Daughter of Treason Ch. 06

A throat cleared behind her, and Kei turned to find Miranda standing there. Great. And I've flashed her again. I hope I'm not making a habit of this.

The blond seemed not to notice, or else not care, for she simply bowed and said, "It is a dwarf who calls himself Kressik, Mistress."

"Kressik? Tell him I'll be down in a minute."

"Your pardon, Mistress, but he requested to speak with-" a pause as she flitted her gaze up at Shino for the briefest instant, before she averted it once more, "the elf."

"Oh." She glanced at Shino, who looked pained. "Tell him that he'll be down shortly." Looking at her companion, "I'll be down in a bit as well."

Miranda bowed and existed, while Shino groaned. "Aw, hells. I forgot." She raised an eyebrow, but didn't stop sliding on her underthings. "He said he was going to stop by to explain a few more things to me." The elf rapped his head with his knuckles. "And I forgot!"

"Stop that." She frowned. "Well, it's inconvenient timing, but perhaps for the best. Some breakfast would not go amiss, and besides..." She grinned. "We can pick up where we left off after."

His eyes widened. "Oh. Yes, I think I like the sound of that."

She leaned over and kissed him before pulling on a dress. "Good. Now get dressed so we can get back to it sooner."

With that, she headed downstairs barefoot to find Kressik seated in a chair, and Miranda positioned on the floor. Shaking her head, Kei took the remaining chair. She had an opening statement about how Shino would be down soon which cunningly did not mention him trying to find a pair of pants, but Kressik ruined that by speaking first.

"Nice girl. Where'd you get her?"

The temperature in the room seemed to drop by a few degrees. "I beg your pardon?"

He noticed, but didn't seem to care. "Where'd you get her? I could use one like her."

"You... you mean to purchase a slave?"

"Now don't get your knickers in a twist! I 'aint meaning to steal yours and," he said, correctly reading her disgust, "I 'aint the one who already owns one."

She bit back a response; from his perspective, he was right, and explaining herself would reveal far more than she would like. Far easier to change the subject.

"Shino will be down soon."

"Good, good. Need t' explain a few things to him. Glad I caught you as well, though. I've been thinkin'. Remember who, when I told you the rules for sponsorin' a new member, you told me how long it'd take to earn my money back? Well, I checked it m'self, and turns out you were right. That was some good mathematics right there."

"Just basic arithmetic," she said dismissively.

"No just about it, lass. Not too many can read on their own, much less do such number jumblin' so easily, nor so quickly. How about you put those skills o' yours t' good se; I've got accounts what need totaling, an' if you can do it faster n' I can, figure I just give you part of what I make workin' the extra couple o' hours, an' we both make a profit."

She wrinkled her nose. "A clerk?"

"What, you think you're royalty, an' a quill is beneath you? A silver for an hour's work, maybe less is nothin' t' sneeze at, an' that goes double for a workin' girl such as yourself."

Kei bristled. She had spent much of her life trying to survive, yes, but some things stick with you. Like, for example, an argument between parents the child wasn't supposed to hear, in which the father proclaimed loudly, in a blatant display of classism that he'd sooner die than see any daughter of his 'ink ledgers like a common merchant.' Of course, her mother won that particular argument, and Kei's tutoring continued regardless, but the notion of a clerk as lesser wound itself into her world view nonetheless. She was about to, as politely as she could manage, decline when Shino, apparently having found his pants and thrown on the first shirt he came across, said, "That's a great idea!"

She winced. "I'll keep it in mind." She stood and gestured for Shino to take the seat. "I'm sure you two have much to discuss. I'll leave you to it."

"Oh. You can stay, you know."

She smiled at Shino, full of promise. "I could, but I'd rather see to getting us some breakfast."

"Oh! Okay, then. Thank you!"

Kei ascended quickly, driven by appetite both nutritional and carnal. While Shino, it seemed, had no trouble cooling down, Kei's body was still demanding release. She briefly considered taking matters into her own hands while he was busy, but dismissed it. She needed food anyway, and besides, it would feel so much better to have him do it.

With thoughts like these in her head while she stood staring absently out the kitchen window, she didn't notice Miranda until the tall but surprisingly quiet woman was just behind her. "You wish for food, Mistress?"

Kei jumped, and took a few moments to recover her balance before saying, "Um, yes, I was going to make something. Why, are you hungry?"

