Starlight Gleaming Ch. 22

After he left, we talked about how scary having a housefire would be, and how important it was to practice what to do for emergencies. That weekend, we discussed with everyone what to do, and then we had our first fire drill. The House AI made short, paired blaring noises throughout the home, and advising people to evacuate. Because our first test exceeded the three-minute safety limit, we had to do it again. Statistics were that after a minute, the chance of survival went down a lot, and went down even more after the second minute elapsed. Fire was horrific. but smoke inhalation usually kills more people than fires. Anyone still inside after three minutes rarely survived.

We also had "Safety Visits," presented by Sergeant Mack or Sergeant Yelts; they talked about looking both ways before crossing the street, what to do when there was a fire or someone got hurt (call 111), and the importance of picking out an adult to trust when they needed help, were scared, had trouble with bullies or a grownup who hurt them, or even just had questions in general.

The first several shows were usually close to a half-hour in length. Reading letters and having guests visit, or if we aired one of our outings - well, those added to the show. While I was okay with the additions, I was firm that each show did not exceed an hour. I let the Media Resources team - with Sowitwee's input - schedule any pre-filmed segments. Sometimes we watched them together; we talked about what was easy or hard to do, and what we enjoyed, and our comments were recorded for later airing.

Through all this, my primary focus was on my time with my girls, not trying to increase our fanbase. Still, there was no getting around the fact that the single moms of First and Second Home were avid watchers of the show, and they all warmly greeted my girls whenever they encountered them.

There were some discussions about fame and being a celebrity. Once the shows began to air over all High Guard, people began to recognize my girls, especially their schoolmates. Izel had a lot of good input, drawing on her experiences of being in charge of lands and cities full of people, and she had some admirers. Mostly, they just wanted a chance to say hello and be recognized, but some adults could be dangerous, and she warned Sisi and Mina that some kids could get jealous of the attention they were getting.

While Mina was overly shy, Sisi was a gregarious, outgoing child with an easy confidence and a natural charm when talking with others, and I didn't want her to associate fame and a sense of entitlement as being linked. As important, Izel, Ixma, and Calia kept checking on the girls to see how they were handling things, because all types of learning take practice before they are mastered or ingrained. While Sisi was much better at handling stress than Mina, I think my oldest daughter appreciated reminders that we had her back if she needed help.

We also had another family meeting about babies, because while not yet visible, in the months ahead it would soon become apparent that Izel, Ixma, and Calia were pregnant, and that would invite inquiries from the fans. Then I remembered that Breena and Tanti, who sometimes visited, were also expecting.

At one point, Zinja wondered if this was all too much, that what had once been a wonderful act between a father and his daughters had somehow gotten away from all of us. I expressed support for her worries, telling her that she was right to be concerned. Izel and Calia addressed the issue by saying it was important to have positive parent-child images for others to see and model after, but especially for those not used to seeing such how important it was for them to witness healthy and nurturing father-daughter interactions.

I got a glimpse of the impact of all these changes when, on a whim and having some free time, I went to have lunch with my daughters at school.

The kids swamped me, exclaiming, "Tenant! Tenant!"

The teachers tried their best, but I saw all the hopeful faces, and I gave in. After our delayed meal, I was persuaded to read a short story to all the kids. Afterward, all of them wanted a magic hug, and even some of the grown women weren't shy about getting one. I was also assured I was welcome back whenever I had the time to visit - but please could I give them some notice next time so they could better prepare and to give some of the other classes an opportunity to participate? A bit wiser, I laughed and agreed.

It didn't take long for one brave kid to ask if he could be a guest. Ixma, who was there, said we'd have to discuss it. Calia and Ixma later talked with some of the teachers and the principal. They hit on the idea that good behavior and good grades got one on the short list, but we limited how many guests could visit at a time.

To help smooth hurt feelings about not getting selected, I agreed that after our return from our upcoming vacation, there would be a visit from Tenant who would read some books and for those who wanted it, dispense some magic hugs. When a couple of teachers asked if Nariya could come along and teach some songs for the kids to sing, she was delighted.

