Juliet
Meditating in my lotus pose on a little carpet in my room, I tried to quiet my mind. Actually, I was just wishing for a moment's peace—from myself. It didn't want to come… Nothing I did wanted to get the image of Vittore stabbing himself out of my mind, forever engraved on my heart, of a man I'd never even met… The wolves' song echoing in the valley still created an urgency in my heart; their drums beat achingly in my bones… Niana's face as he died—stared back at me… In the end, he was one of the good ones, and his death was my fault… And in the loop of my ruminating, all the corpses we had to pick up the last week—haunted me. There were so many children and protective parents... I could fight for self-perseverance—or when I needed to defend myself—but war—after everything seemed so pointless.
The baby wolf I saved from Rodrigo was probably already dead; this time, I pulled the trigger. It would be as if the wolves never existed unless Francis, Jack, and Ben picked up the mantle and continued the race and maybe changed their way of living like we had... Although all the vamps that were once on our side were dead… only enemies remained…
Instead of relaxing, my shoulders tensed up, and my hands formed tight balls on my knees as I remembered the dheka's song, walking through the fog behind Vittore. It had remained a mystery until I could understand the language. Now, the war cry haunted me…
We are in a bloody battle
The one who overcomes wins the test
Be it us or a beast
The most cunning comes from the dark
Of course, all Vittore had said to me before he died would list off and bring about the emotions of what he could've meant to me... I smiled; he had told me I was weird, pale, and beautiful. Oh, man. How did I let this go? Another soulmate separated from me.
"Bamf."
"Oh, you're still busy. I'll come back later." Chris disappeared again.
I chuckled. He had been teleporting nonstop on the return journey and brought me to Zazzau a few days before the rest would arrive. It was time I talked to Marcus about Vittore… Confessed all my sins. However, Marcus had left—again… I rubbed over my aching heart. Why was he a runner? I missed him so much… Yes, Juliet, you have a heart and a body… You're not a rock, and yet there was so much to do!
I nudged on Michael. In a second, he was in the room. I looked up, "Will you do me a favor."
"Thank goodness. You've made your decisions."
I stretched out my hand for him to sit. Michael looked about, picked up a pillow, and tossed it on the ground in front of me. Eye to eye, we stared at one another. "I need a win-win scenario."
Michael looked away, rubbing his beard around his chin. He had picked up that little habit of plucking on the hair around his jawline. "All cards off the table? Open floor?"
"Please."
He smiled, "Honey, you heard what Ahasuerus said… We have to start over… So first, we need to decide what that means for us… No one else… Nothing else matters, right?"
"Michael, you went into the room?" His already smile broadened. "You're not angry?"
"I was before I went in and after… Juliet, my dance," he giggled, "I don't think I ever would've gotten it otherwise and—."
"And!"
"It meant more… in a way… and did things to me… You were perfect… Our first kiss was like our second first kiss, and our first time was—
"Hot!"
"Yeah… We were so happy… Did so many things and the places we saw!"
"I know, right! There are worlds out there we—
"Will never see again if you and Chris go through with it."
I sighed heavily… "Yes… Nothing else matters to me anymore."
"Me too… I want what I always wanted… To be by your side… Where we are doesn't matter… Another dance would be nice," he rushed his words, "Anyway, should we make a pro-con list?"
I giggled and nodded, "Pro. No teleportation."
"Really? I thought you liked it."
"If we have to accept this is how things turned out, we have to let it go," I shrugged.
"Okay… Pro. Toilets."
"Yes! Pro… Being together."
"In that scenario, the only ones who are a problem are Fia and Caleb… Can they be persuaded?"
"Or can Romero? We will lose the unity and this momentum if we decide to return to Earth… Have you spoken to Romero at all?"
"He's not speaking to anyone right now… Without the teleporters, Mirach might still fall… Or there will be war here for decades."
"Do you like it here?"
"I… I'm not really the right person to ask… It's everybody else… And honey, Earth is not what you remember… It won't even feel like you're going home… You said Charlene sorted out our home base for us… If this is our home… We have to fight for it… Let's not ruin this one."
I picked up a pillow and threw him with it.
"Bamf."
"Hello… What are you guys doing?"
"Pillow fight," Michael threw one at me.
"Should I leave?"
"No. Come sit with us. Drag a chair closer… I was just reminding Michael that if the two of us ever go into a room, none of us will ever leave."
