Page 204 of Cruel Devotion

“They keep the Mountain Master’s secrets.”

I sucked my teeth. “That’s not an answer. You know what I want to know.”

He laughed. “And what do you want to know, Moni?”

“What are they going to do? Is this about to be an orgy or something?”

He stopped us in the center of the space, faced me, and an intense expression hit his face.

My breath caught in my throat.

He tilted his head to the side. “You think I could shareyou?”

I held my hands out. “Lots of men would love to have sex with four women in one moment.”

Silent, he studied me.

I pointed to him. “You, yourself, said you typically have the whole harem performing in your bed. And right now, these women are by your bed. What else would I think?”

“You’re right about the harem. It took several of them to pleasure me.” Lei’s eyes darkened with desire as he leaned in closer. Barely an inch ran between his mouth and the side of my face. His breath warmed against my ear. “But I already know. . .I could never be okay with anyone else touching you. Not a man. Not a woman. No one.”

His words sent shivers down my spine.

He brushed his lips against the shell of my ear. “They’re here to help.”

My body tingled. “H-help with what?”

“Hmmm.” Stepping back, he guided me away. “Begin.”

What?

At his command, the blindfolded orchestra lifted their instruments in unison. Bows rose in poised hands. Flutes pressed to eager lips. The harp nestled against heaving breasts.

Lei caught me watching the musicians. “Do you like that they will be here?”

“Well. . .” I scanned all of their faces and the thick blue fabric shielding their eyes. “This is certainly a first.”

Still leading me forward, Lei traced soft circles along my palm. “They’re called, the Sky Whisperers. They don’t play traditional songs or anything ever written down.”

“Then, what do they play?”

“Whatever the feeling of the room tells them to play.”

“So like. . .an orchestra mood ring?”

He chuckled. “Pretty much.”

“But how is that possible?”

“Only kids with heightened senses can join.” He stopped me by the carts adorned with adult toys. “And then they are trained for the rest of their childhood to not just play their instrument but tofeeland interpret the subtle energies and emotions in their surroundings.”

“And how do you learn that?”

“Deep meditation, sensory exercises.” Lei let go of my hand. “The orchestra’s blindfolds shut out the visual world.”

“Wow.”

Lei walked over to the carts and began perusing each one. “This allows the musicians to tune in more acutely to the vibrations and aura of the room.”

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