The rest of the walk to Ragden’s house was quiet and uneventful. Aria maintained a small gap away from Ragden, Emily, and Sarah, who walked side-by-side. Aria stepped to the side as they approached Ragden’s lawn, keeping her eyes down as they walked past her. She waited for them to pass before she followed them. Aria was still trying to marshal her thoughts and feelings. She was embarrassed by how strong her desire to jump him was. Her body ached to feel his touch. Just watching him walk between Emily and Sarah made her heart flutter. Her insides quivered and quaked in anticipation of feeling him enter her again. Aria bit her lip as she followed them up the walk.
As they neared the house, Emily stepped ahead, and Sarah slipped behind Ragden. Emily giggled as she dragged a hand through the bushes, feeling the slender leaves twist around her fingers. When she got to the door, she pulled out her key and opened it. Stepping into the foyer, Emily was struck by the incredible scent of a home-cooked meal. Her stomach rumbled as she slipped her shoes off. She could hear Jennifer humming to herself in the kitchen as she walked into the living room.
Ragden followed Emily into the house and slipped his shoes off. His stomach rumbled as the scent of dinner wafted through the house. He hurried to catch up with Emily.
“Holy fuck, that smells good!” Sarah exclaimed as she came into the foyer and took off her shoes. Aria slipped in behind her, closed the door, and removed her shoes. Sarah turned to Aria and grabbed her ass as she licked her lips. Aria blushed, took Sarah’s hand, and walked through the living room and into the dining room.
Michael and Jennifer were moving about the kitchen, putting the finishing touches on dinner. Jennifer looked up as Ragden and Emily came around the corner. A huge smile lit up her face, and she hurriedly washed her hands, dried them, and came out from around the island to greet them. Jennifer came up to Emily and gave her a tight hug. She pulled back and kissed her on the cheek. Emily blushed. Her heart beat a little faster in the older woman’s embrace.
“You look radiant, my dear,” Jennifer said as she winked at Emily, “Did you have a good day?”
Emily felt heat on her cheeks as she replied, “Yes. Thank you.”
Jennifer stepped away from Emily and hugged Ragden tightly, squeezing her body against his. With their lower bodies still pressed together, she leaned back and looked him in the eye.
“You look delicious,” Jennifer’s voice was low and sultry, sending a shiver down Ragden’s back. She licked her lips as she met his eyes. Ragden’s manhood started to stir. She looked down where their groins were pressed together. Jennifer purred softly as she met his gaze. There was a hunger in her eyes that caused his manhood to throb. “I do hope you had a restful day, as I am very much looking forward to the night’s festivities.”
Ragden gulped as Jennifer stepped back from him and turned to Sarah. Emily noticed the bulge in Ragden’s shorts and giggled as she draped an arm around his waist and leaned against him. Sarah walked up to Jennifer, and the two wrapped their arms around each other. Sarah grabbed Jennifer’s ass and pulled their bodies together. Jennifer laughed as she hugged Sarah. Then she reached down and grabbed Sarah’s ass, pulling their groins together. Sarah’s eyes widened in surprise.
“You look wonderful, dear,” Jennifer said coyly, her voice carrying hints of desire, “I do hope Ragden is giving you everything you need?”
Sarah blushed and nodded vigorously. Jennifer kissed her on the cheek. Sarah stood shocked for a moment as Jennifer stepped back from her. Jennifer took Aria’s hand and pulled the younger woman to her. Aria wrapped her arms around Jennifer and buried her head against her shoulder. Jennifer patted her back soothingly and whispered in her ear.
“Is everything all right, dear?” Jennifer asked softly. Aria nodded but kept her head against Jennifer’s shoulder. Jennifer patted her back as she spoke, “You look wonderful. How was your day at school?”
“Good,” Aria said as she sniffled. She could not explain why the simple greeting moved her to tears. The love and comfort that seemed to radiate from Jennifer was more than she could bear.
Jennifer leaned back from Aria. Aria stood up straighter and met Jennifer’s eyes. “And your after-school activities? Did they meet your expectations?”
Aria blushed and nodded. Jennifer smiled and winked. “I remember my first threesome. Not something you soon forget.”
Jennifer stepped back from Aria, turned, and walked back into the kitchen. “Have a seat, ladies. Dinner will be ready shortly. Ragden, I could use a hand here.”
Emily, Sarah, and Aria found places at the table. Sarah and Aria sat next to each other while Emily went to the table’s far side and sat next to the empty chair where Ragden would sit.
Jennifer pulled a stack of plates from the cabinet and set them on the counter. Ragden stood off to the side, waiting for Jennifer’s guidance. Jennifer looked at him and smiled. She grabbed a plate and started heaping food onto it.
“For Aria,” Jennifer said as she handed the plate to Ragden. He nodded and took the plate to Aria. When Ragden returned to the kitchen, Jennifer had two more plates for him. Ragden took the plates and placed them before Sarah and Emily. As Ragden entered the kitchen again, he noticed another plate almost overflowing with food. Jennifer handed it to him.
