Magi's Path (Aether's Revival Book 3) by Daniel Schinhofen (best black authors .TXT) 📗

Opening the door, Gregory stepped in, shut it behind him, and hurried over to the washing area. I might be able to get this done before they join me, he thought as he quickly pumped a bucket of water. That was proven wrong when the door opened as he was finishing with the pump.

“Will you get us buckets, as well, dearest?” Yukiko asked. “I’ll gladly get your back in return.”

“Sure,” Gregory said as he set the first bucket aside. “This one is ready. I’ll have another one in a moment.”

“Jenn, go ahead,” Yukiko said. “I’ll get your back first.”

“Okay,” Jenn replied, moving over to grab the steaming water. “Thanks, Greg.”

“No problem,” Gregory said, keeping his eyes on the bucket he was filling. He tried to, anyway, but Jenn bending over to pick up the filled bucket caught his attention. He glanced up to find Yukiko giving him a soft smile and he flushed.

“You can get my back for me when I finish hers and yours, dear one,” Yukiko said.

“Yeah,” Gregory said, forcing his gaze back to the task in front of him. “I’ll bring yours over with mine.”

“That’s fine,” Yukiko said. “Oh, Jenn, they have two soaps in here today. This one smells faintly of citrus. Would you like to use it?”

“It looks like a new bar, so yes, please?”

Gregory felt slightly less awkward when Jenn went to get in the tub as he was washing up. Having just finished with Yukiko’s back, he sat down to finish his own washing.

“Is it still difficult for you, dear one?” Yukiko asked softly.

“Yes, but not as bad as yesterday. She seems to be doing better than I am.”

“Only because you aren’t looking at her. Her face is as red as yours, but her smile is hopeful.” Yukiko stood up, now completely rinsed off, and bent over to kiss his cheek. “We’ll be waiting for you.”

“Uh… yeah,” Gregory coughed.

“Yuki, are you being mean to him?” Jenn asked from the tub.

“No,” Yukiko giggled. “I’m helping him with his embarrassment.”

“‘Helping,’ she says...” Gregory grumbled.

Jenn laughed. “Be nice to him, please? I’m not doing much better, after all.”

“Because you asked,” Yukiko said, going to the tub. “I just hope you both feel comfortable before the month is over.”

“Me, too,” Jenn agreed.

“Me, three,” Gregory added, earning laughs from the other two.

His face was an inferno when he got into the bath, as both women had watched him cross the room intently. “That didn’t help...” he muttered.

“Sorry,” Jenn said, looking away, her face as crimson as his. “I’m just trying to get used to seeing you nude.”

“Maybe we should have all of us stand up and just look at each other for a bit?” Yukiko suggested. “It’ll be embarrassing, but maybe it’ll help.”

Jenn cleared her throat. “If Greg’s okay with it…”

Taking a slow breath, Gregory swallowed and got to his feet, putting the water halfway up his thighs. He was all too aware of his manhood straining toward the two women like a spear. He kept his eyes forward, even when he heard Jenn’s breath catch in her throat.

“I’d say he agrees,” Yukiko said, standing up.

Gregory’s eyes shifted to her. Water dripped from her body, and his eyes tracked a rather adventurous droplet from her neck all the way down her body.

Jenn stayed sitting for a long moment, her eyes going from Gregory to Yukiko and back. She surged to her feet, licking her lips. Her legs trembled and she kept glancing between them. “Okay, we can do this.”

Gregory’s eyes had gone to her out of reflex when she moved suddenly. Standing only a few feet away, her smaller frame was fully on display as he was to her. His eyes again locked onto a droplet of water as it began a trail down her body.

“Is, uh… is it always so stiff?” Jenn asked with hesitation, her eyes low.

“No,” Gregory croaked. “Only when I’m excited.”

“Which around us, is a lot,” Yukiko said, getting them both to look at her. She blushed under their joint gaze and shifted in place. “Maybe this was a bad idea…”

Gregory chuckled as he watched her grow even more uncertain, and started snickering as Yukiko’s blush grew. “Oh, when we’re embarrassed, we can work through it, but when you are, it’s different?”

“Yuki, no backing out now,” Jenn giggled.

Jenn talking got Gregory to glance toward her again, and he exhaled slowly. “Okay. This is helping some,” he said, looking back to Yukiko. “Jenn, are you really okay with this? Being seen by me?”

“Yes,” Jenn said softly, her eyes back on him. “It’s difficult being naked in front of you, especially beside Yuki. I feel so plain compared to her.”

Yukiko shifted over so both women were side by side and kissed Jenn’s cheek. “I think you’re beautiful, Jenn. Why don’t we stop for now, though?”

“Please?” Gregory asked.

Yukiko and Jenn both sat, and Gregory was swift to follow them.

“You really think I’m beautiful, Yuki?” Jenn asked.

“Yes. Greg?”

“You are beautiful, Jenn. Different than Yuki, but not any less beautiful,” Gregory stumbled over the words. He looked over at Yukiko and wondered if he was hurting her.

“No. It’s fine, dear one. I agree with you,” Yukiko said, understanding his expression. “You aren’t upset with me for looking at her, so why would I be upset with you for doing the same? Just as I’m not upset with her for looking at you.”

Before more could be said, Dia’s voice came from just beyond the door of the room, “Dinner will be ready in five minutes, Apprentices. Please meet me in the private dining room— two doors down, on the left— by then.”

“We will,” Gregory said.

They didn’t speak as they got dressed, each lost in their own thoughts about what had happened