by Crystal Dawn
“Zelus, one of the guards, his name is Hank, he needs to be helped. He tried to look out for the gods and he warned me when Raker was up to no good.”
“It’s okay, Em. Rheus told us and Hank was turned loose. He went back home and he knows not to take a job like this again.”
“When are we leaving?” she asked and noticed the way his eyes dropped to the ground. He was being evasive. “Just tell me.”
“Zeus changed the plan. He wants us to stay a couple weeks to see if we can get more information. We’re surrounded by our own guards. It’s completely safe, I’d never allow you to be harmed.”
She believed him, but why hadn’t he told her before? Why did she feel like he had withheld the change from her until now? “I see. The decision has been made and now I can live with it.”
“It’s not like that Em,” he said but it was.
“What am I expected to do?”
“Just do what you normally do.”
“I normally spent a good deal of time with Rheus and Themus.”
“You know what I mean. Continue what research you wish to, Doc hopes to discuss it with you.”
“Hades’s mate Gemma? She’s interested in my research?”
“Yes.”
“I have an interest in some of hers. It would be nice to work with someone who is a professional and not a sadist.”
Zelus nodded, but she knew he didn’t understand. Some of her research assistants had been crazy. They had been harsh, sadistic and when they found out she didn’t share their traits, they tried to abuse her. She had several assistants go out in an ambulance before she stopped using assistants. She was no soldier or assassin, but she did arm herself just in case and she wasn’t above defending herself if need be.
She went to the kitchen and fixed something to eat. They ate together, almost like a family. Life fell into a pattern over the next few days and she found that she liked the way things were. She shared every meal with Joy and Zelus. Sometimes a god or human guard would join them. She and Zelus spent every night together in her bed. They even slept a few hours every night. The male was insatiable and she loved it.
They had begun working together on the computer and she’d learned that Zelus was gifted. He could do anything on a computer including break into Raker’s password protected files. They’d been together a week when they found the first mother. She ran a laundry that Raker owned. It was the one they used for the clinic. It would now be owned by the gods because of the agreement they had with the US government.
It was good they had found her since she was very close to giving birth. She was sent to Olympus where she would be well taken care of. Once they found the first one, it was easier to find the others. They found six mothers that were in various stages of pregnancy. Now they started tracking down employees one at a time. They went through personnel records and it was in them that she found out Martha was Raker’s much older half sister. It explained why he had hired her even though she had done such a poor job. It also explained why she didn’t fear losing her job.
“How are you holding up?” Zelus asked as he came up behind her slipping his arms around her to pull her back against his chest.
“I’m doing fine.”
“Good,” he said approvingly. “We’ll be in Olympus in less than a week. We should start packing and dealing with your stuff.”
She leaned back against him letting all the tension and worry leave her system. It was good to have this male with her. She didn’t expect him to stay and she figured things would change once they got to Olympus. She’d just take each day as the gift it was.
Chapter 6
Claiming His Mate
Things had gone well in the ten days they had stayed at Em’s facility but Zelus still hadn’t explained to her that she was his mate and he wanted them to be a family. He wasn’t sure if it was fear of rejection, okay, it was fear of rejection. They’d been back at Olympus for a week now and he had realized that he loved her. It hadn’t been long but sometimes things just were a certain way and you knew deep to your soul that it was so. That was how he felt about her and Joy.
She had gotten grudging acceptance from the other gods. The only reason she’d been accepted at all was because Rheus obviously thought so highly of her and even Themus, who hated humans especially females, had asked that she not be mistreated. Many knew her special circumstances and most of the gods like Zeus and Hades treated her with respect and even kindness. The others would come around as they got to know her.
“It’s been better than I expected,” Em said.
“Hm, what’s better?” Zelus asked only half listening.
“The gods have been more accepting of me than I’d expected for the most part.”
He suddenly was more aware of what she’d said. “Has someone been disrespectful to you?” If they had, they would deal with him.
“Oh, no. Some just prefer to pretend I don’t exist.”
He grunted. He accepted that as a fair treatment as long as they didn’t cross a line. They would change their mind as they got to know her. Olympus was too small a community not to see how people behaved. There was a time he would have acted the same way finding it hard to believe any employee of Origin might be less than evil and culpable.
Doc had tested Joy and they knew her father was a demon who had gone missing long before Origin fell and was assumed dead. Em knew Joy’s mother was dead and had died during childbirth. Em was eaten up with guilt even though Zelus didn’t think anyone could have saved the female. Raker brought her to Em, undernourished and dehydrated in the beginning of her labor. It had been too late for her but Em had told him that as the female lay bleeding and dying she grasped Em’s hand pulling her away from her impossible attempt to save her.
“Promise me something so I can go to God without worry weighing me down.”
“Anything,” Em vowed with tears running down her face. She had had friends and loved ones die, but this was the first time someone was dying while they squeezed her hand.
