Cherished by Ghosts, page 6
“Oh, I think you are perfect.” Rising from the water, she watched the liquid sluice down his body, making the scales mapping his pearly green skin glisten and wink in the light. He was finely made like the rest, though she noticed the two slits on his sides that were open just under the water, then closed up as he hit the open air. He had both nipples pierced, which she didn’t expect, and blushed when he caught her watching.
“Look your fill, sweet girl...it’s yours and you need to see.” He climbed up and out of the pool. “I’m not like Blue. I’m not going to hide it from you, though I understand why he is. Still.” He grabbed his towel and wrapped it around his neck. “This doesn’t work if you aren’t interested.”
Moving around the pool to him, she smiled. “You don’t think I am?”
“I am hoping you are, but I’m not counting chickens.”
Leaning in, she placed her lips to his and stepped even closer. His scent, clean, cool and slightly herbal, enveloped her. The kiss was soft, sweet and perfect, exactly like Zeke was with her.
“Pheromones?” she asked as she pulled away.
“No, just me. Kappa don’t work like that. Though you asking if they were pheromones means that you don’t think I smell like bog water.”
“People say that?”
He nodded. “Because I do, to many. We have learned there’s both females and males that are actually repelled by several of the Aqueas factions, though the Kappa have the strongest issue. That you don’t...” He leaned in and kissed her again, on his own, and she opened up, letting him in, his tongue wider than a human, with different texture. It wasn’t unpleasant, and she found herself getting closer, deepening the kiss.
Hands on her sides held her firm, and she mirrored him, fingers on his sides, pads stroking him, the velvety feel of the scales and soft cool skin. The kiss was pleasant, sexy on a different level, as kissing a male with a larger mouth than hers took a little bit of finesse, but they worked it out just fine.
“Sweet stars, Evan,” he said as he pulled away from the kiss. “You are something else.”
She blushed, feeling it roll up her chest to her face. “Speak for yourself, Zeke.”
He groaned. “If we don’t go, we won’t go...and I would very much like to see you taken care of how you want to be. Go, I need to get dressed.”
“I’ll get my sandals.”
***
“This Miss Evan?” the older Brazilian woman said from behind the counter. They had driven past their main town and then hooked right from HQ, coming to a larger town, not quite a city, still in the state of Sao Paulo called Bertioga. The drive down the coast to the shop was peaceful and they had taken Zeke’s bush Jeep, with the top off. They talked about New Zealand and Japan, small mundane things, and she had asked about the area they were driving through. He knew a little but had told her that they were rarely there and so he didn’t know much.
Zeke nodded. “And you are Clea?”
“I am,” she said to Zeke and shook Noori’s hand.
“Hi, you can call me Noori if you want.”
“Girl, what have you been getting up to? You spend a week in the Amazon?”
“Pacific Northwest,” she said as the woman came around and started looking at her hair.
“Oh, girl. Come on...let’s get you set up.” She led her to the chair and Zeke sat with his tablet out. The woman fussed at her, checking everything and then looked at her in the mirror. “So what do we wanna do?”
“Well, I think these are too long for what I got going on these days. I think they need to come out completely and maybe go natural for a while?”
The woman held a few up. “I think it’s best. Some of this isn’t going to be salvageable. But we will do what we have to. He yours?”
“One of them,” she said softly.
“Aqueas. Don’t see that a lot. How many so far?”
“Five total, though there won’t be any more.”
And this...” she said and held up her two vines. “This normal?”
“One of them is Natura,” she said. “One of the forest gods.”
Clea whistled, clearly impressed. “Girl, I have two. Looking for a third because we wanna start trying,” she said as she set to work taking out the first braid. “Been together long?”
“A few weeks.”
“Where did you get these done?”
“Back home in New Zealand. About four weeks ago.”
“Shame that. Good quality hair and craftsmanship. Well, let’s get through this and see. Your man...”
“Zeke.”
“Zeke, yes. Mr. Zeke, you going to be okay for a few hours? We got a lot of work to do.”
