Chains of Gold

Chapter Sixteen

Sam awoke to the feel of lips on the back of her neck. They nuzzled her gently and she smiled softly. She could smell Daniel’s scent in front of her, so it was his chest near her nose. That meant that Martouf was the one kissing the back of her neck. She opened her eyes, and in the dim light of the room, she could see that it was, indeed, Daniel in front of her, and he was still asleep. She rolled backward toward Martouf and whispered in a romantic sultry voice, “Where are the controls? I need to go to the bathroom, and I don’t want to wake Daniel.”

Martouf laughed quietly, and reached out for the control by the bed, quickly unlocking her from the two of them. She slid from his arms and padded to the other room. After finishing in there, and seeing the bathing pool so close, she slipped out the door and quickly lowered herself into the wonderful warm water. She soaked for only a moment or two, before moving into the bathing section and quickly washing and rinsing herself.

She felt much better, and after using the local’s version of a blow-dryer, she returned to the room and slipped quietly into bed. Martouf opened his eyes, and then they widened, as he realized that she had bathed. She smiled at him and taking the control undid his side as well. He grimaced and agreed going quickly to follow her footsteps.

Sam waited a few minutes and followed him. She was just in time to see him slip into the first pool. She followed him in and ran her arms around his waist. “Hi. How are you and Lantash this morning? I think we all just kind of passed out last night.”

He turned to face her and pulled her closer. “Yes, we did. Even Lantash took the time to become dormant and rest. It was a very long and eventful day.”

“Yes, and it seems silly to have gone to all that trouble just to get a plant. I suppose bogus marriages are performed everyday though.” Sam sighed as the pain of that thought hit her squarely in the heart.

“Samantha, make-love to me, and do no worry about our joining for now. We will work everything out later. For now, we want only to hold you in our arms and love you. To feel the soft velvet of your channel clutch at us, pulling at us, milking us, wanting and needing us, until we can no longer think only feel, and all we can feel is you. Only you.”

As he breathed the last word, his lips found hers, and he began a long slow kiss of seduction. Their lips touched, softly, then clung as they began to part, only to move back together again over and over, until at last they stayed together, and opened up one to the other for their tongues to begin to explore more fully. The kisses deepened, then broke apart and Martouf moved from her lips to the corner of her mouth to nibble there for long seconds. Before sliding, lips open to her jaw-line and up, slowly, so slowly following the curve there, only to stop before coming back to her cheeks, her eyes, and back full circle to her lips.

He needed to replenish himself from the honey that was there. He drank deeply, before leaving again, this time to outline the edge of her ear, and from there to discover the sweet spot on her neck that Daniel had discovered the night before. The one that made her moan and cry out his name, and Lantash’s name, and plead for something that he was not sure she really wanted, but since she asked, he did as she wanted.

He made a bruise on the side of her throat before she finally cried out, and he stopped, appalled at the sight, but enthralled at the wildness of her lower body thrusting and grinding against the hardness of his. He lifted her until she straddled his thigh and then held her hips in his hands until she found her balance and braced herself. He began moving her hips in rhythm, so that his manhood pressed against her hip, as her mound pressed high on his thigh. They both gasped at the increased stimulation and then moaned in unison, their hands and lips once more in motion as well.

She was almost sobbing in need as she brought his mouth to hers and crushed their lips together before gentling and coaxing him to respond more passionately. Her hands moved gently but passionately across his chest, stopping to play with a nipple ring, a chain, the ring that nestled underneath his hard and pulsing cock.

Then there were those wonderful little golden balls. Rather larger than a pair of earring studs they were not even all that big, but they moved when they were touched, just enough to cause a vibration to be sent along the sensitive edge, where they had been inserted, where many nerve endings that sent arousal signals were found. They were both a joy and a curse.

They would have to be removed eventually, they all knew that, but while they were there, they would enjoy them to the fullest. Sam found and played with those as Martouf moaned into her shoulder. He would be as frantic as she, if she did not stop doing that soon. He nuzzled the softness of her shoulder and her throat from there to her temple murmuring constantly of his love of her, his need, his desire. His passion flamed and he brought his lips once more to hers to devour her mouth as his tongue delved inside to pull her essence into him. His hands raced over her flesh as if he could not feel her enough, as if he needed to touch all of her at once, everywhere. They changed from gently loving to frantically seeking over and over.