"No, but if you wish, I can make you something."

"You can cook?"

"Yes, Mistress, it was among my duties."

She frowned. She didn't much like the idea of using the same services that the rats had before her, however benign it might me. "I can make it myself."

"If the Mistress wishes..."

Great. Now she's disappointed. Kei sighed. "Well, if you make something simple..."

An hour later, Kei was staring at a two course meal. The timing wasn't bad; Shino had just finished talking with Kressik, and the accidental fasting the night before wasn't doing either of them any favors. This gave the food a definite appeal, but still... "You call this simple?"

Miranda looked crestfallen. "Does it not please you, Mistress?"

"No! It's wonderful, but..." Kei surveyed the veritable feast, especially compared to her usual fair. The eggs Kei had bought had scrambled into fluffy yellow chunks speckled with green onions and strings of cheese, the grain Kei had bought as a staple had been hand-crushed and boiled into a steaming bowl of groats, and the bread had been warmed slightly over the stove to give it a crisp texture and lathered with butter. "It just seems a bit much."

Miranda stared at the meal, then bowed deeply. "I am sorry, Mistress. I did not mean to waste your food."

"No, damn it! That's now what I-"

"What she means to say is," interrupted Shino, riding to the rescue, "that it's very good, but she doesn't want to overwork you." He gave Kei a meaningful glance. "Isn't that right?"

She breathed a sigh of relief. "Yes, exactly."

"Oh." She paused, considering, before she bowed and said, "As the Mistress wishes."

Her tone and face broadcasted reluctance. Kei sighed."You like cooking, don't you?"

A smile muscled out the frown. "Yes, Mistress! It was always one of my favorite duties."

Kei wasn't sure whether to groan or laugh. Her stomach solved the conundrum by growling. I guess I can permit her to make meals, if she enjoys it.

The meal went quickly. Kei had scarfed it down, enjoying the taste but impatient to move on to other things. Shino, on the other hand, appeared to have been trying to savor it. That is, until he looked up and saw her finished with her meal, staring at him with smoldering passion in her eyes. He ate so fast after that she wondered if he even tasted his food.

Although Kei had declined to get herself off, she had been squeezing her legs together without realizing it, which stimulated her labia just enough to increase her arousal further. By the time Shino was finished eating, she was about ready to jump him right there in the kitchen. She therefore considered it an act of restraint to merely drag him by the hand to the bedroom, leaving the dishes for Miranda.

"Did the food please you, Mi-"

Kei practically bowled over the taller woman on her way out "Yes, the meal was excellent, Miranda. Kindly attend to the dishes, and whatever else you like so long as you avoid the bedroom. I don't wish to be disturbed."

When the blond responded only with a deep bow and a "Yes, Mistress," Kei could have kissed her. Well, she reflected with a satisfied grin, not quite, when I have someone much more fun to kiss right here.

They arrived in the bedroom, and Kei made sure not to waste the opportunity. She spun around, grabbed him by the shirt, and pulled him into a fierce kiss. Although poorly executed, it got the point across. His eyes widened, and he grabbed back, his fingers digging into her shoulders which indeed had begun to bruise from earlier. He pushed her towards the bed, having just enough presence of mind to kick the door closed first. She chuckled, letting herself be pushed onto the mattress in what she hoped was a sexy pose.

Shino struggled to remove his shirt, but a 'come hither' motion from Kei quickly gave him another priority. He knelt, draped himself over her, propped up by one arm, and kissed her, his hand running up her side.

Although she appreciated his gentleness, she was horny, and needed more than just gentle caresses. Grabbing his hand, she put it squarely on her breast. When he still hesitated, she pressed on it, and moaned at the sensation. He tentatively began to massage her breast, and she rewarded him with a smile. "Go on. I won't break."

He began squeezing in earnest, and when gasps and moans were first encouraged, they were now pulled out, particularly when he found her nipple through both bra and dress and pinched. His kiss began migrating from her mouth to cheek, and cheek to ear.

Taking the opportunity to feel more of him, she ran her hands up his arms, enjoying the feel of his biceps through his shirt. As his kisses moved down to her neck, she tilted her head back to give him better access. She ran her hands back down, squeezing his butt reflexively after he pinched her nipple again, before slipping her hands under his shirt and running her nails up his back.

