A Smell So Sweet by BelovedStranger

Sins of the Righteous

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

WARNING!: This oneshot contains religious material, so if you are Catholic or believe in God, you might not want to read this. No, it does NOT bash religion, but tells of one man's difficulites in overcoming his sin. Or rather lack of concuring.

A/U

Prompt: Fennel

I used this spice by name AND used its history to create the plot, so if any are curious, bellow is a list of historical facts about this spice fennel, and it's up to you to see which part in history I recreated. Enjoy!

Quiet footfalls.

Heavy breathing.

The roar of blood echoing in his ears; the heavy beat of his heart racing a mile a minute, threatening to punch through his chest at any second. 

Sweat beaded his brow, his upper lip, dripped down his back.

He had to do this; his conscious demanded it of him, but God was it hard.

His hands trembled as he lifted them, plugging every keyhole, every crack, lining every door and window, every entrance, any possible way to gain admittance inside his home with the spice fennel.

Morality warred with desperate desire.

He had to do this. He couldn’t allow their meetings to continue and still claim himself a servant of God, no matter how much he desired that they continue unabated. He was already damned for allowing it to start, to last for this long, already. It was time—past time—to desist and beg for forgiveness for his sin.

He glanced outside the window for the tenth time in less than a minute. The sun was setting. It would be night soon, darkness falling.

The Catholic priest was all too aware of the creatures of legend that dwelled in that inky blackness, showing themselves to tempt humanity to go against God’s will. And he—like so many before him—had proven weak against evil’s seductive promise, for he had one weakness—an Achilles’ heel—he had lived with all his life, and it shamed him to this day, unable to free himself of his own deadly sin no matter how he prayed for deliverance.

He did not blame God for his shortcomings. Everyone had his or her own cross to bear; this was his, and guilt would plague him every time he succumbed to temptation.

He quickly placed the last bit of fennel, sealing himself in a protective cocoon that would ward off evil spirits—specifically her.

As he made his shaky way to his bedroom, forcing his reluctant body to keep the seals in place and not give in to earthly desire, he reflected on his one unconquerable sin that continued to batter his resolve, conviction, and harmony with God.

Lust.

He undressed, got ready for bed, and pulled the covers up to his chin, but sleep would not come. He was too aware, his body hard and aching, his blood racing with excitement, knowing she was coming like she always had this past week.

However, this time he would not receive her.

But he wanted to, desperately.

He fought his passions, tried to ignore his engorged shaft and tight balls between his thighs, a painfully sweet ache that would turn to agony soon if not appeased.

Suddenly, he stilled. He moved not one muscle, body tense. He didn’t even breathe.

He didn’t know how he knew, but he was certain without a questionable doubt that she had come, stood just outside his front door.

His penispulsed in answer, desperate to sink back inside her moist, tight cavern.

More sweat beaded his body as he fought temptation to let her in, knew she stood, waiting for him to open the door for her.

She didn’t have to say a word to sing to him a siren’s call, but he murmured a prayer, locked his muscles and refused to budge.

Long minutes past, but his resolve did not break.

A high pitched shriek disrupted the quiet night.

She was angry, understood that he would not allow her entrance, had purposefully sought to keep her out and away from him.

She was far from pleased.

His body raging with uncontrollable lust, he lay there, trembling with the effort to stay where he was.

The ear piercing screech cut off abruptly.

He blinked, knew that she had gone. He felt both relief and utter dejection. How long was she going to come to him? How many nights will he be forced to go through this torment, denying her, denying himself?

More importantly, will he be strong enough to stand firm in his resolve next time or the time after that?

A succubus had set her sight on him, and he had no idea how long she would attempt to keep him ensnared before tiring of him.

 

* * *

Three days later found Sesshomaru in the church, sitting in the confessional booth, listening to an elderly man disclose his sins, then blessed him afterwards. It was Sunday, after late night mass, and a number of his congregation had stood in line for their turn at confessionals. The elderly man had been the last of them, and now the church where he preached God’s word was empty save for him.

