Tied In Knots (Immortals Book 7)

by LJ Vickery

  Charlie squinched up her nose and went for broke. “I’m having trouble with my new relationship.”

  “Ah. I see. What’s the problem?” Teri asked solicitously. “Is your new Dom too overbearing?” Curiosity oozed from her question.

  “I wish,” Charlie groaned. “No. In fact he’s just the opposite. He’s too gentle, too…wishy-washy,” she admitted. Charlie immediately backpedaled, not wanting Teri to get the wrong idea. “Not in all regards,” she rapidly interjected. “In most ways, he’s very take-charge.”

  At a grunt from Teri, Charlie tried to explain. “When we’re out with Maity, he’s strong and confident. He seems to be on constant alert that my ex-husband’s cohorts are going to jump out from behind a bush and kidnap me.”

  There was a moment of silence on the other end before Teri’s astonished words tumbled out.

  “Uh, is that something you need to worry about? You’ve never let on you had ex-husband problems.”

  Charlie settled in. Here was the reason she could trust Teri. The woman wouldn’t judge. “Yeah. Hal and I met at a BDSM club four years ago. I was twenty-two and he was twenty-five. Handsome, built heavy, but not in a bad way. And he was an amazing Dom. We got married right away and had a lot of fun for the first year, but Hal started hanging out with a bad crowd. He gambled heavily, which led to drinking…a lot. His muscles loosened to fat, he became touchy and moody.” Charlie got up her courage to say the rest. “He started including me in his gambling pots. At first, I was kind of okay with it. It was my duty to help him out, and it added a new element to sex.

  “We’d perform an occasional exhibition for his debtors when he lost. He’d tie me up, spank me, or use a few toys and let them watch. And after they left, we’d have great sex. Like the best, you know? The problems came when he gambled farther afield. Sometimes he’d bring home a guy he wasn’t really familiar with who wouldn’t understand the rules. They’d want to touch or join in. I wasn’t into that. We had a few close calls, and it totally stopped being fun.”

  Teri made a sympathetic noise, and Charlie continued, “Then I got pregnant, and told Hal I wasn’t going to do anything to jeopardize my pregnancy. No more playtime. He seemed to understand. But what I didn’t know was that, for about a year and a half, he was creating a backlog of debt.

  “I had our baby, and finished nursing Maity when she was just under a year old. That was when Hal told me I was going to be paying off some of his gambling balances that were in arrears. This time though, I was supposed to have sex with his card partners. There was no way in hell I was up for that. So I skipped out that day and ran to my brother, and I’ve been living with Ken ever since.”

  “That was a complete betrayal in a Dom/sub relationship which, as you are fully aware, has to be built on trust. You did the right thing, leaving him,” Teri commiserated. “So it’s not the same kind of problem with this new boyfriend?”

  Charlie chewed a nail. “Oh, God no. He’s really wonderful in almost every regard. We cook together, we like the same movies. He has a wonderful sense of humor and makes me laugh all the time. And, of course, there’s Maitlynn. He adores her, and the feeling is mutual. I couldn’t ask for better dad material.”

  “He sounds like a paragon.” Teri coughed, then quickly apologized for a bit of dust in her throat.

  “Yeah. He’s great. Until the lights go out.” Charlie realized that, for every one of their sexual encounters, Absu insisted it always be dark. Wasn’t that weird?

  “Go on,” Teri prompted.

  “He has absolutely no passion in bed,” Charlie admitted, leaving the light problem alone for now. “I’m not even talking about the fact that he’s not into kink. I’m upset because regular sex with him is as exciting as hanging laundry,” she lamented. “He goes through the motions. He uses his hands and his mouth, but the pressure is so light, it’s almost like being tickled. It’s missionary or nothing, and his penis is more of a gentle prod than a good hard fuck. Do you know what I’m saying?”

  “Oh dear,” Teri responded, clearly upset for her. “I’m not sure how you can fix it, but have you tried…” she paused and started again, “I know it’s against your nature, but have you attempted to initiate stronger contact?”

  Charlie snorted. “Are you kidding? Every time I move harder against him or lose patience, he talks to me like I’m some timid animal to be calmed. ‘Easy, Charlie. Slow down. You don’t need to move so much.’ What is that?”