Lantash came forward and nipped her shoulder lightly before bending her back and lifting her free of the pool so that he could reach a lovely ripe breast with a beautiful nipple ring. He took the turgid nipple lightly between his teeth and began to flip the tip with his tongue, causing an immediate increase in Sam’s desire. “Lantash, I need you. I don’t think I can wait any longer.”

He laughed, but it was sexy and sultry, more of a rippling moan than anything else, and it was an enticing, erotic sound, “We must both wait longer, my Samantha, for I am not yet ready for us to climb to the pinnacle. Soon, though, my sweet, glorious, Samantha, soon,” the deep throaty whisper sent another shiver down her spine, and she realized that this was actually the first time that Lantash had come forward for more than a minute or so at a time. The night before it had been mostly Martouf who came forward, except for one or two short intervals. As she had always known he would, Lantash was burning her alive.

His hands were roaming her body, neither quickly nor slowly but they appeared to know exactly where to linger, where to add pressure, where to stroke lightly or harder, and what he could do with his lips and tongue should be made illegal. At the very least they should come with a warning. Use only with extreme caution: grave loss of ability to think, and excessive thrashing of the body, becomes present when lips, tongue and teeth are put into motion upon the body. Oh, god, she was going to die if he didn’t stop and just take her soon.

“I love you, my Samantha. I wish you always to remember that through everything and everyday whether we are together or apart.”

She looked at him, startled at the solemn tone, but there was nothing unusual in his face, just the same need, and lust that were in hers. She smiled at him. “I love you as well. Both of you, as you are well aware. You should remember that, too, wherever we are.” That was as much as she was able to say as the fingers of one of his hands found the bud that would bring her to climax and began to stroke her there. She thrust against it and then threw her head back as she ground out his name, “Lantash,” as two of his fingers found their way inside the hot moistness of her channel and began to play there.

Never breaking his rhythm, he switched to the other breast as she thrust it upwards. He sucked and nipped, as Sam slowly built toward the edge only to come down once again, as he slowed and returned his kisses to her shoulder and throat. She moaned in frustration and wrapped her hands around his neck.

She felt him move slightly and blinked. She began to stroke gently up and down Martouf’s neck and was aware of a slight quiver coming from the area that should be Lantash’s home. She applied a little more pressure and felt Martouf’s tension and heard the strangled sound he made deep in his throat. Leaning up she began kissing the side of his throat as she continued her caresses.

His fingers were still working inside her and her hips again joined his in their erotic dance. She allowed her fingers to begin their firm but gentle caressing of the back of Martouf’s neck. This time there was no mistaking the initial shiver that rushed through him or the deep moan that escaped him. Martouf’s head fell to her shoulder and he moaned again as she continued her caresses. Turning her head she kissed and then sucked on the side of his neck. He turned his head and took her lips in one more drugging kiss as he removed his fingers and lifted her, asking a silent question with his eyes.

Sam reached between them and guided him home. Both moaned this time as he seated fully. They watched each others eyes before their lips met. This loving was now slower, less frantic than it had been, more loving, more intense, their climb toward their climax was slower as well, but as close as they were it still took little time. As it approached she watched as Martouf came forward and smiled at her. Their lips met in another long kiss and then there was no time for more than two “I love you’s” before they pitched over the edge. They came down cradled in each others arms.

Lantash was back, for a moment anyway. “So you have discovered the secret the Tok’Ra do not speak of, my Samantha. Are you pleased that you can now bring me to my knees?”

She cocked her head studying him for a long moment, “Is that really how the Tok’Ra view that? As a weakness?”

Lantash laughed. “It makes us very vulnerable. How should we feel about it, but somewhat ambivalent?” He shook his head. “No, my Samantha, we do not look on it as a weakness, we consider it a pleasure point. I was simply surprised you found it so quickly this time when you did not find it the last time. I should not be, I know, for you are very observant—even in the throes of passion.”

“You can be sure that I will use it to give you sexual pleasure. I’m thrilled to find out about it. As for finding it before,” she paused, “If you mean in the gazebo yesterday, I think I was too strung out to notice anything, and last night I don’t even remember touching your neck. Does Martouf feel it too, or does it just affect you?”

