Chapter 12

Mickey wasn't impressed with my car, not in the least, but she did display a healthy curiosity concerning the gadgets I'd installed. Talking about those filled the hour's drive to the campus so completely that we were both startled to reach it so quickly. A glance at my watch showed that it had not been quite as short a drive as we'd felt it to be.

The campus wasn't completely deserted, but the usual hordes of people were lacking, and the few students, visitors and lecturers walking around looked almost furtive. Fetching Mickey's suitcases from the dorm didn't take very long. Getting a full, authorized printout of her documentation from the secretariat, on the other hand, was quite a chore. We'd talked about signing her on to an online university, but we hadn't quite decided on which, and exactly what. To sign on with full credit for her courses, we needed the documents.

Mickey nudged me gently when I stared openly at a truly awesome redhead who clicked through the office we were waiting in, in high heels. I blinked, thanked providence that Chris or Kris weren't with me (I'd had enough experience of their elbows and sharp kicks), and went right on staring. The divine right of males everywhere, except of course Islamic countries (unless they have a fetish for eyes and black cloth, I suppose). When she disappeared, I put my eyes back in their sockets, and smiled weakly at Mickey.

"Truly... bodacious, ah?" she smiled back engagingly.

"I'll say. Bold and audacious says it all," I shook my head, "and I'll admit that she's spectacular, if nowhere near as beautiful as you are."

"Right," she managed to convey a great deal of doubt with that single word.

"To me," I clarified, "You're a visual shock. You don't claim to understand how guys view beauty, surely?"

"Tits and ass?" she covered most of the subject, quite succinctly. I couldn't stop a chuckle from escaping.

"Most guys, perhaps," I smiled, "but like all stereotypes, it is both right and wrong. I think, though I'm not certain — I remember reading a couple of popular science papers — that those in fact are the things almost everyone notices first. But beauty really is in the eye of the beholder, much like tastes differ."

"And you like redheads?" she asked.

"I like redheads just fine, and one in particular, but I actually have this yen for raven haired girls. I don't want you to get a swelled head, my dear sorceress, but you're about as close as I've ever met to my ideal of beauty."

She stared at me open mouthed for something like a minute, almost as much in shock as in that moment she'd discovered magic.

"And yes, I actually mean it. Chris would be rather upset if she knew, so please don't repeat it. I could look at you for hours," I added, not really exaggerating.

"Just look?" she managed, in a tremulous voice.

"You'll agree touching is better?" I waggled my eyebrows at her, and she managed something that resembled a smile.

After dropping that bombshell, we waited in silence, Mickey staring at me. I was starting to realize that I'd made something of an error, prior to all the wizardly business. Here and now, with my ladies, I had the wonderful freedom of being able to be absolutely open, saying exactly what I thought, without any real possibility of getting hurt. I found that I very much enjoyed their company, clothes shopping and bedroom games aside. I actually missed spending more time with Chris, after those few days when we'd been inseparable. I'd have to do something about that.

Before, I'd allowed my introverted nature to take over, looking, if not very hard, for THE girl. Overlooking GIRLS. Or people, really. Oh, I didn't give all that much credit to the 'blossoming wallflower' legend, but I'd never really given anyone much of a chance, never really tried to make conversation. I didn't think it was much of a mistake, as I couldn't help but overhear what they considered 'conversation' to be, but it was likely that I'd missed a few rough diamonds, amongst the common stones. I might actually change my ways, and look more carefully.

It didn't take all that much longer before we had the requisite documents stowed away, and I spent the ride back lecturing Mickey on how I did my trading, and just as important, why.

We took a few plates of food with us, and I taught Mickey a couple of first circle spells she could practice without doing any damage, reminding her that the more she practiced, she stronger she would get. Then we settled down for Market Analysis 101.

"I'm getting a bit hungry," Mickey mentioned diffidently, when I stopped lecturing for a moment and went looking for a spreadsheet.

"Ah?" I looked at the time. "My goodness, but we've overdone it. Let's do lunch," I grinned and rose from the chair, stretched out a few kinks, and help her up.

I questioned her concerning the profits she anticipated from what we'd bought, and asked for an analysis of the risk. It was only when we reached the kitchen that I noticed that we were walking hand in hand.

"I forgot to ask you," I disengaged from Mickey and walked up to Chris, massaging her shoulders, "But can you cook, Mickey?"

"Of course," she blinked.

Of course, I'd forgotten. Mickey was raised with 'man of the house' ideal of (mostly) old, so naturally she could cook. I bet she could sew a mean seam, too.

"Good, we need to do some of that this evening. Better than take out, and we're running out."

"Good idea!" Kristen nodded enthusiastically. The culinarily challenged were always eager for kitchen slaves.

