Managing Expectations

by Erin R Flynn

  Too late.

  The next who jumped at me got a kick that broke some ribs and I flipped him over me in a way that dislocated his shoulder. It was satisfying, but only a drop in the bucket of the pain I wanted to inflict after finding this place.

  I only got any sort of a workout because there were dozens and adult vampires. A handful of them were the security of the place or actual goons for whoever was running the operation, but the rest were clients who realized their best chance of getting out of there was to beat me.

  They simply had no chance of doing that.

  When I was done with them, the others in the large building seemed to realize there was a problem or at least something to check out… So I got a few more minutes of workout. My hands being raw made me realize I really hadn’t been sparring much in a while. Not since I’d found out about my birth.

  Princesses didn’t punch people’s faces in. That seemed to go against one rule or another.

  Too fucking bad.

  Once all of that was handled, I grabbed a phone off one of the many unconscious men and finally used a few of the numbers I had decided to memorize in case of an emergency. It wasn’t one, but it seemed the time to make the calls.

  Well, one was a call, the other was a text.

  “Captain Reddy,” the wolf shifter answered, sounding distracted, probably used to unknown numbers calling him.

  “Working late? What will your mate say, Captain?” I greeted.

  “Probably not all that much since she left me years ago for a bear shifter saying I mated my job and she was tired of feeling like my mistress without even a lavish life,” he drawled.

  I snorted. “Charming.”

  “What can I do for you, Ms. Vale?”

  He was just shocking me all around. “You probably talk to thousands of people a month. How the fuck did you recognize my voice from the few times we’ve talked?” I demanded.

  “I’ve caught up on a lot of your press coverage and your accent is quite unique, as in it’s impossible to place. I find that a bit maddening as a cop.”

  “You’re not the first I’ve heard that from.”

  “This isn’t your number,” he muttered. “It’s not blocked and it says I can trace it.”

  “No, it’s not. It’s the phone of a very bad man. I found something you’re going to want to handle. I know you’re clean but not everyone there is, so I’m also about to send a tip to the supe media. That way none of this shit can be swept under the rug. Just make sure the women are taken care of and get help, okay?”

  He didn’t reply right away, probably trying to process all I’d just dumped on him. “What did you find, Ms. Vale?”

  “Monsters. I found supes being monsters and put a stop to it. I broke them, even if some deserved death for being murderers. The rapists won’t be able to rape for ten years. I’ll leave the rest to you to punish as best as you can. Sorry to drop this mess on you, but I can’t handle it all yet.”

  “Yet? Why would you—”

  “Tick-tock, Captain. Some of them will wake up soon and there are humans to help. Hurry if you want to beat the press.”

  “Wait, we need to interview you and—”

  I interrupted him with the address and hung up the call before texting the tip to the media line I remembered. I sent a few pictures so they took it seriously since I knew they’d blur out faces and handle everything in a professional way.

  Then I got to the part I needed to take care of before everyone arrived… The fairy magical items. I opened a portal below all of it and sent them to the party room in my house.

  There was more I wanted to take, from magical items I didn’t want to risk getting into corrupt hands to cases of expensive looking booze that I thought my security would enjoy, but the more found, the longer the list of charges. Or there better be; otherwise I might go postal.

  I climbed up a metal ladder to some catwalks left from when the place was a factory and cloaked myself. My money had actually been on the media showing up first, but Captain Reddy arrived with a handful of people. Then the media and next a whole shit ton more cops.

  And saying the place became chaotic was an understatement. All I cared about was the media got enough that nothing could be swept away and the police were immediately tending to the human women.

  Which meant it was time for me to go. The first scumbag attorney showed up demanding for my head for giving his poor, poor client a boo-boo, and I knew it was time to go.

  Right as I was going to open a cloaked portal to my bike, Councilman Shurr arrived, demanding to speak to me and make sure I was safe. Man, that was the gift that kept on giving. I wondered how much longer until I got to put him down like the rabid beast he was.

