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Chapter twenty-seven

King of Passion

Josh

“We must discuss your engagement party, Junoon,” Mother says as soon as our call connects.

I choke on a sip of orange juice. “Mother! I swear to you, Karma and I are not engaged. I told you and Father— Nani must be mistaken this time.”

She glances up from the list in her hand, a distracted frown on her face. “You may be right, but we can’t take that chance. If you are to be married during Diwali, then we don’t have a moment to waste. There are ceremonies to schedule, guests to invite, wedding sherwanis to order…” A line creases her forehead as she focuses back on her list.

What’s up with this weird wedding fixation? Since when does my family—of scientists!—put so much faith in my grandmother’s visions? My parents may call me Junoon, but they’re the ones who are obsessed.

“Mother, please stop making plans,” I plead with her. “Karma and I are not getting married. There isn’t going to be a wedding.”

“Is that so?” Father walks into the room, taking off his lab coat as he joins the conversation. “Saraswati arrives in just a few days. That’s a long way for her to travel for a wedding that isn’t going to happen.”

True. “Maybe she’s curious about our culture,” I say. “Jaipur is an exciting city to visit.”

“She insists on staying in Rusirani village.” My father gives a weary shake of his head. “Siddharth is taking a sabbatical from work. He wants to document the cultural exchange from an anthropological perspective.”

“I must admit, I’m impressed,” Mother says, setting down her list. “Imagine—a Westerner giving up the comforts of modern life to live in a primitive village. She’s willing to learn ancient Hindu rituals simply to help at her brother’s wedding. They must be very close for her to make this sacrifice.”

I picture Karma growing up on The Wilsons’ farm with all of his brothers and sisters, learning to live in harmony with each other and the Earth. I think about his desire to support his siblings’ dreams by starting a small family business. “You’re right,” I admit to my parents. “Family is important to Karma.”

“That is a good quality to have in a husband.” Father gives an approving nod. “Tell me, what does this young man of yours intend to do for a living?”

Uh oh. “Um, it’s time to leave for my internship. Dr. Yoshida asked me to arrive early. Can we talk about this later?”

The corners of his mouth turn down. “Fine, but this conversation isn’t over.”

Crap . Another thing to worry about. If my father wasn’t happy with my decision to become a cosmologist, what will he think of my boyfriend owning a marijuana shop?

I hurry across campus to the cosmology lab, eager to get away from my parents’ questions and to continue my DES research. But first, I have to talk to Dr. Yoshida about whatever issue is on his mind. The last thing I need is another problem to deal with. Why does everything have to be so complicated? Can’t I just enjoy a quiet summer with Karma?

“Thank you for coming in early.” Dr. Yoshida greets me as I enter the research room. “Let me get straight to it. You need to speak with your student advisor.”

That doesn’t sound good. “OK, sir. Should I go now?” I look back over my shoulder at the door.

“No, no.” He pulls me further into the room. “I just need you to confirm your class schedule for the fall semester. I’ll be thrilled to have you in the Cosmology program—any professor would be excited to have a student of your caliber!—but I’m afraid that you’ve missed next semester’s application deadline by several months. It’s unlikely that I’ll be able to get you into my program before the spring semester at the earliest.”

My stomach sinks, even though I knew that was a possibility. “Of course, sir. I’ll apply as soon as possible. If I have to, I’ll continue with my other studies.” Another semester or two of Aerospace Engineering won’t be that bad. It’ll please my father, if nothing else.

“Excellent! I’ll put in a good word for you with the admissions committee once I receive your application.” The cosmologist rubs his hands together. “I can hardly wait to get you under my wing. Pardon the pun, but you’re a rising star in the fields of astrophysics and cosmology.”

“Hey, Dr. Yo!” Petra skips into the lab ahead of the other interns. “Can I work with Josh today? I have some questions for the smartest student at Spartacus.”

Me? What do I know that the grad student doesn’t already understand ten times better?

When the professor nods his consent, Petra grabs my hand and drags me to a table in the back of the room. Once we’re seated, she turns to me with a hungry look in her eyes. “Tell me the truth. Have you ever been to a Jantar Mantar?”

She knows about India’s Jantar Mantars? The eighteenth century astronomical observation sites—built during the Age of Enlightenment—are marvels of scientific innovation. Their stone-built instruments have been used for centuries to view objects in space with only the naked eye. I was five years old the first time my parents took me to one, and I’ve been obsessed with space ever since.

“I’ve been to all of the ones in my country,” I tell her. “I’m from Jaipur, home of the world’s largest Jantar Mantar.”

