The Wanderer, page 26
part #1 of The Nogud Legacy Series
Grayson asked, “Is that what the evening ritual is about?”
I said, “No. It might be sensual, but it’s not for the purpose of having sex. This afternoon, I will tell you, Lark did have her pleasure a few times, but while it was very pleasing to me, it was relaxation, not sex, and I didn’t pursue my climax.”
Grayson said, “So, if I hear you, you are saying that…well, you are saying that your woman had lovemaking, but that you did not.”
I said, “I had lovemaking, but maybe you could say that…well, I don’t know quite what to say about it. It was very tender and slow and quiet and gentle. And it was arousing enough for her that she was able to climax, and if I had wanted to, it would have been easy for me, but we were preparing for dinner, so it wasn’t entirely about sex. She massaged me and spoke very tenderly of her love for me, and for a while, she lay in my lap. Oh, but the lounging tunic does have buttons at the shoulders and the front opens and I did enjoy playing at her breasts for a while.”
Grayson said, “Breasts are nice, aren’t they. I think that my women, especially Linea would like me to touch her breasts more often than I do.”
I said, “Each of them is different. One may find more pleasure at her breasts, another at her lips, another between her legs, or even in other areas. Find the place that she likes and the specific way that she likes it, and give her that gift whenever you can. Um, as you heard, and I am sorry if it was inappropriate, but my Raven likes it in the water.”
Paul said, “Yes, about that. What is she talking about?”
Grayson said, “Yes? Do you make love outside your bedroom? Really?”
Paul said, “Joshua, you said that to me yesterday as well. And, when you came to us at lunch, the girls seemed to say that you had been with them sexually in the woods. I think that Lark said it was on a blanket on the grass beside the river.”
I said, “Yes. We did. It was wonderful. I had both of them twice. Not that I climaxed four times, but I pleased them and when they were spent, I had mine. It was at a private spot by the river and we made our bed outdoors for the morning. We made love under the sun and I’m sure that we will make love under the moon as well.”
Grayson said, “That might be nice, but I can’t think of how it could be done.”
I said, “Grayson, you have a house near here, don’t you? Does it have a patio or a cove for bathing?”
Grayson said, “It has both.”
I said, “Then it’s easy. Say to one of them that you want to take a short walk in the evening and take her to a spot, and when no one is nearby, take her in your arms and do what comes next. If she tries to return to the house, to get you to bed, tell her that she excites you too much and that there’s no time and that you must have her in that very spot. You’ll find a way and I think that she won’t refuse you. After that, she’ll be in a hurry to go for an evening stroll every night.”
Grayson smiled and said, “It’s a lot to think about. A lot of very interesting, and I think pleasant, things to consider. But, I’m sorry to say that it’s been a long time and it might be too late to learn new habits.”
I said, “I think that you’ll have to get used to these new things very quickly.”
Grayson said, “You think so? I’m not sure.”
I said, “Grayson, think about tonight. Your women are intrigued by the evening ritual and you promised to buy lounging tunics and introduce the habit in your home. Your women have decided that from now on that registrations and tokens will be accompanied by declarations of love and a ritual of their own if the couple wants it. And, right now they are hearing Raven talk about how she enjoys sex, and unless Paul and I are very mistaken, they are hearing the same story that Paul told, but from the woman’s view and she is telling them how she had at least four of the little death while Paul played with her body in new ways. You may not make it to bed before they have their way with you this very night. Paul, do you make wagers? I say that they will tell Grayson that it’s a pleasant night and why don’t they walk home along the river instead of on the road and that before they reach their house, that they will insist on showing him at least one new thing that they have heard tonight.”
Paul laughed and said, “No, I won’t wager against you unless you suggest something less likely! But I will be interested to hear how it comes out. Come on Grayson, let us send you on your way and see if Joshua has predicted it correctly.”
We laughed and stood up and made our way back inside the house. The women were still talking, but at seeing us they seemed ready to stop for the night. We said many goodbyes and thanked each other for coming and for having us and for interesting conversation and all of those things. Grayson’s companions seemed to hang onto his arms and waist more often than he was used to.
As a last remark before leaving, Mirea said, “Grayson, it’s a nice evening and the air is warm and the moon is full. Why don’t we walk along the river on the way home?”
Grayson looked slightly frightened but agreed and we showed him out the back door with a friendly clap on the back.
When Grayson and his family were gone, the rest of were in a mood to get ready for bed as well, but Susan said for us to take just minute to make a plan for the next day. The girls would get up early and help the older women prepare breakfast. Paul and Susan would go to the shop. Amanda and Tanya would work with one of the girls to find the lounging tunics if they existed and to get them cleaned and ready for sale. Lark volunteered. Viola’s more immediate interest was food preparation and housekeeping and she would spend much of the day with Yuki. Later in the day, Lark would work with her mother, and Viola would work on preparing our apartment with Lark and Raven’s help as they were available.
