Embers Of Hope

She had tears in her eyes when she knelt before him and took him in her mouth. Karl knew her religion was against it, yet, he had let her go through with it. She used her lips just like he had told her to, but she did it with fear written on her face. No matter. Before the night was over, those tears would no longer linger when he showed her what she and her tribe had been missing.

Karl and his wife, Lexi, had been married for two months, and all that time, he had not had sex with her because of her view about sex.

Lexi was taught to believe that women were mares, meant to be mounted and ridden. "A horse," Lexi had said, "should feel the ache and pain of its riding, and the rider is to feel the pleasure."

"I guess you've never ridden a horse," Karl had said. "People normally get sores from riding horses, and since women aren't horses, they shouldn't be ridden like horses. They are beings of pleasure, meant to feel ecstasy, the shattering euphoria of climax, the point all should reach. They should be treated like glass, gentle to hold and feel, and consumed with pleasure like fire."

They had argued again and again about it, but Karl had stood by one argument. "If I can't give you multiple climaxes, then, I won't make love to you."

Karl had found that the sight of her naked always turned him on, stirring up an urge he usually found hard to extinguish. Save for the fact that Lexi was always shy to be naked around him, she also thought it unholy and totally avoided it.

Karl, half consumed with passion, looked down to see rivulets of tears run down Lexi's face. Then, he felt her pain and his passion died.

"Stop," Karl said. "Stop. I can't make love to you like this." He separated himself from her and used a sheet to cover her.

Lexi took to her feet sniffing. And with her face to the ground, she asked, "What did I do wrong?"

"What did you do wrong?" Karl asked, unbelieving that she had asked such. "You were crying like I was about to rape you. Why was that?"

"Rape would have been better," she said. "My mother said it's a man's way over a lady during times of war."

Karl laughed a little. "War? Rape? You think rape is better than this?"

Lexi nodded, still not looking at him with her face to the ground. She looked like a slave, and he hadn't married a slave.

"Look at me," Karl said gently. He walked up to her and held both of her shoulders and she flinched. "Look at me."

Lexi raised her eyes to look at his briefly, then she settled it just beneath his, enough for him to see the violet in her eyes.

"What do you fear?" Karl asked.

"I've told you before?" she said. "It's against my religion. If caught, I'll be killed."

"And what would happen to me?"

She shook her head. "Nothing. They would let you go. They would blame it on the woman. Eve was the cause of the fall of creation. The woman is dangerous. Give her little power and she would lust after more. She is not to be trusted."

Karl nodded. "Okay. Do you know when a man marries a woman, they literally become one?"

Lexi nodded.

"Then, if I'm married to you and we're one, why would they want to harm you separately, and spare me?"

"I don't-"

"Don't answer. Your people are naive. Your men are brash, and your women are suffering."

"Don't insult my people. They are good people. They-they-they help with-"

"I didn't mean to insult your people. I was simply telling the truth," Karl said. "Now, your father gave you to me. He wanted to give you for free, like something of no worth. I could see the glee on his face. He was pleased to be rid of you. I, however, wouldn't have you for free. I paid dowry bigger than anything that would be charged for the most expensive girl in your tribe. I did that because you hold value to me. Now, you're mine. Mine." Karl slightly shook his head. "And I'm not sharing you with anyone, not even your people. You're not the first woman I've been with, but you're the last I ever need, and I need you to understand that. I won't have any other lady except you, and if you fear your people so much, then, we can leave."

Karl saw the look of uncertainty on her face. He didn't know how else to convince her.

Lexi boldly looked him in the eye. "It's been two months. Two months. Usually, when a man takes a woman as his wife, he has her immediately, and in two months, she starts showing signs. I've seen how it is done. The chief sometimes has sex with his wife in the center of the village to show us how. Other men too. Have you seen this before?"

Karl had seen this barbaric practice countless times and he nodded. "I have," he said.

"Why not just take me like that?"

"Don't you see the women usually hurt, and sometimes bleed?"

"It's all part of the process. It's how it was meant to be."

Karl released her shoulder. "I guess that's why you came to me today. Because your mother asked if you're pregnant."

Lexi had shame written on her face as she lowered her gaze. "Yes. I'm not cursed. My people think I am."

"Well, if for any consolation, I don't think you're cursed either."

"I was willing to compromise."

"You had tears on your face," Karl said. "Aside from the fact that my people are more civilized than yours, I am a gentleman, and I can't force myself on you, or please you in a way you wouldn't like."

"I don't like all you've said we should try. It's not customary."

Karl curtly nodded. "Okay. When you're ready for me to really make love to you, let me know." He brought his lips to her forehead and kissed her there. "I'm going out with my men. I'll have your tent guarded so no one seeks your life, since that's what you fear."

