The Last Concubine

considering how many wives you have. But when I was sent here, I never thought to have even this much before I died.” Lan tried to sound cheerful. “I suppose you will kill me now.”
    “I don’t think I will,” Hüi said thoughtfully. “I have not yet ravished you, and I believe I promised to do so. I will possess you before this night is done and claim you so that you never dream of another man.” He cupped Lan’s balls firmly in his hand and squeezed gently, watching the young man’s hips start their movement in response.
    Stars shone in Lan’s eyes and he only said, “I think I would like that.”

Chapter 6

    L AN rolled onto his side to watch Hüi’s face while he dozed. From the depths of despair to the heights of happiness was a dizzying climb in just a few hours. After enduring an entire day of dread after his lantern was lit, Lan’xiu had begun the evening hoping for nothing more than a mercifully swift death. Now, it seemed the heavens had opened for him and the good luck he had never known shone down upon him.
    To be held in Hüi’s strong arms and kissed until his senses were spinning, to feel that powerful muscular body pressing him into the mattress were things he had only dreamed of, and his dreams were but a pale imitation of what the reality had turned out to be.
    One of the benefits of long lashes was that even with one’s eyes lowered, one could obtain surreptitious glimpses through them, and Lan had been enthralled with Hüi from the moment he first saw him. The General Lord Qiang Hüi Wei was the biggest man Lan had ever seen, with powerful thighs and broad shoulders. He had the face of a conqueror and eyes that hid many secrets. His careless confidence proclaimed that Hüi was the victor of many battles, not only upon the field, and Lan had dared to hope that perhaps his brother, Wu Min, might yet be vanquished.
    Of course, Lan would not be alive to witness the defeat, but it gave him comfort to think of it after the havoc Wu Min had wreaked upon his family and his province. At least Lan’s death would not be in vain if it motivated Hüi Wei to exact revenge for the deception practiced upon him.
    And now… Lan sighed happily and ran his hand over the muscular shoulder and down Hüi’s arm, gently squeezing the hard bicep of the man lying next to him. Unthinkable that this man should desire him, too, but there was no mistaking the passion that had ignited between them. Perhaps for a time, Hüi would be intrigued, and then possibly he might get used to Lan with the sort of vague fondness one has for one’s pets and possessions. Of course, he would eventually return to his proper wives when the novelty wore off, but he might yet let Lan live, out of kindness.
    “And I will have this memory for the rest of my life,” Lan whispered.
    “Better wait until I’ve given you something more to remember,” Hüi growled, flipping Lan onto his back and pinning his wrists to the bed.
    Lan widened his thighs, enjoying the feeling of Hüi’s strong legs between his, the hard manhood stabbing his belly, his vision swirling as once again Hüi kissed him breathless.
    Helplessly, Lan arched up, trying to ensure that all of his naked body was pressed against Hüi’s. He had not much enjoyed being held a prisoner of his brother’s. It was better being one of the household here. Even though the women had treated him kindly for the most part, he had longed for nothing more than to make his escape and take Ning with him.
    But this experience was different from anything he had ever imagined. What he enjoyed most was Hüi’s weight trapping him, holding him prisoner to be used at his lord’s pleasure. He liked being helpless with Hüi. He enjoyed Hüi’s hands restraining him, exploring him, touching him at will without inquiring whether he enjoyed it. He knew Hüi had enslaved him with this new pleasure, and Lan could deny him nothing. Even when Hüi’s teeth nipped a bit too sharply at his nipple, the pain was a gift from his lord, to be suffered and enjoyed if it gave Hüi pleasure.
    Evidently, it did, for Hüi alternated sucking at the hardened nub of flesh with tiny stinging bites. Lan squirmed under the attention, feeling his cock grow harder despite the pain.
    While Hüi’s mouth pressed to his nipple, Lan felt Hüi’s hand move firmly down his body, over his hip, squeezing the roundness of his buttocks until the fingers slid within the dark valley, finding and caressing his most