Author Spotlight - Grace R. Duncan and a Cut Scene from Choices

Today's author spotlight is on Grace R. Duncan and she is here to share a cut scene from her Dreamspinner Press release Choices. Be sure to comment and let her know you stopped by! ;)

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The following deleted scene was taken from roughly the middle of the book, while they are on a trip. As I wanted to stay with Teman and Bathasar's points of view, this bit had to go. However, it's a nice look toward the second book, Deception and even a hint about the third book I've got planned, as yet unnamed.

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Darius requested that Cyrus and Nadir spend time with the guards who were along for the trip.  The two of them had agreed, surprised to be asked.  They would have been willing, anyway, but knowing it wasn’t mandatory just made them that much more agreeable to it.

The captain escorted them to the entrance of the main tent for the garrison.  “They are not as refined as the masters you normally serve at the palace,” he warned them.  “They don’t play games, for the most part and are really just looking for some relief.  They will probably not remember to command you to finish, so please feel free to tell each other.  I also want you to know that you are not there to take brutality from them, either. If any of them do treat you poorly, please tell me. I want to know, because I will not allow it among my guard.  There are people in the palace that I have no control over,” Darius said and both Cyrus and Nadir knew he was referring to the malik.  “But I have control over them and I will not stand for it.”

“Yes, Captain,” Cyrus said and they both bowed their heads to him.

“Thank you again, for agreeing to this. You didn’t have to,” Darius said and Cyrus and Nadir smiled.

“We don’t mind,” Cyrus said and they glanced at each other, grins on both faces.

“When you are through, come to my tent. You can clean up and sleep there,” Darius said, and the other two nodded again. “Very well,” he murmured, pulling the tent flap back and stepping through, Cyrus and Nadir following.

“Stay seated!” Darius called as they moved to the center of the tent. All of the guards had started to stand at the sight of their captain, but they settled back on the pallets at his words.  Cyrus looked around to see a long row of pallets on either side of the tent, similar to the ones he was used to sleeping on in the slaves’ wing.  Most of them had a guard in the standard desert uniform of white pants and tunic.  Most had their headdresses and shoes off and their tunics hanging open.  A few were playing card games.  A few others were sitting and talking. And a few more were dozing quietly.  Cyrus saw bottles of wine and ale sitting open on low tables as well as small plates of dinner remnants.

“This evening, I present to you Cyrus and Nadir, pleasure servants of the palace,” Darius introduced them.  “They have kindly agreed to provide you entertainment this evening.”  Most of the guards sat up a little straighter at this and several cheered.

Cyrus and Nadir exchanged grins and winks before looking back over the assembled company.  “But before I leave you with them, I want a few things made clear. They are to be treated with respect.  They are not common whores.  They are valued highly by the malik, the amirs and the palace.  They have been given a choice to be here tonight and have willingly offered to come here. If you misuse them in anyway, you will lose your boots, your horse and will find your own way home.”  Darius paused to allow the seriousness of his edict to sink in.  “As long as you treat them with respect, you have nothing to worry about. Their limits are their own, do not cross them.”

He waited another beat then turned to Cyrus and placed a hand on Cyrus’s back. “This is Cyrus,” he said, then did the same to Nadir. “And Nadir.  Please enjoy your time with them,” Darius said, then turned to Cyrus and handed him their keys, lowering his voice. “What you do and how much you do is up to you and Nadir and only you.  Remember that.  Please enjoy this, as well.”

“Thank you, Captain,” Cyrus said, taking the keys.  Captain Darius nodded once more to them and left.

He and Nadir were still dressed, wearing dark green and brown cotton robes, now hanging open over their matching pants.  Cyrus turned to Nadir and realized that Nadir looked... nervous.  “Nadir?” he asked, reaching up and touching his lover’s cheek.

“Sorry, I’ve never been in front of this many before. Even the dinners are different, really...” he said and swallowed around his dry throat.

“I know what you mean,” Cyrus said and glanced around. A few of the guards were looking at them rather anxiously, one or two looked ready to jump out of their clothes that very second but most were watching them curiously to, Cyrus thought, see what they would do.  He turned back to Nadir and tilted his lover’s face up to his.  He leaned in and gave Nadir a long, thorough kiss, then pulled back and looked into his lover’s eyes. “You will please many tonight, Nadir, including me and Captain Darius by helping these men out.  They look forward to your service and will be very happy with what you do for them. Now, I am going to remove your clothes and your cage so that I might show off my beautiful lover to these men. Remember that I love you and that you are good at what you do: serve.”

Nadir took a deep breath then nodded and took a half step back, turning around.  Cyrus reached up to pull the robe off of Nadir’s shoulders.  He folded it quickly, laying it to the side, then turned Nadir to face him, untying his lover’s pants.  Nadir stepped out of them and handed them over and, after they joined his robe, Cyrus unlocked his cage and removed it and the ring.  Nadir’s cock hardened and Cyrus’s own length twitched inside its cage. He handed Nadir a small bottle of the oil he’d brought and left one more kiss on his lover’s forehead.

He turned to the guards, shifting Nadir to face them. “This is Nadir. Who would like to be the first to spend time with him?” Cyrus asked and several men moved at once.  Cyrus grinned and leaned into Nadir’s ear. “See? They can’t wait to be with you,” he murmured, then pushed gently at Nadir’s back, spurring him to start the walk down the aisle between the pallet rows.

He didn’t even reach the second pallet when one of the guards reached out. “Nadir, is it?” he asked and Nadir nodded. “Would you sit with me?” When Nadir agreed, kneeling next to the first guard that asked, three others moved over to sit near him. Cyrus smiled, proud of Nadir and turned to take care of his own clothing.