“It affects both of us. A great deal. Martouf would have come to you before he did had you not begun to ah, pleasure us so determinedly. He knew that he would not be able to hold back for you, so he stayed back, until you were almost there. It does not really matter, you know. We both experience whatever happens if the one in control allows it. The only things we usually try not to share are unpleasant events. Otherwise we share all things. Sexual pleasure being one of the more involved experiences that we share. There are times during the sexual act that we are as close to being in dual control as we ever are. It is a unique sensation, and one that we seek. I will tell you one other thing that the symbiote does tend to do after exquisite sexual fulfillment. We go into torpor for a short time. We are not completely inactive, it is simply an effort to be active for a short time. So if you do not mind, my Samantha, I will return to the passenger seat and allow Martouf to drive. You see, we are beginning to understand Earth phrases better all the time.”

Sam laughed. “Yes, you are. That was used completely in context and quite well.”

Martouf leaned down and kissed her before sighing, “I believe I will bathe, and then we should return to Daniel, for we should see if our other-mate is awake yet.”

Sam’s breath caught and her eyes widened. She looked at him with stricken eyes. “Oh, Lantash, Martouf, what have we done?”

“Well, you gave me a very nice show, so don’t screw it up now by getting all guilty, Sam. I can already see the wheels turning in that brilliant, but sometimes misguided, mind of yours,” Daniel groused from the doorway to the cottage where he had been sitting. Standing, he walked over to them. He had his robe on, but it was wrapped as he usually wore them, not as they were wrapped yesterday.

He knelt beside the pool and reached out to Sam, brushing her hair back. “You know, just because we are all four bonded, it doesn’t mean we each have to be together every time. It means we can be together when we want to be. It’s a choice, not a law, Sam, so don’t look like you’ve just committed a crime.” He looked over at Martouf and addressed both he and Lantash. “I hope neither of you see it the way Sam is heading?”

Lantash came forward and shook his head, saying, “You would be correct in your assumption, Daniel. We consider it a choice, as well. However, I suspected that my Samantha might not realize, or look on it, in that way. I wanted to see neither regret, nor guilt, later, if it could be dealt with before it raised its head. I had hoped that it would be brought out in this way.”

Daniel grinned. “That sounds like you. I’ll accept it as a true statement.”

Leaning in he gave Sam a very soft, lingering kiss. “Sam, I am very serious about this. There will be times that one of us may be gone on a mission, to a meeting, or just out doing something. We can’t set limits like this on our sex life, our love life. There are going to be times that I’m going to want to go to bed, and go to sleep. There may be times that Martouf does. What then? Lantash and I can’t make love to you because Martouf is sleeping? Or Martouf and Lantash can’t because I’m sleeping?”

“Or one or the other of us has to abstain because of an off-world trip the other is taking? I don’t think that’s right, and I certainly don’t want us bound by those kinds of chains. The chains of gold are one thing. But those would be an entirely different kind, and I don’t think any of us would be truly happy in a relationship like that. I know that I wouldn’t be.

“We are all going to need those times when it is just the two of us, too, you know. It’s inevitable. Not because we’re jealous, or don’t care about the other, but because something has happened that affects us in someway, and we need you. I can’t explain it, but we’ll know it when it happens.”

Standing, he looked down on them and grinned, “Now. I’m sorry, but I’m hungry, and I need a bath as well. So, if you two don’t mind, I’m going to go have breakfast and then a bath, or maybe the bath and then the breakfast. Then, believe it, or not, I’ll probably go back to sleep. I debated getting up at all, and if nature hadn’t been so insistent, I probably wouldn’t have. I assumed you were, ah finished, but if I’m intruding, I’ll go have breakfast first and…” Daniel stopped as Sam threw water at him.

“We’re bathing and then eating. Come in with us Daniel, please?” Sam tried the wheedling tone that usually worked on Daniel, but he shook his head, as he started back toward the cottage.

“I’ll be out in a bit, Sam. I’ve got a couple of things I want to do first.”

Sam frowned, “What could Daniel possibly have to do?”

“Well, he might wish to shave. That is a Tau’ri ritual in the morning is it not?” Martouf had come back and answered her question.

“Yes, it is and you’re probably right.”

Sam looked at Martouf where he stood leaning against the side of the pool. He raised an eyebrow at her and she looked down, not sure what to say. She cleared her throat and asked, somewhat haltingly, “Do—do you think he—he meant it? That it won’t upset him? Is he right about you—and Lantash? You won’t be upset if we aren’t always all--together?”

