Fountain of Beauty (The Cubi Book 4) Read online

  “Yes,” Caledon said. “Seldon asked earlier today why we, you, don’t buy apartment buildings to turn into safe houses for feeding. The families were not the primary thought, but I agree they should be. At the moment, they’re housed here and there like everyone else to make sure there are high enough energies around to dose them and to give doses for the breeders.”

  “It would give them a sense of structure and common bond like they’re used to from the Great House,” Seldon said, nodding.

  “How many families have fled the Great House?”

  “I’ll have those numbers for you before the evening is out.” Caledon opened his computer again. Once again, Daniel felt like Roardon was right when asking him to focus on his studies, too. A glance at Caledon with his glasses on, looking all nerdy on his computer, caused the so far controllable itch on Daniel’s neck to spread, and he rubbed at it.

  “Hungry, boy?” Seldon asked and rubbed his back.

  That touch certainly didn’t help settle things. “Yeah.”

  “How often did you feed?” Caledon asked while still tapping away on the keyboard.

  “Had two doses this morning, Seldon dosed me around eleven. I snacked the hell out of Chas at around four, and I need to feed after dinner.”

  “I’m happy to hear that,” Caledon said. “I’m very hungry, too.”

  Uh, naughty author sex.

  “Sure you can wait until after dinner?” Seldon asked.

  “What? Why?” Daniel batted his eyes.

  “A hungry cub playing coy.” Seldon laughed. “The way you look at Caledon.”

  Caledon’s head shot up, and his eyes darkened. The heat on Daniel’s neck intensified. “Oh, fuck, cub, you’re doing that eye thing,” Caledon said in a husky voice, his eyes darkening further.

  Daniel smiled and hooked a finger at Caledon while leaning back against Seldon, but he didn’t break the eye contact. Caledon closed the lid on his computer determinedly and placed it on the floor before he slid out of the chair and lowered himself onto Daniel.

  “Has to be a quickie,” Daniel whispered. “Mom’s almost done with peeling potatoes, and then we have fifteen minutes.”

  “How about I just snack the hell out of you then?” Caledon asked, leaning in to kiss Daniel’s neck. Daniel let his head fall back, finding Seldon smiling at him.

  “You wanna join snacking?”

  “Nope, your Guard Lord packs one seriously powerful dose, so I’m full.”

  “You fucked one of them?” Daniel asked, grinning. Wow, they were certainly taking their vow to secure him and his closest to heart.

  “More like Grand Sire Seldon got his ass absolutely handed to him by a very hungry Guard Lord,” Caledon said, snickering as he found his way under Daniel’s shirt.

  Daniel gaped since Seldon didn’t deny it. Oh wow, he got the most interesting mental images from that, and his cock throbbed harder. “Guess it’s just me and the naughty author going nerdy afterward.”

  Caledon looked up from the trail he was kissing across Daniel’s chest, and Daniel waggled his brows. Caledon grinned and latched onto a nipple, making Daniel jump and groan. Deft fingers unpacked Daniel’s dick, and he lifted his ass to help give Caledon room to tuck his pants down.

  Hunger and desperation for more rose at the sight of the hungry look in Caledon’s eyes, and Daniel wanted to taste him, too. Not ideal on a couch with Seldon on it too. Daniel slid off the couch to pull Caledon up for a deep kiss, his hands going to the Lord’s fly to unpack his hard dick.

  “You said quickie,” Caledon murmured between kisses.

  “Let say…six minutes, nine seconds.”

  “What?” Caledon pulled back. Then the realization hit. “Oh! You’re on.”

  They ended up on the floor between the couch and the coffee table, their faces positioned at each other’s crotches.

  “I’m timing you guys.” Seldon pulled his feet up, making room for them.

  Daniel and Caledon lost themselves in their rising hunger and the pleasure as they found their places in the sixty-nine and fondled and licked at each other. All thoughts about the quickie were forgotten when Daniel tasted the pre-cum, and he just wanted to revel in the pleasure he took and gave.

  Caledon was as much an artist at sucking cock as Seldon, and Daniel felt less skillful, but he loved practicing. He loved it even more when he didn’t have to focus on anything but giving pleasure, but the adept mouth working him screwed with his ability to focus on returning the pleasure.