He made quick work of undressing, his robe and pants landing neatly on top of Nadir’s. Then he turned his attention to his cage and unlocked and removed it quickly.  The few times over the years that he’d removed his own cage always felt weird to him.  He much preferred to have someone else do it, even Nadir, but expediency was more of an issue here and so it came off and landed with his clothes.

He grabbed his own bottle of oil then turned around and he found two of the other guards standing nearby. “Cyrus?” One of them asked and Cyrus nodded.

“That I am, can I help you?” he asked, grin in place.

He was led over to a pallet about halfway down the row on the opposite side from Nadir. He’d noticed Nadir still sitting, mostly untouched amid the guards.  They were talking to him, asking him questions. He caught one about duties and Cyrus smiled. They were making him comfortable before they started.

Cyrus turned to his own group.  There were still two guards toward the back of the tent who hadn’t awakened.  Darius had told him that there were two on patrol that may come in before they left and wish to spend time with him.  That left eight guards remaining:  four of them surrounding Nadir, and four who had formed a group to wait for him.

“Hello,” he greeted them, kneeling in the center of the four men.  “I am Cyrus,” he said, bowing his head. “It’s my pleasure to serve you this evening.”

“I am Akil,” said the guard who had approached him.  “And this is Sabir, Khayri and Bassam,” he finished, pointing to each guard in turn, who nodded.

Cyrus again bowed his head. “Akil, Sabir, Khayri and Bassam, it is good to meet you,” he said, smiling.  “How can I serve you?” he asked, looking from one to the other.

It was Akil who spoke up again. “What do you do?”

Cyrus chuckled. “Most things, really,” he said, turning to face Akil.  “I like to give pleasure,” he continued then watched as Akil’s eyes dropped to his cock. “With my mouth,” he said, his voice dropping slightly as his cock jumped with the inspection. “Or my body.”  He felt a hand on his back and looked over his shoulder at Khayri who had reached out, running a hand over his skin.

“WIll you stroke yourself for us first?” Akil asked and Cyrus nodded, wrapping a hand around his cock and slowly pulling it along the length.  His eyes slid closed as he let the pleasure flow through him.  He moved his hand slowly, drawing it out, moaning softly with it, letting them see how good it felt.  He heard ragged breathing next to him and he opened his eyes to see Khayri with his cock out and in his hand, stroking it to the vision of Cyrus stroking his own.  He groaned softly and moved his hand a little faster, allowing himself to get closer to the edge.  His head fell back and he spread his legs a little more, putting on a show for them.

He heard a grunt to his left and he turned his head, opening his eyes again to see Akil this time with cock in hand, stroking it and as he looked around, the other two, were, as well.  He leaned back, rocking his hips and thrusting into his hand, letting the real moans at his pleasure come through.

He heard a voice in his ear that he recognized to be Akil’s. “Are you allowed release?” he asked and Cyrus nodded.

“Yes, but I must be commanded.  We are trained to command, as well as arousal. I can finish and recover very quickly, if it pleases you for me to.”

Akil nodded and Cyrus went back to pleasuring himself, rocking his hips, moans getting louder as he got closer. His hand moved faster, he bit at his lip and he could feel his balls tightening.  Another grunt, more groans as his body poised itself on the edge.  “Nngh... close,” he moaned, “So close...”

He continued to stroke, his cock red and hard, the tip swollen, his balls tight against him. His body wanted climax, his face was twisted in pleasure just out of reach.  Then he heard a command he hadn’t expected. “Come for us, Cyrus,” Akil murmured in his ear.

He shouted in surprise, an “Ahhh!” louder than he’d meant to as his climax hit.  He coated his chest and stomach is his cum, his hand still moving as he milked the last of the pleasure from himself.  He braced himself on one hand, his breath coming in pants as he tried to calm down.  But then a finger slid through the cum on his chest and gathered some of it up, offering it to him.  He opened his mouth and his eyes met Khayri’s as he took them in, sucking his own seed from the fingers.  His eyes dropped to see Khayri’s cock hard and straining.  Cyrus licked his lips as he looked at it then his eyes darted up to meet Khayri’s again to see naked want that took his breath away.

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Since the scene ended up so long, I thought I'd spare poor J.R.'s blog and cut it here. For the rest of the deleted scene, head over to: http://www.grace-duncan.com/deleted-scenes.html

 

Blurb:  

Born and raised a gypsy in the late eleventh century, Teman values freedom over everything. He and his best friend, Jasim, are thieves for hire—until one night they're caught and their precious freedom is revoked. Given the choice between the dungeons or palace pleasure slavery, they become slaves, but Teman vows to escape someday.

Bathasar doesn’t want the throne. He supports his brother instead, which suits their sadistic father, Mukesh. When Teman, the handsome slave Bathasar has secretly been watching, saves his life, Bathasar requests a slave for the first time. Before long, Bathasar and Teman fall in love. But all is not well. One day Mukesh brutalizes Teman before the court, angering the empress of a neighboring nation. To appease her, he then offers her Jasim as a gift, and Teman decides to stay with Bathasar for now—despite the abuse he may suffer.

The peace doesn’t last. Mukesh plans to invade Jasim's new country, and Bathasar must find a way to stop the destruction. But if he succeeds, he'll ascend to the throne and have the power to grant Teman his liberty. Then Teman will surely leave him. What other choice could a gypsy make?

 Buy Links: 

Dreamspinner Press: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3611

 Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Choices-ebook/dp/B00BOWTTNC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1364171167&sr=8-1&keywords=Grace+R+Duncan