Cerulean Sins - Chapters 10-13

[masterofstlouis]

Jean-Claude can't seem to bring himself to sit up straight. He's slumped in his chair, hands folded over his stomach, and so very still. That pleading look from Asher as he'd taken Musette's hand, watching as Musette hurt Asher, drawing his second's blood -- his Asher's blood -- had been enough to rip open wounds he'd rather had remained blissfully ignorant of. But now they were gaping inside him, and the knowledge that it had been Anita to set Asher up for it... that Anita had set Asher up for far worse than just being publicly stabbed...

He is both defeated and furious.

He is also tired. Simply tired. Each step forward for him left him three steps behind by the time Anita was through.

Comments

[ash-imperfect.livejournal.com]

Asher squeezes her hand gently, reassuringly, though he's just as distracted by Jean-Claude's obscenely tight trousers as she is. He kneels on the foot of the bed, scared to move closer.

[masterofstlouis]

Jean-Claude is as seemingly oblivious as ever of the effect his appearance has on others. He gestures again for Anita's hand, and this time she takes it and allows him to draw her onto the bed beside him. His other hand motions to Asher, entreating him to join them as well.

Anita slips a little on the silk sheets, and it takes both of them to catch her before she slides right off onto the floor. Jean-Claude catches Asher's eye and knows that they are both remembering the same thing -- Jean-Claude falling onto a silver mirror of the Duchess Vicante's when he was meant to be seducing her. It hadn't seemed so amusing at the time, of course, but now there is a shared smile passed between them over it.

[ash-imperfect.livejournal.com]

Asher smiles brightly in return, an open, happy smile that only Nathaniel has seen, in recent years. Though this night comes with conditions, though Asher is fearful of it only being the one night, he cannot hide the simple happiness he feels at being this close to Jean-Claude, at being allowed to touch and hold him.

The memory of a not-so-suave Jean-Claude, of course, only adds to his slight giddiness.

[anita_blake]

Anita is slammed by the memory of that smile. Of when they had seen it often. It was a flood of images that Jean-Claude gives to her. That same smile when Asher's hair had been in long locks and the hat on his head graceful with feathers. That smile by candlelight. That smile while they had played chess while Julianna sewed by the fire. That smile in a spill of clean sheets and Julianna's laughter.

It has been too long since they'd seen that smile.

Jean-Claude sweeps away the bedspread, revealing sheets the same color as Asher's eyes, and Anita briefly wonders about that choice. She watches as Asher remains kneeling, and she can see his pulse pounding in his throat. She can taste his fear, like something in the back of her tongue, and she knows she can swallow it, savor it.

It is the part of her that is Richard's, the part of her that is beast, and a low growl spills from her lips as her eyes remain fastened on Asher's throat.

[masterofstlouis]

Jean-Claude places a hand on Anita's shoulder, tenderly. "Control, ma petite. I know other hungers are rising, but you must fight to hold on only a little longer."

[anita_blake]

Anita's gaze moves from Asher's throat to his eyes. Husky-blue eyes that are filled with fear, but not of her beast, not of blood spilled. Fear of what this could mean, and what could be taken away from him. It gives her a way to center herself, Asher's fear, but she knows it won't last.

Whatever they were going to do, it had to be done now.

"I want to see you naked," she whispers to Asher, taking his hand and tugging a little, but he resists. "I want to see you undressed without the ardeur riding me, but we have to hurry."

[masterofstlouis]

Jean-Claude lays back onto the pillows and reaches out for Asher. "Come, my dearest friend," he says in French. "The hour grows late, and if this is to be done, it must be done quickly. Come to my arms, and let us have tonight, and damn whatever else may follow."

[ash-imperfect.livejournal.com]

Asher goes to Jean-Claude, letting himself be turned around until he's lying back in Jean-Claude's arms, his head on his friend's shoulder.

"You always were a charmer, my blackbird," he teases, smiling softly as he lies back, still nervous, watching as Anita crawls up the bed towards them.

[anita_blake]

Anita watches them for a moment, the way they sit against one another, and she almost -- almost -- regrets the terms she's set. It seems perfectly natural for them, for Asher to be held by Jean-Claude...

And then she realizes everyone is being so very careful, and if they keep it up, nothing will be done. Someone has to get naked, and she supposes that someone will be her. She slides off the bed, kicking off her heels and shedding her jacket. Then, before she can lose her nerve, she removes her blouse and slips out of her skirt and stockings, standing briefly in just her satin navy bra and panties set.

Anita then crawls back onto the bed, meeting Asher's gaze once more as she taps on his ankles, demanding without a word that he part his legs.

[ash-imperfect.livejournal.com]

Asher opened his legs a little, still unsure, watching Anita carefully as she slides between his legs and pushes her way upwards. His legs slowly part around her, Jean-Claude's thighs pressed to the outside of his. He bites his lip as Anita reaches her destination, her hands pulling at the buttons on his shirt as her knees press against the tops of his thighs, nearly skimming his crotch.

Normally he would slow things down but he's aware time is short tonight, much as he may want all the time in the world to explore both their bodies.

[anita_blake]

She makes quick work of Asher's shirt, and with Jean-Claude's help, they manage to pull it from his torso. Anita's hands slide up his stomach and chest, her thumbs flicking over his nipples as she takes in the absolute perfection of him.

"I would love to spend hours on you, but I don't think that'll happen tonight. Next time," she whispers, leaning in to lick at the hollow of his throat.

[ash-imperfect.livejournal.com]

Asher shudders even at that soft touch, unused to this easy intimacy, to having the control taken out of his hands. He loves Nathaniel dearly, but sometimes he tires of giving permission for everything, for prompting his lover. He wants to tell Anita not to guarantee there will be a next time, but he can't bring himself to sour the mood.