The corner of Michael's lip quirked. So he didn't care… Strange. "Open floor," Michael clued Chris in—to what we were up to.
Chris was moving so fast after he regained his creature side. He tossed his chair down and said, "After everything… I've made a decision to create drama."
"Drama? More than we already have!"
"Much more."
"Okay! Then we have to show Romero there is a benefit to us staying," Michael clapped his hands together, ready for battle. It would be one if we had to force Romero to remember what was important. How would we even shake his marbles loose?
"To get the stone, we have to meet Satya's conditions."
"One. To help Earth. Find the device they're still using to jam all the signals... And either kill Ian or send them away."
"Two. Fix Will's connection to her."
"Three. Make teleportation available to everyone."
"Not unreasonable."
"Not unattainable."
"Juliet, I really don't want to go into that thing again," Chris pleaded.
"Neither do I. And Ira doesn't want to give us someone to torture."
"Also, not unreasonable. And I wouldn't allow it anyway… Okay, Chris, you talk to your mother. I don't have the patience for her… Ask her if we can limit the access and keep interplanetary control… Earth, Zoreah, and En-gannim will get remote access… Mirach will become the new hub… And we will go help Palmyra if they haven't figured it out… Mael can have En-gannim, and we will bring back all the colony vamps who want to come home … Ian and—Soren? Satya will have to let us assess first, but for that, we need the stone."
"I agree, Jessy doesn't even know how long it will take."
"We don't even know if it will work… If she can't even give us the benefit of the doubt, then all these possibilities end anyway," Chris said. He seemed a little disappointed with his new mother. I was, too. Especially after all the effort we had put into finding her. If I hadn't gone back in time, we wouldn't even know she was still out there. "What are you going to do?" Chris asked.
"Michael owes me a favor—"
"Eh, eh, eh, enough. I'll leave you alone."
"She's going after Marcus and Liam."
"Oh!" Chris bared nervous teeth. "Good luck… Be home in an hour." I got a very mischievous smile on my mouth. "I want to be a part of any drama."
"Then you're mother will have to wait."
"Let's go," Chris opened his arms.
I eyed him suspiciously. Hesitantly, I stepped in; he couldn't find Marcus... He lifted me as he manifested and pulled my legs around his waist. His arms were still open. Michael came up from behind me and pressed me in between the two. Chris held on tightly, and Michael did, too. My arms went around Chris's neck. "On, three."
We appeared in the middle of a desert. "You guys better not get any ideas."
"We're only protecting our asset… And Chris needs the practice."
"I can just hear Caleb complain. 'Why are you so slow, Chris! You should be jumping planets by now.'"
"My son definitely grew up around his mother." Chris pointed at the two beasts coming to a trotting halt in front of us. They each grabbed a pair of reins.
"Juliet, I'm not going back… Either to En-gannim or anywhere your mother and Ira are in the same vicinity."
"Okay… How about Earth? You can go kill Ian… I know he was one of mom's—
"How do you know that!"
"Have you even spoken to her, Dad?"
"No!" Liam shook his head and dropped his shoulders, "I can't… I don't think… I want to know."
"So you would let your brother and Ian into the bed chamber but not Ira?!"
Liam didn't have a retort. If it was for something he wanted, he would've gotten over it. "Okay! You tell us why you don't want to sleep with Marcus."
I held back a sardonic chuckle, "Me? Not want to sleep with Marcus… What a joke. Where did you get that idea?" I looked at my runaway bride. "Marcus… I didn't cheat on you in any way… Did I want to? Yes… I was tempted… Once… But that's not what's bothering me… You see, there was a dheka who… killed himself in front of me… because he got his purple ability when he saw me the first time… I didn't know how to tell you I… still think about him."
"I almost slept with Selena."
I laughed jealously—angrily—and, in one breath, calmed myself down, "Do you and Chris have exactly the same taste in women… If it's not Sita, it's Selena, oh, and let's not forget Roa."
"I don't like Roa," Chris said matter-of-factly. "She's too bitchy… These airy ways of the dheka won't really tempt me…" He looked up at Marcus… "Did you sleep with Selena? You're shorter than me… Doesn't the height put you off?"
Marcus pouted his lips and shrugged his shoulders side to side, "If you put it like that… Yes… she is too tall right… Akward…"
"Well, I'm glad we sorted—"
"And Roa is a bit testy…" Marcus went on ignoring me. "Too much… Sita is dead… Anyone else you find attractive?"
