Ease into consciousness

One of Duncan’s favorite things to do since he was 16 or so was to wake up slowly, easing into consciousness — particularly if he was sharing his bed with anyone. Waking up in this manner allowed him to play a game with himself about trying to remember who it is laying next to him.

By keeping his eyes closed, it gave him a chance to relive the last few glorious moments before falling asleep. Many is the time this technique allowed him to recall helpful details about the woman, such as any particular kinks she might enjoy, things that turned her on, or techniques in which she was particularly gifted that he would want to enjoy again before getting out of bed.

Occasionally, he even remembered the woman’s name.

As long as he kept his eyes closed, he could also prolong any potential false illusion about her beauty or charms. Many is the time that he opened his eyes and looked in shock at his bedmate and realized that the prior evening’s wine had more to do with the woman’s attractiveness than any actual physical features. The saying, “They all look alike in the dark” was yet another advantage of keeping his eyes closed until he was sure he wanted to open them and let the light in.

As consciousness slowly returns to his brain, Duncan keeps his eyes closed and tries to remember the details of the prior evening. He is not particularly comfortable, and the hardness of the surface on which he lays makes him wonder if he fell out of bed or ended up sleeping on his floor for some reason. The aches in his back and limbs can attest that it was not the most restful of nights, but the discomfort also causes him to ask himself whether he hooked up with Monica again.

Monica is the daughter of the king’s superintendent of the dungeons, and she managed to inherit her father’s knack for using chains, whips, and assorted enhanced interrogation instruments. Duncan hooked up with her once before, sneaking into the dungeon one night, and it was days before he got feeling back in his arms. He still doesn’t know how such a demure-looking gal could command such strength!

As his head clears further, he dismisses the possibility that Monica is responsible for his condition. While he definitely would be feeling it in his muscles if he had been with her, there’s no way he would be feeling as horny as he is; Monica knew how to keep going until Duncan was fully satiated.

He feels a stirring next to him. That, and the warmth from a nearby body, tells him he did not go to sleep alone. That should evoke pleasant memories, yet for some reason he feels a sense of dread approaching from his recollection of the prior night.

A stirring from the other side surprises him. “I had a threesome last night?” he exclaims to himself. “No wonder I don’t feel very well rested! But with whom....?”

Abruptly the images of the prior night flood into his mind. Madam Banntrach... the frantic escape from her clutches... the naked dash through the thick woods.... the last-second rescue from the wolves.....

“Of course!” he says to himself, “It’s Lupina and her daughters, Luxia and Katania!”

Admittedly a bit disappointed that he wasn’t going to get to start his day with a managé à trois, he is nevertheless grateful to be waking up next to the valiant creatures who saved his life.

With a yawn and a stretch, Duncan finally opens his eyes and looks to his side. Blinking slowly, he rubs his eyes and looks again before turning and looking to his other side. He is, indeed, sharing his blanket with two others, but it isn’t a couple of wolves that he sees. Instead, two women, asleep and completely naked, snuggled next to him, one on each side.

Duncan forces his mouth closed, and revisits his memories, trying to figure out where he got it wrong.