by Jana Leigh
***
Argus stood at the stove in his kitchen cooking breakfast for his mates. He and Trinity had been spending time over the last few afternoons working with Orfeo to set up a union of European Vampire clans that were willing to follow the laws and edicts of the New Council. So he felt Jacob and Skye deserved the special treatment.
Vampires were fiercely independent, and it remained to be seen exactly what the association between the Vampire s, and the New Council would be.
This afternoon they would once again try to hash out an agreement. He made a mental note to ask Trace to come in on their meeting. They could use his mediation skills.
Just then Jacob and Skye came in with sleepy smiles. They each took a turn giving him a good morning kiss. “Are you going to be busy this afternoon again?” asked Skye.
“Yes, I’m afraid so, sweetie. Did you need me for something?” responded Argus.
“I’ll always need you,” she said and swiped a piece of bacon. “I just thought it would be nice to have a picnic in the backyard. How about instead of another big dinner at the Pack house, we h ave a Texas style barbeque here? We can invite Orfeo and his parents, Trinity and her mates, Bama and her mates and also Tripp and Caterina . That will give you an informal setting for your discussions. That wine Attilio brought was really nice; it’s just that for a barbeque, you need beer. And we just received several cases from Saint Arnold’s Brewery in Houston. And I just thought that you might make more progress in an informal environment.”
Argus pulled her into his arms for a deep kiss and a quick grope. “Jacob, our mate is brilliant. Would you help her pull it all together?”
“I know she’s brilliant. She’s sexy, too .” Jacob added. He was about to make a suggestion for a lunchtime interlude when he noticed their two small ones standing in the doorway, each tugging a small blanket. “Look who’s gotten out of their cribs again!” And he and Skye went to get them changed, while Argus went back to finishing breakfast. He had a big grin on his face. Life was good , he thought.
***
Bama and her mates slept in. Her babies were due any day now so they’d had to get creative in the bedroom . As soon as they were born, and her body recovered, she was ready to take it to another level. They had been discussing it for some time, and she was ready and dreamed about being bound tightly without the cuffs and leashes. She stepped naked from the bathroom into her closet and put on an opaque white-tie sarong skirt with flaps in the back and front , the maternity version . When she stood still or walked slowly it was perfectly demure, and the flaps gave easy access to her mates at all times. She never wore panties around the house anymore. And as per Trace ‘s request, unless they were expecting guests, she only wore her special bras on top. They gave her the support she needed while presenting he r nipples for their gaze and attentions.
They’d been married now for nearly a year, and she felt like she was still on her honeymoon. As she stepped into the kitchen, she saw the time was nine, they had overslept. Now she wanted to make them a special breakfast. She turned and saw the wrapped packages on the counter. She opened the first one; it was a beautiful book with colored illustrations on Shibari , the art of Japanese rope binding. The other was a beginner’s book for sexual bondage. She heard a sound from behind her and saw her men standing in the doorway.
“I have the best mates in the world! Thank you so much! How did you know?” she asked walking towards them .
Trace walked over and stood on her left front side, h e leaned forward to give her a kiss. “You are our treasure,” he said as he let his free hand wander over her rounded belly as her skirt was tied underneath the babies. “You give us w hat we need; of course, we want you to have everything you need too.”
“We love the way you respond to us, the tighter we bind you, the higher your level of arousal. Do you think we haven’t noticed?” s aid Sh ane as he came up on her right side, and reaching up to run his thumb over her nipple. Her breasts had grown; her areolas darkened and were sensitive from her pregnancy.
Just then the phone rang, and Trace reached over to pick it up from the side table. “Hello?” he said. As he listened, he gave Bama a smile. “Let me check , ” he pulled the receiver away, “Barbeque dinner at Argus’s tonight? Jacob says Skye suggested an informal atmosphere for hammering out the agreement between the New Council and the European Vampire Clans.”
“I think that is a wonderful plan. The Parliament has always had a cordial association with the Clans. I can drop my mother’s name into the conversation,” said Bama.
“Who needs your mother, though of course, she’s wonderful, we have you. You’re our secret weapon , Bama.” He gave her a quick kiss and then picked up the phone again. “We’re in…Great….See you then…Okay, bye now.”
“Trace, I think Bama needs to come back to bed. You’r e due any day now, and you need to let us take care of you,” said Shane.
“I just wanted to make you breakfast because you’ve been so great putting up with all my hormonal mood swings , ” answered Bama.
“You are carrying our babies; we’re here to serve you. Now if you won’t go back to bed, come sit in the armchair with your feet up. We’ll come and have breakfast with you there , “ s aid Trace.
“Okay, I’m so ready for these babies to come into the world. And I want banana pancakes for breakfast , ” s aid Bama.