“Yes. Yes, I believe him. He is telling the truth. I have no trouble believing him because he said nothing that Lantash and I do not feel ourselves. We, too, have felt that. Samantha, although, we are Ketra’kesh’cor, we will not always be together. It is the way of the pairings. I suppose we should have discussed this before the ceremony. It is the way of it. When one mate is absent, the other is still there. If one mate is tired, still the other one is there. It is simply part of the joining of this many hearts. We are not jealous of one another; we depend and rely on one another as trusted friends and lovers.”

She watched as Lantash again threw off his tiredness to come forward to reassure her and add his feelings on the subject. “Martouf is correct. We do rely on one another as trusted friends and lovers. We have given our loved one into the hands of another man, one whom we trust and care for as a brother. That is why he is called the mate-brother. But, there is a different reason other than that of lovers and friends. It is the idea that if something happens to one of us, the other will still be there to care for the mate. It is the peace that comes from knowing that if we are captured or killed that our mate, that one thing that we cherish above all other things will be loved, honored and cared for. It is the reassurance that no matter what happens to us, there is still a place for her heart to find the peace and love, and support that it needs to carry on without us by her side. That, to us is the greatest gift of the Ketra’kesh’cor.”

He paused for a long time, looking downward at the water in the pool, before raising his eyes to hers. “You must understand, my Samantha, that there will never, from yesterday forward, be anything in this life that we will cherish more than we do you. You have all of our devotion and love, for when we love, we love totally. We do not actively seek out a multiple bonding, but once the first shock of one wears off, we once again recognize it for what it is.” He smiled at her. “A Ketra’kesh’cor to us is one of the most wonderful things we could do. Now there are not two but three of us to love and care for you. So, yes, I believe that Daniel meant what he said, for I can understand exactly how he feels.”

She went into his arms. Resting there, she wondered what they would all do when this dream ended. She knew she didn’t want it to end, but what else could it do? She sighed and heard a faint splash followed by another pair of hands.

“I thought you two were going to bathe? I’ve shaved and changed the bed coverings already. Ah, and removed the other half of that chain. I have to agree that six feet apart is a little too close together for the three of us, unless in public here.”

Martouf came back to laugh at him. “Yes, I agree, Daniel. I did not awaken one time last night to check to see if I was strangling Samantha. This entire idea is not safe.”

“Yeah, I have to agree. We both talked about that remember? While we were both trying to, uh, yeah, well, never mind that.”

Daniel forced himself to pull away from Sam, get out and go into the actual bathing rather than the soaking and relaxing pool. She heard Martouf sigh, and then watched as he climbed out and followed him. They talked and laughed together enough that it brought a smile to her face. In a perfect world she would have them both. Seeing them both get out, she took her turn to go through the entire process again. It made her wonder why she had bothered the first time, but then she remembered that she was the one that had interrupted Martouf, not the other way around.

Finally finished, she entered the cottage to find a breakfast of pastries, more hearty fare, if you preferred it, and juice. She sniffed it before she drank it, but did not detect that little aphrodisiac fruit. She watched as Martouf and Daniel did the same. Not that the fruit was all that bad. The affect didn’t seem to last overly long any way. They sat in companionable silence. Sam, opting for a couple of pastries, was finished first and got up to wander around the rooms, and when she found the bed with the fresh coverings on it she couldn’t resist. She stretched out and relaxed. The day before and all of the stress had taken a toll, and before she realized what has happening, she had fallen asleep.

Her two new mates, after finishing their breakfast, putting the dirty containers outside and keeping leftover pastries and juice inside, decided to see where Sam had disappeared. They were surprised to find her in the bed and asleep. It looked good to them. As they quietly joined her, she snuggled up to them, as naturally as if she had been doing it for a very long time. They watched her sleep for a while, before they each followed her, but they were dozing lightly, not truly sleeping, both keeping watch over her.

---

Martouf allowed his hand to drift slowly down toward the apex of Samantha’s thighs, as he softly kissed the back of her neck and shoulder. He smiled when she made a small shrugging motion with her shoulder, as if to rid it of whatever was bothering her. He allowed his fingers to slip inside the folds of her femininity and lightly caress her there and on her clit, as he continued to make short teasing kissing forays up her throat and back down again before he gently kissed her on her shoulders.

