Unnaturals

by Dean J. Anderson

  `If I must,' he muttered, wriggling back. Renee grinned at the look on his face. He wanted her, that much she could see.

  `Instead of standing there ogling her, why don't you help?' Ruth threw a sheet at him.

  `He can ogle all he wants.' Renee didn't move while Mason fumbled with the sheet.

  `Don't give him ideas, Renee,' Ruth said, taking a corner of the sheet from Mason. `You ready?'

  She swallowed. Ruth stood watching her. Mason couldn't take his eyes of her. `If he doesn't touch me soon, I'm going to explode.'

  Mason stood, radiating waves of pheromones. Ruth had locked onto him, her body responding to his need.

  `Focus!' Renee snapped.

  `Right. Cover her up.'

  Renee didn't move as the soft sheet floated down across her hot skin. Ruth peeled it back to look at her.

  `Nikki has a surprise. Just relax.'

  The sheet hummed with her sister's energy. It became softer and lighter until it became clear, like liquid on her skin.

  `Touch her,' Ruth whispered to Mason. `See if it works.'

  Renee bit her lip as Mason climbed onto the bed. Would it work? He ran his hand up the inside of her thigh. Goosebumps exploded across her.

  `Mason!' She grabbed his hand, pressed it against her sex, wanting more.

  `Careful, don't tear it. You can't have penetration.'

  Renee glanced up, catching Ruth's eyes on Mason as his fingers traced her sex.

  Ruth cleared her throat. `But you will be able to be together.'

  `Is this what you want?' Mason's question came to her in a hoarse whisper, fingers pressed against her.

  `It'll do, don't stop.' His finger brushed over her sweet spot, hard and sensitive to his touch. She arched as he brushed it again. `Goddess!'

  Bodies joined them on the bed. `Kiss me, Ruth,' Nikki said.

  Colours flashed as Mason kissed Renee through the sheet. A cry escaped. Mason kissed her again and she wrapped her legs around him, gripping his hair through the sheet. `Don't stop. Make it happen. Bring me there.'

  His lips retreated and she felt his fingers again, then his teeth bit down onto her thigh. `Harder,' she whispered. Renee moaned as his teeth pressed hard. `Don't stop.'

  Pleasure swept through her as his fingers moved faster. He kissed her thighs through the sheet.

  A soft cry came from beside her, her sister's voice sweet with own pleasure.

  Renee curled her hips towards Mason, her desire for him to be in her washed away, while he brought her closer to a place she had never been with another. Light bloomed in her mind and she let her voice sing. Mason's touch didn't slow as she let her voice fill the room. His free hand wrapped around her back and he held her.

  `Sing your Song, my Huntress,' she heard him whisper as her Song grew.

  She bucked. Muscles contracted. She felt like she was burning up. His touch didn't falter as she arched, singing a single note that grew louder with the tsunami building in her.

  `You're beautiful,' he growled, arm tight around her.

  She spasmed, her orgasm forcing the air from her lungs in a single final note. `You're amazing.' He kissed her through the sheet

  She felt him go as small waves of pleasure rippled through her, the sheet seeming to gather and prolong. She gasped for air. `Come here and hold me.'

  He slipped away from her, pushing her legs back down to the bed. `I won't be able to control myself if we hold together. That sheet would not stop me from being with you.' He knelt on the bed, eyes intense.

  `Beside me, then. Please.'

  He lay beside her, close but not touching. She could see him struggling not to tear the sheet off her. She rolled onto her side. `Put your leg here.' She pulled his thigh between her legs, moving so his thigh rested against her sex. She shuddered.

  `Careful,' Mason moaned.

  His erection pressed against her and she smiled, taking it in her hand.

  `My turn.' She moved her hand, amazed at how hard he was. `I've never held a man.'

  Mason bit his lip, eyes closed. She studied him as she teased him like he'd teased her. Here, with her, he seemed so human, his scent earthy.

  `Careful.' His hand touched hers.

  `Can I watch?' Ruth asked, head resting on Mason's shoulder. `It's weird, I know, but I like to watch, and I've never seen him, you know.'

  `Hold his arm so he can't touch me,' Renee said, letting Ruth see her eyes, to let her know who was in control.

  Ruth pulled his arm away from Renee and knelt on his hand.

  Mason grinned. `Nice.'

