Chapter Two #2
The Sea King led me down a wide, curving corridor, past several closed doors on our right.
The soft sound of conversation and the scent of baking bread wafted out of an open door on our left.
Through it, I glimpsed a central, circular space serving as a kitchen.
We went up a set of stairs at the end of the corridor and around another circling corridor.
The central space was the same size as the kitchen below it except it was defined by wrought iron screens of curling bars that hid nothing.
A group of women from every underwater race (except Sea Dragon) lounged in the room on low couches or in the central, sunken pool.
But when they saw the King, they all stood up and bowed to him.
Several were naked; the rest barely wore anything.
I gaped at them for a few long moments before I remembered my manners and diverted my gaze, focusing instead on the wall to my right.
Here, most of the doors were open, giving me views of small but luxurious bedrooms. Bedrooms plus half-naked women added up to a harem in my mind.
I'd heard rumors about the sea kings keeping harems, but I'd thought it was just gossip.
As I followed Jucai up another set of stairs, I whispered, “Are those women your concubines?”
Jucai paused on the landing and looked at me as if he thought I might be jesting. “No, they are my bed slaves.”
“Bed slaves! You enslave people?”
“It's not like that. The underwater races give the Sea Dragon Court of their kingdom a tribute of slaves who serve for five years.
I have my pick of those slaves to make my bed slaves.
They are quite willing, I assure you. It's a great honor to serve our court and an even greater honor to be chosen by me.”
“Do they think so, or are you assuming again?”
Jucai blinked and then frowned. “They say so, Nadar. I do not force anyone into my bed.”
“So you're bisexual?”
He chuckled. “Yes, though I prefer men. My male harem is on this floor and twice the size of my female harem.” He tugged on my hand and led me down another circular corridor like a child eager to show off his toys.
It was the same design as the previous floor—bedrooms around the outside with a central living area.
There were indeed more men there than women on the floor below, and the men wore even less clothing than the women, with more gold chains and jewels than fabric.
Some of them were fucking. They stopped when they saw the King and stood up to bow, hard cocks swinging before them.
I gaped, having never seen, in all my travels, such a display of male flesh, much less this particular array of male flesh.
I learned that Kaikeyo men have six nipples and short tentacles around their cocks, Leeya have delicate fins down their backs, and some Gashi had orange spots on their indigo skin.
“You see?” Jucai waved at them. “I am a generous master. I allow them to fuck each other. Then they do not have to rely on me for their pleasure.”
“How kind.” I grimaced.
He looked baffled. “Why do you sound disapproving? It is a marvelous harem. Look, they have a pool, all the food they could want, fine clothing—”
“What there is of it,” I muttered.
“—and each has a bedroom to themselves. My slaves live better lives here than they do at home.” He frowned to see me still frowning. “I am an excellent master. I never abuse them, and I make sure the Master of the Royal Bed Slaves doesn't either.”
The Master of the Royal Bed Slaves. That title rang through my mind, bringing up all sorts of questions that I didn't want the answers to. The very existence of such a person was an indication of the number of slaves in the Royal Palace of Ilshi.
“I'm sorry, but this feels wrong to me.”
Jucai sighed and led me up yet another flight of stairs. “We come from different worlds. You are bound to be surprised by things that I find normal.”
“You're right.” I groaned in embarrassment. “A diplomat should never scorn another kingdom's culture. I apologize, Your Majesty. I'm here to learn about you and your people, not to judge you. You caught me off guard, but that is no excuse. Please forgive my slip.”
“You are forgiven.” He lifted my hand to kiss it. “I imagine seeing two harems on the way to my bed is intimidating. But I assure you, you have nothing to worry about. I've just met you, and you've already proven more provocative than any slave in my harems.”
“I'm so relieved.” I rolled my eyes.
The King laughed as we entered a library of dark wood and leather furniture. “You're right; now I am being offensive and must apologize. I only meant to confess my fascination for you. Never before have I been so quickly captivated.
