day -- but they’d grow. He’d make his move soon. First, though, he’d have a grand time watching to see what happened with Anubis. And he’d wait until Dane cracked, one sweet day. Dane was bitter as salt water over leaving the military, crippled as injury on top of insult. Julian regretted the loss of full fingers and toes, but those aside, getting out of the fighting forces was the best thing that had happened to him in years. He hadn’t been free to have this much fun since he was a child, and not for long even then. His parents, knowing that as their third son he was destined for military service, had whipped, beaten, and successfully drowned almost everything decadent, wicked, clever and cunning in his nature that they felt would hinder his career in the military. Not anymore. Guess what, Mum, Dad? My soldiering days are over. I’ve been playing around for a while now, getting my feet wet, getting back on top of my game, but with this new human to entertain me I’m going to make up for lost time like there’s no tomorrow. Conquering Anubis would be worthy of a medal. Conquering Dane would be purely for his own satisfaction. “What are you snickering about back there?” Dane barked out the question. “Me? Snickering? I have no idea what you mean.” Dane snarled and stalked again with his back even stiffer than before, something Julian wouldn’t have imagined to be possible. Honestly. As if loud voices and cold shoulders did a damn thing besides make people who weren’t sure of themselves flinch. Julian had no doubts about his own selfworth, and when Dane gave orders it was his pleasure to disobey in every aspect. Besides, he knew what Dane had yet to figure out -- a quiet word given to a man who loved you went miles further than a superior’s command. In time, if he thought Dane was worth the trouble, he’d teach the over-proud veteran, once humbled, everything he’d learned about how to be a leader of men, not

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soldiers. After all, he’d need a second-in-command. Dane might work out and earn the position. Might not. They’d see, they’d see. For the moment, though, he’d sit back and let the good times roll. Julian stopped as Anubis drew to a dignified halt in front of him. The ebonyskinned man’s pause was to investigate a tree some humans said was very much like the “willows” which had once grown on Earth. Supple, whippy branches and verdant leaves shaped like tears. Dane realized his parade had come to a stop and turned around, all but tapping his foot in frustration. “Julian, what did you do?” “Me?” Julian protested. “He stopped on his own.” “As if you think I’ll believe you.” “I swear by the Empress, I’m innocent as a newborn child.” Dane snorted. “Fuck you. Fine, let’s say you didn’t make him stop. I don’t care. Get him started again.” Anubis flicked Dane a look of disdain, but the glance he gave Julian seemed different. Measuring, assessing, putting two and two together. Julian met Anubis’ eyes, not afraid of what the human might find there. After a long moment, Anubis’ mouth twitched in what on other men would have been a smile, possibly one of approval. Lifting his chin high, he began to walk again because it suited him, not because of any orders. Julian did cackle then, albeit quietly as he could. Dane’s expression turned murderous -- deliciously so -- before he squared his shoulders and marched onward as to war. The humans had a song using those words. Julian liked them. Dane should have too but didn’t. Oh, but he was going to enjoy breaking that man so very, very much.

*** Julian had expected, nay, looked forward to a good fight when it came to getting Anubis settled in his rooms. By the time they arrived, a whirlwind of scurrying servants were putting the final touches on a suite nearly as luxurious as a minor king’s. His own

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Lordly father hadn’t had it this good, and Julian’s personal chambers fell far short themselves. He hadn’t seen them, but suspected Dane’s were even plainer. As Dane fumed and Julian watched with glee, Anubis walked to the center of the receiving room, made a slow circle on the spot, then nodded regally. His message was clear: these would do. He gave them a second message with a glare: now get out. Dane balled his hands into fists and his face went red with rage, but the Empress had told them “no violence,” so he’d sucked it up and stomped off, presumably to sulk somewhere. Julian had tipped Anubis a salute, the same kind he’d give the Empress, and walked off cheerfully. An idea had come to him, and he wanted to investigate the notion to see if it led to a hot trail. He only answered to “Master Anubis,” did he? Seemed to Julian as if he’d heard about such a thing before among the American humans. Time to research. Julian returned to his quarters and sat down in front of the new technology he’d welcomed and Dane rejected with scorn. It looked much like a vid-screen, but when one activated the unit they could use a touch-activated interface to call up any document they wanted in electronic storage. The human’s rough equivalent was called the “Internet.” Since his people’s version had no better name, Julian suspected they’d adopt the term. Frankly, he couldn’t care less what they called the document searcher, so long as they kept it going and fed in every bit of records those in charge could lay their tentacles on. Switching to the vocal interface and keeping his voice low, Julian murmured, “Human Masters, sexually related, sub-search male-male sexually related.” As good a place to start as any, or probably the best. Everything all came down to sex, after all, didn’t it? The document searcher hummed briefly as it referenced its thousands of files. Culling any information relevant to Julian’s search terms, it presented him with a neat summary in two blinks of an eye. Julian printed the text, carried it over to his favorite

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lounging chair so he could read in comfort, and settled down to see if he could learn anything new or interesting. Did he ever. Beginning with mild interest, Julian quickly shifted to curious and then fascinated, followed by horny and highly motivated to do something about the state of his insistent cock, which had liked what he’d read equally well. Masters, also called “dominants” in the BDSM lifestyle. BDSM. Bondage, Dominance, Sadism and Masochism. Submissives. Willing sex slaves. Whips. Floggers. Clamps. Chains. Piercings. Tattoos. Brandings. Cages. Plugs. Dildos. Some of it a bit too much for Julian, but oh, the idea of finding someone who’d be willing to let him lead them through experimenting with his new knowledge, that would be a sweet treat. Julian chortled. A servant or stranger would work fine as a test subject, but what if, when he finally broke Dane, he pushed Dane through all he’d learned? Mmm. A good thought. So good, in fact, that Julian opened the fastening of his denim trousers and thrust his hand down to grasp his demanding cock. It pulsed in his grip and jerked as Julian felt a jolt of sizzling excitement. He imagined Dane kneeling before him. Naked? Yes, naked. No clothes to hide behind. The damned annoying superior snarl would have been long erased from his face, leaving nothing but respect and the desire to obey. No, not just the need to obey. He’d be humbled and softened and full of the desire to please. Please Julian. Julian savored the mental image, then added himself into the scene holding a whip fashioned out of the willow wands Anubis had studied earlier. Ha! That was probably precisely why Anubis found them interesting. Fantasizing himself as he stood over Dane, Julian swished his willow whip through the air. The slim branches made a wonderful whistling sound. “So you’ve given in at last. Good boy. I knew you would. It was just a matter of time.” Dane bowed his head. “Yes, Master. Forgive your slave for being slow and stupid.”

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Julian decided on lenience to show he would be a good Master, and punishment to underscore the point. “Since you ask so nicely, I’ll forgive you,” he said magnanimously. “However, I’ll also give you a taste of discipline so you won’t ever even think about lording it over me again. I am your Master. You are mine to do what I want with.” “Yes, Master.” Dane wriggled his ass, begging for whatever Julian decided to give. “Chastise me, Master. I deserve to be whipped for all my past insults and pride.” “A good answer.” Julian brought his willow whip down and scored red welts across Dane’s broad, smooth back. Very pretty. “I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.” “As you wish, Master. I live to serve you and you alone. I worship the ground you walk on. My cock and my ass and my mouth are dedicated to bringing you joy.” Dane kissed his feet. “I love you.” When fantasy-Dane started licking Julian’s toes, Julian came with a groan, a sigh, and a powerful burst of hot semen that soaked his jeans. They were badly in need of a laundering now, but toying with this new BDSM idea -- involving Dane -- had been so much fun the loss was worth what he’d gained. And Anubis had Mastered this lifestyle? Had his own submissives, his own slaves? Julian whistled. No wonder he wouldn’t fight or farm or lower himself for anyone great or small, not even the Empress. He could go straight to the Empress with the intel he’d gathered. She’d be pleased. It would be more fun, though, to watch Dane try and make his clunking brain work to figure things out for himself. Grinning broadly, Julian went to the standard-issue vid-set in his room and punched up the sequence that would patch him through to Dane’s quarters. He felt certain the ex-soldier would be there, burrowed in his foxhole while he licked imaginary wounds. Sure enough, when Julian switched to the bedroom view, expressly against Dane’s long-set orders to the contrary -- why hadn’t he done it before, then, hmm? -- he saw Dane sitting on his bed, back to the wall, arms crossed over his knees.

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Before Dane could realize Julian was there, Julian took the opportunity to savor a good, long look. Never mind that the body wasn’t his true form. It was a body any man or woman would look at and immediately lust after, from the short tips of his severe haircut to the strong boniness of his feet. Not to mention the scorchingly hot appeal of all those muscles in between. And, lest Julian forget, Dane’s cock, which had probably been an afterthought on Dane’s part. But afterthought or no, Dane was still a man, and he’d given himself one hell of a dick. The cock in question was covered at the moment, more the pity. Not that Dane didn’t look hot in what he wore -- a tightly fitted, ribbed, sleeveless white “undershirt” that caressed his muscles and a pair of baggy “camouflage” trousers. Still playing “Marine,” are you? Well, no big deal. Wrappings doubled a present’s excitement because you could imagine all day long about what lay beneath. Julian already knew, because he’d seen for himself more than once when sneaking up on Dane, but a little more fantasy never hurt. “Dane, my friend!” Julian shouted cheerfully for the fun of seeing Dane jump. “If you want to play hide-and-seek, you really have to learn to do better, little man.” “I wasn’t hiding, asshole.” Dane glowered at the vid-screen. “What the hell are you doing in here? I told you this room is off limits.” “So when did that ever stop me? Now, don’t get your panties in a wad. I think I’ve stumbled onto something that’ll help us with Anubis,” Julian said, deliberately hiding the full truth. To appeal to Dane’s sense of patriotism, he added, “As the Empress requested.” Dane sat up, giving Julian a good view of things that flexed and rippled. His stare at the vid-screen was still filled with hate, but he was a good (ex-)soldier and he did what the Empress asked without question. “Fine,” he snapped. “Spill it.” “It’s just a suspicion right now,” Julian lied. “I don’t want to say until I’m sure.” “You hiding something from me? If you are, I’ll rip off your testicles and feed them to you one by one.”

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“Not hiding a thing,” Julian glibly lied. He glanced down at his printout. “There’s a noble living just outside the city who owns a human who might provide some insight.” “So?” “So? So we put on our dress-up clothes and go pay a visit. With any luck, the noble will let us pick his slave’s brains. If he has anything to share that could shed some light…” “Fuck.” Dane hated being social, as Julian knew. He’d still do it for the sake of the Empress. “This noble and his slave have names?” “The noble is Phoenix, a native. His slave is human, called Riven.” Dane kept up the glower, but gave in. “All right, fine. Meet me in the garden in fifteen minutes.” “You meet me outside the house in thirty,” Julian countered. He could almost hear Dane’s teeth grinding. “Thirty,” Dane agreed, biting off the word. “Remember to put on your spit and polish!” Julian warbled before disconnecting. He kicked back, patting his satisfied -- for the moment -- cock and scratching his belly. A real live Master, Phoenix. Riven, a genuine submissive slave. This was turning out to be better than his wildest dreams.