He stood, exited the booth, and walked up the long isle, before he knelt before the large crucifix hung high on the wall, displayed for all to see upon the wall behind the pulpit he preached at.

His head bent, he offered up a silent prayer of thankfulness.

After that first night, his nightly visitor had not returned. A blessing. He hadn’t been sure he could take another night such as that, denying his lust for her. He had feared he would break and allow sin once more into his home.

But she had not returned.

He tried to feel elated by that fact, but he did not. He was shamed by his weakness, and silently begged God for forgiveness.

Then aloud he said, “Please forgive me.”

“I don’t believe I shall, priest.”

Sesshomaru stiffened at the sultry voice, knew to whom it belonged. Impossible.

He whipped his head around, but continued to kneel, too surprised to stand.

A beautiful woman stood not two feet a little to his right and behind him. Black eyes stared back at him, framed by long, dark lashes with arched black brows above her bewitching gaze. Her nose was small, her cheek bones finely chiseled, softened by slightly rounded cheeks, and her lips were lush and blood red.

Gazing at the saucy half-smile of her rosy mouth, he recalled heated moments between them and what she had done with those wickedly tempting lips.

His cock thickened, his heart pounded.

“Are you surprised to see me, priest? You’ve done a splendid job in keeping me away from your embrace these last few nights.”

“Kagome,” he murmured, his voice hoarse with his raging desire.

His amber gaze devoured her, took in the daring dress she wore so casually. It was as red as her lips, hugged her form like asecond skin, leaving nothing to the imagination, even though the fabric reached the floor, trailing behind her a few inches. A split on the left side revealed her creamy, white leg past her slim thigh, all the way up to her hip. He swallowed as he saw her black stilettos, imagined them digging into his back as he pounded inside her.

At her sultry chuckle, his eyes jumped back to her face framed by her waist long, wavy, black hair. He knew it to be as soft as it looked.

He stood on trembling legs and turned to face her.

“Why are you here? How…?”

“How can I enter this sacred sanctuary?” she supplied helpfully, mocking him with her eyes, eyes that also promised him pleasure he could never dream of with any other. And she would be right. Never before had he needed another sexually as bad as he needed this woman, this succubus.

He nodded once, mutely, trying to force serenity to his raging thoughts.

Another tickling laugh that did strange things to his body.

“You refused to take me to your bed, so I’ve come to take you to mine.” Her dark eyes held such sexual promise, his cock jerked against his robes. Thankfully, they were loose, hiding his erection, but her gaze held knowledge, knew his body responded to her, betraying him.

Before he could comment on her ominous proclamation, she continued, bewitching him with her voice.

“I must admit, being here is far from pleasant. I can feel my very soul burning by the light emanating from this place.” Sesshomaru then noticed the strain around the corners of her eyes and around her mouth. He watched her black gaze darken still as determination set in their inky depths. “However, you have forced me to take extreme measures to come to you, and for that, you shall pay dearly for, Sesshomaru.” 

She raised her hand towards him, made a strange gesture, and his world went black.

* * *

Sesshomaru blinked blurred eyes, trying to put his surroundings in focus. Seconds later, he saw a cavern ceiling above him. Frowning, he lowered his eyes and gazed about him in confusion. The cave was dully light by a few, obviously ornamental and expensive looking lamps. The room he found himself in was large but scarcely furnished but nevertheless lavish.

Silks hung on the walls, a carpeted floor, and the bed he found himself in was massive with wooden posts as thick as small trees and more silk hanging artfully around it. The silk curtains were tied back to the large posts, giving him a clear view of the unfamiliar room he found himself in.

He shifted, intending to rise from the large bed not his own, felt cool silk glide against his skin, but also the ties immobilizing him.

Uncomprehendingly, Sesshomaru turned his head on the pillow towards his right and saw his wrist chained to the bed post. Without conscious thought, still confused by what he was seeing, feeling, he noted that all his limbs were chained to the four bed posts…and he was completely nude.

