Protect

by Laura Wylde

  In human years, I’m a little older than Jack, but in Phoenix years, it becomes more complicated. When we die, we immediately rise again from the ashes, a new incarnation. We carry our ancestral memories. Jack comes from the original line, the first phoenix to rise out of earth’s fires and take human form. His ancestors came from the dark, throbbing heart of Africa. They walked with the Sphynx, held council with Horus.

  Lenny is not only the youngest among us in human years, he comes from a line that began in Western Europe and migrated into the Nordic regions. His memories don’t include the glory years when man, beasts and gods roamed the earth together, only the years of forbidden magic, a perverse wisdom that began with the gate-keepers. Lenny was born knowing how to do things in secret. Jamie and I had been born remembering the intoxicating life of temples and worshippers. Jack was born remembering our first purpose, to protect the innocent and become a symbol of hope.

  We worked well together, though. Once the first police commissioner recognized the need for a special department back in the Five Family War, it became easy to transfer files and bury our unit so deeply in secrecy, nobody outside our circle knew who we are or what we do.

  It didn’t do much good to worry about what should have been. What’s done is done and it’s long in the past, but probably Jack would have handled Lenny better.

  I pulled my rambling thoughts back together as I noticed the harpy leaving. I crouched, waiting for her to go around a corner away from the lights and cameras of the building, and transform. Instead, she remained in human form and walked briskly toward the bus station. Surprised, I followed her from above, slipping from tree to tree.

  Could I have been wrong about her? Was she just a bitter old hag who hung out with other bitter old hags, one of whom just happened to be a harpy? I watched as she reached the platform and sat down on the bench, looking very ordinary for an ugly, prune-faced woman. I almost talked myself out of staying. I crouched uneasily on a roof top, debating what to do next. Just as I had made up my mind to fly off, the bus appeared. Instead of waiting to board, the librarian began walking away.

  That was peculiar. I scrambled to change positions, dodging between the lamp-posts to keep from casting a shadow, realizing when the bus drove past, she would be out of sight for a few seconds. I couldn’t afford to take my eyes off her even for one of those seconds. I had barely made it across the street when I saw her shape-shift. She had chosen a dark gap between two buildings that were so close together, they barely formed an alley. I hung back so she wouldn’t notice she had been detected. Like a black, stream-lined jet, she shot straight into the air, then winged her way down Fifth Avenue.

  Tanya

  Poor people spend all their money trying to appear middle class. Middle class people spend their money on vacations. For a few days or weeks, they pretend to be wealthy. They sleep at expensive hotels, eat at fine restaurants, swim in private pools, take up skiing or scuba diving or horseback riding. They don’t really believe in the rich in famous, but they believe in the life-style.

  This was a little more life-style than I was accustomed to, at least in the privacy of a home. I felt like I’d checked into a room at the Ritz. The scent of the roses wafted in from the window. It should have been relaxing. Instead, it reminded me of how vulnerable I was. Despite the comfort of the bed and the sweetly scented air, I felt my stomach churn.

  My rampaging thoughts returned over and over to the attack in Central Park. I couldn’t forget the malignant look on the harpy’s face. It was one of pure hatred and malicious joy in the suffering of others. It was a darker force than anything I had imagined, a force that gave me a glimpse into the true nature of demons. I wasn’t sure I could ever face them again without going insane.,

  After a few minutes of staring at a barely lighted ceiling, I got up and walked fitfully to the window, closing it tight. I wanted lock-down security. I wanted the walls of Fort Knox. I panted, my fingers curled along the sill. I found my military voice, the one I’d learned from my dad. “Get a grip on yourself, girl. Now is no time to be falling apart. Move about. Take a shower. Put on some fresh clothing.”

  I groped through my luggage, finding a simple silk negligee and matching robe in my smallest suitcase; the one with all the intimate items. It was shimmering dark green, matching the color of my eyes. The best way to get rid of anxiety is to change the mood. A romantic one should work. It’s not often a middle- class girl gets swept off into the night by four handsome, shape-shifting phoenixes living in a mansion.