Chapter Four Dane’s sense of disgust multiplied as he trudged along behind Julian. Julian had appeared at the stone-arched door of their lodgings almost ten minutes late, wearing a shit-eating grin and waving a printout of directions. And Dane was supposed to believe Julian didn’t know exactly what they were walking into? The hell he didn’t. He knew everything and he didn’t share, playing some kind of game by keeping Dane in the dark. Fuck him. Dane would figure this out and by the time they reached Phoenix, he’d know everything he needed to know. Reaching Phoenix, though, that was going to be fun. Not. Apparently this “Phoenix” they were going to visit liked his privacy. They could take a small hovercraft most of the way, but the transport would mysteriously fail if they kept heading in the direction of Phoenix’s home. If you wanted to get all the way there, you had to trudge over two miles in mucky, swampy terrain. According to Julian, the official word was that no one knew why this happened. Right. Dane would have bet his ass the Empress did. Why She let Phoenix get away with his Deep, Dark and Secretive act, he couldn’t figure out. Unless he was spying for Her. Doing some other distasteful job hidden outside the city. Dane trusted no one, and as much as he revered the Empress he knew She had more tricks up Her sleeve than a full complement of Court magicians. Shit, odds were She’d stationed Phoenix out there Herself. So the way Dane figured, they had multiple reasons to tread carefully, watching each and every step. He’d warned Julian before they set out, but had he listened? Nope, not him. He made mumbles of fake interest in between sentences, while Dane could see his words flying right over Julian’s head of short-cropped hair.

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Fuck him. As predicted, the hovercraft had broken down. Not noisily or with mechanisms grinding. Their ride simply pulled to an abrupt halt and refused to go any further. Dane tried banging around its innards and had no luck. He wasn’t a mechanic, as Julian took glee in pointing out. What did he hope would happen? Or, as he’d said, “You’re begging for a miracle, soldier. Miracles don’t happen for guys like us. Start walking. Oh, and follow my footsteps exactly. This bog is tricky. You step off the path, and you’ll be up to your neck or over your head in mud.” Wicked laughter. “Not that I’d mind seeing you fall on your ass. Let’s go.” Every step along the safe path, or at least what Julian claimed to be a safe path, worked at Dane’s nerves. He shoved his hands in his pockets, kicked at rocks, and seethed inside. At least Julian wasn’t flapping his mouth. He’d have pushed that bastard into a bog, left him there, and found his way to Phoenix alone. Dane glanced up to see what looked like a modest stone house appearing on the horizon. “Eyes forward!” he barked in case Julian was lost in daydreams. “This the place we’re looking for?” Julian consulted his map. “According to the description, yep. Hurry up, would you? You’re slow as a snail in molasses.” “Slow as a what in what?” Dane demanded. He had to study words. Julian picked them up as if he’d always known what they meant. Slang phrases tripped lightly off his tongue. Fuck him! Julian ignored Dane’s question and picked up the pace. Dane let himself make a twisted, scowling face at Julian’s broad back, knowing it was childish, but damn, so satisfying. Making good time, they ate up the remaining distance between themselves and what could only be called a castle in miniature. Whoever Phoenix really was, he had enough money or pull to live the high life, as Julian remarked. Dane more or less understood what he meant this time. The palace shouted “rich” and “powerful” from

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its elegantly shaped stone walls, wicked-looking portcullis, and a uniformed Guard standing outside the solid wooden main entrance. He barely grunted when Dane and Julian stumbled up, caked and smeared with mud and bitten raw by swamp bugs. Dane got the impression that this job bored the shit out of this Guard, even if it was light duty. “State your names and business,” he droned in the tones of one who really didn’t give a damn, but sort of hoped they were there to launch an attack because at least then he’d have something to do. Julian jumped in before Dane could open his mouth. “We are members of the Empress’ Elite Corps, called Julian and Dane. Recent research for the Empress has led us to believe your Master Phoenix --” “He’s not my Master.” “-- lord Phoenix,” Julian continued, unruffled, “has information which will assist in our task. May we come in?” The guard eyed them warily. “Any weapons?” “None at all.” Dane knew Julian was lying, unless he’d been dumb enough to miss the knives strapped to both of Dane’s calves. “We’re not here to start a fight. Trust me.” “Pfft.” The guard hawked and spat. “Be no big deal if you were. Awright, you’re cleared.” He jabbed his forefinger on a red button mounted in the doorframe. “Visitors. Two Corpsmen to see Yourself.” “Really? I’m occupied at the moment, but if they don’t mind waiting until I’m done they’re welcome to come up.” The speaker, who Dane could only assume was Phoenix, had a light, musical voice. The Guard snorted as he let go of the button. “Open the door and march right in.” “It isn’t your job to open the entrance for us?” The Guard gave Julian a look in which he declared the man to be a complete idiot for believing he cared one bit about protocol. No words necessary.

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“Well! All right, then.” Julian stepped back. “Dane, if you would?” He waggled his ruined hands. “I don’t think I can manage.” Sure he couldn’t. Any man who whacked off as much as Julian did -- Dane heard him more often than not -- didn’t have any trouble with getting a grip on something. He might have argued, but he was wet, muddy, itchy from his insect bites, and suspected that he smelled bad. Why make a fuss over opening the door? Took a lot more work than Dane had expected. The door was heavy as a son-ofa-bitch and stuck, the wood swollen by all the humidity in the air. He muttered sour things about the Guard’s parents and mentally made a note to report the man to the Empress. No one should be allowed to get away with disrespect like this to veterans. When the door had opened far enough to walk through, Dane wedged his way inside and stood blinking in the dim light sneaking through small, unscreened windows at the top of each wall. He glanced around himself, and his mouth fell open in shock. No man had the right to own this many sex toys, and what the hell were all those whips for, mixed in with the rest? Julian whooped softly and clapped his hands. Sure, he didn’t know exactly what he was leading them into. Sure. “We’re up on the roof,” Phoenix’s voice informed them pleasantly through a voice-only communications system. “Come join us. I’ll send for refreshments.” Dane heard the sound of a hand slapping flesh and the moan of a man having the hottest time of his carnal life. Dane rubbed the bridge of his nose. Sex, sex, sex, sex, sex. Every-fucking-thing was all about sex, especially here. He had a pretty good idea what Phoenix was “busy” doing. Looking at the leer on Julian’s face, he knew Julian knew too. More, Julian had a definite interest in catching the show. Now what was that all about?

***

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Sex. Of course. Everything really was about sex. Cheerfully about sex. Enthusiastically about sex. Phoenix paused in the middle of busily fucking a taller, stronger man in the ass to wave at them in human style. “Welcome! Give me a minute or two, then Riven and I will take a break.” He slapped the man’s hip. “Say hello, Riven, if you please.” The man twisted his head to look at them, glazed in eye and slack in mouth, clearly out of his mind with pleasure from being fucked. He did manage a garbled greeting before Phoenix thrust back into his ass and he tilted his head back with an almighty moan. Two servants very discreetly brought in chairs for Dane and Julian. Without saying a word, they disappeared the way only the best household staff could. Dane took a seat. The chair proved far too short for him, forcing him to hunch up, knees on a level with his chest. He scowled, crossed his arms, and refused to look back at the happily copulating couple. Julian? He plunked himself down and stared at Phoenix in admiration. “Wish I had some popcorn,” he whispered. “Look at them go, would you?” Dane curled his lip and refused to rise to Julian’s bait. He kept his eyes stubbornly averted, but couldn’t block his ears as the noises of fucking went on -- and on -- and on. A minute or two? Ha! Try ten or fifteen, full of wetly slapping flesh, grunts, groans, moans, and babbled dialogue along the lines of “Ohh, ohh, ohh, Phoenix!” and “To please you, pet,” and finally “Unnngghhh!” He glanced up to see Phoenix finishing up, holding Riven hard enough by the hips as to leave bruises while he thrust like a madman. Riven howled and tossed his head. Without even being touched, so far as Dane could tell, his engorged cock jerked sharply and spurted jets of seed onto the roof.

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Both Phoenix and Riven rested then, breathing heavily, Phoenix still buried in Riven’s ass. Julian looked utterly fascinated. Dane squirmed in discomfort. “You did well, pet,” Phoenix approved, giving Riven another spank. He drew out, dick glistening with lubricant, and helped Riven to stand upright. “There you are. Steady? Yes? Good.” He clapped, and two more servants materialized with basins of water and soapy cloths. Dane looked away again. “Much better. The earthfolk say ‘cleanliness is next to godliness,’ did you know? As if keeping neat and tidy gives them power. For my own part, I simply like washing up after a good session.” Dane glanced up to see Phoenix striding easily toward them. A servant appeared to provide their Lord with a perfectly-sized, padded chair. Wholly unconcerned about being naked, Phoenix sat with his legs casually parted. “I must admit, I’m curious. What brings two of the Empress’ Corpsmen all the way out to my home?” He held up a hand before they could answer. “Riven, approach. Take resting position at my feet.” Dane raised an eyebrow as the tough-looking man nodded meekly and padded forward to fold himself up on the ground by Phoenix’s chair. Phoenix lazily stroked Riven’s hair, an attractive and slightly wavy shade of light brown, grown out long enough to twine around Phoenix’s slim fingers. “There! Now we can begin. How may I be of service?” Dane fidgeted with no idea of where to start or even what he should be asking. For once, he found himself grateful for Julian’s quick tongue -- despite the confirmation that Julian had definitely been keeping secrets. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Master. I assume Riven is your submissive? Is he also your slave?” Phoenix chuckled. “Yes and no. Riven chooses to submit to me in exchange for being treated well. He is not a slave. He is here by virtue of his own decision. Interesting, though, that you should call me ‘Master.’ Why is that, I wonder?”

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“You are a Master, aren’t you?” “I aspire to the title. I have not learned everything I need to know yet. But I assume you mean to ask if I am a Master of Dominance, correct?” “Yes.” Julian looked troubled. “You’re not exactly what I expected.” Phoenix burst into full-fledged laughter. “What now, have you been reading in the electronic documents? They neglect to mention many of the finer details of what Riven and I practice. Isn’t that so, Riven?” The human nodded silently, beaming at Phoenix. He made Dane think about a young dog wagging its tail at a crumb of praise from its owner. Phoenix, now, he confirmed Dane’s belief that Julian knew a world of things he hadn’t chosen to keep Dane up to date on. The temptation to kick Julian’s ass was strong, but Dane forced himself to be content with a mental promise of later. He summoned up his best stony expression. “You don’t want Julian to call you Master?” “Oh, no, no.” Phoenix shook his head sternly. “I am bound to Riven. Some Masters prefer to be called nothing else, but until Riven and I have everything in order I am his Master alone.” “Master.” Dane rolled the word over his tongue. “Master of what? Fornication?” Both Phoenix and Julian stifled hoots. Riven grinned. “Let me rephrase,” Dane began, face hot. “No need. I am Mastering the art of sex, yes, but the title is about far more, no matter how much I enjoy this part. A Master commands his submissive’s life as he chooses once the submissive has been bound. Does that answer your question?” “One of them.” “Do you know what I believe, Corpsmen? I believe in share and share alike. I have explained myself in response to your curiosity. I would like for you to satisfy me now.” Phoenix settled more comfortably in his chair. “Answer me honestly. Why have you come? What does the Empress have to do with this sudden curiosity of yours?” Dane gave Julian a shove. “My companion would be the one to answer that. Wouldn’t he?”

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“It’s a long and interesting story --” Julian stopped with an oof as Dane jabbed him in the ribs, “-- but I’ll stick to the facts. The Empress recently acquired a human named Anubis.” Riven’s head came up in surprise. Phoenix lightly scratched the man’s scalp. “Do you have something to add, pet? You may speak freely.” “Yes, Master.” Riven sounded hoarse, as if he didn’t talk much, or maybe he’d been screaming while Phoenix fucked him before Dane and Julian arrived. For the first time, he made eye contact with the two of them. “You called the human ‘Anubis.’ Is he a tall, solid Black man with a shaved head and gold rings in both his ears?” “Yes, except for the gold. Do you know him?” “Anubis. Dominant Master Anubis.” Riven seemed stunned. “The Anubis, and he lived? Where has he been before now?” “Fighting. Farming. Attracting the Empress’ attention and gaining Her interest. She passed him off to us with the job of learning to interpret the way he thinks and why he does what does, or won’t do.” “Won’t do?” “Won’t fight, won’t farm, won’t speak, and acts like he’s ruler of the world,” Dane said in terse bursts. “We asked you once. Don’t make us ask again. Do you know him?” “I do. I hadn’t been… involved… in BDSM for a long time until I came here and Phoenix chose me, but there were some things even I had heard about.” “Then tell them what they need to know, pet,” Phoenix ordered gently. “You are tense. Do you fear betraying this Anubis in some way?” “I’m not sure. But yes, I knew about Anubis, even though he and I never met. He was probably the most famous Master and Top in America before our planet got in the way of your War.” A tinge of bitterness laced Riven’s voice. “The titles mean Anubis had risen to the top of the BDSM elite.” “BDSM,” Dane interrupted. “Define the term.”