Ooh, judging by that groan, I think he likes it. Repeating the process, she was rewarded with another strangled gurgle. He removed his hand from her breast, and she was about to make a frustrated comment when she saw where the hand went. With a pained grunt, he shifted something in his pants and slowly withdrew the hand. She raised an eyebrow, grin on her face, and he said, "What? It was getting really uncomfortable."

She laughed. "If the ants are hindering you so, you could just take them off."

"Guh... yeah! Yeah I could!"

"But let's start," she purred, running her nails down his spine and enjoying the shudder, "with this."

She grabbed his shirt and pulled it up. Some grace was lost in the struggle to get it off without forcing him to face plant by pulling on both sleeves at once, but with that beautiful, defined torso in front of her, Kei found that she didn't much care. He leaned down to kiss her again, and while her hands explored his chest, he settled his groin against hers.

She gasped as, albeit through four layers of fabric, his hardness pressed against her clit. "Oh. Oh my, now that's more like it- oh!"

He thrust suddenly, both increasing the pressure and providing delightful friction on both the nubbin and her engorged lips. "Oh, now I think we must get you out of those pants!"

He grinned, and rose back up onto his knees. Not taking his eyes off hers, his hand drifted to his belt and... struggled. She raised an eyebrow again, and his grin grew sheepish. After several moments, she asked with a smirk, "Need a hand?"

"No, no, I got it." His features fixed themselves in the most adorable frown of concentration. A few more moments passed, and Kei was about to ask if she should cut the belt off, when with a click and a slide, he held the belt aloft with a triumphant, "Aha!"

So cute. Out loud, she asked, "And the rest?"

He gave a nervous chuckle, but the hunger in her eyes egged him on. He stood, hooked his thumbs in the waistband of his pants and briefs, and pulled them down in one swift motion. His manhood bobbed free, proud and tall, and Kei couldn't help but to lick her lips.

Shino resumed his position between her legs, and she gasped at the renewed pleasure and contact. She ran her nails up his back again and moaned at his reflexive thrust. "Oh, now I think I'm the one wearing too much."

Planting a foot on the mattress, she flipped herself and Shino over in one acrobatic movement. His eyes widened with surprise, and he seemed about to comment when she erased those thoughts from his mind by hiking up her dress and puling it over her head. She found herself clad only in her underthings, and even then not for long.

Reaching behind her, it was a small thing to take off her bra, and as her breasts came spilling out, Shino couldn't help but to grab them. In his excitement, he squeezed roughly, but as evidenced by her soft moans, she quite enjoyed the firm treatment. He squeezed, and she moaned, he lightly ran his fingers along the skin, and she held her breath. He rolled her nipples between his fingers, and she gave a gasping squeak that she didn't even realize she could make.

After several minutes of glorious pleasure, she murmured, "I'm still wearing too much." She dismounted, and both of them held their breath as she slowly slid her panties down her legs and off entirely.

Shino gave an appreciative sigh. "Gods, you're beautiful."

She smiled, then threw her leg back over him and pressed her sex against his. He groaned, and she relished the sensation, but after a few thrusts, she wanted more.

Rising up onto her knees, she grabbed his manhood, slick with her juices, and aimed it up. It nestled against her lips, engorged and ready, and his eyes met hers. For a moment, all was still. She pressed down, and-

'Knock knock knock!'

Shino threw his head back. "Gods damn it!"

Kei rolled off the bed, grabbed the sheet bunched up at the foot, wrapped it around herself, looked Shino in the eye and said, "Stay. Right. There." She swept out of the room, down the stairs, and strode with such barely restrained anger that Miranda, who had been moving to answer the door, skittered out of the way and into a deep bow.

Without bothering to see who it was, Kei threw wide the door. Gerome stood there, first looking thoughtful then, as he took in her face, nervous. As he took in the rest of her appearance, that changed to flustered; her nipples were poking through the sheet, and a gap up one leg made it abundantly clear she was wearing nothing underneath. As if he weren't already off-balance enough, the only thing she said was an impatient, "What?"

"Guh, um, I, uh, I wanted to-"

"Spit it out!"

He took a moment to compose himself, tear his gaze away from her body and back to her face, and tried again. "Uh, didjahearthenews?" Her impassive gaze spoke volumes; 'Get on with it.' Gathering momentum, he said, "Well, I heard something interesting. A few days ago, someone posted a threat on the front door of one of the Rat Gang's houses. And a few nights ago, someone made good on that threat."

