Final Edits Are Done

I just sent in the final round of edits. It was harder to hit send this time than it was with the previous rounds. It's final this time. No more chances to get it right. I couldn't find anything else I wanted to change, but I kept looking almost up until my deadline.

My editor, Olivia, has been wonderful. She has helped me turn a novella into a novel that I love.

Next up... Line edits. I'm not sure what to expect there, but I'm looking forward to it.

Scheduled release date is April 13th.

Greek Lexicon for Alexios' Fate

Cast of Characters

Prince Alexios of Dicaea: A prince of Dicaea

     Αλεξιος, a derivative of Αλεξις, which meant "helper" or "defender", derived from Greek αλεξω (alexo) "to defend, to help."

King Demetrios of Dicaea: Alexios’ father and king of Dicaea

     Δημητριος, derived from the name of the Greek goddess Demeter.

Galen: Alexios’ slave

     Γαληνος means "calm" from Greek γαληνη (galene).

King Lykos of Aenus: Visiting king of Aenus

     Λυκος, means "wolf.”

King Philon of Doriscus: Visiting king of Doriscus

     Φιλων, derived from φιλεω (phileo) "to love.”

King Theocritus of Abdara: Visiting king of Abdara

     Θεοκριτος, means "judge of god.”

King Andronikos of Maroneia: Visiting king of Maroneia

     Ανδρονικος means "victory of a man.”

Cyrus: The prophet known as the Voice of Apollo, traveling with King Lykos to Delphi

     Κυρος (Kyros), the Greek form of the Persian name Kūrush, which may mean "far sighted" or "young."

Phoebus Apollo: The Greek god of the sun, also known as the Lord of Light

     Απολλων

Muses: nine goddesses, who embody the arts and inspire the creation of song, theater, writing, traditional music, and dance.

     Calliope: The muse of epic poetry, pictured with a writing tablet.

     Clio: The muse of history, pictured with scrolls.

     Erato: The muse of love poetry, pictured with a cithara (lyre).

     Euterpe: The muse of song and elegiac poetry, pictured with an aulos (flute).

     Melpomene: The muse of tragedy, picture with a tragic mask.

     Polyhymnia: The muse of hymns, pictured veiled.

     Terpsichore: The muse of dance, pictured with a lyre.

     Thalia: The muse of comedy, pictured with a comic mask.

     Urania: The muse of astronomy, pictured with a globe and compass.

Ippos: Means horse, Poseidon’s sacred animal.

Taurus: Means bull, Zeus’ sacred animal.

Halys: a faun/pan, one of Pan's descendants.

Greek Lexicon

Agora, meaning "gathering place" or "assembly", was the central place for athletic, artistic, spiritual, and political life of the Greek city-state. During early times, freemen gathered here for military duty or to hear the decrees of the ruling kings or council. Later, the agora became a market place as well. The Roman equivalent word is forum.

 Amphora (plural: amphorae or amphoras): a vase-shaped ceramic container with two handles on either side of a long narrow neck.  Most taper to a pointed base to allow them to be stored upright by embedding them in sand or soft ground.  In kitchens and shops, racks held the amphorae.

Chiton: a form of clothing worn by men and women in Ancient Greece. Also known as the tunica. The Doric chiton was simple, without sleeves. The cloth was pinned at the shoulders by fibulae for women and only over the left shoulder if the man was doing something strenuous. The fabric was gathered at the waist by a zone or girdle. The women's chiton fell to the floor, the men's to just under their knees. Male slaves wore a much briefer garment.

Greek Warrior Kit: The richer upper-class warriors had a bronze breastplate of the bell or muscled variety, a bronze helmet with cheekplates, a shield, as well as greaves and other armor. Most warriors carried a spear and short sword. Many warriors used javelins, especially when in chariots. Bows were more commonly used to defend the walls of a city, being considered cowardly on the field of battle.

Hiereus (plural: hierei): the word for "priest".

 Hubris means extreme haughtiness, pride or arrogance. Most commonly used to describe the actions of those who challenged the gods or their laws, especially in Greek tragedy, resulting in the protagonist's fall. Hubris was considered the greatest crime of ancient Greek society. The person performs some act of folly due to their overweening pride, usually resulting in their downfall or some fatal retribution (Nemesis).

Iamos was the son of Evadne and Apollo. Evadne, one of Poseidon's daughters, was raised by a local king. Ashamed to be with child, Evadne exposed the child at birth in a patch of violets. Her stepfather discovered the child was the son of a god and made her go reclaim the baby. The boy was named Iamos (from ίον, "violet"). When Iamos grew up, he invoked Poseidon and Apollo, asking them to reveal his destiny. Apollo gave him the gift of prophecy and sent him to Olympia to found the Iamidae line of priests.

Laws of xenia, a specific code of guest-friendship, dictated how to care for a guest. Zeus was the guardian of strangers and the enforcer of xenia.

Ienai means go, start or begin.

 Mentoring or Pederasty in ancient Greece was a social custom likely originating as a rite of passage associated with entering military training and the religion of Zeus at a boy's coming of age. As such, it was likely a rite of passage. The practice was central to the homosocial Greek culture, which included athletic and artistic nudity, delayed marriage for aristocrats, symposia, and the social seclusion/exclusion of women.

