The Most Loved of All Read online

  I pulled back and declared hotly, “Never. You’re mine, just as I am yours!”

  The high priest smiled his approval. He took as great a pleasure in fucking my mouth as I did. He would have made quick work of it, but while I had learned many tricks to bring him to a speedy climax, on this occasion I made sure it lasted a very long time, even though I knew when he finally erupted and poured himself down my throat, my cheeks would ache and my throat would be sore.

  Finally he wound his long fingers in my hair, gave a sharp tug, and growled, “Finish me. There is much to be done before you must leave.”

  This time I obeyed him, taking great pleasure in swallowing his essence when he climaxed.

  “Very good,” Khentemsemet praised. He turned to walk to his bed, and I sank back, pleased I had given my high priest such enjoyment, only to utter a cry of delighted surprise as I inadvertently drove the phallus deeper into me. “Remember, keep that in place, Teremun, or I promise, you will feel my wrath.”

  “Truly, Lord?” I tilted my head and flirted my lashes. “In what way?” Although I knew very well. He would warm my buttocks until they glowed red, but I had no fear of that, for it would only make our coupling afterward all the more arousing.

  “You do belong to me, body and soul, don’t you?”

  “I do.”

  “And you, my beautiful princeling, will aid me in my plans.”

  Of course I would always aid the high priest—there was no question of that—but his words confused me, and I thought for a moment there was something oddly…calculating…about them, but then that thought vanished as he returned to my side and resumed stroking my hair…

  * * * *

  I jerked awake, then just as quickly tumbled into another disturbing dream…

  * * * *

  I first heard the rumours while in Athens, waiting for the details to be worked out for the marriage between Nephritiri and the Greek prince. I had never been inclined toward politics, so the tales that Khentemsemet intended to use me as a pawn in his bid to become the power behind the throne made no sense to me. My brother was already on the throne, and his lady wife, our half-sister Akhesenamen, was once again pregnant with a child that would hopefully survive this time. In addition, Tutankhamun’s advisors wouldn’t be likely to step aside for a high priest.

  But I continued to hear snide comments asserting I’d been debauched and was nothing more than the high priest’s plaything, and it became more and more difficult to dismiss the rumours as gossip and treat the Greeks with any sort of courtesy.

  But finally I secured the agreement and could leave for Egypt.

  It had been an uncomfortable journey home, the last half spent riding in a cart. I looked forward to a hot bath, the attendance on my brother, and then a visit to my lover.

  I stepped down from the cart and was about to enter the temple of Anubis when a pair of the Pharaoh’s guards approached and bowed.

  “Highness, your presence is requested by the Pharaoh.”

  “Now?”

  “Do you refuse?”

  “Of course not.”

  The one who had spoken gave me a strange look, then gestured to the chariot that would take me to my brother’s palace.

  * * * *

  I entered the throne room of my brother, the pharaoh, and went down on one knee before him. In my possession was the Greek offer for the hand in marriage of our half-sister, Nephritiri. If I had not been promised at birth to the dark god Anubis, our father would have seen her wedded to me when we turned nine, as he had Tutankhamun and Akhesenamen, shortly before his death.

  “Teremun, what news have you for Us?” Tutankhamun asked regally.

  I offered him the papyrus scroll. “The Greeks are highly desirous of this marriage, O Mighty One. If Nephritiri is amenable, it will add greatly to your coffers.”

  Casually he glanced at the scroll, then passed it on to one of his ministers and rose to his feet. “We would have private speech with you, Prince.” He dismissed his court and led the way to a small council chamber.

  The door closed behind us, and I was alone with my twin brother, and the highest members of his council, Seti, his chief minister, and Akhenatun, the chief of his armies.

  I bowed gingerly. The onyx phallus was still within my back passage. It had given all my movements a certain languid allure, which I was sure had not been my lover’s intent. To my dismay, I had been importuned not only by the Greeks, but also by members of the entourage my brother had assigned to me.

