The Jade Harem 1-22

The silvered halls of the castle sparkled in the light cast by windows that soared to the arched ceiling above. Gwen sat alone on her throne with her head resting on a hand as a hundred thoughts raced through her mind. The most pressing thought was that of Hannah and the likely hood that they might one day make love. Until yesterday, Gwen hadn't been adverse to the idea, but now she saw it as taboo. Thanks to Blackbast reminding her of how special her relationship with her daughter was, she now didn't want to risk upsetting that balance.

She spent the night hidden in a back room to avoid being taken by her guards. Jaina had long ago given them special orders that they could enter Gwen's bedroom at night and ravage their Queen at their leisure. Now, Gwen hid when she needed to sleep or just wanted time alone with her thoughts. It wasn't that she didn't care for the attention; it was just that sometimes she needed to be alone.

“I really must have that girl change that standing order,” Gwen sighed and looked across the grand throne room. Not long ago, it was decorated in white and silver to honor her daughter on her wedding day. Gwen had been so happy to see Hannah and Frank married and even imagined looking forward to grandchildren.

“If not for the fact that this is a game, you might have them yourself,” she mumbled. “What kind of mother are you? Sleeping with your daughter’s husband. It’s shameful.”

She scolded herself, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't reconcile her thoughts. Frank was the one who sought her out, and he often came to her to make love while discussing important matters. It had been a long time since she felt safe enough in a man's arms to be herself and be vulnerable. Frank brought that out in her, and she longed to feel it again. To be in his bed as Gwen and not Anasara.

“But Jaina is right,” she said to her empty room. “If I keep on like that, sooner or later it will happen. How can I justify this?” She threw her head back in a tired groan as she wondered why she didn’t have something more important to worry about. Surely a Queen had better things to do than be sexually frustrated over not being able to sleep with her daughter's husband.

“Is there no other man I could trust?” she asked herself while thinking of the man who was technically her husband. Finneous was a mystery in many ways, but one she had found some joy in unraveling. He was a werewolf who went out of his way to ensure nobody knew it. By day, he was the lord of a small keep and managed a surrounding town, but at night, he prowled the woods with a pack of wolves. He always seemed to be looking for something, or perhaps just keeping a watchful eye. He was once a pawn in Kevin's games, but claimed he turned against his captors and fled. Now he had a price on his head and kept a low profile. However, Gwen didn't believe that was enough to cause his mysterious actions. He was watching and waiting, as if expecting some danger to appear. There was more going on with this mysterious man than even Hannah had been able to learn.

Gwen had abused her powers as the local ruler to spy on him and even had Jaina place her in his care under the guise of Anasara. Gwen had assumed the man would find a sex slave in his care to be irresistible, but despite his bestial nature, he never laid a finger on her. He had been supremely caring, treating her like a father might care for his sick daughter.

“Could he have known it was me?” Gwen asked herself as she pondered the idea. “I don’t see how.”

She pondered how to open a relationship with the man and explore the possibility of having a proper marriage. The issue was that she had made it very clear from the start that she didn't want one. Now she had changed her mind, but Finneous seemed more than content to stay at a distance. How could she go about breaking that ice and kindling some kind of relationship that might grow into something more? But what about this secret he seemed so intent on keeping? He told Hannah it was his involvement with Umtha and his betrayal of Kevin that placed a price on his head. But that was ages ago, and he seemed determined to keep his werewolf side hidden from others. There must be something more. Something he feared to tell them. How could Gwen puzzle that out without offending the man, or even making him run?

She considered just asking if he would like to join her for dinner. It was certainly the logical thing to do and might allow them to reconsider their current arrangement. If she could get it to work and acknowledge him as her husband, then she had a strong reason to stop going to Frank.

“But I love Frank,” Gwen said as she grew more frustrated. “I love them all, and I love being a slave in the harem. If I go to Finneous, I will have to give all that up.” She hated the idea of leaving the harem and especially Blackbast's temple, where she found regular sexual satisfaction. She supposed Finneous could offer her that, but is that what she truly wanted? She had to admit that she found indulging in her fantasies to be overpowering and deeply desired more. She found the loss of control to another intoxicating, especially if that other was an inferior, or even an enemy. She would never have that kind of thrill with Finneous, but he had other advantages. He could offer her a stable, loving relationship where she was his partner.

