Companions Chapter 21: Josh
#21 of Companions
[Companions Chapter 21]
************************************************************
WARNING! The following text contains explicit adult subject matter. It is not intended for anyone under the age of 18. If you are under the age of 18, then you must stop reading now. The author has taken steps to ensure that this story does not appear in any subject-inappropriate or age-inapropriate forum. This version has been posted with the author's permission to Yiffstar.com.
************************************************************
*
*
* _COMPANIONS_
* by Evoquus
*
*
* (c) Copyright 2002, 2003, Evoquus, All rights reserved.
*
* Feedback is appreciated: [email protected]
*
************************************************************
Rating: NC-17 for explicit sex: M/M, Human-Stallion-Mare, Anal, Oral
Chapter 21: Josh
Late in the day, there was a knock at the door. "It's me," said the voice in the hall.
I sat up and looked at Rovaun nervously, who continued to smile back at me.
"I am still not going to shove you into his arms, but I AM looking forward to watching you two live, rather than on tape. I suggest you let him in."
I became Hipponaur and ran to the door.
"Josh! Come in and stay a while," I said, stifling my racing heart.
"Hi guys. I just thought I'd let you know that the hotels on the strip are all on to you. They don't like wasting time and money on losing propositions, so you won't be receiving any more free video offers. Not from them, anyway. I, on the other hand, am off the clock for the rest of the day."
"Then what are you doing with so many clothes on?"
He was out of them in a second and joined us on the bed.
"I must have watched your video a dozen times," he said, nuzzling us, "and I can't get my mind off of that cute guy who was with Magnus."
"Donny has been dying to meet you, too," said Rovaun.
"You know him so well," I said, gratefully kissing him. "You can come out now, Donny."
I pretended to emerge from under the bed, fully clothed just so that Josh could undress me. He gazed entranced by the human and stood up to introduce himself.
"H... Hi, I'm Josh," he said, extending a nervous handshake.
"I'm Donny," I said, accepting it and also feeling butterflies for some reason.
Rovaun caressed and nuzzled my Hipponaur body while watching us. He gave me a "go for it" wink, God bless him, so I did.
Being taller and larger than the average human, Josh could have made a formidable linebacker, but this muscular hunk was so completely enthralled by me, that I could have knocked him over with a pubic hair. He gently pulled me to him with the sweating palm I held in my hand, then gave me a warm bear hug, which did wonders to calm us both down.
"You may find this hard to believe," he said softly, "but I've never been with a man before."
"Not even guys like Mike?"
"No. There aren't many pure human males here who want a male Anthraun. I was making a deal with one when Celica and Magnus scared him off."
"Sorry about that."
"And when I found out about you and Mike... Mike sends his warmest regards, by the way."
"I know. Most of it is still in my ass."
He chuckled, then looked at me sincerely. "I'm much larger than Mike in that respect. I don't want to hurt you."
"Don't worry your pretty Arabian head about that. I've had surgery to deal with it. Just ask Magnus."
He glanced at Rovaun, who smiled at him and said, "You won't be disappointed."
Josh gazed at me with a too-good-to-be-true expression, then kissed me hard while grinding his sheath against the bulge in my pants. I reached behind him, digging into his tight equine butt to increase the friction.
"You must be roasting in those clothes," he whispered, fumbling with my shirt buttons while holding onto the kiss. Not making enough progress, he sighed with frustration, then let go of my mouth to undress me as fast as possible. I smiled at Rovaun who beamed at me while he continued to hug and nuzzle his mare.
When Josh pushed my pants to the floor, he squatted transfixed on the erection that stared him straight in the eyes. He looked up at me as if asking for permission, but was blissfully suckling before I had a chance to give it.
My Hipponaur brain treated me to a terrific virtual blowjob while it observed the Anthraun closely, and when it witnessed his tongue creeping up my backside, it wasted no time unleashing the endorphins.
"That's it, Josh! You have one second to stop or five seconds to decide whether to spit or swallow."
Five seconds came and so did I. It wasn't much of a decision for Josh. Moaning with every swallow, he allowed not a single virtual sperm cell to escape. Now his own horsecock made its debut, seeking some of the limelight. He slowly stood back up again, trapping his impressive hard-on between my legs and sensually rubbing it against the underbelly of my virtually empty balls.
"I want you so bad," he whispered while kissing me. "Are you sure I won't hurt you?"
"I'm positive," I said, reaching back and pulling him up along my crack like a thong.
Then I leaned back onto the bed with my legs in the air. Face-to-face was the only way I wanted to make love to him. I glanced to Rovaun, just to make sure it was still okay with him, and to thank him again for letting me do this. He nodded and licked his lips, anticipating the harvest afterwards.
"I need to grease up," said Josh.
"Already taken care of," I said. "Don't make me beg. Make love to me."
He placed his cock on my ass and slowly slid in, watching me for any signs of pain. Soon he wasn't watching anything but his eyelids as he reveled in the warmest, tightest, and deepest hole his cock had ever known.
"Oh my God... this is impossible," he gasped, opening his eyes and looking down between us to confirm what his dick had told him - he was all the way inside this human.
"How is it possible?" he said, blazing at me. "I can't even fit all the way into most Anthrauns!"
"Miracles of modern science," I smiled, wrapping my legs around his to hold him there.
"Donny, I am in love with you," he said kissing me. That made me a little uncomfortable, but Rovaun brushed it off.
"Fuck me slow and deep, Lover," I cooed. "Let's give our equine hosts a show."
He pushed himself up off the bed to give the Hipponaurs a clear view of his huge horsecock sliding in an out of my tiny ass, while his tail stood straight up flagging his intense arousal. He had to stop several times to keep from cumming too soon, which was as much a courtesy to us as it was to him.
I saw Rovaun subtly dry humping his mare along with us, which brought a new smile to my face, causing Josh to smile down on me with eyes that emulated his words of affection. "I love you, Donny, I love you..." I knew it was just the novelty sex talking, since he didn't really know anything about me, but it was easy to fall under his spell. Even without his empathetic link, he was so easy to like, and that face could break hearts no matter what planet he was on.