He looked up and shook his tablet. “So have I, ladies. Do what needs done. Spare no expense. She has to feel perfect again.” He winked.
Feel perfect. Gods. The man totally understood her.
“Oh, he’s one of the good ones,” Clea said. “Where did you meet him?”
“On some unknown riverbank in Gig Territory. I had been kidnapped and he and the rest of my men saved me.”
“Holy shit, you’re joking?”
She laughed. “I’m afraid not, no. And just a heads up...there might be some mud in there somewhere. I tried to get most of it out but...”
“But hair like this ain’t right for a forced camping situation,” Clea finished. “Don’t worry, I got you. Now tell me about the rest.”
Four hours later she was being turned in the chair with a completely new style. Braids shorter, and just her own hair, she had said goodbye to the extensions, and had a wonderful head spa with a massage, scalp treatment, oil treatment to her hair, and a facial. Clea was amazing, and after four hours of talking she knew she had a new friend in the woman.
“There. Fresh to death as the kids used to say. And you can take them out and go natural, which will be amazing, too,” she offered and Noori nodded, smiling. Gods, she looked good, felt amazing and the smile that Zeke was giving her made her blush. “How you feel?”
“Lighter...and goddamn, you work magic.”
Zeke got up and went to her. “Amazing, Evan. I mean you’re stunning normally...”
“Thank you.” She winked at him.
“Well, you are good to go. A Mr. Foster called and said to send the bill to his account.” Zeke nodded. “Well then, girl...gimme ya number so we can text, yeah? You aren’t too far, right? I mean we should hang out now that you are here.”
“Hell yeah.” They exchanged numbers and then they were gone, back to the car as the heat of the day was starting to taper. “We going to be able to drive with the top down?”
“We could, but I figured it would get a little chilly so I fixed it all up while you were in your facial.”
“Thank you, Zeke. You guys did not have to do this for me.”
“Yes, we did...you deserve it, and we like spoiling you.” He leaned into her and she took the hint, pulling him closer and kissing him with abandon, as he pushed her up against the Jeep. They got catcalled and he pulled away, smiling, and goddamn it, it looked so good on him. She kissed him again and then grinned herself. “So? What’s next?”
“I was thinking we could get a hotel room...” He wiggled his eyebrows and then laughed again. “I’m kidding. First time I take you is going to be at the home pool.”
“In the pool?” she asked, interest coloring her.
“Goddamn right. I told you, Kappa are very different.”
“So what’s so different?”
He gave her a lopsided grin. “You’ll see...and you will love it. Now, let’s get back to the compound, yeah? Bet Galen could do with some Noori energy right about now.”
Chapter
Evening had come quietly as they had a family dinner on the decking outside of Galen’s room. The commander had been doing better during the day and Foster suggested dinner out there, so they could all enjoy it, and her, together. Salmon, lobster tails and thick T-bone steaks were on the menu, along with garden fresh salad, perfectly ripe tomatoes and mozzarella caprese, grilled eggplant and baby zucchini. Everyone had eaten, and after two bottles of wine between the five of them, Galen abstaining, Noori was now in Galen’s lap, the commander’s arms around her. She loved that the guys all looked on with amusement and love when they saw her with another, no jealousy at all, even though he was taking a lot of her time.
When they had gotten back to the house they had all complimented her on the new hair, and her healthy glow, and Zeke had been more attentive to her, staying close, errant touches on her shoulders and arms. The smile he was sporting had her melting. Her Kappa was so goddamn beautiful when he was happy.
“Dinner was amazing. All compliments to the chefs,” she said and sighed. She was full, and happy and relaxed, all things she loved.
"Yeah, seriously, guys, you outdid yourselves tonight," Galen told them contentedly. "It's so good to be up and out of my room and spending time with you all again like a family instead of as caregivers."
"Does that mean you're going to help with the washing up?" Milo joked, laughing as he avoided an elbow in the ribs from Foster. "Nah, I'm kidding. It's really good to see you up again. You had us all worried there."