As for me, I was encouraged to pursue my occupation, which apparently consisted of treasure hunting and wizardry. I said that I could certainly find ways to help Paul or do something around the farm, but Paul insisted that we each pay attention to our business and my business was not farm work or clothing and that I should do something or nothing according to my needs. Everyone agreed that for the next day at least that Raven was the best assistant for me and that she would help me with any business or customs that came up.
By this time, Raven was quite bored again and started pulling me toward the hall where our apartment was. The others said for the two of us to go ahead and that Viola and Lark would join us in just a few minutes when the kitchen was cleaned and put away. They assured me that it wouldn’t take very long because six of the women would work together.
Raven was insistent and I thought that it was adorable as she dragged me toward our room. She pulled us down the hall and threw open the door to the apartment. Getting behind me, she shoved me into the room and slammed the door when we were both inside. I thought that she was going to strip and pounce on me. She was aroused by something, but when she pushed me down into a chair and then sat herself on the sofa facing me, I wasn’t sure what the source of the arousal was, nor what would be the outcome.
Chapter 26 The Jensen Family Crest
I smiled and said, “Raven, what is going on? What are you doing?”
Raven pointed at me with the index finger of her left hand and put the finger of her right hand to her lips indicating that I should be quiet for some reason.
I asked, “Is something…,” but she cut me off and shook her head from side to side and gave me an icy stare, warning me again not to speak.
What was she thinking? I was sure that I wasn’t in trouble. She had been as warm and as loving as always until we entered the apartment. Now she was waiting for something. Maybe whatever was going on, she needed the other girls to be present. It couldn’t be sex. I think that if sex was what was on her mind, she would have stripped and pounced on me as I’d expected her to and she would have let the others join in if they wanted to when they got here.
I was happy enough to play along. In fact, I decided to try playing with her and I smiled and pulled my tunic up to my lap so that Raven would certainly be able to see my naked balls and the tip of my penis resting on top of them if she just glanced between my legs. Raven’s response was to take a deep breath and then close her eyes tightly and give a loud sigh. She left her eyes closed and I frowned and pulled the tunic back down over my legs.
What in the world was going on? She wasn’t angry with me, but she wasn’t interested in playing any games. She didn’t want me to speak and she wasn’t saying anything either. After a half a minute or so, I saw her open just one eye a little, and when she saw that I was covered up again, she opened both eyes and gave me a withering stare as if it was now me who was the exasperating rascal that I’d accused her of being all afternoon. I gave up trying to figure it out and resigned myself to waiting until Raven was ready to make a move of some kind. Several minutes went by in silence.
Suddenly, the door to the apartment burst open and Viola exclaimed, “I thought that I would explode!”
The door closed and suddenly all three girls were throwing off their clothes and standing in front of me.
Raven stared at me, seemingly angry, and demanded, “What is this?” and she held out the crest at her neck toward me as best she could.
I said uncertainly, “I thought that you liked it. Did I do something wrong.? If I offended you, I’ll make it right. Viola, you promised that if I made a mistake that you’d treat it like a mistake and not be offended or humiliated. Does this go too far? If it does, I’m very sorry. I didn’t think that anyone would know and it would be a fun little secret between us.”
Viola said gently, “Oh, Joshua, no, you misunderstand. No one knows. Only Raven saw what we suspect. If it is what we think, no one will ever see it. Remember, I said that it would be a sign on our door. Raven, be kind to him. He loves us.”
Raven said, “I know he loves us!” She started to sob and said, “How could he do this if he didn’t love us? But how can he love us this much! He designed this crest for us! No ‘better woman’ can wear this! Master, am I stupid or are you? Tell me that neither of us are stupid but that you mean it. I swore to drown myself if you rejected me and you took me and made me your true mate, but now I feel like I will die again.”
I pleaded, “I don’t know what’s wrong. You say that you like the crest, but somehow it overwhelms you. What’s wrong? I need you to help me.”
Lark spoke more calmly than Raven and said, “Master, tell us what your crest means. How is it interpreted in secret?”
I said, “It’s a symbol for me, and I hope for you, that I think that you are the most beautiful women in the world and that I will never look for ‘better women’, because you are the exceptional ones that I will always love. I chose this as our crest as a sign that it is you who please me as women and no others.”
Viola said, “Except for the others who will certainly wear this crest.”
Lark said, “Master, are you truly saying that all of your women will be like us? That we are the chosen ones?”
I said, “Of course! If there are others, yes, they will be sisters like you! That’s the only way that it can be.”
Viola said, “And if they see the sign on our door and they come to us? You’re going to take them in and give them a place to be safe no matter what?”
I said, “Of course, but they won’t know what the crest means to me.”
Raven said, “Yes they will. We’ll tell them. The word will spread as a secret and every little sister, if she can make her way to us, will find the sign and she will know its meaning. She will know as we do that she is beautiful and desired and that she isn’t ugly, but that Joshua the Wizard finds her attractive, even if no other man is wise enough to see her.”