The practice almost certainly involved sexual activity between the mentor and the young man, usually in his teens or early twenties. The extent would vary with local custom and individual inclination. The mentor, being older and socially superior, was the "penetrative" partner. In the case of mentoring, this almost exclusively referred to intercrural sex, where the penis penetrates between the thighs of the youth.

The erômenos, or "beloved", is the passive or subordinate partner. The youth would be of an age when an aristocrat began his formal military training, around fifteen to seventeen and extending up until the youth was in his twenties, or in some cases even thirty.

The mentor, or erastes, courted the young man with gifts. He was expected to show that his interest wasn't merely sexual. The youth was not to submit too easily. If more than one man courted him, he was expected to show discretion and pick the nobler man.

Nereus was a minor sea god associated with the Aegean Sea. He had fifty daughters, the Nereids, and a son, Nerites. His daughter Thetis is Achilles' mother. Another daughter, Amphitrite, was Poseidon's queen. Nerites was the charioteer and beloved of Poseidon. (Poseidon's wife and lover were siblings.) Nerites was turned into a shellfish for his hubris after challenging Helios to a chariot race and losing.

Omphalos, also known as the Navel of the World, is a carved stone erected at Delphi as part of the temple complex to Apollo. The stone was placed where the two eagles sent by Zeus to fly from the ends of the world to find the center, or the navel, met.

The Navel was guarded by Python for his mother Gaia. Apollo slew Python, the serpent, and took Delphi, making the oracular site his own. This is an example of the earlier earth deities, frequently female, being overthrown by the new sky deities, usually male. The place name Pytho was given to site where Python was slain.

Polis: city/city-state

Pythia, the Oracle of Delphi, was a mantic priestess at the Temple of Apollo. The title derived from the place name Pytho.  The post was often shared amongst a triad of priestesses. The women varied from learned aristocrats to unlettered peasants. The Pythia gave her prophecies while perched atop a tripod.

The oracle only functioned during the nine warmest months of the year while Apollo resided in Delphi. He returned each year during the spring on the 7^th day of Vysios, his birthday. The Pythia was required to undergo monthly purification rites on the 7^th day of each month thereafter.

Stoas were covered walkways or porticos open to the public. They often had small stores down one side of the building with an open portico lining the other side, offering shelter to shoppers and anyone else who was in the agora.

 Theos: the Greek word for "deity, god"

 A trireme (from Latin triremis, literally "three-oarer") was a type of galley, a warship that was used on the Mediterranean. The vessel was named for the three rows of oars on each side, manned with one man per oar. The three tiers of oars required careful coordination and much practice so as not to tangle in one another. The Greek ships were manned by freemen/warriors unlike the galleys of the Romans. As a ship it was fast and agile, and became the dominant warship in the Mediterranean. They also had one large square sail, a bronze clad prow with a pair of eyes painted on both sides. The eyes were intended to see that the ship stayed on course and to ward off any evil.

Greek Days of the Week:

The Greeks adopted the Babylonian seven-day planetary week. They substituted the names of their own gods: Ares, Hermes, Zeus, Aphrodite, and Chronos. Sunday is quite literally sun-day. Monday is moon-day.

	Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Greek	hemera heli(o)u	hemera selenes	hemera Areos	hemera Hermu	hemera Dios	hemera Aphrodites	hemera Khronu

Mythos

Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite vied for a golden apple inscribed with "For the fairest." Zeus refused to be drawn into the contest and sent the goddesses to Paris to judge. After each goddess attempted to bribe him, the foolish prince chose Aphrodite in exchange for the most beautiful woman in the world as his wife.

The fall of Troy was orchestrated by Hera and Athena as retribution for Paris' choice of Aphrodite as "the fairest." Aphrodite's gift, Helen of Troy, couldn't have been more suited to the task of bringing Troy down if she had been chosen for that purpose.

Due to her beauty, Helen had been courted by all the eligible rulers of the Greek city-states. She was abducted by Theseus and rescued by the remainder of her suitors. The kings all then swore to protect her and the husband she chose from further abductions. She wed Menelaus, Agamemnon's brother. When Paris abducted her from her husband, the Greeks had a holy reason for war. Paris had broken Zeus' laws of hospitality. Plus by her abduction, all the kings of the Greek city-states were held by their oath to retrieve her.

Agamemnon need only remind everyone of their oath and Paris' impious behavior. A huge armada was launched, but the winds were unfavorable. Informed he would have to sacrifice his daughter Iphigenia to receive favorable winds, Agamemnon sent word that his wife Clytemnestra should bring their daughter to be wed to Achilles.

Iphigenia is portrayed as a girl who went to her death bravely once she knew what her fate was. Clytemnestra was not as accepting. When Agamemnon returned from Troy, triumphant, she slew him in his bath for his hubris and the murder of their daughter. The Fates did not punish her because she was not blood related to her husband.

