Beneath the Broken

by James Cox

  I scoffed.

  Joen slipped in bed beside her, but I went to go wash up. I smelled of death and blood and sweat. Not exactly romantic shit. By the time I came out, they were both asleep and I didn’t have the will to bother them. So, I laid a blanket in front of the fire that tried to catch and stared at the ceiling. Oh look, I could see the moons from here. I rolled my eyes, closed them, and instantly fell asleep.

  ****

  I woke up before the sun set, confused at first, then slowly everything sunk in. A fuck ton of sinking in. I left the house while they were both still sleeping. The town hadn’t even woken up yet as I made my way through the shadows to the remnants of Bolvork’s whorehouse. There were a few walls standing and a lone door that led nowhere. It took me near an hour searching through the rubble to find the hawthorn tree, digging beneath that with my claws revealed the small box. I had hoped he didn’t move it before I killed him. I brushed my dirty hands on my trousers and then opened it. Coins glistened in the morning sunlight. Not much, but enough. I found a well to wash my hands and hiked up my hood. I had to borrow the cloak from Joen so it was tight on my shoulders. The baker was up and wary as I approached. He changed his tune when I paid him. Sweets and meats and breads, I stuffed them all in a box before moving to my next destination. There was no doubt they’d be up by now. I wanted to surprise them. Call me fucking romantic, eh? I bought a bouquet of herbs for Joen and his healing shit. For Aralynn I found a blacksmith just as he was opening shop. He had this small dagger set that would strap to a man’s thigh. I had him adjust it so it would fit hers. Then I headed back…

  Fuck, I almost said I was heading back home.

  Home.

  Me?

  Yeah, right. I scoffed and kept walking. I guess it was kind of like a home, though. It would be once we fixed it up and got a bed big enough for all of us. Fuck it all, I was being domesticated. I literally stopped short. I was buying presents and talking about furniture. The fuck was the world coming to? I frowned and stomped my way down the street. Okay, so it wasn’t so bad being … normal. Sure, I didn’t have anyone to kill, but maybe no one would try to kill me? That was a fair trade. Sleeping at night would be a lot easier. I rounded the corner and heard a distinct banging sound. Really close, too. I picked up my speed and found it all came from Joen’s house. I was gone a few fucking hours and they were already testing my patience. It wasn’t safe to have all these strangers running around with … tools. “The fuck is going on here?” I shouted as I approached.

  The two closest turned around and blanched.

  “Darrow.” Aralynn tsked and grabbed my hand. “They’re fixing it up.”

  “The house?”

  “Yes. They can do quite a bit of work today and create an upstairs in the next few days. I already argued with Joen. I’m doing this. I’m paying for this. You can shove your pride up your ass.” She smiled sweetly. “I like it here. It’s right near the ocean and near … near Aneen.” She nibbled on her lower lip. “The question is … how big of a bed should I get?”

  I leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Big enough for three, my queen.”

  She grinned. “Good, cause that’s what I ordered.”

  Cheeky. It didn’t take long for the roof to come off and they began replacing it with flat wood for the second floor. They broke holes in the walls for windows and a bathing tub was sitting in the kitchen. No one bitched when I started working on the front door. I wasn’t exactly Mr. fucking Fix It, but I could put up a damn door. I never finished it though. A wagon arrived with two royal guards that had Joen standing in front of me. Sweet, but stupid. “You going to fight them?” I asked as I sidestepped him.

  “What do they even want? You just saw them yesterday. Just saved their lives.” He rolled his eyes.

  “Hey, keep an eye on each other. I’ll be back soon.” Sooner than anyone thought, because there was no way I was leaving Joen and Aralynn. Not when I just found out how much they meant to me. I hopped in with them but couldn’t help it, and looked back as the wagon fumbled along the street. They were both standing in the front of the debris-strewn house like they’d wait there forever.

  It was a nice feeling.

  I had somebody to come home to.

  ****

  Okay, so maybe I was a bit anxious to leave them for that long. I’d spent hours listening to Aneen, then arguing with Stefen, and it ended when Alexander punched me. In the shoulder. It wasn’t anything to start a war over. I took the wagon back home well past sunset. From here the ocean was pitch dark. I could still see some of the rough waves crashing onto the shore. The town was closing up. Only a few people walked the street and I was surprised to find a few guards keeping the peace. Aralynn had kept them in the castle. Although the darkness closed in, there were candles lighting the inside of people’s houses. Fuck, neighbors. I frowned at that. Maybe we’d be better off buying land someplace secluded. Joen and I could be naked all the time. Aralynn could be as loud as she wanted.