He moved his hand down slightly farther, felt the moisture beginning to gather there, delved deeper, and harvested the honey, bringing it forward to wet the nub. Feeling it reach for the moisture, stretching like a flower toward the sun and rain, he smiled. She moaned slightly and her hips began a slow thrust against his fingers. Martouf snuggled closer to her back. She was soft and silky against his skin. He couldn’t stop himself from thrusting slightly against the velvety softness of her. He allowed his shaft to lie between them up against her bottom and it was straining his vow to take this slow and easy. His fingers continued to explore her, gently stroking and caressing her as he inhaled the sweet musk of her. Her scent, the silk of her skin and the soft roundness of her bottom drawing a moan from him.

Hearing a slight sound on the other side of the bed he looked up and into Daniel’s blue eyes. They smiled at one another in perfect attunement. This was where they were meant to be, here caring and loving this woman. Bound together by their fast growing friendship and their love of her. They were content in their roles.

He watched as Daniel slid down far enough in the bed to take her nipple in his mouth. His cock hardened even more if that was possible. He returned to caressing Samantha’s neck with his lips. That wasn’t as erotic a sight as watching Daniel make love to her breast was.

Daniel took the tip of Sam’s nipple into his mouth and suckled slightly swirling his tongue around the ring. She moaned and thrust her breast forward searching for more. She was waking up and she would wake hot and needy. But not as needy as they were making themselves. Daniel took her nipple farther into his mouth and suckled deeply giving her what she seemed to be asking for, and as he did he realized that no matter how many times he had this woman it would never grow old. It would always be exciting to him because she was exciting to him. He switched to the other breast and she gasped and her eyes open as she moaned. “Oh, god, Daniel don’t stop. That feels so good.”

Martouf, mesmerized watching Daniel making love to Samantha’s breasts, had stopped all movement until she had spoken and then his eyes snapped to hers. She was looking at his mouth, and then she was pulling him up her body for a long slow kiss, one where their tongues took forever just to say hello and their lips took forever to say good-by.

Lantash telling him to move his fingers, or he was taking over was his first conscious thought after the kiss ended. Sam looked almost as dazed as he did. A nip from Daniel brought her back to the present and she reached out and entwined her fingers in his hair bringing him back to the breasts he been threatening to leave. She reached behind her and stroked Lantash as Martouf once again began to kiss and caress her shoulders and neck.

After a few more of those drugging kisses he was almost too gone to pay attention to Lantash until he finally heard him, “Martouf, listen to me, now. You must get the blue jar. We will need the lubricant in it. Marta assures me that it will make the entire process pleasurable for Samantha. Use it on her now while she is preoccupied with Daniel. Once we make the joining, if she does not care for it, she never has to allow it again.”

“I understand, Lantash, and if we were with the Tok’Ra we have the lubricant that makes it very pleasurable for the female. I hope Marta is correct in her claims for this one as well. There it is finished.”

“Good, for we do not have much time. Daniel’s passions are riding high today, and they will break through his control very soon. If we wish to have a true binding of four then it would best be done now”

“I agree, Lantash, and I will pull her into position. You do wish us to take the bottom, so as to have control of that?”

“I think it best this time. Daniel and Samantha’s desires are too strong for either of them to be aware that they must be careful. This time we must stay wary for them. Some other time, it will be their turn, I have no doubt,” Lantash laughed softly.

Martouf reached above him and following Lantash’s directions replaced the jar while keeping Sam in place with one hand cupping her mound and continuing the steady pressing and release that was pushing her toward her climax.

“Sam, I don’t think I can wait any longer. I have a need for you burning me, and I want inside of you again. I want to feel you clenching around me.”

Martouf spoke up, taking the part a mate-brother sometimes would take for the other if one was somewhat less involved, “She is very wet, Daniel, very ready for you. Do you object, Samantha?” Martouf asked quietly.

“No, I’m—I want to, um, no. I mean I don’t. Daniel, come to me.”

“Okay, Sam.” Daniel kissed her softly and laughed gently. Passion or no passion, some things he still noticed. There were still some bugs in their relationship to be worked out. Obviously asking Sam aloud outright might be all right eventually, but maybe for a while they were going to have to play it by ear.

He was surprised when Martouf rolled onto his back and held Sam on top of him. Then he realized what he was doing. No doubt down the road they would take her this way, both of them at once. He was beginning to accustom her to one of the positions. Ah, wait a minute; he was going to do it. Well, okay, if it didn’t work, it didn’t. Sam would let them know pretty darned quick if they were moving into forbidden territory. He could do this without warning. Just because it wasn’t normally a part of your sexual repertoire didn’t mean you couldn’t do it. And Lantash had seen to it that they took the hard part, probably knowing that. So, he could do this. After all, when you boiled it down this was the ultimate binding. This was Ketra’kesh’cor at its most basic sexual level.