“Take care of my baby girl. Don’t let them hurt her or abuse her. Please,” she said as she glanced down at the little bundle that lay next to her on the bed. “I love her with all that I am.” She kissed the baby’s soft cheek and she rasped as she took her last breath.
Em held the child in her arms as she cried for an hour. Her mind wandered through her life as she reconsidered everything she had said or done. She thought about every time she had lost control of her own life and all the evil that had gone on under her nose as she helplessly turned away hoping to not be touched by it. It wouldn’t be easy and it wouldn’t happen overnight, but she was going to take her life back and give this child everything she deserved. She wouldn’t allow this perfect little person to grow up a victim.
Zelus realized when Em had told him the story of that day leaving nothing out, that she had taken a giant step towards him that day. She had set into motion the events that would bring them together and she had started on the path to becoming a strong woman that wouldn’t turn away from others in need. Now he only hoped that she had grown emotionally since coming here so she could accept him in her life. The time wasn’t right today, but soon it would be. She already allowed him in her life and in her bed. The venom he had released into her blood had made the needed changes but she didn’t notice as some of the others had because she hadn’t fought against the sexual need. She had surrendered completely in that respect and he loved every minute of it.
He got up and pulled her to him hugging her gently. He took her back to the chair he’d been sitting with and just held her. Sex was amazing and incredible with his beautiful mate, but sometimes she just wanted to be held and consoled. Sometimes he felt the same way and this was one of those times. He rubbed her back lightly and held her against his chest with her head right on his heart. He whispered in her ear telling her everything would work out for the best. They sat there quietly just enjoying the relaxing warmth of their bodies combined and they fell asleep
.
He woke up to a pair of moist lips kissing his neck. His cock was fully aroused and ready to sink into anything hot and wet that didn’t get away first. He groaned with rampant need and lifted his mate to carry her to their bed. The baby cried. Oh, shit! Wasn’t that just his luck, or maybe the price of a nap. He set his mate down and went to see to the baby. Joy looked up at him and held up her hands. “Zels”, she called him. Someday, he hoped it would be daddy.
He changed her diaper, gave her a juice cup, and set her in her playpen with her favorite toys. She could play happily for hours. She had started having play dates with some of the other children, usually in a group. There were half a dozen children between the ages of two and five that were in Joy’s play group. Parents took turns hosting and they had a playdate every other day. Em and he had taken a turn just yesterday. Sierra had put in a wonderful playground for the children with sections of age appropriate toys for any age group.
He and Em had argued about his taking care of Joy. He had insisted that they both worked and he would help with the baby. Em just wasn’t use to having the help, but she was adjusting. It was an argument he had won, she won most of the others. She was stubborn, more so than even a god.
Joy was settled and happy so he turned to his mate. It was time to get back to what they’d been doing. He grabbed her hand and pulled her back to their bedroom. Em had decorated the room with some input from other mates. They had accepted her with open arms but he doubted she ever thought about the females she socialized with most as being exclusively mates. They considered her his even if she didn’t know it yet. And they should because she was his.
They laughed as they slipped into the bedroom like two naughty kids escaping their parents instead of two usually responsible parents escaping their toddler for a romantic tryst. He held her off the ground and twirled her around in a circle. She made him so happy and he loved to hear her laugh. He set her down and kissed her hungrily as he started to remove her clothing aggressively. He even heard a rip and he flinched hoping it wasn’t one of her favorite blouses.
“Sh, it’s okay. I was tired of this blouse, anyway.”
He nuzzled her neck as he reflected on how different things had been between them than he had expected. Her scent washed over him, musky and a light floral scent she had started wearing recently. It was soft and barely there so it didn’t interfere with her own personal feminine scent. He could drown in her smell and love every minute of it. He picked her up tossing her on the bed so she bounced. She seemed to enjoy aggressive moves like that. As she watched him intently, he began to undress for her. He unbuttoned his shirt, deliberately, one button at a time. When it was open, he ran his hands over his chest and down his abdomen keeping his eyes on her.
It pleased him that she wanted him passionately. He moved his hands back crossing them to pull his shirt off his shoulders slowly until it slid down his arms and off to lie on the floor. He swiveled his hips around as his hands made a trek back down his chest and abdomen coming to rest on the button of his jeans. He undid it and then oh so slowly unzipped them. She licked her lips, and slid closer to him. She got up on her hands and knees. Her movements were slow and deliberate as she reached out with one hand and reached into his underwear.
She pulled out his engorged cock holding it as if it were a prize. Her greedy fingers squeezed his girth as she tugged him in closer where she could reach him with ease. Her tongue slid out until it touch the head of his cock and encircled the rim. He shuddered with pure pleasure and hoped she’d sink it inside her mouth. Almost as if she heard him ask, she did just that sinking his hard length down to the back of her throat. His body jerked even though he tried to hold still. He was blissed out from the hot wet pleasure her mouth was surrounding him with. She hollowed her cheeks as she pulled her lips tight around the base of his cock and slid slowly back up it. She leaned against him as her other hands found his big balls and cupped and massaged them adding another level of mind numbing rapture.