And with that, Karl donned on his dress, and he walked out of the tent.

Karl sat on a smooth stone outside one of his tents, staring blankly in the distance, under the night sky. The cold pressed him on all sides, and he relished the chill. Save for the singing of crickets, coming from the tents around him were the pleasurable low moans of ladies and the groaning of his men. He tried to ignore the stirring this gave him and focus on what he was going to do with his wife.

Lexi wasn't the only lady the Chief of the North Hill Tribe gifted to him. Gina was waiting for him in the tent behind his back which was one of his tents, and what he missed with Lexi, he could make up for with Gina.

Why did Lexi fear her people? Her father, the Chief, had gifted her to him as his price for protecting their tribe from invaders, but Karl, seeing how precious she was, had insisted on paying her bride price, and he had.

The Chief of the North Hill Tribe always gifted Karl's men with different ladies every day for their pleasure. Some of his men had picked their favorite, insisting to the Chief that they were satisfied with the ladies they had and not to send more. Others who didn't seem satisfied with one lady kept accepting the large company the Chief dispatched to them each day.

These were daughters of some of the men of the North Hill Tribe. And the men of this tribe treated their daughters with little worth, less than whores. Well, part of this kept Karl's men here to guard them. Sex was better than the money the tribe didn't have to pay them for their services. And instead of being like other kings or mercenaries who would invade, plunder, rape, and murder, best Karl and his men.

Karl was lord and commander of the Night Witch, a dangerous and revered private army. Without a base, since he hated paying taxes, he chose to live with a less powerful tribe in the North with his army, fifty-five thousand strong.

The North Hill tribe, the weakest of the tribes in the north and the most sought-after by bandits and genocidal tribes and warring kings had welcomed the Night Witch, and here Karl had set up as his temporal base. Lords, ladies, and kings came here to find him whenever they needed his help to do battle against another rival, and here he gathered so much wealth.

Karl was alone with his thoughts when he felt his tent open. He looked sideways and from the corner of his eyes, he saw Gina standing behind him wrapped in a blanket.

"Not coming to bed?" Gina asked with her sultry voice.

Karl looked forward. "I will."

Gina was a skilled lover and a cast-off from a land which she refused to speak of. She had stayed with the North Hill Tribe long enough to be identified as one of their own, but she had swiftly abandoned all their customs when the Chief had gifted her to Karl. She had brought to life all she knew about sex and Karl had really found her interesting the first night he laid with her.

"What's on your mind, my love?" she asked.

"Lexi," he said.

"Always. Come inside. You can tell me all about her as we make love."

Karl didn't need another invitation. He stood and walked up to Gina, she kissed him lightly and took his hand, leading him into the tent.

Inside the tent, Gina and Karl kissed again, and this time, more fiercely. Gina dropped the blanket, and Karl's hand found her naked. She moaned against his lips as she helped him undress, Karl savored the taste of her.

She was sweet, her lips addictive, but he had to break the kiss to taste her other treasures. Karl removed the last of his clothes, and he moved again to Gina's lips. His kiss was a fire, slowly creeping through her body, igniting her passion, inflaming her desire.

He kissed her neck and lingered there a bit, then he moved to her lips again. He played with those moist lips, then kissed her forehead, shoulder, and gently and slowly, he began working his way down to her breasts.

Karl didn't taste her orbs immediately. He first felt them like something he was just seeing for the first time, gently circling them with the tip of his fingers, both hands playing at the same time, then he worked his way to her nipples. With light touches, he teased, leaving her wanting, she kept arching forward towards him.

He was patient as he didn't think this was something to be rushed, but tenderly attended to. When his lips took her nipple, his finger teased the other and his free hand caressed her. He licked, sucked, and kissed her.

Still standing, Karl moved to her other nipple and slid a hand between her thighs, and her pleasure center he did settle on. She was warm and wet, and he ran the tip of his finger along her slit.

Karl pushed a finger into her, then another, and left her nipples to take her lips, Gina moaned. He moved his fingers within her, driving her wild with desire, she took him in her hands. He loved how her hands stroked on his maleness, and this made him get hard to the point it ached.

Gina soon stopped kissing Karl and stroking him as the fast movement of his fingers made her begin to shiver. Karl held her close to him, and firmly, he kissed her neck.

She moaned, and whispered, "I need you?"

"Not yet, love," he said. "I need to first drive you to the stars."

Gina began to shake uncontrollably, Karl pulled his fingers out of her and stopped torturing her pleasurably so as to gently place her on the fur mattress. He lowered himself, going lower, leaving wet marks with his tongue till he reached her pleasure center and settled there, a moan escaped Gina.

Gina spread her legs wider, inviting him, and Karl accepted by dipping his tongue inside her, she gasped.

