Authors: Corinne Davies
Another quick swim in the luxurious water and she rinsed all the dust off her skin. When she came up there were two women dressed in simple gowns holding up a towel for her. IxChel stood a few feet away holding a goblet. Destiny felt her anxiety skyrocket. She’d been having so much fun she’d been able to put aside her concerns about the upcoming ceremony.
“Time to get out, Destiny. I brought you something to drink. It will help relax you.”
“What is it?” As much as she wouldn’t mind a little numbness, she wanted a clear head for this.
“It’s simply wine and nothing else.” IxChel waved her hand. “Don’t be shy. Come on out and let’s get you ready.”
Destiny had never been one to be nude in front of other people.
When in Rome…
She climbed out of the pool and the two women wrapped the absorbent fabric around her, then led her over to a small bench. While one dried her, the other opened the jar and sniffed at the contents. “Perfect choice,” she whispered and then began to massage the cream into Destiny’s skin.
IxChel handed her the goblet and Destiny took a healthy gulp of the contents. Liquid courage seemed like a good idea at the moment. The two servants didn’t leave a single inch of her skin undried or unmassaged. By the end, Destiny felt more relaxed than she ever had in her life. The gown they draped over her body was made from a fabric that whispered ethereally over her skin. It was strapless and hugged her breasts, lifting them up to the point they almost spilled over the top. They secured an intricate belt made of turquoise and silver at her waist. The dress flared out below it around her hips and legs. The belt was the most gorgeous piece of jewelry Destiny had ever seen. The silver looked paper thin and she was afraid it might break.
“This piece has survived thousands of years,” the serving woman said shyly. “You won’t hurt it. It looks lovely on you.”
“Thank you both. I feel much better,” Destiny replied to the servants as they rose and turned to leave. They both nodded their heads and smiled at her before scurrying from the room.
“That was thoughtful,” IxChel commented. “Many in your position would’ve accepted the care as due them.”
“I’ve worked too many crappy waitressing jobs, serving ignorant people who treated me like crap. They both were doing their best to make me feel better and I wanted them to know I appreciated their attempt.”
“You’re a natural,
Noonsa
.” IxChel placed a band over her hair and then held out her hand for Destiny.
“What does
Noonsa
mean, IxChel?”
“It’s a term of respect for the Nohchil’s
Atan
.”
“But what if they…” She couldn’t finish that thought. The idea that somehow she might end up with someone else after this ceremony filled her heart with dread.
“I’ve lived a very long time, Destiny. I’ve known those boys since the moment they emerged from the protection of their mothers. I’ve no doubts that you will stand between them.”
“Thank you, IxChel. I appreciate your honesty.” Destiny considered the older woman. She’d always wanted to have her own quiet business and live a simple life. If Rock and Jag were to take a position of leadership after today her life might be anything but simple. Her men were very military minded and she wondered if she could be a kind of liaison for those who might be afraid to approach them. Also if what she’d been told was true, then more women from Earth would be arriving here and be as or more frightened than she’d been. Perhaps this was the responsibility she’d been looking for but never realized it. She could make a place for herself here, make a life with the two men she knew loved her.
“Come with me now and the
Cha’an
can begin.” IxChel’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
“I can’t go out in public like this!” Destiny lifted up the thin, iridescent fabric that pooled around her legs. Her nipples were clearly visible through the material as was the small patch of hair between her legs. “I might as well be naked.”
“You Earthlings are so modest.” IxChel lifted what looked like a long tunic vest made out a shimmering silver material. It was sleeveless and covered her breasts and then flared out as the dress did around her hips.
It won’t be difficult to hold the material together in front and hide that view.
Destiny felt more confident once she wasn’t bared for the entire world to see.
IxChel pointed at a pair of sandals that looked like they’d come right out of Victoria’s Secret catalogue.
I’m going to be Cinderella in glass slippers.
The platform looked like glass with silver and turquoise inlays. They were beautiful and despite Destiny’s initial concern, the shoes were very comfortable. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d worn shoes like this and it took her a moment to balance herself and be comfortable walking. Thankfully it was a skill not easily forgotten. The shoes had to add at least five inches to her height, but considering both Rock and Jag were well over six foot five, she knew they would still tower over her.
She paced back and forth a few times to make certain she could walk without making as ass of herself. “Okay.” She nodded at IxChel. “I’m ready.”
“Then let’s go meet your future.”
* * * *
A choir of women sang and chanted in perfect harmony as they entered a building that reminded Destiny of the Coliseum in Rome. She didn’t know what to expect, but sitting on a dais on a backless throne-like seat was not it. IxChel led her out and helped her arrange her skirts. She felt exposed with everyone staring at her, making her pull the vest tighter across her body.
The warriors all stood in an arc in front of her, their heads bowed. Neither Rock nor Jag looked at her, but their presence made her heart skip a beat. They looked more powerful than she imagined and she remembered the feel of their hands on her skin, the way their tender touches lit her up and made her burn.
There was a massive crowd of people a few feet behind her. She turned and noticed the two servants that had helped her at the bath. She smiled and gave them a wave. Both women returned her smile and waved back. A group of partially nude women stood off to the side. The black markings drawn along their arms and chest reminded her that they were Raxka. Most of them smiled at Destiny, but a few of them gave her openly hostile glares, especially the one who’d tried to hump Jag outside the bath.
