Tied In Knots (Immortals Book 7)

by LJ Vickery

  “Yes? Oh hello, Vaughn. You’re early, my love. Can you go around back and wait in the yard for me? I promise I won’t be long,” she prevaricated, pretending to hang up, and looked around sheepishly. “I’m so sorry, ladies.” Bel apologized. “That was my Dom. Very impatient. I’m afraid I’ll have to be going. You know how it is.” She shrugged, waiting, and got exactly the response she was looking for. Many of the women licked their lips and gazed toward the backyard.

  ****

  Charlie watched Teri tap her lip nervously.

  “I don’t suppose…” She looked at Charlie who was now suspended. “I know I’m new to your group, but do you think it would be all right for Vaughn to have a look at this? I think he’d like it.”

  What? Vaughn was Teri’s Dom? Charlie mentally kicked herself. She should have guessed from the look of the man. An instant chorus of agreement sounded all around. No one had ever invited a Dom to their little gatherings, and the possibilities titillated all her friends.

  “Vaughn?” Teri moved to the back slider and called out, “Are you there?” She sounded more humble than Charlie had ever heard her, and Charlie understood immediately. In the airport or in business, Teri and Vaughn were equals, but in the bedroom, Vaughn would be in complete control.

  “You told me you’d be finished by now,” came the growl from the patio.

  “I wasn’t sure how long the meeting would last. I’m really sorry, sir.” She lowered her eyes to the floor as Vaughn walked in. Charlie had no such compulsion. She and all the women in the room looked him up and down, appreciating what they saw. At well over six feet tall, with broad shoulders and a compact, muscled ass, he was a woman’s dream come true. He approached Teri, and glared down at her.

  “We’ll see about your disobedience when we get home,” he promised with a rumble in his throat.

  Teri gave a lovely shiver that no one missed. “There’s a new toy being demonstrated, sir. Would you like to see it?” she asked shyly. Teri pointed to where Charlie hung on the door.

  Color stained Charlie’s cheeks when she garnered his attention. He was very handsome, despite his eyes being a little too close together, and Charlie experienced a thrill.

  The moderator took over again, clearly enjoying the scene. “Sir, if you would be so kind. Would you approach the sub in the swing and show how the height can accommodate any partner?”

  Vaughn didn’t reply, but with a dangerous Dom face firmly in place, he approached Charlie where she remained helplessly strung up.

  He perused the buckles that raised and lowered the swing, then fit his hips up against Charlie, letting his cock brush up against the inside of her thigh. She gave a small gasp. The situation was a little out of hand, but dammit, her pussy responded. She breathed a little sigh of relief as he moved away, turning so that all the women could get a good look at his cock, hard in his pants. He certainly was impressive in size. She gulped as he swiveled back to her. She caught Teri’s eye, and the woman shrugged as if saying, “What can I do? He’s in charge.”

  Vaughn brought the swing up another six inches, and this time his cock nestled firmly between Charlie’s legs, wedging up against her now wet pussy. If she hadn’t had her pants on, she would have embarrassed herself. Thank god for thick jeans.

  Her phone rang in her pocket, but she was in no position to answer. Apparently, Vaughn thought that with Charlie captive in the swing, it was time to put on a show.

  He ground his pelvis between her legs, looking back over his shoulder at the open mouths in the audience, and at Teri in particular. “I like this. We’ll get one,” he promised his submissive with fire in his eyes.

  He fell away from Charlie with an abruptness that left her astonished…and a little wanting. What the hell? She wasn’t even attracted to him. It must be her frustration over Absu coming into play. Charlie cleared her throat. “May I please be let down?” she asked. Was that her voice all breathy and rough?

  Vaughn turned back in, and supporting her ass with one big hand, he loosened the restraints and had Charlie on the ground in seconds. He turned and walked away as if he hadn’t just touched her so intimately.

  “Teri,” he barked. “Time to go.”

  Teri looked around and thanked the women. “I’ve had a great time. I hope you’ll let me come again?”

  The hostess was the first to respond. “We’d love to have you come back….and you too, Vaughn,” she purred. “Perhaps you’d care to put on a little exhibition for us?”

  Charlie held her breath.