As the reality of his situation started to sink in, his thoughts were interrupted by a seductive voice, almost like a purr.

“Finally you wake, priest.”

Sesshomaru looked down his naked body and there was Kagome, standing at the end of the bed without him knowing how she had gottenthere, and noted in the back of his mind that she wore a crimson silk robe that showed much of her creamy, smooth thighs. 

“You were out much longer than I thought you’d be. I apologize for the necessity of knocking you unconscious, but it couldn’t be helped.”

Her words brought back his memory of finding her in his church.

Though he was chained, helpless, he felt no fear, only irritation.

“What games do you think you are playing? Release me, now.”

She gave him a considering look, gaze full of sexual heat that scorched him where he lay. His body betrayed his interest, his shaft growing half-mast.

Her dark gaze fell on his groin, and he almost groaned as his erection fully distended over his abdomen under her burning stare. He truly was pathetic. One glance from her and he was harder than he had ever been with any other woman.

When she met his eyes once more, he saw appreciation and lust clear in her dark orbs. He swallowed, hard.

“If I release you, would you do to me everything you’re thinking of doing right now?”

Damn her, she knew he was picturing her, naked, beneath him, and taking his cock in any way he demanded and knew she’d glory in the taking.

God, give me strength, he prayed silently.

“I cannot,” he rasped.

Instead of growing angry or at least annoyed at his refusal, she smiled a small, secret smile that caused his pulse to jump and balls to tighten further.

“Then I shall just have to content myself with playing with you,” she purred to him wickedly.

She moved to his right and glided towards a small table on the far side of the room. He watched her, unable to look away from the tantalizing sight of her bare legs. They were strong and supple, able to wrap snuggly around his waist as he pounded within her silken, hot depths, and he should know. He had taken her many times throughout the nights she had come to visit him.

Just remembering how it felt to be inside her had him hardening further, he ached.

“What are you about?” he asked suspiciously when she turned around to face him again, holding a glass of what he guessed to be some sort of red wine.  

“Nothing you won’t enjoy,” she promised, stalking towards him, glass in hand.

He narrowed his eyes at her.

She sat beside his right side on the bed, crossed her shapely legs. His gaze instantly lowered, and he knew she had drawn his attention to her flesh purposefully, but he seemed unable to help himself.

She took a sip of her wine, and her lips came away moist.

Snapping out of his sexual haze, he started to demand, “Unchain me—“

But she leaned down and pressed her plump lips across his own and poured the sweet wine into his open mouth. He was forced to swallow. It was obviously expensive wine by its rich taste, but what he really wanted was to taste her mouth, but she was already leaning away from him, an impish smile gracing her lips.

“We are going to have a grand time this night, you and I,” she murmured to him, “and be damned with your Godly vows.”

His cock jerked at her words.

He wanted what she promised, needed it with every fiber of his being. He was far from unwilling…but he could not in full conscious fall back into sin. How many times had he preached to his congregation to fight against earthly pleasure, to follow God’s path?

Now it was his turn to abide by what he preached, to follow his convictions, and he knew this was not right.

“I cannot. We cannot keep doing this,” he told her with as much conviction he could muster, which wasn’t much.

How he yearned for her, to sink between her soft thighs, to touch and taste her.

He gritted his teeth.

“You think not?” she asked carelessly, glancing away from his face and dribbled a few drops of wine on his broad chest. Without waiting for his answer, she leaned towards him and licked across his hairless chest, tracing the liquid streams that branched out in every way.

His breath quickened as her soft, wet tongue stroked along his flesh, envisioning her licking him lower, much lower.

“Stop,” he growled, while he inwardly demanded her to ignore his command and continue.

Next, she poured a few drops on his left nipple, moved her glass to her left hand, and reached across him, balancing on her right hand, and leaned over him, her breath heating his nipple.

“Do you really want me to?” she asked, meeting his gaze squarely before wrapping her lips around his flesh, suckling strongly while lathering the bud with her tongue.

His fists clenched, the muscles along his arms flexing, going taut from the pleasure. When she grazed her teeth over him, his breath whooshed out of him in a rough exhalation.