"Girls, have you spoken with your parents?"

Chris nodded, and Kristen looked guilty.

"Kris, really," I shook my head, frowning at her, "Do you want to be yanked back home? Start thinking, girl. Talk to your parents, tell them how hard we're making you study, but that you're still having fun. Make them feel happy about you being here. Tell them you'll visit them tomorrow morning. Call them now, Kris," I said flatly, "Call them every day. Remind them that you're still afraid, if they make noises about you coming back home."

Lips twisted in indignation, Kris nodded, picked up her phone, and left, already dialing. Mickey and I took some time to prepare edibles, while Chris updated us on the progress of the shrine project.

We spent several hours cooking, eating, and casting spells. Mickey picked new spells up very quickly, and I managed to cast two new second circle spells, and make significant progress on completing the three common first circles.

"Kris, time to make some more headway on the shrine project. Mickey, I place the book in your hands. Study, ask questions, learn new spells, anything you can think of. Make notes, if you find anything that looks important, or anything you believe we might not have thought of. Chris, if you'll come with me," I stretched my hand and helped her up. Her eyes were crinkled in puzzlement, but she followed me to my room, without question. I sat on the bed, brought her down on my lap, and kissed her warmly on the mouth. After a moment's hesitation, she kissed me back enthusiastically, and we traded tongues and almost bruised our lips before the urgent need for air made us part. Her soft, full ass ground into me as I hugged her.

"Whooo," Chris breathed, "What was that all about? Not that I object," she hastened to add.

"Do I need a reason to kiss you?" I asked with a wry look. "I just missed you. We haven't spent quality time together since yesterday morning."

"Very smooth," she nodded admiringly. "Admit it, you just want to play with my tits again. Mickey doesn't..."

I growled and dropped her on the bed, nuzzling her neck. Chris squeaked, slapped me on the side of the skull, and struggled to remove her shirt. We touched, and kissed, and I got to play with her tits.

"I'm going to take care of a little business," I leaned over her, running fingers through her hair and teasing her left nipple. I kissed her nose, and then softly on the lips. "It shouldn't take more than a couple of hours."

"Was there anything else?" Chris asked, sounding strangely content. I'd have thought she'd want a bit more play.

"Well," I chewed my lip, "it's a bit embarrassing," I looked into her eyes, rueful.

"I'll try not to laugh," her lips twisted with effort, trying not to smile.

"Humph," I snorted. "I'm sure you remember that our little ritual, with the shrines and all, will involve us..."

"Making love? Fucking? Boffing our asses off? Engaging in intercourse?" her voice took a formal tone. "Copulating, fornicating, screw..." Chris left off and started giggling.

"You got it in, ahem, several. But the point, ahh," I paused when she grabbed my point, "is that I need to cast the spell, activate the ritual, at the moment of climax. Do you have any idea how difficult that is?"

Chris went somber. "No, but I've been looking at the wizard sight spell, and it's a real doozy. I don't want to even think about third circle spells. And casting it at climax?" she looked extremely doubtful. "Is it humanly possible?"

"Only just, I suppose," I tried to shrug, but lying down, what with Chris playing with my cock, that resulted in more of a shoulder gyration. "The thing is, there's a second circle life spell, one that is also supposed to be cast at climax. It sterilizes the sperm. I've tried to cast it, but never even came close to making it work. I need help to, ahem, practice." It was awfully embarrassing, having to articulate that. Doing it was wonderful, why was talking about the details so hard?! Damned acculturation.

"So you need lots of blowjobs?" Chris asked innocently.

"Any sacrifice for the advancement of the science of magic," I replied blandly, and we held each other's eyes, trying hard to keep from smiling. Then I reached and tickled her, and the laughter started, turning slightly hysterical.

"Ooooh," she wiped a tear away, "You do the 'sacrifice for science' act so well," another giggle escaped her. "Now let's see how I can help," she reached for my shorts, and I caught her hands.

I shook my head, and I'm pretty sure the cast of my face was dark. "That's the real problem. Even the best stimulation, even you, can't help me, not after several hours of spellcasting. Remember?"

"Oh!" she nodded slowly, "That is a problem. Every morning, after a good sleep, you can go at least twice, right? And after lunch and the usual magic session, take a nap. That's at least another one, right? With a minimum of three a day, you should be good to go when the shrines are built and emplaced."