I said, “Girls, tell me what you think this symbol is. I’m afraid that I’ve done something wrong. What you’ve said is true and it is a secret reminder to me that I find you beautiful, and as you say, I think of it as a symbol of my oath that no exceptional woman like you is untouchable, but tell me what it means to you. It’s a triangle of gold with a blue stone at the bottom apex.”
Raven said, “This is a symbol of my pussy and the blue gem of my clitoris, and it cries out that you love me and that you love my sexuality the way that I am and that I am not defective!”
Viola said, “It’s the cleavage of my breasts and a blue jewel that hangs between them and it says that you touch me and that I am never untouchable!”
Lark said, “It’s the cleft of my ass and the blue button between my cheeks that you washed and it declares me clean and that no shame can ever touch me!”
I said in surprise, “Oh, you do understand. I was so worried.”
Raven said, “How do you say so much with a triangle and a tiny gem? You say that we who were declared defective have gold at our breasts and between our thighs and between our cheeks.”
Lark said, “And that you find gems there in fields of gold and that you see treasure where we thought that there was only trash!”
Viola said, “And you declare it openly and keep it a secret at the same time. It’s on our necks and will never be removed and every woman will see and still never know what they see! Master, how did you do so much with so little?”
Raven said, “When I saw it, I thought that I would faint!”
I said, “Yes, um, it is very wonderful and I’m happy that you like it and all of that, but Raven I’m getting bored. Can we go to bed now?” I teased.
Raven looked stunned and said quietly, “Pinch my tits.”
Now it was my turn to be surprised and I asked “What?”
Viola said softly, “Yes, me too. Pinch my tits and then you can take us to bed.”
I stood up and put my hands to Viola’s naked breasts and gently pinched both of her nipples. I went slowly so that I could gauge how much pressure to use based on her reaction. She immediately climaxed and as she grabbed for my shoulders to support herself, I squeezed harder and even gave the pink buttons a little twist. Viola obviously enjoyed what I was doing and nearly collapsed to the floor. I eased off on the pressure to her chest and she shuddered, but kept her feet under her and was able to stand on her own.
Raven stood by, and when I turned to her, she was actually panting. I took hold of both of her lovely breasts and squeezed firmly, starting at the base where they cleaved to her chest and pushed my hands up and out to the tips. When I reached her nipples, I pinched them between my fingers and thumbs and pulled them away from her chest. Raven’s eyes rolled back in her head and I did have to catch her as she collapsed. Raven’s climaxes tended to be very quiet, but almost violent in the way that they acted upon her tiny frame sometimes.
My arms were full of Raven when I looked to Lark to see if she wanted my touch as well before we went to the bed.
Lark said, “Oh, you better take her to the bed and um, you can touch me in a minute.”
Once again, the girls had experienced a strong sexual response to a strong emotional stimulus. It had meant a lot to them that the design of my crest spoke to them about me believing that they were beautiful, special, touchable, and sexually desirable. These were all things that they’d been taught that they’d never be: that no man could love them or think that they were anything but hideous and that they could never please a man sexually.
Yes, Raven had it right. The triangle of the crest was a reminder of the golden beauty of the intimate parts of their bodies, and the little gem was a symbol of the treasures hidden in each spot. I had expected it to be my secret; my own private reminder of the wonders of these girls hidden beneath the dresses they wore during the day, but Raven had seen my meaning and when she explained it to the others, they saw it as well. I was happy that it had spoken to them and that they felt my love for them in the design that they now had fastened to their family tokens.
It struck me as I thought about it that I still couldn’t bring myself to think of the ‘tokens’ in plain language. They were collars. They were permanently attached around their necks. There was no connotation of slavery or subjugation in these women’s minds. In fact, it was the permanence of our relationship and the freedom that came with being loved and cared for by me, that thrilled them and made them feel safe. To them it was a sign of oneness and belonging that was always visible and never removed. It was a delicate, but permanent, necklace.
This culture didn’t even consider a ring on the finger an appropriate token of marriage because it could be removed at any time. When they mentioned a ring, it was for the ear or, to my way of thinking, an unattractive, but permanent, nose-ring. The nose-ring really didn’t sit well with me at all. I thought that they were ugly and detracted from the beauty of a woman’s face and, worse yet, had connotations of control.
These people didn’t see it that way at all. Women weren’t subjugated and the auctions were, in their minds, the kindest way of finding everyone a happy living situation. And, although the relationship was supposed to be forever, and the rule was that a man could never send a woman away once he had taken her to bed, the woman could leave at any time and claim that she was a widow and no one bothered her about it. There was no contentious divorce proceedings; the woman simply left her home and went to a new village where a Merchant of Women would care for her until a new home was found.
In a similar way, because a man could take several women into his house, he never needed to sneak around and there was no cheating on the marriage or adultery. Any women in his house would likely accept a new addition and did what they could to make a happy home. If they were unhappy and couldn’t work out the problem, they became runaway widows and there was no shame for them in it. Of course, the neighbors would see that the woman had left and would think a bit less of the man for not keeping his house better. The onus was fully upon the man to treat the women under his roof well.