Tilting his head back as Anita laps at his throat, Asher presses his face into Jean-Claude's hair, breathing him in, a soft sound caught in his throat.

[masterofstlouis]

Jean-Claude holds Asher's back against his chest, sliding his hands down Asher's arms. The sight of Anita kissing Asher combined with the feel of Asher's skin against him is incredibly erotic. And even though he could watch the two of them like that for hours, time is their enemy now. He shifts away from Asher slightly, just enough to get his own shirt off and add it to the growing pile of clothing beside the bed.

[anita_blake]

Anita moves down Asher's chest, her lips teasing a nipple while her hands slide up and down his thighs. He tastes warm to her, smelling of the expensive French soap he uses on his skin. Of the woods, something musky and clean at the same time. She likes the smell, perfectly Asher, and she moans softly as her tongue reaches the waist of his trousers.

She traces the line of cloth, nipping at his side before sitting up enough to press her hand to him. "I think these need to come off now."

[ash-imperfect.livejournal.com]

Asher's moan echoes hers, and he spreads his thighs wider apart, arching his hips up towards her questing mouth, his hands clutching at Jean-Claude. He has one hand on Jean-Claude's thigh, the other reaching over his shoulder, fingers tangling in dark curls.

"Yes, cher," he breathes, lifting his hips so that she can pull them down.

[anita_blake]

Anita unfastens the pants and begins to work them down Asher's legs. There's no graceful way to pulls pants off someone, and so Anita doesn't even worry about it. Besides, her attention is caught by the fact that Asher is not wearing underwear.

His sex is semi-erect, laying thick and long against him, and as Anita tosses his shoes and pants to the floor, she licks her lips. No matter how little time there was, she was going to enjoy this, she was going to ensure he enjoys this.

Her eyes dart up to Jean-Claude and Asher, at how Jean-Claude holds him -- like a hesitant lover, and she knows that's all her own fault -- but she can't find it in her to care. Not now. She leans back down, her mouth finding his knee, and her tongue flicks out, tracing the back of it slightly. Through Jean-Claude, Anita knows what a lover would of Asher's body, and she makes the best use of it she can.

[masterofstlouis]

Jean-Claude smiles, knowing well how Asher likes that particular part of his body attended to even without seeing the erection swell before his eyes. His own rises to match, though constrained by his trousers, while he strokes his hands across Asher's chest. As much as he would like to roam lower, Anita's boundaries hold him off. But it doesn't stop him from rolling Asher's nipples between his fingers, feeling them harden in response.

[ash-imperfect.livejournal.com]

Asher moans, his eyes practically rolling back in his head as Anita licks and sucks at the back of his knee, his cock swiftly growing harder. He arches his back, pressing into Jean-Claude's hands, willing to take everything he can get. While Anita is preoccupied, he turns his head, pressing a soft kiss to the slope of Jean-Claude's jaw, feeling his pulse flutter beneath his lips.

[anita_blake]

Anita moves up Asher's thigh, leaving behind little marks with her teeth that fade as soon as she moves on. Her eyes keep darting to his cock, but she takes her time, moving up the thigh, licking and sucking at where thigh meets groin. Anita then takes him gently in her hands, using her tongue on the base of him, teasing the sensitive flesh of the base of Asher's cock and his balls.

She doesn't look up from his groin, not sure she wants to see how they might be looking at one another. Instead, she moves up Asher's cock until she reaches the head, and then she takes him in, slowly moving down the long shaft with a moan.

[masterofstlouis]

Jean-Claude sighs at the touch of Asher's lips on his jaw. He dips his head down and places a kiss on the top of Asher's head.

Then, he looks down Asher's body in time to see his old lover's cock disappearing into his new lover's mouth. It causes his breath to catch in his throat. "Beautiful, ma petite," he breathes.

[ash-imperfect.livejournal.com]

Asher moans again softly, closing his eyes as he arches up into her mouth, his hands moving to Jean-Claude's thighs, fingers digging into strong muscle, clutching tightly as Anita licks and sucks on him.

[masterofstlouis]

As much as Jean-Claude would love to just sit here for hours cradling Asher while watching Anita pleasure him, they do have a deadline, and a task (however enjoyable) that they must complete.

He takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. As he does, he lowers the shields he had placed around Anita. The instant the shields come down, the ardeur washes over them like the tide across a breakwater.

Jean-Claude rides it like a pro, but it does not leave him unaffected as he feels the sudden and intense need to have his pants off now. He wriggles out from beneath Asher and peels off the rest of his clothing, not taking his eyes off the scene before him.

[ash-imperfect.livejournal.com]

Asher sits up, using his hold on Anita to pull him up off his cock, sliding his hand down her back, fingertips skating over her bra strap, unfastening it gently.

He slides his hands down her sides, kissing her hungrily as he slides off her underwear, ardeur rolling over his skin, making him moan into the kiss.

[anita_blake]

Anita knows nothing but the insistent desire. She wants them. However she can have them, she wants them. She presses closer to Asher when she's finally completely nude, her hands moving over his body. His kiss was addictive, intoxicating, and she gasps between the parting of their lips and their reuniting. Anita grasps him with her hand, strokes as their tongue slide against one another, and moans when his hands cup her ass, pull her even closer.

[masterofstlouis]

Anita and Asher had risen to their knees, frantically kissing, when Jean-Claude climbs back onto the bed. He moves in behind Anita and presses closely against her, leaning his head down to kiss her shoulder and neck. His hands roam over them both: Asher's arms and back, Anita's stomach and breasts.

"Mon ami," he finally teases when it looks as though the two might never stop kissing, "might I borrow ma petite's lips for a few moments?"