She leaned back and did the same to his other nipple, but this time she drew on him stronger, suckling him with long pulls that had his body trembling in reaction.

“I told you—“ he panted, glaring down at her bent head, but his words were lost when she bit him almost painfully. His hips jackknifed off the bed, a groan leaving his lips and a bead of precum to seeping out of the crown of his erection.

Her husky chuckle sent a thrill through his veins, and he watched, unable to look away, when she next dribbled wine along his abs. Again she licked up the wet trails, tonguing the thin, silver line of hair beginning below his navel, darting towards his engorged shaft.

His breath halted in his lungs, he froze, silently begging her to give his aching length the attention he desperately needed.

When Kagome moved to straddle his thighs, her eyes capturing his own, conveyed an unspoken promise of carnal delight that scattered all rational thought of right and wrong. Then she untied the ribbon around her waist holding her robe together, and he saw that she wore nothing beneath.

His eyes devoured her generous, milky breasts with dark pink tips that caused his mouth to water to suckle and taste. The silk pooled around her waist, revealing her flat stomach and a hint of her curvy hips, but obscured his vision of her sex.

Her husky laugh brought him out of his lust filled haze.

“Do you like what you see, priest?” He watched as she raised her dainty hands to cup her breasts, squeezing the plump flesh before his heated stare. He couldn’t help but watch as she plucked her nipples, tugging, and rolling them between her thumb and forefinger.

Sesshomaru forced himself to say, his voice grating, “Enough of this foolishness. I was wrong to encourage our…liaison, but it cannot continue. I will not be with you like this any longer, Kagome.”

A hardness glazed in her dark gaze as she seemed to contemplate his answer, and then an unmerciful smile curved her red lips.

“You believe it’s over between us, Sesshomaru?” she murmured.

“Yes,” he replied without hesitation and false conviction.

Mirth danced in her eyes as she reached out and ran her nail from the head of his shaft all the way down to the base. Sesshomaru hissed at the pleasurable sting, the head of his cock was fury red with his pent up desire.

“Want to know what I believe? I believe you lie,” she told him simply.

She leaned down and blew moist, hot air on the tip of his erection. A shudder of pleasure went through his body. Yes, he wanted her, ached to pump his painfully erect shaft inside her, but how could he have something that would surely damn him?

“I tire of these games,” he panted, rattling the chains that bound him. “Release me now, and I shall take my leave immediately.”

“You don’t like the chains?” she asked sweetly, her hands moving to caress his upper thighs, nails digging in almost painfully, but he liked the sharp sting, wanted more.

He narrowed his eyes at her in answer. They both knew he preferred the dominate position, exalted in taking her however, wherever he wished. Both knew he chafed to be tied down thusly, but he would never beg and plead for release, only, always, demanded. And she was expected to obey.

But this time, she did not.

She continued to tease his flesh, stroking him everywhere but where he needed it most, his cock.

“I gave you an order,” he growled, voice thick with denied lust.

“But you haven’t been shown the best part,” she teased, ignoring his demand.

Before he could reply, she knelt over him, her back curved as she leaned towards him. She had her breasts cupped in her hands and wrapped the soft globs around his cock, and began pumping his length in slow movements.

His lips parted as he watched her, then groaned low in his chest, a pained expression etched on his face as he watched her, unable to look away.

Words escaped him. He knew he should tell her to stop, but he could not, didn’t want her to.

“Faster,” he rasped, needing more friction to assuage his need.

She complied with a knowing smirk, fondling her breasts around him, and when he leaked precum, she leaned down and licked it away, swallowing the white, sticky substance.

“Fuck,” he gasped, tossing his head back at the pleasure, but quickly glanced back down at her, needing to watch.

She licked him again, teasing him as she continued to stroke him off with her breasts.

“Suck it,” he demanded, his chest heaving with his harsh breathing.

Without comment, she took the head of him in her moist cavern and hollowed her cheeks, drawing strongly on his flesh.