***

Persephone, the daughter of Demeter, was abducted by Hades and taken into the Underworld to be his queen. Demeter petitioned Zeus for the return of their daughter. Even though Persephone was Zeus' daughter, marriage by abduction was common, even for the gods. When Zeus did not demand his brother return Persephone, Demeter used her attributes to coerce him.

Demeter, the goddess of grains, fertility, and harvest, refused to let any plants grow. Soon animals and people were dying. The humans petitioned the gods to succor them. Zeus was forced to go to his brother Hades and ask for Persephone's return.

Persephone had been pining for her mother and the open air. She wouldn't eat and had become pale.

Hades didn't want to give up his queen. Before he returned Persephone, Hades pressed her to eat something. She ate six pomegranate seeds. When Zeus discovered that she had accepted Hades' hospitality, he had no choice but to decree she remain with her husband for six months out of the year.

Demeter was not pleased, but could do nothing further. So for six months out of the year, the earth is fruitful and green, but for the other six months Demeter mourns her daughter and the earth does likewise.

***

Ganymede was a beautiful young man who caught Zeus' eye. Zeus took the form of an eagle and abducted the boy, taking him back to Mount Olympus. Ganymede was given immortality, unfading youth, and was made Zeus' cupbearer.

Zeus gave the boy's father the gift of horses "such as carry the immortals." His father was pleased by the gift as well as the boy's new station as Zeus' cupbearer and erômenos. Hera was jealous of her rival for Zeus' affections; the only one Zeus ever showed any attachment to. However, even the queen of the gods had to respect the relationship. She never tried to punish Ganymede like she did with all of Zeus' other lovers.

The story of Ganymede and Zeus illustrates the institution of pederasty and gives it divine validation.

***

Cassiopeia, the queen of Ethiopia, bragged that her daughter Andromeda was more beautiful than all the Nereids, the sea nymph daughters of the minor sea god Nereus. Poseidon's queen was one of the Nereids, Amphitrite. Poseidon became angry and sent a sea monster to destroy the kingdom. In an effort to save their kingdom, they consulted an oracle who told them they must sacrifice their daughter to the sea monster.

Andromeda was chained to a rock near the sea and left to her fate. Perseus was traveling through Ethiopia at the time. He saw Andromeda's plight and slew the sea monster. He carried her off and married her.

Poseidon was not pleased that Cassiopeia had not been punished. He could do nothing about Perseus who was one of Zeus' sons, so instead he tied Cassiopeia to a chair that was frequently used for torture and placed her in the sky as a constellation that spends half its time upside down.

***

The queen of Thebes, Niobe, had fourteen children, seven boys and seven girls. She boasted unwisely that she had more children than Leto, who only had Apollo and Artemis. Before she could repent of her hubris, Apollo and Artemis slew her children with arrows. In her grief, she turned to stone and the rock still weeps for her lost children.

Inspiration for Secondary Characters

I take a lot of inspiration for my stories and characters from photographs. And Halys, a secondary character in Alexios' Fate, is no different. Halys is a demigod, a pan. He is dusky hued with darker zebra-like markings and horn buds hidden in his curls. A classic faun with a twist.

He is one of Apollo's slaves who knows what he wants and pursues the god himself. He gives Apollo an insight into Alexios' and Galen's relationship that he would have otherwise not understood.

Here's an unedited excerpt from Alexios' Fate featuring Halys.

Apollo awoke before the dawn. He needed to be at his personal shrine to receive the prayers of his devotes as they performed their monthly purification rites.

He reached through the sumptuous blankets and furs for Halys only to find the slave missing from his bed. He sat up and ran a hand through his hair. A rapid sweep of the dimly lit chamber failed to yield the demigod. Bronze lamps on either side of the bed did little to banish the stygian shadows in the corners.

Just as he considered summoning another slave, Halys entered the room. The aroma of porridge laced with nuts and honey filled the air. Apricots and figs filled a small bowel and a kylix of ambrosia balanced beside them on the tray.

Halys nudged the door closed with his hip and Apollo recalled all the skills those supple hips demonstrated the night before.

"I hoped to return before you rose."

"I just now awoke. What do you have for me?"

Halys broke into a pleased smile as he crossed the room. He placed the tray on a small table near the bed and offered Apollo the ambrosia.

When Apollo finished breaking his fast, Halys brought a woolen robe trimmed in red and gold scrollwork. The slave draped the folds over Apollo's shoulders and settled the sacred laurel wreath like a halo on his head. Halys knelt at his feet and laced his golden sandals, dark fingers straying over his calves and ankles.

With an indulgent smile, Apollo lightly cuffed his slave. The creature grew more and more forward. Unless something changed, Halys was dangerously close to becoming a spoiled pet.

"I will return in a while."

"Yes, master. Do you wish anything upon your return?" That mischievous smile again.

"Do you think of nothing else?"

"Not while I'm in your presence."

Shaking his head at the daring demigod, Apollo strode from the room.

Free Read - Infinite Infatuation

Chapter Three: Returning Ronin

Jin gently shook the pouch of coins before securing the small bundle inside his sleeve alongside a special vial he had purchased earlier in the day. His payment for escorting the farmers to market and back would get him a few much needed supplies, but he would require another job soon.