  “How may I serve my Pharaoh?”

  He came to me and placed his palm on my bare shoulder. I could feel the blood drain from my cheeks as the enthrallment I’d been under these long months fell from me. The power of the twin-ship my brother and I shared dissolved the spell I hadn’t realised had control of me, and all became clear.

  I’d disliked the high priest intensely and had made no effort to disguise my feelings. As for Khentemsemet, he didn’t care for me—had never loved me. He was using me. He’d taken pleasure in debasing and debauching me as the Greeks had insinuated. The men he’d given me to under the guise of us playing…The bits of conversation I’d overheard or that he’d let slip, knowing I wouldn’t understand…now they made sense. The high priest’s plan was to be the power behind the throne, the power behind me, not my brother. He just hadn’t counted on the tie that bound me to my twin.

  “Prostrate yourself, Teremun,” the Pharaoh said in the coldest tone he’d ever used toward me.

  My colour returned in a heated flush. Never had my brother bid such an action from me, but I would never disobey him. I sank to my knees and touched my forehead to the rushes that covered the floor, not daring to challenge his order.

  My white linen kilt was flung back, exposing my buttocks and what was nestled between them.

  “You will explain the meaning of this, Teremun.”

  I ventured an upward glance, and saw the sneer that twisted his lips.

  “How is it that a prince of the royal house has become little more than the plaything of the temple of Anubis?”

  I closed my eyes in mortification. The gods had not seen fit to keep that information from my brother.

  “No answer, Brother?” he snarled. “Remove that shameful thing.”

  “Please, no, Majesty!” I cried. He had no idea what train of events would be set in motion if that phallus was not in me when Khentemsemet finally had me brought to him. I knew that only too well.

  “So. You’ve found your tongue. You want that thing inside you? Have you any excuse for such a vile exhibition?”

  I crawled toward his feet and rested my forehead on the rushes before them. “If not me, than you, Mighty One,” I said simply.

  “What?” Akhenatun was reaching for the ceremonial sword that hung at his side, and I closed my eyes, expecting my head to be severed from my body.

  “Silence, General. We would hear further what Our brother has to say. Speak, Teremun.”

  “My Pharaoh, I make no attempt to excuse my actions, but you must know that I had no love for the high priest. He came to me one day more than a year ago, and…” I was so filled with shame I wanted to die. “I permitted him the use of my body. Beyond claiming to be ensorcelled, I cannot explain how I would do such a thing, given my feelings, but I did. Today, when you touched me, it was as if the scales fell from my eyes, and I knew the rumours I’d heard about him…about us…were true.”

  “My touch?”

  “Somehow, the fact that we are twins managed to break the spell.”

  “Rise, My brother.”

  I rose to my feet, wincing at the feel of the phallus shifting inside me, no longer finding it the least bit pleasurable.

  “Why did you not come to Us when We sent word We wished to see you? If, as you say, Our touch broke the spell, it could have been broken so much sooner.”

  I stared at him in astonishment. “You sent for me?”

  “Indeed.”

  “I did not know.”
<
br />   “Khentemsemet was told We…Ah. I see. Our father informed Us the high priest was learned in magick. No doubt he knew our love for each other would defeat his plans.” Gentle hands touched my hair. “You are unaware of Khentemsemet’s intentions?”

  “No, Mighty One. He does not tell his plaything his intentions,” I said bitterly.

  To my utter amazement, I found myself enfolded in Tutankhamun’s arms. “You have suffered much, My brother, but the day of reckoning is at hand. Seti discovered a plot instigated by Khentemsemet. The high priest brought in his own minions to work for him.”

  “When did this happen? I’ve known the men who served Anubis with me all my life. If any new priests arrived, it would have to be after…” My words petered out, and I stared at my brother in horror.

  “After We sent you to Athens. Clever Khentemsemet would have used Us to inadvertently seal Our own doom. He intended to have Us slain, and you put on the throne in Our place.”