  I hoped soon.

  17

  Craftsman was waiting for me where I parked my bike, relief all over his features when I came out of the cloaked portal. I left my baby in its spot and swallowed my need to run before heading towards him.

  “I’m sorry,” I whispered. No matter how upset I was—validly or just things blowing up—he deserved better than my just freaking out and bailing on him. And I said as much.

  But that was about all I could get out, my brain going blank again, completely overloaded.

  He nodded. “You okay?” He shook his head when I went to brush him off. “I got an alert on my phone about breaking news. Imagine my surprise when I saw a human woman wearing the sweater I saw you in not two hours ago and you show up in just your sports bra. So before you treat me like an idiot—are you okay?”

  I sighed. “Don’t ask questions you won’t like the answer to, Doc. I’ve warned you that before.”

  “Then say no.”

  I backed away when he reached for me. “That’s generally the answer, but even I realize how annoying that gets, okay? Thank you for asking and caring, but I’ll figure it out.” I wasn’t sure what else to say.

  He didn’t seem to either, not responding for several moments. “Don’t give up on us, Tamsin. I’ll figure this out and get better.”

  Tears filled my eyes and I looked away. “I don’t want you to get better, Doc. This is—”

  “I need more time,” he begged. “I know I’m… Please. I lost you once and I can’t—”

  “I’ll stay,” I whispered, not wanting to get into this. “I said I’ll stay. I’m not leaving. Please stop worrying about that.”

  He grabbed me and pulled me in his arms, kissing me before I even realized what happened. “Of course I worry about that. I’m not a total git who doesn’t see what’s happening. I know—you’re not happy. I know.” He lowered his forehead down to mine. “I know. I’m trying. I’ll figure this out. Don’t give up on us. I heard you tonight. Please, please don’t give up on us.”

  “I won’t,” I agreed. I wasn’t sure if it was because it was the easiest path right then or I really wanted to hang on.

  I think I was too tired to know the difference right then.

  “And stop feeling guilty,” he whispered. “You have nothing to feel guilty about. I know what’s happening. I know I’m—have more faith in me. I would never be with an abusive woman. Never. You’re my mate, and you’re going through more than any person should. That’s what a lot of this is. I’m struggling, but so are you, and I’m trying to be a good mate while we work this out, not let you change me.”

  “Okay,” I rasped, hugging him back. That was maybe what I needed to hear most.

  “Thank you for coming back.” He kissed me again and I reciprocated this time. “Thank you for coming back, my sweet fairy.”

  “Thanks for letting me go and trusting I would.”

  “It was hard.”

  “But I needed it. I needed to feel…” I was going to say “free,” but that sounded like I was trying to get rid of him or might start trouble, which were the last things I wanted. I simply gave him a quick kiss. “I need to get more of this mood out and—now’s not the time to talk. I’m sorry.”

  “I love you.” />
  I wanted to say it back to reassure him and that was the wrong reason, so I gave him one last kiss and walked off. I wasn’t sure what I was planning until I realized I didn’t want to go back to my room.

  No, I was in the mood to do some taming. I wanted something wild and to tame someone who kept getting all he wanted dominance-wise lately.

  Opening a portal, I walked right into Lucca’s room, smirking when he was tucked into bed. I put up the right barriers so his sleeping roommate would be none the wiser before yanking off my shoes and socks. Then, I moved a knee on the bed and leaned over my large bear shifter, pressing my lips against his ear. “I want to play. Do you want to play with me, big bear?”

  “Mmm, always, kitten,” he mumbled, still asleep.

  Still enough permission for me. I pulled off the bedding and then his sleep pants, smiling evilly when that seemed to make him come around enough. He blinked at me and went to push up on his elbow, taking in the scene.

  “You agreed to play with me,” I explained.

  “Tams?” he whispered, glancing at his roommate. “What are you doing?”

  “Playing,” I repeated, waving my hand to use a fairy rune and immobilizing him against his bed. “Do you want to play with me? I want to play.”

