Taming Their Lion: A Lion Mistress Bonus Story

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Taming Their Lion was originally part of the Between the Sheets: Original Volume 2 anthology. Scroll down to stream the free audio or read online.

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Taming Their Lion

R. A. Steffan

Chapter 1: Solstice Surprise

The ability to visit a magical dream world every night was one of the benefits of having a ghost for a lover.

Years earlier, Kathrael had mourned Vesh’s death bitterly. He’d been young, kind, and her only friend in the world at the time. Even now, she would give much to have him alive and whole with her in the living world.

But the reality was, his loss had been the catalyst that propelled her north to the land beyond the mountains, seeking bloody revenge—which had, against all odds, ended up becoming her salvation rather than her downfall. Now, two years after meeting her other lovers and one year after giving birth to her beautiful, impossible daughter, Kathrael’s world had become nearly unrecognizable.

She’d been born into slavery. Forced into prostitution at the age of thirteen. Maimed by an acid-throwing attack at nineteen. Given all those things, Kathrael’s life should have been both tragic and abbreviated. Instead, she’d traveled farther than most could ever dream of going. She’d met heroes and villains, fallen in love three times over, and marched at the head of a slave rebellion.

Together, Kathrael and her lovers had toppled a king.

In the seasons since the palace of Rhyth fell, her days had been divided between the realities of founding a fledgling republic, and her singularly unique family. In addition to Vesh, Kathrael’s heart also belonged to Ithric, an eccentric lion-shifter, and Favian, a eunuch pagan priest who dreamed prophetic visions of the future.

A large part of her heart belonged to her daughter, as well—a little girl who’d inherited shape-shifting abilities from her father. Kathrael had called the infant Lyndarra, combining the names of her own lost sister, Elarra, and Ithric’s estranged sister, Alyndra.

Now, Kathrael’s days were full of all these wonderful things… but her nights belonged to Vesh. A one-of-a-kind confluence of magic had allowed her lost companion’s spirit to continue on as a part of their lives. Since her fateful pilgrimage across the mountains, Kathrael had attracted the souls of the dead. Meanwhile, Favian’s prophecies acted as a conduit to the spirit realm. Together, the bond they shared with Ithric and Lyndarra allowed Vesh’s spirit to visit all of them in shared dreams when they slept.

As the months passed, Vesh had grown more and more skilled at crafting those dreams until they could go anywhere and do anything imaginable. The realities of the waking world did not apply in the dream world. They’d visited amazing places both real and imaginary, dined on the finest food, enjoyed art and music…

All right. Who was she kidding? Yes, they’d done those things. But mostly, they’d had sex. Lots and lots of extremely depraved, thoroughly enjoyable sex.

Like Kathrael, Vesh had been forced into prostitution after escaping the Rhytheeri Priests’ Guild where he’d been castrated against his will as an adolescent. Unlike Kathrael, he’d actually enjoyed sex work… sometimes, at least. In the dream world, Vesh was once more whole and virile—no longer a eunuch. He was a sensual and affectionate lover, with an impish streak and an endless imagination.

When sleep crept over Kathrael and her dreams shimmered into focus, it was easy enough to guess what direction Vesh’s thoughts were taking on any given night, based on whether Lyndarra was with her, nestled in Kathrael’s arms. Vesh adored the little girl and doted on her often. But in the waking world, the baby was safely tucked in her cradle at night, near Kathrael, Favian, and Ithric’s bed. If she needed them while they slept, Kathrael knew they would hear her cries even in their dreams, and wake to care for her. Meanwhile, the child’s occasional absence from the dream world freed the four of them to do… other things.

Tonight, Lyndarra was nowhere to be seen, and Kathrael knew that Vesh must have plans for them of a more sensual nature.

Fingers brushed hers and she smiled up at Favian, who’d materialized from the shadows to stand next to her. His golden-blond hair was pulled into its customary priest’s queue at the nape of his neck, but his usual ochre-red robes had been replaced by a loose linen shirt, leather breeches, and tall boots. He squeezed her hand, a crooked grin tugging at one corner of his sensual lips.

“Just us tonight, huh?” he asked. “Hmm… Vesh must be scheming. I wonder how worried I should be.”

Kathrael huffed a breath of laughter and squeezed his fingers in return. “Only one way to find out, right?”

The two of them were standing in a rocky tunnel lit by torchlight. A scattering of flower petals on the floor led deeper into the cave system, making it obvious enough which direction they were meant to go. Favian looked down at the fragrant trail and gave a little shrug, leading the way.

The tunnel was pleasantly cool and free of dampness, illuminated by the flickering orange light of torches set at intervals in ornate metal wall sconces. The pair of them walked in companionable silence for a bit. Eventually, the space opened up into a warm, womb-like cave furnished with furs and silks like some rich Rhytheeri noble’s pleasure palace.