  A tongue played with the slit before elongating into Daniel’s urethra. That was it—Daniel lost all ability to focus. “Oh fuck, Caledon, oh…” Daniel’s balls drew up, and warmth spread as his orgasm claimed him. Quaking and moaning, Daniel enjoyed the ecstatic pleasure as he pumped Caledon’s mouth full of sperm.

  As soon as Daniel had somewhat recovered, he plunged his mouth down onto Caledon’s cock, taking him into his throat. Caledon bucked and groaned, and Daniel sucked as best he could to tip the Lord over the edge, too.

  Didn’t take long before Daniel got his reward, and he swallowed to keep up as Caledon shivered through his orgasm.

  “Oh, yeah,” Caledon purred, lying lax on the floor, breathing heavily. Daniel sat up, smiling.

  “That wasn’t far off,” Seldon said, looking at his phone.

  “What wasn’t?” Caledon asked, not bothering to lift his head to look at Seldon.

  Seldon turned the phone to show Daniel that they’d managed to feed for just about seven minutes.

  “You did time us.”

  “Course I did.” Seldon grinned, tapping at the screen.

  The doorbell rang.

  “Someone please get that!” Susan shouted from the kitchen.

  “Are we expecting anyone?” Daniel got up to straighten his clothes.

  “Yes, the Mingler who watched over you at school.” Seldon rose. “I’ll get it!”

  “The Mingler? Why is she coming by?” Daniel asked Caledon.

  “Because she knows the identity of the other two unempowered Halflings at the school. We have to tell her everything that’s happened so she knows what to look out for when keeping an eye on them.”

  Daniel did not like the sound of that. “You think the military is gonna come after high school kids?”

  “We’re just covering all bases close to you. If we see something moving in, we move out, and we might have to bring the Halflings to secure them.”

  Daniel liked hearing about how his advisors were working on securing everybody, and he liked that he could trust them with it because there was no way in hell he’d be able to oversee and hear about everything himself. They’d tell him if he needed to know, yet he had to ask to stay informed as well. Considering his level of experience, he thought it best, and he once again thought he couldn’t have picked a better left hand advisor than Caledon.

  The door to the hallway opened, and Ms. Clark entered along with Seldon.

  “Daniel.” She smiled and held out her hands. “It’s so good to see you. Although I have to admit I’m surprised to see you here.”

  By the looks of it, she hadn’t been told he was the Prince, and when Daniel shot Seldon an inquisitive glance, he shook his head.

  “It’s good to see you again, too, Ms. Clark.” Daniel smiled and brought forth the gold. At least he’d learned to do that without going all hypnotic on the Cubus.

  She gasped and fell to a knee, lowering her head, but Daniel still held onto her hand.

  “Thank you for the respect you show me. Please, rise.”

  Ms. Clark stood. “I’d heard a rumor,” she whispered.

  “You will hear facts today, too. Considering the time of your arrival, I suspect Grand Sire Seldon has invited you for—”

  “Dinner!” Susan called from the kitchen.

  “Dinner,” Daniel finished.

  Seldon left for upstairs, hollering for Marcadon and Chas to join them. They all went to the kitchen and found their seats, Seldon, Caledon, and Roa
rdon joining them for company as usual. Daniel introduced Ms. Clark to his mom, who, although surprised, left the discovery of more Cubi in her life at that.

  “Daniel, can I please ask you to not feed in the living room?” Susan asked instead.

  “Uhm, sure.” Why hadn’t she said anything about that earlier? It wasn’t the first or even third time someone had fed in the living room.

  Daniel shoveled food onto his plate and groaned in delight.

  “Chas and I thought about going out tonight,” Marcadon said.

  “To hunt,” Chas added.

  “Okay,” Caledon said. “Where?”

  “A gay club,” Marcadon said, passing on the roast. “This smells wonderful.”

  “There’s a gay club around here?” Daniel asked, thinking that would be a fun place to go. Especially now that his mind had been broadened.

  “Now would not be the time for you to go check out the scene,” Seldon said, reading his mind as always.