Barely more than a group of extended families clustered around a cross-road, this village didn’t boast much in the way of amenities. Their entire surplus already sold at market. If he wanted more than a bit of rice, Jin would have to return to the larger town where he had found Mugen.

Mugen... Just what was he going to do about Mugen? The man was trouble, with a capitol T, looking for a place to happen. They had settled into an uneasy truce while traveling together that later morphed into a hesitant friendship. Probably the only friendship either of them had ever had. When they had parted ways, Jin had never expected to see the rebellious man again.

He found himself inexplicably pleased—more pleased than he would have admitted if anyone had asked him—to find his old comrade. Jin shook his head. Now if he could just quit thinking of the rogue as his lover...

Jin strode down the main road, really more of a dirt track, glad to be once more on his way. The few cramped houses dropped behind him in his rush to be quit of this place.

He had more than enough of these peasants laughing and talking behind their hands when they thought he wasn't listening. He was glad that they had obviously not realized who had given him that mark, and even more pleased that they did not know about the other one hidden under his kimono.

All the resentment toward Mugen that he had pushed down came smoldering back to life. The high collar of his kimono didn’t hide the rascal’s brand, making him a laughing stock.  He would find some way of repaying Mugen.

Even without the livestock to slow the return, the farmers had taken two days to arrive back at their village. However, without that hindrance Jin might retrace his route to the inn in one, admittedly long, day. He wanted to avoid another night in the open, if he could.

A band of bandits roamed this area unchecked. In fact, the villagers’ fear of the outlaws had offered him employment for the past few days. The villains took what they wanted and weren’t above harming the peddlers and other travelers they waylaid. He did not relish the thought of coming into contact with them on his own. His weapons alone were enough to draw their unwanted attention.

The now empty fields surrounding the handful of dwellings dwindled rapidly. The pathway cut through the man-made clearing that kept the forest at bay. Anything that might have given cover to outlaws or oni had been painstakingly removed.

Jin set a brisk pace, determined to be clear of the nearby stretch of woodlands before the sun set. Lingering along the way only encouraged trouble. He steadfastly refused to admit to any other reason that might prompt a speedy return to Mugen’s inn.

He crossed the farmland rapidly. Pausing to admire the trees, like gaily clad geisha in all their autumn splendor, Jin adjusted his daishō. With nothing to interfere with drawing his sword, he stepped from the bright sunlight into the cool shade of the forest.

Sunlight dappled the trail, scuffed and marred by the recent passage of a dozen men and their livestock. Hoof prints lined with a thin film of water pocked the dark moist loam. The green scent of gently decaying plants rose up with every stride Jin took. On the previous trek, the odor of the animals had masked this soothing smell.

Resisting the temptation to linger, Jin struck out for Mugen’s inn. He didn’t intend to end his day still within the forest’s grasp. One man, even armed, would draw more interest than the same man had while traveling with a group of peasants.

Loping and walking by turns, he made good time traversing the wooded path. He had begun to think that the worst of the journey was over, when he heard a slight rustle in the surrounding undergrowth. Pretending to be unaware, Jin continued on his way, listening intently for the unknown to give himself away again.

The man must have realized his mistake, because no further sounds interrupted the drowsy chirping of the haru-dori as they settled in for the evening. Had the man given up on ambushing him or did he just place his feet with more care?

Jin followed a bend in the trail and found his answer awaiting him.

Ahead, three ruffians blocked his way. They were armed with cudgels and a motley array of padded and leather protective garments. He could tell by the way the men held themselves they were merely a rag tag collection of bullies and indigent ne’er-do-wells. Jin put his hand to his daishō, loosening it in its sheath.

"None of that," the central figure warned. "There's no need for violence. Just give us those swords, and whatever is in your sleeves."

No violence, indeed. Standing there doing his best to look all intimidating. Did the man actually expect anyone to believe him?

Reserving part of his attention on the man hiding behind him, Jin drew his daishō and charged the three in front of him. He did not have time for this.

The men had obviously only dealt with farmers or the occasional lone traveler so far. They stood too close to one another to fight effectively, hampering each other’s movements. The looks of surprise on their faces as he bore down on them were an amusing mix of stunned disbelief and horrified comprehension. The ruffians didn’t even have the sense to flee.

Jin didn’t worry about finesse, merely cut them down as they attempted various defensive stances. He grunted as one of their staves connected with his hip. That last desperate attempt did not check his forward motion and his daishō came to rest in the third man. Jin allowed himself to stumble as the man fell, dragging his blade with him.

There was a sudden loud thrashing from behind him. Jin whirled ready to defend himself, but the unseen man was bolting for safety.

One of the downed men chuckled hoarsely before spitting blood. "He's gone for the rest. You will follow me soon."

Surrounded by the lifeless proof of his encounter, Jin took stock of his situation. The unseen man had gotten away and even now no doubt alerted the other members of his band to Jin’s presence. He didn’t have long before they would be hunting him.