“That’s for you, dear,” Jennifer said with a sly smile. “You need to keep your strength up.”
Ragden stared at the enormous pile of food. He shrugged, took it to his spot at the table, and sat down. Emily giggled as she saw how much larger his portion was than hers. Jennifer and Michael joined them at the table shortly after. Their plates were all piled with sausages, broccoli, bell peppers, and mashed potatoes.
“Surely you are not waiting for me?” Michael asked as he sat down. He laughed as he raised his arms in exasperation, “Eat!”
They all dug in. Dinner was filled with the soft noises of a meal well-prepared and enjoyed by all. Of all of them, Michael had the smallest portion. It was barely more than a sample of each different thing they ate. He savored each bite, watching Jennifer and smiling at her as he ate them. Once he was finished, he sat back and watched everyone enjoying their meal.
Once Ragden had cleared his place, he stood, went around the table, and collected all the empty plates. Sarah and Emily were still finishing theirs, but Ragden took Michael, Jennifer, and Aria’s plates into the kitchen. He placed the empty plates in the sink and got an additional serving of food. Not piled as high, but close.
As he sat back down, Michael chuckled, watching him. Jennifer sat back in her chair and relaxed, watching everyone at the table. She smiled and winked when someone would glance her way.
“Ragden, I got a call from one of your teachers at school this afternoon,” Michael said nonchalantly, “Mrs. Kubowski was concerned that we were going to report her.”
Ragden’s face paled. He swallowed his food and took a deep breath. Michael watched and laughed. He held up a hand to Ragden, stopping him.
“Don’t worry. She told us everything that happened. It seems you had an eventful day at school. I assured her we would not be reporting her to anyone. She was relieved to hear that and asked if we minded if she… How did she put it? ‘Continued to explore your relationship,’” Michael laughed again. “We invited her for dinner, but she seemed far too flustered. I told her it was up to you if you wanted to see her again.”
Ragden swallowed another bite of food. “Thanks. I think.”
Michael eyed his son curiously. “Do you want to see her again?”
Ragden looked around the room, carefully meeting the gaze of each of the women there. He gulped. Michael waited patiently. Ragden looked back at his father and nodded. “Yes. I do.”
Emily patted his hand and leaned against him, smiling. Ragden looked at her, surprised. Then, he kissed the top of her head. Michael smiled happily. Aria and Sarah giggled.
“That settles that, then,” Michael said, still smiling. He started to push his chair back but saw something on Ragden’s face that made him pause. He arched an eyebrow in Ragden’s direction. “I can see the question on your face, son. What is it?”
“Dad,” Ragden started, then swallowed. He drank water from his glass, then started again, “What is the dark cloud?”
“You saw it again today?”
“Yes.”
Emily turned to Michael and spoke, her voice low and soft, “I saw it too. I saw Ragden battle it briefly. It wasn’t evil, just hungry…”
Michael raised an eyebrow to Emily. He turned to Ragden and steepled his fingers on the table before him. He took a deep breath and settled himself.
“This will take some explaining,” Michael started, “but you are due an explanation.
“When living beings engage in sexual conduct, they trade fluids. You know this. It’s elementary science. They also trade energy. The average person trades such a tiny portion of their energy that it is not noticeable. Unless it is a long session or very athletic.”
Michael paused, and his gaze swept across all of them. “However, when YOU engage in sex, you trade much more energy than the normal person. You radiate it. You flood the room with it.”
Ragden blushed. Michael laughed and started speaking again. “There is nothing to be embarrassed about; it is just part of who you are.
“However, broadcasting and sharing that much energy requires fuel. Look at how much food you just ate. That is far more than the average person your age could eat. I would wager you could eat another full plate of food and not gain a pound with how active you have been and will continue to be tonight.”
Michael winked at Jennifer, who blushed. Emily stared at Jennifer. She had not thought anything would make Jennifer blush. Then, both ladies started giggling. Michael smiled benignly.
“The point is, when you push your limits, your body will seek other fuel sources. The dark cloud is your hunger. If unleashed, it, you, could consume the energy of your partner or anyone in the room with you. Once you begin to feed this way, stopping is almost impossible.”
A look of incredible sadness came over Michael’s face. A lone tear streaked down his cheek, “I had a daughter once who unleashed her hunger. It destroyed her and everyone she loved.”
Michael’s face grew stern. His eyes bored into Ragden with an intensity that made Ragden shift uncomfortably in his seat. “You must control your hunger. You must eat food when you can and make sure you get enough. Do not unleash your hunger on your lovers. Hold it in check.”
Ragden gulped and swallowed. “Yes, Father.”
Michael smiled. He looked across the table to Jennifer and winked at her. Michael swept his gaze across Sarah and Aria, smiling at each. He smiled at Ragden.
“Enough depressing stories of the past. You have a fascinating night of lessons ahead of you. I have a few things I need to do myself, so I will not be here to assist, but I will check in when I can.”
Michael pushed his chair back and stood. “With that, I will leave you in Jennifer’s capable hands. I love you all. Take care.”