Kathrael’s eyes were drawn almost immediately from the general sense of luxury to the central attraction. Beside her, Favian took one look and doubled over in silent laughter, only to regain control of himself a moment later.

“Oh,” he said with clear relish, “Never mind. I wholeheartedly approve of this kind of scheming.”

Kathrael might have taken a moment to agree with him, if she weren’t so busy drinking in the view of the two men occupying the sturdy wooden bed. Vesh was lounging with studied insouciance on the corner of the mattress, clothed only in a pair of loose linen trousers that hung low on his lean hips. His dark hair was tousled, and his brown eyes sparked with mischief.

“You know… somehow I thought you might appreciate it, priest-boy,” he said, visibly amused. He rose and crossed to them, brushing cool fingertips over Kathrael’s cheek. The ugly twists of scar tissue left over from a vial of acid thrown at her by the angry wife of a client disappeared beneath his light touch, leaving smooth, supple skin behind. Her vision sharpened as her blind, milky left eye cleared. Vesh’s smile was only for her as he murmured, “Hello, Kath. How was your day?”

“It was good,” she replied, stretching up to kiss him. “And about to get even better, it seems.”

A muffled grunt came from the male figure on the bed. Kathrael let her eyes run over Ithric’s naked body, bound in an artful web of thick ropes that barely left him room to wriggle. Vesh had positioned the powerful lion-shifter on his back, wrists bound to the bedposts, knees folded nearly to his chest. More ropes attached to the bed frame kept him from closing his legs, leaving him splayed open with his ass, cock, and balls on full display—practically begging to be touched and used.

“Mmm,” Vesh agreed. “I thought it might be a nice change to make use of all that prettiness without having to listen to any of his smartass remarks, for once.”

Kathrael’s gaze moved to the thick knot of cloth tied in place between Ithric’s teeth as a gag, and the soft blindfold covering his eyes. Beside her, Favian choked on another snort of laughter.

“Oh, Vesh,” he said. “I take back every unkind thought I’ve ever had about you. In fact, if your standing offer to me still holds, I think I may finally take you up on it tonight.”

Kathrael lifted an eyebrow, intrigued. “Well, now. This night just gets better and better. Are you sure, Favian?”

Like Vesh, Favian was a eunuch, castrated upon his ascension to the rank of novice priest shortly before Kathrael had met him. Unlike Vesh, Favian had undergone the procedure voluntarily—even if some of his reasons had been misguided, having more to do with self-loathing surrounding his sexual impulses for other men than a pure desire to leave earthly longings aside in pursuit of the gods’ will.

Since that time, Favian had made peace with his homosexual leanings. But he also seemed content to live without the physical manifestations of sexual desire. Since their first meeting, he’d been free with his touch and affection. He would often join in with the others’ uninhibited lovemaking for the sole reason that he enjoyed being close to them. He rarely climaxed, however—and Kathrael had never seen his cock harden.

Early on, Vesh had offered to restore Favian’s sexual response within the dream world, just as he had restored his own. Favian had always shrugged and put Vesh off, saying he was happy enough as a eunuch and saw no reason to change it. Always… until now, it seemed.

He shrugged, one corner of his mouth ticking up in a half-smile. “Eh, why not? This kind of opportunity doesn’t come around very often. It seems a pity to waste it.”

Ithric grumbled something through the gag, twisting restlessly against the ropes holding him. His attempt at foul temper was somewhat belied by the twitch of his stiff cock against his belly. Vesh’s wide lips curled up at the corners.

“Hmm. I was beginning to think you’d never ask, priest-boy,” he said, before closing the distance between them to cup Favian’s prick through the leather of his breeches with one hand, while pulling him down for a kiss with the other.

Favian made a sharp noise against Vesh’s lips and jerked his head back, breathing heavily.

“Oh,” he breathed, shifting his hips restlessly under Vesh’s touch. “Oh, my. That’s…”

Vesh’s smile widened. “Puts a bit of a different perspective on things, doesn’t it?”

Kathrael laughed softly. “I think Ithric’s about to get a different perspective on things—that’s for sure.”

The lion-shifter muttered something else unintelligible into his gag—though his cock was still jutting up like a flagpole. Vesh grinned at Kathrael outright.

“Honestly? I’ve been dying to see this for ages,” he admitted, before adding, “So… what about you, Kath? Ever wanted to try on a cock for size? One that’s not made out of polished wood and attached to a harness, I mean.”

In an instant, all attention in the cave was on her. Her eyebrows flew up as she contemplated the unexpected offer.