Jin hurried with all the speed that his hip would allow. He could manage a stiff jog for short stretches before he had to drop into a limping walk. Maybe he could still escape the bandits. Even though he had nearly reached the end of the forest the road seemed to stretch on forever.

Sharp pain seared through him with every step, overwhelming the throbbing ache in his hip. He had to walk longer and longer each time before he could manage to pick up the pace again. Jin began to fear that he might not make it back to the town after all.

Even though exhausted, he must not stop until he was safely at the inn. If those outlaws caught him, there would be nothing for Mugen to do but avenge him. A thought that he did not relish for several reasons.

Up ahead, Jin saw the bright golden glow of sunlight not filtered through layers of leaves. Nearly free of the forest, Jin broke into a lope. He wanted out, and he wanted out now.

Jin cleared the woodlands while the sun was still in the sky, although not by much. Soon it would be dark, and he couldn’t continue to jog at that point. He could see the rising smoke from the cooking fires in the distance. A quick glance over his shoulder showed that the pursuit was either delayed or not forthcoming. He rather hoped it was the later, but feared it was the former.

Hastening over the open road, his footfalls stuttered in staccato bursts.  Jin forced himself to cover as much ground as he could. Only dropping into a walk when he could no longer bear the pain and picking up the pace again as soon as possible.

Darkness fell and he still had a ways to go. Jin slowed to a walk. He couldn’t risk quickening his pace until the rising of the moon could afford him enough light to see the terrain by.

He felt like he had walked forever. In fact, he had walked most of the night. When he saw the welcoming glow of the inn in the near distance, without sign of pursuit, he dared hope.

Jin finally stumbled, disheveled and limping, through the front door of the inn. The few remaining patrons gave him a less than warm welcome. All conversation stilled and he was the object of every hostile stare in the common room.

Mugen turned from the man he had been talking to and looked at him with some surprise. "You look like shit."

Jin sank onto a bench with a pained grunt. "They look worse," he muttered darkly.

Mugen barked out a laugh. "Of course, they do..."

After eating what Mugen could scrape up at this late hour, Jin wobbled back to Mugen's room. He pointedly ignored any offers of help that might have been forthcoming. His muscles had tightened up in the short time he had sat to eat.

Jin slumped down on the futon with his hand pressed to his hip. Pealing his kimono and hakama off revealed a nasty purple bruise covering much of his side, hip, and continuing down his flank. Mugen let out a low whistle of admiration.

"Get me some sake and salve," he gritted out between clenched teeth.

Mugen just nodded and left the room.

When Mugen returned, he offered Jin the sake and set about applying the salve.

Jin gulped several cups in quick succession, trying hard not to betray how badly every touch hurt. Finally, it was done and he was numb. He didn't know if that was due to the salve or the sake. And just then he felt too wrung out to think about it.

He leaned against Mugen, and with a heartfelt sigh, allowed himself to relax. He’d returned, safe and alive, something that he hadn't been sure of earlier in the day.

Now that he didn’t need to drive himself, reaction set in. He was thankful the sake blunted it, but that only made another part of his reaction more pronounced. He had heard that surviving a life or death situation was often one of the best aphrodisiacs. Now he found that in his case it was true.

Mugen chuckled warmly and looked pointedly down at his lap. Jin followed the direction of his gaze, mildly surprised to see just how aroused he was. His cock strained, dripping precum from its swollen tip.

"Well… What do you want to do about that?" Mugen waved in the general direction of Jin's groin.

Jin blushed furiously. Don't ask such questions!

Mugen's hands wandered down Jin’s naked body, brushing places that affected him in ways he would never have suspected. The way he reacted to having his nipples stroked was no real surprise any more, but his navel and flanks were uncharted territory. Mugen’s gentle touches had him trembling and sighing in no time.

By the time those talented hands reached the destination Jin had in mind the whole time, the other man's name had slipped through his fervent lips more than once.

Mugen leaned forward and sealed those lips with his. His kiss was surprisingly gentle, not the usual battle that they engaged in. Light butterfly touches on the roof of his mouth and tongue.

Jin moaned and increased both the depth and heat of the kiss, his turn to explore the other's mouth. Mugen chuckled at his new found ardor.

"You really want this. I'll try to do it without hurting you."

"Just do it!"

Chuckling once more, Mugen eased Jin back onto the futon. Mugen began to remove his own clothing. He was somewhat hampered by Jin's awkward attempts to help. But Jin soon gave up, instead stroking any exposed skin he could reach. That also slowed things down a bit, but Mugen didn’t complain.

Once the last of Mugen’s clothing was gone, it was abundantly clear that he was in no better state than Jin.

Taking care that the bruised hip was uppermost, Mugen maneuvered Jin onto his side. Then he moved in close and took both of their cocks in his hand.

Jin clutched him close, murmuring his name. He attempted to move his hips, but with a small cry of pain stopped abruptly.

"Shhh… I've got it." Mugen stroked Jin's back until he relaxed once again, and then went back to pleasuring them both.

His hand slid easily up and down their shafts. The gleaming drops seeping from their cocks smoothing the movement. Jin tried to help, but the pain of reaching down was too much. So he wrapped his arm around Mugen and burrowed tightly into his warm body.