***
Trinity hung up the phone in her study and then wandered out to find her mates. They were never too far away . Cloe had very little to go on with this pregnancy. With the only known dragon as one of the fathers, it seemed the birth schedule had been altered. She was already several months past her original five-month due date. She was having regular ultrasounds, and Cloe said the babies were fine. It just looked like they needed to bake a little longer.
She was a wolf; she expected a five-month pregnancy . The almost eleven months she’d suffered through so far had her growling at her men , Lagon especially . The good side of the situation was they pampered her endlessly. Seeing Shea with her newborns made her long to hold her own.
Very soon after she left her study where she worked at home, she came across first Lagon and then Blaze. “It’s almost nine thirty, so I thought you might like some apple slices with your multivitamin. Maybe you’d like a glass of milk? Or a banana?” asked Lagon.
“Thanks, hon, I’d like apple slices with peanut butter and bananas on them with a glass of milk and a glass of orange juice , please.”
“That was Jacob on the phone. We’re having dinner at their house tonight, Texas barbeque, yum!” she said.
“Are you sure your feeling up to that?” asked Blaze as he picked up her feet. She needed to keep them elevated, or they would swell up. He began massaging the joints.
“We’re kind of stuck in the negotiations. Skye thought it might help if we were in an informal atmosphere. I’m the Pack builder, and this is more Argus’s area. However, my presence adds another female into the mix. All the old-world charm comes out, and it keeps tempers down. No one wants to upset the very pregnant lady. I’ll take a nap after the meeting this afternoon. I’ll be fine for dinner. Ooh , that feels so good , ” s he said when Blaze pushed in on her instep.
“Here’s your snack. Don’t forget your vitamin,” s aid Lagon.
***
Orfeo lay in his bed alone and stared at the ceiling, ten o’clock , two more hours . Each day around noon, Tripp would come and bring him breakfast. They would fool around a little, and then he would shower and get up. It was getting harder and harder to be patient. Each day his control slipped a little . He longed to be with both his mates.
The only thing that saved his sanity was the dreams. Each time he closed his eyes; he dreamed of being with his mates. And like the dream in Italy, Caterina pulled back and seemed fragile. Only now, in the dreams, she was changing; coming out of her shell and starting to participate more. At first, she had been scared, then she acted as if she was making the motions, s
uffering through the mating like a necessary dentist’s appointment, now, more and more she was relishing in it. The dreams gave him hope.
***
Stephanie Prose looked down at her watch as she climbed gingerly into the cab to take her to the S&M clubhouse she belonged to. It was a little after noon, it had taken all her efforts to convince Roarke that she was still okay with the levels, he’d taken their sessions. It was her day off, and he’d kept her nearly all night. She’d gone home and taken a long hot shower and tried to sleep —she couldn’t. So she got up and changed into soft clothes. She couldn’t put on underwear as she wouldn’t be able to stand the rubbing of a thong between her ass cheeks.
All she wanted was rest, but she knew she needed to see a doctor, and she knew she needed to get out of town . Mistress Marlene’s husband was a Sub and a doctor; m ore than once he’d taken care of other subs for small injuries or if a situation got out of control at the club . Legally, she could press charges. She hadn’t consented to be fucked by those other men. Roarke’s friend, Diavolo, had even changed his mind and given her Roarke’s third punishment, though he had cleaned her off some first.
He had been huge, so she was grateful he’d fucked her pussy instead of her ass. It was almost as if he could control the amount of blood swelling his dick as he pounded into her. And then he started biting her. It felt like he was flaying her alive, the pain was intense. She couldn’t hold back the screams and fainted in truth. In the end, the fact that she took it so calmly and gave Roarke the reaction he wanted is what convinced him to let her leave.
Her memories stopped as they pulled up in front of the club. She paid off the cab-driver and eased her way out. It hurt to bend too much at the hips. The padding on that upright had been minimal , and the handcuffs used to tie her down weren’t padded either, so she had restraint bruising on her wrists and ankles too; though, the bruises on her hips and thighs were the worst.
She rang the bell, and Sam came to the door almost immediately. “Hey Steph, it’s really early; Marlene is still sleeping. I was just about to fix her something to eat.”
“Oh Sam,” and she started to cry a little. “I’m so glad you’re here. I’m hurt; I think I’m hurt bad.” Then she really broke down as he led her inside and closed and locked the door.
“Marlene! We have an emergency. I need your help!” he shouted going into doctor mode. Within a few minutes, Marlene came running down the stairs in red silk robe.
“Sam? What’s going on?”
“Stephanie’s here, she says she’s hurt bad. I’ll need you to be nurse, okay?” Sam asked.
