The Last Concubine

Hüi ordered, staring at him intently. “I like the idea of my seed wet against your silken panties, dripping out of you while we sit and converse.”
    “Very well, my Lord.” Lan gave him a demure smile and sat beside him on the bench again while Hüi adjusted his clothing.
    “Do you like that too?”
    “Yes,” Lan said softly. “Anything that makes me feel I am yours. When you leave marks upon my body, I touch them the next day and remember—”
    Speechlessly, they stared at each other once again, until Lan’xiu sighed with regret. It surely must be time for Hüi Wei to leave him.
    “Would you like tea before you go?” Lan made as if to rise to ring for Ning.
    “Wait, my love.” Looking embarrassed, Hüi handed Lan’xiu a small package wrapped in red silk.
    It was surprisingly heavy in Lan’s hand. When he unwrapped it, he gasped at the sight of glittering diamonds and rubies. “These are so beautiful! These are… for me?”
    “I had them made for you,” Hüi said almost shyly. “I noticed you don’t have much jewelry, even though what you have is very nice—” He broke off in confusion but relaxed at the delighted smile on Lan’s face. In a rush, he said, “You should have something as beautiful as you are, something that draws attention to your exquisite face.”
    “Thank you.” Lan lifted the earrings to admire them in the light. “The rubies are like fire! And the diamonds sparkle like the stars at night.”
    “Put them on so I can see them on you,” Hüi suggested.
    Lan removed the turquoise earrings and ran to his dressing table to put them in their box. He put the new earrings in the holes in his ears and tilted his head to watch the graceful sway of the jewels in the mirror.
    A diamond lily framed an oval ruby at the top, joined by a chain to a bell-shaped center medallion. A larger ruby held the center, surrounded by pear-shaped and round diamonds. The bell had two pearls dangling from the bottom, while at the center another chain led to a cup-shaped ornament studded with diamonds. This cup was turned upside down and from the bottom, ruby beads circled the circumference.
    He turned to let Hüi see the effect.
    Hüi smiled with pleasure. “The diamonds light up your face with happiness.”
    “It is not the diamonds that make me happy,” Lan replied, casting his eyes downward, trembling at his forwardness.
    “What is it, then?” Hüi got up and came to Lan’xiu and took him into his arms.
    For minutes that seemed without end, Lan was content to simply remain within the embrace of the strong arms that circled him. He could feel the thump of Hüi’s heart and realized that his was beating in time. His emotions threatened to overwhelm him, and he didn’t know how to answer. That he was happy to be with Hüi? That Hüi had wanted to give him a present? Finally, he answered simply. “You. You make me happy.”
    “As you have made me happy, my Lan’xiu,” Hüi answered.
    Lan laid his head on Hüi’s broad shoulder, all thoughts of the earrings forgotten. Hüi was happy with him, and all else had no meaning in time.
    Hüi cupped his chin and made Lan look at him. “I don’t really want to hurt you. What I said before about the pain on your face, I would never truly harm you. I don’t know why I like it.”
    Slowly, Lan said, “I do, my Lord. It is a sign by which you may measure my desire for you. I know it will hurt and yet I cannot help myself; my need to be possessed by you outweighs the pain.”
    “Yes. That is it.” Hüi sighed in satisfaction. “You understand me as no one ever has. And will you let me see that exquisite expression when I first cause you pain to give you pleasure?”
    “Whenever you like, Hüi,” Lan answered, love glowing in his eyes. “I love belonging to you.”
    “I believe you mean it.” Hüi said. “You have not asked me for jewels, or power or money. I cannot give you children. You need nothing from me.”
    “Except your love.”
    “That you have, my Lan’xiu. All that is in me is yours.” Hüi held Lan close. “The others want something from me. And I have done my best to give it to them, but with you, I feel that all that I am is enough for you.”
    “And I never expected to find anyone who would love me as I am,” Lan’xiu whispered back, clinging to Hüi’s broad shoulders. “I thought I would go to my grave and then to the afterworld scorned and despised as something unnatural—”
    “Hush, my beautiful Lan,”