He shouted sharply and thrust his hips towards her mouth, wishing to be taken deeper inside her mouth until he was choking her, but she controlled him, allowing nothing more than the head to pass her lips. It was maddening, erotic, but he craved this, with her.

She nipped him with her teeth, and his hips shot up off the bed, his feet dug into the mattress as he strived to get deeper.

Even with his violent buck, he still couldn’t gain more than the head inside her mouth.

He wasn’t sure how long she kept at this sensual torture, but then he felt his balls tighten, feel his seed move into his shaft, ready to come, but she…stopped.

“Finish me,” he ground out, thrusting his shaft towards her. He was so fucking close, the pain in his groin immense.

“You didn’t want to continue our liaison, remember?” she taunted him, grinning at his misery.

“If you insist on arousing me to this extent, then I expect you to deliver, not tease me,” he all but growled, trying to control his need, and failing miserably.

For long minutes, Kagome knelt over his legs, petting his thigh to help him calm down.

He was still fully erect, but he no longer felt eminent release. His body was covered in a light sheen of sweat, the silk sheets sticking to his back, but he hardly noticed.

“Feeling better?” she asked innocently.

“No,” he stated, eyeing her unhappily. He was disappointed that she hadn’t finished him, but he should feel grateful that she had not—or so he tried to tell himself.

“Enough. Release me.”

She’d had her fun, made him wild with desire but denied him. Her petty revenge should be completed, and they may never need see each other again. He refused to acknowledge the disquiet he felt about never laying eyes on her again.

She smirked at him. “Enough? Really? So soon? But I’ve just gotten started.”

This time she grabbed the base of his thick shaft, and cupped his balls, nails slightly sinking into fragile flesh, and took him in her mouth once more.

He groaned harshly, allowing his head to fall back against the pillows as she took a few inches in her mouth until he bumped the back of her throat. This time was no slow seduction. She sucked him hard and fast, bobbing her head over him, squeezing the base of his erection rhythmically, and rolling his heavy sac in her palm.

This time she would make him spend his seed. There was no doubt in his mind, and he did nothing to stop her, only encouraged her with his sounds of pleasure, and thrusting hips.

He tried to raise his knees and bend them, but the chains prevented him the movement, so he kicked out, thrashing his legs restlessly beneath her in growing agitation.

“Almost there. Almost… Swallow it. All of it,” he panted, groaned.

He was just about to blow his top when…she stopped again.

“No!” he bellowed, thrashing his head, struggling violently against his bonds. He felt more precum leak from the tip, and he shuddered in pleasurable agony as it slid a bit down the enflamed head.

God, his groin pained him unbelievably. She couldn’t leave him like this!

“Finish me!” he commanded, thrusting his hips, trying to force his shaft back inside her hot mouth, but she leaned back, sitting contently on his thighs, unconcerned.

“Hush, calm down,” she murmured almost sympathetically, but her eyes held no remorse as she once again stroked his thigh, helping him calm down.

He thrashed against the chains binding him, desperate for relief, ordering her to finish him again, but she did not. Long minutes passed with him sweating heavily, panting for air, his cock enflamed with pent up desire, but he did, in fact, calm down, away from the brink of orgasm.

When she leaned back down, intending to take him back into her mouth, he stopped her by demanding, “How long do you plan on exacting revenge after I spurned your attentions?”

Kagome paused. “Is that what you think I am doing?”

She grinned and shook her head as if he were naïve, her hair accidently brushing against his groin, causing him to moan almost pitifully. 

Before he could inquire what she was doing if not punishing him for spurning her, she said, “I’m teaching you that you can never get enough of me, that I am the only one you could ever go to for release, not even by your own hand.” She grabbed the base of his shaft again, her expression turning possessive. “This is mine.”

With that, she bent down and tortured him all over again. He watched her. The sight of her red lips moving along his engorged shaft too erotic to miss. It took him a full minute to realize that her hips were swaying as she manipulated his flesh. He forced his foggy mind to comprehend what she was doing.