“Sure thing, oh Stephanie, come on with me, and we’ll get you taken care of. Then we’ll talk. If there’s a Dom that’s gotten out of control, then you’ll have to tell me about it. Sam and I will spread the word. Thank God he’s on vacation, or he’d be at his office,” said Marlene.
“I’m sorry for ruining your vacation,” Stephanie whimpered to Sam.
“Don’t worry about that, let’s get you fixed up.” They had reached the room he used for quick exams . He had started his practice at home and left one room set up when he moved.
The exam lasted almost an hour, and she told them the details of what had been done to her physically. Marlene and Sam both were getting pretty steamed. “Multiple partners without your permission! No condoms and no lube! You tell me who this guy is, he’ll be blackballed in more than just Cleveland when I’m through,” muttered Marlene as Sam did his best to treat her.
“All your bruises will heal up in a couple of weeks. Those puncture wounds on your back may take a little longer. The thing that concerns me the most is your rectum. If you begin having incontinence issues, you’ll need to have further testing and possible surgery,” said Sam. Then he turned to his wife, “This guy deserves everything you can throw at him , honey.”
“I see that you’ve showered. Don’t you want to see him prosecuted? You were raped , sweetie; this wasn’t consensual,” asked Marlene. As a lawyer, she would jump on that.
“No, Marlene; while he went over the line and deserves that, this guy is truly dangerous. I’m planning on leaving town for a while,” said Stephanie.
Marlene tried to talk her into going to the cops for about twenty minutes, but when she saw how adamant Stephanie was; she let up.
“Then let’s figure this out. I’ll spread the word to the community and get volunteers to pack up your stuff and put it in storage. Do you have enough cash to get by for a couple of months? You shouldn’t be working until you’re healed.
“I tell you what; let me work up a quick power of attorney. How much money do you have in your account?” When Stephanie named a sum, she said, “Okay, I can cover that with what’s in the office safe. You sign the power of attorney, and I’ll take care of your stuff while you’re gone.
“Now don’t cry, we’ll see that you’re okay. The S&M community will help.” And she bustled from the room to get started as Sam came back in with a loose, soft dress for her to put on.
“Sam, the battery on my cell’s dead, and anyway, it has GPS on it, so I’m not going to take it with me. Do you have a cell phone I can borrow?” she asked.
“Sorry, hon, I don’t. You have a rest on the couch, and I’ll run down to the convenience store and get you one of those pay as you go phones,” he said.
“Sam, don’t let Marlene go off on one of her crusades. These guys are dangerous. I think they killed Stacy and Tara. Spread the word quietly and stay away. If anyone comes here asking questions, if they don’t know the magic word, send them away. You act dumb, okay? Please?” said Stephanie. “They’re planning something in Colorado; I’m going to warn them, maybe go there. I don’t want to tell you anymore. The less you know the better.”
Then she lay down on the couch. About an hour later, she was using her new cell phone to contact the police department in Milliken , Colorado. She wanted to call them before she hopped a bus out of town.
“Sherriff’s department, what is the nature of your emergency?”
“I heard two men planning a murder in your town. I don’t know who is going to be killed. They said they would blame it on the Amsetti’s or Ambroshti’s, I’m sorry I don’t remember the name,” said Stephanie.
“I’m going to put you through to the chief. It’s important that you hold on, okay?” said the dispatcher.
“Okay, I won’t hang up,” said Stephanie. A few moments later, Lev Adler came on the line, and she repeated what she said to the dispatcher. He asked to elaborate a little, the more she said the more worried he became.
“Stephanie, this is very serious, and you may be in danger. I know the people being threatened, and they are wealthy. They have private security that will work with me, and I’m sure that they’d be willing to provide protection for you in exchange for this information. Would you like me to set that up?” Lev asked.
“Yes, but I’m scared to stay here in Cleveland. I was planning on hopping a bus out of town.”
“Are you someplace safe now? I might be able to get someone there in a few hours. Can you think of a magic word? I’ll tell it to my guy so you know they are safe and there to protect you.”
“I can’t think; I don’t know; I’m sorry I’m just so scared.”
“That’s all right, honey; we’re going to take good care of you. I’m going to send two people; one will be a man, and one will be a woman. That way, you’ll be more comfortable. For our word, how about the phrase ‘I love bears.’ Can you remember that?” When he was assured that she remembered, he asked if she would like a female officer to stay on the line and keep her company until her guards arrived. She said that wouldn’t be necessary, she was with friends. Just before they hung up, he thanked her again and promised to call back in a few minutes with descriptions of the people coming to get her.
After hanging up the phone, he immediately called the compound and asked to speak with Quin, and to ask Dalton to be called to Quin’s office. He held on the line unti
l they were there and had him on speaker. He went over the woman’s story with them.