There were a lot of things to learn about Ketra’kesh’cor. He thought that he and Sam would enjoy it. They just had some bars to leap first. And so far they were doing pretty darn good. He bet they’d make this one too. He, Martouf and Lantash would just need to be very careful. And Lantash would never be anything else with his Samantha, of that Daniel was very, very sure. So there was no problem there. In fact, he’d bet that he’d seen to it that there would be nothing but pleasure for her in this.

He could feel his passion come roaring back. What little he’d lost during his ruminations hadn’t gone far. In fact, now knowing what they were about to do, he was more excited that ever. The ultimate act of love between three people. Well, four beings.

Daniel smiled as he realized that Martouf, or perhaps Lantash, was keeping Sam too occupied to be to aware of where she was. Between the hand on her mound, the one on her breast and the lip lock on her hot spot, she was simply moaning his name. Yes, it was Lantash, and he was letting go and talking to her occasionally.

It was time for him to start on the beginning of their completed bonding. Because this was it. He could feel it. This was the culmination that sealed the Ketra’kesh’cor and joined them together in every way.

He poised himself and entered her slowly, feeling every soft sweet inch of her enfold him. He was aware of Lantash under her, but it did not distract him. He ran his hands down her sides and up over her ribs and to her breasts. “You are beautiful, Sam, and we love you. All of us, we love you. Now, tomorrow, the next tomorrow, it just goes on and on. You feel so wonderful. Soft, silky, warm, yet firm and strong. A contradiction, perhaps, but there it is. You are everything we want and need. Please don’t ever doubt that.”

Leaning down he kissed her long and deeply. Then there was no more time for talking or thinking. No more time for anything but feeling. He could feel Lantash as he stroked in and out and he could feel Sam as she clenched them. There was absolutely no doubt that it felt good to her. She was building rapidly to her climax, murmuring their names over and over, lost in a sensual haze. He could feel his own climax building and then he could feel theirs. And--they were all taking that jump again. This time they jumped into the abyss, and the fire consumed them, but like the Phoenix, they arose from the ashes. They didn’t crash and burn afterward, and go to sleep.

They did however lie down together with Sam still in the middle and Daniel and Lantash still buried deep inside of Sam. They laid there quietly, until they began to soften and slide from her body. Lantash got up, went into the facilities room and cleaned up. Bringing back two cleaning cloths he tossed one to Daniel and proceeded to take care of Samantha himself. When she protested, he silenced her with a look.

“This is part of the sexual ritual for the Tok’Ra, Samantha. The male tries to always cleans up after himself. It is his duty and his joy to clean the female. We like doing it. It is a small token of respect and love that we enjoy giving to our mate. Daniel had already given you a towel yesterday and last night we all slept. I cannot promise we do it every time as we should, but we do try.”

Sam looked surprised and then touched, “I think it’s a lovely thing to do, and I will look forward to it, but more than that, I will always remember what it stands for, what it means to you. What—what you are telling me every time you do it for me. I think I can forgive the times you miss.”

After each had cleaned up and were simply enjoying being in bed together, Sam stated, “If I could purr, I would purr, you know that don’t you? I don’t think I’ve ever been that satiated in my life. You guys are for real, right? I’m not going to wake up to the best wet dream I’ve ever had, am I?”

“If you do Sam, I hope you’re in the sleeping bag next to mine because I’m grabbing you and Martouf as soon as I wake up and hauling you both off into the bushes someplace.”

Martouf came forward saying solemnly, “I will go willingly. No, I will help you.” They all chuckled lightly, but Martouf sobered at once.

“There is something we need to discuss before we return to earth tomorrow. Lantash has just reminded me that we should do so now so that we will have time to work out any problems that may arise.

“Can we make love again first?”

“What?”

“I asked if we could make love again first?” Sam said firmly.

Daniel looked at her oddly, but nodded just the same, “Of course we can Sam. Is there any particular way you want to make love?”

Sam looked up at Daniel, and he could see that her heart was already torn, but he didn’t know why. “Like we did the last time. Exactly the same way. But the two of you switch places. Can that be done sitting?”

“Yes, of course, but Samantha we have all day today and all night tonight. Why is it that you wish to rush into doing that again so quickly? Lantash is unsure if you should do that so soon. It is not something you have ever done and it is not something to do carelessly. The cream left by Marta worked for you, but he does not want to chance it again. I think too that he wishes to know why you feel that you want to do this now.”