Jin’s mouth sought the rogue's neck. He nibbled on Mugen’s collar bone, and sucked on the pulse point before moving higher up. Jin licked the edge of the other man’s ear, dipping his tongue in to explore before nipping the lobe. He amused himself by playing with the dangling blue stone earring. When he tugged on the hoop holding the stone, Mugen arched against him and gave out such a groan that Jin gave it another tug to see if he could get the same reaction again. If anything, Mugen’s groan was deeper and ragged, filled with more longing than any one sound should be able to convey.

Mugen's hand moved faster and began a twisting motion over their crowns, wringing a deep moan from Jin. Mugen pumped his hips, pushing the head of his cock over Jin's and dragging the edge back down the length of him.

Jin’s body shuddered and shook with desire. He could feel the hunger building in him, looking for an outlet. He held off as long as he could, just letting the fierce heat burn him until he had to find release or burn up with his need.

Pressing his face firmly into his lover's neck, Jin bit down to keep from screaming Mugen's name as he came. The semen pumping out of him with every stroke of Mugen's hand made it impossible for him to release his grip upon the other man. In fact, he found his jaw tensing more with every pulse.

"Oh… Fuck yeah!" Mugen yelled raggedly as he came.

Dimly Jin realized that a little pain seemed to have a positive effect on his lover. He would have to explore that in more depth later when he was capable of logical thought once again.

Free Read - Infinite Infatuation

Chapter Two: The Morning After

Jin rubbed his nose in drowsy annoyance. What was that aggravating prickle? He swiped at his nose again, vaguely recognizing the feathery touch of hair. The novel sensation left him momentarily confused. Had he forgotten to bind his hair after his bath last night?

Something—someone?—shifted, crowding the heavy heat that pressed along his side even closer. For a moment his mind refused to fit the pieces of the puzzle together. With a rush, albeit maybe more of a lurch, the flood gates opened and Jin stiffened in shock.

Half-buried under the warmth of his bedmate, Jin considered his options. Unless he wanted to fight his way off the futon, he might as well relax and enjoy the toasty comfort of the bed.

Mugen's head rested on his shoulder, one arm thrown across Jin’s chest. The thin yukata trailed half off their bodies, exposing some interesting parts of his lover. His what?! Surely he hadn't just thought of Mugen as his lover? Just how much sake did he drink last night?

How did he feel about taking his pleasure with Mugen? While surprised he had chosen Mugen, Jin found he wasn’t repulsed by what they had done together. But this did not mean he wanted or needed a lover. Much less a rogue like his former comrade. Bushido allowed for, and even encouraged, taking a male lover, but Jin wasn’t sure he wanted anything formal just yet with that yōkai. And even though he clearly should be in the teaching role, Jin doubted Mugen would just lay back and accept his role.

With sinuous cat-like grace, Mugen stretched against him, almost assuredly rubbing himself down Jin's entire length on purpose. Some wanton kami sent to temp a man, desire personified and given life.

Warm moist lips found his throat and began moving with more purpose as they came closer to his own. Jin half turned towards Mugen. As their lips brushed, he looked into a languid pair of eyes. His lover's eyes. There! He did it again.

This time, when Mugen kissed him, he got goose bumps for a completely different reason.

Mugen began slowly rocking his hips, rubbing his morning wood against Jin's thigh. Jin realized he was in a similar state. A warm hand on his far hip pulled Jin onto his side, allowing Mugen to rub against his groin. The jolt they both felt when the heads of their cocks rubbed against one another was almost too much to bear.

They both set to rocking their hips, lips meeting in lazy kisses. Jin found how good it felt to kiss surprising. Last night had been his first kiss, and that one had been... Well, it hadn't been like these. Soon the kisses grew more insistent, hungry. A tongue trailed across his lips and gained entrance when he gasped as Mugen’s fingers traced his nipple.

Once again, Jin froze. What was Mugen thinking? What was he doing? The warm wet slide of the other's tongue in his mouth had Jin poised to push him away. Until he stopped to pay attention to what Mugen was doing to him.

Jin ceased trying to push Mugen’s tongue out of his mouth with his own. Instead, Jin admired how good Mugen’s exploration felt. The drag over the roof of his mouth, along his teeth, and over his now responsive tongue, had him joining in the divine play of tongue on tongue. To his dismay, Jin became aware that the whimpers he heard were his. He tried to stop, but soon realized that would mean breaking off the kiss. And he wasn't ready to do that.

Fingers dug into well muscled backs as they both drove to completion. Pulsing almost in unison, they coated their bellies with their mixed seed. Mugen's face burrowed into his neck, and lips attached themselves to the bend of his neck. If he was this talented with his mouth, what wonders could he work lower down?

Mugen moved his face from Jin’s neck and looked smugly at his handiwork. Only then did Jin realize that he had been marked. A small flash of annoyance warmed his blood, as he thought how best to repay this insult.

When they finally pulled apart, Jin gazed in dismay at the mess at their groins. It would seem that his bath had been short lived.