"Okay! Enough!"
Marcus met my eye, "Julie, you didn't know how to tell me another guy out in the galaxy was meant—only for you." I nodded. "I would've killed him… You know that, right… And if you slept with anyone, added anyone, I would've killed them and beat you for real this time."
I walked toward Marcus's, stood beside his giwa, and stretched out my hand, "If there is any temptation, the other person can kill them outright… Take out the competition… Which means poor Selena has to die."
Marcus laughed and slid his hand into mine, "Deal." We shook on it.
I gripped his hand harder and pulled him forward, "But then you have to be there… If you run away again and do not talk to me… leave me again for whatever reason… I'll sleep with the first new guy I see."
"No, you won't," Chris said, "I will always be there… If I can."
"Julie… I'm sorry I made a decision that affected you so much… I regret every minute of it… Honestly, I didn't factor in the time it might take. I thought Charlene would take Michael's place eventually and find them… Reunite us all… F— I never considered Romero would keep her hostage or that Charlene would allow it… Before I could come to my senses, it was too late, and it would've been too difficult to find you… I'd be looking for you following your trail, and it would've been the romantic thing to do—"
I pulled him off his horse, caught him in my arms, and put him on his feet.
"Argh, great," Chris complained. "Now we'll be on the back burner again… You know, Marcus, when you're not there, Michael and I have the most sex we've ever had."
"It takes three guys to replace me?" I giggled and kissed him. Marcus grabbed the back of my head and fused our mouths in a filthy way.
"Fine. I'll go back," Liam interrupted. "I at least have to find out if your mother wants a divorce."
"I'll be right back." Michael disappeared with Liam.
Marcus's tongue was in my mouth, keeping me from replying, speaking, or thinking.
"I'll unsaddle these poor beasts… They'll have to make their own way home."
I unlocked our lips abruptly, leaving Marcus hanging, "Let's help him." He licked his and laughed challengingly.
"You guys only have until I'm done talking to my mother." I increased the speed at which I unbuckled girths and pulled off harnesses.
When Michael landed, we each held tack in hand, and they took us to my room. We dropped all of it on the floor and were already loosening each other's belts when our frustrated lips met. The rest of the world drifted away. Pants and underwear were pushed off. Marcus didn't wait for the rest and picked me up, heading for the wall. He thrust into me with a surge of rigidity.
I didn't want to leave the room for a few days. What was it about Marcus and I in bed together or once we connected emotionally? The stars aligned, and every inch of me was saturated to overflowing. Content and at peace. My mind was suddenly clear… And we didn't even need the purple drugs…
A sudden repeating hammering on the door didn't even startle us, panting in each other's ears. He didn't falter and waited patiently for my climax to build. Marcus had me right at the precipice. Another pounding came, "Come on! We need to talk." I dug my nails into his skin.
"Manifest." I shook my head. "I'll close my eyes." I giggled and did it. A moment after I gave into the lust, he sent me over. Marcus followed quickly.
It took a minute for me to come back to my senses, tired and overwhelmed—as if I was drunk and couldn't control my mind… Too many emotions coursing through me.
"Julie." I groaned, unable to speak. "Can I open my eyes?"
I laughed lightly, "Yes," I said hoarsely.
He kissed me up and down my neck, catching my lips in a quick, licking kiss, "I love you…"
"I love what you do to me."
Marcus bent down and bit my nipple. His head came up, "I don't know what I would've done if he was still alive… Was there anyone else?"
I sighed, "I almost kissed Niana."
Marcus bit me again, "Almost?" He pulled out and sat up.
"Caleb—was always there, and he stopped it," my voice sounded a little guilty.
"Who's Niana?"
I hurriedly took his hand, "Now, don't be angry." Marcus tried to get out of my grip. My heart was overwhelmed that even after so long, both of us were still and always would be jealous of one another. "The night Brylee took me away next to the river… I went back to the palace to talk… We took a bath together… Brylee's servants are male… He was one of the men in the room with us… ones I could choose from… for the alliance."
"What happened, exactly?"
"He undressed me…" Marcus roughly pulled his hand from mine, "Gave me a bath." He turned his body away from me. "And helped me get dressed," I said quickly.
"What happened to him?"
"He died… saving Caleb's life," my voice trembled.
