by Rue Volley
“Yep… we should.” He said as he tossed it on the table.
Josh grabbed a handful of fries and shoved them in his mouth, like it was the last supper.
“Fine.” He said as he chewed.
Johnathan popped the lock on the car door holding us in and we stepped out and started to leave. We heard a yell behind us and roller girl rolled up to us quickly and smiled.
“Was it good?” she asked Johnathan.
“It was great.” He said as he placed his card on her virtual pad and it charged him. He smiled at her as she lifted his card and handed it back to him.
“Well, hope to see you again… maybe when you get back.”
“Uh huh.” Johnathan said as he turned and walked away from her. She looked down at the virtual pad and grinned. He had obviously given her a generous tip and she held the pad to her chest and we walked out behind him.
“Smooth.” Josh said as he stepped up next to him.
“The food was good,” he said.
“How much did you tip her?” I asked.
He looked at me and smiled.
“A hundred.” He said.
“Now I know how you get laid.” Josh said as he started to walk and Johnathan laughed behind us.
“Well, at least I have class.” Johnathan said.
Josh stopped and looked at him.
“You are kidding right?” he said as he grinned.
“Oh shut up.” Johnathan said as he took the lead and we followed him through the terminal and towards the airship that awaited us.
***
Gracie sat there and wiggled her fingers. It was a habit, one that came from her mom. She didn’t ring her hands, but she wiggles her fingers like she has scissors on each one of them… (One of her mom’s favorite movies by the way.) It was cute, and her only physical way of telling you that she is thinking… thinking big time. Theo continued to bathe the boy, who had not woken up yet, in the tub. He rung out the washcloth and looked back at Gracie, who sat on her bed, leaning over to watch him.
“Close your eyes.” Theo said as he prepared to lift the small boy out of the tub.
Gracie grinned and covered her eyes, splitting her fingers to see anyway. Theo lifted the boy out and wrapped him in an oversized red towel and started to dry him off. The boy mumbled something as Theo rubbed his head, making his hair look all messy. Gracie smiled and ‘oh’d’ as Theo glanced at her and shook his head.
“Don’t peek, love.” He said.
Gracie huffed and twisted, falling onto her stomach on the bed and continued to grin as she waited for Theo to finish up.
“He is not human.” Gracie said as she leaned her little chin on her hands.
“I am aware my dear.” Theo yelled out to her from the bathroom.
“He is special.” She said as she rolled on her back and looked at the stars on the ceiling.
“Everyone is special.” Theo said as he stepped out with the boy in his arms and looked at her.
“I think he should live with us.” She said as she tilted her head and grinned at Theo.
“I am sure that he has a family that misses him.”
Gracie sat up and smiled as she leaned on her elbows.
“I’m hungry.” Gracie said as she pushed herself up and flashed past the both of them and hit the stairs running.
“Gracie?” Theo called out as he followed her quickly with the boy in his arms. He reached the bottom of the stairs and Gracie had pulled a chair to the stove and had a pot on it, dumping a can of something into it.
“Oh my.” Theo said as he placed the boy on the couch and flashed into the kitchen, leaning up next to Gracie and grinned at her.
“You have decided to cook for us.” He said.
Gracie smiled and dumped another can into the pot.
“Soup.” She said as she placed her hand in the pot and put her finger in it. Theo smiled and lifted her from the chair and placed her on the floor.
“Let me.” He said.
Gracie smiled and looked into the living room.
“Why don’t you watch a movie and keep an eye on our new friend?” Theo asked her.
Gracie nodded and ran into the living room and skidded to a stop when she looked at the small boy, sitting up… looking around the room.
“Uncle Theo?” she said.
Theo flashed behind her and looked at the boy. Both Theo and Gracie tilted their heads at the same time and looked at the boy, who scooted back on the couch and clutched a pillow.
“Do not be scared little one, we mean you no harm.” Theo said.
The boy clutched the pillow to his chest and stared at him. Gracie smiled and looked at the boy.
“My name is Gracie… Gracie Barrington.” She said as she took one step towards the boy.