Seemingly thinking the same thing, Mugen rose and flung a yukata around his shoulders. Mugen flashed him a saucy grin. “C'mon! Last one to the bath has to clean up this mess.” With a sweeping gesture, he indicated the bedraggled futon, the weapons thrown every which way, and the knot of discarded clothing.

Jin snatched up his clean clothing from the daishō stand where it lay on its side, now across the room next to the small chest.  He followed Mugen out of the room, knotting the obi around his own yukata.

Walking through the deserted common room on the way to the baths showed them to be only ones up at this hour of the morning. He should have been surprised that even the inn keeper and his wife appeared to still be abed. Judging by last night's crowd and how late they seem to have been up, Jin suspected the pair rarely woke with the sun. He had to admit he was just as glad no one saw him disheveled from Mugen’s embrace.

Near the doorway, stools and buckets lined one wall of the lean-to. Thin bathing sheets and yakata hung on hooks above them. In the far corner, a large wooden tub squatted on a raised platform over the fire pit. Brushes, washing cloths, and soaps filled nearby cubbyholes. There were even some scented ones. Last night, exhausted, Jin had not taken time to notice all the details of the room.

The fire for heating the bath had been banked. Jin set to stirring the flames back to life while Mugen gathered some towels and got the tepid water from the bath into buckets for them. Once the fire was going well and steam was just beginning to rise from the bath, Jin slipped out of his yukata and turned to take his turn with the soap.

A soapy gleaming Mugen lounged in all his glory on his stool, just now pouring the water from his bucket over his head to rinse the lather off. He shook his head sending water flying. Obviously he had not just contented himself with cleaning off, for he was rampant once more. Jin blushed furiously and used the excuse of dodging the flying droplets to avert his face

 He settled on a stool and began to perform his ablutions with his back to the drifter. The sharp scent of the soap cut through Mugen’s musky scent on his skin. He brushed the dried flakes of their seed off his belly. More caked the sparse curly hairs lower down.

Jin pointedly ignored the other man as Mugen sauntered past. He knew it was always a little iffy to turn his back on Mugen, but right now Jin just didn't think that he could turn around and be faced with what was surely on a level with his eyes. His face burned even hotter with that vision in mind.

Fingers brushed the nape of his neck, then wandered up to release his hair from its band. Soft hair flowed down his back as Mugen’s fingers continued to comb through the midnight mass. With a sigh, Jin’s eyes drifted shut. He leaned back into his lover's hands, as Mugen washed his hair. He couldn't remember the last time someone had done this for him. His parents, all those years ago?

Soon those breathtakingly gentle fingers continued down his shoulders, spreading the soap over his body. Mugen’s fingers brushed his nipples, showing him exactly what the other man must have felt the night before. He didn't have to look down to see just what state he was in. Clearly bathing would never be the same again, he thought with a touch of concern for how he might react in the future.

Maybe he shouldn't have been so concerned, this was Mugen after all. Mugen upended the bucket over Jin's head, then dashed to the tub to scoop up more water and fling it at Jin, laughing like an idiot the whole time. The guy couldn't resist turning rinsing off into a water fight.

Jin pushed his sodden hair from his eyes before blinking them clear of water. Once he could get his bearings and move without falling, he went for the hellion. What kind of child was he dealing with? He wondered if anyone had ever taught Mugen proper etiquette for anything. Somehow he doubted it.

Grappling Mugen around the waist only got him in close enough to ensure that they both got soaked. "Hey! Cut that out! We have to save some for soaking in!"

He watched Mugen consider his argument, before glancing around to see just how much water was on the floor instead of in the tub. "Alright, you got me. I'll stop, but only if you get in, too," he smirked.

Mugen dropped his arms around the ronin's waist and pulled him close sharply. The ardor that the water fight had dulled returned rapidly. He swiveled his hips lightly, and Jin had to admit that he had a good idea. A very good idea.

With a knowing chuckle, Mugen stepped into the tub pulling Jin in after him. Jin stood there, puzzled. There wasn't really room for two men in this thing.

Mugen turned and sat down, placing his eyes on a level that had made Jin uncomfortable earlier. Then with an almost malicious gleam in his eye, Mugen leaned forward and drug his tongue up the underside of Jin's cock, tracing the throbbing vein. Jin's knees buckled so rapidly that he barely had time to grab the side of the tub in both hands and sit down on it with a decided thump.

Barely restrained sardonic glee flashed across Mugen's face, before he lowered it once more over Jin's straining member. Warm breath blew over his shaft, making him squirm with anticipation, but disappointingly no return of that delicious warmth. Instead the tongue trailed over the skin of his inner thigh. Mugen’s lips settled firmly where Jin’s thigh joined his body. The tongue stroked his delicate skin as Mugen pulled it into his hot mouth. A hint of teeth scraped him. What was Mugen doing? He leaned forward for a better view, just as Mugen pulled back revealing another mark glowing darkly against pale skin.

Before he could get angry, Mugen changed tactics yet again and stopped teasing him. The mouth that he had been fantasizing about lowered ever so slowly onto the crown of his cock. Pleasantly surprised, Jin found the reality was even better than he had hoped. He’d been on the receiving end before, but this was far better than anything any of those women had ever done. Everything with Mugen had been better and Jin wasn’t sure he liked that.