The longer we made love, the longer he could continue without stopping. His mind was not on the sex anymore, it was on me. His eyes bored into my soul, desperately trying to comprehend this human he was connected to, but they could provide no answers for him. Somewhat disappointed, he pushed all the way in, then brought himself down to rest on top of me while sliding his arms underneath to hold me close. I ran my fingers through the billowing mane down his back and sighed in utter contentment.
"I can feel your heart beating against my cock," he whispered. "It is the most wonderful feeling I can imagine, but it simply cannot be happening."
"I don't have an answer for you, Josh. I am what I am." I wanted to tell him, but I couldn't.
"Do you have a significant other?"
"Most definitely," I said, looking into his eyes.
"Is it me?" he hoped.
"'Fraid not."
Rovaun cleared his throat and gave Josh an eyebrow.
"It's him!?"
"'Fraid so."
Josh looked at all three of us, terribly confused, then got angry at Rovaun. "What do you need Donny for? Celica is more than enough tail for you!"
"Josh," I said, setting him straight, "he is MY lover, too."
"I'm sorry. That was completely out of line," he said in contrition. "Any chance I could join your harem, Magnus?"
We all chuckled, even though he was serious.
"I do not think you would like our world," said Rovaun. "There are no Anthrauns there."
"No Anthrauns, yet," I pointed out.
"And we live like common equines. The all-you-can-eat buffet consists primarily of grazing land."
"But there are other Hipponaurs there?"
"Oh yes, you'd have no trouble making friends with most of them."
"Companion, do not lead him on. He cannot come back with us."
"Why not?"
"Because Mourne will not allow it."
"Mourne!" said Josh, pushing himself back up. "That guy owes me more favors than I can count! I practically invented the video scam and he and his cronies are the one's that profit from it."
It sounded so absurd that God would have a vested interest in running a crooked casino, but we all had hobbies. Rovaun and I looked at each other. Maybe it wasn't out of the question.
"What did you mean, 'No Anthrauns yet'?"
"Celica is pregnant with my son," I said. "He'll be the first."
"So it's not so much a harem as it is a triangle."
"You could say that."
"A square is a perfectly good polygon, too, and your son could use a role model."
"And what kind of role model would that be?" asked Rovaun, pointedly.
Josh lowered his head, and I immediately felt him deflate. "I know I've made a lot of poor life choices, but it's this gilded cage I'm trapped in. I hate it but I can't leave. The people here are phony, and so are the tourists. You three are the first real thing to pass through here in decades. You're not from this world, so you haven't been tainted by it. And despite the earlier efforts of me and my partners in crime, you remain true to yourselves and to each other. That's something genuine, and is so goddamn refreshing."
"Are you sure it's not just your dick talking?"
He looked down at me and smiled, sincerely. I know, because he got hard again.
"There's no doubt that my dick is in love, and I fully admit that I hope to find myself in this position a lot in the future. But if that is not in the cards and there are other Hipponaurs available, I'm sure I could charm them."
"Empathetic links are just as illegal in our world."
"Good! It makes it even more genuine."
"What do you think, Husband?"
Rovaun sighed. "Companion, despite zero doubts, we really know nothing about him to justify bringing him back with us."
Josh gasped, suddenly comprehending our relationship. He studied the inanimate mare then looked down at me. "You're Celica!"
"Uh..."
"What are you, a shape shifter?"
"No, not really..."
"But are you a man or a mare?"
Rovaun snorted uneasily.
"I'm both. Let's just leave it at that for now."
"But... this is incredible! How do you...?"
"Shhh, please, Josh. We don't want anyone to know."
"But..." He smiled again, then nuzzled my cheek. "Your secret's safe with me, I swear. So it really is just the two of you, then."
"That is correct," said Rovaun, eyeing him cynically.
"Oh," he said, his smile vanishing, "You really DO have a significant other."
"One VERY significant other," I said.
"I'm sorry, Magnus. I didn't know you and he were..."
"It is all right, Josh," he said. "We both enjoy your company. We would not have invited you in, otherwise."
"But this changes everything, Donny" he lamented. "I thought at least I might have a slim chance of making a life with you, but that doesn't seem possible, now."
"Josh," I said, caressing his face, "you're a lot of fun, and I know we could be close friends, perhaps even do this again sometime, but I'm married to my soul mate, and I'll tell you in all honesty, nothing and no one will ever change that."
My husband smiled and kissed his mare. Josh closed his eyes to let the words sink in. Then he opened them again.
"Maybe that's good enough."
"Josh?"
"My life is meaningless. As long as I stay here, it will always be."
"You do not have to stay in Las Vegas," said Rovaun.
"No, but I don't have anywhere else to go, and wherever I go in this world will be an unknown. But if I go with you two, I know I'll have at least two real friends." Then he gazed at me. "And at least a chance to be happy."
"There is a chance you will be UN-happy, too," cautioned Rovaun, now clearly perceiving a real non-zero threat to his marriage.
"I don't care. It's worth the risk. I love you guys."
"You do not even know us!" he snorted.
That caught his attention. "You're right. I don't. Let me get to know you."
We were silent for a second, then I couldn't help laughing.
"What's so funny?"
"Oh, I don't know, considering the position you're in right now, I'd say you've gotten to know at least one of us pretty darn well."
"No, I'm serious. You'll be in town for what... five more days? That's plenty of time to get to know each other."
"Josh, we're on our honeymoon."
"I know," he said, anxiously. He looked at me with such desperation, I couldn't help but feel for him.
"I can be your personal guide. I know the best shows to see and can get really good seats. Have you seen Hoover Dam? We can have a lot of fun together. Please?"
"Husband, he's right about the fun part, but Josh, let me make this as clear as can be: Magnus is my husband. I made a vow to him that I WILL keep forever. He is allowing us to be together because he loves me and knows that I wanted you. I do have feelings for you, but nothing will break the unbreakable feelings I have for my husband. If we decide to allow you into our lives, those will always be the ground rules."
"I swear I will respect them, and I will always respect you, Magnus, and you, Donny. Just give me a chance."
Rovaun sighed. "All right, as long as both my Companion and I are enjoying your company, and you give us privacy when we ask for it, and you are not annoying, then you may be our guide for the rest of the week."