“I’d never really thought about having a cock,” she said truthfully. “Though I suppose this does seem like the night for it, doesn’t it?” She shrugged a shoulder. “All right, I’m game… but not quite yet. First, I want to feel you inside me while we both watch Favian taking Ithric.”

The noise Ithric made in response to that declaration was clearly a groan of desire.

“You’re evil,” Favian observed conversationally. “You know that, right? And so is the ghost-boy.” He sighed. “Fortunately, that’s one of the things we love about both of you.”

The series of muffled grunts from Ithric could conceivably have translated as, ‘Speak for yourself.’ Kathrael couldn’t hold back an unladylike snort. Then she tipped her chin at the lion-shifter curiously.

“Has he ever done this before?” she asked, directing the question to Vesh.

It was Favian who answered, though. “Been on the receiving end of things, you mean? Not like this, no.”

Kath couldn’t help dropping her gaze to the obvious tent in Favian’s breeches. Favian, bless him, blushed scarlet when he saw where her attention had wandered.

“But we’ve talked about it a bit,” he added.

“Hmm. Well, then. Less talking,” Vesh teased. “More buggering. The night’s not getting any younger. And judging by the state of your breeches, those balls I gave you must be starting to ache by now.”

“Yup,” Favian agreed easily. “Like blazes, now that you mention it. Can’t say I’ve missed that part, these last couple of years.”

Kathrael stood on tiptoes to kiss him. “Then you’d best go take care of things, hadn’t you?” she murmured against his lips, her hands busy untying the laces of his breeches and smallclothes as she spoke. “Vesh and I will be over here watching the show.”

Now it was Favian’s turn to snort in amusement. “Whatever my queen demands,” he said in an overly obsequious tone.

Kathrael finished with his laces and flicked him playfully on the arm, but he just caught her hand in his, kissing her knuckles. As he let her hand slide free and crossed the short distance to the bound figure on the bed, other arms closed around her from behind. Vesh began deftly loosening the leather corset she was wearing over her flowing cotton skirt, freeing her breasts.

“I’m going to enjoy this immensely,” he murmured against her ear. “I imagine you will, as well.”

“I’m enjoying it already,” she said, arching as his hands cupped her breasts—still heavy with milk for her daughter.

Across from them, Favian trailed fingertips along Ithric’s flank. A faint flush still stained the priest’s cheeks, visible against his pale, northern complexion.

“I assume you’re all right with this, you overgrown tomcat?” he asked Ithric affectionately.

Of course, Favian knew as well as Kath did that Vesh would never have set up this scenario in the first place if Ithric wasn’t all right with it—but it simply wasn’t in his nature not to double-check first. Ithric somehow managed to convey the sense of an eye-roll while wearing a blindfold, which was honestly rather impressive. He bobbed his hips within the tight confines of his bondage, the movement enough to make his thick cock bounce. Kathrael could just about make out the words ‘What do you think?’ from the cadence of his grunts.

“Oy. Don’t get uppity when you’re tied to a bed with your ass on display,” Favian said in amusement. “I just figured it was polite to ask first.”

Vesh ran his thumbs over Kathrael’s nipples, and she shivered as they hardened into points. “You mentioned something about me being inside you while we watched?” he asked in a sly tone.

“So I did,” she replied with a smile. “I suppose we’d better get on with that, since it doesn’t look like these two plan on waiting around for us.”

She let Vesh lead her to a padded divan situated with an excellent view of the bed, while Favian reached for a corked vial sitting on a small table behind him. When the stopper came free, the aroma of scented oil perfumed the air. Vesh seated himself on the divan with his upper body braced against the backrest, and urged Kathrael to straddle his lap with her back to his front.

Seeing Ithric tied up and waiting for their use had been all the foreplay Kath needed, so she didn’t hesitate before shifting her loose skirt out of the way and sinking down onto Vesh’s hardness. Even after more than a year, she was still struck by the impossible perfection of being with him like this. It was a way in which they never could have been together while he was alive, and a eunuch. His cock stretched her passage deliciously—a sensual burn that sent tingles along the length of her spine as he bottomed out.

He made a low noise of satisfaction and rested his chin on her right shoulder, watching the show with her. His hands roamed her body, stroking her breasts and rubbing her sex through the thin cotton barrier of her skirt. Flashes of heat flowed through her body like tiny sparks, making her head swim.

Meanwhile, Favian had wasted no time dribbling a generous trail of oil over Ithric’s cock and ass. Ithric shifted restlessly, only to arch with a groan as Favian set the vial aside in favor of fisting the lion-shifter’s hard prick and kneading his balls. There was something undeniably exciting about seeing such a powerful man reduced to helplessness, unable to resist or squirm away as Favian slid his hand back and pressed two fingers into his hole.