  A sudden thought occurred to me. “But, my lord, your lady queen is expecting a child who would take precedence over me.”

  “Why would the babe, if his father lived, be placed on the throne? You look enough like Us to fool even Our half-sister, the queen. Khentemsemet would rule Egypt through you.”

  I dropped to my knees before him. “My Pharaoh, I did not know,” I said again.

  “Can We trust you, Teremun?”

  “Your advisors might think You have no reason to believe me, Mighty One, but I never sought to replace You.”

  “Very well. Return to the temple of Anubis. Khentemsemet will seek an audience with Us. We will instruct him to bring you with him. You are to say nothing of that.”

  I bowed my agreement.

  “Good. He shall see that although We are called the Boy King, We are not a boy.” He grinned, a feral twist of the lips that made me shiver. “Seti, see that Our brother is escorted to the temple, and make sure the high priest has no reason to question the delay in Teremun’s return.”

  The chief minister gave a curt nod and waited for me to get to my feet. We backed out of the chamber, then turned to leave the palace and make our way to the temple of Anubis.

  * * * *

  “…tenders His regrets at having kept His brother so long at the palace. Princess Nephritiri was desirous of having all the details that Teremun could give her regarding the young Greek who wishes to wed her.” Seti radiated distaste—for the Greek attaining to a daughter of the royal house, for having to enter the disturbing temple of the Lord of the Dead, for being in the presence of the high priest.

  Khentemsemet bared his teeth in a parody of friendliness. “We…that is, I thank you for your consideration of our priest.”

  The chief minister didn’t wait for permission to leave—his rank was equal to that of the high priest. He turned his back on us and left.

  “Now, why would the Pharaoh send such an important man on such a pedestrian errand?” Khentemsemet cracked his knuckles, something he did when he was on the verge of losing his temper.

  “Perhaps Seti wished to be certain I didn’t take anything from the palace,” I said quietly. I would have tried to cajole him out of his foul temper; however, if I attempted to, I knew it would be half-hearted at best. “He has no love for me, you know.”

  “Unlike me. I’ve missed you, my beautiful prince.”

  Now the spell was broken, I knew that for the lie it was. I gave a slight bow and smiled at him, hoping it looked as besotted as it once must have. “And I you, my lord.”

  “Were I to examine you now, would I find that object I placed in your delectable bottom still there?”

  I was shocked. “Of course, Lord. Why would I disobey your order?”

  “Why, indeed? Very well, go to my chambers and prepare to await my pleasure.”

  I bowed my head and left him leafing through his correspondence, but it was not long before he joined me. I had just unfastened my kilt when he strode past the cotton panel that shielded the doorway to this room.

  “On my bed, Teremun, on your hands and knees. I have a fancy to take you like a dog.”

  I shivered at his words. How could I once have found them arousing? Fortunately, his back was to me, and he hadn’t seen my distress. I climbed onto the large platform where the high priest slept.

  “Get your head down on your arms, and make sure your exquisite hindquarters are elevated. Ah, I do love these delicate chains you wear, the way they frame this most tempting part of you. Do you remember the first time I had you, Prince? You were begging for me to fill your emptiness, even as I filled your luscious mouth.”

  “Lord!” I said hoarsely. In spite of the fact the spell was broken, in spite of what he’d done and planned to do to me, my shaft was hard, jutting up toward my belly. And I realised he must still be able to do this to me due to the constant stimulation of my passage by the phallus, which needed to be generously coated with ointment in order to enter me with any measure of comfort. What else did that ointment do?

  “And I see the phallus is still in place. Excellent, my little mau.” Occasionally, he’d call me that—the name of our favourite animal, the cat—and I’d thought it was a term of affection. Now I knew better. How would the goddess Bast regard it? “Let me remove it, and you will tell me of all the Greeks it kept from ravishing your snug channel.” He frowned. “But they still could have had your mouth.” He seized my chin, jerking my head toward him. “Did you show them how talented your mouth is, my beautiful princeling? Did you take them, one by one, or perhaps two by two, and suck them until they poured themselves down your throat?”