"Yes! I love you!!" he said kissing me.
"Stop saying that," suggested Rovaun.
"You're right. It's inappropriate. I won't say it anymore. But I do have a strong affection for both of you, and I won't deny that. One thing I'll tell you about myself: I am an excellent judge of character, and I swear I'm not just saying this to butter you up, you guys are special. I see a future for us."
"No promises," I cautioned.
"I know, I know, but you won't regret it... Right! So what's our agenda?"
"You can start by finishing," said Rovaun.
"Oh," he said looking at me in haste, "I can stop right now if you want."
"NO!"
The startled Anthraun recoiled from my annoyed mate, fearing it may already be over for him. I whispered to him one reason why Rovaun liked him so much. Then a grin spread brightly across is face, and he nodded his respect to the Hipponaur. Within seconds he had hardened to steel inside me again, evidently very turned on by the thought of a stallion finding him so palatable.
"Awesome!" he said excitedly to himself. "This is fate, I tell you. This is meant to be!"
He now gazed at me intent on finishing with a bang. He pumped slowly at first, because it was the most sensuous, and my expression telegraphed that I loved it. He didn't speak the words, but his eyes spoke for him: "Don't tell your husband, but I'm falling in love with you."
My eyes tried to respond: "I am scared to death that I have already fallen."
"How does it feel?" he asked tenderly.
"Wonderful."
"How come you go ballistic when I do you as a mare but not as a man?"
"That's still a secret for now."
"Okay. I think it's great that you can enjoy it so many different ways."
He picked up the pace. "When I cum, my dick's gonna get pretty big."
"I know."
"Just wanted to warn you in case that's a problem."
"Not a problem - an asset. One of many that you possess." He was nervous as all hell about screwing up, so it was fair game to boost his confidence whenever I could.
"Oh, man, I'm close," he said, pumping faster.
I virtually clamped down on his entire shaft to push him over.
"Oh fuck yes!" he shouted, driving into me. "Sweet, fucking ass, Babe! Here it comes!"
His ecstatic smile graced the sky as he blasted me full of Anthraun DNA. Then his head came down next to mine while he continued to pump the last few spurts into me.
"Oh my God that was sweet!" he whispered to me. "You are amazing, Donny. I love y... this."
I turned my head to him and kissed him, knowing it would probably get me in trouble, but he deserved it anyway. It was an excellent fuck. He searched me with his eyes, wondering if he would ever have an honest chance.
"Are you ready to cum again?" he asked, stroking my hard-on. "I can suck you off if you need it."
"Can you suck me while staying inside?"
"I can sure try."
He leaned back and brought his horse head down, which could just barely reach the tip of my cock that he held upright in his grasp. He could have brought his head down lower if he had allowed himself to slip out a few inches, but that would have been cheating, and as it turned out, unnecessary.
His fuzzy lips lightly nuzzled the sensitive head, coaxing a sticky dew drop to appear. The tip of his tongue came out to steal it, and the taste encouraged his ligaments to stretch enough to make my entire glans disappear. Wrapping his lips around it, he nursed like a foal on a nipple while slowly masturbating me in his fist. My conscious brain was not even aware of my own pelvic humping that produced the delicious friction sliding in and out of my ass. Getting fucked and sucked simultaneously always made me cum hard and fast, and it was just as true virtually. Josh's efforts were amply rewarded.
"Mmmmm" he moaned, savoring the virtual human essence. "I will never get enough of this."
He pumped out of me what he could, then stretched his tongue out and swirled it around to capture the few renegades that escaped. Looking at me with renewed love, he leaned forward again to nuzzle and kiss me.
"I could eat you all day," he sighed.
"Thank you, Josh. That was fantastic."
"The pleasure was all mine, Donny." 'I love you even more, now,' his eyes said.
"If you will excuse me, I have my husband to tend to."
"Oh, right... Um, my flare is still pretty big, though. Heh, never really went down, and I doubt if it ever will, now."
"Just pull out slow and easy. I'll be fine."
As he withdrew, I squeezed a few more ounces of gism out of him without losing a precious drop. Then to save Rovaun the indignity of having to rim me in front of Josh, I kissed my husband instead, delighting him with tasty essence that had miraculously carpooled from my ass to my mouth. We chuckled together as he voraciously devoured the Anthraun delicacy. Josh just watched with a dumbfounded stare, unable to figure out this human he was so infatuated with.
"Exquisite," exclaimed Rovaun to Josh. "And quite an impressive load."
"Yeah... that was probably bigger than most, given that I've been thinking about this all day, and then right at the end there, when Donny gripped me... Geez, that was something! And Magnus, I am really flattered that you like my taste so much. I just wish I could take credit for it, but I really can't. Comes with the genes."
"Do not be concerned, Josh," he said. "It is not the only reason I am fond of you."
"Whew!"
"Are either of you interested in dinner?" suggested Rovaun. "Josh's appetizer has woken my mostly empty stomach."
"The food at this hotel sucks. I know a great little Chinese Restaurant that I think you guys'll really like."
"Chinese food! Yes!! I love kung pao everything!"
Rovaun was more difficult to convince. "Is this place likely to satisfy a large herbivore with a sweet tooth?"
"This town caters to Hipponaurs, Magnus. I'm sure there will be plenty on the menu to tempt you."
"Husband, you'll love it. Trust me."
"Implicitly, Companion. Chinese it is."
At the restaurant, we sat at a large square table, my husband across from me and Josh on my right.
Rovaun again found himself delightfully overwhelmed by the many new ways that Chinese cooking had to offer vegetables. Though he shied away from meat-laden dishes, to my surprise, he savored every form of chicken. Chinese chicken salad, stir-fried chicken and veggies, almond chicken, cashew chicken, sweet and sour chicken (of course), even kung pao chicken he devoured with moans of sexual ecstasy. For the spicier dishes, he requested a bucket of water to dunk his nose into occasionally, but always returned to his plate for more.
"Companion," he said anxiously, with chow mein dangling from his chin, "are Chinese restaurants common in our world?"
"Yes, My Love, they're everywhere."