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“Bondage, Domination, Sadism and Masochism,” Julian murmured instead of Riven. “Did he have many submissives and slaves? Did he use whips and cuffs and crosses? Did he --” “A Master only has one sub at a time. Anubis played by the rules. But he did switch subs around once a year, and he had a club packed with subs who wanted to belong to him and Doms who wanted to learn how to be like he was. Is.” Riven rested his chin on the top of his knee. “It never occurred to me he might have been one of Earth’s survivors. I don’t know why.” “Dom. That’s short for Dominant?” Julian wanted to know. “And what about the whips and chains?” Riven looked puzzled. “I was never his sub, so I don’t know for sure. He probably did use them, especially in a public scene.” “Public scene?” Julian was just stuffed to bursting with questions, wasn’t he? “What does that mean?” Phoenix chuckled. “I keep telling Riven he should write a paper on BDSM and submit it for the electronic archives. So far, he has refused, as I have not made it a specific order. One day, I will. So many finer shades of meaning are unavailable to those who might be interested. And, Riven,” he added with a light nudge, “I think you of all people would want to know potential players were aware of civilized rules.” Riven stiffened despite Phoenix’s petting. “Yes, Master. That would be best. With your permission, I’ll begin as soon as our guests leave.” “Hmm. I had intended for us to continue rutting the day away as long as this fine weather holds, but I believe this is of greater importance. Your request is granted.” Dane had watched and listened with growing disbelief. Riven looked stronger and tougher than most military men, but he spoke like a scholar and responded to commands with the obedience of a well-trained animal. “I don’t understand.” “That’s nothing new,” Julian muttered. Dane ignored him. “I have a basic understanding of BDSM and some information about the practice thanks to your, um, pet’s explanation.” He fidgeted.

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“How does that help us crack Anubis? We’re bound by Imperial command to figure out and explain his behavior to the Empress.” “I see.” Phoenix stroked his chin. “I have never met Anubis myself, so I cannot be of much help. From what Riven has told me over our months together, I would suggest you treat Anubis with great respect. He was once a very important man.” “A king?” “In his way,” Phoenix allowed. “Riven, do you have anything to add?” “Respect. That’s the key. If Anubis doesn’t feel like you’re trying to dominate him, he might open up. I don’t know what else to say, since we weren’t close, except this. He didn’t have a crown, but he ruled thousands of people.” “With sex?” “Sex and power and those whips and chains you’re so interested in.” Riven’s lip quirked up. Dane was surprised at the submissive’s sudden display of cheeky humor. “Sometimes sex and power are the same thing.” “They usually are, at least these days.” Dane stood with difficulty -- the chair had been horrible on his leg -- and nodded in respect. “I think we’ve learned all we can here. Unless Julian has anything else to ask?” He coated his question with disdain. “Julian?” Julian hesitated, opening and closing his mouth a few times, and finally sighed. “Nothing I want to ask in front of an audience. If you’re willing, Phoenix, I’d like to meet with you again. On my own time and for the sake of personal interest.” Phoenix considered Julian’s request. “The vid-screens are not available out here. I do like my privacy.” He looked sly. “The Empress, whom I have to thank for Riven, keeps me off the beaten path, as they say, for Her own reasons. But any time you wish to trek through the bogs, come and visit.” “Good enough.” Julian stood, happy as a child with a new toy. “Until we meet again?” “Until then.” Phoenix waved them away, clearly done with the conversation. Even the Empress’ Elite knew when they’d been dismissed. One of them simmering

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with anger and one apparently delighted, they walked away and headed back down to the door, the guard, and back out into the swampy pathways. Julian kept chuckling to himself. I’m going to kick his ass extra hard, Dane promised himself. When we get back on solid ground, I’ll turn the brat over my knee and paddle him. No, wait, he’d probably enjoy that. I’ll find some other way to make sure he’ll never play a trick like this again. “No, you won’t,” Julian informed Dane as if he’d read Dane’s thoughts before skipping nimbly ahead through the swamp. “Pretty soon, you won’t even want to.” “The hell I won’t.” “Dane, Dane, you have so much to learn. You don’t think so?” Julian glanced over his shoulder, sly as a fox. “We’ll just see about that. Won’t we?”

Chapter Five Dane wasn’t a hundred percent sure what exactly Julian meant by what he’d said, but his gut told him it had to be about sex, as well as flaunting some kind of secret in his face. Nyah, nyah, I know a secret and I’m not going to tell you… While walking the streets once, he’d heard a handful of the few Earth children who’d been rescued taunting another of their kind with those words. At the time, their sing-song teasing did nothing more than annoy him, and he’d ordered the whole group to get out of his way. Thinking back, he found the memory oddly crisp and clear. The human being teased was small and thin, whereas the others circling around him were strong and bulky. The little human had worn an expression of fear and tired resignation. They were going to do what they were going to do to him. He couldn’t stop them. All he could do was hope they’d go ahead and get whatever they planned over with. The boy’s cheek had been bruised and his lower lip halfway healed from being split. Dane realized he should have noticed those things at the time. He should have waded into the group of bullies and knocked their heads together. Lectured them on how targeting the weak did nothing to make them stronger. But would the boy have thanked him? Dane’s shoulders sagged. No, the boy wouldn’t be grateful. He’d have flown into a temper and probably attacked Dane for humiliating him. Dane had seen it time after time among the soldiers. He didn’t understand why, but the targets of bullies didn’t like to be rescued. Maybe because once the avenging angel had moved on, the bullies would be back with more ammo, including nasty jokes about how the object of their cruelty needed someone big and bad to defend them.

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Then they’d beat the poor sucker into a pulp to make sure he got their point: heroes weren’t always around when you needed them. Nine times out of ten the bad guys won. None of the worlds were supposed to work that way, but they did. Grownups, children, didn’t matter. The strong conquered the weak, and usually made them look like asses for good measure. And once they were in power, no one would point out that they’d been asses themselves. At least the Empress didn’t play those games. Probably because She’d been born to and trained for the Crystal Throne. She didn’t have anything to be afraid of. Even the K’thartin were something She handled without breaking a sweat by throwing the weight of Her military against them. She could come across as cold and unfeeling, and She had Her ways, keeping Her secrets, but by and large She was a good ruler. Fair. Just. If Julian ever managed to take over anything, from their small household to a town full of people to a Kingship, Dane doubted he’d understand any of that. His people would still love him, though. He’d charm them with sweet smiles while he screwed everything else up sixty ways to Sunday -- wasn’t that the Earth saying? Dane? If he took control over the same groups, they’d hate him. Make sour faces behind his back and petition the Empress until She sent troops he’d once commanded after him. Damn Julian. Julian, who, once they’d shoved their hovercraft back onto the power grid, gotten back in and managed to start it running, had immersed himself in reading through a sheaf of papers Phoenix’s Guard gave him. Dane wasn’t interested in investigating the documents, figuring they’d be more of the same he’d heard from Phoenix himself. He’d learned all he needed to know. Julian, on the other hand, was fascinated.

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Dane leaned back in his seat, bored. The hovercraft was roomy enough that he didn’t have to crouch, and he could stretch his legs out. He didn’t realize he was sitting with those same legs spread open until Julian lowered his papers, stared, and snickered. “Nice display. Is it for sale?” “Piss off,” Dane snapped as he brought his thighs together. “Aww. I was enjoying the view.” Julian tossed his documents aside, all the better to leer at Dane. And as Dane watched, shocked, Julian unzipped his pants to thrust a hand inside. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” “What does it look like? I’m having fun. You should try it sometime. You might like it.” Julian continued to lazily stroke his cock. Although he tried not to look, not to give Julian the satisfaction, Dane noticed that the man was erect, impressively so. An odd thought occurred to him. Riven. Riven had been so damned servile and eager for anything Phoenix offered that if Phoenix had ordered him to service Julian, he wouldn’t have blinked. He’d have his ass in the air and lube all ready to pass over when Julian wanted some. Dane squirmed as his own cock responded to the mental image. What gets you off more? a small voice jeered in his mind. The idea of Riven being fucked, or the thought of seeing Julian fuck Riven? “You’re thinking something wicked,” Julian taunted. “You get this look on your face, did you know? You want to be a bad, bad boy, but oh, no, you’re still a soldier, and you believed the officers when they said good soldiers didn’t give in to their ‘basic needs’.” He snorted. “As if they didn’t pick and choose the best of the best to fuck for themselves.” Anger flared. “They did not! The battle leaders were honorable men. They wouldn’t have… what you said.” “Oh, yes, they would have.” Julian fondled himself and gave Dane a lazy, smug look. “I know. I was an officer, and I did it.”

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“I don’t doubt you did.” Dane crossed his arms over his chest. “Not the others, though.” “Like I said earlier, you’re amazingly naïve. I’d bet you don’t even know what I’m thinking about right now while I work my cock, do you?” “So what if I don’t? I don’t care.” “You should. I’m thinking about you.” Dane’s mouth fell open. “What?” “Thinking about you,” Julian repeated lazily, thumbing the head of his cock. “Why?” Dane shook his head. “No, strike that from the record. I know ‘why.’ You’ve wanted to fuck me since we met. Amendment: why now? Why here?” Julian shrugged. “Seeing Riven and Phoenix together whetted my appetite. I want more.” The pieces clicked into place. Dane snorted in disgust. “And you want it with me? Fat chance.” “That’s what you say now.” With no bad leg to slow him down, Julian moved too quickly to stop, too suddenly to ward against, and was suddenly in front of Dane. One arm framed each of Dane’s shoulders. “Your back’s to the ground now, soldier,” he taunted. “You won the first fight, and I win the second. Want to go for a tie-breaker?” “I want you to leave me the fuck alone.” Dane planted his hand in the center of Julian’s chest and shoved, hard. Julian didn’t budge. What the hell? Dane had designed his body to be bigger and stronger. He should have been able to knock Julian flat on his ass. Something wasn’t right here. “You want me,” Julian breathed, warm puffs of air ghosting over Dane’s face. “I know you do. You know it too. Why do you keep on fighting?” “Get off me or I’ll break your neck,” Dane warned. “Go ahead and try. But you can’t move, can you?” Dane tried again. His arms felt sluggish, as if he were trying to push through mud. He glared daggers at Julian. “What kind of game are you playing?”

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“Just a little trick Phoenix talked about in the rough draft of his studies.”

“Drugs. You drugged me somehow.”

“When would I have had a chance? You haven’t eaten or drunk anything in

hours. I didn’t leave out any vials or bottles or neat lines of powder you might have accidentally-on-purpose snorted.” Julian’s lips brushed Dane’s cheek, hot as a brand. “No. This is mostly you, Dane. You don’t want to push me away. Not really.” “Like hell I don’t!”

“Don’t lie to yourself, or to me. I’m going to kiss you, Dane.”

Dane attempted to struggle, but found movement almost impossible by then.