I couldn't help feeling smug. I had fascinated and beguiled a sea king with two harems. Now that was a compliment.
Off to one side, a door opened into a room with a long table surrounded by chairs.
We passed by it on our way to yet another stairwell.
The next floor up featured an open living area with multiple seating arrangements, a central fireplace, and a balcony.
Another flight up brought us to the top floor—the royal bedchamber.
A short antechamber opened onto the main room.
Jucai led me past a door to a bathroom and another to a dressing room.
In line with the antechamber, they took up a third of the circular space and had the only walls in the room.
Golden columns replaced walls to leave the bedroom open to the balcony and sky.
Set between two columns, a round bed large enough for eight dominated the space.
Purple silk draped golden posts that circled the bed, forming a canopy.
A curved table stood as a headboard, holding glass bottles of golden liquid and several boxes.
To the left was another bed, but it was rectangular, with a white marble platform that matched the floor.
A few pillows lay on the silk-covered mattress, but that was all.
After seeing the harems, I knew what it was—a stage. As a diplomat, I'd traveled extensively, and I'd seen sex shows before. They always made me uncomfortable. I couldn't imagine watching a performance in my bedroom.
The King let go of my hand and tossed his clothes to the floor. His crown went on the table behind the bed. When he returned to me, he took my clothing from me and tossed it onto his.
Sliding his hands up my chest, he said, “Ignore the other bed. It's only you and me. You don't need to be jealous.”
“I honestly don't care who you've fucked in the past, as long as they were willing. I'm not looking for anything serious, just a good time while I'm here.”
The Sea King's eyes twitched, but then he smiled. “Then my slaves shouldn't bother you.”
“They don't.”
I must not have been convincing because Jucai frowned. “I've heard that land kings have harems too.”
“Some take small harems of concubines, but they aren't slaves. They can refuse the position. If they accept, though, they gain status and the respect of the court.”
“As my slaves come willingly to my harems and are shown respect.”
“By whom?”
“By everyone at court, including myself, and by their communities. When my favored bed slaves finish their service, I send them home with gifts.”
“I see.” I still didn't like his harems. They were not like the harems Land Dragons kept. But as long as the slaves were willing, I couldn't speak out against the practice.
“Enough of this talk of slaves and concubines.” Jucai kicked off his boots as he unfastened his pants. “Remove your clothing. I want to see all of you.”
I raised an eyebrow at his commanding tone, but after his compliment, I didn't mind it. So I removed my boots and then my pants. His appreciative inhale was yet another compliment I let assuage my pride.
Jucai took my hand and led me to the bed. “Bend over the mattress.”
I crawled onto the bed instead and lay back on the pillows.
The Sea King frowned at me and pointed at the foot of the bed. “I want to fuck you here.”
“I want to see your face this time.” I bent my knees, hooked my hands behind them, and spread myself open. Then I pulled my legs back, lifting my ass off the mattress.
Jucai's expression shivered, his lips parting as his gaze shot between my lower cheeks.
Hair falling around him, he climbed onto the bed and crawled to me.
Nuzzling my thigh, Jucai teased my opening, stroking and circling.
It was still slick from that nectar, and he made use of that, slipping his finger into me.
I shivered and clenched his fingertip. He pumped it into me a few times, then slipped it free.
Rising to his knees, Jucai took my shaft in hand. I shuddered and moaned as he stroked me, my sacs pulling up. His green eyes caught the light coming into the room, flashing brighter. Intent, he watched me pump up into his fist, still holding myself open.
Jucai cupped my balls with his free hand, massaging them before slipping down. He tickled my tender skin and then focused on my puckered hole again. As he continued to stroke my cock, he hooked his finger inside me and tugged.
“Jucai,” I growled.
He raised his eyebrows at me.
“Oh, I can't use your first name? You've been inside me. You're fingering me right now.”