He whinnied with praise of his beautiful destiny.
Meanwhile, Josh seemed far more interested in seductively feeding me morsels from his own plate.
"This one looks yummy," he'd say, plucking a tantalizing tidbit with his chopsticks and then holding it an inch from my equine lips.
I couldn't help playing along, opening my mouth and pulling him in with my tongue, then slowly closing around the morsel, and savoring the offering. Never breaking eye contact, he'd delicately pull the chopsticks out, and then put them in his own mouth to clean them the same way, often resulting in the unmistakable odor of mare scent wafting up from my chair.
Rovaun was not impervious to the overt flirtation going on, but he generally tolerated it as long as there was something new and delicious to sample. But eventually there would not be.
"You are very talented with those utensils," he said, while Josh was tempting me with a prawn.
He dropped it to his plate, and donned the guilty expression of a teenager caught with a cigarette behind the garage. Fortunately, it was easy to diffuse the tension.
"Have you tried the honey walnut prawns, Husband? I think you'll like them."
Unobtrusively appearing from under the table, I sat down next to Rovaun, then picked one up with my own chopsticks and fed it to him.
"Sweet," he whickered with a smile.
I gave him a warm hug, and lovingly fed him the entire plate, piece by delicious piece.
"Thank you, Companion," he said tenderly as the last sugary-glazed walnut disappeared into his mouth.
"Anything to please you, Husband," I replied in kind.
Josh sighed, smiling at us with his head propped up by his hand and elbow on the table. "True love is so beautiful," he swooned. "How I envy you two."
"This was an excellent dinner suggestion, Josh," said Rovaun, changing the subject.
"I'm glad you liked, Magnus. Do you have any after-dinner plans?"
"I do," I said, rubbing my husband's chest. "We'll see you tomorrow, Josh."
Rovaun whickered and kissed me.
"Right," he said, doing his best to hide the disappointment that the night was now over for him. "I'll get the check."
"You got the last one. I'll pay it," I said.
"Please," he said, almost desperate to do anything possible to become beholden to us. "Let me. I want to."
"If it means that much to you," said Rovaun sincerely, "then by all means, and thank you."
The three of us walked back to the Hilton with me very comfortably sandwiched between my two lovers. As long as I continued to give my husband the attention he justly deserved, the three of us would continue to get along. This was not a ploy on my part, it was simply a matter of mediation. There was something in Josh that required redemption, and it was my duty to make sure we all stayed together long enough to make it happen. And yes, I loved getting naked with him.
At the hotel, to Rovaun's surprise and admiration, Josh respected our wish to be alone without even a hint of trying to finagle his way into our bedroom tonight.
"You two have a wonderful evening," he said, "but I recommend getting a good night's rest. Tomorrow will be a full day."
"What's on the itinerary?"
"I'll keep that a surprise, but I'll let you in on two things: One, I know you'll enjoy it, and two, we won't be spending one minute in Vegas."
"I love it already."
"See you tomorrow at eight AM sharp. Bring a swim suit and towel."
He hugged us both good night, then left to make his arrangements.
Back in the room, we were content to resume where we left off before Josh showed up - simply cuddling.
"Have you noticed how much Josh has matured in one day, Companion?"
"He really wants to make up for his lousy first impression."
"And he is doing an excellent job. I am very impressed."
"He's different from the rest of them. Mike was a nice guy, and I know I had fun with him, but he's no Josh, not by the longest of shots. I REALLY like him, Husband."
"I know you do, Companion. I do, too. Despite his profession, he strikes me as being someone with integrity who has that capable spark of greatness in him. He just needs to find a way to nurture it. On the other hand, Mike, Yvette and the Slut Twins are already doing what they do best."
"Then maybe we have an obligation to help him."
"Not an obligation, but helping him find himself at least may not be a complete waste of time and effort."
"So what you're saying is that he is worthy of us," I said, pushing up my nose.
"Yes, Your Eminence. He is worthy."
The next morning promptly at eight, Josh pulled up to the front of the hotel in a Hipponaur-sized Hummer.
"Ain't she a beaut? Hop in!"
We took off out of the city as fast as possible and headed into the beautifully unspoiled Nevada desert.
"This is looking a lot more like home," said my husband.
"Thought you'd like it, Magnus."
"Please call me Rovaun."
Josh smiled at him in the rear view mirror. "I'm pleased to meet you, Rovaun."
"And call me Danny."
"I'm pleased to meet you, too, Danny. You can still call me Josh, or Joshua if we're being ultra-formal."
"Dear Josh-ooh-ahhh, Rovaun and Daniel respectfully request the honor of your presence in their bedroom."
Rovaun snickered, but Josh shook his head.
"Now you know why I prefer 'Josh.'"
Outside of Las Vegas and away from the crowded bustle, it was easy to see that we were still on Earth. Rovaun and I had traveled a desert like this before, and as we watched the scenery pass by, we felt less like a fish out of water and more at ease with this world and with Josh. I felt so good, that I couldn't help strumming my desert guitar again. Wondering where the music was coming from, Josh looked around curiously and then checked the stereo. When he saw us both nodding along with the song in the backseat, he shrugged and joined in, tapping the beat on his steering wheel. In this comfortably intimate desert, we three horses needed no names.
After an hour of driving off-road we pulled up to a beautifully lush oasis.
"Welcome to my watering hole."
"This is yours?" I asked getting out and marveling at it.
"It is until someone else legally claims it. Don't tell anybody."
There was something eerily familiar about this place and it didn't take long for Rovaun to notice it, too. If his garden had been placed in the middle of the Nevada desert, this is what it would have looked like. On the surface, the local climate and topography accentuated the differences between this oasis and his garden, but if one looked beyond that, it was not that different at all. There was a trickle of a waterfall that fell only six feet into a wide and shallow pool, and on the outer edge waved shoots of rich green grass. Not much of a meadow existed beyond the water's reach, but a small cluster of desert palm trees provided some welcoming shade. Just like Rovaun's garden, this place was hidden and protected by a fortress, in this case, of miles of hot desert wasteland that was difficult to traverse unless one had the means and knew exactly how to get here.
"Isn't this great?" said Josh, unpacking the Hummer. "I brought brunch."