  His fingers tightened on my face, forcing my lips to part, and he rocked his hips forward until the tip of his shaft was in my mouth. I ran my tongue over the large vein on the underside, forced the foreskin back with my lips, and let my tongue probe the slit at the tip.

  The high priest hummed with satisfaction as I worked him with my mouth. Before he climaxed, however, he pulled himself free and I moaned. “Have no fear, my own Teremun. I have plans for this night.” He slid a cock ring over my oozing erection and fastened it to the silver belt. “And we wouldn’t want them ruined by anything as inconsiderate as an untimely orgasm.”

  He walked to the rear of the bed and unfastened the chains that held the onyx phallus in place. With a sigh of relief, I felt it withdrawn from my passage, and a finger entered me, slicked with a cool salve. It soothed the walls that had become sensitized by the constant presence of the phallus.

  And then the salve began to warm. Once before he had used that ointment on me, when we were supposed to be playing. On that night even the most impressively endowed of the men who’d joined us on my bed had not been enough to blunt the ravening desire that enveloped me.

  I dropped my head to the bed and my hips twitched as the warmth turned to voluptuous heat that demanded friction to ease it. “Master, have pity.” Never before had I called him that, and I hoped doing so now might mitigate whatever plans he had for me.

  “Yes!” He climbed on the bed behind me. “Don’t I always take care of you, my mau?” His blunt-nailed fingertips scraped over my back, pushing my shoulders down so that my back bowed and my bottom was at his disposal. His rampant erection slammed into me, lubricated just enough to enter me without damage.

  But that didn’t matter. I needed the violent, brutal buggering. The salve he used left me mindless with the desperate, uncontrolled desire to be plundered, to have something, anything, in my back passage. I would have accepted a stallion’s huge organ, my need was so great.

  I must have uttered those words aloud, for he laughed, delighted to have so corrupted a prince of the royal house. “What a depraved idea, Prince! Perhaps the next time.” Thank Anubis he was no longer out of reason cross with me. “But for tonight, it will have to be something more mundane, I’m afraid.” With those words, he plunged into me one final time, spilling his seed.

  His grip on my hips would leave bruises, I knew. But the craving had not be
en assuaged, and I whined with need. He leaned forward and bit the skin over my shoulder blade hard enough that I cried out. He would leave tooth marks there. “Would I leave you in such dire need, princeling?”

  He withdrew his softening cock, and slapped my flank. “Are you ready for the next one, little whore?” Even as he spoke, a second erection was sliding past my spasming anus, and I cried out in relief. But even as it plumbed the depths of my passage, I knew it wouldn’t be enough.

  Nor would the third, nor the fourth, nor any of the others that the high priest might give me to this night.

  * * * *

  It was just past daylight when the last of Khentemsemet’s priests—all strangers to me—finished buggering me. My thighs were streaked with semen, enough of which had been poured into me to finally remove the remains of the ointment the high priest had used. I toppled to my side, my chest heaving as I tried to regain my breath. My throat was sore from the cries and moans and howls that had emerged from it.

  Khentemsemet removed the cock ring with some difficulty. A single touch of his fingertips, and I came with a scream that destroyed what was left of my voice. I was a mass of aches, even more so than the last time he had done this to me, for this time there had been more men, and I was exhausted from the journey from Greece.

  “He permits this, demands this,” he whispered, unaware I could distinguish his words, “and this is how I shall rule the kingdom.”

  I resolved that I would allow an asp to bite me before I permitted the high priest to ever make me his creature again.

  He ordered slaves in to remove me to my own chamber and clean the residue of the night’s debauchery from my body. I was asleep before the huge Nubian slave could pick me up.

  * * * *

  A stinging slap to the face awoke me. “Why didn’t you tell me the Pharaoh wanted you to accompany me when I went to the palace?”