Marcus looked at me and held my eyes… I shoved a stupid tear from my cheek. "I'm sorry I wasn't there. We could've been together… I made a logical choice… I don't know what I was thinking… I left you alone to fight every day… You hate being alone…"
I looked away from him, still a little hurt. "Is that the reason, though? Or were you angry again?"
Chris opened the door, whether we were ready or not. "Does he know?" Marcus asked.
"Do I know what?"
"She almost kissed a guy here—who got her all worked up the night she slept with you on Zoreah."
"No, he didn't," I said quickly. Marcus gave me the 'don't BS me' look.
"Worked up?"
"Gave her a bath… I don't even want to think about what that would entail... A bunch of men staring at you naked!"
Chris took two steps into the room. "Michael says Vittore was Romero's brother… Juliet, is this harem closed or not? What would've happened if he—"
"Are you creating drama, or are you really upset?"
"Of course, I'm creating drama… Look at Marcus's face… Everyone's dead right… Niana, Vittore… Only one left who I'm going to kill slowly…" Chris laughed and left the room, "Come on, Michael knows where Satya hid the stone, and Basaam is ready to meet his father."
Marcus looked back at me with a smile on his lips, "He's going to be a problem."
"Yeah, let's indulge him."
"I heard that!"
Marcus laughed and landed on top of me between my legs, his mouth on mine. "I can't get enough of you… I'm sorry I didn't talk to you when we came back. I should've until you… felt ready… Can we talk later about our time together?"
"A date? You've never taken me on one."
"No… Not a date… A breakfast at a coffee shop to discuss some things… I have some issues I'd like to get off my chest if this marriage will go on."
"So you were angry."
"No!" I gave him the death stare. "Okay… yes, I am…"
"Marcus, you can't punish me like a child! The silent treatment for a hundred years doesn't justify it… Do you know how lonely I was? How hard it was." I got up off the bed and grabbed my underwear. "F— we're back to square one with you!"
Marcus grabbed my hand before I even had them over one foot. He took my chin in his hand and pulled my lips onto his. "Stop," I yanked away. "I've not even asked you about Selena! Do you think I'm not angry? What happened, Marcus!"
"When I'm not with you, I take whatever I can to cope… Don't you think I've learned my lesson… I was mourning the death of my child! I was in a jail cell for months! Alone as well, looking for our other husbands." I laughed a little at this statement. "F—, Julie, I wasn't supposed to be on Mirach! Yes, I was angry they took me away from Naji…! You weren't supposed to have been in some room—alone... When are you going to stop leaving me? You put all this on me for not working out! Because, in some way, you expect me to fall in line."
My hand kept swiping away silent tears, "I don't! I… I just wanted to make sure I didn't make a mistake. You said none of this made sense! Marcus, I hate to see you unhappy… After Mael's birth, you didn't follow me to En-gannim and still haven't told me what you want…" Marcus reached out again; this time, I let him gather me in an embrace. "I'm sorry, Marcus."
"It wasn't your fault! And I've changed… A hundred years without anyone telling me what to do, and I don't mean you… I had to forget. I had to start over… The only thing that kept me going was this family… You… Yes, I was tempted beyond anything I had ever experienced, but again, I had to face myself… It's really all there is to it… I go wherever I am… And when things are not okay between us, or if we're separated in any way, the whole world becomes pointless… Maybe we should just accept life will be hard, and it has nothing to do with—us."
Marcus took a breath. "I will figure out why I'm here. Why—I get so angry when you do anything or fight against you and can't work with you on our marriage… I don't want to be the one who makes you uncomfortable in your own skin. F— I was never enough my whole life, and I put that on you…"
"I can't live without you… I don't want to anymore."
"I know. And I am really sorry…"
"Are you in love with her?"
He pushed me away, "No! No, I'm not—
"I don't know which is worse! You wanting her or that you might have feelings for her."
"Hmmg."
"You can say it."
"I know how you feel."
The door opened abruptly. "You guys had two weeks to sort this out… Argh, you're still naked! Two whole weeks! Now, when we need to move, we have to wait for you… Everyone is ready!
Marcus wiped my cheeks with two thumbs, "I did want to have a breakfast discussion with you." I huffed, pulled my underwear up my legs, and cursed at how wet I was between my legs. Marcus headed for the bathroom, "I'll get a rag."
***
Basaam was restless, pacing and waiting… He had never been anywhere else but Mirach… Michael was about to take Nami and him to En-gannim. Caleb and Kaia were already there. Semaj turned to me, "You will bring my girls home."