Seconds later, he noticed she only held him with one hand, the other under her body, out of his sight. As she bobbed her head, he would catch glimpses of her lower body, and she was touching herself, masturbating as she pleasured him.

He groaned harshly, and she looked up at him as she continued to devour him.

She was obviously enjoying giving him pleasure, touching herself, needing. He had to taste her on his tongue, but he couldn’t get to her, so he would make her come to him.

“Cease,” he ordered. “Remove your robe, and straddle your thighs over my face.”

Something wicked entered her dark eyes, and she released his cock with a wet sound, causing him to tremble in reaction, before she crawled up his body, threw her leg over him, and straddled his face as he had demanded.

“Bring yourself to me,” he rasped, eyeing her wet juices hungrily.

Wordlessly, she settled her weeping core over his face and felt him thrust inside her sheath without preamble, licking her fluids into his mouth, drinking her in.

Kagome moaned sharply, settled her naked body along his, and worked his shaft with hands and mouth, manipulating his balls with her cupped hand.

With his face against her core, he rumbled, “And this time, don’t stop.” Then went back to thrusting his tongue inside her, swirling the appendage against her inner walls.

Her purr of agreement rippled along his shaft in mind blowing vibrations.

He wasn’t going to last, but he would be damned before he came first. He wrapped his lips around her clitoris and suckled hard, lashing his tongue against the sensitive bundle of nerves at the tip.

She ground her core into his face as she came, her muffled cry vibrating over his shaft, and he licked her juices, taking everything she had to give him just as he blew, his hot cum shooting out of his erection and into her waiting mouth.

He didn’t have to demand she swallow it, because she did instantly, greedily, as if she couldn’t get enough of the taste of him.

However, even though he had just—finally—reached his peak, shooting out waves of his seed he felt leak out of her vigorously sucking mouth and run along his length, he was still hard. It wasn’t enough.

He rattled his captured arms, demanding once again, in a gravelly voice, “Release me,” and turned his head to bite her inner thigh hard enough to leave a mark to enforce his demand.

She shuffled off him and turned to gaze at him, accessing his expression.

Guessing her thoughts correctly, he said, “We are not yet finished.”

She gave him a saucy grin and waved her hand, his shackles magically opening all at one, freeing him. He didn’t give her a chance to change her mind, and lunged at her, forcing her under him.

Now she was the one caged. She was to be the submissive, and he would teach her, her place with relish.

He captured her wrists, pinning them above her head with one of his large hands. Reaching between their bodies, he took himself in hand and rubbed the head of his cock against her slick folds, heard her moan of longing as she arched into him.

“Is this what you want?” he whispered huskily, nipping sharply at the lobe of her ear.

“Yes,” she murmured, gazing at him beneath her lashes, spreading her legs wider for his invasion.

Sesshomaru didn’t hesitate. He didn’t bother with further foreplay. She was already wet for him, so he pressed himself against her opening, grabbed her hip, and thrust powerfully inside her.

She cried out in rapture, arching her hips to take him deeper.

He grunted. He was deep inside her hot, tight channel, but he wanted deeper still.

Grabbing her left thigh, he placed her knee roughly over his shoulder, and sank balls deep inside her, hearing her hiss next to his ear.

He was not a small man, and he bumped against her womb.

He didn’t give her time to accustom herself to his girth. He pulled out, leaving just the head of himself inside her grasping core, and thrust back in, beginning a punishing tempo they both not only exalted in, but to show her just who was in control here—him.

He pistoned between her thighs, forcing her folds to take him repeatedly, jarring her with each powerful thrust.

Her breasts bounced and swayed against his chest with his movements. Curling his back, leaning down, he captured a puckered nipple between his teeth, nibbled, licked, and sucked until her moans grew loader.

“This is what you need. Answer me. You need my cock filling you, taking me deep inside you,” he grated gruffly, arching up to look down at her with possession, thrusting his shaft roughly inside her.

“Yes, yes, I need you,” she panted, her cheeks flushed with her passion.

