Starlight Gleaming Ch. 20

The rest of us sat around the living room, while Terra ran the vacuum cleaner in the front room.

I looked at Doyya and Chita, who sat comfortably together on the couch. "I thought you were on duty tonight?"

My Second shrugged. "I traded with my XO. He's taking tonight, and he's getting an extra night off in two days." With Yalcamara gone, her XO, Golat Minhawee, was having to work harder. However, he rightfully saw this as command time that would help him move up down the road.

Coverage by our Seconds and XOs was how we normally did it during our days off. Though in my case, since Doyya had her own command to manage, meetings and the like that I couldn't attend to fell primarily to Hachan, my own XO. The main difference was I didn't make him cover during my days off because it wasn't needed. Doyya, too, usually worked on nights that I had off.

There was some talking by the front door, so I started to get up.

"It's all right," Doyya said. "My guards are giving Mack and Akama a break. They're going home for an hour to feed their kids, grab dinner, and then they'll be back."

Sitting back, I said, "Okay. Is this an actual visit then? Or is something else going on?"

Doyya watched as Janetta refilled Doyya's glass with metl juice, topped off her own, then came over and sat herself on my lap. "Uh, visiting. At least that was the plan. We discovered something, and... well, Calia, maybe you should take over since it's your idea."

I looked at Calia, sitting on the floor near my feet. "Calia?"

She swallowed, then looked at me, her face earnest. "Going through the things owned by Yalcamara and Stimmi, we found something unexpected. It seems they took steps in case something happened to either one of them. In their safety deposit box, we discovered they had purchased a long-term cold storage unit. There's a set of her ova and some of his semen."

"What?" I sat back. "Wow."

Janetta shook her head. "The problem is they're both gone. And I understood neither one have close family. It's a tragedy they're gone, but this just seems to compound the tragedy."

"Not necessarily," Calia said. "It depends on what my master says. My lord, you counted them as good friends, did you not?"

I nodded, curious as to where this was going. "Both of them were solid and dependable. Always willing to go the extra distance. Yes, I would say they were good friends."

Calia smiled. "I liked them, too. While you were gone, they kept tabs on us, doing their best to help keep us safe. The Minister has a reputation of leaving scorched earth where his enemies were. With your permission, I'd like to partially right a great wrong and do a service to the memory of these two good friends."

Nodding at her by way of encouragement, she continued. "With your permission, I'd like to bring their children to life."

"What?!" Janetta sat up straighter. "How could you even consider that? You are always going on about how much you love him, yet you are willing to bear another man's child in your womb? I don't understand you, Calia! You call him your master, yet you want to do that to him?"

Calia lifted her chin as she looked at Janetta. "The eggs are Yalcamara's. The semen belongs to Stimmi. They will be fertilized in a petri dish, and the fertilized egg implanted in my uterus. Stimmi's semen will not enter my body." Then she turned her gaze to me. "Stimmi's ghost came to me, pleading for us to help her. We couldn't. Your good friends were proud of what they were doing, and proud to serve you. Please, let me do this."

Taking a deep breath, I looked at her. "Are you sure about this, Calia? You're talking about a lifetime commitment here. For me, too."

"Yes, I know that," she answered. "Yalcamara and Stimmi will be their biological parents, but I can raise them with love, and their birth will restore their family names. You will be a great role model as the father they will know and love. They will have Yalcamara's House name and inherit her noble rank. This does not affect my love for you."

Sighing, I thought about it. "If this is what you truly want to do, Calia, then I won't stand in your way."

"Thank you, Master!" Bending at the waist, Calia gave me a short bow.

"There's a catch in your plans, though, and it will have to be addressed first."

"What's that?" she asked, puzzled.

"Us."

"What are you saying?" she cried. "That if I do this, it will affect how you feel for me?"

"Of course it will," I said. "But I need to address us. I love you, Calia, and I have promised that I would always take care of you. It's been pointed out to me that before you were my friend, you were my Personal Servant. In order to fix our relationship, I need to free you."

It was like I'd stabbed her in the heart. Such anguish filled her face. Falling to the floor, she wrapped her arms around my feet, weeping. "Please, Master. I do not want my freedom! All I want... is to be near you... and to love you."