"Yes… We're all coming back."
"I'm trusting you with their lives."
"The two are more my children now than yours, but I can't make any promises… If it were up to me, I'd lock them all up."
Michael and Chris appeared; Nami nervously climbed in between the two. They squished her, and all three held on tight. This way, Michael could do multiple trips a day.
We were all, one by one, being taken to the tower. The two gently lowered to my feet. I quickly scanned the dusty space. My poor father… Basaam nervously looked around the room; I walked over and took his hand. He had a bit of an anxious nature… I guess he got that from me. It had to be strange for them… Marcus and Jessy were huddled around a table, going through mountains of plates. The rest of the floor had my attention. Although there was energy, it felt off without the teleporters, the stuffy air, and the giant hole Liam had left for us. "Will you be okay?"
"Yeah, go ahead."
I moved closer to the shaft and looked down, hearing the monkeys going crazy. "Caleb!"
He came to stand next to me, "Are we going to see how it works?"
"Hell yeah."
He reached for one of the ropes; the other shorter end had a little stand. I took hold as he lowered me down. My heart ached for Liam, Sam, and Jessy—stuck there for so long. Liam had only his family to hold on for. After my mom spoke to me, I felt a little guilty about being so angry at first… My parents would be locked in a room together for a few days… I'd have to wait and see what happens. "I need to get to the library level," I yelled while passing each floor. "Yeah, one more. Basaam, you guys have to get the lay of the land… We'll be here for some time."
"Is there a balcony we could get a view from?" he asked Caleb.
"Yes, I'll take you to mom's room… It's the top floor… We can all clean up a bit."
I stepped onto the floor and looked back up, "Anyone want to join me?" Naji stuck his head into the hole, "I need to get into the one vault." I glanced around; the chests were all separated and scattered, each open, with stacks of plates next to them. If we were going to start over, it would be a good place.
"They're here! I got you!"
The son I knew the least stepped up behind me, headed directly to the first chest, and lowered himself onto his knees in front of it. I had stared at him for seven days and had yet to feel satisfied I had learned enough about who he was… Every line on his face I remember. Naji had long hair hanging down his back, brushing his waist. Today, it hung loose. As a stranger, if I had to meet him in the street, I'd be more scared of him than of Mael. No, Naji had to get his father and mother's combined serious features. Menacing dark brown eyes with low, thick eyebrows rounding off his constant scowl. He had a presence and a formidable aura like he really could take over a hundred worlds.
Naji looked over his shoulder, and the corner of his mouth lifted. Although I treated them like my kids, they were anything but children, and after Mael had turned on a dime and showed us his true colors… F— I was so scared one of mine would turn out to be another Ahasuerus. Especially because this one was a direct descendant.
Naji looked away again and picked up stone after stone as if one would activate and reveal itself by touch alone. It was so easy to get seduced by money, power, or abilities. What if one of them wanted something for personal gain because they didn't know the difference or the consequences. "Are you going to stare at me for days on end again?"
"You noticed?"
"You and father, yes… Just ask."
"There isn't just one question to sum it all up, is there?"
"No. But we have to start somewhere…"
"Okay! What ability do you have?"
He stood and turned to me, "Why would you think I have one?"
"Because Sam wouldn't have left any of my children out! Not if he could help it. He was there with your birth… Unfortunately for Sammy, he wasn't there or else—"
"Well, thank the stars, she doesn't have more to recommend her."
I chuckled, "So?"
Naji smiled wickedly. Oh no. What was it? He lifted his eyebrows in question. Okay? I should know this. He chuckled and tilted his chin to the box really quickly. My eyes darted there, my brain trying to catch up. Touching stones? Touching—stuff. I looked at him again, "You're s—ing me?" He turned and picked one up. It was a very soft amber. He closed his eyes and held it tightly. Naji opened his eyes and tossed it up in the air, "Light… Activated by—"
"Darkness?"
"Very good. Yes, with the water and life stone—." Michael and Marcus appeared in the room. "You guys are quick."
Marcus and I shared a long silence between us. Oh, how this ability could be exploited. It was even more accurate than Louis's mind reading. Visions of your past or your lies. Emotional connectivity to whatever he touched… History and secrets.
"You're the first people I've told… Agatha doesn't even know."