“Galen is going to be just fine,” she said and sighed, wrapping her arms around his torso. “Right, Zeke?”
The Kappa nodded. “He’s making literal leaps and bounds...all thanks to you, of course. You’re regulating things for him on a microdose scale so only the good gets to him. Another few days and he’s going to be good, another week? Great.”
"So when can I start building my muscle mass back up, do you think?" Galen asked. "I'm worried about atrophy."
Zeke grinned. “When you can spend the night with that pretty lady and not have her leave to go elsewhere.”
"Because that didn't feel like a stab right in the manhood," Galen sucked in a teasing breath. "Ouch, Zeke. You hurt my feelings, man."
“No hurting intended, Commander. It isn’t a reflection on your manhood. When you know you can go for real is when your body is ready for the strenuous activity of putting back on the mass.”
"There's no rush," Foster told him. "We can take care of it for as long as you need. Right now both of you just need to focus on being at a hundred percent. Noori watches over you and we watch over her. It works. Just take your time."
Galen snorted. "You try sleeping next to this beautiful woman for hours every day and not being able to touch her. It's a very specific kind of hell and I'd rather not take any more time than I have to. Thanks for the support, though."
“I doubt she would have a problem with you touching her. I mean, she doesn’t now,” Blue said from across the table. “But I see your point.”
She smirked. “Things will work out when they need to. Now let’s talk about something other than me and Galen getting it on...” She squeezed his side.
"Has there been any news from GCHQ?" Galen asked. "Did they get any more intel on this meeting Caldera is having?"
“All quiet on the Western front, so to speak. Atticus has some operatives up north and in the different cities but nothing yet. It’s a waiting game, but that is good because it gives you time to heal,” Blue said, all business. “Though I understand they,” meaning his fathers, “will be coming with. I didn’t wanna bring it up now but...” He looked to Noori. “One of the girls that we missed was the daughter of one of the Nocta Elders, and she’s known for being a bad ass like you so... “
She grinned. “Blue, I’m not a bad ass, I just happen to have skills to survive in the bush.”
"Uh...didn't you smash in some Lampera's skull with a rock and then shove him into a ravine?" Milo asked innocently.
“Reaction. Have you seen those mouths? No, thank you.” She shuddered. “And I’m pretty much equal opportunity here but... No no no no.”
“Makes sense as well,” Zeke said. “It’s an Aquatic. Normally females that aren’t predisposed to Aqueas can only work with one faction of ours.”
“And clearly I’m a Kappa girl.”
Zeke grinned.
"A lot of people would have frozen in fear. Your reaction was bad ass." Milo supported Blue.
“A lot of girls didn’t grow up in New Zealand with weird shit happening,” she pointed out. “But I can hold my own, and I accept that. I hope whoever this girl is gives Caldera serious grief and maybe stabs his sorry ass.”
"I don't," Galen said seriously. "He's not known for being a forgiving man and he's not easy to kill either. We've tried twice and failed. I hope that, if he still has her, she's keeping quiet and not giving anyone a reason to beat or torture her."
“True, but if she’s a bad ass, she might be out there right now, just like our Noori was,” Zeke offered.
“So...interesting about the Aqueas...” Noori changed the subject. “I didn’t come across that, though I still haven’t jumped into any of our home factions aside from the Shiftera, and Galen was able to fill in some tidbits. So, you guys wanna tell me some things about yours?”
"Not much is known about mine," Foster shrugged. "You can ask me anything and I'll tell you what I know, but it's not much."
"Mine is complicated...a lot like Galen's, actually," Milo said. "The Elementara are a fairly closed society and the sub-factions within it have a lot of politics. But same...you can ask me anything and I'll do my best to answer."
“I’m an open book for you, sweetness,” Zeke said.
Blue looked to her. “We can talk soon,” he said and got up, going to her. “I’m going to take first patrol.” He leaned in and kissed her fiercely, causing her to gasp, then pulled away with a smirk and looked to Foster. “Change at three, yeah?” Foster nodded and he walked out of the room.