“But why don't I want that?” Gwen scolded herself as she tried to understand it. “Isn't that what every woman wants?” The question haunted her thoughts as she grew frustrated with herself. She decided to take a walk in the garden set aside for Hannah, hoping to clear her mind. There she spent the next hour sitting on a bench in the sun, when a woman appeared with a big smile.

“Mother!” Quinny called as she ran up wearing a simple white dress over her pale blue skin. Her long, back hair fell like a silken wash of water to the small of her back. Two small curved horns jutted from the front of her head, playfully parting her hair.

Gwen smiled as her newest and most enthusiastic daughter ran into her arms and shared a hug.

“Hello, my daughter,” Gwen said, smiling with happiness. “How did you manage to escape your travels east?”

“The masters are arguing over what you talked about the other day,” Quinny replied.

“Oh, is that still being debated?” Gwen grumbled. “I thought we agreed to put that to rest for now.”

“I dunno,” Quinny said with a shrug. “Blackbast brought it up to Frank, and he was upset that you might step away. Then Roric suggested it might be for the best, and Chandice backed him up. It turned into a three-sided argument, so Blackbast sent us away while they sort it out.”

“Oh, dear,” Gwen sighed. “Now I have them fighting over this. I should never have allowed this to happen.”

“They will figure it out,” Quinny said as she moved to sit on the bench. “But, would you really leave the harem?”

“If it causes this much trouble, then I see no other way,” Gwen insisted as she joined Quinny on the bench. “I am meant to be your mother, and set a good example, not sleep with your husband.”

“But Frank loves you,” Quinny insisted.

“I know, and I wish it weren’t true,” Gwen groaned.

“You can’t wish for something like that,” Quinny insisted as she leaned into Gwen. “And I love you too.”

“But my being your mother was so important to you,” Gwen insisted. “I don't even want to risk damaging that."

“That’s why I came to see you,” Quinny said as she took on a somber tone. “Look, I know what you and Hannah are worried about, and I understand why.”

“And all that is at risk now,” Gwen said.

“It’s because we took it all too far,” Quinny said as she tossed her hair. “But it worked fine for weeks without so much as a hiccup, and I don’t see why that has to change.”

“You're right, it was working fine, but the problem here is Frank," Gwen said. "If I keep coming to his bed, we will soon do things we may regret."

“That’s what they are fighting about,” Quinny said. “None of the masters like the idea of you and any of us having sex.”

“By us, you mean you and Hannah?" Gwen pressed and was surprised to find out that it included Umtha and Breanne. In many ways, they saw all of Frank's girls as her daughters and wished to keep that relationship pure. Blackbast was still against it and painted a picture of a beautiful mother-daughter relationship. She stressed what a shame it would be if that picture were ruined.

“Then I should leave,” Gwen said as she looked away. “For the good of our family.”

“No," Quinny urged as she put a hand over Gwen's. "Just go back to the way it was. Play in the temple as Anasara and have your fun, and limit your encounters with Frank to your castle, so there is no risk of us getting in the way. Then you can be our mother and a harem girl."

“You make that sound so easy,” Gwen remarked.

“We all understand that it was Frank who opened this door,” Quinny said. “And even he understands that it's causing tension. But Frank is a good guy, and he will do what is right to make us all happy. He cares about you, and I think he relies on you for help to understand Hannah.”

“He certainly likes to talk about her,” Gwen admitted as she recalled some of her conversations with Frank. Still, making love to him had been too far. Now she needed to scale that back or eliminate it altogether. Quinny was right, Frank would try his best to fix this to make them all happy. In the end, it was likely that Frank wouldn't be happy, and that bothered Gwen. She asked Quinny directly what she wanted for them and was relieved to hear that Quinny wanted a mother. She wanted to keep their relationship sacred and honestly see Gwen as her full blooded mother.

Gwen was so touched by the sentiment that she couldn't help but wrap the woman in a hug. She kissed her daughter's head before admitting that she wanted that too. She loved the idea that they were all her daughters and longed to hear them say it.

“Then all you have to do is put this silly notion out of your head," Quinny said. "Nothing has happened yet, so there is no reason to feel guilty."

“And keep my encounters with Frank to my private chambers,” Gwen said as she nodded. “But I wonder how Breanne managed to do it.”