Naji would have a world of difficulty controlling it and managing his vampiric impulses to do anything about what he would absorb. His lust for power could drive him to use it for his own gain. Marcus broke our gaze and looked at him. I figured he also had a million questions he wanted to ask our son, but if we used him for our own goals, it would be wrong. What if he touched one, and it reacted to his ability—what if, in some way, it affected him?
Marcus stepped toward him as if pre-empting my fears tightening in my chest. "You don't touch any more stones."
"What, why?"
Marcus grabbed his arm and pushed him away from the chest. I chuckled. Naji pulled out of his grasp, "Stop! I'm not a child."
"I don't care! You're mine, and my one job is to keep you safe… You won't touch any more stones. Or anything! Give that one to me."
Naji pressed it to his chest, "No! I can do this!"
"You will be the last person to touch the teleportation stone. Do you hear me?"
"You can't make me! Force me! I want to do this."
"Michael, if you will, please parent our child."
"No! Okay, I won't. Please don't send me away."
"I'll do you one better and go hide this little nugget where I found it," Michael stretched out his hand for the golden rock in Naji's hand. He hesitated. "Now, please."
"F— I just want to play with my new toys… Can't I keep this one!"
"Silvanus!" Marcus yelled.
Naji dropped it into Michael's hand even before the beast appeared. I couldn't contain my laughter.
***
We were all on the floor seated around the chests watching the beginning stages of the procedure Ahasuerus called siphonurgy, which in essence meant the study or act of siphoning supernatural abilities… However, that was from a biological life form, not an inanimate object. He had a lot of ideas about the thaumatech of the teleporters. That was what he called the process of using the extraction and combining it with the technology.
We had to figure out how to activate the stone and then have the engineered components ready to catch this magical force in the air—we were moving into thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, metamaterials, and math I hadn't practiced in a hundred years!
Urgh! I got up and called it quits. Once I was at the rope, Jessy was there to send me to the dorm room floor. "Thank you." He smiled up at me. I missed my side piece... but I needed some time alone. I didn't think we could do it with Nevin on the red planet overseeing all our factories. It would involve a wide range of engineering fields to figure it out. We would need them to create the parts and work with everyone here. Find the right materials from all the different planets… It would take years. We've not even been to see Nevin… I was loathed to say we needed to go to the colony planet and ask if there were still no defectors or start negotiations with whoever was in charge. Maybe they had men who could help if all of them were inclined to be able to teleport again.
Before I lay down, Chris had me in his arms, and we were on the top floor next to my old bed. My room! I missed you. Oh, how I missed this place. I pulled off my boots and tossed them, running to jump on the bed. Chris smiled at me. The room was a nostalgic homecoming. After a few rounds, I hopped down, stepped toward the open patio doors, and sat on one of the chairs. Kaia and Nami had really only cleaned the whole day. Sweeping. Wiping. Scrubbing. When they had to wash sheets and clothes, they were assigned two scientists who followed them around, teaching them how every technology worked.
En-gannim was still magical, and my heart evened out for the first time in a hundred years. I was home. Plain and simple. No place like it. Nahrima was spectacular so late at night… With the view across the city, I saw some lights on in other buildings. Strange. There might be survivors. A lonely child in a farming building. Chris pointed, "Do you think?"
"I hope so…" I looked at him. "I like it here."
"I know… But looking at those teaching plates and the amount of data mining the En-gannim computers would have to perform to figure out only a starting point… I don't know, Juliet. If Romero doesn't have the teleporters, we'll have to be there to help even if it takes a hundred years."
"Soren and Ian would be able to do it… He has to have a team with him. He wouldn't have gone without people to explain Earth's technology to him… Sustain the emp devices and all the other tech the army would need." I caught his eye. "We could create drama…"
Chris smiled, "Abduct his scientists?"
"Liam told me he was in regular contact with him. He might be inclined to help?"
"You can't be here if Soren comes to En-gannim."
"Chris—."
"I know… Louis has to be next before anything else… And I know you're scared… How do you want to do it?"
Chris dug in his pocket and pulled out a packet of cigarettes. I whooped and jumped up to straddle his lap while he opened it. I dragged his lips closer and kissed him while he had to get it done and tap one out. He placed it between my fingers, took out a lighter, and held it out for me. "I love you," I said with my first drag. Chris did the same, and we stared deep into each other's eyes.
"I like you more mature…" he caressed my cheek. "I missed you. Every day. Every minute… It's strange how what is really important becomes really clear in those moments."