She continued her assault on his senses moving up and down on his cock until he groaned helplessly. He was so close to filling her mouth with his salty cum that it would take little to send him over. She squeezed his balls and he screamed her name as ropes of hot cum shot into her mouth. He didn’t think she could take it all in but she did and cleaned his cock of every drop. She leaned back with a smile as she licked her lips to make sure she got it all. She looked so sexy that he felt his cock jerk with interest.
He pushed her down onto her back. “My turn, Sweetheart.”
He started with her breasts. They weren’t big or small but just right. They filled his hands or his mouth as he played with them. He held one in his hand and put the other to his mouth where he sucked hard until he felt her writhe below him. He switched nipples attacking this one as aggressively as the last. He moved one hand to her thighs and slipped a finger into her pussy. It was soaking wet and ready for anything, just like he loved it. He kissed and nipped his way down to taste her honey. He enjoyed her flavor and right now there was plenty to taste. He continued to finger fuck her but once his mouth was down there, he gave her a good tongue lashing too.
“Oh, Em, you taste so fucking good. My favorite dessert and it’s all mine.” She shivered and moaned. He knew she loved it when he talked dirty to her. The filthier, the hotter and wetter she would get. “Such a pretty pussy, so hot and tight,” he crooned.
He circled her clit and sucked the nub into his mouth. He scraped it lightly with his teeth and did it all as he pounded his finger into her grasping sheath. His tongue moved faster and he added a finger. It was all over when he nipped her clit and she screamed as she came jerking and bucking crazy with pleasure. She lay there panting fighting to catch her breath. Zelus felt a big sense of masculine satisfaction as he watched his female recover from her trip to heaven.
He crawled onto the bed wrapping his arms around her and rolled them over so she was on top. “Ride me, Baby!” he encouraged her.
She wrapped her hand around his cock and guided the tip to her pussy. She slowly sank down on him with a sigh of pleasure. She began to rock and roll from side to side undulating her hips. The feeling of being immersed inside her hot wet depths was indescribable. Her channel nearly choked him, she was so tight. She rode him like a rented mule as her body tensed and reached for completion. He wanted to cum inside her so badly he could hardly wait.
He reached forward grabbing her hips to help lift her up and down. He arched as she dropped sinking his cock so deep into her heat. He felt a tingle and he feared he wouldn’t last as long as he needed to. He moved one hand between them searching for the little nubbin of pleasure. He found it and pulled it lightly, she moaned and tensed. He pulled it again and she came with a yell. Her channel contracted around him pulling his release from him as well.
It wasn’t a moment too soon as he heard Joy cry from the living room. “I’ll check on her, Em.” Zelus pulled on a pair of short lying nearby and hurried out to the living room. Joy held her hands up to him.
“Zeel,” she said getting a little closer to his name.
“Are you hungry, Baby?”
“Hungy,” she said nodding her head.
He carried her to the kitchen and put her in her high chair. He got her a cup of milk and rummaged around in the fridge. He gave her some crackers and cheese while he thought about what to cook for lunch. Usually they ate at the cafeteria, but this was one of the days they had off. Mates usually had the same days off unless something serious came up. Most gods worked four ten hour days so the could have three days off each week. When sent into the outer world for a mission, gods often got four or more days off when they returned depending on how long the mission was.
He hated to admit it and didn’t have a clue how to talk to Em about it, but he had gotten a taste for missions and wanted to go on more. He didn’t think Em would like it and he didn’t want to miss out on time with Joy. What was a god to do? He pulled out what he needed and made them sandwiches
. Joy sat chewing on hers but she wasn’t really hungry. The snack had been all she’d needed. Em came into the kitchen and sat down across from him.
“Oh, great. I’m starving and you made sandwiches.” She always seemed so surprised when he did anything for her.
“I told you that I want to take care of you,” Zelus growled. The female just didn’t get it.
“I know and you have. Tell me what’s been bothering you?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Just tell me Zelus. I don’t want secrets between us. What is bothering you?”
“I-I thought about going on a mission once in a while. I just wasn’t sure how you’d feel about that.”
“I would never stop you from doing what you want. I really have no say in what you do anyway.”
“Female, you are getting on my last nerve. You are my mate, do you understand? You have every say in what I do.”
“Your mate? You never said that. I thought we were just shacked up together for now.”
“I can’t believe that you don’t see what I feel for you.”
“Sometimes women need to be told so they’re sure they’re not just seeing what they want to see.”
“You want me to love you?”
“Leave it to a man to only hear that part.”
“I heard the rest too. I want you and Joy to be my family. I love you, Em. I have from the moment I heard you on the phone even though I thought I must be crazy.”
“Crazy to love me?”
“No, crazy to fall for just a voice on the phone.”
“Sounds crazy to me too,” she said with a giggle.
“So what’s this about going on missions?”
“I just want to go once in a while. I want to free my brothers and find more children like Joy if there’re out there.”