Rovaun had already started on brunch, feeling so at peace that he grazed like a docile equine on the shore.
"How did you find this place?"
"Dumb luck," he shrugged.
"Maybe not so dumb," I said, eyeing him curiously.
We spent the whole day swimming and relaxing at Josh's watering hole. Rovaun and I opened up entirely to him, explaining what I was and how we got here. He was less surprised and amazed at my virtualness than I thought he'd be, perhaps because he already knew I was extraordinary, so filling him in on the details was merely a formality. Or maybe it was simply that he could not be anymore impressed than he already was.
This oasis of life nestled in the midst of the barren desert put us all in an amorous mood. On the shore Rovaun and I made love, then Josh and I made love, and then to my wonderful delight, Rovaun and Josh made love. And with them, it was clearly more than just sex - they truly enjoyed each other both physically and emotionally. Each had fully accepted the other, and while they coupled, I was the furthest thing from their thoughts. Watching them connected together, face-to-face, tenderly nuzzling, and saying sweet things, warmed my soul to the brink of tears.
Later we relaxed in the shade of the palms. I set down along with Josh who leaned back against my rib cage, fingers interlaced behind his neck, while Rovaun lazily grazed a few feet away. All of us were content just to sit here, quietly enjoying the subtle sounds of nature, and then...
"Hi Daddy!"
Josh jerked forward and looked around to Rovaun, who raised up taking notice of some commotion.
"Sing to me, Daddy!"
Rovaun snorted; he obviously heard it, and now eyed Josh coldly. The Anthraun glanced nervously between Rovaun and myself, and I, too, cautiously eyed my mates.
"Well?" growled Rovaun, pawing the ground.
"Uh..." Josh stood up, preparing an escape.
"Husband..."
"Stay out of this, Companion!" He kicked up the earth with all hooves now. "What are you waiting for, Anthraun!?" he snarled.
"Oh Christ!" screamed Josh, wondering if he could make it to the Hummer before getting trampled to death.
"SING TO HIM!!!" roared Rovaun.
Josh winced at the deafening words of the stallion, but when the rumbling thunder faded into the desert and the subtle sounds of nature returned, he carefully opened an eyelid, and wondered if he had truly heard the angry words correctly.
"Wh... What?"
"Didn't Tattoo just ask you to sing to him?" said Rovaun, calmly.
"N... No, he asked YOU to sing to him."
"He asked HIS DADDY to sing to him," said Rovaun, walking up to him and giving him a hug. "Tattoo has accepted you as his stepfather, and I trust his judgment. He already has two Dads, so why not three? Welcome to the family."
"Fuck Rovaun," wheezed Josh, "you scared the shit out of me!"
"Just having some Alpha male fun," he smiled. "Now sing to my son, or I'll kill you."
With his adrenaline rush rapidly retreating, Josh rubbed his chin, defiantly smirking at my husband.
"I see that you'll be keeping me on my toes for some time, Rovaun. I couldn't be more flattered. Now if you will excuse, I have a song to compose."
He sat down against my ribs again and leaned back so far that his nose was nearly vertical.
"Hi Tattoo," he said, squinting at the sun through the palm trees.
"Hi Daddy."
"Would you like to hear a new song?"
"Yes!"
His head swiveled toward me wearing a mischievous grin, then he sang his little ditty to the delight of my son, and to me, and to my husband.
"Oh give Josh a home
Where the Hipponaurs roam,
And where Tattoo and Tantau can play.
Where Rovaun is seen
With a virtual being,
Who's a mare, who's a human, who's gay.
[Guffaws abounded.]
Home, home on the range.
You might think that it looks rather strange,
When a stud and his bride
Decide who's the best ride,
So the horse mounts the man for a change."
I couldn't help busting up at the bawdy lyric, and though Rovaun snorted in disgust, he wasn't fooling anyone. Then I found my soul firmly cemented to Josh's when from deep within my womb, I heard a tiny little voice hysterically laughing his tiny little ass off, and then singing the song for himself. I knew Tattoo was still too young to see the lyrics as anything but silly, giggling only at the image of a horse riding to town on the back of a man. But the song's deeper meaning was more than merely risque. As I gazed longingly at the composer, I suspected it was intentional that in the song's latter half, the participants' identities were left to interpretation.
"What nursery rhymes did you grow up with!?" I said, still giggling with my son.
"Uncle Pervy's Dirty Limericks."
"Perhaps you should take some parenting classes before teaching my son anything else."
"I apologize if that was inappropriate. It was simply an inspiration. I can't believe how my destiny has changed."
"My destiny has changed, too," I said warmly.
That night, the three of us shared one bed, and then did so the following day. Having acknowledged Josh as Tattoo's stepfather, Rovaun had knowingly elevated his status from lover to "step-husband." Josh took his new responsibilities seriously, and though it was understood that Rovaun's needs could always trump his own, rarely did it ever come to that. Rovaun often deferred to him, and Josh never took it for granted. There were even times when Rovaun became protective of Josh at my expense.
The relationship was more than just me with two husbands, for Rovaun and Josh demonstrated considerable affection for each other as well. One afternoon, after returning from a shopping spree with a bagful of naughty things from my favorite boutique, I found the two of them mutually stuck together, incapacitated in the shape of the famous number, which made them easy prey for a tickle attack. And we have it all on video - many, many videos.
Rovaun and I knew that Josh's relationship with us might draw some disapproving looks from the Elders back home, but technically, it was not dishonorable as long as both spouses consented. Furthermore, adding Josh to the mix probably would not be met with much social resistance from Hipponaur, because my relationship with Rovaun was already unconventional, and there was no question that Josh could help my Anthraun sons adjust to their new world.
The last night of our honeymoon was more sweet than bitter. The three of us cuddled on the couch as three different species.
"You are welcome to come back with us, Josh," said Rovaun warmly, making it official.
"Thank you, Rovaun. You don't know how much this means to me."
"You'll be giving up a lot," I said.
"No I won't. I'll be giving up nothing and gaining everything."
"We still have to sneak you past Mourne. Technically, you aren't allowed into Varyl's domain."
