a Pleasure Rites, #1 by Ines Johnson (top ten books of all time TXT) 📗

Jian brought Chanyn to climax twice more before she began to doze off. As her eyes were now closed, he stared at her for long moments, holding her in the cradle of his arms. It was an ancient prescription for the aftercare of sex. Most modern women didn't care for it. Instead, they were ready to go off and tend to the pressing matters of the world after their carnal lessons. Jian knew Chanyn would want it. In truth, he needed it himself. Though he hadn't climaxed once, his body felt the effects of their time together. So he held her tightly, and closed his eyes momentarily to all the thoughts and feelings that demanded to be worked out in that instant.

When next Jian opened his eyes, the sun was kissing his cheek. With dread, he realized he'd spent the night.

Entirely unprofessional.

He and Chanyn were wrapped around each other, a tangle of arms and limbs with her head nestled into his chest. There would be no way of not waking her up. He began extracting himself from her as gently as he could.

When her eyes opened, she smiled at him. Now out of bed, Jian turned away and reached for his robes. He heard the rustle of sheets as she sat up.

"I've done something wrong again, haven't I?"

Jian opened his mouth to deny it, but he wouldn't lie to her. He didn't want to cast dispersion on the gift of the kisses she'd given him. So he told a different truth. "It was unprofessional of me to impose on you for the night, my lady."

She looked relieved. "Oh, I didn't mind."

Jian arranged his robes over his naked body. "In any case, I'll be taking my leave."

"But I'll see you again? Tonight?"

The eagerness in her eyes nearly did him in. "You truly do not need much training, Lady Chanyn. You are quite prepared for your bondmates."

Chanyn's face fell. She worried the sheets with her hands, a crease settled between her brows once more. Jian felt the urge to go and relieve her of the sheets. To kiss the worry from each finger. To smooth the crease of her forehead.

He stayed rooted where he was.

"I've been thinking," she began and then paused. Glancing at him, then away. "Dain is really nice. He's been so good to me. He arranged... this," she motioned between Jian and herself, "so that I would know what I was getting into before entering a triad with a bonded pair."

Chanyn straightened her shoulders, blanket clutched to her breasts, eyes square on his. "Dain said it was my choice who I wanted to mate with."

Jian's eyes widened as he came to understand the meaning behind her words. She was opening her mouth to speak again.

"And I just don't feel for him the way I—"

"Lady Chanyn, if I may." He bowed, stalling for time against the protesting beats of his heart. "You should not make any decisions directly after sex. Orgasms can cloud your judgment."

He chanced a look at her. He watched in slow motion as her shoulders slumped and her face fell.

"Oh," her voice was so small. "I see."

She avoided his eyes. After a night of gazing into them openly, Jian felt the weight of the loss.

"It has been my pleasure to serve you, Lady Chanyn." Jian bowed, and turned away from her. Sash in hand, he hesitated at the door. Wondering if there were manservants waiting on the other side to carry him bodily down the stairs and then toss him out the door.

But when he opened the door, he found the hall empty. He made his way down the stairs and was nearly to the front door when a voice called him.

"Brother Jian, Lord Dain would like to see you," said a manservant.

Jian took a moment to gather himself, and then turned and marched down the hall as though to his own execution. When he arrived at Lord Dain's office, he saw Lord Khial leaning against a window gazing out. Lord Dain stood very close to the man, nuzzling the side of his face. Lord Khial stubbornly ignored the affection and Lord Dain sighed. Lord Dain must have sensed Jian because he turned towards the door.

Jian steeled himself for an explosive confrontation.

He was met with a friendly smile.

Lord Dain motioned Jian to a chair before his desk. Jian moved tentatively into the room and took the proffered seat. Lord Dain sat in his high back chair and steepled his fingers. Lord Khial remained with his gaze fixed out the window.

"And how is our lady?"

Jian blinked. There was no accusation or disapproval in Lord Dain's tone. He seemed genuinely curious as though a Pleasure Hound sleeping over were the most natural thing in the world.

"She's... well," Jian said. Then seeing an out, he continued. "In fact, I wanted to talk with you about her progress."

Lord Dain nodded encouragingly for Jian to continue.

"She has exceeded my expectations."

Lord Dain smiled at this, as though a proud parent pleased by a child's progress.

"There's not much more I can teach her in the way of orgasm. I believe she is ready for the two of you."

At this, Lord Khial whipped his head around to Jian and glared. Jian blinked at the bitterness in the man's glare. He remembered Chanyn saying she didn't think the male liked her. A sudden protective instinct swept through Jian. But he reminded himself that Chanyn was not his responsibility. The temple and the hounds were.

Jian turned his attention to Lord Dain.

"I believe my work here is done," said Jian. He rose to leave.

Lord Dain's smile morphed into a frown. He inhaled deeply and then sighed.

"Brother Jian, would you please have a seat?" Lord Dain waited until Jian took his seat before speaking. "We're very pleased with your work with Lady Chanyn. But we still require your help."

Lord Dain spared a glance over his shoulder at his mate. Lord Khial refused to meet his eyes and glared out the window. Jian couldn't fathom what this was