  ****

  Beletseri pondered for a moment. A lot of the gods morphed into a more dangerous form when aroused. She’d never seen Absu transform, but then again, he’d worked hard at always maintaining control. She had a feeling he had to be protecting some alter identity, and perhaps keeping Charlie from getting a glimpse of something that would scare the shit out of her. It made no difference to Teri, the reason. These circumstances played right into her hands.

  “Well, if you’d like to know what I think, I believe some time away from this man might be just the thing,” Beletseri commiserated. “You could spend a week or two thinking things through, then work up the courage to tell him how you feel. You don’t have to face him to do it. You can tell him over the phone.”

  “What are you saying?” Charlie asked.

  “Vaughn and I are leaving to go back to our place in Boston tomorrow afternoon. Why don’t you come with us?”

  “But Maity…”

  “Your daughter is very welcome to join us, of course. Pack some bags and stay for a few weeks until you figure things out.”

  Beletseri held her breath for the answer.

  “I don’t have a lot of money.” Charlie’s small voice came to her with regret. “Not enough to take another few weeks off work and buy a plane ticket.”

  The goddess thought fast. She couldn’t let this opportunity slide. “Our corporate offices in Boston have just put in an executive floor that sports a state of the art kitchen that is begging for a chef. If you quit your job, I can offer you a position cooking for clients. I guarantee it will pay more than what you’re making now.”

  Of course, she made that whole thing up. There was no job, no kitchen, but she forged on and didn’t give Charlie time to answer. “As for the plane ticket, if you accept the job, we’ll bring you back to the East Coast for training. You won’t have to pay for a thing.”

  ****

  Charlie hesitated only a few seconds. It sounded too good to pass up. A few weeks to get her head on straight, and a possible new job. She was all over that. “Okay. Book me a flight.” She hopped off the bathroom sink and started shedding her clothes. “Right now, I have to shower or my boyfriend will wonder why I’ve been in here so long. Text me the details while I’m at work tomorrow morning, and I’ll meet you at the airport.”

  Charlie hoped she was doing the right thing, but dammit, it was time to take charge of her own life again. Besides, Ken couldn’t complain. If she was in Boston, there was no way Hal or his associates would be able to get to her. Absu would be hurt by her defection, but maybe with a few long, heartfelt, cross-country phone calls, they could figure things out. Teri was right. It would be easier to tell him things if they weren’t face to face.

  The only thing that bothered Charlie was that she was putting herself into the hands of Teri and Vaughn―which could be dangerous considering her fragile, sexual state. She needed to make sure she felt strong enough to go with them…and strong enough to say no if they wanted her to play.

  “Teri, thanks. I barely know you and you’re helping me solve all my problems.”

  “And you’ll be helping me solve all mine.” Her friend sounded more than pleased.

  Charlie hoped there was no hidden meaning behind those words.

  ****

  Absu played on the floor with Maity. What was taking Charlie so long? They were headed to the zoo, and it was a five-hour drive. He hadn’t wanted to go. The zoo was not his favorite place, but Charlie told him that Maitlynn loved animals and she hadn’t been ye
t. Absu had given in.

  Absu’s whole body lit up the minute Charlie entered the room. She breezed in smelling clean and minty from her shower. Her hair hung wet past her shoulders, but the day had turned warm and the sun would take care of it. Absu rolled to his back and smiled up at her. She was so lovely. Every time he looked at her, his heart beat faster. If he could just figure out why his amulet wouldn’t light, things would be perfect. Charlie seemed to enjoy all the same things he did, and they got along without any arguing. He’d heard plenty between the other mated couples at the compound, and was proud his Chosen wasn’t so disagreeable. The only thing missing was her enthusiasm during sex. And that wasn’t a bad thing for now. As long as she remained a little cool, he wouldn’t get worked up and all would be well. Hopefully time and age would allow them the leeway he needed in the ways he serviced her. After all, when they underwent the amulet ceremony, she would be strong, a goddess, and his for eternity. That’s when he could let his Dom side loose.