“She's different," Quinny laughed. "She likes to act all old and proper, but she was a wild girl in her youth, and she came here to relive that. But I think she's one of those rare cases, and if you pry her for details, they never did anything. All they ever did was make love to the same man in the same bed. They never did more than a short kiss and a snuggle, but girls do that with each other all the time, and nobody bats an eye at it. I have kissed a dozen of my girlfriends in the real world and even taken a bubble bath with one. But we never had sex and never considered it. Heck, even Hannah admits to kissing a past girlfriend."

“I suppose you're right," Gwen agreed, feeling slightly better. Quinny went on to admit that she felt a sense of revulsion at the idea, and Gwen agreed that most mothers would feel the same way. She felt disgusted with herself for allowing the thoughts to even take root in her head. She shared the feeling with Quinny and asked why she had allowed it to happen.

“It's this world," Quinny explained. "It's a playground for this sort of thing, and if you ask me, I bet most people came here to do just that."

“You think a lot of people came here just for the sexual fantasy aspect of it?" Gwen pressed. Quinny laughed and said she was sure of it. She explained how she jumped at the chance to come here for the sex. It was a big reason why, despite being a zombie, she ensured she was a sexy one. She wanted to make sure the men desired her so she could have lots of encounters. She felt that a lot of women came to New Eden to reinvent themselves as a new sexual being that men hotly desired.

“So this is a playground for deviants?” Gwen laughed.

“Not deviants," Quinny protested. "But women like me who might not have been what people called pretty. I spent years dreaming about wild fantasies and scenarios, and I bet a lot of other women did too. Then, like me, they all rushed to New Eden, eager to craft a bombshell beauty and live out those fantasies. I think it's why so many girls are excited about joining a harem, or being a slut. They are actively seeking out sexual adventure just like you are."

“Me?” Gwen laughed. “What makes you think I came here seeking sexual adventure?”

“Oh, common,” Quinny laughed. “All the thirsty girls play elves, and you made your chest so big it begs men to stare at it. Only a woman looking for that kind of attention would be that big.”

Gwen smiled as she nodded in agreement that Quinny's words were accurate. She had indeed chosen a high elf as her race because of its beauty, and then boosted her curves to ensure she was noticed. She had other reasons for coming to New Eden, but having sexual adventures was high on her list.

“I suppose you’re right,” Gwen relented.

“And if you think about the men, a lot of them were the geeks and dweebs who girls wouldn’t even look at,” Quinny added. “They all grew up like Frank, full of desire and filled with fantasies inspired by anime about what kind of sex life they wanted. Frank has been dreaming about having a harem since he was old enough to watch anime. It's all he ever wanted, and now that he has it, he's not holding back. He's exploring it to the furthest reaches of his imagination just like the rest of us.”

“So you're saying the world is full of people who came here explicitly to fulfill a wild erotic fantasy?” Gwen questioned.

Quinny asked her to answer that question honestly. She reminded Gwen that she had tried many times to put naked artwork of Hannah around the castle and city. Gwen had even told Hannah that most people weren't so reserved about such things.

Gwen agreed again, admitting that she knew the truth. The world was indeed full of people who had lived lives devoid of the kind of attention men and women desired. They flocked to New Eden to start over and enjoy the fruits they had been denied so long. Here, they had perfect health, bodies, and no repercussions. It was a veritable playground free from rules and open to every wild whim.

"Hmm, maybe we need to implement some moral standards," Gwen mused as she considered what must be going on behind closed doors.

“Ha, that would ruin the fun,” Quinny said as she got up. “But I am glad we had this chance to talk.”

"I am, too," Gwen said and ruffled Quinny's hair. "Now, let me say thank you for helping me understand."

Quinny leaned back and called her mother again, stirring a new kind of fire in her heart. Gwen felt the need to nurture and protect her family and felt angry at how blind she had become. How had her animal desires gotten such a deep hold of her logic? As far as she was concerned, Hannah and Quinny were her real flesh and blood daughters, and putting that relationship at risk was ridiculous.

“I need to speak to Frank,” Gwen said in a tired sigh as she understood what had to happen next.

“Actually, I think you should speak to Rajeen,” Quinny replied. “She’s really good at this sort of stuff.”

“I should do that,” Gwen agreed and stood up as Quinny bounced to her feet.