  “I think we could work something out.” He looked at Teri, then turned cool eyes to Charlie. “Perhaps a ménage, using a few of my favorite toys.”

  Oh, no. Not even close. Charlie was already questioning her sanity at letting the man get away with what he’d just done. She prayed that Absu would recover quickly and come take care of her before she embarrassed herself any further.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Absu woke out of a sound sleep. Something was wrong. Okay, maybe not wrong, but certainly not right. He looked at his watch. Midnight. Damn, he was disoriented. Absu shook his head. Dream remnant or premonition?

  Shit. It was real. Something wasn’t good with Charlie, and he needed to go to her right now. He fumbled for the new cell phone that lay on the tray table. He hit the button to call Charlie. It rang and rang without being answered. Gods. His heart pounded out of his chest.

  Dani, he called to the doctor in his head, hoping he wasn’t waking her up. I regret that I must defy your orders. I sense something amiss with Charlie, and must travel posthaste to her side.

  Whoa. Hold it, right there, buddy. Dani flashed in, wrapped in a sheer bathrobe that Absu registered, but couldn’t stop to appreciate. She put a restraining hand on his shoulder before he could leave the hospital bed. “Have you contacted Candy?”

  Absu tried to take a breath. Dani was right. His Chosen had caretakers.

  “If there was a problem, she would be on the scene and you would have been notified.”

  Absu acknowledged that was true, but his feeling of discomfort wouldn’t ease. He strove for calmness and forged a mind connection to the West Coast goddess.

  Candy? This is Absu. Is everything all right with Charlie? Are you standing vigil? Absu waited and got no response. Candy?

  “She’s not answering.” Absu’s gut tightened. Enlil wouldn’t be asleep. He called for Candy’s mate. God of wind. Why does your woman not answer my plea? Is something spurious occurring in California of which we are not aware?

  Enlil popped in seconds later. “I left her sleeping not twenty minutes ago, and the only thing wrong will be your balls in a vice if you wake her up,” he warned. “She’s got a god-toxic headache, and is sleeping it off.”

  “Then who, pray tell, is watching over Charlie?” Absu became more agitated by the minute. “I’ve phoned her and she does not answer. I am experiencing an unsettling disquiet in my core that all is not well.”

  “Calm down, Absu. It was probably a dream. Ken’s got Maity, and is keeping an eye out for his sister. I’ll call his cell phone and make sure everything’s okay.” Enlil removed the device from his pocket and hit Ken’s number. The phone rang once and was picked up by voice mail.

  “Shit. His phone went straight to voicemail.” Enlil’s eyes narrowed. “You really think there’s a problem?”

  “It’s not gut-wrenching pain I’m experiencing, but a definite disturbance,” Absu agreed.

  Ishkur had come in during the conversation and eased off the wall where he’d paused to listen. “Maybe you could try to reach Maity? I know it’s a long shot, but she’s proved to be a quick learner. She might be able to pick you up. Give it a try.”

  Absu nodded. It was worth a try. Maity, darling, it’s Da, he attempted. Can you hear me, little one? Absu held his breath. He’d swung his legs free of the covers and was sitting up. If someone would just give him his pants.

  Da. Maity squealed, and the tightness in his chest unwound.

>   “I’ve got her,” he mouthed to the immortals in the room. Maity, where are you?

  Car. The word came loud and clear.

  Where’s Mommy? Absu waited and got nothing. Sweetie, where’s Uncle Ken?

  Car. She answered this time.

  “She says that she and Ken are in the car, but didn’t answer about her mother.” Absu’s concern created a crease in his brow.

  “Ask again,” Enlil urged.

  Maitlynn. Where’s Mommy?

  This time he got a response.

  Doggess. She said with authority. Absu sighed.

  “She’s talking about dogs again…”

  Doggess bad. DOGGESS. The little girl yelled into his head. Absu turned to his companions.

  “She keeps insisting there’s a dog, and it’s bad,” he puzzled aloud. “What would Charlie be doing with a bad dog?”

  It was Dani-Lee’s turn to get wide eyed, which instantly had him on alert.

  “Did she say dog, or did she say doggess?” The doctor gripped Absu’s arm with her new, bruising strength and didn’t even realize she was leaving marks.

  “Doggess, why?” questioned Absu briskly.

