“I don’t know how to cook that!” Gretchen practically wailed. “I’d never seen a shrimp before in my life!”
“There are other ingredients,” Mike said, softening. “Go.”
When the two stunned youngsters were gone, Mike looked at Anastasia.
“So, doing anything this evening?” he asked.
Chapter Six
Gretchen stood, just looking around the small kitchen filled with devices she had no idea how to use, then picked up the Kildar’s apron and put it on over her beautiful dress.
“So what happened?” Kiril asked, picking up the glass of champagne and sniffing at it. He took a sip and swirled it around in his mouth before swallowing. “This stuff doesn’t half make your nose tickle, does it?”
“I don’t know,” Gretchen said, opening the unfamiliar refrigerator and looking at the contents. It was very well stocked for a spare kitchen. She looked in the freezer and recognized meat. She could probably do something with meat. Suddenly, she started crying.
“I didn’t want this to happen,” she said, sniffling.
“Well, it did,” Kiril said, taking another sip of champagne. “Nice dress, by the way.”
“It wasn’t the Kildar, it was me,” Gretchen said, looking over at him. “I just couldn’t… ”
“I guess I can understand that,” Kiril said. “I mean, sort of. But I thought all the girls wanted the Kildar?”
“Not that you idiot!” Gretchen snapped. “It… I… It… ” She stopped and shrugged.
“Oh,” Kiril said, setting down the glass with a clink that was the only sound in the room. “So… You did all this because you didn’t want me with Anastasia?”
“And did you want me with the Kildar?” Gretchen asked, angrily.
“Yes,” Kiril answered, expecting an angry reply.
“Do you have a reason?” Gretchen said. “I do, I was just angry you were with that woman. Now… ”
“You do?” Kiril asked, confused. “I mean, since the Kildar, okay, some of us have been thinking about our traditions, trying to pin down why they are. And we think we’ve got a handle on Cardane, but… You already do?
“Yes,” Gretchen replied, “but that is all I can say. It is part of… woman’s rites.”
“Oh… shit,” Kiril said, his face suddenly white. “The… ”
“Goddess,” Gretchen said, nodding. “Kiril, I must lie with the Kildar this night. But I have failed. I will be shamed if I do not. I… ”
“Oh, damn,” Kiril said, working his jaw. Guns he’d face, but not the vengeance of the Priestess. Not being able to marry Gretchen was the least of it. If she angered the Priestess, she’d almost assuredly be cast out, Kildar or no Kildar. He, too, might face the wrath. Oh, they hadn’t done the full Goddess Rites in a long time, but he didn’t want to be the person to break the trend. “Gretch, there’s only one thing to do, then… ”
“Oh, Jesus Christ,” Mike said, lowering the whip at a knock on the door. Anastasia had indicated the need for a seriously hard whipping and for once he wasn’t holding back; the whole thing with Gretchen had been incredibly frustrating. He hadn’t had a date go that bad in years. And, okay, he hadn’t looked forward to the Rite that much in a long time, either.
“Mff, mgh, mff?” Anastasia asked through the gag.
“How the hell should I know?”
How long were they going to wait? Oh, the hell with it.
Mike walked to the door and opened it, shielding the view of the interior, and the whip, from whoever was at the door. Technically he shouldn’t have been here at all at this time. This was really going to screw things up. He wasn’t sure how bad, but bad.
He snatched the door open: “Wha… ” He paused at the sight of Gretchen and Kiril and took a deep breath. “Yes?” he said ground out as pleasantly as he could.
“Kildar, the Rite must be completed,” Kiril said, holding out Gretchen’s hand. “Please, Kildar, let’s just… try to start over.” He’d clearly rehearsed the words and gotten through them without really taking in what he was seeing.
Gretchen wasn’t saying much, she was just blinking.
Mike had changed clothes. He was wearing a skin-tight black leather cuirass, a leather g-string, chaps and a spiked leather collar.
Mike was tempted to do many things, swear, burst into laughter… but what he did was just nod.
“I’m going to need a few minutes,” he said. He looked at Gretchen and shook his head. “Gretchen, go await me upstairs. Kiril… front room.”
“Yes, Kildar,” Kiril said.
Mike shook his head and walked around to look at Anastasia.
“Think I should take the whip with me?” he asked.
Anastasia thought about it for a few seconds then nodded her head affirmatively. Very affirmatively.
“Think the kid’s up to this?” Mike asked waving around at the temporary bondage scene.
Anastasia shook her head, ruefully, in the negative.
“Yeah, I agree,” Mike said, frowning. “Good strong arms but then there’s the safety briefing and negotiation and all that time Gretchen’s waiting upstairs getting more and more nervous… ” He grinned evilly. “Okay, here’s a question. Want him to at least see you like this? That would be humiliating, right?”
Anastasia shook her head hard and Mike started to grin then stopped.
“Hell,” he said, pulling the gag out of her mouth. “We’re out of scene. Are you clear enough?” Serious bondage tended to get so many endorphins running in the submissive that it was very much like being drugged, one of its attractions for those who had the tendencies. For those who didn’t it was simply painful.
“I’m clear,” Anastasia said. “We had barely gotten started. While I would actually appreciate the humiliation, you know how I am, I don’t think it would be good for him. While I’m pretty sure the Keldara are more or less aware of your interests, I think that having it thrown in his face wouldn’t be good.”
“Damn, for a miserable little bitch of a sub who’s all tied up, you’re thinking pretty clearly,” Mike said.
“I thought we were out of scene?” Anastasia said.
“Your nipples still got all crinkled up which was the point,” Mike replied. “Okay, let’s get you down.”
Getting her down took less time than getting everything put away. But when Anastasia started putting her clothes on, Mike stopped her.
“I’m giving you to another man this night,” Mike said, roughly. “He will come in here and have his way with you. Don’t bother with any of the cutie training him, he’s here to take you and you will pleasure him well or you will answer to me.”
“Yes, Kildar,” Anastasia said, breathing hard.
“Await him on your knees,” Mike said.
“Yes, Kildar.”
It was the best he could do for giving her a good evening. It would have to do.
Mike left the whip behind but kept the bondage gear on. The hell with it.
Kiril popped to attention as he entered the front room, trying very hard to not look at how Mike was dressed.
“Kiril, I’ve got a question for you and I need a straight answer,” Mike said. “Do the Keldara talk about my sexual… adventures?”
“Yes, Kildar,” Kiril said after a long pause.
“About my interests?” he asked.