Upon the Threshold (12 page)

“The gel is a little cold, so be ready for it. We will apply it to all the areas that currently have hair: your legs, under your arms, and your pussy. It will need to remain on for a short time and then we will heat it with the forced hot-air appliances we have. We put it on cold so that your skin warms it initially. This activates one of the ingredients to protect your skin from the other ingredients that will eliminate the hair and follicles. If you are uncomfortable at any point, let us know and we will make adjustments to the chair. Just do not move at any time yourself, yes?” Danykia was looking at her.

“Okay, I will not make a single move. You will arrange that all of the hair from my pussy and ass is removed, right?” She didn’t think there was much hair back there, but she didn’t want to test that theory. “I want to make this is pleasurable for them as much as it is for me.”

“All the hair will be removed. Do you wish us to do the tops of your arms as well, from your shoulders down?” Danykia asked. Each of the women, Danykia and the three others, held a container in hand Eli assumed held the gel Danykia had mentioned.

“Yes, please. All of the body hair should be removed, please. Everything except for the places I told you. If I have it anywhere that you feel would be offensive to my mates, please remove it,” she requested quietly. “I want to ensure that they have all that they might want or need.”

“Body hair isn’t offensive, but a lot of our females prefer to remove that which would require regular maintenance that otherwise intrudes on our lives. We will take off any and all hair you wish. But we will do under your arms first, and then, when that is completed and the gel removed, we will do the tops of your arms.”

“Sounds good to me. I am very good with removing it so that I don’t have to deal with it.” She had never believed that something such as removing her body hair would feel as lovely as this would. Her eyes closed, she felt the chill of the gel and then the heat of it as it began to work.

The women worked quickly and yet efficiently. They each took a limb to work on in pairs before two moved to her armpits while another spread the chilled gel over her pussy and back to her anus. It was definitely a little chillier down there than anywhere else.

“We will let the gel sit for a time,” Danykia said. “Then it will begin to warm. It is a slow process, so you shouldn’t be uncomfortable, but if you are at all feeling too warm during that part of the process, let us know immediately.”

“Oh, don’t worry, I will ensure that you know it. Massive pain is not something that I would like to have with me. I would rather have pain as consensual and with my partners. Especially since that pain is followed with pure pleasure.”

“There should be no pain, at all,” Danykia said sharply. “That is what I will be preparing your body for, so that you can avoid it. The goal is to make you ready enough that there is nothing more than a small amount of discomfort, if anything, when you join with your males.”

“Okay, well, I’m ready to get this show on the road, so to speak.” Eli closed her eyes again and turned her trust to the woman in charge of ensuring she was properly prepared for her mates.

Chapter Nine

Eli shifted slightly and had to bite her lower lip to stop the moan from escaping her lips. The process of becoming prepared for her mates had been a long one. There had been slight bites of pain, but honestly in the whole scheme of things it was more pleasurable than anything. She couldn’t wait, however, to feel both of her men filling her full. She wanted to know just how it would feel with their hands, mouths, bodies against hers.

She stood now, waiting to be taken to her soon-to-be mates. The process was one that had been explained to her, but still didn’t fully understand. She looked to Danykia and nodded. “I’m as ready as I am going to get. How long until we are able to get through this so that I can be with my men?”

Danykia’s gaze, like most of those there, was on the horizon. “Once the suns begin their descent, you will join your men. The ritual only takes until the last of the light marks the sky. When it has fully darkened then it is concluded, and we go to the celebratory meal. Altogether, it shouldn’t be more than thirty of your minutes, from what we discovered.”

“Thank you.” That had Eli easing somewhat. “Have any of my people shown up? I haven’t even seen my dad.” Which had her more than a little worried. “Or is this the part where no males come near me?” Because thus far, there had only been females, no males at all.

“Your people are here, as is your dad. If you look there.” Danykia pointed to a seat about halfway down the winding path that had been created by chairs they’d gotten from who knew where. “He is waiting for you there. We will walk with you as a united group, showing our support of you joining our society. And to honor some of your traditions of old, he will then guide you the rest of the way while half of us precede you and the other half guard your back. It will not be the first time we have blended the traditions of our people with those of other races. We are very open that way.”

