The Whorehouse Oracle (8 page)

Artim could barely breathe from the
want. His hands ached to reach up and caress every inch of Khal’s
body. He wanted to hide the male away, so only he could have
him.

Khal disobeyed and closed the gap with
another step. He was almost in reach. Artim should’ve backed away,
but he couldn’t. Already he could scent the male, smell the sex and
freshness of his skin.

“
Why don’t you want me
close, Artim? Do I offend you?”

Artim lowered his head.
“No.”

“
Does my nudity bother
you?”

Artim looked at Khal’s feet and let
his gaze travel slowly up the oracle’s body. When he got to Khal’s
stare, he paused. “No.”

Khal shivered before taking another
step. The male was close enough to touch Artim and he begged the
goddess above that Khal wouldn’t. Artim would snap if Khal laid one
hand on him.

“
I heard what you said to
Smythe. You think me to be your mate. Yet you can barely stand to
look at me.”

Artim scowled and turned away. “If you
heard what I said, then I’m sure you know why.”

Khal reached out and grasped Artim’s
shoulder. The oracle cried out, his eyes turning white as light
began pouring from them. Khal fell into Artim’s arms, his legs
crumbling under him.

“
The other comes. The king
holds the key. The end is nigh. The six must claim their
mates.”

Artim drew Khal closer, looking down
into his unseeing eyes. Energy seemed to flow from Khal’s body into
Artim. Artim felt stronger, his heart beating wildly in his chest.
His muscles jerked, strength blossoming.

“
The other comes. Strong
is he. Angry.”

The words flowed from Khal’s lips,
repeated over and over again in a chant of sorts. “The other comes.
The other comes. Strong is he. The six must claim their
mates.”

“
What’s going on?” Tyron
had gotten dressed and stumbled into the corridor, his eyes
wide.

Artim frowned. “He touched
me and suddenly he started chanting
the
other comes, the king holds the key, the other comes, strong is he,
angry
.
The six
must claim their mates
, whatever that
means. I don’t know what caused it.”

Tyron stepped up and put his hands on
Khal’s arms. Khal immediately calmed, the light lessening. Tyron
released Khal and turned to look over his shoulder. Khal started
chanting again, the light growing brighter. Tyron whipped his head
around and stared at Artim. After a second, he touched Khal again.
Khal stopped chanting and fell back against Tyron’s
chest.

Artim lifted his hands, palm up to his
face. Had his touch set the oracle off? Artim pulled Khal back into
his arms and away from Tyron’s touch. Khal’s lips started moving,
the words flowing once more. The light built back up.

Somehow, he was causing Khal to do
this. Tyron stepped closer and pressed the back of his body against
Khal. Khal stopped his mumbling and the light faded.

“
Earlier, he started
getting visions and I touched him. He calmed,” Tyron
said.

“
He wasn’t having a vision
until he touched me.”

Tyron frowned. “Your touch gives him
visions and mine takes them away? That doesn’t make sense. Why
would that happen?”

Smythe came into the corridor, dressed
and carrying Khal’s clothing.

Artim shrugged. “A day ago, I didn’t
think oracles existed, so nothing makes sense at this point. Let’s
get him back to the ship and see if it’s clear. The sooner we get
him to Drayden, the better.”

Chapter Seven

Khal awoke to find Artim sleeping in a
chair beside the bed. The last thing he recalled was the flowing
energy he felt when he’d touched Artim and the burst of light
behind his eyes. It had been like he was a battery and Artim the
conduit to turn him on. Khal sat up in the chair and looked at the
male, curious why his touch had impacted him so.

And Tyron’s had calmed him.

They seemed to be an on and an off
switch for his powers. Considering the lack of control he’d had in
past days, he was glad for anything that could help him one way or
the other. To have them both was a blessing. But why them? What was
it about these two males that caused his mind and body to
explode?

Artim moved in the chair and came to
with a jerk. His stare was still one filled with fatigue, but he
became more alert and moved his gaze from Khal’s. He stood and
brushed his hands down his stomach. “Are you well now?”

Khal nodded. “I believe
so.”

“
Good, then.” Artim backed
away and headed for the door.

“
Wait. Aren’t we going to
talk about what just happened?”

Artim stopped and stared at Khal a
moment. “What just happened proved I shouldn’t be near
you.”

“
That’s not how I see
it.”

“
When I touched you, your
power took over. Will it happen every time I touch you?”

Khal shrugged. “I don’t know.
Perhaps.”

Artim was quiet a moment, but Khal
sensed the male’s mind was running quickly inside that head of
his.

“
Does it hurt when you see
the visions?”

Khal shook his head, deciding he
needed to downplay the emotions running through him. Yes, there was
some pain with some visions, and the emotions that came across
could cut him like a knife. When they came rushing into his head,
the pain was enough to bring him to his knees, but he’d not felt
that when he touched Artim. “Not exactly. There’s pressure and I
don’t like how it takes over my body, but it doesn’t
hurt.”

“
Why do I feel you’re
lying to me?” Artim asked.

“
I’m not,” Khal said.
“Some visions are worse than others, but I’m strong. I can handle
them.”

“
I won’t cause you pain.
Which means I can’t touch you again.”

“
No. I need you,
Artim.”

Artim frowned. “Need me? Why would you
need me if I do this to you?”

“
I haven’t been able to
control my powers as of late. You turned them on. Tyron seems to
turn them off. It’s much better than the visions building up and
ripping me apart when they strike out of the blue.”

“
You said they didn’t
hurt.”

Khal shrugged. “They didn’t hurt when
you touched me.”

Artim’s gaze turned heavy-lidded. “So
you need me to jump start your sight. That’s all.”

“
No,” Khal said. “I want
more than just that. I think you know that.”

