'You get to be taken to the High Cardinal.' One of the vestals told her. 'Come on! He's impatient to know you.'
-ooOoo-
Wearing only his dalmatic the High Cardinal watched as Cali was brought to stand before him. The red shift marking her as a novice was threadbare and at least two sizes too big, only just clinging to the points of her shoulders and leaving bare her slim neck and clavicle. The thin cloth draped itself enticingly around her ample breasts and rippled slightly as she walked, plainly revealing the bulge of her nipples with their dark areola. Her gleaming black hair tumbled down her back in disarray until it nearly touched her tight butt.
He said nothing, just looked. He felt his manhood gradually stir and stiffen into readiness. This was one he would relish. Three-and-a-half score years, and more, were behind him but still he had the will and the power to want, ravish and enjoy - although not as often as in his prime. This one would delight him with the softness of those hand filling breasts and the thrusts of his shaft inside her hot, throbbing centre. Of the many vestals he'd selected to pleasure him over the years, few had possessed a body to compare with this girl. It was a pity she must be relinquished to the Tribute, but it had to be. At least he would have a use of her before she was sent south.
For her part Cali waited uncertainly. The supreme head of the Temple, this holy man, was staring at her most peculiarly. It was as if he wanted, intended, to have her. But no, he couldn't - if Jon was right he could take any woman he wished, so why should he want her? Anyway he was so old. That scrawny neck, those hollow cheeks and drooling lips revolted her. The thought of those liver-spot covered hands roaming across her body, fondling her breasts and caressing her thighs, made her feel sick.
'My daughter. It was intended that thou shouldst become a vestal. That our priests, who so devoutly serve the Mighty Gods, might be blessed with some reward for their endevours by enjoying the pleasures of your body. But on occasion the good of our congregation requires another, higher, sacrifice. We wish it were not so, that we could keep you amongst us, but we must bow before The God's command. Thou art to be our Tribute to The Great Dragon - the ruler of Dragonia - that he may leave us in peace for another year.' The High Cardinal paused, 'We do not have to explain, your brother covered it well enough.'
'You were listening?'
'Do you think we are so imprudent as not to take a few precautions. Of course we heard all that he said. . . . There remains just one item to be confirmed. Your beauty is undeniable, but alone it may not suffice to provide the pleasure to which a ruler is entitled. It is our duty to confirm that you will fully answer his desires.'
She was muddled, disjointed, confused. 'I don't understand.'
'We must be sure that when he uses you, as a man uses a woman, you will satisfy him. So we must first test your bounty.'
'I'm to be mated?'
'Yes. It is a chore we will ourself undertake.'
The thought of being taken by him repelled her. His pretence that he was only performing his duty was unconvincing, every word merely echoed his lust for her body.
The High Cardinal drew a silk scarf from the pocket of his dalmatic. 'But first, since your preference will likely run to youth rather than experience, let us blindfold you. Then you can focus your mind on our skill, not our image.' He fastened the scarf around her eyes.
'Now come. Disrobe and let us savour that lovely body with which The Great Gods have blessed you.'
What choice did she have? Trembling, she raised her arms and reached behind to unfasten her shift. Lazily it fell to circle her feet. She felt a slight draught caress her body, and shivered as she imagined his eyes on her naked and vulnerable flesh. He would be studying her boobs, her untouched pussy. Tightly she pressed her legs together to hide her nether lips.
'Trust us,' he said. 'Do all we say and you will have an experience you will never forget.'
She managed a faint, 'I do not doubt it, Your Grace.'
Smiling, pleased with her submissiveness, he looked her up and down, his eyes agleam with desire. His gaze lingering first on her quim with its lush beaver, then on her full, firm tits. His breathing grew harsh, his chest heaved as he reached for her and crushed her to him, the hardness of his erection stabbing her stomach. His palms stroked up and down her back, gently massaging her, feeling the smoothness of her skin; then paused on her hips, slid round to her flat belly and up, up to those adorable boobs. He stopped for a long moment, just cupping them and savouring their firm weight.