"Calia, I'm not doing this because I don't love you or because I want you to go away. You take good care of all of us. I'm ashamed to admit it, but I've taken comfort from knowing you will always be there for me. I've always had the choice in our relationship. You, however, are my Personal Servant and you have never had a choice but to remain with me. That you love me is more than I have ever deserved, and I cherish the love and devotion you give me."

"Master! I don't want my freedom," she sobbed. Master, please don't make me go away!

The anguish conveyed by her thoughts was intense.

I glanced around. Nariya buried her face in her husband's chest. Doyya and Chita held hands, but watched, uncomfortable with the turn of events. Daydo looked away. Tears fell down Cholan's face, her face riveted to the scene. Zinja slowed down as she descended the stairs, moving to stand behind Janetta's chair.

Janetta's face was stone. I asked her, "Do you think I'm wrong?"

She answered, "Commander, you are the Lord of this household and of all who reside within its walls. I am Lady Tlacotli and I am the Mistress of your House. I will support you to the best of my ability, even if I sometimes question your decisions because I do it for the betterment of your House. I have mixed feelings about Calia, but there is no question that she has served you well. More, despite the words I just uttered, it is plain that all she does is motivated by her love for you. I ask that you tread gently."

"You have advice for me?"

Janetta pursed her lips. "I had asked you to examine your relationship with her. Before you do something rash, talk to her. Calia is your slave. She embraces your ownership, acting more like a wife in her devotion to you. While you may need the emancipation, freedom for her is an unknown."

"I have no intention of changing anything else. I promise! Calia, this isn't a rejection of you. Quite the opposite."

Exasperated, Janetta shook her head at me. "Don't you see it? Right now she's your property, her place with you is well established. Her place and the expectations for her are clearly outlined. Nariya? Who do you belong to?"

Startled, Nariya said, "Sowitwee. I'm his wife." Then she clasped his hand in hers, giving Wit a smile.

"See, Kandikan? She didn't say she was a free woman or even question that she belonged to someone. Her first thought is that she's married, and she belongs to her husband. From what you told me during your visit to Chohinze State, a personal servant there has as many rights as Breena had as a married woman. I would not be surprised if Calia saw emancipation as akin to divorce. I know you need to fix things in your own mind, but you need to be careful of her feelings, and mindful of how she sees things."

"I always intend that, but somehow rarely achieve it. Your insight is valuable, as always." I looked around the room. "I think people who are in a bad situation have a choice -- find ways to hate the situation and become angry and bitter, find a means of escape, or find ways to justify it and even embellish it. Calia, you have been a slave since you were a child. At least since you were Sisi's age. You didn't come into my life by choice. You were bought, like a piece of furniture, and it's due to your kind heart that you have made the best of it."

Calia lifted her head to speak, but the loud clatter at the top of the stairs caught our attention. Ixma had Mina on her hip, but running down the stairs was Sisi, yelling, "Don't make Calia go away, Tenant! Don't--"

And she missed a step and began to tumble.

"Sisi!" I jumped up, too far away to do anything.

For a moment, Sisi hung there in the air, her downward movement suddenly suspended -- long enough for Zinja to vault up and scoop her up into her arms.

"How many times must I tell you not to run on the stairs, young lady! You could have hurt yourself or even died. No running on the stairs, Sisi!" Then she buried her face into her hair and came close to squeezing the stuffing out of her.

My attention snapped back to Calia, who suddenly exhaled, then sagged. I pulled her up into my arms. "Thank you, Calia. I know what you did, and... thank you."

"I'm okay, Mama Zinja, honest!" she protested as Zinja checked her over. "I need to tell Tenant! Calia doesn't want to go, and I don't want her to go 'way, too."

"You don't want her to go either," Zinja corrected, hugging Sisi and kissing her several times. "You scared me, girl. Promise me you won't run on the stairs again!"

Ixma and Mina joined them, and all four approached me.

"Don't do this, I beg you," Ixma said, clearly upset. "Calia doesn't want her freedom. She wants you. It's all she's ever wanted from you."

Calia pressed the heel of her palm against her temple, wincing.

"Are you all right?" I asked.

"Head hurts. It's fading some," she whispered.

I knew what I wanted to focus on, but if I did, it would bring attention to Calia, or rather her apparently growing abilities.

Zinja let Sisi down, and she ran over to me.

"Tenant!"