  Daniel grinned at him. “Don’t worry, I completely agree with you there, but I’d like to go someday.” His mother’s disapproving expression didn’t escape Daniel, but he appreciated her not saying anything. Instead, he decided to change the subject. “I’ve decided to cut down on my hours at the store to attend to my studies.”

  “But we need the money.”

  “We’ll do fine, Susan,” Roardon said.

  “You do not come into my house and act like you’re the man of it! You are not my husband, you are not Bill!”

  “No, and I have no intentions of trying to take his place, but I will support my son and the future King of my people in any way I can. As it is, that’s by working in the business your husband, and the man who raised him, built, so that our son can prepare to take the throne of his Kingdom and rule his people competently.”

  “Please let me know if I can be of any assistance, My Prince,” Ms. Clark said, clearly uncomfortable and eager to change the subject.

  Great family dinner.

  “Thank you, Ms. Clark. I have a competent teacher.” Daniel smiled at Caledon.

  “I would very much like to take Ms. Clark up on her offer, though,” Caledon said. “I can only teach you the Cubi way.”

  “But I know the human way,” Daniel said.

  “You know what any high school student knows of the human world,” Caledon corrected him. “How much do you know about the human politics? And I’m not just talking about in the States. You have more land under you than what is covered by the States. Parts of Canada and Mexico, too. And what about NATO and other international treaties that interfere with other Cubi Royal’s land? You must know this, too.”

  “You are so hired, Ms. Clark,” Daniel said, once again getting sweaty palms at the thought of how much lay ahead.

  “Thank you, My Prince. But there are more suitable Minglers for this task.”

  “We’ll figure it out,” Caledon said. “At least I’d like your assistance in the beginning, even if we have to make it an evening school for the young Prince.”

  Daniel enjoyed the fact that the topic hadn’t blown up the way it had threatened to a moment ago. He hadn’t thought his mom would blow up about it like that. It was like she didn’t understand that Roardon, Seldon, and Caledon were there to stay. It wasn’t like Daniel was going to be the little man of the house and take care of everything since Bill was dead. Not in person, anyway. He’d just have to accept that it was going to take his mother a long time to come to terms with it. At least he figured it would be harder since her world outside home remained the same even though he returned home with news of an entirely different culture.

  He just wished he knew of a way to make it easier on her.

  Chapter Four

  D aniel sat in the living room of the Guards’ house, reading a book about the American economic structure. Ms. Clark had brought a stack of books with her the day after she’d been let in on all that had happened in the Great House. Daniel had merely grabbed the top book in the stack. He had no idea what half of the stuff meant, and he was taking notes. But it was discouraging to find that he knew so little.

  “How are you doing with it?” Caledon asked, taking a seat next to Daniel.

  Daniel threw himself against the backrest. “I’m not smart enough to get it.”

  “Of course you are, you’re just not knowledgeable enough yet.” Caledon took the book and skimmed the page. “Hell, I don’t get half of this.” His brows knitted in wonder as he closed the book and read the cover and back.

  “Our first priority is to find the Prince’s level,” Ms. Clark said.

  “That’s not it,” Daniel said, pointing at the book.

  “Okay.” She made a note in a floral notebook.

  “I think it’s time you wrote an essay,” Caledon said.

  Daniel had gotten a very good overview of what he needed to know about the Cubi by first sitting down and listing his questions before he ran for the books to answer them. “What topic?”

  Caledon pursed his lips. Daniel couldn’t resist the temptation and leaned over and kissed him. The surprised smile on the Lord’s face made Daniel snicker.

  “Taxes might be a good place to start,” Ms. Clark said, pulling Daniel and Caledon out of their little moment.

  “Why taxes?” Daniel asked while picking up his pen and jotting it down.

  “Because, if you think about making investments in the human world then those investments are subject to taxes and deductibles.”

  At least he knew what deductibles were. “We’re talking me getting a somewhat overview of tax laws, right?”

  “Yes,” Caledon said. “And the real estate market.”

  “Real estate,” Daniel mumbled, jotting it down, too.

  “Tenant laws,” Ms. Clark continued.