“No effing way! I’ve dreamed of going there since I was a little girl.” Petra lets out a wistful sigh.

I’m sensing a kindred spirit. “You must stay with my family, if you’re ever in Jaipur. We would be happy to give you a tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.”

Her eyes grow wide. “Do you mean it? That would be, like, literally amazing.”

“Of course,” I tell my teammate. “In India, we have a saying: ‘ Atithi devo bhava —the guest is a form of God’. Our culture places a high value on hospitality. We love having visitors.”

“Wow.” Petra stares at me like I just offered her the moon. “Maybe you could come visit me in Chile, if I get a job at the Rubin Observatory.”

“I would love to go to Chile,“ I admit, letting out my own jealous sigh. For star-gazers, the Atacama Desert in northern Chile is considered the best observation area in the world. “There are so many places I want to see. The APEX Observatory…”

“The Cerro Tololo Observatory,” she moans.

“The Paranal Observatory.” I place a hand over my heart.

“The Atacama Large Millimeter Array,” we say in unison. ALMA , a collection of sixty-six radio telescopes situated on a high desert plateau in northern Chile, is the largest astronomical interferometer on Earth!

“Someday, I hope to travel the world,” I confide in her. “Once I’m done with my studies, of course.”

“Me, too!” Petra grins. “I think we should be friends. What d’ya say, Josh?” She holds out a hand toward me.

I give it a firm shake. That was the easiest friendship I’ve ever started. “Now that that’s settled, let’s get to work!”

As we tackle the day’s assignments—exchanging our insights and hunches while we pore over the astronomical data—I’m struck by a sudden realization. I do belong on our small DES team. Not only does Dr. Yoshida believe in me, but Charlotte and Petra also value my contributions. They don’t think I’m a ‘science nerd’ just because I’m passionate about the study of space. In fact, they share my obsession. So, why do I keep doubting myself?

It’s time for that to change.

Many years before I was born, I was given the name Josh Malik. Now, I’m ready to claim it. Whether it’s in the classroom, the research lab, or the bedroom…

I am the King of Passion.

“Tonight, we’re going to conduct an experiment.” I lead Karma into my living room.

He jerks to a halt, his eyes growing wide. “We are?”

I stand on my toes and whisper in his ear, “Be brave, My Prince.”

Karma takes a deep breath, then lets it out in a whoosh. He squares his shoulders and nods his head.

“Good boy. Follow me.” I walk down the hallway to my bedroom. With the help of Ruby and Simon, I’ve set the stage for a memorable evening. All of the toys are in place—now I just need to convince my boyfriend to let me play with them. How far can I push him before I go too far?

When I turn around, Karma’s at the door, staring at the playthings sitting on top of my nightstand. “What kind of experiment do you have planned, Moonbeam?” he asks in a wary voice.

“Take off your clothes and lie down on the bed,” I tell him. “Then I’ll answer your questions.”

He hesitates for only a moment, then pulls his t-shirt over his head. As soon as he adds his jeans and boxer briefs to the pile on the floor, he sits on the edge of the mattress.

I admire his lean muscles and tattooed skin as he stretches out across the sheets. Once the velcro restraints are fastened around his ankles and wrists, leaving him spread-eagle on the mattress, I strip off my own clothes. Well, almost all of them. A black garter belt encircles my waist, holding up thigh-high fishnet stockings.

Underwear? None. Not for what I have planned.

Karma gapes at me, his mouth hanging open.

“The subject of our experiment is prostate orgasms,” I say in a scholarly tone. “What do you know about this topic?”

He swallows thickly. “Um, not a lot.”

“After tonight, you will.” I place a stockinged foot on the bed. “Isn’t that right, My Prince?”

Karma’s eyes are locked on my bare dick. He seems unable to answer.

“Isn’t that right?” I give his nipple a pinch.

“Yes,” he gasps.

“That is the correct answer.” I remove my foot and pick up a bottle of lube from the nightstand. Squeezing some onto my fingers, I slip them between his spread legs and glide them over his crease. “How does that feel?”

Karma’s breath speeds up, “Oh, shit. It, uh, it’s good.”

I press the tip of my finger against his hole, and his breathing stops. “Safeword?” When he shakes his head back and forth, I push the tip inside.

“Oh god.” His body tightens against the intrusion. “Uh, Moonbeam? I gotta be honest with you. I-I’ve never actually bottomed before. I mean, I will for you , it’s just–”

“Shhh,” I whisper as I push my finger further inside, then pump it gently in and out of his body. “Relax. Allow your muscles to loosen. Focus your attention on the sensation, then tell me what it feels like.”