I picked up my girl and returned the hug she gave me. "It's okay, Sisi. I'm not going to make anyone go away. The last thing I want is to change our family! But I need to do this -- for the both of us. Sisi, Calia is my Personal Servant. A slave. That means she has to do what I say, even if she doesn't want to. Freeing her will mean if she stays, it will be because she wants to be here, not because she has to."

With my free hand, I lifted Calia's chin and looked into her eyes. "Calia, I love you and I want you in my life. I need it to be your choice whether you remain. You can only truly make the choice if you have the freedom to say no."

Satisfied for the moment, Sisi slid down and moved back to Zinja's side.

Calia focused her gaze upon me. "Even if I say I want to remain as I am? Your property?"

I took a long breath. "All right, yes. If that's what you want. I think the most important thing is that you were never asked if you wanted to be with me. If that's how you want us to be, I will adjust. I love you, Calia. Will you at least think about what I'm saying?"

She wiped her eyes. "You promise I can stay?"

I smiled. "Your staying would make me happy. Knowing that you had the freedom to leave and you chose to stay would be wonderful. Think of it like an extension of the Protection Order. You would be my woman and friend because you wanted that relationship with me, not because I owned you."

She shook her head sadly. "Master, I made the choice to love you a very long time ago."

"Then will you do this for me?"

"I have served and loved you for nine years, my lord. If this is what you wish, then my answer is yes. I'll do it to make you happy. As long as after I'm free, I can give myself to you all over again."

Leaning down, I kissed her and she responded. I was prepared to go longer, but she leaned heavily against me for support.

"I'm sorry," she murmured.

"Nothing to be sorry for." I saw the flash of pain in her eyes. I had no idea how much effort telekinesis took, but I'd just seen it and I was grateful for this new ability.

"Does this mean she's staying?" Sisi eagerly asked.

"Yes, she is," I answered.

"Yay!" Sisi cheered. "Calia's staying!"

Doyya and Chita stood nearby. Doyya cleared her throat. "It's getting late and we should go. Thank you for having us here, Commander. Calia, let us know what you decide, will you?"

"There's no need to discuss it further. My master has given me permission and I want to do this," Calia answered. I helped her stand. "My legal status will have no bearing on this decision. A child of Yalcamara and Stimmi will live on after them. I'll call you tomorrow."

Doyya clasped Chita's hand. "All right. Good night everyone. And happy birthday, again, Sisi and Mina."

"Yes, happy birthday," Chita echoed.

Sisi gave them both a hug goodbye.

Janetta walked them to the door, and their bodyguards were notified of the impending departure.

Sowitwee and Nariya said good night. Daydo said he was going to help Terra with kitchen cleanup. The rest of us headed upstairs.

Zinja insisted on extra kisses and hugs, which Sisi was happy to give.

The rest of us headed to bed.

Cholan was still sharing our bed, and probably would for a while. I think she liked the company. Having someone to share your bed can be a comfort, even if it's just for sleeping. Maybe I needed to get a bigger bed for her to share with Ixma, Calia, and the girls.

While I was tired, and Cholan does cuddle nicely, it had been a few days since I'd been able to shower some attention on Janetta.

Settling in next to her, I scooted closer and she gave me a guarded look. "What are you up to, Kandikan?"

"I need you, Janetta. I want to make love to you." I picked up her hand and kissed it.

"If that's your best offer, Kandikan, I'd rather get some sleep. It's been a long day. Maybe tomorrow."

"You are the most beautiful woman in the world, Janetta Tlacotli. Let me kiss you."

She gave me a put-upon look. "All right. Mind, I'm only doing this because I love you."

Leaning partially over her, I drew her close to me. Unhurried, I savored the taste of her sweet lips. As one kiss ended, I began another. Soon, she was kissing back with more enthusiasm.

My hands begin to explore and I was delighted when she not only responded but reciprocated as well. Light touches, then digging a little into the flesh -- needy yet without breaking the skin. Her palm moves over my chest while my hand grasped and fondled her breasts. Squeezing firmly. Rolling the nipple followed by a pinch as my mouth left hers and traced wetly along her jaw. Baring her neck for me, I kiss, nip, and suck at her vulnerable flesh.

Janetta begins to gently explore my balls and then a bit more firmly she strokes the shaft that extrudes between us. Her sighs deepen, and her touch continues to arouse me. For my part, my hand works the valley between her legs, tracing along the fragile lips, tantalizing along the boundary of her folds from bottom to top and then down the other side.