  The romance was all around. The pale moon, the silvery roses, the whispers of the past floating through the hallways. It was a place for nurturing lost souls and artists. It was not a place for sweat-soaked running gear. Folding my night clothes over my arm, I stepped into the bathroom. It had a very large shower with a whirlpool tub at one end. Nice, but I remembered Jamie saying there was a sauna.

  I added a towel to my wardrobe, slipped off my shoes and padded barefoot back down the stairs. The carpet was smooth and tightly woven. It brushed softly against the soles of my feet. The shape-shifters seemed to have a preference for woven running rugs and area rugs that stopped just short of the walls, exposing a few inches of wooden floor. The patterned carpet exposing the ends of the polished, wooden steps, was also romantic.

  I met up with Jamie in the foyer. He was sitting idly in a chair, one leg thrown over the arm, fiddling with one of those Japanese puzzle boxes containing hidden compartments. “This box is three hundred years old,” he said lazily. “I’ve worked it one hundred-twenty-three times and still haven’t hit the right combination.”

  “Is that the Lemarchand box?” I asked, remembering the legend of a box that would open the door to another dimension if you found the secret combination.

  “It is. We confiscated it during World War II at the request of the gatekeepers. The Japanese are remarkable in their knowledge of mechanics and how to apply them to physics. Like Western Europe magicians, they understood the dangers of interdimensional mass transport and kept their secrets hidden. But when Hiroshima and Nagasaki were bombed, they tried to turn the box into a weapon. It was my mission to find it and keep it safe.”

  “Why didn’t you destroy it?” I wondered. They had no need for magic boxes. All they had to do was step through a gate.

  Jamie gave me an indulgent smile, the kind you give to a child who has asked an earnest, but obvious question. “We don’t destroy art. We don’t destroy the magnificence of human achievement. You’re the children of immortals. We’re proud of your advancements.”

  “I’m starting to get the picture,” I said, giving a significant look around the room. “It looks like you are very fond of our advancements.”

  “We create biology, living things. You create something more. Like this little Greek carving. It’s inanimate, yet it’s full of the artist’s life. It belonged to my grandfather. He once dated Helen of Troy. It must have been the most glorious time for a phoenix to be alive. Luxurious living, beautiful art, luscious women.”

  “And you don’t have it now?”

  “We do! This is the best time to be alive. My descendants will be envious.”

  I chuckled. Jamie had a different type of charm than the others. Daniel was The Man. The rock-hard agent you could lean on. Jack was champagne and Chopin. Lenny was just Lenny. The rebel with his heart on his sleeve. Jamie, though, was the type of person who behaved as though he has always known you. It was silly to feel awkward around him, when he was so relaxed and social. He talked about anything that came to his mind. If it interested him, he was sure it would interest you as well. He was usually right. “Speaking of luxuries,” I asked.“You said you had a sauna. Do you have a hot tub, as well?”

  “Hot tub with Jacuzzi. As I said, it’s at the end of the hall, or you can take the scenic route. Through the office, out to the patio and follow the rose bush path. It goes around the corner to the sauna side entrance.”

  “Out in the open?”

&nb
sp; “It’s not really in the open. It’s very secluded. If you want, I’ll walk you there.”

  “It would give me confidence.”

  He offered me his arm like a gentleman. As soon as I took it, I felt a lot more confidence. Jamie radiated strength and resolve. It seemed to seep from his arm into my fingertips. Jack was in the office, glued to a computer, a headset cradling his ears. Just as we reached the glass sliding doors, he called out, “Daniel is checking in.”

  “I’ll be right with you,” promised Jamie. “I’m giving our lady the grand tour.”

  In a Gothic novel, this would be the part where lovers kissed under the new moon. The world was bathed with a waxy, blue-white color. The rose bushes trembled and sighed, their scent mixing with spicy apples and magnolia’s. Jamie, however, played every bit the part of a police officer, escorting me safely to my destination. It was odd how disappointed I felt when he said, “here we are” and patted my hand.