“I’ll kick your ass. Kissing is for women.” “Is that a fact? Well, I’m not a woman, and I’m still going to kiss you.” Dane felt Julian groping his lap until he found Dane’s cock and began to stroke the organ. “You’re not a woman either, and you want me to kiss you.” “I don’t. Get back. Go away.”

“Shh, shh. There’s no one here but us, and I won’t tell. Close your eyes.”

Dane’s lids flew shut against his will. He heard Julian murmur in appreciation,

and then he felt the man’s warm lips press against his own, not gently, but rough, demanding he surrender. Dane fought back as best as he could -- at first. Then, to his shock, his body turned traitor and responded, returning Julian’s kiss and parting his lips to let Julian’s tongue plunder inside. Someone moaned, and Dane realized it was himself.

Julian withdrew, nipping Dane’s lips, but only far enough to speak almost

mouth-to-mouth. “See? You liked the kiss. You want me to go further.” “I… don’t,” Dane managed. “You do. You want me to open your shirt and run my hands over your chest. Skin against skin. You want me to unzip your jeans and touch your cock. Lick you until you’re hot, so hot you’re ready to burst. You want to come in my mouth. Or…” Julian whispered, “… you want to turn it around so you’re sucking me, instead. You want all

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of our clothes to come off because I want that too.” He licked Dane’s lip, a slow, lingering sweep of his tongue. “You want to be on your knees for me. Eager for anything. Everything. Don’t you?” “Fuck… off…” “Love to. Plan to. I’m going to spread your ass cheeks and lick your hole until you’re screaming. Get you wet enough and horny enough to start begging for my cock.” “Like… hell…” “Like the truth,” Julian corrected, annoyingly gentle and yet even more aggravatingly firm. So sure of his convictions that Dane ached to kick him where it would count -- if he could just move his legs! “Someday, someday very soon, you are going to beg for me.” “Won’t… happen. Never.” “Will happen. Is going to happen. Count on it.” Julian laughed against Dane’s lips. “One more kiss, and I’ll let you go to think it over. But you’d better know this right now: you are not stronger than me. Bulk doesn’t equal power, and size doesn’t matter -it’s what you do with it that counts. I’ve learned all sorts of things about how to bring a man down and make sure he stays down. So don’t go thinking you can beat this out of me. Or yourself. You want to be dominated the way Phoenix dominates Riven. It turned you on. Made you horny. You fight so hard to stay in control, but deep down you want to let it go. Let it all go. I’m going to help you. Like this.” Julian kissed Dane again, savagely, biting Dane’s lips as if he wanted to make sure Dane wouldn’t forget. Dane felt himself come, wetness spurting from his cock and soaking his jeans. Julian must have smelled the semen, and no doubt felt the growing wetness, because he cackled and gave Dane a hard squeeze. Then, he backed off. Dane could move again, and he had definite plans as to which way he’d be moving. Even if what Julian said was true and he couldn’t come out on top, be damned if he wouldn’t go down fighting. From the gleam in Julian’s eyes, Dane realized Julian

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knew he’d try despite being warned, and Julian was looking forward to what he saw as a sure victory. He might still have attacked, but as he hovered between choices, the door to the hovercraft opened. “Destination reached,” the craft’s mechanical voice droned. “Please exit the vehicle.” Julian breezed past Dane, the smartass patting his shoulder as he went by. “Promises to keep.” Dane glared after him. Promises to keep? Promises, hell! He’d die before he gave Julian what he wanted. And he wouldn’t let himself think about how, for just a minute, he’d wanted the same thing.

Chapter Six That night, Dane found it impossible to sleep. Lying on his left side didn’t work. Made his bad leg, on the bottom, ache from the weight of his top leg. Lying on his back didn’t help. All the knots of tension in his muscles shrieked in outraged protest. Dane gritted his teeth and tried to ride it out, but the pain was stubborn and announced in no uncertain terms it was there to stay. Flipping over to his right side didn’t hurt, but by then his pillow had grown hot and his blankets were in a tangled mess. Dane roared in frustration, not giving a damn if he woke Julian or Anubis. All he wanted was a good night’s sleep after a hard day’s work. Was that too much to ask? Apparently so. Relaxing. They’d taught soldiers relaxation techniques. Start with the toes and move on up the line, pretending each part was growing heavy, heavy, heavier, and by the time you were somewhere around chest level you’d drop off to sleep. Hadn’t worked for him then and didn’t work for him now. Dane swung his legs over the edge of his low camp bed and clicked on the small lamp mounted on the wall above. He regarded both grumpily for being inadequate, then scowled when he remembered what luxuries these would have been for a real soldier, a battlefront soldier. If he hadn’t refused the Empress’ offer, he would have had a cushy foam mattress that molded to his body and thick rugs on his cold, bare floor. But as far as Dane was concerned, if soft living was the silver lining to being booted from the military, the Empress’ flunkies could shove everything up their asses. He didn’t want any part of the whole mess, including being a Corpsman.

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“Do you really want to be back out there swinging a gun around, up to your ankles in blood?” Julian had asked one day in his usual attempt to get Dane’s goat, a phrase Dane didn’t understand but knew how to use. “We did our part. Now we get to take life easy. What’s so bad about that?” Julian didn’t understand. Julian would never understand. He liked living the life of a heroic veteran who had suffered at the hands of the enemy and survived to tell his tale. Dane wasn’t stupid enough not to know Julian snatched every opportunity to win the household over with his charm and his stories. Bastard probably planned a coup -Dane wouldn’t put anything past him. Fine. If Julian wanted to start a rebellion against Dane’s army of one, he could bring it on. Dane would much rather go down fighting. Sometimes he wished Julian would start his attack so he could just be done with everything… He still couldn’t believe what had happened earlier in the day. What had he been thinking? No, wrong question. Why hadn’t he been thinking? His face burned. At his age, with his experience, a man shouldn’t still be the victim of his hormones and commanded by his cock. When Dane closed his eyes, he could still see the look on Julian’s face. Smug, satisfied, satiated, and triumphant. He bellowed again and punched his bed. Damn Julian! Damn him all the way to the human’s Hell. Snap out of it, soldier! he imagined his old platoon leader barking. You lost one battle. Doesn’t mean the War’s over. Just means you were dumb enough to let the enemy storm your weak spot. Figure out where your armor’s weak, patch it up good and tight, and keep on fighting. Good advice. Hardened generals had their own kind of wisdom which worked just as well off the battlefield. He’d forget about what had happened with Julian, then. Wipe the memory from his mind. What he needed, Dane decided, was a second fuck to wipe out the memory of the first. The clock had already struck midnight, but there would still be some servants still awake, maybe even a few attractive ones. If they were

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all asleep, he’d fucking well wake up the prettiest he could find or go out into the streets until he found someone willing to worship a Hero. And there would be no, absolutely no, funny stuff, or even dirty talk. “Spread your legs” would be as far as any conversation went. If he found someone who wanted to chat, he’d -- no, he wouldn’t gag them -- he -- he didn’t know what he’d do. Damn Julian! Irritable as well as sore, and no, he would not take anything for the pain, Dane stood and crossed his small room to face the vid-screen he’d ordered mounted on the wall so he couldn’t get lazy by lolling around and watching entertainment feeds. Tapping in code after code, he checked the servants’ rooms to see which ones were empty. Frustratingly, almost all were filled with men and women either snoring fit to wake the dead or curled up with workaday faces smoothed out in a sleep so peaceful even Dane couldn’t bring himself to wake one of them. One bed, though, one bed was empty. Dane scanned through the vid feeds in the rest of the house, flip-flip-flip, searching for the lone soul still awake. Not in the staff gathering room, not in the library, not even sneaking out to lounge by the pool in the garden. No one sneaking through the hallways. Nearly ready to give up, Dane switched feeds one more time to the grainy monochrome monitor in the kitchen stores. Julian’s insistence. Dane could have a supply replicator and live off field rations if he wanted, but Julian was going to have three damn good squares of real food washed down with genuine beer. To his initial surprise and then satisfaction, Dane found his missing servant filching jars of the jams and marmalades that were Julian’s favorites, tucking them into a neat woven wood basket. He’d normally come down on thieves with an almighty wrath, but she was taking Julian’s food, so what did he care? And she was a pretty one too wasn’t she? They had no other humans in their house, so she’d be of his race. She wore a human mask, of course -- who didn’t these days besides Sarcen? -- but she’d do. Rapping on the screen, Dane growled, “I see you in there.”

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The woman didn’t flinch. She looked slantwise at the vid-screen, clearly not caring about being caught. “Do you need something, Veteran?” Dane considered asking her about the foodstuffs she continued to pack in her basket, purely on principle, but then decided he really didn’t care. The vid-feed was too poor to get a good look, but the woman seemed young, supple, and obviously had balls. Figuratively speaking. He hoped. Yes, she’d do. “I want some company,” he said gruffly. “I’ll make sure you’re paid.” “You want a whore,” the woman replied, crisp as the first winter winds. “Do me the favor of being honest. It’s not as if I’ll say no.” Dane struggled internally at the thought of lowering himself to her level, but desperate times called for desperate measures, didn’t they? “Yes. I want a whore.” “That’s better. Now that we both know where we stand, do you want me to come to your rooms or meet you someplace else?” Dane couldn’t resist at least a small crack. “You’re not worried about someone finding your basket of loot?” She shrugged. “No one’s awake to poach. If they were, I’d just come back another night. Your rooms, or somewhere else?” “My rooms. Bedroom, to be exact. Give me your staff number and I’ll program the locks to let you in.” “01516. And I’m called Sally, by the way.” “I didn’t ask for your name.” “No,” she said, her tone unreadable, “you wouldn’t. It’s still Sally, at least tonight.” “01516, report to my bedroom. Immediately.” Sally tossed her hair. “Only because I want to. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” Before Dane could rebuke her for disrespect, Sally disappeared from view. He stood back, shaking his head in amazed dismay. This attitude among the servants had

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to be Julian’s influence. No one would have dared sass a Veteran or Corpsman unless Julian had stripped away their inbred servility. Yet another “talk” he’d have to have with the man. Hopefully one that involved no sex but a whole lot of punching. Cheered up some by his decision, Dane took a seat on the one chair he’d allowed in his room. No cushion, but designed for someone of his preferred height and weight. He propped the foot of his bad leg on a box and settled down to wait. And wait. And wait. His good mood had turned dark by the time Dane finally heard locks softly clicking. “It’s about damn time!” he roared as his bedroom door opened and Sally stepped in, light on her feet as -- as -- Julian. In person, she turned out to be a pretty one. Her human guise had definitely been designed for maximum appeal to anybody who’d honor her with flattery or part with a few credits to get under her skirts. An artfully arranged tumble of golden curls that looked haphazard but had probably taken half an hour to position precisely so, wide blue eyes which didn’t quite hide her cynicism, and a generous red mouth that opened in a dazzling white smile. Good breasts too, more than a handful but not over-ripe. Small waist. Hard to tell under the skirts, but he suspected Sally would have a finely shaped ass and slim, shapely legs. Too proud for her position, and mouthy, but no one was perfect. She’d be good enough for him. “On the bed,” Dane ordered after he’d taken Sally’s measure. “Don’t bother undressing. Pull your skirt above your waist, spread your legs, and wait for me.” Sally put one hand on her hip and cocked an eyebrow at him. “You’re quite the charmer, aren’t you?” “If I wanted a conversation, I’d have found someone else. You? We both know why you’re here. Get on with it.” “Ten credits.”