They slid in without resistance, and Ithric’s muscles flexed as he tested the bonds in earnest, ropes creaking under the strain. Favian made a breathless noise and pulled out, adding a third finger and sliding deep.

Favian flicked a brief look at Vesh before returning his attention to their bound captive. “If I didn’t know better,” he said ironically, “I’d think someone had already warmed you up for me, Ithric.”

“Someone might’ve done, yeah,” Vesh said cheerfully. He flexed his hips and pressed deeper into Kath, who gasped in approval and clenched her inner muscles. “I thought it would save a bit of time. Go on, priest-boy… you may as well give those aching balls what they need. Our pussycat’s wound so tight right now, I bet you can make him come before you do.”

Favian gave a short huff of laughter. “After going more than two years without? That may be an optimistic assessment. Still… I suppose there’s only one way to find out. Deresta’s tits, I’d forgotten how damned insistent pricks could be.”

Ithric mumbled something that sounded like agreement. His own prick was dribbling a little trickle of seed onto his flat belly, Kathrael couldn’t help noticing. She rocked against Vesh, letting his hands and cock drive her higher as Favian freed his straining erection from his unlaced breeches and smallclothes. He was still fully attired except for his gaping fly, and something about the contrast with Ithric—naked and bound—made the scene even more tantalizing.

Favian lowered his body into the cradle of Ithric’s hips, a slow hiss escaping his control as he positioned himself at the lion-shifter’s entrance and pressed inside an inch at a time. Ithric threw his head back and groaned through the gag. By the time he was fully seated, Favian was breathing hard, while Ithric was trembling visibly. Beads of sweat glistened on the lion-shifter’s skin beneath the artfully tied web of ropes.

Favian braced himself on both hands for a long moment, his breathing coming in ragged pants. Kathrael wasn’t doing much better, while Ithric looked like the ropes crisscrossing his body were pretty much the only things holding him together at that point. His muscles flexed, straining against his bonds as Favian pulled back and started a slow rhythm in and out.

“Oh, that’s good,” Favian whispered. His hips snapped forward with more force—drawing a strangled noise from their captive.

“Touch him, Favian,” Vesh suggested, tweaking one of Kath’s nipples as he did so. “I guarantee it’s not going to take much for him to explode.”

Favian groaned, but he balanced himself with one hand so the other was free to encircle Ithric’s cock. His body blocked most of Kathrael’s view as he reached between them, but she could see the results well enough. Ithric went rigid, grunting in time with Favian’s rough strokes. At the same time, Vesh arched into Kathrael with more force, sending her spiraling ever higher.

In barely any time at all, Ithric cried out around the gag and convulsed, coming hard. Favian followed with a choked noise, jerking his release deep inside Ithric’s body. He collapsed forward, breathing hard. Vesh hummed in appreciation at the sight. His fingers rubbed circles over Kathrael’s nub through the skirt until she shuddered apart around him, pleasure flooding her.

“Gorgeous, all three of you,” he murmured, nipping the juncture of Kath’s neck and shoulder. Her head fell back as the bright points of pleasure-pain drew a fluttering series of aftershocks from her sex.

After giving her a few moments to recover, Vesh nudged Kathrael off his cock and slid out from beneath her, helping her settle comfortably on the cushioned seat. He leaned down and kissed her, then urged her to lift her hips so he could help her shimmy out of the loose skirt. She shrugged out of the unlaced corset next and collapsed back with a happy sigh, finally naked.

Vesh’s hand cupped her sopping sex. “So, are you ready for me to make you a cock now?” he asked. “Then you can have some time to get used to it, while I’m busy plowing Ithric into the mattress until he comes again.”

A little flutter of fresh lust made Kathrael’s stomach quiver. “All right. Sounds like a plan to me,” she said, the words emerging breathy.

Vesh smiled and stroked his fingers along her folds. She drew in a sharp gasp at the sensation. Beneath his touch, her flesh rippled and changed—like Ithric’s body when he shifted form from man to lion and back. When Vesh took his hand away, a perfect male member hung between Kath’s legs.

Chapter 2: Virgin Territory

While Kathrael was busy staring at the new addition hanging above the apex of her thighs, Favian managed to rouse himself enough to pull away from Ithric. With movements that were more than a little uncoordinated, he cleaned himself up using a wet rag plucked from the pile lying conveniently on the same table as the oil. Vesh moved to the bed as Favian approached the divan and half-collapsed at Kath’s feet, leaning a shoulder against the edge of the padded seat.

Kathrael finally managed to drag her fascinated gaze away from her own body when Favian rested his chin on her knee, eyeing her new cock with interest. She smiled at him, reaching out to cup his cheek.

“Did you enjoy yourself?” she asked, only to shiver with pleasure as Favian nodded, reaching between her legs to run a feather-light touch along sensitive, unfamiliar flesh.