  “Where…” But then Daniel saw the connection. “The housing for families to keep the Cubi with young cubs together, and leases to hide the fact that it’s a Cubi owned property. That’s the goal for learning this. If I see where it’s going, then I have an interest in it, and I can find it.”

  Daniel jotted down his ideas, thinking about what he’d heard Seldon and Caledon explain the night before when they’d spoken more about the possible problems the Cubi on the run with cubs could face. The biggest problem was that it was less than a quarter of the parents who chose to live in the same apartment while the cubs were growing up. Didn’t mean that one parent didn’t see their kids often, it just meant that they came and went as they pleased in each other’s individual home.

  When Daniel finally looked up from his pad, Ms. Clark had left the room, Caledon was reading the book Daniel didn’t understand, and Daniel had filled out three pages in hand with questions and musings.

  “Thank you, Caledon.”

  “Hmm?” Caledon looked up. “For what, cub?”

  “For essays. Can’t believe I just said that, but it’s a good tool.”

  Caledon smiled and winked before he returned his attention to the book.

  Seldon entered the room with his phone in hand. “Caledon, did you put my number down as a contact?”

  “You are the right hand of the Prince. Of course your phone should be ringing more than mine,” Caledon said, not looking up.

  Seldon looked skeptical at that, making Daniel laugh.

  “Why, what’s up?” Daniel asked.

  “Someone is requesting a meeting. It’s about the business minds you wanted on your payroll.”

  “Who’s requesting it?” Daniel asked and got up.

  “Lord Wardon. He works finance in the Great House.”

  “I would definitely like to hear him out,” Daniel said.

  Seldon put the phone to his ear. “Lord Wardon? Beaudon is looking forward to meeting you…when?” Seldon looked off in wonder. “Just a second, please.” Seldon put the phone to his chest. “Where the hell did I put the day planner?” He left the room, grousing.

  Daniel and Caledon exchanged looks before bursting with laughter.
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br />   Caledon hitched, laughing. “Definitely not the secretary type.”

  “No, you and your sexy glasses fit that role far better.”

  Caledon gave him a dirty look, his tongue sneaking out between his lips, and Daniel’s hunger rose.

  Daniel moved to straddle Caledon in the armchair. “Oh, I think it’s time to inspire the naughty author again.”

  “Really?” Caledon asked in a thick voice.

  “Yeah, but if I’m thinking naughty office sex, then we really need a desk—” Daniel yelped as Caledon stood, his hands cupping Daniel’s ass to secure him in place as he carried Daniel to the next room.

  Caledon lowered Daniel to the desk to lie on his back. “Give me some hints, naughty muse.” Caledon leaned in for a heated kiss, leaving Daniel a bit of time to think but with absolutely no focus to do so.

  “I leave you alone for one minute,” Seldon said.

  Caledon broke the kiss, and they looked toward the door, finding Seldon casually leaned against the frame, a crooked smile on his face, and a thick bulge in his denim.

  “You hungry, too?” Caledon asked.

  Seldon’s green eyes darkened, and Daniel’s cock twitched in excitement at having them both.

  “Oh, the naughty muse has ideas,” Daniel said, wriggling out from under Caledon. The Lord sat in the office chair, his eyes looking like dark purple pools as he watched them.

  Daniel went to stand flush against Seldon, one hand running down his hard chest and abs before he caressed the rock-hard erection through the tight fabric.

  “What’s that idea?” Seldon asked in a husky tone, his deep voice making Daniel shiver against him.

  “We overload him on pleasure and suck it out of him,” Daniel whispered into Seldon’s ear before latching onto the full earlobe. Seldon drew a shaky breath in response.

  “Nice idea.” Seldon grabbed Daniel around the middle and walked him backward toward the desk.

  “Am I being let in on this idea of yours?” Caledon asked.

  “Not until you disrobe, My Lord,” Seldon said.

  Daniel grinned at Caledon’s expression, and Seldon’s smartass expression didn’t help.

  “Yeah, all part of the idea.” Daniel went to stand behind Caledon. He reached around and began unbuttoning Caledon’s shirt while Seldon made short work of his own long sleeve t. “You’re the boss, I’m the secretary, and he’s…”