I smiled, "It's how I felt at seventeen, when Rodrigo knocked me around, and I was on the floor… All I could see was your face… Waiting for me at school."
"Really?"
"Yes, Mr. Rheed… I have another confession…"
"Tell me."
"Caleb played that game with me, 'first thing.' When someone asks you a question, you have to answer before you can think about it."
"Yes…"
"He asked me if I went into the room to use the tattoo; who? I said your name… before he was even done speaking…" Chris grabbed my ass and dragged me across his lap; my core rested over his semi-erection. Holding his unfinished cigarette, he undid the top button on my blouse. "I'm really proud of you… I thought you'd be a lot more scarred than you are."
He flicked the second button, "Thank you… The wolves are weird; yes, I was physically driven like a slave—beaten when I misbehaved—but they don't add the mental torture or, in other aspects, made me feel like I was less than…" The third button popped. "I was taught rigorously to learn… I guess they know you need a sane person to do the work… I got fed with everyone else, so I didn't eat scraps or gross food…" Chris flicked off his ash, took a last drag, and flicked the bud away. He came right back to my blouse to open the fourth button, pushing the material sensually aside—exposing my cleavage. "They just limited it to keep me weak and my body from its ability to heal the wound…" Chris trailed touches on my skin from my neck, over my collar bone, stroking the roundings off my breasts and painstakingly teased my skin. "I worked sixteen hours a day and studied in between… When I got to take a bath or had to go to the toilet, they didn't make it a degrading public display." His hand flattened and skimmed my breasts over the material.
"It was more about—"
"Submission," he kneaded my breasts in slow, rough caresses. I tossed my bud away.
***
I woke up wedged in between two bodies. During the night, Michael and Marcus had joined us. I scooted back, and an arm pulled me close. Fingers laced with mine in slow rhythmic movements. "Mmm," I complained.
"What?" he whispered.
"We have to get to earth, and I can't leave Jessy here again."
"No… I don't think we'll be able to do it… We're smart together, but it would take day and night for too long."
"I think we should give it back and vacate… It's unfair to the scientists to expect them to live the rest of their lives figuring this out… After another hundred years, we might be bored enough to take the project on again."
Another body scooted back and pressed into my front. I was pinned. I had still not opened my eyes. Michael's arm and mine had to go around the person. Michael let go of me. "No way, I'm out." I giggled as he jumped up and headed for the bathroom. "I still want toilets."
"If you can convince Romero to build sewage lines in their clean cities, it could work."
"We don't have a city planner in the mix… We'll have to sit with theirs and start somewhere abandoned."
"Romero said the next place to go is the raiders."
"Is it pretty?" he asked, coming out of the bathroom again.
"It's perfect but too far from the village and a month of travel from the nearest tunnels. And… there is a lot of lava."
"Okay, so no." He sat down on the bed. "Romero has to talk to us, Juliet. Nothing can happen if he doesn't come off this trip he's on. Did you see how he is with her?"
"Yes… He's not touched her in a hundred years."
"What?" Marcus sat up. "Talk about focusing on the war." My hand drifted underneath his shirt and scratched over his back. He moaned and fell face down so I could reach every part.
"Juliet, I don't want you to worry about me traveling so much… I want to do it even if I have to take everyone back and forth a million times."
"It's unfair… We have to make a decision and find some stability… Even if it is joining the army on their campaign." Chris snored behind me. "Why is he so tired?"
"You guys were out on the patio for a long time."
"A goodbye of sorts… I'm going to miss it all."
Michael stood, "Okay! I'm going to wake up the kids and wrangle some monkeys."
Marcus sat up, "I'm starving. I'd like to see Naji eat one."
The two headed into the bathroom, in and out of the shower. Marcus got under the stream; he groaned and moaned, making some dirty noises. "I hope your vocals are for the shower."
He grunted, "It is."
"We know what's on his pro list," Michael quipped.
"All of us together with showers and toilets… Not impossible… How our goals have changed."
"I'm sure building a shower is easier than figuring out how to harness the stone. Oh, s—. Does Ira not want to get his back to Zoreah?" Michael disappeared. I chuckled. The guy was so happy to be able to teleport again.
Marcus came out, drying his hair with only a towel around his waist. I sat up, watching him chewing my lip. "You're insatiable."
"There is no such thing for a woman."
"Funny. Until you're angry, then you can ignore me for seven days."
"My mother always said I shouldn't marry a project."