“It was… intense,” he decided, glancing up at her after a moment’s pause. “I’m glad I got to experience it, but overall, I think I’m more suited to being the victim of buggery rather than the perpetrator.” His lips twitched, covering a grin. “In other news, I cannot adequately express how confused my newly reawakened cock is right now, seeing you like this.”

Kathrael stifled her laugh, not wishing to offend him. Vesh, however, didn’t make any attempt to hold back his expression of amusement. Meanwhile, he’d taken advantage of their interplay to cross to the bed and pour more oil over Ithric’s entrance as the bound man lay panting and spent within the ropes’ embrace.

“Well, Kath,” Vesh said, thrusting several fingers inside Ithric to spread the oil. Ithric hissed and tried without success to twist away—his flesh doubtless over-sensitive so soon after coming around Favian’s cock. “You’ve got until I make Ithric spill again to get that new prick of yours hard. Priest-boy, why don’t you help her with that? Mind you, she just climaxed a couple of minutes ago… so you might have to get creative.”

Favian shot Kath an amused look. “Was he this bossy when he was alive?” he asked. “Or is that a ghost thing?”

“Not a ghost thing,” she told him with a laugh. “He was always like this. Though it’s possible that having complete control over his own dream world is going to his head a bit. Maybe next time, we should all gang up on him.”

Ithric made a muffled noise of agreement into the gag. It tailed off into a gasp as Vesh flexed his wrist, and Kathrael knew Vesh must be attacking the sensitive bundle of nerves inside him that was enough to make many men lose control, given concentrated attention.

“You threaten me as though you think I wouldn’t enjoy playing the helpless conquest, Kath,” Vesh teased, shooting her an impish look. “I swear—sometimes it’s like you don’t even know me at all.”

His wrist flexed again, and Ithric arched with a stifled cry, his spent cock twitching against his stomach. Kathrael felt an answering twitch between her legs, and looked down in surprise.

Favian raised an eyebrow at her. “Something down there suddenly have a mind of its own? Good—now you know how I feel right now,” he quipped. “Here, lie back and spread your legs. I want play with your cock and still be able to enjoy the show on the bed.”

He arranged Kathrael so she was sprawled with her head leaning against the divan’s armrest, one leg stretched along the length of the seat and the other one hanging off the edge—her foot resting flat on the floor. That gave him enough space settle in between her legs, holding his weight on an elbow. Kathrael’s eyelids lowered to half-mast as a deft touch massaged the delicate skin of her new balls, waking every nerve along the way.

She hummed approval, the noise nearly a purr. Across from them, Vesh finally stopped torturing Ithric with his fingers, but only long enough to slick up his cock and position himself at the lion-shifter’s entrance. He pushed inside in a single unforgiving thrust, holding Ithric’s hips steady as the lion-shifter’s muscles rippled and flexed, straining against the ropes.

Ithric was panting rapidly through his nose, his golden skin shining with sweat all over. The gag did little to mute the growl rumbling through his chest as Vesh pulled back and slid deep again.

“Easy there, pussycat,” Vesh said. “I told you before we started that you’d be coming three times tonight—once for each of us. You’ve still got two to go, so that means there’s going to be a lot more fucking in your immediately future.”

He changed the angle of his hips on the next thrust, and Ithric’s growl trailed into a low whine. Vesh rolled his pelvis in a steady rhythm, Ithric’s body quaking visibly every time the tip of Vesh’s cock rubbed over the sensitive place inside him.

Favian continued to explore the changes to Kathrael’s body, splitting his attention between her and the pair fucking on the bed. She could feel an unfamiliar sense of pressure growing between her legs—warmth spreading outward from Favian’s touch. Every now and then, her new prick would twitch, stiffening partway for a second or two as her body recovered from its lassitude after her earlier release.

“Well now, lion-boy,” Vesh said, sounding smug. “Look at you. Getting hard for me already? It seems that having your arse plowed agrees with you after all. Honestly, we should have done this ages ago.”

He gave a sharper thrust, driving a grunt from his captive. Favian’s hand closed around Kathrael’s half-hard cock, and her thigh muscles quivered in response to the sensation. It hovered deliciously on the cusp between ‘gods, yes’ and ‘too much,’ making her sympathize with Ithric’s current predicament.

“You realize, you’re going to be covered in spend by the end of this,” Vesh observed to his captive. “I bet I can make you come this time without touching your prick, too.”

Ithric growled in challenge again, still testing the ropes—his muscles bulging and straining. Vesh picked up the pace until it was just shy of brutal, driving into Ithric’s body for long minutes before returning to slow, sensual rolls of his hips. Ithric gasped for air, his chest rising and falling rapidly—the breath punched out of him by the punishing fuck. His body had gone rigid under Vesh’s sustained assault, but now, he sagged, arms and legs trembling.