  “Kitten,” he groaned, getting it was going to be games he wouldn’t get to be the lead on.

  “Yes or no?” I pushed.

  “Yes,” he growled. “My answer is always yes.”

  “Good boy.” I stripped off my pants and panties before my sports bra. I ran my fingers along his body, starting from his feet all the way to his shoulder and then down his arm to his fingers. “You look hungry. You hungry, big bear?”

  “Famished,” he panted. “Give me cream, kitten.”

  I snickered, still waiting for that line to sound cheesy, but I didn’t think it ever would with him. Climbing on the bed, I slid my leg over his chest so I straddled him and then scooted back so my pussy was right above his face. “You want?”

  “You know I do.”

  “You been good enough to deserve it?”

  “No, but you know I’ll give you what you need and make it up to you that I’m a stupid man who’s not worthy of you. None of us are.”

  I had just meant to tease him a bit, but what he said gave me pause. “Why are you saying that?”

  He chuckled, his breath tickling me in a way that made me shiver. “It’s true. I know you deserve better. I let Neldor rile me up all the fucking time. I’m jealous of half of the talented, attractive, and much stronger fairies guarding you that have more in common with you than I do. I’m pissed some days that you’re going to be queen and what that means for me and what I had planned. You deserve better than that.”

  “That’s not—I didn’t—why would you—” I started to spin out. I never said any of them had to give up things for me. Why did people keep assuming everything? “This was—”

  “Kitten, you’re spiraling.”

  “I know that,” I snapped. “I came to you because I wanted… I needed…” I wasn’t sure what, and now I just wanted to run again.

  “I wanted to be honest, not upset you,” he whispered. “I shouldn’t have said it tonight. I’m sorry. I wasn’t fully awake yet. Lower down here, Tams. Let me apologize.”

  “I don’t want you to.”

  “What?” he gasped. “Don’t be pissed, kitten.”

  “No, I’m not. I just…” I wasn’t sure what I was trying to say. I went to move off of him so we weren’t like that and having a now-serious conversation, but he managed to lift his chin enough as I did and latched onto me.

  Or more specifically, my clit. He went right for it.

  I moaned loudly, balancing myself on his abs and running my nails over them how he loved. I licked my lips as I watched more and more scratches appear as I marked him as mine. My climax came hard and I clamped my thighs against his head as my body shook, something he seemed to love from the way he moaned and gave me more attention.

  Which led to a few more orgasms. I teased his dick the whole time, but then I couldn’t wait anymore. Smirking when he whimpered because I moved off of him, I flipped around and took his leaking cock inside of me.

  “Okay, yeah, I’m not gonna bitch about that,” he moaned. “Maybe just that I can’t touch you or drill you how I want.” He blinked up at me when I simply sat there. “Or that you’re not moving.”

  “I’m playing,” I reminded him.

  “Kitten,” he whined.

  I gave a half shrug, my body and inner muscles still twitching from my last orgasm. Enough blood returned to my head and I remembered what he’d been saying though. “Why did you say that stuff? Are you… I don’t know what I’m doing, Lucca.”

  It took him a minute to catch up. “I know. I know you don’t but the rest of us know where things will lead.”

  I frowned. “Don’t assume that for me. That’s signing my name to a huge fucking check. That’s just as bad as assuming I’d be an Alpha Mate or whatever while you lead your sloth. I’m not signing up for all of that. We’re not even dating and official yet. You guys just jump shit and it’s so much pressure that—”

  “Tams, I can’t have this conversation when you’re naked, on my fucking cock, bouncing around because you’re pissed, and turning me on more as a bear because you’re punching my chest,” he said gently. “I won’t retain any of it and I should. I respect you enough that I want to, but I’ve missed you and need you. So I’m a dick, play with me all you want, and yell at me later so I can apologize for real.”

  I opened my mouth but then closed it, trying again a few more times. “Fine, be all logical like that.” I leaned over and bit his nipple harder than he probably thought I would, loving when he did that to me.