“Because if we’re going to have problems with whatever it is we’re going to talk about, then I’d rather make some more memories before you go and spoil it all with reality.”

“Ah. I see. Well, actually, it is you who will be the one to spoil it not us, so if you do not wish to cause problems then you are in control of that.”

“I am? Daniel?”

“Yeah, pretty much, Sam.”

Sam sighed and flopped back down on the bed getting comfortable against the head board, or what passed as a headboard. “All right, spill, Daniel.”

“I’ll let Martouf and Lantash go first. Theirs is a little more straight forward than ours is.” Sam blinked at him and then turned her attention to Martouf.

Lantash came to the forefront. “Martouf and I have discussed this and he feels that I should be the one to tell you, since it is Tok’Ra policy. He is Tok’Ra as well, however, that is neither here nor there. The fact is that the joining ceremony we went through together yesterday will be seen as legitimate by the Tok’Ra. As of last night, you are our mate. Legally, by our laws, we are now bonded to you, as these bracelets attest. Daniel, too, of course, in the way of Ketra’kesh’cor.”

Sam looked at him for a moment and then said, “We’re legally mated. You and me.”

Lantash nodded

“You and me and Martouf.”

Again Lantash nodded.

“You and me and Martouf and Daniel. We are all mated. Together.

Once more Lantash nodded.

“You, Martouf, me, and Daniel. We are all mated. Together. Forever, the until we die, kind of bonded, joined, mated. Like married. ”

Lantash nodded once again.

“Do you think that you could possibly do something besides nod your head at me? I know you have more intelligence than a horse, and horses always nod their heads at you when you talk to them, too.”

Lantash blinked and cleared his throat. He looked to Daniel for some kind of support only to see him pinching the bridge of his nose, never a good sign. He was on his own, “What would you like for me to say, my Samantha? I have answered your questions. I can add an affirmative to them if you wish. Yes. Yes. Yes. And yes. Is that what you wished me to say?” He heard Daniel groan and knew he was in trouble. For the first time in a long time, Lantash was not sure of how to handle a woman. Nor did he have any idea what she expected from him.

“Well if I have to tell you, forget it. Go away.” The anger and pain pierced him and also threw light on what she was waiting to hear.

“There is one other thing you should know.”

“What?”

“The only way the Tok’Ra will “not” acknowledge the bonding is if we repudiate it, claiming it was done under duress. I can not and will not ever do that. I meant my vows to you, my Samantha, as did Martouf. I will never give you a divorce, Tok’Ra or otherwise, so do not think it. Neither will Martouf.” He saw the relief enter her eyes, but then, her lids shaded her eyes.

“Then there’s nothing else to say. We’re bonded according to Tok’Ra law. In the Tok’Ra’s eyes Daniel and I are your mates. That doesn’t mean we are by our laws.”

Daniel cleared his throat, “Actually, Sam, it does.”

“What?”

“There were some new presidential orders sent down not long ago dealing with off-world policies. One of them, Presidential Order #6996, states that all marriages performed off world are to be deemed legal and sanctioned. So, um, they will recognize not only your marriage to Lantash and Martouf, but, um, also ours. That is yours and mine. As in, we’ll be considered married when we go home tomorrow.”

Sam sat and stared back and forth between the two of them.

“You’re sure? Absolutely, positively, sure. No loopholes, no last minute reprieve because it’s polygamous, nothing is going to change it. The four of us are married, bonded, joined, tied, shackled, mated, paired, and entwined, no way out, together forever.”

“Yeah, that’s the way it is.” Daniel cleared his throat and said gruffly, “I have no intention of attempting to stop it in any way either. I mean I’m not going to go looking for a way out of it. Not ever. As far as I’m concerned we’re married. All of us.”

“I hear a “but” in there, Daniel.”

“Listen Sam, I’m sorry, I mean, I knew, Lantash and Martouf knew. Hell, even Jack knew. We should have told you, so you could make an informed decision. In fact, there is…”

“Shut up, Daniel! Just. Shut. Up! If there are loopholes, I do not want to hear them, do you understand? Do not tell me, for my own good, because you feel guilty, or any other crazy reason you talk yourself into.”