In a thrusting motion, Karl moved his tongue inside Gina, making her wright in pleasure. When he licked and kissed her at her pleasure spot, he saw her hands clutch the fur mattress.

"I want you inside me," Gina said.

Karl didn't submit to her request. But he made her quake a few times.

Gina was jerking vigorously from a climax, and Karl had to stop pleasing her with his tongue to watch the beautiful sight unfold before him. Spasm and spasm of pleasure swam over her, she was lost in the stars.

"Now, it's my turn," Karl said and went to lay with his back on the fur.

Gina regained herself, moved to a sitting position, and stood to sit astride Karl. She took him firmly and gently guided him inside her. Karl felt her wet, tight, and warm walls welcome him, then she began to move. He placed both hands on her waist as she rode him to ecstasy, pleasing herself in turn.

Karl watched her move her waist in a circular, tempting fashion, and this made him become lost in the moment. He closed his eyes to the pleasing sensation, Gina's moan sailed like music to his ears.

Karl felt her walls contract around him a few times, and each time, she cried out and shivered like from a cold.

Feeling he had carried on for long, he stood and set her with her back to the fur, he rode her. His thrust was deep, her moan was sweet. Each moment and with each deeper thrusting, Karl felt himself going to that pleasing height.

Gina came again, falling on Karl, and this time, Karl took her lips to silence her cry, and not long, he too came in her. He emptied himself with a groan.

Karl welcomed the weight of her body, he loved the feel of her breasts against him. Later, he moved her to the side and held her close. She was shivering, he was sensitive, and together, they stayed, enjoying the sound of their breathing now becoming stable, and he caressed her.

"I love you," Karl said.

"Like you love Lexi?" Gina said.

Karl couldn't answer that. He loved both women. He hadn't tasted Lexi yet, so he couldn't tell for now, which is why it was best not to answer.

"No need to answer," Gina went on. "I already know."

"She's beautiful, as are you," Karl said. "I couldn't choose between either of you. However, you know I spend more time with you."

"And what if she finally has you? What then? Will you still visit my tent?"

"You know how I feel. Of course I will still visit your tent." Karl wasn't sure she believed him. He wasn't sure how to prove his love for Gina. She never was one to ask much. All she knew was how to lie with him. And before the night was over, she would want him to have her again.

"I know how you feel about me," Gina said. "Mainly, a woman should never be a man's problem. Compared to your strength, we are fragile. While we think of pleasing you since women like me don't have dreams, what you think about is our safety and well-being, and I appreciate you for that. As to the matter of Lexi, you might have to force yourself on her to make her understand."

"What do you mean force myself on her?" Karl asked.

"Not rape her, per se. Well, bind her hands and legs to a post, then please her. Have her see what she is missing." Karl was about to protest. "I know, she will fight, and probably struggle against the bind. Well, ignore her tears and just go along with it. Her people would not dare harm her while you're here. And even if you're away fighting one of your wars, I'll do my best to keep her safe."

"Gina!"

"You didn't ask this of me. I volunteered. I'll see to her safety. I promise."

Karl turned her to face him, and he kissed her. Their lips played together for a time, then he broke the kiss.

"Thank you," he said. "The Chief of the village has summoned me to attend a meeting with him tomorrow. For some reason, he thinks I'm one of them. Do you think I should go?"

"You can go and hear what he has to say. But, don't expect wisdom from it. And try to be calm too. This tribe can sometimes get on a person's nerves. I was with them, and I'm thankful they never subjected me to any of their stupid customs."

And that was it for Gina. She was great in bed, but she didn't care so much for politics. Lexi didn't care for politics either, and she wasn't good in bed. Not that Karl had slept with her to find out, but he judged her due to her thoughts about sex. The mind was the greatest sex organ, and Lexi's was far from developed.

Karl wished he could find a woman, one skilled in both the art of love making and politics. He remembered the princess from the kingdom he had fled from. The fair maiden he couldn't have because he wasn't from a royal background. She was the one that made Karl choose this life.

Her name... Karl didn't want to say her name. His mind spelled it out, but his mouth wouldn't say it. He wished her good fortune. He hoped she was happy. She was a sad reminder to him that not everything a man wanted could he have.

Karl moved his thoughts to other pressing matters. Gina had scaled down his body again, leaving wet traces with her tongue, gently going down to his maleness.

He felt her mouth enclose about him, her warmth and wetness caused him to gasp and close his eyes. She used her tongue on the tip of his maleness and ran it through the entire length.

When she sat on him, a pleasurable heat engulfed them both, and she moved her hips in a circular dancing fashion. She leaned forward to kiss him, Karl lifted his hips to meet her with a deep thrust, and they danced till they found themselves in exhaustion, and the bliss of several multiple climaxes.