She stiffened. "And you're telling me this why?"

"Well," he said with a smile, "thing is, he fought like a demon. Killed thirteen men, all by himself. Left-handed, even. Got wounded, though." He held her gaze. "On the side, and the arm. The left arm."

"What-?" she started to demand, but he cut her off.

"Took someone with him, too. A slave. Tall, blond, name started with an 'M', though I can't seem to remember," he rumbled, stroking his smooth-shaved chin in a pantomime of forgetfulness.

"What," she said through narrowed eyes, "are you implying?"

"Me? Nothing. I just thought it was interesting" He was lying through his teeth; she didn't even need body language to tell her that. "Anyhow, after I heard, I figured I'd go get you this," he said, holding out a wooden holy symbol of the Judge, "for your studies." She took it, but he didn't let go. "You know what the symbolism is for it, right?"

Of course she did; four arms, representing good and evil, law and chaos, circumscribed in a circle, representing all of creation. The good and evil arms of equal length, representing impartiality, and greater law than chaos, asserting that justice is universal. But of course he was going to explain it anyway-

"It's a reminder," he said, "that more often than not, the Judge is on the side of angels, dispensing retribution to the wicked." He let go, allowing her to keep the wooden circle and cross. He scanned her face, and though she said nothing, it was plain as day that he'd hit the nail on the head. Smiling, he said, "Well, I'll see you tomorrow for more studies?"

She nodded. "Tomorrow."

He grinned. "And, uh, enjoy yourself 'till the-" She closed the door in his face, muffling his teasing comment, and swept back upstairs. She had something to finish, damn it.

She entered the room, tossing the holy symbol on the bedside table and casting off the sheet. "Who was it?" asked Shino, looking worried, if perhaps distracted by the sudden display of flesh.

"Gerome, delivering that." She nodded to the piece of wood on the desk while her eyes took in the wood standing up straight in the bed. "Now, where were we..."

"Oh, well I think we were- umph!"

Kei draped herself over him, sliding up his body to kiss him passionately. Clumsy, but as before, it got the point across. He wrapped his arms around her and thrust, his manhood pressing against her clit. Not a new trick, but it certainly wasn't getting old. "Oh." She started rocking her hips, and his hands migrated to her breasts, found her nipples, and pinched. She gasped, and looked down at him, a dazed smile on her face. "Oh my. You are getting good at thi- ah!"

That thrust caught her by surprise, and he followed it up with another pinch. Fluidly, not giving her a chance to recover, he cupped her breast in one hand and squeezed. When her vision cleared enough to make out his face, she leaned in and gave voice to the thought dominating her mind. "I need you inside me. Now."

The way he shuddered at the words, it seemed that he agreed.

Lifting her hips off him, she took his hardness in her hand and aimed it up. Not waiting around for another knock, she lowered herself down and- "Ah!"

"Are you alright?" From the look on his face, he couldn't tell if the sound was borne of pain or pleasure. Frankly, neither could she. Neither did she care.

Her fingers wrapped around his arms, the nails digging in. Clenching her jaw shut, she pulled back slightly, shuddering in pleasure, and tried again. Again, her brain couldn't process, couldn't sort the signals it was receiving neatly into pleasure or pain, and again Shino opted for caution. "Stop, don't hurt yourself."

Her eyes opened a crack, and as she squeezed his arms so hard she nearly drew blood, she vocalized that the only semi coherent thought she had: "More." She shifted her weight, rising a fraction of an inch before, while Shino was still reeling from the intensity of her lust, she let herself slam back down.

This time, it was definitely pain. Her eyes snapped open, her face contorted, her muscles clenched, and yet even that sensation drove her lust still higher. For a few minutes, the hurt was intense enough to hold her still while Shino stroked her hair and asked her if she was okay, but lust won out eventually, and she started moving her hips.

Everything, every scent, sound, sensation seemed brighter, more vivid more intense. She couldn't hold back a moan, something which Shino noticed. "You- you're okay?"

His voice was strained, and she could feel the tension in his chest where her hands were planted. His face was contorted in a sort of hopeful grimace, and she could practically feel his restraint weakening, like the ominous creak of timbers about to crack. She tried to smile, but she'd never been good at controlling her face, and at the moment lust is what shone through. All she could manage in response was a breathy, "yes."