* * * * *

Even before Calia's emancipation and her obtaining some professional credentials - something that both Izel and my mother helped her with - many of the women troopers expressed a desire to learn more about their own bodies, they wanted to learn from someone they trusted. Calia tentatively agreed.

During visits, Pen and his fiancés also expressed an interest in such a class - if Calia were to teach it; she agreed and put together a curriculum, and immediately had two full sections of students - a larger one for women and a smaller one that was co-ed. When I asked her about her reasoning, she told me that many women tended to let the men talk and hog the limelight rather than try to compete for answers to their own questions. When the idea of having such a section strictly for men, Calia said she would put together something after the first few batches had graduated.

To allow for work schedules, one session was held in the early afternoons twice a week, and the other session was held on the weekend in a longer seminar format.

As the weeks went by, Calia's students began to rave about how much they were learning. This piqued the interest of other women working in support roles at Air Security.

I knew Pen and his women were attending the early afternoon classes. It was funny seeing Pen's tired look the following day after attending the class with Tanti and Breena. His energy didn't pick up until after he finished his second mug of cahault. Both Jay and I had noticed it earlier during gym time, and feeling sorry for him, let it slide. The second time it happened, I waited until he was on shift. Casually leaning into his office, I brightly asked him, "You seem a little worn out. Are you doing all right, Pen?"

He sat back in his chair, shook his head in a weird mix of amazement and trying to wake himself up and answered, "There is so much to learn, and almost as much to unlearn!"

"Any regrets?" I prompted.

"Only that I didn't learn all of this sooner! Calia is an amazing teacher! She even gives us homework to practice together. I loved them before, but this experience is bringing the three of us closer together, and we're all learning a lot!"

Pleased by his answer, I smiled. "Sounds like you're enjoying yourselves."

"We are."

Pen paused a moment to reflect, then said, "Ranji, I never really felt at home anywhere before, not even when growing up, but here I do. I work with people I am proud to call my friends. I have three older brothers I grew up with, but Jay has been a better brother to me than any of them! I know the names of many in my command. I can see their respect for me in their eyes and their pride in their work, a pride I myself share. Then there's my home life! I have so much to be grateful for! I would have been quite happy with one woman. Because of Tanti, I have two sisters who get along wonderfully, and these two women think the world of me. I love them so much, trying to quantify it makes my heart hurt. More than lovers, we're becoming friends, and that's astounding to me! I never even considered adopting before I met you. Thanks to your example, I'm dad to two great boys and a cute baby girl, and there's two more on the way! I am blessed with a wonderful life!"

"Are you going to have that Quarterly Statistical Analysis Report soon?"

Pen slowly nodded, holding up his index finger. "Aaaannnnd, there it is. The clarion call of dreadfully dull work smothering my sparkle of happiness with numberless dull reports to complete. I hear and obey, oh mighty and relentless leader." Then, in a more serious tone, he added, "You'll have it by end of shift, Commander."

I chuckled at his comment. As I turned to leave, I said, "Sparkling on duty is extra, Pen. While I admire the poetry of your complaint, the Emperor expects us to work for our pay. Time to turn to!"

His admin, Jodana discreetly hid her smile at our repartee behind her hand. I returned to my office with Pen's laughter behind me. He had really become a happy man, and everyone noticed, and his attitude had a positive ripple-effect through the ranks.

Besides her sexuality classes, Calia was in demand in other ways as well. At the request of the women troopers, she held weekly group therapy sessions with those having trouble dealing with past trauma, especially those recently rescued from slavery. One interesting development was the newly rescued women were paired with our existing veteran women troopers. Meanwhile, Doyya and Chita were involved with our Air Security HR to rebuild their records. We helped them as much as we could, providing support as they learned to cope with their return to freedom and choosing to heal. That last part was critical. Personal change absolutely had to be desired and worked for, and I knew that for old behaviors to be abandoned, new behaviors and new ways of thinking had to replace them.