The boy cleared his throat and swallowed.
“What is your name?” Theo asked him.
The boy looked at Gracie and she took another step towards him. He blinked and then he flashed from the couch, all in his naked glory and up the stairs. Gracie looked at Theo and then flashed after him, so fast Theo didn’t have time to ‘Oh dear’ the situation. The boy busted into Josh and Rue’s room and ran into the closet, slamming the door behind him. Gracie stopped at the door and peeked in, giggling… this being an awesome game to her. Theo flashed up behind her and picked her up, feet still moving and she ‘oh’d’ him.
“Gracie… he is frightened.” Theo said as Gracie touched her hair and peeked back at the closet.
“Get him out… I wanna play.” Gracie whispered.
“I do not think that he is in the mood.” Theo said.
Gracie wiggled and dropped to the floor and ran into her room quickly. Theo sighed and looked at the closet, shaking his head.
He stepped forward and Gracie flashed past him and dropped to the floor in front of the closet door and placed a cookie on the floor. She grinned and looked at Theo who placed his hands on his hips.
“Where did we get cookies?” he asked.
Gracie raised her eyebrows and laid flat on the floor, trying to see under the door.
“Here, kitty kitty.” She said.
Theo covered his mouth, to stop from laughing as she tried to bait this frightened creature from the closet. To Gracie, other children seemed like kitties, seeing that she didn’t play with any others. Gracie narrowed her eyes and the door cracked, his hand coming out slowly… she pushed the cookie towards his hand and he located it and pulled in in quickly and shut the door.
Gracie smiled and sat up, with her legs out in front of her and crossed her arms.
“We need more food.” She said like she had it all figured out.
“Oh my.” Theo muttered as he walked to the closet door and tapped lightly on it.
“I am Theodore Barrington, this is Gracie… we will do you no harm, in fact we would love for you to come out and join us for dinner… I know that you are hungry.” He said.
Everything remained quiet, except for the crunching as the boy chewed on the cookie.
“Pull him out.” Gracie said as she looked at Theo. Theo shook his head and leaned down and picked her up, placing her on his hip.
“He will come when he wants.” Theo said.
Gracie stared at the door and frowned.
“You look like your Father.” He said.
Gracie touched his face and grinned. Theo walked out and Gracie turned and looked at the door until they reached the stairway. Theo walked down stairs and placed her in a chair at the kitchen table and fixed the heat on the pot, which she had up way to high.
“I wanna pway.” Gracie said.
Theo looked at her and grinned.
“Be patient little one, he will come… my food has a magical quality to it.”
Gracie crossed her arms on her chest and leaned back in the chair.
***
“One room?” Josh asked as he stood there and stared at the room on the airbus and then looked back at Johnathan.
“Do you have any id
ea how hard it is to get a room on one of these? Not to mention the cost.” Johnathan said.
Josh stepped into the room and I followed, looking it over. It was amazing, looked like a palace of sorts. All decked out in art and nice furniture. Of course Josh would bitch before thanking Johnathan for getting us a room on this beast of an airship.
“Josh… be nice.” I said as I dropped my bag and walked to the window, which was round and gave the view a ‘fisheye’ affect. I grinned and looked back at Johnathan.
“It is freakin awesome Johnathan… thank you.” I said.
Josh dropped his bag and looked at the bed. The fact that it was the only one made him laugh.
“You could have bought me flowers.” Josh said.
Johnathan looked at the bed and back at him.
“I thought that I was the girl.” He said.
Josh laughed and looked at me and I giggled.
“True.” I said.
Josh raised his eyebrows and spotted the vase with flowers in it and walked to it and jerked the flowers out of it. He turned and bowed to Johnathan and handed the flowers to him.
“Sorry, I had no time to buy chocolates.” He said.
Johnathan rolled his eyes and walked to the window and looked out.
“There is no way.” He said as he glanced at me and winked.
Josh stood up straight and cleared his throat.
“But I find you irresistible, with your overwhelming charm and pretty hair.”