“
If I touch you, you might
light up again. There is nothing more to be had between
us.”

Khal shook his head. “If Tyron was
there, touching me too, he might control the visions.”

“
So, I’d be forced to
share you,” Artim spat. “Why does that not surprise me?”

“
Forced or not, you’re a
triad. A triad shares, does it not?”

Artim crossed his arms over his chest.
“It does. But I can’t help the way I feel. Either I share you with
them or I get nothing. Neither is acceptable.”

“
The six must claim their
mates.”

Artim frowned. “What does that
mean?”

“
All I could see was the
three of you claiming me and then another claiming. It wasn’t your
triad, or me. I couldn’t see who they were. I only knew it wasn’t
us. I usually don’t see my own future, either, so I don’t know what
to make of it.”

“
Because of some vision
you’ve had, we’re to claim you.”

Khal sighed. “You told Smythe I was
your mate. You must sense our connection. Why fight it?”

“
I don’t like being told
what to do,” Artim sneered as he stepped closer to the bed. “I
prefer to be the one doing the telling.”

Khal rose to his knees and crawled out
of the bedding. He padded to the end of the bed. A chill raced over
his nude body, but he refused to back down. He sat on his knees and
stared at the male inches from him. “Then tell me what to do,
Artim.”

Artim lifted a hand to touch Khal’s
chest, but he stopped inches from Khal’s skin. He kept his hand
there, hovering close enough for Khal to feel the male’s
warmth.

“
I can’t touch
you.”

“
Do you want
Tyron?”

“
No!” Artim spat. “Not
yet. Give me time alone first.”

Khal ran his hands down his own chest,
down to the hardening cock. He grabbed the root of his shaft and
gave the length one pump of his fist before releasing himself. His
cock swayed between his legs and Artim’s gaze followed
it.

“
Touch yourself again,”
Artim whispered.

Khal slowly collected his cock at the
base and languidly moved to the tip and back down. He followed with
another stroke, and another, his breath catching in his lungs as he
saw the lust building in Artim’s gaze.

Artim’s tongue darted out and he wet
his lips. “Squeeze harder the next one. I want to see your cum on
the tip. Milk your sweet cock for me.”

Khal obeyed, tightening his hold. He
milked his cock, bringing forth a single bead of cum to the tip.
“What do you want me to do with it … Master?”

Artim shivered. “Spread it around the
head and then bring your finger to your lip. Taste your
essence.”

Khal did as instructed.

Artim closed his eyes, his whole body
shaking lightly. When he opened his eyes, they were dark with lust.
“How did it taste?”

Khal ran his tongue over his lips,
thinking how to describe the flavor. “Slightly salty. But what I
really want to know is how it compares to you.”

Artim clenched his fists tight. “Soon,
little one. Now masturbate for me. Show me what touches you
like.”

Khal widened his knees and began to
jerk his cock, his stare never leaving Artim’s. Artim moved to the
chair he’d slept in and dragged it to sit right in front of Khal.
Artim lowered himself into the seat and opened the front placard of
his leather pants. He pulled his thick erection out, pumping his
own hand along his flesh. Khal shook with excitement to see Artim
yield just a little, giving in to the hunger between
them.

“
Squeeze your balls with
your free hand, Khal.”

Khal obeyed, loving the sensation of
being ordered about by the male. “I want your touch,
Master.”

Artim leaned his head back against the
chair. “What else do you want, slave?”

“
I want to taste you,”
Khal whispered.

Artim shuddered. “Soon.”

“
I can’t wait much
longer,” Khal answered, spearing his tongue out to lick his lips.
“I want to taste your seed on my tongue, washing down my
throat.”

“
What else do you want,
little one?”

Khal’s head fell back as he felt his
orgasm approach. Without a touch from Artim, he was going to come
because of the male. “I want …” Khal breathed out, his lungs
seizing in his chest. “I want you inside me. I want to feel that
big cock of yours deep inside me.”

Artim let out a deep groan.

“
Come for me, oracle. I
want to see your cum streaming from your cock.”

Khal cried out; the force of the
orgasm slammed through him quickly and without warning. He aimed
the seed to his abdomen, milking his cock with tight pulls on his
shaft. Artim rose with a growl and added his own seed to Khal’s.
The male sent a heavy, hot load of cum from his cock. Khal moaned,
immediately needing more. He wanted to touch and taste the
male.

The sliding door of the room glided
open. Tyron stood staring, shock written on his face.

Artim glared at him. “Get in here so I
can fuck our mate.”

****

Tyron slowly stepped into the room,
knowing how flighty Artim could be. But seeing Khal lying there,
caressing his own flesh, was more than Tyron could be expected to
take without having the chance to touch the male as well. His cock
instantly grew hard and the thought of sharing Khal with his
brother was exciting. Especially the fact it was Artim, the one
brother he’d never really forged much of a connection
to.

“
You’re ready to share him
now?” Tyron asked.

Artim growled. “I can’t touch him
without you, it seems, or he’ll start seeing visions. So get to it,
Tyron, before I change my mind.”

Tyron walked to the side of the bed
and slipped in behind Khal. Khal relaxed against Tyron’s chest and
turned his head, his lips seeking Tyron’s. Tyron claimed the
oracle’s mouth, spearing his tongue inside and tasting the
male.

Artim rose and pulled his leather
pants down past his hips. He grasped the root of his cock and
pumped his fist up and down the length. “We’ll enter him
together.”

Tyron’s eyes opened wide, his teeth
gnashing together as the vision those words brought to mind slammed
into him. His cock got even harder, his sac tightening. Tyron
reached into the basket beside the bed and pulled out a tin of
lube. Spreading some over his fingers, he reached down Khal’s
chest, past his cock, and smeared the oil along Khal’s tight bud.
“He’s unused. He needs to be prepped.”