Despite the requests that Calia be even more involved with helping the freed slaves adjust, she was firm in that her commitments in projects be no more than twenty hours a week. She easily could have delegated her duties at home to someone else, and I suspect that Izel would have stepped in and helped her as much as she could. But that would have taken Calia further from me and our evenings as a family together; she was adamant that me and the rest of her family came first. There were a few tense days as schedules were negotiated, but finally Calia and Ixma worked it out so they alternated going to the school with my girls.

To help with managing the household, Calia talked with Izel, and to Izel's delight, my wife did assume oversight of some duties; this had the two-fold effect of giving Calia the time to do her teaching, curriculum and course work, and time for the outside therapy sessions, and Izel was made to feel more involved in running the Kandikan household. I was happy that they were happy and negotiating issues among themselves, and especially grateful I didn't have to intervene.

* * * * *

As predicted by Calia - after the genetic damage was repaired, I did feel more energetic. Even better, I was not only better able to provide more attention to Calia and Ixma, I felt inclined to do so. Yeah, all right, I got hornier. The upside was both women were ecstatic with the increased encounters, and their overall demeanor noticeably brightened. I guess all of us crave love, and physical attention is part of that.

Typically, on weekends, I was able to spend longer making love with Izel. I remember one morning when instead of making love before breakfast, I had had to leave early for a work obligation and returned a few hours later. Izel didn't let me relax at all. She took my hand and guided me upstairs, her intent obvious.

After I washed up and we got undressed, I lavished on her a goodly amount of attention, and she made happy noises in response. Kisses and touches without the need to hurry meant we could take a more leisurely approach to making love. However, while Izel enjoyed coming on my mouth, her begging grew louder as she urged me to hurry up and stuff her empty, steamy pussy with my hard cock.

As I speared deep into her slick tunnel, the look of relief on her face was soon overtaken by appreciative moans. Izel's hands grabbed my butt as I worked in and out of her wet, squishy folds, doing my best to push balls-deep into her clasping sheath.

Izel's eyes were wide as she looked up at me. "Have I told you... how amazing you feel... moving inside me, husband? Or how happy... being with you makes me?"

Adding to her question, as I hilted within her sheath, she rocked her hips downward, giving her clit the blissful grinding against my groin she needed. Then she grinned as her pussy clenched around my length several times in quick succession.

"Not fair, Izel," I grunted, impressed by what she was doing to me. "Too much of that, dear wife... and I won't last long."

"Mr. Kandikan, you say that like I should be disappointed... oooh... when you losing control and filling me up would please us both so much!"

"Mrs. Kandikan, I enjoy making love to you. If we don't rush, we can enjoy this union longer." I pressed hard against her mound, moving in a great circle. My mushroom crown rubbed along the firm entrance to her womb from different angles, giving her different sensations deep within her loins.

"Ranji, our baby has already had to wait this morning... oh, that's a really good spot! I... uh... understood why, but your son... he likes getting his sustenance from his father... on a regular schedule. He's hungry for what only you can provide him, the essence of his father's strength and warrior's heart."

She clenched her pussy around me again, making her cervix rub along the underside of my swollen knob. Pleasure spiked higher, making my balls coil tighter.

I groaned. "Oh, gods, Izel! If you keep squeezing me like that, you'll make me come!"

Her face full of delight as she panted beneath me, she settled into more clenching and releasing around my length, watching my face with great interest.

"Feed our baby," she crooned. "Our son's spirit is so hungry for his daddy's seed."

I quickly resumed thrusting into her, my pace much faster. My balls slapped wetly against her rear.

"Oh, yes, that's it!" she eagerly cried. "Harder, Ranji! Harder!"

"Izel!"

Shoving her hips down into the mattress, fully hilted and slowly rolling across her saturated mound, I grunted with every blast I fired into her.

"Yes! I can feel it!" she exclaimed, then moaned out, "Oh, Ranji, it feels so good..."

Izel grabbed onto my arms and her legs locked behind me. As my third jet painted her insides, the clenching within her pussy suddenly picked up speed, the pulsing undulations along her sheath rippled in counterpoint with the squirts of semen speeding out of my throbbing cock. Izel's eyes glazed over as she clung to me, her hips rocking up and down.

"I love you so much!" she cried.