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Dane’s mouth fell open. “You’re joking!” Sally shrugged. “Ten is what Julian pays me. I wouldn’t have thought anyone needed to pay at all, but he taught me no one gets something for nothing. You can’t dismiss me because I work for the Empress, not you. So, ten credits or I walk away. Do we have a deal?” “You… you… by damn, you need some manners spanked into you!” “Five extra credits for that,” Sally replied without batting an eye. “Ten for a nofrills fuck. Take it or leave it.” “Fine,” Dane growled. “Get on the bed.” “Ten credits in advance, thank you.” Sally held out her hand, palm up. Dane couldn’t believe this was happening. Snarling and swearing under his breath, he thumb-printed open the solid black box containing his personal funds and counted out ten credit notes. Sally counted them too when Dane shoved them at her. She nodded in satisfaction when her tally equaled his. “On the bed, then?” “Move.” Sally fluttered her lashes at him and sat gracefully on Dane’s bed. She swung her legs up and settled down in the middle of the mattress. “How do you sleep on this? It’s harder than rock.” “Obviously I don’t, which is why we’re both here. Skirts up.” Dane reached for the tie on his loose sleep pants and undid the string, letting the pants drop to his ankles. He kicked them off to a side instead of hanging them neatly over the chair back, and did the same with his fitted white undershirt. Completely naked, he stood in front of Sally and waited for her to admire him. She looked at him, all right, but critically. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you size doesn’t matter? Well, no, cock size does matter, and I have to say I like what I see there. But why build yourself a body bigger than an Earth tank?” “I don’t have to answer your questions. Skirts up!” “No romance,” she said with a click of her tongue. Either to tease or annoy him, Sally pulled her skirts up one inch at a time, revealing legs as nice as Dane had

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predicted. “What about lust? Do you ever find yourself feeling passionate about someone? Wanting them for more than a paid quickie?” Dane started to answer -- then froze. Julian had appeared in his mind’s eye as Dane had seen him earlier in the day. Smirking, sweaty and… sexy. Dane couldn’t hold back the mental image of Julian sliding his fingers down his chest, toying with the flat nipples until they rose into hard nubs, teasing the trail of hair leading down to his cock. His aroused cock, dark and full. Julian took himself in hand and began, slowly, to stroke. The expression on his face said everything without a single word spoken aloud. You want more of this. You know you do. I’m in my quarters. Forget the woman. She’s tasty, but she’s not me. “I think you do,” Sally said with a flicker of wry humor. “You don’t get your credits back if you change your mind.” Dane shook his head to try and clear it. “Open your legs. I’m fucking you tonight, no one else.” “Really? With what?” Sally pointed between Dane’s legs. “I don’t think you’re going to get much done unless something changes.” Dane looked down at his cock. Flaccid! Horrified, he grabbed the organ and began jacking himself. His hand had never let him down before… now. His cock stubbornly refused to cooperate, lying limp in his palm no matter how he tried to tease it or to get excited by the sight of Sally’s golden snatch, which she’d helpfully revealed. What was wrong with him? He liked women. Savored the way their silken muscles gripped him when he thrust inside their soft pussies. He’d never really picked up the knack of licking the way they liked, but no one had complained yet. Sally probably would. As it was, she could barely hold back her snickers at the sight of Big War Hero gone limp as a piece of string. She stroked her pussy, parting the lips to show off what lay inside, circling and petting. He could smell her growing wetness as she touched herself, and that ought to have been enough to get him hard.

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Why in the hell wasn’t it working? Dane gave up the fight after Sally offered to show him how she could suck her own nipples and even gave a demonstration, all without any reaction on his body’s behalf. Enough was enough. “Skirts down,” he ordered curtly as he grabbed up his sleep pants and stepped in, jerking them up around his waist. “You can go. Keep the damn credits, and keep your mouth shut about this.” “Confidentiality is usually three more credits,” Sally responded quickly, but oddly thoughtful. “I think I’ll make an exception for you.” “Very kind.” Dane cinched his drawstring tight and tied it in a hard knot. “You can go.” He picked up his shirt and yanked it on. “And I will. The night’s young. Jelly to steal, jelly to sell on the black market and all that. If I’m lucky -- and I usually am -- I might even find someone else interested in paying for a ride. But first, I think you need a little guidance.” “I don’t need anything else from you.” “Don’t you?” “Damn it, woman! Must you always answer a question with a question?” “Sometimes. Look, Dane, and yes, I’m calling you by your name instead of Corpsman or Veteran.” Sally sat up in the bed, curling her feet beneath her and twitching her skirts smoothly into place. “A woman knows why a man’s rod doesn’t rise, especially if she’s a woman like me. Nine times out of ten, the man’s got someone else on his mind. Someone he wants but doesn’t think he can have, whether he thinks it would be wrong or stupid or possibly both.” Dane regarded her narrowly. “Empress’ staff or not, you’re pushing your limits.” “I like living dangerously,” she said with a shrug. “Here’s my advice, free of charge. Whoever it is you want, go to them. Maybe it’s not the smartest thing you could do. What do I know about that? It is, however, the best thing to do. You won’t be able to get whoever this is off your mind until you’ve faced them and taken what you want, or at least satisfied your curiosity.” She brushed a speck of dust off one full sleeve. “What’s the worst that could happen?”

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Dane counted to ten in his native language, Spanish, French, and American English. “Are you done?” “For now.” Sally glanced slyly at him, twinkling with mischief. “Oh. One more favor. Close your eyes.” “What?” “Close them. If you couldn’t fuck me, then at least indulge me.” The urge to pick Sally up and toss her bodily out the door was almost overwhelming. Dane controlled his urge to treat a lady, even one as rude as Sally, so roughly, and closed his eyes with a sigh. “Are you happy now?” “I am. Now open them again.” Dane did as he’d been told. The bed was empty. Sally was nowhere in sight. He hadn’t heard the door open or close. “What the hell?” he demanded. “Where did you go?” Sally’s laughter chimed through the air. “I’ll keep that a secret for now. And you can keep this a secret, unless you really want to look like a fool: humans weren’t the only beings your people rescued from Earth.” “What?” Sally chortled again. Dane felt the lingering remnants of her presence float away like dissolving fog. He shuddered, swore, swore some more, kicked the box he’d propped his foot on, and swore again for good measure. What the hell had she been? Not his own species. Not a human. The Empress probably knew damn well what Sally was and used Sally’s kind for Her own purposes, whatever they might be. Dane threw himself back into his chair, eyebrows knitted fiercely together. He had no doubt Sally served as an extra set of eyes and ears for the Empress. What if she served as the Empress’ voice? The Empress’ oracle? It might be the Empress Herself giving orders and guidance through Her servant’s mouth.

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Go to them, whoever they are, she’d said. As if she knew it all. As if she knew what kind of sacrifice he’d be making. Go to them. To him. Were the words an echo of Sally’s advice or advice from his own mind? Go to him. Go. Go. Go. Dane fought long and hard with himself, reaching one decision before backstepping to change his mind. In the end, though, he got up and went. Silently. Secretly. Avoiding all the vidscreens so there would be no record of what he did. He reached an elegantly carved door and knocked, then straightened his shoulders and lifted his head in stubborn pride as he waited for an answer. Dane had expected to be kept waiting, but no, the door opened right away. He met the inhabitant’s gaze with a fiery glare. Anubis regarded him calmly as if he’d expected Dane’s visit all along. “I wondered which of you would be the first to crumble,” he said, the first words he’d spoken, his voice rich and deep as thunder. “Come in, Dane. Come in and talk with me a while.”

Chapter Seven Anubis didn’t bother to look back and see if Dane was following him. He turned and walked through his receiving room with the spare elegance of a prince, silently as a cat. His dark feet showed in glimpses under the floor-length hem of the rich blue garment he wore. Dane had never seen anything like the outfit. “This is called batik, where I come from,” Anubis informed him. He seemed as good as Julian when it came to knowing what people were thinking. Either that, or Dane wondered in dismay, he himself was just incredibly easy to read. “You wonder how I knew what you were about to ask?” Anubis’ proud chin tilted up another degree. “You are transparent. It is because you keep your soldier’s mask on at all times that people are able to see the man who lies behind.” Dane heard the faintest, condescending trace of humor in Anubis’ speech. Mocking him. Not entirely cruelly. “Follow me. I prefer the chair in the far corner. When we reach it, I will sit and you will kneel at my feet -- if this is what you truly came for.” Anubis said nothing else, and with his back turned Dane couldn’t see his face. He doubted Anubis’ expression would give anything away regardless. His suspicion was confirmed when Anubis turned again to sit down in his chosen chair. A stiffly, richly embroidered thing, well-stuffed and upholstered in a striking and brightlycolored if peculiar design. Settling in, he managed to look both completely comfortable yet commanding as the Empress Herself. He said nothing more, but looked expectantly at Dane. Dane fought a brief war inside himself. Warrior’s pride forbade him to do what Anubis had asked. Now that he had finally accepted he would never be a warrior again, though…

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His will breaking, Dane gave a stiff nod and began to lower himself to the floor, padded with a thick, braided rug in another multitude of bright colors. His leg seized up halfway down, forcing him to stop with a stifled yelp of pain. Instantly, Anubis sat upright, scowling with displeasure. “You should have told me kneeling would hurt.” The reprimand stung. “Next time, if there is a next time, do not be such a fool. A submissive keeps his Dom informed about his limits. Do you see the low stool by the door? Go and get it, and bring it back here. You can sit on that, if you are able. Are you?” Deeply humiliated, but at the same time grateful, Dane jerked his head again and fetched the stool. Anubis regarded him with his accustomed cold, dark stare. “You did not answer my question. Are you able to sit on this? A question requires an answer. That rule is implied in polite society and enforced where I am concerned. Reply aloud.” “I think I can sit on this without my leg hurting,” Dane forced himself to say. “Master Anubis.” He found himself on the receiving end of Anubis’ most scornful look yet. “You have no right to call me ‘Master’.” “But I thought -- the Empress said you would only answer to ‘Master Anubis’.” “Her little joke.” “A joke?” “Many women -- and men -- in positions of great power, who play at intrigue, often find ways to allay the threat of all-consuming darkness through small doses of humor. It suited my own humor at the time to hear Her say this. But I will not have you call me ‘Master’ now, not until you understand what the word truly means.” “I don’t understand.” “You see?” Anubis settled the fanciful robe in neater folds around his elegant limbs. “But you have come to learn.” Dane thought he knew the right answer. He knew what he wanted, no matter how crazy anyone might think he’d gone. “Yes.”