"He'll let me through. Please, God, I hope he let's me through."
The next morning we packed our nice and naughty things and checked out.
"We still have a lot of credit left in our account," I said. "Any ideas what we should do with it?"
"Give it to Josh," said Rovaun, "in case Mourne does not let him through."
"No way," said Josh. "Don't need it and don't want it. Just leave it."
"But Rovaun's right. I really hope you can come with us, but it's better you have it and not need it than need it and not have it."
"Nope. Better I not have it, so there is no doubt in your minds what my intentions are. I entered your lives as a con man. If Mourne sends me back here, I don't want you to have the slightest impression that inheriting your money was my plan all along."
Rovaun marched proudly up to him. "My impression of you could not be more honorable, Joshua."
"Oh by gosh, Sir Josh. You've just been knighted!"
"Thank you, your Majesty," he said bowing to my husband.
The three of us bid adieu to Las Vegas and leisurely strolled the four blocks to meet the Sentinel who would send us back. He was still adorned with the tattered cloak that my husband and I had ruined. Without a second thought, Rovaun unpacked several cloaks and made a peace offering. The Sentinel looked them over then accepted all of them.
"Can my husband keep just one... never mind."
"I trust you enjoyed your honeymoon," said the Sentinel, still sounding irate for some reason.
"Yes, very much so," said Rovaun diplomatically. "Las Vegas is a beautiful city. It is a shame that our stay has come to an end so soon."
"Quite," he said curtly. "Now say your good-byes, and I shall send you home."
We all looked at each other nervously.
"Sentinel," said Rovaun, "we respectfully request that the Anthraun accompany us."
"Out of the question! You two are from Varyl's domain. Only you two may return."
"I want to talk to Mourne!" demanded Josh.
The Sentinel snorted at the impertinent Anthraun. "Who do you think you are talking to, now?"
"I am talking to a stooge."
The Sentinel reared up, whinnying in fury.
"Cool it, Josh!"
"Please take us to Mourne," I said.
"I will do no such thing!" snorted the Sentinel. "Mourne is extremely busy. I can do my job without bothering him. Why he allowed you two here in the first place is beyond me, but you are going back to where you belong NOW. Without the Anthraun."
"Do you know who I am," I said, trying to sound regally furious with this self-important underling.
"You are Daniel Racher. You are Rovaun. And YOU are not going with them."
"I am Mourne's Wraith."
"And now you insult my intelligence. Keep digging deeper. Your grave has almost reached six feet."
I stepped out as human and crossed my arms, impatiently. He froze, staring at me. Then he raised up, looked all around him, then came down again and sniffed and nudged me.
"Wh... where did you come from?"
"Varyl's domain."
The Sentinel was far more confused than I had expected. It was as if he had never seen a human emerge from a Hipponaur before. Could it be that I truly was the first?
"This is Mourne's Wraith," said Rovaun. "You have my word as an honorable Hipponaur."
The Sentinel snorted again, noting the box of video tapes we were bringing with us.
"You had better recheck Webster's definition of 'honorable.'"
"We demand to see Mourne, NOW!" I said, merging back into my body. The sight of me doing so clearly rattled him.
"All right, all right!"
He rotated and maneuvered into position. "Enter through my left before I change my mind."
First Rovaun, then Josh, and then I entered the Sentinel's portal specifically in that order, so that he would not have an opportunity to redirect our Anthraun stowaway. I recognized the cobalt blue tunnel that led us to Mourne, and once again found myself standing with him on his grassy plain along with my Companions.
"I see you brought back several souvenirs from your honeymoon," he said, noting the videos and the Anthraun. "Most of them contraband."
"Mourne," said Josh. "I want out of my contract. I want to go with them."
"Absolutely not."
"Please Mourne," I said. "Let him stay with us."
"Don't you realize what he is? He is a professional home wrecker, and the best one I've got. Trust me, I'm doing you two a favor."
"He is an honorable Anthraun," said Rovaun. "My Companion and I trust him implicitly. He is not a danger to our marriage."
"Rovaun," said Mourne, "I suggest you review those tapes again, especially tape number twelve, which is my personal favorite. I think you will see that this implicit trust you have may be misplaced."
Tape number twelve had been made on the second-to-last day of our honeymoon, long after we had become inseparable as a threesome. There was nothing remarkable that stood out in my mind during that particular session, which had been just as hot as the others. I fast-forwarded the tape in my head, looking for the clue that Mourne had referred to, and then I found it. The camera overhead captured every frame.
On the bed, Josh lay face up with his hands around my human waist, bouncing me up and down on his cock. While reveling in the fuck, I leaned to the side to kiss my husband. At that point, I slowed the tape down and zoomed in on Josh's lips to read the words he mouthed to me while I wasn't looking."
"You - are - all - mine."
I looked to Rovaun apprehensively, then to Josh who trembled with tears forming. Rovaun, too, didn't know what to say, but was the first to say something.
"That means nothing. It was said in the heat of passion."
"No it wasn't."
All eyes were on the Anthraun now, who continued to tremble and weep.
"I can't lie to you anymore, Danny. I'm in love with you."
"Josh, I KNOW that."
"No, you don't know." He lowered his head to my husband. "I'm sorry Rovaun. I like you, but I don't think I could ever be truly happy as a step-husband. Every time I see you, I'd be reminded that I was not number one in Danny's life. At first I thought I could live with it, but the more time I spent with the two of you, the more I fell in love with your mate. I won't deny it anymore. I think deep down I always intended to win Danny away from you. And I know I still do."
Rovaun said nothing, but lowered his head as well. It now seemed a certainty that Josh would not be coming with us.
"Do I detect a modicum of integrity, Joshua?" said Mourne. "Making such a confession surely nullifies any chance you have of making a life with Rovaun and Daniel. Are you sure you don't want to modify it?"
"No, Mourne. You're right. I'm a professional home wrecker. It is what I do best."
"No it isn't," I said in a "shame on you for saying that" tone.
"Yes it is, Danny. I'd do anything to get you away from Rovaun. Maybe even kill him."
I gasped. This was not the Josh I knew at all. How could I have been so wrong about him? But it didn't take long to realize I wasn't wrong at all.