Karma makes an effort to slow his breathing, inhaling deeply through his nose then exhaling through his mouth. Soon, his muscles soften—even as his cock grows hard. “That, um… that’s starting to feel really good.”

I circle my finger, widening his channel before pushing a second finger inside. “How is this?” I twist my hand as I pump my fingers in and out.

“Yeah, I like that.” His legs, spread wide by the restraints on the bed, widen a little further of their own accord. His hips thrust upward, his inner muscles squeezing against my fingers. “God, that feels amazing.”

Following my mentor’s instructions, I curl my fingers and make a ‘come hither’ motion as I search for his prostate. I know I’ve found it when he gives a loud gasp. “And this? What does it feel like?”

“Oh my god. Oh, fuck.” Karma writhes on the mattress, his words turning into moans of pleasure. When I pull my fingers out from inside him, he lets out a groan of protest. “Wait, Moonbeam. Please! I didn’t mean—“

“I’m not finished,” I tell him.

Not by a long shot.

Reaching toward the tray of toys, I select a small, curved object. Drizzling lube over its silicone surface, I press its tip against his entrance. “Safeword?” I ask him again.

He pauses, then shakes his head.

I ease the prostate massager inside him, watching in fascination as it disappears, its flared end resting against his taint. I press my fingers on the tail, rocking it gently back and forth.

His hips surge into the air, his head thrown back against the pillow. “Oh! Oh my god. Moonbeam, fuck .”

“Does it feel good?” I ask, continuing to rock the toy inside him.

A moan of bliss is his only response.

I stop the motion, earning a groan. “Now, it’s my turn. Are you ready?”

Karma raises his head off the pillow, his pupils blown wide. “Yes, fuck me. Please . I want it—I want you .”

“I will… but not tonight,” I say. “As I mentioned before, our experiment is about prostate orgasms. My hypothesis is that we can both have one at the same time. Let’s see if I can prove my theory.”

I unfasten the cuff from around his right wrist, then hand him another toy from the nightstand. After drizzling lube over it, I climb onto the bed and straddle his chest.

Karma seems unsure what to do. “Um, should I..?”

Guiding his hand—and the prostate massager—toward my hole, I hold them steady as I push myself onto it. When it slips into place, I throw back my head, savoring the feel of it inside my body.

“Oh, Moonbeam. You’re so fucking sexy,” Karma says in a ragged whisper.

I feel fucking sexy. I usually don’t swear—not even to myself—but there’s no other way to describe it. I feel like a fucking sex god .

“You deserve a reward.” I reach toward the nightstand once again and grab a small remote off of it. Setting the controls to a low, rolling hum, I press my thumb against the button.

His eyes widen before he squeezes them shut, then lets out a deep groan. Euphoria floods over his features.

He likes Setting Two. Good to know.

“Open your mouth, My Prince. Pat me on the leg if you need to use your safeword. Do you understand?” I snap my fingers to get his attention.

Karma’s eyelids flicker open, revealing his glassy green orbs. He nods, then parts his lips and sticks out his tongue.

“You’re so obedient,” I praise him as I slide my cock into his mouth. When he hums around my hard flesh, I turn the remote up a notch.

He moans, his one free hand clasping my ass cheek, holding me close while I pump in and out of his mouth. The rocking motion tilts the toy inside me, its head pressing against my prostate with every thrust. Karma rocks his own hips in tandem, groaning in ecstasy as he sucks me off. The up-and-down movement of his torso only makes me fuck his mouth harder.

I grasp the back of his head with one hand while I hold onto the headboard with the other. My balls slap against his chin as I thrust wildly into his mouth. I throw back my head, the toy in my ass lighting me up with every pump of my hips. “Oh, god. You feel so fucking good. So fucking… so fucking… so— ohhh! ”

A bomb explodes inside my core. Wave after wave of indescribable bliss radiates outward to every corner of my flesh. My head spins as my body spasms, my eyes rolling into the back of my head. Cum shoots from my cock into Karma’s warm, wet mouth as pleasure pulses through me. Time loses all meaning. Nothing exists but this one heavenly moment.

When I finally come back to my senses, my boyfriend is writhing beneath me. Holy crap . I climb off his chest and shut off the remote. “Karma! Are you OK?”

Cum oozes from his half-hard dick onto his sticky, trembling stomach. He stares up at me without seeing.

I tap my hand against his cheek. “Come on. Say something, My Prince.”

As awareness slowly dawns in his eyes, Karma mumbles, “I think I’m in love.”

In love? With me or with prostate orgasms? Either way, one thing is certain.

Our experiment was a success.