  “Because she’s not talking about a dog,” Dani shrilled. “That’s what Maity calls us goddesses. Doggess. But if Candy’s not with her…”

  “That means there’s a different goddess,” Enlil finished. “A bad goddess.” He looked ready to kill. “Ask Maity again.”

  Maity, is there a bad goddess with Mommy?

  Da. Which meant yes, as well as her word for the males in her life. Bad doggess.

  Absu nodded to Enlil, who had located the injured god’s jeans and was handing them off. Maity, tell Uncle Ken that he needs to go get Mommy. Now. Tell him. Absu frantically ran through the god’s names and picked the one Maity might have luck pronouncing. Tell him Ishkur says to get Mommy right now, and we’re coming soon. He said goodbye, and hoped the toddler was capable of passing on the danger to her uncle. The three gods—Absu, Enlil, and Ishkur—sped off, misting rapidly through the night. Twenty minutes to LA. Would they get there before something terrible happened?

  ****

  “Da.” Maitlynn’s voice came sharply from the backseat, bringing Ken out of a lovely daydream.

  “Yeah, baby. What can Uncle Ken do for you?” he yawned.

  “Bad doggess. Ish-er.”

  Ken laughed. The last thing Maity said sounded suspiciously like Ishkur. “Is Ishkur talking to you, Mait? Was he saying goodnight?” He was aware that the gods communicated to his niece head-style. He was just amazed it worked over such a long distance.

  “Mommy. Now Mommy.” The little cherub was getting agitated. Ken wondered why.

  “I know. Mommy’s been at her meeting for longer than we thought. She should be out soon.” He turned and Maitlynn was growing bright red. Her little hands banged down on the tray attached to her car seat.

  “Bad doggess. Mommy. Ish-er. NOW.” Okay. That was new. He’d never known her to be this upset and semi-coherent at the same time. He attempted to decipher her meaning.

  “Does Ishkur want me to go get Mommy right now because of a bad dog?” Ken questioned.

  “Da. DOGGESS. BAD,” she screamed.

  Holy shit. Ken got it.

  “Bad goddess, Maity? Is that what you’re saying? Bad goddess?” He fumbled with his keys and patted his holstered gun where it rested up against his rib cage. “I’m going to get Mommy now, and I’m locking you in.” He didn’t have time to reassure the little girl. If that Beletseri chick was here, he needed to move. His goddamned phone was dead, so he couldn’t call for backup. This was all on him.

  He made his way quickly toward the front door. He was halfway up the walk when it swung open. A group of laughing women emerged. Ken stopped in his tracks. He sensed no immediate danger here, just a giddy aura of alcoholic haze. He thrust his hands in his pockets and attempted to look relaxed as he waited to spot his sister. The first four women passed him by with a giggling nod. A group of three more tumbled forth. This bunch had the audacity to look him up and down like a tasty treat. Color rose in his cheeks. He studied his shoes impatiently while they moved on.

  The next to pass through the door was the woman with large breasts he’d ogled on her way in. This time, however, she was accompanied by a tall, broad-shouldered male. Where had he come from? Ken gave them both a thorough and blatant perusal. He could swear the man actually growled on his way by. All of Ken’s senses heightened, instantly on alert. These two weren’t right, and hadn’t he seen them before? They looked damned familiar up close. He was about to follow and ask some questions when Charlie sprang through the door and sprinted toward him. She seemed flushed and excited.

  “I’m sorry we took so long tonight. It was a great meeting.” She was so enthused, he didn’t want to put the damper on things by confronting the odd couple. He gave them one last look and turned his attention fully to Charlie. She was in one piece, no worse for the wear.

  “Nothing unusual happened?” he questioned. “No uninvited guests?”

  Charlie shook her head. “Why should there be? Oh. I get it. You think Hal might have sent someone to spy on me. Well, guess what, Ken? You guys are all paranoid. Hal doesn’t have the wherewithal to get out of his own way, let alone plan anything elaborate. You’re wasting your time.” She shook her head exasperatedly, and took Ken’s arm. “Maity asleep in the car?” she asked.

  “No. She was yelling at me to come get you,” he groused. “I was just doing what I was told.” Ken shrugged and gave Charlie’s ribs a playful punch to lighten the mood. He didn’t want her on guard when he asked his next question.