Johnathan looked back at him and laughed.
“I am not that easy.”
“Not what I heard.” Josh said as he dropped the flowers and walked to me smiling. I shook my head and he touched my face and looked at Johnathan.
“Thanks for getting a room.” He said, like it pained him to say it.
“Oh, it was for Rue…not you.” Johnathan said as he looked back out the window and smiled.
I cleared my throat and touched Josh’s face and he looked at me and grinned, showing his canines off.
“Do you think you should call Theo?” I asked him.
“I am surprised that he hasn’t called us.” Josh said.
“Why?” I asked him.
“Oh come on Rue… Gracie is a handful.” He added.
“Oh god.” I said as I started to walk towards the door. Josh grabbed my hand and pulled me back, hugging me from behind.
“Stop.” He said.
“I just, I don’t want…”
“Stop… Theo handled me as a child, I am sure he is fine with her.”
I relaxed a little, I had to. I mean I couldn’t be the crazy Mommy who can’t let someone else watch my baby. I mean, who else has a protector as skillful as Theo to take it on? No one, and just knowing Theo and his grown up nature should put me at ease… but this was the first time I have not been with her since we created her and it felt weird… oh so freaky.
“You are right.” I said as I sighed and he kissed my neck and I felt a wave come over me, the one that shouldn’t when Johnathan is in the room.
“Nice.” Johnathan said as he walked towards the door. I looked at him and started to say something; he turned and smiled at me.
“I wish that I couldn’t feel everything, it’s awkward.” He said.
“You can stay and put on a dress.” Josh said.
Johnathan laughed and snorted at the same time and opened the door up and walked out. I moved forward and turned to face Josh.
“Don’t tease him.” I said as I stared at his face.
“But I am so good at it, right?” Josh said as he stepped up to me and placed his hand on my throat. I could feel his heartbeat on the surface of my skin and it made my heart speed up.
“I... Ah.” I started to say.
He leaned in and stared into my eyes.
“I want you, now.” He whispered.
I swallowed and felt the blood rush to my cheeks. You would think that his coming on to me wouldn’t have the same affect, but to tell you the truth… it just got worse. Josh raised my hand up slowly and I turned, as if we were about to start dancing, and in a way we were. I turned around slowly and he stopped me as I faced him again.
He placed his hand at the small of my back and slowly pulled me towards him, until my whole body was settled against his. The humming in my hands slowly drifted throughout my body and then it finally reached places that cause me to shiver. Josh sighed as he started to move us back and forth slowly and I placed my head on his chest. The beating of his heart was strong and constant, for me. I closed my eyes and felt him slip his hand under my shirt and touch my skin, right above the back of my jeans and a wave went through me and made my legs feel rubbery. He touched me gently, letting his fingers trace the dimples on my lower back and heard his breath stutter. It always gets me going to know that after all this time I still have this effect on him physically, I mean he is so pretty… regardless of his mouth and the things that come out of it, which I will admit are a guilty pleasure for me. I love his sarcasm, and the way he jumps at the opportunity to aggravate people. He stood up straight and placed his other hand on my face and let his fingers gently touch my lips. My breath came out staggered too and his fingers shook. He slowly let his fingers move, down my neck and placed his hand on my chest. He grinned when he felt my heart jump.
“Mmm.” He said as he looked at my face.
“What?” I whispered.
“You.” He said as he leaned in and kissed me.
I closed my eyes and wrapped my arms around his neck as he lifted me up, like I weighed nothing. He moved towards the bed and gently laid me down on it. He stood up… looking at me as I placed my finger in my mouth and tried to slow my breathing down… but it wasn’t working, no way. He started to pull his shirt off, over his head and I watched him do it. I grinned and leaned up, stopping him from undoing his pants.
