Chapter 1463
The further they walked, the warmer it became - not stifling, but sensual, like the interior of a mouth or the moment before a kiss. Jude’s skin prickled. The hum had returned, low and steady, vibrating up through the soles of his feet and along his spine. It wasn’t in his ears anymore - it was in his blood.
At last, the staircase opened into a vast chamber.
He stopped, stunned.
It wasn’t a cave. It was a temple. But not one built by hands - grown by will. The walls curved upward into a dome of living wood, enormous petals stretching toward each other like fingers longing to touch. In the center, a pool of golden water shimmered, its surface perfectly still, reflecting the petals above.
Twelve raised beds of carved root circled the pool.
And in the middle of the chamber, a single platform pulsed with light.
The voice returned, soft in their minds. "This is the heart."
Jude stepped forward. The air vibrated with pleasure, anticipation, desire. His wives followed, silent but smiling. They didn’t speak. They didn’t need to. Everything was understood now.
Rose moved first, climbing onto one of the raised root-beds. She lay back, her legs spread slightly, fingers trailing over her thighs, a low moan slipping from her lips. The bed responded - roots curled gently up around her arms and legs, not binding, but cradling.
Stella followed, taking the next bed, her hands already sliding between her legs, hips rolling to a rhythm only she heard. Grace climbed onto hers with a laugh, tossing her hair back as she began to touch herself without shame, without hesitation.
One by one, the others followed.