That had Eli smiling, and she nodded. “Thank you. For all that you have done. Your people are far more than what you lead others to believe, and that is incredible to me. You are an amazing being in and of yourself, Danykia, and I am proud to call you friend.”

“As I am proud to call you a friend too, Elisabeth Washington.” She smiled down at her. Then her attention returned to the horizon, where apparently, or from her point of view, the damned suns had stalled and decided not to bother setting that night. Just to screw with her. “It won’t be long now,” Danykia said.

“Why are they taking so long to go down?” Elisabeth muttered as she watched the suns with her breath all but held. Dammit, she wanted to get this over with. The new items that had been placed inside of her to stretch her had her whole body humming with a need she didn’t think anyone could survive. Ever.

“They aren’t taking long. This is the normal amount of time,” Danykia said. “You are just anxious and impatient, so it only appears to be taking longer than it should.” She fell silent as the shadows began to lengthen at a visibly quicker rate, the suns clearly getting closer to the horizon.

Eli knew that she was being anxious, that she was being more than a little bit of a brat, but couldn’t help herself. She wanted this so badly she could all but taste it. It all seemed so surreal. Seeing the men waiting there, wanting her… It was mind-boggling.

“It is now time,” Danykia said. Turning to Eli, Danykia smiled slightly. “Are you ready, Elisabeth? Now is the last time for you to change your mind. Once we are on the path, we cannot deviate even for a moment.”

“I am more than ready,” she whispered. “I want this. I need them in my life.” And she knew she did. She needed these men in her life more than she needed her next breath and wasn’t ashamed to say it either.

“Then we begin.” Danykia got everyone in place, and just as the first sun touched the horizon, they began to walk the path. The women surrounding her were too tall for her to get more than an occasional glimpse of Kraven and Lukkis waiting at the far end of the aisle. Only during the turns did she get a peek. And then she and the women were there next to her dad, who stepped close, kissed her cheek, and put her hand on his arm before she and her father continued, in a much different formation. Positioned front and back were the women, but unlike earlier, the only one at her side now was her dad.

“You look so beautiful,” he whispered to her as they walked. “So much like your mother on her wedding day. You are glowing from your happiness.”

Elisabeth smiled and hugged her dad closer. “I love you,” she whispered. “And I am happy. I am beyond happy, to be perfectly honest. I look forward to each and every single moment that I will have with my men. And just think, you are adding two sons to your life.”

“And they are very large, strapping lads, aren’t they?” he asked, his voice getting even lower. “Eli, I know you said earlier that you wanted this, but are you really sure? I love you, baby, but are you really sure?”

Eli looked up at him and nodded. “I’m very certain, Dad. They are who I want and who I need. I can’t say that I’m not worried, because I am, but I know that as long as I have them with me, my life will be a good one. I know that they will give me an amazing life just as you gave Momma one. Believe in that. Believe in how I feel.”

Nodding, he squeezed her hand. And they reached the end. The females with them created a circle around where Kraven and Lukkis stood. The circle the women formed was open toward those gathered to witness the ritual. The men were shoulder to shoulder and looked to her and then to her dad.

He spoke. “Then, it’s my pleasure to give you into their keeping. May they make you happy the rest of your days, may you always smile at every moment, and may you know nothing but the pureness of absolute joy.”

“Blessings to you my daughter,” Marcus said before passing her hand off to Lukkis.

Kraven caught her other hand and drew her between them, an Eli sandwich. The thought almost made her laugh, but she kept it down to a big smile. She was facing Lukkis as he began to speak.

The Droushanian words were clearly ritual in nature and said with emotion. He lifted her hand to his lips, and on the heel of her hand made a small mark with his fangs. Holy shit, he had fangs! Licking up the small drop of blood. Then she was turned to face Kraven, who gave her the same words and did the same to her other hand.