  `Touch him, here,' Ruth suggested, and leaned across to trail a finger along the underside, upwards toward the head of his erection.

  Renee watched as she did it again. Mason arched, pressing himself against her, biting down on his lip. `Like this then?' She ran her fingers, protected by the sheet, at the same spot and was rewarded with a low rumble of pleasure as Mason shuddered. She laughed in delight.

  `Jesus,' he moaned, eyes still closed. `That's torture.'

  `Good,' she whispered. `Now you know what it's like for me.' Fingers danced up his erection.

  `Cor, hell, girl.' He squirmed and Ruth grinned, working to keep his arm pinned down.

  `Can I show you more?' Ruth licked her lips and Renee teased Mason again.

  `You're enjoying this,' Renee said.

  Ruth grinned and pinched Mason's nipple. `I've never shared him. I mean he's never liked another and this… It's so erotic.'

  `You approve?' Renee asked, not caring if it was wrong, her hand tight around Mason's shaft.

  `I'm getting there,' Ruth winked and squeezed Mason's nipple again.

  `Keep it up and you'll pay for it,' he rumbled.

  Renee enjoyed the idea of him punishing her and Ruth. `Show me more.'

  `Here, like this. Hold him firm but move slow,' Ruth showed her. `You can keep him close to the edge for ages, but when you feel him build to come, stop. Let it pass. Then you can start all over again.'

  `You're going to kill me,' Mason said, grinning, pressing his leg harder against her sex.

  `Sounds like fun trying,' Renee said. She followed Ruth's instructions, pressing herself into his knee with each stroke.

  `Wild,' Mason mumbled.

  `Uh-huh,' Renee whispered, feeling her own ripples of pleasure sharpen. His erection pulsed in her hand.

  `Stop,' Ruth said touching her hand. `Wait. Then again.'

  `No,' Renee moaned, her own climax pushing at her. `I want him to come with me.'

  `God!' Mason tensed.

  She held him tighter. `You mean Goddess,' she whispered riding his leg, wanting to feel him climax with her.

  `Yes!' Mason arched. Renee looked down, realising Ruth's hand hovered near hers, as the wave of her own orgasm washed through her. She was barely aware of Ruth's hand joining hers on Mason as he bucked beneath them.

  She howled, Mason hot against her. He spasmed with her, and she rode each wave of delight with him.

  `God, that nearly hurt,' he moaned.

  She still held him. Ruth had moved away leaving just the two of them together.

  Mason touched her face. `Enough, please.'

  `Maybe,' she grinned. `It is still hours before dawn.'

  `Maybe so.' He reached down and held her hand with the sheet between them. `But I'm not much fun to be around when I've had no sleep and I don't think I can handle any more teasing. The house wouldn't survive.' He yawned and Renee shook her head.

  `So it is true, you just fall a—' Her own yawn caught her by surprise. `Where did that come from?'

  `Sex does that,' he winked and ripped the sheet off her. `Get into bed. I'll sleep on top of the covers if you keep them between us.'

  She wriggled under the covers. `You can get in too, just leave the sheet. I want to be able to feel you.'

  `In a sec. Nature calls.' He rolled off the bed and wandered towards the bathroom, his buttocks holding her attention until Nikki moaned.

  `We'll be a wh
ile,' Ruth said, looking up from Nikki's breast. `Lucky it's a big bed.'

  Renee let her gaze slip down to Ruth's fingers caressing Nikki's sex. `Won't be the first time.'

  `It never appealed?'

  `No,' Renee said. `But it doesn't bother me. Many Darkells prefer female lovers.'

  `Less talk.' Nikki pulled at Ruth's hair. `She's fine. Focus, please.' Ruth grinned and leant down to kiss Nikki.

  Renee watched for a second, glad to see her sister so alive again, then lay back and let the sounds of Nikki and Ruth's pleasure fade away.

  Mason padded back towards the bed and slipped in beside her. The sheet separated them, but without losing the warmth and scent of his arms encasing her.

  He did not speak, just held her as she nestled against him. Memories of Ruth's hand joining hers to bring him faded.

  She had Mason.

  CHAPTER 21

  Something tickled Wilson's nose. He rubbed it but the tickle persisted. Filtered grey light seeped in as he cracked an eye open. Flowers rose above him, the cool moss of the flower hutch soft against his back.