As Vesh had observed, Ithric’s cock was once more hard and leaking against his belly. Kathrael couldn’t seem to look away from it.

A moment later, wet heat enclosed the head of her new prick, and her attention jerked back to Favian. He gazed up the length of her body as he wrapped his lips around her flesh and gave it a sensuous lick. Her mouth fell open in a surprised ‘oh,’ and his blue eyes sparkled with mischief.

“Favian,” she murmured, the word sounding faint and needy.

Another slow lick, and Favian pulled away with a pop, still holding her eyes with a roguish glint in his blue gaze.

“Never thought you’d benefit directly when you first taught me how to do this, did you?” he teased.

She laughed, the sound emerging dazed. “Not like this, I didn’t. Wow.”

He smiled, fond and amused, before dedicating himself once more to his task. Kathrael’s eyes fluttered closed, new sensations flooding her body. The first time she’d straddled Ithric’s mouth—not long after they’d become lovers—had been a revelation. In some ways, what Favian was doing to her now felt similar. But in others, it was completely different.

The sense of taking, of penetrating another person’s body with yours, was something she’d never experienced before this night. It was powerful, and it made her start to think about what it would be like to press her cock inside Ithric’s hard-used passage. She swallowed a moan at the idea, her flesh stiffening further as Favian gave a slow suck along her length.

“Gods,” she moaned. Her hand crept up to rest on the back of his head, fingers tangling in the golden strands of his hair. Favian hummed approval as she tightened her grip and urged him to take her deeper.

The bed started to creak as Vesh picked up the pace again, Ithric groaning under the renewed assault.

“Pity about the blindfold, lion-boy,” Vesh said, snapping his hips in a brisk rhythm. “You’re missing quite a sight. Favian’s sucking the cock I gave Kathrael. In fact, he’s really going to town on her.” He paused for a moment, considering. “Hmm… maybe I shouldn’t have made it quite so big, though. Our poor little priest looks like he’s about to choke himself on it. Goodness. It must be halfway down his throat right now…”

That might have been an exaggeration, but it was apparently too much for Ithric. He arched against the bonds and came with a gasp, spilling a fresh round of release over his belly just as Vesh had promised he would. Vesh fucked him through it, running fingertips over Ithric’s quivering stomach muscles to spread the mess.

“Very nice,” he said approvingly. “One more round to go, now. Don’t worry—I’m confident you’ve got it in you. And if nothing else, you’ve certainly got it on you.”

Kathrael felt a low surge of need hit her—startling in its intensity—as Vesh pulled out of Ithric’s body and started fisting his own cock with rapid strokes. Her need swelled even higher when the thick ropes of Vesh’s release slapped across Ithric’s torso, mixing with the spend already coating him.

Ithric sagged in the ropes, breathing hard. Favian pulled away from his spirited attempt to swallow Kathrael’s prick whole, perhaps sensing that she was close to the edge. Vesh, meanwhile, made a noise of heartfelt satisfaction as he sagged in place for a few moments, before slithering down to sit on the floor with his back resting against the edge of the bed.

“Pretty sure he’s ready for you now, Kath,” he said breathlessly. “I’m guessing you plan on being nicer to him than Favian and I were, but if he truly needs to stop for whatever reason, he’s supposed to shake his head back and forth a few times to let us know.” He craned his neck to look at Ithric, not getting up. “Still conscious there, lion-boy? Ready for round three?”

As answers went, the low moan from the bed was a bit ambiguous. Favian chuckled and nipped the inside of Kathrael’s thigh. He slid out from between her legs and nudged her upright, claiming her spot on the divan once she’d vacated it.

“Go on,” he said, “before the lazy sod really does pass out on you. Damned lions, always falling asleep when there’s still work to be done.”

Kath let out a breath of amusement and stretched down to kiss him, tasting herself on his lips. Without his mouth on her prick, the feeling of teetering on the edge was gradually receding to an insistent throb of want. She straightened from the gentle brush of lips and moved to the bed. After crouching to give Vesh a slow kiss as well, she circled around to stand even with Ithric’s shoulder.

“Poor Ithric,” she commiserated. “These two really have made a mess of you, haven’t they?”

Another low groan was her only answer. She stroked his cheek, and he pressed into the contact like the overgrown feline he sometimes was. Kathrael let her fingers hook the edge of the gag, easing it out of his mouth and sliding it down to hang loose around his neck. He licked his lips and swallowed, still seeming too wrung out to muster any barbs from his usual arsenal of smart remarks.

