Chapter 54
Horatio
They found Gecko and a younger Reptilian guard posted outside the door to Meridian’s sex dungeon. “I take it he’s still in there?” Horatio asked.
“Yes, sir. I checked on him and offered food and water, which he declined. My apologies if I overstepped my bounds.”
“Never apologize for being a decent person,” Horatio said.
Gecko pointed to a table laden with finger foods and cold beverages. “Courtesy of the kitchen staff.” He turned to leave but paused. “The king is not the villain he pretends to be, sir. Just thought you should know.”
“No one else is dying today.” Smiling, Horatio nodded toward the exit. “Get out of here. There’s a bar stool with your name on it somewhere.”
“Thank you, sir.” The two of them disappeared down a hallway, but before they were out of sight, Gecko squeezed his coworker’s ass.
“They’re gonna fuck,” Horatio said. Snake stared, dreamy-eyed, in the direction they’d gone. “You’re picturing it in your head, right?”
Snake nodded. “Just like you said, mate. I’ve got a kink for creatures.”
“I’m both horrified and turned on.” Sugar stuffed a cucumber sandwich into his mouth.
“Stiles would swoon over this fancy spread.” Seven picked up a cracker loaded with fish roe. “I prefer to eat caviar off Snake’s ass, but I guess I’ll settle.”
Gunner giggled. “Have I mentioned how much I love all you perverts?”
After a snack and a bottle of sparkling lemon water, Horatio felt better. Clearer. And, after feeding Gunner honey-dipped strawberries, horny.
“You guys, I think I figured it out.” He rubbed a piece of melon over Gunner’s lips and kissed away the juice.
“Juno said the word for slay could mean pinnacle, and then Snake suggested I throw Meridian off the top of a mountain. Top, get it? I have to top him.” He pointed to his crotch. “With my tool.”
Gunner burst into laughter. “Considering the prophecy was written by Vixenites, the horniest fuckers in the universe, this makes total sense.”
“Right?” Horatio sighed. “But there’s a problem. I want his consent, and I doubt he’ll give it to me. Even Sugar couldn’t seduce him.”
“Just tell him the prophecy says you have to fuck him. If you showed up and said that to me, I’d bend right over,” Snake said.
“Because you’re the second horniest fucker in the universe,” Seven said.
“Meridian’s built a twenty-foot-thick wall around his Dom persona. But he’s been salivating over you for two years, Horatio. You can get him to crack,” Sugar said.
“I already offered myself to him and he didn’t budge. I’d feel better with a plan B.”
Gunner furrowed his brow. “I tutored middle-schoolers. Even the bored kids lit up when I offered a competition, like they could never resist the chance to beat each other. Meridian seems like the competitive type.”
“That’s brilliant,” Snake said. “We should offer him some sort of wager. But what are the stakes? What do we want from him?”
“To be the ship’s boy toy,” Seven blurted. A flush bloomed high on his cheekbones.
“Stop blushing. We all know about your adorable secret crush,” Sugar said. “As for Meridian, we can promise him the ship if he wins. Which he won’t.”
A frown burrowed between Snake’s brows.
“Lover, have I ever lost a bet?”
“No, darling.” Snake swallowed. “Please don’t lose this one.”
“Impossible.” Sugar smiled. “I like this plan. It lets him save face, which is probably the kindest thing we can do for him.”
The sigil hummed. “That’s exactly it, Sugar.” Horatio rubbed his sternum. “Forcing him to face feelings he’s not ready for would backfire.”
“We need to make him feel like he’s in control, even when he’s not,” Seven said.
“Break him without breaking him.” Gunner rubbed his forehead. “Is this burst of clarity an aspect of the hive mind? Because my head is buzzing.”
“Told ya it was freaky as hell.” Horatio took a breath. “Let’s go.”
Snake’s magic worked the lock. Horatio strolled in, fingers poised on the fretboard, barely able to hide his smile.
Instead of murder, redemption was on the menu—and Meridian was already served up hot: mostly nude, long limbs spread and bound, shivering in either dread or anticipation.
When he kicked the platform, Meridian’s eyes snapped open.