  He punched in the key code for the door. “You can go in and out of the house access freely, but all our outside entrances have security codes.” The door swung open a few inches, and a small cloud of steam slipped out into the evening. “I turned the sauna and hot tub on when we first arrived. They should be warmed up good by now. I’d join you, but right now we need to monitor the reports. Enjoy.”

  I was half-swooning, half trembling with exhaustion as I stepped inside and heard the door click solidly behind me. The sauna was built like an inside patio. The floor was inlaid stone patterned around a kidney shaped hot-tub, with a bubbling Jacuzzi at one end. The tub was large enough to lay out flat and do a couple of back-strokes. At one end of the room was the boxed-in sauna, built from cedar. The sharp cedar scent added to the scented candles that were set up in clusters around the pool.

  None of the candles were currently lit, but there was a box of long-stemmed matches on a small marble and iron table. I set my towel and lingerie on the chair next to the table and picked up the box. The candle arrangement was romantic. There was a mixture of long and short candle sticks placed in various types of holders.Some twined together with curlicues forming pyramids, some spaced out simply for the esoteric beauty of the holder. What the phoenixes didn’t know about interior decorating, they definitely knew about candles and incense. By the time I had finished lighting all the candles, the room was alive with sensations of sight and smell. I turned the electric lighting to the lowest setting. The steamy room made the flickering flames seem to swirl and waft outward.

  There was an open shower next to the sauna. Skipping the steam bath, I rinsed off quickly, thinking only about immersing myself completely in water. I felt filthy. I couldn’t seem to remove the stench of the harpy from my nostrils. I supposed that was one thing I had in common with Bunny. There were few things more intolerable than the smell of a harpy.

  I eased into the tub slowly. The jet bubbles were like a million tiny fingers caressing my flesh. Almost immediately, I began to relax. I stretched out full length, supported only by a head rest, breathing in the aroma. It smelled like a rain forest. I had never been to one, but I’m positive that’s how one would smell, with the jumbled scents of cedar, sandalwood, hyacinth and myrrh crowding together. All it lacked was the chirping of birds.

  My eyes closed and I found myself drifting once more into that strange sleep that felt like I was swimming with formless beings through an ocean current. Only this time, I really was in water and it no longer felt like a dream. It was something warm and deep and sensual. The soft forms passed over and under my body, brushing against my most intimate places, slowly arousing me.

  My breasts swelled and the nipples hardened, begging for the watery touch. My legs parted and the sensuous current opened them wider until I thought I would explode from pure ecstasy. “Tanya, are you alright?” I gasped and sat up, not fully aware of my surroundings.

  Slowly, it came back. The mixed tropical scents, the candlelight, the steaming pool. Jamie and Jack stood on the edge, wearing only their boxer shorts, which failed to hide some interesting developments. “You were out here so long, we thought we should check up on you,” said Jack concernedly, unaware his soldier was standing at attention. “We saw you sleeping and thought you might be unconscious.”

  “We were going to bring you in, then saw you move,” adding Jamie. “Were you dreaming?”

  “I think I’m dreaming now,” I murmured. What I had just experienced seemed pale compared to staring at two of the world’s most perfectly built men practically in the buff, with only a thin piece of cloth covering their equipment. Equipment that was raring to go.

  I turned over onto my knees and tugged at their hands, drawing them into the pool. Gently, I removed their shorts, taking my time with each one, dragging the band down and kissing each new piece of exposed flesh. It was easy to see where the Greeks got their inspiration. Their chests rested on solid, padded ribs. Thick thighs bulged and wrapped around sinewy muscles.

  I loved the contrast between them. Jack had broad bones. He was powerfully developed, with the skin dark and taut. Jamie was tall, with long legs balanced by a trim waist and broad chest. His skin was lightly tanned and looked paler when he stood next to Jack. His butt was small and deeply dimpled, which was an incredible turn on.

  I don’t know if it was the trauma, the dream or the candlelight and water. Maybe it was all three. I was out of control. All the little, secret thoughts I had pushed aside concerning my protectors, was put into live action.

  Jack scooted down in the water first, stretching out his full length so I could spread my legs over his hips, my heels sliding along his calves, while Jamie pressed against me from behind. I felt his hands slide up my back and imprison my breasts. I moaned and twisted, sliding into place under Jamie, while both men stroked and kissed me from either side.