“Well, I should go back and see if the fight is over,” Quinny said as she stepped away. “Oh, and you should know Hannah wasn’t present for all this, so she probably doesn’t know yet.”

“I am sure she will find out soon enough,” Gwen said and shooed her away. Quinny ran off, leaving Gwen with a smile at the thought of having four daughters. “Oh, you foolish woman,” she scolded herself. “Look at the harm you had nearly caused your own family. How are you going to look at yourself in the mirror?”

She shook her head as she knew what had to happen next. With resolve firmly rooted in her heart, she went back to her castle and down halls lined with guards, traps, and wards. Here, she entered a hidden door and, with a single step, was in the palace just outside the harem chambers. She almost smiled when she realized she wasn't dressed in slave silks or wearing the guise of her alter ego. Instead, she entered the harem chambers with her head held high and walked like a queen among the girls.

Beautiful women lounged all around her, some playing, some sleeping, some just cuddling up and smiling. Gwen loved being part of those snuggles as girls pressed in tight simply to enjoy the closeness. It wasn't about sex or lust or a hungry need. It was the simple comfort of being in the arms of a beautiful woman.

She wished she could stop to join one, but she made her way to the central chamber where the thrones stood to find the woman she wanted to speak with.

The white tiger woman Rajeen sat on her throne as she presided over her collection of women. She wore only a golden silk at her hip, allowing her ample, soft breasts to stand exposed. She leaned on one arm while smiling softly as the only sound in the room was the soft gasps of women making love. Gwen hated to spoil the moment as she arrived before the throne and bowed her head in submission to her master.

“And what has brought the rarest of fruits to my chambers?” the tiger woman asked in a playful purr.

“I need to speak with you about my role and how it is affecting my daughters," Gwen said as she stood tall before the lounging tiger woman. She noticed the subtle way Rajeen's blue eyes narrowed and how her tail twitched in reaction. For a moment, she said nothing, then leaned forward to reply.

“A topic of much debate, it would seem,” Rajeen said as she shifted slightly. “I have been asked for my opinion on it several times this day.”

“I didn't mean to cause trouble for your harem,” Gwen insisted. She explained that all she had wanted was to have some relief from her otherwise boring life. She had never meant to go to bed with Frank or become a source of tension. If this was going to cause so much trouble, she would leave the harem and separate from Frank.

“You don’t have to explain yourself to me,” Rajeen replied as she got up and took Gwen’s hand. “Come, let us walk in the gardens and talk for a bit.”

Gwen followed the woman out of the palace and into the gardens that surrounded it. She wondered if Rajeen wanted to speak more privately or if she felt the walk would do them good. Rajeen then reminded Gwen that she had been there the night Frank seduced her. If anyone was to blame for this current issue, it was Frank for instigating it. How could a woman resist such a temptation while on a romantic magic magic-filled boat ride with such a handsome man?

“It was magical,” Gwen agreed as Rajeen nodded.

“Frank wanted you to be a part of his life,” Rajeen explained. “He is as much a collector of women as I am and will probably add more overtime.”

“But the tension this has caused,” Gwen insisted.

“Ah, yes, the tension,” Rajeen purred. “Have you considered the fact that Frank isn't known to be reckless?”

“I don’t understand what that point is supposed to mean,” Gwen replied.

“It means your encounter with Frank wasn't a spur-of-the-moment thing. No, he had carefully planned this out because he knew exactly what he wanted. That also means that he has considered how it would affect your relationship with your daughters.”

“So, you think he had a plan for this?" Gwen said as she considered the possibility. The problem was that she had no idea what it was, and worse, she now knew Frank better. He had no experience with women before he met Hannah, and all his notions about relationships came from cartoons he called anime. He might be brash and brave, but his head was full of fantasy based on these shows, and she worried he was making mistakes.

“I believe Frank never intended for you and Hannah to form any kind of relationship beyond being mother and daughter,” Rajeen said. “But how do you feel about Hannah?”

“That issue is resolved," Gwen said firmly with a wave of her hand as if to brush the topic away. "I am never going to so much as entertain the idea again. How could I have been so stupid?"

“Do not call yourself stupid," Rajeen said and put an arm around Gwen's waist. "Look around you at this garden, and the building it surrounds."