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“A man of few words, I take it. Silence is often required of a submissive, but only to a point. I prefer to know when my submissives need something. Such as your footstool. I give you permission to sit.” Dane had forgotten he held the stool by one leg. Humiliated, he set the thing down and crouched upon it. Not what he’d call “comfortable,” but at least not actively painful. “Yes. There is a difference between pain suffered for the sake of pleasure, and pain which torments and hinders the body’s wishes.” Anubis tilted his head slightly. “You have a question?” “Several,” Dane confessed in a rush. “Why am I --” “Stop. I did not give you permission to ask those questions. Request permission first.” Dane bristled with indignation, but forced himself to bow his head. “May I have permission to speak my mind? To ask questions?” Anubis waited for a beat, then waved his hand. “A good start for a raw beginner. It pleases me to let you speak as you wish. Go ahead. Be sure to thank me for the honor.” “Thank you,” Dane parroted. Then, he grumbled, “This is going to take a lot more getting used to than I had expected.” “Of course,” Anubis said coldly. “All new things do. You find it hard to come to me. Put yourself in my place, then. Do you think I found being swooped away from my home an easy task? Finding myself among alien creatures a welcome prospect? Being forced to fight and work against my will, an enjoyable exercise? No. But go on. Your questions. Now.” Dane exhaled a long breath. “I don’t know where to start. Are you really a Master in BDSM? Did you own people? Was it all about sex, or was it about power?” He paused. “And why am I here?” “Good questions. Clever, if jumbled and emotional. Yes, emotional, no matter how you try to speak flatly and pretend you do not care about how I answer. I know

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people. Man, woman, alien, it makes no difference to me. I can read a being and understand what lies in their heart. A talent of mine.” Anubis almost smiled again, this time with a touch of pride. “I can see when a man wishes to dominate, and when a man desires to be dominated; when a man craves to submit, and when a man wants to have another submitting to him. Don’t lie to me. I see you and I know what you seek. Why you have come to me.” “Yes,” Dane said, lowering his head further still. “Will you?” “I might decide to. First, tell me this. Why do you think you deserve the honor?” Dane looked up in wonder. “This is something that has to be earned?” he asked in disbelief. “If one wishes to follow the proper form. You were a warrior and a soldier, or so I am told. You like rules and order and, yes, obedience. This is why you came to me, in the hopes I would help you understand yourself. Or is there something more?” Anubis’ expression took on a hint of cunning. “Do you, a member of this almighty species, desire me as a sexual Master?” Dane fidgeted and kept his mouth shut. “Questions and answers,” Anubis reminded him firmly. “I don’t know…” “Either answer me or leave. I will not be disrespected, even if I am not your Master in any form. The choice is up to you.” He forced the answer out. “Yes.” “Why?” “I don’t know.” “Expound.” Dane felt as if he were taking a test where his life hinged on passing or failing. He began to sweat. “I don’t know.” “You are lying. I do not tolerate lies. You do know. Expound.” “I don’t have the words!” Dane snapped. “I told you I didn’t understand. I don’t know why I’m feeling the way I do. All I know is that after --” he hesitated, “-- after

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something else happened today, I couldn’t stop thinking about -- about what a submissive I met, a man named Riven, told me you did. I couldn’t sleep because if I let myself relax I’d start asking myself questions I didn’t have answers for.” “Half lies, half truth,” Anubis murmured. “I can see what you conceal with lies. I am neither blind nor stupid. Normally I would punish someone who dared to speak with less than pure honesty, but you are ignorant and punishments will come when you fully realize why you deserve them. At the moment, your truths interest me more.” Anubis’ lips narrowed into thin lines before he spoke again. “This is what I think. You are wounded and cannot fight anymore. In your eyes, this makes you less of a man. For you, there is no greater shame. To realize you want to lower yourself even further, to know you would enjoy it -- have enjoyed it -- is both a shock and an illicit thrill. So you came to me hoping I would give you a free taste of what sexual submission is at a Master’s hand. Correct?” Dane turned his eyes away. “Yes.” “You need not look at my face, but respect demands you look at my feet.” Anubis slipped his dark toes from beneath his robe. He actually chuckled. “If you were a true submissive, you would want to kiss them. Lick them.” “Men actually do that?” Dane blurted. “And women, although as I am sure you know, I prefer men. I have had women in my time, though, and they were very good at what they did. The lifestyle is open to anyone who needs what it provides. Perhaps even aliens.” The open humor increased. “I have taught many, but this will be a new thing for even me.” Hope flared. “You will teach me?” “I did not say that. In time, I might decide I wanted to. When you were truly ready. At the moment, you are not. You are merely desperate.” “I don’t despair,” Dane protested. “Despair is for the weak and useless.” “True enough. But does your injury not make you weak? Do you not consider yourself useless in your current position? More, are you not helpless against the other

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man who shares these walls?” Dane felt Anubis examining him with a chilly glance. “Well?” Dane shook his head. “Another lie. I may decide to punish you for your own good after all. Since you refuse to speak the truth, I will do it for you. You claim you are none of these, but as I have said, I can read you. You do feel weak, useless, helpless, and more. Helplessness is strongest of all. This other man flaunts your authority, refuses to behave as you think he should, and tempts you every chance he gets. He not only wants you, but he wants to control you. This, you do not want to accept, although you could.” “I hate Julian.”

“Of course you do. What you refuse to admit is that you love him too.”

“Love?” Dane protested. “Love is for women and sissy men.”

“Lies, lies. You love your Empress. I heard you say so.”

“That’s -- that’s different.”

“Explain.”

Dane struggled for the right words. “I love the Empress. Yes. But I don’t love Her

the way I might love someone I wanted to have sex with. The way I love Her is through respect, loyalty and obedience.” “I see. And if She asked you to mate with Her, would you?” “Her? I don’t think She’d ever consider it.” “But you would. You like being commanded. And consider that one day your Empress will need an heir. She might demand your assistance.” Dane shuddered. “Something troubles you?” You know damn well it does. But I’m trying to do this right, so… “May I speak honestly?” “It pleases me to let you do so.” “The thought of mating with the Empress is enough to make my testicles try and hide up inside me.”

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Anubis gave another short laugh. “Because She is a woman, or because Her power frightens you? No, no, I already know the answer to that question. Do not bother trying to explain.” He knew? Dane wished Anubis would explain so he could understand too. Or did he? On second thought, probably not. At least not yet. He kept his eyes fixed on Anubis’ feet and wondered what it would be like to lick them. The thrill of interest he felt came as a surprise, even more so when it was enough to send a tickle of excitement through his cock, which hadn’t so much as twitched when faced with Sally’s pussy on display. He still loved cunt, but he craved cock. Julian’s cock. He flinched. No. Not Julian’s. Not again, not so soon. He’d come here wanting to see if he felt the same with Anubis. Did he? Yes… and no. Dane dug his fingers into the short buzz of his hair. “Help me?” he asked, the plea escaping without plans or permission. Anubis’ gaze weighed heavily on him for a few long moments. “On a few conditions. One, I am not your Master, and you will not call me Master. Two, even though I am not your Master, you will do as I say because right now I know better than you do what you most need. Three, you will not ask any more questions until I say you may. Do you agree? Say ‘yes,’ and stay, or say ‘no,’ and leave.” Dane swallowed hard. “Yes,” he whispered. Then, stronger, “Yes.” “Well done, soldier.” Anubis stood. With one easy movement he whipped the batik garment over his head. He wore nothing underneath but his glorious Black skin, smooth as his bare scalp, sculpted muscles gleaming in the soft light of the room. His cock was erect, tall and proud as the rest of Anubis, not as thick as Julian’s but a little longer and somehow more elegant, just like the rest of him. He smelled of spiced oil laced with male musk. Intoxicating. Powerful. Impossible to resist unless you truly wanted to -- and Dane didn’t.

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Dane had believed Anubis was a commander before this moment. Now, he was sure of it. No one could look at Anubis naked and not want to do anything he wanted, even down to kissing his toes. Automatically, he started to shed his own clothes. But before he’d done so much as pull his undershirt out of his sleep pants, Anubis dealt him a fierce frown. “Did I say you could disrobe?” “No.” “A submissive never does anything his Dominant does not request. I do not want you naked, as I am.” Dane tried to understand. “But isn’t being naked weaker than being dressed?” “Do you think I am suddenly less of a man without clothing?” Dane had to admit the answer was “no.” Anubis looked even more commanding with nothing covering his body. “You are a handsome man in this form. If we were on Earth, I would… but no, we are not on Earth, and I never will be again.” Bitterness tainted Anubis’ voice. “Not your fault, I know. We have your species to thank for sparing us from total extinction. Sometimes I wonder if we should be grateful, though.” “Mas -- Anubis?” Dane asked in disbelief. “Yet another thing you don’t understand. It doesn’t matter right now. You wanted help. I will help you.” Anubis delicately touched his cock with one finger. “Suck me.” Dane paled. Anubis found this funnier than anything yet. “Do not tell me no man has ever asked you before. You were a warrior. You must have trained in a school or academy or found yourself in a foxhole with nothing else to do.” “Sometimes someone would ask,” Dane muttered. “I never gave in.” “And now you find that giving in is exactly what you want to do.” Anubis moved closer, close enough to trace Dane’s lip with the tip of his cock. Dane licked

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automatically, tasting another man’s seed for the first time in his life. Human seed. Bitter and thick and salty, but not bad. “Suck me.” “I told you I’ve never…” “There is a first time for everything. I will ask you one more time, and if you continue to delay or if you refuse, you will leave.” Dane stared at Anubis’ huge cock. He didn’t know what he was doing -- only that he felt a burning need to do as he’d been told. He wanted this, but he didn’t want to look like a fool. “Have you been sucked before?” Dane nodded. Women and men had both used their mouths on him. “Then do as they did. There is no right or wrong when it comes to sex if you are trying to please a willing partner. There is always a way around every obstacle. Now, are you going to suck me?” “Yes.” Dane spoke aloud without being prompted. “Now?” “No. We’ll have tea first.” Anubis rolled his shoulders impatiently. “Yes, now.” Dane fumbled for any kind of familiar ground, however recently acquired. “No whips or chains or anything?” “No. Begin.” It felt strange. Dane wasn’t used to having sex on command. Before, it had always been a case of getting an urge, finding someone willing or someone on sale, and taking what he wanted. He’d never really learned how to give. Do as they did, Anubis had said. Well… he could try, at least. Damning himself for being clumsy and afraid, Dane gritted his teeth and wrapped his hand around Anubis’ cock. The feel of the organ surprised him, even though he knew what his own human-body erections were like. Touching another man was completely different. Same soft, tissue-thin skin over a hard core pulsing in his palm. He glanced up at Anubis to see if he was doing this right, but the human wasn’t going to tell him anything, his face impassive as a statue.

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Okay, soldier. Your mission: orgasm. Target: acquired. Get to work. There had been times when a hand job was enough to satisfy Dane, but he felt pretty sure a few awkward pumps wasn’t what Anubis wanted. He tried all the same, and although Anubis’ cock jerked slightly, the man continued to say nothing. He stayed quiet and still even when Dane hesitantly touched his heavy sac and then rolled the testicles together. Bastard didn’t even breathe harder. Dane swallowed on a dry throat. All his saliva had dried up and his tongue felt like a slab of petrified foam. Damned if he’d back down now, though. As he leaned forward, Dane paused a second when he caught Anubis’ smell. Different from Julian’s. Not muskier and not heavier, but not lighter either. Just different. Good, just in its own way. Did every man have their own scent? Anubis apparently decided Dane needed some assistance. In a move that left Dane mortified, he put one hand on the back of Dane’s head to push him closer and the other hand on his cock to place it on Dane’s mouth. “I know what I’m doing,” Dane snapped, lying. “Doubtful. Continue. Obey my directions and suck.” Fuck. He’d completely missed the point of the original order, like a soldier trying to throw stones at the enemy instead of blasting them with laser fire. Suck, Anubis demanded? Fine, he’d suck. Dane opened his mouth as wide as he could, so wide his jaws hurt, and drew the thick Black cock between his lips. Mercifully, his saliva started flowing again, his tongue moistened, and he had some ammunition to work with. Just do what others have done to you, you dumbass soldier. Dane searched his brain for memories of past blow jobs and came up with a few ideas. Drawing back, he used his tongue to circle the cockhead, around and around and around. He poked the tip of that tongue into the piss and come slit and wiggled.