“Nightfall?” she asked as she saw the sun just dip under the tree line.
“He doesn’t think you are ready to see it yet,” Zeke said quietly.
“I don’t know if he’s wrong...” she offered. “But the option should be there at this point.”
"It probably was until you mentioned Lampera teeth just now," Milo said, letting out a hiss of pain as someone kicked him under the table, hard.
She looked at them. “I looked up Shadowea Monstera and there is nothing that says he’s got circular rows of teeth like a borehole in his face that oscillate,” she said with a frown. “That is scary shit because of the damage it can do, though honestly seeing something come at me that can’t speak because it doesn’t have an actual mouth, just a sucking hole, is kinda daunting.”
“Well, he can talk...” Zeke offered. “And he does not have a sucking hole.”
"He thinks he's scarier than he actually is," Galen said carefully. "That's why we don't push him. It's a delicate situation. He will always look worse to himself than he does to anyone who loves him."
She seemed to consider this. “Blue isn’t a gross Lampera. He’s my Blue,” she said softly, meaning it. “Nothing he is is going to change that.”
"You need to ask him someday about his transition," Foster replied, equally as softly. "He didn't even let his own mother see him for months because he thought it would traumatize her and she's the one that goes to bed with Atticus on a regular basis. Even I find Atticus fucking terrifying and I like the guy."
“Atticus is terrifying,” Zeke said. “And Balthazar, and Thorn for that matter. All three of them are big bad asses. Blue is scary, I’m going to give him that, but...” He looked to Noori. “Something tells me you won’t be dissuaded with him.”
She nodded. Whatever it was he hid under that half mask wasn’t going to change anything. The man was courting her, in ways she was sure the guys didn’t know as she didn’t say much about it and they never asked her. And it was thrilling and sexy and dirty as hell. He was living up to every bad boy fantasy she ever had. What he hid from her wasn’t going to change a damn thing.
"Atticus is terrifying," Galen agreed with the others. "They say that for anyone to behold him in his other form means instant madness. Blue doesn't come anywhere close to that, even though he's stupid powerful and has mad skills."
She loved that they were all talking him up and stuff. Not that they needed to; that shingle he had set out for her was noted and accepted already. She just needed him to take the next step, but that ball was in his court, at least until he got his balls up and came to her to show her.
“So you got questions for us, sweet girl?” Zeke asked.
“I do. Let me go get my book,” she said and slipped off Galen’s lap. “I’ll be right back.”
Scampering out of the room, the house’s shadows growing long in the deepening twilight, Noori made it to her bedroom in moments, grabbing her notebook with her questions, and her pen. As she turned to leave she stopped, feeling something silky slide up her leg, and under her skirt a second before she felt pressure on her panties.
“Sleep alone tonight,” she heard grated in her ear before Blue’s hands were palming her breasts, pinching her nipples. “When you leave Galen, sleep alone tonight...”
“I...um...”
“You really want this?” he said, his voice slightly garbled with a hiss as whatever was under her skirt slid into her panties and she gasped when it started to move between her folds, something putting pressure on her clit.
“Gods...yes, I want you, Blue.” She moaned and arched into his body, though his hand came around and gripped her head to keep her looking forward. Her hips bucked and she rolled them as whatever was playing in her panties continued and ramped her up.
“Sleep. Alone.” The voice was more garbled.
And then she was coming hard enough that she had to bite her lip to keep from screaming. Her knees gave out and she lowered to the carpet, her body shaking. She licked her lips, humming to herself as the pulses from her orgasm thrummed and she closed her eyes, smiling. Whatever that was, she wanted more of it.
A few moments to collect herself and she was walking, on shaky legs, back to Galen’s room, where they smiled as she walked in. “Found it,” she said, her voice slightly breathy. They had moved from the table to the larger comfy chairs, settling Galen in the chair and a half, which probably was like regular for him when he was at his full weight.