  Blonde hair covered his chest. He brushed away the wayward strand tickling his face.

  She stirred. `Morning,' Lilly muttered on his chest, her lips brushing against him.

  `Just. The sun's coming up.' He glanced up at the orange glow in the sky. `Er, Lilly.' He let her go, aware of her body pressed against him and her hand low on him. `Your hand.'

  `Oh,' she said, sitting up, her blush real. `Sorry. I didn't mean to do that.'

  `It's okay,' he said, watching her run long fingers through her hair. `Last night was nice.'

  She stopped and looked down at him. `Nice as in you would do it again, or it's what you say to a girl you're dying to run from?'

  `Stop that,' he said, sitting up. `Look, I like you. A lot.' He studied his hand, not looking at her while he considered what to say.

  She touched him, her hand retreating when he didn't move. He turned and found her eyes. `This is new for me, us.'

  `You want me to leave,' she shrugged, `to give you space?'

  `No,' Wilson shook his head. She was important to him. `I want us to be friends, just as it is now. Is that possible? Anything else would be complicated.'

  `Anything's possible,' she said, wiping a tear away. `I said I would respect what you have with Sally.'

  His throat went tight as she leaned away from him. `And you have.' He touched her leg with a finger. `I feel for you in a different way to Sally. Like we've known each other for ages.'

  `Maybe we have, but we just can't remember it.' She slipped her singlet back on.

  `Last night was unique for me, Wilson.' Lilly tied back her hair. `I felt safe for the first time since I can remember.'

  `You did?' Wilson wriggled his shirt on, trying to not bump her in the cramped space. `Pretty weird, considering what's happened so far.'

  `Yep.' She grinned at him and the knot in his stomach faded. `Weird is good. You want some breakfast?'

  `I need to go for a run first.' He moved on the moss. `I need to burn some energy off.'

  She glanced at him. `Sorry about that.'

  `It's fine,' he said, trying to keep his blush controlled. `There's room to run here on the estate?'

  `Follow the stone wall. A path beside it runs around the estate,' Lilly said, sliding out of the flower hutch. `I'll meet you in the kitchen?'

  `Yeah.' He followed her out. `But you don't have to cook for me, Lilly. I'll have a quick shower first. If you want to wait, I can cook for the both of us.'

  `But you're a guest here.' Lilly pushed the glasshouse doors open. `Besides, I like to cook for you. It would make Rose fume.'

  `Ha. Good point.' He stretched as the first rays of sunlight crept over the trees.

  `See ya,' she said.

  Wilson watched until she disappeared into the main house.

  He rolled his shoulders, conscious of his tension. Conscious also that he had watched the trees along her path until she had entered the doors and was safe inside.

  `Yes, a run,' he muttered, scanning the trees. `Lots of energy to burn this morning.' He headed towards the stone wall he could see through the trees. A path appeared through the trees and he could see it followed the wall. As his pace picked up, Sally filled his mind. He missed her. She had been so happy to hear his voice the night before.

  His jog became a paced run.

  Lilly's scent still lingered on his skin. Sally's laugh echoed in his mind. Images of the island flashed through him. He needed to hold Sally again, feel her lips on his.

  Trees flashed by, his legs pumping hard.

  Lilly's pain he understood, and he wanted to be around her. He felt comfortable, protective of her. Maybe more.

  A branch lashed his face. He shook it off and the trees became a blur.

  The lake house flashed by, mansion and then glasshouse followed. He didn't slow, the cycle repeating again.

  Ignoring the burning muscles that he pushed harder.

  Burning away the guilt.

  Ruth sat up, reaching out. Nikki had gone.

  She blinked, pushing down the tendrils of fear that had pervaded her sleep. Mason's snoring pulled her back to the bed. He lay flat on his back, Renee almost attached to him, the thin layer of the sheet separating them. Long red hair spread across him like a living blanket.

  Ruth reached across, touching his hand. His fingers closed over hers, making her smile. A sound brought a frown. Someone was being sick.

  She slipped out of the bed and raced to the bathroom.

  `What's wrong?' She helped Nikki stand. `You're sweating and you look terrible.'

  `Sick,' Nikki muttered.

  Nikki held onto the cabinet while Ruth wiped her face with a towel. `Is it serious?' She ignored a flicker of fear. `We need Eleanor, don't we?'