Reaching for a cup sitting next to the bed, she lifted Ithric’s head and raised the rim to touch his lips. He drank a few swallows before turning away to indicate he was done, and she eased him back to lie on the pillow. Then, she kissed him, licking into his mouth to chase the sharp taste of the wine. His tongue dueled with hers, though his technique lacked its normal authority.

“Let me see you, Kath,” he rasped, once she’d let him up for air.

Kathrael smiled and pushed the soft folds of the blindfold away, tossing it to the side. He blinked several times in the low light, his hazel eyes dazed. When he was finally able to focus on his surroundings, he rolled his head up so he could give her body a slow sweep. His eyebrows rose when his gaze landed between her legs.

“The ghost-boy wasn’t kidding,” he said, still in that rough-edged voice. “Are you going to fuck me with that hard cock, Little Cat?”

She brushed sweat-dampened tendrils of russet hair away from his temple. “Do you want me to?”

“I want you in every possible way, my beautiful, scarred lioness,” he said earnestly. “Whether it’s my mouth on you, or my seed planting another baby in your womb, or your dream-prick splitting me in two until I break and shatter into pieces—I want you.”

Kathrael’s breath caught as the familiar sensation of something too large and warm to fit inside her chest nearly choked her. A suspicious burning sensation prickled at the backs of her eyes.

“Then I’ll shatter you,” she managed. “And afterward, the three of us will gather your shards and hold them together for you until you’re mended. Just like you and the others have always done for me.”

A gleam of lion-gold kindled in the depths of Ithric’s eyes as he lay spent and quiet in the ropes’ embrace, waiting for her to take him apart as she’d promised. Her cock hung heavy and aching between her legs, but she ignored it in favor of running her hands possessively over Ithric’s body.

His small brown nipples hardened to taut points beneath her touch, so she teased them until he trembled. The mess of spend was still cooling on his stomach. She held his gaze as she swiped up a dab with her finger and tasted it. His eyes darkened in the firelight, the pupils blowing wide. They darkened even further when she gathered more, pressing a finger covered with his and Vesh’s mingled seed between his lips. He raised an eyebrow at her challenge, but lapped it clean meekly enough.

There was still oil left in the vial. She slicked up her stiff prick, biting her lip at the sharp jolt of pleasure. Then she drizzled a generous measure over Ithric’s cock and balls. He’d softened partway after coming for Vesh, and if he’d been oversensitive before, she could only imagine what state he was in now.

Of course, once Kath set the oil aside and ran a proprietary hand over his assets, she didn’t have to imagine what state he was in. His whole body shuddered beneath her fingers. The sight and feel of him bound beneath her—unable to escape her touch even though it was clearly too much—was heady.

He had no choice but to take whatever she gave him… and as long as he didn’t use the signal to stop what was happening, she could push him as hard as she liked. She could do anything she wanted to him. She kneaded and massaged his vulnerable balls. Circled her fingers around his half-hard cock and milked it with firm strokes. Slid fingers into his stretched hole, pressing deep and crooking her fingertips inside him. He panted silently, his muscles quivering… and took it all.

Kathrael exercised ownership over her lover’s body, pushing and pushing until he eventually hardened again despite his exhaustion. Her own need had become a sort of physical background noise—a tingling at the base of her spine, and a feeling of warm heaviness in search of a home between her thighs.

“He’s ready for you, Kath,” Vesh said quietly. He’d turned around so he could rest his arms on the edge of the mattress to watch, his chin planted on his hands. “Take him now.”

At that, what had been background noise surged into fresh urgency. Kathrael glanced around, coming back to her surroundings. Favian was still on the divan, but he was fisting his prick slowly as he watched the show. Vesh smiled up at her, sweet and forthright. Ithric was beyond words, but his cock lay stiff and heavy in her grip.

“All right,” she said dazedly, suddenly unable to focus on anything other than her body’s need to be buried inside the man beneath her.

Ithric shifted restlessly, letting out a soft moan as her touch fell away from him. She quickly cleaned her hands with one of the rags from the table next to her before crawling onto the bed fully. The new position, cradled between Ithric’s bound thighs, felt a bit backwards—unfamiliar since she was usually the one with her legs spread.

Still, she positioned herself, grasping the base of her cock to aim it toward his entrance. The feeling of the tip brushing his hot flesh sent pleasure skittering up her spine. That sensation grew in intensity as she carefully pressed the head inside, pushing past the slight constriction that had already been breached many times tonight.

“Oh, gods,” Ithric groaned hoarsely, as she sank into tight, silken heat. “Kathrael.”

His entire body surrendered beneath her slow assault, his head lolling back to expose the vulnerable line of his neck. Kath’s heart surged with something primal and raw. The other two had managed to get the powerful lion on his back… but he’d only bared his throat to her.