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Ah-ha! A small drop of salty semen fell into his mouth. Dane took a brief second to examine the taste, decided he liked that flavor, and kept on fighting. Thing was, as he got used to having a cock between his lips and his own dick began rising in excitement, this didn’t feel so much like a battle. More like a game. “You begin to understand,” Anubis murmured. His hand gentled on the back of Dane’s head. “Not many would make so much progress their first time.” The praise sent warmth spreading through Dane’s body. He found himself absurdly grateful. In thanks, he tried hollowing his cheeks with suction, remembering how he’d liked the pull and drag himself. What else? Movement? Anubis’ cock had gotten slippery with Dane’s saliva. Slow at first, carefully picking up momentum, Dane started bobbing up and down, sliding Anubis’ dick in and out of his mouth, careful not to let up on the suction. He felt his own arousal growing, but somehow it didn’t seem that important. What he cared about was pleasing Anubis. Anubis finally let out a small sigh, hopefully one of pleasure. Encouraged, Dane sucked harder and moved faster. He decided working Anubis’ testicles while he used his mouth might turn out better. When he touched the sac, Anubis jumped a fraction and sighed again. Yes! On the right track, now. Was there anything else? Oh! Oh. He’d been an idiot to forget. It hadn’t been part of Anubis’ order, and Dane wasn’t sure if Doms allowed this, but he decided he’d try at least. Hoping he wasn’t way off target, Dane pushed his free hand behind Anubis’ ass, ran one finger down the line dividing his cheeks, then poked inside. “Ahh!” Anubis cried out, Dane’s only warning. Bitter-salty semen suddenly filled his mouth. More often than not the people who’d sucked Dane off had spit the seed out, but Dane found himself trying his hardest to swallow. He had to gulp two or three times to get it all, and dribbles escaped his mouth to run down his chin, but he hoped Anubis would be happy. He washed Anubis’ dick with his tongue until the organ was clean and growing soft, enjoying the feel so much by then that he made a noise of protest when Anubis pulled out of his mouth.

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“Well done, for a beginner,” Anubis said, definite approval in his voice. “And I see you did not climax. Also well done. Many submissives endure quite a few lessons before they learn to hold back until their Master is satisfied or gives the order.” Dane blinked. He’d almost forgotten he was hard. It just hadn’t been his priority. “I didn’t think.” “As it should be. Hmm.” Anubis regarded him narrowly. “You might be a decent submissive some day.” “Will you teach me more?” “I will think about it. We are done now. Go.” “What?” “For the record, Dominants do not repeat themselves. Submissives are expected to pay close attention and obey without question. I will say it one more time, and I will not answer any further questions until I have thought about this matter and you have done what you need to do next. No -- I said, no questions. Now go.” Shamed, yet oddly elated, Dane nodded. He stood from his footstool and stretched his bad leg. He had a lot to think about, didn’t he?

*** Well, now this is an unexpected twist, isn’t it? Interesting. Very interesting. I didn’t think Dane had it in him, not yet. But he went to Anubis, not me. I think he’s earned a punishment, and if he takes it well enough, a reward. It’s time to act, and I know what to do. I can move fast and be there before he is. Anubis had probably been aware of his presence the whole time. The fact that he hadn’t said a word to Dane about it spoke worlds about what Anubis knew or guessed. In fact, most of what Anubis had said was probably meant more for him than Dane, and he’d learned almost everything he needed to know. A good night’s work -- but the night was definitely not over yet. Smirking, Julian slipped silently away.

Chapter Eight Hello. I’m the man you used to be. Remember me? I’ve been making my presence known these past few days. Letting you get a taste for being yourself again. First one’s free. Second one’s for fun. Third time’s the charm, and now I’m here to stay. It’s good to be free. Julian had seen this coming, the complete and total change. He’d been trained like a dog and worked his ass off to be a good tin soldier, exactly the same as everyone else. Being invalided out of the military had been the best thing to ever happen to him. He’d been toying with his old, repressed nature since he and Dane were stuck together. Teasing the hard, bitter man had started to crack his shell, but after a while he’d reached a plateau. He’d known there had to be something more. The Empress’ job, which led to Anubis, which led to Phoenix and Riven, was exactly what Julian needed. He let everything else go, from scoldings on how to “act like a man” to the lingering bitterness over the ruin of his hands. Let it all run away like ice melting from a willow tree, and laughed to see it go. They’d shaken their heads and called him what the humans called a “wild card.” He’d show them all just how wild he could be. Starting with Dane. Julian hummed and crooned to himself as he sat in Dane’s receiving room. He was naked as a jaybird, purely because he’d wanted to shed his clothes. Also, he figured it would both save time and make a better impression later. In the meantime, he was getting busy toasting every inch of his exposed skin by the fire. That hearth always made him cackle. Despite the centralized heat being in perfect working order, the one luxury Dane had allowed himself -- no, specifically

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requested -- when he moved in was a fireplace. He couldn’t burn genuine wood, of course, but synthetic logs gave off equal heat and made a great crackling noise. Dane claimed the fire’s unique heat was the only thing that soothed his damaged leg, thus rendering him in better shape for the Empress’ use. Right. Julian snorted. The old bastard couldn’t stand to be seen as needing special treatment, so he hid behind excuses when in need. Or, no, wait. Julian tapped the stub of a forefinger against his chin. Dane had surely laid himself bare before Anubis. He’d asked for very, very special treatment, even though Julian could almost hear Dane’s old and newly discovered natures duking it out. Anubis had said “no.” If Dane came to him, Julian thought, he’d say “yes.” He knew that son of a bitch too well, though, and while Dane might lower himself before someone as powerful as Anubis, he’d never willingly surrender to the fellow ex-soldier he loathed or, lately, pretended to loathe. Methinks he doth protest too much. Humans had such great ways with words. Julian was starting to understand why Dane loved their speech. I took the road less traveled by, and that has made all the difference. Savvy. You do know how to whistle, don’t you? You just put your lips together… and blow. Julian would blow, all right. He’d blow Dane’s mind when Dane finally came back to his rooms. Then, if he pulled the right strings, he’d get blown. If he knew Dane, after his little display he’d be stomping around the garden, stewing and steaming, cussing and fretting, wearing himself down until his leg ached like a bitch and he was too tired to think anymore. Might be a while given what Dane had to chew on this night. I can wait. Julian settled back on the rich, soft, hand-woven rug he’d brought in to make himself comfortable on. Good for lounging now, and to show he could be considerate, good for Dane’s bad limb later when the man was on his knees. Julian chuckled and rubbed his hands together before the fire.

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Dominance. Submission. He didn’t understand all the rules of BDSM yet, but he had time to learn, he had time. Tonight would be about finally getting Dane to give in. To let go, like he had. To be free again. He’d feel like a new man, the way Julian did. Really, what Julian planned for Dane would be doing him a favor. Besides, after a lifetime of vanilla sex Julian couldn’t wait to get kinky with his newly acquired skills. Was that the door opening? Ah! It was, and cussing out the lock Julian had rigged not to open until the correct key sequence had been entered three times sounded like Dane and no one else had come home. Julian stood up, stretching to get good and limber, and put his back to the fire. All the better to impress you with, my dear. Dane swore a blue streak and kicked the door. Julian winced. Sounded like that had to have hurt. To show Dane he could do what Phoenix did and take care of his sub, he’d massage that sore leg later until it felt good as new. His hands might be ruined, but he could still manage a rub-down. The lock clicked undone after Dane hammered in the code that magical third time. Spitting a few more curses, he opened the door and stomped in. He passed Julian by completely, not noticing a thing out of place with his room. At first. He stopped and looked over his shoulder, first quizzically, then in disbelief, and finally in that good old-fashioned rage. “What the hell are you doing here and what the fuck are you doing without clothes on?” “Stop,” Julian said, his voice quiet and calm but unyielding as stone. Dane fell instantly silent, although he immediately looked baffled. This must be what the Empress feels when She gives commands, Julian thought gleefully. I’ve learned from the best, Dane, Herself and Anubis. Power doesn’t mean shouting and waving your fists and stomping your feet. Power is strongest when you make it clear you expect to be obeyed, no questions asked, just orders fulfilled.

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And you like taking orders, don’t you? You always have. You were born for this. “Turn around. Face me.” Dane’s expression hardened with the itch for mutiny, but he did as he’d been told all the same. Poor bastard, he probably still didn’t understand why. Yet. He would, though, soon. Julian took a moment to look at the man. To appreciate what he was about to claim. Short hair, bulging muscles, hard jaw and big, broad hands. The perfect model of a modern-day human warrior. Mouthwatering. “You can take off your clothes yourself, or I can do it for you. The choice is up to you.” Dane’s eyes bulged. “The fuck I will! Who do you think you are, breaking into my rooms and --” Julian held up a hand. “Shut up.” Dane’s mouth flew closed. Ahh, silence. “I told you what to do. Do it. Now.” He fought. Oh, how he fought inside himself. Bowing before Anubis had been one thing. Giving in to Julian was something else entirely. But he’d had a taste, hadn’t he? He’d gotten hooked and he wanted more, even if he was still confused about how and why. The bulge in his sleep pants, already impressive, started to pitch a taller tent. It knew what was coming too and it was hungry. Julian stood patiently. He’d wait all night if he had to. Neither of them was going anywhere. Dane stared at him, jaw muscles working. Murder was definitely on his mind. But all the same, his wide hands went to the tie of his pants and opened them. His engorged cock popped out, an impressive sight which Julian made clear he appreciated with a murmur of encouragement. The ribbed undershirt came off before Dane finished shedding his pants.

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Naked as Julian, now, Dane took a stumbling step forward. “What kind of game are you playing?” he rasped. “What are you doing to me?” “A new game. And I’m doing what you’ve always wanted. You know it’s true. Now be quiet. No more talking unless I give you permission. And you’ll keep your mouth shut until then, won’t you?” Dane shook his head. Julian could see his confusion, so pitiable. He closed the gap between them and laid his hand on the back of Dane’s solid neck. “It’s all right. I promise it’s all right. Now lie down on the rug. I brought it especially for you.” Clumsy and slow, still fighting his new craving but losing the battle, Dane got down on his knees. With one last grimace of disbelief, he stretched out full-length. The fire crackled on, casting dancing shadows over the hard planes of his body. His erection stood straight up at his groin, twitching and jerking with the need to get off. Julian went down on one knee and took that admirable hard-on in a solid grip, not hard enough to hurt, but hard enough to make sure Dane knew once and for all who was in charge there. “You’re still a good soldier. This is just a new battle plan, and I’m pulling rank. Understood? Nod for me.” Dane swallowed. He jerked his head in a rough up-and-down motion. “Well done.” Julian stroked Dane’s firm stomach. “That was the hardest part. It’ll get easier each time, until it’s completely natural. Instinct. You’ll learn. And now, you’ve done so well you deserve a treat.” That got him a glimmer of interest and, better still, a ravenous heat. Very nice. “What would you like to do, hmm?” Julian continued his petting, starting to stroke Dane’s cock at the same time. “You see, this isn’t about me. This is all for you. Do you want to suck my dick? Swallow for me the way you did with Anubis? Ah, ah, ah, I can see you wondering how the hell I know. Maybe I’ll tell you someday, and maybe I won’t. Right now, I’m more interested in what we can do with your body.” Julian thumbed the fat, wet head of Dane’s pulsing prick. “I could fuck you,” he whispered. “Shove my cock in you until you’re sweating and gritting your teeth to keep from

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screaming because I haven’t said you were allowed.” He allowed himself a chuckle as Dane’s dick voted “yes” without hesitation. Dane himself turned his head to the side, as if he couldn’t exactly make himself face Julian when he nodded, minutely, barely visible, his own “yes.” “Good. So good. I’ll make this better than you dreamed. You see, I learned a new trick. I never showed you because I wanted to save the surprise for a special occasion.” Dane glanced back, curious. Julian caressed the soldier’s nipples, pinching and twisting each one. He bared his teeth in a smile, and he let part of himself go, unfolding, the feeling like new wings spreading wide. Slender, shining tentacles wound through his short hair, curled down his arms, and rose from his back. Dane stared in dumb disbelief. As far as Julian knew, only the Empress -- and now he -- could pull off the mixture of shape and form. He didn’t know what the Empress did with Her tentacles except put them on display. As for himself, not to mention Dane, Julian had other uses in mind. “Roll over,” he commanded, calm as still water. The power burning in his gut smoothed out into perfect peace as it traveled into his thoughts. Good. So good. “Lie on your stomach for me.” He could tell Dane wanted to touch the tentacles. Even though they wore and liked their human shapes, people still dreamed about having all those sinuous, sensitive probes. Dane obviously would love to feel one again. Later, though. Later. Julian didn’t have to repeat himself. One last, wistful look at Julian’s tentacles and Dane changed positions to rest face-down. He grunted softly as his engorged cock found some friction against the rug. “Don’t come if you can help it. I want you to save your come until I’m in you.”

