For their last class, they all sat on the floor of the haunted ruin while listening to the great god Nanna-Sin speak of demons and spirits and their impact on the world of the gods. Though some of the other students gave Marduk questioning looks, he paid them no attention. Shala and Nanya clung to him as usual, but all he could think of was the party that evening. He preferred to be alone with Aya, but he would accept any opportunity to be with him.
When the class finally ended, Marduk returned to his room, washed, and changed into a black sleeveless tunic that bared his biceps. Combing through the waves of his hair, he stared at his reflection in the basin. Dark brown eyes stared back at him, and for a brief moment, doubt seeped under his skin. Was he a fool to pursue Aya with the threat of Seth’s violence hovering over him? He swiftly chased away his doubts. He was no coward and would not be intimidated by bullies.
Marduk made his way through the dark torch-lit corridors until he arrived at the lower hall. A torch was mounted beside the wooden door, but there was no mortal servant posted by the doorway. He paused before lifting the bronze handle in the middle of the door and knocking. When the door swung open, his eyes came alive with the activity around him.
The candle-lit room seemed to sparkle with bejeweled gods and goddesses, some mingling before a blazing fireplace while others lounged on two dark fur-lined sofas. The soft rumble of conversation filled his ears, and exhilaration coursed through his blood. He had stepped into a world of elite deities, who gazed at him with eyes full of wonder.
“Welcome, Marduk,” the war god Ares said, inclining his head.
Marduk nodded back with a smile. Then the beautiful goddess Isis turned toward him, fixing him with her kohl-lined eyes. Tresses of her long black hair fell loose along her sleeveless white gown, and her neck, ears, and wrists shone with delicate gold jewelry. The image of her naked in class flashed through his mind, making his face flush with color. Isis slid a hand onto his shoulder.
“You were incredible in class today,” she said in a seductive tone and winked at him.
“Uh ... thank you.” He smiled at her, trying to hide his unease, and tucked a strand of hair behind his ear. He had no idea how to respond. Isis gazed at him a moment longer, smiled slyly and returned her attention to the gods in her company. Taking a deep breath and turning away, Marduk realized he was out of his element. This was a party for the most esteemed gods, and all he had going for him were his youth and looks.
Marduk continued mingling with the gods until his eyes fell on Aya, making his way through the crowd. His breath caught in his chest. Aya had walked right by without noticing him, and disappeared down a hall and into a back room. Marduk pressed through the crowd and when he made it to the hall, he approached the room with caution. Soft candle-light lit the room, and a group of gods stood mingling in the doorway. Dark maroon fabric lined the walls, a golden canopied bed lay nestled in the corner of the room, and a fire crackled in a fireplace. Around a low circular table before the fire, Marduk’s instructors were seated.
Then Marduk saw Aya and felt a jab to his stomach. He was lounging in Seth’s lap with one arm draped around his neck. Anger burned Marduk’s chest, and he instantly felt stupid for believing Aya. Why had Aya invited him to this party? Marduk turned around and made his way to the door, but before he could leave, a hand grabbed his arm. He looked up to find the great god Shamash standing over him.
“Lord Shamash.... Excuse me,” Marduk stuttered, his face coloring. Shamash laid his hand on Marduk’s shoulder and smiled.
“No need to apologize, young Marduk,” Shamash said, his light brown eyes shining with pleasure as he spoke. Marduk stared up at him. His thoughts of Aya had evaporated, and his heart was now pounding from this great god’s touch. Shamash, his longtime obsession, stood before him. Marduk fought hard to remain composed, but his breath had left him, and no words could escape his lips. Shamash closed in on Marduk as if he had full knowledge of his affliction.
“Why don’t you join us,” Shamash said, leading Marduk back into the room. When Seth and Aya came back into view, Marduk’s intense desire to escape returned. Being forced to stand before Seth made him ill, and seeing Aya in Seth’s lap set his blood on fire. He stopped in front of the table where Shamash had led him, avoiding eye contact with either of them.
“Please take a seat,” Shamash said, indicating the empty chair beside Seth. Marduk felt their eyes on him as he reluctantly moved forward, and he sat down, stiff and rigid in the chair. While Shamash took a seat across from him, Marduk shifted in his chair to avoid Aya’s stare, his chest steaming. He didn’t know how long he could keep it together sitting next to the couple.
“So, we all heard about your amazing kiss this morning,” Shamash said. Marduk’s heart jumped and his breath left him. “Was Aya the first god you ever kissed?”
“Yes— Marduk said, shocked to hear Shamash speak of such things.
“There’s no need to be bashful.” Shamash reclined in his chair. “We have the sexuality course for a reason. We want you to be unashamed when it comes to pleasure. After today’s performance, I am confident that you can do just that.” Marduk cleared his throat, his face still burning.
“So you find Aya attractive?” Shamash asked.
Marduk’s body tensed. He caught a sly smile on Aya’s lips, and his stomach dropped.
“I should probably go,” Marduk managed to say, rising to his feet. Shamash rose too, barring Marduk’s way.
“Marduk, you have nothing to fear,” Shamash said softly. “You are not alone in your desire for Aya. His beauty has bewitched many, but I’ll have you know that your own beauty is coveted even more.”
The words of this great god registered in Marduk’s mind, and all of a sudden, he couldn’t breathe. He swallowed and glanced up at Shamash. Did this revered god just comment on his beauty? Marduk was sure he was hearing things. He lowered his eyes, and folded his arms over his chest.
“I would love to watch you come out of your shell,” Shamash said, lightly caressing Marduk’s cheek with his fingers. Marduk furrowed his brow and raised his eyes to meet Shamash’s gaze.