"Then kill him."
"Companion?"
"Shut up, Rovaun. Go on, Josh. Kill him. I love you. Kill Rovaun so you and I can be together."
Rovaun and Josh looked nervously at each other while Mourne watched with amusement. No one made a move.
"What's the matter, Josh? Don't you love me?"
"Danny... what are you doing?"
"I'm proving you a liar. You'd never kill Rovaun, because that's not who you are. You have doubts about your motives because you have a conscience. And Mourne is trying to convince you that that is not an asset. On the contrary - it is certainly your most valuable."
"Not to me," said Mourne. "Thank you, Wraith, for exposing him for what he is. A professional home wrecker with integrity and a conscience. You are worthless to me, Joshua. You're FIRED!"
"Does that mean you'll let him come with us?" I asked.
"I don't care WHERE he goes, but he's not working for me anymore."
Rovaun and I weren't quite sure what to do. Then my husband made me proud.
"Despite your confession, Joshua... Josh," he said warmly, "I still have faith in you. I believe trust begets trust, and I also believe you underestimate your ability to find a happy compromise. Think back on the last several days of your life. The Josh I remember had a pretty good time, as did I, as did my mate. Was it really so bad?"
"No Rovaun," he said. "It was heavenly. But put yourself in my position. How would you feel if you knew that for the rest of your life, you could never be number one for your Companion. There would always be someone else that he'd be just a little more devoted to."
Rovaun dropped his eyes to ponder that scenario, then looked to me and sighed. "That is a painful perspective," he conceded.
"You don't know it will be like that, Josh," I cried. "Give us a try. If it doesn't work out, you can find another Hipponaur."
"Oh, Cellie," he said, bringing his hand to my chin. "I'm an excellent judge of character, remember? That includes myself. My feelings for you are real, and as long as we're on the same planet, I'll be miserable without you. I have too much respect for you and your husband to risk destroying your marriage. I know how I feel, and I don't know if that can ever change. I think it is best that I go home."
"Good luck finding employment," snipped Mourne, who seemed to take comfort in reminding him that he was now stuck in limbo between two very different parallel worlds, one he would not welcome, and the other that no longer welcomed him.
"Where will you go?" I asked sadly.
"I don't know."
Mourne sighed out of annoyance. "I really must stop fucking with the Cosmos. Wraith, a word if you please."
I had several private words with him, after which I uttered my own not-so-private words: "Oh dear God, no... Please send us to him!"
I turned to Rovaun, desperately. "Go on home, Husband. I'll catch up with you."
Rovaun turned hesitantly to Mourne, who addressed his concern.
"I will see to it that your Companion returns to you, Rovaun."
In Rovaun's garden, I watched the solitary black mare set down next to the grave by the pool. I could not believe how close I came to this destiny. What did this other version of me do to deserve such a terrible fate? Nothing. That was the coldest, most heartless fact of life.
"Daniel Racher."
The mare slowly lifted her head and stared at me. I could tell that what my other self saw registered with him, but was too deeply burdened with grief to respond.
"Do you know who I am?"
Wearily, he rose up and approached me. The last thing he had eaten was a slice of virtual wedding cake a week ago.
"I think so. Step out to prove it."
I did so, and stood my ground next to my Hipponaur body.
"You're from a parallel destiny of mine. Is Rovaun alive?"
"Yes, my Rovaun is alive."
"Is he here with you!?" he asked, desperately.
"I'm sorry, Danny. Rovaun is no longer part of your destiny."
"Fuck Destiny." He turned back to the grave. "Do you hear me?" he shouted. "FUCK YOU TO HELL, DESTINY!!"
As he cursed the heavens, a single long and tragic whinny led a chorus of mournful echoes throughout the valley. Even though I was outside of my body, my mane instinctively bristled at the banshee's cry.
"Danny, do you think this is what Rovaun would want for you?"
"To grieve for him? Yes," he spoke to the grave, not to me.
"But not to kill yourself over him."
"I don't know. We weren't married long enough to discuss it. What is Hipponaur protocol in my case? What is my obligation to my eternal soul mate after I've killed him?"
"You didn't kill him! It was a tragic accident."
"I killed him. Not a minute after he rescued me from oblivion, I killed him. It was stupid and irresponsible and entirely unnecessary. My punishment is appropriate."
"Danny, I know this is not much of a consolation for you, but Rovaun survived the jump in every single timeline but this one, which means you didn't kill him. In this timeline, he didn't jump with you. Instead, he panicked and tried to climb down, but lost his footing and fell. It was just one of those horrible things that happen."
"How dare you blame him for his death," he said in a cold rage. "Why the hell have you come here!"
"I want to help you move on."
"Well, thank you very much. It's such a comfort to know that I reside in the shittiest of all timelines."
"That remains to be seen. This is also the only timeline in which Mourne will make you a unique offer. I recommend that you take it.
"If you're talking about that asshole standing on his plateau, I already went to him for help. He didn't give a shit about me or Rovaun. 'It would set a bad precedent, Mr. Racher,'" he said, mocking Mourne.
"It isn't Rovaun that I offer, but it is someone very special and dear to me who cares about you very much."
I nodded to him, and Josh came out of the woods. He nervously approached and stopped at my side. Daniel was momentarily intrigued, but still remained skeptical.
"Is that... Tattoo?"
"I'm Josh," he said uneasily. "I'm very sorry about your husband. He was a good friend."
"What is this? I don't know you, and Rovaun doesn't know you! I don't care what my alternate selves think. You both are strangers to me!"
"Danny, you don't believe that because I don't believe it. Look at him!"
Daniel stared at him antiseptically.
"He's a looker. So what."
"He's more than that, Danny. He loves me!" Then I looked at him tenderly and finally admitted it. "And I love him even more."
"Then keep him for yourself and send me Rovaun. I would obviously make Rovaun a more devoted spouse."
I stared at him silently. "Would you? I'm giving up Josh for him. Isn't that the definition of devotion?"
"Fuck you, and fuck you. Leave me alone."
"Damn it! Stop being such an ass!"