“Oh great, you again.”
“I brought some friends this time.” He played a chord that made the platform vibrate. “And my guitar.”
“An audience? Why not just behead me in the village square?”
“I can only use my tool. Which setting do you prefer? Explode or implode?”
Meridian stared at the ceiling. “Which will end this tedious conversation faster?”
“That’s it? You’re not even going to beg for your miserable life?”
“A king never begs.” Body rigid, Meridian seemed resigned for death. “Untie me first. I’d rather die on my knees than on my back.”
“On your knees.” He set his guitar aside and unsnapped his pants. “That’s more like it.”
“Gross! I told you. I never bottom.”
“Afraid you’ll enjoy it too much?” Horatio tugged his zipper down a bit.
“Bitch, please. None of you have the skills to make me come, even once,” Meridian said with a haughty sniff. “Although you’d probably cure my insomnia.”
“You don’t think we can make you reach orgasm?” Snake cocked a brow.
“I don’t think you could even get me hard.”
Seven put a hand on his hip. “Seriously? Are those creepy contact lenses blocking your vision? In case you haven’t noticed, we’re fucking hot!”
Meridian snorted. “I suppose your mommies think you’re special.”
“I’ve made men come with a look.” Sugar tossed his hair. “Getting your shy turtle to poke his head out will be child’s play.”
Seven chortled. “Poor little guy. He’s suffocating inside his foreskin.”
“Only because you’re boring me to death!” Meridian snapped. “None of you are capable of erecting a pup tent, let alone my cock.”
Horatio stepped closer. “Would you like to bet on that?”
Meridian stared at him, licking his lips.
“A wager?” He blinked. “What are the stakes?”
“If we win, you’ll become the ship’s official boy toy for two years.” Snake smirked. “Or until we’re sick of you.”
“Define boy toy.”
“You’ll satisfy all of our kinky desires, 24/7,” Horatio said.
Judging by the way his entire body flinched, Meridian was blushing behind his mask.
“And, if I win?”
“You get The Frances and all the treasure she holds,” Snake said.
“Leaving all of you homeless?” Meridian smacked his lips. “Who could pass up such a succulent dish? I’ll take your stupid bet. And win.”
“I don’t trust this crazy bitch at all.” Sugar found his phone. “I’ll draw up a quick but legally binding contract.”
“In the meantime, let’s get naked.” Horatio unshackled Meridian. “You, too. Take off whatever you’re comfortable with.”
When they’d first walked in, the air in the dungeon was heavy. Now, it was lit with pure lust-filled excitement. Their clothing landed in piles, and they were naked before Meridian had slipped off his other boot.
“Can you lose the mask, too, Red?” Horatio asked. “I want to see every angle of your face when I watch you come.”
“You’re stupid.” Meridian sat up on his knees and plucked out his black contact lenses, revealing wide eyes the color of spring grass. After a low groan, he peeled off the mask and quickly covered his face.
Horatio felt a pang in his heart. How long had it been since he’d shown himself to anyone? “What’s the matter? Afraid we’ll run?”
Meridian lifted his head and glared.
He’d never doubted Meridian was attractive, but nothing prepared him for this. He was Cabanel’s fallen angel—doused in kink—sent from the heavens to torment men with a glance.
“Sweet-baby-Jesus, you’re hot,” Horatio said in a rush.
His lips quirked. “At least have the decency to not patronize me.”
“I wasn’t.”
“He’s right. You’re stunning.” Sugar held out his phone to Meridian. “Sign it.”
Sitting back on his heels, he crossed his arms. “Not until I’ve read it thoroughly.”
Sugar rolled his eyes before reading it out loud. Lots of legal mumbo jumbo sprinkled with sexy bits: a guarantee of at least one orgasm from each of them, plenty of lube, and tons of decadent foreplay.
“No time limits. Consent is constant. If someone says stop, we stop. Any questions?” Sugar asked.
“If he won’t sign, I will,” Gunner said.
“I’ll sign. Just because I want that pretty boat.” He scribbled his name so fast it was illegible. “Done. Let’s get this over with. I’d like to set sail in sixty minutes.”