Gwen did as she was told as Rajeen explained that everything she saw was built for the sole purpose of sexual fantasy. Rajeen herself was living her fantasy, ruling over a harem of rare girls she had collected and loving them all. Gwen was surrounded by a world of intimacy and pleasure while also watching her daughters take part in it. How could she be blamed for finding herself lonely and wishing she could experience some of it? She hadn't been foolish; she had been swept away by an irresistible flood of sexual tension.

Gwen agreed that the tension was irresistible. She likened it to a drug, and Rajeen assured her it was. It was feeding the very deep and hungry part of a woman's soul that craved intimacy and fulfillment. She reminded Gwen that she knew the story of her being trapped in her own kingdom, alone and isolated. All that time going unfulfilled had left her hungry for some affection. Then along came Frank to sweep her off her feet and fill her heart with the intoxicating effect of his touch.

“I am sure he didn’t mean to do it intentionally, but he struck at you when you were vulnerable,” Rajeen said. “Now that flood of emotions has washed you and Hannah into the same pool, and for a brief moment, you were weak. But I am glad to see you have seen things my sweet Blackbast's way."

“But what do I do about Frank?" Gwen asked. "I spoke to Quinny, and she thinks he will do what is right. I think so as well, but all he can do is cut it off, and I don't think he truly wants that. I can't help but think that the only person who is going to end up being hurt by this is Frank himself."

“So you wish to continue your relationship with him, but avoid anything more,” Rajeen pressed.

“There will be no play between myself and all four of his girls,” Gwen said. “Blackbast and Frank are the only two I will consider because they are masters.”

“So half the problem is already resolved,” Rajeen said in a pleased purr. “But you don’t know how to face Frank and say this.”

“Well, I am not happy about the conversation," Gwen admitted. "But I am not afraid to approach him about it. I have committed myself to loving and cherishing my family, and I want him to understand that. I am not angry with him. If anything, I will miss him, but I will not endanger my relationship with my daughters.”

“So, will you leave the harem?” Rajeen asked.

“Not if I don’t have to,” Gwen replied. “I would love to remain a slave girl and spend time here and in the temple.”

“Hmm,” Rajeen said as she smiled. “Have you ever considered making your commitment permanent?”

The words hit her like a shockwave as she gazed deep into Rajeen's crystal blue eyes. Of course, she had dared to fantasize about locking the collar and committing to a life as a slave girl. But she was the Queen, and she couldn't very well be seen in a slave collar. She thought of the scandal as her less-than-friendly neighbors learned of her situation. The thought sent her heart racing as the tiger women brought the idea out of fantasy and into perspective.

“I.. I couldn’t,” Gwen gasped as Rajeen never blinked.

“And why is that?” Rajeen asked in a tone that suggested Gwen was being foolish.

“I am the Queen,” Gwen replied in a voice that betrayed the tension inside.

“So a queen can’t be a harem girl?” Rajeen pressed.

Gwen struggled to think as her mind was flooded by a torrent of emotions. On the one hand, she was afraid of what others might think. On the other hand, it was exciting to think of them discovering her situation. Once it was out in the open, there would be no going back.

Gwen shook her head more to clear her thoughts than to answer the question. She insisted that her rivals would use it against her, but Rajeen didn't seem phased. Hannah was a well-known public figure and had boldly stated to all her accusers that she was a harem slave. Nothing had come of it, and even if her enemies did raise the issue, why should Hannah care? She loved being part of the harem and serving the masters. The entire kingdom knew that Hannah was a succubus and a slave girl, yet they still praised her.

“It’s a little different for me,” Gwen insisted. “They might see it as a weakness.”

“I see it as a strength," Rajeen countered. "You are showing you are brave enough to wear such a collar. Most women find it hard to submit to this degree. It is why I love my girls as much as I do. I understand the sacrifice they have made and the trust they show in me."

Gwen loved how Rajeen viewed the collar, but to lock it would mean she would never be able to take it off. She would forever be known as the slave Queen of the Jade Harem. Just saying that in her mind sent goosebumps across her skin. She couldn't believe how excited she was or that she was even considering this.

“Why do we react like this?” Gwen panted. “My rational mind says no, but this excitement inside cries out to say yes.”

“We are women,” Rajeen said. “And I am pushing against one of your boundaries. We all get a little hot and excited at the prospect of stepping over that line.”