Marcus laughed out loud and headed for his clothes, "In that regard, you pulled four short sticks." He dropped his towel; I was out of bed and behind him. "I'm hungry," he complained. "I want to see my son."
"So am I... And you will…" I pulled him into the bathroom and closed the door. As I circled him, I pushed him against the wall. Marcus's eyes met mine, "It doesn't work when I'm on this side," he whispered. I rested my hands on his pecs and sensually scratched his skin, slowly going down on my knees—seductively holding his eyes...
"Julie, wh—." His hips jerked, and his hands hit the wall to steady himself.
I happily looked up to meet sultry eyes on me. Marcus was gorgeous, his mouth half open while I wet him with long, slow licks from base to tip, all over, bringing him sensually to life. It wasn't hard to figure out what he wanted or how he liked it. Although he never said much, he was the loudest in bed and out. It took him only a moment to take a deep breath and moan—let go—enjoy it. I held his gaze as I kissed the head, savoring the fun I was having. Marcus gently brushed my hair back and bundled it. All I wanted was to please him. Drive him to a panting madness.
He pulsed in my hand and tensed all over; his hips writhed for more. I stuck out my tongue and let him slide deep into my mouth—backward and forwards, licking the base every time. It was the only way to get my juices flowing. He liked it wet. Marcus gripped my hair a little tighter, groaning. My hand slid up his body, touching every part of him, taking my time with a steady rhythm. I cupped and massaged while his hips rocked—begging—to increase my speed. I was going to prolong this a little. Tease him a bit. So after moving over him a few times, feeling his full girth between my lips, tasting the saltiness, I pulled back.
Marcus gasped and groaned complainingly, his whole body relaxing after almost being at the end. I stroked my tongue at the back of his head, sucking only the tip in and out of my lips. He wanted to take control, bucking gently to let him sink in again. I closed my hand around his length, tightening my hold, telling him no. As soon as he moved around as if I was containing him and hit the wall a few times, I gave him what he wanted. By now, we were a slick oneness… Over and over, I kept at an excruciating pace. This time, when he writhed to have his release, I stopped abruptly and looked up. His chin was lifted; exasperated yet exhilarated, he groaned a few times, forced to come down from the high. I licked down to his tender weight and sucked and kissed them one at a time. Only to wait for the next time his body could surge into mine.
By the fourth time, Marcus was moaning so loudly, almost crying out at the edge of my edging, that a pounding on the bathroom door was somewhat expected. "I don't know what you're doing to him, but you better know I'm expecting the same treatment later."
I giggled, looking up. Marcus's eyes were hooded; he shook his head, placing a hand on my cheek, "F— it feels so good."
"I bet it does! You guys woke me up." Chris pounded a few more times because I didn't stop, and Marcus cried out, unrestrained, dipping deep into a frenzied fulfillment. His hand splayed on the back of my head, forcing me to stay where he could claim my throat. I grabbed his waist to steady myself... Marcus reeled and shivered, throbbing inside me.
Quieting down, he opened his eyes and sheepishly let go of me so I could slide off him. Of course, I gagged all the way to the basin and spit because I could never swallow. How embarrassing. Luckily, when I turned, Marcus had sunk down to the floor, sated and staring at me.
"Sorry."
"Just… give me… a minute," he breathed deeply, "I'll show you how much… you never have to apologize again."
"I don't—"
"Oh, no! I'm sure if I touched you, you'll be dripping." I squeezed my thighs together, only thinking about it. He was right; every nerve was taught with anticipation, and all the right parts swollen. Marcus held out a hand towards me. Hell knows why, but nervously, I closed the distance. Or maybe it was vulnerability. "Chris, you better not be here anymore!"
"Oh, I'm here! We're going to have a very long discussion about this… I think I should get to do the next part! You guys rile me up, and what am I supposed to do!"
Marcus laughed and pulled me toward him so I could stand over his legs. I ran my fingers through his hair. Our gazes locked as Marcus stroked up my leg and underneath my sleep shorts. With agile fingers, he trailed his thumb over my soaked slit. The feel of what he did to me was all he needed to jump to his feet and sweep me off mine.
The door opened. Chris was gone. Chicken… he could've fought Marcus for this opportunity. "It's your fault."
"My fault! It could've been over in one minute, not half an hour!"
"I can't say I didn't hear you complaining."
"No! Not complaining." Marcus walked a bit wobbly, falling with me onto the bed, "I can't feel my legs." We both laughed.