As my ejaculations faded, I looked down, taking in the beauty of this woman that I loved. Her dilated eyes, the full lips of her mouth, her rock-hard nipples, and as I lifted up to look where we were connected, I saw the engorged wet lips of her pussy wrapped snugly around the base of my cock.

Desire and need had once again transformed into mutual satisfaction and joy. Unlocking her legs, she relaxed and stretched out while I was still inside her.

"Doesn't seem hardly fair to you," she said, giving me a wry grin. "I came three times this morning while you only came once."

"Trust me, Izel, I'm plenty satisfied by our time together." Settling onto one elbow, I put more weight on one side of her, and leaning over, gave her a slow, languid kiss. "Have I said how much I love you, Izel Kandikan?"

"Yes," she replied, her eyes twinkling. "At the moment, it feels especially meaningful. But feel free to tell me every chance you get! I like hearing you say those words to me. Did you know you're my favorite husband?"

I laughed. "Do tell!"

"Since this is my second time around, I do have some basis for comparison, and you are hands down the winner!"

Grinning at her, I kissed her again, then lifting up, I locked my elbows and took the weight off her belly.

"Ranji, you make every new day a joy to welcome." She looked impish yet thoughtful as she added, "You know, even if I only have a child every other year, I'm pretty sure I could manage to give you four or five children."

"Give us," I corrected. "You're in this, too, my sweet wife. Don't feel like you're under an obligation here. You've already had five other children. I don't want to wear you out."

"This has been an amazing experience so far. Granted, I haven't quickened yet. Still, I'm not seen by you as an onerous duty or a cast-off. I'm loved, even cherished, and I'm made to feel a part of this huge family. You're a good, good man, Ranji Kandikan. Good men should have many children."

"You are most certainly cherished, dear wife." I assured her with a grin. "As broody as Calia and Ixma are, there will be plenty of siblings for them to play and compete with. Hmm. You know, with the three of you making all the babies you've told me you want, I bet you three could produce a full platoon of warriors composed entirely of Kandikan children! What do you think of that?"

"What? Oh, you silly man!" Her fingers sought ticklish spots, to which I replied in kind. Laughing and tussling, I was soon dislodged. I rolled onto my back and pulled her close till she happily settled part way on my chest. Hearing her laughter after having made love together was wonderful.

Feeling her relaxation and quite enjoying our after-sex closeness, I tugged the blanket up and covered us, and she sighed happily and snuggled. "I so love being held in your big, strong arms," she murmured.

We both had things to do, but nothing felt as important as finishing our time with a shared nap cuddled together.

* * * * *

The next day, while the girls were downstairs playing a board game with Oceotl, Terra, and Salvia, I went looking for Calia and Ixma as I hadn't seen them since breakfast.

I found them together in Ixma's bedroom.

Calia's face was buried between Ixma's legs, holding Little Mama's legs apart so as to have complete access to her steamy, oozing center. While Calia noisily slurped and licked and Ixma writhed and cried out her pleasure, I was soon naked and hard as steel.

My dilemma was I wanted them both at the same time, but only having one cock, settled for the one closest. Lifting up Calia's rear till she was on her knees, she paused in her ministrations to exclaim in faux-surprise, "Oh, Master! You've found us! I know you forbade us from being together, but we couldn't help it!"

Ixma squeaked in surprise, then pleaded, "Please, don't get mad at us!"

Ah, I thought, the game is I've caught them breaking the rules. I can go with that.

Giving both of Calia's butt cheeks a sharp slap, I grabbed her when she tried to pull away. "Stay right where you are!"

"Yes, Master!" she whispered. She tried to look fearful, however, her wry grin tugging at the corners of her mouth spoiled her attempt at acting.

Nudging Calia's legs, she widened her stance and I ran my fingers along Calia's puffy, dark, and dripping folds. She gasped, biting her lower lip while pushing her pussy against my probing hand. My fingers explored her soft and tender lower lips.

"Master," she moaned, trying to get me to plunge into her needy tunnel.

"Get back to what you were doing," I growled, giving her another butt slap. "It's rude to work your lover into a frenzy and then not finish. Meanwhile, I'll have to figure out a suitable punishment for you both."