The King chuckled. “No, I was just surprised to hear it. It's been a long time since someone was so familiar with me. I like it. Use my name as often as you want.”
“In private, you mean.”
“No, anytime.”
That surprised me. Kings can be generous with their lovers in private, but most expected proper respect in public. “Thank you.”
His smile turned wicked as he slipped his finger deeper into me. “You're welcome.” He pumped faster.
“Fuck me!” I snarled.
Jucai's eyes widened at the command, but he removed his finger from my body and his hand from my cock. “Lift your ass higher.”
I pulled back harder on my legs.
“That's very good.” Hand around the base of his cock, he directed himself into me. “Tell me what you want.” He slipped the head of his cock in and waited.
“I already told you. I want you to fuck me.”
“And I want to hear specifically what you want.”
Oh, he liked naughty talk. All right. “I want you to shove that big cock into my ass as far as it can go. Press your pelvis into me. Churn your cock and make me come.”
I gasped as he slipped past my outer ring. Deeper. Deeper still. Jucai moved smoothly into my body until he filled me. Holding himself there, pressed to me, he wedged his shoulders beneath my knees and took their weight for me. I let go of them as he leaned over me, bending me further.
“Oh, fuck, yes!” I reached around my legs to grab his ass. “Churn that dick in my channel.”
“You will cease giving me commands, Nadar. I want to hear you ask for what you want. Nicely.”
“We're in bed, Jucai. It's all right for a king to obey another man in bed.”
He drew back and slammed into me. “I do not take commands anywhere. In my bed, you belong to me. I will command you. Understand?” He slammed home again.
“Then fucking dominate! If you're going to rule me in bed, you'd damn well better do it right!”
With a growl, his hands went to the mattress, and the Sea King thrust savagely.
Silk shivered around us, the bottles on the table shook, and I grinned as Jucai fucked me as I'd never been fucked before.
Oh, this was too easy. A couple of hours, and I already knew how to manipulate him.
I'd have the man on his knees in a week.
“Fuck, yes! Claim that channel!” I moved my hands to his shoulders and met his gaze. “Take me hard, Jucai. Because once I leave this bed, I don't belong to you anymore.”
The King's expression went baffled, as if he couldn't conceive of any man he fucked walking away. His eyes told me I should beg to be his. When I only smirked, he fucked me harder, sending my head into the table.
“Hey!” I set a palm against the table and pushed myself down.
“You asked for this.” Jucai yanked his cock out of my body and rolled me onto my belly. With a pull at my hips, he had me on my hands and knees. “Now take it!”
His slick cock surged back into me, and he resumed his relentless pounding.
“Oh, great, we're doing it like dogs again,” I muttered.
The King went still. Panting, he demanded, “What did you say?”
I looked at him over my shoulder. “This is how dogs fuck.”
He gaped at me, his cock pulsing in my channel.
“Don't get me wrong; it's fantastic. But I thought you might be more experienced than your average Dragon. It's fine.” I faced forward.
As he growled, I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing.
Then I yipped and found myself lying on my side.
In an instant, the King had my top leg hooked back over his.
I looked over my shoulder to find him lying on his side at an angle—his torso a foot away from my back, and his pelvis pressed up against my ass.
I faced forward and angled my hips so he could move closer.
With a sigh, the King found his way back inside me.
Lodged firmly, he moved closer, pressing his chest to my back.
When I looked over my shoulder again, Jucai rose on an elbow and leaned down to kiss me.
In this position, he had to slow down, and I liked it even better. Kissing him while he pumped gently into my body shifted things between us. Gone was the aggression and need to control. Jucai became tender, his hand stroking my flank.
“Touch yourself,” he whispered in my ear.
I stroked my cock, watching him watch me.
Jucai met my gaze. “You are unlike any man I've known.”
“Don't worry. The newness will wear off.” I winked at him.
“I'm not worried. I'm intrigued.”
Then Jucai wrapped his arms around me and slowly fucked me into oblivion.