"I'm an ass? Look who's graciously offering me his sloppy seconds to ease his cheating conscience. My God, it's only been a week married to the most wonderful being in the universe and already you're in love with someone else! You're not me. You're some disgusting mutated abomination!"
It was hard to argue with that logic. I certainly never would have believed it myself. It was clear that the timing just wasn't right. If I were in his state, I'd be cynical of my own shadow.
"Let's go, Josh," I sighed, "It's impossible to get through to him right now."
"No."
"Yes GO, Josh," he insisted. "It's the most sensible thing anyone has said today."
"No! You're the best thing to happen to me. I'm not going to let you go!"
The furious mare looked left and right. "Who the fuck are you talking to? You can't be talking to me. You don't fucking know me! You know HIM! He and I are WORLDS apart."
"You're right, Danny - I know HIM. And you're wrong, Danny, because I DO know you. I know a lot about parallel destinies. A week does not fundamentally change the person you are. That takes months, even years of extraordinarily different circumstances. Yes, you have suffered a horrible loss while your namesake enjoyed his honeymoon. It HAS changed you, but not that much, and the effects do not have to be permanent. You two are identical, therefore, I am equally in love with both of you, but only one of you needs me."
The mare stood silently crying.
"Danny," he pleaded. "I'll never replace your Rovaun, but I offer my shoulder to cry on, every day if necessary to heal you."
"Tattoo and Tantau will need a stepfather, Danny," I said. "Look at him. He's the only one of his kind in Varyl's domain. The only... adult... Anthraun. Now imagine him helping you raise your sons - sons that look like him - that have a loving adult male Anthraun for a role model. Can you honestly say you still live in the unluckiest of timelines?"
"I haven't met Tantau," said Josh, "but Tattoo is a wonderful little guy. I'm very fond of him."
"If you listen carefully," I said, "you can hear him singing his favorite song. A song that Josh taught him."
Something struck a particularly painful nerve. "Tattoo hasn't sung since..."
The Hipponaur buckled with emotional pain. Josh ran to him and held him up with his powerful stance. Then Daniel did indeed use Josh's shoulder.
"His soul entered me," he cried. "I couldn't help him. I didn't know how to scan him. He was so confused, couldn't see, didn't know where he was. He could access only a couple of memory fragments, and was so terribly frustrated. Tattoo knew he was with me and kept trying to talk to him, and sing to him, but he responded with anger, and then begged for help that no one could give."
That image tore at my soul. I had seen humans in the late stages of Alzheimer's. To witness Rovaun in such a state, being terrified and confused, surrounded by menacing strangers that ignored his pleas for help - it was the worst possible way to remember a loved one.
He shuddered in his grief, then confessed his true sin. "I forced him out," he cried. "I couldn't even hold onto him for one day - my wedding day. I never got to say good-bye. My final memory will be the sound of him screaming for mercy while I pushed him into the sunset. I killed him! I killed my dear husband's soul on my wedding d..."
He completely collapsed to the ground. Not even Josh could hold him up, but he stayed with him on the ground, cradling his head in his arms.
"Danny," he said softly. "That doesn't make you a bad person. There was nothing you could do. It was time to let him go."
The mare dropped into a semi-conscious delirium. The only way to face a guilt that would last forever was not to face it.
The next thing Josh did was extremely unethical, and equally as brilliant. He linked empathetically with Daniel, and with me as well, so that I would be fully aware of what he was doing. I felt an overpowering sensation of love and warmth, and for a brief moment, I considered Daniel's original proposal for a trade.
"I love you, Husband," Daniel whispered in a blissful daze.
"And I love you, Companion," Josh said, nuzzling him. "Forever and always."
He did not sound like Rovaun, nor did he attempt to mimic his voice. Nevertheless, it was easy to imagine Rovaun's presence.
"Come back to me, My Love," pleaded Daniel.
"I cannot, Companion."
"Then take me with you."
"And deny Tattoo his life? And deny Tantau his mother? You cannot ask that of me."
"I know," he cried. "I don't know what to do. I'm so lost without you."
"Your destiny will be beautiful, Companion, if you follow your heart."
"But my heart is with YOU."
"No, Companion, it is my heart that is with you. Never forget me and I will always be with you."
"I will never forget you."
"Open your heart and listen, Companion. It speaks to you now. Promise me you will listen to your heart."
"I promise, My Love."
"We will meet again, Companion, at our destiny's end. Until then, honor me by living your life with me, for I am alive in you and our sons. Think of me every day, and know that, above all else, my only desire is for you to be happy. Whatever it takes, Companion, allow yourself happiness."
"I will, Husband."
"Farewell, Companion, I love you."
"Forever and always, dear Husband, forever and always..."
The fading link nudged Daniel awake as he tried to hold onto it's loving embrace. "Farewell, Husband..."
He looked up at the weeping Anthraun and tears flooded his own eyes. "He said farewell to me," he sobbed. "He told me he loved me..."
"I know," cried Josh, rocking Daniel gently in his arms. "No one will ever love you as much as he did."
"I said good-bye to him... his last words were 'I love you.' Josh - he said, 'I love you' to me..."
"I know, Danny, I know..."
I left the two of them sobbing together, mourning the loss of a great Hipponaur, and healing each other's soul in the process. Though I disapproved of empathetic linking, in this case it gave Daniel the only closure possible. Josh didn't use the deception to get an endorsement from Rovaun. He simply asked for a level playing field - let Daniel open his heart and give Josh a chance to come in.
I returned to Mourne, grieving the loss of both Rovaun and Josh.
"You did well," he said, attempting to ease my pain.
"Please send me home."
"At once. What you did today will have far-reaching repercussions. I perceive many new destinies - most of them wondrous and beautiful. Expect a small token of my appreciation tomorrow."
I stepped through the portal and emerged to the cheers of familiar Hipponaurs welcoming the second honeymooner home, but I did not see or hear any of them. The only one for me was my husband. I hugged him as human and cried into his shoulder, "I love you..."
"Is something wrong, Companion?"
"Just hold me as tight as you can, and never ever let go."
"Never ever, forever, Companion."
[End of _COMPANIONS_ Chapter 21: Josh]
[Next in series: Chapter 22: Another Prophecy]