  “Those two getting into the car,” he pointed to the busty chick and the stallion, “they look familiar to me.”

  Did Charlie just giggle? “You don’t remember? Teri’s the one who saved Maitlynn at the aquarium. Her friend is Vaughn. We ran into them again at Logan Airport when we were leaving Boston.”

  All kinds of bells and whistles clanged in Ken’s head. He remembered them now. And it was too much of a coincidence that they’d showed up around his sister for a third time. He managed to hide his frown and mask his unease. “I thought they looked familiar.”

  Dammit. If Maity was right, Charlie’s new buddy, Teri, was the bad goddess, Beletseri. As soon as he got to a phone that worked, he was calling the Blue Hills for immortal backup. If this was her, and Vaughn was Matthew, they had demons at their disposal. It was more than he and Candy could handle by themselves, and he didn’t want to involve his workmates since Jake was on assignment. Hell, he didn’t want to involve the agents because none of them had ever fought Underworld bad guys before. He listened to Charlie chatter using only half his brain as he drove home with extra vigilance.

  When they came up to the house, it was dark, but several shadowy figures lurked on the porch. Maitlynn slept in the backseat, and Ken put a restraining hand on Charlie’s shoulder. “We have company,” he said cautiously. “Let me find out who it is, and you stay put.”

  He saw a tremor run through Charlie. “Please be careful,” she whispered, as he eased open his door.

  “Ken?”

  They both lost their tension when the voice called out through the darkness.

  Fucking hell. It was Enlil.

  “Damn. You guys scared the crap out of me.” Ken holstered his gun and strode up the walkway.

  “What kind of a pussy agent are you?” Enlil sent back, teasingly. “Not sure you could take on three bad guys? Time to hang up that toy badge.”

  Ken approached the three on the porch while Charlie unhooked her daughter from the car seat. “I’m glad you guys are here. We have immortal problems,” he said quietly. “I…” Charlie had started up the walkway. “I’ll fill you in later.”

  ****

  “Wow. Enlil, Ishkur…Absu.” Charlie’s face brightened and her already primed body thrummed. “What are you doing here?” She specifically made her way up the few steps toward the ma
n who now consumed her every waking thought. “I thought the doctor told you two to three days of rest?”

  His eyes smoldered down at her while he answered. “I could not abide the distance between us,” he murmured for her ears only, but by the snorts, she knew the other males heard him, and had obligingly shuffled aside to give the couple space.

  He removed the sleeping Maity from Charlie’s arms and raised his voice to show he wasn’t embarrassed. “No paltry wound could keep me from you,” he said succinctly, and bent his head to taste her mouth in a fast brush of a kiss. “Let us send the little one to slumber land, and I will show you how much I missed you.”

  A delicious shiver streaked through Charlie’s body and her nipples tightened. After the warm-up she’d been given at the book club meeting tonight, there was no way her voice was working. She turned and put her key in the lock, letting the whole group in. And still without a word, she led the way to Maity’s room. Absu followed.

  “We may be a while,” Absu called over his shoulder to Enlil, Ishkur, and Ken.

  Damn. If she hadn’t been wet before, she was sopping now.

  Charlie lay the sleeping baby on the changing table, and Maity barely fussed while she was put into a clean diaper and pajamas. By the time she was laid in her crib, the little girl was dead to the world. Charlie turned into Absu’s waiting arms.

  “Now. Wasn’t I telling you how much I missed you?” Absu’s mouth was tantalizingly close.

  “You were,” Charlie replied brazenly, “But didn’t you want to show me instead?” She was still aroused by the attention she’d had from Vaughn earlier, and it wasn’t going to take much to send her over the edge. One pinch of her nipple, one good sharp tap on her clitoris was all it would take. She leaned in toward Absu.

  Using both hands, he smoothed her hair back from her face and tucked it behind her ears. He dipped for a kiss. He teased with another. His touch was light and breathy. Only when she let her lips fall open did his tongue swoop in to duel and dance with hers.

  Charlie wanted to move closer, insinuating her body as close to Absu as she could get, but he held back. Her pussy remembered the thick ridge that had ridden up against her less than an hour before, and she wanted renewed pressure where she was most needy. Absu was going to make her crazy.