  “Your ablutions are complete?” he asked, moving to a sitting position and scooping up the pile of blocks he and Maitlynn had been playing with. He got to his feet and tossed them into the toy box, before bending down to swing his little girl aloft. His little girl. He delighted in the description, while getting the squeal he was after.

  “Yup. Let’s hit the road.” Charlie grabbed the keys to the subcompact she’d bought third or fourth hand a few months before. He knew she didn’t drive it much, preferring cheap public transportation. She complained that gas cost too much, so it was nice to convince her to let him pay so they could have their own private conveyance.

  “You want to drive?” she asked him.

  He swung Maity about and tipped her upside-down. “Not this time. You are acquainted with the avenues better than I.”

  Absu had found out in the short time he’d been corporeal, that he was a good driver. But give him Boston’s meandering cow paths any day. LA was just too confusing, not to mention San Francisco. They exited the house, locked up, and approached the car. He buckled Maity into her car seat, and let himself into the passenger side.

  He bumped his head in the small space. “Shit” He felt the color move up in his neck. “I beg your pardon,” he excused himself, mortified that she’d heard his profanity.

  “You know you don’t have to be so proper with me,” she assured him. “I swear like a sailor. My mother used to lament that when I was only ten, ‘goddamn it’ ought to be the name of a breakfast cereal, for how many times I said it getting ready for school.”

  Absu chuckled. “If you behaved as willfully as Miss Maity, here, I’m certain your mother had her hands full.”

  He saw her mouth pucker in a moue of displeasure. “I’m still willful, Absu. You just haven’t seen that side of me yet.”

  Absu dismissed her words with a wave of his hand. “Charlie, you are sweetness and light joined into one. You will not convince me that anything contrary can be attributed to you.”

  Now, Charlie actually frowned. What was going on in that head of hers? He wished he knew, but god powers only took one so far. He’d have to do his best to dispel whatever mood had descended upon her. Absu smiled to himself. He knew what would perk her up. He raised his voice to sing along with the current song on the radio, and indeed got the reaction he was looking for.

  “You have a wonderful singing voice, Absu,” she marveled.

  He preened. “So I’ve been told.”

  Charlie joined in, and even Maity chortled away until, as figured, she fell sound asleep the minute they hit the highway. The drive, thereafter, was stress-free as they both chirped along with the oldies.

  Five hours later, Charlie turned into the parking lot of the zoo and found a spot. She urged Absu to go ahead and buy tickets while she unstrapped Maitlynn, but he wouldn’t leave her alone. Not for a moment. He hefted Maity into her stroller and Charlie strapped her in. The ticket line was short, thank the gods. It was the middle of the week after all.

  The first exhibit they came to was the lemurs. The furry big-eyed critters were lively and playful, and Maity cooed with delight. As they moved along, she didn’t display as much confidence around the chimps. One in particular kept banging on the cage right in front of her, and she seemed edgy, sucking on her fingers, a habit of which Absu had nearly broken her.

  Absu bought each one of them a soda to get the little tot’s mind off her digits. Charlie gently informed him that she wasn’t allowed soft drinks, but eventually gave in.

  “I guess one time won’t hurt,” she acquiesced.

  That turned out to be an understatement. Maity was delighted, sucking down the sugar as they moved past the enclosure for birds. She squealed in delight when she caught her first glimpse of a koala, sitting relaxed in a tree, chewing on a handful of eucalyptus leaves.

  “Bear,” Maity cried, pointing and beating her chubby little legs up and down against her stroller. “Bear.” She seemed unable to contain her glee. Absu looked on in amusement from mother to daughter.

  “Not technically a bear.” He looked at the small gray-and-white bit of fluff that would make a tasty morsel for a real bear, and explained to Charlie, “The koala is actually a marsupial, who was misnamed when Europeans first set foot in Australia.”

  “Well, it’s called a koala bear.” Charlie pointed at the sign. “Whether it is one or not,” she grinned cheekily. “Who am I to believe? You or the sign?” With a swish of her fine hips, she moved on.

  “Ah. More marsupials.” Absu couldn’t help but tease as they came to the kangaroo’s enclosure. “Hop, hop, hop, Maity.” Absu mimicked the kangaroo and got a huge laugh from the toddler.