“Let me.” I whispered as I looked up at him and he bit his lip and sighed as he looked down at me. I took a breath and slowly undid his jeans, his stomach going up and down in front of me as the very thought of me undoing his pants was getting him excited even more. I traced the skin above his jeans with my fingertips and gently placed my mouth on his skin and heard him make a small noise. I closed my eyes and let my mouth linger on him, my breath making his whole body hum as was mine. I backed up slowly and started to unbutton my shirt and pulled one side of it off my shoulder. He stood there, not rushing as he so does in life… but with us he is slow and takes his time, like he wants it to last forever. As do I. I bit into my wrist and let the blood fill my mouth as I watched his eyes get glossy; I was sure my eyes looked that way too. He makes me forget about everything. Even sounds seem to drift away when we are together this way. He looked at my wrist, as the small trace of blood rolled over the side of it and opened his mouth to breathe. I sighed and let the blood go down my throat, with the heartbeat still contained within it. He leaned forward, slowly moving onto the bed and I scooted back, just to play with him. He grinned and flashed on top of me and gently relaxed. I laid there as he held himself up with his hands and stared at me and then his eyes wandered to my chest and he grinned.
“I am going to mess you up, you tease.” He said.
I slowly laid my wrist out next to me and he glanced at it.
“Drink me.” I whispered.
He shook, which to me is beyond hot. Josh isn’t one to get all excited about things, not physically. He uses his words more than anything, but to have this pretty boy all about me even after all this time makes my head spin and my stomach quiver. He slowly settled on top of me and placed his lips to my wrist, he let his mouth cover the small cut I had inflicted with my teeth and he drew my blood into himself as his heartbeat jumped up in its rhythm. I groaned and turned my face from him, biting my finger. He adjusted himself on top of me as he placed his hand in between us and then it started to happen. I felt him, as I had so many times before. He moved slowly at first and then with every bite into my wrist he would make a sudden movement, his hips pr
essed against mine, making my legs shake.
“Ah.” I said as I tilted my head back and he pulled me up quickly and I was on his lap. He placed his hand behind my neck and moved a little and my body shook, not because I did it, but it is just a reaction to him, always to him and how he makes me feel.
“Rue.” He whispered as he pulled me too him hard and fast and I sucked in my breath and cried out, leaning back and the ceiling started to blur as everything in my mind took hold of this moment, the perfect moment... always with him.
Chapter 3
Wine & Cookies
Theo and Gracie sat at the table and she frowned as she spooned her soup and looked at it. Theo glanced at her, happy that she stayed put and didn’t decide to flash upstairs and drag the small boy from the closet… as he knew she would prefer to do. Gracie has her Fathers patience, or lack of it, you could say. She wanted everything now and found it hard to wait. She had inherited her mom’s sense of knowing things to come, and it saved her sometimes. Theo looked up when he saw the boy slowly step off the stairs and peek at the two of them. Gracie dropped her spoon and leaned up in her chair and grinned. The boy held his hands together and then took that heroic step onto the living room floor, letting them both know that he trusted them enough to come down, but he hesitated to walk any further. Gracie opened her mouth up and Theo raised his hand and she looked at him and rolled her eyes, Rue style… which is another thing that she inherited. Theo stood up slowly and turned, grabbing another bowl and spooning soup into it, he placed it on the table, closest to the boy. He looked at it and then at Gracie, whose little body was humming from the anticipation of the boy coming to them.
“Be calm, love.” Theo whispered to her.
Gracie picked up her spoon and took another bite from the soup and ‘mmm’d’, sending the message that the boy should come in and eat, because Theo’s soup was delicious. The boy took one step and then another, like he was waiting for something terrible to happen. Theo grinned and took a bite too, reassuring him that they had no intention of hurting him. Gracie looked at her bowl and then at Theo who placed his finger to his mouth to stop her from yelling out something. Gracie has this thing, her excitement causes her to yell and we don’t even think that she knows how loud she gets when she blurts out stuff sometimes. She crinkled her nose and held her spoon in her hand and then it happened. The boy walked in and sat down, he looked at the bowl of soup and picked it up; spilling some of it as he placed it to his mouth and it ran over the sides. Gracie watched him, like he was the neatest thing she had ever seen, and to her he probably was since the absence of children in her life made other children seem like a magic show.