Destiny’s stomach twisted bitterly at the women’s open hostility.
But what if I’d been a bath girl and fancied myself in love with Jag, would I feel any differently?
That thought went a long way to helping ease the tightness in her chest. She gave the Raxka the same smile she’d given the other women and turned around and tried not to think of them.
The women’s voices grew in power and then suddenly stopped. Destiny could feel the energy snapping in the air around her. The hair on the back of her neck prickled and her nipples hardened beneath the sheer material of her gown. All the warriors stared at her, but instead of making her uncomfortable, she felt empowered and bold. Sitting up straighter she arched her back slightly and let the vest slip off her shoulders and catch on her elbows.
When in Rome…
Resting her hands on the arms of the chair, she swallowed a nervous giggle and smiled, knowing that they were seeing everything but the public behind her couldn’t. Her gaze fell on Jag and Rock. Only for them would she do this. If this was an important ceremony to them, she wasn’t going to let her hang-ups ruin it.
A low hum filled the air and then a pulse from some sort of instrument. Blade and Thunder looked up first, walked up to her, and bent at the knee at her feet. “Thank you, both.”
Each man captured one of her hands and pressed a kiss against it. Thunder winked at her but Blade wouldn’t meet her gaze. She heard some twittering behind her from the direction of the Raxka and Blade’s posture stiffened and he stood up and let go of her hand. Thunder’s expression darkened and his eyes flicked in the women’s direction before he stepped back.
Destiny didn’t know what was going on, but she owed Blade her life and she would kick those bitches’ asses if they made him uncomfortable. Blade wasn’t as classically gorgeous as the other warriors. The scar on his face marred that, but his eyes were gentle and she was willing to bet he was a big cuddly teddy bear under that grizzly exterior. The two warriors moved back and positioned themselves behind her, allowing Destiny to focus her attentions on the rest of the group. Their large presence completely blocked the public’s view of her and she breathed a sigh of relief.
IxChel had told her that the point of this ceremony was so the men would entice her and draw her attentions. That at some point she would know who the gods had chosen for her. Her attention drifted back to Jag and Rock. She didn’t need any mystical event to tell her who she was meant to be with. Those two men had done more than anyone else to draw her attentions. Her heart was unequivocally theirs and she believed they loved her as deeply, but what if this ceremony changed that? What if something unexpected happened to change her plans? Fear clawed at her throat. This was how her life went. She would be so close to what she wanted only to watch helplessly as it slipped through her fingers.
The music grew around them and the men began to sway and move like waves on the ocean. Her heart beat quicker and she knew that her time was running out. She fisted her hands tightly, causing her nails to sting her palms. The idea of not being with them or being forced to watch them touch another woman felt like acid burning her soul. She should walk to them now and put an end to this before it all went wrong.
“Don’t,” Blade’s voice was whispering quietly behind her. “Your heart knows the truth, but the others need to try.”
“But…” One of them stroked her hair in a long caress and pressed gently against the back of her neck.
“Sit back and enjoy, Noonsa.”
Destiny had no idea that Thunder could temper his booming voice to the whisper she’d heard. If they believed it would work out then she should as well. Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm the anxiety that tightened her throat. The beat continued to rise and in unison the men lined up in front of her exploded into movement, making her jump.
Their synchronized movements were mesmerizing. Each movement was precise and reminded her of a martial arts kata, but as additional instruments were added to the sounds echoing around them, the warriors spun and added intricate acrobatics to the dance. Destiny sat in rapt attention. They were only dressed in loose pants tied at the waist. White designs had been drawn on their chests and highlighted the markings on their arms and shoulders.
Each pair gripped their warrior brother’s arm at the elbow and they used the momentum to increase the tricks as they flipped each other around, sometimes coming within an inch of each other but never striking. She knew that they would have to have incredible control to come so close to impact but never make contact. She had seen a capoeira demonstration on a TV show once. The Brazilian form of martial arts had fascinated her and seeing it performed right in front of her was breathtaking.
Each pair flipped closer to her and then retreated as if showing off their skills and she wondered if this was what IxChel meant when she said they would try enticing her. She didn’t know if the gods had any real decision or if that was what had been written so that the woman always had the final choice in which she picked. But Destiny knew in her heart that there was only one choice for her. Every time her gaze met with Jag’s emerald green or Rock’s brilliant blue one, she felt her heart skip and her pussy grow damper. At this rate she was going to have a wet spot on the back of her gown.
A breeze danced along her chest and she felt her nipples tighten in anticipation. Glancing down, she noticed that her gown had come open, whether by accident or as a reaction to what she was feeling she didn’t care. Her breasts were bared and swollen. She desperately wanted to feel hands and lips caressing them. Her arousal pulsed through her to the beat of the music. The more she watched the more desperate she felt. She didn’t know how this was to end, but the sooner the better in her book.
Locking her gaze with Rock’s she pressed her fingertip against her lips and then circled it around one nipple. The sensation caused her pussy to clench and her nipple to tighten further. Rock and Jag had both stopped moving and Destiny moved her gaze to Jag’s and without looking away she reached to her other breast and rolled that nipple around between two fingertips. As if the warriors understood at that moment that she had made her decision, a thunderous roar vibrated in the air as they all cheered. The crowds behind her echoed the sound, but she only had attention for the two men stalking toward her.