  “Op, op,” she repeated. She lost interest in the animals quickly because the lazy kangaroos did not comply, and only stared at her with big dark eyes, chewing solemnly.

  They journeyed on, walking through the South American tropical forest exhibit, and Maity’s new fixation became the turtles and frogs. She couldn’t draw her eyes away, and made an unaccustomed fuss when it was time to go. She whined and arched herself backward, nearly coming out of her chair when they moved to the exit. A loud noise, as they emerged from the building, stopped her fussiness cold.

  Absu swallowed back a groan. He knew it would come to this. “Sounds like a sea lion,” he strangled out. But that wasn’t true. He’d caught a hint of what it really was in the air. Absu put his head up into the slight breeze and sniffed. A shiver slid down his spine. He’d been hoping the zoo was so small it wouldn’t have this particular exhibit, but no such luck. He didn’t know how he was going to react. He’d never actually seen one in person.

  “Oh look. The polar bear enclosure.” Charlie quickened her steps in that direction. “It’s always been a special favorite of mine.” She forestalled Absu from speaking. “I know. I know. They look all cute and cuddly, but they’re one of the most dangerous creatures on Earth. Blah, blah, blah. But I can’t help myself. I just want to be wrapped up in those giant arms and pressed into all that fur.”

  Absu choked on his drink, and had to bend over while Charlie smacked him on the back.

  “Are you okay?”

  He’d never allowed her to see him lose any kind of control, so it had to be discomforting to see his face beat red and soda coming out of his nose.

  “Yeah, peachy…good.” He wheezed out the vernacular, losing his dignified aplomb in language as well as his wits. “Just swallowed the wrong way.” He continued to splutter, but couldn’t avoid the inevitable. Straightening up, he led Charlie and Maity toward the pool where water twinkled up ahead, his footsteps dragging.

  “We could go for a train ride,” he suggested, pointing to his right at the small steam engine chugging away, hoping for a reprieve.

  “Maybe later.” Charlie looked at him askance again. “I want Maity to see the bears first.”

  Absu was afraid of that.

  When they approached, the inhabitants of the enclosure were not readily visible, but the sign said ther
e were two. A male, Pike, and a female, Ulu. The female was nowhere in sight, probably cooling off in her makeshift igloo during the heat of the day, but the male was gliding lightly underwater, skimming the floor of his tiny ocean. He popped up no more than ten feet from where they stood. Charlie smiled, Absu stared, and Maity’s eyes got as big in her head as they possibly could.

  “Da,” she said, pointing at Absu, but keeping her eyes on the white bear. “Da,” she spoke again, this time sending a grubby finger in the direction of the bear. Absu closed his eyes against an acute stabbing pain in his head. Maity got it.

  The bear called out, and Absu translated in his head. It was a greeting, tentative but knowing, as the bear sniffed the air in his direction. Absu didn’t want to be rude. He grunted back, sending his acknowledgment.

  Charlie and Maity both found this extremely funny. “Are you talking to the bear, Absu?” It seemed to charm Charlie that he might be doing so. “Say something else,” she teased.

  Absu was happy for the excuse. He had a question he needed answered. Are you well? he asked, in a way that meant are you happy. Do you have enough food? Water?

  Pike gave a long answering growl. What’s not to like? I was born into captivity, and this place affords me all the comforts I need. My mate, Ulu, often remembers a time before she was captive, but it doesn’t bother her. Life is good. Food is plentiful. I can’t complain.

  It was what Absu had hoped to hear.

  And you? It returned with a question of its own. How is it that you look like a human but smell like a bear?

  I am a god, and I embody both spirits.

  I see. It gave a bear-like shrug. Well, it was nice meeting you. Come back and visit again when you don’t have the humans. Maybe you can join me for a swim.

  I’d like that, Absu agreed, and growled in farewell.

  ****

  Charlie gave a lopsided smile. Absu looked so serious, pretend talking to the bears. One would almost think he was actually communicating. Maity continued to watch the interchange closely, pointing back and forth between the bear and Absu, mouthing the word “Da” at both of them. It was all a little too creepy for Charlie. “Okay, you two, let’s move on.” She tugged on Absu’s hand. “I think you said something about a train?”