“One hour?” Snake added his signature to the contract. “Surely you jest. We could spend multiple hours on foreplay alone.”
Meridian frowned and stared down at the floor, lips tight, as if he were ready to bolt. Just as Horatio was about to offer him an out, the facade of snark returned.
“Hopefully I can stay awake long enough to enjoy your defeat.”
“Gotta cozy spot around here that will fit all six of us?” Horatio asked.
“Or we can use the sex swing.” Seven gave it a push, and it swayed hypnotically. “Hop in, Meridian.”
Snake slung an arm around Horatio and whispered in his ear, “You’re up first.” He found an ornate throne tucked in a corner. “What about this? Always wanted to fuck a sexy bloke on my father’s throne.”
Gunner sat on the edge of the platform. “This will fit all of us. Not very soft, though.”
“Ugh.” Meridian rolled his eyes. “Haven’t you people ever heard of beds?”
“Where’s yours?” Horatio asked. The sigil pulsed, and he hoped it was a good omen.
Still wearing his chest strap, Meridian walked to the back part of the dungeon and flipped a light switch. A panel slid to the left, revealing a darkened room. Expression blank, he waved a hand toward the doorway. “Through here.”
Horatio switched on a lamp and blinked. The room was a masterfully decorated ensuite.
Unlike the masculine décor of the rest of the castle, this space was soft, sensual, and feminine, done in monochromatic cream, luxurious fabrics, and plush seating.
The focal point of the space was the double king-sized canopy bed, covered in a mountain of pillows and stuffed animals—all tucked inside a titanium cage.
His safe place.
“No stockade?” Snake asked. “Disappointing.”
“This bed, though!” Sugar flung open the cage door and climbed right in. “Like a cloud.” He lay back against the pillows, looking hotter than hell. “Join me.”
Seven got in first and latched his mouth onto Sugar’s. Already hard, Gunner and Snake followed, curling into a 69 position without saying a word. Horatio turned toward Meridian. Trembling, he stared at the lascivious spectacle, eyes wide.
“Is this your first orgy?”
“Of course not.”
Horatio stood next to him, allowing an inch of air between them. “What did you do with your clients, besides tie-up games, I mean?”
“I tortured them until they shot their load.” He shrugged.
“And what did they do to you?”
“They didn’t deserve to touch me.” His face tightened.
He rubbed his knuckles over the back of Meridian’s hand. “I’d like to see how you took care of yourself after they left.”
“I didn’t play with myself!” He inhaled through gritted teeth. “No. I mean—”
Suddenly, it all made sense.
“You’ve never had an orgasm in your life, have you?”
Face flushed, Meridian walked to the far side of the bed and climbed in, resting against the pillows with his knees drawn up, tail flowing over the ivory bedspread like a scarlet river.
The sigil ached, and so did Horatio. He nudged himself in next to Meridian. “It’s not your fault—”
“Can we skip to the part where you explode me with your guitar?” His voice trembled. “The bet’s null anyway. I cheated, right?”
“You didn’t cheat. You were cheated. And the bet’s still on.” He wound one of Meridian’s curls around his finger. “Let me know when you’re ready to feel better than you ever have in your life.”
Meridian rolled his eyes. “You just want to win the bet.” He glanced toward the others. “Are those two supposed to be kissing like that?”
“You mean Sugar and Seven? They’re not related.”
“Oh.” He kept watching despite his pained expression.
“Have you ever been kissed like that?”
Meridian shook his head.
“Would you like to be?”
“I… don’t know.” He picked at his red nail polish. “Why are you being so nice? I know you hate me.”
“See the hottie sucking Snake’s dick? If you didn’t kidnap me, I would have never met him. For that reason alone, I couldn’t possibly hate you.”
For a moment, Meridian said nothing, just observed. When Seven started kissing and sucking Sugar’s tits, he let out a small gasp. “What if I said I wanted… all of it?” He turned his gaze to Horatio, eyes wide. “The kissing. The touching. Everything.”
“I’d say this.”
Horatio put his lips against Meridian’s and felt him melt.