  Nice compromise.

  Our street—yeah, our—was still alive with sounds. The men working on the house were piling up into a wagon and I could make out Joen standing there. He gave them a wave before turning around to an approaching shadow. Instantly, I went on alert. I extended my claws and leapt from the wagon before it even stopped.

  The little old lady, the one whose life I spared, turned around and went as white as a cloud. She let out this quick, terrified squeak and actually ran off. I tried to hide my grin by coughing.

  Joen glanced at me with narrowed eyes, but didn’t say anything.

  “I guess she found out who I was.” More like she didn’t think I’d be back.

  “Right.” He said slowly, suspicious. “So, what happened with Alexander?” He asked as I glanced at the house.

  I had to admit even from one day of work it looked immensely better. Shit, this looked livable. “He’s lost his mind. Fucker wants me to teach the guards. Second in command and that shit.”

  “You’re joking?”

  “Afraid not.” I couldn’t help it. I wrapped my arms around him. “You still want to be with me if I’m not the big bad assassin?”

  “You’re still big and bad.” He reached back and laid his hand over my bulge. “Very big.”

  I chuckled as I stuck my fingers into his hair. The multicolored strands were silky smooth and a perfect anchor. I tugged until his face was in the perfect position for a kiss. Our lips met. Hungry. Fucking starving. I parted his mouth with my tongue and swept it inside. I nibbled on his lower lip and pressed my body against his side. My cock was swelling, begging, as the kiss continued. A noise broke the moment and I jerked my head up to see Aralynn opening the fixed front door.

  “We can at least live on the first floor … for now.” She licked her lips, blushed, but didn’t look away. “Hi.”

  “Evening, my queen.” I released my hold on Joen and smacked his butt. He got the hint and we headed inside. The transformation fucking astounded me! In one day they managed to secure two windows on either side of the door. I saw a brand new bathing tub sticking out of the tiny bathroom. I assumed that still had to be fixed or we’d be watching Aralynn bathe from the kitchen and that sure as hell was going to cause fires. There was a huge bed in the middle of the room with the canopy draped over a chair unattached and the same shitty fireplace crackle. Not a bad start.

  “The bed’s only temporary.” Aralynn assured us.

  Like I cared. This was great. “I like it here.”

  ‘Me, too.” Joen grinned. “We can be naked all day and if the moment hits, in bed. Together.” He wiggled his eyebrows.

  “Oh, the moment will hit.” I snorted. “In fact…” I winked at Aralynn and pulled off my shirt. Her gaze moved down my chest, stopping at the piercings in my nipples. I tucked my fingers under the rim of my trousers and took them off, too. Standing there naked, her gaze roamed me unabashed. She wasn’t shy looking or ordering, it was when I tried to touch her that she became the ice que
en. Well, it was time to thaw. I faced Joen and tugged his shirt off. He took no time and no asking to get his trousers off. When we were both naked I took his hand and we laid on the new bed. My dick was thick and bouncing as I got comfortable and Joen settled in beside me. “We’re all yours, my queen.” The only way I could think to get Aralynn to face her demons was to give her total control. Yeah, I’d probably fail the test, but at least I was trying. I liked being the dominant in any situation and it made me tense knowing I wasn’t in charge right now.

  She looked at my dick, then Joen, and licked her lips. “All mine?”

  I chuckled. “Suck us, ride us, spank us red. It’s up to you. Although I’m not a big fan of my own ass being red.”

  “I love it.” Joen added eagerly.

  I kissed his shoulder and lifted my hands behind my head. There. That should keep me docile for at least a few touches. “Afraid?” I whispered, goading her.

  She pinched her lips in a frown. “No. You?”

  I smiled. “Terrified.”

  She rolled her eyes, but still hadn’t joined us on the bed. After another moment where it looked like she was arguing with herself, she lifted her dress and got onto the bed. She knelt between Joen and me at hip level. “Who … um … who do I?”

  “Whoever you want, my queen.” I watched her. Excited. Getting harder. The pressure in my balls just kept growing.