A low noise escaped her lips. She ran a hand up his chest, spanning the tempting arch of his neck with her fingers and thumb. The discarded gag still hung there, along with a couple of snug loops of rope that Vesh had added for dramatic effect. Ithric’s Adam’s apple bobbed beneath her palm, and she could feel the unsteady rasp of his breath.

Kathrael’s body knew what to do, even if she’d never had a cock before tonight. Each slow thrust of her hips felt better than the one before, urging her to fuck into Ithric faster… harder… deeper.

Ithric gave himself over to her, unable to do otherwise. But still, she wanted more. She’d promised to take him apart, after all. Vesh had done so without putting a hand on the lion-shifter’s cock, but Kath would do it by giving him everything at once.

“Vesh,” she panted, sliding her hand down to rest over Ithric’s thudding heart. “Favian. Kiss him. Take turns. Don’t give him any quarter.”

The two men silently moved to obey her, arranging themselves on either side of the bed. Favian went first, grasping Ithric’s chin to hold him in place and plundering his mouth with unaccustomed ruthlessness. When Favian was out of breath, Vesh took over without giving Ithric a chance to recover.

Kathrael tried to focus past the rising tide of her lust, altering the angle of her thrusts until Ithric jolted beneath her, groaning low and filthy into Vesh’s mouth. There. She rolled her hips over and over, hitting that same spot again and again as her pulse pounded out a staccato rhythm. With her weight braced on one hand, she moved the other to once more take possession of Ithric’s cock and balls.

His flesh was still slick with oil, and her fingers slid over him decadently. His entire body shook as the three of them overwhelmed his senses. Kathrael felt like her entire awareness was shrinking down to the hot clench of his body around her prick—everything else fading to insignificance as pressure gathered inside her, ready to explode.

Ithric’s shaking resolved into a series of hitching jerks as he succumbed to a third climax, his body trying to spend seed that wasn’t there as his cock pulsed in her hand. His passage clenched around Kathrael’s flesh hard, and all of that tension coiled inside her flooded outward in a violent wave.

She keened as her balls drew up, spurting hot come deep inside Ithric’s body to mix with Favian’s release from earlier. Her entire being sang with euphoria, tingles dancing up and down her spine as pulsing waves of pleasure shot through her prick.

Ithric gave a final shudder beneath her and went utterly limp. Favian, who’d been plundering his mouth as he came, straightened rather abruptly.

“Vesh,” he said slowly. “Please tell me we didn’t just accidentally kill Ithric with sex.”

Kathrael, who had half-collapsed against the lion-shifter and could feel the strong thump of his heart beating, let out a dazed, breathy laugh. Vesh snorted, and moved to support Kathrael as she carefully disengaged and collapsed into a sitting position at the foot of the bed.

“No one’s dying one my watch,” he reassured them. “Although I absolutely insist that one of you ask him in the morning if his arse is sore in the waking world, and report back to me tomorrow night.”

“Smug-faced ghostly asshole,” Ithric slurred, still without stirring.

Vesh only smiled and snapped his fingers. The ropes, the mess coating Ithric’s torso, and Kathrael’s cock all disappeared in the blink of an eye. The bed suddenly seemed much wider than it had a moment ago, too… big enough now for four, without anyone being in danger of falling off the edge.

Kathrael felt drowsy, post-coital lassitude weighing her down, making her body feel too heavy to stay upright. She crawled inelegantly up the length of the mattress and collapsed next to Ithric, vaguely aware that Favian was lying down on his other side. Ithric’s form blurred, reality twisting around him as he shifted. A moment later, the lion’s heavy foreleg draped across Kath’s body, pinning her in place against him. A low, contented vibration in the animal’s chest rumbled against her back.

Vesh climbed into bed next to Kathrael, leaning his back against the headboard so he could look down at the three of them fondly. His fingers stroked through Kathrael’s tangled mane of black hair, smoothing it away from her face.

“I’m so glad the three of you are here,” he whispered.

Kathrael nuzzled against his hip. “Me, too.”

“We wouldn’t be here, if not for you,” Favian said quietly. “You saved Kathrael’s life before we ever met her. And then you saved mine, when by all rights I should have died.”

“True on both counts,” Kath added dreamily. “Even if you did almost kill Ithric with sex tonight.”

“All part of the service.” Vesh shifted position, sliding down to lie prone, facing her. “Besides, the overgrown tomcat enjoyed it well enough, in the end.”

The lion stretched and gave another low rumble behind her. Kathrael let herself slide into warm darkness, accompanied by the feeling of sleek fur at her back and Vesh’s fingers stroking over her cheek. Idly, she wondered if it were possible to have dreams inside of dreams.

If so, she was certain they would be happy ones.

finis