“It’s intoxicating,” Gwen said as she fanned herself. “And the way you say it with all those sultry purrs, I just want to fall at your feet and beg you to do it.”

“Ha, that is one of the reasons I picked this race," Rajeen said and rubbed Gwen's leg. "But you seem particularly touched by this idea. Do you mind if I ask why?"

“I don't know," Gwen said in exasperation. "I suppose I have grown tired of always being the one in charge. Ever since that day when Frank commanded Hannah to take the succubus class, I have felt something inside."

“Tell me more?” Rajeen asked as she stared intently.

Gwen tried to explain how Hannah surrendering that much control to Frank made Gwen wish she trusted somebody enough to do the same for her. She found the idea of losing all control of such choices to a man who owned and kept her was irresistible. She supposed that was why she was so weak around Frank. He demonstrated that power, and it had lit a fire in her soul.

“I hadn’t known this about you,” Rajeen said as she studied Gwen. “You like the loss of power. Is this one of your fantasies?”

“It’s my greatest fantasy,” Gwen replied. “I have been the most powerful person in the kingdom for ages. I would love to find somebody I could surrender to and give him all that I am. I could still appear to be the face of power, but secretly, behind closed doors, he holds a very short leash.”

“I see,” Rajeen said as she finally looked away. “I understand now why you are so eager to serve Frank. He has indeed grown into a firm hand when it comes to his girls. I like that about him as well. But I sense that you already know he isn’t the one you are looking for.”

“No," Gwen admitted sadly. As much as she enjoyed her time with Frank, she knew he wasn't the one to hold that leash. She admitted that she didn't think she would ever find somebody who could. It would need to be a man she could trust so completely that she could surrender everything to him.

“I must apologise to you,” Rajeen said. “I had not noticed this about you. But I am intrigued now. Tell me, would you give everything to this man if you could find him?”

Gwen laughed lightly and said that if she could find a man she trusted that much, then yes, she would. In fact, she craved it, thinking about it constantly and dreaming about it at night. It was part of why she loved Blackbast's temple as a whore who had no choice but to say yes.

“That night Jaina pretended to be me and gave me to one of my rivals as a sex toy was the most thrilling night of my life,” Gwen admitted. “I still tingle at the thought of it.”

“You have the soul of a true slave girl," Rajeen purred and leaned in with a smile. "But I need to ask you some hard questions. What if this man wants you to serve him and him alone? There would be no more Roric or Frank."

Gwen paused to consider the ramifications and realized she was on fire at the thought of losing such choice. Rajeen then asked what if it was the reverse. What if he wanted to make a whore out of her, and she frequently found herself with strangers?

“He might command you to go as the Queen to that rival's bed," Rajeen said.

Gwen could hardly respond as her heart threatened to beat out of her chest. She tried to imagine a master sending her to that bedroom as her real self and doing what she did last time. How he would have smiled and tormented her as she gave him everything he desired.

Rajeen asked what she would do if he used her as a prostitute, selling her body to strangers for profit. Gwen couldn't think as her world spun, and she wobbled. How had she gotten into this headspace? It was exactly this kind of sensation that had nearly led to her and Hannah destroying what they had.

“Rajeen, I can’t think,” Gwen whispered. “I am so aroused.”

“You do like this," Rajeen purred and pulled Gwen into her arms. Gwen was held firm as Rajeen rubbed her cheek on her head and promised to help her. If all Gwen needed to accept the collar fully was a man she could trust, then Rajeen would help her find one. Gwen's entire world was spinning as Rajeen assured her that there was a man for her. She described how Gwen would one day surrender everything to her master, and he would take her places she never imagined going.

“I feel like I am going to faint," Gwen stammered as Rajeen held her up.

“Shh,” Rajeen purred and gave her a moment to collect herself. “Just breath and know that I am proud of you. Few people have to strength to admit they have such a desire. But, before I can do anything for you, there is one thing you must set right first.”

“What is that?” Gwen panted.

“You need to return to the temple and face your daughter,” Rajeen said. “You must put this issue to rest so that both of you never question it again. Only then will you be free of your burdens to begin the next step of your enslavement.”

Gwen nodded as she realized Rajeen was right. It was time to face Hannah and put things right. She took a deep breath and steadied her nerves for what would come next. She only hoped Hannah would understand, but she had her doubts. After all, hadn't that final kiss been an invitation?