She pointed at Lantash, “You! Lantash! Under no circumstances are you to allow him to open his mouth to me on ways to annul, set aside, tear asunder, rip apart, or destroy our bonds. I don’t care how, short of killing him, you have to stop him, just do it.”

“Sam, does this mean you don’t want out? That—that you’re glad we didn’t tell you?”

“As long as you can assure me that it’s what you want, Daniel, then yes, I am very glad. In fact, I couldn’t be happier. This is the most perfect arrangement I could have envisioned. We’re friends and we’re lovers. What more could a woman want? Three of the most wonderful men in the Galaxy in her bed and her life, and you think I’d throw it away? I am not a dumb blond, Daniel.”

Daniel smiled. “No, and you are a true blond, too. Speaking of blond. I haven’t had lunch yet, do you think I could get a Samwich?”

“That is bad, Daniel. That is really, really bad.” The two fell on the bed, wrestling and tickling one another as Martouf and Lantash looked on.

“Will you not join in, dear one?”

“In a moment, Lantash. I am still feeling the relief of knowing she is willing to stay with us.”

“Yes. Yes, so am I.” The sudden cessation of movement on the bed drew their attention.

“I believe that this Tau’ri ritual may have a different ending now that we can play it unclothed in bed.” Martouf noted smugly.

“Yes, I may even be convinced to join into this “play”. It looks very similar to one of my favorite forms of fun called “sex”.

“Lantash, what am I to do with you? Why do you allow all of my blood to go there at one time? Have I not told you it makes me lightheaded?”

“You will survive, Martouf. Come. Let us join the “fun”.”

“If you insist.”

“I don’t see myself exactly twisting your arm.”

“No, no you won’t have to do that, Lantash.”

“What is Daniel doing? That is one of the moves that Jore was explaining, is it not?”

“It is time to join, Daniel. I believe I remember a few of those as well.”

“Yes. It is, but I do not know how you could possibly remember anything. You turned to stone the minute you realized what Jore was going to talk about. If you had frozen in any other position, I would have been unable to see and catalog the entire lecture.”

“You did? The entire lecture? Even the--the nose part?”

“Yes, yes, let us join our mates, Martouf, before they leave without us.”

“Oh! Of course.”

Lantash sighed. He liked when all he had to do was sit back and enjoy the ride. And it looked like he was in for a wild one. Maybe he should consider putting in seatbelts. And a good stereo. More subtle lighting… He chuckled to himself, stopped trying to use distraction to ignore the sensations, and then gave his senses over to the tide of passion Samantha was building within them.

---

The SGC was moderately busy. Two teams had already returned with minor scrapes, cuts and bruises. Just nice minor things. SG-2 would have had a few cuts, but Malek had his healing device and took care of them. He healed everything except for extreme injuries, in the field. Those he could sometimes help until they could get medical care. Sometimes it worked, and sometimes it didn’t, but they all knew they had tried.

General Hammond entered the control room as an expected wormhole was established. Good, nothing out of the ordinary.

“General Hammond, sir, we have a code, it’s SG-1, sir.”

General Hammond nodded and answered, “Open the iris.” He made his way down to the gate room, always happy to see his premier team return in one piece and with all members accounted for. As he reached the end of the ramp, three backpacks sailed through. The general was startled and started to call for security teams when Jack and Teal’c came through, walking very straight and stopped about three-quarters of the way down the ramp.

“Sorry about that General, but the bags spoiled the lines of the robes, so the locals didn’t like it; they felt it detracted from their dignity. It’s no big deal. Everything’s fine. Don’t worry. Everything’s under control.”

“Colonel, where’s the rest of your team?” What’s ha—happ--ened…?” His voice trailed off, as General Hammond looked up the ramp to see his normally very professional looking Major Samantha Carter, looking quite lovely in a robe of some kind. Around her neck was a jeweled blue and gold collar. Attached to it were two chains. At the ends of the chains, one could find Dr. Jackson on one side, and Martouf of the Tok’ra at the other, both wearing robes that matched hers. There was no doubt that they were chained. To her. Not only that, but since their robes only joined on one shoulder, it was plain to see that they both had what appeared to be nipple rings and chains on their chests. Major Carter smiled brightly at him.

The event horizon within the Stargate dissipated, and the gate room was completely silent. General Hammond decided to try one more time, “Colonel O’Neill, what happ—ened…?” he made the mistake of looking up at them again, and his words once more trailed off.

Jack O’Neill answered, “Well, you see, General, there’s this plant…”

The end.

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