  Nikki slumped, skin cool and clammy. `Take me to the house, please.'

  `I've got you. I'm strong when I need to be. It's okay.'

  `Feel like shit.' Nikki said, head resting on Ruth's shoulder.

  She held Nikki tightly, looking around for a robe.

  `Leave it. No one cares here,' Nikki whispered.

  Ruth used her gift. `Trust me.' The wave of nausea faded under Ruth's hands and Nikki relaxed.

  `Awesome,' Nikki sighed. `Handy after a big night that will be.'

  `You're so funny,' Ruth said glancing up the path to the main house. `Hold on.' Ruth ran, holding Nikki, moving fast. Trees flashed past.

  `Where's your room?' she asked, stepping up onto the patio.

  `Upstairs, turn left and it's the last one.'

  `Okay.' Energy sparked from her fingertips to Nikki's skin as they climbed the stairs.

  `Ow!' Nikki shuddered in her arms.

  `It's all right.' A set of double doors greeted her at the end of the hallway. `We're here.'

  `Open,' Nikki muttered and the doors swung open.

  `Do you want me to find Eleanor?' Ruth said, focused on getting Nikki onto her bed.

  `Nope,' Nikki moaned and held her stomach. `I know what's wrong.'

  `What is it? Is it bad?'

  `Kind of.' Nikki grabbed Ruth's hand and the sparks flared again. `It's morning sickness.'

  `What?' Ruth stopped fussing and fell onto the bed. `But… It was only a couple of hours ago.'

  Nikki sighed and closed her eyes. `When I was heavy with my son it was the same.'

  `You have a son?' Ruth lay beside her.

  `No, he,' Nikki shuddered and Ruth let her gift seep out into her. `He was murdered while still in my womb.'

  `Nikki, I'm so sorry.' She shuddered at the thought.

  `It happened a very long time ago,' Nikki curled an arm around Ruth. `But what are we going to do? Last night it seemed the right moment, but now he doesn't know.'

  `No.' Ruth let her breath out slowly. `This is unexpected. Is it normal?'

  `We carry our children as you would. Usually.' Nikki shifted beside her. `But I can feel life in me and it's growin
g fast.'

  Ruth rubbed at her eyes. What had they been thinking? `Are we insane?'

  `Your idea seems to have worked. We have a child. I could never be with Mason, but… It has happened. We may be insane but you were not wrong.'

  Ruth faced her across the pillow. `He's going to be pissed off. We took it without asking or discussing this with him.'

  `Or Renee.'

  Fear stirred in her as Nikki's face went whiter. `She's going to hate me, Ruth,' she whispered hoarsely. `You have no idea how much she wants to have a family. We have to hide this from them as long as possible.'

  `I can't do that.'

  `How about until we're sure then. Wait to tell them when the time is right.'

  `The time will never be right, Nikki, but we can wait.' Ruth ran hands through her hair. She had never kept anything from Mason before. This was dangerous new ground.

  `Okay then. You hungry?'

  Ruth stared. `You're hungry? After that?'

  `Yeah,' Nikki said, touching her stomach. `Fruit is all I could eat last time.'

  `Fruit.' Ruth smiled at her, as she stood. `Fruit I can do.'

  Nikki reached. `Thank you for this. Our child.'

  `Don't thank me yet.' Ruth squeezed her lover's hand, giddy at once with both delight and shock. `It's only going to get complicated from here on out.'

  Wilson pushed open the kitchen door, refreshed from his shower. Renee was there, dressed in nothing more a blue bikini.

  `Good morning, Master Wilson.'

  He stopped, glancing around the kitchen. `Uh, hey. Where are Mum and Dad?'

  Renee smiled as she lit the gas grill. `Ruth is upstairs with Nikki. Mason is still asleep.'

  Wilson considered looking for Lilly but the smell of the grill awakened his hunger. The door closed behind him. `Does everyone here get up at dawn?'

  `No,' she said throwing two steaks onto the grill. `Just the opposite usually.'

  Wilson leaned against a bench while Renee busied herself cutting up onions and carrot. He didn't know what to say, and when he thought about it, he discovered that Renee unsettled him.

  `I feel the same.'

  `What?'

  `I don't know what to say.' She shrugged, hand moving so fast the onions seemed to fall apart rather than being cut.

  `Say about what?' He nearly drooled at the aroma of the cooking steak.