The women tightened their circle. Danykia was the one who spoke. “By the moons, the suns, and the stars of our universe, you three have completed the ritual ceremony as is written. As you have done, so it is. Until the end of days you are bound.” All the women went down on a knee, their heads bowed in a solemn tribute to their mating.

Eli was stunned by the action of the women. She had tears in her eyes, happy tears, but she looked up to Kraven, whom she faced now, and smiled. “On my world, this is where you kiss the bride, so to speak.” She was speaking in low and quiet tones, softer than a whisper, and hoped she wasn’t ruining their joining by talking.

“We do like to blend in traditions of the others,” he said, his voice even quieter than hers had been. Leaning in, he brushed his lips over hers once and then a second time before capturing her mouth in a true kiss. He only held it a moment before lifting and licking his lips.

Her knees were weak, she felt lightheaded, and when she was turned into Lukkis’s arms, she smiled. Lifting her arms, she felt him pulling her close and waited for the kiss. If it was anything like the one just shared with Kraven, it was going to be spectacular.

Lukkis gave her pretty much the same kiss, a couple little brushes of his mouth before he settled in to curl her toes. But he added just a little nip at the end as he drew back to stare down at her. Smiling at her, he lifted an eyebrow as she fought to breathe.

“Wow.” She couldn’t find another word that would even come close to describing how she felt in that moment. “What happens now?” she asked with her need showing through her words. The instrument that had been placed inside of her body was making her every move pleasurable, and she wanted more. Needed more.

“Now we go to the celebration and eat, drink, and listen to many tall tales about things that may or may not be true,” Lukkis said softly. “There will be toasts, many toasts, some that may embarrass you a lot. We apologize to you in advance, but it is the way this is done. After a time, we will be able to slip away, and then we will complete the bonding as it needs to be.”

“But we will soon be able to finish this, so that these things that are in me can come out?” she asked against his ear, her voice so soft she wasn’t sure if he would hear her or not. There was need in her tone, desperation even.

He drew back with a small frown and blinked; then understanding lit his face. “Those can be removed prior to our dining. You will need to comfortably sit for a time, so it would be best if they came out before we joined the festivities.”

“Oh, thank the stars,” she whispered and pulled back from him with a smile. “Are you going to help me with that?” Oh gosh, if she had to have the women helping her with that, it was going to be her face in flames again. They had all smiled and all but giggled with how red she had gotten, but she couldn’t help herself. Those were places she wanted her men to be, not some implement to stretch her.

“As much as we would like to assist with that, if we do, we won’t make it to the celebration, and that is a very bad thing. If you are not comfortable with one of the women, you could remove them yourself,” he pointed out. He was turning her and sliding an arm around her waist while Kraven put one around her shoulders. As a unit they began the walk down the path once more, this time together, which was something Danykia had said was very symbolic in their culture.

With her arms around both of their waists, she shook her head. Looking up, she smiled. “I will wait. I want this to be with the two of you. I will be fine,” she assured both men. “I look forward to the celebration, to all of it. I look forward to this life that I will have with you both.”

“You do realize you will be required to sit, yes?” Kraven said. He stepped into view at her side and looked down at her. “Will you be comfortable for at least two, maybe three of your hours with those in place?” They walked her from the gathering of people and to their rooms so she could change clothes and get more comfortable.

“Yes, I will be fine.” She frowned and then added, “Maybe I should try to sit now?” She hadn’t tried sitting yet. “Okay, let’s try this,” she said when she saw a chair. She sat down and immediately came back up with a gasp. “Okay, that won’t work.” The way that the implements were inserted, they brushed her clit to give her pure pleasure with each step, each movement, and sitting just made it even more so. “I need them out. Will you help me?”

The men looked at each other and, she was sure, had a silent conversation going on. Kraven finally wrinkled his nose, took a deep breath, and moved closer to her. “You will need to relax and, if you can, resist the urge to moan. This will be tough to do given how much we want you. So try to keep it under a little control, please?”