“Sit back down, Marduk. The night is far from being over.”
Marduk stared at him for a long moment, unsure of what to do or think. Then he finally gave in and sat back down in the chair. Shamash looked down at him, smiled, and turned his attention to Aya.
“Aya, why don’t you join Marduk?” Marduk barely realized what Shamash had said before Aya sank down onto his lap. He jumped, his body stiffening, but Aya leaned into him, draping his arms around Marduk’s neck, and kissed his ear.
“Aya, please,” Marduk protested, his heart racing. He wanted to shove Aya off him and run out of the room, but instead he sank deeper into the chair, finding no avenue of escape. Aya’s touch was too much, his weight atop his lap was making his sex swell beneath his skirt. Marduk found it difficult to breathe, and the thought of Shamash watching him squirm made his face burn hot.
Aya continued to kiss him, pressing his hand along the length of Marduk’s trapped cock, until Marduk caught his hand by the wrist.
“Aya, please, I can’t do this,” Marduk said in a raspy voice.
“No, Marduk,” Shamash said, reclining in his chair. “He’s doing exactly what I’ve asked him to do. Release his hand and let him touch you.”
Marduk complied and the moment he closed his eyes, Aya’s hand slid beneath Marduk’s skirt and grasped his erection, sending a tremor through his body. Marduk gritted his teeth as Aya’s hand began to pump up and down on his cock. Heat flushed through his body, and his desire to flee returned. Marduk opened his eyes, discovering almost every god in the room was watching him. Groaning, he covered his face with his hands.
Then Aya slipped between his open legs, and the heat of Aya’s mouth enveloped his length. Marduk gasped, his breath leaving him as he struggled to regain control. Grabbing Aya’s hair, Marduk attempted to pull him back, but Aya remained latched to his dick. Marduk struggled for breath as Aya devoured him, and a groan finally escaped his lips.
“Don’t fight it.” Shamash said, but Marduk’s head was spinning. Every thought had been hijacked by Aya’s hot mouth, sliding up and down his shaft, and consuming him fully. Marduk’s body began to unravel and he grabbed Aya’s head, sliding in deeper as a mind-numbing shock racked through him, spilling pure pleasure into every vein. His body spasmed and shook while the beautiful god on his cock swallowed him whole. His heart raced as he tried to collect his senses, but everything around him had gone out of focus. Then he felt Aya’s hands upon him once more: Aya was unfastening his skirt, his hands gliding up his tunic, caressing his bare chest.
“What are you doing?” Marduk whispered, opening his eyes, but the hands upon him did not belong to Aya. It was Shamash who was touching him and Shamash who was slipping his skirt off his hips. Short of breath, Marduk stared at Shamash, making no attempt to stop him. Shamash dropped his skirt around his ankles and slipped his tunic off over his head. Before he realized what was happening, he was sitting completely naked in the chair. Marduk had never been shy before, but he had also never touched a god before touching Aya. Now he sat stripped before a room full of gods who had just made him come for their pleasure. He covered his face with his hands and fought to regain his composure, but somehow he knew he was done. Shamash pulled him up from his seat, but Marduk kept his eyes lowered. He stood naked and trembling before them all.
“Marduk, I’m going to kiss you right now before these gods,” Shamash said in a low, seductive tone. Marduk’s heart jolted; hot blood rushed to his sex. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. Hearing Shamash speak in this manner made a blast of pleasure explode in his mind.
“I ... I don’t...” Marduk stammered, almost swooning as Shamash pressed his body against his bare skin and kissed him. He closed his eyes, his head going numb as the heat of his kiss blazed through his already throbbing sex. Then Shamash finally broke their embrace, pulling Marduk back, appraising him from head to toe.
“Have you ever been fucked by a god?” he asked. Marduk’s heart leapt, and he stepped back, breaking free from Shamash.
“No!” he said, his face burning.
Shamash grabbed him, pulling him up against his body. He ran his fingers into Marduk’s thick hair while he kissed his neck. Marduk shut his eyes, his heartbeat quickening.
“Marduk ...” Shamash whispered near his lips. “I want you to submit to me.” A hot stab pierced his gut.
“Why are you doing this?” he asked under his breath.
“Marduk, I want you. I want you to belong to me, and I want you to submit yourself to me fully.” A shiver ran through him. Shamash’s touch and words filled him with warmth, intoxicating every fiber of his being. Shamash kissed him again, and Marduk’s body melted in the god’s arms, yielding to the god’s control.
“Your body is telling me yes. I want your lips to say the same. Tell me you’re mine, Marduk.”
Marduk stared at Shamash, his breaths labored. Then his eyes drifted around the room. More than ten deities stood watching, and they were all powerful gods with thousands of years on earth. Marduk’s stomach tightened into a knot. He was alone among a room full of predators. What was Shamash really asking of him? Could he really give himself to this god? The knot in his stomach had worked its way into his throat. His eyes drifted back to Shamash, and he felt like he was going to fall over.
“I ... I don’t know what you’re asking.” His voice was barely audible.
“Tell me your mine.”
Marduk’s stomach clenched.
“I’m yours,” he finally breathed, his chest splintering as the words escaped his mouth. What was he doing? What was he agreeing to?
Shamash smiled seductively. “Marduk, I need you to do everything I say without questioning me.”
He produced a thin piece of black cloth from his belt and placed it over Marduk’s eyes. Marduk inhaled sharply as the god’s hard body brushed against his bare skin. After securing the cloth behind Marduk’s head, Shamash pulled him into his arms and kissed him again. Marduk’s entire body came alive with this kiss. He had never felt as vulnerable as he did in that moment. He desired Shamash, but the threat of what he would do to him burned hot in his gut.