Mugen’s hot mouth sucked him in and out, the lips rubbing over the edge of his crown while the tongue explored the slit at the top. He could do nothing but grasp the tub with all the strength he had and tremble violently. Mugen’s hands gripped his hips to help steady him. No wonder Mugen had given up so easily last night. He wouldn't last any time at all himself.

The heavenly grip of Mugen’s mouth continued to work the head, while a hand rubbed up and down Jin’s length. The combination was both distracting and the stuff of dreams. Wet dreams! He wanted to thrust, but could only manage small rolling motions with his hips. So good!

Amazingly he hadn't slumped into the tub with Mugen or fallen over backwards in a heap on the floor. If this went on much longer, he was in serious danger of doing just that.

Mugen could feel the cock in his mouth swelling even more, the bite of Jin’s essence bitter on his tongue. He realized that he only had a moment in which to decide whether to swallow the fruits of his labor or let it fall into the bath with him. Neither was exactly appealing, but then a third option came to mind.

When Jin came, Mugen caught as much in his hand as he could. As Jin started a slow slump into the bath, Mugen eased him around facing the other way.

Jin gratefully held onto the edge, but that didn't last as a suspicion of what Mugen intended intruded into his sex-hazed mind. He wanted to do whatever it took to avoid what was coming, but he had done the same thing to the other man last night. He couldn't just say that's too much. Trapped by his own conscious, Jin stood as still as he could, waiting for Mugen.

Or he had thought he knew what would happen. A wet hand drew across his ass, parting the cheeks. He braced himself for the invasion of his body, and let out a gasp of surprise. Instead of Mugen's dick pressing into him, a tongue glided over his tightly clenched bud. His body went slack with relief. A second swipe of that tongue had his spent member reevaluating its condition. That amazing sensation got even more intense as Mugen circled the ring of muscle, probing wetly. With a soft exhalation, his body surrendered.

He could only concentrate on the delightful things Mugen did to his body. Soon he was almost painfully aroused and pushing back into the other man. Jin wanted what the rogue promised. Nearly ready to beg for it, he thrummed with need.

Mugen stood and rubbed Jin's seed onto his twitching cock. This time Jin did not tense up when the head of Mugen's cock pressed into him, doubtless too turned on to resist.

With a rapturous sigh, Mugen sank into Jin’s yielding body. He stood there for a moment before pulling Jin the rest of the way back onto his shaft. The tight wet heat enfolding him pulsed with every erratic beat of Jin's heart. Jin continued to grip the edge of the tub, while Mugen first pulled him back and then pushed him forward on his cock.

Jin couldn't decide which he enjoyed more, until Mugen shifted slightly and on the next thrust sent sparks flying behind his closed eyelids. The groan that tore from his lips alerted the other man to the significance of that spot.

Mugen made it his goal to find that spot again. A few more thrusts and he nailed it again. Jin's head snapped back suddenly. The ragged sounds coming from his mouth music to Mugen's ears. Adjusting his angle, Mugen found that he could continue getting a similar response out of Jin with every thrust.

Jin pushed up on his hands and back into Mugen, meeting every thrust as hard as he could. Something in him refused to let him beg "Harder..." like those women had. He was a man and could take what he wanted just as well as Mugen could.

Mugen took up a litany of "Oh, yeah! Oh, fuck! Oh, fuck yeah!" in time with every thrust.

Jin was getting so close. It would take so little for him to cum. Mugen had to be nearly there as well.

Jin took one big shuddering breath and shoved back for the last time. He clenched down hard on the cock inside him as he came. He continued to clench rhythmically as his cum pulsed out into the bath water.

His lover spiraled after him, pumping moist heat and filling Jin. Mugen kept thrusting through their orgasm, drawing it out as long as he could. Trembling in all his limbs, Mugen ceased to move and slumped forward, draped over the ronin's back, driving him down against the rim of the tub.

When the edge of the tub pressing into him became painful, Jin straightened, dislodging Mugen who sank happily back into the water. Mugen reached up and pulled him down into his lap. Jin leaned back against him, resting his head on a still shaky shoulder. They stayed like that, soaking up the warmth of the bath until they could hear the inn beginning to stir with life.

Review: Sculpting Clay by Linda Reilly

The title is a delightful play on words that lets the reader know that Ms Reilly is a wordsmith with a playful sense of humor. Her command of the language and good story telling skills make this a definite must read. It is hard to believe that "Sculpting Clay" is her first novel and only one short story preceded it. To have this depth usually requires more extensive writing experience.

The three men in her love triangle are all very different. They have different, sometimes indecipherable, motivations. Their expectations and responses to the world around them varies widely as well. And one of the men is even more different than one might expect.

She does a good job of limiting the use of the paranormal in her story. That is only an element, and not what this story is really all about. "Sculpting Clay" is about the interactions between the three men and how one has to live with one's choices. 

I'm very sorry to say that there will be no future works by Linda Reilly. The woman behind the pen name was persecuted and forced to give up her writing. The m/m world lost a good author.