  “You won’t hurt our feelings.” Joen added.

  “Nope. In fact.” I shifted to my side and kissed Joen’s shoulder then reached out to pluck his nipple. He flinched and groaned. I glanced at Aralynn. “What do you want me to do?”

  She licked her lips. “Kiss him.”

  So I did, as much tongue and pressure as I could until his lips were red. When I pulled back I stared at Aralynn. “What’s next?”

  “Kiss his chest.” She slowly shifted her hand to his thigh and swirled a few light hairs with her fingers.

  I grinned and went right to it. I sucked on his left nipple, using my tongue to bat the bud before nipping with my teeth. When Joen winced, I sat up and faced Aralynn. “Take your straps down.” Okay, maybe I couldn’t get all the dominance out.

  “I thought I was in charge.” She lifted an eyebrow.

  “What if I added a please?”

  She gave me one soft laugh and then lowered the straps of her dress. The material dropped to her stomach, leaving her breasts exposed. The scars stood out against her pale skin, but didn’t make her any less beautiful. Her nipples were big and hard. I reached out and she boldly slapped my hand away. “I didn’t say you could touch me.”

  I growled and leaned forward. “If I suck on them, are you going to stab me?” Honestly, I wasn’t putting it past her. This woman was not meek with all the shit life threw at her.

  “Maybe.” She took a deep breath. “No.”

  I eased forward and wrapped my lips around her nipple. The skin was silky and the bud hard. I felt Joen’s hand slide up and down my back as I gave her left nipple my full attention. Gentle sucks, tender licks, only a graze of my teeth. Aralynn moaned and I eased back. “Good.”

  “Mm.”

  “Just think how it’ll feel when I’m sucking between your legs.”

  She tensed.

  Fuck. Too much. “When you’re ready, Aralynn. If you want to watch us for the rest of our lives, then that’s what we’ll do.” I wasn’t pushing her. I wasn’t giving her an ultimatum. I wanted her in my life any way I could get her.

  “Speak for yourself.” Joen muttered, sat up, and kissed her. Their mouths didn’t blend as ours did. Joen fought Aralynn for control and lost. She tugged on his hair until she could direct the kiss.

  Fuck me, I was so stiff I adjusted myself to ease some of the pressure.

  Aralynn surprised us both by pushing at Joen’s shoulders. When he fell back, she straddled his legs and laid her hands on his thighs. “Don’t move.” She tried to be confident, but it came out nervous.

  I laid my hand on her exposed knee and winked. “If you need pointers…”

  She sucked on her lower lip and wrapped her hand around Joen’s cock. “I’ll figure it out.” She fondled him, her hand to his fleshy tip and back to the base. Joen let out a sharp gasp and Aralynn smiled. “Darrow. Suck him while I stroke him.”

  She didn’t have to tell me twice. I shuffled to my stomach and licked Aralynn’s fingers then the tip of Joen’s dick. He groaned and slapped a hand on my back. I stretched my tongue under his foreskin and swirled.

  “Darrow!” He nearly came off the bed.

  I chuckled and gave his shaft a chaste kiss. “Aralynn. Straddle his leg.”

  “I am.” She stroked him again, her other hand grazing his heavy balls.

  “No. His leg. One.”

  She frowned and shifted.

  “Rub against him.”

  Aralynn lowered and rubbed her pussy against Joen’s hairy thigh. Her grip on him tightened and her head fell back. She moved again. Humping him. I eased my hand up her dress, squeezed her thigh, and then gently cupped her ass. Aralynn moaned and moved faster. “Darrow.” She whined.

  I knew what she wanted. I edged my hand to her front and brushed a thumb over her clit.

  Aralynn gasped and came. Her body shivered and her grip on Joen’s cock tightened. When she opened her eyes, a soft blush lingered on her cheeks. “Thanks…”

  “Oh, I can do better than that.” I grabbed her and rolled her over so she was beneath me. Before she could protest or stab me, I held her hands above her head and kissed her. She bit my fucking lip! “Hey!”

  “Get the fuck off me.”

  Oh, she was pissed. “Move against me.”

  “Get…”

  I growled and rubbed my body against her. The dress had settled over her again so it was only that thin material that separated us.

  Aralynn gasped.