I opened my mouth and closed it. For some reason, I hadn't expected her to be so... practical. I remembered the book's advice, exchange of bodies in lieu of homosexual relations, and decided here and now that I needed to spend time as a girl. Straight out of the assassin's handbook, there was no better way to 'know thine enemy'. Recalling John Varley's Steel Beach, those 'Sex Gate' books, and numerous other bits of transgender fiction I'd read, which were, of course, entirely theoretical, I decided it probably wouldn't be that bad. I mean, lots of people survive being female just fine, right? And I could always change right back. My... ego, identity, whatever the correct word was, was not really tied to my body. I had enough proof to trust that the soul was something real, not a miscegenation of rabid theologists and mummers who read tea leaves. I was decidedly non-macho, which either indicated that I did not lack self confidence (I mean, I have no idea how long my dick is. Never bothered to measure it... ), or that I was more in touch with my feminine side. Bullshit aside, it would happen. It required spells from the second circle of mind, the third if the exchange was involuntary, but I'd get there eventually.

"Sounds reasonable," I said and lowered my head, taking a nipple into my mouth and sliding her shorts off. She co-operated, raising her hips, and began to tremble with anticipation as my lips drifted down.

"Yes, please, lick me, do it, my pussy," she panted, crying out in religious abandon when I took a small vibrator I'd stashed in a pocket and pinned it to her clit, while licking her with abandon. I played her like a lute, raising her excitement to the breaking point with lips and tongue, filling her and strumming on her sensitive spots with clever fingers, and then moving the vibrator away, letting her slide away from the peak. Before, I'd always been impatient, too enchanted with newly unveiled feminine mysteries to really do it properly, running the race to orgasm. Taking my time, this time, touching all over, pinching, biting and licking, I wanted to make her explode. Again and again I let her slide off from the edge, ignoring her pleading words, until she could not even blubber. Christine was truly beautiful, writhing in my grasp, eyes clenched closed, her face twisted in a yearning that was almost pain. Finally, I let her climb, pumping fingers, and bit hard on a nipple when she reached the apex, pressing the vibrator hard against her special place.

Her back arched, and she nearly threw me off as she convulsed, again and again. Her mouth opened, but there was no air left for screaming. Slowly, it tapered off, her shudders growing smaller. Sweat streamed off her, and I fetched a washcloth, rubbing her dry. She winced as I gently touched her crotch, absorbing some of the copious amount of moisture she'd leaked.

"And you," her voice sounded scratchy, "said that WE would kill YOU. Oh my god, what did you do to me? I almost blacked out. Kris is better with a tongue, I think, but this..." she shook her head.

"I read that you could delay orgasm, building the sensations up higher and higher. It's easy for me, because with wizard sight, I can see inside, know when you're coming to a boil. Is Kristen really better at oral sex?"

"Ahem," she blushed a bit, the flush not truly faded from her skin, still breathing rapidly, "I think so. I mean," she added apologetically, "she's a girl, she simply has better instincts."

"It's alright, I'm not offended by truth. And Chris, one thing a wizard can do is exchange bodies. If you wish, you'll learn what being male is like, and one day, I'll have those instincts. That's a promise."

She stared at me, mouth sagging open in wonder, then her eyes brightened as she began to consider further ramifications of that ability. "Whoo, that's really scary. Wizards can possess people?"

"Yes, of course it's subject to abuse. That is the nature of power, Chris."

"Right. Anyway, how was Miko, no, Mickey?"

"Really, Chris, you don't have to worry about anyone. I..." just couldn't utter THOSE words. "Remember," I took a different tack, "if I want anyone, you can always BE that someone. You'll be able to look like anyone, be anyone. I'll never grow bored with you. A thousand years from now, we'll still be together," I omitted the caveat, 'if we're still alive'.

Chris frowned, then nodded. "I suppose," she wrinkled her nose, "we'll just have to see. But that didn't answer my question," she looked at me, lashes half lowered.

"She's more experienced. I like her a lot. Mickey also seems, well, a bit submissive. It was different. Do you like her?"

"Well, yes. I mean, the poor girl! We're definitely the best things that ever happened to her. There are so many sad stories, we're just so lucky. I'll hint a bit, when I'm teaching, we'll laugh over the toys. You really don't know if she likes girls, do you?"

"No, but I'll help you," I recalled that I could shape the responses of my disciples, and this was one area I had no compunctions about interfering with. I didn't think I was being hypocritical. If I could change my instinctive revulsion at the thought of homosexual relations, I probably would. Pleasure, to me, was pleasure, the source of it mostly irrelevant so long as no harm was done. But there was no simple way to change those prejudices that ran deep.

"Does submissive turn you on?" Chris asked cautiously.

"Yes, of course, it's a heady sensation. It also makes me feel very protective, you know, like, she's mine, belongs to me. A completely normal reaction, I'm sure. But likewise, everything about you turns me on," I grimaced. "Mentally, at least. You can try submissive and see if it suits you, but don't go there purely on my account."

"Oh, I'll try anything at least once," Chris grinned, finally settling to mellowness. "I think Kris would really like being tied up and ravished. When are we going to play with her?"