When he again moved he slowly dragged his palms to and fro across her nipples, feeling them swell, before holding her by the shoulders and easing her to the couch. Firmly he pushed her back until she was lying, her neat buns at the edge, her legs dangling.
His hands left her. Cali could hear a rustling - he was removing his dalmatic. Quiet footsteps and she sensed he was beside her again. A light, barely felt touch, brushed her mouth. Her tongue instinctively flicked out to find his finger as he caressed each lip in turn. Then he stroked her cheeks, before dragging his palms down across her chin, her neck, the hollow of her collar bone, smoothing the skin in small circles. When he reached her left breast he pressed gently around the edge spiralling in until he found her bud. It stood high for him to squeeze firmly, sending a bolt of ecstasy straight to her centre. She moaned.
The High Cardinal heard her breathing deepen, leant forward and ran his tongue around her other breast. God, she was tasty. His thin lips opened to take her swollen nipple into his mouth. He nipped her with his teeth, sucking her deep.
The fingers of his other hand found her pussy. Gently, oh, so gently at first, he stroked her from clit to anus. His fondling grew firmer. He pushed a finger inside to test her dampness, was gratified when she arched her back and pushed her mound into his hand.
The scarf was doing its work; she was unable to see him but his heavy breathing and the musky, unmistakable scent of sex was feeding her carnal needs and overcoming her revulsion. Her soft, 'Yes, yes,' was music in his ears.
'What do you want, my dear?' he asked.
Cali barely heard him, all she knew was the rapture of his hands and mouth thrilling her in a way she had never known before. As he rubbed her clit, she began to pant, gave a low moan and dug her nails into his shoulders, then down his back to his hips, instinctively pulling him to her.
He held back, in no hurry. She felt him ease himself onto the couch and kneel across her. All the time his tongue licked her nipples, his fingers explored her pussy, testing her wetness but not entering her. Her breathing quickened, she was near to climax. She whimpered, she needed to be filled. He would not let her come. His touch on her swollen pussy lips was feather light, then firm, then light. He seemed to sense her need and to repeatedly rouse and then deny her.
She was ready. His fingers parted the soft lips of her centre. The helmet of his cock butted them, sliding up and down coating itself with her dampness. He eased away from her, placed a hand to one side to take his weight, his other reaching for her thighs to open her wider before grasping his now totally rigid staff and positioning it at her entrance.
She felt it, hard yet soft, probing, pushing her lips apart as the glans slowly entered, forcing deeper and deeper. There was nothing else in the world now but this manhood thrusting, filling, rewarding her. His stroke was slow, his pelvis grinding her clit. She couldn't resist. The tremors started deep inside her then rushed out to explode around his cock.
He heard her cry, felt her come, but it was too soon, he wasn't ready yet. He thrust harder, faster; her beauty, her pleasure, her satisfaction were a dim, unimportant memory. All that mattered was his release. His thighs tightened, he shuddered, he whimpered. Hot and hard his seed erupted into her, filling her. He lowered his chest onto her two soft boobs and rested while his heartbeat slowed and the blood drained from his tyrannical probe.
Some minutes passed before he rose, resumed his robes and removed the blindfold. 'Yes, you will be a worthy Tribute. Would that we had more time to attend to your education ourself. It would please us greatly to instruct you further. However, the Gods have ordained otherwise. You are required to leave at first light.'
'No. Leave that. You deserve better,' he said as she reached to cover herself with the discarded shift. He pulled a cord by the arras and she heard the faint chime of a distant bell.
The two vestals who had escorted her into his presence entered and genuflected. They were good looking women only a few years older than Cali.
'What is the meaning of this rag?' The High Cardinal thrust the shift at them.
'But, Your Grace, it is not worth giving her new robes just for the journey. Especially as we are told she will be naked for the presentation ceremony.'
'But what if she is seen on the journey. What of her dignity. She deserves your respect. Both of you, remove your robes. Now!'