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Dane moaned. He’d begun humping against the rug, but stilled himself with an effort. The muscles in his ass quivered. Julian caressed one tight cheek to learn how it felt, to know the feel of smooth skin over solid bulk. Without any warning, he extended one of the tentacles on his arm and brought it down on that same spot with an echoing thwack. Dane jerked and grunted and arched up, his body begging for more. Julian didn’t bother to hold back his chuckles as he let himself go and lashed Dane until his ass was covered in raised red welts and the tendons stood out in Dane’s neck from his struggle not to make a sound. To see how far he could push the old soldier, Julian stretched out half a dozen tendrils, thin as the willow branches Anubis had admired, and started the flogging over again, this time on the sturdy arch of Dane’s back. Dane gave a sharp, quickly aborted yell -- not in pain, but in ecstasy. He writhed under the beating, begging soundlessly for more. He needed to learn, though, that he got what he got because Julian wanted to give it to him. He needed to understand that when Julian decided enough was enough, he had to accept the fact. In any case, his back and butt were almost solidly reddened. Any more would cause him real pain. Not Julian’s goal. Tentacles could be used for other things. In previous experiments, Julian had discovered that someone could actually go fuck themselves. The trial runs were unbelievable, wiping him out with bone-shattering orgasms. He’d see how Dane liked them, wouldn’t he? Julian chose the thickest of his tentacles and, just like the old days, exuded a thin slick of oil to make the digit slippery. He tickled and teased at the crack of Dane’s ass, letting him know what was coming, then used his hands to part the cheeks wide and probed at the soldier’s probably-virgin hole with the tip of his fucking tentacle. Dane went ape-shit, or would have if he wasn’t still being quiet as he could. As it was, he jerked and flinched and bit back harsh growls of need. To reward him, Julian teased the slick tendril around and around his entrance until Dane arched back for more.

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He slipped inside, his tentacle strong enough to breach a human’s ring of muscle with ease, and undulated the intruder to tickle and tease and drive Dane crazier than ever, just in a better way. When he found the soldier’s pleasure gland, Julian hammered it until Dane’s growls turned into almost-silenced wails of horny euphoria. Julian knew he could make Dane come from the tentacle in his ass, but that would be ignoring the increasingly frantic demands of his own pounding cock. Again, he didn’t warn Dane, wanting to see how he’d react. Popping the tentacle out, he jumped on the man, one knee to either side of his hips, and thrust his dick inside the stretched hole. Dane started to, then swallowed a scream. His hands curled into fists, grabbing the rug in desperate handfuls. “You feel so good,” Julian said, his breath growing short as he lunged into the fuck. His cock was larger than the tentacle had been, and Dane’s grip around the member felt unbelievably, amazingly tight. Hot. Taut. Silky. All those and better, no words he knew of good enough to summarize the glory that was fucking Dane. Seconds and then minutes flew by on the wall-mounted clock, and Julian showed no mercy. He laughed when Dane whined like a dog, pinched him when he writhed, and teased him by drawing out when he arched for more. All good things, though. Julian let himself go wild in a final blaze of glory, hammering Dane’s fuckhole with all his strength. Dane drew himself up tighter than before, gritting back a wail. When his channel spasmed around Julian’s cock, Julian came with a mighty gush that drained his balls dry in powerful jets, soaking Dane’s ass with his spunk. He caught his breath, then, still lodged deep. Going again sounded like a good idea, but Dane had been such a good boy that he’d earned another treat, something Julian had read about in Phoenix’s accounts that afternoon. “You didn’t come,” he approved, lightly dragging his short nails down Dane’s glowing red back. “Turn over again. The rug’s soft enough not to hurt you.”

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Dane obeyed with a doubtful look as he gingerly flipped over and settled down. Julian could read the question on Dane’s mind. He laid a finger to the soldier’s lips, whereupon Dane sucked the stub into his mouth and began to do amazingly creative things with his tongue. Julian moaned without thinking, at which Dane smirked around the finger in his mouth. Payback’s a bitch, isn’t it? he suggested with a leer. “Do you want to come or not? I could stand up and walk away right now. You could make do on your own. Or,” Julian added wickedly, making his tentacles dance, “I can use these. What do you want?” The leer vanished, and vanished fast. “Good,” Julian approved. “Now hold still. I think you’re going to love this. Won’t you?” Selecting his thinnest tentacle, Julian narrowed it until it was barely larger than a slim stylus. He captured Dane’s cock with two other tentacles and held it tight, wrapping another around his balls and squeezing for good measure. Ever so gently, ever so slowly, Julian slid the tendril into the come-hole of Dane’s cock and all the way down. Dane’s mouth flew wide in a silent scream of shocked rapture. Julian held perfectly still for a moment, then drew out a centimeter at a time. At the same moment he pulled completely free, he squeezed Dane’s cock with all the strength in his tentacles. “Come.” Dane’s back arched off the mattress as heavy spurts of semen erupted from his cock, splattering his stomach. He tossed like a ship at sea, heaved like a bellows, and spasmed each muscle as if he’d been struck by lightning. “You can speak now,” Julian allowed. “If you want to.” To suit himself, he lay down by Dane’s side and shoved one arm under the man’s head. He threw the other arm over Dane’s chest, smearing himself liberally with come and not minding a bit. Dane’s mouth worked, but his forehead furrowed as he searched in vain for words. Julian waited again, patient as he had been before.

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“It shouldn’t have felt so good,” he said at last. “Why?” “Because you let yourself do what you wanted. All you needed was a nudge onto the right path. Think for a minute, and you’ll understand why you crave commands, soldier.” Dane blinked rapidly as the tumblers finally fell into place. He didn’t say anything, but he did relax against Julian’s side, turning from a statue into the proper bonelessness of a man who’d just had the fuck of a lifetime. A long span of time passed before Dane cleared his throat and said, “Well.” “Yep,” Julian agreed happily. “I was taught to pick the battles I could win and strategically retreat from the ones I was sure to lose,” Dane continued, thoughtful in his choice of words. “I think…” “You think this is doing both. You’re not wrong. Giving up is winning in this skirmish.” Dane snorted, but with much less of his usual disdain. “You read that in Phoenix’s papers?” “Yep. He’s a smart man, Phoenix. Knows his stuff. I didn’t have time to study it all, much less memorize, but I think I did a pretty good job improvising.” “Can’t complain” was Dane’s stoic answer. “I guess this is going to keep on happening?” “Why not? You want to. I want to. We both love this. No reason we shouldn’t.” “Mmm.” Dane rolled that over in his mind. “I want to set some rules.” “Always with the rules.” “Rules.” “Fine,” Julian gave in. He’d seen a mention of “contracts” in Phoenix’s papers, in which both Dom and sub set up guidelines for what they would and wouldn’t do. Dane’s request was fair. Phoenix would have called it “required.” “Name them.” “This D/s thing doesn’t go outside the bedroom. I’m not going to let you put a collar around my neck and clip on a leash. I am not wearing or using any sex toys unless I get the chance to examine them first. No one needs to know and no one will

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except the Empress, if She ever asks.” Dane turned faintly red. “But, uh, feel free to do the tentacle thing again. Whenever you want.” “I can live with those. If you ever change your mind, I’m willing to go there. Right now, I’m satisfied.” “One more thing. We go to the Empress and tell Her we’ve uncovered Anubis’ secret. No more dicking around when it comes to duty.” Julian sighed. “You’re right. I did think about keeping him around until he’d taught me how to do a few things, but even I obey Her commands. We’ll go tomorrow.” Dane nodded with his usual sharp decisiveness. The expression softened into one mixed between interest, hesitation, and uncertainty. “What happens next? Did Phoenix’s papers say anything about what comes after the sex?” “More sex, of course,” Julian replied, good cheer abounding. “We’ve barely scratched the surface. But first, there’s something I want to do. Something we got wrong earlier.” Dane tilted his head so he was able to look up at Julian. “What?” “This.” Julian lowered his mouth to Dane’s in a kiss, a lover’s kiss. And Dane kissed him back.

*** “It is late for a report, you realize. You might have waited until morning.” “Ah, but when does the Empress sleep?” The Empress and Anubis engaged in a stare-down over the vid-link. Both of them could last for hours if they needed to. Anubis chose to speak again, because although he had much to hate Her for, he understood why Her people loved Her. She was a smart, savvy, sexy bitch who knew how to command, coax, and trick men into doing anything She pleased. Anubis had always respected women who grew their own brass testicles -- and used them. “The clash and fray are over now, for the most part.”

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“You are certain?” “Neither of them even thought to look up at the vid-screen. They did not see me. I saw everything, and heard all they said. They have come to a truce just as You desired.” “It’s about time.” The Empress stroked her cheek with one frond-like tentacle. “Anubis, I owe you a debt of gratitude for serving as My catalyst. I do not forget My debts. Name anything you desire, and it will be yours.” Anubis’ blood heated. “My choice of a willing young man who has what it takes, to teach to serve me. What is a Dominant without his submissive?” “What, indeed. Human or native?” “That makes no difference to me. I can be surprisingly open-minded -- when I choose to be.” “Someday you will tell Me how you overcame the mindscan,” the Empress threatened. “Not that I didn’t take pleasure in unraveling the riddle Myself. You were a refreshing challenge.” The tentacle on Her cheek moved to twine around one woven through Her hair. “I would ask you another favor.” Intrigued, Anubis nodded. The Empress did not lightly ask for things, and certainly not things of small importance. “If I can provide what You need, I will.” The Empress bared Her teeth in a frightening smile. “Teach Me as well. I want to know more. I always want to know more. Forever staying two moves ahead in the game is how I keep the Crystal Throne. Agreed?” Anubis approved. “Agreed.” He glanced away from the Empress to the small inset frame of Dane and Julian twined together. “But now You must answer a question in return.” The Empress arched Her right eyebrow. “Which is?” “Why these two in particular? Why did I need to be planted here to ignite their spark?” “Because they were denying that same spark. Bickering like elderly women and beating their chests like the great Apes of Earth. People often think the Elite Corps is a

Willa Okati


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soft job. It is, while the veterans I recruit are given time to mend both body and soul. But then, when they are fully themselves again or better…” She trailed off with a knowing look. “They do not lie idle forever.” “I see. And so this was to cure Dane’s wounded pride, and temper Julian’s tendency toward self-destruction?” “In so many words, yes.” The Empress studied the inset frame of the naked couple with a gleam in Her eye. “Besides, they make a very handsome couple, do they not? They are pleasing to watch.” Anubis coughed to disguise a laugh. And he couldn’t disagree. “Very beautiful, yes, and now at peace with one another, insofar as two alpha males of my species can be.” “This matter, then, draws to its conclusion. How do the Earth stories go?” the Empress demanded. “And they all lived happily ever after?” “Correct, my Empress.” “Happily ever after,” She mused, watching Julian and Dane with satisfaction. “Yes, a good conclusion indeed. I am satisfied. Report back to the Glass Palace. I have another job to give you. For Dane and Julian, this story is done.” She pressed a button, and the vid-screen went black.

Willa Okati Willa Okati is one hundred percent in love with all things vampire and supernatural. However, she’s an even bigger fan of stories that feature beautiful men exploring their desires for one another. Casually known as the “blue-haired, tattooed wench” among Changeling folks, she lives for the fun of acting just as young as she feels. She’d love for you to visit her website at www.willaokati.com, join her reader’s loop for fun and chatter at [email protected], or look for Willa at blog.myspace.com/willaokati. Happy reading!

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