  I went in for another kiss and this time our lips met with a scorching lust. She moved against me. I held myself still and let her do whatever she wanted. Aralynn moved her hips, rubbing herself against my hard cock. She felt so fucking good underneath me that I closed my eyes and just savored the moment. I opened my eyes to see Joen sucking on her nipple. His hand cupping the other tit.

  Aralynn was breathing heavy. The sound echoing in the small room and only broken by the crackle of the fire. She threw her head back, her hips working wildly to find that climax. “Oh. Fuck. Darrow.” She sounded frustrated. “Lips. Tongue.” She groaned, her hips jerking around. “Now.”

  I nipped her lower lip and then shifted down her body. I lifted the dress to reveal her beautiful pussy. Aralynn laid her feet on my shoulders as my breath rushed across the wet flesh.

  “Lick,” she ordered.

  “Yes, my queen.” I laid my tongue over her clit and worked my way down to her hole then back up. The sigh she made was incredibly sexy. I sucked on her and reached out to tug on Joen’s shaft. They moaned at the same time. Nice. I kissed her inner thigh and then lapped at her hole. My tongue teased the entrance, circling it and waiting for her response. She really might stab me. I had to think for a moment if there were any makeshift weapons nearby that would do me serious damage. My tongue eased inside her. Just a quick poke and then back out.

  “Darrow.” Aralynn warned, her hips squirming.

  I went back to her clit, sucking it so hard her hips came off the bed. She came in my mouth, her body shuddering and tensing beneath me. When she stilled, I crawled over to Joen and started kissing him. I got so carried away by his submissive touches that I laid atop him and rubbed our cocks together. “Fuck.” I nipped at his chin and dug my hands into his hips. “Joen.” I lifted my chest, sending our lower half together harder. “Yes.”

  Aralynn pushed me.

  She fucking pushed me.

  I laughed as I rolled to my back and stopped when she pulled the dress over her head. She was naked. Gorgeous. She had scars and a few stretch marks from her pregnancy and she was all ours. Aralynn straddled me, keepi
ng high above my swollen dick. It was rock hard and extremely eager to sink into her warmth.

  “Don’t move.”

  “Okay.” Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. I waited, tense, breathing heavy. Joen shifted to his side, watching us as he rubbed his penis gently.

  Aralynn adjusted and lowered.

  My cock poked her and she flinched.

  “Just. Don’t. Move.”

  “I’m not moving, my queen.”

  For good measure she reached up and placed my hands over my head. I chuckled and then she rubbed her pussy along my stiff length. Warmth. Wet. Fucking hot. I grabbed Joen and pulled him in for a kiss. When my tongue entered his mouth, she wrapped her hand around my shaft and pressed it against her hole. I stopped breathing. I’m not even being fucking dramatic. I literally stopped breath. Joen and I watched as her lower lip quivered. Aralynn kept her eyes on us, almost as if she wanted to remember who it was fucking her. Then she lowered. Just a little. Just enough. I let out a breath and grabbed Joen’s ass. I squeezed hard and ground my teeth together.

  Aralynn pulled up, my cock fell free, and I covered my frustrated groan by kissing Joen. She gathered me in her hand and tried again. Lowering, surrounding me with heat. She kept going, sinking down, inch by inch. She paused halfway down my dick and placed her hands on my chest. “Kiss him.” She was watching us.

  I growled and pressed my lips to Joen’s. The kiss was violent. I used my teeth and nearly gagged him with tongue. He held on, rubbing his dick against my thigh. Then Aralynn moved—she sunk down on my shaft with a shaky gasp. Fuck me. I was buried balls deep inside her.

  “Good?” Joen whispered from beside us. He took my nipple piercing between his teeth and tugged.

  I couldn’t speak, couldn’t think. Then Aralynn lifted and I swear to the gods the sound that erupted from my lips wasn’t voluntary. It was this gasp-groan that ended with a sigh. She lowered, sending me back into the sweet depths of her body. “Fuck me.” I grabbed her hips.

  She slapped my hands away.

  I growled and gave Joen’s ass a spank. When he groaned I did it again and again. Each time she thrust down and my cock disappearing inside her, I smacked his ass hard. “Aralynn.” I grunted, grabbed her, and rolled us over. Buried deep I stayed right where I was, my face pressed into her neck as our breaths tried to catch up. “Had to…”