  Jack explored my tongue first, giving me an intense kiss. His hands ran down my back, while Jamie continued caressing my breasts, our bodies mingling so close together.

  “I want you…want…both of you.” I was ready for anything and desperately in want. My nipples were puffy and both men began playing with them.

  “You like that?” one of them muttered, kissing my nipple, while the other voice hummed and panted down the back of my neck.

  I smiled and brought both hands down grabbing both big cocks. Feeling up and down, their full erections growing in my hand, I sighed deeply. I listened to their shallow breathing.

  “Yes…yes…stroke it.” I looked into Jack’s eyes as he grabbed my tits and squeezed, muttering my name. I took a deep breath, still struggling to look at him, as I ran my hand over his cock, back and forth, reaching all the way up to his midriff. I grasped the base of his shaft and squeezed, feeling the blood rush.

  “Ohh yeah…” he groaned as I stroked him harder, his voice turning me on even more. I turned around, only to find Jamie who met my eyes with equal fury. He couldn’t share me anymore. He grabbed my breasts and played with my nipples, leaving Jack to fend for himself.

  Jack made way by spreading my legs, opening my unguarded womanhood and touching my pubic mound so softly. I looked into his eyes this time as he readied his hard dick for entry.

  “Ohh yes…take me…”

  “What is this guy going to do? Huh?” He said, as he penetrated my pussy, slowly but firmly. I felt the fullness, his big long cock, and moaned shyly. I was captivated by his cock and spread my legs to accommodate him.

  “So big…” I moaned, probably making Jamie jealous who was fingering my nipples but feeling the cocktease for sure.

  “Ohhh fuck,” I whimpered as Jack pushed deeper, thrusting into my bare pussy rough and fast. I spread my lips for him, just to feel him go deeper, just so I could sing another note and make Jamie crazy. I pushed the sigh from my body and clenched hard on his cock.

  Jamie had had enough and decided to give me just a little more than I could handle, but that I secretly wanted. He put his strong hands on me and rested his digits on the crack of my ass sendi
ng a chill down my spine. Just as I began bucking around, my body feeling disgust at the thought, I creamed Jack’s cock with excitement.

  Jamie sensed I was already close to coming just from the vigorous pounding in front. He wanted more though and so spread my ass cheeks apart, getting me used to a naughty idea.

  “Ohhh God…I want both of you…”

  “Yeah?”

  “I want you…both…inside me.”

  “Then we’re both going to fuck you.”

  “Unghhh…” I groaned as Jamie gently slid two fingers into my ass. “Ohhh God…”

  “Don’t stop fucking her,” Jamie said to Jack, talking about my throbbing pussy. I squirmed, riding Jack’s cock even harder. “Fuck her like you mean it.”

  “Yeaaah,” she cooed back.

  “You want two cocks in you?” Jack said, grabbing her by the neck and holding his stare.

  “Uh huh…do it…fuck me…double fuck me…”

  Jamie was the sexpert and so decided to make sure I was wet and ready. He brought his hand around and rubbed my clit, his fingers just centimeters away from Jack’s pumping shaft. I groaned deeply as they both ran their fingers through my hair.

  Jamie reached over to grab something from the ground above us, something from his pocket. The next thing I knew, I felt a wet lubed up dick poking in the crack of my ass. Silicone lubricant, meaning it felt as wet as my pussy.

  I inhaled hard and deep as I felt the first thrust. Jamie slowly pushed his wet dick up my ass and my whole body tingled.

  “Ohhh yeah that feels…good…ohhh wow…”

  “Just take it, take it up your ass.”

  “Yes…”

  “You like two cocks in you?” Jack said, grabbing my hair and pulling me closer to his sexy lips.

  “Yes…”

  I shuddered as I felt dual vibrations of two men fucking me at the same time. I couldn’t even come, I was so turned on. Shaking, feeling waves of pleasure rocking my whole body…but still holding off from coming. Maybe because they were still having too much fun pounding my pussy from both directions.