  “Again,” he snarled, his dick twitching inside of me. “Mark your mate, kitten. Bite me harder and mark me as yours like those fucking scratches. I know what you were doing.”

  Fine, we could play rough.

  I bounced on him and then leaned over to bite his ribs, smiling when it left an imprint of my teeth and he hissed in pleasure. Apparently, I liked this game.

  Which was how Lucca ended up with my bites all over his chest even with his rapid healing. We came hard and then I turned around so he could watch my pert ass bounce for him, his moans driving my desire higher and higher.

  But then I had the view of his cute roommate snuggled in bed, none the wiser as to what we were doing. Part of me wondered if I’d like him to see this, watch us.

  Was that something I was into? Or did I want Hudson there to watch? Yes. That one I knew. I loved it when he watched, or Craftsman watched Hudson take me. Remembering the fun we’d had in Craftsman’s lecture hall doing all kinds of fun stuff had me moving faster.

  “Fuck, kitten, yeah, squeeze me tighter.”

  I wanted all four of them there. I wanted a whole day of nothing but naughty fun they watched and joined in. That sounded so hot and ridiculous to get a whole day for instead of all the stress and upset we all had that it was perfect.

  I flew apart, digging my nails in his thighs to stay grounded. He wasn’t done yet and I wanted more so I kept going, ignoring how my knees ached. I leaned back so I was partially laying on his chest and released my magic on his lower half, smirking when he growled and caught on. Lucca thrust up in me rough enough I almost fell off of him, but managed to stay balanced.

  “What were you thinking of that got you so fucking turned on while staring at my roommate?” he demanded, his tone jealous and full of sexy snarls.

  “Something naughty,” I admitted.

  “You don’t need another bear,” he hissed as he drove into me deeper. “I can do everything he can and better. I can please you enough for both of us.”

  “Hmmm, I think I need proof of that,” I teased, releasing him from his magical constraints.

  I was on my back staring up at him seconds later.

  “You’re scaring me, kitten,” he whispered as h
e cupped my cheek. “Do you really want him? Am I doing something wrong?”

  I shook my head. “No, not at all. I was just wondering if I was into being watched or if it just got me hot to tease you guys. My brain was—it’s been a rough night. It amused me he’s sleeping through all of this.”

  He nodded. “It’s been more than a rough night. I think you’ve had rough years. Let me help you take the night off.” He leaned down and brushed his lips over mine before plunging back in my body.

  He didn’t get aggressive with me like I would have thought. No, he took it slower, but as deep as he could get inside of me. He wrapped every inch of me around him while marking me with his teeth. I went wild, clawing up his back as I begged for more.

  I even promised him all the cream he could ever want. The damn man was so good he had me spouting cheesy now.

  When we finished, I think we were both shocked. It wasn’t that it had been fantastic. The sex with Lucca was always amazing, sometimes a profound spiritual experience that left me sore for days.

  But this was… That had been making love or something almost close to it.

  Too close to it.

  Panic clawed at me, the idea of giving part of my soul to someone else who would trash it and destroy me more than I could handle. I did my best to swallow it down but I saw Lucca feel it, sadness fill his eyes.

  “Don’t run, Tams,” he whispered. “Please? Please don’t run from me after we shared that.”

  “I’m not ready for this level,” I whimpered, begging him to understand.

  He brushed his lips over mine. “I know. It’s okay. I’m not either. It seems wrong when we can’t even be out. We’re still nice and slow. We connected on the night we both needed it. Nothing more and nothing wrong with it. Please just don’t run. It hurts when you do.”

  “It hurts me not to sometimes,” I whispered. “It’s self-preservation, Lucca. It’s not you I’m running from, but to stay safe.”

  “It doesn’t feel like there’s a difference when it hurts me,” he admitted, kissing me before I could reply. “Stay and let’s fight together. Give me the chance to be on your side and fight with you.”