"I have no clue why I keep doing this," she murmured. "You get me worked up, I drip like a faucet, you put your poke stick inside me, give me that deep belly inside massage of yours, and then bang! You leave a sticky gooey mess inside that proceeds to leak out of me, and if it's not cleaned up, itches the next morning."

"I can't help it. I want to be inside of you all the time, Janetta. I love to pleasure you, and I love filling you up."

"If it didn't feel so damn good, I wouldn't do it." I tried to move down to play with her pussy, but she grabbed me and shook her head. "I said, it's been a long day, Kandikan. Your cock stretching me will feel good. I don't know if I can come, but I want you inside me. So get up in there and start poking. Slow but firm, okay?"

"Whatever you want, my love."

She gently pulled me by my erection, so I obliged moving my hips closer. Lifting her leg, she draped it over me, guiding my crown to her center. Still not wet enough, she brings her hand up and works up saliva, spitting it into her palm and smearing my tip with it.

"I love your taste, Janetta. Why don't you let me lick you?"

"No, Ranji. Now push inside."

She pulls on my butt as I press forward. My hard cock slips past the outer lips, and I work deeper into her tight heat. Her sheath begins to loosen as her pussy coats the passageway, easing penetration.

"That's it," she whispers. "Start slow and gentle. I know you'll eventually fill me up with your hot seed, but right now I want to enjoy you being inside me. Work me over good."

My hand cups her butt and squeeze as I slowly stroke the long path from her entrance to her womb. Janetta pushes me away as I withdraw, then she lifts, pulling me back as she rises to envelope my hard shaft as I descend into her depths. Her lower lips swell and darken with every stroke.

Gentle kisses to her cheek, forehead, nose, then a longer one to her mouth. Our tongues dance together.

"This is so good, Ranji. I love feeling the heat of your hard bar spreading me around your shaft as you push deep. Oh, gods, that so nice."

"When you're in the air on patrol, and the Sky Llama arrives to refuel your Lightning, when the extender rod connect to your aircraft and the gallons of fuel rush in to flood your tanks, do you remember us like we are right now? With me buried deep, moving inside, preparing to fill you up?"

She giggled as she worked my cock within her sheath. "No, I didn't! And you're a bad man for putting that image in my head."

"Being connected with you is heavenly. If I could, I'd be inside you, coating your walls every chance I got." The wet sound of us moving together grew louder.

"Oh, gods. Refueling in midair requires all my attention, Kandikan. Now I'm going to have the image of us doing this in the back of my head the next it happens. You aren't supposed to hinder me, ground support!"

"Hindering never entered my mind. Deep penetration, yes. Mmm, how I try for deeper still? Hindering? Never." I rolled her breast in my hand and kissed her for pleasure as well as emphasis.

"Every chance? Like either one of us has the time!"

"You're my Mistress, aren't you? Would you like that?"

"Be serious, Ranji. This is lovely, but we both have demands--"

"Janetta, enjoy the moment. I'm not talking about a permanent change. I want to remind you that not so long ago you talked wistfully about a much younger me doing Calia seven times in one day, and wondered when I was going to ravish you with such attentions."

She snorted even as she lifted her legs and wrapped them around my hips. "Seven times? Yeah, right. It's sometimes a stretch for you to do it three times in one day. Besides, I also seem to recall you saying there was an issue about quality."

I kissed her, long and slow. Our hips rocked in perfect synchronisation. "I think maybe I should give it try."

"Come on, Ranji. Be serious. We both have a lot of things we're working on. I'm having to assist with the losses at work, so I don't have time to fuck around. You need to keep all of us safe -- and do all your other work, too."

"I may not make my goal, but I think this might be fun for us both." Grabbing her butt, I pulled her close, then rolled her on top as I slid under her. Some scooting toward the center to avoid knocking Cholan off, and I was comfortably on my back. "Come on, Janetta. You like getting time with you in control. Ride me. Grind your clit until you feel the explosion of pleasure in your belly. I want to feel you coat my cock with your wet juices."

"Let me get this straight. You want to come inside me seven times in one day? You know, my orgasms don't count." Despite my encouragement, she sank down until I was fully ensconced within her tight folds, but did nothing further. "What's the goal here, Ranji?"