He grinned down at her, his sweat falling from his brow and landing on her chest. “Then take it. Take all of me.”

He pounded away inside her, hitting the end of her every time he thrust home. Soon her cries escalated, her inner walls pulsating around him, and he knew she was close.

When she was on the brink, squirming beneath him in a mindless frenzy to reach her peak, he pulled out, and before she could voice a complaint, turned her over. He placed his hands on her hips, anchoring just her pelvic off the bed, before palming her ass cheeks, spreading them to reveal the puckered rim of her ass.

“You will not come yet,” he purred in her ear, before thrusting powerfully inside her anal cavity, his shaft wet from her core, making entry easier.

He heard her breath catch, but not from pain, as she pressed her ass into his pelvic, taking him to the hilt, swallowing his length.

He groaned against her shoulder, laying his chest against her bent back, and grasped her wrists in both hands on either side of her head.

He held still for long seconds before he began a slow withdrawal, forcing her to feel every inch of him. She moaned, tried to move her hips to force him back inside, but he returned with a slow glide, unhurried this time as he controlled both of their raging lust.

When they both had more control, orgasm not threatening to end their tortuous game, he thrust more powerfully inside her, her ass pillowing his pelvic every time he moved inside her.

“You will come by just feeling my cock inside your ass,” he panted next to her ear, slamming roughly inside her hot channel with every word he spoke.

Her cries escalated, ringing around them, mixed with his grunts and rough exhalations.  

At the last second, before he felt her orgasm overtake her, he interlaced their fingers, held her tightly as she screamed her release, her inner muscles tightening around him, trying to milk him of his seed.

He allowed it, pumping several more times inside her quivering body before his seed shot from his tip, finding a home deep inside her, but still he thrust in and out, riding his orgasm, prolonging her own.

As they sank to the bed, sated and spent, panting heavily, he thought not of the sin he had committed, but of the soft woman who lay under him. He wrapped his arms around her waist, forced them to their sides, still bedded deep within her, and cradled her to his chest, before allowing sleep to claim him. 

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Fennel

The history of fennel goes back to ancient times. Roman warriors are said to have consumed fennel to make them strong. It was also thought to have the power to help people keep thin. Its Greek name marathon, which means "grow thin", reflects the belief in its ability to suppress appetite. The town of Marathon, site of the famous battle between the Athenians and the Persians, means "place of fennel". After the battle, the Athenians used woven fennel stalks as a symbol of victory. In Greek mythology Prometheus, who brought fire to mankind, concealed it in a stalk of fennel. The stalk of fennel, capped with a pine cone, was used as a wand by followers of Dionysus. It was called a Thyrsus.

 

Romans believed that serpents ate and rubbed against fennel because it was able to improve their eyesight after shedding their skins. The Anglo-Saxons held it sacred, and Charlemagne, the great emperor, declared that fennel was essential in every garden because it had healing properties. He had it grown in the imperial gardens. In some western cultures, hung over doors or placed in key holes, fennel was thought to ward off evil spirits or ghosts. It was said to be especially effective at the summer solstice. In England in the 1200s fennel seed was commonly used as an appetite suppressant to help people to get through fasting days. The Puritans even called them "meeting seeds". In the late 1700s fennel became one of the ingredients in a patent medicinal elixir called absinthe. This elixir was soon marketed as a spirit.

 

Fennel, with its interesting flavor and variety of forms, has a place in the modern kitchen, and may even exhibit some distinctive health benefits. Hippocrates suggested fennel could aid wet nurses to increase their milk supply. One physician from the 13th century noted "he who sees fennel and gathers it not, is not a man but a devil." Another opinion led to the traditional saying that "sowing fennel is sowing sorrow" that predicted disaster to anyone giving away fennel. Fennel is often used with preparing fish. Fennel was used as an antidote to poisons by the Romans, Chinese, and Hindus and it was also believed to be an effective antidote to poisonous mushrooms and snake bites. A plaster of fennel roots was a traditional treatment for the bites of mad dogs.

 

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