Michael walked past Aria, putting a hand on her shoulder, then did the same for Sarah. Michael paused at the far end of the table. Jennifer stood and wrapped her arms around Michael, squeezing herself against him. They kissed passionately, then parted. Michael nodded to Ragden and Emily. He opened the door onto the patio, stepped out into the darkness of the night, and closed the door behind him. Jennifer stood, staring out into the darkness for a minute. She took a deep breath, then squared her shoulders before returning to the table. She smiled.
“Ragden, Emily, Sarah, Aria. Please clean the dishes and put everything away. I have a few things I need to do before we get started. Please come up to my bedroom when you are done. Oh, and call me Jennifer or Jenni for the rest of the night. For tonight, I am not your mother.”
Ragden nodded. “Yes… Jennifer.” Saying her name felt strange. He had always called her mom but understood the need for that differentiation. Jennifer smiled and nodded. Then she strolled from the room. Her hips swayed seductively, her hair dancing across her back. Ragden gulped, watching her, feeling his body becoming more aroused.
Emily squeezed Ragden’s leg. She could feel the heat coming off his body. The intensity of his arousal washed over her skin. Emily watched the bulge in his shorts throb. She gulped and then met his eyes.
“Dishes, love?” Emily asked softly. Ragden nodded. He took a deep breath, then pushed his chair back and stood. Ragden grabbed the last of the dishes and brought them into the kitchen. Emily followed close behind him, and Sarah and Aria trailed behind her. As Ragden started to wash the dishes, Emily put her arms around his waist and leaned against his back.
Ragden washed and rinsed the dishes. As each dish was rinsed clean, he handed it to Sarah, who dried it and gave it to Aria, who put it away. Aria stood staring at the first dish, unsure what to do with it. Emily giggled and stepped away from Ragden to show her where things went. The four worked together to clean the dishes, wipe down the counters, and sweep the floor. The kitchen was spotless in no time, and the four of them headed to the foyer to pick up their book bags from school.
Ragden lead the way upstairs. They went into his room and dropped off their bags. Ragden paused for a moment inside the door, leaning against the wall. His heart beat heavily in his chest. Aria and Sarah stood together, watching and waiting. Emily walked over to Ragden and leaned against him. She kissed his face softly.
“Nervous?” she asked. Ragden nodded. Emily smiled and whispered back, “Me too.”
Ragden continued to lean against the wall, enjoying the feel of Emily’s body pressed against his. He wanted to feel her skin against his and knew it would comfort him. Ragden ran his hand through the thick, gentle curls of her hair. Emily smiled up at him. She turned her head and rested her ear against his chest. Ragden took a deep, calming breath, inhaling her scent. He exhaled slowly, feeling himself calm. Emily felt the slowing of his pulse against her ear. She looked up at him and smiled again. Ragden smiled back at her and nodded.
Emily stepped back from Ragden. He straightened up and smiled at Sarah and Aria. Sarah smiled giddily and grasped Aria’s hand tightly.
“Are you two ready?” Ragden asked. Aria and Sarah nodded, looking excited. Ragden turned, opened the door, and stepped into the hall. Emily followed close behind him, with Sarah and Aria following her.
Ragden walked down the hall toward his parents’ room. The hall seemed longer than he remembered, or maybe his nervousness was making the walk feel longer. He walked past the stairs and down the hall to their bedroom door. As he approached, he could feel a subtle change in the air. There was a thickness to it that he could not identify. He could swear he smelled plants and flowers. The door to his parents’ room was closed, but the wood looked different than he remembered. Strange designs were carved into the door.
Ragden knocked once on the door. The sound reverberated through the hall. It was a thick, deep sound, unlike anything he had heard before. The door opened into his parent’s room. Jennifer stood in the doorway, silhouetted in the light. A nightgown clung to her body, hugging her curves. Ragden gulped as his eyes adjusted to the soft light. Jennifer stood with one hand on the doorjamb and the other on the door, holding it open.
Jennifer stepped back, holding the door open for Ragden as she did. Ragden stepped through the doorway and stopped. The room’s ceiling was covered in a green moss that glowed softly. Fireflies flitted about the room, casting their illumination. The floor was hardwood but not smooth. It was textured like the wood was still growing and alive. Tiny ridges and valleys crisscrossed the floor. Yet none of the edges were high or sharp enough to catch a toe and trip. When he put his foot down, the floor felt smooth with the slightest texture under his feet. Ragden turned and noticed vines and branches had grown down from the ceiling through the walls. The doorjamb had tiny vines growing out of it, with small leaves on them.
Emily, Aria, and Sarah followed Ragden into the room. They moved around Ragden and fanned out along the inside wall, staring at the room. A soft mist hung in the air, obscuring the far side of the room. There looked to be a bed just past the center of the room. In the center was a small circle that was indented into the floor. Roots circled into a tight spiral that sank a half inch from the rest of the room.
As Ragden and the women stood at the door, taking in the room, Jennifer closed the door and walked past them. As she did, they noticed that her gown hung to her midthigh and was made…
